Pinwheels for Paige

When I say I am not posting until after CHA, what I really mean is... OK, one more challenge and then I am done. Paige at CARDS Magazine requested cards with pinwheels. Here is my response. The medium pinwheel even spins! Have a SUPER weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creation. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question.

Happy Day!

Links:
CARDS

Details: 
Stamps: American Crafts ( Fresh, Fun)
Ink: Ranger (Faded Jens), Memento (Tuxedo Black), PTI (Fresh Snow)
Paper: PTI (Kraft, White), Cosmo Cricket (Snorkel, Girl Friday), American Crafts (Everyday Howdy)
Other: K & Co (Brad), Mark Richards (Metal Stickers), Queen & Co (Nightfall), Micheals (Rhinestone)

I'm a Winner! My mom always said I was...

Just a quick post to let you know I am SOOOO excited about winning one of the prizes from the Zva Creative blog hop. The DT posted fantastic creations highlighting all the wonderful bling that Zva Creative offers. My comment that won was on Veronica Goh's blog, Treasured Moments. I had no clue they had such a wide selection including fabric covered brads and rhinestone brads. Check out their website to find a retailer near you.

Thanks Zva Creative!

Happy Day!

 Links:

Zva Creative

Treasured Moments

Shabby vintage BOO!

As I mentioned in my last post, I am trying to create cards in all the styles noted in the new Paper Crafts publication, Card Style. Well, not sure I will get to all of them, but I did try Shabby & Vintage. This is the style I attempt the least in my normal card making, so I feel pretty good about the outcome. If you like orange, then this card is for you.  The one hang up is that Cath says this style is soft. I am pretty sure this card is not soft. However, I did master the ribbon, inking and distressing. Oh, and the multiple layers, too.  

I incorporated several different challenges. It has been while since I attempted to "Pile it On". In this case, I think it helped me push the envelop and be more successful. The stamped background meets Kristina Werner's Finally Friday and A Year in Cards challenges. The Get Sketchy sketch was the starting point for the layout. I know it ended up round, but I did use the papers to create the four sections and have a center focal point. 

 

OK, so now I really have to get some work down before I leave town. It is so much easier to avoid work by making cards, cleaning out a drawer, taking a nap, browsing blogs...Well, I could go on forever. Pretty excited about my Girls' Weekend in the mountains. We are going tubing in the Chattahoochee River. I bought a TON of sunscreen last weekend.  Pretty sure we will squeeze in a trip to Trader Joe's and IKEA! So EXCITING!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creation. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question. 

Happy Day!

Links:

Moxie Fab

Paper Craft

Get Sketchy

Year in Cards and Finally Friday

Details: 
Stamps: Studio G (Series 20, Series 36)
Ink: Ranger (Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Tea Dye, Antiqued Linen), Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Paper: PTI (Vintage Cream), Recollections (Black), Basic Grey Ambrosia (Tangy, Orange Smoothie)
Ribbon: Robert Stanley Collection (Black), Create It Basic (White)
Other: Queen & Co Pearls (Nightfall), Crafter's Workshop Template (6x6), Gartner Twine (oyster), Spellbinders (Bloom)

Clean & Graphic or Fun & Cute

This week Cath at Moxi Fab World is hosting card style week to celebrate the publication of the new special issue from Paper Crafts magazine, Card Style. I have not been feeling the creative spark, but last night Dawn at Wplus9 Studio posted her submission for Clean & Graphic, and I was inspired. Thanks for the jump start, Dawn! 

After I finished my Clean & Graphic card, I decided it also worked for Fun & Cute. How cute are those whales? I debated where to submit and ultimately picked Clean & Graphic. Here is why, 

1. A lot of white space. 

2. A simple design and elements. 

3. A quick and easy message.

Why don't you try your hand and submit for the challenges. Pushing past a creative block or out of your ocmfort zone is always a good thing. For instance, I did not distress a single item on this card. Lately, my Ranger distressing tool has been glued to my hand. Literally after the diamond glaze spill last night, but that is another story. So this forced me to put it down and step away from the Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

Short and sweet today, or should I say Clean & Graphic?

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creation. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question. 

Happy Day!

