Valentine....

Finished just in time for my children's Valentine school parties tomorrow!

These recycled bags were obviously the ones that the Ghiradelli chocolates came packaged in. Did you know that you can't recycle that lovely foil bag? Do your part in reducing your waste and make something useful with those bags like I did here. Just trim the top to desired size, fold down the edges and tape it down with strong double sided tape (I used Scor-Tape), punch holes to attach a couple of ribbon purse handles and decorate as desired. Heart ribbons were purchased at Michael's (for 50% off!!); brads used are Basic Grey; decorative edge punches are Martha Stewart (lace punch and heart lace punch).

The scallop hearts on the purse/bag and on the cut-out and tag on the sourcream container were cut using the Heart Nestabilities (I purchased mine here). Papers used for the sourcream container came from a pack of K&C Valentine paper pack. Ghiradelli square boxes hold 3 chocolates. Instructions to make those and the sourcream containers can be found at SplitCoasters.



This last beauty is a box pattern I purchased from InkingIdaho. Becky is the very talented lady over there who has taken lots of time to put together detailed instructions with beautiful photos to give you a step-by-step guide in making this type of box. And for just $3.95, it's a great bargain for this pdf template! Cardstock used is SU's real red; patterned papers are from K&C Valentine paper pack; pink ribbon is PaperTrey's new Raspberry Fizz; felt layered flowers on ribbon are die cut using Cuddlebug dies (forgot what it's called but it comes with 4 different sizes in one pack); felt hearts on the post-it pad also cut from felt - those are the same Nestabilities dies used above. Other ribbons you see were from Michael's. Shhh! This will be going to my son's teacher!






On another note, thanks to all who helped us pray for my Dad last week. He did end up in the hospital but he is home now. He got a new and better cardiologist and the other scary medical emergency he got responded well to medication. It's tough being so far away from them and for being the only child left to work through the emotions. However, we are surrounded by many loving aunts and uncles who all helped support and pray for my Dad, even though it was all done via the internet.

PTI Friend card challenge

Yet another card challenge at PaperTrey Ink!

Here is one of my favorite card designs I created for a friend. This has all the elements she loves - flowers and butterflies!



EDIT: The bloom flower is made from different sizes of scallop punches. I cut the "petals" to the center, shaped them, then glued them together. Paper used is a sheet from a DCWV pack - one that I didn't particularly like as a background paper but it sure looks great used for this flower. Leaves were handcut after running folded cardstock through a crimper. Butterfly punch used is from Punch Bunch (cut from DCWV cardstock) and sentiment is from PaperTrey Ink. I believe the ink I used for the sentiment is SU Bayou Blue (??not sure if that is what it's called!).

100 Day Project, Not a winner and Scone recipe

This is my daughter's 100-day project last week in kindergarden. What a milestone! She loves butterflies so we found a creative way to display 100 paper butterflies and to use up dollar store silk flowers. This will hang in her room when it comes back home this week. The lettering was done with Cuttlebug die cuts (Olivia font) and used a K&C company Valentine's paper. Double click the photo for a closer look.

Must not have been lucky enough to win any of those terrific prizes at PTI...wonder if the winners would want to share any of their loot with me :-)))

Here's my Mom's great scone recipe (thanks, Mom!). If I find the time next week when I make more of these at home, I will take photos of how the dough should look at each step.

NOTE: Please do not sell or pass this recipe off as yours. My Mom spent a lot of time tweaking this recipe so please give credit to this site if you are sharing the recipe with others.

Buttermilk Scones
Combine the following ingredients in a large mixing bowl:
3 c. all-purpose flour (12 oz)
1/3 c. granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Add to flour mixture, using a pastry cutter:
3/4 c. unsalted butter (make sure it's cold, straight from the refrigerator), cut into little cubes
-- combine until mixture is mealy and no chunks of butter left

Make a hole in the middle of the flour mixture and slowly add:
1 c. buttermilk (I use lowfat buttermilk and they still taste divine)
-- use a fork to slowly incorporate the flour mixture with the buttermilk; mixture will be very sticky.

