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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas to All

Well, by this time I would hope you are all done with your shopping and ready to stay home and bake cookies and pies. Those intoxicating smells and the warmth that envelopes you  remind me of my childhood. I remember having to keep the Santa Claus secret from my little brother because he wasn't old enough not to believe in the jolly plump gentleman in the red and white suit. Something funny I remember...we never questioned how Santa got in the house...since we had no chimney!

For those of you that don't get our Newsletter...I thought I would publish this poem  to the blog. It was written by Carol, my partner...and it is ADORABLE.  Enjoy!
*****                                                                                                                                       *****
Twas the week before Christmas and all through my room, not a surface was visible and forget using the     broom.  

The gift were all there, in some way shape or form, and I'm starting to think that chaos is the norm.

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear, its Laura or Kathryn and chatters so dear.

A little craft project, they swore would be quick,some paper some glue, that should do the trick.

They called out dimensions, 1/2 by one fourth, you score it and fold it, this flap should face north.

I knew I could do it, just one more quick gift, a cute little card or a mini that's it.

The search is now on, or where could that be? The paper, the embellishments, I swear I can make three.

My fingers are covered with mist and distress, oh look what I've done they should pass the test.

They may not be perfect, and may have their flaws... but come on let's admit it, I am not Santa Clause.

A poem written by Carol Hester 12/21/2011


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL....AND TO ALL  A GOOD NIGHT

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Laura Inspired Gift

Hello and long time no post. We are so delighted with the amount of recipes we have gotten in, and of course the projects that we have been able to share in our news letter. We thank you all for your participation !!
There have been several questions as to what the tickets are for that we have been sending out. We along with Laura of  Following The Paper Trail and Kathryn of Kathryn Scraps are hosing a New Years Eve and New Years Day Bash. During those two shows, Laura and Kathryn will be announcing the names of the prize winners from the blog sign up,  then in addition to those gifts, Barrie and I will be drawing names from the tickets for more prizes. We will be posting the names of the winners from the tickets in the Chat as well as sending an e mail to those who have won. We have some great prizes that have been donated by our suppliers and each of us are providing a number of prizes as well. There should be a lot of gift giving going on, and we anticipate that we will have a wonderful time !!

I have to thank Laura for her Message Center Project, as it the perfect gift for my Daughter in Law who has been searching for something like this to put on her Fridge.  I made a few changes to the project but for the most part left it the same.  I have a couple more additions to the picture as shown but this is it



I had been dying to use the chalkboard paint that I have been hording, so instead of the acrylic it is a chalk board !!  I love the Tim Holtz Grunge Blocks For the word Memo at the top and his tutorial of how to use them is wonderful.



I added a little cover to one of the cubbies to hold the mini staples so they would not fall out.


I have gotten some hefty magnets for the back as well as a picture hanger so she can decide how best to use it once she gets it home.

This is the perfect gift !! Thanks Laura !
We want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with Love and Laughter.
Carol & Barrie

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Memory Box Dies and My Yummiest Recipe

YaHoo!  We finally got in our Memory Box dies and I am sorry to announce they are pretty much gone already. We do have several still available so please check the store. If there is one you want and it is out of stock...please email us thru the store and we will put you on the growing list of people waiting. This way you won't miss out when they come in late next week. We really suggest that you do get on the list because some of  this last batch were gone within 4 hours.
We do have all the supplies needed for the Spinning card Kathryn of The Scrap Beach is doing next Thursday. So you can find those in the store

As I have been promising...here is a fabulous twist on traditional Pecan Pie. Once I made this I never made one the regular way again. I hope you enjoy it as much as my gang does!
'nite all, Barrie & Carol

Pecan Cheesecake Pie


1 Deep dish pie crust
1 8oz pkg cream cheese softened
4 lg eggs
3/4C sugar divided (1/4 & 1/2)
2tsp vanilla divided
1/4tsp salt
1 C Light corn syrup
1 1/4C chopped pecans

>Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/2C sugar, 1tsp vanilla and salt at med. speed with electric mixer until smooth. Pour into pie crust.
Sprinkle evenly with chopped pecans
>Whisk together corn syrup and remaining 3 eggs, 1/4C sugar and 1 tsp vanilla; pour over pecans. Place pie on baking sheet.
> Bake at 350 degrees on lowest oven rack 55-min or until done. Cool on wire rack. Best chilled and served the next day.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

New Year's Bash News and More Recipes

WOW! The New Year's Eve sign ups for the prizes are off to a whopping start! In just four days we had as many entered as we did for a total last year. Do you think this is going to be fun ...or what?

Our sponsors are so generous. We are thrilled with the response from so many of the vendors. We'll be listing the prizes on the Bash Blog as soon as everything is in. We will know then how many prizes we will be giving away. For all of us that is the most fun part of the party!

A very important reminder ...you will be hearing all of us repeat this several times until the Bash Day. It will really help if everyone logs on to the UStream channel all throughout the day. Even six hours early and just stay logged in. You may want to check every so often to make sure you are still logged in. This will help so that everyone isn't trying to get on at the same time. That always causes people to get booted out and slows everything down. We want to do everything we can to keep UStream happy and functioning wonderfully thru the nite and next day.

We have gotten in some new recipes and one of these from Margaret Ann Moffat (aka heavenlymam) looks so dangerous! We want to hear from those of you who try this. I can't wait!!

