Top Notch Template

It is storming like crazy here this morning, and I'm hoping the power doesn't go out before this post is up and running. I have a project I'm really excited to show today. When Leigh Ann first emailed the new template to me, I was in the midst of the creative blahs and hadn't a clue what I was going to do with it! But yesterday, when I got home from mailing out my swaps, I started cleaning off my desk. I don't know how it got messy when I hadn't created a thing for weeks, but it was. And as I was putting things back where they belong I found a stamp set I got ages ago, and the light went on and I knew what I'd be making with this template! I'm so excited to show you!


I love that little girl splashing in the puddle. I think it's such a fun image for spring! And the template, called Top Notch, is another one that stays shut all by itself. But I had to add a little ribbon for fun! I love satin ribbon, and I've heard people say about it not holding its shape very well. I never believed them, until I tied a bow with the saddlestitch ribbon, and now I know what they are talking about! But, satin it is for this project, since that's what I have in Spring Moss. And why did I add the ribbon, besides for fun?

Wait for it! Wait for it!

To add the cute little sentiment, "You're my rainy day friend." I am hoping my daughter will want this for one of her sweet little friends whose birthday is coming up in April. Sometimes she doesn't want one of my creations, so if she doesn't, it can stay on my desk, or I'll give it to one of my rainy day friends ;)

If you want to see some gorgeous eye candy, check out what the rest of the Perfect Presentation team came up with using this template. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Leigh Ann
Chris
Alyssa
Harriet
Kerri

Top Notch Template ( you can follow this link to the pdf, svg or gsd files!)
Stamps: Paper Pretties
Ink: Ranger Coffee, copics, prismacolors
CS: PTI White, Berry Sorbet
DP: PTI Polka Dot Parade
Accessories: Spring Moss Satin Ribbon, Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio

Swapping Time

This is the card I made for a swap on SCS. I've done PTI swaps with this group of gals, and it's so much fun. Well, this time, in addition to the regular PTI swap, I joined a "Man Cards swap" that Jen was hostessing. Both of these swaps are due in the next 2 weeks, so this was not a great time for my creativity to go MIA. I finally was able to pull together a layout and design that I love, and hope the other "Man Cards" swappers will as well. I'm off to the post office to get these in the mail, then home to spend some computer time catching up on what I've missed this last week. Hope your Monday is shaping up to be a good one!


Stamps: SU Loads of Love
Ink: Ranger Coffee, Copics, Prismacolors
CS: PTI Lemon Tart, Spring Rain, White
Accessories: PTI New Leaf Twill Ribbon, SU Scallop Trim Punch

A tutorial

Good morning! Well, my kiddos have missed the whole week of school, and even with Mucinex, humidifiers, and tons of fluid in them, they still have those awful congested coughs. But, on a happy note, I have an awesome tutorial I want to share with you.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

I found this link the other day through another blog I was visiting, and I was thrilled. I've been at this a while now, and still learned some new things from the clip. To see more of her videos, just clink on her name above and it will take you to more. I hope you enjoy the tutorial, and enjoy your Saturday!

Child of God

Today, I'm sharing a card that I did make while I was in my non-creative funk over the last little while. I am pretty happy with how this turned out, but it look me all day to make. Literally all day. I started in the morning and wasn't done until 5:45 when we were taking dinner to a lady from church who just had a baby, and I needed this card done by then. When I worked on this one little card for almost 8 hours, I just decided my creativity was on vacation and I'd have to wait for it to come back.


I loved when this set was released from Papertrey Ink. I waited forever to get it, but I'm so glad I finally did. It's so wonderful. I really wanted to use some soft colors on this, and I'm happy with the overall look. I decided I need to get more saddle-stitch ribbon; I love how it holds it shape for bows!

