Santa's Helper Mojo

Hi Everyone!

I'm here with today's card for Mojo Monday...on a Monday!! Yay me! It's the last week of the month, so you can choose a round card or square card. It's been positively FOR.EV.ER since I've made a round card, so I fired up the ol' cricut and used some SVG files and came up with this cute little card. I used papers from Paper Trey ink and Authentique's "Festive" paper pad collection. The stamps are from Verve's "Santa's Little Helper" set. I stamped the reindeer with Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa and then used my Copics to color him in.
He's simple and lots of fun and I hope you like him as much as I do!

Take care and I'll see you again soon!

Secret Dream Mojo

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is for this week's Mojo Monday sketch. I used Canyon Clay, Fine Linen and Dark Chocolate card stock from Paper Trey Ink. The pattern paper is from Cosmo Cricket "Wanted" 6x6 pad.
The sentiment stamp is from Verve's "Blue Skies" set
I added some ribbon and some buttercup liquid pearls to the die cut circle to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting, and I'll see you again soon!


Challenges:
Just for Fun: Orange, Brown and Cream
Through the Craftroom Door : Anything Goes

World Card Making Day....a bit late!

Hi Everyone!

I have been busy busy crafting; but haven't had a lot of time to post them here for you to see! I have been catching up on the Viva La Verve Friday Sketch challenges (which I will post over on my SCS gallery) and also trying to make a couple of cards for Verve's World Card Making Day sketch challenge. Julee has offered up the awesome prize of the entire Verve Holiday Release for the challenge! How awesome would that be?!?! I love me some Verve stamps, especially when they are new AND free!! I may win, I may not...heck, I probably won't, LOL! Still, you don't have any chance to win, if you don't put in an entry, right?

So, I made two cards for the challenge. With the first card, you can see that I shifted the center panel over to the left a bit, so that I could have room to fit the sentiment where I wanted it on the card. The Christmas Tree stamp and die cut are both from Verve and the sentiment is from Verve's "Merry and Bright" set.

With the second card, I stayed true to the sketch. I used papers from Charcoal, Simply Chartreuse and Vintage Cream from  Paper Trey ink. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey. The flowers are from Verve's "Sunny Day" set. The sentiment is a Plain Jane also from Verve.


 Thanks so much for visiting me today!! I'll try to post again soon.

Tuesday Morning Sketches: Elegant Halloween

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to get my card posted for today before I have to go to an appointment. This one is for today's Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge with a twist to use "E". I'm still working on Halloween cards, so I chose eyelets and elegant and edging for my "E" words.
I used some Inkadinkado stamps that I stamped with black ink, colored in with a Copic marker and then added lots of sparkles. I used Nestabilities label 1 and Petite Scallop circles for the layers in the middle.
Ok, time to go! I hope you like it; and I'll see you tomorrow!

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketch:
Crafty Sentiments: Anything Goes
Scrap-Creations: Pumpkins
Loves Rubberstamps: Bling
Through the Craftroom Door: Anything goes

Mojo Monday BOO!!

Boo Everyone!

Wow! Once again, I have been painfully neglectful of my blog. Life has just been so busy for me; and to be honest. I haven't been much in the mood for paper crafting over the last couple of months. Every day, I would look in the crafting room and just not find any inspiration at all and had no desire at all to do anything.

Now, however with Halloween around the corner, I decided that would be a good reason to dust of the ol' paper trimmer and see what I could come up with. What better way to get the Mojo moving too, than to do "Mojo Monday" This sketch was fun, although this time I couldn't use Verve stamps (because I don't have any Halloween Verve stamps!) So, I used some Martha Stewart stamps and some cute paper and this is what I came up with. I flipped the sketch, because it just worked out better for me to do so with the design I had in mind.
Nothing fancy or complicated; but I think it turned out pretty cute for my "comeback" card!
I've also decided to limit myself to no more than 5 challenges for my cards as well. The computer/blogging part of stamping etc can be so very exhausting and time consuming and I think my desire to do as many challenges as possible, in hopes of getting as much traffic to my blog as I could is part of the reason I just got really burned out with it all.
So, I'm no longer chasing anyone. For those who take the time to visit, please know I do appreciate it so very much; and I hope you will come back again!