Choc Mug Cake


1 coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg - whisked
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

How to make it
________________________________________
• Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well .
• Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
• Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
• Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
• Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
• The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
• Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
• EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night.
****                                                               ****                                                                         ****
Here are a few sent in by our own Gentleman Crafter Jim Hanks. Not only does he craft ...but he cooks too!
These look real yummy and very South West!  Thanks Jim!
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini without Olives

1 med. package thin spaghetti
3 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
3 cans Cream of Chicken soup
5 chicken breasts fully cooked
2 cups of cheddar cheese to cover

Boil noodles according to package directions. While pasta boils, shred chicken and combine soups together in large bowl. When pasta becomes al dente, drain and add into soup mixture. Pour into a greased 9 x13 casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes


Football Dip

4 8oz. packages of cream cheese
1 can Rotel tomatoes mild or spicy
1 pound breakfast sausage
Fry sausage and drain
Add Rotel and cream cheese to Crock Pot and stir in sausage. Heat until cheese is melted and warm.


Chicken Cheese Soup

Boil 4 chicken breasts and 2 Tsp. salt in water. When done reserve liquid. Cool chicken and cut up. In a skillet melt 1 stick butter. Add 1 cup chopped onion and three chopped celery stalks. Sautee until soft. When done set aside. Cook 1 package of large elbow macaroni in reserved broth. When macaroni is done add onions celery and cut up chicken. Add enough water and chicken broth to almost fill pot. Add 1 pound Velveeta cheese chopped up. Cook until cheese melts stirring occasionally. Test for more salt if needed.


Mom’s Chocolate Pie

In a sauce pan heat together 1 cup sweet milk, 1/2 cup of coco and butter about the size of an egg. Beat yolks of two eggs add to milk mixture. Add I cup of sugar to mixture. In a separate bowl dissolve 2 tsp. of corn starch in milk. Add a pinch of salt, 1 tsp. Vanilla. Stir into the heated milk mixture. Cook until thick. Pour in baked pie shell. If desired use the two egg whites to make meringue.


Jim’s Favorite King Ranch Casserole


1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of Chicken soup
1 can Rotel Tomatoes with Habaneras ( I like it HOT!)
½ cup Chicken broth
2 cups diced chicken fully cooked
12 corn tortillas torn into pieces
½ cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper and garlic flakes

Preheat oven to 350. Mist a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Blend soups, tomatoes and chicken broth together. Layer half the chicken, tortillas, onion, cheese and soup mixture into casserole and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic flakes. Repeat layers ending with shredded cheese.

Bake 1 hour uncovered.


Jim’s Very own Hot Sauce!!!

In a blender add the following and blend until smooth. Grab some tortilla chips and a margarita and your good to go!

1 Large Can Peeled Whole Tomatoes
2 or 3 JalapeƱos
1 White Onion quartered
Handful of Cilantro
2 Heaping Tablespoons of jarred Minced Garlic
Dash of Seasoning Salt, Pepper, Course Salt, Lime Juice


Hope everyone enjoys all the recipes from all over the country and from our ladies overseas. Thanks to everyone that has submitted some for us to try. It would be fun to hear who tries what ...so let us know!

I'll be back tomorrow with more updates and my recipe for Pecan Cheesecake Pie!

'nite all, Barrie & Carol

Monday, November 28, 2011

BLOG Is OPEN For Sign-Ups!!

Okay...it is LIVE! The New Year's Eve Bash 2012 and Hang Over Party blog is now open for sign-ups for the prize drawings! You can go over to enter but PLEASE READ the instructions carefully and follow them. If you don't follow the instructions your entry will be deleted. I can't stress this enough. We have already deleted about twenty entries this morning. So if you signed up already you should go back and check to see that your name is in there.
We have also had several people enter in the links to their blogs or websites in the box marked URL.  PLEASE! Leave that space BLANK! Your entry will be deleted if there is more info than requested.
Read all instructions carefully and enter only YOUR NAME, COUNTRY & EMAIL ADDRESS.

We have had a huge response so far. In the first 24 hours we had about 400 entries. This year should be bigger and wilder that last year. And we added the Hang Over show for New Year's Day so anyone who missed out on the N.Y. Eve show will be able to catch us on Sunday,  New Year's Day. We haven't scheduled a time on that day yet but as soon as we do it will be posted on all three blogs. So check back for times. Also Laura and Kathryn will be letting everyone know on their shows so you will be updated.

We hope everyone has a great time. We sure are excited to do it again. We had so much fun last year. This year we have so many of the vendors participating and so many more viewers... keep your fingers  crossed that UStream  cooperates!

I'll be back with more info and updates so check back...
...Later,
     Barrie

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Get Ready For The Next Holiday

Well...the turkey is all picked clean and ready for lunches. We're all weary from the festivities and from shopping (for some of us) and now it is time to gear up for Christmas and right behind it...New Year's. I am still wondering where September went? There is a lot going on in the next few weeks.

This weekend is Carol's 35th wedding anniversary. To me that speaks volumes about a person. She and Dan have been thru raising their family to now, enjoying the rewards in their beautiful grandchildren. I wish them many wonderful years to come...and many more hazelnut lattes. Dan always makes Carol a hazelnut latte while she is mod-ing on the shows. Isn't he sweet??

