Birthday-O-Rama!

Hidy ho, crafty peeps!

Firstly, YES...my blog is still "officially" closed for remodeling. So I guess that makes this an "unofficial" post.

My birthday was yesterday. It came and went, unceremoniously, save the HORRIBLE singing bestowed upon me by my family (that's you--Mom, Richard, Jonathan, Eric and Autumn). In all honesty and fairness, my mother and father-in-law sang beautifully in full harmony, my sister sang a light and bright version of Happy Birthday, Jodi sang a snappy version, and my dad sang Happy Birthday to me in Klingon (yes, you read that right. He sang to me in Klingon)...so I guess that sort of counts as "ceremonius".

I got a wonderful new die from Lawn Fawn from my hubby (I dropped HUGE hints). It's their new shadowbox die. I can't wait to use it! I did make a card for my sister's birthday (hers is 3 days before mine). I used another Lawn Fawn set I have that I love--"Upon a Star".

I tried the "galaxy background" technique that is so popular these days. It was my first attempt at a galaxy. They're really fun! Half way through the process, however, it looked like a HOT MESS. I had my doubts that it would turn out...but whatayaknow. It TOTALLY turned out. There are many different media one can use to create a galaxy background. I used Distress Inks and a dauber for my galaxy. Next time I make one, I think I'll try watercolors. I got a little heavy-handed with the shimmer spray...so it looks almost golden. Next time, I'm gonna leave it off altogether.

So, here is my sister's birthday card. The photo does not do that galaxy justice.

Wanna know the BEST part about this card? It glows in the dark....I know what you're thinking...."SHUT UP!!!" Yep, it totally does. Anyone who knows me, knows about my fascination/obsession with glow-in-the-dark stuff.

Although the sentiment on the outside does NOT glow...the one on the inside does. To make it glow, I used a combo of glow-in-the-dark embossing powder (yeah, there really is such a thing) and glow-in-the-dark paint.

I also decided to forego my usual "Angel Food cake with pink frosting" as a birthday cake (you're shocked, aren't you?). Instead, I made my own birthday cake. I didn't want someone to get me a store-bought cake.

Yuck.

I used a new-to-me recipe (which I totally tweaked out). Let me tell you right now, it was DELICIOUS. The cake is super moist and has such a nice fine crumb. It's velvety smooth. And, my addition of toasted pecans to the frosting was inspired. I snagged the original recipe from my Aunt Susie's FB page (thank you for posting it Susie!)

It looked so yummy, I knew I had to try it. I know my version is better than the original...because...it's MY version. And anyone who has tasted my cooking knows that my version is ALWAYS better (unless it's a recipe from my bestee, Jodi).

(and I'm modest)

Anywho, here is my cake! And yes, the recipe follows.

Pumpkin Dream Cake a la Torrey

Cake:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼  teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼  teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (15 oz) can solid-pack pumpkin
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk

 Frosting:

• 12 oz (1 1/2 packages) cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
• 4 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup toasted pecan pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease 3, 8-inch (or 9-inch) round cake pans and place parchment paper in bottom of each (optional). Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, dry spices, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla, pumpkin, and vegetable oil. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk.
4. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
5. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and completely cool on rack.
6. To toast pecans: Spread on cookie sheet and place under broiler in oven (only takes a minute or less). Toast until fragrant and browned. Watch them like a hawk, they burn easily.
7. For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Mix in nuts.
8. Assemble the 3 layers with a thick layer of frosting in between each layer.  Frost the outside and top with remaining frosting. Store in the fridge.

Thanks for stopping by Left Field! I promise I'll have the redesign finished someday. LOL. Until then,

Stay creative, y'all!

Robin Eggs

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

It's the mid-way point in our current challenge at House Mouse and Friends, but first, I wanna talk a little about my favorite things in Spring.

Here, in Texas, Spring arrives abruptly. One day it's Winter...the next day, BAM, Spring has sprung.

