Shoregirl's Creations

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

2012-01-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

I found a Cinnamon Roll Cookies recipe on Pinterest and had to try it out (well actually I found two recipes - but I only tried one).
Here's a link to the one I tried from :The Kitchen Is My Playground
(Note: I didn't have enough cream cheese so I substituted plain yogurt -- I used 3 oz. cream cheese and 5 oz. yogurt -- mine turned out soft and yummy -- so it worked and they taste wonderful!)
Here's a link to the other recipe I haven't tried, but it looks just as tasty as the first -- it's from: Bakers Royale

Dress Tags

2012-01-28T08:00:00.004-05:00

Some dress tags for you --- images courtesy of:

Race Car Birthday

2012-01-27T08:00:00.007-05:00

Another Pinterest inspired card --this time for my 10 year old nephew!
Supplies used:

Coloring page from here
Crayola markers
Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities
Comb binding machine (faux notebook page look)
Misc. paper scraps from my scrap bin!
Two snaps
Dimensionals (to pop up the circles on the left)

Doily Mask

2012-01-26T09:07:00.000-05:00

I've "discovered" a new blog with video tutorials that teach new techniques every Wednesday .....Hero Arts Watch It Wednesday! The idea for the doily masking came from this post.
I made two in this design -- different Scriptures and slightly different zipper flowers.

Supplies used:

Doily
Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

Vintage Photo
Worn Lipstick

Sponge Applicator
Stamps

Music Background from Distressing Glitz Design
Scripture from Biblical Impressions

Leftover zipper ends

There are 3 tutorial links on my tutorial links page

Green felt
Red Button Brad
Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars)
Hot Glue Gun

I'm linking this post to:
Scripture Thursday

Doily Pocket

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

The inspiration for this card come from here.
Supplies:

Kraft Paper
Doily
Shape template from Mel Stampz
Sentiment stamp from Butterfly Fancy (Creative Stamping club)
Martha Stewart punches

leaf
branch
fern

Flora Grande 2 (Heartfelt Creations)
Pink Embossing powder
Twine

Chocolate Pound Cake

2012-01-24T08:00:00.004-05:00

A few days back I stopped by a friend's house (after my therapy) to pick up my daughter who had stayed there for the afternoon. Becky had chocolate pound cake, a cup of tea, and a relaxing chair all waiting for me! She generously shared her recipe for this moist and delicious cake with me, and now I'm passing it along to you -- my bog readers!

Chocolate Pound Cake
1 and 1/2 cups butter
3 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
5 eggs
1/4 cup coffee
1 cup sour milk
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Beat first 3 ingredients 5 minutes
Add eggs and beat again
Dissolve 2 tsp. instant coffee in 1/4 cup water.
(I just used 1/4 cup perked coffee since I don't have instant)
Combine dry ingredients
Alternate dry ingredients with coffee and milk till blended.
Pour into greased bundt pan
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes

Spread your wings and fly

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Another Pinterest inspired card -- this time I stuck pretty close to the original in design and colors.
Supplies used:

Gray and Pink cardstock
Swiss dots embossing folder (Provo Craft)
Stamps

Sentiment and Butterfly from Butterfly Fancy (Creative Stamping)
Botanical Background (Studio G)

White and Pink embossing powder
White Ribbon

Psalm 138:2

2012-01-21T11:10:00.000-05:00

My Pinterest folder is "overflowing" with Paper Craft inspiration, but I tend to forget about all the lovely things I find unless I'm on there. This past week I decided to print off "thumbnails" of my projects so that all the beautiful inspiration wouldn't go to waste!
The above card was loosely based on this card I pinned recently. The thing that I liked about it was the text heart with the little pink flowers popped up on it!
You'll be seeing some more cards inspired by my Pinterest board next week!
Supplies used:

Kraft, Black, an d Pink cardstock
Stamps:

Flowers from Butterfly Fancy (Creative Stamping)
Text from Distressing Glitz Design
Scripture from Biblical Impressions

Sewing machine (zig zag stitch around card)
Crayola Markers
Felt tip pen (faux stitching around heart)
White Ribbon
Party Pink Embossing Powder (Recollections)
Pink Glitter (centers of flowers)
Scalloped heart template

Here's a little closer view of the flowers -- not sure you can tell that I stamped extra ones and added a few over the ones there for a 3D look.

I'm linking this to:
Little Birdie Blessings Scripture Thursday

Printable Tags

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

I made up some free tags for you today using images from:

As always - these are made with free images and not to be sold

Printable Valentine Labels

2012-01-19T08:00:00.003-05:00

I've made some Valentine Labels up for you to print combining images from:

Feel free to copy to your hearts content - just don't re-post or sell them!

This post linked to:
Valentine Link Party - Shabby Creek Cottage

"New" Jar Lamp

2012-01-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Remember my laundry room makeover and my jar of rag balls?

Well, a friend of mine gave me a lamp that fits on top of a jar -- I'd been wanting one but never got around to looking for one. I bought a lamp shade and covered it with blue country fabric that my friend Abby sent me!

I love the soft glow it gives my laundry room at night.

In covering the lamp shade with fabric -- I used the same method as I did for this lamp .

Mini Clutch

2012-01-16T08:00:00.020-05:00

Last year was a tough one for us money wise, and it "about killed me" to not be able to send my family members a little something on their birthdays. (There are no less than 35 in my immediate family - so big gifts aren't even an option!)
My goal for this year is to make something inexpensively -- just so they'll know they're loved and remembered by this member of the family!
Above is the mini clutch I made my 6 year old niece to celebrate her birthday last week.
Since I used material I already had -- it didn't cost me anything to make this up -- the only cost will be shipping.

Here's a view of the inside -- bright yellow gingham! The jean material is actually recycled from a pair of my husband's "old" jeans. When he's finished with them I salvage any good material left in them -- I used the same pair of jeans to make up the birthday purse I featured last week!
The pattern for these clucthes came from here (I just shrunk it down a bit to make a mini one!) I really do intend to make up a picture tutorial soon - since the blog it came from is in another language.

More Recipe Cards

2012-01-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

A few recipe cards using a different template -- these are free for you to use, but do not copy or sell them.
Images courtesy of:

Project 365 - Week 2

2012-01-14T09:54:00.001-05:00

A few more pics from Project 365- some mine and some of my daughters

Our Valentines Tree

Preparations for a Valentine making get-together

Making Soap with my daughter

My daughter spent a fun afternoon with her SS teacher and learned to play a "new" game.

My daughter crocheted her dolls house ladies some matching skirts and scarves without help!

We worked on our albums
together last night.

Lots of fun!

Printable Tickets

2012-01-13T08:00:00.011-05:00

I've made up some printable Valentine tickets for you.

Images courtesy of:

As always - they are free - not to be copied or sold. ENJOY!

This post linked to:

Valentine Link Party - Shabby Creek Cottage

"Currently" Journal

2012-01-12T08:00:00.017-05:00

While browsing Pinterest the other day I happened upon a link to this post which further linked me to Elise's Currently Journal
I was immediately intrigued and decided this was the perfect kind of journal for me because:

It's not too personal

I'm really a rather private person and don't enjoy the idea of writing down my personal/private affairs and feelings

Takes just a few minutes of time

that's about all I have left in some days

Doesn't have to be written in every day

every day journalling just wouldn't happen with me

Here's what my pages look like

I printed mine on the back of scrapbook paper like Avital did.

Supplies used:

Freebie from Sweetly Scrapped
Freebie from Dee's Bugaboo Boutique
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Martha Stewart branch punch

With Elise's permission, I'm sharing a free printable template for my Currently Journal Page

This post linked to:
Little Birdie Blessings - Scripture Thursday

Thank You Cards

2012-01-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine ask me to make her some "special thank you notes" --- here are two of the ones I came up with.

Supplies:

Stamps

Just a Note (Studio G)
Chairs and Chandelier Clear Stamps (Recollections)

Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)
Red Ink

rubbed over embossing

Comb Binding Machine (Faux Notebook Page)
Red/Kraft/White Cardstock
Twine

Supplies:

Stamps

Flower Garden (Inkadinkado)
Trees and Leaves (Inkadinkado)
Just For You (Studio G)

Picket Fence Border Punch (Martha Stewart)
Twine
Blue Marker
Brown ink

ink border with

Blue/Cream/Kraft Cardstock

Birthday Purse

2012-01-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

I came home Friday evening to a message on my voice-mail inviting my daughter and I to a birthday party for a little friend of hers -- on Saturday! Yikes!
Not having a whole lot of time to "whip something up" - I opted to make a simple little purse for the birthday girl - and fill it with "little girl goodies!"
I made it from jean and pink gingham -- one of my favorite combos!

You can see from this picture that I included two little jean pockets inside and below you'll see the ruffle I added to the handle to make it even more "girly."

Finally had an excuse to make (and use) a zipper flower --

I based my purse on the one I saw here -- though I didn't follow the directions posted - just sort of made it up as I went along.

When I make my clutches -

I usually have some leftover ends of zippers (since I bought a bunch of long ones at a local store for 10 cents a piece) -- I've been saving them to make zipper flowers, and finally got around to it!
Here's the tutorial I followed for the zipper flowers

This post linked to:
Take a Look Tuesday
Threading My Way: Bags and Totes

Life's fragile....

