hey girls…SP here with the promised PROJECT SCRAP check-in post, lol :o)  I finally got my March pages scrapped…hope you have, too – or are at least working on them (let’s not get behind)!  We can do this, lol :o)  I know, some months are going to be more difficult than others…some will be busier…others might be boring, lol!  But, let’s keep our eye on the goal…which is to have a two-page spread for each month of the year (along with a cover, etc.) when the year is up!  Ya know how it goes…if we ever let ourselves get behind…it will be SOOOOOO difficult to catch back up again (and more than likely, we never will, lol)!  OK…that was your pep talk/motivation for the month, lol :o)  I hope it was helpful, he he!

So, how about some inspiration for the MARCH layouts?

First, we have my pages (SP)…as always, this was a busy month and we did all kinds of fun stuff!  So much that I might have to include a couple of extra pages for the month as well…which is FINE with me…I kinda like the idea of a BIG book at the end of the year, lol!  We’ll see how it goes and if I find the time to scrap those other pages (wish me luck)!  I had bunches of fun working on these though…and enjoyed the happy color palette I went with!  Sometimes it can be difficult with so many different photos and colors and themes, etc…but you can really pull everything together with the elements :o)

Next, we have Kylie’s gorgeous pages!  I love (I mean LOOOOVE) her color scheme (my three fave colors!) and the way she ‘tied’ everything together with the flowers and other fun elements!  There is so much interest and so many adorable photos!  SUPER SUPER SWEET!

And, I just HAD to include these ADORABLE pages by one of our super talented gallery posters (jessg26)!  Sorry, I couldn’t resist…just LOOK at that face on the left…and all of the precious-ness on the right hand page?!  Seriously!  lol…it is all just sooooo good and I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it :o)  Be sure to check out jessg26′s gallery for more yummy inspiration!

 Of course, there are lots more PROJECT SCRAP layouts (January – March) in our special PROJECT SCRAP gallery - so be sure to check it out – I promise you’ll be inspired :o)  THANK YOU ALL soooo much for joining in the project…and for sharing your pages with us (we hope to see MORE and MORE as the months go by)!

We’ll be back on Monday with LOTW…see ya then :o)  xoxo –SP

Shabby PrincessInspiration, project Scrap 2011, Uncategorized No Comments

Hello, it’s Kylie here! - and for today’s Food Friday post I’m sharing a little Easter treat that I’ve enjoyed since I was very little… Marshmallow Bunnies! Mmmm, light and fluffy and extra yummy!

Easter is just around the corner and with the inevitable onslaught of all that chocolate, it’s actually nice to have something sweet that isn’t of the chocolate variety… just for a change! Although, come to think of it, chocolate and marshmallow go extremely well together… hmmm, perhaps another recipe for another time…! :o)

It’s been a few years since I made these cute little bunnies, but it was a nice time to dust off the recipe and whip up a batch. And, they really are so quick and easy to make, and heaps of fun, too! Here are the ingredients:

•  3 teaspoons of gelatine (powdered)
•  125ml (4 fl oz) hot water
• 60ml (2 fl oz) cold water
• 150g (5 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence, or any other flavouring you’d like to use – strawberry, peppermint, lemon, orange, etc. – you may only need a couple of drops depending on your chosen flavour, so vary the quantity of flavouring in line with personal preference.
• food colouring – your choice (to be used for both the marshmallow mix and for painting – both are optional) – if you intend to leave the mixture white then you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice or white vinegar to keep the marshmallow nice and extra-white!
• desiccated coconut (dried coconut shreds) – enough to cover all bunnies

You will need 6 x 125ml (4 fl oz) Bunny Moulds (or Molds, depending on where you come from!) for this recipe. Plastic Bunny Moulds, or the like, can be found in general kitchenware shops (especially this time of year) or specialty cake/confectionery suppliers, or you may have to try a Google search. I only have 2 x 125ml moulds and 12 x 25ml moulds, so I had a little mixture left over. I just spread the remaining marshmallow into a small slice tin that I had lined with non-stick baking paper. Once set, I cut it into little squares and rolled each square in some desiccated coconut. You could also do this if you don’t have any specialty moulds – just as fun and just as yummy!

Here is how to make your bunnies, plus some handy tips:

