Fall Mantle

Two posts in one week!  I'm on a roll, lol.  I forgot how time consuming photo editing and blogging can be, but I'm glad to be getting in the swing again.  My crafty skills are also rusty from their summer vacation, the fall banner I made today took me way longer than usual.  That's okay, though, I totally enjoyed making this project.  Ready to see what I made?

I was inspired by the banner that Nichole Heady made last year for her mantle.  To make the individual banners, I cut a terracotta tile banner, embossed it with my Seeing Spots CB folder, sponged it with Tea Dye Distress ink and layered it over a larger banner in dark chocolate.  I used MFT's large scallop die to die cut strips of summer sunrise cardstock which I embossed with my Polka Dot CB folder and sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink.  The rosettes were made using Martha Stewart paper.  The fall leaves were die cut with a nestie and secured with a large dimensional.  The glittered letters are Thickers from American Crafts.  To finish off the banner, I attached it to some orange ribbon and added brown buttons in between the banners.  I'm so happy with the way it turned out!

Since our living room is decorated in oranges, browns, and reds, decorating for fall is so easy in this room!  I just switched the greenery for a fall one, added a few gourds and nuts, threw in my new banner, and presto! my mantle is ready for the new season.  That's my type of decorating! Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Well, hello there.  It's been forever since I've posted on here.  Between making over my office, taking on additional work, and preparing for our vacation, blogging and papercrafting in general fell off the wayside.  But, everything seems to be returning to normal and I'm hoping I'll have more time to play in my new room (I'll post pictures soon!)

I had some time this afternoon to participate in Papertrey's monthly blog hop.  Here's what I came up with:

You can visit Nichole's blog to review the details for the challenge and play along.  For this card, I used two PTI sets that have been sitting unused on my desk for a while, Boy Basics: Rock On and Grunge Me.  I kept the card rather simple and used repeating patterns in bright colors.  The guitars were die cut using the coordinating Rock On die.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm still here!

I know, I know, it's been forever since I posted on here.  It's just that I really haven't done anything crafty in quite a while.  But, I've cleaned off my desk and I've done a little bit of reorganizing, so I'm hoping that will help me get my mojo back.  Meanwhile, here's a card I made a couple of weeks ago that I never got around to posting here.

Aldo and I are in the process of SLOWLY redecorating our room and we've gone with a corral and grey color palette.  I had pulled out some of my copics to help up decide on shades and those colors were the inspiration for this card.  I embossed a piece of Smoky Shadow cardstock with my Seeing Spots cuttlebug folder, stamped a piece of Berry Sorbet with my Newsprint stamp in Vintage Cream, layered some velvet ribbon and bling over the layers and added my butterflies from Blue Skies last. 

Earlier this week, I visited Archiver's while I was in Austin and I found tons of inspiration for my scrapbook for the cruise we took 2 years ago.  Yes, I'm that far behind. :)  I purchased a kraft 8.5 x 11 binder from Hampton Arts.  It's meant to be one of those everyday life journal/scrapbook type things, but I like the size and I like that the binder itself can be customized.  I took plenty of pictures, bought lots of paper and embellishments, and I am now ready to start scrapbooking our trip.  I already did one page, yay me!  And, I'll post it on here as soon as I remember to photograph it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Maple Leaf

Happy Sunday, ya'll!!  As I'm writing this post, I'm sitting here watching the Mavericks beat the Heat for the championship.  Go Mavs!!!!  So happy they won!!

Okay, onto the crafty stuff.  I found this beautiful photo on Pinterest that inspired me to create today's card.

I pulled out my maple leaf die, my distress inks and sponges and got to work.  First I die cut the largest maple leaf out of cream cardstock, stamped my image from The Craft's Meow in black, and sponged the card using Antique Linen, Barn Door, Weathered Wood, and Black Soot.  I used a gold paint pen on the edges and added Pumpkin glitter on the dandelion.  I finished off the card with some gold ribbon, a dark orange button, and some orange rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Long time no see...

Is this blog still working???  It's been forever since I've been on!!  Between taking on a part time job and several home improvement projects we've been working on, my scrapping time has gone down to zero :(  Even my office table has been repurposed for the home improvement projects, so I'll be occupying the dining room table until I can get it back.

