More Mini Cards

I am a bit later getting these posted than I expected.  We have only just gotten back from our home bible study group where we had a whole feast of wonderful food to celebrate our hosts 8th wedding anniversary.  I did make a cake but sadly I didn't try out the rose cake idea from Pinterest.  I knew as soon as I began layering up the cake that I was going to be short by about a whole extra batch of frosting and there simply wasn't time to make more!

Instead I frosted it up the best I could (under the circumstances - it was a beast of a cake!) and then topped it with fresh strawberries dusted with powdered sugar.  It looked and tasted great so that was all that mattered in the end.

I promised to share more of my mini cards for charity and I have about 9 shots to share so here goes.  The one on the left uses flower stamps from Papertrey Ink plus a quote stamp from WMS as well as these pretty swirled corner stamps.  The rest is done with a fine line pen.  The one on the right uses the same PTI flower stamp but with the solid stamp as well as the outline and the verse is a plain Jane from Verve.

The card on the left uses a plain Jane verse from Verve, scrolls from WMS and the circles are from the WMS tiny trees set.  The one on the right is just a repeat from the one above.  I am lovin the kind of brown/beige leaves instead of the usual green ones.

The one on the left above uses a Verve plain Jane scripture stamp, WMS swirled corners and PTI flowers and exactly the same stamp companies & supplies for the one on the right too.

The one on the left uses a pretty leaf spray and verse - both from Verve stamps and then just WMS swirled corners.  The one on the right is PTI flower stamps, WMS swirled corners and a Verve scripture stamp.

The one on the left of this shot features WMS tiny trees set, WMS swirled corners and a StampinUp! quote.  On the right is PTI flowers, a Verve scripture stamp and the WMS swirled corners again.  I just loved how using a couple of really small swirled corner stamps could create such fun frames when they were joined up with some basic pen lines.

These ones both feature StampinUp! sets and of course - those swirl stamps from WMS.  I've had this set from SU! for such a long time and I hardly ever use it so it feels good to finally be creating cards with it.  Sorry this shot is a bit out of focus.

Both of these cards feature PTI flowers and WMS swirled corners.  The one on the left has a quote from WMS and the one on the right has an SU! quote.

On the left is a Verve verse, PTI  flowers and WMS swirled corners.  On the right is a PTI set which features a couple of different crosses, verses and encouraging quotes and more WMS swirled corners to complete the look and create the frame.

And last but not least more Verve, WMS & PTI on the left and more SU! & WMS on the right.

I've booked a date for 9 November to get together with about half a dozen ladies from our church so we can get more cards made for fund raising and I'm so excited to be able to share these encouraging cards with the girls.  In fact I've booked a couple of days off work just so I can 'get in the zone' so to speak LOL!

Since tomorrow is my day off and I haven't made plans to go anywhere I think I'll just mooch around, do a bit of housework and a whole load of STAMPING!  How cool does that sound?

For now - it's been a very, very long day - I've worked from 7.30 am to 5.00 pm plus been busy with cakes once I got home, rushed out to home group and am yawning my head off as I type this post so it's off to Bedfordshire for me I think.

Blessings

Suezie

A Waltzing Mouse Challenge Surprise!

WOW!  What a surprise I had when I checked my many emails (we deliberately had a tech free trip - besides the sat nav of course) and then popped over to the Waltzing Mouse Challenge blog and saw my name was randomly chosen to win a freebie set of WM stamps!  How cool is that?

In case you didn't know, each week a name of one of the entrants is randomly selected to win a free set of stamps - of their own choice no less!  But you gotta be in it to win it.  If you have even one set of WM stamps you can enter the sketch challenge or you could use one of the freebies that Claire has provided.  There are links to these on the challenge blog here.

