{Mindy Pitcher} scrapbooking etc.

multiple personalities.

2011-09-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

so really, i don't have multiple personalities.
(i know i totally ruined your day, didn't i? that had the potential to be terribly exciting.)
but up until this day, i have had three different blogs.
yup, it's true.
i have grown tired of these three worlds living semi-separate lives, and strongly had the desire to streamline my life.
so i merged them!
(after months of consideration, and most of those months there was only considering being done due to the fact that i didn't have the time to actually follow through with the desired change.)
may i suggest, that if you like coming here (where you are right now), try coming over here instead.
sure, you might just have to put up with the stories of the shenanigans my wee ones live-out all too fully and excitedly, and most possibly have to endure a picture (or two... hundred), but i think it could possibly be a rather large amount of fun!

between diet coke and chocolate…

2011-09-19T13:38:00.001-07:00

here I am, enjoying a diet coke and some hershey’s miniatures, and realize that I have other goodies to share today..

some new products at jessica sprague (available today) are getting me in the mood to scrap (more) and make some fun hybrid stuff for the halloween season.

first up:

carina gardner-

(click on layouts for list of full credits.)

and some cosmo cricket:

can’t you see a little banner, just like this, but in real life?

I can too.. hopefully I will get it done soon!

and then there was august..

2011-08-25T15:53:00.001-07:00

I don’t want to depress you.. I don’t want to depress myself, but did you know, were you aware, that august is almost over?

really.

next week, and that’s it.

hello september.

see, I depressed you.

shame on me.

I really am sorry.

maybe what I have been working on, catching up on (because I’ve been enjoying the last bit of my summer and playing a lot), will help to cheer you.

they just make me long for summer…

(click on image for list of full credits + links.)

a layout or 5..

2011-07-25T12:08:00.001-07:00

I have been getting a lot of scrapping done.

(sadly it is all digi scrapping.. heaven knows how many pictures i have that are printed off, waiting in the mess that is now known as my craft room in the basement.. don’t even get me started on the stash of supplies that keep those pics company..)

I am not sure if this surge of digi scrapping is because of the re-discovered passion my girls have for playing polly pockets or for watching jurassic park.

(both of which seem to take place in the loft, upstairs where the computer is..)

but anyway.. here’s a few:

(as always, click on layout for list of full credits.)

new today:

“chemistry” by cosmo cricket:

and i was way too excited about these brushes by liv:

and well, then there is all of this other stuff, that was basically just for fun… our summer has been well-spent, and i have some cute pix to prove it!

(cute pix = more scrapping motivation!!)

hope you are enjoying your summer as well!!

how red river paper saved my father’s day.

2011-07-22T11:07:00.001-07:00

imagine:

it’s father’s day.

you have planned the perfect gifts, purchased the necessary items to make those gifts awesome, including printing off the perfect photos of your three darling girls.

you printed them off days in advance so you wouldn’t have to go to costco the saturday before (when it is a total madhouse there) no doubt dragging those three (not so happy girls now, because you are going to costco on a madhouse, day-before-fathers-day trip). instead you went days before and picked them up. now all of the makings for your perfect gifts lay, waiting for you to assemble them.

but that week before proves to be way too busy and the event of assembling these sure to be awesome gifts is left to the morning of.

the assembling looks more like a mad scramble to get it done before the three, now bed-headed girls wake up, so they can give the gifts to the dude who fathered them (and still fathers them).

as you get out the ikea frames, with those three perfect spots in the mat (perfect for those three perfect little girls) you notice, that is a 5x7 opening in that mat.

not a 4x6.

did you really print off 4x6 photos?

(right about here, it should be state that i am a silly, measure once, cut twice kind of gal. no, i haven’t learned my lesson, yet.)

you mean, you didn’t double check before uploading and ordering all those photos?!

nope.

and then you cry a little.

(maybe even say a few naughty words under your breath.)

(then you repent because that isn’t becoming of a lady.. and it’s sunday..)

your mind starts to run (cause that’s what the mind of a woman does when it encounters a problem) and the possible solutions to fix this problem start coming.

- mounting photos on a different paper to add interest?

- cutting a new mat, with the matting I don’t have and what, my laser glare?

- printing off new photos… um, it’s sunday. you aren’t ready (don’t look the least bit attractive), and hello! it’s sunday…

- maybe i could print off new photos on that awesome presentation paper.. why use awesome presentation paper when YOU HAVE THAT ASWESOME (and free!!) PHOTO PAPER FROM RED RIVER PAPER?!? (!!!)

yeah. remember that? it was sent to you to try out and review?

that red river paper is looking more awesome than the awesome presentation paper, isn’t it.

well, it is more awesome.

up the stairs you go, RUNNING. to your trusty printer and that awesomely free photo paper.

you print off all of your pictures (5x7 this time) with ease onto gorgeous photo paper.

as you compare them to the costco prints, these are so much more awesome.. sheesh, and all i have is an hp printer, nothing too fantastic.

(not that i have anything against costco, they are great, fantastic, awesome even.. i also love the word awesome, apparently.)

the color came out more true to what i saw on my monitor. (the costco prints were darker.) now, i know that i can go out and spend a pretty penny and get a fancy-schmancy monitor calibrating program doohickey, but let’s be realistic. food is funner.

they are also a nice, matte finish. (another mistake i made in the online ordering process, i failed to check the proper box for my desired finish.)

they are also so very incredibly helpful as to giving you tips for your specific printer and purpose.

i used the arctic polar luster, arctic polar satin, and the polar matte. they were gorgeous on their own, but with my little girls’ faces on them, that much better.

point of this story:

red river paper saved my father’s day from being reduced to a bunch of empty picture frames, and promises of pictures, or those darling pictures being printed off on awesome (but sub-par) presentation paper.

basically saved me from being reduced to a pile of pitiful woman mess because this silly girl who happens to measure once but always cuts twice (did I mention that before?), did almost that and tried to remember what size those mat openings were once, and print twice.

seriously.

*in all seriousness, this paper is incredible!! i am not being paid to say this, but i was given some awesome paper to try out and then give my honest opinion in exchange for said paper.**

*that is all.**

oh, and another link to their site.

more for you monday(s).

2011-07-11T11:32:00.001-07:00

I am still playing catch-up after last week’s holiday.. well, that and all the fun we’ve been having.

I am trying my best to lay back, relax, and have fun with the girls before summer finds it’s end.

(I wish that the end would just get lost though…)

so here’s two weeks worth of goodies:

(click on layouts to link up to full credits.)

queen of quirk’s newest scrap canvas:

liv’s newest needs + wants, stings galore v.2:

and then there’s the temple…

i needed something newish to put in the girls’ rooms in the way of a temple picture. i played with jodie lee’s vintage crackle textures and got just what i wanted!

it’s template tuesday!!

2011-06-28T11:03:00.001-07:00

i will openly admit that i suck at template tuesday. i have a whole pile of them, stacked-up on my desktop, just waiting to be played with.

but i don’t suck so bad at it when it is actually my turn to make the template.

that’s right! it’s my template there today. :)

(click on layout for full list of credits.)

so head on over, download it, play (better than i do..), and share your creation in the template tuesday gallery.

hope to see your layout there!

in the haze of cold/allergies (still not sure..) i missed a whole monday.

2011-06-25T15:29:00.001-07:00

**SCROLL ON DOWN FOR THE JESSICA SPRAGUE BIRTHDAY BOLGHOP FREEBIE!!!**

i was looking back over the projects i did this last month, enjoying them, and fixing mistakes (wink, wink) that have been found, and i realized, i missed a monday!

is there possibly anything worse than missing out on a whole day?

yes, there is.

a summer cold that has it’s hold on the majority of the household.

or is it allergies?

i still can’t make up my mind.

it sucks though.

so here’s what i missed:

(hope you did too.)

echo park:

(as always, click on the layout for complete credits.)

in the making:

and jodie lee:

37..

2011-06-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

**ALL LINKS HAVE NOW BEEN BROKEN. THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR BLOGHOP A SUCCESS!!***

that is where you have arrived, stop 37 for all of you blog-hopping fools!!

(now, in case you somehow stumbled on this here old blog, and want to start at the beginning of the line, click on the image below and enjoy even more fun!)

i have created (using the AMAZING designers creations of course..) a quick page for you!

i remember hopping around to all the other blogs in the past celebrations, scooping up goodies and giggling like a school-girl.. i am so excited to be an actual integral part of this one!!

(kisses to liv-xxxxxx!!!)

thanks for stopping by!! come back soon. ;)

now go see what my friend monica has in store for you.. if it’s late, watch out, she’ll make you hungry with all of the other goodies she concocts!

“tonight, tonight, tonight! hot dog it’s coming tonight!!”

2011-06-24T13:57:00.001-07:00

(if you can name that movie, i will admire you forever. if you know which word i changed, you will be ranked as extra awesome in my book.)

the most exciting blog hop of my whole life is coming, TONIGHT!!!

(just in case you forgot.)

the jessicasprague.com blog hop starts 10 pm (est) here.

then a few hops more (36 to be exact) and you’ll be here!!!

(like right here.. my blog.)

to prove my excitement, i made a layout today…

it’s complete with lyrics that seriously bring me to tears lately.

(click on image for list of full credits.)

lyrics, for your tearing-up pleasure:

"Story's read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask.
When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass."
(but i suggest listening to the song to get the full, tear-jerking effect.) (wink, wink, wink..)

song: mindy gledhill, “hourglass”

peyton had to drive the point home, one drizzly day while i was busily painting, trying to distract myself from life and all that was going on. i was listening to this song, like really listening to what it was saying. i was getting teary, and right after the line, “and please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast..” peyton runs up to me, hugs my leg and says: “i love you mommy!!”

it made my heart hurt just a little. she is doing just what i need her to slow down in doing!!

oh well, a little blog hopping can’t hurt anyone in the cheer-up department. ;)

something to look forward to.

2011-06-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

it is celebration month at jessica sprague, and next week might just be my favorite part of the celebration.. well, behind the sale.. and the speed crops.. you know..

it’s the bloghop!!

i have looked forward to this for the past couple of years. it is a night full of blog-hopping, freebie collecting goodness!

(see, it’s your favorite now too.)

i will be one of those stops along the way (SO excited!!). i have loved going and collecting, getting all of that fun stuff, and now, i get to be part of it for real!

so, mark your calendars, set your cell phone alarm/reminder thingies and hop (pun totally intended) on over!

here’s your friendly reminder..

2011-06-14T08:25:00.001-07:00

it starts today, the whole store is one sale and those classes… those self-paced classes!!! buy them up now, at 20% off, who can say no? too busy to do them now? do them later, that is why they are self-paced!!

my most favorite aspect about jessica’s classes are that the information is yours FOREVER.

so say you take this one “photo editing” class, you love it, and when you go to use some of your newly acquired skills, you forget one step. you think you know what it is, but you aren’t sure..

you can go back, access your class information, read it again, or watch the video..

it is still there for you.

forever and ever and ever.

awesome.

can’t tell you how many times i have gone back to the MNAY classes i have taken there to re-fresh this old brain of mine.

(i blame it on the lasting effects of having a placenta (or three) that once resided in my uterus and sucked all functioning brain cells from my noggin.

(just a theory, mind you.)

so you go there, i probably will too, and have a good day!

(now i am off to get my chores done so i really can play. it feels like a hybrid day today.)

the perfect monday.

2011-06-13T12:11:00.001-07:00

it’s a cool, overcast, sometimes stormy monday here.

there’s stuff to be done, stuff that i want to do, but the weather is perfect for me to snuggle up with the monstrous book i started last week, and really want to finish. at first it was so i could move onto the second book in a series i started, but this one, it was just hanging over my head. now i am genuinely into it and want to know what happens!!

well, then there’s the many pictures i want to edit, and scrap. so many new products i want to play with. a couple of new sewing patterns i want to make multiples of..

and then there’s my room…

i really want to work on aspects of that, but that would also involve playing musical light fixtures with.. i think 5 lights? i keep losing count.

so many fun things!!

so for now, i will just show you the fun stuff i have been working with this last week…

(click on image for list of full credits k?)

echo park’s new collection: “splash”.

and elle’s studio cupcake flags. any excuse to make a cupcake!! when i saw these, i immediately saw a banner. add a little of my own bazzill from my stash, some double-sided tape and twine and there it is. pretty darn cute if i do say so myself.

the recipe for these guys is here, i omitted all coconut to make them a delicious vanilla. i would have to add, that in a pinch, soured milk to replace the buttermilk which is called for, does not (IN NO WAY!!) work. they weren’t nearly as tasty or light and fluffy and thus, ended up in my garbage can.

(after we ate most of them.)

the only other thing that makes this monday not as perfect as it could be is that the birthday sale at jessica sprague has been delayed by a day.

so just hold on!! it will start at midnight.

(hopefully links to the new products used above will be updated then too.)

a celebration you don’t want to miss!

2011-06-10T14:05:00.001-07:00

JessicaSprague.com is FOUR! To celebrate, they're throwing a HUGE Birthday Bash & Summer Sale. From June 13-26, you can save 20% off of every self-paced class, and 35% off of ALL digital products. In addition, grab all 27 episodes of Jessica's amazing Photoshop Friday tutorials for just $1 each before they're retired on June 26! As part of the celebration, starting on June 24, you can participate in an incredible 49-person blog hop, picking up a sweet digital freebie at each stop! Best of all, on June 26 Jessica will be making a special announcement of a brand new class coming up in July. We only put our site on sale two times a year, so don't miss out on this GREAT savings opportunity! For all the info on the Summer Sale, Photoshop Fridays, blog hop, and the new class, just click here!