• Lightly oil all the moulds with a little cooking oil spray. This will help the marshmallow come out of the mould in one piece. I also use a sheet of paper towel to lightly wipe the inside of each mould – 1. to even out the oil and 2. to wipe away any excess oil, especially in the ear cavities.
• Chill moulds until needed.
• Place sugar and cold water into a large bowl. Beat for 5 minutes with electric mixer.
• Add gelatine to hot water and stir briskly until dissolved. While hot, add to the cold sugar mix and beat on high speed until thick and white. This will take up to approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Or, as a guide, when the mixture holds a figure 8 it is ready. It is best not to over whip, as the thicker the mixture is, the harder it is to fill all the tiny ridges in the moulds (like the ears and back).
• Add preferred colour and flavour, beat to combine.
• Pour immediately into chilled moulds. Run the back of a knife or spatula over the mould to ensure the base of the bunny is flat. Tap the mould to get rid of any air bubbles and refrigerate until firm. (Remember to leave the moulds resting upside down, otherwise the mixture will just run out!)
• When the marshmallow is fully set, you can ease the bottom edge of the bunny away from sides of the mould with your finger. Turn the moulds upside down and continue to gently pull all the marshmallow away from the sides and it will slip out without any trouble at all.
• Paint the eyes, ears and whiskers with food colouring. You could also outline the tail and legs, too - or even paint a flower on its side– be as creative as you like! (A fun activity for the kids!!) Please use a food-safe paint brush, or a wooden toothpick is a good alternative.
• Sit the bunny in coconut and carefully sprinkle coconut over it. Gently pat the marshmallow with your hand to help the coconut stick.

 I hope you enjoy making these cute little bunnies or even just the marshmallow itself!  Here is a 4×6 recipe card I created especially for YOU so that you can make them at home for Easter, or anytime you wish! Just click on the image to download (or click HERE)!

See you all back here for Layout of the Week on Monday! And in the meantime, have a sweet, sweet weekend!! :o)

KylieFood Stuff, Free (not desktops), Uncategorized 9 Comments

 Hey there! :o)  SP here with our latest TEMPLATE CHALLENGE - number ELEVEN…can you believe it?  lol!  I don’t know about you guys – but I enjoy our challenges immensely!  They really get me scrappin’…where I might not be otherwise, kwim?  I LOVE having that motivation (it’s just how I work, lol) – and I often find that my favorite layouts started as templates!  Anyway – I hope you feel the same and enjoy this challenge…as well as all the others!

And…a wonderful BONUS (or two) with TEMPLATE CHALLENGE ELEVEN…you get a FREE 12×12 (high res) piece-a-cake page…and SPRING wordart!  Thanks so much to KYLIE for her work on these goodies!

To download…CLICK HERE (or simply click the preview image below)!

 Before we get to the inspiration…let’s go over the GUIDELINES?!

The ‘deadline’ for this challenge is APRIL 28th :o)  I will announce the template challenge winner on May 5th, when we share Template Challenge TWELVE!  As you probably know, we now announce the winner on the same day we debut a new template challenge.  The ‘winner’ of the challenge will receive a $25 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe!  Please note that for our template challenges…we select the ‘winner’ randomly – so everyone has a chance to win…beginners and experienced scrappers!  It’s a great way to jump in and give digi scrapping (and templates) a try :o)

In order to be entered into the template challenge – you must post your layout in the Shabby Shoppe’s gallery (in the SHOPPE BLOG CHALLENGES gallery) and then post a comment HERE at our blog (on this post only) with a link to your layout in our gallery.  This will enter you into the challenge :o)  Please keep in mind that all layouts must contain at least 75% SP product (purchased or free).  To be eligible for the challenge – you must scrap with the easy-as-pie layered template!

We also have several fun ways for you to obtain ‘EXTRA’ entries to the challenge (please note that in order to qualify for any EXTRA entries – you must first complete a layout with our easy-as-pie template and submit that to our gallery and blog) :o)

• For an extra entry, leave a SEPARATE comment letting us know that you have one of our blinkies (available by clicking on the blinkies link in the sidebar) either on your blog or in all of your forum signatures (be sure to include a link to your blog or signature in your post).
• For an extra entry, leave a SEPARATE comment letting us know that you have facebooked or twittered about our template challenge (don’t forget to include the link in your post).
• For an extra entry, leave a SEPARATE comment letting us know that you have blogged about our template challenge (again, be sure to add your blog link to your post).

So, that means that you have the possibility of entering the challenge up to 4 times! Just be sure each entry is a separate comment, as we will be using a random number generator to choose the winner.  Be sure to get your entries in by MIDNIGHT (eastern time) on APRIL 28th, and again…the winner will be announced in early May (the 5th to be exact)!

 So again…here is your newest Easy-As-Pie Layered Template! <–click this to download OR click the preview image at the top of this post :o)

Your download includes:

• 12×12 Layered psd template with drop shadows (you can opt to turn them off or use your own)
• 12×12 Layered TIFF template with drop shadows
• 12×12 piece-a-cake page (PNG format)
• Spring wordart

In the event this is your first time scrapping with a layered template – I created a quick and simple tutorial on how to use our Easy-As-Pie templates in PSE and PS. You can find it HERE. I tried to cover the basics, but if you have any questions, please let us know and one of the Shabby Team Members will do their best to answer it.

Now, I think it is time for some inspiration, lol :o)  You can always visit the Shabby Artist Gallery for more information about each layout – we will be uploading throughout the day/night)…

I think I have been missing trips to the lake…so I had to find these ‘old’ pics to scrap, LOL!  Just some wonderfully fun memories…what a great day that was (isn’t that what scrapbooking is all about?  remembering all of those great days…along with the not-so-great sometimes, too :o))!