I may well have an over-weight stash of WM stamps but like everyone else I still have a wish list.  Even with bi-monthly releases I still can't get caught up on it and as Claire keeps bringing out more fab stamps it gets harder and harder to choose which ones to actually buy now and which ones to add to my ever-growing waiting list.  I make it a point that if I only want a couple of the new releases sets then I also choose one from my wish list when I order.  But sadly it's usually one step forward and two steps back - darn it!

Flourishes, scallops & dots £15.25

This was the set I settled on as my freebie but it was a tough decision and was as far back as the July 2011 release (click on the name to be taken to the store).  I have been drooling over this set ever since and then just when I thought I had made up my mind I checked out this week's sketch (which I haven't played yet) and some of the DT samples.  Two of them used the chicken wire background stamp set which I have regretted not getting ever since it came out in February 2012.  Both the sample from Kim Duran (featuring that lovely jam jar that I have yet to play with) and one from Bonnie Sharp feature the chicken wire background stamp.  I couldn't locate Bonnie's post so I've had to link to the WMSC blog so you can check it out here.  She's about the 12th one down the page.  I just love how she's stamped it in white on a dark background - so much so that I knew I had to have it as well and I went ahead and ordered it.  I have the set with this cute chicky in it so I just may have to 'case' her sample.

And today it arrived when Mr Postie came to my door although I'm still waiting for my freebie set so I guess it got posted separately.  Who knows maybe that'll come tomorrow - Yay!  But I knew I should've had this set all along and it's one of the £9.35 medium sized sets.  I can't wait to use it but right now I'm supposed to be sewing so it will have to wait until tomorrow :-)  I suppose I could've just ordered this set as my freebie but I hope Claire will forgive me for being savvy with my choice.  The flourishes set was more expensive so I reasoned that was a better freebie choice but it was worth spending a little extra to get this set too.

All I can say is that I'm feeling really blessed by Claire and Waltzing Mouse stamps right now.  Why not have a play and enter the challenge yourself - you don't even need a blog to to do it so there's nothing to stop you huh?  Who knows - you might even see your name there one week!  I know now that I've won I might make more effort myself now LOL!

Hugs

Suezie

A Quickie!

I needed a card in a hurry this morning when hubby dropped off some of this seasons first zucchini bread for me.  I am never so organised that I have these kind of things to hand when I need one.

Anyhow I simply used several things that were out on work top - that's pretty much how things go with my crafting and I came up with this.  I chose to use the 'just for you' sentiment from a different WMS set cos it was a gift rather than a 'thank you' (which is the stamp that comes with the berry set).

It's quick, clean & simple - or at least for me that is and by chance it just happens to resemble the latest Waltzingmouse sketch challenge below.  I genuinely didn't plan it that way honest!  I played around with the red paper and what d'ya know?  I remembered the sketch had a strip placed at an angle so I tried it and it looked pretty good to me.  I decided to leave it like that and grabbed my camera quick so I could add my entry this week. 

This is the sketch if you fancy a go.  I don't get to play many sketch challenges but they really get you creating cards and projects.  If a body could play each week and then tuck the cards into a box ready to use then they'd have a card whenever one was needed.  Like I said - I'm never that organised LOL! 

BTW I'm still lovin' that giant strawberry stamp!

I will be away for several days as hubby and I go to see Jess for a visit so I doubt I'll have much to post until I get back.  Hope you all have a good week.

Blessings

Suezie

Waltzing Mouse Stamps

Well I promised I'd post my latest project this evening so before I head off for a relaxing bath and then bed I'm keeping my word.

Mr Postie finally delivered the remainder of my stamp order yesterday but sadly not in time for me to get a card made for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch.  The deadline was 12.00 noon on Friday and Mr Postie came around at 11.30 am, hubby was due home for lunch at 12.00 pm and then my groceries were delivered not long after he'd gone back to work at 1.00 pm so it just wasn't happening.  I managed to get it mostly done by 4.00 pm but it was too late by then.

