All About You

To Nichole - Thank You for All You Do!

     I wanted to add my voice to all of  Nichole's fans - hooray for Papertrey Ink, Nichole and her fabulous design team. I've just started my "collection" of Papertrey Ink's stamps and dies and I'm looking forward to many more wonderful surprises!!   

  When I started this card I immediately went to Nichole's Blog to look at the cards she designed for the release of All About You Additions.  I "borrowed" a few ideas from Nichole and added a few of my own.... and voila!!

Thank You Nichole!! 

You are a superstar and you inspire me every time I see your designs. You have also gathered a great design team together - you should be so proud of all that you do!!


Card Details: 
Stamps: PTI All About You; It's Official
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream; Stampin'Up coloured card stock; vellum.
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other Supplies: Copic markers; Clear Gelly Roll glitter pen; DecoArt Glamour Dust; glue pen; brads, ribbon; 3-D Dots; Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Apple Recipes

My Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop  Project showed the apple recipes that  are family favourites. Here are the complete instructions. Enjoy!!

 Finnish Baked Apple Pancakes

 We live in a city with a very large Finnish community, so everyone here knows the tasty Finnish pancakes that are served at the HOITO RESTAURANT Although this recipe is  not the traditional thin Finnish pancakes, I like them because you can prepare them and pop them in the oven and relax!! This dish makes a wonderful brunch served with bacon or sausage. It also makes a very nice dessert served with a good vanilla ice cream.

4 eggs

1 ½ c. milk 

½ tsp. salt 

2 Tbsp. sugar 

2 c. sifted flour

3-5 tart apples, peeled, cored, sliced

3 Tbsp. butter

cinnamon sugar:  (½ c. sugar + 3 tsp. cinnamon)

     

Preparation:

+ Beat the eggs until thick; add the milk, salt and sugar.

+ Sift in the flour, mixing it well. Let batter stand for 30 min.

+ Preheat oven to 375° F

+ Prepare the apples and cinnamon sugar.

+ Butter two 8-9 round cake pans; sprinkle with half of cinnamon sugar. Arrange the sliced apples in the pan.

+ Sprinkle apples with remaining cinnamon sugar and dot with butter. Pour pancake batter over apples, dividing it evenly between pans.

+ Bake for 30 min. or until the top of each pancake is golden and set. Slice each pancake into 8 wedges.     2 pancakes serve 8-10.  

Apple Pie Muffins

                                                    

2 ¼ c. all-purpose flour        

1 tsp baking soda              

½ tsp salt                             

1 egg                                      

1 c. buttermilk                     

 ½ c. butter, melted

 1 tsp vanilla extract

 1 ½ c. packed brown sugar

 2 c. diced apples

½ c . packed brown sugar

1/3 c . all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Preparation:

+ Preheat the oven to 375° F.   Grease a 12 cup muffin tin.

+ In a large bowl, stir together 2 ¼ cups flour, soda and salt.

+ In a separate bowl, mix together egg, buttermilk, ½ cup  melted butter, vanilla and 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar .

+ Mix liquid into  flour mixture and then sprinkle  and mix in diced apple. Stir just until everything is blended.

+ Spoon into prepared muffin tin, filling the cups to the top.    

+ In a small bowl, stir together ½ cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour and cinnamon. Drizzle in 2 Tbsp. melted butter. Toss with a fork until well blended. Sprinkle over tops of muffins.

+ Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed.

Pork Chops and Apple Bake 

6 pork  loin chops

1 1/2 tsp salt 

1 1/2 tsp dried sage

vegetable oil

3 - 5 tart apples            

3 Tbsp molasses

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cups hot water 

1 Tbsp vinegar

1/3 cup raisins   

 Preparation: 

+ Season pork chops evenly on both sides with salt & sage.

+ In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil over med. heat. Brown pork chops in hot oil on both sides; transfer pork chops to a shallow baking. Reserve drippings.

+ Peel, core, and slice apples 1/4-inch thick. Arrange apple slices over pork chops. Drizzle molasses over apple slices.

+ Sprinkle flour over skillet drippings; cook until brown, stirring occasionally. Slowly add water, stirring constantly, until smooth; then bring to a boil. Stir in vinegar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and raisins; pour mixture over pork chops.