Details: 
Stamps: KI Memories (Garden)
Ink: PTI (Enchanted Evening)
Paper:  Bazzill (Lime Crush), PTI (Aqua Mist), DCWV (Robin #1, Robin #3, Brights)
Markers:  Copic (BG(45, 0000), C(1), Marvy (Yellow, Briliant Yellow)
Other: Recollections (Bling), Doodlebug (Mini Rub-ons), Martha Stewart (Whale, Wave Punch), Diamond Glaze

 Links:

 Moxi Fab World

Paper Crafts

Wplus9 Studio

Slow Cooker Blueberry Butter

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is berry picking. I have accomplished strawberry, blackberry and blueberry this summer. Figs, while not berries, are coming soon. This past Monday, I drove to the Brewer Christmas Tree and Blueberry Farm in Midway, Georgia to do some pickin'. My friend Kate, who is my partner in crime when it comes to berries, joined me. We left early and it just started to get hot when we finished filling our buckets. 

Not too long ago, I discovered the Can Jam hosted by Tigress in a Jam. This month the round-up was all about berries! I love digging through the different recipes and blogs from all the participants. Every time, I learn something new about canning. Some of the flavor pairings are amazing. Things like, chinese five spiced pickled cherries and grand marnier blueberry peach sauce. I also discovered Blueberry Slow Cooker Butter at Food in Jars.  If you live in the Northeast right now and pretty much any where in the Southeast this time of year, the heat is a serious burden. I mean it is heavy and down right overbearing. So, if I can avoid standing in front of a hot stove then I am all about the cooler option.  Enter the slow cooker! 

I made a few adjustments to the recipe and the end result is a dense and fruity delicious spread. Not overly sweet and very true to the berry flavors. 

7 cups pureed blueberries

1 cup pureed blackberries

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup Splend sugar blend

Juice from 3/4 lemon

Juice from 1/4 lime

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Add pureed berries to slow cooker with the cooker set on low and the lid in place.  At the one hour mark, stir. After this, leave the lid ajar (hee, hee, canning humor) by placing a spoon, spatula, whatever under one side of the lid. This lets the steam evaporate.

Leave everything this way for 5 hours. At the start of 5 hours, add sugar(s), lemon juice, lime juice and spices. Give it all a stir. Take the lid off at this point, turn the cooker to high and let the cooking down proceed. Stir occasionally. (I stopped this part too early, because I would have ended up getting in bed as the rooster crowed)

Pour in jars when you like the consistency, leave a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch space at the rim, clean the rims and process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Store unopened jars in a cool, dark place. Should yield 6 to 7 half pints depending how much you cook it down. Information below is based on 7 half pints and the nutrition information is for one half pint. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories                   406

Sodium                  15.5 mg

Potassium            339.7 mg

Dietary Fiber            9.4 g

Sugars                      83 g

Protein                     2.2 g

Vitamins

A                             6.5%

B-6                         6.4%

C                         86.3 %

E                             14%

Manganese          67.8%

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creation. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question. 

Happy Day!

Links:

Tigress in a Jam

Food in Jars

 

Digi Designing = New Header

Happy first day of July!

I am amazed at how quickly the summer is flying by for me. As soon as I return from the CHA SuperShow, I hit the ground running with the school year. I'd like to say I am excited, but I am just not feeling it at this point. Needless to say, I have a TON of things to do at work before I leave for CHA. Which means, I may not post as often between now and August. 

I do have some exciting things in the works for August and September. This is another thing that might limit my posts. You see, I need to get all my ducks in a row. Anticipate at least two BIG blog candy opportunities.

On to today's creation. Look up. I made the new patriotic banner this morning. I used Microsoft Word, so no need to worry about the fancy programs. Once I completed placing all of my digital elements, I saved a pdf to iPhoto and used Picnik to re-size and add the drop shadow. Voila! 

The digital elements were all freebies. I used Lettering Delights' American Love alphabet, a pdf of the music from America the Beautiful (can't remember where I got this, just googled it), Sugarplum Paperie for the fireworks. Oh, the ribbon and flare came from Brittney at Britt-ish Designs. I think that covers it. 

Such a sense of accomplishment. Now I have to really get to my job...

Thanks for stopping by today. I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or ask a question.

Happy Day!

Links:

Picnik

Lettering Delights

Sugarplum Paperie

Britt-ish Designs