Just 5 Things

This is my 2nd post for today, so if you want to see the other, please scroll down. :)

For a long time I've been concerned about what posterity might know of me if I didn't leave anything behind for them. I love to scrapbook, but scrapbook pages can often be superficial in natural. By this I mean that we don't often tell about our real self -- our true thoughts and feelings. They usually cover life events of our children and families and I know that the pictures I haven't scrapped by far out weigh the ones I have. I know I also tend to scrapbook the joyous times in life of which there are many, but life isn't always joyous. Sometimes life is painful and hard. What have I learned? What do I wish I'd done? For this though I felt photographs were secondary. I wanted to show a picture of myself from the inside out. Where is my heart? What do I value? What hurts? To this end I began working on a list for myself titled Just 5Things. There are 50 topics on my list. This is some of them;

5 people important to me
5 friends I have known
5 things I would do if I had no limitations
5 things I live for
5 things I don't want to forget
5 things I don't want to live without
5 pieces of advice I wish I could have given myself at 18
5 things I'm passionate about
5 things I wish I could change
5 things I do every day
5 challenges that have changed me
5 things I wish I didn't care about
5 days I'll never forget
5 things I spend too much time on
5 reasons I cry
5 things that might surprise you

The list goes on and on. Like I said, I've worked on this list since last March. I also teach a Pictures In Art Class and this is what my list has become:









There are 6 dividers (shown on my class blog) and the 2nd class will be the pages. The class has been instructed to choose 10 things and I've provided worksheets with questions so that they can journal their true thoughts and feelings. This is to be about them. Even if they choose to tell about 5 people they love, it must be what this has done for them, not just a tribute to the someone else. We will be making scrapbook pages (5X7) for the main 5 things x 5 items (which I've instructed them on how to choose) and then the last divider will hold 5 pages bullet style of the remaining 5 things x 5 items. They have photo instructions to help illustrate the first 5 things. My hope is that the class (me included) will continue to complete the list of 50 things and stuff our boxes so that once we are no longer here to tell our stories our posterity will know us. They won't just have our memories, but our thoughts and feelings in a way I know without this I would never explore. I've told them that I hope they won't even share the boxes with their families now. I think it will be of much more value as a treasure later.

Here's my question for you. What 5 things would you want your posterity to know about you and how are you going to tell them?

Snow Babies Revisited

It's still 100' outside here in AZ but what more could you ask for than a little snowman in your life? I've had several posts recently asking me about my snow babies from last year. I know my friend Jen Peterson made about 100 of them last weekend. She is getting her socks this year at the $1 Store. She made some with some pink and brown socks and oh my are they cute!

Here is the original Post. SNOW BABIES

Here is a quick photo for those who didn't see last year or who want a sneak peek again! :)



Anyway, to address some questions I've been asked;

I used white acrylic paint. I used 2-8 oz bottles for the troupe I made. I cut my socks before I put them on my babies and it doesn't really matter how you do it, i just cut them in half at the toe and then tried to just keep cutting in halves until the strips were thin and curly enough for the poof on top. I used a little bit of glue to attach the hats on the first ones I made, but I really felt it was more trouble than it was worth. They seem to stay on perfectly with the elastic in the ankle band of the socks. If you wanted to be sure I think I would use Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive. Redline (Bologna) or Terrifically Tacky Tape would all work, but I would use a square in the front and one in the back, not all the way around.

I put the hangers (the round cap with the loop for a hook) on after mine were completely finished.

To do the paint you want to use WAY more than you think you need. I tipped them upside down in a cup and used the paint again and again transferring from one baby to the next. I just did housework and dropped in my office occasionally to do the next one. I let the paint dry for about 48 hours before I did any of the decorating. I used a black paint pen (found mine at Michaels) that looks like a marker. I think you could use a Sharpie, but this gave them way more personality than using a stamped face I think. I used some acrylic paint dyed with reinker and then end of a pencil (eraser side) for their rosy cheeks. You can also use the pearly white ornaments that are also easy to find. I made some of each, but prefer the craft white to the pearl.

If you make some, link up a post. I would love to see how many snow babies are delivered at your house this year!

Autumn Pumpkins

I love fall. Even living in Arizona where fall mostly consists of 100' days, fall means that it is cooling down, nights will soon be cool enough to open the windows,the holidays are approaching and that warm PJ's, peppermint tea and way too many goodies are on their way! I made these several years ago, but after seeing one published in Paper Trends (never thought of submitting mine) I thought you might enjoy seeing them too. I used a foam pumpkin, paper from CTMH with a few stamped images, some inked edges and ribbon and buttons for embellishing.