Next…we have two AWESOME layouts by Kylie!  I love how both layouts work with the template…but they are SO different from one another!  I love them both equally…and SO much :o)  The woman just has a way with flowers, lol!  And the boys…just PRECIOUS and so wonderfully done!

 Now…we have this ADORABLE layout by Trish!  I really love how she worked with (and tweaked) the template…and seriously – how CUUUUUTE is Belly?  Did I mention her incredible talent for ‘clustering’ elements?!:

 And last (but sooooo far from least :o)…we have Anna’s gorgeous page!  I just love everything about this page…but especially her use of the journaling block as a frame for the pics!  How sweet is this page?  Looks like a wonderful day and special memories: 

Thanks again for the fabulous inspiration, girls :o)  Now that you guys have seen our layouts…we sincerely hope you enjoy scrapping your own!  We ALWAYS look forward to seeing your pages in the gallery!  HAPPY SCRAPPING :o)

{Remember to link up to this post only to enter template challenge ELEVEN}

And, finally – let’s not forget about TEMPLATE CHALLENGE TEN’s winner!!!!!  YAY!!!!  This time, the ‘lucky’ number was EIGHT…and that means that designs’ super cute MAY MUD layout was selected :o)  How cute and TOTALLY boy is that page (designs – you should have scrapped pics of the bath that followed, lolol)?  lol!  LOVE IT!   Congrats, designs…you should have received a $25 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe in your email box (be sure to check spam folders) this morning…ENJOY and thanks for joining in the fun!  and, as always…a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who joined in the template challenge fun… 

K, ladies!  That does it for me today (well, for the blog at least, lol…the rest of the day is just beginning, he he) :o)  I hope you are inspired to scrap some gorgeous pages with our newest template (and create some wonderful pages with our piece-a-cake page)!  I promise to update soon with a project SCRAP check-in (hoped to last weekend…but got so busy – so it will be THIS weekend sometime)!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow as you won’t want to miss Kylie’s “Food Friday” post (I got a little sneak peek and it is ADORABLE)!  Have a good one!  XOXO — SP

Shabby PrincessFree (not desktops), Template Challenges, Uncategorized 63 Comments

Hi all, Trish here to bring you the first of our 2 part springy product spotlights!! This month we are highlighting SP’s lovely spring kits, and I’m kicking it off with BLOSSOM (on SALE for only $5.95 for a limited time)!

BLOSSOM is a wonderful spring kit that has a stunning combination of bright and pastel tones. It’s full of fun doodle elements and wordart, flowers, shabby accents, and some beautiful papers. This kit is fastly becoming one of my favorites. Which is pretty evident since I’ve used it on four pages… not counting the two I did for the spotlight! lol

Here’s one of my pages using BLOSSOM:

And here are some more beautiful layouts by the Shabby Artists showcasing the kit:

By me and Anna. Yes, my Belly is wearing the same outfit in both of my layouts…what can I say it’s an adorable outfit! And look how grown up and beautiful Anna’s little princess looks! I love the way Anna rocked those swirls on her page and how the butterflies just follow along them is wonderful.

Next up are two pages by the very talented Kylie. I love how she created two completely different looks using the same kit. Plus those cupcakes looks so scrumptiously delicious, and my word, how precious is the pouty face in that first layout!!

Look at the two beautiful pages created by Mariquita. How fun and adorable these pages are! Love them!! Her girls are so precious in their little swimsuits, and what a cute idea making them a magazine cover on that first layout.

And to wrap things up, a fun layout by SP!

BLOSSOM is just a kit not to be missed so make sure you pick it up while it’s on SALE, and make sure you check out these pages in their larger sizes in the Shabby Artist Gallery! Maybe you already have Blossom, or love it but don’t have time to create a bunch? Then you should check out the 12×12 and Badge Piece-a-Cake albums available in the Shoppe. Also, spring is a great time to update the look of your blog, and we have that covered with Blossom also. There are two different sets of BLOGwear available with Blossom (for personal blogs only), you can find them here and here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Join us back here on Thursday, when SP shares a NEW template challenge (number 11).

TrishProduct Spotlight, Uncategorized 7 Comments

Hello Shabby Shoppe Blog Readers. It’s Anna here! If you read our blog, you know that every Monday someone from the team chooses the Layout of the Week! It is quite an honor to be chosen, so make sure you post your fabulous layouts in our Inspiration Gallery. Maybe you will be our next $10 Shabby Shoppe gift card winner!!!

Trish made it easy for me to choose this week’s winner.  She sent me an e-mail to make sure I didn’t miss seeing this fabulous page from Mamabean!

Mamabean is new to the gallery but just seeing her first three creations, I can tell I am going to look forward to every page she posts. Watch your e-mail inbox for your $10 gift card! Congrats and have fun Shabby Shoppe – ing!!!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Trish’s Product Spotlight post!  Have a great day!

AnnaLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 6 Comments