Scrappy Mom's Terrific Tuesday Challenge!

Hi Everyone!!

I know I haven't been too present here, I've started working part time again at Doodlebug Sportz, and with my two days at Horse Head Quarters I've been busy. busy. busy. with minimal time for crafting!!

Anywhoo, it's been a while... a L-O-N-G while since I did any challenges... but here is one I saw today while I was browsing over at Lauren's Creative, where she is a design team member for Scrappy Moms Stamps. Her project is adorable, and I'm really loving the baker's twine. I found some on Etsy for only $3.25 for 100 yards, which I'm not sure if that is a good deal, but it sure sounds like it (without looking into it any further).

::Onto the Challenge::

The challenge is to use Sweethearts Cricut Cartridge, or something similar... I don't have Sweethearts, but I do have Wedding Solutions; so I've used it.

The base of the card textured yellow cardstock from the Mi Casa Stack by DCWV. Size is 10X5.5, scored at 3"& 7" and folded inwards.

The Just Married Car is cut at 2.65" from the Wedding Solutions Cartridge. The shadow is the same yellow as the base, with a white blackout layer and a black top layer. I used a metallic silver for the cans.

I've used my new Imagine to print the gingham background from Imagine More. I printed it as a full page and cut it to what I needed for lining the fronts and inside of this card.

The stamp on the inside is from Studio G, from Michael's in the $1 bin.

I've used a black, felt tip marker for the dotting around the card.

So, shhhhhhhh because I know of a couple getting married in the next few months, and vintage cute is totally her style, and even if the colors are off completely, this card will probably go to them.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Cheers!

Dawn

Santa Flying Layout & Bokeh

So, it's been a while; as normal seems now-a-days. Last Friday, we opted out of the typical 'oh my G-- we forgot to take Zoe to see Santa, we'd better hurry this weekend!!' and took her on a Friday afternoon. Luckily, I'd gotten her 'dressed' that morning (which is totally out of our ordinary, since she normally chooses her own outfits; especially on a Friday since it's our 'short' day at work (Doodlebug Sportz for your paintball and extreme sports needs& Used HD Parts on Ebay for Harley Davidson parts).

So, we all know I broke the law here; by photographing a photo I had to pay for, but honestly they basically raped us for the one photo ($21 for a wimpy 5X7, which was more of a 4.5X6.5 anyways...) so here is my big girl with Santa! She was thrilled to tell him all about the 'teeny, tiny, little house' she wanted (being a doll house) 'like Phenyx has' she mentioned; hopefully Santa knows our good friends Phenyx & Keelen, eh?

I've made it into a Christmas Layout, using the My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland Paper Stack and solid papers as well as some Tim Holtz Distress Inks and my Cricut Expressions, and Gypsy (with my FREE Christmas Cartridge I hadn't even looked at yet!) A HUGE thank you to Lauren, over at Lauren's Creative; because honestly; I had no clue this image was on the cartridge until I saw a layout she did using it with her adorable daugher on it.

Here is a close up of the sign I used, it's also from the 'Christmas' Cartridge that I got on my last Gypsy Upload for FREE!

I distressed the 'wood' of the sign using Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Walnut Stain Distress Inks, and then embossed it using the Cuttlebug Branches Folder.

Isn't this little image adorable? I had to copy Lauren on the faux stitching too... thanks Lauren! :-)

Totally off the topic, I've been checking out Kevin & Amanda's Blog lately, I used to use it for the Peas for Fonts Section, where you can get hundreds; literally HUNDREDS of adorable fonts for scrapbooking, signs, etc for FREE! Amazingly, Amanda creates them based on submissions people make and lets everyone have them for free! I use them all the time for things around my house and even at work when I need signs, and my handwriting isn't 'pretty' enough but normal Times New Roman or Tahoma isn't personal enough; feel me?

So, back to the topic ( I get excited easily... lol) and she did a post on Bokeh photography. Bokeh is actually just a 'background' if you will, and I was intriqued. Of course, being me I searched and searched on how to do it perfectly, and realized that she has the best description and directions anywhere on the web (better than my fellow photographers even!). So, using this tutorial; I took a few little shots of things like this--

Isn't it pretty? The christmas lights on the tree really make it sparkle. :-) So, a thanks to Amanda too; because she totally motivated me to try something new, and I may even use this in my photography shoots throughout the year now. By the way; have you looked at my photography site lately?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Dawn

Hunka Chunka Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies & a Lauren's Creative Project!

So, I know I enticed all of you with promises of seeing cookies-- and you will get to, but first more importantly, I need to share this amazing idea and video over at Lauren's Creative. I know that not everyone has kids, or wants them or plans to have them. But: everyone needs baby wipes. Be it in your craft room or car, purse or diaper bag; they are a must have for every woman. Being that I no longer (should) have to wipe butts and noses (but I do still) I try to keep wipes with me at all times, but get sick of carrying around the plastic bag packs, that crinkle in my purse and make so much noise, I feel like I'm doing something wrong with them!

Lauren over at Lauren's Creative is also a wonderful mother to an adorable little girl. She makes her little girl all kinds of cool stuff; from hair clips and ties to just adorable little girl related things. The one I had my heart set on fabric-lifting (is that even possible?) was this.

She made an A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E wipe case! I always seem to lose those stinkin' hard cases as soon as I buy them. I think that my daughter may eat them, because seriously- they don't even make it in the house from the store. I made this one for someone else special (who reads my blog and has a small child, or children maybe.....) and it fits her personality, and I loved the pattern. Sooooo cute, and I had fun making it.

There is a great video to show you how and there is also a recipe. I'm leaving this to Lauren, because she's done such a great job of it!



Here is another I whipped up real quick, and I think I like this one as much as the first! It would almost make a perfect little clutch!

Now... onto the cookies!!

These are called 'Hunka Chunka Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies' and they are from the book 'Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids' by Jill O'Connor. We got it as a wedding gift (along with some amazing kitchen goodies) and I have been eyeing this recipe for a few days now. I had to go grocery shopping today, so I got myself dark brown sugar and chocolate chips, since they were the two things I didn't have around.

Hunka Chunka Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

From Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids by Jill O'Connor (Chronicle Books, 2009)

Makes 18 big (like REALLY big, bigger then a softball big) cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or coat lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. (I didn't bother, I used silicone baking sheets on my cookie sheets and they always work!)

In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugars, vanilla, eggs, and egg yolk. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into the bowl and stir the ingredients together to form a soft dough. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Using a 2-ounce self-releasing ice-cream scoop or a 1/4-cup measuring cup, form large balls of cookie dough. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, 9 to a sheet to allow room for spreading, and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake the cookies until they are golden brown and crisp around the edges but still slightly soft in the center, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before eating.

Anyways, Zoe watched me make these, and was helping the whole way through ('light on! light on! (in the oven)) and then the demands of cookies. Which after they cooled a little I gladly gave her to taste. YUMMMMM-- they were definitely better than the Albertson's cookies we worship around here, and really not too difficult to make.

Enjoy!

Dawn