This is my latest haul.  For those of you that don't know (or may not have heard) Claire is now doing some smaller sets and even a few mini sets which are much kinda to the ol' pocket book too - less than £4 for some of them so if you've always wanted a set of Waltzing Mouse stamps then there's never been a better time to try a set.  They're fab quality so you won't regret it plus these smaller, more affordable sets make gift giving to crafty friends possible too.  I could easily tuck one in a birthday/Christmas card to send to someone so I'll be keeping that in mind.

I chose this one figuring I'd make cards for the boys maybe and because the design team created some amazing cards with it.  Like a lot of you I struggle with boy cards and since they're getting older I need 'teen' style and 'trendy' cards more than ever so this should make things much easier.

But I simply cannot tell a lie.  THIS was the one I was drooling over!  Can you believe it was only £3.99?  Talk about value for money!  I ADORE anything strawberry. I'm sure I've mentioned that I have strawberries in my kitchen before and the sheer size of this strawberry blew me away.  Granted I have a PTI strawberry set plus a few of the friendship jar sets - Yep, I have a thing for jars too - but you can never have too many of your favourite kind of thing huh? LOL

This was the sketch I was attempting to get a project done for but Mr Postie just wasn't quick enough and I was determined to use my new stamps or nothing!

And this is my 'sadly out of time' effort.  If you know how big that PTI tag die is then you get some idea of the scale of the strawberry.  The set isn't called Big Berries for nothing.  In fact it has the word strawberries next to it which makes me wonder if Claire has plans to introduce other 'big berries' at some point in the future - hhmmmm???  How cool would a raspberry or blueberry be?

This is the inside of the card - nothing too fancy but still cute and colourful to match the front.

And this is the back with that really sweet handmade stamp from WMS.  There are other stamps in thIS set but I guess once I get a favourite I'm nothing if not loyal to it.  Besides I think this one says everything I want to say so it's perfect.

This card is going to Jessica for being such a sweetie to her mummy.  She knew I was stuck at home right now so she sent me series 1 & 2 of Downton Abbey plus the 'Call the Midwife' series DVD's - all of which I watched in about 3 days.  Like I said earlier - I had a pretty rough time earlier this week and spent a few more days on the couch than I wanted to but I needed the rest and thanks to her I had plenty to do to keep me occupied.  She's a darling daughter and in about 4 days time I get to go see her for a few days.  I am soooo excited I can hardly wait - oh and it's also my 32nd wedding anniversary but seeing Jess is what I really want to do.  We miss her dreadfully and would love for her to move back closer to home.

Anyhow I missed the WMSC 105 but I did manage to get one in on time for 104.

This was the sketch and below is my effort.

I used a combination of stamp sets and a mixture of papers, Cosmo Cricket, Crate and one or two random ones.  Can't for the life of me figure out why so much yellow should be featuring in my crafting right now but it makes a nice bright, cheery change.

Well it's getting late and the bath is calling me so I'm off for a relax in the tub.  The other evening I actually took a book in with me - I haven't done that in donkey's years!  I think I could easily take up reading again if I did this. Totally undisturbed time - it's like a little piece of heaven :-)

I have a few more things to share but I'll save them for Monday.  See you then.  BTW it's been great to hear back from some of you out there - I've missed ya!

Love

Suezie

Sneak Peek

Okay I really couldn't resist one more post (plus I need the incentive to finish it) and show you a sneak peek of my current project.  I got new stamps in the post yesterday - not in time for something I needed sadly but I'm not complaining - just playing a bit behind schedule that's all - so what else is new?

As I type this is sitting beside me waiting for a liner and then for some finishing touches to the back.  I started it yesterday so I think maybe it's time I had lunch and then got back to it.  Will post the finished work this evening.

Hugs

Cupcake Flowerpot

I missed a friends birthday recently and felt really bad about it - in fact I miss lots of birthdays - my memory is just CRAP! when it comes to remembering dates of any kind.  I regularly rely on others to remind me I have a class or an appointment coming up - seriously - I am THAT BAD!