Baby Eden Blocks

I didn't drink the water but many of my friends did! Back in baby-ville (with a twinge of jealousy I might add! This is for my friend Adrienne whom I met through my friend Tori. She now teaches my daughter piano lessons so you've seen her featured on my blog before! She had a beautiful little Eden a few weeks ago and I finally got her gift made! In my defense she wasn't sure of what baby girl's name was going to be until she was born and as a matter of fact she probably holds the record for number of ultra sounds needed to determine the sex of the sweet little baby!







I'd love to take credit for the tumbling blocks (although mine don't really tumble, they just sort of stack all skiwompesy), but I stole the idea from my friend Jenn. You can see her adorable set of tumbling blocks here. Mine doesn't have pictures because I'm letting Adrienne do her own, but I do like how it turned out. Hope the proud new mommy of beautiful baby Eden does too!

Mother To Be

A LONG time ago, I made a baby onesie out of a small white paper sack. Recently I needed a gift bag for a Baby Shower and I had zero appropriate gift bags in my stash, I had an aha moment and remembered the old baby onesie I had made. The gift was larger than a baby onesie, so I came up with this idea. This is the very quickly made result. I think it looks like a maternity shirt, don't you?

Resident Scrap Cat

Penny is all grown up. She loves to sit perched high up in my office/studio and watch the scraps fly while I busily prep for classes and projects. Her 2nd favorite spot is on top of my vertical paper stash. I've had my oldest daughter make a nice pet pad (tranlate hair trapper) to cover it so she can perch there and I keep my sanity! Isn't she pretty? I frequently call her my Pretty Penny.

Wedding Ensemble

I was recently hired to make a wedding ensemble for an adorable young bride I know. This is how my samples turned out. Her colors are Chocolate and Sunflower. What do you think?

Halloween Card Class Time Again??!!??

I just can't believe that it has been an entire year since I posted these:




Yet here we were again on Friday night, me and about 13/16 Card Class members reminiscing about the year that has flown past. These are the goodies we made this year and of course some of them had to be for Halloween. I'm not sure which I like better; Last year's mummy or Franky's Chocolate Drawer? I also like Witchy Poo, but Franky sure makes the popcorn look like a special treat too. We really enjoyed ourselves AGAIN. Not sure if they'll be able to stand me for another year, but we'll see if there is Halloween Card Class III in 2009.





Here are the other 4 projects from Friday Night. I'm so behind on my posting, you better watch out! A flood's a coming!

More Than Just Color

Remember a while back I posted a great COLOR COMBO Blog? Well, guess what? She has a sister blog that you can see HERE!

Talk about inspiration I do promise more art content SOON! I have some good stuff, but life just keeps getting in the way of my blogging habit!

A Little Something

It's just a little something I created for a friend and an idea I borrowed from a gift my friend Lois made for me a couple of years ago.

11 Recipes You Will Want to Eat Soon!

At my recipe clubs we sample the fun recipes from the kitchen's of members and then we scrap the recipes. These are the recipes from this month's club. While I haven't personally eaten every one of these dishes, I can vouch for the quality of women who serve them! The art is nice too. Enjoy!

Yum E - a really good 4 letter word!

Yum. That is pretty much all I can say to describe this recipe. My kids ate 4 helpings each. . . Yep, Yum E it is.

While I was cooking Mikensee was asking what I was making. . . I told her I didn't know yet, but that I promised it would be good. When, after all, is anything I cook not good? She pretty much agrees, but still presses me.

Mikensee says, "Have you ever made it before?"

"Nope." I say.

Mikensee again, "Well then, how do you know it's going to be good?"

"Just trust me." (me again.)

"I don't really like zucchini except in bread. Do you have a recipe for this?" she says.

"You'll love it" I say, " and I don't need a recipe."

Well, I have one now! This is what it looked like then:



This is what it looked like finished.


We are a big family (by today's standards) so I cook a lot. We also like left overs since we eat at home almost 3 meals a day, 7 days a week and cooking and cleaning seems to be all we ever do. . . You may want to adjust up or down, according to how much your family eats.

Recipe for YUM E

1 12 ounce Box Farfalle (Bow-Tie) Pasta - Cooked and Drained. (I boiled it while I cooked the "stuff")
Garlic - lots
Olive Oil - enough to coat the pan
Sea Salt and Coarse Ground Pepper - I like to grind my own
Grilled chicken breast (I used 2 pounds.)
3 large zucchini (the green prolific garden variety)
Grape Tomatoes - about 1 lb, sliced in halves
Leaf Spinach- Raw, fresh, 1 Salad Size Package
1/4 Cup Flour
2/3 - 1 Cup Half and Half
Parmesan Cheese - I like fresh, but only had Kraft. It worked fine!

