Valentine/Wedding Gift Set - Love in Vintage Roses

Edited to add:  I'd love to do a tutorial on the roses, however, it's copyrighted material.  You can go here for information and to purchase the supplies.  The book I used is The Paper Garden. 

I've always known that gift sets are my "thing".  Once I have a piece created, I just want to keep going and make something to go with it. 

Two challenges I participated in recently,  Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Friday Challenge 123- Very Vintage and Pals Paper Arts, Anything but a Card  as well as the Peachy Keen Stamps challenge to make something vintage were the jumping off point for this vintage box and tag card.  I made a few of these gorgeous paper roses last night.  They were my inspiration for this set and with Valentine's Day on the way and love in the air, the rest , as they say, was easy.

This set will be in my Etsy store later.  I think it would be perfect for a few elegant chocolate truffles or perhaps something sparkly...jewelry or adiamond engagement ring maybe?  :-)  

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate you!

Supplies:

Paper - The Paper Co., Papertrey Pure Poppy, Bazzill textured (rose)& leaves, SU Choc. Chip

Stamp - Heidi Grace "Quotes"

Accessories - Heart shaped box, punches, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, string pearls, stick-on pearls, ribbon (Michael's). dimensionals

                                                             

PPA26- Just for You Friend

Wanted to get this in before the Pals Paper Arts challenge PPA26 ends today.. Anything but a card.  I'll make the card later.

Regina at The Cutting Cafe just created this adorable 6" x 3" bag template.  I love it!  She must have been reading my mind.  I was wishing for something big enough to put some of this awesomely yummy granola in that I made this morning.

This stuff is addictive.  Our local grocery store carries something called "Granola Brittle".  It is so yummy but oh so expensive.  I've been on the hunt for a recipe to make something similar and I think I found it.  After a bit of tinkering with the original recipe, I'm in granola nirvana...Mmmmm.  Now I have to get it out of the house before I eat the entire thing!!

This takes only about 10 minutes of actual hands on time, about 20 minutes in the oven and then cooling...if you can wait that long!

My friend, Renee, is getting a share of this batch.  She is my candy guru and one of the most generous people I know.  I told her what my desired outcome was for the granola and she suggested using some white sugar in whatever recipe I found...bingo!  Success...see those nice big chunks?  Yeah, baby!!    Here's her sweet crunchy bag full.

Here's the recipe if you want to try some yourself.

Even Better than "Better than a Bakery Granola"

Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

2c. old fashioned rolled oats

1 t. cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg (less than 1/8 t.)

1/2 t. kosher salt

3 T. plus 1 t. vegetable or canola oil

1/4 c. honey

1/8 c. packed light br. sugar

1/8 c. white sugar

1 t. pure vanilla

2/3 c. whole almonds

2/3 c. dried fruit (I used cranberries and blueberries)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat liner.  In large bowl, toss oats with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and almonds.  In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, honey, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla until blended.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry and mix until everything is well coated.  Spread out evenly on prepared baking sheet.  Don't spread too thin...we want clumps later.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture begins to lightly brown.  Remove from oven, sprinkle the dried fruit over the oat mixture then press it into the warm mixture.

Let cool completely in the pan.  Break into large pieces.  Store in tightly covered container.  (if it lasts that long)

Supplies:  Paper - Papertrey Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, DP

Template - The Cutting Cafe

Stamps - Papertrey Friends Forever

Ink - Berry Sorbet, Versafine

Accessories - Spellbinders scalloped circle dies & long rectangle dies, Martha Stewart punches and flowers, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Mono-Multi

Clean and Simple Birthday - CAS51

 

This week's Clean and Simple Challenge (CAS51) on Splitcoast was an easy one...use Designer paper.  Now keeping it clean and simple is another matter.

 

I chose a clear dotted acrylic from SU's Night and Day pack and layered it over Neenah Classic White. Overall card size is 5.5" x 3.5".

 

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate you!

 

Supplies:  Paper - Neenah Classic White, SU Night & Day, SU black, PTI Pure Poppy

Stamps - PTI Floral Fusion

Ink - Pure Poppy, Old Olive, Versafine black

Accessories - Martha Stewart border punch

 

Has the Weather Got You Down? JUGS #17, PPA26

 " Momma said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this, Momma said."  The Shirelles must have known exactly how we feel some days.  Rainy, cold, slippery, wormy.....wormy??!!

Well, you know, after the rain come the worms.  Hee,hee,hee....Keep reading, you'll see what I mean.

Ok, I'll fess up....I LOVE Gummy Worms.  I keep a secret stash in my work room.  Shhhh...

All of the images and sentiments on this set are from The Cutting Cafe's Rain, Rain Go Away set.  I made the little box first for the Just Us Girls blog template challenge #17. We were to use a template from Lauren Meader's new site, My Time Made Easy.  This template is called Cutsey Cover.  It's about the size of a crayon box and very similar in design.  Guess what....??  It's FREE!!  It comes in both cut file and pdf format.  This is also for the PPA26 - Anything but a Card challenge.  Check them out and play along but hurry, the challenge ends tomorrow!