It's not gradual, like it is in Colorado.

Here, in Texas, it's more like God turns on the Spring light switch. Overnight, trees bud, daffodils and tulips suddenly appear in full regalia, and the temperature clears the 70-degree mark on its way to 80. But in Colorado (where I grew up), Spring is a process. It's NOT instantaneous. It's teasingly slow.

One of my favorite things about growing up in Colorado, was seeing the first robins of the season. Robins, to me, are the sentinels of Spring. They heralded the impending departure of Old Man Winter, and ushered in the wondrous beginnings that were Spring.

I enjoyed seeing the crocuses (or is that croci?) peeking their little purple heads through snow. These were followed by Grape Hyacinths and Henbit. I especially love Henbit. It's considered a weed, but not to me.  I think it's beautiful...and it's edible too. When the Henbit is out, you KNOW it's Spring. The flowers look like little orchids....little, TEENY TINY, orchids. When I say tiny...I mean TINY. The flowers are only about 1/4 inch long. When you get enough of them together in one place...they cover the ground in a blanket of lavender. So lovely. Luckily, we have Henbit here in Texas too.

Henbit

(aka Lamium amplexicaule)

But I digress.

Back to the robins.

I really like robins...from their rusty-red breasts, to their beautifully speckled turquoise eggs--robins are really cool.

In Colorado, the robins have very rusty breasts...theirs are really more of a light brown with a copper tinge than they are "red".

Here, in Texas, the robins have MUCH redder breast plumage. Their breasts are brick red...almost barn red.

So, for my mid-way project for House Mouse and Friends "Easter" challenge, I chose to honor that faithful steward of Spring--the Robin. I colored it up to be a sort of cross between a Colorado robin and a Texas Robin--I guess that would be an Oklahoma Robin.

I chose the ADORABLE "Jelly Bean Bird" stamp (available from Stampendous).

Now, I've only ever seen people color up this bird to look like an Easter chick--all yellow with an orange beak. This (of course) is NOT  how I see this cute little bird...because to me, this bird - perched up on that ginormous pile of jelly beans - is, and always will be, a ROBIN.  I don't know if that is what Ellen Jareckie envisioned when she drew it...but, to me, it's a Robin. Here's a closeup so you can see what I'm talking about! See? It's a ROBIN.

I colored this fun image using my Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. No surprise there. I even made the robin sort of fuzzy looking on top of its head by dragging some of the color onto the background with a blending stub. Neat trick, huh?

Since this is a ROBIN...it only made sense that it be sitting on a pile of turquoise jelly beans (obviously having mistaken them for its nest). Luckily, little Muzzy was there (pen in hand) to "correct" the label on the jar. He's a true friend...that Muzzy!

Oh yeah...I did alter the stamped image a bit...I added the pen image under Muzzy's paw... (I made it in Photoshop, then cut it out of cardstock). The original stamp does not have that feature. I also paper-toled (decoupaged) various parts of the image--the robin, Muzzy, the pen, and the "eggs" resting in front of the jar. I fussy-cut all those elements out and mounted them over the original image with thin foam tape to make it 3-D.

You still have PLENTY of time to enter

our challenge!!!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Gruffies and Guests - #27 - Flowers or Anything Goes
• ABC Challenges - C is for Cute

Thanks, as always, for coming out to visit me here in Left Field!

May all your days be crafty ones!

Shake-it-up, Santa!

Hidy Ho Ho Ho, crafty peeps!

Well, I got all the gifts wrapped!

Yay, me!!!

But, I must admit...by the time I got to the last one...it got REALLY sloppy. Heck, by the end, I wasn't even searching for boxes that would fit. I just wrapped the gift itself, no matter how irregularly-shaped it was.

I like to call it..Free-form wrapping: Unburdened by the box!

I also got my Christmas cards out.

Jonathan and I made Christmas cards this year. It was a 5-day process.

I kid you not.