Optional: before rolling out the dough, add 2 generous cups of chopped assorted chocolates and dried fruit (I used leftover chopped up Kiss chocolates and dried cranberries - be creative! You'll be surprised how good and different each batch will taste when you use up different kinds of leftover chocolates from your house).

Use a rubber spatula to mix in the chocolates. However, do not overmix! Think biscuit dough!

Dust your countertop or work surface with flour then scrape the dough onto the surface. With floured hands, pat the dough to about 1" thickness and use desired size biscuit cutter to cut the dough. NOTE: don't twist the cutter when cutting out the scones - otherwise they won't rise very high. Put on parchment lined baking pan, about 1/2" apart.

Bake at 400 F degrees for about 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Paper purses instructions will have to wait later next week, as I'm struggling to get the PTA books balanced! No matter what I do, I'm off by about $84!! Also, even with my 8 yr old son doing vacuuming around here, I still run short on time!

450+ Yards of Ribbons!

Ok - am obsessing with trying to win something (since am not earning any money selling anything on my Etsy shop) so here's another card am submitting to PaperTrey Ink for their Ribbon challenge. Prize package is $280-worth of ribbons!

I took liberty with the sketch that Nichole designed...the sentiment is from PTI, embossed rectangle was done with a Cuttlebug folder (can't recall what it's called), butterfly is also a Cuttlebug die, gold organdy ribbon is an OLD, retired ribbon from SU and bling are from Jo Ann fabrics and cardstock are SU.



Mini Paper Purses Instructions: Will post them tomorrow

Scone Recipe: Will also post tomorrow

Meanwhile, there's PTA Treasurer work to be done and assisting my son with some Wolf badge requirements for Cub Scouts

I hope I win! and Please help us pray

Ok, this is totally self-serving and posting the following pictures so I can have a chance to win a contest at PaperTrey Ink.

These paper purses and bags are my own creations. If you're dying to get a hold of how I made them, you can leave a comment and I'll send you the instructions.

Here we go!

This first one is my version of the paper hat box. As you can see, it's very small but large enough to put a few chocolate eggs inside!


This suitcase is also a mini-version. What's inside? Look at the next picture - a few "shirt" bookmarks (thanks to Martha Stewart for the idea - I made mine out of patterned papers and used mini brad buttons for the buttons and textured paper for the ties).





My personal favorite - a recycled coffee bag using one of my favorite coffees (Tully's)! The only problem with this is that all my coffee-drinking friends and family now save all their coffee bags for me so I can make more of these little coffee card purses. This bag can hold 4 mini cards and 4 mini envelopes.


Doesn't this remind you of the beach? This one uses lots of PaperTrey sentiments (along with a few SU! stamps - mainly the sand and the shell die cuts are Cuttlebug). The plastic mesh you see on the front of the mini purse is a garlic bulb sack from Trader Joe's (gotta recycle more plastic!). This little beach bag measures about 3" x 4" - yep, I LOVE miniatures! All those cards fit inside the little purse and I also made matching envelopes but didn't get a photo of them.


This last photo are all the different versions I've come up with for that mini 3" x 4" bag. All can hold those mini notecards. Patterned papers you see there are all Amy Butler.


On another note, my Dad has gotten more bad news. I don't think he'd want me to write here what he now has but suffice it to say that it is very serious. He continues to battle MDS and CHF but the latest is the scariest. My son said that he wished Pokemon is real so he can take his Grandpa to the Pokemon center and cure him. Then my 5-yr old said she wished her magic wand is real so she could just wave her wand and her "Boppa" would be better. We believe in the power of prayers so please help us pray for my Dad to get better; and pray for my Mom too to stay healthy as she is single-handedly taking care of him. It's times like these that make me wish that they just lived next door and not 3,000 miles away.