I think this little set will be going into my Etsy Shop.

Supplies:  Stamps:  The Cutting Cafe, PTI Floral Fusion (background on card)

Paper - Papertrey Ink
Ink - Prismacolor markers
Accessories - sewing machine, Crystal Effects, BG magnet, dimensionals. brass stick-ons (Michael's), Spellbinders circle dies, Gummy Worms :-), clear bag

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

Yesterday, while visiting Jessica over at Jess's Obsession, (if you haven't gone browsing yet, you really should!!)  anyway, she mentioned that she was tired of the rain and fog.  So, Jess, this is for you and all our soggy friends out west.  Praying the rain ends for you soon.  Living in the hurricane part of the country, I do understand when too much rain is NOT a good thing.

I just received this super cute file from Regina at The Cutting Cafe called Rain, Rain Go Away.  How's that for timing?  It's just so stinking cute!!  33 images that include sentiments as well. 

I can't say I'm totally in love with this card.  I think the image in my head was somewhat different than what appeared on the paper but maybe that had something to do with only getting 4 hours of sleep the night before...ya think?!!

The gray clouds have a silver lining...I got a new glue for glitter and not happy with the gloppy look of it so scraped it off...it strings too like hot glue does.  Go figure.  I will order some of the best glue I've found for glitter from Art Institute.  She has the glitteriest glitter as well.  If anyone knows of another good glitter glue, please let me know.

I popped up the smaller cloud with a dimensional and the rain has the coolest clear dots from Fiskars called "Rain Dots".  Not the easiest to get off the acrylic sheet but I love the look of them.

I'm working on another card using the cute, cute boots from this set...stay tuned.

Supplies:  Paper - Neenah Classic white, SEI Black Orchid

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe

Ink - SU Basic Grey, Prismacolor marker, silver gel pen

Accessories - dimensional, Fiskars Rain dots, sewing machine, glitter, Cuttlebug embossing folder

 

Blog Candy Winner!

 Today's Saturday so that means that it's Blog  Candy Winner Day!                                                      

 

The winner of this adorable Heidi Grace is follower:  drumroll, please

Here are your random numbers:
29

Timestamp: 2010-01-23 19:17:22 UTC

Harriet aka HartofHearts   Congratulations, Harriet.  I will be contacting you for your address.

Thanks to all my follwers and stay tuned because you just never know when another BCTreat Saturday will pop up.

 

A Little Blog Candy Treat for You

Be sure to scroll down for newer posts as this one will stay on top until the 23rd.  The year in review follows.

 

Since so many of you have commented on the cute couple on my  "You and me" card, I thought I'd give you an opportunity to make one of your own! This is a 11 piece Heidi Grace set called "Valentine's Day" but would also be appropriate for anniversary, engagement congratulations or fun wedding cards.

I told you that I was going to be doing surprise giveaways  this year and this is one of them!  I want to thank those of you who have chosen to follow my blog and if anyone is new here and you choose to follow I'm giving you the opportunity to join in as well.

Saturay, January 23rd, I will be choosing,  by random number selection, one lucky winner from my followers.  If you're new, leave me a comment so I can stop by and say hello!

So, come on,  just follow me and have some fun!!

Stamp Simply #123 Challenge - Very Vintage...in 3D

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Friday Challenge #123  this week is to make something in vintage style.  I had just purchased several vintage images from TwistedPapers.com including this one of these beautiful pale yellow roses.  My dear, dear longtime friend of the heart, Gloria, has a birthday coming up on Valentine's Day and I bought this with her in mind.  She used to grow the most awesome roses and was a member of the rose society in her town.  She would clip them and share the abundance.  There was no sweeter fragrance.

I had seen this 3D technique on the Spellbinder's blog last Saturday.  It's a little tricky getting that center just right but the result is so beautiful.  Sharon's vintage challenge spurred me on to get Gloria's card finished early. (what a shock!) I printed 9 of the rose image on a sheet of linen textured Bazill paper. It's a bit more creamy yellow than it appears in the photo.   I chose an oval shape for a more Victorian feel, the shimmery base paper is DCWV , the red has a subtle embossed background.  A bit of crocheted lace, some pearls and a bit of distressed edging finished it off.

Love to know what You think!

Supplies - Paper:  DCWV Luxury Stack, The Paper Co., Papertrey, Bazill Textured Linen
Stamps:  Flourished Words by Flourishes
Ink:  SU Old Olive, Choc. Chip
Accessories:  Glue dots, foam tape, Martha Stewart stick on pearls and edge punch, Crocheted lace, Cuttlebug vintage embossing folder, SU corner punch, Spellbinders scalloped oval dies, oval dies, circle dies

  

A Look Back

Several of my blogging friends have been doing sort of a year in review.  I thought it would be fun to look back at some of my favorites.  Of course, it wouldn't be complete without some of the yummy treats in there as well so here we go....

