A Whiff of Joy

I finally broke into my Whiff of Joy stamps to create a couple of cards each of which fit a few challenges.

First up is this card:



- it is based on CPS sketch 149
- uses the colours aqua and red as requested at WOJ challenges
- is a new years card as requested at Pile It On(watch for some exciting news involving me and Pile It on later this week!)
- Cute Card Thursdays is also looking for something new

And second is this card:



-there is machine sewing around the edges(although it is difficult to see)as requested by Just Us Girls
- it uses the Stamps and Smiles sketch #47
- features copic colours as suggested at Copic Colour Challenges

Hope you like them, enjoy your evening!

Cuttlebug Challenges - Be Inspired 65

The challenge this week at CCC is to create something with a primarily white theme and an asian influence.

I looked through my embossing folders to find one that had an asian look to it then combined it with red and a gold sentiment to create this card:



So what do you think, does it have an Asian feel to you?

Out My Window

I decided to play along with my Mom and post the view out my window.

Out my window is a snow covered stone bench.


What's out your window?

Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday- A New Year's Wish

I decided to give the Trigger Tuesday at Moxie Fab another try this week as I just love the inspiration photo from Pottery Barn.

For my card, I picked up on the brown colours as I used in cardstock, and the ivory reflected in the cream twill. Then I used an embossed image(happened to have a bird)to reflect the raised bird image on the plate.



Then I added a bit of jute twine which was inspired by the rustic basket-like plate charger.

I like the simple but elegant feel to this card which I also feel when looking at the Pottery Barn inspiration photo.

PW's Enchiladas

For Christmas I recieved The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook. The recipes are presented in step by step format just as they are on her website.




Today I decided to make her Enchiladas. This meant I bought things I have never bought before like enchilada sauce, canned green chilis and corn jalapeno tortilla wraps.

I followed each of her steps and I think I successfully made enchiladas! Here's a pic:



And the best part,we liked them!

Slowcooker Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

This is an easy winter dinner that Steve found here and for which we happened to have all the ingredients.



The pork was extremely tender and the veggies flavourful.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 Pork Tenderloin (1.5 lbs)
8 White Potatoes (peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces)
4 carrots (peeled and sliced into 1 inch pieces) (or use baby carrots)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 package of onion soup mix
1 1/2 cup of water

1. Place cut potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the pork tenderloin on top of the potatoes. Do not cut the meat, but bend it so it will fit.
3. Add carrots, soup mix, water and tomatoes to the slow cooker.
4. Cook for 8 hours on low(we cooked for 4 hours on high).

Overnight Pecan French Toast

For Christmas morning I always prepare a make ahead breakfast. This year I tried this recipe I found at Taste of Home.



This is soooo good but a warning, it is not low cal if you follow their recipe exactly. I think it would work just fine with any french toast mixture used to soak the bread overnight.

Little Red Wagon Challenge 10 - Pins

Its Wednesday and that means another Little Red Wagon challenge! This week it is Deanna's turn to set the challenge and that is to use pins on your creation.



So I dug through my scraps, found my bitty pins and created this card also based on CPS sketch 148.



I think it may also fit the clean and simple challenge at Our Creative Corner as I think the brown and white combo results in a fresh,clean look.

Please take a peek at what the other girlfriends created - check the links on the left sidebar...and please play along if you get a chance, we love to see what you create!

Brittany's Completed Layout

Last week Brittany and I scrapbooked for an afternoon, her first time scrapbooking.

She used a kit and completed this layout.



Pretty good for a beginner eh?

Heart Garden

Isn't that a pretty name for a stamp? This card based on Kazan's sketch 43 features the heart garden stamp by Bella that I coloured in using Copic colours YG17, RV02, RV29 and Y11. I took my colour inspiration from the scrap of Fancy Pants paper used in the background. I was in the mood for some bright cheerful colours!

2010 Resolutions

How true is this?!




But seriously,as I considered what my resolutions for 2010 I took a look back at what they were for 2009 and 2008.

2009 Resolutions

2009 will be the year of organization. From organizing my scrapbook pages, to my scrapbook room, papers, online photo files,the girls keepsakes, to the garage, furnace room, closets, my clothing and kitchen, it will all be organized!

And one other resolution, ok maybe two, to keep up with my healthful eating and exercising and craft more(maybe that was 3)!

2008 Resolutions

Eat more healthfully(and lose weight in the process).

Go to Curves at least two times per week(I've gone twice since Christmas!).

Add journalling and file my scrapbook pages as I go rather than letting them pile up(this means clearing the back log from 2007!).


Hmmm, I didn't do so well with the organizing resolution. I have been keeping up with my healthy eating and regular exercise. And I have almost added all the journalling to my back log of pages( a holdover from 2008!).

So looking forward my 2010 goals seem to be the same, get organized/declutter, maintain my weight(and lose a few pounds I've put on), continue to go to Curves at least twice a week and perhaps hit the treadmill more regularly too.

And last but not least, I'm sure I'm not alone in the amount of scrapbooking materials I've accumulated over the years, so another goal will be to sort through and purge, use what I have and not buy something new unless I absolutely love i!

And now, what about you? What are your resolutions?

Cute Card Thursday

Here's a card I created based on this week's sketch at Cute Card Thursday.



I coloured in the Bella stamp with copic colours, RV34,Rv32, G20 and G21. I left it pretty simple except for a bit of distressing of the paper edges. Love that Melissa Frances paper too!

Pile It On - Challenge 30

Challenge 30 at Pile It On is to use something clear so I added two acrylic hearts to my card.



I coloured this Bella stamp(thanks Tammie!)with copic colours YG03, BV02 and B93 (as well as YG00,BV00 and B00)as suggested at Copic Colour Challenges this week. I did follow CPS sketch 118 as well.



Also worth mentioning is that I used a copic marker to colour a white flower blue to match my card and added some glitter to the swirls on the vase,love the results!

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year to all my family and friends! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve. We celebrated with friends and had a great time!

How are you starting 2010? I'm taking down the tree and garland, cooking a nice roast beef dinner with yorkshire and planning for a day of scrapbooking tomorrow.

Have you made any 2010 resolutions? I have a few ideas but haven't really settled on any yet.

Before we totally move on from 2009 I wanted to share bits of the books I make for my daughters every Christmas. This year I used up paper mache-like boxes and accordian books that I've had for awhile. I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Warning, lots of photos below!

Brianne's Book










Brittany's Book