Thursday, September 30, 2010

Scrapbook Page of the Week..."Autumn in Oklahoma"


Autumn is my FAVORITE time of the year! I just love the cool crisp air, the beautiful rich colors, the smells, and, of course, getting to wear sweaters and jackets again!

Although the leaves haven't started to turn their gorgeous colors yet here in Oklahoma, I thought I'd go ahead and share a scrapbook page with you that I created a few years back using photos that I took of some of the pretty fall things that I enjoy.

Here's a close-up photo of the little sign that I made using cardstock, stickers, eyelets and raffia:

Waiting patiently for the first leaves to change colors.....

Have a blessed day!
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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Blog Hop: Spooky Halloween Tin PLUS Felt Ghost Instructions and Pattern

Hi, All! Tresa Black, (aka the Stamp Goddess), is hosting a Halloween blog hop so I thought I'd join in. Be sure to check out her blog, Fabulously Artsy for some AMAZING craft projects and while you're there, why not enter the blog hop with a Halloween project of your own?

My project is a super cute Halloween treat tin! I purchased the tin a while back at Hobby Lobby for just $1.00 because it was missing the wire handle! I knew that I'd be able to work with the tin even without the wire handle, and for a buck how could I pass it up?!?!? Anyway, here are some photos of the project...

Here's the front of the treat tin. I used Halloween-looking scrapbook paper and ribbon that I had on hand; cut the paper and ribbon to size and applied repositionable adhesive to the back using my Xyron machine. I then adhered the paper and ribbon to the tin as shown in the photos below:

Here's a photo of the lid...the bats are stamped from the CTMH "Beware" stamp set and double layered using 3-D dots for a little extra dimension:

A close-up of the bloodshot eyes:

A close-up top view of the ribbon handle:

A close-up side view of the ribbon handle, connected to the tin with a large white brad:


The ribbon handle is made from a piece of black ribbon that I purchased that had pre-attached silver eyelets. I wove a piece of orange ribbon through the eyelets, folded the ends under, and secured with a brad. I then adhered the pumpkin buttons to the ribbon using Liquid Glass, but I cut the shanks off of the backs first, so they would lay flat against the ribbon. Here are some close-up photos of how I dressed up the black ribbon:



Here's a close-up photo of the felt ghost, along with the pattern and instructions so you can make one too! These also make really cute lapel pins...just add a pin to the back with Liquid Glass and you've got a fun accessory for a jacket or sweater! Just click on the pattern to print a full-sized version.



To make the felt ghost, print and cut out the pattern pieces from the template shown above. Cut 2 ghost bodies out of white felt and glue them together. Cut 2 pumpkin bases and glue those together, too. Glue 1 pumpkin center to the top of the layered pumpkin base. Cut 1 brown felt stem and 1 green felt leaf and attach with glue to the pumpkin as shown in the photo. Glue finished pumpkin to ghost as shown in photo. Cut 1 nose from orange felt and 2 eyes from yellow felt. Attach with glue to ghost face. Glue black beads to the centers of the yellow felt ghost eyes. Using a fine-tipped black permanent marker, draw a squiggly smile on the ghost and your done!

Have a TERRIFIC week!!

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

3" x 3" Kraft Mini Album

Happy Saturday! I wanted to share some photos with you of a cute mini album that I created using Close to My Heart's 3" x 3" kraft album, which can be purchased for only $2.50, plus tax and shipping. (What a deal - eh??) The paper that I used is also from CTMH and is called "Caboodle". I aged the paper & coordinating cardstock with chocolate distressing ink...I just like the way that distressing adds a little depth to paper products! The CTMH stamp sets that I used are "Cottage Floral", (which will be discontinued at the end of 2010), and "State of Mind".

Anyway, here are the photos of my little decorated album that I've added a few of my favorite photos to:

The front and back of the closed album:


Here are photos of the 16 interior pages:
 And finally, here are photos of the inside front and back covers:
This little album packs a lot of photos in a tiny space and would make a wonderful gift! If you'd like to order one or more of these kraft albums so that you can decorate some of your own, please email me at beckybrown@myctmh.com. They sell for $2.50 each plus tax and shipping. 
Have a fun and safe weekend!
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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Recipe of the Week...Chicken Enchiladas El Grande


This recipe makes 30 chicken enchiladas, so it's a great dish when you need to serve a crowd! The recipe can be halved, though, or you can make the whole recipe and freeze half of the enchiladas to pop in the oven on another day!

Ingredients:
  • 8-10 boneless, skinless frozen chicken breasts (cooked as instructed below)
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 cups picante sauce or salsa
  • 4 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 cups shredded co-jack cheese
  • 30 corn tortillas
  • black olives (optional)
  • chopped roma tomatoes (optional)
  • vegetable oil for cooking tortillas
Method:
Layer thawed chicken breasts in a crockpot. Pour two cups picante sauce or salsa over chicken, cover crockpot, and cook on low for about 6 hours.

Remove cooked chicken from crockpot and shred by using two forks and pulling meat apart. Place shredded meat in a large bowl and add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the cooked sauce from crockpot to the shredded chicken. Stir in 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1cup picante sauce or salsa, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. chili powder, and 1 cup shredded co-jack cheese. Set mixture aside.

