Season's Greetings

 

 

 

Good Morning!

 

Here's another holiday card for you.  It uses SU! Beautiful Season set. 

 

 

 

 

Image stamped in Stazon black and colored in with a blender pen.  Used the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder on the cherry cobbler strip, Scallop Trim Border for the white and Labels collection framelit for the image panel.  Colors, are green gumball, basic gray, cherry cobbler, so saffron and pumpkin pie.  Can't see it in the photo hardly, but there is ulta fine glitter, applied with a two-way glue pen, on the leaves and berries. 

 

 

 

 

Have a great Friday!

 

 

All Quiet On The Stitching Front.....

Haven't picked up the needle to stitch since late September. 

We took our annual weekend getaway to Asheville in September (celebrating our silver anniversary--25years!) and that called for a new little stitchery.  I had recently purchased Blackbird Designs  "Tis Hallowe'en".  Thirteen stockings and projects of stitchy goodness.  Here's what I did back in Sept and how it still looks today:



"Whooo's Knockin' at My Door?
Blackbird Designs "Tis Halloween" booklet
30ct Cafe Kona
called for dyed threads

 



Didn't get very far.  Best intentions and all that. 

Few pictures of the weekend trip:

 

 

Spent time relaxing at the Biltmore Inn each day.  





 

Lots of stitching in their comfortable sofas and chairs by the windows in the library; taking in some wonderful views of the mountains.  Here I am waiting for hubs before taking tea.  :) 

 

 

The big house.  Look at that sky!  Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

 

Mums all set out.

 

Took in a bit downtown Asheville.  The morning was cloudy and quite misty which...

 

 

...made it a great morning for coffee and pastry at the City Bakery Cafe.

 

Had great weather to enjoy dinner outside one night.

 

 



It was a little too early to enjoy fall in it's colorful splendor but the weather was great and we had wonderful and relaxing time.   Look forward to doing it again next year.

 

Blessings!

 

 

 

 





Coffee Mug Treat

Seriously?  Is it really almost the middle of November?!  Feel like I slept through October. 

 

I had my stamp group over in October and November and at this last meet, we made some fun holiday cards and treat holders.  Here's one of them:  

 

 

 

A cute little coffee mug treat using Stampin Up's new Scentsational Season set.    This can hold up to 2 instant coffee packets from Starbucks along with a tag.  

 

 

 

The mug measures 4 x 3 1/2 inches.  I cut whisper white cardstock 4 x 7 inches and folded it in half.  Ran it thru the cuttlebug with the Chevron embossing folder, doing each side separately.   Using an oval shape from my Creative Memory cutters, I trimmed off  a slight oval off the front of the mug.  Then I cut a piece of white cs 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 and with the square punch, punched it in the middle to create a handle.  Laid that piece just inside the mug and ran sticky strip along the bottom and down the right side of the mug and sealed it, securing the handle in the process.

 

The tag is a 2 x 4 piece of white that was rounded (with a circle punch) with a sentiment from the SU! More Merry Messages stamp set and the steam was stamped on vellum.   The green die cut piece really seems flat to me and so next time, I'll run that through an embossing folder for some pop.  Colors used are whisper white, real red, and gumball green.

 

Cute little something to give as a treat during this season.  The dimensions on the mug can be easily changed to make it larger so that it can hold more packets.   I found Starbucks Instant Mocha packets the other day at Target and would be cute to make more of these as little teacher gifts.

 

Hope you have a fabulous week ahead!

 

 

 

 

 



Autumn Sampler

Happy Fall Everyone! 

Now that we are officially in the Autumn season, I just want to stitch fall related items! 

Happens to me almost every single year.

Still stitching away on City Sampler but I put it down to work on a little freebie from Brenda at With Thy Needle and Thread. 

(because it's fall related and I couldn't stand not to stitch it now that we were approaching fall).

I'll post a pic of that when I get a little more done to it. 

What I've got here today is an Autumn sampler that I did years ago.  The pattern was offered in a Better Homes and Garden Magazine. 

Like many years ago.   See the date there?



1994.  Eighteen years ago.  

And I'm embarrassed to say that it's not framed. 

I know.  

Apparently I like to stitch more than to frame/finish a project.

But what I think happened, was that the sampler didn't really match my home decor colors at the time.  It would have clashed is what I thought.  I just loved stitching it.  Well, not ALL the leaves (lots of changing the thread color there).  Plus it wasn't fall anymore, the season being passed by the time I finished this (I think I've stated I'm not a fast stitcher), so no hurries in getting it framed anyway. 