Anyhow to make things worse I had forgotten this same friend last year as well and am frequently reminded of it so there was no way I was going to let it slide a second year.  I simply had to make up for it.  But just so you don't think I'm a total loss I have remembered her b'day in the past - just not the last couple years.

I had seen an idea where you present a cupcake in a cute papermache flowerpot that's then decorated up with ribbons, butterflies and flower cupcake pokes and knew I wanted to recreate something similar.

On the way home from a physio appointment at my local hospital this morning I stopped in a new store in town and purchased a pretty yellow cupcake.  I maybe should have made one of mine but I have just been super tired this week for some reason.

After bringing the cupcake home I set about the presentation and decorations.

I started by stuffing handmade paper into the flower pot and then added a second 'open' layer that would sit gathered around the cupcake.  Next I added butterflies from some stamped gingham cardstock (WMS) onto the paper and then used the new doily WMS stamps to create the flower cake pokes.

And of course the treat wouldn't be complete without a card to accompany it so I stuck with the same colour scheme and doily theme and came up with this.  The pink and yellow colours are a bit different I grant you (and maybe the yellow is a bit too bright) but it kinda worked. 

I dropped this off today when Jilly and I got together for a long overdue 'girly lunch' in town.  We were celebrating her new job and my being able to walk again and had set the date a while ago so we were really looking forward to it.  In her old job Jilly always had to rush off to get to work but now that her hours have changed we could spend the entire day together.  She walked my legs off!!!  So now I'm going to have a light bite and rest up for much of the evening - my poor tootsies!

Still I'm VERY grateful to be able to walk so I'm not complaining.

Hope you enjoy!

Suezie

By The Numbers

Yesterday a friend came along to stamp with some of my new stamps and since she came bearing chocolate and the most delicious soup I had a really nice day. She simply roasted butternut squash and sweet potato in a little oil along with an entire bulb of garlic and then once cooked she blitzed them all up with a little vegetable stock - how simple does that sound?  Eunice I already have sweet potatoes in the refrigerator and I'm picking up butternut squash this weekend so hubby can try this recipe - thanks it was YUMMY!

Okay so back to the crafting....

As I helped my friend make a birthday card she needed I got out the numbers set and dies from Papertrey Ink.  I hadn't gotten around to using these new goodies yet but I was inspired today to create hubby a birthday card in plenty of time for May and then got carried away making a few more.  I kept the same simple, basic base and just changed up a bit here and there for each version.

I kept his card simple and I love that I could feature his actual age regardless of what it is.  Usually you find numbers for special birthdays but since I can die-cut whatever ones I need I could easily do '56'.  OMG! is he REALLY that old LOL!

I used my new PTI numbered embossing plate on each of these cards as well.  It's so nice to have the entire set including the stamps when creating something quick and easy.  I'm sure I'll refer back to these supplies loads.

Then I remembered that one of my neighbour's mentioned her hubby was turning 60 so I decided to make an even simpler version to send along birthday wishes for his special birthday.  It's a shame you can't see the numbered detail in this shot or the pattern on the paper - you'll just have to trust me when I say it looked really good.

Then I thought of 2 more birthdays coming up soon so I worked out how old they'd be and made two girly versions.  Our daughter turned 30 not too long ago and one of her cousins will soon be 30.  These are our kids/neices so how old does this make me feel LOL!  Or maybe it's not such a laughing matter!

I won't show the one behind (don't want to spoil a surprise) and I may well add some rolled flowers to it anyways - plus I might still add a button or black gem here or there on some of these.  I haven't yet decided but whatever I do I need to clean up the kitchen of all my craft clutter before I do much else.

I added a few quick punched flowers and some of that fabby card candy in colours that were perfect for my papers.  I also die-cut the numbers in chipboard, covered them with paper and then added glitter (sorry it's not sparkling) because it was more girly.  This one is getting sent off back home for our lovely niece so I hope she likes it.

