Hi, I'm Torrey. Welcome to Left Field, where creativity runs amok and imagination is ALWAYS more important than knowledge. Shoes are not allowed but ties are optional. This is a repository of snippets from my life out here in Left Field. One never knows what shiny bits of creativity will be found here... cards, scrapbook layouts, photography, poetry, recipes, ponderings, rantings and musings. It could be anything! Life in Left Field is always changing, always real, always ...interesting.

May 27, 2015

What's Cookin'?

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

What's cookin'?

I am.

As y'all know, I'm currently locked away in my labora-Torrey creating up a virtual storm of cards.

I'm wondering if I have room in my studio for a Tesla coil and some plasma ball thingies. I guess I've been watching too much Robot Chicken.

Today's test subject is a card I whipped up for my sister. I don't talk to her very often, and I see her even less. It's sad. It's really sad. It's not that we aren't close, or have had a falling out or anything. Those who know me, know the story of my beautiful sister, Heidi, and the rough go of life she's having.

Sigh.

So, I thought I'd send her a card...for no reason, other than to tell her I love her.

Oh...and to send her my recently-discovered recipe for the world's best chocolate cake...EVER. Her family loves chocolate cake. (if you're interested...here's a link to the post with the recipe!)
Are you sitting down? 

It's another House Mouse card!!

I think, next time they have a design team call, I'm gonna apply to be on their design team. Yep, I'm gonna do just that...whenever their next DT call is...hint hint.

So, for today's card, I used the "Mix it Up" stamp. It's simple, but so stinkin' cute.

This card turned out a WHOLE LOT more busy than I had intended. But, I only had a scrap left of the patterned paper I used, and I wanted to make the most of it. So, I cut it apart into its design elements and just sort of used everything I had for the card.

I dry-embossed the background and card base. For the background, I used a Tim Holtz Alterations embossing folder. For the card base, I used my score board and made my own embossed grid pattern. Then I lightly inked over the surface to bring out the details of the embossing. 

The image and card base are on Kraft cardstock. Once again, I paper-toled (decoupaged) the image and sentiment by hand into several layers after I colored them up with my ever-trusty Prismacolor pencils. There are SO MANY layers on this card...I lost count after 5.


   And, here is a closeup of the coloring:
 I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
 As always, thank you ever so much for coming out here to visit me in Left Field!

 



May 26, 2015

Dandelion Wishes

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

I wanted to share with you the gifts I made to go along with those uber cute dandelion cards I recently posted. I ended up making 2 of these. They are dandelion necklaces--with real dandelion seeds. The first one I made was for Jodi. It turned out so cute, I decided to make another one for my cousin's graduation present.

Now, I am by no means a jewelry artist, but these turned out great if I do say so myself. So much so...I have enough supplies left over to make one for myself.

I harvested the dandelion seeds myself.

"Big whoop", you say.

Well, it kind of was a "big whoop". You see, it's been raining here in Texas for WEEKS. Couple that with the tornado-force winds we've been getting and low-and-behold, there are no more fuzzy dandelions to be found.

Before you all start sending me packages of dandelion fuzz, rest assured, I finally found some...though it took awhile. (I can just see it now...dozens of feather-light little boxes arriving at my doorstep; filled to the brim with dandelion heads).

Don't even.

I'm begging you.

Here is one of the necklaces I made

It's a glass "locket" (glass on both sides so it's clear), with 3 VERY carefully-placed dandelion seeds sandwiched between the panes of glass. And yes, I glued the locket shut with E6000. There is NO WAY I want these suckers to come open.

Between the static electricity and ambient breezes, it took me about 30 minutes to position those blooming seeds just right. Just when I thought I had them in place...I'd bump it, or they'd stick to the tweezers, or I'd exhale and send them flying.

Here is a closer view

The locket, chain, and jewelry findings I used are all from Michaels. They're made by Bead Landing.

Thanks, as always for venturing out to Left Field!


May 25, 2015

Kraft Cheese Birthday

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

I'm here with yet ANOTHER installment in my card making Lolapalooza!!

I recently reconnected with my college roommate, Mary. Talking to her on the phone brought me IMMEDIATELY back to those "good old days" of nursing school. And, they were VERY good days. Largely in part due to my dear friends Mary, Joanne, Gloria, and Therese.

Well, I remembered that Mary's birthday is at the end of May. (Am I good or what?) So, I figured I would send her a card.