2012-01-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

....handle with prayer!
I've had so much fun using some of my Christmas presents from my husband and daughter. (Have I mentioned that they are THE BEST at picking presents that I love?!)
I made two in this design altering them just a bit in color and the flower I used. One of these was for an older lady in our church who lost her only son a year ago this month. It's been a very hard year for her, so my daughter and I took her some flowers, fudge, and the pink card on the anniversary of his passing....and spent part of the afternoon with her. She seemed very pleased with our efforts to let her know we remembered and care.

Supplies:

Kraft Cardstock
Punches

Monarch Butterflies Trim (Martha Stewart)
Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart)

Stamps

Stripes (Stampabilities)
Sentiment stamp had no info on it

Floral Embellishments (Recollections)
Small Ribbon
Scallop Circle Nestabilities
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)
Purple Tissue Paper (purple flower -- made like this)

Project 365 -- Week 1

2012-01-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics from

Project 365 - Week 1

Day 3 - Migrating Birds?

These birds fill our yard each year around this time -- my daughter

captured (with her camera) a really neat "bird cloud" a few years ago.

I actually like her picture better than mine -

but they didn't give me the same opportunity they gave her!

Day 4 - My favorite time of day

Day 5 - Roses for a hurting friend

Day 5 - Sunset

(I couldn't just take one pic on Thursday - not with that beautiful sunset just waiting to be chronicled!)

Yummy Breakfast Muffins

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yummy Breakfast Muffins

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup plain yogert

1/4 cup oil

1 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

2 cups shredded carrots

2 shredded apples

1/2 cup craisins

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

(may use 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat if desired)

Combine wet ingredients, beat with mixer till smooth.

Add shredded carrots/apples, nuts, craisins.

Combine dry ingredients and stir into wet mixture just until mixed.

Place in buttered (or lined) muffin cups.

Bake 18 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Let set 5 minutes before removing from pans.

Clutches

2012-01-05T08:00:00.006-05:00

Showing off three more little clutches I made as Christmas gifts.

The first was to hold a money gift for a friend, the second for one of my husband's co-workers that literally spoiled us to death this year, and the third for a sweet friend I've gotten to know a lot better in 2011.

For the second two included several items inside - similar to the one in this post.

Here's a view of the inside -- the first one was done in cream - the last two in tan.

I really like the "country" look of the bottom two!

Birdies

2012-01-04T08:00:00.005-05:00

My daughter knows her mommy pretty well - and these cards prove it! She selected the stamp set I used to make them for me as a Christmas gift this past year. She said "When I saw those birds I thought they looked like you!" She couldn't have been more right -- I love birds, trees, and flowers!
I used a technique I saw on Nichole Heady's weekly feature - "Make It Monday." You stamp with versa mark on black cardstock, emboss with white embossing powder, and then color over it with permanent markers. I love how it makes the colors so vibrant looking and they really "pop" off the card with that black background.

Supplies used:

Love Birds Stamp Set (Recollections)
Martha Stewart picket fence border punch
Versa Mark
White Embossing Powder
Bic Markers
Comb Binding Machine (for faux notebook page look)
Misc. Cardstock

This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Take a Look Tuesday

Postcard Thank You's

2012-01-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

I had LOTS of thank you note to write after Christmas (that's a good thing as it means I received a lot of sweet gifts!) - so I decided to simplify my approach to said cards and make postcards.
Originally I planned to print the postcard template from Designedly Kristi - but my printer was out of ink and I didn't have a refill handy.....in the mean time I went after Christmas shopping with some of my Christmas cash and found the above stamp (postcard - Penny Black) at Hobby Lobby. With my 40% off coupon - I got a pretty good deal!

I had forgotten how hard it is for me to create one layer cards till I tackled this project!! I ended up using these stamps:

Word Borders (Hero Arts)
Flora Grande 2 (Heartfelt Creations)

For the border I used two different colors of markers and a ruler -- just to add a bit of color and fill the card up a bit.

I didn't realize it when I grabbed my white paper -- but the one side is shimmery -- it added quite a bit to the cards when finished.

Whew - glad to have "thank you notes" checked off my list of things to do -- and I'm doubly glad to own a postcard stamp. Now I can create my own postcards whenever I want -- I have a feeling I'll be using this quite a bit in this next year.

January Bulletin Board

2012-01-02T08:00:00.002-05:00

Here's my January 2012 bulletin board decoration for church. Usually I include an appropriate Scripture verse (i.e. something about love for Feb., something about thankfulness for Nov. etc. etc.)... this time a hymn came to mind so I included it on my decoration. (In case you can't read it the hymn is: Great Is Thy Faithfulness...and it's how I feel after a "less than perfect" year)
I've decided to included a hymn or parts of one on each month's decoration for this coming year. I usually find that a theme like that will help inspire me when I'm not feeling very motivated.
Supplies used:

Clip art and hymn from Little Birdie Blessings
Flowers 3D Sizzix die (a Christmas present!)
Snowflake brad
Blue Glitter
A bit of brown and blue ink (to ink edges of flowers, song, tag)

Project 365

2012-01-01T14:43:00.002-05:00

As I was browsing through a Scrapbooks Etc. magazine I came up on an article about capturing your year with pictures. There were several "challenges"

~ to capture your year with a theme (like places we traveled in 2012)

~ to highlight the year (a photo or two of "important events" in your year)

~ to summarize your year by months

~ to take one photo a week and journal about the week.......AND

~Project 365 -- to take one photo a day for the whole year (sort of like this).

The idea really appealed to me, especially since my 9 year old daughter has a very nice camera (that she saved up her money to buy) and we could do it together.

When I told her about, my daughter was as excited about it as I was......so beginning today we started our own Project 365. We'll be taking one picture a day to "journal" our lives this year. I think it will be interesting to see life through the eyes of a 9 year old -- and I'm looking forward to doing it myself.

Here are the scrapbooks we'll be using to chronicle our year --

Since 365 pictures would take up quite a bit of room (and actually wouldn't all fit in one scrapbook if printed full size) we plan to print mini photos and journal/doodle around them to explain why we took them along with the date they were taken.

I may share tidbits from time to time -- but for now - here's my first photo of 2012!

"The Dawn of a New Year!"

Printable Music Tags - UPDATED

2011-12-30T08:00:00.011-05:00

Made with free images - not to be copied or sold.

Images courtesy of:

Little Birdie Blessings

Homemade Gift Guru

In answer to Christa's question: "How do you plan to use these?"
Use tags to:
1. Tie on gifts (like a loaf of quick bread, a plate of cookies etc.)
Like here and here and here and here and here
2. You can use them as the main focal point on a card
Like here and here and here and here
3. Use them to embellish a scrapbook page
Like here and here
4. Maybe as a journaling card
Like here and here and here
5. Use them in your decor
Like here
6. Make a mini album with them
Like here and here and here
Really -- the sky's the limit!

This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Handmade Christmas

2011-12-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

I couldn't post this before Christmas because my mom reads my blog, and I didn't want her to see the purse and matching clutch I made for her as a Christmas present.

I really like how the black and white turned out looking rather classy.

Peanut Butter Fudge

2011-12-28T08:00:00.003-05:00

This super easy fudge recipe is also very soft and creamy! My very favorite way to eat fudge!

Peanut Butter Fudge

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 1/3 cup peanut butter

1 jar marshmallow cream

Bring sugar and milk to a boil; boil 3 minutes

Add peanut butter and marshmallow cream; mix well.

Pour into a buttered pan

Chill till set.

Russian Tea Cakes

2011-12-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

These are my favorite "Christmas cookies" and I usually end up making at least a double batch or more before the season is over.

Russian Tea Cakes

1 cup softened butter or margarine

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup walnuts

2 1/4 c. flour

extra powdered sugar for rolling cookies in

In a lg. bowl combine first 4 ingredients with mixer. Stir in walnuts and flour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls; place 1 in. apart on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes until firm to touch but not brown. Do not over bake. While warm, roll in powdered sugar. Cool; re-roll in powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy!

Vintage Postcards

2011-12-26T08:00:00.006-05:00

I realize this is a little late for this year's Christmas -- but I just figured out how to layer and share them with you. You'll want to click the image to bring it up full size, right click and copy, paste and re-size (if desired) in whatever program you use to print things like this.
As always -- these images are taken from various freebie sites -- not to be sold. A full list of sites I found these images at will appear at the bottom of this post.

This one isn't a postcard -- but I love how it looks with the music paper behind it!

Images courtesy of:

Here are a few that aren't Christmas - Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:00:00.013-05:00

Images courtesy of:

Linked to: Scripture Thursday

Recipe Cards to print

2011-12-23T08:00:00.006-05:00

After posting my homemade postcards (here and here) Polly, from Backporch Graphics requested that I make some vintage recipe cards and post them for you all to print and enjoy! So....here's my attempt at making it work. You should be able to click the image and pull it up in another window - right click to save it -- and then paste it in whatever program you use to print things - re-size (if desired) and print!

All the images used on these cards came from sites that give away free vintage images. I have read and am abiding by their rules for usage --or I contacted them privately and obtained permission. These cards are for personal use only --- Please do not copy and sell any of them.
Images courtesy of:

Graphics Fairy - The last two with their images and the image of the 3rd card
Fashionalities (the index card used in the first four)
The Workshop Window (images on the first two cards)
J. Rae's Shabby Cottage (image on the fourth card)

Stay tuned for some vintage layered postcards -- coming soon!

If you have a request - leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!

