I need help...

...not that kind of help, although there are days when i could happily call the men in white coats myself!! ;)

I am looking for a drinks dispenser like the one below. I LOVE IT!! There are so many available in the USA but i cant seem to find a clear one (theres a smoked glass dimpled one on ebay) in the UK......anyone who can find me one that i do manage to buy will get a pressie from me!!
A little update on my babies...yep babies, my oldest and youngest enjoying some snoozy cuddles on the sofa...its amazing how much work i can get done while they snuggle up like this! :D (plus its the first photo ive managed to get of my eldest for a long time - he cant hide when hes asleep!) LOL
Finally, little miss giggles - this is Evie at 4.30am!! Bright eyed and bushy tailed! Wakes up with a smile and goes to sleep with a smile *sigh*
Life is pretty darn good right now :D

Banana Frog July Blog Hop...

Its Fete time and Banana Frog are giving away a set of stamps to a name picked at random from each of the girls blogs, just leave a comment to qualify....hop from here on over to Audrey for another chance to win and remember to check the main Banana Frog blog for updates on new stamp sets (ooh the Christmas ones are just gorgeous and sold out within 20 minutes of launch on Create and Craft last week!!) :)

Winner time!

The winner of prize 1......is Kitty :)

The winner of prize 2......is Colette :)

The winner of prize 3......is Fifi Folle :)

The winner of prize 4......is Wendy :)

The winner of prize 5......is Chloe :)

The winner of prize 6......is Greyparrot :)

The winner of prize 7......is AmandaSue :)

The winner of prize 8......is Suzanne :)

All picked at random according to what numbers you wanted - yep that was a job and a half but youre all worth it :)

Please can you all email me your addresses to debbie(at)countryheartandhome.com and i will get your prizes out to you :)

Hugs
Debbie

Tune in tomorrow for the monthly Banana Frog blog hop for the chance to win a set of stamps! :D

Decorated Sugar Cookies - week 28 :)

Shopping list is Here.

This is the first time i have decorated cookies with the flooding technique and im quite pleased with how they turned out - i need more practice and I can see this becoming another obsession!! lol

Here goes....dont say i didnt warn you....I am on the slippery slope of cookie making and I'm taking you all with me.... lol

Cream together the sugar and butter.Add the egg and vanilla essence and continue to mix.Gradually add the baking powder and sieved flour and mix until a firm ball is formed. You may need to take it out of an electric mixer to finish this step.Roll it out onto a floured surface and using cookie cutters, cut your desired shapes.Lay on baking trays and bake in the oven at 170 degrees c for approx 15 minutes.Leave on the baking tray to cool slightly before moving to cooling racks.Once cooled completely make up your icing to a hard peak consistency and pipe a border around the edges of each cookie.Using the left over icing divide into dishes and colour as you wish. Gradually add a few drops of water at a time until you end up with a thick syrup like liquid. Decant this into a squeezy bottle ( i bought mine in a kitchen shop and it was labelled as a ketchup bottle) and fill in each of the sections, this is called 'flooding'. Push it gently if necessary towards the edge so it fills all of the gap.Leave to harden and then pop in a tin or canister, add a pretty homemade label and some ribbon and you have a cheap but effective gift :) (stamp is from Waltzing Mouse and you should see this months release! Ideal for Halloween cookies!)

Birthday Ice Cream Bar!

Scott turned 12 yesterday and when i asked him if he wanted a themed tea he said straight away that camouflage/army theme would be cool!
I set it up so that they could get a dish of chocolate icecream and then fill the bowl with fruit, sweets, sauces etc...
I made the goodie bags at the front with Bo Bunny Roughin It Collection, Papertrey Ribbon and name tags. These were to hold the crawling soldiers, soldier bubbles and as many sweets as they could eat! lol Most of the themed party goodies game from a fab store...Fun Party Supplies
I made the cake too - i was asked for a sniper on a hill. 2 sponge cakes, 1 chocolate cake, a mountain of green butter icing and 2 boxes of chocolate fingers later it was done! Scott thought it was 'cool' so thats all that matters! lol The lollies were covered with the Bo bunny Roughin it papers and the boys names. Each of the labels were backed with the same papers.
Scott wants to join cadets and go into the army when he leaves school....it makes my heart ache but i came to realise it was something he was serious about when he made a comment to a friend of mine. Her nephew was killed in Afghanistan and Scott said to her that he would always be remembered as a hero. My heart aches but is so proud at the same time.

