Sharing some cards

I know - I know - I've been a bad blogger! My "it's-almost-fall" resolution is to at least blog once a week! I do have an excuse, tho (besides being a stay at home mom during summer when school is out) is that I have an art show coming up on a little over a month and I still have several new paintings to complete (from start to finish). If you are local and you want to know more about the art show - send me a message and I'll give you details! Oh - and one more fun thing - I found out earlier this week that the Rougarou Gallery in New Orleans just sold one of my funky New Orleans themed paintings.

So - on to crafty things...

I recently had the wonderful experience of working with Paper Crafts Magazine's "Card Style" special publication. It's all about finding your style - from cute and fun, clean and graphic, classy and elegant and shabby and vintage.



Here are a couple of cards I made for the publication. There are under the "Shabby and Vintage" section.



Most of the papers on this card are from October Afternoon, as is the Candy Cane die cut.



Papers on this card are a mixture of Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon. The stamp is from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by today! Check back in the next 7-8 weeks because I'm sure I'll have some news on the art show.

~melanie~

Paper Crafts Card Creations 8

The Paper Crafts Connection blog is celebrating the release of Card Creations Volume 8. There are great tips and prizes, so be sure to hop on over there.

I just have one card to share today - my Friendship card published in Card Creations 8.



Papers are Cosmo Cricket. Stamp and ink are from Stampin' Up!

Check out Paper Crafts Magazine for more inspiration.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

~melanie~

One Dollar and Sixty Nine Cents

I had some ladies over yesterday to make these cute little bags and the yummies.



We used Christmas Cheer stamps by Kim Hughes from Cornish Heritage Farms. We cut the tags with the Cricut and them dry embossed the dots with the Cuttlebug. None of the ladies had ever done anything like this before and loved it! I also showed them how to heat emboss with gold powder on metallic tags. The bags in the photo are glassine bags with a self-adhesive closure, but we also used zip lock bags and punched holes in the tops (above the zip lip).

Want a recipe for one of the goodies? This was a recipe we used at one of my Pampered Chef parties. Just substitute the PC tools for what you have.

Festive Winter Crunch Bark
Source: The Pampered Chef

1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 cup salted cashews, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 pounds white chocolate wafers
2 cups crispy rice cereal

Line Stoneware Bar Pan with Parchment Paper, allowing about 6 inches to extend over long sides of Pan. To toast coconut, place coconut in Large Micro-Cooker. Microwave on MEDIUM 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring every minute.

Coarsely chop cashews with Food Chopper. Combine coconut and cashews in Small Batter Bowl. Place chocolate in Large Micro-Cooker. Microwave on MEDIUM 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every minute with Mix 'N Scraper, until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Stir in cereal and half of coconut mixture, mixing until all ingredients are well coated. Spread evenly over bottom of rectangle pan using Large Spreader. Sprinkle with remaining coconut mixture; gently pressing into chocolate.

Refrigerate 15 to 20 minutes or until set. Bring edges of Parchment Paper up over bark and break into 2 inch pieces. Yields 32 pieces.

Want to play a guessing game?

Okay...so.. while I was out yesterday I bought something that was one dollar and sixty nine cents. Want to guess what it was? It's something that we depend on quite often. I'll give you a hint....it's not coffee. If you want to play, put your guess in the comments section. I'll draw from those that get it right and I'm giving away a copy of the Nov/December issue of Paper Crafts magazine. I know - a bit late, but it's a great copy.



Leave your comment by Thursday, Dec. 4 at midnight CST and I'll draw a name on Friday.

Some Yummy Goodness

I have some yummy goodness... both the visual and the physical. Well, it will be visual until you actually make this for yourself. The first bit of yumminess comes from Papercrafts Magazine. The special publication is called PC Gourmet, and it's filled with recipes from soups and appetizers to main dishes and everything in between. This will make a wonderful Christmas gift for your papercraft buddy - so order before they are gone!

A little tidbit for you - I'm a contributor to this book and my absolutely fantastically wonderful recipe for Louisiana Gumbo is in this book. I can say that because my sisters were over for Christmas last year, and they didn't think I can cook. Well, who was asking who for the gumbo recipe??? You will WANT this book.

So today I'm happy to share a recipe with you! This recipe comes from Papercrafts Pro Alisa Bangerter.

Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
Alisa Bangerter

This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.

INGREDIENTS

2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

To accompany this recipe, Alisa has made this adorable project. I've included the supply list and instructions so you can make this, too. Just in time for Halloween!



Enjoy Halloween Tag
Designer: Alisa Bangerter

SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) www.dafont.com Adhesive: (foam tape) Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"

1. Make tag from cardstock. 2 Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk. 3 Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere. 4 Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape. 5 Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.

I can't WAIT to try this recipe and project. I hope you enjoy this. Thanks, Papercrafts and Alisa, for allowing me to share these with my readers.

And just a reminder, if you haven't checked out the Cupcardstogo gallery - it's a must see. The November kit ideas are awesome.

Here are a few of the cards I made with this kit. Papers include GCD Studios, Fancy Pants, and 7 Gypsies.




I'll share some more later. Enjoy your day!

Fun with Color

If you haven't picked up the August/September issue of Paper Crafts Magazine, it's a must have. The entire issue is focused on color and different ways to use it - or not use it. From monochromatic creations to hot combos, it's full of tips and ideas.

I made these two card for the coloring book section. (That's pretty much self-explanatory, right?) The papers in the Live Out Loud card are from Sweetwater.



For the Best Friends Card, the papers are from KI Memories. I used Prismacolor pencils on both cards to add the pop of color.



Meanwhile, I was informed recently that I have been tagged. Yes, tagged. As if you really want to hear more things about me. Lovely Anabelle has tagged me, so, well, I sort of have to.

Here are six random things about me.

1. Yes, I eat crawfish. Not often, but if you bring me some, I'll definitely dive in.

2. I love the beach. I could sit on the beach for hours and hours and hours.

3. I can still jumprope. To the dismay of my teenage son, I can jumprope for long periods of time, and cross my arms while I jump - and uncross and keep going.

4. I recently discovered I can no longer hoola-hoop. I'm going to work on that.

5. I once played the flute and the clarinet. I do not own either, but I do own a saxaphone. Oh, I can sort of play it.

6. If I forget a person's name, I sometimes go through the alphabet in my head until I hit the letter their name starts with. It works most of the time.

Now I'm going to pass this fun little tag on to 6 poor unfortunate people. Sorry, folks, that's the rules.

Here goes tags to:

1. Julie
2. Donna
3. Miki
4. Hilary
5. Gabby
6. Sonda


Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!