Just watch out my friends.. the fun only gets funner!

P.S. Don’t forget the speed scrap, 7pm eastern, tonight!!

a different take on the memory block i love so much…

2011-06-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

i have made (and will continue to make) these cute memory blocks for probably as long as i live.

(see here and here.)

i have done them totally traditional in the past, which is fine. but the 3d style of it bugs my ocd mind.. they just don’t sit flat!

so i tried one totally hybrid, designing my 6 sides in photoshop, printing them off and slapping it all together.

it sits flat!!

my tutorial is featured over at the “mouse, paper, lovely” blog today. go check it out!

(you can also get a complete list of the products i used to make it.)

a very happy birthday month.

2011-06-03T13:31:00.001-07:00

i have a dear friend, someone i love soooo much who is turning 4 this month.

that is a big deal.

there will be festivities to last all month and the good news is that you can join in too!!

the party kicks off today..

now remember, it’s EASTERN STANDARD TIME. so it'd really be 7 pm here.

there are freebies for participation, no contest, just join in the fun!

there is so much more to come, and there is no need to worry, i will keep you posted. :)

now i am off to play, maybe even finish my new area today?

(maybe..)

7 days challenges.

2011-05-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

so this week hasn’t exactly been the ideal week for me to sit and get everything i want to do, done. that would be the life..

but i have managed to get a couple challenges tackled!

this one used a freebie created my linda of “in the making design”. so sorry, if you didn’t grab it, you didn’t get it. :(

the frame is from liv.edesigns (here).

the stitching is from splendid fiins (here).

the font is “lobster” (here).

paper bits are a freebie (upcoming) that i need to tweak before i share…

(so watch out.)

i recently took pictures of ashley, to document her “student of the month” status (so proud of her!!) and this theme, “this is love”, was the perfect fit for just a couple of these pictures.

the paper is from kitschy digitals (here).

frame is also from kitschy digitals (here).

there’s that stitching again (here)…

the staple i extracted from the frame in the above layout (frame here).

the fonts used on this layout are: “pea carrie script” and “never let go”.

(i distressed those too, just a little, so they would look chalked and aged.)

i am hoping to get my craft/studio/sewing room all done (as far as paint goes) so life and programming can return to normal soon.

Today!!!!

2011-05-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder: seven days in may begins today!

(How’s that to start you week?)

Go check out the general forum to play along. I know that I will be there.. well, in between the coats of paint drying, making teacher year-end gifts, going to the dentist..

So come and hang out with me there!

I did last year and had a blast, got addicted, quite frankly, but it was entirely too much fun.

(And you’ll score some freebies!!!)

As for new product, I have a few…

(They are all delightful.)

Splendid Fiins:

(Click on layouts for list full credits.)

Carina Gardner:

Be watching for a post about baby hunger…

Last, but certainly not least, Cosmo Cricket:

I have many more project ideas in store with this collection.

So, will I see you in the forum, or what? ;)

one down.. (re-visiting peanut butter cupcakes)

2011-05-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

so i said, just the other day, that i needed to re-visit this cupcake with a glorious idea that hit me.. sometime, i can’t remember when. it was most likely when i was ready to fall asleep.

(those darn glorious ideas hit me then or when i am in the shower.. at least i can write them down when i am in bed.)

i originally tried this recipe in the fall and we all loved it. after that trial, i had the idea to add some reeses (big ‘uns) to the actual cupcake.

yeah, i didn’t get around to trying that one out until, well, last week.

they were winners.

so when my next glorious idea hit, i knew i’d better test drive it (so to speak) soon.

that, and one of the guys who works for merrill didn’t get his peanut butter cupcake due to the fact that merrill ate it.

(i think that means they are kind of good.)

so here goes…

i start out with my most favorite boxed triple chocolate fudge cake mix ever (still haven’t found the perfect chocolate cake recipe to make from scratch that stays moist…). i tweak it a little by substituting 1/2 cup softened butter in place of the oil.

then i divide the batter among my cups and get an assistant to unwrap, and not eat the regular sized reeses peanut butter cups.

(not eating them now is key. tempting, i know, but very important.)

you take that little cup of yumminess, and place it on the top of the batter. press it in until the top of the cup is level with the surface of you batter.

see:

pop those in the oven and let them bake according to the recipe.

after they have cooled, they will look flat.

(but they are delicious, so don’t fret. frosting will make up for the flatness soon.)

we had one, that didn’t get “reesed” (totally just invented that word.. you can even see it up there!!) and you could tell which one was missing the secret surprise.

it was all fluffy and junk.

then lynn ate it assuming it was like the rest. she was greatly disappointed. but she should have known. there were no chopped peanuts on top!

(that is our code of sorts.)

which is okay, i am sure that she was the culprit who got into the jumbo bag and ate the one cup that we were going to need to reese all of them.

so after they have cooled, frost them.

when i say “frost them” i really mean that you should frost them with this:

Peanut butter frosting

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

so, you can go on ahead, and pipe that on the way it is OR…

you can do what i did..

i substituted the regular old peanut butter (delicious, but boring in comparison) with a cup of this!!!

it is a bit of an addiction lately…

i really wanted to add dark reeses to the cupcakes, but would not (no way!!) settle for the miniatures. i wanted the big’uns. i couldn’t find them. i will have to attempt it again, i guess.

(i am sure everyone will throw a fit of epic proportions..)

now these are good the “regular way” but SO good with this little tweaking.

(i finished off the frosting. right out of the bag… can you picture that? me, mouth ajar, bag of frosting inserted..)

when i asked merrill if they were good, i got quite the reaction.

now that frosting recipe makes enough to generously frost a little more than a dozen, so we made some of each…

(and to further try to convince you to go and make them yourself, here’s some pictures to help with the convincing.)

yeah, don’t forget those chopped peanuts either. you know, “code” and all..

oh, and i have been told that a glass of milk is a great addition.

More for your Monday.

2011-05-16T12:18:00.001-07:00

Time to show off some of the loveliness that exists at Jessica Sprague…

(Don’t forget that “Mondays in May” are still in full swing there!!)

Jodie Lee has released some beautiful stuff today.

Here, I used her “Botanique Brushes” to create everything from the background to the sweet little stamps.

(Click on layout for list of full credits.)

Last week, we had a RS meeting that we chose Faith to be the theme. We paired it with gardening (‘tis the season) and I made these cute plant picks for the tomato plant handouts, and one to go in each of our speakers thank you plants.

Cosmo Cricket was made for this people…

For the tomato plant ones I simply designed them in photoshop, printed out my stuff onto presentation paper, cut them out, use a little double-sided tape, plus a popsicle, and the help of a good friend.

For the larger ones, I did pretty much the same thing, but instead of double-sided tape, I mod-podged the papers onto either side of a little “woodsie” (found at craft stores). I sanded-down the edges after it dried and top-coated with more mod-podge. I used Tombow multi adhesive (the green and white guy) to glue the popsicle stick onto the back.

(Here’s the link for list of full credits on those babies.)

We also had some of these….

This one is asking for me to toy with it.. can I add it to my list that is today?

As for the state of homelessness, among other things in my life.. changes are in the works in my neck of the woods people..

Lots of changes.

All of them good!

(I swear…)

Summer is coming, life needs to get a little more organized, streamlined and a bit easier, I am thinking… blogs might get a re-boot of sorts. “Furious Orange” (the color of the vomitastic wall in my basement) will no longer be so vomit inducing, hopefully starting today. Then there’s a tutorial I am putting the finishing touches on.. those cupcakes I mentioned toying with.. and some sewing patterns I bought. I want to do them, but I don’t without a space to leave them when I need to, you know, to cook, clean, wipe bums. Stuff like that. Oh! And pictures.. LOTS Of pictures to share.

See, I told you good, and exciting.

P.S. Gear up for “7 Days in May”. It starts next Monday… I am severely looking forward to it.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

A Pixie-Licious Monday

2011-05-09T10:05:00.001-07:00

Mondays in May have begun at Jessica Sprague..

What is a “Monday In May”, you might ask?

May is the month of celebration at Jessica Sprague, a month where goodies and good deals are in abundance. Every Monday, you can buy one item from one designer and get another item, from the same designer, for freee!!

So, to tempt you…

Cosmos Cricket’s latest release, “Pixie-Licious”:

(Click on layout for full credits.)

let the countdown begin!!

2011-05-06T09:34:00.001-07:00

i am one of those kind of moms..

the kind that would rather have her kids home more than anything!

i sincerely look forward to summer.. this year we are counting down in style.

got kinda crafty (despite the fact that i am currently homeless, craftroom type homeless, that is..) and made these.

i used crystal wilkerson’s “sweet summertime” papers, mod-podge, acrylic paint, my trusty sander, some contact paper and black vinyl, and my cricut (doodletype font), and these wood blocks (that heaven knows i have plenty of..).

(see all those cute papers?)

i sanded my blocks pretty darn good, if i do say so myself, and then gave them just a coat of white acrylic paint. while that was drying, i cut my papers and rounded all the corners. those got mod-podged on the blocks and then top-coated with more mod-podge after they dried.

i used the contact paper as a stencil after i cut out the numbers with the cricut. i spaced between each number and then used my rotary cutter (think my fabric rotary cutter.. sooo easy!) while the contact paper was still on my cutting sheet to separate the numbers. peel, stick, and paint! i did find, after doing one set with the foam brush, that it is best to use a little paint on the brush and then a scrunched-up paper towel to pounce the paint around where you need it. it ends up looking aged and not so bold.

one block gets 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on it and the other gets 0, 1, 2, 6 (which upside-down works as your 9), 7 and 8.

the lettering was a bit too tricky at 3/4 inch to use as a stencil, so i just cut out vinyl and stuck it down.

i top-coated it all with more mod-podge and let it dry.

then i sanded some more.. i like that distressed look. they looked perfectly cute the way they were, and they could be left that way if you want.

but i sanded more, roughed them up real good. then i brushed them off, and mod-podged another protective coat.

i love mine…

and well, if there is a day this summer break when my kids drive me nuts, like to the breaking point.. i can let them all know how i feel by flipping them around…

p.s. there are some great deals happening over at jessica sprague.. a sale starting today and going through sunday for insd (international scrapbooking day) all scrapbooking supplies are 25% off. if you spend $20 or more, there is an additional 10% off!! and then there’s one that will last the whole month of may (hello!! birthday month there!!). buy one item, and get one of equal or lesser value (from the same designer, no mixing and matching) for freee!!!

see, go have fun..

Spring in my step.

2011-05-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

It’s a new week. I fully intend on it being better than the last one.

I am feeling so much better!! To add to that, I have a ton of energy and a list of things I want to do/need to do/would love to do to prove it.

But to start off the day, a couple of layouts using some of the newest releases:

(As always, click on layout to see full credits.)

Cosmo Cricket:

And Elle’s Studio:

Hope your week is as awesome looking as mine!

In the genes.

2011-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Quilting, the love of it, the ability to do it, is in my genes.. I am sure.

I grew up helping and watching (mostly) my mom and grandma, my great aunts even, while they quilted. Laying underneath the quilt on the frames, watching how fast they would work, learning how to roll it, and get a good, tight roll. From that point on, I have loved doing it.

I made my first quilt when I was twelve years old. I used a pile of scraps that my grandma gave me. They consisted of everything from polyester knits to 100% cottons. Quite the mix for a pieced quilt.

I pieced it together using a re-furbished old Singer that had issues with it’s tension. I didn’t use it much after, out of frustration mostly. I think it’s still in my parents crawl space, but I really want to conquer it. Like, bad.

I bound my funky little pieced quilt by hand as I sat with my grandma, and as my mom and brothers shoveled snow off of her roof. It was an exciting winter. I am sure, if I tried, I could find that picture..

If I really wanted to, I could dig in my cedar chest, waaay down to the bottom and un-earth that first little quilt of mine. Then you could see just how far I have come.

I have made many quilt since then. I like to think of it as our storage of warmth in case we lose power for an extended period of time. I have no blanket shortage here.

Here’s the latest:

I have to admit, I have had this material for more than two years. I bought it when I heard that my sister-in-law was having a girl. I saw it, and fell in love with it, thought it would make a darling quilt for a baby girl. Then, she posted her nursery on her blog, and there was the same fabric. Needless to say, since she is also an amazing quilter, I gave up on that. So it has sat. Then I decided to do something about it and just do it!

(Maybe if I have another baby girl.. someday.)

(Or maybe I will just hold on to it for a grandbaby..)

(Do you know my husband?)

I got really giddy about making my own bias tape. Grandma left behind her own little pattern for making the fun stuff, but I also found helps on the internet. There are great resources out there. My favorite one for pictorial help is here and the technical one is here.

(I am not so proficient in math, but that technical one is awesome, I found the most help there.)

It was fun making it. I am not going to lie, I got a bit geeked-out about it. But it matches my quilt perfectly and I love it!

I already have another one in the works, ready and waiting.. if the weather stays the way it has, slightly warm, rainy, snowy, warmer, windy, snowy.. it will be perfect weather to be snuggled-up inside working on another one.