+ Cover pan with foil and bake at 350° for 50 to 60 minutes. Serves 6          

Book Worm Notebook

     Here's a fun little notebook that I made using the Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs stamp set and matching Mini Book Page Die and Tab Die from Papertrey Ink. I cut out LOTS of lined pages and plain card stock in varying colours of blue and bright green to make this notebook. The die sure made it easy to create all of the pages in a uniform way.

     I started with the Bookworm and apple stamps from Imaginisce and then coloured them with Copic markers and some regular markers. I only had a few copic markers when I made this. Next, I cut the two images out and used dimensionals to attach them to the limey green library card that I had downloaded from Heather Nichol's blog. (I have since purchased the stamp - love it!!)

     The library card is layered on top of a piece of card stock that has been stamped with A to Z letter background stamp from Stampin'Up. I used my EK success Stamp Edge border punch to add some interest .  The pencils were stamped using a little single stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps and Take Note is one of the sentiments on PTI Fillable Frames #1. The embellishments are Dots and Donuts from Stamping Bella.

     I decided to create a "spine" on the book by sandwiching an extra piece of green paper between two pieces of card stock on the front and back and leaving a 1/2" showing on the spine" of the note book. I used ribbon ties to hold it all together.

     Here's the first page with Tin types background stamp on the green paper and  a label made with a Disney alphabet stamp set  that I've had for a while (not sure where it's from!!)     I used the Tab die to cut 5 tabs and then stamped them with the matching border stamp and then various labels - ideas; shopping list; to-do-list; doodles and sketches.

Supplies:

Stamps:   PTI - Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs; Tin Types; Fillable Frames #1.  Imaginisce - Bookworm.  Stampin'Up - A to Z Letter background stamp.  Clear Dollar Stamps - Pencil

Papers:  Recollections card stock;   Sandy Lion - patterned paper

Ink:   CTMH - Choclate; Ocean; Clover Green. Memento Tuxedo Black

Other Supplies:   PTI - Mini Book Page Die; Tab Die. Library Card download;   Copic markers;   Zig markers; Stamping Bella Dots and Donuts;   Stamp Edge border punch;  Ribbons.

Papertrey August Blog Hop Challenge

     Welcome to Rainbow Gardens for Papertrey Ink's August 2010 Blog Hop.  

This is my first blog hop.... (in fact my blog is less than 2 weeks old!I) and  I'm learning something new every day!! 

     When I read about the blog hop for August, ( a brown paper bag challenge)  I immediately thought of apples.  Our apples have ripened early this year and we've had a "bumper" crop. We had to get them off the tree since the deer have been  visiting every day to munch on them. My husband has already started several batches of apple wine and I have lots of apples in the freezer ready for cooking later in the season.  

     Here's my interpretation of a brown lunch bag card and recipe holder, using lots of Papertrey Ink stamps and dies, and other goodies!!. Enjoy!!

Card Front

Papertrey Ink Supplies: (for card front)

Vintage Picnic - basket and apples; Just The Ticket Border die and matching stamp; Just For You - sentiments; Vintage Cream Card Stock; Linen Impression Plate

Other Papers: My Mind's Eye Brown/Green Brocade; Brazzill card stock; brown paper lunch bag.

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Chocolate & Olive.

Other Supplies: Scalloped Square Nestabilities; Corner Rounder Punch; Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze; Marvey marker; ribbon; Stamping Bella Dots; sewing machine.

Recipe Cards and Sentiments

     I used my computer to print several of our favourite recipes - Finnish Baked Apple Pancakes and Apple Pie Muffins were tucked into the pocket on the left side of the card. (If click on the picture above you can see the little tree and the red stickle "apples).  The recipe for the Pork Chop and Apple Bake was attached to the pull-out tag on the far right side (shown below). I stamped, coloured and cut out the apple stamp; then added Diamond Glaze for added sparkle, before I attached them to the recipe cards.

Additional Recipe Pull-Out

Papertrey Ink Supplies: (for inside card and tag)

It's Official - order form & sentiment; Everyday Button Bits - additional sentiments; Spiral Notebook Page Die; 

Other Stamps: Stampin'Up Trees for All Seasons; ABC Images

Other Papers: 

My Mind's Eye Solid Brown and Red & Brown Dots;  Brazzill card stock; Recollections Kraft card stock

Inks:  CTMH - Black & Cranberry..