It clashed, not fall season, why bother?

So, I forgot about it.  For a long time. 

Then I went through a dry stitching spell, where I didn't take up a needle and thread all that much. 

I rediscovered it in my stitching stash drawer when I got back into stitching again. But it wasn't the fall season so..........back it went into the drawer.  To be forgotten about again.  Out of sight, out of mind. 

So, here we are 18 years later.  It's almost an antique.  

Well, not really. 

I think it will finally get to the framers this fall.   I better not put it back in the drawer just in case!  Clash or no clash, it should be framed. 

Have you ever had a stitched item that took you forever to frame?  I hope I'm not the only one. 

For my stitching friends, are you a frame it with glass or no glass person?  Share your thoughts. 

Until next time,

"Brown Paper Packages.......

.....tied up with string".  As soon as I read that phrase, I hear Julie Andrews singing it as she did in the classic movie "Sound of Music".   Such a pretty song. 

And she has such a lovely voice.  I can't carry a tune to save my life.  It's just not a gift I possess.

But I can stamp. 

And can whip up a brown paper package for a birthday gift with a coordinating card.  So there's that.

I had a large pillow box that I used for a template.  I carefully undid the side glued seam, traced the opened up box on some craft colored cardstock, scored it in the appropriate places and used red line tape to adhere it back into a pillow box.  Before adding the tape, I stamped a swirl image all over. 

A doily from Wilton with a black scalloped circle and the phrase typed out on the computer is the focal point.  Embellished with an off-white prima flower and pearl then tied up with some stretch white cording (string) :)

The card was clean and simple using the stamp set Build A Blossom and it's coordinating punch.  The black layer was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder.  Pearls for accents.



Pretty, pretty, pretty and easy to boot.  If I do say so myself.  Love little brown paper packages!  I think the recipient enjoyed it too.

Hope your week gets off to a great start!  Thanks for stopping by!



Supplies Used:

Stamps: Build A Blossom, Elements of Style, Well Scripted

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Black, Whisper White

Ink:  Versamark, Stazon Black

Accs:  circle punch, Nestibilities scalloped circle die, prima flower

         pearls, stretch cording, Wilton doily

June Cottage

Happy Labor Day!  That is what we are celebrating today.  Actually, not so much celebrating  as enjoying a day off from work and school.  It's been such a nice 3-day weekend.

 

Finished up CCN's June Cottage a while back but just now got it pressed and had it's picture taken. 

 

  

 

I decided to leave off the flowers that were floating with the clouds and didn't make the French knots.  I'm not all that great with making the knots but truth be told, it's more laziness than anything.  I just wanted to be done with the piece and really didn't want to trouble myself with doing them.  Perhaps when I take it back out to frame it up I'll do them.  Or not.

Skipped around with these cottage months and today I ordered October's.  I'm so itching to start on something new that is autumn related!  Ready for that season to be here.  Done in with the hot weather already. 

 

In the meantime, I've once again been working a little more diligently on Weeping Tree Sampler.  You can see previous pictures of this sampler I posted (back last August) here.  I made mention back then that I'd hoped to have had it finished before the end of the year was out.  Oops.  That didn't happen.  I put it down for other things (probably something fall related!) and then just didn't take it back out. 

Here's a not so good photo of it's progress. 

 

 

I've actually gotten the house all done since the photo was taken and have fixed the few places I missed some little x's on the brick work.   All I have left to do on the house is the window pane backstitching.   Then it's on to the bottom part of the house where the phrase is along with some motifs at the bottom border and another planter on the side of the phrase.  Then last it will be the sawtooth border all around the sampler.  That will be a job.  I keep going back and forth on whether or not I'll do the sawtooth border.  I'm all for it right now.  That can change tomorrow. 

Off to enjoy the last of our free day with some more stitching.  Hope you have a great rest of the week!  Thanks for stopping by!


 



Keeping Calm..........

Hello Friends!

We are back into the swing of school time!  Whew!  I'm trying to "Keep Calm" as we carry onto the new school.  My boys started 6th and 4th grade and I've got 14 new little ones in the preschool class I assist in.  They are precious!  

Things have been busy and I have been super tired lately with getting adjusted into our school routines.  Things are settling down now and everyone is happy in their places.  

