Tuesday, November 30, 2010

All Scrapbook Steals Challenge


This contest was extended, so my sister and I entered it, it had some great prizes... so wish us luck. (Something to keep me busy)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

NaNoWriMo



Here it is my writing blog. I am starting this blog for NaNoWriMo. What is that you ask? Well if you can see this here blog odds are you already know, cause you are doing it too. If not it just means you were curious about this other new blog of mine and wanted to check it out... So NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. It happens each November and you sign up and try to write a novel, 50,000, in 30 days. Sound hard, it is, I have tried it for 3 years now and have yet to accomplish this.

I am once again going to attempt to accomplish, and start anew with a big goal in mind and a desire to get it done! After this I am going to transfer all my writing onto this blog and cut out my extra writing blog on my former class site...

Wish me luck and if you would like to attempt NaNoWriMo Click on this here link and sign up, and add me as a buddy!

link

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Another night out with girls...



I am loving scrapbook weekends, I get a few things done, and I do it with friends I love! So I only got like 2 pages done, but that is better than nothing right?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Layout kit

There is this great scrapbook store that started this great kit club, where you get all the things you need to create a great two page layout each month. I found it was even more of a challenge, because you could not add and extras to it. I was struggling at first, but then had fun with it. I usually struggle with my own writing for titles, but decided I liked that personal touch. I made lots of the water distressed flowers to make it have that "garden" feel (see previous post for link to a tutorial on these flowers). I am very pleased with how it turned out, and I can't wait for the next one. Let me know what you think, and then check out Heartfelt creations



Scraps= Cards

So I heard of a good way to use up scraps right a way, and cut down storage of usable pieces, too. After making a layout or two with the matching papers from the line you are using, make a few cards with the rest. Then you can toss the scraps with out the guilt... I still need to be better about it, I have a couple of bags of scraps I plan on using to make cards... I just haven't gotten to it yet. But here I tried out a technique I saw on the Bo Bunny blog for making flowers... I tried it with this big one...


Saturday, September 25, 2010

Night out with girls...

It has been a while since I have gotten my stuff dug out and worked on any kind of scrapbook pages, but tonight my sister got together some old friends, and I dragged a couple of my dance family and we all scrapbooked for a while. While pathetic me only squeaked out a couple page layouts, I was able to catch up with friends and have a yummy dinner. So here are the layouts I got done...



Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Too busy?

It would appear so seeing my lack of participation in challenges lately, or anything creative for that matter. But here is the real truth... I have NO motivation, yeah I have tons of motivation to get in there and make something creative... but I have other obligations I need to conquer first, such as a clean room and house, so I feel guilty digging into anything else until I get that simple thing done... However out of this comes a pretty good housekeeping tip!

If cleaning for a get together you are planning or just to get caught up, and need a way of keeping that way until the event or you finish EVERYWHERE, this tip is for you. I buy cheap masking tape... cheap because it gets kinda wasted, masking because it won't peel paint. I tape off each room as I finish it. A big x so it is hard to enter, I even tape off bathrooms... and no I don't expect the kiddos to go outside for their business, but that tape not only means keep out, it lets them know I expect it to stay that way. When The kids were younger they were under the illusion that they were sneaking in, and just leaving it clean, now they are older and know if it is taped it better stay exactly as it was when entered. Then when finished or just before company arrives, pull the tape. I like this because not only does it keep it up until you are done, but it marks progress.

Now if I accomplish what I plan on today I will post pics of my finished rooms taped off. And maybe get a little creative project done, but if not I will for sure have a project done in a week's time... waiting on an order for something to finish it!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Inspired

A friend of mine posted this link a while back and I have been hooked ever since. She set up a budget of a dollar a day for a year, and finds vintage or thrift clothes to alter for a new outfit a day. How fun is this, I am so impressed by some of the things she comes up with... of course being cute and skinny helps tons. Well I think I am going to try for remaking an old dress new once a month... plus it might help motivate me to lose a little weight. I have some great plans in store... not sure when I am going to find time to do it, but it will be fun to at least try!