Well, I didn't have time to scrap yesterday, but I did have time to cook.  I tried out a new recipe and we loved it.  In fact, we loved it so much that I had to share it here.  I made several modifications, but the original recipe can be found here: Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken Curry.  I completely forgot to take a picture of it last night, but here's the picture from the website:

Here's the recipe with the modifications I made:  Coconut Chicken Curry
Ingredients
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, cut into chunks
2 garlic cloves
1 green bell pepper, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 poblano pepper, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 can light coconut milk
1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. coconut curry powder
1 tbsp. garam masala
1 dried red pepper (if you want a bit more heat)
cilantro, for garnish

In a saucepan, lightly saute the onion, garlic, and peppers over medium-high heat.  Heat a small frying pan over medium heat and lightly toast the curry powder, garam masala, and salt until the spices become fragrant.  Be careful not to over cook them or they will burn.  Place the veggies, coconut milk, tomato paste, and spices in a food processor or blender and puree until semi-smooth.  Heat a saucepan large enough to hold the chicken and sauce to medium-high heat.  Lightly spray with cooking oil and brown the chicken.  Pour the sauce over the chicken, add the red pepper, and turn down the heat.  Allow to simmer for about 1 hour, or until chicken has cooked and sauce has thickened slightly.  Serve over jasmine rice and garnish with cilantro.

Next time I make this, I think I will make the sauce ahead of time and marinate the chicken in it overnight before cooking it.  This would make a wonderful make ahead recipe for busy nights.

If you try this recipe out, please let me know how you like it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Double Warp

Howdy, folks!  I'm back today with another beautiful image from Prickley Pear's new release.  I absolutely LOVE all the new beautiful vintage images that were released, I've got several of them on my wish list.

For this card, I combined my focal image with lots of PTI backgrounds.  There's lots of details, so I hope I remember them all...

I stamped the card base with PTI's Newsprint stamps in pink ink and then sponged the edges with distress ink to age it.  I stamped a piece of kraft cardstock with the largest dots from PTI's Polka Dot Basics II using pink acrylic paint, then I swiped the edges with white and pink acrylic paint for a shabby chic feel.  On a simply chartreuse Mat Stack 4 die cut, I embossed the dress form and then stamped Text Style print over it with distress ink.  For my bow, I double looped crinkly ivory ribbon, added a twine bow using a piece of twine that I colored with a copic and a pink ribbon rosette topped off with a bright green epoxy brad.  The two Maya Road stick pins were colored with a copic marker to coordinate with the rest of the card colors.

Whew, lots to remember!  Thanks for stopping by!


Paper: white, kraft, simply chartreuse - PTI
Ink: Rosebud - Memento; Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Crushed Olive - Distress, Versamark
Stamps: Double Warp - PPRS; Newsprint, Polka Dot Basics II, Signature Series: Dress Form, Text Style - PTI
Accessories: acrylic paint, clear embossing powder, Mat Stack 4 die - PTI; pink ribbon - Hobby Lobby, epoxy brad, hat pins - Maya Road, copic marker, twine - May Arts

Prickley Pear Rubber Release

PPRS has a fun new red rubber release in store for you, packed with vintage images & images that are great for fathers day or just for him. Be sure to visit the whole PPRS design team today team for great card ideas as we all have something to show off today. Be sure to leave comments on each blog, as three random winners will be chosen to to receive awesome rubber stamps from this release party! Winners will be chosen and announced Monday the 23rd!

Ready to see what I've got for you today?  Here it is!

I used the same layout from last week's CASE study card just because I love it so much! I used several new toys for this card, the doily die, the stamp, and the ribbons are all new to me and I was just itching use them on a card.

To make the raspberry rosette, I folded the ribbon in half, stitched it along the edges and pulled it tight.  I then slipped the rhinestone brad in the center.  I used the doily die from Dies Direct to make a doily using PTI's raspberry fizz cardstock and then I misted it with beige color mist.

Don't forget to leave a comment on all the blogs for a chance to win some rubber!  Thanks for stopping by!



Paper: Bo Bunny; DCWV - Luxury Stack; PTI - raspberry fizz; Neenah - cream cardstock
Stamps: PPRS - Geranium Flower Seeds
Ink: Memento - Rosebud; Distress - Antique Linen, Tea Dye
Accessories: Dies Direct - doily die; scrunched seam binding; The Paper Studio - crochet trim, brads; Prima - paper flowers; May Arts - ribbon

Another Case Study

Hi guys, I'm back with another Case Study card today.  This month's featured guest is Sarah Martina Parker.  I love her cards and have followed her for a while now.  I made the card a few days ago and completely forgot to post it! 