And, as luck would have it, it just happens to be...ANOTHER HOUSE MOUSE CARD!!!

Can you stand it? Maybe I should think about joining their design team.

Some of you might ask, "Torrey, how do you get your inspiration for these cards?". Well, it's like this... I was eating a lunch (prepared for me by my DH) of one of my childhood favorites-- Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. That's when it hit me...Kraft....Cheese....which led to Kraft paper with a cheese theme.

Yeah. My mind works like that. Scary isn't it?

For her card, I decided to use Kraft cardstock, both for the card and for the images and sentiments. I love using colored pencils on Kraft. They can be very subtle...or they can cover everything underneath like a drag queen's makeup.

That is ONE THING Copics can't do.

Neener neener neener!

I used the "Say Cheese", and the "Cheesy Gift" stamps by House Mouse. I colored the images with Prismacolor pencils, then paper-toled (decoupaged) the main one into several layers to give it depth and dimension. I keep wondering what it would be like to use those pre-printed color image decoupage sheets where all you have to do is cut the images out...

Then, I think, "NAH!" It's more fun to do it myself. That way I get the colors I want. There are 4 layers on the camera, and then the mouse is its own layer. I made the title by hand.
Who knew I could draw cheese?

Here is a detail shot of the coloring:
(Prismacolor Pencils on Kraft cardstock)

And, here is the INSIDE of the card.

The colors are a bit wonky because I kept having issues with my flash reflecting off the waxy surface of the colored pencils. You can't even tell the images are on Kraft paper, can you? Oh, and forgive the cheesy sentiment. I just couldn't help myself. I'm a pun-Muenster...what can I say?

And, I'd like to enter this in the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

Thanks, as always, for venturing out to Left Field!





May 21, 2015

Breezy Graduation

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

And so continues my card making lola-palooza. Today's offering is the graduation card I made for my mom's cousin's daughter's daughter.

I know you're all thinking, "MAN! She's got a huge extended family". Actually, I have a pretty small family...hence I actually know the extended parts. It's not until I post here that I actually have to think about how we're all related. To me, we're all just "cousins".

OMG...it's another House Mouse card.

I warned you.

For this card... I used the uber-cute "Make a Wish" stamp by House Mouse (yes, again). I made the background by embossing some white-core cardstock and sanding off the raised clouds to reveal the white underneath. I colored the image with my Prismacolor pencils, then I paper-toled it in a couple of layers to give it dimension. I drew the floating dandelion seeds on by hand. I didn't know I could draw dandelion seeds. Be impressed.
 Miranda's Graduation Card

coloring close up:
Prismacolor pencils FTW!

I would like to enter this card in the House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge             # HMFMC194 - Summer Fun.


Thanks, as always, for coming out to Left Field!

May 20, 2015

8-bit Kisses, Jalapeno Wishes, and Dandelion Dreams

Hidy ho, crafty peeps!

This is the time of year when my card making goes into hyper-drive.  Multiple birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and graduation find me sequestered away in my studio for days on end. Colored pencils fly across the paper and scissors move so quickly they become a fussy-cutting blur that covers my floor with paper shrapnel in a 3-foot radius around my chair.

You can count how many days I've been at this by the growing collection of mostly-empty water bottles that now litter my work desk.

My studio looks absolutely post-apocalyptic, and I have barely begun.

5 cards down... 9 or so to go.

Geeze Louise...that means I'm not even half way there.

Sigh.

Here are the latest cards in the lineup--Jonathan's birthday, Jodi's birthday, and Richard's birthday. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm kinda stuck on House Mouse images at the moment. I'm certain this phase will pass. But, for now, a lot of people on my list are getting some iteration of House Mouse...and some images are being used for multiple cards.

Jonathan's Birthday
For Jonathan's Birthday, I decided on an 8-bit game theme...Classic Nintendo. I constructed the game controller (and cord) by hand out of cardstock. It's about 1/4 inch thick. The controller base is actually a little flat box out of matching cardstock. I know the details are a bit wonky...but I cut it all out by hand, so yeah...it's wonky...but he knew EXACTLY what it was when he saw it. Phew. I kept the background simple by just using the "A2 Arrows" (Paper Studio) directly on the card base.
 