Well, I'm off for now. I have to finish my game of Phase 10 with my son, so I can make him take a nap!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Heavenly Medley, Background Basics: Text Style
Ink: PTI Smokey Shadow, Spring Rain, Copics: Y11, BG11, V12, B21, Versamark
CS: PTI Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Spring Rain, White
Accessories: PTI Spring Rain Saddle-stitch Ribbon

Chasing the blah away

Well, I've just felt blah the last week. I haven't felt creative at all, I haven't felt like reading, I haven't worked on a single scrapbook page; I've just felt blah! Last night I decided it was time to make a card no matter what. And still I couldn't get any creativity flowing. So I just started looking at old cards I've favorited from other people's blogs. So be prepared to see one of your cards "remixed" and appearing on my blog in the next little while. Up first is a yellow butterfly creation.


My inspiration for this came from Michelle's post here. I loved the stitching she added at the top, and the border punch on the bottom. But you all know by now, I don't sew! And I couldn't add any brown to the bottom of mine without it suddenly turning dark and dreary. So I "made it my own!"

What do you all do when the creativity isn't happening? Any tips would be appreciated!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Signature Greetings
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate
CS: PTI Kraft, Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream, Clear sheet from PTI Stamps
Accessories: Perfectly Paisley Embossing Folder, Spots and Dots Embossing Folder, SU Bigz Beautiful Butterflies, PTI Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon, PTI Dark Chocolate Button

Chicken Chow Mein

Well, I promise to be back someday with a card or a scrapbook page. I'm just on a roll getting my recipe cards done, and haven't been able to take a break from it! Today's recipe to share is Chicken Chow Mein.



My husband loves this recipe, it's one of his favorites. I started by using this Chow Mein Recipe from Recipezaar. Some of the ingredients that recipe called for, I didn't buy since I didn't know if I'd like it and ever want to make it again, so I made do with substitutions that I thought would work. The recipe card is my version of the original, with some tweaking. Also, the first time that I tried it, I did have the fresh Chinese noodles originally called for in the recipe. And they were good. But my husband liked it so much he wanted me to make it again right away. Well, we hadn't been to the store, and I'd used all the noodles on the first batch. We ended up just using thin spaghetti noodles instead, and that's what we usually use now.

Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Cream Soup Mix

Well, I was hoping for a super productive scrapping afternoon yesterday. But that didn't really happen. So instead I have another quick recipe card to share. I make lots of casseroles, and so many of them call for cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup. I used to stock up on these cream soups when there were good sales. Then I found this recipe one day while browsing on Recipezaar (my favorite online recipe sight). It's condensed cream of _____ soup mix. And I love it! I mix up a batch and keep it in a rubbermaid bowl, and use it often. It doesn't get as thick as the canned stuff, but the flavor is phenomenal. And there isn't all the added fat or chemicals from the canned stuff. So this or the homemade mushroom soup are my preferred soups now.



Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy

That is the first "real song" (if you can call it that) my husband ever heard my son singing. We were grocery shopping, and my little boy was singing "fruit salad, yummy, yummy!" My husband, not being the stay-at-home-Wiggle-watching parent like me, was wondering what the heck he was singing. Anyway, that was a long time ago! But it really does relate to my post today!


Here is one of my all-time favorite fruit salad recipes. It's my grandma's and it is oh, so good! She used to make it a lot. I think it's funny how food can bring back so many memories! I wrote the recipe exactly as I have it copied from my mom, but I often make changes. I left it the same, so no one in my family can complain that it's not really grandma's recipe ;)
First off, I just don't like the canned fruit cocktail. The grapes in there are really gross to me, so I skip that ingredient, and add some better fruit instead. Also, I don't often have buttermilk. To remedy this, you can add one Tablespoon of lemon juice to a cup of milk, and have a similar taste. Or, if I don't do that, I just use regular milk and French Vanilla pudding. My husband is not a huge coconut fan, so I very rarely add that. It doesn't need the coconut at all. If you leave it out, it's still delicious! And, my last tip, is my most important one. Use Dole pineapple! I will buy generic or store brands of many things, but pineapple is not one of them. Dole pineapple is 20 times better than any other I've ever had. Worth every extra penny! Enjoy your Friday, I'm off to make some Chicken Chow Mein for dinner. Yep, starting early so I'll be done and can scrap the day away.