I chose to keep the layout and the shabby chic feeling of the card and several of the elements Sarah used in her card, but I changed the color scheme.  I used some paper from Cosmo Cricket for the background and added stitching to the middle panel.  I used a library card, like the CASE card.  I stamped mine out using PTI's library card stamp and then rounded out the edges.  The cute fairy with the dandelion is from The Craft's Meow and I absolutely love her!  I stamped her in red on cream cardstock and added a touch of sponging with Antique Linen.  The metal brads are from Hobby Lobby and the crochet rosette was made out of a scrap piece of trim.  Lots of elements went into this card, but I like it.

Prickley Pear will be releasing new rubber stamps on May 21, be sure to stop for the release!


Paper: cardbase - Neenah cream cardstock; Cosmo Cricket - Circa 1934, Social Club
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses - The Craft's Meow; Library Card - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento; Red Barn, Antique Linen, Tea Dye - Distress
Accessories: wrinkled seam binding; pearls - Pizzazz Aplenty; brads, crochet trim - The Paper Studio; burlap string - May Arts

Blue Flowers

Hi! I'm back with a card that's quickly becoming one of my favorites.  I stamped some cream cardstock with black script, then stamped two flowers from Prickley Pear's hibiscus stamp set.  I colored the flowers with copics and then sponged around the flowers with distress inks.  I distressed the edges with my scissors, tore the bottom of the paper off, and then sponged it again with distress inks.  The patterned paper underneath is from Graphic 45.  I finished the card off with black saddle stitch ribbon and pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!

Butterflies

As you may have noticed, I'm a bit obsessed with butterflies lately and the obsession doesn't seem to be letting up :)  I decided to use the classing yellow, white and blue palette for this card.  The butterflies were die cut out of vellum and stamped with blue dye ink.  I let them air dry overnight before pinning them together with a Maya Road pearl pin.  I tried to keep a subtle polka dot theme in the cardstock, stamping, and ribbon for a unifying look.

Thanks for stopping by!

You're A Treasure

I made this card quite a while back and completely forgot to post is here.  I used a Viva La Verve sketch for this card.  The background was stamped using Versamark on Ripe Avocado cardstock.  The library card is a stamp from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped it on Simply Chartreuse cardstock using Fresh Snow ink.  The metal flower is from Hobby Lobby with an epoxy brad on it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Prickley Pear Release Day 2

Welcome back to the second day of Prickley Pear's new releases.  Today we're featuring a new butterfly set that coordinates with the previously released butterfly die.  This set coordinates perfectly with the first butterfly set that was released earlier last year.

For today's card I went for a softer vintagey look.  The background papers are from Basic Grey's Capella line.  For the library card, I created my own on the computer and printed it out on cardstock; I rounded the corners and distressed the edges for a very aged look.  I stamped my butterfly onto the die cut using green distress ink and then sponged the edges with tea dye.  I adhered it to the double bow using Aleene's tacky glue for a good hold.  The sentiment is also from the new stamp set, you can see the all the clear sets here.  I added several embellishments to the card: two pearl stick pins from Maya Road, a small pearl flourish, a metal flower brad, and a crochet flower with a brad.

Be sure to stop by the Prickley Pear blog for more details on the new sets.  Thanks!

Prickley Pear Release

Welcome to the first day of the Prickley Pear's new clear stamp and die release.  We've got several sets to show you over the next several days so be sure to stop by Prickley Pear's blog to see who's featuring the new sets.  Ready for some eye candy?  Okay, here goes:

Today we're featuring the previously released scalloped circle die and the new coordinating stamp set.  I opted to keep the card rather clean and simple this time around.  I die cut the scalloped circle, stamped it with one of the coordinating borders and centers and added a few rhinestones for dimension.  The sentiment is also from the same set.

Be sure to check out the other design team members' blogs for more previews.  Thanks for stopping by!

Oh Baby

Hola amigos!  I've got another card to share today.  I'm just in love with MFT's a la mode girls.  I colored this cutie a while back and she has been waiting for me to use her in a card.  I used Shabby Shutters distress ink to stamp the damask design onto Ripe Avocado paper.  The tiny paper clip is from Stampin Up and it's been waiting for me to use it in a card as well.

Have a great weekend!

A Fabulous Day

Happy Friday!!  I'm so happy to finally be able to post again!  Our internet has been down for weeks and it's been driving me crazy!  Anyways, here's a card that's been waiting a while to be seen by the world. :)

Not much to tell about this card.  The butterflies were die cut out of felt and book print using PTI's  Signature Series Butterfly die.  And, that's about it. Easy peasy, right.

Thanks for stopping by!