Back in July, I sent a little gift to my sister.  It was a book entitled, 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society', a historical fiction novel, that is charming and full of quirky characters telling the time when an English island was occupied by Germany during WWII .  An English themed book, the card I enclosed with it was a perfect match I thought.   

All supplies used are from Stampin Up! 

We are already looking forward to a three day weekend with Labor Day coming up!  Just 4 more school days.  Woohoo!

Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Carry On

Paper: midnight muse, whisper white & real red

ink:  real red, white craft, gold metallic ink

accessories:  1"inch circle punch, clear jewels





Little Owl Pillow Box

I found a cute pillow box owl via Pinterest (where else these days?!) awhile back.  Of course I had to pin it and make one of my own. 

Sweet little thing; perfect for housing a little gift of somekind, like jewelry or a gift card.  Maybe even a chocolate nugget or two.  And so easy to make!

I used the SU! Pillow Box Die to make the box.  Used various punches to make the eyes and "wings", Heart to Heart punch for the feet and the 3/4 punch to make the circles for the "body feathers" (could use a scallop die or the scallop punch as well).    

Paper used was Pink Pirouette cs for the box and designer series paper in the same color for the body feathers.  Little bit of bling for the twinkling eyes. 

Here she is in her "nest" before being sent to my niece with a little bracelet inside for her birthday.

Here is a link: KERRY'S CRAFT BLOG where she has a whole bunch of colorful ones and a newly made video tutorial explaining how they are made.

                

Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin Up & Flower Soft

Hello! 

A little bit of stamping goodness for today.  Made this card a while back and just realized I had it sitting in my drafts and never posted it.  

It uses an older SU! stamp set called, Serene Spring.   Colored the image using an aqua-painter and classic pads & ink refills, paper used was watercolor paper.  Some flower soft in different spots for added texture and dimension.   Not sure if the flower soft comes through in the pictures but it's really pretty in real life.   

Trying to get through my pile of books.  Seems like I've checked out more library books than I'll be able to get through before the return date!  I've added more to this stack since I took the picture. 

Just finished "Sweetness at The Bottom of The Pie" and found it immensely enjoyable.  Mystery type novel set around 1950 England involving a precocious 11yr old girl named Flavia.  Fun read.  Next up is "The House at Tyneford". 

Better get to reading! 

Hope your week so far has been a good one! 

Cottage Of The Month Progress

So.

Little behind on my cottages.  Got a little sidetracked with other stuff but I'm back on stitching these cute houses.  Here's my work in progress on June:
 

See the lenses?  I'm sporting readers now, +1.0,  to do my needlework.   I had been struggling for awhile and then it occured to me that magnifiers might help and so I went shopping for some and got a 3 pair pack for $8 at my local TJMaxx.

What a difference it has made in my stitching!  And you know what?  I kinda like wearing them.  Thought I would feel so self-conscience and well, old.  But not really.   Now I find myself checking out glasses wherever I go in case I find a really cute pair. 

Think I'll go slip them on now and stitch a few rows before breakfast.

Have a great day!



A Patriotic Finish

I really enjoy stitching Little House Needlework designs. 

They are easy on the eyes and easy to stitch while watching a favorite movie.  
I might have mentioned that before?  Still holds true. 

Here's one I stitched some time ago.  Stitched last July I believe.  I like to stitch things
in season.

A design named "America".    

Pretty design isn't?  Love the little white fence and the vine growing out of the pot

and the way it curves over the American flag. 

I made a small color change and that was using a different color for the pot that

has the vine and the colors for the roof and window panes, DMC black and a

light gray.   Can't remember the exact number of the DMC colors.  It's been awhile.

The idea was to have it framed before July rolled around this summer.   

Even bought a frame for it over the fall/winter (I really can't remember now). 

I think I totally forgot that I had it finished and had a frame.  Until I browsed

my secretary desk that housed my finished items. 

   

Here it is with it's frame layed over it. 

Perhaps before this July 2012 rolls out it will be set into the frame.    

And be ready for display next July, 2013. 

I have high hopes.



