German Plum Küchen

I finally took the time to find a recipe for German Plum Küchen. Talk about a walk down memory lane, I can remember when my German Grandmother use to make this. . . so I can hardly wait til it's down to see if it tastes the same. . .

 

So once I made the base and patted into the bottom of the spring form pan I put lots and lotsa plums on it. . . 

Making the crumb topping. . . I can't believe how easy this recipe is! Although the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon; I'm making this for a surprise for my mom and she does NOT like cinnamon, I know it's hard to believe!

 

sprinkling the crumb topping on . . . so I'm just about done and ready to put the Plum Kuchen in the oven, I turn around to look for my little helper and this is what I find. . . she's definitely a Princess - doesn't like to get her lil paws into da flour ;D

 

and Ta da ~ here is the finished product!

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 lb butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 pinch salt (only if you use unsalted butter)
1 teaspoon lemon, rind of
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups plums, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

TOPPING:
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, add the sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon peel, sour cream and salt (if desired).
2. Mix the flour and baking powder and add that into the mixture.
3. Grease the base of a round baking pan and spread the dough over the pan.
4. Liberally spread plums over the dough.
5. To make the optional topping, cream the butter, add flour, sugar and cinnamon.
6. Sprinkle over the plums and bake for 30-45 minutes in the middle rack at 375 F.
7. Be careful not to let the bottom burn!
8. Serve with lots of freshly-made whipped cream.
9. If you like, you may also sprinkle rum or cinnamon over the fruit before baking.

{Sketchy Thursdays} 7.14 Sketch

 

 

I know it's hard to see with these photos but I've hand-cut the flowers and have layered them, using various heights of pop dots to give lots of dimension. 

SUPPLIES:
Paper: Pink Paislee
Alpha: Girl's Paperie
Rub-Ons: MME
Ink: TH Distress - Vintage Photo
Date Stamp: Dollar Store

Rip it Up for Ribbon Challenge

Here is my Rip it Up for Ribbon Challenge Entry

This wasn't my original project. . . but as I had to leave town unexpectedly. . . I decided to use this piece (one of my favourites) as the entry for the "Rip it Up for Ribbon Challenge". Sooooo, when I get back home I will post the piece I originally designed for this challenge. I had great fun with the ribbon and look forward to using more ribbon in my upcoming projects.

My Fabric Arrived. . . .

Look what I got in the mail yesterday ~ oh the colours make me so happy. I found this company online, as Red Deer's fabric stores are so limited (there is only one store).

Lattice in Seaside

Dahlia Lama in Seafoam

Dancing Rain in Seaside

http://hawthornethreads.com/home

Hawthorne Threads is where I got these fabulous pieces of fabric. I was very impressed with their quick service (even while the postal strike was on).
Their prices are reasonable and the shipping and handling is even more reasonable. . .
I only purchased 1/2 yard of each pattern just to ensure the quality and to determine whether the company was a reliable source. Well they definitely are and I'm definitely getting more! I am one "Happy Camper". I'm going to be busy making basket liners, several small lumbar cushions and who knows where else it will lead me. These fabrics will coordinate well with the others I've already chosen (pictures on a previous post).

You should check them out, bet you can't buy just one piece of fabric. . .  LOL!
 You an also check out their blog at:  Hawthorne Threads Blog.

Playin' in Paradise Challenge #22

Wooo Hooo another Playin' in Paradise challenge! And one of my most favourite scrapbooking techniques "SEWING". I enjoyed this challenge along with a few techiques I learned last week at Scrapbooker's Paradise at their "Toonie Thursdays", using Tim Holtz Distressing Inks. . . "sew" much fun!

SUPPLIES:

Paper: White & Black Cardstock

Digital Graphics: Graphics Fairy and French Laundry - 2007 Sande Krieger (Two Peas in a Bucket)

Lace/Ribbon: American Crafts - White; Dashes, Dots & Checks - Red Velvet

Font: dafont.com

Button: my Grandma's collection

Pin: JBS - Superior Stick Pins

Distressing Inks: TH Ranger - Wild Honey & Vintage Photo

Misc: Ranger - Glossy Accents for the Dress Form & Spool

Royal Watching & Happy Birthday Canada

I have been so intrigued with the Dutch and Duchess of Cambridge, . . . I've been enjoying their "Royal Visit" to Canada from a distance and can hardly wait until they get to Calgary, AB. What a wonderful memory of Canada's 144th Birthday, What a Celebration! I think I could become a Royal Watcher.

This is one of my favourite photos of them since they've arrived in Canada.

(Geoff Robins / AFP - Getty Images) 

Have you seen the "Stampede Facinators" ~ Little, Tiny Cowboy Hats, they are so hilarious and so much fun (not for me. .  but still fun). A group of Canadian friends were so excited over the royal visit coinciding with the Calgary rodeo festival this weekend that they decided to give the British facinator a western twist. Ride 'em Cowgirl. . . Yahoo!

(Anne Fraleigh, Nancy Cherniwchan, Jennifer Waslen Doepker)

(Nancy Cherniwchan)

Happy 144th Birthday Canada. . . this one will go down in the History Books!

"Some of my Favorite Things"

I was reading a blog post over at "The Vintage Moth" about what her "5 Favorite Crafting Products" were and it got me thinking, what tools or products do I love or use the most when when I am scrapping or re-purposing. So I've listed a few (to me a few is 7)  of my favorites other than your basic scrapbooking kit:

1. "Scor-Tape" - this double sided tape actually sticks ~ I love this stuff!

2. "We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper". This baby cuts through thick chipboard and I use it for more than scrapbooking.

3. "We R Memory Keepers Cropadile" - again another top notch product that punches through even metal.

4. "Creative Memories Personal Trimmer" (and yes this is what mine looks like, I still have one of the old ones and it works like a charm) It's especially good for making smaller cuts and trimming photos. Think I will have to upgrade soon to the newer model with the little accessory drawer underneath.

5. Also from Creative Memories their "All-Purpose Scissors" - they are a professional-grade scissor with a comfortable grip and are honed to stay sharp, cut after cut. I've had mine for years and to me it's a must have!

6. A good "Self-Healing Cutting Mat" - I have the MS Foldable Mat and I love it!

6. "EK Success Non-Slip 3x15 in Ruler" or a Quilters Lip Edge Ruler along with a good rotary cutter or blade.

7. "Anna Griffith Ink Pad - Chocolate". I absolutely love this ink and colour, especially for distressing the edges of paper, cardstock, chipboard. . . and of course for stamping. It just never seems to run out of juice - amazing! I usually order 3 or 4 of these at a time from Quirks of Art in the States. Can't seem to find them in Canada anymore - what a cryin' shame!

Well there you have it. . . just a few (7) of my "Favorite Things". Really, I could probably list another 7 but these would probably have to be my Top 7 right now. 
So what about you, what are some of your favorites?