Home-made, Hand-made

I have really embraced making things from scratch.  For those who don't know, I'm a baker at heart.  I make quite a few cakes for family, friends, and folks who are referred to me from family and friends.  There is a 'joy' from making something from your heart.  And I truly believe that.  

As I get older, (that sounds funny to me) I enjoy the simpilier life.  I enjoy a really good, home cooked meal.  As well as the process.  I still make my turnkey stock the old fashion way.  I still brine that holiday bird.  And I still enjoy the 2 day process of it all.  (Thanksgiving dinner is an absolute feast for my family.)  

A few years ago, I found a recipe for Blueberry Maple spoon fruit.  Its fresh blueberries that you cook and can.  The blueberrry mixture is so thick and rich, you spoon it on whatever your heart desires: ice cream, waffles, pancakes, you get the idea.  I never canned before, so I was pretty excited to try.  Well, the spoon fruit came out wonderfully and the experience I had canning (all by myself) was wonderful.  My full attention was on what I was doing, and the mere process of it all, was rather therapeutic.  

A few weeks ago, my oldest granddaughter asked me if we could cook something.  After several questions as to what she wanted to make, I discovered that she wanted me to teach her how to can.  Isn't that just precious?  Well, she wants to make cherry jam.  Ok, I have to admit, the thought to pitting all those cherries, was not an excitement I wanted to endure.  So, we agreed on Strawberry Jam.  

I can buy Strawberry Jam at any grocery store.  Heck, we all can.  So, let's use our time and efforts alittle more productive.  We made Strawberry Lemony Jam, and Vanilla Strawberry Jam.

The recipe for Vanilla Strawberry Jam, calls for a Vanilla bean cut in half and length wise to be added to the strawberries when you are cooking them down.  The Strawberry Lemony Jam, calls for the grated peel to be added to the strawberries when you are cooking them down.  We also cut our sugar from 7 cups to 4 cups.  I added a half a pat of unsalted butter to the cooking strawberries, so it wouldn't foam.  We canned these wonderfully delicious jams in these little jars.  The write-on labels will come right off in the wash.  I wrapped this beautiful red striped baker's twine around the lid and made these cute tags.

Note: these were canned 4-25-12.  I wrote the wrong year.

To make the tag, I colored a strawberry stamp with red and green markers and stamped on a wood sheet from Stampin' Up!.  I used a 1 1/4" circle punch to punch out the tag.  I used a fine tip sharpie to write the canning date.  I punched out a tiny white cardstock blossom, added a yellow brad to its center, and attached to the baker's twine.  On the back I wrote on three lines:  3 weeks opened ~refrigerate~  1yr on shelf.  Some of these little yummies will go along with hand-made, hand-stamped Mother's Day cards I made.   It's easier for me to mass produce, so here is a sample of the 26 cards I made.

I made them in a variety of different colors, but they are all the same.  I don't have 26 mothers, but I know 26 very special ladies who are mothers.  So, these will go out in today's mail.  I'm hoping the buttons don't make the postage crazy high.  Typically a flat card (which is hard for me to make) costs 64 cents to mail using the U.S. Postal Service.  A card with bulk, but fits in a regular envelope costs $1.24 to mail.  So, hopefully this one is closer to the 64 cents, and not more than a buck.  We'll keep our fingers crossed.  

For more details on the making of this card, please look at this post.  The change I made was adding the banner piece for the sentiment, and the button center paper blossom.  But, the technique remains the same, as well as the large background stamp I used.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that your week holds a chance for you to express yourself creatively.  Take care!

Note, I don't want to sound lazy, but we opted for Jam versus Jelly because of the whole cheese cloth and measuring the liquid process.

Just Because

This week is a crazy weather week for me!  I live in central New Mexico, and you'd think we would have the best weather around.  But, as I am writing this, I woke up this morning to 42 degree temperature.  Oh my, is that a bit chilly.  The skies here have been cloudy and dreary the last two days.  I wish it would either rain, or let the sun out.

And for those of you who have been following my dog Sasha's progress, she is getting around more.  However, she is not liking her physical therapy.  She usually shows us her teeth and attempts to snap at us.  She does not like you touching her back legs.  (Sasha, had bi-lateral knee replacements one and a half weeks ago.)  And we (me and my husband) are still taking turns sitting with her.  As she is not to be left alone until she is 8 weeks out from surgery.  This translates, to me being home bound, and I'm not really a home body.  (I enjoy the energy of the city.)