Laura and Kathryn are working on projects for cards and gift giving. I think they will keep you creating right into the new year. keep checking the blogs for the latest happenings.
We also have a blog set up for you to register for the New Year's Eve Bash and Hang Over Party the next day. We will be posting the link to that blog sometime this weekend so keep checking. The blog will be open for the next three weeks for sign ups. We can't wait. Last year was so much fun we couldn't wait to do it again!

I have some more recipes for your Recipe Albums. These are family favorites of some of our faithful viewers and we thank them for sharing with all of us. You can't beat a tried and true recipe!

I will post more as soon as we have the New Year's Eve Bash Blog live. We will be putting up badges and buttons of our sponsors along with some of the donations and prizes for the two day event. Hope you all will join us for another fun party.
See ya shortly,
Barrie & Carol



BEEF IN ONION GRAVY


1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 T onion soup mix
2 T beef broth
1 T quick-cooking tapioca
1 lb beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes (Angus beef tastes the best of what I've tried)
Hot cooked noodles, mashed potatoes or rice

In a slow cooker combine the soup, soup mix, broth and tapioca. Let stand for 15 minutes. Stir in the beef. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until meat is tender. Serve over noodles, potatoes or rice.
submitted by; Heather Carter (aka momofcody)


Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes

Ingredients

2 lb. frozen hash browns
1 12-oz. can evaporated milk
1 10-oz. can cheddar cheese soup
2 Tbs. butter or margarine
1 tsp. salt
1/2 lb. cubed ham
4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

Place frozen hash browns in crockpot on a low setting. In sauce pan add together evaporated milk, cheese sauce, butter or margarine, and salt. Bring to boil. Pour over potatoes; add ham and mix together. Cook for 3 hours. Add grated cheese and cook for 1 hour.
H. Carter (momofcody)
 
Chicken Soup
 
2 chicken breasts

2 and a half pints of cold water (approx)
2 chicken stock cubes
salt and pepper to taste
1 leek (2 if they are small)
2 handfuls uncooked rice (approx)

Place the chicken breasts in a pan and cover with the water (I use about 2 and half pints in the pan I use but a bit more or less won't matter)
crumble the stock cubes into the pan, cover and bring to the boil, simmer for about half an hour then either add the other ingredients (see below) right away or leave aside to cool till next day or later to allow the chicken flavours to develop, I think the soup tastes good whichever way!

If you leave it till later, bring it back up to heat, chop the leek and add to the water and throw a couple handfuls of rice in the pan (I use basmati rice as that is what I use all the time but I don't think it really matters too much) and the salt and pepper to your taste (you can leave this till the rice has fluffed up then you can decide by tasting it how much to add) cover the pan and bring it to the boil then simmer for half an hour or until the rice has fluffed up. You might find if you've been a bit heavy handed with the rice its fluffed up so its not like soup any more however all you need to do is add some more water -I usually add it from the boiled kettle so its as hot as the soup - and let it stand for a minute or two, meanwhile I take out the chicken breasts and roughly chop them into chunks to be put back into the soup to serve it. And that is it. Its so so easy and quick and is as tasty and filling as could be! Serve with some crusty bread and its a meal in itself.
submitted by Martine Hamilton (aka marksgran)
 
Daisy's Yummy-licious Chocolate Cupcakes!


1/2 C. Butter (1 stick)
1 3/4 C. Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
3 Eggs
1/2 C. Milk
1 1/2 C. Flour
3/4 C. Chocolate Unsweetened Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Cream softened butter in the mixer. Add sugar and cream again. Add vanilla. Mix. Add eggs and mix until creamy. Add milk and mix well. Add flour, chocolate, soda, powder, salt. Mix until blended but do not over mix.
Bake in a 350 oven for 18-20 minutes for regular sized cupcakes and 14-15 minutes for mini cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 Cube of Cream Cheese
4-6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
Mix until you have the right consistency to work with a piping bag.
submitted by Daisy Vilela

Mexican Dip


1 pound of ground beef 1 Jar salsa
8 plum tomatoes 1 pack Velveeta Medium
scallions

soften 1 pack of cream cheese
put on the bottom ~spread deep dish
Sprinkle taco mix-jalapeno
Cover meat mixture with chopped Velveeta cheese cubed on top
Layer tomato (cubed) scallions
Microwave 10 min. High
Use Jalapeno if you wish.

Buckeye Balls

1 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 cup unsalted butter room temp.
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound conf. sugar
6 oz. semi-sweet
23 tablespoons solid veg. shortening(crisco)

Line baking sheet with wax paper
Mix in bowl~peanut butter, vanilla and powder, sugar and butter with hands to form smooth dough~
shape into bite size balls
Place on waxed paper-place in refg.

In double boiler melt 6 oz. sweet choc, shortening (do not boil) when smooth pour into small
measuring cup. Remove balls from reg. insert toothpics-dip into choc. 3/4 way return to wax paper
choc. side down remove pick.
Refrig. 30 mins or more until choc. is firm, not sticky
To store remove balls from waxed paper. Place in container with wax paper in between. You can freeze
them, too.
submitted by Zandra Cudney

Sunday, November 20, 2011

A Few More For The Recipe Albums

Hi Ladies and our Distinguished Gentlemen.,

Isn't that terrific that we have such talented men in our ever expanding bunch. We love having you guys and we love seeing what you can do with some paper and glue. Simply amazing. If you haven't seen it yet ...check out the post on Tim Holtz's about Jim  Hankins -Mendoscrap  and check out the robot Jim made inspired by Laura Denison's Clock Pattern. He is truly a gifted artist.

