I know I've been MIA

I know I've been MIA. I have been scrapping but I haven't been playing with my Cricut.  In fact it is collecting dust.  But I have been playing with new goodies.  I am learning copic markers.  Here is a new card I made.  I hope you like it. My other new goodie it project life.  Love love love it.  I will post pics in a few about that. I am still in the beginning stages of it. Hope you enjoy my Birthday Card. Stamp is from the greeting farm.

ScrapbookPal.com Design Team Entry

Hello,
Welcome to my ScrapbookPal.com Design Team Entry! Thanks for looking at my project. I hope you enjoy it!


This is a layout about my kids Taekwondo yellow belt test.  It was also published in the Nov 2011 Edition of Cricut Magazine.

Items Used:
Imagine Cartridge - Audrey
Cricut Cartridge - Everyday Paper Dolls
Cricut Cartridge - Pagoda
Cricut Cartridge - Gypsy Font
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder 5 x 7 - Polka Dots
Yellow and Orange ribbon

Black, White, Tan, Brown, Yellow and Red Cardstock by American Craft

Silver Rhinestones

Corner Rounder

Black Pen

Black Ink Pad

Cuttlebug Machine V2

Cricut Imagine

Base Pages

1. Print 2 pages of the red houndstooth pattern from the Audrey Imagine Cartridge page 5. Cut both pages to 11 ½ x 11 ½. Round corner of top left on one and top right on the other.
2. With the cuttlebug and the Polka Dots 5x7 Embossing Folder, use white cardstock and emboss Qty. 2, 6” x 1 ¾” and Qty. 2, 5 ¼” x 1 ¾”. Lightly ink the embossed paper with a black ink pad. Adhere to bottom of both houndstooth paper.
3. Adhere the ribbon to the top of the embossed paper on both pages.
4. Adhere both pages to Qty. 2, 12x12 sheet of paper.  Tip: Do not center. Make flush with inside edge so when you put them together they are seamless.
5. Using your gypsy and gypsy font. Weld title at 1 ½” using white and yellow cardstock with black cardstock as the shadow. Adhere along top of both pages. Tip: Leave the y and e in yellow unglued so you will be able to tuck the lantern strings under later.

Left Page:

1. Add 6 photos to page. Here are the sizes clockwise.
1. #1. 3 ¼”x5, #2. 3”x5”, #3. 2 ¾”x2 ¾”, #4. 2 ¼”x2 ¾”, #5 3 ½”x2 ¾”, #6 2 ¾”x2 ¾” and adhere to page.
2. Using the Pagoda Cartridge cut and 4” using black and yellow cardstock. Adhere silver rhinestones. Tip: On Cut the string off and cut a new string 1/8” x 2”. Adhere to back of lamp. This is to make the lamp hang lower. Adhere both lamps and tuck strings under the y and e of the word yellow.
3. For the little boy use the Everyday Paperdoll cartridge. All cuts are 4”.
1. tan cardstock, (Headwear) Brown cardstock, White cardstock, Yellow cardstock, White Cardstock. Tip: Trim the so it is more like a shirt and not a long robe. Draw details on the robe and face with a black pen. Adhere with pop dots.

Right Page:

1. Add 4 photos to page. Here are the sizes clockwise.

2. #1 4”x5”, #2 1 ¾”x2 ¾”, #3 3 ¼”x2 ¾”, #4 5”x2 ¾”

2. Using the Pagoda Cartridge cut 4” using black and yellow cardstock. Adhere silver rhinestones.
3. Using the Pagoda Cartridge cut flipped 2 ¼” using black and yellow cardstock. Adhere silver rhinestones to center of flowers on Tip: Cut the bottom two flowers and little branches off. Also Freehand an extension of the main black branch. When adhering hide seam from branch behind which is step 4. So I would advise to adhere to <Temple> then adhere to base page.
4. Using the Pagoda Cartridge cut <Temple> 5” using black and red cardstock with white cardstock as the shadow. Adhere silver rhinestones.
5. Using the Pagoda Cartridge cut 2 ½” and adhere with pop dots.

First Day of School

I finally got a chance to whip out and use my Nifty Fifties Cartridge.  It goes perfectly with the Echo Park Happy Days Collection.  This collection is so my style. I used it to create a page of my kids first day of first grade and their new school.  They acted like it was just another day but it was very emotional for me. My little boys are getting so big. Time really does fly by.

Jet Skiing

Have I told you lately that I work for the best company in the world!!! This is a layout.  We were on our IT retreat and we all went jet skiing.  It was my first time and it was so much fun! I didn't want to stop.  Can't wait for next summer so I can go jet skiing with my husband.

More Recipe Swap Layouts

Here are the last 2 recipes for the cricut circle recipe swaps that I have done.  They are finally finished and ready to be shipped.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
•  1/2 cup peanut butter
•  1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
•  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

 

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.

2.     Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.

3.     Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Ingredients

·         4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped

·         1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

·         6 tablespoons butter

·         3 eggs

·         1 cup white sugar

·         1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         1/2 cup all-purpose flour

·         2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

·         1/4 teaspoon baking powder

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.     In the microwave or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup of the chocolate chips, and the butter stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, whip eggs and sugar until thick and pale, about 2 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and the chocolate mixture until well mixed. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually stir into the chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining 1 cup chocolate chips. Cover dough and chill for at least an hour or overnight.

2.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll chilled dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets so they are 2 inches apart.

