Happy Birthday Grandma!!!! :)

Hello everyone!!!!  Happy Spring!  I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but here in California we are having VERY warm days.  Not my favorite type of weather, but we are getting by just fine!  Also, it just means we get to barbeque a little earlier...  ;)  Okay, I'm getting way off topic...  Yesterday was my grandma's 84th birthday!  I made her this card and I made her a birthday cake!  Grandma always makes the cake for everyone's birthday, soooo this time she got to just sit back and enjoy the cake!  Love you grandma!!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Sister Act Card Challenge- anything goes
Seize the Birthday- anything goes birthday
Scrappy Moms Stamps- pink and yellow color challenge
Fusion Card Challenge- picture and/or sketch (I chose to incorporate both)

 

A2 sized card
George and Basic Shapes- oval cut at 3.87"
From My Kitchen- cupcake cut at 2.81"
Cuttlebug- Swiss dots, argyle
Scrappy Moms Stamps- Sweet Somethings
Action wobble
Liquid pearls- white opal
Washi tape
Twine

There it is folks!  Grandma sure did love it, so I would call this one a success!  :)  Hope to be back soon, thanks for stopping by!

Homemade Frozen Cookie Dough


Hello everyone and welcome to the Joy's Life Recipe for Fun Blog Hop!!!!  :)  If you just hopped here from the very talented Patty, you're in the right place!  To start at the beginning click HERE.

I have been so excited for this hop!  I LOVE cooking, and I love collecting recipes...  I have a ton of recipes that I keep in binders, and I also have a collection of cookbooks!  After I show you my project I will share with you my ALL TIME FAVORITE recipe for chocolate chip cookies!  I never use any other chocolate chip cookie recipe now that I have found this one!  I think you will also find that they are the best!

I found this idea for making frozen cookie dough on Pinterest...  During the holidays (for example) we are being given so many cookie platters, candies, etc., etc....  So, someone had the idea of making cookie dough and freezing it to give as a gift to someone.  Then, your friends and family can make the cookies when they are ready to eat them!  What an awesome idea!  This is what I did with my frozen dough...

From My Kitchen- recipe card cut at 3.71", oven mitt cut at 3", wooden spoon cut at 3.47"
Doodletype- "Chocolate Chip Cookies" cut at .61"
Cuttlebug- Argyle
Joy's Life Stamps- Yummy Puns
Twine 
Blue paper measures 5 3/4 x 5 3/4", and I rounded it with my Crop A Dile using the 1/2" side

Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

(This recipe is from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying all of our tasty treats!  You're next stop on this yummy hop is Jeannie! 

Here's the order, if you need it:
Joy: http://joyslife.com
Stacey: http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com
Megan: http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com
Cyndy: http://arcyscraps.blogspot.com
Ashley: http://marklandandmain.blogspot.com
Maria: http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com
Patty: http://craftykitten1.blogspot.com
Amy: http://redheadedcrafter.blogspot.com
Jeannie: http://www.polkacabana.wordpress.com
Nina: http://waffleflower.com
Lori: http://got2bcrafting.blogspot.com
Sarabeth: http://www.chroniclesofsarita.blogspot.com
Laura: http://www.laurascraftsandmore.com
Jennie: http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com

Get Well Soup Mix in a Jar

Hi there!  Today I have a fun project for you that is not a card!  I have to admit I have a little obsession with gifts that you can give in a jar...  I don't know why, but I really love things that come in jars!  I think they look so cute, they are easy to make, and they make people feel special!  So today, our DT challenge at Joy's Life was to create a project with a tag on it...  As soon as I saw this sentiment, I knew I had to make a soup mix in a jar!  I actually made these for Christmas a couple years ago.  The soup tastes really good, but people don't want to use it because it looks too pretty!  I will post the recipe at the bottom of this post, just in case you want to try giving this to someone too...  :)

Tags, Bags, Boxes & More- tags cut at 4.53", 3.94"

From My Kitchen- bowl cut at 2.18"

Joy's Life Stamps- Tag You're It: Set Two

Jute cord

Wide-mouth jar

Friendship Soup Mix (recipe below)

Well folks, there's my project with a tag on it!  I think this would really brighten someone's day...  I didn't have all of the ingredients for the soup mix, so I improvised!  :)  Thanks for stopping by!

Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar

1/3 cup beef bouillon granules

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup dried minced onion

1/2 cup green or yellow dried split peas

1/4 cup wild rice

1/3 cup long-grain white rice

1/2 cup red or brown lentils

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

1 to 1 1/4 cups tri-colored corkscrew pasta (or enough to fill jar)

1.  Layer ingredients in order given into 1-quart wide-mouth jar with tight-fitting lid.  Pack down firmly after each layer.  Seal jar.

Friendship Soup

*Attach these instructions to the jar when you give it to someone.

1 jar Friendship Soup Mix

6 cups reduced-sodium vegetable stock

6 cups water

1/2 to 1 pound ground beef or turkey, browned and drained (optional)

1.  Remove colored pasta from jar; set aside.

2.  Pour stock and water into 5- to 6-quart saucepot.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally.  Add remaining contents of jar; return to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer.  Cover; simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until rice, lentils, and peas are tender.

3.  Add colored pasta and meat, if desired, to soup.  Return to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to a simmer.  Cover; simmer 10 to 15 minutes longer or until pasta is done.  Refrigerate leftovers.

Makes 12 servings

 

*Recipe from www.pilcookbooks.com

Disco Ball Card

Hello and Happy Monday!  I am excited that I am going to be finishing up benchmark testing my students this week, and we are going on a field trip on Wednesday...  Should be fun!  :)  It is another DT day for me over at Fantabulous Cricut.  The challenge this week is Promenade- make a project using a tux/dress/dance theme.  When I think of the prom, I think of disco balls!  I'm not sure why, but it always pops into my brain...  Maybe it's all of the cheesy prom scenes from movies...  Hmmm... :)

4" square card
George and Basic Shapes- circle cut at 2"
From My Kitchen- "shine" cut at 5.82"
My Pink Stamper Stamps- Spectacular Sayings
White embossing powder
MS fine glitter- sterling
LOTS of square rhinestones (The Paper Studio)
Twine

Okay everyone...  Now boot-scootin' boogie over to Fantabulous Cricut and link up your project!  :)

Dropping You a Line Card

Hey everyone!!!!  I am so excited that today is my first DT post over at Joy's Life!  YAY!  Our challenge was to create anything that we wanted using any stamp set we wanted...  I LOVE puns, so I used the You're So Punny stamp set.  This set has so many adorable stamps, and they are awesome quality too!  I like that the font size is a bit bigger too, which is nice!  :)  Hope you enjoy what I have created for ya! 

Create a Critter- fishbowl cut at 4.76", fish cut at 1.35"
From My Kitchen- phone cut at 1.47"
Joy's Life Stamps- You're So Punny
Twine
Glossy Accents
Googly eye

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are having a wonderful day!  :)

Toaster Valentine Card

Hello everyone!  I can't believe the weekend is flying by at warp speed!  Today I have made another Valentine's card.  This one also has a kitchen theme, but I really wanted to use this sentiment stamp, so this is what "popped" into my brain!  :)  I am going to be entering this into a few challenges, as well as the Getting Cricky Link Up Love Party...  While I was making this card I was listening to Shenandoah's "I Wanna Be Loved Like That", and I was swooning!  I love that song, and I know someday I will be loved like that!  :)  Okay, enough mushy stuff, here's the card....

Getting Cricky Link Up Love Party- Valentine's
Peachy Keen Challenges- use a pocket
Jellypark Challenges- use a pocket
She's a Sassy Lady- Valentine's
Whimsical Designs- anything goes

A2 sized card

From My Kitchen- toaster cut at 4.88", bread cut at 3.47"

Peachy Keen Stamps- Retro Paper Doll Face Assortment

Scrappy Moms Stamps- A Pinch and a Dash

TPC Studio Stamps- Hugs and Kisses ("i love you" on the toast)

Glossy Accents

MS crystal fine glitter

Fuzzy ball ribbon

Foam tape

Prismacolor pencils for the eyes and cheeks



*I had to cut the bread out by hand because I couldn't find a single slice of bread.  So, I cut the bread loaf in my Cricut, and then cut the loaf off leaving just the front of the bread.  I used the actual toaster slot (which I had to widen with my scissors) as the pocket on this card.

