Multi-Colored Bow

Hey...this is pretty cool!
Head over to Artful INKables blog
and see how Holly makes this fabulous bow....SO EASY!!.

Fun Supplies From Alota Rubber Stamps!

Thanks to Helene of Alota Rubber Stamps who sent all the CCEE girls stamps, cardstock, button die cuts and ribbon. I used several of the stamps, cardstock and ribbon. I'll use the button die cuts another time.

The chickie pulling the cart with bunny and tulips is one stamp, colored with Copics. The tulips in the background is another stamp. I cut them out and popped them up. The aqua piece is what Helene sent cut with Spellbinder's Frame die. The sentiment is one someone gave me a long time ago.

If you'd like to see what the other girls did with their supplies, click here.

recipe:
stamps: Alota Rubber Stamps
paper: georgia pacific white, making memories, and some from Helene
ink: adirondack pitch black
other: copic markers, spellbinder's frame die, cuttlebug/folder, martha stewart border punch, ribbon, foam dimensionals

Thanks for stopping!

#2 Son...the Ar-teest!

Timothy stopped by tonight with some of his projects he's been working on,
so thought I'd share. He still amazes me!
There were 3 self portraits but we couldn't get the largest one to photograph well,
so when it gets framed we'll try again.

Self Portrait 2

Superman

Ever since he was in high school, Timothy has had a thing about Superman.
I can't draw something looking straight on,
nevermind looking in a mirror then putting it to canvas...
I'd be all thumbs!

Thanks for stopping!

A Waxy Background For You

Today's challenge on SCS was to use your iron...I know, some of you probably don't even remember that household item that is supposed to be used to iron clothing! Is yours gummed up with all the things you've used it for on your craft projects? I do have a separate iron I use for crafts, but used the regular one since this project wasn't messy.

There are lots of ideas using an iron, melted crayon background, embossing on velvet, using fusible webbing on fabric or mulberry paper...I chose Wax Paper Resist. Beate has a nice tutorial on SCS for it, only I did mine a little differently at the suggestion of our challenge hostess today... I used an embossing folder.

I brayered over the wax paper resist with Ranger's Herb Garden spectrum pad, the Big Juicey. And who says big, leafy plants always have to be green? Once you've inked up glossy, I don't know of any way to color over it...so everything else was stamped on a separate piece of cardstock, colored with Copics, cut out and glued with Zip Dry glue into position. The rocks, dog, and fence are popped up and only the major portion of the stem is glued down.
To get kind of a "furry" look, I used my blending pen and dabbed in the dark patch and the ears.

This is 3 different sets from Artful INKables, Top Dog, Thought I'd Bug You and Basic Sentiments. The leaves and fence punches are Martha Stewart.

Have a look through the gallery, I'm sure there will be lots of interesting ideas....you just might not ever iron (the intended purpose) again!

Thanks for stopping!

Cherry Coconut Bars

Are you feeling the need for something yummy?

I had these a month or so ago at spinning guild and asked the lady that brought them if she'd share the recipe. I've had it sitting in my kitchen and just finally got the ingredients I was lacking. YUM!

So, thought I'd share with you!

Cherry Coconut Bars

Crust:
1 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened

Filling:
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and quartered
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350*F

Crust: Combine flour, powdered sugar and butter; mixing well. Press into an 8" square baking dish. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Filling: Combine all the ingredients; mixing well. Spoon on top of crust and spread evenly. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting. Makes approximately 16 bars.

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Hope it's beautiful where you are today...it was here!

Thanks for stopping!

I Really Made That?

Every month there is a challenge issued to the current Dirty Girls and Alumnae, I've done one since I've been on the team. This month I thought I'd play along.....oh brother! Here is what we had to do.......

March is a time to usher in new things. Afterall, Spring comes in March! So, I have a fun challenge for you. This month we are going to do a Featured Stamper challenge. Who is the featured stamper? Well, YOU are!

This month, you are going to choose the oldest card in your gallery (or at least one on your very first page of uploads)... and you are going to CASE it!

Here is the catch... just like the regular featured stamper challenge, you are going to change at least three things on your card (i.e. different colors, different stamps, different embellishments), but we want to be able to see the subtle changes.

