A Birthday Card

So, I have been collecting Copic Markers over the past year and have been using them off and on, very basic like.  I don't really know how to use them very well yet, but I'm intrigued when I see someone who has used them to beautifully color images.  I want to do that too!

When I come across a tutorial using Copics, I jump on board to learn.  This week, PTI happens to have a Make It Monday challenge that incorporates Copics - Graduated Backgrounds!  Let me tell ya - super easy...

I have a friend from church to send this card to.  I am so excited that this came out exactly the way I envisioned it - I hope she likes it!

Well, that's all for now.  I'm in the middle of reinventing this baby:

AND - it has a twin!  

I'll be back later to tell you more about these beauties!

ttfn,

Jennifer

Stamp Kissing Technique

Howdy friends!  Stopping in super quick to share my Happy Birthday card using the stamp kissing technique I learned from Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday video series.  What a fun way to use stamps!

That's all for now!  Gotta go make green treats for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!  Yummy!

Supplies:

all supplies used are Papertrey Ink unless noted otherwise

Cardstock - Select White, Sweet Blush, Hibiscus

Stamps - Sweet Spring, Just the Ticket, Vintage Ornaments, Background Basics: Retro

Hybrid Ink - Hibiscus, Raspberry Fizz, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, Vintage Cream, Fresh Snow

Dies - Christmas Label

Imression Plate - Geometric Circles (QuickKutz)

Button - Hobby Lobby

Twine - Cappucino (The Twinery)

Adhesive - ATG (Scotch), 450 Quick Dry (Helmar)

Anniversary Card

Howdy friends!  Hope your day is going well - its about to get really rainy here, and that's okay - we need it - and that means I can play in my studio today!

My mom and dad's anniversary is coming up - they are celebrating 39 years of marriage!  They are a great example of true and lasting marriage!  I'm not just saying that either cuz I know my mom looks at my blog -:).

Anyway - I made a card to send them and I used a new technique I learned from Papertrey Ink's Design Team member Betsy Veldman.  Go here to check out her informative video if you want to learn how to do this too!

Here is my card:

It is pretty girly I know, but I was feeling Spring(y) with our weather this week and couldn't help myself!  Thanks for stopping by today and letting me show you my work.

Have a blessed day!
Jennifer

Supplies: all supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless noted otherwise.
Cardstock - Select White, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, New Leaf
Stamps - Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar: Spring Fillers, Background Basics: Retro, Delightful Dahlia
Dies - Jar Label, Delightful Dahlia
Die Cutting Machine - Cuttlebug (Provocraft)
Hybrid Ink - Sweet Blush, New Leaf, Berry Sorbet
Watermark Ink - Versamark
Embossing Powder - Puff White (Creations Unlimited)
Embellishments - Button and ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Twine - Peapod (The Twinery)
Stickles - Firefly (Ranger)
Daisy Doodles - Cherry (Prima)
Adhesives - ATG (Scotch), Pop Dots (The Paper Studio), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Take a Bite out of....

Strawberry Bread!

Howdy friends!  Just popping in for a minute to share a fabulous Strawberry Bread recipe that I made this morning.  It is super easy and quick - oh, and most importantly - TASTY!  I was looking through my refridgerator this morning and noticed my strawberries were looking a bit sad.  Now, they were not gross by any means, but I knew within a couple of days they were going to be bad.  So, I remembered a yummy recipe I made before and dug it up.

This recipe is from a book I purchased many years ago at a Moms Club event.  It is titled Great Friends Great Tastes: A Celebration of Life, Food, and Friendship by Debbie Meyer

I adapted the recipe to make it a 'bit' healthier, and it turned out great!  Here is what I did and I'll note where I made the adaptions.

Fresh Strawberry Bread

2 cups washed and hulled whole strawberries

3 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra to sprinkle on strawberries (Recipe calls for 2 cups, but I didn't want to put that much in!  I used Splenda on my strawberries and would have used it in the recipe too, but didn't feel like opening all those little packets!)

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups of unsweetened applesause (Recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups of vegetable oil)

4 eggs, beaten

(Recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans, but I omitted them)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice strawberries, place in bowl and sprinkle sugar - set aside.  Grease loaf pans (I used 4 small loaf pans).  Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in large bowl.  Mix well.  Blend oil and eggs into strawberries, add to flour mixture.  Add the pecans if using them.  Stir until ingredients are moistened.  Bake 40 minutes for small loaf, 50 minutes for larger loaf.  Cool 10 minutes before turning loaves out.

Enjoy!

Oh, I also mention that I've made it just like the original recipe (minus pecans) and it is super delicious!  It is a tad oily with the original, but I guess you could cut back on the oil a bit.  I absolutely loved this bread the first time around, but with my substitutions, I feel a bit less guilty eating it!!  Mmmm - my family is going to be so happy to see this when they get home today!  Oh, lets keep the secret of the substitutions between us, m'kay!

Have a blessed day!

Jennifer

I am linking this up today:



Spring Wreath - St. Patty's Version

Howdy friends!!  WOW!  It is a beautiful day outside today!  I took a basic photography class this past Friday and have been practicing with my camera ON MANUAL MODE!  Yikes!  I was so excited to get to practice on my front door wreath that I finished a few days ago.

Now - the thing about this wreath is that I made a Spring wreath that I can easily change for the various holidays we have in Springtime.  I used various scraps of fabric in Spring colors that I had in my scrap pile to make ruffled flowers.  To make ruffled flowers, cut strips of fabric in whatever width and length you choose - I chose 2" wide by 24" long.  Then sew right up the middle of the strip, not backstitching, and pull the string to ruffle the fabric.  Finally, start rolling it into a flower, using tacky glue every so often to tack it down.

 To make it a St. Patrick's Day wreath, I made a quick banner by cutting triangles, then embossed and added alphabet stickers.  I punched holes in the corners and added twine to hang onto the wreath.  Next time it will be ready for a quick update for Easter!

The best thing about this wreath is it was FREE!  Not one additional penny was spent on it - using what I have is how I roll (or at least trying to!!).

I am linking this to the following sites:

Beneath My Heart DIY Best of February Linky Party
Lovely Crafty Home Lovely Crafty Weekend #62