another new design team ...........................

Hello, just popping in to share some more scrappy news - I'm excited to announce that I'll be joining the Creative Team for Scrappy Canary.  I cannot wait to create with their beautiful monthly kits.

You can see the Creative Team reveal on the blog!

New design team ..........................

Hello - just popping in to share some 'scrappy' news.
I'm excited to say that I'll be on the Design Team for Scrap the Boys  starting January 2015.

Yay for that - it will be fun to be scrappin' all about my boys and share my inspiration along the way.
So stay tuned for our first challenge for 2015 ☺

weaving

 Hello - it's officially the start of Summer school holidays - yay for that.  I love the relaxed feel of no particular routine ....................... 
I won't have too much more to share before the end of the year, but I did want to pop in and show you the latest weaving I've made!!
I ♥♥♥ it!!

 If you follow me on instagram you would have seen some progress pictures and also the hand loom that we made.  The loom was about the size of A3 - so it has made a decent size weave.  I had no set pattern in mind.  I just picked out some colours that I loved and was inspired by instagram accounts that share their weaving ..............
I even managed to source some wool roving from a local farm in Western Australia.

 Here are a few close-up's:

I'm sure this won't be my last piece of weaving art.  I hope to do some more in the New Year.  It's a great way to use up my yarn stash!!

Thanks for coming by ♥

choc brownie

Hello, hope your week is going well.  It's been a little while since I last shared a recipe.  So I have one here, my last recipe post for the year ☺
My boys love chocolate and I love to make them chocolate treats.

 This here is a chocolate brownie slice that has been adapted from a recipe I had in one of my files - I've changed up the ingredients and added in a few extra too ..............
I do this one in my Thermomix but you could easily adapt to suit ☺

 Chocolate Brownie

Ingredients:

100 - 150gr butter

1/2 cup rapadura

4 eggs

1 cup almond meal

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

100 - 150gr dark choc **

5 medjool dates

Method:

Place all ingredients in Thermomix or processor and blend together til just combined.  I don't over do it, as I like chocolate chunks in the cake; but if you wish, you could make a smooth batter.

Pour into a lined rectangle tin and bake for approx 20 mins - don't over cook as you want the cake to be moist.

 It's lovely eaten warm with cream and strawberries, but easily keeps for a few days in the fridge.
For a variation you could add: 2-3 tblsp of espresso - yummy ☺

I hope you give it a try - this cake is gluten free and refined sugar free.
* I use a 70% cocoa chocolate bar but if you like a sweeter cake, choose the chocolate of your choice ☺

Happy baking ♥

today

 Hello - I have something to share!  A scrapbook page - this one is using the sketch from The Scrapbook Store - I've had it laying on my craft desk for a week now, so it was time to finish it before the end of the month ☺

 ..... and here is my take on the sketch challenge!

 I'm loving the pattern papers that are around at the moment, especially the script style papers.  I had some left over from a previous page, so thought I'd use it on this one too.
I've layered papers together and also used a photo printed on to white cardstock as a background, with the main photo matted in the black cardstock.
The title is some wood veneer letter- I've gone thru my stash and used up bits that I've had in kits etc ........
Here are a few close-up's:

It's nearly the end of the month, and then we can say 'December' ------ already!  This year has gone so fast.  December is a busy month - I hope to share some crafty things when I can ☺

Thanks so much for coming by.
Creating with love + happiness ♥

weaving

 My first ever weave .............. and here it is!!  I loved doing this so much.  I previously posted about this project HERE - so you can read all the details about where I purchased the kit ☺

 I didn't follow any particular pattern - just had a bit of fun!  I love the rustic feel the jute twine has given.  Here are a few close-up's:

 I love how this bunting design came about and the addition of wooden buttons.

 Some fringing and a couple of different patterns of weaving for texture.

I've left the bottom of the weave as a fringe rather than finishing off at the last row of weaving.

So this is my first ....................... and it won't be my last.  I'm making my own loom at the moment and hope to be doing a new weaving project very soon.

Creating with love + happiness ♥

baby Pepper

 Hello - hope your week is going well.  I've been scrapbooking again.  This page was done for the sketch challenge at Scrap the Girls.  I loved the design of this one, especially the banner.

 Here's what I've come up with:

 This page is of my gorgeous niece, she is just the sweetest little thing ......... ♥
I found this lovely chevron pattern paper in my supplies - the pastel shades went well with the photo. 
Here are some close-up's:

 I had a great time adding in cute embellishments that I found in my supplies.  I love the little wooden birdie - a great find at a local discount store.

I've made the banner using some neutral colour twine, some pattern paper + vellum.  So quick and easy to do - then I've added in a few resin flowers and some washi tape.

Check out Scrap the Girls if you feel like playing along with this fun sketch ☺

Thanks for coming by.
Creating with love + happiness ♥

be passionately curious

Hello + happy Monday to you all ☺
I saw this sketch over at Scrappy Canary and felt inspired to scrap some of my pictures that I had printed out!  I love these sketches with clean lines - kind of like a 'block style'

 So here's how my page turned out - I did turn the sketch over to one side!

 I collaged three pictures onto 4x6" photo paper - love doing this as the pictures tell a little story too.  It was fun just to 'rummage' thru my supplies and pull things out that I liked.  I'm loving this script paper that I've used in one section. 
And the cork stickers by American Crafts were fun to use.  I've used one as my title!!  My little boy is a very curious one - always asking questions ♥
Here are a couple of close-up's:

I'm off to link this one up at Scrappy Canary and scrap some more ☺

Thanks for coming by.
Creating with love + happiness ♥

crochet bag

 Hello all ☺  I've shared a couple of photo's on Instagram (@madebychantelle)
  of this latest crochet project that I've made, but thought I'd share a few more pictures and details here.

 The pattern is from the crafty blog: My Poppet and is called a market bag.  I followed the pattern using some teal cotton for the base and kitchen twine for the main part of the bag including the handle.  I've also used a 4.5 crochet hook!

 It's turned out just lovely ....................................  I'm going to be using it as a project bag and have already filled it with yarn for my next 'work-in-progress'.

 The kitchen twine is nice to work - I found out that supermarkets do differ with the cotton kitchen twine - there are slightly different shades of off-white.  I love this particular one, as it feels quite organic and looks really natural.

This was definitely an enjoyable project to have going and it came together really quickly.  The pattern was easy to follow with very clear instruction - I'm glad to have come across it in my internet travels ☺

Thanks for coming by.
Creating with love + happiness ♥

weaving

 Weaving ............................ an old-age craft which is definitely making a come back with a modern twist.  I've been seeing lots of gorgeous weaves, popping up on Instagram☺

 Recently, I purchased this simple hand loom kit from Typo Shop, so I could have a little play around .......................  I can see it being addictive.

 For my first piece, I'm using what was supplied in the kit ............. though I'm thinking I might add in some buttons.  I'm not following any particular design; just having a bit of fun and seeing where it takes me.

 The kit included three balls of yarn - two very bright colours - and some jute === which is used as the warp thread but I'm also incorporating it into my weave to give it a very rustic look.

 Because the jute is quite a thick thread, some of the warp is visible.  For my next one, I think I will try a white cotton thread and possibly thicker yarn.

It's quite a slow process, but I'm finding it very relaxing and great therapy at the end of a busy day .................................  a great little project to have around the place ☺

I'm linking this post with 'Currently Creative' by Give a Girl a blog.

I will be sure to share some more as I go along.
Thanks for popping by.

Creating with love + happiness ♥

creative.ness - the view thru my 50mm fixed lens

The other weekend, I took out my DSLR camera to capture some creative bits around my home.  Creative bits from my boys.  Oh, I love it that they create things ☺  It makes me smile.

 This tree in our front yard has been lined with wooden steps, steps that lead up to a great place to play .......................

 A little person who loves being with his brothers and making stuff!

 A perfect place for those little legs.

 A creative zone for the biggest boy!

 This piece of twine and mini pegs was placed here in my craft room by one of my twins.  He wrote a little note to say that it was a place to hang pictures.  So I used some recent Origrami prints!

A little creative keepsake from the biggest boy.

There thoughtfulness touches my heart - I'm thankful for these treasures and their creative souls.

Happy Monday ♥♥

a magic time

 Hello - hope you are having a great start to this new week ☺
I have a scrappy share!!  I was inspired by the October sketch from The Scrapbook Store to create this page.

 I just love this photo of my boys with their dad - it was taken recently on a weekend away at the beach.  We were watching the sun setting and it was a beautiful time of day.
I haven't added in a lot of pattern paper.  I like to work with a white base and create my own backgrounds.  For this page, I've created a mixed media feel in the background.
The sketch shows circles, but I've chosen to keep my photo's rectangle!
Here are a few close-up's:

 I love the shine these gold sticker letters give - I've also added in some sequins too.

 I love wood veneers - these hot air balloons worked well on this page.

The background is a combination of:  paper circles, texture paste with stencil, water colour paints, mist and ink.

In between a lot of other projects and busyness of life, this is my second scrapbook page for October.  Not so many ..................... but I'm glad to fit some in ☺

Creating with love + happiness