Other Supplies:  Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze; Red Stickles; Corner Rounder Punch; Scalloped Border Punch; Circle Punch: Cuttlebug Embossing Borders: Marvey marker;

Sunshine, Rainbows & Kites

It's a hot sunny day here in Northwestern Ontario. We've had a lot of these days this month - we're not really used to high humidity - makes my hair very curly and kinky!! Oh well, I shouldn't complain, as the cold winds of fall and winter will soon be with us!!
Today I have two cards to share:

The first one has a cute little image from Clear Dollar Stamps - a little sun, a little cloud and a rainbow!!. This is the first time that I have tried a colour blocking technique and I really like how it looks. I'll have to try it again!!

The double sided paper from We R Memory Keepers has a whole series of matching designs. All the colours were on the same page in a colour block design with a distressed look which gave me the idea for this layout. I started with a green base, white card stock and  four squares in blue, yellow, red and green. The image was stamped, coloured and then cut out. I mounted it on top of another square of blue paper, mounted on white cardstock. The bottom rectangle is stamped with a sentiment from PTI's Up, Up & Away Sentiments. Three brads match the colours of the paper. 

I used more of the yellow paper on the inside and added a few strips of coloured paper for a 'rainbow' look.

Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps; PTI Up, Up & Away Sentiments.

Paper: We R Memory Keepers; Brazzill card stock

Ink: CTMH

Other Supplies: water colour pencils; brads; pop dots.

My second card is one that I made for my son's friend who just finished her residency at our local hospital. I used the kites from Up, Up & Away and the  "high five" sentiment was just right. 

The patterned papers are from the same line as the first card, but this time I used the colourful flowers as the background. All of the kites were stamped onto a white card stock and then stamped again on the coloured papers, cut out and mounted on top to give it a dimensional feel.

I 'sponged' the sky with CTMH Crystal Blue ink and then added a square scalloped mat. The ribbon, button and embroidery floss draws your attention to the paper flower and the sentiment at the bottom of the card.

I like the fact that I was able to get two totally different cards from the same paper, and still have some left over for another day!!

Stamps: PTI Up, Up & Away  and  Sentiments.

Paper: We R Memory Keepers; Brazzill card stock         Ink: CTMH

Other Supplies: nestabilities; dimensionals; ribbon; button; embroidery floss;  Stampin'Up Boho Blossom punch; corner rounder punch; markers.

Hot Air Balloons x 2

Everyday Button Bits

     One of the first sets that I got from Papertrey Ink was  Everyday Button Bits, because I liked the hot air balloons and the option of adding colourful buttons to all the images. Shortly after I received my order, the  Up, Up and Away set was introduced, and I knew I had to get that one as well - clouds, sunshine, balloons, dies  and lots of sayings - what's not to love!!  Here's my 'take' on these two sets!!

I sponged the background of the main image to create clouds in the sky and then used the Papertrey Ink rick rack die  to cut the "grass for the outside and the inside of the card

and then added more patterned paper and coloured circles on the inside for a bright and cheery look.

Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits

Paper: Recollections card stock & patterned paper

Other Supplies: circle punches; ticket corner punch; rick rack die; corner rounder; markers; buttons

Inks- CTMH

   

   This card uses all the elements from Up, Up and Away -  I  made it for a friend who retired from teaching in June. I used the Tin Types Impression Plate on the blue sky background and then added some glitter with a gel pen to each of the indented circles. It really adds a nice touch IRL. The background paper has a pastel plaid colour scheme, so I stamped the balloons in Garden Green and Crystal Blue inks from CTMH and Pixie Pink from Stampin'Up. I used my new dies to cut out the balloons and clouds. A glitter gel pen outlines the clouds with faux stitching. One of the clouds is popped up with dimensionals. The ribbon is from my stash, but the button is from PTI.

Matching Envelope

A small stamp was cut from a Sizzix  die- I added another balloon image and the "good times" sentiment from Mini Scrapbook Series:Tabs. The 5c and name are stamped from a CTMH set. Happy Retirement is from PTI Mega Mixed Messages.

 Stamps: PTI Up, Up & Away; Mini Scrapbook Tabs; Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: Recollections paper

Other Supplies: Tin Types Impression plate; PTI balloon &clouds dies; Sizzix stamp die; ribbon, PTI button;  glitter gel pen.