Here is the link, I am sure you will become a fan too!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

LAUNDRY



If you are a reader of my other blog you know I am going back to my original laundry solution that worked. I tried for a while letting my teenagers do it, so they would learn how, but they have failed miserably... a full day of laundry and still not caught up has proved this.

So how did I once stay so organized you ask? I had a basket for each room, not a hamper that hid the laundry, a basket that matched cute in there. A pink one for the girls, a blue one for the boys, a white one for us, and a cream one in the bathroom. Each night I would tell the kids to collect the baskets for me, and I would sort the clothes out by colors into the baskets. Reds in the girls, Darks in the boys, Whites in ours, and lighter colors in the bathroom one. They then went to bed, I began running the loads that night and through the morning (they were fairly small since it was one days worth divided by 4)in the morning before they left for school they had to get their own basket of laundry, which I sorted back into their own baskets, and put them away before they left for school. Giving them the empty basket to fill with dirty clothes throughout the day again.

I think I can still have my teens help since they stay up later now, and get up early for school, I will just leave the basket in the room for when they get home. I had a friend do laundry similar, but only once a week, I found this left too much to do in one day, plus with my jobs I rarely have a full day off.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Better than Sex Cakes...

I didn't name them, I just made them! And these are soooo yummy! There is a vanilla version and a chocolate one. We had a family picnic and I made a couple cakes for it. These turned out better than I remembered! (They tasted better than they looked, so i didn't capture them in pictures, just calories)

Chocolate Better than ANYTHING cake

Chocolate cake mix
caramel butterscotch topping
whipped cream (cool whip)
toffee bits
chocolate chips mini

Mix the cake following the instructions on package in a 9x13 pan. Immediately after taking it out of the oven poke holes all over it with the back of a wooden spoon. pour the caramel topping over the cake while still hot, smoothing it into the holes with a spatula. Let it cool completely. Spread whip cream over cake and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and toffee bits.


Vanilla better than ANYTHING cake


Vanilla or white or yellow cake mix
1 can coco lopez coconut milk (found in the alcoholic mixers section of the store, it is NON alcoholic)
whipped cream (cool whip)
toasted coconut

Mix and bake cake according to instructions. Immediately after removing from oven poke all over with holes the back of a wooden spoon works best. Spread the coconut milk all over the cake pushing into holes with a spatula. cool completely, and spread whipped cream over it. Sprinkle with toasted coconut for topping.

Enjoy! (Will add a picture when I make these again)

Friday, August 6, 2010

Curtains and Picture

So My daughter finally got back and I could take a picture of my pretty dining room... see post below. But here are the AWESOME valance I made for it and this cool picture holder. I had extra material from the valance I made a table runner and this neat picture frame, I framed the material in an old frame I sprayed Black, then I tacked on some pictures of my cute kiddos from various Nutcracker shows.



I like how they turned out!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Dining room

I am so frustrated at the moment, and have decided what my daughter is getting for Christmas... or maybe I will get it and give the old one... I let her take my camera to camp and I really want it right now. I have redecorated our dining room and I am so excited about it I wish I could show you all.



I even made a couple of great art pieces to add to it, but you will all have to wait until Friday to see it when she returns with my camera.

I made a great valance and put up curtains. I painted a wall RED and made a table runner and. Now I am on to more projects... I will keep you posted.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

My Style?

Several blogs I have read recently have been discussing their scrap booking "style" and that got me to consider mine. What is my style? I like to keep up to date on new trends, and fun accessories, but I try not to let it be at the expense of the photos. At least that was what I thought of my style up until Friday night.

Friday night I had such a fun time. I stayed up ALL night scrapbooking. My dear friend Amber got quite a bit done and then comment how simple her layouts are compared to mine, which where much more elaborate. That is when I learned something about my style.