Challenges:

1.Cards by Lady Anne: Anything Goes
2.Crafty Bloggers: Anything Goes
3. Eureka Stamps: Trick or Treat
4. Paper Pretties: Sentiment as Focus

Beautiful Kindness Sparkles

Good Morning Everyone!

Are you all still enjoying The Anni-Verve-Sary blog hop that's going on? I know I sure am. I can't wait to see all the new releases Friday night!!
I am here today to share my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I decided to use Verve's "Beautiful Kindness" set and focused on the sentiment.  The pattern papers are from the Stella Rose collection (Mabel papers) by My Mind's Eye. I used Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse papers from Paper Trey ink. Lots of sparkle on this card today!
I hope you like it.
Lots of challenges for this card, so I'm going to say goodbye for now so I can get all the links done.
Have a great day!!

Challenges:

Joanna Sheen Challenge: Sentiment as a Focus

Stampin Sisters in Christ: Sentiment only (no image)

Card Cupids: Anything Goes

Desert Island Crafters: my choices: (make it sparkle, flowers, embossing, swirls,

Pretty Little Ribbon Challenge: Use ribbon and add sparkle or bling

The Cupboard Trilogy: Embossing

Unique Crafters Challenge: Sparkle and Shine

Lollipop Crafts: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Stamp with Fun: Sparkle/Bling

Tammy's Scrapin Corner: Anything Goes

The Crazy Challenge: Anything Goes

Mojo Monday: Sketch

Love U so Much (Anni-VERVE-sary Day 2)

 Good Morning Everyone!

Once again, I'm on my out the door again this morning. I sure have been busy lately, so I'm very glad the weekend is here! I want to share with you my card for the 2nd release challenge for Verve's Anni-VERVE-sary challenge. I'm still trying to play a bit of catch up (see note above about being busy! LOL) Oh my goodness! There is so much going on in Verve World this week, it's enough to make your head spin!! Which is awesome, cause there's lots of chances to win great prizes for new stamps which will soon be available in the Verve Store. Be sure to visit the Verve Blog to find out all the details about everything you need to do to get on this fun celebration!

The challenge for day 2 was to make an Anniversary (loosely interpreted as a "love" card) that contained a silver or wood element which are the modern and traditional gifts given for 5 year anniversary gift. I used this week's SCS sketch challenge along with this week's Color Throwdown challenge. (I don't have the exact SU colors; but I think I found comparable equivalents!) For my silver element, I embossed a strip of Aluminum foil with a "Hearts" embossing folder as well as adding some silver stickles as shown. I used Verve's "You and I" set (along with coordinating "I heart you" Cut above Die Set) I also use the set "Tag Time" and the "Curvy Bookplate" Die

Now, it's a little hard to see in the picture; but I did add scoring lines to the Aqua Mist background for another element of texture. I decided not to link this one up for anymore challenges, since I'm a bit pressed for time.

I do hope you like it. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll see you all again sometime this weekend (or maybe not until Monday!)

Call to Me (Anni-VERVE-Sary Day 1)

Good Morning Everyone!

Today is the first day of school for everyone! Just got all the kiddos on the bus and have a little while to post a card before I'm out the door for some other events today. Did you know that Verve Stamps is getting ready to release more new stamps?! Yep! August 24th is when they'll be available. However, there is lots of stuff going on with great opportunities to win some free stamps and see sneak peaks for the guest designer. Pop on over to the Verve Blog and read all about it. I decided to participate in the challenges being posted in the SCS forum. Granted, I just started yesterday and I'm going to have play catch up; but you have until August 24th to get all five challenges done and uploaded to the proper gallery in SCS.

Ok, so the first challenge is a color challenge to use Pink, Green and Brown. I used Dark Chocolate, Sage Shadow, Kraft and a Pink from my stash. I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches. The scripted background stamp on the Sage Shadow piece  is "Tapestry Script Background" by Basic Grey. The scripture stamp in the center is a Verve Plain Jane stamp called "Jeremiah 33:3"  I cut the cross in the corner using Cut above Die set from Verve. I used some embossing folders on the Kraft and pink and then distressed the edges to give it all a bit of texture.

Challenges:

Creative Card Crew: Newsprint,Script, Music etc

Creative Craft Challenges: Just a Sentiment

Flourishes: Use Kraft paper

Tuesday Testimonials: Anything goes with a Scripture

Fresh Brewed Blog: No digis, rubber stamps only

My Mum's Craft Shop: Use Kraft

Whimsy Stamps: Lots of Layers

Mojo Monday Christmas!

