Heat Wave!

Posted on | June 27, 2011 | 6 Comments

While my accent is still quite American my body has definitely become British! It was in the high 70s today and goodness my gracious, I was dying! We went to the Cambridge midsummer fair, celebrating its 800th year (which makes it the oldest fair in the UK – I’d think the world’s oldest too), and couldn’t stay too long.

I remember last year, hubby and I had a good giggle because one of our neighbors was complaining about how hot it was to cook. It was no higher than 75 degrees (23.8C) that day and coming from Missouri we were accustomed to summer temperature in the 90-100 degree range.

I think there is something different about the direct sun though. It is so much hotter and brighter here it seems. I haven’t done a lot of research on this but when the sun is out, even when it’s cool outside, the sun really hits you. Is it just me? Somebody knows what I’m talking about?

Here’s a simple little card using Waltzingmouse’s stamps and sketch. I love this stamp set! I purchased it a few months back but haven’t found the opportunity to use it until last week. I thought this one piece fits the sketch so well. I’ve really been into white lately and I love how the red goes against the crisp white card.

Well, I better go! I was suppose to have this post up Saturday but uhm, got into shopping mode and forgot. I hope you all play along! It’s a fun and very versatile sketch!!

My First Crepe

Posted on | April 9, 2011 | 8 Comments

It’s the first day of M’s Easter break and for once we’re not going anywhere. Tthere are still many places within an hour or so from us that we haven’t explored yet. We will drive to a few but other places we want to take the train. I even got a discount pass for that. We need to take advantage of the National Trust pass that we have and just know the area better.

To celebrate, I made a swanky brunch: Crepe. M had her first crepe when we went to France last time and although the dessert ones were good, her favorite were the meat crepes. She kind of ended up eating crepe for three or so days straight cause she loved it so much he he… While in France I got lucky and got to the birth place of Mauviel: Villedieu-les-Poêles. It was a total accident! While looking for the vet’s office I saw these GORGEOUS pots and pans. Copper. And thought: Hmmm, name sounds familiar! When we got back to the cottage I Googled and sure enough, they’re great pots and pans brand. So when we went back to get the dogs’ paperwork taken care of to take them back to the UK I got a couple and one’s a crepe pan. You want to know how much I paid? 23 Euros or less than $35 when the retail US price is over $150!

It’s been weeks since we got back from France and wanted to try making crepe earlier but just intimidated. But after trying it, it’s not bad. Just make sure the batter isn’t thick – should be thick milk shake consistency more less. For somebody who’s used to cooking pancakes the runny-ness was a bit troubling but the crepe turned out great.

I pretty much followed the recipe above but added a teaspoon of sugar and vanilla. The inside of the crepe were two over easy eggs (just placed side-by-side… if we didn’t have this in France I wouldn’t have thought of doing this!), slices of cheese, bits of onions, and fresh spinach. I placed the cheese, onions and spinach first with eggs on top so that the cheese would melt and the rest cook a tad bit. The result: YUM!! A bit of France was here this morning!

I made a card too yesterday based on this week’s Waltzingmouse’s sketch. I used some leftover paper from a Pebbles project and a flower piece that I bought while market shopping last week. There’s a little craft/art shop in Bury St Edmunds. Very nice one although the scrapbook/card items can’t be compared to the shops in the US.

Here’s M’s newest photo. So lucky to be able to spend many days with my two girls. I hope the US government settles their disputes and get a good budget going because I sure would like to take this little girl on the little adventures I promise her besides being able to pay our rent, utilities and groceries.

Before I go, here are some close-ups of the project and the crepe. Have a great weekend all!!

50th Anniversary

Posted on | March 26, 2011 | 18 Comments

This was a conversation after our friend’s parents invited us to their 50th anniversary celebration…

Hubby and I: (looking at each other)
Me: Can you imagine us together 42 years from now?
Hubby: That’s a long ass time.
Me: I know, right? 50, wow!!
Hubby: I’d probably be living in the shed by then. You girls would have driven me nuts.
Me: I’d probably be dead and you’d be out dating.
Hubby: (dirty look) That’s the last thing I want to do at 74!

We’re lovely that way {::SMILES}

Happy Saturday! Today we’re going to our friend’s parents’ 50th wedding anniversary and for their special day I made the card above. I think they’ll like it, or she will at least. She likes pretty things and I think this is up her alley.

For this card I used more of the Jillibean Soup paper that I bought a few weeks ago and Waltzingmouse’s sketch for this week. The papers were laying around my desk from last week’s project and the one piece fit the middle banner size so well and so trim trim trim I went. The banners came from one rectangle piece. I just marked the center on one side and aligned the top right corner to the marked center and trimmed. Then I used the two leftover pieces for the left and right banner. After the pattern paper were adhered I trimmed the sides so that my card will stay 4.25×5.5″.

If you look at the below image you’ll see that I didn’t adhere the right banner. I did that on purpose so that it’ll fold up a bit. I kind of like it free that way.

For the top, besides twine, button, and seam binding I added a piece of bright color paper and trimmed its edges. It gives the card a pop of color and something fun for the eyes to look at.

Something Fun

Posted on | March 19, 2011 | 13 Comments

Happy weekend!! So glad the weekend’s here because there’s a good chance I can sleep in and/or nap!! M is so good baby sitting Jovie and they can play for a good couple hours after they get up and Jovie’s diaper’s changed or in the afternoon when Jovie and I nap and I continue on napping while M watches Jovie. LOVE both girls but M is such a wonderful little help!!

Speaking of the two, I want to share this quick video. While Jovie is cooperative for the most part she does quit when she wants to quit just like any toddler.

This card I made was inspired by Waltzingmouse’s sketch AND their awesome new set. A lot of paper manufacturer have banners in their line but it’s so much fun to have banner stamps because one they never run out and two I can make them whatever color I want.

The card is fairly simple. I actually didn’t do a lot of stamping. The kraft paper’s from Jillibean Soup and it has that pattern on it. Trust me, if it was me stamping, the background wouldn’t look that good!!

Alright, have a great one! Don’t forget to visit Waltzingmouse’s sketch site for inspiration. There are TONS this week. All the DT went above and beyond I think! Take care!

Kids…

Posted on | November 20, 2010 | 10 Comments

They can sleep wherever while doing whatever. Jovie was just hanging out with me, sitting, playing and babbling and then silent. I looked and I found this:

I caught her before she fell over forward. Ahh… kids!!!

The above card was created using the latest Waltzingmouse sketch. It’s a fun little sketch and I kind of like the colors I used: blue, rust/orange, brown, white and silver. I was a bit upset though about this card… hubby’s friend got married yesterday. He was invited but we couldn’t go and he asked me if I have a card that he could use. Well, he didn’t like any of the congrats card I had. See, he’s a simple guy and the ones I have are too much for him. I told him I’d make him one and came up with the above. After I was done though I realized that I never swapped the pattern paper. It still has the snow flakes. URGH!! So, I guess I’ll save this for a winter wish or donate it like always.

Have a great day everyone!! I am hoping to be in Cambridge today for some shopping with the gals.