Happy Halloween

Because it is Halloween....
Because I haven't posted menus or recipes in a while....
Because Ainsley is procrastinating and I don't feel like yelling at her right now...

I thought I would share a quick recipe with you.  This is a family favorite.  A good friend of mine gave me the recipe a while back, and I have tweaked it a bit over the years.

Italian Sausage Soup

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 med yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb Italian Sausage, sliced
1/3 c. dry red wine
14 oz beef broth
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 14 oz can cannelini (white) beans, rinsed
10 oz fresh spinach
1 lg zucchini
grated parmesean for garnish

In a large soup pot heat olive oil over medium high heat.  When oil is hot add onion and cook till translucent  approximately 3 minutes.  Add Italian sausage and garlic and brown another 5 minutes.  Add red wine and scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot, that's the good stuff.  Add next 8 ingredients and cook covered for at least 1 hour. You can leave it on the stove as long as you like.  The flavors will just blend and marry.

Serve with parmesean cheese on top.  (I left it off mine because I am trying to lose weight).

I guess it is time to go fuss....hee hee

Hugs.

Nancy

Let's Jam

Still working through my photos from our vacation a few months back.  Today I have another layout from the EMP in Seattle...did I tell you how much fun we had there?

Anyway....one of the things Mackenzie really enjoyed was the recording studio.  You could step into a booth and try your hand with different musical instruments.  Mackenzie love music, so this was the perfect activity for her.

Pink Paislee papers and alphas, Prim florals and canvas

I used a mixture of Pink Paislee's Bayberry and 365 papers for this one, with tons of Prima flowers and a few of the new Prima canvas pieces.  My favorite thing tho has got to be the seed beads I added to the floral centers.  I really struggle with flat flowers and the beads just really helped them pop.

OK, well....gotta run!  Did I mention we are painting the girls bedrooms this weekend?  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs.

Nancy

More Pumpkins

I am sure you can't possibly be tired of looking at photos from the pumpkin patch yet?  lol  Oh the joys of trying to complete multiple albums.  I am sure each of my children will simply be thrilled to move out someday with an entire bookcase of scrapbook albums devoted to their lives.  lol

I have this one layout tho, and one photo still to scrap...so I promise it will all be over soon.  hee hee

Here are my three little darlings back in 2004 (oh, how I wish my older photos were digital).  And look...I even have Phil in this one.  hee hee

 And here they are just a week ago.

Scenic Route papers and chipboard alpha, Prima flowers, felt vine, butterflies, American Crafts felt embellishments, WeR tag, EK Success punch, Tim Holtz distress inks

Again, used my stash of older papers, this time from Scenic Route.  I have tons of older Halloween papers and as much as I love the new patterns and colors....I really should use some of these up!  I added in some Prima flowers and butterflies, some felt embellishments from American Crafts, a tag from WeR and more of those super fun corrugated alphas from Jillybean soup!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Hugs.

Nancy

On a Roll

Maybe I am on a roll....or maybe I am just better at blogging later in the week?

Anyway....here is a fun layout I wanted to share of my lovelies at the EMP in Seattle.

Crate Paper Portrait Collection, Jillybean Soup alpha, Cricut Expression, Rock Princess Cartridge

This one makes me laugh because I used what was supposed to be a wedding line from Crate Paper, the Portrait Collection.  Needless to say, some of the embellishments didn't quite work here, but plenty did!  lol  I added some guitars I cut with my Cricut as well as some super fun alphas from Jillybean Soup.  A bit of white paint splattered everywhere really helped grunge it up.

We had a great time hanging out in the Museum and if you ever get a chance to visit I would strongly encourage you to.

Hugs.

Nancy

More Pumpkins

So, the other day I told you how much my children love going to the pumpkin patch every year.  Here are a few more pages from this years trip and a few of the older photos from 2004.

Ainsley was just a baby in 2004, she had just turned 3.  sigh....how time flies. 

Now she is so grown up.  We just had her hair cut for donation and she is still getting used to her shorter 'do.

Fancy Pants True, American Crafts and Pink Paislee alphas, Petaloo floral vine, Prima flowers, Basic Grey epoxies, EK Success Punch, Michaels butterfly

 More older Fancy Pants paper here.  This time from the True collection.