Ok, are you ready for this? I don't have the card anymore...I probably sent it to some poor soul who no doubt wondered what was I thinking!!! I tried to copy the picture from SCS but it wouldn't let me...so before you go any further, you MUST follow this link and view the original card! Seriously, at the time I probably thought it was good!





Thanks to all the wonderful stampers on SCS, lots more toys!... I've learned and grown, and I'm happy to show my updated version!
As you can see, I used the same two sets, changing from a "snow" scene, adding in some ground cover and small rocks from Cornish Heritage Farms. It's all colored with Copics, I masked the truck then airbrushed the "forest" floor and sky.

The windows of the truck are cut out and filled with Matte Accents by Ranger to look like actual glass. I stamped another pine tree on a scrap piece of cardstock, colored it and airbrushed, then fit it behind the windows (behind the entire card front) so it looks like you're looking right though to the trees behind the truck!

Keyword: DCFSC0309 in the SCS gallery...c'mon, have a look. I think this will be fun!!

Stamps: Loads of Love/Loads of Love Accessories/Lovely As a Tree-Stampin UP!, Ground Cover/Small Rocks-Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper: Georgia Pacific white, Prism Blush Red dk
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black-Ranger
Other: Copic markers, Copic ABS, Matte Accents-Ranger, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, craft knife, white/silver gel pen

Thanks for stopping!

Just Some Sketch Challenge Cards

For today's Sketch challenge on SCS, nothing fancy...


Confession is good for the soul...right? I don't normally start out with my pattern paper and work out to my image. I always color first then figure out IF I have paper that matches! LOL


So today I thought I'd be different, I had some of the paper left from our DD supplies and thought I'd try the tulips (A Year of Flowers) from Gina K colored with a combo of Copics and Prismacolor pencils, on those strips....I even had the flowers looking rather rusty, but, oh... did they look GROSS on that paper!


Plan B....found the Lilykate by Basic Grey that looked nice behind the tulips, masked and airbrushed them, added some "redder" tones, then layered on several 'rose' shades.

A Year of Flowers-Gina K designs, Hero Arts, Adirondack Pitch Black, Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, baby oil, blending stumps, Pure Luxury cs-Gina K, Prism Rose lt/med/dk, Basic Grey Lilykate, Copic Airbrush System, ribbon

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Now, I still had the strips cut from the first try so I had to do another card! The ribbon frame from the Technique challenge was so fun, I incorporated it into the sketch. This is Top Dog from Artful INKables.

Top Dog-Artful INKables, GP white, Robin's Nest PP, Bazzill textured, Prism Kraft, Adirondack Pitch Black, Copics, Copic ABS, Ribbon, Flower, Brad-Paper Studio, Craft knife

He's masked, repeat stamped the sentiment at an angle and airbrushed. Isn't he cute!

It's another beautiful day here, not quite 70, but pushing it! Pretty soon I'll be seeing my tulips blooming....but for now I'll have to settle for my stamps!

Enjoy your day.................and Thanks for stopping!

A Rose Ribbon Frame

Believe it or not, this is quite a quick technique! Today's challenge on SCS is this cool ribbon frame found here on Claire's blog!

I chose to use this new set that I won from Gina K on Stamp TV from one of the challenges! It's called A Year of Flowers...a lovely set!

The rose is embossed with clear ep, watercolored with wc crayons then finished off with Copics.

It's deeper, richer looking in person...oh well!
The sentiment is also GKD, Friendship Blooms.

Hope you're having a beautiful day where you are. Spring is definately in the air...the birds are singing their little hearts out and the flowers are starting to poke out of the ground!

Thanks for stopping!

What Does A Cabin In Connecticut

What does this get-away place have to do with Bob Newhart and the Dirty Dozen theme this month? Well, if you're a Fan Club member you're in for a treat! The gallery will open at 12AM CT. See you there!!

Thanks for stopping!
Dawn

I Had To!!

You know me and challenges, I didn't think I'd have time for the Inspiration challenge on SCS and saw the flower image, I knew I could whip out a quick card!!

I crocheted this double flower (it's different than the other flowers I've done) and some leaves the other day. I gotta scoot, but the verse is from Cornish Heritage Farms, pattern paper is Daisy D's.
Oh yeah... I airbrushed the edges of the flower too, just a little.

Thanks for stopping.......sorry I gotta rush!

WoW! It's Saturday Already!

I just realized I haven't posted ALL week! Hope you've had a good one...guess I've been busy! Had a 4H meeting...and a friend is having an SU workshop here this morning, so yeah, more things going on than normal!