I began looking through my finished books, one with pictures and one without. I get much more complicated when I design without a picture, and simple when I design without. So I began to ask myself why that might be? I think if I don't have a specific focus, the picture, I continue to add to and embellish what I am working on, trying to fill in that void. This has resulted in my new Scrapbook goal: use the pages I have and fill in with a picture, and try to base my layout on a focus, the picture. After all isn't that the point of Scrapbooking?

That being said, here is the layout I created that night for a scrapbook challenge at Bo Bunny... without pictures. I based my 2 page layout on this sketch...



I loved this sketch, but at first it seemed a little busy and it intimidated me... but then I realized i don't need to copy it exactly. and then one page didn't seem enough. I used the sophie line and a few random embellishments I had picked up and left over from other projects. I have not yet added the pictures (nor do I know which pictures I will be adding) but when I do I will repost this. SO this is for the Layout challenge on Bo Bunny located HERE... check it out!



I really like how this layout turned out, and I think it is a good example of my "style" so I would like to know what your scrapbook style is? (that's you my two followers)

Speaking of following... I like followers, it makes me feel important. I have two scrapbook kit layouts I have made for various activities. If anyone happens upon here and wants to click the little follow button and post a comment, I will send a kit to a couple of random posters! (they are a Halloween Layout and a Winter Layout)

Friday, July 2, 2010

New Month New Giveaway!

So once again I am trying to win the All Scrapbook Steals giveaway... since I have not yet won it I am posting to hopefully win with a second chance for posting this. So go check it out and let me know if you win... I may have to come scrapbook with you.

ALL SCRAPBOOK STEALS

Also we are suppose to comment about our favorite summer past time may be... it would seem like it should be cleaning since that is what I am always talking myself into doing but I really like to go camping and hiking and swimming, I also love roadtrips, driving to visit family... although lately it seems like it hasn't worked out to do much of that.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bon Appetit...

So in the McDonald monopoly game last year I won lots of coke rewards points... so I looked on there to see what I could do with them. My hubby likes to cook so I got him a subscription to Bon appetit magazine... and all those yummy recipes look sooo yummy... but so far I am the only one to use them.

Sunday I made the best BBQ sauce. Kris used them on ribs and chicken and it was soo good, he took leftovers to work and they enjoyed it too.

Yummy sauce link

Then Monday I got the grill fired up and made the most incredible burgers... they may even compete with smashburger, and I love smash burger


Yummy Burger Link

Monday, June 28, 2010

Quick Easy Chicken Recipes

I am not the best cook but I have collected a few tried and true recipes that are easy enough to remember and not mess up to bad!

Crock Pot Chicken

I love the crock pot and this recipe takes the cake for easy!
In the early afternoon put in the crockpot a couple chicken breasts, boneless skinless
a family size can of cream of chicken soup
a package of cream cheese
and a packet of dry italian dressing mix

let it cook all day until the chicken is done, then serve over potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.

Chicken broccoli casserole

This was one of my mom's best! and everyone always loved it!

start with some cooked chicken, boneless skinless cubed up, and some cooked broccoli (frozen works too, but I like fresh. The recipe also called for spears, but I liked the florets best)
lay these in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.

cook some rice
mix cooked rice with a can of cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, curry, lemon juice. spread this mix over the chicken and broccoli (It only called for a cup of rice, but I like it with more than that)
sprinkle shredded cheese on top (I like sharp cheddar)
then in a bowl melt some butter, and tear bread crumbs into butter, mix and sprinkle onto cheese.

bake at 350 for about 20min... or until the cheese is melted and bread crumbs crispy.

Enjoy and let me know if you have questions or if you liked them!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Dad's Day

I have 3 hard dad's to shop for this weekend... any brilliant ideas? My original plans have fizzled...

