Inky Paws Challenge

This is my first time entering the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge, simply because I don't have many of the stamp sets, which is something I would like to rectify soon.

I chose this set because I make a lot of Pet Sympathy cards. This week, it was a sketch challenge which I really like. Of course, I had just lent all my heart dies to a friend but fortunately I was able to borrow one for the challenge.

Here's my card....

Based on this sketch...

This is the die set that I used..

I could have used the adorable pawprint heart but it wasn't in my "vision". Lol.

Chili Pork chops

I got this recipe from a friend waaaay back in my university days. Jean was a mature student who struggled with the culture and the study needed to be successful as she had been out of school for some time. On the other hand, she had some great recipes because she was at a stage in her life when she had already cooked for herself for a number of years.

This is one recipe that I pulled out to join the low carb craze. I think this recipe fits the bill. I used store bought chili sauce to test it out since it's been awhile but next time, I'm going to use my homemade chili sauce and I think it will be even better. Like everyone else, I eat a lot of chicken so every now and then its nice to mix things up with a pork chop.

Chili Pork Chops
(for 2 pork chops)

1/2 cup chili sauce
1/4 tsp dry mustard
2 Tbsp ketchup
garlic powder to taste
chili powder to taste ( I was out so I put in a dash of Franks hot sauce and some hot pepper flakes but not necessary)
1/4 tsp Worchestershire sauce
Mix well.

Brown pork chops in frying pan. Cover with chili mixture and bake in covered dish at 350F for 1 - 1.5 hours. Baste frequently and turn once if you wish.
You can change up the recipe to suit your tastes. The sauce should be tangy.

I hope that you did well, wherever you ended up, Jean.

MFT Sketch Challenge

What's going on? I'm being way too productive, reading 5 novels, entering challenges, doing blog posts. It must be January.
Anyway, I really enjoy the MFT sketch challenges. I find it gives such a good starting point and focuses your ideas on what to use and how to use it.
I went back to my beloved dog cards for this one and used a 6x6 paper pad from Authentique.

I uses MFT's 4 legged friends which I haven't used before (shhh, don't tell Keri, I might have to use this for our exchange) and heat embossed the sentiment. I love the neutral tones and how this card came together.
Here's the sketch it was based on...

And this is the stamp and die set that I used...

I can see all kinds of possibilities with this set.

MFT Birthday Challenge

There's a new challenge over at MFT Challenge Blog. You can design a card or layout or other embellished item with a birthday theme and it has to include the word celebrate. Well since I'm trying to up my game by participating in a few more challenges this year, this was a good place to start. I might even win a $50 gift voucher.
I used the Dienamics candle dies that I recently purchased and made this card....

I used a splatter stamp in violet and blue to create some background interest. Challenge MET!

January Card Challenge

So I'm back with the January cards.... I had already started this card and then couldn't find it so I did my Dec card then I found this one and wanted to finish it, so you guessed it... I used the MFT stitched flowers again. This time, I heat embossed the sentiment on vellum so that was a technique that was new to me...

Keri used the Lawn Fawn Sloth set to come up with this...

and a cute little sentiment on the inside...

So, we're all caught up and starting to work on this month's challenge card. I promise it won't use stitched flower dies.

December Card Challenge

Keri and I got a little behind on our challenges due to the busy Christmas season. The Dec card is due on the first of December. Ooops! SO we had some catching up to do.

Keri used the adorable Mama Elephant snowpeople to make this card....

She used the single stamp and die to add detail to the inside of her card and the envelope which is always a nice touch.

I chose to use my MFT Stitched flowers again. They are very versatile but I seem to always gravitate to using the same shape. I tried to find patterned paper that replicated the shape of the flowers and here's what I came up with...

I guess I never used something new but I love this set and want to get my money's worth.

Paula Deen's Meatloaf

I don't get a chance to make meatloaf very often, but over the holidays I had a hungry teen visiting who requested a home-cooked meal rather then dining out. That works for me. Way easier on the pocket book and a much healthier option. Paula's recipes never disappoint and while there was nothing out of the ordinary in this meatloaf, it was really quite delicious, especially with mashed potatoes.

Paula Deen's Meatloaf
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 egg
1 onion, chopped (you could brown them first)
1 cup milk
1 cup dried bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
Topping
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp prepared mustard
1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix first ingredients together and press into 5x9 loaf pan.
In a separate bowl, mix topping ingredients and spread on meatloaf.(I found this made quite a bit but definitely added a delicious flavour and baked off quite a bit)
Bake for one hour.
(I find you have to drain the grease off even with light ground beef, probably extra lean or a mixture of turkey/chicken would be an alternative)

Saran Ball Game

I wanted to come up with a game to play on New Year's Eve/14th birthday and I had been eyeing this Pinterest post for some time. When I decided to embark upon it I called my fellow game enthusiast Robin and of course, she was going to play it too for her Christmas gathering.
It was fun bouncing ideas back and forth and getting and giving tips. It could have been a huge expensive flop without some valuable tips that we learned.

