National Scrapbook Day Blog Hop

This post is part of the National Scrapbook Day Blog Hop, hosted by the Facebook Group For the Love of Pretty Paper.

I am the first stop. Welcome to the hop.

Let's get the rules out of the way first, shall we?

"To be in with a chance of winning the Blog Hop prize, you will need to comment on this post and all the other blogs in the hop. When you have completed the hop return to the Blog Hop thread on FTLOPP and leave a comment to let us know that you have been all the way around.Visitors who leave the same comment on all the blogs will not be eligible for the prize. The closing date for entries is Monday 8th of May at 10pm. Entrants with a UK address only please. Good luck!"

Now, on with the fun. The theme for our hop today is "Favourite Techniques" and this is currently one of mine.....

.....using embossing folders as background stamps.

You will need.....

.....an embossing folder, a brayer, an ink pad and some card stock.

Get your brayer nice and inky.....

.....and apply to the raised part of the pattern you'd like to print.

Lay the card stock on the inked surface.....

.....close the folder.....

.....and apply pressure by firmly rubbing the whole area.

Open the folder.....

.....and remove your card stock.

Cut to size.....

.....and add to your project.

Your next stop is Crafty Little Bling. Head on over to see Sam's favourite technique.

If you get lost along the way, just pop back here and you'll find all the blogs with links in the correct order. Have fun,

Me (Fiona Cullen) ~ Staring at the Sea
Sam Sweetlove ~ Crafty Little Bling
Niki Rowland ~ Being Scrappy
Ruth Sim ~ Chatty Crafty Arty Pig
Susan Roberts ~ Me & Mine
Laura Rumble  ~ UK Scrap Addicts
Amanda King ~ Amanda's Scrapbook Pages
Gemma Steele ~ My (not so) Simple Life
Julia Budd ~ Stamping Ground
Julie Jeavons ~ Letting the Days Roll By....
Maria La Chica ~ Crafts by Marialachica

Potluck Recipe Exchange

Deb’s having a house warming party and we’re all invited. I’m taking Butternut Squash Soup accompanied by some of my favourite focaccia.

Put a large knob of butter and a generous splash of olive oil into a large saucepan. Gently fry one large (chopped) onion for a few minutes.

Add one large (peeled and chopped) butternut squash and 2 (cored and chopped) cooking apples.

Put the lid on and gently sweat until softened. Pour in 1 1/2 pints of vegetable stock and simmer until the squash is cooked.

Leave to cool slightly, then blitz with a hand blender and season to taste.

Add a swirl of cream to serve, if desired.

Enjoy!

Next stop on the hop is with Amy for another soup/salad course and there will be lots more guests with everything from starters, through mains, to desserts.

If you’ve stopped by today by chance, then I’m happy to see you, but you might want to go back and start with Deb. If you get lost somewhere along the way then this list will help you to get back on track.

The Menu

Drinks/Appetizers

Deb @ PaperTurtle – http://paperturtle.blogspot.com

Rinda @ Gallo Organico – http://gallorganico.blogspot.com/

Beverly @ BE glorious - http://beglorious.blogspot.com/

Soups/Salads

Alison @ Life in the Slow Lane – http://alisonslife-in-the-slow-lane.blogspot.com/

Fiona @ Staring at the Sea – http://fiona-staringatthesea.blogspot.com/ {you are here}

Amy @ Over at our Place - http://overatourplace.blogspot.com/

Side/Main Dishes

The “Not So” Small One @ From High in the Sky – http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/

Jacky @ Scrappy Jacky - http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.com/

Deb @ Deb’s World – http://debs14.blogspot.com/

Ginger @ Ginger’s Life of Spice - http://gingerslifeofspice.blogspot.com/

Karen @ Tales from the Scrapheap - http://talesfromthescrapheap.blogspot.com/

Karen @ Random Reflections - http://kbwalker.blogs.com/random_relfections/

Ruth @ Everyday Life of a Suburban SAHM - http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com/

Desserts

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita - http://dreamingladolcevita.blogspot.com/

Ruth @ Chatty Crafty Arty Pig - http://chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com/

Margaret @ Finnegan Begin Again – http://margaretfinnegan.blogspot.com/

Becca @ La Jolie Fleur Rouge - http://lajoliefleurrouge.blogspot.com/

Rhona @ Life in General - http://rhonacs-lifeingeneral.blogspot.com/

Cheri @ Scrap Dreams - http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/

Carrie @ Rosalind Revival – http://www.rosalindrevival.com/

See you there!