From the Heart Stamps Monthly Challenge

I am so happy that Faith is continuing to recover and my favourite challenge site is back up again. I really want to show my support and what better way then to hop back in on the progressive montly challenge. If you enter the challenge then the next month you are sent the next image for free. It's a win-win.

Here's the first challenge of 2017...

I didn't get a card done for Valentine's day but the image came without the candy treat as well. I was thinking I could have put flowers or something in his hand/hoof but as the challenge ends tomorrow, I thought I'd better just get it done and here is the card I came up with....

The background paper is so cute.. it reads, Quack, Oink, Cluck etc. Already looking forward to next month. And wishing Faith prayers for a continued recovery.

I'm also going to link up to Little Red Wagon because their challenge this week is DOWN ON THE FARM.

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

After some brief computer repair problems, let me introduce you to my favourite recipe book...

As you can see, it's been well-loved, first by my Mom and now by me. I go to it for all of my old time favourite including bread recipes. But my favourite classic peanut butter cookie is also found in this volume and now I'm sharing it with you.

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Cream shortening until fluffy. Gradually add sugars mixing until creamy. Beat in eggs and mix well. Add dry ingredients. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheet and add classic criss-cross with moistened fork.
Bake at 375 F approximately 8-11 minutes.
So good!

PS.  I think the search button is working again so you can look up recipes by typing in a key word. 

Sending Pawprints

I happened upon a blog, Sending Pawprints,  that has a Challenge to collect and donate cards to Animal shelters in the US to allow them to thank their donors and adopters. I regularly make and donate cards to organizations in Southern Ontario so I'm going to link up. The theme for this month is to use a heart so here's my card...

I'll make sure that my favourite charities get a few cards for their use.

Pumpkin Spice Cake

I've been meaning to post this cake for awhile. It starts with a box mix and once its doctored up it's delicious! Especially the cinnamon frosting.

Pumpkin Spice Cake
1 box spice cake
2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups water
4 eggs
I cup pumpkin

Frosting
4 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup butter
3-4 splashes milk or cream
2 Tbsp cinnamon

Mix all the first ingredients and pour into a prepared 10 inch bundt pan. Bake at 350 F for about 50 minutes or until cake is set. Cool and turn out.

Prepare frosting by creaming butter, then alternating wet and dry ingredients.
The frosting recipe makes quite a bit if you like it thick.
Enjoy.

Valentine's Card

I decided to participate in my first Challenge for Cards in Envy Valentine . I have never made a card for this one before but I'm all about the simple flat card that can fit in an envelope and get mailed so I whipped up a simple card to join the fun.

I had a cute 6 x 6 Valentine paper pad and the iridescent sequins picked up the pinkish hues very nicely. Trying to remember to use sequins a bit more to add some flavour to my cards. So I was quite happy with how it turned out.

Card Swap

Here's the remaining 3 cards in the Swap. We exchanged a total of 7 cards. Nice to have some variety in the "send some day" file....

Whaaat? Two items for the price of one. A shaker card AND a gift card holder! I haven't attempted a shaker card yet. They are fussy to be sure so to do more then one for a Swap is a big effort in my eyes.

Followed by a "design your own" background paper. I need to step up my game.

So my card illustrates the white on white phase that I'm going through. I used 2 background stamps; the Grunge stamp from Stampin' Up and a Splatter stamp and sentiment  from Your Next Stamp. I popped up the front flower and it actually looks very pleasing in person. At least I think so. And that wraps up the Card Swap from 2016.

Pre- Christmas Card Swap

I'm finally getting around to posting the cards from our last Card swap which (gasp!) took place before Christmas. Always interesting to see the variety of themes and styles. Here's the first 4...

Yay for Paper Smooches, isn't he adorable?

So much work went into this card. You can't really see it but the bulbs are covered with vellum which the sentiment is heat embossed onto. Lots of work went into this one.

This card is right up my alley. My style exactly. Clean and crisp.

This is why we card makers never throw out any scraps. What a clever use of the leftovers. So that's the first 4. My exposure is bit off. They are so bright and cheerful in person.

January 30 Day Monthly Challenge

We are continuing with our 30 day challenges. It is working so well, the deadline seems to encourage the completion of the task.

This month Keri did a Sympathy card....

She used a new embossing folder, sympathy stamp and a couple of dies that had never seen the light of day.

I chose to do a Dog card (imagine that!) and used 4 products that I had never used before....

I used a stitched fishtail banner, an MFT stitched sentiment banner, YNS Sentiment and a pawprint embossing folder that I scoured the Internet for and finally had to pay an exorbitant amount to have it shipped from the States. Its was a little disappointing as it is a square size and won't emboss an entire card panel, even an A2 but it works really well in a small space and it IS absolutely darling! I'm still glad that I got it.

We are continuing to use items from our own stash instead of borrowing as it seems that we have each picked up a number of new items lately that need some attention. I'm looking forward to continuing this challenge over the coming year.

Simon Says Stamp Pets Corner Challenge

My friend Corrina alerted me to the fact that Simon Says Stamp was having a Pet's challenge. Well I was all over that as my favourite cards to make just happen to be pets, specifically my beloved dog cards.
I had a new (to me) set of stamps from My Favourite Things and I thought it would fit in perfectly for this challenge. Plus it reminds me a bit of my adorable chocolate Lab Lindor.

Here's my card.....

I love using the coordinating papers from the 6x 6 paper pads. I tried using a variety of die cuts for the pet accessories but the scale always seemed to be off so I stuck with the stamps that coordinated with my doggie. I think it turned out pretty well.