Celebrate Canada!

Since we just recently celebrated Canada Day, when I spotted the challenge at Paper Players, I knew I had to play along. Especially since they are offering such great prizes. The Challenge is to "celebrate".  I had some maple leaf paper in my stash in the tradional red and white so it made it really easy to come up with an idea.

I used a sketch from My Favourite Things (MFTWSC 183)

Thanks to The Best Things in Life are Pink for the inspiration.

I put a smaller maple leaf on the inside of the card and I computer generated the word Canada since I didn't own any stamps of that sort. I'm excited to be linking up with a challenge. It's been awhile, I hope I remember how to do it.

Happy Engagement

My beautiful cousin Erin got engaged just recently and I wanted to make a card of Congratulations.
I picked up this cute set from Your Next Stamp at Scrapfest and I lifted my idea from a similar card.

I put Wink of Stella on the ring bands and Stickles on the diamond part. I even stamped a few things on the inside of the card....

I'm really looking forward to another wedding in the family. Congratulations Erin and Chris! Sorry I forgot to take a photo of the happy couple.

Canada Day and an Ice Cream Dessert

It was fun getting the family together and celebrating a special birthday. I did some decorating to show off some Canadian patriotism. I enjoy walking around the neighbourhood to see who puts a flag out so I hope other people enjoyed seeing mine.

My flowers this year happened to be red and white...

 I stuck a few toothpick flags in my wreath...

I thought it was pretty clever that I covered a flag with a transparent table cloth..

Here we all are minus the photographer...

It was a large group(18) and everyone braved the heat and humidity to sit outside for a visit.

I knew it was going to be a scorcher so I did all my prep that involved an oven/stove early in the week. And I knew I was going to make this super easy, delicious and cold ice cream bar dessert that could be dressed up with Oh Canada M and M's to fit the day.

Ice cream Sandwich dessert
Ice cream sandwiches (about 18)
Chocolate syrup
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup peanuts
M and M's
I tub of Cool Whip

Microwave chocolate syrup until warm enough to stir in peanut butter.
Layer ice cream sandwiches in a 9x13 pan.
Top with 1/2 of syrup mixture then a layer of Cool whip.
Repeat.
Top with peanuts and M and M's.
Chill

It doesn't get easier then that and my is it tasty.

June Card Swap Challenge

It usually takes me to the middle of the month to post our Swap cards but I'm right on the ball this month. Maybe it's because we are in the middle of a heat wave and it's almost unbearable to go outside.
Keri used a set from Stampin Up. The gold on the card is washi tape to coordinate with the gold edged envelope. I love that the envelope is special. She stamped the flower several times and used pencil crayons to colour. I really want to use this multiple stamping style one day soon.

I used a set that I purchased recently at my local SS. As a baker, I just knew I had to have it. The little cross hatches for the peanut butter cookie were just too much. The stamp set had matching dies and I used a couple different techniques...

I inked the edges of the cookies to give them a freshly baked appearance and I heat embossed the Milk in white. I wanted to use Nuvo drops to make the red sprinkles look more authentic but I didn't have the exact shade of red that I needed. I will definitely try that technique another time.

So I'm off to a roaring start for the month. Happy July 1st.

18 in 18

We're about half way through the year so I thought I would do a little re-cap on my 18 in 18. Always good to reflect and regroup. Maybe make a plan of action to actually "complete" all of the 18 challenges.
So let me re-cap where things have been successful and where I have fallen short...

1. Complete one home renovation project (removed a closet in the basement, much roomier down there now)
2. Double cook - I have been doing a little better, Have a planner now and try to plan ahead so I don't get caught throwing out groceries because I've been out a lot
3. Visit family or friends - I've been averaging at least one visit a month. Have sent out a few more cards too
4. Revisit old hobbies - FAIL! But I have got rid of my folk art supplies so I can focus on other things like stained glass
5. Use essential oils more - still trying to learn more about this
6. Read 30 minutes a day - Reading newspaper more but still stuck on the ipad and Netflix
7. Buy a refrigerator - Nope, old house, nothing fits. Not doing so well so far, am I?

8. Make more breads. FAIL! And now its summer, too hot to put the oven on.
9. Make a homemade light box. FAIL!

10. Complete Disney album - FAIL! Not a single page
11. Enter 4 challenges a month - BIG FAIL! Always seem to have some other projects, mostly cards that I want to make that I've seen on the Internet
12. Work on Heritage Album - NOPE, but I feel the pull to start this one getting stronger

13, Make one new recipe - WIN! I'm really good at this one. Try this cinnamon roll cake. It's delish!
14, Download photos from phone and ipad - I did some from my phone with the help of a friend but I'm still not comfortable with this.

15.  Drink more water. I'm pretty good at this but Diet Pepsi is my guilty pleasure. I eliminated it completely then it started to creep back in. Now I'm trying to stay with the sparkling waters when I need a pop fix.
16. Use the Silhouette to cut and print. I have not done that but I DID use my Silhouette once this year, does that count?
17. 100 blog posts - REALLY? Who came up with this one? I'm at 27, I have a ways to go.

18. Read 40 books - Currently at 10.  I can't say enough about this book. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  I loved, loved, loved it on many levels. It's a book that I would add to my personal library and I'm very selective how many books I keep preferring to use the Public Library. So I'm not near my goal but I read a lot more in the summer and I have a big list that I am hoping to get to.

So that's it. Still some work to do but the year is young.

Chicken Tenders

It was the Holiday weekend and I was out of bread crumbs so by necessity I searched the Internet and found this Keto - friendly recipe and it was DELICIOUS! I used chicken tenderloins but you could easily cut up chicken breasts. This recipe was flavourful and delicious.

Chicken Tenders
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp Parsley minced
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine all dry ingredients and set aside.
Line baking sheet with foil.
Melt butter in a shallow dish
Dip each tender in butter, then roll in seasoning mixture.
Place on pan and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through

May Swap Card

It always seems like we're a month behind but I guess these are the cards that we "created" in May for our monthly swap.
I did a straight copy from the Internet using the Lawn Fawn apple stamps. They are so cute and you can colour the apples in several different colours. I love how it turned out. Even though its a little Fall-like, I had it ready so that's my May contribution....

I used this set..

Keri used a Stampin' Up flower set to make her card....

I love the yellow and gray.
So that's it. Short and sweet. It's too nice out to sit on the computer. Back later with another recipe.