Foodie Friday and One Layer Wednesday OLW23

How's that title for messing up your days of the week!  It's perfect for the kind of week I had this week...I actually had look on my computer for what day it was yesterday...I seem to have misplaced a couple of days this week...

Ok, as promised, here's your Foodie Friday treat.  Thought since I made you wait, I'd serve it before my card...after all, it's still warm!  Mmmmmm!

This is a simple and not too sweet Pineapple Cake.  A mere 20 minutes to mix up, 30-35 min. to bake and you've got a warm and yummy treat that's great for breakfast or dessert.  Who needs a mix when this cake is so super quick and easy.  Bet you have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Pineapple Cake

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened

1 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temp.

1 c. packed brown sugar

1 c. chopped pecans

1 c. coconut (omit if you don't like it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan; set aside.  Drain pineapple, reserving the juice.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for about 30 seconds.  Add sugar and beat until fluffy.

Add eggs, beat until smooth.  Add flour and reserved pineapple juice, alternately beginning and ending with flour.  Beat at low speed just until combined.  (overbeating = tough cake)

Fold in pineapple with spatula.  Spread in prepared pan.

Combine brown sugar, pecans, and coconut.  Sprinkle over batter.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Serve warm.

Makes 12-16 servings.

Now here's my take on the One Layer Wednesday OLW23 Heavy Metal Challenge.  The challenge is to use metal on your card.  Thank goodness she didn't ask us to play an electric guitar..I'm so not musically gifted!  Darn it!

I just got these awesome SEI Moonrise Filigree Metal Accents in yesterday's mail...perfect for this challenge!  Is that leaf not gorgeous!?  There are 5 other beautiful coppery metal accents included. 

I scored 5 lines down the left side then ran a strip of copper sequined border that I picked up at JoAnn's awhile back on clearance.  The sentiment is PTI First Fruits stamped in Dew Drops Brilliance Cosmic Copper ink.

Heavy metal indeed!

Gotta run, my cake is getting cold!!

                 

MMSC74 - May All Your Wishes Come True

Sorry I haven't been around much this week...my days have been filled with doctor visits and tests (came out fine) and a bad reaction to a drug that was supposed to help my knee...NOT!  It gave me chest pain for two days.  Thankfully, that has passed so I'm going to get a cortisone shot in the knee Friday instead of the meds.  I'm beginning to think alot of meds do more harm than good sometimes. 

I will post the Foodie Friday pic as soon as it comes out of the oven and cools a bit...sorry to keep you waiting but I promise it will worth a trip back.

In the meantime, I have a card for the Midnight Madness Challenge (MMSC74) this week. 

I chose the simpler version of the sketch.  I had to lay the card down because I used Crystal Effects and glitter on the tree and the DP has glittery trees as well so glare was an issue.

Head on over and play along...there's always a cool prize and someone has to win, right?  

Supplies:

Paper - PTI Kraft, Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado, DP (from my stash)

Stamps - Hero Arts Wishes Come True

Ink - Versamark, Copic markers

Accessories- dimensionals, Spellbinders Circle dies, sewing machine, Crystal Effects, Art Institute Pearl Glitter

Check back for Foodie Friday!!

Off the Wall Mojo Monday

I love the colors of the Off the Wall Craftiness challenge (OTWC27) so much, I had to make another.  I decided to pair it with the Mojo Monday 159 sketch.  This card took way longer than it should have because I was trying to make iwth work with dark brown and it just didn't want to do that.  Have you ever had that happen?  It's frustrating, but once I gave in and moved to the kraft, it came together quickly.

I used that pot of shimmer colors I got at JoAnn's again...tried to see if I could capture it.

 

Supplies:

Paper - Kraft (unknown), Bazzill linen, SU (retired DP)

Stamps - Hero Arts Swirl Christmas (CL469), Papertrey Holiday Tags

Ink - Versafine Sea Breeze, Sahara Sand

Accessories - Hero Arts Hues - Prism, May Arts double faced satin, MS sticker, dimensionals, Metallic rubons, Spellbinders die 

Here are the colors this week:

Teapot Tuesday - Snoopy's Got Cookies on His Computer!

I'm late posting today...grrrr.  Had a bit of an issue with a med the doctor gave me for my knee. 

