Monogrammed Cards

So I have been seeing the Just Rite Monogram stamp everywhere. And I really like it, especially to use in creating a gift set for a man. But I firmly told myself that no more purchases for a long time...I must use up some of my stash!

So I created a very simple card using the Martha Stewart stamps. I think it turned out quite well. Too give it a little oomph I embossed the monogram and then mounted it on a scallop using an adhesive foam I had in my stash from who knows when. The inside features some of the same papers I used on the outside. . And that is pretty much it. A really quick card to make for yourself or in a mass setting for a gift like I did here. My mini gift set featured the same cards done on two different card stock colors.

Products: Basic Grey paper (Blitzen), bazzill card stock, Martha Stewart acrylic stamps, Marvy Uchida pink scallop punch, Fiskars circle template, embossing powder from Walmart.

Diaper Bag Tags

I think this is one of favorite things I've made in a really long time! I saw somewhere in www an idea for diaper bag tags and instantly my mind just kind went all over the place thinking about how I could do mine own.

So here we are. I used the largest tag from a pack of Maya Road scalloped chipboard tags and painted it a light tan colour that I knew would match my sister's diaper bag.

Next I measured out my paper I used some scrap card stock for the matting and then cut 2 pieces of patter end from my favorite company Basic Grey. I absolutely love their papers!


Next I worked on the monograms. These Heidi Swapp chipboard letters are wonderful. Sturdy enough to handle all the stuff I did it. I know there is the fancy dimensional "stuff" meant for this kind f thing, but I don't have any and figured out a pretty good alternative. You will need a bottle of clear nail polish and glitter. Using your nail polish paint a small section at a time and then dump glitter onto it. Remove excess glitter and proceed onto the next section and repeat until your monogram is covered. Your next step is to put nail polish over the glitter. The best way to do this is to let the polish drip from your brush onto the monogram and then lightly spread it. Be sure to get the entire surface. It will take a while to dry before you can do your next coat. Keep repeating this until you have the desired look. Before using it on the tag it is a good idea to let it dry for several hours or overnight. The end result is a beautiful glittery monogram that is safely protected and shiny! It looks absolutely amazing in person. I need to learn to take better pictures!
After that I adhered it to my tag and finished it off with a handwritten name.

At that point it still needed something so I took 3 brads snipped of the prongs and hot glued them to the tag. Then it was finished. I found some pretty ribbon to use as chain and now all the mamas want one! A great gift that doesn't cost a lot but is so very personal and a great keepsake.

Love Birds

I have just recently started playing with embossing powders, heat guns and flock and I am loving it. So neat how it all works and changes a nice card into something a lot more special.
Todays card feature was for a friends wedding. You can't see it too clearly from the picture but I used all three new things plus a transparency on this card! In the end I quite liked it.
The transparency ended up looking a little bit shabby chic since the heat gun was wielded a little sloppily.
The birds were a stamp from the Spring Retro line from I think Pretty Paisley Stamps. The bird int eh back was inked with black Staz On and then embossed with Tim Holts distress powder - Milled Lavender. The bird in front was stamped but then flock applied a little at a time using a Quickie glue pen and propped up on dimensional foam.

Inside I embossed my sentiment Love Birds. Card stock was a great buy from Walmart - Colorblok Textured Card stock. See ya!

Fantastic Fruit Pizza

This Fruit Pizza is the absolute best! Unfortunately I never got a really good picture befor it got devoured. This Fruit Pizza has the perfect crust...slightly chewy, not too sweet and of course anything toppped with cream chees...well you can't go wrong. Did I mention this is actually a healthy pizza? You see the top layer is fruit. I know, totally cancels out the "bad" stuff below.

I orignally received this recipe from my mother in law and have tweeked and adapted it to our tastebuds. I promise you this is a guarenteed success to whatever function you bring it to.

THE CRUST is almost cookie like. For those of you who don't like coconut please try it one time in this recipe. I promise you will not find it overpowering...it actually helps in keeping the crust chewy and not brick like. The original recipe calls for the crust to be patted into 2 9x12" pans - which is good if you want to stretch the recipe. I personally prefer 1 9x13" pan (of course you really should use Pampered Chefs Bar Pan - it's amazing!). I like the crust to be quite thick. As you can see after blending it in the food processor it's pretty dry looking. No worries, as you pat it into the pan the butter softens and becomes very pliable. Tip - Use parchment paper, it makes it very easy and neat to slide your crust out to use on a pretty serving dish. This time I cut mine in half and then one half again into half. This lets me put 2 quarters into the freezer and not gorge on it too much!

