My Candy Update

As promised, I went shopping today to get the things for my 2nd and 3rd giveaway.

The first prize is the Martha Stewart Crafting Encyclopedia.

Prize 2 includes:

Fluer stamp from Auntie Amy's (I accidentally order two). The picture above is off Auntie Amy's website. I will print a copy to include in your package.

Water Color Pencils to use to paint the Cafe Fluer stamp (it begs for watercolors).

Five packages of stickers.

Set of 10 white embossed cards.

Silver Sharpie pen

Package of brads and several flowers from my stash.

Prize 3 includes:
Cosmo Cricket "Jack's World" Craft Pack (includes 12 dbl side design papers, adhesive die cuts and journaling cards)
Small birthday scrapbook kit
3 sheets of stickers
Booklet of white alphabet rub ons
Friends tag
Set of 10 white glitter cards
Package of brads and several flowers from my stash.

I'm also adding a surprise to each package. I'm going to wait until I draw the winners and look at their blog to decide what to add. For the 1st prize, I will be ordering the book to be sent directly from Border's website so I will send an extra package with their surprise.

It doesn't look like I will have 100 entries by Saturday so it will stay open until I reach 100 entries or until May 2nd, whichever is sooner.

You can go see my original candy post here or by clicking on the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog.

Blessings,
Christine

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday!!! I have only participated in 5 Pink Saturday's but my Mom now looks for things pink for me to put on my blog!

She called and told me that her friend had given her some beautiful pink azaleas and I should come over and take pictures soon before the blossoms died off.

Aren't they beautiful!!! Now a closeup.

I took the plant outside to photo it. Then I looked around her yard and found some more pink.

Aren't these pink tulips beautiful.

One has petals that are partially open . . .

and another is very beautiful inside. If you look closely, whe has chives planted in with her tulips. Don't ask me!!!

She also has a nectarine tree.

I didn't know nectarine blossoms were pink. Actually, last year she bought a nectarine tree and an apricot tree. When they started producing, they were both nectarine trees. Oh well. She loves nectarines and they are both so small now that she's not going to get much fruit from them for some years anyway.

As I was out running my errands today, I really wished I would have brought my camera. Their was so much pink in nature and I wanted to share all of it with you!!!

It's still a little early for pink in my yard. I will have something for you next week. It's not quite in bloom yet. I will have several others throughout the summer. I {heart} my garden!!!

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday every week. This is a very fun event. Each of us post a picture of something pink on our blog on Saturday and try to visit as many of the other blogs as possible. I'm not sure how many participate but it is in the hundreds. Big thanks to Beverly for coordinating all of it!

Blessings,

If you haven't entered for my giveaway, you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

My Candy Update

A quick count shows that I have 46 entries so we all need to get our blogging buddies over here to enter. Do what you need to do to get everyone over so we can hold the draw on time. Remember, anyone, anywhere can enter. Click on the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog to go directly to my candy!!!

I will leave the candy open at least till noon Sunday and choose the winners at random as soon as possible. If we have had 100 entries that is.

I'm off to the store to pick out the items that I will be putting in your packages. I'll post them later today!

If you haven't entered, what are you waiting for? GO!!! MAKE A BOOKMARK! NOW!!!

Blessings,

Happy Cupcake

I colored and cut out this cupcake a couple of weeks ago for a challenge that was to use fruit on your card. When I went to make the card, I couldn't find my cupcake so I didn't get to make the challenge (boo-hoo). Tonight, when I was think about what card to make, I looked at the floor and it was peeking at me from under my work table. There's still a cherry for the top down there somewhere!

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday. The Cuttlebug Spot was to make a card that includes a cake or cupcake. The Card-A-Licious challenge was to make a birthday card using green, blue and circles. I guess I don't like using green much because there is only a little green on this one; but it's there. The Creative Belli challenge is to use dry embossing on your card. My card meets all of those things!!!

That's all for tonight.

If you haven't entered for my giveaway, you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

Blessings,

Lion Prince

When I saw the challenge at Cinema Saturday was to use an animal from the movie Lion King, I knew that I would use this stamp. Isn't he such a prince? There are two other challenges to use animals in your card, 2 Red Bananas and 3 Clovers (it's all about the numbers). Truly Scrumptious sketch challenge was to follow their sketch and make a card for child. I love these sketches that have a lot of layering.