I had a rough idea of how they would look...a "basic" idea. But, you know me, as we worked on them their design kept evolving. I could NOT have done this without Jonathan's help. He's quite the sous crafter! (that's like a sous chef--only without the hat). He's pretty handy with the adhesive gun now!

I finally got to the point where I just shoved them in the envelopes and called them done.

I ordered up some really cute stamps and dies from Lawn Fawn especially for our cards this year.

Here is the outside of the cards we made. Pretty unassuming, isn't it? White on white embossing with a little cut-out character in the lower right corner and a simple stamped sentiment.

But, open it up and it's a whole other story.

Wait for it....

We made little snow-shaker ornaments! They slide out from under the ribbon so they can be hung on a tree. You can't tell, but I used my new Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens on the "Let it Snow" sentiment. They really are the EASIEST way to add sparkle to your projects.

We did the cards in one of 3 different colors: lime, turquoise, red.

We used LOTS of different embossing folders for the inside background. And each ornament is unique! No duplicates! I colored all the images with my trusty Prismacolor pencils.

 On the back of each ornament, we stamped a sentiment, added a date, and signed our names. It's all sparkly too...though you can't tell. Then, we added a little removable tag that lets everyone know they are actually ornaments that can be removed from the card.

Here are most of the ornaments hung on a little tree!

We had fun...but they took F O R E V E R to make! I'm not sure my studio is going to recover any time soon! It's Christmas craft Armageddon in here right now...like a nuclear bomb hit Santa's workshop.

We were only able to make 25 of these little gems. We didn't have time or funds to make and send more, so, I apologize if we didn't send you one this year. It doesn't mean we don't love you. Not at all! Next year, we're starting in October, so we can make them for EVERYONE!

Ingredients:

• Ready, Set, Snow stamp set (Lawn Fawn)
• Ready, Set, Snow dies (Lawn Fawn)
• Ready, Set, Snow shaker add-on dies (Lawn Fawn)--if you're gonna make these into shakers...you really need this set. 
• Joy to the Woods stamp set (Lawn Fawn)
• Toboggan Together stamp set (Lawn Fawn) 
• Winter Scripty Sayings stamp set (Lawn Fawn) 
• Large Tag punch (Stampin' Up)
• Prismacolor Colored Pencils
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens (Crafter's Companion)
•  Embossing folders (Sizzix and Cuttlebug)
• White crystal glitter
• ribbon
• craft foam (6mm thick)
• cardstock
• Memento ink
• Sentiment stamps

These cards were handmade, with love, by those two folks listed above.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenge(s):

•  Lawnscaping Challenge: Merry Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp: Die Crazy

One Sheet Wonder Woman

Hidy ho-ho-ho, crafty peeps!

I've been hunkered down in my studio creating...STUFF!

Jonathan and I are planning on sending out homemade Christmas cards...(if I can ever get them ready to assemble). I've been stamping and coloring like a crazy person.

I took a break from the Christmas card X-travaganza yesterday and today to make a present for an upcoming "Secret Santa" exchange at a Christmas party next week. I had NO IDEA what to give my assigned person.

The idea of going out shopping gave me hives.

So, I thought and thought and THOUGHT about what I could give my person without having to go buy it.

Then, it hit me...BAM!!

I could make some fairly general cards and give this person a whole set! But I had no idea how to start, until I discovered

ONE SHEET WONDER CARDS

Why hadn't I heard about these before? Did everyone know about this but me?

For those of you who haven't heard of these little babies...let me enlighten you.  "One Sheet Wonder Cards" is a set of cards...AN ENTIRE SET...that you make using only 1 sheet of patterned paper (designer paper), and 2 sheets of coordinating cardstock. I decided to use a double-sided paper so I could get more bang for my buck. The paper I chose came in a pack with a sheet of stickers...so I used them too. Why not? I admit that I sort of cheated...I added scraps of brown paper I had in my stash on a few of the cards too...so sue me.