Today's Teapot Destination Station is Afghanistan and the son of fellow teapotter, Lisa Lara.  Her son, Kyler, is a "Tactical Network Software Specialist".  Whew....I can barely type it so I can't even imagine what he's responsible for keeping track of.  His Mom says he built his own computer (!) and had to leave it behind when he deployed.  Our Teapot Challenge MMTPT114 "Turn off that Computer, Here Comes the Recruiter!" is to cheer him up.

The rules stated  NO glitter..it gets on the soldier's clothes and makes them visible at night, no buttons, flowers, or other lumpy, bumpy things soooooo...this card was super simple!  You can read the story behind my card here on my SCS site.

Supplies:

Paper - PTI

Stamps - Stampabilities Thinking of Cookies

Ink - Memorex, Copic markers

Accessories - Scor-Pal

                                               

CAS87 - Faux Letterpress

This week's Clean and Simple Challenge (CAS87) on SCS is a technique challenge - Faux Letterpress.

The best tutorial I've found on this technique is here on Gina K's Stamp TV.  

Here's what I learned about using the CB folder instead of the Impressabilities folder Gina uses:

Ink up the debossed side.  I found that swiping the inkpad covered better than tapping.

Follow the CB instructions for running a folder through using the clear plates with this exception:  Do NOT close the folder.  Place a piece of shim (chipboard or rubber mat) over the cardstock then the second clear plate and run it through.  That's it.

I used my finger to tap a bit more white ink onto my snowman since I wanted him to stand out.

Here's my second card.  I masked off the "snow" to keep the ink from settling there.  Inky fingers?  Yes!  After I was finished, I covered the entire card with a Golden White shimmery gloss I picked up at JoAnn's last year.  It adds a a subtle sparkle that just won't photograph.

Supplies: Card 1
Paper - PTI white, Pure Poppy, Kraft
Ink - SU Craft White
Accessories - CB folder, SU markers - black, pumpkin pie, Recollections gems

Card 2
Paper - Night of Navy, Blissful Blue, White
Ink - SU Blissful Blue
Stamps - Papertrey Holiday Tags
Accessories - CB folder, stickon pearls, May Arts wrinkle ribbon

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

                                    

                                                  

Not exactly a card but close enough.  I love the colors from the Off The Wall Craftiness challenge #27 this week! (OTWC#27) Aqua, cream and brown are some of my favorite colors.  May Arts Ribbon is sponsoring the challenge this week!   

One of my favorite paper packs is Dill Blossom by SEI and I knew it would be perfect for this challenge.  This paper pack has a beautiful linen finish...love it!  The notebook is also cream and brown so I added a strip of the paper to match it up as well.  I tied everything up with a length of gorgeous May Arts brown satin ribbon .  I can't decide whether or not to leave the ribbon/button on the pen.  What do you think?

Challenges:  the first SEI link party (How cool is that!?)

Sew Many Challenges - Anything Goes (they're also looking for some new DT members.  If you're interested, the info is at this link as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by...I appreciate your comments a bunch!

PaperCubed -A Transparent October and Foodie Friday

This month's PaperCubed (P3) challenge is to use acrylic in your creation.  Remember, NO CARDS.  

I chose to use one of my favorite digital bag templates - The Funky Bag from The Digichick and a medium weight acrylic that I got from Dick Blick.   This bag has a cool curved flap that you can see here.  I reversed the direction of the flap and hid the clear velcro dot closure with the middle ghost.    See that awesome velvet corduroy and the satin cutout bats and ghosts?  They're from May Arts!  I love the texture of the velvet corduroy and it comes in awesome colors!

Remember, you have the entire month to get your acrylic thinking cap on so let's see those 3D acrylic creations!  Post your project over at P3 and you could win a super prize.  Be sure to pop in so you can see the other fabulous DT creations!

Challenges:

Aud's Challenge Blog - Halloween Sentiments

No Time to Stamp - Three is the Key (ssnotime159)

Now for Foodie Friday!  We love soup so we don't wait for cool weather to enjoy it.  This Italian Wedding Soup is easy and one of our favorites.  It's even better the second day.   

Italian Wedding Soup 

1 recipe Italian Mini Meatballs (recipe follows)

1 c. onion, diced

1 c. celery, diced

1 c. carrots, diced

1 c. ham, diced

1 T. garlic, minced

2 T. olive oil

1/2 c. dry white wine

6 c. chicken broth

2 t. dried oregano

1 t. red pepper flakes (may be omitted if you don't want the heat)

1 bay leaf

1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 c. fresh spinach

1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley

2 eggs

Shredded Parmesan

Sweat vegetables, ham and garlic in oil in a large soup pot, covered, over med. heat until soft, about 10 minutes.