I am not good with birthdays usually - truth be told - I am utterly CRAP! when it comes to remembering birthdays and no matter how organised I try to be at the start of the year it goes completely pear shaped in the first couple of months!  Maybe I need to book me some craft sessions with friends so I can make up several cards at once and get ahead of the game - yeah right - like 'me' getting ahead's ever gonna happen LOL!

For now things have vastly improved - I know I am tempting fate saying that - but I am feeling so much better and doing really well that who knows?  Whatever happens I am certainly making the most of feeling better and it shows in my crafting/blogging hopefully.

Enjoy!  Big HUGS

Suezie



Papertrey Ink Vintage Pretties

For the past couple of days I've had a chance to play with just a few of my new goodies from my recent package.  I needed a few gifts and I had in mind to make some more of those fab paper sack pockets - perfect for filling to the brim with hand stamped goodies.  This time round I folded them somewhat differently so I had a double pocket to tuck my gifts into.

I had lots of lovely October Afternoon paper scraps left over from making my recipe pages which were just perfect for these.  Each one is a card kit and then the paper sack pocket can be filled with something new and passed on to someone else unless of course you want to keep it for yourself that is.  But I really like the idea that it can do a double duty and be re-used.  I created them with re-usable tags deliberately just for this very reason.

I made a handmade card to go with each to provide somewhere for me to write a message with the gift but also to provide a sample card for inspiration.  I love my new PTI doily die - so, so pretty - I love being able to add that little touch of lace effect whenever I want to.  I only used half a doily on each card so a little can go a long way too.

 

And below are the contents of just a single pocket - hard to believe ALL this fits in there!  I added a couple of card blanks - already inked and distressed, plus a couple of my hand made square envelopes, some die-cut doilies, several hand stamped button cards, some home made chipboard buttons (loved makin those!), some vintage lace and seam binding tape, pretty paper strips and finally a few 'just the ticket' stamped sentiments.

I had such fun mixing up the button stamps to create different styles of cards suitable for taking ribbon or lace and even creating card stock strips which I used to sew my hand made buttons onto for persentation - I thought these were really neat.  I also love my newest PTI button dies and spent ages cutting out chipboard, then pretty paper, then gluing the paper onto the chipboard and finally applying a coat of varnish to finish - very therapeutic.  In fact everything - the stamping, cutting, distressing and finishing - was all very relaxing.

One of these is going overseas to my sister-in-love Linda as a belated b'day treat just as soon as I can get it to the post office - hubby is working this weekend so it might take another week - sorry sis!  This being house bound is a real pain.  One is going to a work colleague as a 'just because' cos I'd like her to have one and I really appreciate how hard she's working manning the office and doing the job of two single handedly and the last one is being tucked away ready for a friend's upcoming b'day along with a little something else I hope to make to go with it.  But I'm not tellin' LOL!

Not only have I had time to sit and play with my new stamps and dies but I have had the chance to potter away at my own pace which has helped me keep from climbing the walls of late.  Every time I try to do bits and pieces I get completely giddy so I have the perfect excuse to sit and stamp at the moment.  Roll on Monday when I hope to get some answers as to why I'm not yet recovered from all this. Good thoughts and prayers please!

Blessings

Suezie

It Arrived!

Well my dream package of PTI goodies arrived this morning along with the wall paper border for my room.  Maybe now hubby and I can turn our attention back to the room which has sadly sat idle for a while now.  He's been way too busy getting potatoes in the ground at our little plot anyways.

This has to be one of my bestest orders - full of lots of things I've been drooling over for some time now.  I only regret that I'm not having a good enough day to really get to playing with these today.  I've checked a couple of the dies work ok - and they do - yay!  And I've stamped a couple of individual stamps but I don't have what I need to get down to business with anything crafty today. 