Thinking Summertime..

2011-04-25T07:46:00.001-07:00

Even though the weather forecast is talking rain, and threatening snow, Carina Gardner has me thinking summer.

(Click on image for list of full credits.)

All this lovely floral is from Carina’s newest release, “Fresh Picked – Summer”.

I love the gentle feel of it, but there are some fun vibrant colors! Perfect to showcase this pic of Ashley. (One of my favs.)

I’ve been hunting around for Carina’s fabrics and patterns too. She is certainly a woman who inspires!

Paper Kiwi

2011-04-20T13:26:00.001-07:00

I recently got a book printed with Paper Kiwi. They are local (to me), just a couple of hours down the road.

Let me tell you a little about my experience:

I created my book in Photoshop Elements, saved the files as jpegs and uploaded them into their software (that you must download) dragging them into place (super easy). You can create your book using their software too.

I loved how you were able to select your style of book, how it let you preview exactly how it would look while you were building it (to see how pages would merge together and such), and I loved how easy it was to add pages!

The final step was to proof just how the book would look, catch any mistakes before you click on that final submit button.

I ordered my book late Tuesday night and had it, in my hands on Saturday afternoon. (!!) Can you say fast?

I chose a hard-bound cover, in color, and was amazed at what I saw. It is gorgeous! The colors were a little darker than I saw on my monitor, but my monitor isn’t calibrated either. That would be one detail I would have to remember for next time, to amp that up a little bit.

The first two pages were perfect, great weight of paper, colors vibrant (but still a little dark), and then the pages were sideways.

I had to giggle.

Then I notified customer service via e-mail, and they responded later that evening.

(Fantastic customer service!!)

They informed me that they would begin re-printing my book first thing Monday. And they did.

(Awesome customer service!)

A week later, my corrected book arrived, all things in their proper order!

My experience was amazing.

I had read other reviews about slow software, but I didn’t experience any of that as I didn’t use their software to create my book.

Comparing it to my Shutterfly book, I would have to give Paper Kiwi the upper hand. The cover is thicker, more substantial, the pages seem to be a little thicker to me.

I definitely plan on using their services in the future.

(Did I mention that their customer service was incredible?)

Love my book!

**My review and opinion of this company and it’s services were compensated with a free 8x8 printed book. Just sayin’.*

Welcoming a new designer.

2011-04-18T07:38:00.001-07:00

Jodie Lee is a new designer to Jessica Sprague.

Her creations are amazing! I was lucky enough to get to play with some of her designs in the last class I took, and fell in love.

Today is her debut. She has some shabby, amazing, gorgeous products out today. Go check them out!

These are her Vintage Paper Textures, perfect for this layout.

(Click on layout for full credits.)

hello spring!!!

2011-04-13T16:21:00.001-07:00

well, at least i think it is…

i had to make myself a reminder of what season it is supposed to be, last week, while it was snowing.

it has done it’s job sufficiently, for those who are literate in this house.

pretty cheerful, eh?

i used crystal wilkerson’s june 2009 papers to make this, along with my trimmer, scoring board (freaking love that thing), twine, gluedots, scissors, my scalloped border punch, and some ribbon.

as for the fonts: lobster on the banner, bebas on the little “hello” banner.

as for the pom-pom garland…

that was some inspiration gained from watching studio 5 (a local lifestyle show) and a segment from diy dish.

styrofoam, fun yarn, twine, and a yarn needle, and there you have it!

candy, candy!

2011-04-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

this week’s layout comes courtesy of cosmo cricket’s latest line of “garden variety”. my layout features paper and elements (aka “candy” to the cosmos).

love the fresh-picked feel it has to it, makes me want to go live on a farm.

(i tell merrill that is the plan if something were ever to happen to him. pack up the girls and head to the rural i tell you..)

tangent: i realize, as i post this, that i took this picture on our anniversary.. kind of funny to see just what has happened in 11 years..

(click on layout for full list of credits.)

Terrific Tuesday!

2011-04-05T16:27:00.001-07:00

(I am trying hard to crank out creative post titles and sucking adequately at it.)
Today is not only “Template Tuesday” but it is also my 11th wedding anniversary.
Not only that.. but I finally had time to complete templates from not only LAST Tuesday, but today as well..
(For full credits, please click on the layout.)

And the fun news doesn’t end there my friends!!
Nope.
I was featured at CK’s blog. Pretty close to that place I have been dreaming of being featured at for years….
Pretty terrific for this Tuesday if I do say so myself.

(Title Goes Here.)

2011-04-04T06:58:00.001-07:00

How many variations of a Monday greeting can one possibly come up with? This is a new list I can start, I guess.

But anywhooo..

Here’s a few new layouts for your enjoyment.

(Click on layout for full credits.)

First up, decorative bookplates – set 2 from Splendid Fiins:

Then there’s these GORGEOUS butterflies from Kitschy Digitals.

I had a moment.. while I was finishing up this first layout, I had another idea come to my mind for another layout… I can’t decide which one I love more.

And then there’s some good old fun, just for fun’s sake from Creativity by Crystal…

I know that my week will have a fabulous start, hope yours does too!

A “duh” moment, from yours truly.

2011-04-02T11:26:00.001-07:00

I have had this wonderful friend since second grade.

I begged her to take me to Hawaii, in her suitcase, at the end of that year. Her family was going, and heck, I wanted to be there too.

(She did bring me home some fun souvenirs and tasty macadamias.. they mostly made up for not taking me.)

I have so many great memories of those days! We had a lot of fun.

We still keep in contact, and I love the creative soul she is.

Today, after reading up on everyone on Facebook (good old Facebook…) I realized, she has a blog promoting her Etsy store!!!

DUH!

(I have these moments all too often. I will blame it on the three placentas that have been attached to my uterus and have subsequently sucked out most of the functioning brain cells that used to help me along.)

She has wonderful tutorials, such cute ideas, and then there’s the goodies she sells.

They make me want to bake!

(Or have another baby…)

My favorite pot holders:

Go check out her blog here.

And her store here.

A little Spring for your Monday. UPDATED WITH LINKY

2011-03-28T08:16:00.001-07:00

At my house, right this minute, it is snowing. There is a little thunder and lightening mixed in with that snow too. Out my front door, when I took the girls to school, there was the sun shining, but in the distance, dark, dark clouds. We could hear the thunder and knew what was coming. When we looked out the back door, it was so deceptive! There was full sunshine, a little blue sky, some light, white clouds, but a totally different world out that back door.
The point in all of this..
It is springtime in Utah.
This is how I have to get my fix for Spring on days like today:
Echo Park has a new line out today, “Sidewalk Chalk”.
(Click on image for full credits.)

Spendid Fiins has Baker’s Twine, new in store today. I love the stuff already!!
(Click on image for full credits.)

Hope you have a little Spring wherever you are!
(Hope you can find some if you are in the same boat that I am.. or sled.)
Just for kicks and giggles, here’s the templates I made for these layouts, for you, for FREEEEE!!
If you use them, link up to this post, show me what you did with them.
Swooshy squares template.
Simple Circles template.
**I wasn’t sure how difficult/time-consuming it would be to add a linky to this post, to, you know, link up what you did with the template, but turns out it’s not so hard!
So link away ladies…
Link away.**

Some Carina love.

2011-03-25T15:02:00.001-07:00

Today is another designer spotlight at Jessica Sprague.

Carina Gardner has me wanting to go and buy more fabric.

(Because she does that too.)

But I have this silly rule… I can’t buy more fabric until I do what I intend to with the stacks (and stacks and stacks) that I already have.

(Sigh.)

But once you see here papers, you’ll understand my frustration.

(You’d think it would make for some serious motivation, but then the time element comes in… can I buy and stack some of that?)

I will attempt to make it easy on you (and to enable a bit), go buy all of her “essentials”. I love it all. She even has stitching!!

(For those who might have a slight addiction like I do.)

Not to mention, her store is 25% off through this Sunday.

(Ahem..)

And then, there is a freebie here too.

And not to go on and on and on over here, not meaning to take up too much of your day, not to toot my own horn too much, but somebody out there likes me!

Being part of the community at Jessica Sprague has blessed my life with some pretty special friendships, and I treasure every single one of them, but this particular friend has made my day!

(Kisses and hugs and more kisses to you Miss Monica!!!)

P.S. Click on the images for full credits, mmm-kay?

10 Happy Little Things.

2011-03-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

This has to be my favorite project yet for MPS.

(Although the top secret project was a blast..)

I made this book with my own two hands (and my printer.. and Photoshop.. and my trimmer, and glue.. etc. etc.) but isn’t it cool?! Just paper and other stuff.. and I made it!!

(With help and instructions..)

I am just in love with it.

I learned somethings though:

I have more than 10 things that make me happy.

Like, WAY more.

And they aren’t little, not in the least.

I also learned that the colors that I did this book in, make me very happy and make me feel very creative.

(Maybe that is why my room is in these colors?)

So indulge me for just a minute… okay?

Good.. scroll on!

Paper yo-yos!! How can one NOT be happy with a paper yo-yo?

So are you resolved to take this class next time around?

I mean, c’mon?!

Supply list:

Papers from Crystal Wilkerson

“Sweet Summertime”

“Playground”

“Funky Fresh”

The glitter papers used as the sticker bases are from “Bristtish Designs”.

(Some papers have been re-colored to stay within the set color scheme.)

Font: Pea Matt & Kari

Other junk this book wouldn’t be possible without:

Staples, sticky jewels, dimensional foam adhesive, Tombow Multi adhesive (that I would marry if I could, go buy some, it is that AWESOME!), ribbon, “Electric Blue” Glimmer Mist, “Chandelier” Glimmer-Glam, “Broken China” and “Fired Brick” distress inks, tissue paper, my good old printer and computer combo, punches, trimmer, and scissors.

More fun with MPS.

2011-03-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

We’ve done a couple of hybrid layouts already for class, I am just a little behind as wiping snotty noses takes precedence here lately.

I know that this one is a year ago, but hey, when they say a “celebration”, this was it. I was so happy to be 30!

Details:

And here’s the second one:

Something more recent from this summer.

P.S. I just had to add a new category to my tags.. “hybrid scrapbook layout” (!!!!) There will be more of these for sure.

A little template for your Tuesday.

2011-03-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

That’s right.. it’s Tuesday again and that means another “Template Tuesday” is upon us.

Here’s where you can get it, and here is what I did with it:

All papers and elements are from The Queen of Quirk- “You are Here” full kit.

The alpha is another goodie from The Queen of Quirk- “Aubergine”.

Staples are from Splendid Fiins.

And that stitch.. well that is from this brush class.

(Take it. You won’t regret it, I promise!)

Font: Pea Matt & Kari

Happy Spring!

2011-03-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

It’s just the start of the celebration here..

I was in the mood to bake something cute (and tasty of course) the other day, so I let the first day of spring be my muse (and excuse).

I really wanted to make fondant butterflies. They are such a sweet, easy touch to any cake or cupcake, and the girls love them.

And the fondant contains marshmallows.

(I have a real thing for marshmallow lately..)

I use this recipe, and I have never gone back. (It was part of an inspired message one month from my visiting teachers..) It is just as easy, cheaper, and more tasty than your boxed variety.

And it has marshmallow in it…

(Have I said that already?)

If you are lazy, well then, here’s the recipe:

Marshmallow Fondant

8-ounce bag of marshmallows
2 pounds of powdered sugar (also called confectioner's sugar or icing sugar; you won't quite use all of it for this recipe)
2 tablespoons of water
vegetable shortening (Crisco) for greasing hands and tools

Put the marshmallows and water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for about two minutes. The marshmallows should be puffy but will still hold their shape. Stir thoroughly until smooth.

Next, add about 1 1/2 pounds of the powdered sugar and stir with a spoon well greased with the Crisco. The homemade fondant at this point should be a very sticky dough.

Thoroughly grease your hands and work surface with the shortening and knead the fondant, adding a little bit of powdered sugar at a time until the mixture isn't sticky anymore. If it's sticky, add more sugar. If it's dry and tearing, add a teaspoon or two of water and knead it in. The homemade fondant recipe is finished when the dough is pliable and stretchy without tearing.

If you won't be using the marshmallow fondant recipe right away, cover it with a little bit more Crisco and wrap it well with plastic wrap. Seal it in a bag and keep it in the refrigerator, where it will last for several weeks.

You can color and flavor it like you can the nasty boxed kind too.

After I have colored parts, I roll it out with the help of lots of powdered sugar, and use my tiny butterfly cookie cutter to cut out lots of little butterflies. I will lay some flat to dry, and others I lay over the edge of a thick edged platter to get that about to take off look.

I pinch off a small piece of the yellow fondant and roll it like a short snake, then pinch the end for the body. One year, I got all detail oriented and used my fingernail to make little lines for the segments.

Then you leave them there to dry. The thinner your fondant is rolled out, the quicker they dry.

I attach the bodies to the wings by pipng a little bit of buttercream using the smallest tip I have.

Then they can go onto cupcakes…

Or a cake…

We teased the girls, telling them that we couldn’t eat the cake until 5:21 pm on Sunday (the OFFICIAL start of spring).

Surprisingly, they waited patiently!

Some yummy for your Monday.

2011-03-21T08:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Spring!!

(More to come on that subject later..)