Good Morning!

Well, here it is, the first Christmas card of the season! I don't think I've ever made one quite this early before; but I just couldn't resist when I was flipping through my stamp sets and found this adorable set from Verve called "Santa's Little Helper" Since I was using the Mojo Monday sketch, it was even more perfect! I also used one of my favorite Christmas color Combinations: White, Red and Aqua. I used some embossing folders to add some texture to the white layers I used.I added some red stickles to the Poinsettia in his hat and put some glossy accents on his hate and his little nose. So he's all sparkly and shiny in real life...it's a little hard to see in the picture, though.
All in all, it was a pretty simple card to put together and a lot of fun as well!
Just a few challenges for this card. Thanks so much for stopping by, I'll see you tomorrow!

 
Mojo Monday: Sketch

Catered Crop: White as Focus

Christmas Card Challenges: Texture

Lexi's Creations: Sparkle and Shine

Love to Create: Sparkle

Beautiful Baby

Good Morning!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was good. I took the kids to the pool early in the day and then we had a wicked storm late into the afternoon and lost power for a while. This was actually OK, because it translated into a dinner out because...hey can't cook if the oven won't turn on!!
Anyhow, yesterday I was able to do a bit of crafting while all the boys in my life spent some time at the pool. I figured between swimming lessons and the time at the pool Saturday, I'd logged enough hours at the pool for a little while!
This card I'm sharing today is an usual card for me. As you can see, it's all white. One of my challenges for the day (see list below) was to use a white on white scheme with just a pop of color in the sentiment or image. I think that white on white cards can be very elegant; but you have to remember that because every layer is the same color (or lacks color....however you prefer to think of it) you have to make each layer distinctive from the next. I have found the best way to do this is to add various forms of texture, which is what I did. For the first layer (not including the card base) I used my Inkadinkado Polka Dot stamp and embossed it on the white card stock using Versa Mark and irridescent embossing powder, so it's all sparkly when you move it around. I embossed the next two layers with different embossing folders. I wanted to add a bit more dimension, so I cut two circles using my Petite scallop circle nestablitlies before adding the layer of flowers. I added the sentiment, which is an old stamp from SU and completed the card!
I hope you like it! Thanks for sharing part of your day with me, and I'll see ya tomorrow!!

Challenges:

365 Cards: Blossoming (Use at least 3 flowrs on your project)

All Sorts Challenge: Use Circles

Craftymess Challenge: Words (no images)

Crazy 4 Challenges: White on White

Just Some Lines: Layer it Up

Rogue Redhead Designs: Shape recipe (use at least 1 rectangle, 1 square and 1 circle)

Speedy and Friends: Use Dots

Sweet Stop: Sketch

One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes

Glad we're Friends

Hi Everyone!

Just here to share a quick card with you. Sorry I haven't been around much this week. It's been a busy week; but I did find time yesterday to put a quick card together for this week's Color Throw Down challenge. When I saw the colors, I just knew I had to put something together for it. I love this combination of Grey, Pumpkin Pie, Red and Vanilla. Now, my flower in the middle for some reason looks more blue in the picture than it does in real life. It's actually grey, I promise!
Anyhow, I'm going to try to do some more crafting today, so I better get busy with all the domestic stuff I need to do before I can play!

Color Throwdown: Color Challenge #204
House that Stamps Built: Sketch
Simon Says Stamp: and play Bingo (I chose diecuts, free, glitter)
Stamp n Doodle: Button

Just a few challenges for this card. Enjoy your day, and I'll be back soon!

Rainy Day Crafting

Hi Everyone!

It was an overcast, cloudy rainy day yesterday here, so I thought it would be a perfect day to do some crafting. I decided to go to my mom's house and spend some time with her. She's a crafter as well; but we haven't had anytime to stamp together since I moved back here close to her.
I was able to make two cards and was pleased as punch with both of them! So for this first card, I used "I heart 2 Stamp's" August Sketch (FYTT) The paper I used is from my mom's stash (I think the pattern paper came from K&company). The sentiment and the butterfly are from Verve's "Blue Skies" set. I thought it was oddly appropriate that as I was carrying the cards inside after returning from my mom's house, that a raindrop fell right onto the sentiment. I guess the rain wanted to be a true part of the sentiment as well! When I send the card to someone, I'll redo the sentiment; but for now I'm keeping the raindrop!