Anyways, the talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, have been hard at work, creating some gorgeous cards to help inspire you to play along with us!  So, grab your Stampin' Up! supplies, and lets create something beautiful!

Here is this weeks sketch:

Here is what I made:

And this is how I did it, and what I used.  The card base is Rose Red card stock.  The bottom panel piece is made up of First Edition DSP matted onto a piece of Soft Suede card stock.  The main panel of the card is a piece of Naturals card stock matted onto a piece of Pink Pirouette card stock.  For the stamp, I colored the image with my markers, huffed on the 'colored' stamp and then stamp.  I cut the banner piece from the same naturals card stock.  I stamped the sentiment twice, once on the card front, and then again on the banner.  I made the paper blossom from the text paper.  I used the Floral Fusion die.  I crinkled the petals, and stacked them.  I outlined the petals with a glue pen and dipped the paper blossom into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I adhered a small leaf sprig made from Pear Pizzazz DSP and the leaf die.  The top piece is actually a scrap piece of fabric.  I used the Lots of Tags die to cut this shape.  I added a mini vintage tag to the center and attached the tag with a vintage trinket brad.  I stamped the '4 you' in soft suede classic ink.  I spritz the whole card with some home-made shimmer mist.  I added two half faux pearls to the floral centers of the stamped piece.

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you get a chance to play along with us this week!  I hope you are all well, and that you have a good week.  Stop by soon, for a visit. {smile}

Blue #58 Mother's Day

Last week, I shared the Mother's Day card I made for my mom.  (here)  And, if you remember, this card show-cased a button card.  Now, my mom isn't one of those mom's who sew everything.  But, when I was a kid, she did sew some of my clothes.  ANd, the whole idea of a button card, just seemed warm and cozy; like home.

This week, I'm going to share the Mother's Day card I made for my daughter.  (Yep, she is a mom, too.)  She is a good mom.  She really gives her children her time and attention.  I'm very happy with how she nurtures her children.  My daughter isn't one of those girl-y girls.  She is a tom boy.  She drives a motorcycle, and can keep up with her husband, who is a professional race car driver.  One of her favorite colors is blue.  So, I set out to make her a beautiful, blue Mother's Day card.  Because she is truly a beautiful person, and mom

I stumbled upon this creative sketch challenge site, and the sketch looked perfect for what I am creating.  The talented Chupa, has given us another sketch challenge this weekend @ Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.  Here is her sketch:

Once I saw this sketch, I knew that I had to play along.  I love the layers and the open space.  Awhile ago, I purchased this pretty pattern paper by Teresa Collins, called Everyday Moments.  This pattern paper has blues, yellows, text, polka dots, stripes, flourishes, and flowers.  It's pretty without being too girl-y.  Just right for my wonderful daughter.  Here is what I created:

The card base and satin ribbon are from Stampin' Up!, Marina Mist.  The color is blue with a slight complexity and depth.  My first layer is the yellow floral text background pattern paper.  I added a trio of half faux pearls to the right upper corner.   I used the venetian design as my horizontal layer.  I had a scrap piece of white crochet trim, so I cut it in half length-wise and adhered the top to the top of the horizontal piece, and the scallop bottom to the bottom of the card stock piece. 

I had a scrap piece of the blue flourish piece, so I matted what with a darker blue texture piece.  I added a lone pale yellow paper blossom from Kaiser Krafts.  I used a glue pen on the petal edges and dusted it with dazzling diamond glitter.  I adhered a trio of half faux pearls to the bottom right corner.   

I had to include a piece of the text paper.  I matted the text onto a scrap piece of stripes and words. I stamped the sentiment onto my banner piece. I added a row of 5 half faux pearls to this piece, also.  I had a white button, that I just had to add.  So, I tied it onto the bow with some cream twine.  I tied the cream twine into a bow that matches the ribbon bow {smile} and added a half faux pearl.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'll be posting more this week, so swing by later.