And here is Mackenzie then.....

And here she is now!  Yep, she is taller than me.  Just barely, but she is and she likes to make sure everyone knows it!  lol

Scenic Route papers, chipboard, alpha, Prima flowers

These are lovely "vintage" Scenic Route papers.  sigh....Sometimes I really miss this company, such great bold colors and patterns.  I added in a few newer Prima flowers to update the look a bit.

I will leave you today with this lovely photo of my two little darlings in the pumpkin queen chair.  You can compare it to the one in the above layout.  hee hee

Hugs.

Nancy

Canvas Paper Transfer

A while back, I did a tutorial where you could use Sticky Back Canvas and patterned paper to do a transfer.  I love the look of the patterns on canvas, but I don't always want to use sticky back canvas.  Recently I was watching a Live with Prima episode and found out you can do a similar technique using Multi Medium.

For this technique you will need your canvas (other fabrics will work as well, but I suggest you stick to lighter colors), multi medium, paint brush, patterned paper, and a water bottle.

Begin by placing a layer of multi medium onto the canvas where your paper image will go.  Remember, do not use words or numbers.  In the end you will have a reverse image, and unless you want to be reading your project in the mirror..... Then adhere your image over the top. Let dry over night.

The next day, spritz the paper with a bit of water and use your finger to rub off the paper.  Yep, this step can be a bit messy.

When complete you should have something that looks like this.  The image may not be as bright and vibrant as it could be, but don't worry.

 If you would like to brighten it up, a quick coating of Mod Podge should do the trick.

Remember I told you I had more ideas for my A4 papers...this is one of them.  The papers have the perfect weight for this technique.

I covered my canvas with some beautiful Prima flowers, many of them brand new from my Your Memories Here grab bag!  I also used some of the new gorgeous Prima resins, leaves, alphas, and buttons also from my grab bag.  A bit of chipboard from 3Tails Craft and some seam binding I dyed with Glimmer Mist finished this project off.  

The new Prima florals are so gorgeous!  I love the rich fall colors.

sugar maple and suede glimmer mist and hay ride glam dyed the seam binding

love that cute little bird house from Prima

I really like this idea for a wall hanging and am thinking I should make another for Christmas soon.

Hugs.

Nancy

Bad, Bad Blogger

Hi everyone!  Well, I think I have come to realize that life is just too crazy busy on the weekends and Mondays.  So here I am on Tuesday, making my first post in days.  Sorry.....

Anyway..... Last week I took my little darlings to the pumpkin patch.  This is a yearly even and my children are just about sick of it!  lol  Luckily for me, they know how much I enjoy going and how important it is to get the photo of them in front of the "Standing Tall" sign.  We now have the patch down to a science.  The children run around, find the sign, pose...run to the pumpkin king and queen chairs and pose...then into the patch for some fun photos.  If they are lucky, they find everything in less than 20 minutes and they can get back to their day.  hee hee.....Lucky for us, the sign was easily located this year.

Anyway....I just can't give it up!  I have photos of all the children in front of the sign for the last...oh goodness....maybe 14 years?

Well, I only went digital in 2004, so here is Brighton back then.....

And here he is today...

Fancy Pants All Fall Collection, Prima alphabet, American Crafts felt embellishment, unknown trim.

How can I not watch him grow next to that sign every year!  I have even informed him that he will be returning from college during the fall so that I can get his photo.  hee hee
I used lots of ancient Fancy Pants paper for this with a great sketch from my friend Heather.

Well, time to start dinner.

Hugs.

Nancy

Too Many Photos....

not enough time.  And seriously, anyway.  I don't know how to print them all unless I have a plan for what I am going to do.  But, I have a friend coming over tomorrow so I went ahead and printed almost 2 dozen photos in what I thought would be good sizes.  Cross your fingers.  Oh, and cross your fingers that I can find paper to go with my pumpkin patch photos.  I know I have got to have something somewhere....should be interesting.  hee hee

While I wait to scrap those, here are a few other pages I have done this last week.

