Pretty. Photoshop Basics. L A Y E R S

If you are reading this and you think, well derr I know what a Photoshop Layer is, then I am super sorry. The feedback from my last tutorial was so great (Thank you!) but what I really took from the response to the post was that it was super simple, and that is a good thing. I am starting at the beginning here, as if I am teaching it to a class of year 7 students who don't know the jargon. I am actually going over the basics that I was never really taught, the stuff I had to blunder along and figure out. Last week we looked at the basics of colour and some snazzy ways to use colour in our blog images, today we are going to look at Photoshop Layers and create something that I think is having a real moment in blogging at the moment; a good old animated gif. If you never thought you would be able to create an animation, you are mistaken; it is extremely simple! So without further ado, let's get started.

{Tutorial} Roast Pumpkin and Chicken Spaghetti

It feels strange calling these recipes tutorials but for now thats how I categorise them. I want to do a massive blog overhaul next week but we'll see. Lately life has been getting in the way of blogging but I hope I can stay committed over the next few weeks.
So in light of a fairly crap week I wanted to make a yum friday night dinner. I have  made this loads but not for ages so I decided to bust it out again.

Roast Pumpkin and Chicken Spaghetti 
You will need:

• 2 Chicken breasts sliced
• Olive oil for cooking
• Half a medium pumpkin cut into 3cm cubes
• 1/2 cup pinenuts
• 2 smallish blocks of soft feta cheese like Danish Feta
• A handful of sweet basil leaves
• 1 packet spagetti 

Cook spaghetti as per packet instructions.

Roast pumpkin in some olive oil and salt on a moderate oven until browned and tender.

Pan fry chicken in olive oil until browned and cooked through, set aside. In the same pan, fry pine nuts until just brown. In a big bowl combine pasta, roast pumpkin, chicken and pine nuts. I like to use the oil from the chicken/pine nuts to dress the pasta. Crumble over the feta and roughly tear the basil. 

I promise this is so yummy. The sweetness from the pumpkin works so well with the salty creamy feta and the pine nuts are little gems of goodness.

Enjoy!
xx Samantha Alice
P.S Sorry for the bad quality photos! I can't find my memory card for my camera anywhere and it is really bugging me! All I had was my iPhone.

{Tutorial} ONLY THE BEST THING TO EAT EVER

{Tutorial} DIY Lit Up Heart Art

I am SO pleased with how this simple little project turned out- it looks great and hardly took any time at all. It just so happens that this DIY is being posted around Valentines day but I think you could make something similar anytime. Hope you like it!

12 Days of DIY Christmas// Day Eleven// Rag Scarf

I love giving gifts. It is simply one of the most fun things in the world. Giving a gift that you made is also extra special, but at the same time it can be a little daunting. What if they don't like it? Hopefully if you make todays DIY gift and give it to the right person they love and appreciate your handmade gift.

12 days of DIY Christmas// Day Ten// Braid Up

Sometimes I feel like I am a hairdresser.

12 Days of DIY Christmas// Day Seven//Waterfall Braid

I think this is one of the loveliest and easiest braids. It is a perfect style for a relaxed festive event, paired with simple tailored clothes and some dramatic pendant earrings. This tutorial is shown in dark hair but for all those blondies out there this is a great way to show off highlights.

12 Days of DIY Christmas // Day five // Christmas Hair # one

I have a confession. You will be shocked. 

le'Bunting.

I love visiting local markets but not just for the shopping. I tend to never have any money when the markets are on so I just go to stroll and look at all the pretty things. What I love most about a good market are the interesting ways the stalls are decorated; they all look so lovely against the country backdrop. My favourite decoration at the moment is bunting. No idea what I am talking about?