Grill your chicken until close to done. Slice and place in large fry pan heated with olive oil. Add chopped zucchini, garlic, salt and pepper (generously) and add grape tomatoes. Toss until chicken is cooked through and zucchini is tender. Add spinach and wilt. Sprinkle with flour and stir in half and half. Pour drained pasta into the mix and enjoy! Sprinkle or douse in Parmesan cheese just before serving according to your personal preference!

P.S. Mike is still on his diet so I cooked a second pan and just stopped at the veggies. . . no noodles or cream for him, and he still loved it. I would call this YUM, not quite YUM E, but hey, it's all good! Go ahead and try it! You know you want too! Feel like sharing my recipe? Go ahead, but please link back or give credit here! Love ya!

Oh and the 10 or so recipe cards from my class will be posted in the next day or so, so don't forget to check back! (Art and Food! What a great combination!)

10 Paper Crafting Techniques You Can Try Today!

Stuck in a rut? Need some inspiration.

Here are 10 fast, clever and innovative ideas you may not have tried or tried and forgot to use again.

Go ahead, you know you want to play!

Playground

The QUICKEST EVER Fudge Frosting

Tonight I was making a recipe acquired at my most recent class (the recipe club class. . . what fun!) The recipe calls for a can of fudge frosting, but I have to tell you that I absolutely can not stand store bought frosting. That type of frosting along with a few other things just taste fake and not at all like food to me. I decided I could just make some so I did a quick online search for fudge frosting and low and behold there were several. . . mostly the same variety. I have a secret cake recipe for the Most Incredible, BEST EVER, Chocolate, Chocolate Overload Cake (just ask those I've made it for and they will quickly concur) and for that recipe I make the following Quickest Ever Fudge Frosting. I figured since I was looking, someone else out there might be too!

Here goes:

Chocolate Chips (I prefer Toll House Semi-Sweet or Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet)
Butter (no substitute)
Cream, half and half or Milk (whatever you have)

Melt butter in a saucepan. I stick should do a cake. Add chocolate chips. . . I just pour them in. . . probably about 3-4 cups, add a splash of cream (I usually have half and half on hand) and stir. . . That's it.

Now isn't that the easiest fudge frosting recipe you've ever heard of???!!??

If you watch carefully, my secret Chocolate Cake recipe may just appear on this blog sometime before April of next year when this year's recipe club is over!

P.S. I also found this. . . The Chocolate Blog! Wish I'd have thought of it!

Have a fudge filled day!

A Colorful Idea!

Who isn't looking for an easy way to pick colors for a scrapbook layout, card or gift? Perhaps even for your bedroom? Look no further. I just found this great blog which features color combos to work with and art inspired by them! Enjoy!
Color Combo's - 80 so far!

Theme Cards - Tutorial for one Here!

After I made my cute lady bug themed invitation I started thinking of other cute little theme ideas I could make. . . I saw this one today and I don't want to forget! I'ts so cute for a Halloween party!

Zany Not Crazy: Easy Candy Corn Card Tutorial

Garden Birthday Party

Jessica turns 7 August 8, Wyatt and Walker turn 5 August 11th. Every year this poses a general problem in my house. . . how to have 3 birthday celebrations in only 4 days! (Our anniversary is also the 7th and my birthday is in late July! Oh my!) I always feel guilty having a party for Jessica, but not W&W or having one for W&W, but not Jessica. . . I feel equally guilty about having them all share one party. Last year we went to the Grand Canyon and took a railway trip. That got me out of the dilemma last year (even though we still had cake and ice-cream along with presents on each of their respective birthdays.) So here it is, time a ticking and I had not a clue what to do! Then, a miracle happened! I saw a cute flower cake idea and thought "I should make that for Jessica's birthday." Then, I saw a caterpillar cake idea and thought "that would be the perfect cake for W&W!" My mind started working and by noon today, I had a party planned. Tonight I made the invitations. Here is how they turned out. I made 24 (customized for Jessica and her friends, W&W and their friends and of course family who will be celebrating for all of them!) in about 2 hours with some help from the divine M. The party should be fun. We're going to do some buggy (boy) and gardeny (girl) activities and all should be well! I'm really excited now and the guilt (for now) is at bay. I did tell Mikensee though, that I think from now on I'm going to rotate birthday years making sure I hit the biggies for each child in their year.