Projects from Craft Getaway

Hello there, I have not got back into my craft cottage as yet since our massive craft getaway (I have been catching up on business paperwork) however I have neglected to show you the projects that we had. Sharon (my upline) and I work well as a team, we sit down plan and then get stuck into what we need to achieve. To view the projects Sharon organised click here and it will take you to her blog and my projects are below. Not all the projects needed to be complicated as the guests that came varied in levels and when you need to make bulk of any one item keeping it simple is essential (mind you creating simple is not all that easy for me, I seem to always complicate it but keep on task for these projects…lol).

Well I better be going, I need to work on the project for next Friday’s stamp club and place an order (something I was meant to do yesterday, however, just did get to it). Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your papercrafting

Craft Getaway a great success

Our craft getaway finally came and then went so quickly. We had great weather, great food, great company and plenty of great inspiration. 23 papercrafters spending a weekend together eating and crafting, what more could a crafter want????? well it makes me as happy as a pig in you know what.

The feedback we received from our evaluation forms was that it was a great success and fun was had by all and for it to happen yearly (not so sure about yearly, but we never say never). Sharon and I are truly exhausted as the event was a very big task to put together however we pulled it off and we are greatful for everyone who came to make it such a success.

Friday night we started with a Stampin Up trivia quiz (got everyone looking and learning about all sorts of things in the catalogue, even I learnt plenty when making the quiz) and then Sharon taught everyone how to make a notepad journal which is very pretty and a great gift idea.

Saturday morning started at 6am for Sharon and I as we transformed the hall into a massive birthday party. The theme for the day was ‘Birthday’ and we used the ‘Celebration DSP’ and the ‘Party this way’ stamp set, in which everyone got one to take home. We had five projects for the day and this allowed them plenty of time to create what ever they chose to work on as well. The day ended at about 12am for some, Sharon and I included.

Sunday morning started at 6am again for Sharon and I as we transformed the hall into Christmas. The theme for the day was ‘Christmas’ and we used the ‘Jolly Holiday DSP’ and the ‘Dasher’ stamp set, in whice everyone got one to take home. The day finished at 3pm so we only had 3 make and takes but let me tell you everyone was always busy.

So to conclude, fun was had by all and on all three days there were an abundance of prizes handed out and plenty of make and takes which to me equals success.

Below is a slide show of a variety of photos taken over the weekend. Thanks for stopping by and maybe next time you may like to join us! Cheers Lana xx

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Susie’s scrumptious snacks

On the ’craft getaway’ last weekend past we were all spoilt with absolutely beautiful food from ‘Teen Ranch’  and my dear friend Susie also spoilt us with her scrumptious snacks that were there for us to eat all weekend.  Susie’s beautiful baking was such a hit the recipes were on demand so Susie was so kind to email them to me to share with you all. So not only enjoy your papercraft also enjoy your cooking

Chocolate Date Slice

125g butter or margarine

½ cup sugar

1 cup finely chopped dates

3 cups rice bubbles

200g dark or milk chocolate

Melt butter in large bowl in microwave. Add sugar and dates, stir, then microwave on high for 3 minutes, stopping and stirring after every minute. (This can also be done in a small saucepan on the stove but watch it doesn’t burn!) Add rice bubbles and stir well. Spread into paper-lined slice tray. Refrigerate. Melt chocolate and spread over base. Leave to set before cutting.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

500g butter or margarine

1 ¼ cups castor sugar

395g can sweetened condensed milk

5 cups self-raising flour

250g white chocolate bits

500g dark/milk chocolate bits

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line baking trays with baking paper. Cream butter, sugar and condensed milk with beaters until light and creamy. Add sifted flour and chocolate bits, and mix until well combined. Using approx. 1 tablespoon of mixture roll into balls. Place well-spaced onto prepared trays and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake 14-16 minutes or until light golden. Allow to stand
on trays 5 minutes before cooling on racks. Biscuits can be frozen.

Melting Moments

4 oz. butter or margarine

1 oz. icing sugar

2 oz. plain flour

2 oz. cornflour

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 180°C. Cream butter, icing sugar and vanilla. Add flours and stir through. Put teaspoons of mixture well-spaced on a paper-lined tray or pipe into swirls. Bake 10-15 minutes or until pale brown. I usually double this recipe.

To finish;

Put ¼ glace cherry in centre of each biscuit before baking or sandwich with flavoured icing.

Icing:  Approx. 1 cup icing sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons butter, a drop of flavouring (essence or grated orange rind) and just enough milk to make spreadable.

Tropical Boiled Fruitcake

750g mixed dried fruit

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup brandy or sherry

¾ cup cold water

1 cup crushed pineapple (including juice)

185g butter or margarine

3 eggs, beaten

1 ¼ cups plain flour

1 cup self-raising flour

¼ teaspoon bicarbonate soda

½ teaspoon mixed spice

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Place fruit, sugar, brandy, water, crushed pineapple and butter in a saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring continuously. Simmer over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Allow to cool. Add eggs then fold in sifted flours, soda and spices. Place in a 23cm cake pan which has been lined with foil and 2 layers of baking paper. Bake in a slow oven (150°C) for approx. 2 – 2 ¼ hours or until cooked when tested. Allow to cool in the pan (wrapped in a tea towel) before turning out.

All recipes
were cooked on regular bake. If your oven is fan-forced, you will need to reduce the oven temperatures by about 20°C. My microwave is 1000w.