Challenges for this card include:

Catch the Bug: Anything Goes
That Craft Place: Things with wings

The second card for today is one I'll be giving to a family in my husband's office who recently had a baby girl. Sometimes, you don't always have to have the exact words on a card for it to be perfectly acceptable. I loved this pattern paper (again from my mom's stash) and thought the stamp and sentiment from Verve's "Joyful Blooms" set was perfect for a baby card. This card was simple; but I think it's rather elegant as well.

Challenges for this card include:

Card Positioning Systems "Sketch"
Stamping Sisters in Christ: Baby or pastels
Challenge up Your Life: Anything goes
Our Creative Corner: Bling it up and an item from nature (my flower is my nature item)

Have a great day everyone! Thanks for visiting with me.

Happy Everything

Hi Everyone!

Phew, I'm finally getting around to posting this card. I actually made it yesterday; but I've been super busy and just haven't had a chance to sit down at the computer until now.
Today I have, what I hope will be a bright and cheerful card for you.
I used papers from Basic Grey, and PTI as well as stamps from Hero Arts. Lots of challenges for this card, so let me just jump right in here with the links and try to get them all here before I'm off and running with the kids to swimming lessons!

Craft your Passion: Sketch

Make it Monday: Anything Goes

Paper Playtime: Anything Goes

Paper Pretties: 2 Pattern Papers

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Sentiments

Craft Room-Buttons and Bows

Crazy Amigo: Dies and Punches

Die Cut Divas: Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesday: Anything Goes

The Stamping Boutique: Anything Goes

Twisted Tuesday: Anything Goes

Hopefully, I can find some time to do some more crafting over the weekend! Until then, enjoy your day and I'll see you again soon.

Happy Birthday Smiles!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to my blog. If this is your first time here, thank you so very much for stopping by and spending some time with me. For any returning visitors, I am so glad you all haven't forgotten about me. It has been a crazy busy summer; but we are finally all settled into our new house and everyone is doing well.
I didn't realize how much I missed crafting until I sat down the other day and put together a card. It was a bit slow to start, to be honest. Thank goodness for the web and challenges to provide inspiration and ideas!
Today, I have two cards to share with you. I decided to throw my hat into the ring for the DT call that My Time Made Easy is having. Be sure to click the link and you can read all the information about it. Who knows, maybe we will be working together soon!
My first card for the challenge uses Pretty Patterns Sketch 66 and also fits just a couple of other challenges. I used Aqua Mist, Harvest gold, Kraft from PTI and a peachy orange color that fit the color inspiration challenge that I found in the scrap pile. The "Happy Birthday" and "Chevron" strip background stamp are from Hero Arts and the flower ensemble at the bottom is from Verve Stamps.

Inspired by Stamping: Color
My Time Made Easy: Pretty Patterns Sketch #66
Amusing Challenges: Anything Goes
The Stamp Man: Anything Goes/Celebrations

My second card is also for the MTME DT call. This one uses both Pretty Patterns Sketch 67 and Pretty Palette 67. I was pleasantly surprises by how well I enjoyed this colors together. Its such a fun and bright card to share with someone.

Challenges for this card include:

 Do You Stack Up: For a Friend
One Stop Craft: Just Good Friends
Secret Crafter Challenge: Bright and Cheerful

That's all for me today. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you again soon!

Hello Friends!

Hello Friends!!

Wow! It has been a very long time since I've been in blog land. So much has happened since my last post back in March. I have missed crafting and missed blogging much more than I thought I would. All of my crafting supplies are finally unpacked and I am anxious to get to work on some new projects. Well, that is as soon as I buy some adhesive, which seems to be the one essential item that I am just completely out of at the moment.
For now, I'm just dropping in to say hi and I hope those of you who have been checking in regularly to see if I've returned will be happy to know that I am indeed plotting my return. Hopefully, towards the end of this week!!
See ya soon!

Closing up Shop...

Hello Everyone!

