Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Howdy!  I hope your weekend was productive! {smile}  Me, yeah!  I was surfing Pinterest over the weekend.  As most folks know, St. Valentine's Day, is my favorite holiday.  So, I was looking for some new card ideas, decorations, and of course food items!

I ran across a recipe of Strawberry Chocolate Chip cookies.  Ummm.  Interesting.  So, I read the recipe, and it sounds good.  And so I baked some.  You know, a trial run.  Will they bake as great as they are said to?  Will they taste wonderful?  And YES they are & do!!!

I got the recipe from Sally, HERE.  My cookies don't look as pretty as Sally's.  But, they will work.    Remember, this is the trial run.  and no, these are NOT pink chocolate chip cookies.  Remember, they are Strawberry flavored cookies with milk chocolate chips.  So, when we bit into them, it did take us by surprise.  Not overly strawberry-ish.  But, there is a strawberry flavor.  Not too surprising.  Just delightful!  

My next St. Valentine's Day treat, to try, will be Strawberry-Cherry Hand Pies.  Now how yummy does that sound!  Who knows, I just might make them heart shaped {smile}. 

Coral Lullaby

Thank you for stopping by.  I needed to get into my craft room, and create several gift card holders for a special order.  And well, sometimes, I have too many ideas going through my head, that it is sometimes a struggle.

Anyways, this order is for non-holiday and non celebration specific, gift card holders.  Oh, and she wants them crafted with Stampin' Up! products, only.  So, I headed into my craft room, and looked through what I have on hand, and well, it was a bit of a struggle.  {frown}

So, I used the same template I have used for several years now.  I like how simple they are.  I know that sounds like a negative remark.  But, I mean that as a compliment.  There is no belly band to slide off.  No particular opening.  No paper strip to tear.  Just open the flap, and there is your gift card.  Easy peasy, and elegantly simple.

I heat embossed the inside sentiment with white embossing powder.  I sponged Crisp Cantaloupe classic ink over the embossed lettering, and used a tissue to remove any ink on the letter.

Recipe:  I used crisp cantaloupe card stock for the base.  I used soft suede card stock as my matts.

The pattern paper (Designer Series Paper) is Lullaby DSP.  Yep, it is designed with a baby theme.  But, abstractly, the patterns work for almost anything.  I used the Hello There stamp set.

I machine stitched the baked brown sugar ruffled trim to the main panel.  Then I machine stitched Daffodil Delight seam binding to the edge of the ruffle trim.  I tied a multi-loop bow.  Then tied a simple bow with some coral bakers twine.  I hot glued a sparkle clay rosette to the center of the bow.

I stamped the sentiment 'so sweet of you' in baked brown sugar classic ink, onto whisper white card stock.  I used the extra large oval hand held punch to cut the sentiment.  I adhered the oval onto crisp cantaloupe card stock, and fussy cut the shape.  I then matted this piece onto soft suede card stock and fussy cut the shape.

Finally, I added a trio of coral faceted sequins.  I'm happy with how this turned out.  Now, I need to make a few more.  I hope she likes them.  {smile}

XO's For You

Welcome.  I hope you are having a good first weekend of the year!  Me, I'm doing good.  {smile}  I don't know if it is the 'freedom' I feel, now that my craft room is clean and organized, or I simply found some mojo.  Either way, I will take it!

I visited a favorite sketch challenge blog site this week, Cardabilites, and finally got a chance to sit down at my crafting desk, and whip up a card.  Ok, I don't really 'whip-up' a card.  For those who know me, a 'fast' made card still takes me an hour or so.  This one, a bit longer.  I wanted to use some pattern papers I had already cut.  So, I dug through my scrap box to find: colors that I liked, pattern that went together, and papers that made me smile.  Simple process, really.  Now, I just needed to sit and put it all together.  And that is not always so easy.  Three hearts later, and two different blossom centers, I found created what works for me.  

To start, the sketch looks easy to work with.  Use a doily, add a blossom, and you have your two circle elements.  Well, that isn't exactly the direction I went.  

Recipe:  The card base is crumb cake by Stampin'Up!.  The first text matt is from Melissa Frances.  The next blue matt is a pattern paper I received as part of a prize from playing along with the lovely ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge.  The pink main panel is the only piece of this pattern paper from Bazzill I have left.  I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!, adhered them together and then did a purposefully 'sloppy' machine stitch.  I went around the card twice.

