Friday, February 27, 2009

New Stuff.

I spent the better portion of this week unpacking boxes and organizing for upcoming kits. Man, I love new stuff!! That being said, you can't have it all...

Here is a glimpse of what I picked up at Archiver's last week. A paper or two might find its way into kits, but I knew when I saw these two lines, I had to take the plunge and just buy it outright...
I can't shake the owl thing. My Mind's Eye has the pretties line--and the purple in this one doesn't scare me.

How about some MARRAKESH from Basic Grey...

Delish!! I plan on scrapping the night away...whee!!

And for those of you who have a nearby Archiver's--stop in this weekend. They've extended their Make & Take to this weekend and there are a bunch of great buys!! We have a great store here in Northeast Ohio with the BEST staff. I warn you--they're a bunch of enablers (the above photos I hold as evidence...)

Have a great day!!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Lift Yo' Self

I think it’s safe to say many of us utilize sketches and sketch challenges to inspire a layout. Maybe some of us use those as a primary resource for page ideas. But what I want to know is how often do you use yourself? Do you ever take the time to go back through previously scrapped pages and stop and say “I really liked how that turned out.”? or “That is one of my favorite layouts.”? Why is it your favorite? What causes you to stop and pause? If you love it so much, do it again. Scrap that sketch again. We shouldn’t feel like we HAVE to re-invent the wheel every time. If there is a concept we love that we have done before, we should try it again. Chances are you’ll be changing it up a bit anyway.
Here is a sketch concept I have used a couple times over…









There are several reasons I have used this sketch more than once. It’s simply because I love it.
So, I challenge you…go lift yourself.
I think you’ll love it too.

what are you working on?

Laina here. Want to know what I've been doing??? I'll give you a hint - it doesn't involve cleaning my house or doing my taxes. SCRAPBOOKING! My favorite thing ever. I've been taking advantage of these long cold winter nights and getting my game on.

I'm almost done with ALL of my holiday photos. Every few months I seem to get in a groove and I am definitely in one now.

I can't wait to show everyone what I did with the March Kit. It is one of the best Trish has ever put together. The Spring colors are just what we all need during these frigid months.


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Storing Everyday Kitchen Items

I'll be the first to say that I'm not one who should be giving out organizational advice (I could use a professional assistant in my scrapbook room specifically). But there are a couple of little tricks I use in my kitchen that I'd like to share today...
This little basket is right next to my sink. Clean towels at my fingertips--and a fun way to display them. The basket is from Longaberger.
I bake something almost daily, so my rolling pins and spatulas have to be nearby. I got these old heavy crocks off of ebay a couple years back and I love them.

Please feel free to share your kitchen storage ideas--I'd love to hear them too!

Have a great day all!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

You guys gotta try this!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Colleen here!

I don't know about you, but when that chocolate craving hits, there really is no ignoring it for me. The other day, my mom sent me an interesting email with a quick go to single serving brownie recipe. I'll admit...I was a bit leary of it. Microwavable brownies? In a mug? Then last night when I was playing with the March kit, I got a chocolate attack. So, on a lark, I whipped up a little brownie. It's surprisingly good!
brownie in a mug
Chocolate Brownie in a Mug

4 Tbsp flour
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
dash salt
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla

Whisk together dry ingredients in a large coffee mug. Add oil, water, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Microwave on HI for 1 1/2 mins. Cool a couple minutes and eat!

Personally, I'm all about adding ice cream and some hot fudge to this next time and making a little sundae of sorts.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Party Favors

I don't care how old my kids get, I will probably always find a reason to be making party favors for them or my girlfriends. Hi everyone Tina here to share my newest discovery in party favors, felt Fortune Cookies. With Chelsea's and my nephew Shawn's birthday's approaching I was looking for something to make for their party.

I found this idea at the Martha Stewart website here
These would look cute in any color to go with your party theme, but I chose the tan felt for a more natural look.    Using redline tape I taped a piece of wire in the center and then covered with a piece of ribbon.

Once you fold in half you can bend the fortune cookie to form its shape and it will stay closed.  Our plan is to fill the cookies with paper notes describing the fortune they just won.   While having a basket filled with all the items.



