A Couple of Birthday Cards

Hi Everyone!

It's been a very busy day.  I almost didn't post today, but maybe someone would miss me, so here I am.  I have a couple of birthday cards to share with you.  Both of them are based on the same sketch, but because of the papers I used they look quite different. 

I used Lawn Fawn paper and Lockhart stamps to create the first card.

 

 

I found the tag in my stash and decided it would like nice on a card.  The tag and the layering paper are from Momenta.  I used a Lockhart stamp to create the sentiment. 

 

Have a nice night!

Carol



Happy Birthday George Washington

Hi Everyone!

Yesterday was George Washington's birthday and even though he really did not chop down the cherry tree, I did make a couple of cherry things to celebrate the day.  I used the Lockhart Perfect Cherries stamp to create the image on my card.

The patterned paper I used is from PaperTrey Ink.  I ran it through a Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder.  I used colored pencils to color the stamped image and then added Glossy Accents to the cherries.  The sentiment was created with another Lockhart stamp. 

For dinner I  made Cherry Blintze Souffle.  This was the first time I used cherry blintzes for this recipe.  The first time I was served this yummy dish it was made with blueberry blintzes so for more than 25 years I've made it with blueberry blintzes, but not today!  I spotted Golden Cherry Blintzes in the freezer section of Stop &  Shop about a week ago and bought 2 packages for tonight's supper. 

A blintze is a crepe which is a thin pancake.  I prefer the "Golden" brand to all other brands.  The finished souffle doesn't look very exciting, but when you dig in and try it, I think you will love it.

 

 

Here's the recipe.

 

Melt one stick of margarine or butter in the bottom of a 9" x 13" glass pan.  Roll 2 packages of blintzes in the melted margarine.  Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar. 

 

Mix 6 eggs, 16 ounces sour cream, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup orange juice, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, one teaspoon vanilla, and a dash of salt together.  Pour this mixture over the blintzes.  Sprinkle generously with additional cinnamon sugar.  Bake at 350 for one hour. 

 

Serve it for breakfast.  Serve it for brunch or lunch.  Serve it for supper.  If you make it please let me know what you think of it.

 

Have a nice day!

Carol

 



Set of Cards

Hi Everyone!

About 4 years ago I purchased the Around Town Tote download from PaperTrey Ink.  The download has templates for a small and a large tote.  I love to keep a stash of both sizes.  The small tote is perfect as a gift card holder.  The large tote is perfect for a small gift or a set of cards. 

I use heavy 12" x 12" patterned paper to create the totes.  I cut the paper down so that it measures 8.5" x 11" and run it through my printer so that the template prints on the back side of the paper.  I cut just within the black lines so that the lines do not show when the tote is assembled.  I use the paper that was leftover after I cut it down to create a coordinating gift tag or mini card.  Sometimes I use it to create coordinating note cards.

I keep the totes simple.  I mostly choose papers that can be used for any occasions.  Sometimes I decorate the front of a tote at the last minute, but as I said mostly I keep them simple. 

Here's a large tote that I made yesterday.

It's made from sparkly and glittery paper from a Martha Stewart paper pad.  When you are scoring the folds, be sure to score gently.  Sometimes glittered paper cracks while you are scoring. 

I created 4 cards that coordinate with the tote and the button theme..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to use the same 4 themes again and again for a card set.  I usually make a birthday card, a thank you card, a get well card, and an all occasion card.  I use the tote bag and set of 4 cards as a hostess  or birthday gift.  That's why I like to have a stash of them waiting for me.  It means I can just grab one and go. 

Having some friends over for a potluck luncheon today.  Need to make a pot of soup.

Have a great day. It's a sunny one here!  Sunny, but cold and windy.
Carol

The Alley Way Stamps Part 2

Hi Everyone!

I LOVE 3 day weekends.  I always take advantage of that extra day off and get so much done.  I made an ABC Names book and a Names Counting book for school today.  I worked on my lesson plans and did some papercrafting. 

I used my "Spring Is Sprung" stamps from The Alley Way Stamps to create a baby boy and a baby girl card. 

Here's the baby girl card.

As I told you yesterday as soon as I saw that bunny I knew I had to own it.  I paper pieced it, added Glossy Accents to the polka dotted pieces, and used White Enamel Accents on the feet.   The sentiment is from another set from The Alley Way Stamps called, "Priceless Joy".

Here's the baby boy card.

 

I paper pieced the chickie on this card.  I ran some white tag through an embossing folder and used that tag for the wings, beak, and feet.  The sentiment is also from "Spring Is Sprung".  The ribbon and buttons are from my stash.

 

My stash of gift bags and cards is growing by leaps and bounds.  I'll be back tomorrow to share more of them with you.

 

Enjoy what is left of today!

Carol

 



The Alley Way Stamps "Spring Has Sprung"

Hi Everyone!

A package was waiting for me when I came home from school yesterday.  It was a set of clear stamps called "Spring Has Sprung" from The Alley Way Stamps. 

Although I prefer wooden stamps there are a few companies that produce clear stamps that I love.  The Alley Way Stamps is one of those companies.  The quality of their stamps is outstanding, their images are adorable, and they ship quickly.  The owner and artist of the company, Alison, always takes the time to respond to all of the questions and comments I send to her. 

The images on this first card are from "Spring Has Sprung".  The word bubbles are from "Talk to Me", but the sentiments are from "Spring Has Sprung".  I addded Glossy Accents to one of the jelly beans, the carrot, and the chick's and bunny's noses.  I used foam tape to adhere the sentiments to the card.

The basket on this second card was created with a Martha Stewart punch.  All of the other pieces are from "Spring Has Sprung" with the exception of the word balloon which is from "Talk to Me".  I added Glossy Accents to the chick's beak, wings, and feet.  I used foam tape to adhere the sentiment to the card.

 



Enjoy your Saturday!

Carol

 

Thanks a Bunch

Hi Everyone!

Have you ever spent Valentine's Day in a preschool classroom?  Picture 18 children with 18 valentines each to deliver.  YIKES! 

We used tissue boxes to create mailboxes.  The children decorated their mailboxes with doilies, heart shaped buttons, valentine mini muffin wrappers, silk flower petals, punched out hearts, pompoms, foam heart stickers, and more.  We made them on Tuesday so they would be dry by Thursday.  (Preschoolers LOVE to use a lot of glue!)

We asked each parent to have their child sign the back of 18 valentines and put them in blank envelopes.  That way each child could deliver a valentine to each mailbox without having to read or match a name. 

Sounds easy enough and for most children it truly was an easy task.  But for others...well, they needed a little help.  Happily, one of the parents offered to help the children deliver their cards.  She stayed and helped until each and every valentine was in a mailbox. 

I gave her a hug and thanked her for the help.  When I got home I realized how truly grateful I was for her help and decided to make her a thank you card.

I used my Memento markers to color directly on a Hero Arts Newspaper Tulip wooden stamp.  Then I used a Tim Holtz mini mister to spritz the stamp.  I pressed the stamp onto some white tag.  The result as you can see is a watercolor look. 

The text was created with a Lockhart sentiment stamp. 

Have a wonderful day!
Carol

Happy Valentine's Day

Good Morning Everyone!

This is my second post for today.  Just wanted to say...

Saw this on Pinterest and had to make them for some of my co-workers.

Made from a package of Rolo candy and a Hershey's kiss!  How cute is that!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!
Carol