Easter Decor

I wanted to share a fun Easter diy project that I found here via Pinterest.  This was super easy and fun for our whole family - my two young boys and yes, even Dad joined in! 

Here's our version:

Dynamic Duos #40

When I saw the colour combo of turquoise and black (with a dessert option of clouds) over at Dynamic Duos, I knew I wanted to play along!



Spring is around the corner, although you'd never know it with this freezing cold weather!  Nevertheless, I decided to go with this theme.  I used 3 different quilling techniques on this card: fringing for the little flowers on the branches; spirals for the birds' nest, and grape rolls for the eggs (however you can't really see the quilling here because of the glitter used).  The tree branch was designed free-hand and cut out. For the birds, I heat embossed, glittered, and cut them out.  I wasn't sure where to place the sentiment, and finally thought it would be a fun idea to have the birds offer it in the form of thought clouds, which, I just realized, is another fun interpretation of the dessert theme!

Card Recipe:

Paper:  Patterned paper: Kaiserkraft; browns and white: Recollections

Ink:  CTMH Black; Versamark

Stamps:  Verve 'Making a Statement'

Embellishments:  Martha Stewart Turquoise Glitter, Stampendous! Opaque Black embossing powder; CTMH pearls

Tools: Cuttlebug; Cuttlebug die; hole punch tool


Thanks for looking!

Mojo Monday #279

I've been following the Mojo Monday sketch challenges over the past couple of weeks, and finally found some time to participate for the first time!  I had some patterned butterfly paper sitting around for a while and finally decided to put it to use:

Card Recipe

Papers:  Recollections Teal Butterflies, Signature Black (glittered), white, and peach; CTMH Pear and Dotty for You

Embellishments:  CTMH pearls; Michaels' Melodie and Lace trim; Jolee's Boutique clear gems

Tools:  Martha Stewart butterfly and scalloped circle punches; Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles; Fiskars Circle Cutter;  Cuttlebug polka dot embossing folder; quilling tool (for butterfly antennae); 3-d foam tape

Zester

Anita and I both love our Microplanes!  We use it to zest lemons, limes, oranges, and to grate cheese with seemingly effortless ease!  If you don't already have one, we strongly suggest you pick one up.  You won't be disappointed!

Paper Players #130 & Dynamic Duos #37

2nd post of the day - a first for me!  Snow days are very productive around here!  After baking a batch of cookies (see earlier post on my Home page for a great double chocolate cookie recipe!), I had some time to finish off a card that I was working on for the following card challenges:
The Paper Players

 Dynamic Duos
 

Card Recipe:

Paper:  Patterned: CTMH 'Passages'; Recollections

Stamps:  Verve 'Amazing Wishes'

Ink: CTMH White Daisy

Emb: Jolee's Boutique flower; doily; CTMH Just Blooms, brads, Opaque Pearls, Canvas Badge, Twill ribbon, Hemp

Other: Cuttlebug EF; Verve Die

Thanks for stopping by! 

Double Chocolate Cookies

It's a snow day!  I just love snow days!  I'm home from work, my kids are home from school, and my husband's home too :)  Perfect occasion to bake up something yummy and fun (and maybe even make a card or two :) )

We all just love these cookies-they're soft with somewhat of a cake-like texture, and extra chocolatey:

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup salted butter, softenened

3 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder.  Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside.
• In a large bowl, blend brown and white sugars and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed to form a grainy paste.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour mixture and chocolate chips.  Blend at low speed just until combined.  Do not overmix.
• Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets, 1-1/2 inches apart.  Bake for 18-22 minutes.  Immediately transfer cookies to a cool surface.

Enjoy!

Life's A Journey

I was asked to make a fun, kid-friendly card for an elementary school teacher who was leaving her grade 2 class to move on to another job.  I thought of using either a sailboat theme, or road/path theme to compliment the sentiment, "life's a journey", but then I came across this hot air balloon stamp, and thought it would work best.

 

All the cute buildings and the sun were cut out from patterned cardstock - some buildings were cut out twice and pop-dotted, and, although difficult to tell in the photos, liquid glass was added to certain details to add brightness and dimension. The balloon was stamped, cut out, and embellished also.

Thanks for looking!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Inkadinkado 'Inspirational Lift'

Ink:  CTMH Chocolate

Emb:  Martha Stewart glitter; CTMH Liquid Glass; Liquid Pearls; 3D foam tape

Paper:  Kaiser Craft, K & Company, Recollections