Inside details:
 
Jodi's Birthday
I have a thing for dandelions. Whenever I see their fluffy little heads, I'm compelled to pick them, close my eyes, make a wish, and blow all their seeds off. I know it's corny. Corny is a good thing. I really like dandelions. They're far-too maligned a flower. One man's weed is another's prized blossom. They're a treasure...just like Jodi. This stamp is called "Make a Wish" by House Mouse (Stampendous). The circles are made with "Loopy Circle" Nestability dies (Spellbinders). The card boasts lots of layers, patterns, and textures and just the right amount of bling...just like Jodi.

 Coloring Details:
I paper-toled (some call it decoupaged) the image in layers so that it's 3-D.
Yes, I colored it with colored pencil. Why even ask?


Richard's Birthday
As I've posted in here before, Richard is a "Pepper Belly". He puts hot pepper on EVERYTHING. I've decided he does this because his taste buds are all worn out. He doesn't necessarily like mice...but I do. This House Mouse stamp is called "Jalapeno Peppers" (Stampa Rosa). I believe it's retired. I coated the pepper, jar, and candles with crystal lacquer to make them shiny. The diecut background circles were made with "Inverted Scallop Circle" Nestability dies (Spellbinders). The green accent paper was punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch. Don't ask me the name of it. This image, too, is paper-toled (decoupaged) and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I wanted bling on this card too...but it had to be "manly bling". How'd I do?

I would like to enter the Jalapeno card in the House-Mouse & Friends contest 

Thanks, as always, for coming out to Left Field!!!




May 16, 2015

One

Hidy ho, crafty peeps!

Today I'm going to a birthday party.

For a one-year-old.

Which, if you think about, has absolutely NOTHING to do with the birthday boy...since A) He'll have no memory of this, and B) He's turning 1....so C) He'll have no idea what the heck is going on.

These birthday celebrations are all about the adult guests.

Keeping this in mind, I made his card with adults in mind (his mom especially). Her favorite color is orange, so it's featured prominently in her, um...HIS, card.

I'm really into House Mouse images lately. As you'll see in some of my upcoming posts...my next few cards will have House Mouse images on them too. What can I say? They're cute.

I paper-toled the image into a couple of layers. I used hot glue in between the layers. It's fast, you can adjust the height of the space, and it's fast. I've tried using silicone glues before with syringes...what a mess. I've tried using foam tape. Not easy when you have tiny spaces to lift.

I'll stick with hot glue. Did I mention how fast it is?

The background paper is actually an uncut sheet of alphabet squares by Paper Pizzazz. I cut out some of them to spell the birthday boy's name and the #1. I used super-fine glitter and seed beads as decoration for the frosting. And, before you say anything, I was going to thread the buttons...but I couldn't find my embroidery floss...so, I left them naked. It's all good, the mice are naked too. I colored the image with my trusty Prismacolor pencils. It's been so long, it's nice to know I can still color.


I would like to enter my card in the House-Mouse & Friends contest 

May 10, 2015

TDF Shrimp Scampi and Chocolate Cake

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

As promised, I'm here to share with you the FaBuLoUs meal my husband and I cooked for my mom on Mother's Day.

It was SPECTACULAR.

Alton Brown would have been proud.

I decided to make something with seafood or fish since my mom decided she is now a Pescetarian. Yes, that's a real word. And, it has NOTHING to do with religion...even though it sounds like a drunken offshoot of Presbyterian.

It means she has added fish and seafood to her diet. So, lately, we've been eating a LOT of salmon.

I'm kinda sick of salmon right now (though I never thought I'd hear myself say that).

I told her I would fix her a lovely meal with some iteration of salmon. But when my husband sort of wrinkled his nose at the idea...I came up with Shrimp Scampi instead.

Now, I've never made Shrimp Scampi before.

Sure, I've eaten it tons of time in restaurants. I figured how hard can it be? It's basically just butter, garlic, shrimp, and some sort of pasta.

So, Jonathan and I went to the store and bought all the ingredients. Fresh gulf-caught shrimp, fresh garlic, fresh angel hair pasta, and butter.

What do you know...it really is easy to make. Like STUPID easy. Not only that, it is totally TDF (to die for).