Well the time has come to say goodbye.  I spent all day Tuesday packing away all my crafting supplies in order to prepare for our move in the early part of June. Even though we still have a few months to go, I am afraid that there are just too many other things going on for me to dedicate time to crafting and blogging.
Whether or not I will continue to blog from my new home in the future, I have not decided. My time and responsibilities there are expected to be much more in demand than they are currently. Regardless, however, if I blog or not, you can always know that I will find time for card making, scrapbooking and paper crafting. It is a hobby that I enjoy too much to give up completely. It keeps me sane in my often crazy world and does a lot to make me feel as though I can accomplish something. I will continue to support various card charity organizations including Operation Write Home and those featured in SCS monthly cards for a cause challenge.
Have a wonderful spring/summer season. Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments you have left for me. I do appreciate them more than I could ever tell you.

Hugs to all!!

OCL Floral Challenge: Wishing You Happiness

 Hi Everyone!

This year for Christmas, I received a Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet and I absolutely love it! One of my most recent purchases for it was a subscription to CardMaker Magazine. I love being able to keep issues of the magazine and not have it cluttering up space in my craft room. I also like being able to see all the different techniques and find inspiration as well.

Today I am sharing a card that I CASE'd from the March issue on page 38. The original design of the card is by Robin Arnold. I can't seem to access an online version of the magazine, so I am not able to show you the original card unfortunately.
I was also happy to finally play along again with the weekly OCL challenge. This one was to use Flower Stamps. I chose OCL's "Fabulous Florals set" I stamped 5 large flowers using Mellow Moss and So Saffron ink from Stampin Up as well as Victorian Velvet Distress ink and cut them out using my petite scalloped nestabilities; and then layered them as shown on to a Label 1 nestablities. The "Wishing You Happiness" sentiment is also from OCL. It is from their "Say it Big" set stamped in Victorian Velvet ink on Vintage Cream card stock
The patterned paper I chose is from Stampin Up and from All My Memories and I coordinated it with Autumn Rose, Harvest Gold from PTI as well as some Mossy Green and light pink that I just had in my stash.
 All in all a simple card; but I hope you like it.

A few challenges for today's card:

Make it Monday: Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff: Anything Goes
Our Craft Lounge: Flower Stamps
Stamp n Doodle: Circles or Ovals

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Mojo Monday Thanks

Hi Everyone!

Well Spring Break is done and everyone was back at school, so I got a chance to play around and do something crafty for a while. It's been a while since I've been able to play with the Mojo Monday sketch, so I decided to give this one a whirl and see what I can come up with. I wanted to make a card with some pretty spring colors so I chose some pattern paper from Prima Marketing Collection.  Raspberry Fizz, Blue and pink papers coordinated with it. The flower and leaf stamps and die cuts are from Verve's Sunny Day set. The sentiment is from Basic Grey's "Special Lace" set stamped in Tumbled Glass Distress ink on Vintage card stock
I actually did another project; but it's not quite finished, so hopefully I'll have that up first thing tomorrow morning.

Challenges for today:

Creative Inspirations Paint: Thanks
Amusing Challenges: Color Challenge
Craft Your Passion: Focus on Sentiment
Creative Monday: Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts: Focus on Sentiment
Mojo Monday: Sketch
Oh La La Creations: Thanks

Have a great evening everyone, I'll see you tomorrow!!

Sit Back, Relax!!

 Hi Everyone!

This week is Spring Break for us and we were shamefully lazy yesterday on our first day! I did get a chance to put together a fun card to share with you; but never got around to posting it. I haven't put ink on the adorable Hot Betty from OCL in a very long time. I thought it was about time I showed her a little love. This card is for March's SFYTT challenge. I really am going to try to do every sketch this year. (We'll see how that works out with my move in June/July!) I did take a slight bit of liberty and eliminated the circle element from my card. I tried a couple of things there; but I just couldn't get a good feel for something there. I think it holds true to the overall layout though.
 This was a fun card to make. I mean, who doesn't have fun coloring Betty! I used some pretty spring colors including Cameo Coral, Harvest Gold and New Leaf. The floral pattern paper is from Basic Grey "Sweet Threads" collection.

  She also fits quite a few challenges that were listed over the last few days. Unfortunately, I don't have the option of a lazy hazy day today, so I'm afraid that's all for me today. Hopefully, I find some more time later for creativity and have something tomorrow (or Thursday) to share with you!

 All Sorts: Say it with Flowers
I Heart Stamps: March SFYTT
Just Us Girls: Faux Embossing
Just Some Lines: Two items at least 6 months old. (I chose my stamp
set and the flowers/buttons)
Mark's Finest Papers: Bingo (I chose Buttons, Bling and Piercing)
Paper Sundaes: Feminine Flair
Totally Gorjuss: Anything Goes with a Button

Have a great day!