"Gingerbread" Houses

2011-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

On Monday, my daughter and I went to an all day cookie bake hosted by friends. It was a lot of fun with 6 of us ladies talking, laughing, and baking all day......and a few guys dropping by to taste the wares from time to time.
Since my daughter's 3 friends are out of school for Christmas break, a friend and I went together and got stuff for them to make "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers, icing, and CANDY!
They had SO MUCH fun and were quite creative with their houses.

Just getting started

The first time these kids had done one of these -- they LOVED it!

Even the 2 (almost 3) year old got in on the fun!

Check out that plate of candy......

All finished....

Have to love the funny face he's making for the camera

The little one ran off before I got her picture with her completed house and yard.

Here's the recipe for the icing you use:

3 egg whites

1 lb. powder sugar

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

Mix together and ice away!

My friend and I made up the houses and let them set for about 20 minutes (so the icing would harden and keep them together) - and then we let the kids at them.

They enjoyed decorating both the house and yard -- making things they called:

trampolines

gardens

trees

the north pole

bushes with lights on them

and lots of other things!

It was a fun day with lots of memories made!

Clutches

2011-12-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

I made two more little clutches for two special ladies at church. These were made using the pattern on this blog - and now that I'm on to them I can whip them up in about 30 minutes (from start to finish!!).

The first one was a "go-along" gift - the second one is the gift so I filled it full of goodies.

These hold quite a bit of stuff, and I love the shape of them and how easy they are to "whip up."

One last purse

2011-12-19T08:00:00.003-05:00

Here's the last purse and clutch set I did for Christmas gifts this year. I really like the brown paired with that shade of green and blue -- this might be my favorite one yet!

Christmas Food Gifts

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's been my tradition, each Christmas, to make something homemade for all our church people. Since it's something I need to make a LOT of - it's not usually something huge - just a little something to say "Merry Christmas with Love."
This year I made up a homemade hot chocolate mix and paired it with mini oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies. It's a lot more work than it appears to be, and it ended up taking me 1 whole day to get them all done!
For the 'Peppermint Hot Chocolate' I used a recipe from this website.

The batch I made for my husbands co-workers (and their families) included these yummy (and darling) Waffle Iron Cookies

--- click here for the recipe from the Something Edible blog
Though it was fun - it was also a lot of work -- I'm glad to have one more "big" project checked off my list!

Here's a photo of mini pumpkin breads I did a few years ago for Christmas gifts --

I also have several things in my "Gift Ideas" folder on Pinterest like:

These cute candy bar wraps from Kerry's Craft Blog

Snowman Popcorn Wrap from Paper Crafts Connection

Fudge in Cookie Cutters from Betty Crocker

Cinnamon Honey Butter from Tidy Mom

Hot Cinnamon Milk

Snowman Kisses from Impressions

Christmas Wrapping

2011-12-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sharing my packaging for the Pumpkin Cranberry Bread I'm giving as a Christmas gift to my therapist.

(You'll want to try it if you like moist and delicious quick breads!)

I placed the loaf in a gallon sized ziploc bag and then wrapped brown tissue paper around it and tied it up with red velvet ribbon and brown twine. A tag card and candy cane complete the festive look!

More Christmas Cards

2011-12-14T08:00:00.004-05:00

I'm so tickled that I figured out how to layer images in my photshop program and make them look like they came to me that way!
I had so much fun making up some vintage postcards to use as Christmas cards. This time I made the cards with hangers in one corner....they could be bookmarks or TREE ORNAMENTS! I think it would be great fun to print several different kinds and decorate a whole tree in them!

Supplies used:

Cream/Red/Brown Cardstock
Eylet
Ribbon
Images from:

Primitive Snowman #2

2011-12-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here's Primitive Snowman #2 -- a bit different than the first one - but made in the same basic design and with the same supplies.

Details of the tree -- I thought the little glass beads added a special touch.

Details of the snow scene

Details of his face

Christmas Gifts

2011-12-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

I think I'm fairly safe in posting these gifts as none of the gift recipients read my blog (to my knowledge!).
I got the idea for monogrammed totes from this tutorial I pinned on Pinterest a while back.

(I love her "big fat" letter on the front!)

I bought some more of those 3 for $6 totes at Wal-mart and also bought three sets of coordinating prints.

I also bought coordinating ribbon to sew on the totes. I'm thinking my total cost for each tote (and matching clutch) didn't even come to $7!
You can see in the above photo that instead of lining them this time, I made a big pocket on the back. I did not make these to be used as purses, but rather as tote bags. Two of the recipients are still in school, and the other one uses totes for books and misc. other stuff when traveling back and forth from her home to her job.

I really like how the little clutches turned out. I got the pattern from this blog (another Pinterest find.) Since the blog isn't in English, I pretty much invented my own way of sewing them so that all the seams are on the inside. The first one took some figuring, but I was able to whip the second two up in less than an hour!

The purple one has a button closer, while the other two close with magnetic snaps. (I wasn't sure but that I was wasting my time on the first go-round, so I didn't want to waste time with a snap if I ended up throwing the whole thing away!)

My daughter actually likes the button one the best -- and says if I make her one that's what she wants!

I also used both materials on the outside of the second two, instead of using material #1 as the outside and material #2 as the lining.....just me liking to change things up a bit!

Christmas Wishes

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not making all of my Christmas cards this year (mainly because I don't have time)...but I did want to make up a few to send to family members.

Supplies:

Stamps:

Majestic stamp set (American Crafts)
Holiday Words (Inkadinkado)

Martha Stewart corner punch
Flower punch
Red/White/Black cardstock
Red/Black ink

I made up several using the cardinal stamp - it saves on time to do them in an assembly line.

Christmas Secretary

2011-12-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sharing the secretary all decorated for Christmas!

A Mary Engelbreit ornament hangs on the key

Open the doors to reveal...

...Tall Christmas Carolers...

...A country snowman and a Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbook entitled "Old Fashion Country Christmas."

On the desk I kept my red splatterware out and added a Christmas goose, a Christmas candle arrangement, a snowman candy dish, a little lantern from Williamsburg, and a holly plate full of chocolate! YUM!

Christmas Tags

2011-12-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sharing a few Christmas "tags" or maybe "bookmarks" that I made recently. I actually plan to use them as Christmas cards since they are fairly big.

Supplies:

Lantern Stamp from Holiday Words Set (Inkadinkado)
Brown Ink

stamped image in

Distressed Ink - Vintage Photo

inked around the cream cardstock with

Yellow, Green, Red Colored Pencil

added a few colored highlights with

Cream/Brown Cardstock
Brown Eyelet
Corner Scissors

Here's a closer view so you can see the lightly colored highlights - the yellow in the lantern, the green "winter" and the red "noel."

Primitive Snowman

2011-12-05T12:41:00.003-05:00

I made this stuffed snowman for a friend who loves country stuff nearly as much as I do! I based it on a primitive snowman I bought at a thrift store for $2.

Supplies used:

tan material (for body)
brown felt (for hat)
green checked material (for scarf)
buttons
embroidery floss
twigs
rice (to make him stand up I poured about a cup of rice into the bottom before stuffing with fiber fill)
fiber fill
white paint
toothbrush (I thinned the white paint just a bit and splattered it using a toothbrush and the end of my scissors)
hot glue gun

This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday
Catch my Party

Christmas on a budget

2011-12-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

Here's a gift idea from last year......
There are several families (some related - some not) that I wanted to give a gift to. Problem: Not enough money to buy everyone an individual gift. Some of the families have as many as 5 members in them, and if I could find a gift for each one at $15 a piece the total cost would have been somewhere around $75...realistically speaking the cost would have been much higher because it's not easy to find a nice $15 gift for everyone!
I really wanted to give them something....so I came up with a family gift idea. The above bag was filled with items the whole family could enjoy -- while catering to their specific tastes.
Here's a look at what I included in one of the bags:

The recipients were surprised and acted like they really enjoyed their gifts. BTW - the total cost for one gift (including the $2.50 gift bag) was somewhere around $23 --- give or take a little depending on the items included.

Homemade Tree

2011-11-29T09:46:00.000-05:00

It's become somewhat of a tradition for the ladies in my family to spend time crafting together after our Thanksgiving meal. It's a fun and enjoyable time spent together - usually with lots of talking and laughter. This year was especially busy for me, but when my mom ask me if I was going to take something to craft I set to work finding a few easy and inexpensive items to take.
Since I always do at least one tree with homemade ornaments, the first item I took was supplies to make these cute little angels:

The directions came from a Gooseberry Patch book (number 2) and included these supplies:

Clothespins
Cotton Batting
White Felt
Misc. Material
Bay Leaves
Dried Apples
Thread

The second item I took supplies for was "country stars"

I found the directions on the "Choose To Thrive" blog-- supplies included:

Disposable foil pan bottoms
Pen
Ruler
Paint
Pattern

The last item (not included on my tree) was supplies for my little Mason Jar "ornaments"

The churches you see pictured (on my tree) were made a few years ago -- you can find the directions here and the patterns here courtesy of Martha Stewart.

If crafting is fun --- it's twice as fun when shared with someone else! Special thanks to my Sister-in-law, Niece, and Mom for making this year a lot of fun!

Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream Pie

2011-11-24T08:00:00.044-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone --- if you don't have your pies already made here's a quick and easy (not to mention delicious) recipe for you!

Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream Pie

Birthday Purse

2011-11-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

My sister has a birthday coming up early next month, and I wanted to make her a purse and matching clutch to celebrate her special day.
She's not exactly a "country gal" like I am (in her taste) -- I suppose I'd call her decorating something like "classy" or "classic." Her house is beautiful and very tastefully done - I love it --- but it's definitely not the hodge podge country style that I use everywhere!
That being said -- I wanted her purse and clutch to be a bit more "sophisticated" in style -- don't know if I succeeded or not - but I think she'll like it.

I didn't use a pattern for the purse -- I just based it on one that a friend made and sent me for my birthday last month. Talk about learning by "trial and error" -- I did more ripping out on this purse than I ever have on any other project!
Here's a view of the lace flower I made (using lace that Abby sent me in my surprise box!).

I find that when I use big purses, my little things tend to get "lost" in the bottom somewhere. To remedy the situation I usually use a clutch of some sort to keep all the little things in one place. Here's the matching clutch I made my sister:

I used the off white material on the front and the black material on the back.

The inside has both materials in it as well.

I used the same pattern I've always used -- this simple and easy one from the Noodle Head blog.

(By the time I had sewn and ripped out um-teen times on that purse....I needed something simple and easy that I could whip up fast!)

I'm sure you noticed I did not include the pockets inside --- it goes a lot faster and I didn't make mine with the intentions of being used as a wallet, but rather as a "removable pocket."

I have several more sewing projects ahead - for Christmas presents this year!

Let's hope this "sewing mood" I'm in lasts a little while!

Tea Tote Bag

2011-11-21T08:00:00.032-05:00

I'm featuring another $2 tote bag make-over. I found this teapot/teacup material at a thrift store quite a while back, and paid something like $1 for a yard of it.
As you can see I added a small panel to the front of the bag using the teacup material and then added a shabby ruffle to the top of the bag.
I used this fast and easy idea for gathering my ruffle - I doubt I'll ever use the old way again!

For this little "tag" I cut one of the teacups out, added some batting behind it, and used the zig-zag stitch to adhere it to a white piece of material. After finishing I cut the whole thing out and tied it on the handle with a ribbon.

I also made a liner for the tote using the tea-cup material. You can see I made a few pockets and used a magnetic snap for the closure.

NOTE: These pre-made tote bags aren't the easiest to sew things onto the front or near the bottom - don't try this on a day you're lacking patience! (smile)

Ruffled Tote Bag

2011-11-18T08:00:00.008-05:00

My sweet friend Abby recently sent me a whole box full of surprises, so I wanted to make her something pretty in return! The above tote was a lot of fun to "whip up" --- I based it on this one that I found on Pinterest.

(The box of surprises from Abby)

Wal-mart sells 3 packs of those tote bags (back in the craft stuff) for $6. That makes each tote cost only $2....so this gift is not only frugal but fairly easy to "whip up." I think it took me just over an hour to make this one.

Be sure to stop back by on Monday when I'll feature another variation using this $2 tote bag.

On-line Variations

Click Here

This post linked to:
Thrifty Things Friday

"New" Secretary

2011-11-16T10:18:00.001-05:00

I've been hoarding the last of my birthday money till I found something that I'd really like to have. Last Friday we took our guests speakers to a local antique mall (per their request) -- just to look around. (This particular antique mall is rather pricey so none of us went with the intention of purchasing anything!)
While browsing through one of the back rooms (full of furniture) I spotted the above secretary and "fell in love." I almost didn't look at the price tag as I just knew it would be way out of my price range, but imagine my surprise when I checked and found it to be only $48! I didn't purchase it that day, as I like to think over "big" purchases and make sure it's what I really want.
After thinking it about it over the week-end (and talking with a friend who said --"Call and tell them to hold it --- I'll give you the money if you really want it!") -- I decided to use the rest of my birthday money on it.

I put it in my dining room -- and I'm lovin' the way it looks with the colors and style of my decorating!

Here's an up-close view with the cabinet doors open.

That tall, skinny tree to the right was given to me by the same friend who offered to buy the secretary for me --- I set it up on a box and covered the box with an old "Kitchen Proverbs" piece of material sent to me by my friend Abby! (Don't I have the best of friends?!?!)

I'm lovin' the look and feel it gives my house ----could it be that I'm "fallin' in love" with antiques?
This post linked to:
Show and Tell Friday
Feathered Nest

Pinterest Recipes #2

2011-11-14T14:23:00.000-05:00

I just finished a week of entertaining and thought I'd share some more recipes I've tried (and enjoyed) from off of Pinterest!

1. Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites

These were a BIG hit at the party I took them to!
This version of homemade pretzels was also good.

Here's the mustard dip I made to go with them:
14 oz sweetened condesed milk
8 oz. spicy brown mustard
2 T. horseradish
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
Combine all ingredients and store up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
Good on all kinds of things - pretzels, ham and cheese sandwiches, etc.

2. Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls
YUMMY!!!!!

Adding this great tip for freezing cinnamon rolls to be used later! BIG help when entertaining guests for a week!

3.Easy Cheesy Bacon Biscuit Pull-Aparts

4. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies

5. Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

6. Cheesy Hot Bean Dip

7. Gooey Chocolate Brownies

8. Snicker Apple Salad

November Bulletin Board

2011-11-10T12:02:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned before - I've been having a lot of fun with digital kits - most of which I've gotten on-line for free or maybe $1. Being pressed for time this month, I opted for a digital decoration for the church bulletin board this month.
Images from:

This post linked to:
Scripture Thursday at Little Birdie Blessings

Knifty Knitter

2011-11-09T07:25:00.001-05:00

My daughter received a Knifty Knitter (or rather the Knit Quick - just like the Knifty Knitter) for her birthday. She has been busy, busy, busy knitting up hats for her baby dolls. She just turned 9 years old, and is able to complete the whole hat on her own -- the only thing I do is make her little "pom poms" for the top. She's actually finished 3 of them -- two for her baby dolls and one for Felicity - her American Girl doll.
She's started on one for herself -- using two different colors -- it's turning out really neat. Love how "delicate" the thinner (but still very soft) yarn looks and especially like the two different colors take on it. I'll be sure to post it when she gets it done.

Cottage Cheese Bread

2011-11-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

Cottage Cheese Bread

1 Tablespoon Yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 egg

3 Tablespoons margarine

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup cottage cheese

3 cups flour

Mix yeast and warm water together. Let stand 5 minutes. Add margarine, egg, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cottage cheese. Mix well. Add flour. Cover and let rise till doubled in size. Turn dough onto a floured board and knead till smooth and elastic. Shape into loaf and place in greased loaf pan. Let rise till doubled and bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Slice and enjoy your moist and yummy bread!

Birthday Cake

2011-11-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Ninth Birthday to my daughter today!

Pinterest Recipes

2011-11-05T09:31:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd share some of the yummy recipes I've tried from my Pinterest account.

1. Chocolate Oreo Cake

click here for recipe

2. Friend Apple Rings

click here for recipe

3. Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

click here for recipe

4. Stove top Creamy Mac and Cheese

click here for recipe

5. Mustard Grilled Chicken

click here for recipe

6. Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

click here for recipe

7. Bacon Wrapped Pineapple

click here for recipe

8. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

click here for recipe

Plugging two of my favorite blogs!

2011-11-04T12:12:00.000-04:00

1. Abby ---a sweet friend from Little Birdie Blessings is now hosting a Scripture challenge each week on Thursdays. You can link up any project made with Scripture on it, and it's open till the next Wednesday. You'll want to stop by and check it out, and link up your favorite Scripture projects.

2. IF you don't have very many Scripture stamps to use on those projects -- here is a great alternative: Digital Word Art...... Papercraft Memories has a whole page of awesome word art - free for the taking.

Mason Jars - Fabric Tags

2011-11-03T08:00:00.002-04:00

I had a lot of fun making these little fabric Mason Jar tags out of muslin material. Here's the way I put them together:

First I stamped my Mason Jar stamp onto the muslin fabric with black Staz-on ink
Second I layered batting and another piece of muslin behind the stamped image
Third I sewed around the jar with black thread
Fourth I cut the little tag out
Fifth I penciled on whatever sentiment I wanted
Sixth I embroidered over my pencil design
Seventh I colored over the entire jar with colored pencils
Eighth I sewed a few matching buttons to the top left corner

These are now hanging in my laundry room on a mirrored "Home" sign.

I'm not finished with the room yet - I'll be posting more as I have time to complete my projects.
This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Laundry Room Makeover Part #3

2011-11-02T08:00:00.014-04:00

Here's the ensemble on top of my freezer. I bought the little jar and house with my birthday money. The little rag doll was given to me by my sister-in-law (Lois) and is really what sparked the idea for the embroidered picture.
I whipped up that picture in less than a day -- really simple and fast to do. I got the pattern for it from a book I found at the thrift store a LONG time ago..... Old Timey Embroideries

(Here it is on Amazon)
Here's a closer view of the completed picture.

The frame started out as a wooden picture frame (that I rescued from a bag bound for the thrift store!). I painted over it with Folk Art -- "Deep Tomato Red."
The inspiration for the yo-yo runner also came from Lois -- well actually her daughter-in-law, Emily who's making a yo-yo table runner and inspired me to make this one for my laundry room.

If you've never made yo-yo's before (or like me, have never sewn them together to make a runner) here's a two great tutorial (with pics) to help you out: 1. How to make yo yo's 2. How to sew yo yo's together
The cost for all of these projects: About 97 cents.....all I needed to buy was the paint!