And guess how many cards I got out of this minuscule amount of paper??

4? NO

6? NO

8?? NO

10??? NO NO NO!!!

I got 12... that's a DOZEN!!! (and I had enough left for two more, but I got tired after 12).

The secret is in how you cut your one and only piece of patterned paper. There are many different configurations to do this...I will put the template I used (with all the cutting measurements) at the end of this post!

The theory is...

• you take one 12x12 piece of patterned paper and cut it all up and then use those pieces, either alone or in combo with others,  along with 
• 2 (two) 12x 12 pieces of coordinating cardstock to supplement, and 
• premade A2 card bases,
• various stamps, embossing folders, dies, and punches...
• and you create a TON of cards.

For all these cards I used one sheet from the Marjolaine collection pack from Basic Grey along with the sticker sheet from the same package. I chose teal and olive green cardstock as the coordinating papers.

It TOTALLY works! Just look what I made!

Some of them are horizontal (landscape)...some vertical (portrait) in orientation. 

The card base is an A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")--half of a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of cardstock.

(Pictures of each card follow the big collection pic along with product info at the end).

1. Hello You card

2. vertical Birthday card

3. Congratulations card

4. Sympathy card

5. Just For You card

6. vertical Hello card

7. horizontal Birthday card

8. Friend card

9. Thinking About You card

10. Thinking Of You card

11. horizontal Hello card

12. Thank You card

Supplies used, (and card # used on):

Embossing folders:

• Swiss Dot by Provo Craft (1, 5,6, 11)
• Swirly Curves by Elizabeth Crafts (6, 7, 11)
• Floral Whimsical by Darice (8, 12)
• Bricks by Paper Studio (9)
• Circle Interlock by Darice (2, 10)
• Honeycomb by Sizzix (4)

Punches:

• Cherish edge by Martha Stewart (4)
• String Lace edge by Martha Stewart (4)
• Scallop circle by Fiskars (11) 
• Bird Builder by Stampin Up! (10)
• Word Window punch by Stampin Up! (6)

Stamps:

• Scripty Sayings by Lawn Fawn (1, 4, 9, 12)
• All Year Cheer by Fiskars (3, 5, 7)
• Happy Messages by Stampendous (2, 6, 8, 11)

Dies:

• Fancy Labels 4 by Sizzix (7)
• Ribbon Tag Trio II by Spellbinders (11)
• Scalloped Edge Frame by Spellbinders (10)
• Twig Wreath by Impression Obsession (10)

Miscellaneous:

• Seagull decorative scissors by Fiskars (3, 12)
• Ribbon
• Mini antique round and dragonfly copper brads
• Stampin' Up stamping ink (Blue Bayou, Old Olive)
• Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
•  Clear lacquer
• foam tape

One Sheet Wonder template

(12 x 12 sheet of paper)

Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post! It was AmAzInG wasn't it?

I was totally surprised.

So, if you're stuck on what to give as a gift this year...you gotta try this. It's a fabulous gift for ANYONE!!

Happy crafting!

Geisha Hug

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps

As you can tell with this card, I'm really into Geishas right now. I have had a love affair with Asian art for a long time now. I even have an Asian art collection that houses Geisha dolls, Kokeshi dolls, silk tapestries, silk embroideries, pottery, hand-painted chopsticks, rice paper umbrellas, hand fans....a little bit of everything. If it's Asian, and pretty, I probably have at least one in my collection.

Today's project is actually a sympathy card I made for a dear friend who tragically lost her husband just after Thanksgiving. I cannot even imagine the pain and sorrow she must be feeling. My heart literally hurts when I think about the loss she is having to endure.

I wanted to send her a sympathy card...but not one that is bleak and gloomy--something beautiful. I wanted it be bright and colorful...yet reverent and calm.

Not an easy task.

How does one make a card that is calm, yet brightly colored. One that is serious, yet not bleak? One that is serene and beautiful and thoughtful and evokes emotions of caring?