I told you I was going to tell about my meeting on Tuesday night. I've talked on my blog before about playing music with the Idaho Old Time Fiddlers. We play once a month at the Veteran's Home here in Boise. Tuesday, they had a banquet for all of their volunteers. The theme for the night was the USO. They had a guy in army camouflage pants and a t-shirt holding a toy golf club that was playing Bob Hope as the MC. The also had Marilyn Monroe, Momma Cass, ole Blue Eyes himself-Frank Sinatra, Phylis Diller and Elvis. The only one that remotely looked like the person they were playing, was Elvis. But they all did a great job, some singing and some lip syncing. They also had a few veterans from WWII that told stories about when they were overseas. The whole program served to remind us what all of the veterans, whichever war they have served in, have sacrificed to keep us to safe and free!!! They even had a red, white and blue desert -- red velvet cake with cream cheese icing and blueberries on top. It was a very fun night!!!

Oh, and I also won a door prize. Actually, they called out the name Christine and Allen Nay. My sisters name is Alice. I think they must have gotten a little mixed up. However, we did take some teasing from the people in our group. My sister and I have been single for most of our lives so we get that kind of stuff a lot. When we went to our 25th high school reunion, people kept asking if we lived together. I guess they think we are old maids that have to keep each other company like the "aunts" on the Waltons!!! Yes, we graduated high school together, as well as my brother, but that's another story for another time. I'll catch you up on that sometime because I don't want to bore you all at once!!!

If you haven't entered for my giveaway, you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

Blessings,

Chocolate Bookmark

In my previous post, I told you about the bookmark tutorial on Aud's blog. I got one made!













The weather in Idaho has been in the 80s for the last few days and today it's a high of 55. Doesn't this Whiff of Joy image make you want to put on a warm sweater, make a cup of hot chocolate and read a book?













I painted "chocolate girl" with water colors. I distressed all of the edges with chalk ink (except the second triangle on the back because the gremlins came and took my stamp pad-hehe). I also used chalk ink to distress the oval behind her. The flourishes were cut with the Cricut Caligraphy cartridge. I didn't distress those edges because they are so delicate that I was afraid they would tear. All of the DP is Basic Grey Blush.

I really had fun with this one and I really like the idea of the corner bookmark. Lucky me, it fits three challenges.

I started out with the Crafty Creations challenge which is to make a bookmark. Lucky me! Not only did I find a tutorial I wanted to make, but that's the theme of my giveaway!!!

Crafts 4 Eternity has a sketch plus a challenge of using pink, brown, and green. I had this paper in mind when I was painting the image. When I realized it was the same colors as Crafts 4 Eternity's challenge, I followed their sketch. I'm sure glad it was a simple sketch because I only had a 3-1/2 in square on which to fit it. The little tiny dots on the background paper are green (you can believe me). There's much more green on the paper I used for the back.

The Cute Card Thursday challenge is to either tear, sand, distress or sew the edges of your card. As I said before, I distressed all of the edges with a chalk ink pad.

By the way, the book is one I got at a thrift store on my trip to Shoshone Falls a couple of weeks ago. It is called "Watching Europe Grow" published in 1930. The title page states that it's "profusely illustrated" which is why I bought it. There are wonderful images of old Europe on almost half of the pages. I have been wanting to try my hand at altered art for some time and I think the pages in this book would make wonderful backgrounds for collages.

If you haven't entered for my giveaway, you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

Blessings,

Corner Book Mark Tutorial

Have you made your bookmark for my challenge yet? If your interested, go check out Aud's blog. She has a great tutorial on making a corner bookmark. I have seen these on people's blogs before, but couldn't figure out how the made them.

If I get a chance, I'll make on later today and post it. Thanks Danni for posting this link!

Blessings,

Thursday Thunks

It's Thursday, so you know what that means? Yes, Thursday Thunks. Here are the questions.

1. If you could skywrite anything you wanted, what would it be? Thank you Ahsley

2. Did you get drunk at your prom? No, but I should have. My date stood me up and I still had to go because I was the prom chairman.