Deglaze with wine; reduce until nearly evaporated.  Stir in broth and seasonings, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes.

Drop meatballs into simmering soup and simmer 3-4 minutes.  Add beans, spinach and parsley, and cook just until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with some of the hot broth, then remove the soup from the heat; stir in egg mixture.

Serve and garnish with shredded fresh Parmesan.

Meatballs (May be made in advance and frozen until ready to use.  I make double and freeze for spaghetti & meatballs)

Stir together:

1/4 c. unseasoned fresh bread crumbs

1/4 c. grated Parmesan

2 T. whole milk

2 T. chicken broth

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 egg, beaten

2 t. dried Italian seasoning

1 t. garlic, minced

1 t. kosher salt

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1/8 t. red pepper flakes

Pinch of nutmeg

Add:

1/2 lb. ground chuck OR ground turkey

Mix thoroughly.  Form meatballs using a small scoop or melon baller and place on a aluminum foiled lined cookie sheet.  Bake in a 350 degree oven until meatballs are cooked through about 15-20 minutes.  May be used immediately or frozen for later use.

                                

Hero Arts May All Your Wishes Come True Gift Bag

Hero Arts has started new month long challenges!   What's cool is that winners are announced in two groups so both the early and late submitters have an opportunity to win. 

This month's theme is Everything Autumn and and the technique challenge is Simple Gift Bags with any theme.

I just got a couple of awesome HA Christmas sets so decided to pair one with one of my kraft bags.  Quick and easy!  I stitched the DP and the strip on the bag top before applying.

I stamped the tree image twice then cut out the layers on the tree for dimension, added some sparkly Stickles and done!

Supplies:

Stamps - Hero Arts Wishes Come True

Paper - Bazzill Textured, Basic Grey DP

Ink - Tim Holtz Fired Brick, Copic markers

Accessories - kraft bag, sewing machine, SB circle dies

                                        

The Cutting Cafe - BOO to You!

Uh, oh...looks like somebody got squished by a great big BOO!  This fun flap top card uses images from The Cutting Cafe's new Halloween Time.  What a great set!!   55 images - all fun and spooky.

I paired my images with some fun candy and skeleton stickers from K&Co.  The witch's shoes have 3 coats of CE on them so they're super shiny.  The flap closes with a velcro dot.  Inside, this bag of bones is hanging out inside one of the circle sentiments from the set. 

Challenges:

Paper Garden Projects Fourth Friday Challenge - Halloween

Thanks for stopping by!  Are your Halloween cards and gifts finished yet? 

Supplies:

Paper - SU Orange, Eggplant, Colorbox DP

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe

Accessories - computer, K&Co. stickers, Crystal Effects, googlie eyes, decorative scissors, velcro dot



Welcome Fall - May Arts Tutorial

May Arts Ribbon is having a Fall Decorating Contest!  Here are the details:

Autumn is right around the corner. Everywhere you look stores & homes are gearing up for this very lovely season. It is one of our favorite reasons to decorate with ribbon. For this contest we want to know how you are using ribbon to decorate for Fall. Are you making lovely displays in your home or decorating your yard? Maybe you have some great seasonal craft projects planned. Tell us all your ideas or send us a picture, & enter to win 1 full spool of Ribbon!


Details are Listed Below:

To enter: Post a comment here or send in a picture to sales@mayarts.com.

Start date: Monday September 20th, 2010.

Deadline: Sunday October 10th 2010.

The prize: 1 Full Spool of your favorite May Arts Ribbon!

We will select one entry. The winner’s name will be posted on Monday October 11th, 2010.

The winner will have 2 weeks to contact us & claim their prize.

Domestic & International entries are all welcome.

______________________________

To get your creative juices flowing, I've got two projects for you over at the May Arts Blog.  I'd love to know what you think of them so I'd love for you to leave me a comment over there!  See you here in a bit with another project.

Here's a sneak peak!