Inks- CTMH; Stampin'Up

Beautiful Blossoms II

     Here's a little notebook  that I made shortly after I received my first Papertrey Inc. order in the spring. I love Heather Nichols Mini Scrapbook Series:Tabs, so I used the wee words from that set and added the tiny flowers from Beautiful Blooms II on a Kraft card stock. The finished size is 2 3/4" x 3 3/4", so it's just the right size to pop into my purse.
     I stamped one of the flowers three times in Orange ink from Close to My Heart and then hand cut them in varying sizes. I 'crumpled' the top two flowers before I attached them to the center of the first flower and then added Stickles all over. (I love my Stickles!!) I used pink, orange and green inks to stamp the words and flowers on the front.

      I had previously cut up some lined paper for another notebook (I'll show that another day) and had a pile of little pieces left over. I hate throwing out anything if I think I can use it, so I cut the stack of papers to make the pages, and then stamped the little flower image on the top corner of each page. I used Scrapper's Floss in a cream colour and stitched through the center of the booklet to hold all the pieces together. I felt it needed more colour on the outside, so I used a copic marker to colour the floss - I think the colour really 'pops' on the folded edge.
     Lastly, 'handmade"  from Just for You  was stamped on the back of the booklet.
  

   The notebook was easy and fun to make and gave me a chance to use my stamps without all the details of a card!!

 Stamps: PTI  Beautiful Blooms II; Just for You; Mini Scrapbook Series:Tabs
Cardstock: Kraft 
Supplies: Close to My Heart inks; Scrapper's Floss; Stickles; Copic marker:Y68

     My next project is a tag I made for my niece. She had a little baby boy last week and I wanted to take her something when I went to visit. I bought a small set of 'orange' scented bath products and creams and tucked them into a bright orange gift bag. The tag is a piece of yellow card stock that I cut with the PTI library card tag. I stamped the upper section with Polka Dot Basics in pink ink and the bottom with the same stamp in orange ink.

   There's lots of layers on the tag. I used a scallop punch from Stampin'Up on orange and white card stock and then mounted a striped paper on top. The Mat Stack #2 die was cut out in orange and then stamped with polka dots too. I stamped and punched the circular image from Just for You and then used the Beautiful Blooms Die to cut out a white felt flower. It's attached with a pink button and tied with yellow embroidery floss.
     I added a message for Andrea on the back of the tag - just reminding her to take care of herself too. Her little boy was so sweet and quiet when we went to visit - but that can change in an instant!!

 Stamps: PTI  Just for You; Polka Dot Basics
Papers: yellow & orange card stock & DP (from my stash) 
Other Supplies: Close to My Heart inks; PTI dies - Library Card die; Mat Stack #2 die; Beautiful Bloom II Flower #1 die; Stampin'Up punches; satin ribbon; embroidery floss; button; brads


Thanks for visiting!!

A New Adventure

Kenya Ketto and Sparkles

This is my first blog post.. a place where I can record all of my crafty endeavors. I'm not sure how often I will do this, as it is a steep learning curve for me.. computers are not my best friends!! We'll see how it goes.
My first card is a Stamping Bella image that I got at my LSS - Dat's. I made this card for my niece's birthday last year. I really liked the "sparkle"stamps.. so I used them to make the background paper. Stickles were applied to the centers for added 'sparkle".

 The inside of the card uses a sentiment that I printed from the internet, matted and added to the card, along with another Kenya Sparkle!


Stamps: Stamping Bella; Sentiment: Stampin'Up
Supplies: Nestabilities, Stampin'Up punches, brads, flowers; water colour pencils.

I used a variety of stamps to make this card for my niece's daughter. "Gigi" the Giraffe is a Clear Dollar Stamp, that is so cute and fun to colour in yellow and pink!! The small circular sentiment is from Close to My Heart and then I added the "1st " from another CTMH stamp set and used  glitter around the image and on the number. Mini pink pearls and pink gingham ribbon finishes the "girly" card.

I used a strip of yellow paper on the inside, to stamp the sentiment, and then mounted it on the designer paper. Hip Hip Hooray was stamped on the DP and then added on the top. I really like how it turned out.

Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps, Close to My Heart, Studio g
Supplies: Nestabilities,  water colour pencils, pearls, ribbon, glitter.