As promised ...here are some more recipes for the Albums both Kathryn and Laura have designed. I will put the rest up this weekend along with all the info and links for the New Year's Eve Bash and Hang Over Party... so please check back. There is lots of info coming in the next few posts!
'nite, Barrie

KENTUCKY CAKE

½ cup shortening (part butter for flavor)
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2-1/4 cups cake flour or 2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup milk
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening, adding sugar gradually and cream thoroughly. Blend in 2 well beaten eggs. Sift flour once before measuring. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add to creamed mixture alternating with the milk. Add nuts with the last addition of the flour. Blend in vanilla. Pour into well-greased and floured cake pan. Bake 35 minutes for layers and 30 minutes for loaf in a moderate over 350 degrees.

CREAM CARAMEL ICING

1 tablespoon granulated sugar
¼ cup cream
6 tablespoon melted butter
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
Melt sugar in a heavy saucepan over low heat until it is medium brown stirring constantly to keep in from burning. Scald cream with butter and blend slowly into the caramelized sugar. Cook until the lumps are dissolved stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar. Beat until all the sugar is added.
submitted by Darlene Wold


Carmel Corn

22 cups popped corn
1 to 2 cups nuts
2 cups light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup white corn syrup
1 cup butter
½ teaspoon baking soda


Combine brown sugar, salt, corn syrup and butter in sauce pan. Bring to a light boil (this should take 4 to 5 minutes). Add ½ teaspoon baking soda. Be careful. This is the “magic ingredient”. The hot sauce will bubble and expand. Mix in popcorn and nuts. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour stirring every 15 minutes.
D. Wold


Oriental Cabbage Salad
( this is original ingredients)

1 pkg coleslaw from produce dept. (shred a small head of cabbage)
finely chop 3 green onions
crumble a pkg of Top Ramen Chicken flavor noodles , set seasoning pkg aside
2 whole chicken breasts cooked and chopped, I just tear it in small pieces
3 T sesame seeds toasted
(1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted) I use unsalted dry roasted peanuts no need to toast them

Dressing-

1/4 C sugar
1/2 C canola oil
3 T wine vinegar
season pkt from noodle pkg.
add the sesame seeds
Mix till sugar is mixed well

When ready to serve the salad combine the ingredients in large bowl. Mix/toss
do not add the dressing til ready to serve.
submitted by
Judy King

HAM LOG

1/2 pkg cream cheese
1green onion, snipped
1 can flakes of ham
fresh ground pepper
1tsp horseradish
chopped parsley
1tbsp lemon juice
dash of garlic powder

Soften cream cheese and flakes of ham with a fork. Blend together all ingredients except parsley.
Form into a ball or a log shape. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm.
Before serving,roll in chopped parsley.
Serve with an assortment of crackers.Grated cheese can be added to the mixture, if you desire.
Enjoy!
submitted by
Debra Renwick aka Msdebren

DILL DIP

2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp dill weed
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp paprika
2 tsp onion flakes
1/4 tsp celery salt
2 tsp parsley flakes

Mix all ingrdients together.
by
Debra Rewick

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

More Good Stuff

Hi All,
Sorry we haven't had time to post more but we have been collecting your recipes for the Recipe Album that Kathryn from The Scrap Beach has been making. I will put this batch up and then the others later this week.

We also have a shipment of the Tim Holtz Fall Limited Edition inks in stock and more coming later in the week. Once these are gone...they are gone. So get what you want now! The Holiday Special Edition ink sets are due to ship out on Nov 1st. So keep checking the store and blog. Carol will post it in the News Letter as well.

The Holiday Projects are shaping up nicely. I have been brainstorming with Laura on a couple in particular and I think they are going to be AMAZING! Her ability to turn a mere thought into a reality just blows my mind. We are going to have lots of fun this fall and winter so get all your supplies organized and get ready to CREATE!
Kathryn's schedule will have to stay light and flexible until they know when they are moving. Once they get settle we will have her projects and schedule firmed up. We will keep you posted  on what she will be doing.

We have more recipes to post so you can fill up the Album for a gift . Check back ...there are a few more family favorites from our gang...

Back soon,
Toodles,
Barrie & Carol
Honey Chilli Chicken Wings

1 large onion quarters (I tend to roughly chop the onion)
2 fresh red chillies chopped
half to one tablespoon dried chilli flakes
2 tabs soy sauce
2 tabs Honey
Olive oil
1 kg/ 2lb chicken wings

(for the health conscious remove skin and replace honey with artificial sweetner)
pre heat oven 200oC / 400oF
brown chicken wings in olive oil
add chillies
when you cannot breathe anymore (lol) add onions fry 2 min
pour over soy sauce and honey stir well
take off heat stir for a minute or two
pour into oven proof dish
cook for about 20 mins until cooked
 
***********************************************************
 
Chocolate Mousse with no Raw Egg

150g mini marshmallows (5.5 ounces approx)
50g soft butter (rounded up to 2 ouncces)
250g ood dark choc min 70% cocoa chopped into small pieces (rounded up to 9 ounces)
284 ml double cream (heavy cream) (10 ounces)
1 teasp vanilla extract

with a gentle heat melt marshamallows, butter, choc stirr occasionally
remove from heat
whip cream and vanilla extract until thick and fold into choc mix until smooth mix seen
Pour (or scrape) into 4 large glasses/ramekins or 6 smaller ones and chill
eat the sooner the better -

*hide the bowl as it is cook's perks to cleanit lol
 
These recipes were submitted by
Margaret Ann Moffatt  aka
Heavenlymam
Here is a recipe that is a favorite of my family in the winter. I hope I wrote it so it makes sense.

