12.13.2011

It's been quite a while since I have posted -- almost 2 months!

One of my favorite sites to visit lately is Pinterest -- thanks, Jennifer (just jingle). I found a great Christmas decoration that I absolutely loved.



The best part was that I had the glass block in my Scraptorium closet that I had bought 2 years ago (didn't know what to do with it, but I just had to have it)! I used a 20-light package of mini lights (white cord), 2 packages of Twinkle Trim from Hobby Lobby, and the vinyl phrase from Stampin' Up.


And, my 1st try at a no-sew blanket for my granddaughter, Caroline Jayne. Now that I have done one, I can see making more!

This week's Midweek Throwdown Challenge at OWH is to use polka dots to create cards for our heroes to send home to their loved ones. As the deadline for Holiday cards is October 31, I decided to make Christmas cards for this challenge.



My supplies: pp - Colorbok, Paper Studios; borders - Sizzlets Dots & Scallops, PTI Rickrack; stamps - PTI Holiday Tree, Hampton Arts Merry Christmas Set

And, I just finished this wonderful book by one of my favorite authors, Jason Wright. This book is the sequel to "The Wednesday Letters". Loved it!!

Been awhile since I posted, but here is this week's sketch from OWH:



Using a Sizzix embossing folder, Heidi Grace paper, and sentiment stamp from Impress, this is the Christmas card I created:



And, this is the Halloween album I made for my granddaughter, Caroline. Sorry about the glare on the first photo, due to the acrylic cover. Should be more fun for her this year - from what I understand, I believe she is going to be an Alabama cheerleader!

Nothing crafty today, just a few photos. We went to Callaway Gardens yesterday in Pine Mountain, GA. Callaway Gardens is a 13,000 acre complex that includes horticultural and butterfly centers, golf courses, trails, a beach and lots of recreational activities. Here are a few of the photos I took:










Red Spider Lily










Plumeria










Herons













Heron, just after catching a fish for his lunch!

For this week's Stars & Stamps challenge over at OWH, since I needed a masculine birthday card for my eldest son, I did a simple card. Wow, hard to believe he is going to be 33 on Saturday. That is also our 35th wedding anniversary -- where did the time go? Seems like just yesterday that I was watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers with the boys!

Anyway, here is the sketch:














And, my simple card:













Regarding the Zucchini Salsa that mentioned on my last post, it was really good. It had a bit of a kick due to the two jalapenos we added.

Nothing crafty for you today -- trying to finish up a halloween mini album for my granddaughter, Caroline.

Been spending lots of time in the kitchen lately. Last night's dinner was french dip sandwiches. And, yes they were delicious.

Over the weekend, we made zucchini salsa. It's a new recipe and we thought it sounded interesting. It called for 10 pint jars, but since my canner only holds 7, we cut the recipe in half and it only filled 4 pint jars. Since I'm out of nacho chips, we haven't tried it yet. Seems we're always out of something!











Finished this Nicholas Sparks book over the weekend. Although it is a typical Sparks book, I enjoyed it more than some of his others.

This week's OWH sketch is a good one for just about any occasion. Again, I chose to do a baby card. Here is the sketch:













And, my card:











Supplies: pp - KI Memories, stamp - PTI Sweet Baby; dies - PTI Sweet Baby, Nestabilites labels

On the weekends, we like to try out new recipes and we found a good one in this month's Food Network Magazine - Eggplant Ricotta Bites. They were quite good!











And, if anyone is looking for a couple of good books to read, these are the latest two that I have read and they were both excellent!

The Midweek Throwdown at OWH is to make a card using the inchie theme. For my 1st card, I used distress inks smeared on a craft mat, spritzed with water, and then I smeared it with a piece of a manila folder. Then it was stamped and heat embossed.










Supplies: pp - My Mind's Eye; Provocraft Clockworks embossing folder; dies - PTI Banner Builders, Nestabilities square scallop; stamp - Hero Arts; Distress Inks - Ranger Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door

The second set of cards I chose to do were baby-themed cards:










Supplies: pp - KI Memories; Fiskars Border Punch; die - Nestabilities square scallop; stamp - PTI Sweet Baby

For this week's OWH sketch challenge, I chose to create a Thanksgiving Day card. Here is the sketch:











and, my card:










Supplies: pp - The Paper Studio; embossing folder - Sizzix Plaid; dies - Slice Noteworthy label, Nestabilities mini label; bakers twine

For this week's sketch challenge at OWH, I chose to do a Halloween card. Here is their sketch:














and my card:















My supplies: pp - The Paper Studio; embossing folder - Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes; die - Nestabilities oval; sentiment - The Cutting Cafe

Verbena & friend:

This week's sketch challenge over at OWH came together pretty quickly for me. I used an embellishment I had made a few years ago. I made several of them and apparently forgotten about them. Anyway, here is the sketch:











Here is my take on the sketch:










Supplies: stamps - Rubber Soul, PTI Ribbon Tails; die - Nestabilities circle

This week's Midweek Throwdown at OWH is called Cards 4 Kids. The challenge is to create a card for our heroes to send home to their children. I don't really have too many suitable stamps for children so I used a baby-themed stamp. I purposely left the sentiment off so that it could be used for various occasions.










