Tuesday 22 November 2011

In the Holiday Mood~

Perhaps you would like to take in some beautiful Christmas music this Holiday Season. Here are a couple of options that I am involved in.
The first is a concert that I do not have a poster for.

The Cape Breton Orchestra & Cantabile
Date: November 27th, 2011
Time: 7pm
Place: St. Andrew's Church, 40 Bentinck St. Sydney
This will be a fantastic show!

The second concert I do have a poster for.

A Busy Couple of Weeks~

These first couple of weeks of November have been so busy, that I have neglected my Blog a little. So sorry about that! So what have I been doing? I attended two Crops and had a great time at each. Plus got a lot of pages done for myself. I've tried some new recipes and I have the house almost completely decorated for Christmas!
Here are a few layouts that I had created from the recent Crops.










Tuesday 1 November 2011

Excited for Christmas!!

It would be an understatement if I were to say that I am excited to decorate our home for Christmas.
These are some cute little paper ornaments that I made from some left over Stampin' Up patterned paper.

Thursday 27 October 2011

Happy Halloween

Wishing all you little goblins out there a Happy Halloween. This is a layout I created for an upcoming class here in Sydney, NS.
Have a Wonderfully Wicked Weekend and Play Safe!


Layout was created using Basic Grey Ambrosia~ Orange Smoothie. Prima Esprit Black flowers.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Monster Bookmarks

Check out these cute little bookmarks I made from leftover cardstock and patterned paper. Kids LOVE them!



Tuesday 25 October 2011

Scrabble Love

I have wanted to do something like this for some time now. So here it is! I LOVE it!


I took what used to be an 8x8 thick canvas with puppies on it from the Dollar Store and covered it with newsprint.


Then I added hand cut hearts and covered the sides with scrapbook paper.

Monday 24 October 2011

Another Yarn Wreath Creation

Just another yarn wreath I recently created. I thought the purple and teal really complemented each other.



You Make Me Happy

The photo about says it all.
This is an 8.5x11 canvas that I painted and altered. I thought it turned out pretty cute.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Monkey Bread

Who doesn't like the smell of warm cinnamon rolls from the oven. This is my version of Monkey Bread from a couple of different recipes. Easy to make, and such a huge hit at family events where you have people to help you eat it!!


Monkey Bread~      Preheat oven to 350

3 Pkgs of Pilsbury Biscuits (2 Pkgs if they are the Grands)

Mix together in a large ziploc bag:
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix together in a bowl:
1 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Melted Butter

1. Cut each biscuit into 3 and form balls. Coat the balls by shaking them in the ziploc bag. Place in the bundt pan. When you have a single layer of balls pour some of the mixture from the bowl over. Repeat this until finished.
2. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
3. Let cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pan onto the serving dish.

Glaze:
1 Cup Icing Sugar
2 tbsp Milk

4. Spoon the glaze over the cooled Monkey Bread and serve!

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Simple Scrapbook Layout

This is a simple yet beautiful layout I recently created.


Layout created using Basic Grey patterned paper, Martha Stewart flowers, and EK stickers.

Homemade Cheese Crackers

Today I tried making homemade crackers for the first time. Turns out, they are super easy! These crackers are similar to Cheez It crackers....YUMMMMMM.
So here is the recipe:

1 1/2 Cup Grated Cheese (I used a medium cheddar)
4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
3/4 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
(These crackers have quite a zing to them, next time I may cut back on the Red Pepper Flakes just a bit)
1 Tbsp Milk

Preheat oven to 350
Mix everything but the milk until the dough is course crumbs.
Add milk and form a ball of dough.
Roll out your dough until it is about 1/8" thick. (I used an empty wine bottle from the weekend for a rolling pin, as I do not have one :)
Cut with a pizza cutter into 1" squares.
Poke a hole in the middle of each with a skewer.
Place on parchment paper
Bake for 12-15 minutes. Mine were closer to 15min.


I would have taken a picture of my crackers however this is all that remained by the time I thought of it. They were a hit and will be made again!
Recipe adapted from one originally found on Pinterest.com

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Altered Wooden 12x12 Frame

This simple frame was purchased from Michaels, I dare say over 2 years ago. Today I finally did something with it. Here's the finished product.


Layout created using Simple Stories~ Destinations line.

Altered Canvas Creation

I've been wanting to do this for a while now. I took a Dollar Store canvas  (12x18) and created an oversized scrapbook layout with one of my favourite photos of the girls that Babineau Photography took.
I love it!


Canvas created using Simple Stories ~Destinations line.

Check out www.babineauphotography.ca

Monday 26 September 2011

A Few of My Latest....