Hope you enjoy, and I appreciate that all of you always "pop up" when I need you!  Have a great day!  :)

You Bake Me Happy!

Hello everyone!  I can't believe I am posting twice in one day!!!  Woo hoo!!!  :)  See what happens when I'm given an extra day off!?!?!  I cleaned my house, did all of my laundry, played with the dogs, and I made two cards!  :)  On this card I used a stamp that I have been wanting to use since I bought the stamp set.  It's so cute, and I had a vision in my head for the card I wanted to make...  Baking is my second favorite hobby,  I LOVE to bake!  On Friday, I came home and made some delicious chocolate chip cookies.  It's so stress relieving for me to bake and craft, so here I have combined my two favorite hobbies...

Peachy Keen Challenge- anything goes using PK stamps
Docerela Creations- Valentine's theme
Sweet Stamps- hearts
Little Scrap Pieces- anything goes

From My Kitchen- oven cut at 4.65", muffin (from the "Tabs" button) cut at 14.88"
Create a Critter- hearts cut at .53"
Peachy Keen Stamps- Retro Paper Doll Face Assortment
Scrappy Mom's Stamps- A Pinch and A Dash
Stickles- Christmas red
Twine
Glossy Accents
Distress Ink- vintage photo
White gel pen

Hope you enjoy and remember that you all "bake" me very happy!!!  :)

** P.S.  I'm having a very frustrating time trying to leave comments!  Some blogs are giving me no trouble, and others won't even go to the comment form...  If I didn't leave a comment, just know that I did try!  :)

BBQ Invitation

Hello everyone!  I made this very quick invitation to enter into a couple of challenges....  I kept it simple because if I were really sending out a bunch of invites, I would want to make it easy on myself!  :) 

On a different note, I have to announce that I will not be posting for a few days because I am going to Las Vegas for my sister's wedding!!!!!  Yahoo!  I love my sister dearly, she is my only sibling, and we are very close....  We are two years apart in age, we live exactly 1 mile from each other, and we teach at the same school!  I am so excited that she is going to be getting married!  I have an idea for her wedding card in mind, so I will be posting that when I get back....  This trip is going to be fun, but I also look forward to coming back, crafting, and visiting all of your blogs (I love that)! 

Okay back to the card....
Cricut Cardz Challenge- create something with a cookout or picnic theme
Cricut 360 Challenge Blog- create an invitation

From My Kitchen cartridge- grill cut at 5.71", kabobs cut at 4.53"
Cuttlebug-  tiny mosaic (for the charcoal)
Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder (for the meat)
Sentiment- Gungsuh font at size 18
Fiskars silver glitter gel pen
Foam tape

I look forward to seeing all of your beautiful creations when I get home... Have a great 4th of July weekend!  Vegas here I come!!!!  :)

Dog Mini Album- Part 3

Here are the last pages of my mini album.  It was a really short album, and I wanted to keep it pretty simple (without a lot of embellishments).  Hope you enjoy!!

 

The tab picture cards are cut at 3.59" on the From My Kitchen cartridge.  The pocket for the cards measures 3 x 7".  I used My Pink Stamper stamps to add little "punnies" to the tabs.  For the "sisters" title I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  The letters are 1.75" and I used my Gypsy to weld them together, added the sparkle embossing powder, and covered them with Glossy Accents.  For the dog border going along the bottom of the pocket, I used the Paper Pups cartridge.  The border is two images welded together and it measures 6.75" x 1.21".  To finish off the page I added some Prima flowers with button brads.  For the last page I cut a piece of brown cardstock measuring 4.75" x 6.25", embossed it using the Polka Dots Cuttlebug folder, and scored it 1/2" from the top (I used my ATG gun to adhere it to the album).  I mounted my photos with photo corners and added ribbon and embellishments to the top to finish it off.  The last thing I did was bind the album together using my Bind-it-All.  This album was really fun to make and I can see myself making more albums in the future!  See ya later! :)