Wine + Stamping = Pretty Good Idea

Today was just one of those days at work...too much to do, too little time, and everytime I went to sit down and take a breath I hear Ms. K!!!!! And in walks one of my little angels with another new problem.  *Sigh*  Needless to say, I came home to do my favorite thing on one of these days: Drink Wine, watch Brothers and Sisters, and turn off all the lights.  Then I thought to myself, hmmm, the colors on this wine bottle would make a pretty cute card.  Next thing I knew, I was sitting at my desk getting ready to stamp and here is what I came up with!  I can't take all the credit for the layout but I can't remember where I've seen it before.  So whoever you are - thanks!

Instead of sending this out, I am sending it to myself to hang by my desk for those days when I forget to remember that for my students, THIS is their life and THEIR real world.

Sweet Deets:

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black

Stamps: Dream a Little, Embrace Life

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Weekend! Spring is just around the corner, can you feel it???  Here's a little something I sent to some friends to bring some springtime happiness in the midst of melting snow. 

 

All the flower pots had different colored bottoms (I was using up DSP scraps).  The directions are in the splitcoast technique spotlight.   I used taffetta ribbon and colored in to match the color of the flowerpot.  I stamped the sentiment and punched it with the large oval punch.  Then, I sponged the edges with Melon Mambo.  I stamped the sentiment in melon mambo then with a wet Q-Tip, wiped off  all the words except "friendship."  Then I used pumpkin pie to color the rest of the words.  (If you had the Incolor markers, you could eliminate this q-tip mess).  The ribbon was colored to match the flower pot with using the markers on taffetta ribbon.  The direction on splitcoast tell you to tie the ribbon to keep the flower pot closed, but I had a hard time with that.  So, I used to brads on the edges to keep it closed and then the ribbon didn't have to be super-tight. 

Sweet Deets:

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Stamps: Wings of Friendship

DSP: Always Artichoke, Razzleberry Lemonade

Accessories: Taffetta Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke Stampin Write Markers, brads,

A Lil' Treat

Here is a little something I created for the mentoring group I am in.  There are 10 girls and each girl has her own mentor.  We meet every Thursday for homework, life skills, a healthy but tastey dinner, and a craft project that will eventually go into her *NEW* room!

I made small, skinney boxes and adhered some DSP to the front.  I decided the "folllow your heart" stamp was the perfect Valentine's Day sentiment for the girls.  To give the oval a little dimension, I sponged the edges in melon mambo.  I left the back of the box blank so I could write a little message to each of the girls and filled the box with some Sweet Tart conversation heart packets for a tastey little treat!

Sweet Deets:

Paper: Melon Mambo, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo

Stamps: Whimsical Words

Accessories: Large oval punch, sponge

Cake Recipe

I've gotten some requests for the recipe for the Valentine's Day Cake (Posted below).  The hardest part is the icing.  Actually, it just requires patience, which I seem to run out of sometimes.

Cake:
2 c. Flour
1 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 c. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 c. Hot Water
1 c. Miracle Whip (any mayo, but we've always used Miracle Whip)

Sift the dry ingrediants together.  Stir the hot water into the Miracle Whip.  Add to dry ingrediants and mix well.  Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans.  Divide the cake batter evenly between the two pans.  Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Boiled Icing:
1/3 c. Water
1 c. Granulated Sugar
1 tsp. Corn Syrup
1/8 tsp. salt
2 egg shites
1 tsp. Vanilla
2-3 Tbsp. Powdered Sugar

Combine the water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil without stirring.  Continue boiling until the mixture "spins" when dropped from a spoon.  (This usually takes 7-8 minutes if you keep the heat on high and continue stiring once the mixture comes to a boil.)  It is important that this happens or the icing won't set up right.
Meanwhile, beat the egg whites until stiff but slightly moist.  Continue beating and drizzle the sugar mixture in slowly.  Add the vanilla.   Beat on high for anoother 1-2 minutes.  If this icing is not stiff, add powdered sugar 1 TB at a time and beat on high for 1-2 minutes. 

When I ice the cake, I add crushed peppermint candies between the layers.  Before I add the candies on the top, I use the spatula to "spike" the icing up.  A flat top for the cake works best because the icing will start to slide off the cake after a couple days.  (So eat up quickly!)