Happy Hi!

Hello Everyone!

It has been quite a while since I've played with my OCL stamps, so I thought I'd dust off a couple of sets and get creative with them over the next few days. I wanted to make a cheerful spring card since the weather here has been so beautiful lately. Of course, that was yesterday and now today it's 45 degrees, cold and windy! I decided to use the OCL set "Out for a Spin" This is such a cute set and I don't use it nearly as often as I should. I chose Fine Linen, Pink, Sage Shadow and Not Quite Navy to go with the pattern paper from the hopscotch collection by Basic Grey. I used the Top Note Die from Stampin Up for the center panel and yes, even took the time to do some real stitching around the edges. And yes, it took FOREVER! Oh well, I guess it was a good thing the TV show I was watching was entertaining! Because this stamp is a bit large, I chose to make a longer card instead of a standard 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. This card measures 6 1/4 x 3 1/2. It will fit into a 6 1/2x 4 3/4 invitation type envelope. I stamped the bicycle with Memento ink in Rich Cocoa and then used Copic Markers to color it in. It's a bit hard to see in the picture; but I did add a tiny dot of glitter to each of the flower's centers.
Ok, so that's all for me for now. I hope you all have a fabulous day; and I'll see everyone again soon!

Challenges:
Try Stampin on Tuesday: Sketch
Top Tip Tuesday: Real or faux stitching
Cooking it up with Katie: Emboss, Stitch and Punch
Paper Shelter: Anything Goes

InLinkz.com

"You're Special"

Hello Everyone!

Wow, it has been a while hasn't it?!! Sorry about the unexplained absence. I was busy setting up a new webstore to try and sell some of my creations and then I just took a break from crafting for a while. Today was the first time I was really in the mood, so I brought out the crafting table and got to work. Recently I won a little contest from Hero Arts and was able to choose a couple of goodies, Yay! I chose two stamp sets "Special Lace" and "Tapestry Script Background"
For this card I chose to use the Tuesday Morning Sketch layout for my inspiration. Smoky Shadow, Autumn Rose, Scarlett Jewel and white for my color choices.
Hopefully, this will be the new beginnings of some regular blogging once again.
Before I go, however, just want to give you all a quick link for my new web store: RTJmomGreetings I would just be delighted if you stopped by and looked at what I have to offer.

A few challenges for this card:

1. Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
2. Creative Mondays: Anything Goes
3. Make my Monday: Spring Flowers
4. The Pink Elephant: Layers

Chicken and Feta Pasta Florentine

Good Morning!

Well, I decided to change things up a bit this morning and share a quick recipe with you. I made this yummy dish last night for supper and thought I would post it in case anyone was looking for a nice easy romantic supper for tonight. I enjoyed this with a nice Pinot Grigio wine that I had as well. If the hubs was home, I would have made a salad and bread as well...but he's not, so I didn't! Haha!!
I make a lot of these types of pasta dishes. They are easy and very versatile. You can use just about any ingredients you have on hand and make a different and delicious dish every time!

Ingredients:

--Chicken Strips (I used the Tyson grill ready kind....it saved a BUNCH of time! If you use regular chicken...just adjust the recipe for cooking purposes.)
--1/2 onion chopped
-- 4 or 5 strips bacon (I use plain ol' everyday pork bacon...so I can't attest to how it would taste with turkey bacon)
--3/4-1 jar of Alfredo Sauce
--3 cloves of garlic minced
--1/2 box chopped frozen spinach (I find a whole box is just too much)
--1/2 box short pasta (penne, shells, ziti...whatever you have on hand)
--Feta Cheese

Directions:

--Put the water on and start cooking the pasta according to directions (just a little less than al dente)

1. Cut the bacon into pieces and fry until crispy and remove from pan. (If you are cooking chicken add it to the pan and cook once you remove the bacon...and then remove also once it's finished)
2. Lower the heat a little and add the chopped onion. Once the onion has softened, add the garlic and let cook for a few more minutes. Season with a SMALL amount of salt, some pepper and if you like, a little dash of red pepper flakes.
3.(Optional) add a couple of turns of white wine around the pan and let reduce until the liquid is just about all gone
4. Add the spinach and cook for a few minutes.
5. Return the chicken and bacon back to the pan
6. Add the Pasta sauce. (Note: when I made this, I knew I didn't want to make a lot, so I only used the 1/2 box of pasta and about 3/4 of a jar of sauce. Adjust this according to how much you are going to make)
7. Add a handful of feta cheese
8. Stir everything together. Now, at this point your pasta should already be cooking as well. Take a ladle full of the pasta water and slowly stir it into the sauce mixture
9. Drain the pasta and then add it to the sauce and gently combine it together.

