Friday, January 30, 2015

Love & Kisses

I am really liking my creative planning and how the transition from scrapbooking to card making has been so simple for me the past few days.

I thought that since Valentine's Day is a few weeks away that I should try to make some Valentine's Day/Love cards.

With the first three cards, I used the Love Struck Cricut Cartridge.  This was actually the first time I have ever used it. I think it was released in 2010...that's four years I have had it and haven't created with it!

Card #1:

The base for this card was just kraft paper cut at the standard card size.  The patterned paper and the papers used as matting, as well as the paper used for cutting the Cricut image were all scraps--so I am not really clear what company(s) they are from.

The bottom layer on the Cricut image is actually pink.  I used the Tim Holtz Distressed Ink in Vintage Photo with a foam applicator and sponged the bottom layer once the top layer was on.

The wording and the heart in the background are from the set, From the Heart from Tim Holtz's Stamper's Anonymous set.  I used brushed corduroy, and Tea Dye Distress Ink on the heart.  For the background, I used vintage photo, brushed corduroy, and worn lipstick for coloring.

Card #2:
The base for this card is also kraft paper. At the bottom of the front of the card, I punched with an EK Success border punch.

The patterned paper was from my scrap bin.

The ribbon/lace that I put on the top of the card was from my ribbon stash.

Card #3:
This card's base is actually 6x6.  The base, "Kiss" word, and the mat are all Bazzil Bling papers.

I'm not quite sure what paper company the lips are from. LOL!  The three little pink brads are Bazzil Bling brads.

The next three cards are made with some Precious Moments rubber stamps that I found!  I literally have not used these stamps in at least TEN years! What a joy it  was to find them!

All the images were colored with Prismacolor colored pencils.

Card #4:
The base of this card is kraft paper.  I used a Fiskars border punch for the side.  The ribbon is wired ribbon.  The paper I used for matting were all from my scrap bin.

I did distress with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in vintage photo and spun sugar.

Card #5:
This card's base is from kraft paper.  For the bow, I had a piece of scrap lace that was pink and I thought it looked cute on this card.

The patterned papers used were from my scrap bin.  I cut the circles with the Creative Memories circle cutter system.  I did ink the background of the image too.

Card #6:
The base for this card is basic white.  The patterned paper and the black for matting and also the pink piece of paper that is matting the image were all from my scrap bin.

The ribbon is by Offray.  The pearls were from my bling stash! LOL!

Card #7:
The base of this card is cut at 6x6 Bazzil Bling paper.  The square mat was from my stash, but I know the patterned paper was from the Basic Grey "Bittersweet" collection.

The gray paper is Bazzil Bling also.  I used an EK Success border punch on the top and the bottom of the gray strip of paper.  The stamped image is from Ornate Collection ATC stamps from Tim Holtz's Stamper's Anonymous set.  I inked it with worn lipstick and vintage photo Distress Inks.  The two pearl brads are from Teresa Collins' "Fabrications" collection.  The ribbon is from Offray.

Card #8:
This card is special to me.  It's getting mailed to Wyoming for one of my dearest friend's granddaughter.  She is being home schooled and is doing a lesson on Earth Expedition.  She thought it would be nice for her granddaughter to get cards from other places.

I tried to think of what a little girl would like and find cool and this is what I came up with.

The base is made with white card stock.  The black mat is from Bazzil.  The patterned paper is from my scrap bin, but I know it's from Bo Bunny.

The ladybug was cut using the Create a Critter Cricut Cartridge.  All the paper I used on the ladybug was from Bazzil.  The flower on the corner of the card was punched using a flower paper punch with Bazzil paper.  The "You're So Sweet" saying was from a Studio G stamp set.

Well, there ya have it!  I need to find places for these cards to go! I am very happy with how they all turned out.

I am sorry that this post was so long!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Making a Comeback....

I have to say--I'm slowly , but surely getting back into blogging.  I would really love to get regular again.  Now, more than ever, I need my blog as an outlet.

Along with blogging, being an outlet for me--so is creating...

About four or so years ago creating was HUGE for me.  I scrapbooked, made card, created mini albums, and basically made anything I could think of.  I'm sure there are a lot of things that made me lose the want and need to get my creativity out.

Looking back on when I quit and potential reasons why--things seem like they are truly excuses and it upsets me now that I let people and situations get the best of me and steal something from me that I truly loved.

I've gained a lot of friends through scrapbooking...but with that, I have had some sadness too.

I've actually been lucky enough to work in TWO scrapbooking stores.  One was a local store here in town that brought some awesome people into my life.  I ended up working there to support my addiction.  I met one of my closest friends there.  Unfortunately, my little home away from home was in the same building that was part of a fire a few years back.  The store and a lot of its supplies were ruined by that fire.  My friend ended up leaving and going back home to Wyoming.  She did come up a few times and had some retreats, But all the work that goes into a retreat and the fact that attendance and sales just weren't there proved to be the end of that journey for me.

