Be Kind and Happy Today

Today I have a couple of cards to share that just make me happy. I read a study recently that by being kind to someone, you actually release a chemical in your own brain that makes you happy. So it’s a win-win, scientifically proven.

All Stampin’ Up supplies: Heaerd from the Heart and Hello Doily stamp sets
Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Everyday Enchantment DSP and Brad; Pool Party and Lucky Limeade classic inks

As I’ve said before, I send more thank you cards than any other type. I think this means I should consider myself blessed to have so many friends and family that spoil me!

This is a super simple card, just stamps, ink, paper with a brad added. One of my favorite things about Stampin’ Up! supplies is that our papers, inks, and embellishments are color-coordinated, so you know everything will match. When you stamp paper with the same color ink, the stamped image will just be a shade darker, making a great background, as with the Hello Doily stamp. I like easy when I stamp! Or do anything, for that matter.

All Stampin’ Up supplies: Mixed Bunch and Pursuit of Happiness stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Pool Party, and Lucky Limeade cardstock; Blossom and Corner Rounder Punches
Everyday Eanchantment DSP and Brad; Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade classic inks

The sentiment on this card could be used for any occasion and, again, it’s a quick and easy card. It’s another stamps-ink-paper card with a brad added and a paper punch to add a 3D element.

I stamped an image from the Mixed Bunch stamp set, then punched it out and punched a solid Pool Party blossom as well. The layering gives it interest, especially with the brad and using Dimensionals to pop it out a bit.

You can’t really tell in the photo, but the entire front piece is popped out, as well, with the corners rounded. It’s a pretty simple, yet polished card. In my opinion, of course. Yours may vary.

By the way, I used several products that were FREE through the Sale-a-Bration promotion going on now through the end of March at Stampin’ Up!, of course. The Everyday Enchantment DSP and the coordinating Brad and Ribbon set have such great colors…they work for late winter, spring, and summer projects. I’ve been less than enthusiastic about the new Calypso Coral In Color, but I really like the pop it provides in this color palette. OK, that’s enough pitching Stampin’ Up!…you get the idea. And I’m sure you know you can shop 24/7 on my Stampin' Up! website, or you can email me with an order.

I hope you have time to be kind and make a card…and make your brain happy!

A Few More Sweet Valentine Ideas

Before I run out of time before Valentine’s Day, I have just a few more ideas to share. And, if my sister-in-law is reading this, you really should stop now, if you want to be surprised!

This is a gift for one of my friends, who loves chocolate. I wanted to fancy it up a bit, so I printed a digital scrapbook paper on a sheet of address labels. They perfectly wrap around a Hershey’s Nugget. Some of these are a bit off because Princess Thundercloud insisted on helping…the friend we were making these for totally spoils her, so she wanted to return the favor. I bought the little paper purse for next to nothing, so it made a perfect container.

My kindergartener’s teacher sent a paper heart home and asked for the parents to decorate it and attach a little message. They’re to be hung in the hallway at school. The instructions said to be as creative as you like, and use lace, buttons, glitter, etc. Being a boy, he’s not going to be happy with something girly, and he loves rainbows, so I thought of this.

I’ve been wanting to try this glitter technique I saw on the Martha Stewart show…demonstrated by a very nice woman from right here in Wisconsin. She made ornaments at Christmas, but I thought nothing goes better than glitter and Valentines!

To do this, you just need a sheet of double-sided sticky paper (from the craft store) and a bunch of glitter. As I mentioned the other day, I have a set from Martha that doesn’t get enough use. First, cut out a piece of sticky paper the same shape as your heart. Then use a rule to draw lines on the liner. I made 12 segments, since I wanted to use 6 colors and have it come out in the right pattern. You could also just use strips of sticky tape, if you wanted a striped pattern.

Cut one wedge at a time and peel off one side to attach it to your paper heart. Peel the other side off and glitter that piece. Just continue to cut, place, and glitter each piece until you’re done.

I cut out a heart to write the sentiment on and added a ruffle made of Stampin’ Up!’s Silver Waffle Paper. It is so much fun to work with…I need to use it more. This took about 30 minutes, start to finish. Of course, I now need to make glittered Valentines for the other two hooligans so I won’t be accused of favoritism. But that’s okay…I love glitter!

I also wanted something with a little meaning for my husband. I think this framed art for his desk or nightstand works well.

This photo has been edited with different dates pasted over, but on the actual one, I typed the dates of our first kiss, our wedding, and the dates of our kids’ births. You, of course, could use any dates that are important to you and your love story. And, on a completely unromantic note, it’ll remind him of those dates and he’ll have no excuse for not getting you a gift.

Now I’ve got to get my mind off Valentine’s Day…we have all our classroom Valentines made, and our packages are ready for the mail tomorrow. Thundercloud and I are going to go explore a nearby town today, I think. I read on Martha’s blog about a candy store with amazing caramel apples…I can hear them calling my name, even from 20 miles away.

