Horray for the Weekend!

Hi everyone!  Hope you are having a great weekend!  Here we are, first day of October, and the weather is already cooperating!  Not only that, but we didn't have a totally booked, over scheduled weekend.  No scouts, no swim....just relaxing, errands, and chores.  Which is better than trying to squeeze in all of that and scouts or swim.  lol  Anyway....we have some friends coming over later this afternoon for fun and dinner, but until then I am trying to squeeze in a few projects.

I wanted to share this layout with you, before I forgot. I did this for Ideas for Scrapbookers designer challenge on twine. I love my baker's twine and have accumulated quite a number of colors...mostly from The Twinery. They have tons of beautiful colors and great "starter" kits.  Ainsley eating a lollipop

Crate Paper Random papers and chipboard, The Twinery twine, Prima flowers, American Crafts Thickers

I used a sketch from The Color Room, but not the required colors...so no entry there.  I think I love the Random Line from Crate Paper.  I feel it going the way my Emma's Shoppe did.  sigh....

Well, if I am going to get this layout finished before our guests arrive....best get busy.

Hugs.

Nancy

Rub Ons

Hi everyone!  Now, I don't know about you, but I have tons of rub ons.  I always buy (or used to...starting to learn that lesson.  hee hee) the rub ons that coordinate with my papers.  So, over the years they have really started to pile up.  So, I was grateful to find this challenge on the Burlap & Buttercups blog.  I dug out some Basic Grey rub ons and went to work.

Crate Paper patterned paper, stickers, chipboard.  Prima butterfly, alpha, Basic Grey rub ons.

It has been a while since I have used rub ons...and although I had a look I was trying to create, I just didn't have quite what I was looking for.  So I cut the rub ons into pieces to make them fit better.  I find that to be a great way to stretch my supplies.

Well, off I go...the girls are ready to read some science.

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy Wednesday

Hi everyone....Just popping in really quick to share a fun little tag I made using my new Tim Holtz Limited Edition Distress Inks.

As I am sure you know, there has been a lot of drama with these inks....could you get them? where could you get them? does anyone have them still? I have mine, and you can still get yours at Your Memories Here. And they are a great price, only $14.99. Once I had these gorgeous inks in my hands, you know I could not resist jumping right in. And for me that meant a fun tag.

Tattered Angels tag, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, stamps, tissue tape, ink embossing powder, Prima Marketing flowers,  Ranger stickles, Recollection chipboard

I used all three colors on this tag, making an ombre design on both the tag itself and the tissue tape. I blended the ripe persimmon into the seedless preserves and accented the edge of the tag with the gathered twig. I added a bit of Black Diamond stickles along the bottom edge design.....

threw in  a few layered Prima flowers that I accented with more stickles; and stamped and embossed a few spooky designs.

Finally, I ran my seam binding across the seedless preserves ink to dye it the perfect matching shade.

I am working on some fall home decor projects and know exactly where this tag will be fitting in.

Well, got to run!

Hugs.

Nancy

Today is Monday

Hey Everyone,

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine was good with plenty of time with family and a bit to play with paper.  hee hee

Today I have another installment of Menu Monday.  Last week, it was hot!  So stinking hot!  Lots of salad....let's get started.

Monday was burrito bowls

Tuesday we had a mexican cobb salad.  One of my faves!

Wednesday was something brand new for me.....Hungarian Beef Stew.  I enjoyed it, not sure about the children tho.  Ainsley thought it was a bit spicy.

 Thursday we had herb and citrus grilled chicken tacos...which I turned into a salad.

Friday the boys were out of town, so the girls and I had cheese, crackers and some veg for dinner...nothing exciting there, definitely nothing to show.

So, since I don't have much to share in the way of menus...How about I share a layout?

Scenic Route papers, 3tailscraft chipboard,  Maya Road, Prima flowers, AC felt and alphabet, Martha Stewart and EK punches.

I made this using some old, old, old Scenic Route papers and some super cute chippie I got from 3tailscraft. There is a challenge every month on scrapbook.com to use 3tailscraft chippies and I always have the best time playing.  This month we had to emboss.  I started with a dry emboss, but didn't really get the look I wanted, so I did a heat emboss.

