Sweet Treats!

This was my second attempt at making a "better" Christmas card. I like these better, but they are not mail-able. They have bumpies on them and that makes Mr. Postmaster mad. He likes to charge me muchos for any bumpies on my cards. GRRR. think flat, Karen!

My new interest is perfecting the whoopie pie. I have tried two different recipes so far...getting closer, but not there yet. These were kinda yummy with cream cheese filling and candy cane crunchies on the outside. I gotta find a moister recipe. I know they have to be kind of cookie\cake mixeyish. We'll see. I'll be sure to share when I accomplish this task:)

Big Time

Winter-like weather has set in around here. Grey, windy, rainy, bleh. It was High time to use some of my new Stampin' Up paper and stamps. I love the bright, cheerful, clean colors!!!! Things are trending toward dark, dank, swipey, dirty lookin'...it was all over at convention. I didn't buy a single piece of paper this year. This paper is so fresh and nice. Love it! It took my four tries to get the layout right, but here it is:)....I need to start making more of these to keep in my stash for those times when I get an inklin' to send a card and don't have time to make one. I saw a quote from Ralph Waldo E. that was about...it's never to early to do a good deed because you never know how early too late will come....somethin' like that. I need to follow my gut instinct a little more and get one it!

BIG mistake

Our cubscouts are going to have to pay for their camp next year, so they had a little bazaar at the local community hall. I made some nummos to sell. I didn't have much time, so I just whipped these up and called it good. Slapped a pirouette cookie on top and wrapped them up...problem is...those cruchy nummy cookies turn...well...not so crunchy after being on top of a moist cupcake. Lesson learned! Ah, well, at least they sold out and made enough for ALL the boys to go to camp:)

Mondo cake

I was asked to make the birthday cake for one someone at work...it turned out HUGE. It was a half sheet, but I always make the cake too tall for boxes that they sell to transport them in. Dern. So, I used a piece of PLYWOOD to carry it on. It was so heavy! I used my chocolate cake recipe, cream cheese mousse filling with fresh raspberries, and chocolate butter cream frosting.

Game ON

Usin' up some pewter lookin' drops that have been hiding in my stash for too long:)

Love these memories of Unca' Tom and my boys sharing their love of sports.

Nope. I'm not tires of banners AT ALL!!!

I am so close to finishin' up 09, I can almost smell it:)!! Baby steps.... The yuck-o weather outside sure gives me more time to do this. I also need to clean up my space so I can bring home some new goodies this weekend. It's the annual convention in Bellevue...one of my favorite days that I get to myself. They are very rare, so I soak it up when I can:) I will stay focused this year and ONLY get BOY stuff. I have so many girly froofy cutsie things that I can't use in my books,
SO...hopefully there'll be some great masculine lines out there this year. (sorry I grabbed the wrong lens for this:) depth of field is screwy)

hurry quick...before work:)

I have to work the afternoon shift today, so I get a few hours this mornin' to get some more pages from 09 done. Since today is the day the boys get to have their DONUTS at the Briggs' house, I thought I'd get those pics done from 2 years ago. I was laughing at these because Grandpa came out with a platter of mini donuts. This kids were sooooo disappointed to see them. They were trying to be polite, but they just couldn't hide their dismay. Finally, Allison went on the hunt and discovered the stash of donut boxes in the kitchen with the REAL donuts. These guys are HUGE. Gotta come with an empty stomach. I love playin' with my Copics:) The stamp is from Verve...so COPICABLE

Lately

This time of year is so busy! Canning was a big job this year. I did 25 quarts of pears, 25 quarts of peaches, and 25 quarts of grape juice. MMMMM. The grape juice is delicious. I am also getting started on my Christmas cards. I do NOT like how they are turning out. I can't decide what I want to do to make them better. I guess I have a couple of months...sometimes you have to walk away for a while.