3. What is your favorite spice to use cooking? To pick a fav, I guess it would have to be oregano.

4. What color is your roof? silver

5. In a land far, far away I _____________ was a fairy princess and taught all of the other fairy princess that they don't need a prince to sweep them away!!!

6. In the Miss USA pageant, Miss California was asked; "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?" and her answer was; "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. "No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman." Do you think that cost her the crown? Yes

7. Do you watch Miss USA/Miss America pageants? Sometimes

8. Have you ever driven/ridden on a tractor? I've ridden them many times (my Grandpa was a farmer) but have never driven one. My Grandpa tried to teach me to drive his pickup and I almost ran over him (I was about 12 and could barely see of the steering wheel - that's my story and I'm sticking to it.) so he never let me drive another one of his vehicles!!!

9. For the parents - what cartoon/children show did your child watch obsessively? (Hey, if you aren't a parent, maybe a niece or nephew...) I'm not a parent but my niece loved The Wiggles. I had to look that up on Google because I thought it was the Giggles but that didn't sound right!

10. If I set a level on your living room floor - would it show that it was level? No, it leans to the west.

11. What was the last restaurant you ate at? Iceberg, they have yummy shakes!


12. What's the picture on your wall calendar for this month? No picture, I have a white board calendar.

13. Are you superstitious? Kind of. I don't go out of my way to do things but I also won't walk under a ladder or but I don't try not to step on the cracks on the sidewalk. (Is that a double negative.) I once owned a black cat!

14. If I get into your car and turn on the radio - what type of radio station will I hear? oldies -- sometimes country.

15. Would you rather wake up with a snake in your bed or a lizard? Whichever is smaller. Yuck, now I'm going to have nightmares tonight.

16. Do you think schools have changed at all since the Columbine tragedy 10 years ago? In what ways? I think the most important change is that they take kids threats seriously now. I'm not involved in the schools (not a parent) so I don't know details but I do here on the news sometimes when a school has had a threat. In our town, they have brought the Rachael's Challenge to schools and parents every year lately. Rachael is one of the girls that was killed at Columbine and her family has a speaking circuit where they talk about the things she stood for such as being kind to others and never to deny your faith. Rachael is the girl that the killers asked if she still believed in God and then shot her because she did.

That whole things ends I kind of a sour note. Sorry.

If you would like to join in on Thursday Thanks, click on the link at the top of this post!

If you haven't entered for my giveaway, you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

Blessings,

Happy Butterflies

I love how this card turned out. I just think it's so cute how she is looking up at the butterflies as they are flying away! There is a nice verse about butterflies on the inside.

I combined some challenges with this card. I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers and Stamp Something's challenge is to use yellow, green and blue. The Pink Elephant has two challenges this week. Either a card for Mom or recycle something. Actually, this card fits in both challenges because I used some old crochet thread my Mom gave me instead of ribbon. However I won't be submitting it for both because you can enter two cards. I will be giving this card to my Mom for Mother's Day. She loves butterflies almost as much as I do. She just got a new computer and is attempting to get on the internet. I hope she doesn't get that all done until after Mother's Day because she might just see this card!

The image is a Bee Crafty digi stamp. She has a challenge every other week. You use one of her downloads and she picks her favorite card and the winner gets a free download. I love her images because they have a lot of open space for coloring or paper piecing.

The butterflies are cut out with a Cuttlebug die. The little green flowers are on the same die as the butterflies so I just used them for the center of the flowers. Of course, I water colored the image.

Don't forget about my candy with a challenge. Click on the picture of the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog and it will take you to the correct post. You have until Saturday to enter so hurry!!!

Blessings,

Magnolia Angel

Just Magnolia has a new challenge blog and the first challenge (a sketch) is this week. Since I have only one Magnolia stamp, you're going to be seeing this one until I can get my hands on more (hehe).

I used my new watercolor pencils and the image turned out a little darker than I had anticipated. The new pencils have a lot more color saturation than my old. I added a little glitter to her wings.

I used a paper pack that I got for free when I spent a bunch of money at Archivers. :-) I can't remember the manufacturer and I threw the package away.