For more yo-yo inspiration -- check out my yo yo pinterest board

Laundry Room Makeover Post #2

2011-11-01T08:00:00.004-04:00

Today I'll show you the country ensemble I put together on and above my dryer. I got the pretty wreath at a local country store-----love the little rag balls in it -- they match the ones I bought to put into a Mason Jar on top of my dryer.
I made the stuffed mason jar attached to the side by

stamping my jar stamp
layering a piece of batting and another piece of muslin
sewing around it
lightly penciling "friends" on the front
embroidering over the saying
coloring over the whole thing lightly with colored pencils
adding a few buttons

Here's a closer view:

Just the tag:

Here's what the rag balls look like:

Of course the country look includes baskets - so I put my clothes pins in this one and added a torn strip of gingham fabric and a stuffed paper bag star to it.
The paper bag star was made by

stamping a background stamp onto a paper bag
cutting out a star shape
sewing another paper star shape to the back
stuffing it with batting

Here's the digital creation I made and frames using images from:
Primsy Doodle
Raspberry Road Desings

Laundry Room Makeover

2011-10-31T08:00:00.005-04:00

I love the country style of decorating and it's slowly taking over my whole house! Something about it speaks "warm and cozy" and that's just the feel I want my family and guests to have.
That being said - I'm working on re-doing my laundry room in the country style - but trying to do it with as little costs as possible. I've been hoarding my birthday money for a few weeks now and decided to visit a local country store and see what I could find. I purchased 4 things -- the wreath, a small lighted house, a little country jar, and a few "rag balls" in different sizes.
I'll show you more on them later this week -- but today I'm featuring the curtain I made to cover up the shelf above my washer and dryer.

After I left the country store I hit upon the idea of making my curtain out of muslin material. Two reasons --- 1. It looks very country 2. It doesn't cost very much per yard and I'd have enough of my birthday money left to afford it! I stopped by our local Wal-mart (which has just started selling material on the bolts again -- so happy about that!) and found what I was looking for and also a cute quilt looking print to add as a colorful border at the bottom of the curtain. I only needed one yard of the quilt print and about 3 yards of the muslin for this curtain. I'm super happy with how it turned out -- especially since I have very little patience in sewing.
Come back tomorrow and I'll show you some more of my homemade decorations!

This post linked to:
Take A Look Tuesday
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Ruffle Pillows

2011-10-27T08:00:00.005-04:00

My bedroom desperately needed some help before I entertain guest speakers in two weeks. You see the comforter on the bed was not only faded, but also had a hole torn in the center of it with no possible way for an inconspicuous "patch up."
Problem #1 - Quilts cost a lot of money to buy and two weeks isn't nearly enough time to make one in any design I'd like even if I had all the material picked out and on hand. (Never mind that I've never even made a full sized quilt in my life!)
That problem was solved with a thrift store find --- a beautiful quilt - with lots of wear left in it for only $12!!!!! There's absolutely no way I could beat that price and still make a quilt to my liking - so of course I bought it.

Problem #2 - The quilt didn't come with any pillow shams!
I went on-line and looked "high and low" for some that I liked (and would half way match) but couldn't find anything that suited me for under $34 a piece!
THEN I came upon this ruffled pillow tutorial from JCD and fell in love!
Not only did I already have the material on hand, but I also had a free afternoon (after school) to "whip" them up!
So happy with how they turned out --- I even made a little round throw pillow to match!

The big "roses" in the center were made by winding up the ruffles and hand sewing them on.
Now I won't have to be embarrassed to put guests up in my room come November!

Here's a little better view of the quilt --- especially for my mom -- since she wanted to see what it looked like!

This post linked to:
Transformation Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday
Take A Look Tuesday
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Sending Love

2011-10-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

Another card for the birthday girl (whose birthday is today!).
Supplies used:

Note book page and Script overlay from Mel Stampz
Postmark stamp -Autumn Leaves
Misc. Paper Scraps (for hearts)
Envelope template
Craft Paper

Based on this card I pinned on Pinterest

With Deepest Sympathy

2011-10-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

I don't enjoy the occasions that call for sympathy cards, so while this card was a lot of fun to make - the circumstances surrounding it were not fun at all.
I got the inspiration for this card from Kittie Kraft's blog and the following card:

I just love the way she uses the Martha Stewart branch punch and had to try my hand at it. While mine is not quite as perfect as her's, I was pretty please with how it turned out.
Here's a close up of the bottom of my card:

And those flowers in the pitcher:

You'll also notice I did some doodling around the edges of the card -- it just looked like it "needed" something and being the "pile it on" crafter that I am I had to fill up that "plain" space.
For the inside I lightened the cover image and printed a poem over-top that Abby posted on her blog sometime back.

Supplies Used:

Digital image from Digi Web Studio

they're having an awesome sale right now -- over 2,000 sets for $1 a piece!

Martha Stewart Branch Punch
Black Marker

the center of the light colored flowers

Liquid Pearls

the center of the dark purple flowers

White/Green/Purple colored pencils

borders

Black Felt tip pen

faux stitching

Purple Ribbon
Fiskars Border punch

the tiny flowers

Your "Sew" Sweet

2011-10-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

Another card for the "birthday girl"
Supplies used:

Digital Background Paper from Paisley Cat Designs
Digital Buttons from Shabby Princess Festival Download
Mason Jar Stamp
Vellum

overlay on mason jar

Buttons
Brown Thread

sewed the paper buttons on with
sewed the word "Sew" with
sewed the real button on the top with

Twine
Sewing Machine

zig zag stitch on jar and edge of card

I'm really happy with how this one turned out.....and it was a LOT of fun to make!

Here's the inspiration for this card

Cardboard Heart

2011-10-19T08:00:00.004-04:00

Another card for the birthday girl's present next week.
Supplies used:

Cardboard
Red/Blue/White/Green/Tan Cardstock
Martha Stewart Branch punch
Notebook page printable
Red/White Embroidery floss

twisted together to make the faux bakers twine

Sentiment - Creative Stamping
Red Ink
Comb Binding Machine

to make the faux notebook page edge

Inspired by this card I saw on Pinterest

Thinking of You

2011-10-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

A friend's birthday is coming up next week and she gave me strict orders not to buy her a birthday gift. The ONLY things she wants is some of my homemade cards. So I've been working to fulfill her wishes this past week-end.
If you follow me on Pinterest you've notice my Paper Crafts folder is filling up! I got to thinking -- "What is the use of a whole pile of pretty cards in my folder if I don't use them for inspiration?"
So I printed off a few of them that I especially liked (and thought I had a chance at duplicating!) and set to work. I'll be sharing the cards I made my friend along with the card that inspired it over the next few days.
Here's the inspiration for this first card -- more specifically those three tags in the background.

As I've mentioned in previous posts -- I've been experimenting with some digital items. The tags on this card are part of those experiments.
First I printed some ledger paper from Mel Stampz
then I went back and printed some Script (also from Mel Stampz but I can't seem to find it on her blog) over top the ledger paper.
Other supplies include:

Tree Stamp (Owl Garden - Hampton Art)
Sentiment (Creative Stamping)
Lace
Ribbon
Circle die cut
Scallop die cut (on music paper) - from Abby
Bird die cut (on music paper) -also from Abby
Rolled Rose
Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart)
Brown and Green ink (to ink edges of tags/punched items)

Homemade Notebook

2011-10-17T08:00:00.012-04:00

I made up a little gift package using one of my digital cards. The set included a little notebook to match the one of the digital cards I showcased last Friday. Below you see the outside of the notebook next to the card.

The inside has the same tree printed lightly on each page and personalized with the recipients name.

I used a paper bag to make my little package up with....added a ribbon, little birdie (thanks Abby!), and a few buttons to complete the look. Oh and that border is punched with the Fiskars Threading Water border punch.
The digital images came from:

Apple Pie Bread

2011-10-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

You have to try this yummy, moist bread -- just perfect for breakfast or maybe a bedtime snack!

Apple Pie Bread

1/2 cup butter - room temperature

1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups diced apples

Mix together and alternate the following:

1 cup buttermilk (or make substitute w/regular milk and vinegar)

2 1/4 cups flour

Stir just until mixed.

Pour into greased loaf pan.

Crumb Topping:

1/3 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

pinch of cloves

pinch of nutmeg

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 - 3 T. butter

Mix dry ingredients together and cut in butter. Sprinkle over bread.

Bake @ 325 degrees about 1 hr. and 20 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let set in loaf pan about 8 - 10 minutes.

Remove to wire rack.

Cool and Enjoy!

Using Digital Images

2011-10-14T08:00:00.020-04:00

My friend Abby (from Little Birdie Blessings) is the one I have to thank for the digital inspiration. She sent me a cute little card with a birdie on it that was just beautiful.....and the entire card was done digitally! Well, that got me to looking around web for some free digital kits to try out. Of course I asked Abby too --- and she forwarded several wonderful sites to me.

So today I'm sharing some cards I made up using only digital items, AND of course I'll share some fun sites where you can download your own digital images to work with.

