Recycling Thursday

Last month, I did a "recycling" day where I posted a card made from my scraps and pieces of paper from my "reuse" drawer. I absolutely love how that card turned out! So for today's post, I wanted to have another Recycling Thursday card!

In my "reuse" drawer I had a lot of pieces of paper that I was experimenting with. I don't know if it is real technique or not, and I definitely haven't perfected it, but here's what I came up with:

 To make this, I used glossy card stock, reinkers, and a plastic drinking straw. I simply put a few drops of reinker in random spots on the cardstock and blew with the straw. You can also use the Color Spritzer Tool, but I just couldn't get enough air out of that before the reinker started to dry.

I loved how my different color combinations turned out. Some I even added shimmer paint to add sparkle to my project! However, I couldn't think of what to do with them that night. So, the pieces went into my "reuse" drawer.

However, they were just too pretty to sit idly by! So here's the card I made using the Hostess Level 1 stamp set, Silhouette Sentiments.

Cranberry Bran Muffins

I love bran muffins. I have since I was little. However, I haven't made them myself...ever! Can you believe that? So I tried to make some this week, and made, what I think, was a pretty good muffin. Try them and let me know what you think!

Sorry, I don't measure very well. So all measurements are approximate.

3 c flour

4 containers vanilla yogurt (I used German yogurt. They were 150g containers)

1 jar apple sauce (it was German, but was about 1 1/2 cups)

4 cups bran cereal, smashed (2 cups smashed)

Molasses (1/3 cup?)

2/3 c sugar (ish)

Peel of lemon

Bag of cranberries (Craisins)

Splash of vanilla

Salt

¾ c water with 3 Tbsp flax mixed in

Baking soda (almost 1 tb)

By using flax instead of eggs, and apple sauce instead of oil, I cut the recipe down by 50 calories, almost all of those were fat calories! I also upped the fiber and lowered total carbs.

Hat for Anna

Around this time of year, it's getting very cold here in Germany in the mornings! And some days, that's an understatement. I love to make hats for my kids. I sometimes make 2 or 3 hats in one night. Once I get going, it's hard to stop!

This hat took me about three hours I think. Anna picked the colors. I used a pattern found here and just changed it up a bit.

Family Page

My daughter's teacher asked for each of us to put pictures on a sheet of paper she gave us. I was one of those weirdos growing up who loved doing homework, and it is even more fun to do it now! The homework my daughter brings home for the parents is almost always arts and crafts.

The assignment this time was to put pictures of our family on the paper. My daughter said she wanted, "Mom, Dad, Leif, Anna, and the cats." So I went through some of my favorite picture folders and picked pictures that showed our entire family.

I didn't want to go too over-board with this page. I used my Big Shot to cut out the flowers and the letters. Then I stamped our names on the letters and sponged around the edges. Simple, but shows my lovely family. I can't wait to see the book of students when the project is completed. How fun is this?

Clapboard Cake

My friend's daughter recently turned 12, and she wanted to have a movie-themed birthday party. My friend, Kelly, did cute invitations and party favors, but she doesn't like to bake. So she asked if I could make a cake. After asking the birthday girl what she wanted, I came up with a clapboard cake design.

It is a chocolate buttermilk cake that is so very soft and moist! The frosting would, I guess, be considered a buttercream. I just make my own frosting. I doubled the cake recipe and made it in four 9x13 pans (I only used three). I also made two batches of the frosting (one white, one black).

When I bake, I don't measure very accurately, if at all. So these are all approximations.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 cup Hershey's baking cocoa
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• Kosher Salt (pinch or so)
• 1 1/2- 1 3/4 c buttermilk
• Splash of Vanilla
• Splash of Orange extract
• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 c) softened butter
• 3 eggs

Chocolate Frosting

• 2 sticks of butter
• 2 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted
• 4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 1 box of confectioner's sugar (sifted)
• splash of vanilla
• splash of buttermilk (to get to the right consistency)
• Black food coloring

White Frosting

• 1 stick of butter
• 1/2 a box of confectioner's sugar
• splash of vanilla (use clear vanilla if you want it to be really white)
• splash of buttermilk

Halloween Treats

My daughter, Anna, wants to be a bat for Halloween. Her costume is purple, black, and silver. So to match the treats for her classroom with her costume, I made purple and silver bat treats! These small boxes are made using two Petal punches. They perfectly fit one of my daughter's favorite treats: mini Hershey's bars!