This first one is Ainsley on the observation deck of the Space Needle in Seattle.  OMG...what an adventure that was.  She fussed and kicked and screamed that she didn't want to go.  The whole way up the elevator whining and crying that she was scared.  And of course, I am the worst mom on the planet because I am telling her to be quiet and suck it up.  Of course, once we got to the top she couldn't wait to look over the edge and check everything out.  sigh....

Crate Paper Random line, Prima canvas, AC Thickers, The Twinery baker's twine, Prima flowers

I made this for a challenge over at Scraptastic.  You had to use different shapes and distress your elements.  I inked just about everything here.  hee hee  I have a couple of rectangles, a square and circles.  I used my new Random kit from Crate Paper, which I love and a few smaller Prima flowers.

And these are some photos from sight seeing in the Olympic Village in Vancouver.  We had great fun in Vancouver and I would definitely love to go back some day.

Making Memories Passport line, Prima chipboard, MME rub on, AC ribbon

I finally used up the last of my Making Memories Passport line throwing in a Prima chipboard and a MME rub on.  Simple but done.  hee hee

Well, off to run the children to the pool.  Cross your fingers for me that the mojo is strong tomorrow and I get this stack of photos scrapped (or at least make a dent).

Hugs.

Nancy

When it Rains....

I don't know where my head is, but it isn't in posting on a regular basis.  It seems to be in fits and starts.  Better fits and starts I guess than not at all.  hee hee

So here is another project I recently finished.  The final one for the Sassy Lil' Send Off over at Sassy Lil' Sketches.  There are still a few days left to enter for a chance to win one of the Sassy e-books.  I managed to complete all the sketches, so cross your fingers for me.  hee hee

Prima paper, rub ons, small alpha.  Maya Road banner, chipboard, Basic Grey large chipboard.  Distress inks.

Here is Brighton on his 16th Birthday!!!  And, as usual...no cake!  He loves butterscotch pudding!!!  But then, who doesn't?  I used one of the Sassy sketches and more of my A4 Prima paper from Your Memories Here. I switched up the sketch by turning it on its side.  Lord knows I can't leave well enough alone.  hee hee  I am working on a tutorial for making the fun little banner (well, the technique anyway).  I should have it for you next week.  I am loving the Prima pad.  So much paper and for such a great price.  And, I don't have to feel guilty cutting it to pieces.  Thinking I may invest in another pad or two.  hee hee

Well, back to work.  Don't know what I was thinking but I started a bolognese and am trying to get tons of laundry done today.

Hugs.

Nancy

Where Does Time Go?

I could have sworn I had blogged early this week/over the weekend....but alas, I was mistaken.  So, what I did do was update my blog.  hee hee  I found a super cute template over at The Cutest Blog on the Block.  It made everything so easy...or so you would think.  I had to do some adjusting of the template to make the fonts the sizes I wanted, and have the text be justified the way I like...and since I stink at HTML......

Anyway....enough of that!  How about some fun projects?

First I have a few more cards from the Sassy Lil' Send off.  Sigh....what am I going to do when there are no more sketches......

And a fun canvas from my She Art class....which, I am loving.

This one is for a friend....she knows who she is and I hope she loves it.

Well, Ainsley is calling....back to work.

Hugs.

Nancy

Still Working on the Send Off

Hi everyone.  Wanted to drop in really quick and share another layout I made with a sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches send off.

We had such a great time in Vancouver.  We spent part of an afternoon checking out all the cool street art.  I loved these huge birds in the Olympic Village.  I switched it up a bit here by using multiple photo sizes, moving the title up a bit and moving the journal box to the opposite side.  Such a great sketch to work with.

I used more of my Prima Londonerry A4 papers for this layout, as well as many other great Prima finds from my Your Memories Here grab bag.  A gorgeous flower, fun chipboards, and beautiful metal trinkets.  I think those are quickly becoming a favorite here.  As a matter of fact, everything on this layout other than the bits of cardstock is from Prima.

Well, back to work for me.

Hugs.

Nancy

Fall Decor

Hi everyone! I wanted to pop in and share a fun home decor project I made last week with some gorgeous papers from the Your Memories Here store.  I found some cute little grapevine pumpkins online for cheap and couldn't wait to embellish.