Chicken and Dumpling

2 cups flour
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt1
5 Tablespoons real butter
1/2 cups milk
2 quarts chicken broth
1 chicken (about 3 lbs)
1 cup diced bell pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery

Mix first 5 ingredients. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thick and cut into 1x3 inch strips. Dust with flour. Cover with waxed paper and let sit for about 2 hours.

Meanwhile, boil chicken in chicken broth or salted water, about 15 mins. with bell pepper, onion and celery. Remove chicken and let cool until it can be removed from the bone. Cut meat into bite sized pieces.

When dumplings are dry, uncover, flip over and dust with flour. Bring broth to a boil. Drop dumplings into boiling chicken broth and cook about 10 minutes. Flour from dumplings should thicken broth. Put the chicken back in the pot and salt and pepper to taste and serve with a loaf of garlic & cheese bread.

Donna Dorner aka

DWD in Atlanta
Cowboy Caviar

1 can black beans
1 can black-eyed peas
1/2C diced red bell pepper
1/2C diced green bell pepper1/2C chopped onion
2 stalks chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small can chopped jalapenos
1 can or 2 tomatoes, chopped
3 sprigs cilantro (optional)
1 tsp sweet basil
1 tsp oregano
1/4C apple cider vinegar
1T lime juice

Mix all ingredients in large bowl (not metal) Chill 2hrs or over night for best flavor.
serve with chips. Donna likes Frito's Scoops the best
submitted by Donna Dorner

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Few Yummy Recipes

Here are a couple of recipes that were sent to me to add to the recipe book that Kathryn
will be starting on the 29th
 
Masala Chai Tea – makes 2 small cups – increase recipe to required quantity
From Margaret Ann Moffat
 1-1/2 cups water
1 inch stick of cinnamon
8 cardamom pods
8 whole cloves
2/3 cup milk
6 tsp. sugar (or to taste)
3 teaspoons any unperfumed loose black tea
Put 1-1/2 cups water in saucepan. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and bring to a boil. Cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the milk and sugar and bring to a simmer again. Throw in the tea leaves, cover, and turn of the heat. After 2 minutes, strain the tea into two cups and serve immediately.

                                                                   CRAB MARTINI
From Dorothy Long  
1 pound jumbo or regular lump crabmeat
2 lemons, zest grated and juiced, plus juice for coating glass rims
About 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (just enough to hold it together)
About 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 asparagus stems, bottom halves chopped, tops left whole
Seasoned salt
4 Swiss chard leaves, to serve
4 whole olives, for garnish
4 lemon slices, for garnish
Water crackers or toast points, to serve
Just before serving, gently combine the crabmeat with the zest,juice, mayonnaise, mustard, and chopped asparagus stems, add seasoned salt, to taste. To serve: spread some seasoned salt onto a plate, rim the martini glasses with lemon juice, and dip them into the salt. Line each glass with a chard leaf and fill with the crab mixture. Garnish each martini with 3 asparagus spears, an olive, and a lemon slice. Serve with water crackers or toast points.
Cook’s note: Don't put this together until the last minute.
Taco Soup
From Carol Hester
1 lb Ground beef
1 Can each: Kidney Beans, Green Beans, Black Beans, Corn
1 lg bottle V-8 Juice
2 pkgs Taco Seasoning
Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Brown Ground beef and season with one of the packets of taco seasoning according to directions on the package.
Add all ingredents
Garnish with 1 spoonfull of sour cream and cheese
Serve with tortilla chips

Monday, September 19, 2011

Feeling Like Fall

Hey Crafters, Long time no Blog. Hope you are all doing well and starting to get settled in for the fall and all of the cooler weather. We are super excited for the projects that are coming up with Laura at Following The Paper Trail and Kathryn at The Scrap Beach. The Lockers that Laura just finished are adorable and I can not wait to see what her Fall Project is going to be for this coming Friday. Monday night football with Kathryn should be a blast as she continues to work on the pumpkin book. You can find more information on their blogs for up coming projects and ideas.
www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com for Laura's shows and at www.thescrapbeach.blogspot.com
I found myself with some time on my hands yesterday, and found these cute pumpkins on the Split Coast Stampers Website and of course I had to make a few for my table decorations. They were super easy, fast and adorable.





I used plain carstock and stamped the leaves on, and then sprayed the paper with a few different colors of Glimmer mist. The Tattered Leaves Die was perfect for the pumpkin leaves, and I cut them out of the Tim Holtz Craft Resist paper and also sprayed them with glimmer mist. I cut thin strips of cardstock, sprayed them with .... yes... more Glimmer Mist and then wound them around a skewer to give them the curl.
You can use the link below to get to the great tutorial on them and give them a try. the only thing I did different from the instructions, was when laying the strips out, I placed them one across from the other to form the circle, and then gathered them from the way they were layered starting from the last to the first. I also put the bottom layers on the brad in the same way.
You can find the instructions here
We also now have the Crate Paper Farmhouse Collection in stock and are shipping it as fast as we can to make sure you have it in time to Follow along with with Recipe Book that Kathryn is doing. We are also matching the papers to cardstock to have available for you, and that will be available in a couple of days.
Happy Crafting !!
Carol



Thursday, August 11, 2011

Distress

Just thought I would share this video that Tim did showing us how all of the different distress items work, especially the new stains. Enjoy and let your creativity go wild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjpeUEY3Jp0&feature=player_embedded

Friday, August 5, 2011

Birdcage Mini

Gosh, I can not believe that I have not posted on the blog for almost a month. I guess it really is true that time flies when your having fun !! I have been busy trying to get some crafting done, and all the other projects had to take a back seat once we got this new die in from Accucut. I fell in love with it when they released it and now after playing with it .... I love it more.



