Thinking of You

I've been fairly productive lately and once I get going on an idea, I usually make a bunch.
I saw this idea on Pinterest and since I had both of the dies decided to make up a few. I originally did them in this colour combo...

but when my friend Robin, did one with the red birds, I had to copy it since the Cardinal is my favourite bird.

Either way, I think they are both lovely cards and I've been trying to add a little interest on the inside of my cards lately so a little bird diecut was perfect...

Little Red Wagon - Birthday Card

I've been making a few birthday cards lately because I got an awesome die set from My Favourite Things.
I love the Dienamics Blueprints 26, it makes the design and creation of cards much faster.

Here is one of my latest creations and I'm hooking up to Little Red Wagon this week...

Next time I'm going to emboss the balloons to add a bit of depth to them. And I'm trying to add more interest to the inside of this card so it made sense to finish the sentiment...

This is the die set that I used....

Lemon Poppyseed Streusel Muffins

One can hardly call these muffins. They are more like delicious soft cakes in a muffin cup. The crunchy, buttery streusel topping takes them over the top. My favourite Rescue loves these muffins so I always try to take a batch when I drop off cards.

Sour Cream Poppyseed Streusel Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp. grated orange or lemon rind
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
1 large egg
1 8 oz. container of sour cream (light works too)

Streusel
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp of white sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 tsp. poppyseeds

To make muffins, mix together dry ingredients then add to wet. Do not overmix.
To make streusel, stir together ingredients until crumbly.

Line muffin pan with cups. Fill 3/4 full and sprinkle with streusel topping.

Bake at 375F for 18 min.

I made 12 HUGE muffins, but realistically 18 smaller would be easy to do.

Sympathy Card

I'm always adding to my sympathy collection. I love the yellow and blue colour combination of this card. The butterflies were an excellent find at Michaels in the clearance bin. I'm a big fan of dies so you can cut the sentiment in the coordinating colours. A few more to add to the stockpile.

Baby Cards

I love my Sizzix Circle Flip-its. All you have to do is pick up some cute coordinating papers, a stamp or two and Voila! instant card. These fit into an A2 envelope and I always do a blank white section to write your own message. I always try to have a boy and a girl card on hand because you never know.

Love this 6x6 paper pad.

A Party and an Appetizer recipe

It's a good idea to have a few younger friends, so when Nicole decided to turn a special milestone birthday, I wanted to have a small gathering in her honour. And of course, why not spend a few hours, scrapping, chatting and eating at the same time?
Everyone contributed to the food and it was all so yummy!  I love me a good Potluck and this antipasto tray looked so appetizing, I just had to take a picture.

Isn't that a thing of beauty?
And these little morsels of grapes, Dulce de Leche and nuts, frozen and skewered with birthday banners added such a festive touch....

So even though I didn't make these little appetizers, they have always been a favourite of mine so I thought I would share the recipe here...

Mushroom Nappies

Butter 3 Tbsp
Chopped onion 1 cup
Chopped mushrooms 2 cups
Saute.

Mozzarella(grated) 1 cup
Parmesan (1/4 cup)
Parsley (1 tsp)
Egg 1
Oregano 1/2 tsp
salt/pepper
Stir in one minute.

Bread Nappies
12 white bread slices,
Butter 1/3 cup

Remove crusts. Roll flat with rolling pin. butter slices and cut
into 4's. Press buttered side up into tart tins, Fill with mixture, about 1 1/2 tsp and top with cheese.
Hmmm? don't have the baking times. Try about 350F for 10 min or until cheese is bubbling and toast edges are crisp.
Happy Birthday, Nicole!

Time To Read

Well, I didn't do so well with my reading challenge last year. Disgraceful, I know. I didn't make it through 20  books and I used to LOVE to read. I'm blaming my IPAD. I spend most of my free time reading blogs and generally wasting time. (Thanks HAYDAY!) so this year, I have decided to get an earlier start and get reading, novels, the paper kind, not the electronic kind.

I received this book for my birthday and I wanted it to be the first book that I read in 2016 but after I started it, I realized that I wanted to savour and enjoy every page. It's not a book to read when you're half asleep or waiting for your dentist to call your name. So I'm saving this treasure for a long, leisurely day off.

I went through the stack of books that I have at home and started with What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity and I loved it. Interesting, not too deep, and some interesting human perspectives.

I liked it so much, I went to the Public Library and picked up the Husband's Secret (which I have read) and the Hypnotist's Love Story, which I just got today and can't wait to start.
And in case, I don't make it back to the library anytime soon, these are a few of the novels that I have lined up to read in 2016....

I have read Chronicles of Narnia but I think I will revisit it. January is a good month to purge the "stuff" and read a good book. Wish me luck. I'm aiming for 25 books this year.

Christmas Cards

It's a bit late but I still wanted to post the cards that I made for Kismutt Rescue. I made 7 different cards and I couldn't make them too elaborate as they had to be mailed and also cost effective. All in all, I was able to drop off over 100 cards, about 45 Christmas.

MFT Pure Innocence Stamp

Taylored Expressions Stamp

Whippersnapper Stamp

Whippersnapper Stamp

Mo Manning?

Recollections/Micheals

Whippersnapper Stamps

Birthday Cake

My special boy has a New Year's Eve birthday so even though almost everyone has sworn off carbohydrates and sweets, Life's Little Instructions says that EVERYONE should have cake on their birthday.

So I made an attempt at an ombre cake. I tried to use just one cake mix and divided it into 4 layers. Although, it turned out a little like a Smurf explosion, it wasn't too bad. I should have used a lighter touch with the food colouring. A little goes a long way.

Happy Birthday AMAC! 12 years old