I used some of the Earth Love papers from Cosmo Cricket and an assortment of flower dies.

And you know I couldn't go without using my fall Tim Holtz LE Distress Inks to ink up my flowers.

I even used the inks on my seam binding with a bit of glimmer mist for sparkle.

I have two more pumpkins that I just can't wait to play with.

Well, gotta run!

Hugs.

Nancy

I'm Late, I'm Late

Yes, I know that yesterday was Monday...but Mondays are crazy!  That is one of the reasons I had stopped doing the menu thing.  But....since so many of you asked...I will keep posting, but sometimes....Menu Monday may be Tuesday, or even Wednesday.  hee hee

Monday we had Butternut Squash with Tortellini.  Phil liked it, I liked it, Brighton thought the squash was a little too soft..but he liked it.  The girls....not so much.  I may try again and just cook the squash less.  It was super easy to make and you know I love my meatless Monday.  The recipe comes from Real Simple magazine and you can find it here.

 Tuesday we had Pioneer Woman's Cajun chicken pasta.  Yummo!!!!!  I left the veg nice and crisp because we like our veg crisp.  Also, I didn't add nearly the same amount of cajun seasoning because someone here doesn't like spicey food, darn it..  hee hee  Recipe is here.

 Wednesday was Chicken Waldorf Salad because that is Brighton's favorite and with apples coming back in season....how can I say no?

 Thursday I tried something new.  Not totally new mind you, but a little new.  Crazy day ahead so I took my usual lasagna recipe and made it in the crock pot.  I didn't get any of the crispy brown bits which I enjoy, but it was really soft and gooey.  Kids like it that way.  hee hee

 Friday we had yummy quesadillas.  Vegetarian....with salsa rice and salad.  So tasty and cheesy.

Well, gotta run.  I will be back tomorrow with a fun home decor project!

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy Thanksgiving...

A quick Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!  I have been having a crazy busy weekend since there is a swim meet. And it is a huge one!  Over 1000 swimmers yesterday, but I wanted to pop in and share this layout.

Crate Paper Farmhouse Collection, EK success punch, Jillybean Soup Alpha, Glimmer Mist

A layout of Ainsley from our Disney Cruise Character Breakfast.  I love the way they put napkins on your head to dress you up for the occasion...hee hee.  I used a super cute sketch from Creative Scrappers for this one.  And some of the fun corrugated cardboard I have been hoarding.  (don't worry, there are like three layers between it and my photo)  

Well, off to get a few things done.

Hugs.

Nancy

Still Getting Sassy!

The sketches over at Sassy Lil' Sketches just keep coming.  And today I had time to turn this....

into this...

Crate Paper Farmhouse, Prima Marketing flowers, alphabet

Mackenzie at our Character breakfast on our trip to Alaska.  I switched it up a bit, changing the orientation of the photo and moving the journaling down to the lower circle and replacing the original journaling spot with a chipboard banner.  What am I going to do once Cherie's sketches are gone?  sigh

I have also been busy creating mixed media art.  I decided to jump on the She Art wagon and just finished my first canvas.....

Ainsley has already claimed it as hers.  This was so fun to make, but now I realize all the fun mixed media products I need to get my hands on.  hee hee....This was made mostly with patterned paper, mists, paints, rub ons...all the usual things I use in scrapbooking.  But now I know I need inks and gels, and mediums....oh my!

Well, back to work.

Hugs.

Nancy

Sassy Cards

Hello Everyone!  Well, the Sassy send of is still going with more sketches still coming.  Today I made two cards using this weeks sketches.

 Here I turned the sketch on its side...mixing it up and all!

Echo Park patterned paper, Imaginisce chipboard, Prima flower, Daisy D's Ribon, Vintage image  vintageholidaycrafts.com

And here is my other....

Echo Park patterned paper, alphas, Daisy D's ribbon, Prima flowers, Vintage Image vintageholidaycrafts.com

I used Ranger crackle accents on the vintage images to add more deth.  I am very pleased with how they turned out.  I am really going to miss Cherie's sketches.  She makes card making so easy!