I had some of the Kaisercraft Blushed paper and thought that it would make a wonderful paper for this mini, so, using that to cover the page, I then added some bulk roses, string pearls, ribbon leaf and a die cut bird that is covered with glossing accents and then sprinkled with glitter while it was still wet. I added a few of the mini tags from the Tim Holtz Mini Tag die and some Bulk Leaves behind the roses.


On The back of it, I cut out a Memory Box Ringed Buckle and tied a pink and brown ribbon in the center. Then I used a Sizzix flower die and cut out three flowers from chipboard, covered them with card stock to use  for mini pictures and then  added some Butterflies from the Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly punch. I did put some stickles around the edges of the flowers.


This page is cut out of acrylic and then Stamped using the Butterflies cover a card stamp and saddle brown staz on ink. I cut out a small piece of pink paper to make a pocket with and then cut out some tags from the Sizzix Tiny Tags Die. The pocket edge is punched using the Martha Stewart Edge Punch
The Live is stamped onto one of the Mini Label die cuts from Sizzix. Not sure if you can see them or not, but I punched two holes in the acrylic and hung a couple of small charms on each side using a making memories garment pin
This is the back side of the  Acrylic page and there is a pocket that holds two tags . The ticket is from the Tim Holtz Stamps ( we are getting them in ) and the bird is a Sizzix Movers and shapers Mini Bird Cage and Bird die. The Label is another Sizzix Movers and Shapers Mini label die. The word strip on the front of the pocket is a piece of Tissue tape.


This is our mini envelope die that we had made for our thank you notes and the top of it is cut off and glued to the front of the envelope and then there is a mini trifold inside. Add some flowers a bird and poof your done !!

A Double mat with pink and brown, the Accordion fold flower from the Sizzx Tim Holtz die ( the one with two sizes, a bit of bling, ribbon and there ya go


With this page, I cut the bars off of the bird cage page ( the one on the front) and used it to top the page. then punched the woodland branch out a couple of times added a couple of butterflies from the Sizzix Movers and Shapers Mini Butterflies die, some pearls, another Label, flowers and leaves


The little butterflies are the Memory Box Butterfly Delights die. I ran them through my xyron and then before taking them off the sheet, I added glossy accents and glitter, let them dry and then added them around the page. I also run my ribbon through the xyron too



And the last page, uses the Memory Box Arboscello Tree, Sizzix Bird Die, and some of the Bulk flowers and Kaisercraft flowers

So that is the birdcage mini, and we have them all cut out and ready for sale. You will get two of the front pages and then 4 of the chipboard and 1 acrylic page so you can make your own !!!
Thanks for looking !




Thursday, June 9, 2011

Take A Moment

Hi everyone! I haven't said much lately but this time of year always sparks me to speak out.
We have just kicked off the summer with the first holiday weekend ...Memorial Day. We fired up the grill...put the beer on ice and invited family and friends for a BBQ. The kids played in the pool if you were lucky enough to have one ...but for kids the sprinkler is always a hit. We enjoy the warming weather and know it will be a few months of sunshine, gardening, tanned skin and kids constantly  running out the door as it slams shut with a BANG!

Now the next summer holiday weekend is approaching...4th of July...which happens to be on a Monday too. So we have another nice long weekend to head off to the lake or campgrounds. Hoping that it won't rain. Even those of us that will be staying close to home will still pray for  nice sunny days in case we want to have another BBQ...After all...isn't that what the summer holidays are all about?

So many of our viewer have husbands, wives, brothers,sisters, sons and daughters in the military. Many of them are in active duty far from home and the manicured lawns and bright beautiful flowerbeds that host our backyard festivities. I would like to ask all of you to please take a few moments to bow your head and give thanks to the enormous sacrifices these families have made so that we can all enjoy the FREEDOM to which we have become so accustomed.. To ALL our service men and women...past , present and future ....
THANK YOU!!!

Now...on that note...there is one remarkable young man that will be working hard to thank our troops. His name is Stephen Goodman. He is a fifth grader from Surprise, Arizona that wants to send a handmade "thank you" card to every actively deployed service person. You can find out all about him and his quest at the link  provided    http://bazzillbasics.com/blog/make-thank-you-cards-for-the-u-s-troops-overseas/. Please visit this site and read about this amazing young man.

This story was brought to my attention by Kathryn from "The Scrap Beach". This Thurs... June 9th ...Kathryn will be devoting her show to making cards for this event. She will be featuring several styles of easy to make but beautiful card for you all to make and send to Stephen's "call for cards". Please join her tomorrow 2-4pm and 9-11pm  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-on-the-scrap-beach. We will be there and we'll have our supplies on hand to make cards right along with Kathryn. Join us for the fun and lets help this young man realize his dream and help push his wish all the way to the stars.