Thanks for dropping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy First Day of Fall

I feel like I should have something very autumnal to share today, but unfortunately this has been the hottest week so far this year...go figure.  lol

I would very much like to thank my friend and fellow Sassy, Cher for highlighting me on her blog today.  If you are looking for the photo she posted and what I did with that blob.... it is here.

This first project I did for my daughter's swim coach who resigned his position so that he can go to work coaching a college team.  A quick thank you for his being such a great coach.  We will really miss him.

Scenic Route Patterned papers, Cricut Just Because Cards cartridge

The inside has a pocket that contains a chocolate bar, gift card, and letters from both girls thanking him for being such a wonderful coach.

And here is a layout I made using my friend Heather's sketch over at Scraptastic.

Crate Paper Portrait collection, Prima Flowers

My whole family...and Mickey!  on formal night on our Disney Cruise.  Where else can you get dressed for dinner and hang with Mickey!  lol  I love me a Disney Cruise.

Well, back to running around!

Hugs.

Nancy

Dimension

Hi everyone!

As you know, I love playing with my supplies and finding cool new ways to use them.  One of my favorite supplies is Glimmer Mist and since I have a new love in Ranger's Multi Medium I thought...hmmm, how would these work together?  I have seen people mix gesso and mist...what about these?

For this project I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Scarlett, Ranger's Multi Medium in matte, a Crafter's Workshop stencil, an old gift card and some craft sticks.

I began by placing a dollop of the multi medium on my mat.

I sprayed a bit (1 pump) of the Glimmer Mist onto my medium and

stirred with the craft stick

Placed my stencil over my cardstock...

and used the old gift card to pull the medium across.

I ended up with some great dimensional texture that I left to dry overnight.  The matte Multi Medium has a great, wax-like appearance once dry.

With a quick sentiment stamp and a piece of older Prima Marketing paper, it became a cute card.

These cards are a little more simple than I usually make, but I just loved the detail and dimension that this technique offered.


Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

Menu Monday

It's Monday again, albeit late for many of you I am sure.  Life has gotten crazy here.  Did I mention that all three children are back to swimming?  Fortunately, they are all swimming on the same team!  woo hoo!!!!  Unfortunately not only do they all swim at different times, they swim at different pools!  lol  The pools are very close together (within 10 minutes) but I have to stop every 10 minutes to drop people off.  lol  So, that is my excuse today for being late.

Can't remember exactly what was which days, so please bare with me.  Here is what we had for meals last week.

Bar-b-que shrimp and cheesy grits!  Yummo!!!  Mackenzie has decided she likes shrimp again, not so much the grits...but it is a start.  hee hee

 Yummy Asian Beef Noodle salad.  Lots of tasty vegetables, cucumbers, peppers, scallions plus rommaine and yummy mint.  I had some Asian wheat noodles in the pantry that I needed to use but I don't know why you couldn't just use thin spaghetti.

 Beef and Chipotle chili.  Also way yummy!  Ainsley of course thought it was too spicy...but she thinks everything is too spicy.  lol

 Macaroni and Cheese from the crock pot with a side of broccoli.  eh...but it works.  And Ainsley doesn't think it is spicey.  lol

And finally....A Beef and Ginger Stir Fry.

This one was so tasty and so easy I think I will share.

Beef and Ginger Stir Fry
1 lb tenderized round steak cut thin
1 bunch broccoli broken into florettes
4 carrots sliced
2 red bell peppers sliced
1 lb snap peas
3 scallions, sliced
1/2 lb mushrooms (I used crimini)
1 tsp fresh ginger grated
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp vegetable oil

Place oil into hot pan, you are going to want the pan good and hot to stir fry. When oil begins to shimmer add beef, cooking in two batches so as not to steam the meat.  Set meat aside.  Add carrots, peppers, and broccoli to hot pan and toss till the vegetables begin to brighten (2 minutes).  Add in snap peas and scallions and toss for another minute.  Finally add mushrooms and toss for maybe one minute more.  I like my vegetables crisp tender, so I don't want them to cook too long.  Add in the ginger, garlic and chicken broth and cover for just a minute or two.  Then add the meat back in to reheat.  I served this over rice and everyone really enjoyed it.

I love that other than the prep of the ingredients it only takes a few minutes to cook.  Definitely something I will make again, although Mackenzie has requested chicken next time.

OK, well...gotta run again!

Hugs.

Nancy