Over the summer I don't seem to make as much time to scrapbook for myself. Now that it is officially autumn, I have gotten back at it. Here are a few of my latest scrapbook layouts.



Monday 12 September 2011

Autumn is My Favorite Time of Year

I love evenings with chill in the air, the smell, the colors and everything else that autumn brings. I was excited to create a new wreath for the front door.

I tried something a little different. Large wreath forms can be pricey, so I found an alternative. I went to the hardware store and bought 2 pieces of foam that is normally used for plumbing. Because I like a thicker form I did 2 round layers. Connecting them with duct tape of course!


Then patiently I wrapped the entire thing in yarn. Added my felt flowers and ribbon....and taaadaaaa!


Thursday 8 September 2011

Mint Chocolate Goodness

I tried this very easy recipe that I found on www.pinterest.com and they turned out great!! So I thought I would share the recipe.


Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Pkg Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
1/2 Cup Butter
1/4 tsp Mint Extract
1 Egg
3/4 Cup Mint Chocolate Chips
3/4 Cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
***You could add some green food colouring to the mixture if you'd like. I opted not to.

Preheat Oven to 350

Roll mixture into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Family Pride

This is a simple craft that I created a while back for a class.
It consists of chipboard, patterned paper, coordinating cardstock and some simple embellishments. I used Making Memories foam stamps and paint for the letters. Each 4x6 panel has a mat for a 2x3 photo or selected quote.

Back to School Gifts

Back to School time is looming. I thought I would try to perk up the girls by making a couple of cute and simple gifts that would snazz up their homework areas.
The first are personalized pencil holders. Each wooden pencil holder was found at the Dollar Store, a simple wood that was easy to alter.


The second is a personalized bulletin board made from a piece of cork and decorated chipboard. Add a few flashy push pins and you have a cute place for the girls to put cards, photos and other memorabilia.

Monday 27 June 2011

Thursday 23 June 2011

Echo Park Inspiration~

I recently picked up the paper line "For the Record" from Echo Park. I love their use of dramatic colors which are so versatile for so many project and layout themes. Both sophisticated and funky, it just seems to fit my crafting style. So very inspired by their designs I thought I would post some of the projects I have created using "For the Record".




 Altered Watering Can-
Supplies Used:
Echo Park- For the Record- 
Picket Fence (both sides)
Vintage Linen (green pattern)
Apron Strings (multi color floral)
Element Stickers: Bird and white flower
Alphabet Stickers: Small black scallop border
                              12” black swirl border
White watering can
Black and white ribbon
Black ink
Pop Dots
Clear gems

Instructions:

  1. Measure the height of the body of your watering can. Cut a strip of the floral patterned paper 12 by the height. Starting from the handle, wrap around to the spout and mark where you need to punch a hole for the spout to come through. In my case a 1.5” circle punch worked perfectly. Adhere the paper to the can.  Add another section of the paper to completely wrap the can if needed.
  2. Add a half inch strip of pattern to the inside and outside of the handle. I also tied a piece of ribbon at the top of the handle.
  3. Adhere half inch strips around the spout of the can, starting at the top and working your way down. The base of my spout did take some finessing to get right. Add a small ribbon knot to the base of the spout.
  4. A 1.5” circle was added to the top of my spout.
  5. Cut a small rectangle from the green pattern. Adhere to the front of the can. The bird is attached on top of the rectangle. I popped up the head and the tail using 3D Pop Dots. I also added a gem to its eye.
  6. Take the white flower sticker and cut the petals in further, then shaped them and popped up 2 of the petals and adhered to the bottom of the green rectangle.
  7. Add the scalloped border to the top of the can. I added gems to the scalloped border.
  8. Add the swirl border to the inside of the can.

Take Note Memo Holder-

Supplies Used:
Echo Park- For the Record- 
Table Cloth (red polka dot)
Picket Fence (blue pattern)
Lace Stripes (yellow pattern)
Element Stickers: Leaf scroll, “Take Note”, 2 photo corners
                            Scallop border
Acrylic 5x7 frame
Black cardstock
Black ink
3x3 Yellow Post-It Notes
Black and white ribbon
Pop Dots

Instructions:

  1. Cut a piece of black cardstock to 5x7 and insert inside the frame.
  2. Cut a piece of the red polka dot pattern to 4.5x6.5. Adhere to the front of the frame.
  3. Cut a strip of the blue pattern to 4.5x2. Adhere to the bottom portion of the frame. Add the sticker scroll to the blue pattern.
  4. Mat the photo corner stickers in blue patterned paper adhere them in opposite corners above the bottom border.
  5. Tie your ribbon around the entire width of the frame, knotting it in front.
  6. Adhere the “Take” sticker to a black polka dot circle. Mat the “Note” sticker in black cardstock and then on a larger piece of yellow pattern. Adhere them both to the memo holder using 3D pop dots.
  7. Cut a piece of black cardstock just slightly larger than your post-it notes. Adhere the two together. Add the scallop border to the top of the post-its. Adhere the entire thing to the top of your memo holder.