See ya on Kathryn's show. We will show some wonderful papers for this project. Carol will post them in the morning.

Good Nite,
Barrie & Carol

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

Just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very happy Mother's day. We hope you all have a very special day that is filled with love and laughter. Being a mother is is a tough job to have but one that is also filled with moments so special that you wonder how you ever lived with out your children. They make you laugh, they make you cry, and sometimes they even make you want to pull your hair out in frustration, but as a mother, we would have it no other way.
This is also a day that many of you are remembering your Mom's and to you we send special hugs. A mother may leave our sides, but she will forever live in our hearts.

I received a very special e-mail from a fellow crafter that I wanted to share with you and put this request out to you. This would be a great thing for us to do, to make a difference in the life of someone we will never meet.

I have a huge favor to ask. I need to put out an SOS to as many paper crafters as I can. My Mom has been recovering from breast cancer and completed her chemo (YOU KNOW THIS PART) last week but on April 25 we were walking into a shoe store and she stumbled backwards off a curb and has a massive skull fracture. She will never come back to us due to the massive brain bleed. She is in hospice care. Honest, this could happen to anyone one of us, young or old!!! She is at a nursing home and I noticed while my Mom is receiving lots of flowers and cards many clients have not had anything sent to them in yrs. In all honesty she will not be there much longer but I want to show these nurses and staff how wonderful they are and I want to fill the doors with banners. The clients can decorate their doors. I hope to get as many words of encouragement up on those doors as possible. Please put out an SOS to anyone who has time...yes I know it is Mother's Day Weekend!!! to send a banner to Edgewater Nursing Home  1214 Water Street, Kerrville, TX 78028. Think of it as another way to honor your own Mom and the many Moms in nursing care or hospice care elsewhere who's children cannot send them something at this time.

My Mom is 79 years young and is a folk art painter for more than 35 years. I used to tease that she and I had such different color pallets. I love pastels and she loves the "gypsy colors" of reds, teals, yellows, purples...close your eyes and see a gypsy wagon and you see my Mom who is full of joy, laughter, adventure and love. I want to fill her room and others with inspirational colors of live and a life well lived. If you can design in her spirit it will be spread from door to door.

Blessings To you all
Carol & Barrie

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Welcome May !!!

I am so delighted to wake up this morning to find that the sun was shining. It gives us hope that winter is on it's way out and spring may make an appearance. I should be out pulling weeds but instead I am inside finishing up a few projects and getting some things done before we head up north to the Tulip fields. I spent the last two days playing and managed to finish an entire mini. I have been itching to do something with the new Tim Holtz Craft Resist Paper and this is what I came up with.


I used the Chipboard Book that we have in the store (each page can be purchased separately) . The cover is the Scallop page, and I used the new Glubers to create the flower using the Making Memories Pleated Velvet Ribbon, and then the center flower is a fancy button. I added one of the Graphic 45 Envelope Tags, and gears from 7 gypsies. The leaves are cut out of Khaki Canvas using the Tattered leaves die and then I used crackle paint on them. The entire album is inked using the Vintage Photo Distress ink.



The inside page has a pocket that holds two tags, and is decorated using the pleated velvet ribbon, word sticks from Tim Holtz and fancy buttons on the tops of the tag. The round page is cut from Acrylic, and then I used the Time Travel Template and StazOn ink to put the clock face images on the acrylic. I also cut out two acrylic tags and used the Steampunk Embossing folders to create embossed tags. I also used alcohol inks to color the tags to give them more dimension. I created a pocket for both sides of the acrylic page to stick tags in.  The ribbon on the tops of the tags are the crinkle ribbon, colored with distress ink.


The acrylic really does emboss well.


The Bracket page was left very simple, I covered the page with the Cordinations Distress paper, sanded it, inked it and then added the mats that are papers from the Craft Resist Paper Pad. I punched out a border using the Martha Stewart Linked Double Edge Punch, and then ran a piece of the crinkled ribbon, colored with distress ink through it. This punch is probably one of my favorites :-)



I used Laura Denison's waterfall pages for these two pages. I cut the pages out of the Coredinations paper, sanded and inked it, and the added the pattern papers that matched the background on fronts. The ribbon is the brown crinkle ribbon and the word sticks were added using the Making Memories Garment Pins. The edges of the pages were punched using the Martha Stewart Iron Gate Punch.



I of course can never resist using the Tim Holtz Caged Bird die, and the paper was perfect for it since it had a nice bird in flight on it. I cut the bird cage out of grunge board, sprayed it with the Perfect Copper, and then used the rock candy distress paint on it to finish it off.  The mat is cut using the cordinations paper, and the corners were created using the Crop-A-Dile Stub/Deco. Then the next page is the Tabbed Page, and I created two pockets, one shorter than the other and cut 5 tags out to stick down inside of them. I used some of the left over papers, to decorate each tag and then added a bit of cord to the tops of each one.


Of course I had to finish the book by adding a post card. Stamped with the Tattered Angels Timeless Romance Stamps, then decorated with a Making Memories Stamp from the Stamp findings.


 
And for the back of the post card, I added a Prima Flower, and then put some Glossy accents onto the large butterfly image.

Thanks for letting me share with you and I hope you all are having a happy crafting kind of day.
Blessings Carol


Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Gluebers Are Here !!!!

