Thursday, February 28, 2013

Enjoy Your Travels

A little suitcase shaped card for a friend going to Europe on vacation this week!
Supplies Used:
  • Kraft Cardstock
  • Stamps
    • French Script (Stampin' Up)
    • World Travels stamp set
    •  Postmarks (Autumn Leaves)
  • Circle punch
  • Homemade glitter dew drops
  • Tiny Tags Die (Provo Craft)

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Pecan Pie Bars

I made these for my husband's "birthday cake" last week -- He's not a fan of real cake, but LOVES these delicious bars. 

Pecan Pie Bars
Crust
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Filling
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted
pinch of salt
  2 cups pecans


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Grease a 9 x 13 in. baking pan.
Blend together crust ingredients until smooth.
  Press crust dough into prepared baking dish. 
 Bake for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, beat eggs until bubbly.  
Mix in sugar.
  Add corn syrup, salt vanilla, and melted butter.  
Stir in pecans. 
 Pour filling over the baked crust. 
 Bake for 30 minutes.
  Let cool before cutting into squares.  
Serve and Enjoy! 
Optional: You can also add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the filling make them Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars!


Monday, February 25, 2013

Bird Tags Take Two

So I decided that I didn't like the bird tags I posted last week so I started over.
I like these versions much better than the first two I made.
I love how springy this looks with the pink, purple, and teal!
 For these flowers I used flower soft and I LOVE how they turned out
Closer view of the flower soft flowers.
Since I really didn't like how the 1st go around turned out...
 ...I ripped the flowers off and started over!
I like these a whole lot better!
Supplies used:
  • Stamps
    • Transparent Treasures
    • Flower Triplet 
  • Embossing Folders
    • Diamonds (Sizzix)
    • Wood Grain (Darcie) 
  • Punches
    • Martha Stewart Branch Punch
    • Ribbon
  • Flower Soft 
    • Heather
    • Summer
    • Sweet Pea
    • Fuchsia
  •  Studio G Glitter
  • Scallop Oval Punch 
  • Shredding Scissors
  • Birdie Coloring page from here 
  • Inspiration for these tags came from Misty's Mess
This post linked to:

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Samoas Scones

I spent an afternoon this week with new friend from the Czech Republic (along with  her 18 mo. old son) and a young friend who moved here from New York not long ago.
   We enjoyed a small tea party while visiting the afternoon away.
Here's the recipe for these delicious delicacies!
Samoas Scones
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, chilled and cut into pieces
1 cup milk
6-oz semisweet chocolate, melted w/tsp. of oil to thin

1 cup caramel sauce 
 3/4 cup shredded coconut
Preheat oven to 400F.
Grease baking sheet.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Cut in chilled butter.
Add 1 cup milk
Divide dough in half.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten into a disc about 1/2-inch thick.
Cut into 8 wedges.
 Repeat with second piece of dough.
Bake for 16-20 minutes, until scones are a light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Melt the chocolate in a small bowl.
 Combine caramel and coconut in a small bowl.
Spread scones with the caramel and coconut mixture
Drizzle with chocolate
Makes 16 scones.
Serve and Enjoy!
(Adapted from Crustabakes) 
This post linked to:

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

With Sympathy

Here's a small sympathy gift I made for a friend's mother who lost her husband suddenly last week.
I don't know her well, but wanted her to know she's in our thoughts and prayers.
Because I've not had a lot of time for "crafty" things of late, I kept the card simple.
Supplies used:
As a gift I baked her a fresh loaf of Banana Bread (recipe below)
I put the loaf into a gallon sized zip-lock bag and then wrapped it in tissue paper.
A pretty ribbon and crocheted flower add a bit of pretty to the gift. 

My personal preference when making quick breads is to use recipes with oil in them -- they usually turn out very moist and delicious!
Banana Bread
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 - 3 very ripe bananas
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 T. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
Optional: Nuts or chocolate chips
Combine oil, sugar, eggs, bananas, baking soda, baking powder, milk, and vanilla.
Mix well.
Mix in flour, nuts and/or chocolate chips.
Pour into a greased loaf pan.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Cool - Slice - Enjoy!
(Tastes even better the next day - if you have the patience to wait on that - I don't!)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Simple Valentines

Happy Valentines Day! 
Sharing two very simple cards celebrating love!
Supplies used:
  • Tails of True Love (House Mouse)
  • I love Your sentiment (Studio G)
  •  Little Girls sentiment (Simple Thoughts- Girl - Cloud 9)
  • Heart Punch
This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday
V's Sweet Ideas

Friday, February 8, 2013

Rubber Ducky Baby Basket

Here's a baby gift I made up for a friend's shower tomorrow.
She told me once she wanted to do the baby's bath things in the yellow ducky theme.
I had a lot of fun making up this basket of goodies in a yellow and orange color scheme.
Here's what's inside:
Hooded towel and washcloths

I had baby wash and lotion in the basket, but when I found out that the new mom didn't need any more I exchanged them for something she did need --- white newborn onesies.
There's also a yellow ducky sleeper and some cute hair clips.
Two little ducky toys -- the one on the right tells you if the water is too hot.
Also included a Cheerios snack container.
These things matched the colors I was using -- 
Wet wipes in and orange/yellow wrapper
Orange hairbow
First toothbrush/toothpaste
Every new mom needs books to read her baby -- I included three!
Two are board books and the third a Little Golden Book Collection
Two Cedarmont kids CD's
(in orange/yellow cases of course!).

Here's the little card I made to go along with the theme
Supplies:
  • Heart Template
  • Duck Template
  • Martha Stewart branch punch
  • Quilling tool (for rolled rose)
  • Orange button/brad
  • Sewing maching
  • Sizzix marker (faux stitching)


This post linked to:
I Gotta Create

Monday, February 4, 2013

Cluck, Cluck

I spotted these cute little chicken cards (on Splitcoast Stampers) some time ago, but only recently got around to making some!
I made two in each color scheme -- and may end up making more since I like them so much!
I love the heart wing and button eye!
 So how do you like my "country chics?"
Supplies used:
  • Kraft Cardstock
  • Heart Stencil
  • Twine
  • Buttons
  • Tiny Tags Die (Provo Craft)

Friday, February 1, 2013

Find Joy in the Little Things

Another masculine card using the same fishing theme as yesterday's cards.
I made two in this design.

Supplies used: