More Snow???

Calling for 9 more inches today - a perfect day to Cricut...'cept DH is off work because of the holiday, and decided to do the TAXES! I'm having withdrawal. He's out shoveling snow, now, so here I am. Dying to get started with my new SCAL software!  Stay warm!

 The view from our back door!

Two more baby cards - what can I say...It's a freakin' epidemic!

Both of these were inspired by cards I had seen a while back. I copied them to my computer without making a note of the creator(s), not knowing that I would ever make and publish a card from the ideas. If you are the creator, or know where I found these, if you send me a link, I will give credit where credit is due, including a link. 

 

Who Needs George?

Until I recently bought SCAL & eagerly opened it, I was unaware that it included a Basic Shapes library. I have spent many hours on ebay, scouting out the elusive - and expensive - George cartridge that my used Baby Bug did not come with. I have also spent a bit of time in the depths of a design session in Design Studio, wishing I had a simple triangle shape, which led me, again, to ebay, where I ... well, you get the picture. I am so delighted to find all the basic shapes right there in SCAL. In fact, there are 23 of them! Why have I never read this in any blog, or even on the SCAL website?  Can't wait to get started with it!

Valentine Heart Wreath from Cupcake Wrappers

Check out this adorable Valentine Heart Wreath from The Single Nester, made from cupcake liners. Cost all of $4.25, and took less than an hour to make! The link for the tutorial is here.

"Adorable" Card

I am certainly in the new baby card mode these days, for sure. I actually do have preggers to give them all to, but I do love making them. For this one I used Plantin, Cuttin' Up, Walk in My Garden (flowers), and Joys of the Season (sprig).

Here's the screen shot and link to download the cut file:

Valentine Easel Card with Envelope

I had so much fun making this little 4x4" card for my best friend, Lori, for Valentine's Day. She loves cherries. I used some of the packaging from some Mary Engelbreit stickers, as well as one of the stickers for the focal point. I'm still trying to figure out how to make an envelope for a 4x4 card using the Martha Stewart scoring tool (which I absolutely LOVE!) I'll try and get that worked out to go with this card. The one I made is a tad on the skimpy side.

 

If you can't make out what it says...

"It's not so much what's on the table that matters, as much as what's on the chairs."

 

Love that ; ) After I took this picture, I changed the hair on the woman on the right to look like my wild auburn 'do, and drew on my black glasses. Looks just like us!

Hello Kitty (Sitting) - svg included at the bottom

I made this for my granddaughter's first birthday party, to put on a gift bag. I used Plantin, Paper Dolls Dress Up (hair bows & whiskers, made from pirate sashes), New Arrival (for the flattened oval face - looked better than an oval from Plantin). and Speaking of Fall (the little megaphones I used for the sleeves). You could cut little triangles by hand to substitute for these. It's hard to see in the photo that it is dimensional: the face is popped, as well as the elements of the bow, and the feet. You'll need to use the Hide Selected Contour feature to hide the inner circles of the flowers used throughout the design...I can't get them to stay hidden after saving the file. Any pointers on that?

 

This screen shot shows the cut file for the black components:

This one shows the white cuts:

And this one the light pink small pieces, the dark pink body, and the little yellow oval nose:

The cut file is here.

I have since converted this into an svg. The file is here.

Amish Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

I heard on the news last night that someone in Washington D.C. coined the phrase "Snow-pocolypse", referring to the huge amount (something like 32") of snow that they had dumped on them three days ago. We "only " got 14" here, but it started snowing again early this AM, and isn't supposed to stop until sometime tomorrow, so we currently have about 16" on the deck outside the kitchen door. Puts me in the baking mood. Hubby said he wanted Oatmeal Cookies, so I am baking these for him. The recipe came from a friend, and they are absolutely delish. Good for sharing!

Amish Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 6 Dozen (or more)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 t. salt

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1 1/2 t. baking soda

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

3/4 cup butter

3 cups light brown sugar, packed

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 t. vanilla extract 4 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

Powdered sugar for rolling

Sift together the flour, salt, soda & baking powder in a small bowl; set aside. In a mixer bowl, cream the vegetable shortening, butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add beaten eggs and vanilla and mix just until incorporated. Add the sifted dry ingredients and oatmeal, and either stir in by hand, or cover your mixer with a clean kitchen towel and beat just until incorporated. Chill for at least 1 hour.

 Preheat oven to 350° F. Scoop out tablespoonfuls of dough, shape into 1" balls, and roll in powdered sugar. Place 2" apart (they spread) on greased cookie sheets and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass dipped in powdered sugar. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheets.

Glad You're Feeling Better Card

I made this card for a friend who's been through the wringer this year. So glad she's finally feeling better. I used Plantin and Walk in My Garden. Sorry so blurry : )

 

Lacy Scalloped A2 Border #2

Here is another border I made using Plantin & Home Decor. It has a little more modern feel to it. I'd love to see your creations using it!

 

Scalloped Lace Border 2

Lacy Scalloped A2 border

Hope you can use this border. It fits the 5.5" edge of an A2 card. I used Plantin, Home Decor and Walk in My Garden. I have included and svg version for free download, too.

Scalloped Lace A2 Card Border.
LJA Scalloped Lace Border for an A2 card SVG

The importance of cards

I am so bad at following through. You know how you hear of someone who is having health problems, or is struggling in some way or another and could use some encouragement or a kind word, and you think, "I need to send them a card,"? I do that all the time, but never seem to get around to it. That is, until just recently. My kids bought me a Cricut for my birthday, and I am now looking for reasons to make and send cards. And having a blast in the process. Just the other day a friend called to say how much she appreciated the card I sent, especially that it was a handmade card. In encouraging someone else, I am now encouraged. Send someone a card today to show them how special they are to you.