Greeting Card Kids

I needed cards for thank you notes and I sent them off to arrive just before Valentine's Day, so I decided to use the Greeting Card kids set.  What you can't see from this picture is the letterpress template I used on the vanilla cardstock, stamped with VersaMark.  I saw a similar card on Pinterest and went with the design and colors.  The card I saw was a little more snazzy but I needed it to be flat enough to mail and the flowers on the other card were too 3D for the mail unless a bubble envelope was used.

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids and Hand-Penned Holidays

CS:  Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, VV

Ink:  VersaMark, Stazon Black

Misc.:  Flower Punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, Large Delicate Doilies sizzlet, dimensionals, Fancy Fan Letterpress, Basic Pearl, mini Glue Dots

Still Around

Christmas, traditions, and a long list of "want to do" kept me pretty busy.  I'm embarrassed to say that I still need to get 'thank you' cards written and mailed off.  Stamped might even be good but I do have my trusty box of ready-made cards that never seem quite right for the person I need a card for.

In December I tried to participate in 2 photo challenges for the month.  I ended up very behind and was still playing catch-up well into January.  There were some duplicates on both lists and I found I got pictures of the details but didn't seem to get as many of the people and I'm usually better at that.  Somehow, I need to find that happy medium of both.  I like the details but the people/family are more important to me.

The month I started with a quilting group that meets once a month.  We are making the "Ramblin Rose Meets Jamestown" quilt this year.  I'm making the squares as they are but I'm modifying the log cabin part of the quilt so the lines aren't on the quilt but form a border of sorts.  I'm happy with the first square and glad I won't be rushing the night before the next gathering to get it done.

Candy Cane

I wish I took some pictures as I went along but I wanted to share with you something that I made a couple of weeks ago for a decoration outside this year.  This was a two-hour project.

In October, I bought to rolls of mesh ribbon.  One was white and the other red.  I can't visualize what I intended but I think I planned to use it above the windows . . . somewhere.  Perhaps on a wreath but I doubt that due to the size of my wreaths.  Due to the colors of the mesh, it seemed logical to make a candy cane.  I went to the store and bought some green ribbon for a bow, which I think needs to be a little lower on the candy cane but it will do for this year.

We had left over chicken wire from a science fair project last year.  I rolled it to make a cylinder shape, securing it with zip ties and then shaped it for a candy cane.  The hook of the cane wouldn't stay bent so I used some wire (silver floral wire) to connect the base of the hook to the side.  You can't even see it in the picture.  I then gathered the mesh every 10-12 inches and wrapped it with some wire and attached it to the base.  I used 21 ft. of red and 21 ft. of white mesh ribbon.

It looks nice with the sun on it because there is a shine/sparkle to the mesh so it glistens in the light.

Pinterest CASEs

I love Pinterest.  I go there for ideas before I look other places because it is easy to look through the images and open only what you are interested in.  I would say it's a time saver but we all know it isn't because there are too many great things to see there.

The first card is a direct CASE with the exception of the words (I didn't want to dig out the set and made do with what I had on my desk).  I love Connie Babbert's cards.  She is one talented lady.

Stamps:  Watercolor Winter, More Merry Messages
CS:  Baja Breeze, WW, Pink Pirouette, Twitterpated DP
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Misc.:  Lacy Brocade EF, Designer Frames EF, XL oval punch, Aqua Painter, Dimensionals


This next one I was happy to see on Pinterest because I still have this DP from last year and was happy to use more of it up.  I didn't actually pin the card but you can easily do a search and find it or go to Jen's blog.  I am a Post-It person and I jot things down and put on the wall until I get to it.  At least I reference the blog instead of saying "I don't remember where I saw this."  It's the little things.

When I was taking the picture, I could see the sparkle on top of the roof and on the ground, but not in the picture.  One of those cards you say "it looks better in person", which is true if you like sparkle.

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, More Merry Messages

Inks:  Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler

CS:  WW, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Frostwood Lodge DP

Misc.:  Scallop trim border punch, Dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Crumb Cake seam binding, 2-1/2 Circle Punch, Nestabilities Scallop Punch

In the Spring I bought 20 yards of ribbon so I could make these necklaces for the moms in our Pack and Troop.  I finally finished enough for the Pack last month and then I finished off the ones for the Troop.   

They are nice when you go up and your son "pins" you with the pin of the rank he has been presented.  You don't have to plan ahead what you are wearing, worry about being poked and he doesn't have to feel awkward doing it.