Sometimes, You Just Don’t Want to Stuff Cabbage

And that’s the perfect time to make unstuffed cabbage! It’s a great comfort food (have you noticed my life requires a lot of comfort foods?), and one of my favorites to take to friends when they need a break from cooking or daily life in general.

This is a recipe I first saw in either Family Circle or Woman’s Day, about a year ago. However, I couldn’t find it again by searching online, for whatever reason, after the first time I made it. This is the recreated version…I think it’s pretty much spot on, and, even the things I’ve changed only make it better, I think!

My mom made stuffed cabbage frequently for Sunday lunch at my grandmother’s house, getting up early and letting it cook while we were at church. Looking back, I realize it was a little odd that the small town in rural Oklahoma where I grew up had a rather large Lebanese population. In the steakhouses there, cabbage rolls are served as an appetizer, and so delicious. My mom made entree-sized ones, but they were just as tasty, if not more so!

This recipe has most of her ingredients, minus rice. That’s because I serve it over mashed potatoes, so it doesn’t need a starch in it. Enough blathering and ‘splaining myself…just try it, you’ll like it!

Unstuffed Cabbage

1 lb ground beef

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic

2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (or any diced tomatoes)

1 1/2 cups water (I fill a tomato can about 3/4 full)

1 can tomato paste (6 oz.)

1 Tbsp oregano

1 Tbsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

12 oz bag coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)

Brown the beef and onions together in a Dutch oven. Add garlic and cook another minute or so. Stir in remaining ingredients, except coleslaw mix. Bring to a simmer, then add coleslaw mix, making sure it’s all coated with the tomato mixture. Cover and bring to a boil. After about 5 minutes, stir cabbage down into tomato mixture. Cover and simmer for about an hour, until the cabbage is soft.

Serve over mashed potatoes, with steamed green beans as a side. Or whatever you want. I’m certainly not the boss of you and your sides! For our side in this photo, I steamed fresh green beans, squeezed half a lemon over them, drizzled on a little olive oil, and seasoned them with salt and pepper. It’s our favorite way to eat them!

My Cards, Hangin’ Around

After I design a card, I usually put it in a basket of samples on my work desk. Then I forget how much I liked it until I’m rifling through the cards, looking for a layout to reuse. So I decided that I need a bulletin board type display area, on which I could easily swap out cards as I design. I don’t want to put holes in my cards, though, with tacks or metal clips, so I wanted to use clothespins.

I bought the largest barnwood open frame I could find (at Hobby Lobby with a 40 percent off coupon) and thought I was done. But then I remembered that I have a whole kit of Martha Stewart Glitter in about 20 colors that has been woefully under-utilized as most of my paper-crafting is done with Stampin’ Up! supplies. I immediately set out to rectify this!

I first covered one side of each clothespin with imitation Sticky Strip, 1/4” wide. I thought it looked better to do two short strips, leaving the spring arm exposed. It really was a quick process. Then I glittered them, four at a time, on scrap paper. After each color, I used the scrap paper to easily funnel the excess glitter back into the container. I used 6 colors of glitter and 24 clothespins…not the smallest I could find, but not regular clothespins, either. I found these at Michael’s in the unfinished wood section, about $3 for 24. They’re not quite 2 inches long.

To finish the frame, I stapled heavy hemp twine across, as tautly as I could get it, and tied each end in a knot around the staple. I dabbed a bit of E6000 on the knots and let it dry overnight.

I used a wide striped ribbon to hang it, wrapping it around the front of the frame and stapling a couple of times. GI Joe thinks it will stretch and I’ll be unhappy with it, but I can always fix that if I need to. Without being that unhappy.

I have way more glittered clothespins than I need, but wouldn’t they look cute holding a paper gift bag closed? Or a wrapped bouquet of flowers, attaching the card? Yeah, that’s what I thought, too.

This frame is one more aspect of my craft room to be organized. I’m pretty sure I’ll get the whole shebang just as I want it eventually. Most likely the week the movers come to pack us up for our next move. But a girl can dream!

A Long Day at Home

Today my hooligans all get to spend the day with me. Yay. It’s above freezing here, but barely. Enough, however, that if I kick them outside, they’ll come in coated with mud from head to toe. So we’re thinking of inside activities.

I do love making Valentines for school, though, so that’s what we did all morning. I’m sure you’ve seen all of these ideas in one form or another, but I think each fits perfectly.

The oldest got to choose what to make, and after (painful for me) deliberation, went with “You Rock” attached to Pop Rocks. I found the guitar valentine at The Fickle Pickle blog. I just copied and pasted it to Photoshop Elements, added the hooligan’s name for the “from” part, and added a snazzy polka dot background. Quick and easy. All he had to do was write each classmate’s name and staple the card to the Pop Rocks. He’s all about using the stapler, so happy to do it!

The kindergartener agreed to making rainbow fish crayons and coloring this “fin-tastic” stamp for his 22 classmates. I know my time is running out for him to tolerate these puns on his name, so we spent a little more time on his. He did a great job coloring and then writing each classmate’s name, I thought. We put them in a small ziploc bag decorated with hearts. I found those at Dollar Tree.