Torrey's Stupid Easy Shrimp Scampi
Prep time: 20-30 minutes to de-vein/peel shrimp and chop garlic. 
Cook time: 3 minutes (I'm not kidding)

Ingredients:
  • 1-1/2 pounds raw shrimp (de-veined and peeled)- I used 21-25/lb size shrimp. Do NOT use precooked shrimp. Yuck. Just...don't.
  • 1 stick butter
  • 3 TBS olive oil
  • 5-7 cloves fresh garlic (minced through a press or chopped finely)
  • 1-2 tsp lime juice (or lemon...a little acid helps to balance out the buttery richness)
  • 1 tsp dry basil (or fresh if you have it, I didn't)
  • 2 lbs fresh angel hair or linguine pasta
  • salt
  • pepper
  • Optional: Smoked Paprika to garnish (looks pretty without adding heat like cayenne would)

Directions:
1. With a paper towel,  pat dry peeled/de-veined shrimp. Place on plate. Season with salt and pepper.

2. In large skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium high heat. When butter stops foaming, it's ready for the shrimp.

3. Add chopped garlic and lime juice and stir.

4. Toss in shrimp, ALL AT ONCE, and quickly spread out in pan.

5. Let shrimp cook for 1-2 minutes on one side then flip them and cook for 1 minute more. DO NOT OVERCOOK. Cook until just pink but still slightly translucent.

6. REMOVE SKILLET FROM HEAT. Don't worry if shrimp are still a bit undercooked, the residual heat will finish them off.

7. Sprinkle with basil.

8. Cook pasta in boiling water for 1 minute. YES, it cooks that fast. Drain.

9. Toss shrimp/butter mixture with drained pasta. Sprinkle with Smoked Paprika for garnish and serve immediately.

It was unbelievably good. The shrimp was so tender and the pasta was perfectly Al dente. There was just the right amount of garlic butter "sauce"....drool.

But that wasn't the best part of the meal. No. 

The best part was dessert (duh...isn't dessert ALWAYS the best part?)

Jonathan and I made dessert together. He's learning!

We made (and I kid you not) the BEST chocolate cake IN THE UNIVERSE.

I made this cake for Jonathan's birthday and everyone loved it. Mom requested it for Mother's Day...and Richard has requested it for his upcoming birthday in a couple of weeks.

This recipe is from Robyn from addapinch.com. Here is a link to the original recipe: Best Chocolate Cake EVER  It doesn't need tweaking. It's perfect the way it is. Fear not...I'm posting it, in its entirety, here. Robyn frosts her cake with what she calls "Perfect Chocolate Buttercream". I agree. It, too, is perfect. The recipe for it follows the cake recipe below...because I'm good like that.

Here is Robyn's cake:


Here's how mine turned out: They really are virtually identical. I didn't have time to get mine professionally photographed. I just snapped a photo in my kitchen.
 UNIVERSE'S BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE
Yeah, it's as rich as it looks...and look...it's so moist there aren't crumbs. I think my cake was still a little warm, that's why the frosting looks kinda melty. Either that or it's because the humidity today is at 98%.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 
  • 2 cups sugar 
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used plain old Hershey's cocoa) 
  • 2 tsp baking powder 
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 
  • 1 tsp salt 
  • 1 tsp espresso powder (I used instant coffee) 
  • 1 cup milk 
  • 1/2 cup oil (I used canola) 
  • 2 eggs 
  • 2 tsp vanilla 
  • 1 cup BOILING water (trust me...I know it sounds weird)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. And prepare 2, 9-inch round cake pans (buttering/ lightly flour)
2. In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, instant coffee) and whisk to combine.
3. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla to dry mixture and mix well.
4. SLOWLY add 1 cup BOILING water and beat on high for 1 minute to incorporate air.
5. Divide batter between prepared cake pans.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).
7. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans and transfer to cooling rack. COOL COMPLETELY before frosting with ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used plain old Hershey's cocoa)
5 cups powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
~1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
OPTIONAL: 1/2 tsp espresso powder (or instant coffee)--I didn't use any

Directions: Use a Mixer.
1. In large bowl, cream together butter and cocoa powder. (Note: after this stage it looks really tasty, but it's pretty yucko at this point so don't bother tasting yet. Trust me)

2. Add powdered sugar and milk to cocoa/butter mixture as follows: 1 cup powdered sugar, then 1 TBS milk (you may not need all the milk). After each addition has been combined, turn mixer onto high speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added. Now you can taste it.

3. If mixture seems too stiff...add additional milk, 1 TBS at a time, until desired consistency reached. If mixture seems too runny, add powdered sugar, 1 TBS at a time, until desired consistency.

4. Add vanilla and espresso powder (if using). Mix well.

5. Slather on cooled cake...or on whatever you like. Just sayin'.


Mom seal of approval!