For now, here is some gorgeous stuff to get you started on a great week of digi/hybrid scrapping/crafting.

(More to come on that “Hybrid Crafting” part too.)

First up: Cosmo Cricket “Lil’ Girl & Lil’ Boy” Papers and Elements.

LOVE them.

(Click HERE for full credits.)

And then there’s more Splendid Fiins.

(LOVE HER!!)

This time around it is border bits that go with the “Brilliant” collection.

You should already know of my love for that line..

(Click HERE for full credits.)

Go check out what else is in store today.. have some fun with your Monday!

Easy leftover fajitas.

2011-03-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

My family loves fajitas.

LOVES them.

I love them too. I love having just a little bit left over for my lunch the following day too.

(Don’t care so much for the fact that my hair still smells like them all night though…)

I have tried to find ways to cut down the cooking time on this favorite dish. Cut down the cooking time, time that I get to babysit a pan on the stove, so I can play more, of course!

I have found a couple of tips recently that have helped me, and I thought I would share.

First off, I started using the left over chicken after we have roasted chicken. We pick the chicken clean after we are done eating it (usually on a Sunday). It makes for good quality time with the hubbs. ;)

(But this week, it made for good quality time with my momma.)

The next day (cause I am weird with left overs like that..) is when I use it.

This cuts down on cooking that chicken in the frying pan, and thus, babysitting.. or chicken sitting, I guess.

Then I will start my onions in the pan with just a little canola oil and garlic salt. Just after I get those on, I take my peppers, cut them in half, de-seed them, and place them cut side down on a cookie sheet. I put them under the broiler (on high) for just a few minutes until the skin is blackened.

(This cuts down immensely on the stove cook time.)

After those are done, I let them cool and then slice them up and add them to the onions.

Closely following into that pan is the chicken that is already broken up into bite-sized pieces (time saver!!!) to mingle with the peppers and onions. I add my seasonings and let it simmer and heat the chicken through.

I think we all know what to serve this stuff with (minus the guac for me!).

I have recently found a new favorite way to eat it. I have to admit that I thought I was a total genius, I even posted my genius on Facebook, only to have a “duh” moment after.

I will take tortilla chips (yellow corn chips please!) and sprinkle grated colby jack on them, microwave them just long enough for the cheese to get gooey, top that with the fajita mixture, then lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.

Yum.

Now for the “duh” moment..

One of my favorite restaurants, Costa Vida, does this same thing! I have only seen them in person topped with sweet pork, and they are called, helloooo… “Sweet Pork Nachos”.

I am such a blonde.

(Not that that is a bad thing to all you blondies out there!)

They are tasty nonetheless.

And here is a sneak peek at that fun project I did for my class:

A little inspiration.

2011-03-15T11:27:00.001-07:00

I do a lot at the computer.

(Page credits here. You can download FREE template here.)

Edit pictures, digi scrapbook, blog, create other things digitally.. basically I spend a lot of time in Photoshop.

I have a few choices as to what I can do while I am doing that. I can listen to music. I can listen to the girls play. I can sit in silence. I can sing to myself. Before the teenaged DVD player decided to be a grumpy teenager, I could listen to whatever movie (or “ooive” if you are three) the girls were watching, or I can talk on the phone..

I would rather not hear myself sing. Really. So that leaves a few other options.

Around Christmas time, my mom shared a link on her Facebook page to a program on the Mormon Channel.

Yup. I am a LDS (aka “Mormon”) and quite happy with my life…

It was an interview with Ed and Lois Smart. If you don’t remember, or just don’t know, their daughter was kidnapped from their Salt Lake City home in the middle of the night in May of 2000. I was pregnant with Lynn, and my days were spent watching all the news I could about this horrible situation. She was found, March of the next year. Alive.

This interview was one of the first of the series “Enduring it Well”. It was what got me hooked.

To listen to their story, what life was like while Elizabeth was missing all of those months was awe-inspiring. I have listened to many of the interviews on that program since, have some to catch up on, and love what it does for me personally.

It gives me strength. It gives me a positive way to spend my time here.

I have since become addicted (nearly) to another program “Conversations”. LOVE the stories that are shared by so many.

My favorite of all time (so far) is with Herbert Klopfer. He grew up in Nazi Germany. His story gives me chills!! His life was full of miracles throughout that time. I dare you to listen to his interview and not cry..

Member or not, these stories will uplift and inspire. They truly testify that there is a God, and He loves us all.

The coolest part, you can listen to them on your computer, or download them and listen to them wherever you want! Makes other chores so much more enjoyable..

So while I try to fill my time doing good things, I also try to find ways to edify myself in the process.

I love Mondays, don’t you?

2011-03-14T10:01:00.001-07:00

There is just so much good on Monday! Some people frown down on Monday, I look at it as a new to-do list, more fun to be had.

Oh, and “More In Store”..

See, good!

Just a couple of the new items for today over at Jessica Sprague:

First up, liv.eDesigns with her Needs + Wants: Eyelets Galore.

There are two sets of these babies, 24 different colors, four different sizes of each color. These red guys are from set number 2.

Now for a confession:

I have SO many of these guys in real life. I am talking drawers, keepers, and a bunch of packages in a big bowl of other goodies. So the digi versions of these guys are perfect for me.

Another plus, no hammering!!

Credits for this page:

Eyelets: Needs + Wants: Eyelets Galore liv.edesigns

paper: Warm Wuv & Sofy Hugs - The Kit Papers liv.edesigns

overlay: EZ-PZ Template 06 - Fotocentric No.1 liv.edesigns

frame: Tape It Up! Frames liv.edesigns
border: Squiggle Borders liv.edesigns
stitching: Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1 Splendid Fiins

And then there’s those eyelets!
Needs + Wants: Eyelets Galore no. 2

font: my type of font

Next up is a sample for my recent (and strong) love of hybrid..

I already mentioned a bit about the “Mouse Paper Scissors” Class. Get ready to sign up for this one the next time it comes around!!

I created this card and envelope set with the templates from the class, and goodness from Echo Park.

papers: flower pattern & solid purple- Echo Park Digitals Sprintime Element/Paper Pack #2 , light blue dot & multi-colored dot- Echo Park Digitals Springtime Element/Paper Pack #1

elements: yellow scalloped border, butterfly, circles, & label- Echo Park Digitals Springtime Element/Paper Pack #2 cloud- Echo Park Digitals Springtime Elements/Paper Pack #1

Other items used to put this card together:

- Tombow dimensional foam adhesive.

- Tombow mulit adhesive.

- Glue Dots memory and craft dots.

- Emery board (to distress).

- Thread & sewing machine.

- Circle punches: 1 inch and 3/4 inch.

- Fiskars “Threading Water” border punch.

Now go and enjoy your Monday!!

Mouse Paper Scissors

2011-03-09T16:09:00.001-08:00

Holy lovefest!

I signed up for this class, needing to get my butt back in my craft room, and oooh howdy! Has it ever!

I am loving it!

(Hence the lovefest..)

It is so much more than just creating the assignments, it is getting me back in touch with me. It is about loving what I can do, learning how to do it better, and learning how to do more.

It has even gotten me excited to do things that have been on my list (on my table or in my sewing bin) for months.

Good, creative energy.

LOVE IT.

(Have I said that yet?)

Just a little of what we have been doing:

I have been a crazy card making lady..

They provided us with this darling template that I have been using digitally, but plan to use traditionally as well.

We also have fun envelope templates.

This card was made with all Crystal Wilkerson’s “Sweet Summertime” stuff.

I used “Lobster” font on the little label there.

Add in some sanding, “Broken China” distress ink (that I hunted all over for.. helloooo, it is turquoise..), staples, dimensional foam adhesive and good old glue dots.

Isn’t it cute?

Then there’s my cute observations notebook..

We made the cover in class using Daily Junque paper by House of Three for Pink Paislee.

(Early release of this paper just for this class = I feel cool.)

I also fell in love with glimmer mist from Tattered Angels.

(I went and bought three more bottles of it.)

(One of those colors are turquoise.)

(It is an obsession.)

I love how it says “Think Positive Today”.

I so need that!

And then there’s my newest, most favorite tool..

The Martha Stewart scoring board.

AWESOME.

If you love making cards, or paper crafts of any type, get yourself a coupon, go to JoAnn’s or Michaels and buy one.

Today.

It really does make life easier.

I have always used my Fiskars trimmer with the scoring blade on it, I love this so much more!! I haven’t torn paper once scoring it. That bone folder comes in handy too.

Right now I am working on a fun (but secret) project, and loving every minute of it!

When this class comes around again (because it had better, it is that good!) jump on it. Register for it the second you can. You do not want to miss out on this!

The 24 hour cookie.

2011-03-08T11:47:00.001-08:00

The title of this post does not refer to how long it takes to make these babies.

It indicates how long they lasted here.

I was in search of a soft chocolate cookie, one that I could add peanut butter chips to, and then we could all enjoy.

So I went hunting.

This recipe fit the bill perfectly and was yummy with the peanut butter chips.

(I am currently wondering how they would taste with some mint extract in them..)

Soft Chocolate Cookies

1 cup butter (softened)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups flour

2/3 cup baking cocoa

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

(Confectioners sugar for dusting after they are baked, optional.)

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; gradually add into the creamed mixture.

Now the recipe suggests that you cover this and let it chill for one hour, I didn’t need to do this. It was cold and very firm.

Roll into one inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet (but I heard that the silpat works just as well). You can press them down with a fork if you want, then bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. (Mine took a little less at 7 and 1/2.)

I added the peanut butter chips, but read that someone added raspberry extract to some of the dough, made a little well in the center of others and added raspberry jam. The reviews were phenomenal!

My family’s review was an empty plate the next day.

More in store.

2011-03-07T07:07:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make..

I think I own just about every traditional scrapbooking tool/gadget ever.

It’s true.

I own almost every border punch known to mankind.

(Okay, maybe not that many, but I do own a few!)

And then Splendid Fiins happened to me.

Digital border punches people!!!

Credits for this page:

Staples- Splendid Fiins The Office – supplies

Photo Corners- Splendid Fiins Feedsack element pack 1

Ric-rac- Splendid Fiins Feedsack element pack 2

Stitching- Splendid Fiins Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1

Paper- Splendid Fiins Tween (add-on) paper

Brad- Splendid Fiins Tween (add-on) elements

“Adorable” Circle Stamp- Splendid Fiins See above for details- Circle Stamps

Polaroid frame- Splendid Fiins (faux)laroids

Border Punch- Splendid Fiins Border Punches set 2

And then there’s some more fun goodies from liv.eDesigns..

Credits for this page:

Paper- liv.eDesigns Click Solids

Elements- liv.eDesigns Click Elements

Fonts- Antipasto and Pea Matt & Kari

Lucky You

2011-03-04T18:39:00.001-08:00

For a number of reasons..

I finished this project the other day:

Really enjoying playing with paper again.

It is also quite fun to make a mess, like I did sanding the edges of the fold-over flaps. That was fun!

I used my Circut “Storybook” cartridge for the white marquee layer, and my “Doodley-Doo” cartridge for the lettering. I couldn’t find a clover anywhere that I was happy with, so I made my own!

Today is another designer spotlight at Jessica Sprague, and if you enjoy the hybrid fun as much as I do, then you are in store for more fun!

Elle is one of the first designers I was set up to work with and her products are darling! On top of that, they are easy.

Remember the Advent tree?

How about these Christmas cards?

Or the banner…

Or these tags?

Her whole store is 25% off now through Sunday at midnight, so hop on it!

Even better, at Digi Lovely, you can download a freebie from miss Elle herself.

See, lucky you!

New developments.

2011-03-02T20:37:00.001-08:00

Just trying to come up with a super-exciting post title, and I have nothing, really.

But I have been doing some fun stuff these past few days!

You have no idea how exciting it is for me to be playing with paper and my sewing machine again.. I’ve been in the mood to sew and I have been buying up fabric when it so strikes my fancy.

I even bought some traditional scrapbooking supplies today!

(Gasp!!)

No store in town (or on the far-lying outskirts) had what I wanted, so I had to order it, which means I have to wait to get it.

(Blah.)

Anyway, it will eventually be fun.

So on to some of the latest..

I had one of my famous blonde moments the other day.

I had a cute birthday gift all wrapped up cute like (to match the inside of the box, obviously) ready to give to my friend, and last minute, realized I had no card!!

So I got over the stupidity, got giddy, and had too much fun making a card.

I am however, kicking myself in the bum, repeatedly, for not taking a picture of her gift. I was quite pleased with how it turned out..

(Kick, kick, kick.)

Then there’s my three “Whos”.

Today was Dr. Suess’ birthday at the girls school. Lynn’s class was having a read-a-thon in honor of the occasion. They could bring treats, books, pillows, and blankets to school. They were also encouraged to wear their pajamas.

So this crazy mom went to a local quilt shop, where I saw Michael Kaufman fabrics in Dr. Suess themes, to buy some up, and make some pajama pants for all three of my girls.

I spaced the shirts, which were brainstormed and visioned to be darling and witty. But at 1:18 am, with no plain white tees…

I let that go. That’s right, I said it.. my perfectionist self, let that go.

This weekend, spending most of it with a three year old in my lap who felt lousy most of the time, I decided to occupy my hands and make some rolled fabric rosettes.

They really aren’t that hard, and these will match all of that delicious fabric that I made Peyton’s birthday skirt with.