Princess Thundercloud had these 3D Valentines last year, as well. She was much more cooperative while taking the photo this year, which was a pleasant surprise. These are fairly cheap…I added the sentiment with Photoshop Elements, then printed wallet size photos at Costco. They’re $0.39 for 4, then the lollipops were from Walmart and inexpensive.

There are tons of ideas online, if you’re still looking. I heard a newsperson say Google searches for handmade Valentine ideas is up three thousand percent over last year. Wow! They are a fun activity to do with your kids, and I look forward to it every year!

Game Day Snacks with a Twist

You knew I wouldn’t let the Super Bowl pass by without a few tasty snack recipes, didn’t you? These are not necessarily the processed fatbombs my GI Joe would choose, but he does really enjoy them. I think they’re immeasurably better than his choices, though, and I hope you will, too.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears

2 pears, cored and cut into 12 wedges

4 wafer-thin slices prosciutto

12 small basil leaves (or 12 pieces from larger leaves)

Balsamic Vinegar, for drizzling

Shaved Parmesan Reggiano (I use a vegetable peeler to make shavings)

Cut the prosciutto into 3 long pieces per slice. Holding a basil leaf on a slice of pear, wrap 1 piece of the prosciutto around. Repeat until they’re all wrapped. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, then brown the wrapped pears in it, turning after a couple of minutes to brown each side.

Place on serving plate, drizzle with balsamic, and sprinkle with Parmesan shavings.

This is excellent with fresh peaches, too, when they’re in season. Pears are so juicy right now, they work well this time of year.

Carmelized Onion Dip

2 cups thinly sliced onion

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp black pepper

8 oz light sour cream

8 oz light cream cheese

In a medium skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions and sprinkle with sugar. Stirring frequently, cook over medium-low heat until caramelized and golden. Add balsamic vinegar and black pepper, stir, and remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature.

Cream together the sour cream and cream cheese, then stir in onions. Chill until 30 minutes before serving. Serve with classic ridged potato chips (I used baked, and they taste great with it!).

Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders

3 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded or diced fine

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

4 celery ribs, diced

2 Tbsp Frank’s Hot Sauce (or your wing sauce of choice)

8 slider buns or dinner rolls

Mix all except buns in medium bowl. Put about 1/4 cup chicken salad on each slider roll bottom. If desired, top with blue cheese dressing, more hot sauce, or provolone cheese. We like them with just the chicken and bread, though.

I’m also going to make these Cranberry Feta Pinwheels, which I found on the Food Network site. For drinks, we’ll have the standard beer, but also a couple of other drinks for the kids and me. Can you guess which is for whom?

Cherry-Almond Cream Sodas

(per soda)

1 Tbsp concentrated cherry juice

1 Tbsp Almond Syrup (such as Torani)

2 Tbsp fat-free half and half (optional)

Plain Seltzer water

Ice

Put ice in glass, add cherry concentrate and half and half, and fill rest of glass with seltzer. For an adult version, add 2 Tbsp amaretto, as well.

Oatmeal Apple Shandy

6 oz oatmeal stout

2 oz apple cider

Just put them in a glass together and enjoy! It’s super smooth and delicious. This is the one for me, in case you were wondering!

So no matter who you’re rooting for (our two favorites didn’t make it, even!), enjoy the game, the ads, and most of all, the snacks!

I Knitted, I Felted, I Organized

I have a cute little clutch to show you today that I made by felting a piece of knitting. I wanted something to keep my knitting odds and ends in…scissors, yarn needles, emergency candy. You know.

Being a fairly new knitter, this was a technique I’ve long admired. Imagine how happy I was when it turned out the way (and size) I planned!

To make it, I first knitted a piece about 11” wide by 14” long. I used Paton’s Classic Wool in a variegated shade and size 10 needles, 16 stiches=4” in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side). I cast on 56 stitches, began with a knit row, then purl row, and so on until it was 14 inches long.

I washed it twice in hot water with a couple of towels.

I dried it in the dryer the first time, but just blocked it to straighten out the edges and let it air dry the second time.

I found myself pretty fascinated by how it changes through washing. So I took a bunch of photos.

After it’s completely dry, use the yarn and a yarn needle to blanket stitch the edges together and outline the flap. I started at the fold on the left side and stitched up the side, around the flap, and down the other side. Here's a great tutorial on how to blanket stitch, in case you’re like me and forget from one time to the next.

After it’s stitched, cut a slit for the button in the center of the flap and sew your button to the bag part. There you are, a pursemaker! How about that?

This was pretty quick and easy. It took a couple of evenings to knit, then time to felt (but not hands-on), and about half an hour to finish it. The final measurements are about 5" x 8".

I’m sure you have something that needs to be contained, so you should make one. It would be a super-cute crossbody bag, as well, if you put a cord on it, either an i-cord you knit or something from the fabric store. Or 550 cord, if you’re military. We always have that lying around!

Enjoy!