Scrappy day completed

Finally, I have completed the pages I started at our scrap day. Just workin' too dern much. I love these happy colors. I had way too many pictures to fit on two pages, so I made this lil' mini album on page two that holds 9 pictures. SAWEET. Ya just have to cut a hole in the page protector so it can be accessible. Aaaaalmost done with 2009.

A lil' this and a lil' that

I love red. I love banners. I love organizing. So, today was a FABULOUS day. I got to listen to conference online while organizing my scrappy area and decorating it with my new KatieLou banner exclusive:) LOVE IT! That is Happiness. Oh, and check out the flowers at the ends of the banner. Those cuties are made from the new CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

Plaid Apples

When I use my Cricut, I always forget to make the shapes out of patterned paper. I would normally have just made this apple from red cardstock and called it good. It is SO much cuter with patterned paper....I love the flower die from Papertrey that I used for this. I also used the leaf stamp and dies from Heartfelt. I had the yellow cardstock plain, at first. Then, I went back to my daubin' roots and love it so much more! It just warms it up. I used Autumn terracotta to smudge the edges. Mmmmm. Nummy. I actually made 4 of these at the same time to finish the boys' books, too...much easier that way.

I'm NOT blue!

I love bright, cheerful colors for my boys' pages. It is so happy! I had these papers from Stampin' Up for only a day or two. That's as long as I could wait to use them. That has to be a record! I love how clean and crisp their color schemes are. Distressing has its place, but once in a while I like to have CLEAN! I like to decide if I want it distressed. Don't do it for me! Ya hear that CTMH??!! Katie, I know you're feelin' me on this. What happy memories:)

oh, just a blank

A gal at work asked me to make a Transformer cake. Um. Nope. Not gunna do it. I am an organizer, not a sculptor. I organize the frosting and decorations to look good and that is it. ...unless it is gumpaste flowers:) So, I suggested Albertsons and she glared at me! Tee hee. I guess I am a step up from the local grocery store:) So, then I thought of those online companies that will send you an edible overlay of anything you can think of. Ta da! They even personalized it for her. Pretty cool. Here's the "organized" blank:
Michael's sells Duff cake goods and he makes a silver spray paint...pretty cool. it is very shimmery, but you can't tell from my hasty pics.

The DOOR

When we first drove up to this house...I immediately started redo-ing it in my head. I knew what it would eventually look like. We have been here for 15 months and we're just now starting to get the outside looking a little more like that little picture I have in my head. This was the first finished thing outside! MY DOOR! I came home late one night from work to see the red door. I was so happy:) After inspecting it to see if Tommy did a nice job (ladies, I know you know what I mean:)), I smiled and smiled and smiled. Perma grin for days. I still smile when I drive up and get to see that door:) the light adds just the right touch. I'm in love...with a doorway!

Mom's pages

I love when Mom gets to come over and scrap with me. We never get very much done, but it is time that I need to relax and talk:) This was the page that she was working on. I love getting to finally see more pictures of Tyler!!

Elegant bouquet

Yet another paper pack that I have been saving for YEARS! This was just right for Sharon's sweater...and some great pictures that I want to cherish forever. These pages didn't need much. I like that. I really love the rub-on over my in-laws' picture.

Chocolate Blues

I have had this paper packet for YEARS...it was high time to get it out and use it up. These pics were from a VERY awkward photo shoot Tom's family did. The chick had us posin' at a cemetery!!! There are headstones and markers in the pictures that she attempted to smudge out with photo shop. Needless to say, there were only a few acceptable pictures out of HUNDREDS! I did some embossing. It has been too long. I forget how much I love embossing with white on a dark color. I also combined my silver powder with some orange to get the rusty key. Pretty fun. MY squooshies already look so much older. This is why I scrapbook. I want to preserve every little smile and gooniness that these boys give me!

Ya wanna?