I used the Petal punch. Each bat takes two of the punches. For the wings, use the scallop oval punch and the oval punch. Then I used Shimmer Paint on all the edges. To make the ears I used the 3/4" circle punch.

To make the box, use mini glue dots on the three flaps. Also, glue the wings onto the sides of the boxes.

Then stick the flaps together to make the box. Add candy, and you are done!

For more information, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Elegant Eggplant

Stamps:
Make a Monster

Ink:
Shimmer Paint

Tools:
Crafting Sponge
3/4" Circle Punch
Scallop Oval Punch
Oval Punch

Adhesive:
Snail
Mini Glue Dots

Convention Swap #4

Here is my fourth swap for the upcoming European Convention.

I embossed the background in clear. Then I used versamark on Bashful Blue and Cookie Crumb card stock. A very simple, but beautiful card. Want to swap with me? Find me at convention!

Want to go to convention? Email me to find out how!

Stampin' Store Scrapbook

When I found out that the 2 1/2" circle punch fit the top of the Stampin' Store containers fit perfectly, I thought of different ways to use leftovers from my Convention swaps. I thought of making a mini scrapbook! This scrapbook is perfect to put in your purse, as the photos and papers will not get messed up!

To make this scrapbook, use the Blossom Party die and your Big Shot. Use 2, 3x10" sheets of paper, can score every 2 inches along the 10" side. Fold them up like a fan, and place over the flower on the die as shown in the picture. If you can't see the picture, just make sure that you can see the edges of the flower on both sides of the paper.

Cut out the two sheets of paper and then glue the end of one sheet to the end of the other. Then use sticky strip to attach the flowers to both sides of the Stampin' Store container.

Decorate your flowers and the container as you would like. How perfect is this?

If you would like more information on making your own Stampin' Store Scrapbook, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White
Old Olive
Melon Mambo
Rich Razzleberry

Ink:
Old Olive
Melon Mambo
Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:
Gold Brad

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Big Shot & mats
Blossom Party Die
Circle Punches
Sponge

Adhesive:
Sticky Strip
Snail

Another Use for Stampin' Store Containers

When the new catalog came, I had a lot of ribbon on the retired list that I wanted to keep. However, the spools always get tangled or break when I try to store them for my personal use. I came up with an idea on how to keep my retired ribbon neat and tidy. Stampin' Store containers!

I dismantled the spools of ribbon, rolled them up and put them into the containers.

I then put all of these containers into a container. All the ribbons are now nice and neat and I can use them easily when I'm making gifts or my personal scrapbook pages.

How do you use your Stampin' Store containers? I created another project using them. Check back tomorrow!

Gift for Convention

I was making my swaps for the EU convention and had a lot of leftover circles from my Razzle Dazzle swap.

 
I just happened to noticed that the size of the new 2 1/2" circle punch fits perfectly on the top of Stampin' Store containers!


My friend, Kelly, and I have been working on a special, top-secret project, and the Stampin' Store container is the perfect size to house this project. I think this turned out ADORABLE!

I used retired ribbon on the outside of this gift holder. You can use any ribbon, or use paper to cover the outside.

I also created a couple other projects using Stampin' Store containers. Check back the next couple days to see them!

Please email me for more instructions on how to do this project. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Any, cut to 2 1/2 inches

Stamps:
Any

Ink:
Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:
Ribbon of choice

Tools:
2 1/2" circle punch

Adhesive:
Sticky Strip
Dimensionals

Convention Swap #3

Here is another swap that I created for the European Convention. I have loved the Winter Post stamp set since it came out last winter. I finally used it to make these swaps. I also used a technique to make a reflection.

The cards took a little while to do, but I think they are well worth the effort! Here is how I made the cards:

First, Stamp the image on your card stock.

Next, use a clear acrylic block, acetate sheet, or empty stamp case and stamp the image again.

Huff on the image, flip it over, and position it under the first stamped image. Press down, being sure to not wiggle. You can use your stamp cleaner or a baby wipe to clean the block.

Then I sponged the Bashful Blue ink around the bottom of the card.

Use a blender pen and a stamp pad to color in the skaters and the reflection.

Create a mask by stamping the skaters on a scratch piece of paper and cutting it around the edges. Use Dotto to position the mask over the skaters.

Next, stamp Lovely as a Tree over the skaters and mask.

Add 2-way glue and then dazzling diamonds glitter. Finish it off with ribbon or elastic cord.