Maybe I'll just have to console myself with some of the yummy Reece's Peanut Butter Cups that my sister-in-love added when sending my package and a movie today and be done with it.  Trust me - I don't feel cheated one bit LOL!  Besides all this lovely lot will still be there tomorrow and I plan to make some goodies for various people who are very much in need of a little goodie package all of their very own just as soon as I am able to play.

Hope you're doing something crafty today!

Hugs

Suezie

Grandma's Cloud Biscuits

I enjoyed makin the recipe scrapbook page wall art so much that I had to create another one and this time I used mom's 'cloud biscuits' recipe that I've made soooooo many times.  In fact even my hubby has made them on several occasions too including for Christmas Day breakfast.

As usual I have someone specific in mind to receive this hand created artwork so my colours and papers were chosen to fit nicely in with their kitchen colours and design.  One more pressie ticked off the Christmas list - cool!

I just fell in love with the designer paper full of kitchen gadgets and since these papers reminded me of pretty fabrics I created a 'patchwork' mat to place my recipe onto including lace and a paper doily for added effect.

I perhaps didn't use quite so many WM stamps on this page because I didn't want to cover up that cool kitchen gadget paper too much.  I did use the little teacup stamps though which I thought were cute and then I used more of the info strips on my page.  With names of designs such as 'tea towel' and 'percolator' how could I resist?

I know my package will be here early next week so hopefully I can add some of mom's buttons on these pages somewhere since they're intended to be keepsakes. 

Hopefully next week I can get a few more made and then all I have to do is make one for me LOL!  I want, I want, I want!  I think I am genuinely hooked on these!

Hugs

Suezie

Pretty in Pink & Blue

Well I may have been thoroughly bored and a bit of a misery this morning but I decided a 'pity party' was not the way I wanted to go today and did some more stamping and scrap booking this afternoon with Waltzing Mouse stamps.  Not only do I love these stamps but they're also saving my sanity at the moment so I'm VERY grateful for them and besides I can't seem to put them down right now anyhow.  Hard to believe I still have two sets I have yet to open and play with too.

I had in mind to do a page using 3 smaller photos in a row and something a bit more girly.  This is a nice design to display either 3 different kids/people or 3 shots of the same event.  I can't quit with the round stamps from the 'rescue remedies' set - just love the scalloped borders and all that opportunity to use those black gems - and those flowers are just way too cute NOT to use them again.

I picked these papers up last time we were stateside and had Maddycakes in mind for them so I've been hanging on to them for a while now.  They're double sided (my favourite kind) and are called 'giggle kids' from Making Memories.  Aren't they cute?

Because I've used several papers sparingly I still have enough to do a page of Madyson at a later date.  In fact one of the papers is full of text with lovely words like 'sugar', 'spice', 'little princess' and 'sweet girl' so I kept as much of that one as possible.  I decided to try using some text stamps from my newer western sets in a totally non-western style page and I liked how they worked out.

 I fell in love with this beautifully scrolled frame stamp when I used it on my earlier western page of the boys - it makes quite the statement.  On looking at these pictures now I think maybe I should've used a frame stamp on the pink behind as well but there's almost always something I'd do slightly different on EVERY page, card or project I create so it's no big deal really.

I have had both an entire day by myself today with nobody for company but Michael Buble (well on CD anyway) and am on my own again this evening too as hubby is at the church youth group this evening, so after this post I plan to go get my pj's on, grab a nice cuppa and pop in yet another period drama DVD which should just about take me to bedtime.  Tomorrow is April 1st so I'm starting the countdown to 11 April when I hope to get some answers (if I'm still full of the colly wobbles that is).  BIG apolgies for this morning's grumpies BTW.

Hugs

Suezie

As for Me and My House......

Well today I created another page using those 'oh so cute' Waltzing Mouse homespun stamps - namely the house.  I was keen to give this one a go with one of the scripture stamps from Verve featuring a verse from Joshua 24:15 'but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord'.