Zeus- For the Record 12x12-

Supplies Used;
Echo Park- For the Record- 
Borders (ruler and yellow strip)
Advertisement (black polka dot)
Stamp of Approval (red pattern)
Fancy Floral (blue star)
Alpha bet Stickers; Scrabble Letters
Element Stickers: Flowers and “For the Record”
Black brads
30” of black ribbon
Pop Dots
1” circle punch
Black ink
Ruler

Instructions:

***Entire layout is inked in black ink. Get out your 1” circle punch! J

  1. Cut the middle out of your red patterned paper. Go in about 1.5”.
  2. I used a template I already had to trace and cut out of the black polka dot pattern with scissors. Adhere this to a piece of white cardstock. Hand cut around the border again leaving a nice simple mat.
  3. Adhere these layers to the background red pattern.
  4. Adhere the yellow patterned strip to the bottom of the layout. Add black mini brads along the entire border.
  5. Cut 1” circles from your floral pattern, green pattern, red pattern, black polka dot pattern and the blue pattern. As well as your black and white cardstock. About  9 of each.
  6. Take a piece of cardstock (any color scrap) that is 2.5x12. Mark each half inch and draw lines as guides up the entire length of the strip. (4 lines)
  7. Now starting will the line of circles that are closest to the photo, randomly place your circles…note I did not use any black polka dot circles in this row, because they would have disappeared into the background.
  8. The next row you have to start with a half circle. I cut a black polka dot circle in half and placed one half at each end, then placed the rest of the circles. Repeat for 2 more rows.
  9. There are 4 rows of circles then, the open edge is covered by your ruler border strip. Mat the ruler in white cardstock and adhere to the border.
  10. Adhere your border the right hand side of the layout.
  11. Take your 1/8” circle punch, or Crop-A-Dial and punch holes on each inch line, and at the ends of the ruler.
  12. Starting at the top I taped the end of the ribbon in behind. Come up through the hole and wrap around behind, come up through the next hole and wrap around behind.  Similar to a blanket stitch. Continue this the entire length and then back up again. On the way back up it will create the rest of the zigzag pattern. Tape the end of the ribbon behind when you finish.
  13. The remaining black ribbon is tied in a knot at the same level as the border strip at the bottom.
  14. My photo is a 5x7 and it is matted in white cardstock. Cut a piece of red pattern that is about5.75x7.75. Add a strip of blue pattern near the bottom of the red. Adhere your matted photo to the red layer using 3D pop dots. Add 2 colored triangles under the top left hand corner of the bottom layer. Adhere all layers to the layout.
  15. Mat your scrabble alphabet letters in green patterned paper and adhere up the side of the matted photo.
  16. Mat the “For the Record” sticker in blue patterned paper and adhere to the layout using 3D pop dots. Slightly overlap it onto the photo.
  17. Cut leaves from your green patterned paper. Adhere them as well as the large white flower sticker to the bottom of the layout.
  18. Take the green flower sticker and cut it into 4 larger petals. Mold the petals slightly and place 3D pop dots at the end of each petal. Adhere on top of the white flower. The middle of the flower flat to the white flower and the ends of the petals popped up. Add a black polka circle to the middle of the flower.


Wednesday 22 June 2011

Loving Life


This simple little project is made from products that you crafters probably already have around the house.
Supplies:
Cardboard
Ribbon
Patterned Paper
Coordinating Cardstock
Buttons

Add a little paint and some ink to age the torn cardboard and you have a beautiful home decor accent.

MMmmMMMmmMMmm Biscuits


Along with crafting I love to bake!!
If you love a good biscuit, try out this recipe.

Momma's Biscuits:

2 Cups Flour
5 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Sugar
*** Mix the ingredients above
1/4 Cup Margarine
*** Cut in the margarine
1 Cup Milk
*** Add milk, mix and knead (10-20 times) This is when you would add the cheese if you like cheese biscuits. Pat out by hand on a floured surface and cut out your biscuits using a floured glass.

Preheat Oven to 425
Bake for 15 minutes

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Yarn Wreath

This is wreath that I made recently. I was inspired by the website pinterest.com. Turns out it wasn't that hard. A foam wreath form from Michael's yarn that matched the felt flowers I already had from Felt Works, and VIOLA!

Let's start blogging!

This is my very first blog post. I am looking forward to sharing my creativity with all of you in the future.