(More to come on that fabric. I bought more!! No, I never ran out, really, but I love it so.. I dream about it.)

And then there’s today.

My dear mom, brought me some of my most favorite treats…

(And this pic isn’t necessarily here to brag to you, rub it in your face, if you will, just how awesome my mommy is, it was just that the light was so delicious in my craft room..)

Entirely too much fun is being had around here.

I have a banner in the works, not to mention all of my classes.

(Speaking of which, I’m really behind!)

But I guess that just means there will be more great stuff in store to share.

More in Store Monday.

2011-02-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

Just a smattering of the new goodies available today at Jessica Sprague.

First up, “Essential Masks v. 3” from Carina Gardner.

Other credits for this page:

Papers & accents: Carina Gardner “Affection: Mega Kit”.

Font: Antipasto.

New from Splendid Fiins:

“Think Spring Borders”

Other Credits for this page:

Paper: “Brilliants” Splendid Fiins.

Staple: Crystal Wilkerson

Photo Frame: Brush from Deviantart.

Font: Firefly Castle.

(I just discovered some awesome staples, and other office supply essentials of Splendid Fiins here. Love these!)

This layout features products entirely from “In The Making Design”.

“Moments” papers and elements.

Template: “It’s a Start – Templates 2”.

quite excited to get started on my new class this week too. I got my kit in the mail this last week..

Look at how fun!

All tied up with that darling welcome tag.. all of that fun stuff! Who wouldn’t be excited?

Did you sign up for Mouse, Paper, Scissors?

What is this?!

2011-02-26T20:32:00.001-08:00

Really..

I thought this was extinct in my life.

Non-existent.

A traditional, paper goods, and glue, and scissors, and punches, layout.

There’s just something about touching all of these little, wonderful things..

Actually writing!

The physicality of it is just fun.

I’ve missed it for sure.

(I absolutely LOVE digital, don’t mistake me.)

But this feels good.

I had to make my craft room more of just that. It has been more of a sewing room lately.

That, and looking at all the goods I have stashed away in there, I have to use them. Have to.

(Although I think it’s safe to say, if there were a natural disaster of sorts, or another depression, I would be set with all things that are needed to craft.)

(It’s that bad people.)

(Or maybe good?)

Freebie Friday!

2011-02-25T13:27:00.001-08:00

I almost forgot!!

(Okay, I totally forgot..)

There is a wonderful FREEBIE from Splendid Fiins.

Remember, it is only free until Sunday..

(So go get it!!)

(NOW!)

Credits:

Papers & Elements:

Splendid Fiins (FREEBIE!!)

Stitching:

Splendid Fiins

Font:

Courier

Splendid Fiins

2011-02-25T07:57:00.001-08:00

This is one designer that I just eat up everything she creates.

Really.

Not to mention she pretty much coined the word “wonky” and I love it!

Some of my well-used (i.e. used over and over and over again..) favs:

- Messy stitching

- Feedsack elements 1 & elements 2

- Brilliant Solid papers

Today is her day to shine at Jessica Sprague. Go read some fun facts about her, and while you are at it, go and peruse her store, get anything (or everything) you want at 25% off!

(Sale ends Sunday at midnight.)

See all the good things she does?

Strictly for fun.

2011-02-24T13:44:00.001-08:00

It is nice to have a reason (motivator) to scrap, but it is even funner to just do it for fun.

My friend Mandi created this template and I couldn’t wait to play with it.

I am learning a few things about myself as I scrap..

1- Music really influences the choices I make as far as style is concerned. (That should be a no brainer.) The pink was added in as the music I was listening to became a bit more gentle.

2- Scrapbooking pictures of Peyton is difficult for a plethora of reasons. Besides the obvious (baby hungry, will be forever!!), I can see flaws in the way I was taking pictures before. (Thanks education.) Not to mention the quality. The quality of the cameras I was using is not quite the quality of what I use now. (Darn those megapixles!) Some pictures are more pixilated than others, I can tell I was zooming way in.

3- I get to know my stash so much better when I am not focusing on must one designer. It’s quite fun to hunt for the perfect elements for a page, from all over my hard-drive.

4- I also know I need to get better organized.

5- I also want more “stuff” to play with. But when don’t I? ;)

Credits:

Papers:

- Cream, Charcoal, and Mustard papers: Splendid Fiins.

- Pink: Jessica Sprague

Lace:

- Kitschy Digitals

Buttons:

- Small grey, white and yellow (I did change the hue & saturation on this one a bit): Kitschy Digitals

- Large grey button: Queen of Quirk

Fabric Flower:

Stitching:

Staple:

Frames:

Overlay:

Font:

- Firefly Castle from Kevin & Amanda

Valentine’s Revisited.

2011-02-23T10:58:00.001-08:00

As I began taking down my Valentine’s decorations, I realized that I never posted the fun stuff that we did here this year for the (card company/candy maker)holiday.

I planned on changing up the decorations last year, but never quite got around to making all the things I wanted to.

I bought paper at Heartland, that had me singing Beatles songs. The name of the line “Love me do”, something that Merrill says all the time, especially when he is tired/worn down.

I love the colors. So non-traditional.

And then there’s that turqois-ey/teal-ey color I so love…

Call me crazy, but I would really love to paint a piece of furniture in this color.

A friend and I had a cookie making day.. we made lots of them.

We even got more artsy than usual with the decorating.

Another addition this year was this banner. Inspired by the same paper line and color scheme. I dreamed about it at night.

All about the details…

But I knew it needed something more..

Tissue paper balls.

(And some other things that I never got to, but I probably would have if I just knew when to stop!!)

These are so fun to make!

(Now I know that I am not the first, and I am also aware that they have been around for a while now, but c’mon.. in these colors? I had to share..)

I also learned a few tricks that make the whole process a lot easier.

(Those will come in another post, perhaps?)

But a tip for now: Target has the funnest colors right now.. the turquoise is in, and the “wish” color of blue (light blueish-greenish) is in the baby gift wrapping area along with the yellow.

Last but not least, and one of my favorite parts of our day were these bottles:

I got all excited watching History channel’s program on soda, they showed Jones soda company. Did you know that you can go to their website and order their soda in bottles with YOUR picture on the label?!

Isn’t that so cool?

I thought so… until I saw the attached price tag.

Pair that with the idea of my kiddos getting a 6 pack a piece, thinking that they need to drink it all that night, then the sugar high that would follow… I so don’t need that.

So I did it my way. I changed it up a bit, not being able to find the clear bottles with the fun red soda.. (sniff) so I kept the colors simple.

I went and bought my own little 4-pack of rootbeer, and printed off my own labels, using double-stick tape to hold it all together.

The girls loved them.

You can too! Here’s the PSD template so you can make your own. Just clip down the picture(s) you want to use (Control G my friends.. Control G..), print off on regular copy paper and stick away!

I am thinking of doing another version of these, making my custom nutrition label or something fun like that.

With a little adjusting of the text, I think they would be a blast for a shower (be it baby or bridal) or a birthday party.

P.S. The font I used is “You Are Loved” form DaFont.com.

Sweet girly stuff.

2011-02-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

You know that is what I am so all about. Been that way for years!!

So it should come as no shock that the name of a product line would grab me and hold onto me like a child who is being chased and teased incessantly by their older sister (can you tell what my weekend has been like?).

Let me introduce you to Echo Park’s “Little Girl” line:

Dreamy, and perfect, and oh, so girly!!

Look for this line, new to Jessica Sprague today.

Paper

Elements

Alpha

Another designer, another freebie!

2011-02-18T13:36:00.001-08:00

I have been MIA, I know, I know. But have you ever had the devil in your ear, telling you, like ALL the time that you totally suck?!

Welp, I have.

I finally knocked him off my shoulder.

Happy days!

So at Jessica Sprague there is another designer spotlight! They are so fun..

This week is Jan of “Queen of Quirk”. I LOVE her style, adore her overlays especially. She is just fun, and I love the quirk!

Head on over to Digi Lovely for a freebie (!!) from the Queen herself.

Some of Jan’s gorgeous stuff:

It’s not easy.

2011-02-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

Look at this girl!

Where has the time gone?

It isn’t the easiest thing, scrapbooking the pictures from these days. I miss them. I am happy to be where I am, don’t get me wrong, life is great! I just miss my babies. I get quite homesick for them.

This layout documents some of the happenings in the first little while of Peyton’s life.

And now she’s three!

Credits:

Template: In The Making Design

Papers: In The Making Design Indulgence Paper Pack

Stitching: Splendid Fiins Messy Stitching v.1

Font: Thinking of you.

In the mood.

2011-02-04T10:38:00.001-08:00

For Valentine’s Day.. I know, it really is about time.

But there are so many love-worthy things out there right now!

Today you can go to Jessica Sprague and get to know Danielle of Kitschy Digitals. She is a doll! Her store is also 25% off until Sunday.

Her vintage photo frames are a go-to item for me.

Just a sampling of her darling stuff:

P.S. There’s a Kitschy Freebie here!

A mish-mosh.

2011-02-01T13:07:00.001-08:00

This is the beginning of what I am going to call, a “mish-mosh” post.

It is going to be completely random, but wonderfully random.

Let the randomness begin!!

Last week (which means that I am a week overdue for posting this..) my dear friend Tiffany, sent me a fun package.

(To tell you the truth, I think she is trying to make up for the time in second grade, when she wouldn’t pack me in her suitcase so I could stow-away on her family trip to Hawaii. Shhhh! Don’t tell her I’m onto it.)

(Wink, Wink.)

I was thankful for the mid-winter pick-me-up, not to mention the new-found motivation to bake something!! Bake anything!!

Wouldn’t these inspire YOU to bake?

But that is not all…

Oh no, because it never is all for me…

I was tickled to read the small print on her tag:

“Thank you for supporting handmade!”

Loved it..

(Thanks again Tiffany!! xo)

My family was thankful for the cupcakes that these darling hot pads undoubtedly inspired.

(See.. you want some of those hot pads too, so you will have the sudden desire to make cupcakes.. am I right? Or am I sooo right?)

The problem was (or shall I say IS), Peyton (bless her heart) loves these darling hot pads as well. Forget the obviously “trying to be” hot pads that came with her toy pot and pan set this Christmas… these are the real deal, and they are cute, face it!

(Have I mentioned how cute they are yet?!")

As soon as I finished with my little photo shoot with the darling hot pads, I set them aside while I mixed my cupcake batter. I popped them into the oven hoping they might bake just a little faster than usual just so I could use the hot pads sooner.

Peyton had fun during the waiting period though. She was baking a concoction of her own in her little kitchen, enjoying those darling hot pads. When she got side tracked, I immediately retrieved my sweet hot pads, and returned them, lovingly, to their new home in my kitchen. Then I proceeded to wait…

That was the most painfully painful 25 minute wait.

As the kitchen timer went off, the hot pads were nowhere to be found! (Again.)

It was quite tragic that I had to resort to using the ugly “old” hot pads of mine, they were totally fine the day before, but now.. they weren’t so good.

As soon as those cupcakes were safely out of the oven, in a safe, cool place where they wouldn’t overcook and get all dry, I set out about finding those darling hot pads.

You’ll never guess where I found them..

Under Peyton’s pillow.

It’s a good thing there are two of them. ;)

Speaking of good things… my friend Em is hosting an auction with some pretty sweet stuff on her blog this week.

Em had her son early and he just couldn’t stay here with us. All funds raised will go directly to the March of Dimes.

We have all benefitted from this organization, let’s help support her team!

And the last random thing I can pull out of the air today would be that it is “Template Tuesday” at Digi Lovely.

Make sure you read all the great things that can happen to you when you download this FREE template, create with it, and share on Jessica Sprague. I mean, really, great things.

Oh, P and S… I am pretty sure the randomness just ended.

Post edit of epic proportions!!

I nearly forgot..

Okay, so I totally forgot.

Go to my friend Tiffany’s Etsy store and check out what other darling goodies she makes.

Support handmade!!!

Check it out...

2011-01-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

It's "Thrilling Thursday" at Mouse, Paper, Lovely, and seriously, it's thrilling!
Go check out the first "Thrilling Thursday" there..
(There is a pretty "Thrilling" give away...)

Love is in the air…

2011-01-24T08:38:00.001-08:00

Valentine’s day is on it’s way, so is Easter, apparently. I saw Easter candy right next to the Valentine’s stuff at the store the other day..
But further proof that Valentine’s is coming, and is really first is evident in the product available today at Jessica Sprague.
Let’s start off with new templates from Liv…

She designed these with those project 365ers, 52ers, or 12ers in mind. They also come in 8 & 1/2 x 11 size.
Other credits:
Liv's "Not Quite White" paper pack.
Liv's "Paint Play Swishes" paper pack.
Carina Gardner's "Santa's Sleigh Stamps".
Queen of Quirk "Reindeer Games" accents.
Ric-rack from Splendid Fiins "Feedsack elements 2 Pack".
Font used: “My Type of Font”.
Then there is more splendidness from Splendid Fiins…
First up: these lovely frames..

Other credits:
Paper from Splendid Fiins "Brilliant" collection.
Ric-rack and zig-zag stitching from "Feedsack 2 Elements" (also Splendid Fiins).
White border stitching from "Sew Crafty: Messy Stitches vol. 1" (Splendid Fiins).
And then this lovely quick page from the same lovely designer:

So easy. Plug in your pix, add your text and ta-da!! So cute…
Fonts: “Veteran Typewriter” and “Never Let Go”.
The lovely lettering in this one comes from Echo Park.

