Recent Cards

I have been trying to find time to let my creative brain go, and lately we have had lots of excuses to pull out the paper, stamps, and ink and make a mess in my dining room. Here are some of my creations. . . .

Both use Stampin' Up's new set, Polka Dot Punches. This gift bag is a basic white bag with the images stamped in pretty in pink, going gray, and pixie pink inks. The gift tag, uses pretty in pink and white paper, and pretty in pink button, and ink.

I found a card very similar to this online and thought I might try it out for the mother's in our family. It was a lot of fun to make!

Mommy and Me tea

This past Saturday, our children's ministry at church held a tea party for mom's and daughters. I got the opportunity to host a table, which meant I had to carefully pack up my "good stuff" and haul it to church and then set my table. I had so much fun!

This was my table with all my pretty stuff.

This was the favor I made for the people who sat at my table. I really wanted it to match my table. Cardstock is Navy Blue and White. Silver and white scrapbook paper is from Stampin' Up (I have forgotten the name of it). Stamp in Polka Dot Punches and the matching paper punches.

Stamp fun

I have been really busy with putting together our church cookbook, that I just haven't had time to do very much. But, I did get some time to stamp some things on Saturday because I needed some cards.


This baby card uses the baby carriage from Nice and Narrow (Stampin' Up) and a baby stamp from a retired set (also from Stampin' up). Paper is Buckaroo Blue and Barely Banana (Stampin' Up). The ribbon I got from Micheals. To achieve the shadowy effect around the white edges I flicked the white paper with a sponge dabbed in the Buckaroo Blue ink. It is one of my favorite things to do with a card, especially if it just needs something to make it pop. I don't have the matching pen, so I used my watercolor maker and dabbed it in the ink to color the carriage, heart, and wheels. This is a very easy card to make!

This is my new set from Stampin' Up's most recent promotion Sale-A-Bration. I absolutley loved it the moment my eyes saw it. In fact, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. So, when my friend recently had her baby, it gave me ample opportunity to make some cookies and put them in a bag.

Inside the bag are Cranberry Hootycreeks. Our Mops group made them at our Christmas Craft Night last year, and I just fell in love with them. The recipe is meant to be given as a gift (like in a jar), but I just make them. The only adjustment I had to make is the flour; it just takes a little over 1 cup (about 1 cup and 2 tbs). Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS
5/8 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS
Layer the ingredients in a 1 quart or 1 liter jar, in the order listed.
Attach a tag with the following instructions: Cranberry Hootycreeks 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until fluffy. Add the entire jar of ingredients, and mix together by hand until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. 3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets, or remove to cool on wire racks.

Check-book cover

I love to scrapbook. The manipulation of paper and material to make something pleasing to the eye is so much fun. Here is a checkbook cover that I made today. I am not finished with it, I plan on doing something different with the K. Unfortunately, Jon, who writes way more checks than I do would like one that is a bit more masculine. So, I will be making another one soon.

Brownie Swirl Cheesecake

We recently had our supper for 6 group meet at our home. I needed to come up with an easy dessert to make and wanted it to be fun. I love it when I can find a cheesecake recipe that doesn't require a ton of cream cheese. This one only calls for 2! yeah! It was well recieved and the leftovers were awesome! I found this recipe here. It comes from the cookbook, Quickcooking.

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) brownie mix (that's about 1/2 of a regular brownie mix)
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup milk chocolate chips, melted
Whipped cream and miniature chocolate kisses, optional

Directions: Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for chewy fudge brownies. Spread into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes (brownies will not test done). Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour over the brownie crust. Top with melted chocolate; cut through batter with a knife to swirl the chocolate. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool completely. Remove sides of pan; refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Top with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

Cranberry Wreath

I really enjoy having my lady- friends over for lunch. Not only am I pretty much guaranteed great converstaion, but I can make things that I know Jon won't eat. This wreath is made of cressent rolls and then stuffed with a delicious cranberry salad. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Pre-cook 3 breasts of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, coo, and then shred. (or just go and buy 2 to 3 large cans of canned chicken breasts.

In a large bowl, combine:

1 cup mayonaise (i don't always use that much)

2-4 tablespoons of honey mustard

1 tsp black pepper

1 cup sliced celery

3 tbsp fresh parsley, snipped

1 cup dried cranberries

1-2 cups shredded swiss cheese

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Mix all items well, add chicken and mix again. Chill at least an hour. Put inside cressent wreath made with cressent rolls (2 cans). Bake until a nice golden brown.

This recipe came from a friend and Pampered Chef

Carrot Raisin Muffins like Mimi's

My favorite thing about going out for breakfast is Mimi's Cafe. It's really the only place that we go for breakfast foods. . . plus it is quite tastey! I always get something that comes with their fresh squeezed orange juice and a muffin. I used to order the blueberry, because that was my favorite. Then, one day, I got brave and tried the carrot raisin. . . it is now the best muffin on earth. Since, I can't eat at Mimi's every day I went on a search for a recipe that came close to the delciousness of Mimi's Cafe muffins. I have now made this recipe twice and it is so great! I make it muffin style. Next time I make them, I will have to post a picture.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 eggs

1/4 cup molasses

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup shredded carrot

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup chopped walnuts



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

3. In another bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs, molasses, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Add shredded carrot and mix. Add raisins and walnuts and mix well by hand.

4. Pour flour mixture into the other ingredients and stir until combined.

5. Pour batter into two ungreased 8-inch loaf pans. Bake for 60 minutes, or untildone. Makes 2 loaves.