Although I was saddened by that, I found another friend on Facebook that ran a scrapbook store out of her home.  At first, we had a great friendship and was able to work together and spend time going to dinners, having some girls' nights, playing games, and laughing our butts off.  We actually got our families together.  But-when you have two very strong minded people, who speak their minds, butt heads--it's gonna be catastrophic for a friendship.  The relationship ended with bitterness and no way to mend.

These two things were a major factor in me losing my passion for creating.  There was also really no place to meet friends and craft together anymore.  All of us that were friends either lost touch or got too busy with life to make the time to get together and create together.

I understand getting busy will throw a wrench into your creative mojo, but between finding work and meeting people who didn't share my same passion--I began moving further from it.

Fast forward to the recent couple of years and I just couldn't bring myself to go down to my craft area and create.  Papers, ribbon, adhesive, etc.--all started collecting dust....Apparently my creative self was beginning to get dusty too.

I did have a couple of instances that I would make a birthday card or alter something.  I altered a clipboard that I used for work when I was a cake decorator for Sam's Club....unfortunately, it's still there. :(

But it wasn't until a couple of months ago that I started finding myself getting comfortable in my space again. I actually have a plan to implement until I have my mojo for creating back again.

I am actually VERY behind on my scrapbooking.  So, I'll take a group of pictures and make some layouts.  Once those are done, I move onto making cards.  I'll work on cards for 2 to 3 days and move into crafting with other elements-whether it's making a sign, wreath, etc.

Well, for this time around with scrapbooking, I pulled out some of Jon's Halloween  pictures from 2001! WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!  I was able to make a few groupings to total 4 pages!

All of these layouts were created with the My Mind's Eye Boo to You! and Spider's Web collection. I also used my Cricut---which I have also missed! The cartridge I used was October 31st.

They are a little more simple than I am used to, but it's a start!





Oh, the memories! Remembering Jon that young (He was 2 years old!) feels like it was yesterday.  He's now 15 and growing up way too fast!  I miss these times though.  Who doesn't miss their kids as little ones though?

Well that's it until the next time....which I hope is soon!

Thanks for stopping by and reading! :)

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Sweet Chex Mix and Trying to Start This Up Again!!

Hey Everyone!! Wow! I have been gone FOREVER! A little over two years to be exact! I actually didn't plan on my first blog post back to be a recipe, but it's all good.  I have been wanting to post about things that have happened or are happening now in my life and lessons that I have learned.  What's sad is that every time I try to write the post about that I draw a complete blank.  I think I am trying or thinking too hard with it.  I am not proud of how some of those lessons were learned, but happy that life has turned around.

OK-so let's talk about Sweet Chex Mix!  I had this for the first time at a Bunco Night at a friend's house-YEARS AGO.  I remember the first time I tasted it.  It was like a sweet taste of Heaven in every bite.  Well, for me it was! It's truly easy to make!

Here's what you'll need:


*1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter
*1 cup of light Karo or corn syrup
*1 cup of sugar
*1/2 box of Rice Chex
*1/2 box of Corn Chex
*1 small (2-3oz) bag of slivered almonds
----We have used cashews that we chopped up and that was good as well!----
*1-1/2 cups or more of dried cranberries
*1-1/2 cups or more of shredded, sweetened coconut
*1 teaspoon or tablespoon of vanilla

You will also need a BIG BOWL.  I have a 32 cup Tupperware bowl, a small sauce pan, a wooden spoon, a timer, and 2-3 cookie sheets or trays.


Mix together the Chex cereals, slivered almonds, dried cranberries, and shredded coconut.  I actually use my hands for this process. Mix together and set aside.



In the small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium to medium high heat. 


Once the butter is melted, pour in the Karo syrup and sugar.Start stirring this.  You are going to want to stir constantly.  Once the mixture starts to bubble or boil start your timer and keep stirring for 3 minutes and 30 seconds.



Once the 3 and a half minutes is up, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Be careful-sometimes the vanilla being poured into the mixture will cause it to pop a bit. After the vanilla is poured in then pour the sugar mixture into the cereal mixture and stir to combine.  


After the cereal and sugar mixture are combined-spread the Chex Mix on the cookie sheets or trays to cool.  



Once the Chex Mix is cooled down (approximately 30 minutes), you can store it in a 2-1/2 gallon Ziploc Bag.

Well, there you have it! I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as my family and friends do! 

I am really going to keep blogging frequently since I have missed it.

Feel free to follow me and comment! :)

See you soon! :)