Other credits:
"Be Mine" papers from Echo Park.
Elements from Echo Park's "Be Mine" element pack #1.
Stitching from Splendid Fiins "Sew Crafty: Messy Stiching vol. 1".
Staple from Crystal Wilkerson's "November Eye Candy".
That stitched banner was created using a single stitch brush I happily added to my arsenal of brushes when I took Jessica’s “Brushabilities” class. That is the only way to get it, and it is well worth it! Great class to take to learn or just enhance your learning of the PhotoShop brush tool.
(Here’s the link to that class.)
Font: Veteran Typewriter.

I love Liv!

2011-01-21T14:29:00.001-08:00

I happen to love all the great designers at Jessica Sprague, don’t get me wrong.. but it’s Liv’s day to shine over there!
I have been using her products for a while, her designs and her attention to every little detail, are amazing!
Go see what great things Liv has been up to, and while you are there, take advantage of one of the newest, greatest things the dreamy team has come up with there..
Take 25% off anything in Liv’s store today through Sunday!!
Wow…
And to make it even better (anything + Liv = better..) go to Digi Lovely and download a new mini kit, designed by Liv for FREE.
(This offer also ends at midnight on Sunday.)
Really…
It’s all incredible!
Here’s just a sample:

Credits:
Liv’s “Click- mini kit” (the FREEbie!!).
Splendid Fiins “Sew Crafty- Messy Stitches vol. 1”.

Smitten.

2011-01-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

Another layout..
I actually did a layout with this same picture, traditionally, right after Pey was born, but I love this layout so much more…
(See what you think.)
New product out today from liv.edesigns.
"I heart doodles 2" brushes.
And some oldies!
(Which I totally love, and mad this perfect..)
Also from Liv:
Soft and Gentle Solid papers.
Tape it up frames.
Other:
Sew Crafty Messy Stitches vol. 1 from Splendid Fiins.
Staple from Crystal Wilkerson.
Fonts: “Lobster” and “My Type of Font”.

On my way..

2011-01-10T07:47:00.001-08:00

That goal, you know, that one…
(No, not the one about eating a piece of candy or chocolate a day.. the other one.)
Well, I have one page down of that one year (minus the two weeks that are done).
It’s mostly thanks to Liv’s inspiration.
These doodle brushes were perfect! I had an extremely hard time trying to decide which one to use on this layout.

I love how it turned out!
Other supplies used on this layout:
Stitching from Anna Aspnes
Font: “Firefly Castle”.
Frame: Vintage Polaroid brush from Deviantart.
Paper: Paint Play Swishes paper pack by liv.edesigns
Tape: Washi tape by liv.edesigns
Doodle brush: I heart doodles by liv.edesigns

An auction for a good cause.

2011-01-08T12:14:00.001-08:00

Hey friends!!

My friend Em is hosting an auction on her blog February 5th. There are some talented and loving ladies who have donated handmade items to be auctioned. All proceeds will go to the March of Dimes.

(See, good cause.)

Please take a look (or more) and give some support if you can!

This is over there too..

Evaluating…

2011-01-05T14:15:00.001-08:00

I have been dreading this part of the year (aka, the beginning..) and the evaluation that comes with it.
I look back on last year, and all of those fabulous goals that I set at the beginning of it, and think, no, I KNOW that I was crazy, or under the influence of something, like too much sugar.
I set a goal that I would scrap 144+.
The + being the traditional layout I would do for every digital layout scrapped.
(Does anyone else hear the sound of failure?)
Ready for this last year’s tally?
No drum roll required…. really, don’t get excited, DON’T.
76
I didn’t even bother to count how many were traditional or how many of those are digital.
Why bother?
I think we all know that the majority are digi anyway.
So this year, I am setting realistic goals. Goals such as: “Eat a piece (or two) of chocolate and/or candy everyday.”
See, I can do that! Set a goal to not, and I might last one week, might.
So in the way of scrapping, I am setting a goal to get Peyton’s first year completed. I got to two weeks (I think) and she will be three next month..
It would be a lot easier to scrap those pix if I didn’t cry every time I busted them out… watery substance and scrapbook paper do not play well together.
I would also like to get the family pix scrapped from when I was preggers with her…
Other than that, I am not putting a number to anything, just to get to a certain point in my scrapping.
Other goals (maybe) and some more de-junking and house-cleaning as far as blogging goes will soon follow… I just need to find the motivation.
Changes are to come!

4..

2010-12-04T19:41:00.001-08:00

You know, I really should catch up my little count going on (not really) over there ---------------->
2010 is well on it’s way out (already) and I have been lacking in my counting and recording skills.
(Blame it on the fact that math and I don’t usually agree.. or that I am just usually really, horribly wrong. I blame it all on Roy High.)
I did manage to get FOUR layouts done, in TWO days.
Yup, I am pretty cool!
(Not really, it is just cool by my standards lately. I’d be REALLY cool if my Christmas cards were out.. it would be even better if I had the pictures taken for aforementioned cards. I do have the clothes picked out!)
Anyway (after a lot of distraction on my part..), here they are!
(New products will be released this upcoming week!)
This is a printable kit from Kitschy Digitals, but I used it for a layout all about Lynnie-lou and her summer reading goal.
Isn’t that gnome cute?!

I also used Kitschy Digitals Vintage Photo Frames, Crystal Wilkerson’s staple and woodgrain paper, rick-rack and stitching from Splendid Fiins.
(Kitschy Digitals also has a darling die-cut kit that matches this stuff..)

This is a template and quick page from In the Making Design.
I was looking for an excuse to use her “Sassy Season” papers and elements (they are cute!), but also relied on some of my favs..Crystal Wilkerson’s staple (told you I loved it!), and that stitching from Splendid Fiins.

Liv has come up with this incredible template to help showcase your photos. They really take center stage here.
I got sucked into all of my summer pics (cold it be because of the cold?), and wanted some fresh, calm colors to go with. Crystal Wilkerson’s “Sweet Summertime” papers, elements and label fit the bill. Splendid Fiins stitching (heart) also helped to finish this one off well.

Last, but not least, Carina Gardner has an awesome kit coming out this week as well. I have learned one thing about her: she does what she does well! Her kits are incredible! They have so many pieces, totally worth it. Then there’s the same old stuff I love.. that same staple from Crystal Wilkerson, from my splendid friend, the rick-rack and the lovely stitching!
Don’t forget that the WHOLE STORE in on sale for this month, not to mention, if you spend more than $20 you will get the collaborative kit for FREEEEEE!!
(Did you hear Adam Sandler’s voice in that?)

American Girl Doll PJs.

2010-12-01T12:14:00.001-08:00

It’s been a while, like nearly a year, since I said I would post the pattern to the doll PJs. Better late than never, right? ;)
For this project you will need:
- fabric, 13 1/2 x 24 inches
- elastic, 11 1/2 inches(I like to use 1/4 inch baby elastic).
- thread, scissors, straight pins, sewing machine, iron, all that good stuff.
- and the pattern (download here).
To start, you’ll first need to download the pattern, extract the files, and print them out.

You should have two pages, one labeled “top” and one labeled “bottom”. You’ll want to overlap these by one inch (there is a noticeable gap on the top piece where you can match the lines on the pattern up). Tape them across the seams on both front and back sides of the papers. Cut this out.
Next, fold your fabric. Lay it out, pretty side down, so your fabric is long, not wide. Fold it in half, and then fold it in half again.
You should end up with a fold like this:

Next, lay your pattern on your fabric, making sure that the fold on your pattern is also on the fold of your fabric.

Cut this out.
I used a rotary cutter, it helped to use my straight edge guide for the sides and the top slant. If you are using scissors, you’ll want to pin this pattern to your fabric.
You should end up with two pieces like this:

The next thing you’ll want to do is to overcast stitch, or serge, the edges of the top and bottom (narrowest parts on the fabric). It isn’t a “must” but makes for a prettier edge (that is how my grandma taught my mom and how my mom taught me.. one of the first places she would look on any finished project, were the insides to see if the work was neat). It also helps so your fabric won’t fray and unravel after many wearings and washings.
An “overcast stitch” is when you zig-zag stitch right on the edge of you fabric, casting the stitch over the edge, just a little, and by doing that, it folds and tucks the very edge of the raw edge underneath itself. I looked in my machine’s user manual and found the settings I needed to be able to do this.
If you have chosen to do this, the next step is simple: fold over the bottom edge 1/2 inch (this is the cuff of the pant leg), press it, pin it and straight stitch it 1/4 inch in.

(This is much easier to do right now, before the two sides are joined.)
Next, put both pieces, pretty sides together, and pin just the top sides.

Now we’ll straight stitch first, from the top corner to the little point near the middle.
(This is the straight edge, not the curved one.)
After you’ve straight stitched both sides, over cast stitch if desired.
After you’ve done that, you need to lay them out, opened, so the seam that you just stitched is facing you. Join the two seams in the middle, and start pinning there. Pin down each leg.

Sew from the bottom of one leg to the crotch and stop. Do the same thing to the other side. This ensures that your seams line up in the middle. I like to overcast stitch the edges after this too.
Don’t they look like pants now? :)
We are almost done!
Fold down the top of your pants, 1 inch. Press and pin. You’ll straight stitch this 3/4 of an inch from your folded edge. Make sure to leave a gap open. This is the casing for your elastic for the waist.

Since we already overcast stitched (or serged) that edge in the beginning, you shouldn’t have any raw, feathery edges bugging you right now. Feed your elastic through (I like to put a safety pin in one end of my elastic, and feed that through the casing, a good friend taught me that trick). Pin your ends together and sew them with a few stitches. Stretch out the waistband, and straight stitch your casing shut.
Turn them right-side out, and you did it!

Isn’t your doll so happy?

Your little girl will be too. ;)

Fun new products..

2010-11-28T20:08:00.001-08:00

I love seeing what fun new stuff the designers come up with at Jessica Sprague..
Just a couple of things new to the store tomorrow:

Okay, so part of this one isn’t new, but it’s newish.
Splendid Fiins put out a “Splendid Tutorial” on how to make Silhouettes, from beginning to end, and making them into your own brush! Pretty incredible, I know.
Tomorrow, new to the store, will be these alternate borders. You can color them, but I am just boring and left them black.
I made mine into ornaments, and if you click on it, you can see the name and age of the little girl whose silhouette is on there..
I just printed off the finished product, cut it out, rounded the corners, and glittered the edges of some chipboard before I stuck down my silhouette with craft dots. Add a little rick-rack and you have a cute little ornament! I would have liked to have diamond glazed it, but ran out of time.
My mind is just racing with all the possibilities with this one!
Queen of Quirk (I love all things quirky..) has “Reindeer Games” coming out tomorrow. I wanted to use all of the elements and papers on one page, but that wouldn’t have looked too great. It is all so fun though!

Papers.
Elements.
I also used her template.
Stitching, Splendid Fiins.
Fonts, Marcelle Script and Caviar Dreams.
Don’t forget, the great holiday sale is going on there, and prices are slashed by 20%!! With any purchase over $20 you get a free comp kit, that is pretty fun too.. need to find more time to play with that one…
Oh, and the FREE class starts TOMORROW!

One buck Wednesday!

2010-11-24T10:50:00.001-08:00

As usual, on Wednesdays, there are some fun deals at Jessica Sprague..
Just a couple of those are:
Elle’s Studio Christmas Gift Tags…

These are so fun! I usually make my own every year, stamping and punching, coloring sometimes too..
These guys are already all dolled-up for you. They come in three different colors, different sentiments too. I layered mine with a scalloped center piece.
Another beautiful product available for one buck today are Christmas card templates from In the Making Design. She has used her “Frostbite” papers to make these lovely cards.
I LOVE Linda’s stuff.. it is always so gorgeous!
There are five to choose from, all for one dollar!
With a bunch of fun sales coming up, don’t forget the one at Jessica Sprague, going through December. 20% off most products, not to mention a bonus with $20 purchase.
Ohhh!! AND the FREE class!

Hello Monday…

2010-11-22T11:13:00.001-08:00

It is Monday (yet again)..

Some people don’t really care for Mondays, but they aren’t so bad.

- It’s cleaning day!

- It’s the start to another list of to dos..

- And there’s new goodies in store at Jessica Sprague!

Today there’s a bunch of darling quick pages from Crystal Wilkerson…

This is Quick Page #1 from “Merry & Bright”.

And new goodies from Echo Park.

I made these magnet clips with papers and elements from their “Dashes Through the Snow” paper and elements 2 packs.

Head on over, find something new, cute, and fun.

Don’t forget to register for the FREE class that begins the 29th!! It will be fun for crafters/creators of all types.

There will also be the annual holiday sale beginning Black Friday (what better time, eh?) and going through December 31st. It’s 20% off, plus a free collaborative pack for FREE with $20 purchase.

One buck Wednesday!

2010-11-10T12:41:00.001-08:00

Just a heads up..

This fabulous stuff is available today for ONE BUCK!!!

Carina Gardner: Daisy Jane papers & Paper Bits

And Echo Park’s “Sleigh Ride” Papers and elements.

Seriously.. one dollar… how can you say no?

FREE class!!!