So, I have successfully mastered the perfect chocolate cake recipe! I was at Michael's last week JUST to buy some cake boards for Megan's wedding cake when I stumbled upon the AISLE O' CUPCAKES. The whole stinkin' aisle was filled with cupcake wrappers and boxes to match and and and and:) LOVELY. I was silently squealing. So, I knew JUST what Maria NEEDED when she asked me to make some cupcakes for some friends' birthdays coming up. Oh, yeah. Scrum a num. My three taste testers (Big D, Barone, and Beetles) approved of the flava', so I am set:) Here is the recipe (drum roll please. Oh, and don't panic about the mayo...just DO IT)

Cream 1 3\4 cup sugar with 12 tablespoons (1 1\2 cubes) butter (softened)

Add 1\3 cup of mayo to this. Beat for 2 minutes

Add 4 large eggs (one at a time) ROOM TEMP

Add 2 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl, combine:

2 cups of ALL PURPOSE flour

3\4 cups cocoa

1 1\2 tsp baking soda

1\2 tsp salt

1 pkg of chocolate pudding mix:)

Add this dry mixture to the first mixture a little at a time...alternating with some milk (total of 1 1\2 cups ROOM TEMP).

This recipe is one that I have gathered over the years and from many different places:) I love how moist and rich it is. If you like dainty, light, fluffy...don't come knockin on my door:) ENJOY! This makes 2 8" rounds or 36 cupcakes. I bake the cakes on 325 and cupcakes on 350

Soopah-stah

Lauren Meader is just that! I absolutely love what she does and what she shares. She used to design for Papertrey Inc, but has her own company now. Her templates are so easy and fun. You just download them, print them right on your cardstock that you'll be using, and WHAMO! Cuteness. This clutch took me about 10 minutes...seriously! This is what we'll be making Friday at our lil' get-together. Heidi, this is the template I mailed with you package. FUN. It's a nice size, too. Katie is gunna make cards\envelopes to give to her realtor if she finds her a house...I mean, WHEN she finds her a house to buy:) LOVE Papertrey cardstock. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Totally affordable and very luxurious:)...if paper can be luxurious. It is thick and sturdy and very rich in color. They do a nice job. See ya FRIDAY!!

Megan's got a new last name:)

What a BEAUtiful day it was today. It was a long awaited sunny day. The drive down to the venue was perfect...along the sound to Steilacoom. I absolutely love that lil' old town...crystal blue sky, mountains and water in the background...just GORGEOUS! I mastered the chocolate cake recipe...finally. The white cake needs a tad more tweeking, but pretty darn good. I even got to add fresh raspberries in the fillings of the tiers. YUM.

Copicable is a WORD

Ya know? I just can't seem to get a break. I have scrapped more scout and baseball pages in my life than I care to talk about. Don't get me wrong. I love my buddies and enjoy what they do, BUT, can I get a flower or froofy here and there once in a while. This is where you come in, Heidi:)

I love this paper set from CTMH. It was perfect for the occasion. The Copicable alphabet is also CTMH. LOVE IT. I love blending the colors. I find myself looking around for more copicable stamps:0 Here's a cute site: https://www.thereshegoesclearstamps.com/store/ I may have to get a few of these!

Sluggers

Did I ever say that I LOVE my gypsy? Sure do. Yup. I welded the "sluggers" and slanted it. Ah. Just right. Now, i just gotta make another one of these for Dallin's book. Got a lil' Steppenwolf on and it's time to bust out more pages:)

Birthday Theme

Katie Lou made this one...love the button cluster:) The speckles added a just-right-touch.

Chris made this beautimous card with gorgeous cardstock. I don't know if you can see it on the monitor, but it is a deep, sparkly black. Very classy.

This was mine. I had fun making it a lil' more boyish. The airplane's banner is continued on the inside...I even busted out my pearl paint for the clouds.

Patti made this card from a Martha Stewart set.... She made that ribbon lay so smoothly! I gotta find out her secret:) Fun colors.

Ladies, I loved having you over last Friday! We all made Birthday themed cards for our exchange. All turned out so different, so it was fun. After only 2 hours of talking and getting caught up, we made a 2 page layout with a template from Imagine. Our next exchange will be a layout using sewing.