Supplies:

Pattern ~ America by Little House Needeworks

Fabric ~ 32ct  Raw Linen Belfast 

threads ~ DMC as charted exception: 

 black for roof, light gray for window panes & pot

Flag Cake

For the last three years, I've been making this cake on the 4th of July.  The boys have fun helping to add the blueberries and raspberries and turning it into the American flag.  This photo is actually from the one I made last year as I forgot to take a picture of this years.  We were in a hurry to get over to a friend's house for a cookout.  The town they live in has an annual fireworks display and where their house is, we were able to enjoy the fireworks from their backyard.  Really nice!  Not the best of photos I'm afraid.  But here it is:

I've seen different variations of it, from Martha Stewart to Pioneer Woman's.  Their cake recipe is made from scratch but turns out a much larger cake using 12 x 18 baking sheets to bake the cake in.  In fact, Martha's recipe calls for 2 recipes of the cake (to make a 2 layer cake).  Guess it would work well if you want to feed a crowd!  I have made Martha's recipe, using 1 batch and baking it in a 9 x 13 baking pan for a 1 layer cake.   A recipe from Family Circle Magazine I came across used 2 white cake mixes, doctored up, for the cake base.  That's what I used this time.  I love to bake from scratch but sometimes for ease, I pick up a Duncan Hines mix and add a few things to it. 

Love the addition of lemon zest and juice to the cake mix and juice to the frosting.  Pairs well with the fresh fruit and lends a fresh citrusy taste.  It also helps to cut into the sweetness of the frosting and cake. 

Festive Flag Cake

(adapted from Family Circle Magazine)

Cake:

Zest and juice of 2 lemons

2 boxes white cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)

6 large egg whites

1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

1 tsp lemon extract

Frosting:

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) of unsalted butter, softened

1 8oz pkg cream cheese, room temperature

pinch of salt

2 16oz pkgs of powdered sugar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2-3 Tbsp milk

Raspberries & Blueberries for decorating

Seedless raspberry jam (for filling), optional

Heat oven to 350.  Grease & flour two 9 x 13 inch baking pans.  Set aside.  Pour lemon juice into a 4 cup measuring cup and add enough water to equal 2 2/3 cups. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mixes, egg whites, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice/water mixture and lemon extract to blend, about 3 minutes.  Divide evenly between the two prepared pans.  Bake at 350 for about 22 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.  Depending on your oven, I would check after 20 minutes.  Let Cool for 10 minutes and then carefully invert cakes onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

For Frosting:  Beat butter, cream cheese and pinch of salt until fluffy.  Add powdered sugar gradually, along with the lemon juice and 1 Tbsp of milk.  Continue beating on low until well blended and reaching a good spreading consistency, adding more milk a teaspon at a time as needed.  Reserve at least 1 cup frosting for piping on a white "stripe".

Place 1 cake layer on serving tray.  Spread optional raspberry jam over cake (about 3/4 cups) but not all the way to the edge so as not to make the jam squeeze out when you add the second cake layer.  Or use 1 cup frosting instead of jam.   Top with 2nd cake layer, top side of cake down (so that the bottom of the cake is on top).  Do a crumb coat with frosting.  Let it set in fridge to set, about 30 minutes.  Remove and completely frost top and sides.  Place remaining frosting in a pastry bag with a large star tip.

Mark off a field for "stars".  Fill in with blueberries.  Place 6 stripes of raspberries on cake as shown, leaving equal spacing for the "white" stripes.  Carefully pipe frosting between raspberry "stripes".  Refrigerate uncovered to set frosting, then loosly cover with nonstick aluminum foil.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Let stand at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving. 

 

Dusting Off The Cow Webs......

Hello!  How have you been?  It's been awhile, a very long while since I last posted.  I truly didn't mean for it to go so terribly long betweens posts but that's just what happened.   Anybody still with me? 

We are well into our sweet summer break.  LOVE, love summer break and sad to say, we are past the halfway mark.   A few more weeks and we are all back into a school routine.  But lets not talk about that.  Just.not.ready. 

Here's a few snapshots of what I've been up to since I last posted:

Little Easter baskets for the preschoolers in my class. 

Yellow for the girls and blue ones for the boys.

A trip to the Biltmore House in the Spring

Tulips in full bloom at the Biltmore Gardens

Boys playing Little League Baseball

Go Yankees!

Go Giants!

A birthday.  Twelve!  Where does the time go?!

There was the end of the school year, a quickie trip to TX to see family, and Father's Day.  June seems to have whizzed by.   Had a festive 4th of July (I'll show you my flag cake for the occasion later).    

Been enjoying my little family, stitching a little, playing with my stamps a little, reading a little and lots of pinning and blog surfing.   Oh and a little organization and purging too.  Boys had a couple of sports camps this summer but for the most part, it's been a relaxing time; going to the pool, play date here and there and heading to the library just about every week.  Very thankful for the time we have together.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world!  Until next time,