2010-11-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Jessica Sprague is offering a free class!!

(Are you even more excited now that you know who it is that is offering the FREE CLASS?)
It’s gonna be awesome..
And did I mention free?
It is for everyone and anyone, not just digi scrappers, but anyone who loves to craft or create.
(And anyone who happens to love FREE stuff.)
(Or who might just happen to love Jessica Sprague.. maybe as much as I do.)
I will be playing, so come and play along with me!

How did I forget?!?

2010-11-08T18:39:00.001-08:00

I posted all of my latest layouts, and left out one of my favorites!
Merrill…

This is from the pics I took from my latest assignment, and I loved this one. I am so thankful for him!
Supplies:
Template from In The Making Design, “Thankful” (available Wednesday).
Papers also from In The Making Design, “Classic Budiour”, and “Lastoria”.

Latest layouts.

2010-11-07T18:20:00.001-08:00

Here’s the latest creations for Jessica Sprague product releases this week…
More In Store Monday:
- Carina Gardner
“Haunted” paper collection and stamps.

I also used the staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack
Splendid Fiins (Orange rick-rack, orange stitching, and photo corners): feedsack element pack 1 and feedsack element pack 2.

Black stitching from Katie Pertiet.

- Elle’s Studio
Vintage typewriter Christmas journaling tags.

I also used product from Echo Park’s “Sleigh Ride” Paper collection (coming Wednesday).
Template form Miss Jessica Sprague herself: Jessica Sprague Template+ 1.15
Staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack

One Buck Wednesday:
- Carina Gardner
Daisy Jane papers and paper bits.

Stiching from Splendid Fiins: feedsack element pack 2

Staple from Crystal Wilkerson: Crystal's {PLAYGROUND} Element Pack

Stitching from Splendid Fiins: feedsack element pack 2

Photo frame and mask from Kitschy Digitals: Vintage Photo Frames
- Echo Park
“Sleigh Ride” papers and elements.

Stitching from Splendid Fiins: Sew Crafty Messy Stitches vol. 1
Template from Jessica Sprague: Jessica Sprague Template+ 1.04

Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes.

2010-11-06T22:12:00.001-07:00

I cannot take credit whatsoever for these delicious treats.
My friend Emily shared this a while ago on her blog and I knew I had to try them out.
Well worth it I may say…
I did have to make an alteration, but trust me, still incredibly yummy.
I used my tried and true, but not from scratch (GASP!!) favorite box mix, and made this frosting. Now mind you, I had no whipping cream (that smelled good, I am crazy about that), so I used a can of sweetened condensed milk instead (and licked the can clean!). It worked out fantastically!
Caramel Frosting
1/2 cup butter or 1 stick
1/3 cup whipping cream (the real stuff)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
melt the butter, cream and sugar in a medium pot over medium heat. The recipe said to just heat until the sugar dissolves, but I liked the results better if you heat just till boiling point, let it simmer for like 1 minute more after that..pour hot caramel in a mixing bowl, and mix on low speed for about 1 minute, then add 2 cups of powdered sugar, one at a time or the sugar will fly everywhere. Mix until smooth. The frosting will still be some what warm. That's okay. This stuff sets up really fast.
I used my uneven spatula, trying to get the tops all pretty and such, the frosting was still so warm, that It just coated, so prettily the top of each cupcake. It was no work at all.
(My family also licked the bowl of frosting clean.)
I also had no sea salt, so I cannot testify to that particular flavor explosion, but these were oh so good!
Thanks Emily for sharing your little bit of found heaven!

Cupcake confession.

2010-11-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

I have my “go-to” items when I make cupcakes.

Some of them aren’t your traditional baking items, but they work for me!

Thought I would share what has made my life easier when it comes to baking my favorite treats.

**NOTE: I am NOT trying to pass myself off as “the best cupcake maker ever”, nor do I insinuate that I am a “professional” baker, by any means, it is a hobby. It is something that I enjoy, and unless the people who I share these with are lying, others enjoy the fruits of my labors as well.*

These are staple items that I have in my house at all times. You never know when you will feel like something sweet to eat, or an activity to do with the kiddos. Even to take a plate to someone who might need some sweetness in their life!

Powdered sugar, cake mixes (and all necessary ingredients), nut cups, my piping bag, coupler and favorite tip, un-even spatula, and ice cream and cookie dough scoops.

Let’s start with confession #1..

RARELY do I bake a cake or cupcake from scratch. There are certain recipes that are favorites, but these cake mixes are the best things in my book. I try to get the butter recipe ones, they are the best and the moistest. If the flavor I want doesn’t come in a butter recipe, I tweak the recipe to become a butter recipe. Substitute the 1/3 cup of oil for 1/2 cup of margarine or butter, softened. Decrease the water to 1 1/4 cups, but keep the eggs the same. I keep a few of these in food storage, love it when they go on sale!

After you cupcakes (or cake, we like those too!) are done baking, let them cool for ten minutes, cover with foil and freeze for a half hour to an hour. This traps in the steam and makes for a moister cake. (I learned this tip from a friend of a friend, best thing ever!)

Another tip I learned from a cooking show (although I can’t remember which one..) is to use an ice cream scoop for getting that batter into your cupcake liner. It is the perfect amount of batter. I love using my little ones for my “baby” cupcakes. Perfect amount every time!

Then there’s the liners. I prefer to use nut cups. They have a nice, sturdy construction to them, the also have a slightly waxy coating to them that makes them pop out so easily. I buy them at the local craft store for a couple dollars a package. They are great to line up on one cookie sheet and pop them all into the oven at the same time. No more rotating muffin tins!

Then there’s the frosting staples..

Powdered sugar is another food storage item (along with marshmallows now that Veronica shared the joy of homemade marshmallow fondant with me). Can’t have frosting without this stuff!

My favorite frosting tip of all time is Wilton’s 1M tip. It is mated with the GIANT coupler, which goes with the GIANT piping bag, but well worth it. It makes the prettiest piping on top of those cupcakes, makes them more edible, because they look prettier!

Then there’s that GIANT bag. I use coupons on these bad boys. 40-50% off.. YES, PLEASE!

This guy can hold A LOT of frosting, I mean an obscene amount, but that makes the job that much quicker and easier.

So, there’s my tips.. watch out tomorrow for a new recipe my friend shared on her blog.

Had to try it..

LOVED IT!

Costuming.

2010-11-01T13:43:00.001-07:00

(Is that even a word? Well, it is now!)

This year for Halloween, I had two little girls who wanted to be something that was going to stretch the creativity that lives in this house.

Peyton said over and over that she wanted to be “Bo”. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about. At first, I thought she was saying, “Boo” because she had been watching Monsters Inc., but that wasn’t it.

It wasn’t until I put Toy Story 2 on for the bazillionth time that it clicked.

She wanted to be “Bo-Peep”. In the movie, Woody calls her “Bo”.

I based my sketch of this off of pics of her online, but couldn’t find the exact anything as far as material went.

I made everything totally on my own.

If I had to do it all over again, I would most definitely find a pattern.

(That and a more cooperative model.)

I even made her staff.

(It was impossible to find one of those, let alone a blue one.)

I made her bloomers out of blue flannel (can you say warm?) and also lined the top with it.

She loved it, and she did look cute!

Lynn was having trouble with deciding on something fun to be. I showed her a book that my mom gave me, one that I used to look through when I was little, dreaming of the day I would be a mom, and she fell in love with the jar of jelly beans.

I knew that if I were going to make this, it was gonna have to be good. It would also have to be reusable. So I started off with a sketch. I was pretty happy with just the sketch!

And here’s the finished product.

The details are my favorite part!

I created labels in Photoshop using Crystal Wilkerson’s Playful Font, and editing that just a bit (I had to erase the centers of the letters “a” and “e”). I also used her Artisan label templates No. 1 and lobster font on the “Pitcher Brand” label. I mirrored them, printed them out on iron-on transfer paper, and ironed that onto my fabric. The “a fat free treat” got cut down into a circle and put through the Xyron and stuck to the vinyl “package”.

I even created a “Nutrition Facts” label, and ingredient list in Photoshop for the back.

For the “jelly beans” letters, I used the same font, “Playful”, and didn’t mirror it, printed it out, ironed it on the wrong side of my fabric, peeled off the backing, then ironed on my heat and bond. I peeled off the paper backing from that, and then cut out my letters and ironed them on.

We spent one evening, watching scary movies and blowing up a bunch of water balloons.

(Okay, Merrill inflated, I mostly tied.)

It was all worth it! A fun, unique costume that we can use over and over again!

(She just wished the kids at school hadn’t chased her and popped her “jellybeans”.)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

2010-11-01T06:37:00.000-07:00

Not just because of our lovely (yet typical) Utah weather!!
No, it is this darned designer I am working with at Jessica Sprague!
She has me seeing Christmas.
(It is only fitting for our weather though!)
Another yummy creation from Elle’s Studio:
Meet, the Advent Calendar…

Cute, fun, stuff!
It is brand new in store today!!
Of course, I embellished the heck out of it.. that’s what I do!
I used glitter and flocking powder this time, but used my Xyron sticker maker instead of wet glue. Much easier on bigger areas. I also got to raid my ribbon/fiber drawer to tie these cuties up. (Using remnant supplies that I can’t bear to throw away is a huge plus.) Other than that, I used the typical glue dots (both regular and craft) and scissors (large, medium, and small tipped), a hole punch, and rhinestones.
Elle makes it easy and fun for you. She even includes a list of activities for you to use as ideas for your calendar activities.
We decided on ours, calendared them in, so when that day comes, we know what we are doing, that and we can re-use this again and again and again..
Or you could write or tack on your own activities on the pieces.
(I have to admit that it was more than a little weird working on this, cutting it all out while watching Halloween movies!)

More in Store..

2010-10-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

Monday’s a Jessica Sprague, designers release new products, fresh and hot, usually at an introductory price. There are lots of cute new stuff over there today!
I suggest you go check it out…
Just a couple of the newest:
Christmas Photo Cards from Elle’s Studio.
Set 4-

(Above photo by Brooke Pitcher.)
Set 5-

They are cute, quick, and easy! All you have to do is plug in your pic, add your personalized text, send them off to print, and your Christmas cards are taken care of!

One Buck Wednesday.

2010-10-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

So I know I gush about Jessica Sprague like, ALL THE TIME. But I do for a reason (or more than just A reason..).
Just like always, there is some good stuff over there today..
FOR ONE BUCK!!
(Or $1 if that is more clear.)
Two products for you to get excited about from Elle’s Studio:
This fun Hybrid “Merry Christmas” banner.

My goal this year was to be ahead preparation-wise by one month. This has helped me with my December decor!
One buck people!
($1.)
I printed-off the goodness, cut, rounded corners and inked away while my glitter-edged letters were drying. Punched holes, added hole reinforcers (inked with the same ink), added more sparkle by adding sticky rhinestones to the little dips in the letters, then put it all together using Craft Glue Dots. I strung it up using twill ribbon.
Cute, I know!
Supplies:
-Elle’s studio “Merry Christmas” banner.
-Martha Stewart is the bomb! I used her glitter glue and “sterling” microfine glitter on these babies.
-I used Stazon “Brown Timber” ink.
-Craft Glue Dots placed on 3 points on top and bottom and one on either side middle. Seriously, get 2 boxes.
-Rhinestones.
-Ribbon of your choice.
-Hole reinforcers (optional).
-scissors, hole punch, and corner rounder

This little ditty is based all around that little journaling block.. see it?
This also comes from Elle’s Studio, “These Moments at Christmas”, and comes with MORE little journaling blocks. So cute.. and just one dollar!
The rest of the page is thanks to:
“In The Making Design”
-“Spotted & Dotted”, “Striped & Checked” papers from the “Basically” collection. (Brand new in the store as of Monday.) Template, “It’s a Start 2, page 3”.
-Stitching by Anna #1 White.
-Font, “Caviar Dreams”.

A new challenge for YOU!

2010-10-19T15:49:00.001-07:00

You know how I love challenges (especially of the scrapbooking kind) and how they get you thinking and groovin’..
Well, here’s a new one, just for you!
Miss Jessica Sprague herself now has a Facebook page!
(Isn’t that great?!)
And she has some fun MISM challenges for ALL to participate in.
(WHAT is MISM?!)
More In Store Monday is when the fabulous team at JS.com announces new classes, new kits, new digital tastiness, all great stuff.
(I know, I have spent my fair share there.. more than my fair share if you ask the bacon-bringer here. Love you Mer-Bear!)
The challenge comes in here:
Create a layout using products from More In Store Monday, and you get 5 Spraguebucks to spend any way you please in that store. Seriously, any item your little heart desires and you have $5 to go to it! It’s incredible, I know.
So go, become a fan..
Buy some stuff (if you haven’t already..), go make something lovely, post it to the Facebook page, and maybe…
You’ll win!
Here’s my goodness:

Supplies:
MISM template by Crystal Wilkerson.
Papers and stitching from her “Rainbow Sherbet” kit, background paper from her “Sweet Summertime” kit.
Font: King Cool KC.
Good luck!!