Week 28 - Decorated Sugar Cookies *shopping list*

Shopping list for week 2812oz Plain Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
4oz Caster Sugar
8oz Butter
1 Egg
1tsp Vanilla Extract

Icing sugar
Colouring of choice

Shaped Cookie Cutters or Circle/Square Cutters.

I need to go and help a boy with his camo theme party so i have a tank shaped pinata to go fill!!

Will be back with photographs of it all tomorrow but for now HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY SCOTT!! :D :D

Giveaway time - 8 prizes!!

Yep I cant count and put together 8 prizes for hitting 700 followers!! Oh well, im sure no one will complain if im giving away extra prizes will they ?? LOL

1. 2 Ritzy Ditzy Glitz Sprays in Turquoise and Garnet. Anti Static powder. All P K Glitz.
2. Tiny Type Alphabet. Prima pebbles. 7Gypsies Blank book.
3. Bo bunny Peacock lane sticker sheets x2. Peacock Lane Rub Ons & Peacock Lane Brads.
4. 2xHero Arts stamp sets.
5. Bo bunny Block Party brads. Block Party Note worthy Mini Album. Block Party Rub ons.
6. Set of 2 Union Jack Cake Tins. Pack of Shabby Chic style chicken napkins.
7. LOTS OF PINK!! Ideal as girly pressy! lol Sticky notes, pens, pencil, notebooks and Book of wisomosity (its an open at random pages - magic 8 kind of book where you get random answers on different pages).
8. Set of 2 Jewel embossed wall stickers (BIG!). Adhesive Mirror Plaque for Bathroom.
All you need to do is leave a comment below with the numbers you would like to win and i will pick 8 winners on Wednesday night, announcing Thursday :)

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments and encouragement - each one of you is very much appreicated :D

Bo Bunny DT Call ends tomorrow!!

If you havent got your entries in do it now!! I had a last minute panic attack and sent mine yesterday, theyre gone, done and im sure its ok to share them now! You had to enter 2 cards, 2 layouts and one 'other' project - here are the two layouts i entered...
...if i make it i will be over the moon, if i dont then ive had a good run this past year and have thoroughly enjoyed being on the team! :)

I have gained so much this past year and have so much still to give that im excited to see where my path is heading.... :)

Week 27 Blondie *step by step*

Shopping list is here...
(instead of pecans i used a mix of brazils and walnuts)Preheat oven to 170 degrees c.

Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Leave until melted and smotth.
Remove from the heat. Add th sugar and stir until well incorporated.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract, stirring briskly so that you dont allow the eggs time to scramble. Dont worry if the mixture looks like it is starting to split.
Add the flour, salt and pecan nuts and stir until well incorporated and the nuts are evenly dispersed.
Spoon the mix into the prepared baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown and the centre is still soft.
Leave to cool completely.
Serve and enjoy xxx

oooh almost 700 - what does that mean??

Im thinking this time it means that we are going to give away 7 YES SEVEN prizes!!

Check back soon to see whats up for grabs once we hit 700 followers - im going on a shopping spree tomorrow......anything in particular you fancy?? :)

Loads of love to you all and thank you a million times for all the encouragement and kind words i have ever received on here.....you really do make me smile :)

Congratulations Shirley!

Shirley you have won the Crafters Companion Little Madam stamp - please email me your address and i will pass it on so your prize can be posted :)

debbie(at)countryheartandhome.com

Hugs
Debbie
x

Week 27 - Blondie *shopping list*

Im ahead of the game on the next couple of weeks so the posts will be going ahead on Mondays & Wednesdays again :)

Taken from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook,

Shopping List for week 27:
150g White Chocolate
125g Unsalted Butter
150g Caster Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
200g Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
120g Pecan Nuts

Lots to share...

I thought i would take some time today to upload some recent projects ive made for various design teams etc :) The following cards were for the SWALK launch on Create & Craft this week...


The following were for Craftwork Cards after i received a lovely email saying the liked what i did with the templates, they announced me as a new design team member and although im flattered at that i think it was a miss-type! lol All of the little accents were either butterflies or flowers (yep even the elephants ear is a butterfly)!




Here are some of my Souffle cards for his launch on Create & Craft a few weeks back - he is so cute!

Finally here are my two most recent projects for BoBunny... an altered tin using Block Party...
...and a daily notes journal made with Peacock Lane collection...
I have just finished

... my final two projects for Twisted sketches...
...my final project for Bo Bunny...
...three of the upcoming Chicken Soup projects...
...the next three weeks recipes.

Phew...i think im finally making some progress with my to do lists! lol