Let me list for you a few of the benefits of making digital cards/scrapbook pages:

If you're in a creative slump and can't seem to get things to turn out right -- mess around with some digital elements. You can always delete things off you don't like - and you're not wasting ink, paper, or other scrapbooking supplies to do it. (The trash can in my craft room wouldn't fill up nearly so fast if I used this "rule" in the future!)
Nothing to drag out to create -- so it would be fairly convenient to take it along with you somewhere - especially if you have your digital images on a laptop!
No mess to clean up afterwards -- big plus!!
You can combine images from all the kits and layer away to your hearts content!
You can re-size any image you want to use - not possible with stamps
No thick layers to think about protecting or paying extra postage for!

Now that's not to say I'm going totally digital! I still love the feel of 3D card with real flowers, lace, and other embellishments, BUT it's fun to mess around with the digital stuff too!

I know at least one lady that I make cards for on a fairly regular basis that would NOT like my digital stuff at all! She likes LOTS of layers and extra stuff on her cards -- nothing plain and simple and certainly nothing one layer! SO...I couldn't go all digital even if I wanted to (ha ha!).

Oh, and I just remembered some Photoshop Brushes that friend downloaded (for free) and then installed on my computer (back when I had dial-up and couldn't download big files quickly). They are going to be so neat to combine with these digital scrapbooking sets!

O.K. now on to the links:

Shabby Princess has a whole page of free digital kits -- a lot of the elements you see above are from there
Raspberry Road Designs --- beautiful freebies and also kits for sale(recommended by Abby)
Raspberry Road Blog
Faith Sisters has Scriptures that layer over you page nicely (also recommended by Abby!)
Paper Craft Memories has a whole page of Scriptures you can download and layer over your creations too.
Abby also told me about Jessica Sprague -- she has one buck Wednesday where different kits are on sale for $1 that day.
One more (also from Abby -- isn't she just the best?!) Star Sunflower Studio

The two companies I used in my designs (above) were Shabby Princess and Raspberry Road Designs. I had so much fun combining images from different kits and companies.
Thanks Abby for giving me the inspiration to try this and also for sharing most all of these fun links with me!
Why don't you give it a try -- you just might find it to be lots of fun!

Gift Tags

2011-10-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Wanted to share my simple leaf gift tags made from a paper bag.
All I did was

Stamp a background stamp (you'll notice it's not even fall-ish) onto a brown paper bag
Trace a leaf shape onto the stamped part -- with a brown marker
Cut out and edge with faux stitching
Punch a flower from red cardstock and glued it to the top of the leaf before I punched the hole to tie the tag on
Write my message on the leaf and wa-la -- a cute little gift tag for a food gift

For the one above I added a brown rolled rose too.
I tied a pretty fall ribbon around my bread and then tied some twine on too for a country look.

For this one I added a little stuffed Mason Jar that I made by stamping my Mason Jar stamp onto the muslin fabric - sewing around it and embroidering "Country" on the front. Those little buttons in the top corner added quite a bit to it I thought.

Autumn Pear Bread

2011-10-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

When my sister-in-law (Lois) visited me two week-ends ago, she brought this moist, delicious bread with her. I had never heard of it before, but soon became a fan and needed the recipe! She used fresh pears for hers, but since I didn't have any on hand I used canned. It turned out just as yummy -- and was in fact gone within a day of my making it! I already have several people in mind to give it to as a "Happy Birthday" and "So sorry about your accident" gift.

Autumn Pear Bread

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 cup cold butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup mashed pears

In a lg. bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt,and nutmeg.

Cut in cold butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Combine the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and pears.

Fold into the flour mixture just until moistened.

Spoon into a greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to finish cooling on wire rack.

Slice and enjoy!

Burned Paper Bag Leaves

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

When my sister in law was here last week-end she brought me an Aqua Flo Water Brush that you can put bleach in and "paint" with. I decided to try it out on some fall stamps. I brushed the stamp with the bleach and stamped it and then over-stamped it with brown ink. You can't see the yellow one as clearly (it looks white in real life) - but the green one showed up real well.
I also used this fun tutorial for Burned Paper Bag Leaves for the leaves on the right of this card. I didn't quite follow the coloring directions though --- I colored directly on my leaves with markers and smeared it around with my fingertip.
It feels good to have had a few minutes to create last week, and to try a few new techniques!

Country Caramel Apples

2011-10-07T08:00:00.017-04:00

I was tickled to find this free caramel apple template at Stamp - N - Design. I decided to add some leaves, ribbon, twine, and of course faux stitching to make mine a "Country Carmel Apple." Really lovin' how this came out -- I think my creative juices are beginning to flow again!
Here's a close up of the stitching - not sure you can tell it in the picture but I traced around the caramel with a yellow marker and around the apple with a red one -- just to add a bit of "depth" to it. I also tapped a brown ink pad all over the caramel to add a bit of texture.

Supplies used:

Red/Brown cardstock
Popsicle stick
Green felt

for leaves

Twine
Cream Ribbon
Scripture stamp
Brown ink pad

tapped on caramel and inked edges of apple with

White pencil

that "shiny" spot on the caramel

Black felt tip pen

faux stitching

Yellow/Red marker

traced around caramel and apple with

Since I really liked how these came out I decided to make my October bulletin board decoration in the same design. I used the same basic supplies as the cards except I changed it up a bit - using patterned papers instead of solids (Since I don't have a very large selection of fall themed patterned paper - I just used some K & Company paper in fall colors).

I used this apple as a template (since I needed a bigger one than Stamp N Design had) and free-handed my dripping caramel.
I also used my bleach pen (that my sister in law brought me) to stamp the verse on the tag --- I'm having fun experimenting with it! Here's a closer view of the tag:

I'll share another bleach stamped project on Monday along with burned paper bag leaves -- come back then and check it out!
Will you indulge me one more pic?
In case you can't tell -- I really, really enjoyed making these. After I made the big one for the bulletin board --- I just had to make another little one -- this time with the patterned paper.

This post linked to:
T.G.I.F.
Scripture Thursday

Sanded Cards

2011-10-06T08:00:00.002-04:00

Like I mentioned in a previous post -- I didn't get as much time to craft with my sister-in-law over the week-end as I would have liked. We didn't actually get to have a card-making party (like we usually do) but she did turn out two very pretty cards that I wanted to share with you today.

They're both done in the same style but with different papers. She saw this idea for embossing and sanding paper in one of my old Paper Craft Magazines. The paper she had was actually two different colors and made for sanding, but I'm thinking you could use regular cardstock and just have a distressed look with the sanding.
Supplies:

Embossing Folders

Swiss Dots (Provo Craft)
Script (Provo Craft)
Victoria (Provo Craft)
Evergreen (Sizzix)

Blossom Nestabiblies
Twine
Paper Punch
Brad
Sand paper

Fall Cards

2011-10-05T08:00:00.010-04:00

#1 on my birthday list (really the only thing I could think of that I wanted)is "Fall Stamps!" You'd think that since fall is my very favorite season I'd own more than the few I do. Anyway --making fall cards can be challenging so I decided to try improvising using non-fall stamps in a fall-ish way! ----I.E. the background stamp - done in brown and the polka-dot border - also done in brown. I thought these turned out pretty well for the small amount of "seasonal stamps" put into them!

You'll remember my simple cards from earlier this year that utilized this same background stamp.
Supplies:

Pumpkin stamp - (Studio G)
Background Stamp - Pattern Trio - (Stampendous)
Brown marker

that line at the top and bottom of the card

Colored pencils

colored the pumpkins with

Orange/Brown Cardstock
Brown ink
Twine

You'll want to come back tomorrow and see the gorgeous cards my sister-in-law created over the week-end she spent here!
This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Fabric Pumpkins

2011-10-03T10:08:00.004-04:00

My sister-in-law brought the directions for making these fun and easy fabric pumpkins. We turned out whole patches of them before the week-end was over. Some for us and some for gifts.

Originally she started with the traditional orange and white...

Since my week-end was pretty crazy -- I didn't get nearly as much time to craft as I'd have liked to. About an hour before "bedtime" Saturday night I got out some country/primitive material that I had and sewed some up in that. I used four different sizes of circles just for variety's sake.

Above is my basket of primitive/country pumpkins. Besides using the country fabrics I also used some muslin and burlap.

Sunday afternoon - after our "other" company left and the mountain of dishes was finished I made soem more little pumpkins for gifts. Below is set I made for a friend - I tried to match the colors of her decor with them.

Here's a link to the tutorial if your interested in making a patch of your own! They're easy, lots of fun, and quick to whip up.

Happy Crafting!

This post linked to:

Take a Look Tuesday

Tip Me Tuesday

Whatever You Want Wednesday

Feathered Nest Friday

Seasonal Sundays

Delicious Chicken Enchiladas

2011-09-29T14:37:00.000-04:00

Delicious Chicken Enchiladas

In a large frying pan

melt 1 stick butter

add diced onion

(I used about 1/4 cup - you can add more or less to suit your taste)

add 6 cups diced chicken breast

sprinkle with

Salt

Pepper

Cook over medium heat until chicken is done

Empty chicken mixture into a large mixing bowl

Add 1 can black beans - set aside

In the same frying pan

melt 1/4 cup butter

add 2 to 3 T. flour

add approximately 25 oz. chicken broth

add 1 (4 oz.) can green chilies

add the following spices:

2 to 4 T. chili powder

1/2 to 1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 to 2 tsp. cumin

Cook over medium heat till thickened

Add to chicken mixture and stir together

Spoon desired amount of chicken mixture into center of flour tortilla. Sprinkle with Mexican blend shredded cheese. Roll up and bake @ 350 degrees for 20 minutes!