My first circle element is a doily.  The doily was cut with a doily die, by Paper Trey Ink, using glitter paper by, Stampin' Up!.  The second circle element is a circle {smile}.  I used a white text, aqua pattern paper I think is from Carta Bella.  (It's another scrap piece.)  I used a die to cut this 2" circle.  For the cluster in the second circle element, I built my piece.  I cut a heart shape from some cream felted wool.  I used a retired heart die, by Stampin' Up!   I cut the same heart shape from some silver polka dot vellum card stock.  The flower shape was cut with another retired die, by Stampin' Up!  I used a small scrap piece of another pattern paper from the collection by Bazzill.  The smaller blossom was cut with the same retired die, by Stampin' Up!, but I used some aqua mist felted wool, by Paper Trey Ink.  I ran this circle collage through my sewing machine, using a simple stitch.  

I tied some cream twine through a cream vintage button, both by Paper Trey Ink.  I used hot glue to attach the button.  The leaves were made with a scrap of green pattern paper from Nostalgia.

I added a scrap piece of cream crochet trim, by Paper Studio.  I didn't have a long enough piece to wrap around the card front.  But after 'playing' with this trim, I found I really like how it doesn't cover the card front.

I didn't add blossoms and banner for my sentiment.  Instead, I made a multi-loop bow with 1/4" silk ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink.  I also cut a tag from Whisper White card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  I used the tiny tag die, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped my tag with two sentiments from the same stamp set, by Stampin' Up!.  This set has been retired for over 6 years.  I sponged the edges of the tag with more crumb cake classic ink.  

And finally, to give my card a more feminine feel, I added a collection of white half faux pearls and clear rhinestones.

I originally set out to make a St. Valentine's Day card.  So, that is why the sentiment is 'XO's For You'.  This card will be for sale in my Easy shop, HERE.   I hope you enjoy the rest of your first weekend this year.  I am off to the kitchen to make some fresh bread.  Nothing fancy, just white bread.  But it makes the house smell wonderful! and it tastes amazing!  I'll post a photo on my InstaGram page, HERE.

  

Aqua Happiness, Today

Welcome! Whew, I think I am starting the new year off right!  Crafting!  Oh my goodness, this feels soooooooo good!  I know you crafters out there know this feeling!  Its bliss, happiness, accomplishment, and satisfaction all in one!

Ok, so I stalk visit Mojo Monday blog multiple times a week.  {yes, multiple}.  I know the challenge is posted for a week.  But i love to visit to see what people have posted.  I love to see what others create.  Sometimes, it really gets my mojo working, and I can 'see' the sketch in a different light.

So, this week, (yes, I have visited at least 4 times) I decided to play along with this incredibly talented group of ladies.  Here is this weeks sketch:

One of the things that I have noticed over the years with MOJO, is that they get on these little 'kicks'. A few years back, they would add a 'round' card to each month of sketches.  This past  year, and well it continues, is to add 'tall & skinny' sketches.  I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of this style of card.  Maybe its because I don't have envelopes for this 'size'. 

Anyways, I did create a card.  I'm not sure it will 'count' as 'tall & skinny', as I trimmed a 1/8" off the sides.  But, I do love the sketch.  So, here is my 'not so tall & skinny' card:

original image posted

photo taken 1/3/15

* the sun came out this morning, so I was able to re-photograph this card in natural light.

Recipe:  The card base is Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up!.  The matt is Kraft by Recollections. The first layer is a wood grain floral pattern paper.  This is actually a digital paper I purchased.  It's pretty sweet!  

For the two flagged ended papers, I used a digital bookmark pattern paper, and an actually pattern paper. 

For my belly band, I added a strip of gold glitter paper by Stampin' Up!.  I really wanted to add some sparkle.  I machine stitched some cream colored tulle fringe to the glitter paper.  I thought it added some interest, and a touch of softness.  I then machine stitched (zig zag stitch) a piece of cream crochet trim to the front of the card.

For my circle element, I added a cream fabric blossom.  But it looked too random and 'alone'.  So, I added a multi-loop bow made from 1/4" white silk ribbon from Paper Trey Ink.  

To me, the card needed a sentiment, or something, so I cut a tag with a tiny tag die, by Paper Trey Ink.  I used whisper white card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I attached the tag to the card front with a tiny metal button brad, by Stampin' Up!.  I also tucked in an aqua mist vintage button, by Paper Trey Ink.  I tied the button with a piece of cream twine, but only through 2 of the 4 thread holes.  And finally, I added a trio of marshmallow colored faceted sequins to the card front.