Here are a couple of cards I did with some new rubbah from Artful INKables

Thought I'd Bug You is the name of the set....cute, right?!
The top one is colored with a
combo of Prismas and Copics,
with the background being sponged
with distress inks.

The bottom one is all Copics with the background
done with the ABS.
I stamped the leaf image twice so I could cut out the
"out of box" leaves and attach.

Have a wonderful weekend!! and Thanks for stopping!!

Italian Food, Funky Llamas, Cards,and Flowers!

Just some things I've been up to...

I'm hooked on crocheting these cute flowers and embellishing cards! "Hooked"... get it...sometimes I crack myself up! Okay, for those that have no idea how to crochet, you use a "crochet hook"...........oooooooooooooh, now, you get it!!

Some are made using my handspun llama fiber,
some are just a cotton thread. Pattern at the end of this post.

This was for the Featured Stamper challenge.
Artful INKables sentiment

This was for the Limited Supply challenge
Gina K Designs

And this one...can you find the crocheted flower?
This one was for the Inspiration Challenge.
Found it yet?
There isn't one! I just love how this one turned out and wanted to show you!
Gina K Designs/Cornish Heritage Farms

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And I made the yummiest dinner tonight! I made my own gnocchi from scratch! Then made this yummy sauce to go over it! I got the recipe for the sauce online from Olive Garden. I took pics along the way and was going to show you the end result...but it tasted 100x better than it photographed!!

I will show you the gnocchi though, it was very easy to make. Recipes will posted at the end. Next time I'll make them a little smaller too.

The sauce recipe calls for white wine, luckily I had this wine I'd bought because...well, read the label! I had to have it!!

• Gnocchi with Spicy Tomato and Wine Sauce
  
  servings: 4 easily!
  prep: 30 min(s) cook: 30 min(s)
  Ingredients
  1 lb Gnocchi potato dumplings (make your own...or look in frozen section at your grocer)
  2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
  6 cloves Fresh garlic, minced
  1/2 tsp Chili flakes
  1 cup Dry white drinking wine
  1 cup Chicken broth
  2 14 1/2 oz. cans Tomatoes
  1/2 stick Sweet cream butter, 1 inch cubes chilled
  1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese.... I used a mixture of Parmesan/Romano/Asiago
  Freshly chopped basil (to taste)....I had some store bought pesto, added approx 1/2 tsp to sauce
  Salt (to taste)Freshly crushed black pepper (to taste)
  
  SAUCE PREPARATION
  Place the olive oil, garlic and chili flakes in a cold pan. On medium heat stir and cook the olive oil, garlic, chili flakes until garlic turns slight golden brown.
  To this mixture add the white wine and chicken broth simmer about 10 minutes.
  Reduce the wine and broth by half, add the tomatoes, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
  Puree the sauce in blender with the butter and Parmesan cheese.
  Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  
  TIP: Add Cream to sauce to add richness...I added approx 1/2 cup of half and half
  Add vegetables of choice to sauce

This sauce would be good over pasta too!

• Gnocchi
  Ingredients:
  2 large potatoes
  2 cups all-purpose flour
  1 egg (I used 2 because I had enough potato to double the recipe!)
  
  Directions:
  1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork or potato masher.
  
  2.Combine 1 cup mashed potato, flour and egg in a large bowl. Knead until dough forms a ball. Shape small portions of the dough into long rolls. On a floured surface, cut rolls into half-inch pieces....You want a nice dough, not sticky, but you don't want to work in too much flour either! Add the flour a little at a time.
  
  3.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until gnocchi have risen to the top; drain and serve.

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Now for the crocheted flowers.....

Rnd 1: ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to first sc.
[ (ch 2, 3dc, ch 2, sl st) in the same sc, sl st to the next sc], 5 times, making 5 petals. Cut off.

I hope I inspired you to do some cooking or pick up that yarn that's been sitting around for too long!! Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping!

Prismas and Butterflies

A bucketful of Prismacolor pencils...I love em!

Today's challenge on SCS was to make an ATC (artist trading card)....yeah, just like baseball cards! Now, I don't intend to trade any, in fact I'll no doubt make it into a regular card by just adding it to a layout.