Heat vegetable oil in skillet. Line jelly roll pan with paper towels. Place corn tortillas, one or two at a time, into hot oil and cook for a few seconds on each side. Remove from skillet and place on jelly roll pan lined with paper towels to drain.

Once tortillas have been warmed, spread a spoonful of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla and roll up. Place in greased pan(s), seam side down.

Whisk together 1 can cream of chicken soup, remaining 1 cup of picante sauce or salsa, 1/2 cup of sour cream, and 2 tsp. chili powder. Spoon sauce mixture over the top of the enchalidas. Sprinkle remaining cup of shredded co-jack cheese over the top of the enchalidas. Garnish the top with diced roma tomatoes and sliced olives. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with additional sour cream, if desired, and ranch-style beans, a salad and/or corn.

ENJOY!!
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Monday, September 20, 2010

Washer Pendant Jewelry



A few weeks ago I saw a post on Haley Dyer's blog that included an instructional tutorial on how to create some really fun necklaces using washers, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and Liquid Glass to create a pendant. (Click HERE to view her instructional tutorial).

I decided to try something a little different than hers, and decorated both sides of my washer pendants to create two distinct necklaces out of one pendant!

Here are photos of the pendants only. The first photo is of the front side and the second photo is of the back side:



The next two photos are of the finished necklaces with cording, beads and clasps attached:

Note: The one with the letter "P" charm is for my sweet friend Phyllis, who is celebrating a birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PHYLLIS!!!

Finally, here is a photo of the finished ends of the cording. I used sterling silver crimps, jump rings, and lobster clasps.
These were fun to make, but pretty time consuming since you've got to wait several hours for the pendants to dry between coats of Liquid Glass. All in all though, I'm pleased at how they turned out and I plan to make some more!

Thanks for looking and have a WONDERFUL day!

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Justin's Successful Shooting Competition

As many of you know, Mike and Justin are avid hunters/outdoorsmen and they also shoot competitively. Yesterday they enjoyed the comaraderie of a local church skeet and trap shoot competition between our church, (Cedar Ridge Christian Church), and Northside Christian Church. Justin did exceptionally well! He took first place in the skeet shoot...Mike came in second place, but no medal for him. Justin took second place in the team trap shooting competition and also earned the award for high over-all shooter at the competition. Here's a photo of him with his medals:
 Justin has been shooting competitively off and on for several years now, and has dreamt of one day being able to shoot on the U.S.Olympic Skeet Team. During the summer of 2005 we visited the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, which is where the Skeet Team trains. Justin was in HEAVEN! Here's a photo of him at the training center:



Thanks for letting me brag about my son to you! Have a great week!
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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Altered Band-Aid Tin Sewing Kit


Happy Saturday! I wanted to take a minute to post a project that I created using a Band-Aid style tin. (I like to purchase tins in bulk through Amazon.com...you can find all shapes and sizes at good prices on their website). It's a mini sewing kit, which is so handy to keep in a desk drawer at work, the glove compartment of a car, or even in a purse! One never knows when an emergency repair might need to be made! (I purchased the components of the sewing kit at Dollar General for a buck).

The tin is 3 1/2" tall x 2 3/4" wide x 1" deep. I cut a piece of scrapbook paper, (the paper shown on my box is from the CTMH Bella collection), 3 1/4" high x 8" long, which gives a little extra length to overlap the ends. I ran the paper thorough my Xyron machine, using repositionable adhesive so that I could adjust the paper on the box as needed, and then applied the paper to the box.

To create the pocket on the front of the box, which holds the mini scissors, I cut a piece of 1 1/2" wide green grosgrain ribbon to a length of 2 1/4". I folded the bottom corners of the ribbon to form a pocket design and pressed with a hot iron to hold in place. I folded the top of the ribbon under by about 1/4" and pressed under to hold down. I then applied Terrifically Tacky Tape to the pressed under edges of the pockets to firmly hold the pocket shape in place. I used glue dots to attach a scrap piece of yellow ric-rack to the top edge of the pocket, tucking the edges under and securing with Terrifically Tacky Tape. I applied more Terrifically Tacky Tape around the 3 edges of the pocket, leaving the top open to slide the scissors into, and adhered the pocket at an angle to the front of the tin. I tied a coordinating ribbon through the holes of a wooden button and attached it to the front of the pocket using glue dots.

To add a little extra foo-foo, I tied various kinds/colors of ribbons to the handle.


For the contents, I slid the spools of thread onto a piece of coordinating organza ribbon. Here's how I created the little felt "case" to house the needles, buttons, pins, etc.:

Using pinking shears, cut a piece of felt 5 1/2" long x 2 1/2" wide and fold in half. Set aside. Cut another piece of felt with pinking shears  2 3/4" long x 2 1/2" wide. Place the smaller piece of felt inside of the folded piece of felt. Using a Crop-a-Dile, punch 2 holes, through all 3 layers of felt, about 3/8" down from the folded edge. Space the holes about 1/2" apart. Cut a piece of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon 5" long and run through the holes to secure the felt together. Tie ribbon into a knot and trim the ends as desired. Attach the pins, needles, needle threader, buttons, etc. as desired to the felt. I laced the buttons onto a coordinating piece of organza ribbon, and the attached the ribbon to the felt with a safety pin.