Enjoy and if you get a chance, let me know what you think about this recipe!

A video tribute and a card for Whitney: Amazing Grace

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I am here just briefly to share a card that I made to pay tribute to the great Whitney Houston, who as you all know passed away unexpectedly yesterday. She was such a timeless voice and for many of us, her songs were the soundtracks to our lives. I decided also to make a small video with a few pictures I found via internet. When I was trying to decide a song to play, I just couldn't choose a Whitney song. There are just too many to choose from, too many wonderful and amazing songs. So, I decided instead to use a piece of beautiful music that I think reflects her beauty not only on the outside; but the inside as well.

Life is precious, and time past is time gone forever. Love those around you passionately, completely; and forever.

 

Hearts and Flowers

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a happy start to their weekend. Mine has been productive already this morning; but now I intend to just relax and curl up with my book for as long as the kids are occupied (and my oldest is still asleep!) I actually have, not one; but two cards to share with you today! I know, right?! I actually managed to get both of these done yesterday whilst the kids were at school; but didn't have a chance to get them posted.
In other news, I am a little sad to report that none of my cards were selected for Paper Crafts Stamp It 9 call. I was a little discouraged; but I know I'm not the only one either. I thought about going and ahead and sharing what I submitted; but I think I'm going to just hang on to them for a little longer. I haven't quite decided if I want to submit them for Stamping Royalty or not. The competition for getting published is stiff, that's for sure!

Anyhow, enough of my sob story, let's get to these cards!! The first one is for the 2nd Week of Viva La Verve. (I did the 1st one last week; but I haven't uploaded it to my SCS gallery yet.) I have really been liking the look of lots of white space and the dry embossing on white as well. I really wanted to keep this card pretty simply, so I chose a color palette of Enchanted Evening, White and Hawaiian Shores. The sentiment is a Plain Jane from Verve and the "xoxo" at the bottom is a little stamp found in Verve's "Tag Time" Set. The flowers, are of course, from Prima. In the photo, the center flower looks cream; but it's actually white.
 Challenges for this card:

ATC&Cards with Attitude: Flowers
Bloggers Challenge: In Bloom
Allsorts Challenge: Free and Easy February

Now, on to the second card! This one is for February's SFYTT challenge (In case you don't know what that stands for it's Sketch for You to Try!) What a fun sketch this was and easy to work with. I decided to make a card that I can send to my hubby later since he will be gone for a while longer yet. I  took this picture outside and well, you know me...always taking crooked pictures! Anyhow... I used Kraft, Dark Chocolate,  White and Ruby Red for this card. The heart stamps and the sentiments are from Hero Arts "Year Round Sentiment" set. Not a whole lot really to talk about this card. It's really as simple as it looks!


Challenges for this card:

Card Crafter's Circle: Valentine's or Hearts/ Love
Crafty Ann's Challenge: Love is in the Air
Phindy's Place: Circles
2 Sisters Challenge: I heart you
Craft Your Days Away : Get Stitchy


Have a great day everyone and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hero Arts February Challenge.

Hi Everyone!

Just a very quick post to share a card that I've made for the Hero Arts February Challenge. This is my first time entering the monthly contest challenge and to be honest, I really didn't decide until this morning. I woke up this morning planning to work on yesterday's Mojo Monday sketch and my mind just sort of veered off in another direction. I always like to get involved with challenges and contests as often as I can. Not because I'm some great stamper worthy of prizes and rewards (although that would obviously be nice!); but because I think being involved with the various challenges and competitions that are out there forces me to really push myself as it relates to creating. It makes me take the extra mile with a card such as inking the edges with distress ink as I did with this card. It gives me the courage to pull apart a card and re -vamp it if it "just doesn't quite look right" For example, I pulled this card apart 3 times before getting it to how I wanted it to be. After all, if it isn't satisfactory to me, how can I expect someone else to think it is? I am very fortunate that right now I have 3 children who are all in school every day and right now I'm not working, so I have the time to spend doing this hobby I enjoy so much. That will change soon I know, and when it does, I'll put all my "toys" away like a good girl and accept my responsibilities. Until then, however, I will continue to stamp all my cares away!!
For this challenge, I tried to combine elements of each theme for the challenge: The Sketch, The Friendship Theme and using Diecuts. I used two sets of Hero Arts stamps: Classic Fabric Design and Live Life.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting me today, my play time is all over for today; and now I am going to go do something at least a little bit worthy of my title as "Domestic Goddess"
Have a great day, my crafty friends! I'll see y'all tomorrow (with Mojo Monday sketch!)