Like this.

For this card, I used the lovely "Green Lady" stamp by A Day for Daisies. I just love her. She's so...timelessly beautiful. I colored her using my Spectrum Aquas on watercolor paper. I really do love my Spectrum Aquas. They are literally watercolor paints in marker form. I laid down a bit of color directly on the paper, then moved it around with a water brush to achieve the perfectly imperfect look of watercolor.

It doesn't just have the look of watercolor... it actually IS watercolor.

After it dried, I went over some of the areas with Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens. They, too, are watercolor pens...but they have micro glitter mixed into the pigment. They add a shimmer that can either be subtle or bold, depending on how much you add.

I did the background and accent pieces (coins, red band) the same way...scribbled on watercolor paper, then using a large flat paintbrush and water, moved the color around for a painterly effect. I stamped coins on yellow-washed paper and cut them out. I used a Chinese newsprint stamp on the blue background, and added a single, bold Chinese word stamp in the upper right corner. That symbol, by the way, is "Love".

Here is a closeup of my painting.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• A Day For Daisies - #135 Add Watercolor
• Crafty Friends Challenges - #19 One for the Girls 
• Crafty Gals Corner - #48 Anything Goes 
• Suzy Bee's Blooming - #108 Anything Goes + use a die cut

Ingredients:

• Spectrum Aqua pens (Crafter's Companion) - colors used: Teal, Spice, Scarlet, Peach, Gold, Slate, Black.
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens (Crafter's Companion) - colors used: Blue Topaz, Solar Red, Moonlight, Crystal Clear
• Lacey Ovals Nestabilities die (Spellbinders)
• Chinese Newspaper stamp (Hero Arts)
• "Love" Kanji stamp (Stampabilities)
• Chinese coin stamps (A Stamp in the Hand)
• Memento ink (Tsukineko) - Tuxedo Black
• foam spacers

Thank you, as always, for wandering over to Left Field!

Anything Goes

Hidy ho, crafty peeps!

It's Monday, so that means it's time for another challenge over at 

House Mouse and Friends!!!

This time our challenge is a Christmas-theme challenge...only you can't use a Red and Green color scheme. So this is one time where a BLUE Christmas would be a good thing!!

...or pink, purple, orange, gold, silver, aqua, chartreuse, or even puce.

Now...I dunno about you, but it's TOO EARLY for me to be thinking Christmas.

I REFUSE.

I refuse...until AFTER Thanksgiving.

So, for today's challenge, I'm opting for an "Anything Goes" theme.

Because I can.

And, so can YOU, if you don't feel like following the current theme! Heck, you ALWAYS have the option of "Anything Goes" in our challenges!

My project is a Get Well card I made for one of my favorite teachers. I got the opportunity to see her when I visited Colorado. What a treat!

Her name is Carol Koch (pronounced Cook). Ms Koch was my English teacher in high school. She is one of the reasons I became a writer. She encouraged me to write poetry and short stories. She made learning English ENJOYABLE. And, under her tutelage, I excelled at it.

So this was for Ms Koch (I just can't bring myself to call her "Carol"...it just doesn't feel right even after 35+ years). Man, has it really been that long since I graduated from high school? Oy vay.

Anywho...here is the card I made for her. I colored the image with my Prismacolor pencils and if I do say so myself...I ROCKED the coloring on this one. Just look at that wicker basket!!! It looks so 3D!!! I then fussy-cut out the image and mounted it on the white circle Nestability background with foam tape.

Now it's YOUR turn to come join us at House Mouse and Friends for our

Christmas Challenge*

(*but no red or green) 

We have some FaBuLoUs sponsors this time!

1st is House Mouse Designs

($20 gift certificate)

 

2nd is Simon Says Stamp

(a random selection of dye ink pads)

Our 3rd sponsor is Dis Digi Stamps
($12 voucher to her store)


and 4th is this wonderful wood-mounted HM stamp

(called Peaceful Candlight- donated by our teamie Christine!)
 