This is Susie in the black shirt working away very hard on one of her projects. The beautiful flowers on the floor we gave her for all her hard work cooking. Thank you so much Susie for keeping us all well feed in between our meals and late at night it was greatly appreciated and a big hit xxxx

Woohoo….It is on

Our Craft Getaway

All confirmed……we still have plenty of room if you’d like to join us, but those who have placed a deposit will be as thrilled as I am to know that it is a goer…………..we are off to Teen Ranch in June (I saw the wood pile today and boy it will be fun!!!!) to craft the days away…oh, and shop til we drop at the local craft markets on Saturday morning.

If you would like to join us (and haven’t already paid a deposit) then we haven’t counted you in….so pop us an e-mail and we can organise you the deposit details so you can make a payment and be counted in.

For a detailed explanation of what I am talking about click here

This is also why my blog has not been active lately, I am working hard on samples and projects for the Craft getaway.

Take care and thanks to everyone who has booked. You will not be sorry

Two weeks notice

Well ladies, the time has come for you to make a decision. We need final numbers for our craft getaway, at the moment we are 10 short for the event to go ahead. Teen Ranch require a minimum number of 25 which is understandable considering they cater for us all weekend. So by Sunday 13th March 2011 the decision will be made as to whether the retreat will go ahead or be cancelled. For all the ladies that have booked if you can find a few more people to join us that would be great, if we can’t get the 10 we need all the people who have paid will get a full refund of their money. It will be a shame to have to cancel as it will be a great weekend that will include so much fun. If you would like to ask any questions please email me at lana@harveysautotraders.com.au or please give me a call 0400 454 600 and I will be more than happy to answer your questions.

To view information from previous posts click here and here

If you have all the information and would like to pay your deposit just drop me an email and I will forward you the banking details.

Remember, two weeks to make up your mind….

Cheers Lana xo

Why crafters love to get away…

Finding a few hours of peace and quiet at home where you can concentrate on some creative work – making cards, 3d projects, gifts, organising photographs for scrapbooking, some stitching, perhaps a spot of knitting – can sometimes be an insurmountable challenge. Between mounds of laundry, shopping, meeting work commitments, finding time for family and friends and just keeping life ticking over, the physical and mental space for creativity can lose out. More and more creative people are, therefore, packing their bags and heading off for a day, a weekend, even a week… to locations sometimes humble and sometimes ultra glamorous. All are in pursuit of the same thing; time to be with like minded women in an atmosphere that inspires and with no one asking where their dinner is!

The female of our species, it seems, is particularly hard wired to feel guilty the minute they think of time away from day-to-day commitments. Do men feel this so much? Drive by your local golf course on a weekday afternoon or pop by the local football oval any cold Saturday afternoon and ask that question again.

First time attendees at craft events often quickly become hooked. Many crafters find particular groups (like my stamp club ladies) where they feel at home and they sometimes end up attending the same weekly, monthly or annual crafty get togethers for decades.

More and more studies are finding that creative outlets, either communal activities or solitary practices, are essential to good mental health. Nancy Monson, author of ‘Craft to Heal – Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting and Other Pastimes’, devotes the first chapter of her book to the following topic – The surprising connection between crafts, creativity and healing.

Craft retreats offer a huge amount of fun, the chance for socialising and provide endless opportunities for learning new skills that are presented and seen by watching others create.

If you have any question or would like to join us please email me at lana@harveysautotraders.com.au we have a flyer .

This is where we are having our craft retreat, Teen Ranch at Cobbitty here are some photos of the lovely place where we will enjoy ourselves.

Craft weekend getaway not be missed

Announcing our 2011 retreat!

Hi everyone, I have some very exciting news. We (as in Sharon and myself) are holding a craft getaway. We are taking bookings right away, so here are the details….

When: Friday 3rd June 2011 (in the late afternoon or after work etc) until Sunday the 5th of June (my birthday, what a great way to spend a weekend, I am very excited…woohoo), after lunch we’ll pack up and bid goodbye

Where: At Teen Ranch in Cobbitty (just down the road from Camden NSW)

Cost: $230 and that includes so much……see the list below

Includes:

* All meals (including breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner)…those who know me know how important the food is…lol

* Accommodation (this is a school camp site, so while the accommodation is modest the rec areas are brilliant). The rooms are air conditioned whilst the dining area has a fire (also large enough to stamp in) and large rec hall that is also heated with gynormous gas lanterns.

* Goody bag on arrival – containing lots of stamping products as well as your make and take kits

* Plenty of classes on offer throughout the weekend (not compulsory by any means!!)

* Huge loads of ideas on display which you will be free to photograph etc….

* Giveaways throughout the weekend

* Challenges and  competitions

And as much stamping time as you can handle. You will have plenty of time to get a head start on all your stamping projects – perhaps get your christmas projects underway!!

How do we book? You will need to e-mail me at lana@harveysautotraders.com.au and I will pass on the bank details. We are more than happy for people to pay this off – you can deposit as you wish (with your name as the reference). Once you have paid $50 we consider you booked and attending this great event. We will start a list of those attending and keep you informed of the planning and itinerary of this fab event with newsletters………or you can pay the whole amount up front…..totally up to you…..but with 9 months to go, you could get this paid out before the event with as little as $1 a day!

Rationale: Why are we undertaking such a huge task? Well we won’t be attending the SU! convention in 2011 in Melbourne for various reasons and we have had a few requests for such a getaway…..so we’ve done it!! We plan to bring you a miniture convention – with all the fun and excitement we normally enjoy given to you, our valued customers………. This particular date also cooincides with the Cobbitty Craft markets (held just next door)- so those up for a stroll can head over to visit it on Saturday morning!

We hope you can join us……we’re very excited!! E-mail me at lana@harveysautotraders.com.au We’ll give you more details as time rolls along – but get in early to secure your spot!