This card is also for sale in my Easy shop: InkwoodDesigns, if you love it some much you need to have it {smile}.  Now, if the sun comes out today, and I can get a better shot of this card, this post will be edited. {fingers crossed}

Enjoy the beginning of this new year!

Pink Birthday

following my crafting frenzy

Welcome!  I hope this new year is finding you well, happy, and starting something new!  {smile}  I have finished cleaning my craft room, from my holiday crafting frenzy! and wanted to craft something sweet in my clean space. {smile}  Now what could be better?  Maybe a cupcake. {wink}

holiday supplies packed

Ok, so I stopped by a frequently visited challenge site, to see what new challenge they are hosting:  Fusion Card Challenge.  If  you know me, you know this inspirational photo speaks volumes to me! Oh my goodness!  Pink, chalkboard, jars, cake, banner.  Awww, heaven.  OK, and the sketch is pretty, too!

The wonderful ladies at the Fusion Card Challenge have some wonderful creations, and said that you can use any/all of the items in the inspirational photo: chalkboard elements, pink, tan, gold, frames, Birthday, jars, and cake.  LOVE IT!

here is what I made:

original photo

photo taken 1/315

* the sun came out this morning, so I was able to re-photograph this card in natural light.

Recipe:  The card base is made from cream card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  I used kraft card stock from Recollections as the anchoring matt.  The pink polka dot pattern paper is the reverse side of a pretty red/pink floral pattern from Carte Bella.  The pink/white ledger pattern paper is from Teresa Collins.  I did a simple machine stitch all the way around the card.

I wanted to add a hint of gold.  So, I added a 1" scallop trim gold glitter paper by Stampin' Up! as my belly band.  I then machine stitched a cream tulle sloppy pleat.  I then added a strip of tea stained fabric rosettes.

For the my added shape, I tied a multi-loop bow with some light pink seam binding.  I added a double loop of pearl strings behind the bow.  

For my oval shape, I cut a oval-ish shape from a floral ledger digital paper.  I wasn't sure how/where to add a birthday sentiment, so I simply stamped it on the digital pattern paper.  I did a repeating sentiment to help fill the space.

And, as a final touch, I added a trio of pink rain drops and a trio of sequins (2 coral, and 1 white).

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  I hope you were inspired to participate in the One Year Anniversary Celebration over @ Fusion Card Challenge.  I will be posting this card in my Etsy shop soon.  {smile}

New Year 2015

Happy New Year

I am always inspired and re-charged to start a new year.  It's an opportunity to change something.  I don't know about you, but I tend to make several new year resolutions and usually around march they have been pushed aside, and not kept up with.  But this year will be different.  No, I promise.  I am changing the way I look at my resolutions, and hopefully this changes the way I think.

For starters, Helen and the wonderful group over @ Holstee have a different way of starting your year.  Don't simply look back on it: relishing the good times/memories, and fretting over your regrets.  

But, rather learn from the past year.  Take a good hard look at your year.  What inspired you? What lessons have you learned?  What regrets do you have?  How can you change your path?  What can you learn from these experiences?

So, I am changing the way I think.  Hopefully this will change the way I act.  

One of my top resolutions is to stop spending.  To use what I have.  Repurpose, and reuse.  This will help my wallet/bank account, and help the environment.  So, both me and mother earth benefit.  

My other resolution is to do what makes me happy!  I don't mean rob a bank, or steal a car, or some other non productive, irrational behavior.  I'm also not referring to the 1980's motto.  But rather paint, draw, bake, craft, . . . . create.  Spend time with those who matter in my life.  Spend time doing hobbies.  Because these simple acts do bring ME joy.

And finally, take care of myself.  In the whole meaning!  Eating better, trying to get more than 4/5 hours of sleep a night.  drinking less coffee.  And exercising.  I know that it will lower my blood pressure, reduce my stress, make me 'happy', and help change my focus.  This resolution: exercising, is the hardest for me.  Not that I don't think I'm important, but basically 'I don't have time'. So, I have enlisted the help from my friends.  We are all training for a marathon.  I purchase my running shoes tomorrow.  I am downloading an app on my phone today.  

All of us have limits, have obligations, have 'things'  that hold us back.  So, use this day, to help break out, and break free of these limits and live the life you dream of!  Holstee has a great inspirational manifesto.  I have purchased the poster.  Last year.  And this year, it will be framed and hung on a wall, to 'inspire' me everyday!

I wish you all a great year.  And the strength to change what you want/need to change!

So, I ask the question: do you make new year resolutions?