DIY: Blackboard Lyrics Canvas

I've wanted some sort of 'lyrics canvas' for ages, with the lyrics from our first dance on (The Maccabees, Toothpaste Kisses). I tried one a while ago using all the lyrics on a white canvas but it didn't come out as I'd hoped so I put it away for bit. Then last week I had a thought... blackboard paint!

I've tried again and I like this one much better. You will need:

• A canvas (Sometimes cheap shops like 'Home Bargains' or 'Pound Stretcher' have canvases and I pick a few up when I see them, you never know when you might get inspired!) 
• Blackboard paint
• A paintbrush
• Chalk pen and chalk

 

I haven't used all the lyrics this time but instead chosen the line most significant to us. I had thought I'd use the chalk to map it out and then go over it with a chalk pen to make it more permanent but actually I really liked the effect of the chalk so I'll hair-spray it to fix it.



 

 

I might continue to play with it a bit - the beauty of the chalk is I can use a damp cloth to get rid of mistakes, tidy it up or even start again.

 

It's going up in my bedroom somewhere, I'll post it in situ soon!

 

Emily x

Raspberry and Coconut Slices

These are sweet, chewy treats. Delicious enjoyed in the afternoon tea with a lovely cup of perfectly brewed Yorkshire Tea.

125g butter

2 cup plain flour

½ cup sugar

1 egg 

1tsp vanilla essence

6tbsp jam

½ cup sugar

1 egg 

2 cup desiccated coconut

Rub butter into flour and sugar, add egg and vanilla essence to make a dough. Bake in rectangle tray 13" x 9" at 170 C for 15-20mins.

Spread jam over the base.

Whisk sugar, egg and coconut and spread over jam.

Bake at 170 C for 25-30mins

Veg Out

Sunday was the first day in ages Mike and I have had off together. Mike has just handed in a huge piece of work and so we planned to spend the day in Leeds at a vegetarian mini festival called Veg Out.

It was the perfect day, we were lucky to be joined by my lovely friend Hannah whom I also don't see enough of. The weather was a perfect, still, sunny and warm day, so we placed ourselves under a fig tree and drank organic apricot beers accompanied by some delicious vegan and vegetarian food. There was a DJ playing chilled out tunes as we whiled away the hours people watching and relaxing. 

DIY: Rainbow Rag Wreath

These are so simple and a great decoration for all sorts of occasions. I made some circular and heart shaped ones for my wedding and this rainbow one might just make it to a certain little someone's first birthday party! You can do any colour scheme but I love this happy, colourful rainbow.

You'll need:
A selection of fabrics (odd ends are fine and help you use up cuttings!)
Galvanised garden wire
Fabric scissors
Wire cutters
Pliers

 

1) Cut approximately 80cm of wire with the wire cutters. Bend into a circle and use the pliers to twist the ends together. Put a little masking tape around the ends if they are sharp.

 

2) Using fabric scissors cut the fabric into strips about 2.5cm wide and 10-12cm long.

 

3) If doing a rainbow of seven colours place coloured rags around your wire frame so you have a guide of how many rags you need. Based on these measurements you'll need approximately 15 rags per colour.

 

 





4) Tie your rags on each colour sections, be sure to bunch them tightly together.

5) When you've tied on all your rags you may want to trim them a little to neaten it up.
Then fluff it all out!

6) Display your beautiful new wreath :)

 

 

 

Emily x

Carrot Cake

This is the all time best carrot cake, its a Jamie Oliver recipe, it has quite a long list of ingredients, but trust me, it's worth it!

250g Margarine

250g Brown sugar

5 eggs separated

Zest and juice of 1 orange

175g self raising flour

1tsp baking powder

100g ground almonds

100g walnuts

1tsp cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

250g carrots grated

100g mascapone
200g full-fat soft cheese
85g icing sugar
1 lime (zest and juice)

Beat sugar and margarine until fluffy, add egg yolks, orange juice, then add flour, baking powder then almonds, walnuts and spices then add carrots and orange zest.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff then fold into other mixture.

Bake in a lined 9" square tin at 170 c for 50mins.

Once the cake is cool, beat all the icing ingredients together and spread generously over the cake and sprinkle with walnuts.

Hatty's Summer Wish List

1. Bikini - I love this mix matched 50s style bikini from topshop - Topshop
2. Oversized Denim Jacket - because let's face it British summers are not always that warm - Beyond Retro
3. Dress - I love a comfortable smock dress especially this mix match of fabrics - ASOS
4. Sunglasses - I have a short fringe and think round sunglasses may be the way to go this season - Topshop
5. Shoes - these saltwater sandals literally mold themselves to your feet and are super stylish - Office
6. Legs - I don't know about you but come the summer I dread getting my pasty milk bottle legs out, this Sally Hansen airbrush legs is a god send, it's like make up for your legs! - Boots
7. Moccasins - I love the festival vibe of moccasins and they are light and comfy - Topshop 

Mars Bar Crispies

Mars Bar crispies are loved by the old, the young and all those in between.

9 Mars bars (60g each)

250g butter

75g butter

200g milk chocolate

200g dark chocolate

8 cups rice crispies

Melt the mars bars and butter in a bowl over a pan of boiling water and stir into rice crispies, put in a greased cling filmed 13" x 9" rectangle tin. Melt chocolate and butter and spread over mars and rice crispies mix and leave to set.