What I still have left.  There are a handful that need to be distributed but I have some extras for boys that join the Pack or Troop.  Yay!

French Foliage Thank You

As you know, I'm a procrastinator.  I've known for a bit that I needed to get 40 cards made to hand off so teachers and music leaders could be appreciated for what they do.  Due to it being fall (not that you can tell here in FL), I wanted to use one of my fall sets.  I just couldn't get into it.  I tried.  I'm pre-occupied with other projects and they are what I think of right now.  Some are fun and some . . . eh, not so much.  After looking for some inspiration for something easy, that wouldn't cost extra postage, that wasn't too labor intensive with cutting, I came across a card like this on Pinterest.  Ha!  Just what I needed.  I went to the blog but it didn't have colors other than a Kaleidacolor (?) and gray.  I don't have any of the Kaleidacolor stamp pads any more.  A friend kept them about 7 years ago and I really didn't care because I never really used them.

I made a mask with a sheet of paper and brayered So Saffron in the rectangle window.  I stamped the script in More Mustard.  The "thank you" is stamped in Soft Suede.  The circle "Paris" and splatters are done in Sahara Sand.  The leaves were stamped in first in More Mustard, then I rock and rolled in Cajun Craze and on two of the leaves, I sponged on some Old Olive.

Stamps:  French Foliage, Curly Cute

CS:  Confetti Cream

Ink:  So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand

Misc.:  Sponge, brayer

Take a look at this fabric I picked up for my next quilt.  I can't wait to do get started on it, but first I have to finish cross-stitching a bib for a baby shower tomorrow night.  I need to get going on our Christmas cards too.  I'm thinking I'll be working on this quilt in December when the cards are mailed and the house is decorated.  I'm shooting to have it all done by the end of November.  

Moussaka

I made moussaka for dinner last night.  The recipe comes from a dear friend who is quite the cook.  A lot of years ago, she taught several of us how to make spanakopita, tzatziki and she had prepared moussaka and shared the recipe with us.  I made it in ABQ but it wasn't a hit with my family.  I thought the kids have matured with their tastes and I would give it a go again.  My husband doesn't remember it the first time around and tells me he must have been TDY.  I have one kid that doesn't eat red meat, of the three left, the twins liked it and my son didn't give it a fair try.  A recipe I enjoy but it will sit and be dusted off again in a few years.

Moussaka

sliced potatoes, fried (enough for single layer)
2 large eggplants, peeled and cut into 1/2" slices
2 lbs. ground beef
1C chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
3/4C dry red wine
2T snipped parsley (or 1T dried)
1t salt
1/4t dried oregano, crushed
1/4t cinnamon
1 beaten egg
1/4C butter or margarine
1/4C flour
1t salt
dash of pepper
2C milk
3 beaten eggs
1/2C grated Parmesan cheese
ground cinnamon

Bottom layer is sliced potatoes (you can use canned potatoes).  Fry them and then place in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Bake the eggplant at 375 until soft and the water is out.  Layer it on top of the potatoes.  (Best to do this in the morning and then place a paper towel on them to absorb more water.)

Cook the ground beef, chopped onion and garlic until the meat is brown and the onion is tender; drain.  Stir in tomato sauce, dry red wine, parsley, salt, oregano and cinnamon.  Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.  Gradually stir the meat mixture into the beaten egg.  Layer on top of the eggplant.

In a saucepan, melt the butter; stir in the flour, salt and pepper.  Add milk all at once; cook until thick and bubbly.  Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes more.  Gradually stir the milk mixture into the beaten eggs.  Pour the hot milk-egg mixture over all.  Top with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes.  Top with additional parsley if desired.  Makes 8-10 servings.

One Direction Party

The twins are turning 12 this week.  One of them loves One Direction.  She has many posters on her wall of them, group and single pictures.  She has a spot reserved for one that she wants but doesn't have.  Her sister, while she likes One Direction, is into Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 but she agreed to go with a One Direction theme for the party.  Yay!

Still working out some details of activities and I haven't given a thought to the cake but I thought I'd share the invite.  I found several through Google images.  I took what I like from at least 2, perhaps all 3 of the ticket style invitations and created one for them.  I hear their friends thought they were cool and one of the friends hung hers on the wall.  Off to a good start for this event. 

I'm making moussaka for dinner tonight and don't you know I'm out of potatoes.  I cooked the eggplant this morning to get as much water as possible out.  My wonderful husband is stopping by the store on his way home to get potatoes.  Dinner will be yummy but late.