Step One - Gather a number of small items to use for the game. I started collecting really small items then realized I could also wrap larger ones like toothbrushes. I used about 3 times the number of items you see in this photo. Anything from candy to gloves, bandages, toonies, gift card, lock de-icer, shampoo samples. You get the idea.

Step Two - Place the most valuable item in the middle (I used a Tim's card) and start wrapping. You can make the strip long or short. The shorter it is the more time it takes. Also IMPORTANT! Wrap all or most of your items in saran wrap first. You can even tape the end to make it a little trickier. This helps it stick to outer wrapping and also slows the game down. Just keep wrapping, after every one or two items, cut the wrap and start again. You could even add the odd piece of tape here.

I put a start so they could see the begining, but you could leave this out. The first person starts to unwrap while the person beside them rolls the dice. It was suggested that the ball gets passed when doubles are rolled but that was taking for ever so we just did first 6. Then the ball is passed and the next person in the circle starts rolling for a 6. You get the idea. The person unwrapping must also unwrap their item before they can continue unrolling the ball.

Step Three- If the items you won weren't suitable you could have a trade off. We had so much fun as the ball got down to the grand prize. It was hilarious. You'd think there was a bar of gold at the centre.

So give this a try at your next family event. It's a little costly with the item purchase but this could replace stockings at Christmas etc. It didn't use as much saran as I thought. I bought 2 club pack sized rolls and only used about half of one.

Ranger Cookies

We are in the deep freeze here in Southern Ontario and it's wearing thin. Hard to get the dogs out or get any fresh air so why not hibernate and bake these delicious cookies? I love pulling out a recipe in my Mom's handwriting. Her instructions are just like mine. Basically mix and bake. I flipped the card over to see if there was a baking time or length and nothing!

She baked a lot and we were always excited to get home from school and see if anything was waiting for us. Sometimes it was "Eat a banana" but often there were freshly baked cookies. These ones are yummy!

Fresh from the oven.

Ranger Cookies

1/2 cup butter or shortening

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup Rice Krispies

1/2 cup coconut

Mix and cream butter and sugars thoroughly. Add eggs and flour. Beat well.

(thought I would keep the instructions basic, if you're a baker, you'll know what to do 😉 )

Happy New Year and a quick wrap up of 2017

Happy New Year everyone! I think last year I forgot to revisit my list so I wanted to give it some attention this year. While, these are not resolutions, they are items that I want to be mindful of as the year progresses. So here's my list from 2017 and how I did...

1. Learn to make a registration page. DONE! I did this for the Loonies for Lindor fundraiser and while it was pretty basic, it got the job done.

2. Complete Disney Album. FAIL! Barely got any scrapbooking done at all.

3.  Enter 4 challenges a month. FAIL! Although Keri and 1 completed our exchange every month so I consider that a victory.

4. Eat meatless once a week. Does fish count?

5.  Travel someplace I've never been. DONE! Several places out East including Truro and Halifax, Nova Scotia and Villages, Florida.

6.Work on Heritage Album. FAIL!
7. Volunteer. DONE!

I did lots of volunteer work and donated over $6000 to ADS.

8.  Make 100 cards to donate. DONE! This was accomplished for the L4L Fundraiser.

9. Make one new recipe and post. DONE! I never counted up but I'm pretty sure I got 12 recipes on the blog.

10.Learn 5 new things on Ipad. FAIL! I DID learn how to view Netflix on my IPAD but that's about it.

11. Drink more water and less Pop. DONE! Although I'm slipping back into my bad habit.

12.  Use the Silhouette to cut and print. FAIL! I took a class and never practised so now I can't remember how to do it.

13. Do 100 blog posts. FAIL! It's really time-consuming and now I've discovered Instagram.

14. Complete Intermediate title in Rally. DONE!

Well, we enjoy the classes and getting out for some new activity. Dog shows are expensive and quite boring and time-consuming plus my girl is turning 10 so this may be the end of the road for us.

15.  Use my GREEN BIN. DONE!  Big success here. My recycling and green binning is excellent these days.

16.  Make one meal a week using items from the freezer. FAIL! But I'm planning on getting a new fridge in 2018 so that may help with knowing what items are in need of being used. I do PUT a lot of stuff in the freezer. LOL.

17. Read 40 books. FAIL! Although I read some really good books(21) and it reminded me to go to the library more regularly. I finished the year with this one which I really liked...

So that's my wrap-up. Stayed tuned for 18 in 18.
Time to get out for a walk in the bitterly cold weather.