Appetizer & Dessert

Sabrina Gift Set

Digi Chick Bag

Life is Just a Bowla Cherries gift set

Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail & Peter (I couldn't resist!)

Tri-Shutter Card

The Cutting Cafe Sweet Summer

MTCS#41 The Cutting Cafe Tiny Boxes

Elegant Wedding Roses Gift Set

Apple Box (1)  Apple Box (2)

Mercy's Sketch #44

Organize It

Fight Like a Girl

12 Days of Cookies

Hope you enjoyed the look back as much as I did.  You can find the links to the projects on the right.

 

MTSC57 - It's You and Me Baby!

Happy Tuesday.  I've got my DH's Valentine card all finished thanks to  Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC57).  It's so much fun to be able to get back to some regular stamping time again. 

The "You and Me" sentiment is from the awesome Cutting Cafe's All About Valentine's Day digital stamp set.  This is one HUGE set!  I stamped over it with the cute couple from Heidi Grace.  I used rub-on sparkly hearts around the you and me sentiment and  Making Memories acrylic hearts are layered using glue dots.

Thanks to everyone who leaves a comment...you make my day!

Supplies:  Paper -  SU Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Real Red, Night and Day DP

Stamps - Digital stamp from The Cutting Cafe, Heidi Grace

Accessories - Martha Stewart punch, rub-on hearts, Making Memories acrylic hearts, glue dots, Prismacolor markers

 

Let's Use Teal

The Clean and Simple Challenge this week (CAS50) is "Let's use the rich color of Teal!"  We were to use teal with white and one other color.  I guess I cheated a bit using Old Olive for my leaves and stem but hopefully this will pass muster.  I kept it ultra clean by using only layers...no ribbon, no bling, no fancy cutwork.  I did pop the center panel up on dimensionals.  This simple layout would work for sympathy, thank you cards, and get well cards easily.   What do you think?

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic White, SU Black, SU Taken with Teal, SU DP Night and Day
Ink - Taken with Teal, Old Olive
Stamps - Papertrey Ink Floral Fusion
Accessories - dimensionals

Cutting Cafe All About Cupcakes Winner

Thanks to everyone who played along in the Giveaway for The Cutting Cafe's All About Cupcakes digital set.  The winner is...........

 

 

Random Integer Generator Here are your random numbers:11Timestamp: 2010-01-18 17:45:18 UTC 

HazelQ said...

Mmmm that cupcake looks delicious :) it made me hungry lol, thank you for sharing the recipe. I like any kind of cupcake with a lot of frosting :P


Hugs


Hazel


Congratulations, Hazel!! 

Thanks for sharing your favorite cupcake and for following my blog!  Your All About Cupcakes will be on the way soon!

We're Giving Away Cupcakes!

Well, not exactly, but almost!  Regina, at The Cutting Cafe is at it again.  She gave us the challenge to use any set we wanted, create something with it and give the set we used to YOU.  After looking through my Cutting Cafe files, I think this set, All About Cupcakes is one of my all time favorites.  It's a HUGE set, full of cupcakes of all sizes, stands, circle sentiments, half circle sentiments, words.  Your imagination will just fill with ideas when you begin using these awesome digital elements.  This card is for our DIL's father so wanted the colors to be more masculine.    The cupcakes are colored to match a picture below.  (more temptation!) Each one is cut out and popped on dimensionals. The frosting is coated with Crystal Effects. Lots of sewing and some distressing on the image panels.  The CE on the inside cupcake wasn't dry...so it dripped but I couldn't wait.  :-)   If you want to win this set, scroll down to find out how.

Here's what inspired the cupcake on my card.  OMGoodness....This is the Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting.  I've got to tell you, this frosting is so yummy I could eat it with a spoon.  Not overly sweet, super creamy and oh, so peanut buttery.  Want a bite?

 Chocolate Cupcakes &Peanut Butter FrostingMakes 14-15 large cupcakes 

12 T.unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 c. granulated sugar

2/3 c. light brown sugar, packed

2 extra large eggs, at room temperature

2 t. pure vanilla extract

1 c. buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature

1/2 c. sour cream, at room temperature

2 T. brewed coffee

1-3/4 c. all purpose flour

1 c. good quality cocoa powder

1-1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. kosher salt

Peanut Butter Frosting

Chopped peanuts, to decorate (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and both sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Lower the speed to medium add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee.  On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in theirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture.  Mix only until blended.  Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (one rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is about right).

Bake in the middle of the oven for 18-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, cool completely and frost.  Sprinkle with chopped, salted peanuts, if desired.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1 c. confectioner's sugar

1 c. creamy peanut butter (Skippy)

5 T.  unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 c. pure vanilla extract

1/4 t. kosher salt

1/3 c. heavy cream

Place everything but the cream in bowl of mixer fitted with paddle attachment.  Mix on Med.low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with rubber spatula as you work.  Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth. 

Enjoy!!

Now, want to win the paper version from The Cutting Cafe?  Just go to this post and follow the directions.