3.     Bake for 9 to 11 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Snow Fun Layout

Here is my Snow Fun Layout that was featured in the October 2011 issue of Cricut Magazine.
Living in Los Angeles we don't get snow where we live.  But we can drive 2 hours and have a snow day in Angeles Crest with the family.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

So today is the day that I pick a winner for a new preserve cricut cartridge.

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and participated.  Now for the winner via random.org is number #35

Congratulation to:  Mother of 4. My husband's toys cost more. Please send me your address so I can get your cart sent  out to you!

Thank you again everyone for participating.

I am published =)

Here is my layout I did of my kids Taekwondo Belt test and Ceremony.  It was featured on a 2 page spread in the November 2011 Edition of Cricut Magazine. I am so excited. I really like how it turned out!

Met a great & crazy talented friend on Saturday

So on Saturday I got together to crop at or fave LSS Remember When. I was walking to get water and was stopped dead in my tracks by this guy who was creating these amazing layouts.  He whips them out in no time and is crazy talented.  His name is Drew Scott. He's 16 years old and designs for prima and has his own kit club.  Check him out!

Drew's blog
http://www.scrappyhappiness.com/

Drew's Kit Club
http://www.shkitclub.com/index.html

La-La Land Crafts

Love La-La Land Crafts.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bar Layout

I just got finished with my last recipe for the recipe swap.  I really enjoyed doing this swap.  I can't wait to see what others did for their layouts in the circle swap.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars


Ingredients
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 3/4 cups finely crushed cinnamon graham crackers
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In blender container, blend
   strawberries until smooth. In saucepan, combine strawberry puree
   and cornstarch; cook and stir until thickened. Cool.
2. Combine graham crumbs and butter in small bowl;
   press firmly on bottom of greased 13x9-inch baking pan.
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in
   sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs, lemon juice
   and vanilla; mix well. Pour over crust.
4. Drop strawberry mixture by spoonfuls over batter. Gently swirl with
   a knife or spatula. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until center is set. Cool.
   Cut into bars. Chill. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Blog Candy Giveaway!

I won blog candy so I thought I'd pay it forward. So I will be picking someone at random to win a new preserve cricut cartridge!

All you have to do is become a follower and then leave a comment on this post. You will get an extra chance to win if you mention this contest and link to my blog on your blog. Please make sure you link to your blog so I can check it out and enter you a second time =)

I will be choosing a winner on November 1st!

*Must be in the continental US*

Sour Cream Cookie Recipe

I am taking part in a circle recipe swap. So I decided to make the layout correspond with the circle recipe contest. This fits the requirements of A title, 3 buttons, 2 cricut cuts. Hope you like and wish me luck! Mama needs a cricut cake =) This layout actually has a pocket so you can pull out the recipe. It has the cookie recipe on one side and the frosting recipe on the other.

I have added the recipe to share at the bottom of this post.  Enjoy!

Sour Cream Cookies

      Cookies

• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 ¾ cup sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook for 10 minutes. Cream shortening & sugar. Add salt, vanilla, eggs & beat well. Add sour cream alternately with sifting dry ingredients. I do 1 cup flour, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder & soda vs. 1/4 cup sour cream. Do this 4 times. Chill dough thoroughly. Roll dough flat and cut out with cookie cutters.

Frosting

• ¼ cup melted shortening
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• Milk
• Food coloring if desired

Directions

Mix shortening, powdered sugar and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, add enough milk to give the consistency you want. If you add too much milk, add a little more sugar. Add food coloring if desired to make the cookies festive.

Crazy Delicious

My hubby and I went to San Francisco and found the most amazing restaurant for breakfast, Mama's on Washington. The breakfast there is amazing and apparently everyone in the city already knew it because you had to wait a minimum of an hour to eat. We met some great people in line and the wait was well worth it.

Products Used: Echo Park for the record collection Cricut Carts: Paper Lace

A Day at the Aquarium

My family and I went to the aquarium of the pacific on Labor Day. We had a great time. For this project I used the pack your bags cartridge and Bo Bunny Double Dotted Paper that I am truly obsessed with.

I used to only scrapbook my boys and do masculine layouts. I think I am really finding my scrapbooking style when it comes to using pink and lace on little girl pages =). Isn't my beautiful niece a great muse!

I got to do a layout today while my family and I are hiding from the 107 degree weather. This layout is of my precious niece Lizzy. I did this layout for the Cricut Circle Magazine Challenge. This month it's all about two of my loves Cricut and Cosmo Cricket. So it was a must that I made a layout and entered.

Tip: If you want to make an embellishment but don't have the right color cardstock. Cut it out in white and then find the matching copic markers and color away. This is what I did on the flowers. I also embossed them with the Candy Cane Strip Embossing Folder.

Products Used:
Plantin Schoolbook Circut Cartridge
Paper Lace Circut Cartridge
Mother's Day Bouquet Circut Cartridge
Candy Cane Stripe Embossing Folder
Cosmo Cricket - Circa 1934 Paper Collection
Copic Markers YR23 & R27
Sharpie White Poster Paint Marker
Pearls

Yeah I have finally had a chance to scrapbook last weekend. I did a few layouts. this layout is about out family walk. When we were walking we found Damon Street. My son Damon was so excited. I am also entering this layout in a Cricut Circle challenge.

Here is a simple card I made using Seeing Spots Embossing Folder and Floral Embellished Cartridge and new Bo Bunny dotted paper.

Here is a cute layout I made for a recipe swap. This pasta is so delicious. You can find the original recipe www.eatingwell.com.

Carts used: Paper Lace & Audrey
Rosette made using tim holtz sizzix die.