Be sure and pop over to the Sassy Lil' Sketches blog for your chance to win one of 8 ebooks and snag a few more sketches for your portfolio.

Hugs.

Nancy

A4 Paper, A Confession

Hi everyone.  Hope you are having a great day.  Here it is rainy and cold, perfect crafting weather.

I have a confession to make.  I truly didn't know how I felt about the new A4 paper size that Prima has been releasing.  I am a 12x12 scrapper.  I need my paper to be 12x12...right?  But then I got to thinking, I have to cut my papers to pieces because it isn't like I am going to layer all the full sheets one on top of the other.  And what about the back sides?  I love those as well.  So, for me, I decided the A4 pads are the perfect way to go.  There are so many sheets in the pad, 48 sheets/3 per design.  I get the fronts and the backs, the price is great (about $10 per pad) and, not so much guilt for cutting into a page because, well, I still have two sheets of the pattern left!  As well as the 3 "backsides".

Yep, I am a convert.  The paper is a great weight, a little lighter than the double sided sheets, but that offers up so many additional possibilities.  One of which I will be back to share soon.  I am a convert!  

So, What did I make with my first A4 pad?

I love this photo of Brighton and Ainsley.  You can just see the caring in Brighton's face.  Obviously Ainsley knows I am taking the photo, but I am not sure that Brighton did.  You can't fake that kind of affection.

Prima Marketing, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Webster's Pages journaling tag,  Unknown Ribbon

I used tons of goodies from the Prima Grab Bag I purchased at Your Memories Here.  The Londonerry A4 paper stack, beautiful Prima blooms, the fabulous new Prima resins, some of the new Prima resist canvas, and a few Prima jewels!

 I must say that this grab bag is brimming with fun!  I seriously couldn't wait to jump in and play.

I stitched on all my papers after some serious distressing with my new Tim Holtz LE ink in Gathered Twig (from the fall collection).  

Well, off to get a few things done.

Hugs.

Nancy

The Last One...

Hi everyone!  Well, today is the last DT layout I have for Sassy Lil' Sketches.  After 16 months....well...so sad to see this end.

This probably won't be my last Sassy layout tho, because I am playing along with this weeks huge send off!  Afterall....there are 8 ebooks to be won!  And tons of time to play!

Here is Cherie's great sketch....

And my take...

Fancy Pants Designs It's the Little Things

You can see I took quite a few liberties with the sketch.  After flipping it on its side, I divided the large photo into 3 parts.  I used two for the photos and the third for embellishments and journaling.  These photos are of my family hanging out in Vancouver with some super kewl street art.  I want street art now where we live.  hee hee

The deadline for participants will be midnight October 23rd & we will be announcing prize winners on the 24th. For each sketch we will be giving away one prize of the Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook.

 So 8 total!

If you chose to Switch It Up! with any of Sassy Lil' Send Off layout sketches, you will earn an extra entry in the prize drawing.  Just be sure to note in your blog post how you Switched It Up! 

Link up your layout on the Sassy Lil' Sketches blog and you could be a winner!  And be sure to hop over there to see all the other designer's takes!

Hugs.

Nancy

Sad News

Hi everyone.  As I am sure you have heard by now Sassy Lil' Sketches will be closing.  Katie and Cherie just don't have the time to commit right now to keeping this amazing challenge blog going.  *cry*  I have really enjoyed working for/with them over the last year plus; and am going to miss Cherie's sketches like crazy!

So, instead of closing up shop quietly.....We have decided to go out with a bang!  Every day this week, they will be posting sketches on the blog where you have a chance to win one of the fabulous Sassy Lil' Sketches ebooks.

Here is the first sketch.....

The deadline for participants will be midnight October 23rd & we will be announcing prize winners on the 24th. For each sketch we will be giving away one prize of the Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook.

 So 8 total!

If you chose to Switch It Up! with any of Sassy Lil' Send Off layout sketches (like me), you will earn an extra entry in the prize drawing.  Just be sure to note in your blog post how you Switched It Up! 

We are hoping you will all join us for this final event. 

I know that I am going to be playing along!

Hugs.

Nancy