In truth the page may seem a bit bright with the yellow but then when you remember that it will eventually be under glass and these colours will tone down it's fine.  You know - a bit like wearing make-up when you wear glasses - you often need to add just a little bit more to see it once you put your glasses back on same kinda thing.

I tried to use as many WM stamps as I could again with the exception of the verse and that zigzag stamp that I love so much.  I even managed to use another frame stamp behind the house although next time I might change the background colour to kraft or something similar.  It all got a bit too much green by the time I added the leaves as well.

As I wanted different flowers I re-created those funky ones I first made last year using the rescue remedies set and a Spellbinders nestabilities die.  I love how different they look.

I'm pretty sure these papers are October Afternoon but I had already cut the label strips off - not sure why?  I love to stamp onto patterned papers so I have even used the text stamps onto the yellow floral paper as well as the larger circles.

I'm happy to gift this or equally happy to put it up for grabs if anyone is interested.  If nothing else I will have a lovely collection of Christmas gift pages by the time I'm done huh?  I really must try some toned down papers at some point I think.

Hope you like :-)

Suezie

Banana Cream Pie Plus Another WMS Page

My daughter came over and made Grandma Howard's Banana Cream Pie (under my watchful eye) on Friday for our family dinner - I had some pie shells and bananas that needed using up. This was a firm family favourite and poor ol' mom slaved over a double boiler to make these - bless her.  I cheat and use a microwave technique.  Why ever not?  Plus I usually cheat and use a ready made pie crust too.  Hey - I bake - I just bake the easy way - who has time? LOL!

Technically they're topped with meringue rather than cream (uses up the egg whites perfectly) but I have been known to use a cream topping if I'm in even more of a hurry.  And YES I do still have the foil casing on these - I wasn't brave enough to remove the pie from it cos they were a bit crumbly - I did say I had to use them up.

 

They're soooooo yummy!  Best of all there were left overs so hubby and I had a second piece the following day. Double yum!

I don't use very deep pie shells so I get two whole pies out of this mixture. Want the recipe?

Grandma's Banana Cream Pie

1 - 2 pie shells, 2-3 ripe bananas, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar (twice), 2 cups milk, 5 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon butter

Mix flour, salt and 1/4 cup sugar in a large microwave bowl then gradually stir in milk.  Cook on high stirring every few minutes until thick as custard.   Cook a few minutes longer.  Mix egg yolks with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and stir in a little of the hot custard mixture.  Add egg mixture to bowl, stir and cook on high, stirring occasionally until it moulds when dropped from a spoon.  Add butter and vanilla and pour over sliced bananas in pie shell.  Top with whipped, sweetened double cream or meringue.

Enjoy!

The other thing I wanted to quickly share is the page I finally finished.  I just love this page design so I had to make a second one.  This one will probably be a gift but I will happily take requests for a page if anyone's interested.  I can't repeat the same papers but I have some lurvely October Afternoon papers coming plus a few other pretty ones I'm looking at in my stash.

Don't these WM stamps lend themselves beautifully to this page design?  I have an 'as for me and my house.....' scripture stamp from Verve that I am thinking about using for a different layout using these WM stamps too - except using the house and flowers stamps. 

So many of the 'tiny' stamps are fun to use like the centre circle which works really well in the scalloped strip.  I first cut a scallop with scissors that were a pretty close match in size and then stamped the circle into each scallop.  They were perfect for sitting one of my favourite black gems into.  I am not a photographer so sometimes my photos don't do justice.

The frames are perfect for adding text and now that I have the WM alphabet stamps I can use WM for ALL the text on my pages.

I am getting a nice collection of scrapbook pages using Waltzing Mouse stamps in my WM gallery - this ones going in there and I have plans to keep adding more so watch this space.  At some point I will move on from this design and do one of the other half dozen sketches I have rattling around in my head! 

Enjoy!

Blessings - Suezie