For more information on how to do the reflection technique, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White

Stamps:
Winter Post
Lovely as a Tree

Ink:
Early Espresso
Cherry Cobbler
Bashful Blue
Not Quite Navy

Accessories:
Silver Elastic Cord
Dazzling Diamonds

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Craft & Paper Scissors
Paper Snips
Crafting Sponge
Blender Pen

Adhesive:
2-Way Glue
Dotto

Wonderful Surprise in the Mail!

My family has lived in a small town in Germany for almost 3 1/2 years now. We love it here, but some times it is trying. We miss some things from the states. One of the things I miss is going to a book store! I joined an online community where I can trade books with other people! Usually I get one to two books at a time from one person. Imagine my surprise the other day, when one woman sent me not the one book I ordered, but EIGHT books! She wanted to thank my family for our sacrifices for our country by being a military family. This gift also included a wonderful letter.

I wanted to give my sincerest "thanks" to this woman for making me smile, and reminding me just how good people can be! I know words and a card cannot express my feelings enough, but they sure try hard! I made this card for Karen.

Thanks again, Karen, for the wonderful surprise, and for lifting my spirits!

For more information on this card, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White
Concord Crush

Stamps:
Cottage Garden

Ink:
Daffodil Delight
Concord Crush
Peach Parfait

Accessories:
Clear Embossing Powder
In Color Ribbon

Tools:
Corner Rounder
Embossing Buddy
Powder Pal
Heat Tool
Paper Snips
Paper Trimmer

Adhesive:
Snail
Dimensionals

Convention Swap #2

Yesterday I showed you my favorite background technique. I used this technique for one of my convention swaps for the EU Convention in November.

I finished the card by using the Razzle Dazzle stamp set, the scallop edge punch, and gold brads. I also sponged the white edge of the cards with Rich Razzleberry ink.

If you'd like to schedule your own craft night, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White
Glossy White Cardstock

Stamps:
Razzle Dazzle

Ink:
Old Olive
Melon Mambo
Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:
Crafting Sponge
Gold Brads

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Paper Piercer
Mat Pack
Scallop Edge Punch
Large Circle Punch

Adhesive:
Snail

Drunk Reinker Background

I have been making my swaps for the upcoming European Convention in November. I'm so excited! I wanted to make one swap with one of my favorite techniques. I call it the "Drunk Reinker Background" technique because you use alcohol and reinkers. That's it, and it makes a stunning background. Today I will show you the technique, and be sure to come back tomorrow to see the card I created!

For this technique, you will need:

• Glossy White Cardstock (you can use Whisper White, but it's not as good)
• Reinkers (2-3 colors)
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cotton Balls
• Rubber Gloves (optional)
• Something to protect your work surface
• Ventilation

Start buy putting your cotton ball on the alcohol bottle and upending it. You don't need to fully-soak the ball, but make sure it has at least a little alcohol. Then put 2-3 drops of each color of your reinker onto the wet spot of your cotton ball. If you'd like, you can then add 1 drop of a metallic reinker color (a little goes a long way.)

Next, dab randomly all over your Glossy White Cardstock.

That's it! Watch as the colors blend and mix. The paper is almost instantly dry, due to the alcohol, so you can cut and put on your project straight away. (If you used a metallic reinker you will need to seal the paper before using).

Here is a sneak peek at how I used my background paper in my swap. See you tomorrow!

For more information on this technique, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

10 Years Ago...

I married the most wonderful man! I won't get all sappy on you, but here's a little history of how we met. Then I'll show you the card I made for him, only if you promise to not tell him about it! He doesn't get to come home until this weekend!

I don't remember meeting my husband. I just always knew who he was...and I HATED him. He and his best friend were trouble makers in elementary school. (By the way, his best friend married my sister!) Between the two of them, my third grade year I remember being pelted by snowballs and having my glasses broken by these two. (The second was an accident, the first I made up for this past winter!)

Of course, many years later, my feelings changed. He is a wonderful husband and father, and I'm so glad that he grew, mostly, out of his trouble-making younger days.

He is training right now across Germany, so, for the third year in a row, we are apart for our anniversary. He is able to take a break this weekend, and we are going to have our first childless date since "Star Wars III" came out in theaters! We have agreed that no gifts will be exchanged this year, but that doesn't mean I can't give him a card full of ultra-sappy writing, right?

I made this card using the adorable Pendant Park set. I chose a color close to his favorite color and used the Color Coach to pick coordinating colors. The Color Coach really is an indispensable tool! For each color there are two color palattes to choose from, as well as space to put in your own favorite color combinations.