Enjoy!!!

Little Houses

2011-09-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

These two little cards took me 1/2 an afternoon to create! Not because they were hard to do -- just because my "creative juices" weren't flowing!
Ingredients:

Old Dictionary page
Ticket (for door)
Misc. Paper scraps (Leaves and roof)
Misc. Ribbon
Stapler (used to attach the ribbon)
Comb Binding Machine (to do that notebook edge on there -- see this post!)
Embossing Folders (Sizzix)

Diamonds
Scallops

Leaf Punch
Spritzer and Brown Bic Marker

Leaf Wreath

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the first quiet Sunday afternoon I've had in a long time. I tried to take advantage of the fact that we didn't have any company to spend a little time creating -- but alas - I must have lost all my creativity! I guess it must be true -- "Use it or lose it!"
The above card was the product of my frustrated afternoon -- a simple leaf wreath that uses only 5 ingredients.

Leaf Punch
Small Alphabet set (Studio G)
Scoring Board
Ribbon
Paper

I'm hoping that a visit from my creative Sister-in-law this week will spark something and get my "craft juices" flowing again!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

2011-09-25T16:26:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

1 tube (16.5 oz.) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 carton (16 oz.) whipped topping, divided

3 cups cold milk

1 package (3.9 oz) instant vanilla pudding

1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding

Let cookie dough stand at room temp. for 5 to 10 minutes to soften.

Press into an ungreased 13 x 9 baking pan.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 14 - 16 minutes.

Cool on wire rack.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar till smooth.

fold in 1/2 the whipped topping.

Spread over cooled crust.

In a large bowl, mix vanilla and chocolate pudding mixes together with 3 cups of milk.

Let stand for 2 minutes.

Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Top with remaining whipped topping.

Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Enjoy!

Side Note: I used my own cookie dough instead of buying a tube of it. It worked out just fine - maybe even better!

Coconut Rice Pudding

2011-09-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

Coconut Rice Pudding

3 cups leftover white rice

1 can coconut milk

3/4 cup 2% milk

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup coconut (I used the frozen - finely cut kind)

Nuts (almonds, walnuts, OR pecans) optional

Mix all ingredients together.

Pour into a greased baking dish.

Bake 1 hour @ 325 degrees

Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.

Enjoy!!

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

2011-09-14T12:11:00.002-04:00

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

2/3 cups sugar

2 T. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

2/3 cup oil

2 cups milk (add alternately with flour)

4 cups flour

Mix all ingredients in bowl just until smooth.

Spray muffin cups with cooking spray.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full of batter.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes on wire racks.

Dip in:

2 cups melted butter

and then roll in
1 1/2 cups cinnamon sugar

Yield: 2 dozen

ENJOY!

This post linked to:
Sweets for a Saturday

Crocheted Scarf

2011-09-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

This pretty white scarf only took me a couple hours to whip up thanks to it's lacy look and using treble and double treble crochet stitches! You can find the pattern for it here.

July Calendar Challenge

2011-09-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know I'm way behind on my calendar gift -- trying to get caught up by the end of this month. Featuring July's pages today.

Above is the CD case calendar using Scripture on each month, and below is the quilt block of the month calendar.

Those starts are cut out of old jeans -- gives it a "country" feel.

Now click here to see what my friend did for her July calendar.

September Bulletin Board

2011-09-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

As I've already mentioned -- my "creative time" is limited right now due to homeschooling. I did manage to whip up this bulletin board decoration over the week-end -- and it took me less than 30 minutes to make it because I simply googled clip art pictures, printed them and attached them to my homemade chalk board. (A black piece of cardstock with brown edges glued on - corner's rounded and wood grain drawn on with a colored pencil.)
Simple and easy --- I printed the verse with a white crayon - and viola -- finished project!

Apple Pie Bars

2011-08-30T14:10:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much time for "extra fun things" (like crafts) since we started our 3rd grade year of homeschooling...so I haven't had many crafty things to share with you lately. One thing that still has to be done (homeschooling or not) is cooking......so I thought I'd share these Apple Pie Bars I made recently for week-end guests.

Apple Pie Bars

Crust

4 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup shortening

4 egg yolks

2 T. lemon juice

8 to 10 T cold water

In large bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks, lemon juice, and water. Gradually stir wet mixture into dry mixture, tossing with fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Roll out one portion of dough on floured surface -- big enough to fit your cookie sheet. Transfer 1st portion to an ungreased cookie sheet.

Filling

7 cups finely chopped, peeled apples

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

In bowl, toss apples, sugar, flour and cinnamon. Spread over crust. Roll out remaining portion of dough and place over filling.

Trim edges; cut slits in top.

Bake @ 375 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes or

until golden brown.

Cook on wire rack.

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T milk

1 T lemon juice

Combine glaze ingredients - drizzle over bars.

Cut and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Yield: About 2 dozen

Enjoy!!

Simple Birthday

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Supplies used:

Birthday Surprise embossing folder (Sizzix)
Snow Cap embossing folder (Sizzix)
Chalks
Pink ribbon

Bee Card

2011-08-23T15:57:00.000-04:00

Supplies used:

Bee digital image from Sew Many Cards (Freebie Friday)
Black/White/Yellow cardstock
Crayola markers
Homemade Rolled Rose

Ramblings

2011-08-17T08:57:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know I've been MIA for a while now --- the end of summer has been very busy around here. Now I'm in the middle of preparing to homeschool a 3rd grader so not sure how much I'll get in on all the goodies floating around Blog Land.
Thought I'd share few misc. projects with you today - and first up is a doily and dishcloth I did earlier this summer. My mom and dad recently added a bathroom on the main floor of their home and it's done in tan with accents of yellow. I made the above doily for my mom's new bathroom counter (to go under the 3 wick candle I bought her while I was visiting earlier this year!).
You can find the pattern here --- The Yvestown Blog
Another crocheted dishcloth:

Here are a few little paper purses I made up using a stamp I saw at the Allentown Rubber Stamp Convention (actually bought it from a Mennonite ladie's shop as it was cheaper there)..... it comes from Too much Fun Rubberstamps

Oh, and remember the baby quilt I made earlier? I forgot to show you the Big Sister and Big Brother gifts I included in that package!

Just a few fun things from Dollar General that I knew the kids would like. My sister-in-law (Pam) and I used to get "scolded" from our hubbies at birthday parties because we'd always buy all the "non-birthday" cousins a little gift too. They never could quite figure out why all the kids needed "consolation prizes" when it wasn't their birthday.

One last item: A birthday envelope (sorry the pic is such poor quality!). This was my quick fix for a guy in our church whose birthday I nearly missed. Not only was it fast to make (simply stamp and color), but I haven't met too many teenage guy's that got overly excited over a birthday card. An envelope with a little cash in it -- well that's a different story!

Square Cards

2011-08-15T12:04:00.000-04:00

I purchased this collage sheet off of Etsy some time back, and just recently enlarged the images and made four of the squares into cards. With all the free images there are out there, I very rarely purchase anything like this. But I wanted it for a special project and since $2.50 didn't break the bank I went ahead with it.

The images themselves didn't need a lot done to them -- just some coloring (with colored pencils) and flower soft added to two of them.

Also added some faux stitching around edges with a felt tip pen.
Very simple and easy to make if you need a card in a hurry. I love how soft and feminine they turned out, and also love that I found some images that fit my flower soft perfectly!
You can click the images of the cards to pull them up big and better see the details.

Spritzer Fun!

2011-08-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine recently cleaned out her craft room and graciously donated all the stuff she didn't use anymore to me! I've had so much fun going through it all and discovering new tools and lots of other fun stuff. This spritzer was one of the items in the stash and recently I got it out to "play" with.
I don't own any Stampin' Up markers, but I found that it works just as well with Bic Markers (which I do own!).
I used it to make two backgrounds for my cards -- above and below

A little closer view of the 1st background so you can see better what effect it has

Then I pulled out some embossing folders (one especially that needs to stand alone) and used it to make the some CAS cards.

I spritzed first, embossed second, and then lightly rubbed some coordinating ink over the images to make them "pop." Not a whole lot more needed on these cards.
Lastly, I used it to distress two masculine cards I made by spritzing lightly over the Tim Holtz stamped images in this first one -

A little closer view

...And spritzing after I stamped my Lighthouse stamp (Stamps Happen) onto a piece of my homemade paper (love the effect that gives the image!!!) and after coloring (with colored pencils). I spritzed both the background and the stamped image.

In case you can't tell -- I had a lot of fun with it! Thanks so much Christa for sharing your no-longer-used supplies with me!
Wanted to leave you with a link: Julile Gearinger has some wonderful cards she's made using the Spritzer - if your looking for inspiration - she has it!

Zucchini Cookies

2011-08-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Zucchini Cookies
1 stick butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup oats
1 cup flour
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream sugars and butter together.
Add zucchini, egg, and vanilla - beat.
Combine dry ingredients and add to wet mixture.
Add walnuts and chocolate chips
Drop by teaspoon fulls onto buttered cookie sheet.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 8 minutes - let set on cookie sheet 3 minutes before removing to wire racks -- cool.
ENJOY!

These cookies turn out cake like -- so soft and yummy. Both my therapist and his receptionist LOVED them!

Walk Around Blog Land #9

2011-08-04T07:00:00.010-04:00

Sharing links (emptying my bookmarks) for crafty goodness all around "Blog Land."