Mother's Day 2015

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

Today is the day we celebrate and honor those wonderful women who gave birth to us, nurtured us, raised us, and smacked us upside the head when needed.

To say I love my mom is an understatement. She's just the bee's knees. How on earth did I get so lucky? And, how on earth did that saying ever come to be? I mean, bee's knees aren't exactly spectacular things. Heck, I don't even know if they even have knees. But I guess "bee's knees" sounds a whole lot better than, say, "wasp's thoraces" or "ant's antennae".

I digress (as per usual).

I am blessed to have 2 moms. One here, and one in Florida. Florida mom is really my DH  Jonathan's mom...but now she's my mom too. So there.

Of course I made their cards.

Here they are.
Florida Mom's Card
(aka Jonathan's mom)
the inside sentiment reads: 
Mothers hold their child's hand for a moment, and their heart for a lifetime.


Texas Mom's Card
(aka MY mom)
the inside sentiment reads:
A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go.

I know what you're thinking...O M G...there is no coloring on these.

That's right. I'm sort of anti-coloring at the moment. I'm more into "simple" cards.

I was inspired to make these from cards I've seen on Pinterest...so I can't even claim them as my own design. Though, I did draw and hand-paper piece the second one. The background of the second one was made using my new embossing folder from Elizabeth Craft called "Swirly Curves". I really like it. It looks very organic...like splashing water or falling petals.

For my next post...I'll tempt you with the FaBuLoUs meal that my husband and I made for my mom...complete with recipes. So, be sure to check back! Just look what's on the menu!

Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta
Tossed Salad
The BEST Chocolate Cake in the UNIVERSE (from scratch)


May 4, 2015

Retirement--the New Adventure

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

Short post today.

Yesterday I went to a Beltane/Cross-Quarter party hosted by a dear family friend, Fran.

Don't worry...I didn't know what that was either.

Beltane is basically the Gaelic May Day celebration. It falls halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It marks the beginning of the summer season (even though, technically, summer doesn't start until June 21).

As far as I can tell, people used to burn a lot of stuff in huge bonfires because they thought the flames, smoke, and ashes had special powers of protection. They'd walk around the fires and dance around the fires...and they'd lead their cows around the fires. It also has something to do with driving cattle to summer pasture lands.

So, I surmise it is all about cows, smoke, and fire...and hanging out.

Here, in Texas, we know all about that.

We call that a barbecue.

This party was also a retirement party for Fran's roommate, Teresa. Teresa was a judge in the criminal courts here in Dallas. Now there's a tough job. The Dallas Observer (a local newspaper) wrote a very nice little article about her in 2009. Here's what it said:

     "If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being charged with a petty crime and without sufficient funds to pay your debt to society, you'd be damn lucky if you landed in the courtroom of Teresa Tolle. A former nun, Tolle wears her compassion on her robe and is willing to buck the district attorney's standard plea recommendations for fines, and even the length of probationary periods, in order to accommodate financial hardship. Needless to say, she is adored by the criminal bar, though prosecutors may worry that her standard of proof is different from theirs. But in a job in which seeing humanity's masses daily offer lame excuses for conduct that ranges from the cruel to the idiotic to the benign, she manages to care. And that says something."

I made this card to celebrate her retirement. She's a lovely lady with a wry sense of humor (as I found out last night at the party). I wanted her card to be light, breezy, and fun.
The inside reads: 

Retirement
only means
it's time
for a new
Adventure!


I looked at DOZENS of vintage camping trailers on Google for inspiration on my design. I decided on an egg-shaped trailer (perhaps because Easter was here not too long ago).

I paper-pieced this one using various dies and punches along with hand trimming. While making this card, I realized that a lot of my crafting "tools" are so old, that a majority of them have been retired or discontinued.

How sad.

They may be retired, but they still work ALL THE TIME in my studio. Yes, my studio is a sweat shop for discontinued papercrafting supplies. And I work them like dogs. No pay....long hours. Thank goodness they aren't union-ized.

The embossing folder I used for the background is a retired Stampin' Up folder that I love.

The oval and circle dies I used for the trailer are from Spellbinders...they're REALLY old. In fact, they're two of their original nested dies long before they had named them "Nestabilities".

The clouds are from an Elizabeth Craft die, and the texture on the clouds is from an ancient embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

The grass is a Martha Stewart border punch (which they still make...YAY).

It's a very simple card (for me), but I think it's cute as a bug.