Supplies: embossing folders - Provocraft Cuttlebug; die - Nestabilities; stamps - PTI Sweet Baby

For those of you interested in the Beef Stroganoff recipe I mentioned earlier, my husband took leftovers for lunch 2 days in a row, so I guess it was a hit.

Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs. stew meat (I used London Broil)
2 cans Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup
1 large onion, diced
2 T Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 c water
8 oz cream cheese
1 t garlic salt
couple dashes of hot paprika (didn't have any so I just used regular)

In the slow cooker, stir in all the ingredients, except the meat and the cream cheese. Once combined, add the meat and mix together.

Cook on low for 8 hours. Cut up the cream cheese into cubes just before serving and turn crockpot on high. Stir the cream cheese in until all combined. Put lid back on and leave for about 10 minutes. Serve over egg noodles.


I thought 8 hours was a bit too long; mine was ready in 6 hours.

This week's sketch challenge at OWH is to create a card using this design:











Using one of my favorite PTI dies, I made a clean and simple card:










Supplies: pp - very old; die and buttons - PTI

I found a recipe for "The Absolute Best Crockpot Beef Stroganoff". So, that is what I am making tonight for dinner. It calls for cream cheese instead of sour cream. I'll post the recipe if it turns out well.

For this week's sketch at OWH, for some reason, I went with a bit of a summer theme. The sketch:











My card:











Supplies: stamp - A Muse; dies - Nestabilities; embossing folder - Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes; bakers twine; random buttons

Back with another card for OWH's "Christmas in July" theme. I cheated and used the same technique and design as yesterday's card!










Supply List: embossing folders - Sizzix, Cuttlebug; dies - Nestabilities; stamp - PTI Peace Be Still

Another little project I've been working on are yoyo barrettes for my granddaughter, CJ.










Last week, I finished "10th Anniversary" by James Patterson and it was excellent and yesterday I started his latest book, "Now You See Her". I'm only a couple of chapters in and I find it hard to put down.

Yeah, I know it's early, but today's challenge on OWH has a "Christmas in July" theme. I used a technique I found on Splitcoaststampers to dry emboss, then to wet emboss. Not sure if I love the embossing folders I chose to do this card, but I have started another one using a snowflake folder, so you might see that one tomorrow.










Supply List: embossing folders - Sizzix, Cuttlebug; dies - Nestabilities; stamp - PTI Wreath for All Seasons

Now that the Cannas are starting to bloom the hummingbirds are visiting the backyard. It wasn't easy, but I was able to get a photo last weekend.

Just sharing a layout with you today. I know it's a little sparse, but I'm not sure what to put in the white space. I hate to add an element and then end up wishing I hadn't. The idea for this layout design came from a poster on 2Peas, unfortunately, I don't remember her name. I love the circle elements sewn on the top.










The supplies I used: pp - Recollections, Paper Studio, Basic Grey; dies - PTI Eyelet Lace, Butterfly; circle punch; bling - MS

Today's challenge over at OWH was to create a fall-themed card. As I do not have too many fall-themed stamps other than pumpkins, this is what I came up with:











Supplies: Adirondack Alcohol inks ( Terracotta, Butterscotch); stamp - Inkadinkado; embossing folder - Sizzix Plaid

I finished reading "Knit The Season" by Kate Jacobs, which was just okay, not nearly as good as her first two in the same series.

Now I am reading a new James Patterson novel. I have read the first 9 books in this series and really enjoy them. Of all of his books, I enjoy The Women's Murder Club collection the best.

Today there was a tutorial using alcohol inks to create cards. Since I have previously used alcohol inks for cardmaking, I dug out my supplies and created a simple card.










Supplies used: Adirondack Alcohol Inks (stream, pearl, blending solution); Versamark Ink; stamp - Stampabilities; border die - PTI Eyelet Lace Border

Here is the Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewer recipe that I showed yesterday:

Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewers

1 ½ lbs. extra-large shrimp,
peeled and deveined
4 T butter, melted
¼ t cayenne pepper
salt
½ c pepper jelly
1 t grated zest of lime
2 T lime juice

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Thread shrimp on skewers and brush with 1 T butter. Season with cayenne and salt.

Heat jelly in saucepan over medium heat until bubbling. Off heat, whisk in remaining butter, lime zest and lime juice. Cover and keep warm.

Grill shrimp over hot fire 2 – 3 minutes per side. Brush with glaze. Serve.

**Since it is just the two of us now, I only used a dozen shrimp, but used the full amounts for the glaze. This left enough glaze for another dozen, so the balance was placed in a seal-tight container and stored in the refrigerator for the following weekend.