Monday, June 14, 2010

Baby album

So I have been a little crafty! My pile of repairs has shrunk, and I found time to make a cute baby album for a shower gift... it turned out sooo cute, I can't wait for baby to be here to fill the pages with pictures! I will post a few pics of it soon...

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Lack of Creativity... sorta

So I have missed challenges I planned on participating in, put off projects that have been piling up, and even thrown the towell in on my complete the craft area project... Why you might ask? It is June, which = recital, which = costume repairs, and props, and stress!!!

(if I remember to take one I will upload a Picture of my sewing pile next time I am at work)

But I thought I would make you a list of projects I have been planning on doing for a while now, which I can hopefully get done this summer...

SEWING

1-Those cute fabric headband with stitched flowers on them
2-try out some cute skirt ideas/patterns, for me and my girls, and my little nieces (if they turn out well I may have to try to sell some)
3-When the kids were little they each had these cool camp blankets, but they have all grown so I would like to make them each some bigger ones
4-I am wanting some comfy pj pants

SCRAPBOOKING/ Cards

There is an Alice in wonderland challenge on a couple different sites I would love to do
Bo bunny has a fathers day challenge (i missed the sketch layout one)
My minds Eye has one coming up again soon
I have a baby gift Scrapbook I want to get done

Wood stuff/etc

I need to make my Family sign again (I keep giving them away as gifts)
I want to try this cool idea for a family tree I have been planning
I want a cute magnet board to put up in my kitchen/hall

BEADING

There are some cute outfits I want some jewelery to match (I have the beads, just lack the time to get to them)


YARN

I want to learn how to knit... my aunt said she would teach me so I would love to get over there sometime to learn (my mom could knit real well, but couldn't teach me being left handed, and I right

I am sure there are others I have thought about, but forgotten on here... list some ideas if you have any good ones!

Monday, May 31, 2010

All Scrapbook steals June Giveaway!

Go HERE and enter to win all this GREAT stuff!!!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

BoB CARD CHALLENGE

So here is my take on a card sketch I did for Bo bunny. There is room on the bottom to add a sentiment... when I decide what it should be. Also I have really liked the 6x6 card, I think it is like a mini scrapbook, and you can fit so much more fun stuff on it!

Bo Bunny Mom Layout


So here is my ode to being a mom...

Friday, May 28, 2010

Bo Bunny Hop

So if you like to enter to win stuff... here is your chance to get some great Bo Bunny goodies. Just join the bo bunny blog hop and leave comments along the way for your chance at some fun paper products!

LINK

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Shabby Apple Queensland Swimsuit Giveaway


So if the chance to win one of these cute suits doesn't motivate me to lose weight, I don't know what will. Aren't they so cute, I cannot decide which is my favourite!

Go by and enter for yourself!




Shabby Apple Queensland Swimsuit Giveaway

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Family Sign



So I have been thinking about this for a while now... wanted it perfect... and it is finally done! I really like how it turned out...

Friday, May 14, 2010

MME Challenge #11

I finally made the deadline early on this one. I saw this layout challenge and thought of a few different ways to use this. I liked the idea of using my old High School dance picture as the large background, with the smaller pictures for the picture spots. If you look through it seems this is one of my favorite paper line from MME... which I have loved using it... but I am also trying to use as much of what I have, only buying what I need, or have specific plans for. My Paper collection just seems to always grow, no matter how much I try to use only what I have. (luckily I still have a good stock of my mind's eye paper... or I really need to win one of these challenges soon.) Here is the LINK if you would like to play along too.




Are you ready for this... I discovered how to take a better picture (plus it helps doing so in the daylight, instead of last minute late at night, when my best work is done) is here is the edited picture!




The other thing you may notice is how I seriously need help with my picture taking skills... I am going to try to take some tomorrow in the daylight... see if that helps.