Just Because Mojo

Hi Everyone!

I have been super busy behind the blogging scenes creating lots of fun cards. Some I am going to be sharing with you here, some over at SCS and some you'll just have to wait to see hopefully in a magazine a little later! For now, however I want to share my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch. This was such a fun and easy sketch to work with. I used Simply Chartreuse, some Light Blue and Vanilla Cream. The piece of pattern paper is from Basic Grey: Sweet Threads. What's funny is I just realized that I completely covered up the scalloped border piece I put across the center! Oh well...Lol! The sentiment and stamp are from Verve's "Sweet Treats" set. I distressed the edges and added some Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Inks to the edges.

That's all for me today. Have a good afternoon and I'll see you all as soon as I can!

I did find some challenges to link this little creation to:

Craft Your Days Away: Distress
Crazy4 Challenges: Layer it on
One Stop Craft Challenge: Stitching
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle: Anything Goes
Pile it on: Just Because
Sentimental Sundays: Dry Embossing
Truly Madly Crafty: Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge: Flowers
Lollipop Crafts: Anything Goes
My Craft Spot: Anything Goes
365 Cards: Simply Stated

Mojo Monday Smile

Hi Everyone!

Very quick post today to share this week's Mojo Monday card.  I have to be honest, the photo makes me kinda like it more than I thought I did when I looked at the original! It doesn't look too shabby.

I have lots going on crafty wise and have been busy. I am really trying to get some cards published. Since I can't share anything that I am putting in for submission,  I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be doing over the next few weeks.

So for now, I just ask that you wish me a little good luck and I'll see you again as soon as I can!

SCS Wed Sketch: Dreaming of Home

Hi Everyone!

Once again, the day has just flown by for me, so I am here just briefly to share my card for today's SCS sketch challenge. This is another challenge that I hope to do with better consistency from this point forward. This sketch was fun and easy to work with. I liked the fact that it was all rectangles and squares! I love circles, and ovals don't get me wrong; but sometimes they are hard for me to be creative with. Anyhow, I am sending this card as part of my "Operation Write Home" package this month. I thought this would be a perfect sketch to use my new "Right at Home" stamp set from Hero Arts. I thought it would be fun to combine it with some bright and cheery colors so I used, Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest and Simply Chartreuse from PTI. The piece of pattern paper is from My Minds Eye: Lime Twist, "Fly a Kite" 6x6 paper pad.

No time to link this card for challenges; but I do hope you will leave me a comment. I am always grateful for your feedback.

Have a great afternoon!

Love You: January SFYTT

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are all having a good day. Mine has been busy since early this morning. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I have a moment where I think,  "wow...today was a busy day. I'm not exactly sure what I did; but I was busy!" Do you ever feel like that? Lol!!

I was thinking also that my crafting has been really random in the past. I don't really have set challenges that I follow. I usually just check the "Feline Playful" challenge list each day and then just create from there. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks to streamline my creativity and be consistent with a few challenges. The first one I want to become a regular participant in is "i Heart 2 Stamp's SFYTT challenge" I thought that January would be a great time to start.

I wanted to keep this card very simple especially since one of the other challenges I am entering this card into is to not use any embellishments. I moved the circle over just slightly because I wanted to use the "Love You" sentiment across the center, so I had to in order for it to fit. Although it's hard to see in the photo, I did add some glossy accents to the heart in the center. Anyhow, I do hope you like it. It's almost time for me to go pick up the little ones from school, so I shall bid you all farewell until tomorrow!

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments: Anything Goes
Going Grey with Scrap Creations: Die Cuts
The Stamping Boutique: Die Cuts
Heart Song Inspirations: Glitter and/or white on white
Lollipop Crafts: No embellishments

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