THE FILLING is glorious! Cream cheese and Coolwhip - so simple but so very good. I woul dlike to try this with real whipped cream but have a strong suspicion that the filling woul dend up becoming runny and be able tot hold the top layer properly. I highly reccomend that you use the name brand Philidelphia cream cheese and CoolWhip for the filling for best results.

THE FRUIT must be good quality - in summer fresh sun ripened is unforgetable and in the winter you make do witht he best the stores offer or use your canned fruit. Our favorite combination right now is strawberries, raspberries and kiwi. Use whatever you love. Here I used fresh strawberries and pitted bing cherries. Decided not to use the nectarines. You can choose to either slice and arrange the fruit or do a dicing of all the fruit and gently combine it before spreading over your filling. TIP - do not place fruit directly to edge of filling!

THE GLAZE is homemade and is as easy as those bitter mixes but so much better. Use any fruit juice you desire. I like pineapple because it keeps the fruit fresh looking and also provides a nice taste contrast. When ready to glaze do so gently with a spoon for maximum control. The glaze keeps the fruit in place so be sure to cover the entire layer of fruit including that border I mentioned above. TIP - do not let the glaze drip over the crust or seep underneath, because you will get a soggy crust. If your glaze is too thick simply whisk in some hot water to thin it.

And there you have! The best Fruit Pizza on earth!

Fantastic Fruit Pizza

Crust:

1 cup softened butter

1 1/2 cups loosley packed brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/3 cup quick cooking oatmeal

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sweetend shredded coconut

Mix suar and butter until blended, add remainig ingrediants and blend. Pat to the edge of your baking pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Do NOT overbake!

Filling:

1 block cream cheese

3/4 cup icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tub of the large CoolWhip container - thawed

Mix first three ingrediants well. Fold Cool Whip gently in. Once crust is completely cooled, spread to edge of pizza. Top with your choice of fresh fruit as much as is desired.

Glaze:

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup pinapple juice

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp cornstarch

Mix first three ingrediants and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch with small of water or juice until a medium thin consistency is reached. While boiling, slowly stir in cornstarch but keep whisking glaze! Let boil 1 minute or until glaze thickens. Take off heat but keep stirring. Do a taste check to ensure the cornstarch flavour has been completely mixed in. Allow to cool. Spread over pizza and place in fridge to allow it to set up and flavours to mingle. Enjoy!

Anniversary Album

Together with my sister, I created a scrapbook album to give to our parents for their long awaited anniversary trip. We planned the album with some very specific things in mind.

1. The album was to be completely finished. All that Dad & Mom would need to do was to adhere pictures. This meant we even penciled in where the pictures were to go and their exact size...along with tips on what types of pictures to use.

2. The highlight of the album needed to be the pictures and the memories of the trip...so we stayed away from the bright colours and the very obvious travel themed papers & embellishments. All in all we had a lot of fun and were quite happy with the finished result.

We tried to think through a typical holiday and the types of things that are the usual highlights as well as a few of the more evryday holiday memories. We hoped that htis would end being an album that told the whole story of the vacation.

Although my parents vacation didn't quite go as planned, there were still some very good things that happened as a result...like a surprise visit from them!


Products used: Basic Grey papers, Heidi Swapp Chipboard and a lot of misc. stuff from my stash

Hello Blogland!

Wow, my very first blog post...have to admit it feels slightly awkward. I think that for this first post I would like to share with you my reasons for joining the the blogging world.

1. I wanted to create a place where my parents, who happen to live a three days drive from us, could come to and be a little more connected to the everyday things in our lives. We talk on the phone weekly, but somehow you always forget those little important things that are just everyday but important to family.
2. I enjoy creating. There is something very satisfactory about seeing a finished product that meets your expectations. Here in Blogland, I would like to share these creations. It also doesn't hurt that I would love to be a part of the scrapping world and be published... wouldn't that be exciting! Guess that means I do have to play the submission game huh?!

That basiacally sums it up. I would like to say this...I have been on many people's blogs and have been appalled at some of the things put into type. It is my mission to always be mindfull that the words I post here are going to be seen by anyone and everyone and can not be taken back. Like we were always taught, "If you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all." Hopefully I can be an encouragement to you.

Very soon you will see a bunch of posts featuring projects I have completed in the last few months. If you happen to swing by and say, "I think that was cased!" You are probably right. Many of my projects were inspired by others and unfortunatly being so new to this I may not remember where I cased a project from. So thank you for your inspiration and be assured that I will give credit to where credit is due with my future projects.