Valentine's Day Fun!

I've been having a craving for some yummy chocolate cake; so for Valentine's Day I made my mom's recipe for Devil's Food Cake.  It's actually a chocolate mayo cake, some people call it Depression Cake and it is absolutely delicious!  After I made the cake, I thought, now I have to make the boiled icing with crushed candy cakes on top like my mom used to do.  All of a sudden, my cake became inspiration for a card.  My good friend back home has a birthday coming up, she loves the chocolate chip cardstock and her house is decorated in red so I thought this would make the perfect inspiration for her birthday card!  Here is what I came up with...

First, I tore the edges of the red, white, and DPS.  Then, I did a little sponging on the edges with chocolate chip ink to tone down the color a bit.  Next, I distressed the edges with a bone folder and some scissors (use old scissors, this dulls the blades quickly).  I layered all of this and tied a red ribbon around the top.  Next, I punched out the sentiment, again sponging the edges in chocolate chip.  Finallly, I stamped, colored, and cut out cupcakes.  To attach them, I popped the sentimate and one of the cupcakes.

 

Sweet Deets (All Stampin' Up:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

DSP: Real Red

Ink: Real Read, Chocolate chip

Stamp Sets: Cause for Celebration, Whimsical Words

Techniques: Sponging, Tearing, Distressing

Accessories: Pop Dots, Sponge, Larve Oval Punch, Holiday Ribbon (non-SU)

JAI4 Color challenge

This challenge from "Just Add Ink" uses red rose, sage shadow, more mustard, and kraft.  I used more mustard DSP to make a flower with the dahlia fold I saw on splitcoast. 

the, I layered the paper,  using only the corners of kraft.  Lastly, I stamped the "congratulations," punched the bottom, put brads on the top, and used pop dots to add more dimension.  

Sweet Deets:

Paper: Rose Red, Kraft, Sage Shadow

DSP: More Mustard

Ink: Rose Red

Stamps: Well-Scripted

Accessories: Spiral Punch, Brads, Pop Dots

Techniques: Dahlia Fold.

Cabin Fever Round 2

Here is another thank you card.  This one is quick and simple.  I created using whisper white, rose red, raspberry tart DSP and "Fresh Cuts" stamp set. 

My other Hobby

Here is my other hobby.  Keeping still for a long movie is not my forte, so took up crocheting again.  Long ago, my mother taught me and last Christmas I finally finished a blanket I start in high school with my college colors.  See how easy it was to crochet AND pay attention to a real good movie, I made another blanket for a Christmas gift, and then soon I was making hats!  Here is one I created for myself to match a scarf I already had.  I found the pattern in a book titled "Cool Crocheted Hats" and used "Vanna's Choice" yarn. 

Here are my sister and I in our matching hats at Christmas time. 

Thank You Notes

Since I was a shut in due to the immense snow, I decided it was a great time to get to work on my thank you cards for bridal showers.  This card was a bit intricate to create in masses, so I only made a dozen.  Anway - I used the same layout as this beautiful card.  On the white card, I layered Tempting Turquoise, Camero Coral, and three panals of Ginger Blossom DSP (retired).  Then, I punched a chocolate chip  scallop circle, stamped the "you're too kind" in cameo coral, and punched that with a circle punch.  Next, I stamped the flower and attached it with a small brad.  Finally, I tied a knot on the top with a favorite ribbon at the moment - Satin Chocolate Chip. 

Sweet Deets (all supplies Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Whimsical Words
Ink: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise
DSP: Ginger Blossom (Retired)
CS: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 5/8" Satin Chocolate Chip Ribbon, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Antique Brads(from recollections)

Cabin Fever - Round 1

Cabin Fever has gotten the best of me - and my stamping supplies!  I ran out of one of my favorites - Old Olive :(  What is a girl to do?  So...I did some serious time on the internet browsing blogs and splitcoast, got color challenges from my favorite demonstrator, and sat down to get to work!  One of my color challenges I found was pumpkin pie, pink passion, whisper white, and basic black.  I stamped the background with the large flower from "Time Well Spent" then added some color with my markers.  I punched a film strip with the spiral punch, added more colored flower from "Time Well Spent," and VIOLA, a birthday card for a friend.