So here is my other idea for the 2 people who follow this... what Scrapbook stock do you have collecting dust and what can you create with it? Send me a link or a picture and I will give you a scrapbook kit FREE! I can't wait to see what you 2 come up with ! (I will give you til the end of May... I always work best with deadlines, thought you could use one too)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mom's Day...

So I was going to try to be ambitious and make a mini album for the mom's I need to give to... but I think I keep running out of time... so I would love to hear any great ideas you (my few but faithful followers) may have or are planning on doing for this mother's day.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Blondies

So I have this great Mrs. Fields recipe for blondies... but they are so time consuming, and one mistake and they are not so good. So my little sister accidentally turned a brownie recipe into a blondie one... and the results are soooo yummy. I am posting this on her for you all to try... let me know what you think!

Carmel nut Blondies/Brownies


1 (14 oz.) Kraft carmels
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1 German Chocolate cake mix for regular brownies OR yellow cake mix for blondies (my own mistake/invention)
3/4 c. butter, MELTED
1 c. chocolate chips, chopped ( I didn't chop, they melt on their own)
1 c. walnuts or pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350F.

Melt caramels with 1/3 cup milk in top of double boiler over barely simmering water. Stir frequently.

Combine cake mix with melted butter and remaining 1/3 cup milk.

Spread half this mixture into greased 9 X 13 inch pan.

Bake 6-8 minutes at 350 F.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans or walnuts. Drizzle melted caramels over chips and nuts. Cover with remaining cake batter.

Continue baking at 350 F for 15 minutes until brownies are firm to the touch. Cool before slicing.

Makes 3-4 dozen

I had to bake much longer than it said, I did until they didn't jiggle any more probably ten minutes longer. The second layer of cake batter doesn't spread very easily, but try to put little blobs all over and then with a spatula spread it smooth as you can without majorly mixing the caramel with it. They have to cool to cut, and they totally stay solid when cooled.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Another great giveaway!

All Scrapbook Steals is starting their May giveaway... go check it out and post a comment to try to win! So it asked what paper projects you are planning this summer and with which products... my favourite paper has been My Minds Eye (and I discovered this by accident, I came across their blog with a challenge, and went to my stash to see if any of my paper was my mind's eye, and to my surprise a lot of it was). Now to decide what to work on with it... I am trying to use some of these blog challenges to bulk up my scrapbook process, and my card collection for when I need it. But I think the project I want finished first is my mother's memory book for mother's day...

Monday, April 26, 2010

Yummy Cakes...

Check out this great blog I found! She decorates yummy cakes, and they are SOOO CUTE! I was suppose to post one her my favorite one... but I couldn't decide...



I thought this looked cute and springy...



I love this cute bouquet...

I forgot to put up a link... LINK

Friday, April 23, 2010

Spinach Artichoke Dip...

Since this is my creative blog, I figure cooking goes along with that, I made this recipe combining a few different recipes I had made over the years, until I found the one that works best, with all the great flavors.

2 cans artichoke hearts chopped up small (The smaller the better)
1 cup fresh spinach chopped... I have used canned and frozen before bet fresh is the best
1 small can diced green chilies (I have used jalapenos by mistake before and they were yummy if you want it to have a little kick)
A piece of a garlic clove fresh, or about a teaspoon garlic
1 cup mayonnaise (salad dressing is okay, but not as good. I have used fat free and it works great)
1 cup Parmesan cheese (not the grated kraft kind, the fresh grated kind)
1 cup Mozzarella or mix of other Italian cheeses (the original recipe I had called for 2 cups Parmesan, but another called for 2 of mozzarella, I like the mix)

Mix it up really good and put it in a pie pan or small pan. Bake at 400 degrees, for about 20min, or until it starts to get a light brown crisp to the edges.

Eat with tortilla chips, or my favorite is with pita chips...

Enjoy! I will try to update with some other yummy recipes I like on occasion.