For more information on how I made this card, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Always Artichoke
Bashful Blue
Crumb Cake

Stamps:
Pendant Park

Ink:
Always Artichoke

Accessories:
Hemp Twine

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Craft & Paper Scissors
Color Coach
Word Window Punch
Distressing Tool Kit

Adhesive:
Snail
Dimensionals

Convention Swap #1

The European Convention is coming, are you going to be there? I sure hope so! We are going to have LOADS of fun! Kelly Mayou and I are already planning a get-together in our room to craft the night away our first night there. Email me for details if you are interested in joining us!

One VERY fun thing about Convention is having the opportunity to participate in swaps. People make cards and swap with other demos. What's especially fun about swaps at the EU convention is we get cards not only in English, but in French and German as well! Not only that, but the artwork is amazing on the swaps you receive. I can't wait to see what the wonderful EU demos have come up with!

I am planning on bringing a few different types of cards. Here is my first swap I made.

It is very simple, and not really my usual style. However, I love how it turned out! Be sure to find me in London if you'd like to swap this card with me!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White

Stamps:
Pocket Silhouettes

Ink:
Tangerine Tango
Melon Mambo
Old Olive

Accessories:
5/8" Old Olive Satin Ribbon

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Craft & Paper Scissors
Paper Piercer
Mat Pack
Modern Label Punch
Stampin' Sponge

Adhesive:
Snail
Dimensionals

Crafting with Kelly

This past weekend I had a blast with my friend, Kelly! We have now decided that it might not be a good thing to craft four days in a row! Things got quite silly by the end of the fourth day. :) We had a really good idea on how to use the cute button brads in the Vintage Trinkets set. Here is a sneak peek of the card we created.

Aren't those button brads adorable? We started the card from an idea we had, and then our four days together got the better of us and we created a very humorous card that we both adore. To see the whole card, go on over to The Weekend Stamper Blog! I hope you enjoy the card as much as we did creating it!

Another FRG Night in the Works

The wonderful FRG I told you about a couple nights ago, want to have another scrapbook night at the end of the month. They want to make Halloween scrapbooks to send downrange. A couple weeks ago I showed you an adorable Matchbook Scrapbook of my daughter. The women in this class loved that design, and asked me to change one up for Halloween. Here's the cover! I have left room, and people can change it up, so that pictures can be added.

Knowing that some don't celebrate Halloween, I also made a few simple changes and made it into a fall scrapbook. I will let the ladies pick which theme they would like.

I will be sure to share pictures of the craft night. I know we are going to have a blast! If you'd like to schedule your own craft night or FRG even with me, please email.

Another Easy "Bow"

Last week I showed you my favorite bow to put on cards. Another standard go-to ribbon "bow" I use was seen on the cards from yesterday's post.

This bow is super-simple. I'll show you!

First, wrap a ribbon, still attached to the spool, around your finger and put the first step of tying your shoes onto it. Make sure you do it loosely!

Now, tie a knot with the ribbon still wrapped around your finger.

Slide the ribbon off your finger and it should look like this:

Now just take your Craft & Paper scissors and cut the middle of the loop at an angle.

Done! Add adhesive, and put it on your project. I promised it was easy!

Halloween for Downrange

Yesterday's post, I talked about a wonderful craft night I got to have with an FRG. The cards today are for another FRG group. They want to make cards to send downrange to the deployed soldiers for Halloween. I made four simple cards that beginners will have fun doing, and the soldiers will love receiving!

I used the Halloween Hoot stamp set, and one greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes to make these cards. I also used the same colors, ribbon, and DSP for the cards. This is ideal for a class situation. It limits the amount of supplies I have to bring somewhere to craft with, and it also leads to less confusion to new crafters. I don't know the skill level for those who are coming, so kept them simple, but able to embellish if the crafter is more comfortable.

Tomorrow I will show you a very easy way to make the bow on these cards!

If you'd like to schedule your own craft night, please email me. Or click to purchase any of these products!

Supplies Needed:

Paper:
Whisper White
Basic Black
Wild Wasabi
Tangerine Tango

Stamps:
Teeny Tiny Wishes
Halloween Hoot

Ink:
Marina Mist
Tangerine Tango
Daffodil Delight
Wild Wasabi
Basic Black
Elegant Eggplant
Versamark

Accessories:
Crafting Sponge
Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Craft & Paper Scissors
Circle Punches
Modern Label Punch

Adhesive:
Snail
Dimensionals