Comfort: Cinnamon Rolls

2010-10-13T13:04:00.001-07:00

I know that we all crave comfort foods at times, and those times are usually when we are feeling under the weather.
Ever since Peyton (my 2 year old) decided to be super sweet and share her cold with me, I have been needing some of that comfort.
It also helps that a friend brought over cinnamon rolls and we (and when I say “we” I really mean “I”) just kind of didn’t get enough..
This recipe is the one my mom has used for her cinnamon rolls since, well, ever. This is the one that hits the spot where comfort and familiarity in concerned.
So the other day, when I was feeling in need of some comfort, I popped a couple of reds, a blue or two, washed all the germs from my hands and made me some..

Sweet Dough
1 tablespoon sugar
2-3 tablespoons yeast
3/4 cup warm water
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil or soft shortening
7- 7 1/2 cups flour
Stir yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar into the warm water. Set aside. Mix together in a saucepan: milk, sugar, salt, oil, and eggs. Whisk while heating until quite warm but not too hot. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add yeast mixture. Mix together and then add the flour, just a little at a time until a smooth dough forms. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Let rise until double. Bake finished product at 375.
Now when I do cinnamon rolls, I roll this dough out on a floured surface until it is 1/2 inch thick. I spread melted butter over the entire piece of dough, then top very generously with: brown sugar, then cinnamon, then white sugar. My mom adds raisins, but because I detest them in everything but Chex mix and Rasin bran, I leave them out. Roll the dough up into a long roll, and cut about 1 1/2 inch sections. Place in a greased baking pan and let rise again. Bake for about 20-25 minutes at the above temperature, or until the tops are nice and golden brown.

While these are baking, I start the frosting. I used to use my plain old buttercreme, but have since fell in love with cream cheese icing on these.
Cream Cheese Icing
3/4 pound butter, softened
1 pound cream cheese
dash of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound powdered sugar (maybe a little more)
Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Add more powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency.
Let the cinnamon rolls cool to touch and then spread on the frosting.

I do not recommend eating one while typing though. ;)

6

2010-10-11T15:08:00.001-07:00

The first page of this layout was created for another Jessica Sprague challenge. I seriously need to get back into the swing of things now that summer is over and the kiddos are back in school..

Supplies used: Crystal Wilkerson’s “Funky Fresh” papers, “Sweet Vintage Charm” stitching, “Fall Word Art & Labels” for the notebook paper label, “Doodley-Doo” brushes to create the scallop masks, and “November Eye Candy” for the staple.
Fonts used were: “King Cool KC” and “Impact”, both from DaFont.com.

For the love of Peanut Butter! (Peanut Butter Cupcakes)

2010-10-11T14:22:00.001-07:00

Have I ever before mentioned how our little family embraces everything peanut, especially when it is paired with chocolate?
Well, we do. It was a pre-requisite to be in our family.
I set out to find a perfect chocolate cupcake recipe, and went to the most dependable gal on planet earth when it comes to recipes for tasty things (Ina Garten) and I not only found a chocolate cupcake recipe, but an amazing peanut butter frosting recipe.
Now, let me first say that the cupcake recipe, I wasn’t head over heels for. It wasn’t nearly as moist as her other cake recipes are, maybe I should tweak it just a little bit, I dunno, but I used my favorite boxed (gasp!) mix for these bad boys.
(Fav boxed mix by the way is Betty Crocker Triple chocolate fudge mix, I sub the oil for a stick of butter and decrease the water to 1 1/4 cups instead of 1 1/3.)
The frosting was divine!
Merrill, who is expert taste-tester, and aficionado of peanut butter/chocolate combos, gave this treat two thumbs up (with his mouth full).
Peanut Butter Frosting
(so she calls it “icing”.. whatever..)

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth
And then pipe (or smear) it onto something yummy (like chocolate cupcakes), and prepare to enter heaven.
P.S. I also topped my cupcakes with some chopped nuts, just to let people kinda know what was in them. Oh, and it looked cute too.

Birthday fun..

2010-10-06T15:58:00.001-07:00

I really wanted to make some birthday decorations that will stand the test of time. Things that can be re-used, but be cute, and make each birthday (and birthday girl) feel special.

So it all started with a banner.. fun colors, funky lettering. I had all the fabric in my stash and it worked out better than I had thought!

Then I made a birthday block similar to the Christmas one.

I made the banner to coordinate with the colors in the scrapbook paper I chose. The girls thought it was really cool when they woke up the next day to see Ashley’s name and age with pictures of her.

My sister-in-law e-mailed me a pic of a chair cover similar to this, but I jazzed it up a bit more (cause that’s the way I roll..)
In the end, I am more than happy with how they all turned out, happy that I still managed to get the cake done, and done well, and even more happy that the other girls are excited when they will see these again on their birthdays.

Good News!

2010-10-06T13:45:00.001-07:00

I finally went for it.
I put all my fear aside.
(It did help that I had some encouragement.)
I did it.
I submitted to Jessica Sprague’s Creative Tem call.
I kinda made it.
:)
You’ll be seeing much more from me!

It’s getting scary around here!

2010-09-29T15:21:00.001-07:00

Okay, not so much really.
But it is fun!
(I love decorating for Halloween.)
I have some of the good old stuff still hanging around, and some new creations to add to the mix…

As you can see, microfine glitter (in an assortment of colors) is my “go to” crafting item lately.
Hopefully I can get my porch together soon. It’s just that my tomato cages are still being used by my tomato plants!
(Love those tomatoes.. keep coming, I will sacrifice my ghosts this year.)

A domestic post dedicated to my new BFF: Distilled White Vinegar.

2010-09-17T13:44:00.001-07:00

I have many projects I want (really really want) to do. Halloween and fall decor. Sunshine themed decorations that have been sitting around for a month (or two). Then there’s all the sewing projects that have been waiting for even longer.. so long, I am too embarrassed to say how long. All the yellow projects that have been waiting all spring and even part of the summer.

Yeah, I have a lot I want to do.

I told myself today that I could do all that I wanted to do.. after I cleaned the floors.

They just got really gunky really fast! Chocolate milk drips. Soup glops under Peyton’s chair. That one little lost drop of Otter Pop that didn’t quite make it all the way under the fridge. And then the mysterious pinkish-reddish stuff that was hiding over by the time-out stool.

Sure, I have had my list of excuses.. “Soon it will be lunchtime and there will be more to clean up.” or “I will wait until everyone is in bed so they will stay clean for longer than 0.03 seconds..” then I am too pooped to do it.

So with my motivation today, I thought “No problemo!”

I got out my wonderful Shark, readied it to steam clean all the gunk away, went to put away some shoes that were negligently left underneath the table (despite my repeated requests to have them put them away in rooms..) and heard the “woosh!” of steam letting my know the miracle mop was ready.

I kinda sorta got sidetracked when I realized it was time to have Peyton sit on the toilet again, so that took a few minutes, then I got back to it.

Only to find a hitch in my giddy-up.

The steam mop wasn’t so steamy anymore.

I kept trying, vigorously pumping the mop, encouraging it to produce steam, but it wouldn’t!

I finally relented, laid it on the countertop preparing to take off the attachment when it suddenly turned into a missile.

It totally went projectile.

Seriously.

There was some sort of hard water build-up in the tiny steam holes that wouldn’t allow the steam to get through and do it’s job.

I knew exactly what to do.

You see, I have had a few experiences with my good friend Distilled White Vinegar, and I knew just what it would do for me here.

I de-gunk my shower heads and after a 5 minute soak, the results sure make the following showers much more enjoyable.

It also gets the water dispenser tray in my fridge looking as good as new.

I poured some vinegar into the head of the shark attachment, and let it sit upright for a few minutes. When there was a pool of vinegar on my countertop, I knew that it would work just fine again. No projectile action.

See, I do love my vinegar!

Christmas in July #2..

2010-08-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Yup..
I am ever aware just how far away July is. It is so far in the rearview at this point, but now is when I also have the time..

This sweet little block was inspired by a craft idea I saw on “How Does She”, but this version has a couple of twists to it.
(But gotta give credit where credit is due!!)
I simply took a 4x4 post, cut it, with some help ;), down to 12 inches. It also works great in other lengths.
I painted the edges that would later peek through the paper and let it dry while I cut my scrapbook paper. I chose to round the corners on this one, I like the way it turned out.
Next, I modge podged that cute pre-cut scrapbook paper onto the block and let it dry while getting all the wrinkles and bubbles out.
When the modge podge and paper combo. was thoroughly dry, I marked on the top, very lightly, 12 staggered little dots where I drilled with a 1/16 inch drill bit.
(You might want to distress it by sanding and staining here a little too..)
I cut wire in two lengths, 8 and 11 inches, curled half (sometimes a little more), and kinked the base of the curl. Those got stuffed in the drilled holes (and can be glued if your kiddos are like mine… I used E6000).
So cute to display cards, pictures, notes, or even activities for the holidays, snowy days, or even birthdays..
I have a Christmas one too.. this one is for my January Snowman theme. But I will be making many more! A birthday display block is next on my list. Let me know if you want to play too!

A birthday tradition.

2010-08-27T14:53:00.001-07:00

It has been a tradition for Merrill’s birthday’s that I make him a cake with a design of his choosing.

That’s how most of the birthday cakes go around here… but his isn’t a barbie doll, or a care bear..

It is usually an album cover.

This year, he chose his favorite album from last year.

The lighthouse kinda freaked me out, but the beams coming from it proved to be the stressful element.

He likes it, and as my dad would say, “It’s gonna turn into poop anyway…”

Christmas in July series: Part 1

2010-08-04T13:08:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know, it is no longer July, but it was when I made these…

I love Nativities, LOVE them.
I like even more, when they are virtually indestructible.
(Three very excitable little girls helped teach me to love that aspect of a good Nativity.)
So here’s your supply list:

- 2x2 cut into 3 separate lengths; 5 inches (Joseph), 4 inches (Mary), and 3 inches (manger).
- 1 2-2 1/2 inch wooden infant (I bought the old school clothespins and cut them down to 2 inches).
- 3 6x6 squares of cloth
- hemp or other fiber (optional)
- paint, paint brushes, and sandpaper.
- Hot glue.
(My specific paint colors were: Light Foliage Green, Wedgwood Blue, AC Flesh, Light Ivory, and Burnt Umber; all Delta brand.)
I only did one coat of paint, and distressed all the pieces but the heads after they dried with the sandpaper.
Glue on the heads too. You don’t want to miss that step!
See, they are cute..
But we’ll add to that.

For the fabric head dresses, take and fold down about 1/2 inch, then do it again to hide the raw edge.
Once..

And again..

Place a dot of glue in the center top of the head, and position the folded section of the fabric on top.

Dot some glue in the middle back to attach the fabric.

Repeat for the other half of our pair.
If desired, cut some fiber and tie it around the head after the fabric is attached.

And now for our little guy…

All you really see is his little head, so you don’t HAVE to paint the body, unless you are obsessive like me… and this is how we swaddle him.
Fold the fabric in half diagonally and place your little guy in the center, the top of his head at the fold.

Fold down, one corner at a time, and securing with a dot of glue, so it looks like this:

And then like this:

The next fold makes a tighter wrap against the body. Secure these with a dab of glue too.

So he looks like this:

And then, dabbing some glue on the bottom “V”, fold the tail up to meet the “V” in the neck.

Glue your little bundle on the manger, and re-unite the happy family.

For the birds.

2010-08-03T10:09:00.001-07:00

I made a bird shirt for my friend Emily to wear while running the St. George marathon (good luck Em!!) and loved it so much, I had to make one for Peyton too…

Wanting to make more for the other girlies!

{Mindy Pitcher} scrapbooking etc.

multiple personalities.

between diet coke and chocolate…

and then there was august..

a layout or 5..

how red river paper saved my father’s day.

more for you monday(s).

it’s template tuesday!!

in the haze of cold/allergies (still not sure..) i missed a whole monday.

37..

“tonight, tonight, tonight! hot dog it’s coming tonight!!”

something to look forward to.

here’s your friendly reminder..

the perfect monday.

a celebration you don’t want to miss!

a different take on the memory block i love so much…

a very happy birthday month.

7 days challenges.

Today!!!!

one down.. (re-visiting peanut butter cupcakes)

More for your Monday.

A Pixie-Licious Monday

let the countdown begin!!

Spring in my step.

In the genes.

Thinking Summertime..

Paper Kiwi

Welcoming a new designer.

hello spring!!!

candy, candy!

Terrific Tuesday!

(Title Goes Here.)

A “duh” moment, from yours truly.

A little Spring for your Monday. *UPDATED WITH LINKY*

Some Carina love.

10 Happy Little Things.

More fun with MPS.

A little template for your Tuesday.

Happy Spring!

Some yummy for your Monday.

Easy leftover fajitas.

A little inspiration.

I love Mondays, don’t you?

Mouse Paper Scissors

The 24 hour cookie.

More in store.

Lucky You

New developments.

More in Store Monday.

What is this?!

Freebie Friday!

Splendid Fiins

Strictly for fun.

Valentine’s Revisited.

Sweet girly stuff.

Another designer, another freebie!

It’s not easy.

In the mood.

A mish-mosh.

Check it out...

Love is in the air…

I love Liv!

Smitten.

On my way..

An auction for a good cause.

Evaluating…

4..

American Girl Doll PJs.

Fun new products..

One buck Wednesday!

Hello Monday…

One buck Wednesday!

FREE class!!!

How did I forget?!?

Latest layouts.

Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes.

Cupcake confession.

Costuming.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

More in Store..

A little Spring for your Monday. UPDATED WITH LINKY