Thanks, as always, for venturing out to visit me in Left Field!

Out of the Box Birthday

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps~

I just got home from a GLORIOUS trip to see my bestee in Colorado. It was way too short, but then again, anything short of being there permanently is way too short.

Before I left on my trip, I was hired to make a birthday card for a dear friend (by her sisters). Their instructions were that it had to be quirky and out-of-the-box. Other than that, I was left to create whatever my muse dictated.

I decided on a card-in-a-box format...what better format for an out-of-the-box theme? I calculated out all my measurements, because I knew this was gonna need to be a HUGE card...and a standard A-4 size just wouldn't do.

Here is the outside of the card. It measures about 8.5" by 9". I stamped up Kraft cardstock with my favorite woodgrain stamp (Stampin' Up) and paper pieced it to look like a stack of shipping crates. I even penciled in breathing holes in the top right crate.

Here is the back side of the card. I left a large section empty so that her sisters could write their greeting/wishes on it.

And, here is what it looks like when you open it up! There is a party going on inside!

All the party-goers are nestled in the packing material. There are 4 "snooty" people in there...all boring and, thus, colored monochromatic sepia as they sneer at the birthday girl. Then there is the "party girl" (which represents the birthday girl). She's technicolor and all decked out with interesting "gear". She is even sporting rose-colored glasses! There's even a DaVinci-esque guy flying by with a "Happy Birthday" banner!

A final gal anchors the sentiment on the card. She even brought her binoculars to get a closer look! Both she and DaVinci dude are mounted on springs so they jiggle and wiggle!

All the images on the card are vintage, royalty-free images that I snagged from the internet. I constructed the birthday girl out of various bits and pieces of vintage nicknacks--some goggles, a plant stand, a clock, and a hand fan.

Thanks for comin' out to Left Field!!

Windowshopping

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

I'm writing to you from blizzardy Colorado. Funny thing is, where I'm at...not a speck of snow. Where the airport is? That's a whole other story--over a foot of snow, most flights cancelled...highway to the airport closed.

Good thing I had the foresight to reschedule my flight back to Texas BEFORE the flakes began to fall.

I've been here in beautiful Colorado for a week and a half, visiting my bestee, Jodi. We've been crafting our everlovin' brains out. For those of you that don't know, Jodi is also on the Crafter's Companion design team. So, we pooled our mojo and our Crafter's Companion goodies together and have had ourselves a marathon-o-Crafter's-Companion-creating.

Today's offering is a fun little window card. I made the card into a quaint little Antique storefront.

Let's be windowshoppers! That sure is a nice arrangement of old bottles in the window. Notice the two paintings hanging on the wall behind the bottles? I sure wish we could go inside and take a closer look at them!

I stamped the bottle stamp on cream-colored cardstock and colored them with my Spectrum Noir colored pencils.  It was challenging to color them so that they maintained their transparency. After all, they're glass bottles. So, if you notice, you can actually "see" the bottles in the back through the ones that are in front of them.

Oh, look! The sign in the window says they're open! Let's go on in and look around, shall we?  Those are nice pictures hanging on the wall! It's amazing what a part of a stamped image, a diecut cardstock frame, finshed off with some magic from the Spectrum Noir colored pencils, and VOILA...you get some pretty convincing miniature antique portraits!!

I think this will be a perfect birthday card for my stepdad!

Ingredients:

• Stamps -  Honesty from "A Little Bit Magical" collection by Sheena D.
• Stamps - Wouldn't It Be Loverly 1 from "As Scene on Screen" collection by Sheena D.
• Spectrum Noir Blendable Colored Pencils (011, 053, 055, 081, 090, 096, 101, 116)
• Spellbinders die
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Micro tip black marker
• cardstock, oval cutter 

Thanks, as always, for wandering over to Left Field! Come back, anytime!