About Vera

Featured designer at Scrapper's Guide!!

I haven't told you yet, but I am a featured designer this month at Scrapper's Guide, click on this link to find out more!!

:) And have you been participating the fun at www.veralimdesign.com/blog? You should if you haven't :)

VLD Anniversary celebration

at the other blog: www.veralimdesign.com/blog

Make sure you don't miss it, plenty of giveaways and a tresure hunt is going on right now. See you there!!

Technical problem

So sorry guys... there's been technical problem with VLD site.. trying to fix it now... sorry for the inconvenience ... I hate it too :(

A Child's Play

I have just released this new kit called A Child's Play:
 

 

 

 

And I also have a little something for you:
 

Enjoy! :)

Printing and new designs

Do you print your digital layouts? I do, but only using a laser printer that I got at home.. not really satisfied with the results.. but hey it's better than nothing right? :)

There are some printing companies out there especially in the US that specialise in printing digital layouts... I have tried Shutterfly, but haven't tried the others. Shutterfly is quite good, the result is good and their customer service is not bad either. I complained about one photobook that turned out quite red-ish and they resent a new one. I would love to try My Pic Tales, but I couldn't figure out how to use their software. I have tried emailing them but received no reply. And there's My Publisher that looks really professional, I'm really interested to try them, but they don't ship to NZ, too bad :(. And recently I learnt about Scrapping Simply, a lot of positive feedback about this company.. and apparently they don't use laser printer. They are affordable too, only US$1.99 for 12x12 page. Have you got experience with printing companies that you care to share?

On design notes, I have these new products in the store:

 

 

and some inspirations from my awesome team:
 

psss...you know what? VLD's 3rd anniversary is coming soon... and you know what's gonna happen right? :)

Some new stuffs

I wish there were more hours in a day so I can spare some time to update my blog... it is just so hard to squeeze some time in and my blog suffers because of it....
However here are some of my new stuffs, hopefully these will give you delight :)

 

 

 

 

Some layouts using the new stuffs:
 

Have a great day!!! :)

Hybrid project, sewing and new products

Hello!!!

I've got a new kit for this month.. although on my side of the world is almost autumn, but most of you are welcoming spring, so here is a new spring kit:
 

And there is a special offer going on if you purchase the kit:
 

And lookie here what I did with the papers from this kit! I made a little hybrid house:
 

 

 

 

I only used cardboard to line all the papers (to make them stronger). And I added some goodies from Prima to embellish the house. I love how it turned out :)

For these past few weeks, I have been trying my hands on sewing.. I found this book: Bend The Rules Sewing, and it is really great! Quite a few cute and easy projects to try. I made a tote bag for me and dd and made another for ds too. They love it! I have bought a lot of fabric and will make some more projects for sure :)
 

 

I hope you are all doing great!! :) It's been a while since my last post... what can I say.. writing is not my thing... :) but I'm doing my best to update the blog as often as I could..

I did this fridge magnet decoration about 2 weeks ago.. pretty simple but gorgeous (that's what I think anyway)... 

I used IOD papers and Prima flowers. As for the frame itself, I used cardboard. Cardboard is my best friend now.. it is so versatile and can be used for many projects.

And this one here, I made it more than a year ago... using some bits and pieces from Prima and my own papers.

 

This was hung near our front door, but now it is sitting on dd's bedside table.

Now to this week's new stuffs:
 

 

And here are some layouts created using those:
 

Alright, I'm off now, but will come back, I promise! :)

Tiramisu recipe and new stuffs in the store :)

Ok, for those of you who requested the tiramisu recipe, here it is, but I don't have it in US measurements.. so you would need to convert this into US one. As for the mascarpone cheese.. when I was in the states, I found it hard to find the cheese in the local supermarkets, I only found it in Publix.

I usually just use a big bowl and put everything in it.. it is much easier that way and taste as great :)

Tiramisu
Ingredients:
200 gr lady fingers or sponge cake
50 gr icing sugar
5 egg yolks
250 gr mascarpone cheese
500 gr thickened cream

Mix together:
2 tbsp instant coffee
hot water to mix with the coffee
about 10 tbsp coffee-liquor (I used Baileys)

Grated dark chocolate or cocoa powder

1. Mix sugar and egg yolks together in a bowl until the egg yolks are thickened
2. Add in the mascarpone cheese and cream
3. Dip the lady fingers / sponge cake into the coffee liquor mixture
4. Arrange the lady fingers/sponge cake (about half) in a big bowl
5. Pour half of the cream and egg mixture into the bowl
6. Repeat step no 4 and 5
7. Sprinkle cocoa powder or grated dark chocolate on it.
8. Keep in the fridge overnight
9. Enjoy! :)

Feel free to ask if you don't get any of the steps..

And for the chocolate cupcakes, I used devil food cake's recipe and baked it in muffin pan. I decorated them using preparend fondant.

I got these new stuffs in the store too:

And these ones only available at Shabby Pickle Designs

I'm excited!!!

I got a new paper collection debuting this winter CHA!! It is called Life in Colors, check out this post at Prima's blog

 

Don't forget to check out the DT's layouts at Prima's blog... they are awesome!!

I hope you all have had a great start for 2009. I know that with the economic crisis and all, life must seem to be tough this year... but I challenge you to have a different perspective.. that despite all the crisis and difficulties, we will have a great year.. a year to grow closer to our family, to be thankful in every little things, to be more generous, to show more compassion to people around us and those who grieve all around the world...

I went to church yesterday and the message was really awesome.. it's about how our perspective should be in this difficult time, how we should know who our God is, what we are in Him and what times we are living in. God is our provider, so that should say a lot in this crisis.

On a lighter note.. I made some cupcakes last week... I have to say that we are not cupcakes fan.. it takes a long time to decorate each one of the cakes, and fondant is just not our thing... but I do love taking pictures of them though :)

And this one, this is the ultimate dessert!! The best one ever and it is so easy to make!! Presenting Tiramisu!!!

Hmmmm.....yummmmm...... :)

I think most of you have known about thedailydigi.com already... but if you haven't, you have to go there and check it out! It's an awesome site started by Janet Phillips... it is great becaus you can go there everyday and find posts that will inspire you and keep you up to date with the happenings in the digi land. I had been requested to be the site's sponsor for this month.. which means you will see me spotlighted there for one day :) and you can grab a mini kit from me and from the other sponsors in one so called grab bag :)

Ok, this has been a long post :) I will leave you with an assignment :)... to think of the things you are grateful for...  and enjoy this gift while you are on it..

Hope you enjoy it.. let me know what you think :)
Ciao for now!!