And on StampTV yesterday, Gina demo'd Prismacolor pencils. Can you believe that sometimes I look at my pencils and think...hmmmm, I just don't have the right color!! *SHOCK*

Here is my sample for the ATC and Prismas....

Gina's "Take Flight", stamped on Pure Luxury cardstock (also from Gina, this stuff is dreamy!), colored with Prismas blended with baby oil, then given a coat of Versamark and clear embossing powder. Those pesky antennae can be difficult to cut around, so usually I just stamp again and mount my butterfly over it......and... normally I check to make sure everything is lined up..............OOPS...this one slipped! didn't see it until I got it up on the screen!

And the curved sentiment? No, it doesn't come that way! That's a trick I learned from the oh~so~talented Kim Hughes....with unmounteds you can bend them!

Have a wonderful day...........and Thanks for stopping!

Sunset For Joanne

My good (online) buddy, Joanne, and I were chatting earlier...she was watching the sunset and wishing she had a good spot to take pictures where she could get something other than housetops!

So, Joanne...these are for you! brrrrrr...it was cold out there (but look, no snow!)....Joanne is in Connecticut with lots of the white stuff.

More Get Well Wishes and a Sketch

I certainly have been needing the get well cards lately! This one is for a 12 yr old daugther of dear friends who is in the hospital. Hope it brings a smile!

This is the sketch today on Splitcoast. This is my favorite challenge of the week!
here are the two cards I did today.

Isn't she cute! This is "Leah" from Whipper Snapper. She's colored with Copic markers. I wanted to give her skirt a different look, so I made it plaid! Just used several blues and light olive and scribbled them on!

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This one is "My Cuppa Joe" from Gina K Designs , also colored with Copics, then sponged with distress inks.

*here's a tip* I think I could just about single-handedly support the foam dimensionals industry! So, this is what I do to cheat when I'm running low or just want a little "lift" between my layers! I learned this little trick from my good friend Rox... glue or tape small pieces of cardstock together and attach where you would a dimensional! All of the horizontal strips you see here have 2 small pieces of cardstock just on the ends, it has just enough added dimension so the strips don't look flat and they're even going across the card! Of course you can do this for larger areas too...but you're adding weight, the USPS loves that!

I could have also put some strips under the upper portion of the main panel, but since 2/3 of it is already popped up, it's pretty much supported by the strips alone. But, it's a thought!

recipe:
stamps: whipper snapper, gina k designs
paper: georgia pacific white, prism intense kiwi/nautical blue lt/blush red lt/kraft, dcwv color block stack
ink: adirondack pitch black/espresso, distress tattered rose/worn lipstick/frayed burlap
other: copic markers, white gel pen, making memories brads, nestablilities, cuttlebug/folder, zip dry glue, foam dimensionals (on oval sentiment)

I hope it's sunny where you are today...it is here! C'mon Spring!

Thanks for stopping!

Prayers for Sara along with Techniques

I wanted to share several fun techniques with you today, stamping on sticky labels and crimped envelope pocket cards!

On Mondays I do a challenge with a goofy group of friends on SCS and our CCEE challenge for today was to use sticky labels...stamping on them or printing digital dp onto them. I hadn't done this in quite some time, I really like how it came out! I stamped D Morgan's lighthouse image on these small labels, colored with Prismacolor pencils and Copics, then carefully stuck them to Prism Kraft cardstock. Distress ink was sponged around the entire edge.

The seagull image from PSX is colored with Copics and also sponged.

To see what the rest of the girls did you can go to our blog.

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The other technique is one that was just shared on SCS a few weeks ago and used for the technique challenge today, Crimped Envelope Pocket Cards. I used a business size envelope to fit the tag.

We have a friend whose daughter is in the hospital with serious pneumonia! I thought of this tag last night, figuring I'd do it today and stick it in a blah, plain envelope for her. How perfect the TLC today! Now Sara gets a pretty envelope along with her Guardian Angel tag!

Lots of masking and stamping! It's all colored with Copic markers then sponged with Distress ink. Highlights on the flower centers is gel pen.


Both the Guardian Angel Prayer and Sing to the Lord (bird and flowers) are from Our Daily Bread Designs. The verse on the envelope is from Stampabilities. SU's Itty Bitty backgrounds was lightly stamped around the edges.


I hope this brings some cheer and encouragement to Sara and her family. Keeping you in prayer kiddo!!


Thanks for stopping!