Slide the pin/needle holder and the spools of thread into the tin and you've got yourself a super cute little sewing kit to go!

Have a fun and safe weekend!

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Recipe of the Week..."Banana Split Muffins"


Hi! This week's recipe is a real kid pleaser...I hope you like it!

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup light sour cream
  • 1/4 cup margarine, melted
  • 1 banana, mashed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 to 2 Tablespoons milk
  • Cherry jam
  • Coconut (optional)
  • Pecan halves
  • Chocolate syrup (optional)
Method:
Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the next 5 ingredients, adding a little milk if the batter seems too thick. Spoon batter into greased muffin cups, filling each cup about 1/3 full. Drop a teaspoon of cherry jam into the middle of each muffin, and then spoon remaining batter on top of jam. Sprinkle top with coconut, if desired, and add a pecan half to the top of each muffin. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes and cool slightly before removing from pan. Drizzle with chocolate syrup, if desired, before serving.

YIELD: 10 - 12 muffins

(NOTE: These freeze well and are great to pack in lunches!)

Enjoy!
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

WOW! I'm a Blog Candy Winner!!

I'm so excited! I found out today that I'm the winner of some sweeeet blog candy from Aaron Brown's blog! (Click HERE to visit her blog and to see all of the beautiful paper bag cards that were entered in the contest).This is my first time to win blog candy...I haven't entered very many blog contests, so I'm SUPER thrilled to find out that I won! WOOHOO!!

Here's a photo and list of what I won...isn't Aaron generous?!?!?  THANK YOU AARON!!!


Large white pail (7" diam. x 5.5 tall)



3 Tin boxes (2 with clear lids and 1 rectangle)


1 white band-aid tin


1 package of making memories red, blue and white ribbon


1 package of pink and black beaded trim


olive green wrinkle ribbon


1 mini roll of KI memories pink ribbon


1 package of key rings


2 DVD tins


1 jr legal pad-fits in dvd tin


2 list pads


a stack of papertrey ink recipe cards


3 mini clear stamp sets (2 from inkadinkado, one from target)


1 package of aqua blue bling brads


1 mini acrylic bird album


4 binding clasps


1 hat pin


2 tim holtz swivel clasp


5 charms (hearts, baby feet and snow flake)


1 vintage brad


1 locket charm
 
HOLY CATS!! My creative mental wheels are turning like crazy thinking about the fun altered projects that I'm gonna make with all of those tins and accessories!!
 
Happy Scrappin'!!
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Paper Bag Card

Hi! While browsing some of my favorite blogs last night, I stumbled across a new card project on Aaron Brown's site. (Be sure to check out her blog...she is SUPER creative!!) She used a paper bag to create a fun and unique card and created a 2-part video tutorial to teach us how to make one too. Here are the links to her tutorial:
After watching her tutorials, I immediately went to my stash of craft supplies and grabbed a paper bag that I had on hand. (I used a yellow bag rather than a kraft one like she uses in the tutorial). Here is my version of the paper bag card:


Not to toot my own horn, but I think it turned out pretty stinkin' cute - hee! hee! My mental wheels are turning...wouldn't it be cute to use red or green paper bags and coordinating papers to create Christmas cards??? You could leave the end of the bag open and slide in a Christmas family newsletter and then add a photo to the left side of the inside of the card; stamping a holiday sentiment on the right side of the inside of the card and then add your family signature(s).

On a final note, Aaron is giving away some cool blog candy too...all you have to do enter is make a paper bag card, post it on your blog, and then leave a comment on her blog, along with the link to your paper bag card post. The contest ends at noon tomorrow, so why not enter your creation and have a shot at winning some blog candy too??

Have a blessed day!
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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Scrapbook Page of the Week...Using Old Jeans for Embellishments

Today I'm going to share with you two scrapbook pages that I created using denim scraps from Justin's old jeans! It's a fun way to recycle and incorporate an everyday item into a lasting memento.

The first page is from 2004 as Justin was entering the 9th grade. I used a pocket that I removed from an old pair of his jeans, to slide journaling tags into. One of the tags document my feelings about him entering high school, and the other tag lists some of his favorite things at that time. (Movies, foods, music, etc.) The ties on the tops of the tags are strings that I created by fraying a strip of his old jeans.  Here are the photos:



 The second scrapbook page that I'm sharing with you was created during Justin's 17th summer. I tore narrow strips of denim from another pair of his worn out jeans, and ran those strips through a concho. I then attached that embellishment to the upper left corner of the page. Here are the photos of that layout:



Below is a close-up of the journaling strips, which read:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.


I hope these tips, scrapbook pages and denim embellishments have inspired you to look at old jeans in a new way! Get creative in how you use denim on your scrapbook pages...I'd love to see what you create so please feel free to email your ideas and photos to me!

Happy Scrappin'!!
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