Marvelo{US}

Howdy! I'm so happy you have stopped by.  For those who know me, this is a really late post.  I apologize.  When I was creating my project for this weeks Our Creative Corner challenge, I misunderstood, misread, something.  I created a project using yellow and grey.  Don't ask me how that happened, because I really don't know.  I had written my post last night while taking care of my dog (who is recovering from bi-lateral knee replacements).  When I went to upload my project, I found out I was wrong.  So, I had to delete the original post I wrote and work on another paper craft item.  It was late, and I'll confess, I was tired.   I got up early this morning to work on another paper craft, and came up with a card.

Here is the inspiration board, for this weeks challenge:

Anne Marie, is our hostess this month.  And just look at this fabulous board!  I love how she has included color swatches and an inspirational photo.  I created a card for this weeks challenge.  And I used scrap pieces from my scrap box.  (I'm a big fan of using what you have.)  I also used the sketch from Willow Sketchie Challenge.  Here is their current sketch:

Here is my card:

I used quite a bit of different products, so grab a cup of coffee, tea, a snack, something. {smile}  Here we go.  The card base is crumb cake.  The main layer is a pattern paper from Authentique - Blissful collection.  I love how the large print makes a great background piece.  The polka dot paper is from Authentique, also, but from the Delightful collection.  I matted the polka dots onto a piece of crumb cake card stock.  The 'label' piece and postage stamp are from Authentique, a sheet of different shapes and tags, called 'Tabloid'.  The postage stamp is adhered to the card front with foam tape, to lift it off the other 'label'.  I hand-stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  The stamp set is from Stampin' Up!, called 'In A Word'.  This stamp set is retired, but I just love the different sentiments.  The fabric blossom I made from some scraps of flannel material.  I'm working with this material, along with others to create another rag quilt.  To create it, I cut 8 two-inch circles and folded them into quarters and layered them on top of each other.  The beautiful metal brad is from Spare Parts - antique brads.  The horizontal layer is pattern paper from Teresa Collins - Fabrications.  I wrapped a piece of crochet trim from Spare Parts crochet trim collection, around this horizontal piece.  I just love how it helps soften the card and give it some texture and movement.  I wrapped a piece of Paper Trey Ink twill ribbon in Kraft, over the crochet trim.  I tied a single bow and then tied a yellow button to the center of the bow.  The button is from Amuse Studios, 'not your grandmothers buttons' in buttercup.  I used cream twine from Paper Trey Ink to tie the button to the bow.  I tied the twine into a bow, too.  I just love this layered look.   

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us this week!  We would just love to see what wonderful paper project you create with Anne Marie's inspirational board.

Springtime Wishes

Happy Friday to you! I hope that you are all well.  It's Friday, so lets play along with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This week's sketch is brought to us by Kim I.  She has done a wonderful job with the sketch.  

the sketch:

this week, I pretty much followed the sketch to a T.  

Here is what I created:

I have to admit, I'm a crumb cake addict.  I must use this card stock/ink on almost every project or paper craft item I create.  Ok, now on with the card!  crumb cake card stock as the card base.  very vanilla card stock was run through the vintage wall paper embossing folder.  A scrap piece of crumb cake dsp was added to the bottom half of the card.  I stamped a flourish stamp in crumb cake along the bottom edge.  The tag was made with the Lots of Tags die.  (another all time favorite).  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  I added three half faux pearls, and butterfly made from the silver glitter paper and a paper blossom from real red card stock.   wow, i use butterflies on just about every project or paper craft item, too.

I used the new red taffeta ribbon.  I wrapped the ribbon around the card and tied it in a bow.  I used pink pirouette card stock and first edition dsp to create the 'banner' pieces.  I cut the smaller butterfly from the die, using the silver glitter paper.  I made one of those paper blossoms out of circles.  You cut 3-4 different size circles and off set them.  You can either leave them crisp and new or distress them.  I like to distress, so I sprayed them with my home made shimmer paint, and scrunched them.  I used a basic black brad to hold the blossoms together.  The leaves were made with the blossom punch and pear pizzazz dsp.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate the company {smiles}.
Now, don't forget, its a blog hop, so stop by Tammy F.'s blog to see what she (and the rest of the design team) have created.

It's a Sketch

Wow, this week is really rushing by.  It's Wednesday, and so it's time for another sketch from Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  The sketch looks like a lot of fun to play with.  I however, am not participating this week.  I spent the day nursing my dog, and I didn't get a chance to play in my crafting room.  But I do encourage you to play along.

Here is the sketch:

Please, won't you play along with us @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  Happy crafting.