The long awaited box of glubers Glubers have arrived and we are so excited. There were very few things at CHA that made us say wow and these were one of them. I had so much fun making the project and these great little dots make the task of making ribbon and fabric rolled and ruffly Roses easy as pie. What is even better the package comes with the supply list and the measurements printed on the back. Each package has an assortment of glubers in them so you can make different sized Roses. Here is a picture of the one I made at CHA.


You can add these to the front of a Mini, add a clip to the back for a hair piece, or even a pin to make it a broach. You can cut your fabric thinner and longer and make them a tighter roll. or, even use two different fabrics. The possibilities are endless !!  I am so glad that I no longer have to use my glue gun for these, as the glue gun was like a burn magnet to my fingers !!!
I also discovered a very useful die.. I do not typically use the border dies, but this one is not just for borders. This is one of the Sizzix Dies, Birds & Branches. I used them to decorate the fronts of some of our Thank you cards.

I had fun with it, as I cut all the pieces out of white card stock and then colored them with the Ranger Distress Stains. I had been dying to give the stains a try and boy do I love them. My hands look a tad bit stained, but that to me represents creativity !!!
Hope you are all having a great day. We are hoping you are all safe in light of the storms back east.
Blessings Carol & Barrie

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's been way to long

Hey There Friends
I can not believe that it has been a month since either of us posted to the blog and that is way to long. I know we have both been busy, and now that I have some help, things are starting to get a bit easier for me and giving me some more time to get crafty.
When we were at CHA, KaiserCraft was giving away a bunch of their beyond the page items, and I was lucky enough to be able to get this shelf that I had been eyeing for so long. I had to do some trading to get it, and then prayed that it would fit into my already full suit case, but lo and behold it made it home with me. It has been sitting on a shelf, looking at me, just dying to be decorated. I finally decided that over the week end, I would do some crafting and this is the end result of the finished project.

There are three drawers that I made spiral flowers with fabric sent to me from Char, misted the fabric with Starfish, and then dressed them up with some of the Tim Holtz Buttons. The paper is the Butterfly Garden by Pink Paisley and I used Starfish Glimmer Mist to color the edges of the box (yes it works great on wood)


The back is decorated with another spiral flower, a butterfly sent from Char with the fabric
and then I made myself a post card with an inspirational message that says
"Life if full of twists and turns, but no matter what happens,
 you have it with in yourself to over come it all. Live as each day as is it were your last"

And last but not least this is the side view. I had to use this paper on each end because when I looked at it, it was a love love love relationship.

Thanks for looking !!!!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Hey Friends and Followers

Just a quick update to let you all know that I have not forgotten that we have a blog !!! Things have been so busy around here that It has been hard for me to keep up with everything and some things just get left for last !!!
First of all, let me get the house keeping out of the way.. We are happy to combine your order as long as we have not sent your shipping invoice to you. We try to have all the orders packed within two days so if you need to add something, please let us know as soon as you possibly can that you have an add on order, or will be adding to your order. We have several customers that have open orders, so that they can add to them and when they let us know they are finished shopping we send them their shipping invoice. There are some international customers that continue to shop until they have filled up their flat rate box, and I have heard that it was said that I (Carol) can fit a small camper van in one of those boxes.  So now on to fun topics !!

We are loving all the new products that have arrived and I have even had a chance to use a couple of the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers dies on my thank you cards. Some of you have probably received one of them, the bird cage, and or the butterfly !! These dies are just the perfect size for cards, minis, tags  and of course the ATC's. You can even cut these little gems out of chipboard too.



I must try putting my paper onto the chipboard before cutting them out. They have Also come out with some great new flower dies and I am enjoying these as well and because they are a bigz die you can cut them from different materials such as the chipboard, fabric, and my personal favorite.. canvas.

With canvas you can paint it, stamp it, spray it, and even add some glitter to it !!!!

We also had a little birdie tell us that our Order from Pink Paislee shipped this week and will be on my  door step in no time. This is one line of paper that I know I will be hording some of !!!

This is just one of the papers that are in the collection and we have other great elements coming too !!

We are still looking for some of you to send us pictures of your projects so that we can feature you in our news letter. We know there are a ton of you out there that are making some great things, so please send us pictures, a short over view of what it was made from and I promise you it will not hurt you one little bit !!!
Hope your having a great week !!!
Toodles
Carol

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Nothing Better Than New Things To Make You Smile

I left the house early yesterday to get some errands done, and when I got home there were boxes piled so high on my porch that I could hardly see the door. I was delighted as I knew that some of the items in the boxes were the long awaited Tim Holtz Idea-ology items, and the K&Company Botanical Papers and goodies. It took me quite a while to unpack it all, and get it put away, but mostly that was because I had to keep stopping to wipe the drool off of my face!!
The K& Company Papers are of course beautiful, and with it we have several matching elements. This line is definitely one that will make any project beautiful !!

The Tim stuff....sigh, there are so many items that are to die for, the tassels, the hangers, the stickers, the papers...... I just need one of everything. !!




We also got part of our shipment of the BoBunny Gabrielle, and Timeworks Papers in on Monday and these are paper lines that I am itching to use. They are probably my all time favorite BoBunny papers of all time. I am going to get the Clock pattern from Laura, and of course make my clock out of this Timeworks line. Not sure what the Gabrielle will be, but I am sure I can find something !!!

So is there any thing here that makes your imagination go wild !!!
Have a great day
Carol