Saturday, February 21, 2009

before they are stored.

hi ya'll! it's me, emily.

i have a really hard time putting my scrapbook pages in albums.

i feel bad, just putting them in a book, doomed to only be looked at every once in a while.

so, before they get retired, i hang them on this little doo-daddy i found at IKEA.

it's actually a curtain holder.
here's a picture of it in action...

at least this way, i can enjoy them for a few more days before they get sent off to my shelves.
do you display your pages?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Is it too early?

...to tease you for April?

Jillibean Soup and Pink Paislee are both lined up...






It puts a great big smile on my face. How about you? :)

Have a great day!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

contain it!

Hi. How ya doin’? It’s Jamie, the new kid on the block. So happy to be here at WIP. It is an honor for me to be apart of this team. First time to blog here, so be gentle, I’m a little nervous.

I have a new mantra in my home: “contain it”. The clutter bug seems to always be creeping about my house in all corners. My studio is no exception. Yet I really can’t work on a project with clutter rearing its continual ugly head. So…I have been endeavoring to “contain” the clutter instead. Now true to this blog’s name, it is a work in progress in my life-I have yet to perfect the process of containing it. But let me show you around a bit so you can see how I have at least started.

Did you see this in the February CK? They are priority mail boxes,cut down, painted (love that MM cranberry), and labeled to help store and organize my kits. A great way to recycle all those boxes, but still make them pretty and useful. I love pretty AND useful.



Do you recognize this bottle? It was a starbucks frappacino from the grocery. I cleaned off the label, added my own, and it holds my buttons. Or anything you want it to hold.



Oh! And this is one of my new favorites-I love these little yankee candles-not sure it it’s the candle or the container that draws me in. But how cute is that all cleaned up holding a selection of ribbons?

This tray is repurposed from the kitchen. It was given to me after my grandmother passed away. It’s a great collection piece for other containers. I was afraid it would break being used in the kitchen, so to my studio it went. I love the simplicity of the dish, as well as the memory it holds for me. And it’s just pretty.

And that’s it for today. There’s more I could show you…perhaps another time. Meanwhile, how do you contain it in your space? I’d love to know.

everyday moments.

these are my favorite things to scrapbook.
yes i want to always remember birthday's
holiday's and milestones. But also i dont want
to FORGET all the little things. Like, that we
called our youngest monkey. Or that we have
family game nite every week, or that my boys
love picking 'weeds' for me. Or that my
daughter liked to sneak off with the camera
and take photos of herself. the list goes on
and on. Are you capturing all the little
everyday moments in YOUR life?
here are a few of mine :)







Monday, February 16, 2009

One week from today...

...is Mardi Gras! Are you ready? Have you ordered your party supplies and searched online for your favorite recipe to celebrate? If not, maybe I can help you out a little...First, a little background. The celebration officially kicks off at the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th and continues on until the day before lent begins--Ash Wednesday. It is said that people would feast and celebrate (Mardi Gras literally means "Fat Tuesday" when translated) before fasting during lent.

Today, Louisiana's Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans, but also in numerous smaller cities and towns around the State and in the neighboring Gulf Coast Region. Similar celebrations are also held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro...arguably the world's most elaborate Carnival location with its Samba Dromo parades, which annually attract a huge number of tourists from all corners of the globe. Regardless of where the festivals take place, however, all share a common party atmosphere inherently associated with the celebrations.


The colors associated with the event are gold (which represents power), green (for faith) and purple (for justice). You can find tons of paper goods and craft items at craft and party stores--and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. This year I plan on taking a
king cake to my children's classrooms.

You can easily do a google search and purchase an authentic king cake and have it shipped in time for the festivities (which is why I'm posting this today!). However, I'd also like to share this recipe for those of you who would like to take a stab at it yourselves...

So what is a king cake, you ask? A king cake is a circular pastry that can be fruit filled or plain, and covered with glaze. Traditionally, a single plastic baby (representing the three kings finding Jesus) is placed on the underside of the cake (not baked inside, as someone could break a tooth or choke.) One person cuts the cake into equal parts, making sure everyone is served and there are no leftovers. The person who receives the baby is then obligated to throw the party the following year. It is totally fun!
I found a plastic baby at a local cake shop without any problem...