I'm still trying to recuperate from my weekend.  I think I must have been running on adrenaline because I'm super tired...I asked my body to things it hasn't done in a long time plus, we didn't get much sleep!  :-)

Now, a bit of sad news...Rachel, the Teapot Tuesday Destination Station on this post, has passed on.  We pray her family finds peace.

May Arts Fun Packs

Look what I found at May Arts Ribbon...Fun Packs!!  Fun Packs are 6 packs of perfectly coordinated ribbons.  18 yards of gorgeous ribbon.  See if you can guess which one is my favorite.

CAS86 - A Sketch Challenge

Sorry to be posting late today...I served as a team member on a women's spiritual weekend, got home late, late last night and am just starting to dig into the piles of laundry and suitcases.  Why is it that men don't need as much "stuff" as we do? 

Ok, on to the reason you've popped in!!  Today's challenge on SCS is a sketch by.....me!  It's a super simple design that can be used for so many occasions.

Here's the original and here is what I did with the sketch:

I changed the base color, the image shape, added a border and used some sparkly brads I had in my stash.  I can't wait to see what you do with it!!

Happy Stamping!!

Supplies

Paper - PTI Leaf Green,  Pure Poppy, Holiday Vintage Prints

Stamps - PTI Holiday Button Bits

Ink - Versafine gingerbread

Accessories - MS eyelet punch, twine, sparkly brads

      
                                           

Clean and Simple Gift Set

This will be my last post until Monday.  I will be serving on team for a women's retreat so tomorrow is packing day.  I'll be back on Monday with the SCS CAS challenge so be sure to check in.  I've been a bad blog hopper this week because I've been preparing everything for the weekend.  Hope my blogging friends will forgive me...I promise to catch up when I get back.....after resting for a day or so!  We don't get much sleep on these weekends.

This is a simple little card and gift bag I made for my secret friend on the weekend.  I'm so excited to be able to tell her that I've been praying for her for the last 6 months.

This whole set cost me less than $2!!  I got the paper at a church sale, the "D" stamp came from Michael's $1 spot, the felt swirly things on the bag came as a freebie in an order, bag and tag were in my stash.  You can't see it in the photo but there's a strip of black satin ribbon on the card as well as tied on the bag. 

Be sure to check my Etsy site...I've just added these awesome lined Kraft coffee tin bags.  Love them!  I used one for the bag I made for the May Arts Halloween challenge.    I love that I don't have to put my treats in a separate bag before I place it in the Kraft bag because they're lined!

Spaking of May Arts...they've got a Fall Decorating Challenge going on right now...Head on over and check out the details...you could win FREE ribbon!!

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic Solar White, SU black, unknown DP

Stamps - Michael's, PTI Everyday Blessings

Ink - Versafine black

Accessories - gift bag, white tag, stick-on embellishment, satin ribbon, sewing machine

May Arts Halloween Challenge

The May Arts Halloween Challenge is full so that means it's time to start viewing the challenge submissions.  The DT had the option to play for fun.  I just couldn't resist these super awesome ribbons so I said sign me up!

I actually created a couple of projects to get you inspired to begin thinking spooky but first here's a looks at the awesome Halloween ribbon pack we got to play with:

There are two awesome Satin Cutouts...pumpkins and bats, fun Bubble Dots,  Sheer dots, Solid Check and one of my personal favorites, Black Metallic Velvet!

 

Here's a little peek at one of my projects. 

Head on over to the May Arts blog to see the rest of the projects.  I'd love for you to leave a comment and tell me what you think.

I'll give you a project list here to tease you a bit.  (wink) 

Did you know that May Arts Ribbon has a Facebook page?  Well, they do and there are fabulous giveaways linked there.

Supplies:

Paper - Colorbox, PTI black, vanilla
Stamps - Make it Crafty digi image, Papertrey Ink
Ink - Copic markers
Accessories - May Arts ribbon, Kraft coffee bag (look for these in my Etsy Shop tomorrow). google eyes, Crystal Effects, sewing machine, dimensionals.

CAS Monday Color Challenge and...Blog Candy Winner!!

This week's Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS is a Color Challenge (CAS85).  The gorgeous fall-like colors are:  Kraft, Brown, Vanilla and Red (Orange as an option).

Truly a 10 minute card!  I inked the leaves up first in Versamark Topaz, then tapped the stamp in Brick Red for a red/orange color that I thought looked more fall-like than plain red or orange... Hope you like it!