MME Challenge #10

Yes I know it is late, and I know I missed the deadline on this challenge. However things have been so crazy busy the last couple of weeks, but when I saw this challenge, I knew exactly what I was going to do. When the end neared I realized I would not finish it and enjoyed a night with friends. However when I got home, I could not sleep, I kept dreaming of this layout (I kid you not, there have been many a night of restless sleep over a layout.) Since I could not get it out of my head, I gave in, got up and made it. So I would love some feed back... although I realize I am NOT eligible for this contest. Thanks for looking...and here is a LINK to see the challenge.



Saturday, April 3, 2010

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge # 73- Sense and Sensibility.

So when I saw that this week was a Jane Austen I had to participate. I LOVE Jane, for my English classes I have written many papers on her writing, and love every movie... in fact just finished readng a book about Jane Austen.

So my card... It turned out much different than I had anticipated... even used a totally different color and paper. I did picture this stamp set from the beginning though, it was one I had admired but didn't think much of til it was given to me by my sister, and I have used it for several projects since.







I think the picture looks like sisters together in an English country side, perfect for Sense and Sensibility.



I had this great ribbon in mind too, but I liked the simplicity of the button with thread.The words say "Together is the nicest place to be".



Also on the inside I like the picture of the rabbit in just a shadow.



Thanks for checking out my blog... come by anytime!

Stamp set was Stampin' up, teh purple paper was my mind's eye, and I am not sure of the other paper... ones I have had for a while. I used a versamark ink pad with brown chalk and some pearl stuff to add shine...

Here is a link to the site in case you may not have it!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Second page to my layout...

So I finally got around to make the second page to my layout... so here it is!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April fool's fun...

So I got creative in the kitchen with the help of my hubby... we made mashed potatoes and meatloaf with gravy, and juice and cupcakes for dessert!

(so take a guess as to what all of these really are... if you are a viewer of my other blog no cheating)


Fun Giveaway!!!

So if you haven't already you really need to go comment for a chance to win some way fun scrapbook stuff from All Scrapbook Steals... HERE

Bracelets....

So the nieces and my girls had a girls night and made a few bracelets, and a "guy necklace" with some beads we had gotten a little while ago. I think they had fun...









Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Feeling creative...

So I am really wanting to get some crafty things finished and accomplished. I also want to see what some of my friends who are talented are working on as well. So if you look at this blog, ever, I would love it if you comment with a link to your blog with what you have been working on lately... Thanks... I will post pics of what I have gotten done as well.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

MME Challenge #9



So I have been admiring this challenge for weeks now, and I finally got it done. Yeah me, my first challenge (I hope, I think I maybe a little late on the deadline) So excuse the bad pic, I hopefully can edit in a better one. But I am really happy with how this turned out!

I used an old pic of my daughter, who is now 12, I had forgotten all about this sitting she had. But it turned out well, and I can't wait to add a second page to the layout. I used My Mind's Eye paper from the out & about collection that I have had for a while, with a couple other embellishments from different lines too.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Great Find...

So I was getting started on my cleaning (see www.alli-goals.blogspot.com) when I came across a few left over Halloween kits. There are 8 kits left. So here is a pic, everything is included except adhesive, and the embellishments, and colors may vary. So leave a comment or email me if you are interested. Since they were an unexpected find I will close them out for 6$ (I think they were originally 9$) and I apologize for the picture, not the best but I could not find the original, and it was too late to retake one.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Fun giveaway...

So I was roaming my favorite crafty sites, looking for inspiration... when I came across this cool giveaway. SO if you like to scrapbook or just like fun free stuff... go enter!

All Scrapbook Steals


Also this site reopened a small store in amelia's in Draper... so go check them out.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Indroducing my creative side...

So I have had in the past a scrapbook webpage... but I am now expanding my talents to include a few other crafty things I may be up to. I grew up with an exceptionally talented mother... and I hope to continue that.

I have set up an etsy page as well... and hopefully will begin to fill it soon.

Watch here for fun ideas!