There are a bunch of things you could do with your family or children (or their classrooms) if you'd like to give it a shot. I've taken the liberty to list a couple...

Mask Templates


Paper Crowns


Coloring Pages/Posters

Necklaces, Floats and Noisemakers


Word Jumble

More General Info


Have fun with it!!

Yummy!!

Hey guys, Amy here. I don't think I've ever shared a recipe on the blog, but this one is too good not to share. I'm not really a cook, ask my hubby, but I was able to whip this up with stellar results. It totally spoke to my southern side, which is always a good thing. Now it looks like a hard recipe, but believe me, if I can do it, anyone can, and it's sooooo good! This is from the food network website.

Ingredients

2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used frozen, peeled shrimp)
Essence, recipe follows (I used regular cajun seasoning I already had)
Salt
8 ounces andouille sausage
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cups chicken broth, or canned, low-sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons minced parsley
Charleston-Style Grits, recipe follows
Directions
Season the shrimp with Essence and salt. Heat a large, heavy saute pan over medium-high heat and sear the andouille, cooking for about 3 minutes. Remove the andouille to a plate, and add the shrimp to the pan, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the pan, and heat the oil. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook until soft, 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons Essence to the pan, stirring well, then add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chicken broth to the pan and cook until reduced slightly, 5 minutes.

Stir the cream, green onions and parsley into the sauce and return the andouille and shrimp to the pan. Return sauce to a simmer and continue to cook until reduced slightly. Stir well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over Charleston-Style Grits.

Charleston Style Grits:
6 cups water
Salt to taste
1 1/2 cups quick cooking or old-fashioned grits (not instant!)
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
8 tablespoons butter
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a large, heavy sauce pan bring the water to a boil. Add a generous teaspoon of salt and the grits and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. When grits thicken add milk, cream and butter and return to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover sauce pan and cook for 45 minutes to one hour, until grits are tender, smooth and creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Keep covered and warm until ready to serve.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Sunday, February 15, 2009

March Kits...

...will be up on the WIP website a little later today!!

Enjoy your Sunday...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

Okay, for you last-minute Lucy's out there...(or for you low-key families on a budget like me...)

We had this for dinner last night, and I have to say, HUGE hit. Find your local spot by going to www.PapaJohns.com.

If you're in need of a quickie card, here are a few down loadable templates:

CK Cards

BH & Garden Love Coupons

Shabby Chic Love Coupons

Hope you all have a wonderfully LOVELY day!!

Hugs and smooches!!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Just a few more sweets...

I made these for the teachers in our lives...
Strawberry Sweetness
1 1/2 C nonfat dry milk powder
2 C mini marshmallows
1 C Strawberry drink mix (Quik)
1/2 C confectioner's sugar
1/3 C buttermilk blend powder
1/3 C nondairy creamer powder

Combine ingredients and top with marshmallows. Keep in an airtight container and store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months. Pour 1/3 C mix into boiling water and serve. Delish!

*The packaged marshmallows were found at Target in the Valentine section, I simply re-packaged those to match the drink mix. The pink spoons were dipped into milk chocolate and a small candy was placed on each one.

And these are cheaters...
I bought a box of the 100 Calorie Oreos, layered them with pink frosting and topped them off with a heart candy. I saw this idea on another blog (sorry--I forgot where!) and I knew I had to make them. Tasty!

Enjoy your day!

wishing for spring

and new things to come! I am SO over Winter and this dreary weather. I can't believe we still have 2 more months of this! Here are some things that inspire me while I'm waiting for warmer weather.


This company holds classes at CKU and I have always wanted to make one their cute mini albums. http://www.thebuttonfarm.com/














A new company that debuted at CHA last month. The owner lives in Columbus, OH.
http://www.jillibean-soup.com/











It seems like this company got out of a design rut and redefined themselves. Love their new releases! http://www.pebblesinc.com/index.cfml








and Who wouldn't want some of this candy?
http://www.pebblesinc.com/main.cfm?categoryoid=20













My friend Shelly's blog. She's always trying new things. Like learning to sew a purse.
http://shellybrewer.blogspot.com/







Last but not least. I'm addicted. Anyone else? Add me so I can follow you too! http://www.facebook.com/