Supplies:
Paper - Papertrey Ink
Stamps - Papertrey Out on a Limb, Simple Little Things
Ink - Versamark Jumbo Java, Topaz, Brick Red

Now for the winner of the Blog Candy!  A BIG THANK YOU  to everyone who commented!! 



                                                            Random Integer Generator

                                                        Here are your random numbers:


                                                                                7

                                                   Timestamp: 2010-09-20 03:19:11 UTC

jan farnworth said...



congrats on the milestone i love to see boxes with matching cards. Scrapbook layouts are always nice but i am sure whatever you share will be stunning.

August 19, 2010 11:16 AM

CONGRATULATIONS, JAN!!   I see that you've been following for awhile.  Thanks so much!  Please send me a PM with your address and I'll get your package to you right away!!

Foodie Friday and a One Layer Card

Only two more days until I draw for Blog Candy!! 

Today's card is definitely not my forte..one layer.  They're harder than they look...no room for error.  LOL  The One Layer Wednesday Challenge on the Simplicity blog OLW20 is Three plus One...3 images, 1 sentiment,  the Stamp Simply One Layer challenge, (ssnotime151),  and the Winter Wonderland One Layer challenge.

                                  

I figured I'd better get started on some quick Christmas cards so this challenge was perfect.

Supplies:
Paper - Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening
Stamps - Papertrey Ink Snowflake Serenade
Accessories - Quickie glue pen, Art Institute Angel Dust Glitter

Foodie Friday, however is not a winter affair...It's a pure warm weather treat...Are you ready?

 It's Cream Cheese Poundcake with Peaches!

Pure heaven!  These are the peaches we picked in July.  I freeze them by the quart.  When ready to serve, I just unthaw and here's my secret...I mix them with 1/2 pint of  Peach Plum Freezer Jam.  It gives the peaches a slight sweetness and makes a wonderful sauce to spoon over this lucious cake.  I topped it with a dollop of freshly whipped cream...want a bite?

Here's the fabulous cake recipe...it makes a cake with a tender crumb and an exterior with a slight crunch...Oh my!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

3 cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, room temperature

3 cups sugar

1 T. vanilla extract

6 large eggs, room temperature

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 10" tube or Bundt pan with butter or spray with Baker's Joy.

Sift the cake flour and set aside.

Cream the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla with mixer on med. high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Stop the mixer once or twice to scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Add the eggs, one at a time to the butter mixture.  Mix after each addition until well blended, about 10 seconds.  When all eggs are added, mix about 30 seconds more.

Stir the flour gently into the batter with a rubber spatula.  Mix on low speed 5 seconds.  (overmixing creates a tough cake).  Scrape the bowl and mix another 5-10 seconds.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake on the center oven rack until golden and firm to the touch.  Tester inserted into the center should come out dry, about 1 hour - 1 hour & 5-10 minutes. 

Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before unmolding and serving.

Makes 12-16 servings.

Enjoy!!

                                   

The Cutting Cafe - It's a Guy Thing

Life has a way of filling of the days, doesn't it?   DH is preparing to serve on a men's retreat weekend so it's been busy around here...I will be gone on a women's weekend next week.  Lots to do and so little time.  For those of you praying for his Mom...she's still with us although getting weaker..her bp was only 63/49 yesterday...I didn't know you could be that low and still be breathing. 

At any rate, I'm thankful that The Cutting Cafe has made guy birthdays much easier!  This Shirt and Tie card is so much nicer, I think, than the usual cars or trees.  :-)  I just made 20 of these for a special order so while I was working with the set, I thought I'd have a few more in my stash for the male birthdays on my list.  I also used the Circle Scalloped Word set (I cut off the scallops, shhhh!).

Look what else Regina has designed!!  A Halloween Bingo Set...I am so doing this for our grandkids!!  A Box with dividers to put the set in,  A Halloween Circle Set with the cutest images you've ever seen, and if that isn't enough, check this out.....Halloween Time - 55 of the coolest Halloween images, sentiments and circles!  Woo, Hoo....

there's more so head on over to The Cutting Cafe to see the rest of this set. 

The Cutting Cafe is also having a Design Team Call.  Click here to read the details...hurry though, because the deadline is September 26th!!

 Supply list -
Paper - Bazzill Textured, SU black, K& Co. DP
Stamps - The Cutting Cafe
Accessories - buttons, sewing machine