1. A friend shared this link with me and I'm sharing it with you....

Making your own stamps with just a few simple supplies

The thing I love about this is you can re-heat and re-do so you don't have to worry about storing tons of homemade stamps!

Another tutorial on making your own stamps using Sizzix dies and foam

2. Wristlet Pattern

3. You'll want to check out Beccy's Place full of free digital images -- she does BEAUTIFUL work!

Free Bee

Free Birdhouse

Free lantern
AND much, much more!
4. Make your own mailing envelopes!
(My friend just showed me some similar to this that she had made - I don't think she used brown bags or the plastic bags inside though -- think she used a roll of brown contractors paper.)

Here's one I did recycling an old gift bag

5. A new crochet blog I recently discovered --
Tangled Happy
check out all the fun stuff here!

Purses

Scrubbies

Vintage potholders and much, much more!
6. Tissue Covers
If you're making a purse why not make a tissue cover to match?

7. O.K. so you've seen my version of a chocolate chip cookie "cake" -- take a look at this one!
Looks fun and yummy don't you think?

8.Wouldn't these pots make adorable gift containers?

9.Make your own cranberry glass! Love this!

10.Some Fun Baby Doll accessories
Pretend Baby Wipes

Doll Diapers

11. Check out this adorable fabric teapot/teacups WITH tutorial!

12. Great girl gifts ---Sock Cupcakes!

Happy Crafting Everyone!

Baby Gifts

2011-08-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

Well I'm not an expert seamstress, and don't consider myself a quilter either -- BUT I wanted to make something special to welcome sweet little Payton to the world.
I found a pack of pre-cut squares at our Wal-mart in pinks and browns and fell in love with it. The above quilt was the project I decided to make with them.
My friend Abby sent me her burp cloth pattern (that she makes from soft flannel) so I made two of those to go along with the quilt. I really like the "dog bone" shape of them as they curve in at the shoulder and fit around your neck well (something like the ones in this tutorial -- except I like Abby's a bit better). I used the zig zag stitch to top-stitch around them once I'd turned them...like the look it gave them.

Of course no gift is complete without a homemade card...click picture for a closer view.

Supplies used:

Pink Cardstock
Pink Paint

I daubed this on the card front to "soften it" something like the Dry Brushing done in this post

Scalloped Rolled Rose
Homemade notebook edged paper
Vellum sentiment (Thanks for the big pack of them Christa!)
Glitter strips with Scor Tape (from this tutorial)
Silver Rhinestones
Lace

under the sentiment

Large Scalloped Circle

(freebie from a stamp company -- I traced it off to use as a pattern)

Faux Stitching around s.circle with felt tip pen
Vellum Teddy Bear (Hot Off The Press)

I love making baby stuff -- and especially like pink and brown together so this gift was a lot of fun to assemble!

Here's the baby card my 8 yr. old made.....she wanted it to be funny. The background behind this card comes from a Berenstain Bears book about where brother and sister get a new baby sister. Sister has to carry the dirty diapers to the trash and frequently says "Pee-yoo!" She has a bit of a jealousy problem until Papa and Mama bear show her home movies of when she was a baby.
That's why giraffe on this card is carrying the baby giraffes diaper to the trash and saying "Peyou!"
My daughter hand drew all the elements of the card -- the trees, the giraffe etc....... her mother's only "slightly jealous" of her artistic ability - actually she's very "jealous" of it!

This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Making Paper

2011-08-01T07:00:00.018-04:00

Last week my daughter and I had so much fun making homemade paper out of scrap paper. You see...I'm one of those people who doesn't throw away my scraps of paper when I'm finished with a paper project....instead I save it all in a bin organized according to color.

You can see in this picture that my bin was overflowing with scraps and once I dumped it all out I realized some of those scraps weren't really all that usable. Some were extremely wrinkled (from being smashed in the bin), some were little bits of paper with shapes punched out (saved "just in case" I needed a small pink flower or a branch punched out) and still others were pieces of paper I really didn't care for any more.
After sorting it all out and tearing each "never gonna use" pile into small bits I had this:

The piles on the left of this photo are all cardstock piles organized according to color. The big pile on the right is my patterned paper scraps -- they'll be used much like you would recycle junk mail with patterns/colors on it.
And look -- I still had two bins of scraps left to use - albeit greatly reduced and a lot more organized!

O.K. now on to the actual paper making.....
I found this kit at a thrift store sometime last year (for $2.99 never been used), and it's been sitting in my craft room (gathering dust) up until now.
I started out by shredding some junk mail up and adding some dried flowers to it.....that's the paper you see to the far right in the above photo. (All the rest is cardstock)
After it's shredded you add some to your blender -- add water and blend!

You then pour this into a container (I used an under the bed rubber maid type container) and add more water to that. It takes about 2 to 3 blenders of pulp to get a good thickness to your paper.
I then put my screen in the water - pulled it up and the pulp sticks to the top.
My instructions say I can bake it in the oven for 20 minutes on 250 degrees (right on the screen) to speed up the drying process. OR you can let it air dry, but that can take up to 6 hours for one piece!
Remove the paper and dip the screen in the vat again for a new piece.
I think we managed about 18 pieces the day we made it -- the four on the right were made the night before. You'll notice that I only have three colors -- cream, blue, and pink! AND I still have some blue and pink paper scraps left. You get quite a bit of paper for as little as you put into it. It is a rather time consuming process, but I LOVE the feel of homemade paper and also like it that I'm not wasting all that leftover cardstock!
Here's a little closer view of the paper so you can see the texture of it -- I love it!

Here's a tutorial on making paper -- there seem to be several different ways to do it - I just followed the instructions in my kit.
I wouldn't mind to find another one for cheap just for the screens -- then I could make 4 pieces at once and really get things rolling!
Here's my first project using my homemade paper -- a decoration for the bulletin board for the month of August.

Supplies:

Clipart from Scrapbook Studio (Hallmark)

a disk I picked up at a thrift store for$1

Homemade paper
Brown Cardstsock
Shells from our local beach

This post linked to:
Made With Love Monday
Craft Catwalk
Making Monday Marvelous
Tip Me Tuesday
Penny Pinching Party
T.G.I.F.

Welcome Home - Gob Cake

2011-07-30T07:00:00.006-04:00

A Navy friend came back from his deployment two weeks ago. The above "card" decorated the bulletin board on his first Sunday back. The top graphic is from a Thomas Kinkade calendar (thanks Christa) and the bottom image comes from The Workshop Window.
Of course I tried to make all his favorite foods for his first dinner back -- Deer Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Broccoli Salad, Corn on the cob, Homemade rolls, AND Chocolate Gob Cake!

Chocolate Gob Cake

1 box deep chocolate cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

Mix the above ingredients together and add water, oil, and eggs as directed on cake box.

Then add:

4 more eggs

1/4 cup oil

Mix and pour into two lined

(with greased waxed paper) cookie sheets.

Bake @ 350 degrees 14-15 minutes.

Cool.

Invert onto wire racks.

Filling

1 egg white - beat till stiff

1 cup sugar - added gradually

1/2 cup warm milk - beat again

1/2 cup crisoco

1/2 cup butter

2 tsp. vanilla

Beat until it turns fluffy.

Don't stress if it looks like it's not turning out -- be patient and keep beating till it turns fluffy.

Put filling on one cooled cake and

flip the other cake on top.

Cut into squares

ENJOY!

This post linked to:
Made With Love Monday
Craft Catwalk
Making Monday Marvelous

Tip Me Tuesday
Recipe Sharing Monday

Shoregirl's Creations

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Dress Tags

Race Car Birthday

Doily Mask

Doily Pocket

Chocolate Pound Cake

Spread your wings and fly

Psalm 138:2

Printable Tags

Printable Valentine Labels

"New" Jar Lamp

Mini Clutch

More Recipe Cards

Project 365 - Week 2

Printable Tickets

"Currently" Journal

Thank You Cards

Birthday Purse

Life's fragile....

Project 365 -- Week 1

Yummy Breakfast Muffins

Clutches

Birdies

Postcard Thank You's

January Bulletin Board

Project 365

Printable Music Tags - UPDATED

Handmade Christmas

Peanut Butter Fudge

Russian Tea Cakes

Vintage Postcards

Merry Christmas

Recipe Cards to print

"Gingerbread" Houses

Clutches

More Christmas postcards

One last purse

Christmas Food Gifts

Christmas Wrapping

More Christmas Cards

Primitive Snowman #2

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Wishes

Christmas Secretary

Christmas Tags

Primitive Snowman

Christmas on a budget

Homemade Tree

Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream Pie

Birthday Purse

Tea Tote Bag

Ruffled Tote Bag

"New" Secretary

Pinterest Recipes #2

November Bulletin Board

Knifty Knitter

Cottage Cheese Bread

Birthday Cake

Pinterest Recipes

Plugging two of my favorite blogs!

Mason Jars - Fabric Tags

Laundry Room Makeover Part #3

Laundry Room Makeover Post #2

Laundry Room Makeover

Ruffle Pillows

Sending Love

With Deepest Sympathy

Your "Sew" Sweet

Cardboard Heart

Thinking of You

Homemade Notebook

Apple Pie Bread

Using Digital Images

Gift Tags

Autumn Pear Bread

Burned Paper Bag Leaves

Country Caramel Apples

Sanded Cards

Fall Cards