Your going to be seeing this reminder until Saturday! Don't forget about my candy with a challenge. Click on the picture of the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog and it will take you to the correct post. You have until Saturday to enter so hurry!!!


Blessings,

Cat Nap

The Basic Grey Challenge this week is paper piecing. I cut the shower curtain out of Basic Grey Two Scoops. As a matter of fact, all the paper is from Basic Grey Two Scoops.

The image is a digi stamp from Squigglefly. I'm loving digi stamps lately. First of all, they're cheap and you can resize them to fit your needs. I spent some time today printing out digi stamps and stamping images with regular stamps so I have lots of images to work with.

I ordered some new Prisma water color pencils on ebay and they came on Monday. They are sooo much nicer than my old ones. They have a lot more color saturation that I'm still getting used to. Hence, the bright yellow towel and rug!

Don't forget about my candy with a challenge. Click on the picture of the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog and it will take you to the correct post. You have until Saturday to enter so hurry!!!

Blessings,

Crafty Creations Bookmark Challenge

The challenge at Crafty Creations this week is to make a bookmark so if you enter a bookmark in my candy and their challenge, you will be in the running for yet another giveaway!

Blessings,

Dotted Flower Girl

This is another one of the 1920s women images. I sure love this stamp set. I have one more of the large images to show you but I've colored her twice and didn't like it again. Hopefully, the third times a charm.

After I finished coloring her I looked for a challenge to fit. I used the Creative Card Crew challenge which is Round and Around, meaning circles. The paper has circles on it and their is a circle in the layout.

That's about it!

Don't forget about my candy with a challenge. Click on the picture of the Martha Stewart book at the top of my blog and it will take you to the correct post. You have until Saturday to enter so hurry!!!


Blessings,

Daisy May's Buttons

Three challenges this time. I used the sketch from the Cupcake Craft Challenge. Cafe Mojo's challenge is to use buttons and the Cute Daisy May challenge is to use glitter. You can't tell much from the picture but the paper has glitter and also Daisy May has glitter on her hair bow and on the ruffles on her skirt and bloomers.

Of course, the image is a Cute Daisy May digi stamp and I did her with watercolors.

It has been beautiful around here for the last couple of days. I had a meeting to go to this evening (more about that tomorrow) and the thermo in my car read 88. I can't believe it is that warm in April. It's supposed to be 81 tomorrow but then 57 on Thursday. I'll be out in the garden for awhile tomorrow. I want to clean out some flower beds and spray Roundup on the weeds in my yet to be planted garden. I hope to spend at least an hour out there each day so I can get the flower beds looking good.

You see if I tell everyone I'm going to do it, then I have to, right? You ladies have to keep me honest now!

I didn't realize it but this was my 100th post. Yay!!! I guess it was a good time to give candy away, huh? Don't forget, if you haven't entered you still have time. Click on the Martha Stewart book above and it will take you to the candy with a challenge post!!!

Blessings,

627 miles, 23 hours and 17 shops . . .

equals 2 very tired women. We had such a great time at the Quilt Shop Hop. I left my house at 7:30 on Friday morning to pick up my Mother for the quilt shop hop. Our first stop was Marilyn's Pickets and Patchwork in Nyssa, Oregon. From there we drove to 3 different towns in Oregon to vist 4 more shops. We then headed over Hells Canyon across the Snake river back into Idaho. Well, with a little side trip. Yes, we got a little lost. Back on our way, we then drove to McCall, Idaho to visit two shops.

On Saturday, I left at 9:30 to pick up Mom and head back up to the mountains. Since we go lost on Friday and spent a little too much time in some of the shops, we didn't get to all of the shops we had planned. It worked out for the best though because the town we missed is where I go camping several times each summer. The George, campground operator, happened to be there to start getting ready for the season so we got to chat with him for awhile. He is 80 years old and a very interesting character who was a boxer when he was younger. He even fought Cassius Clay (later know as Muhhamad Ali). I just noticed their is a smile of my face right now just thinking about him.

I won't bore you with all of the other shops, except to say that we were able to finish. Yay!!! Now, all I need to do is send in my card stamped by each of the shops to be entered in for some prizes. The grand prize is a $50 gift certificate to each of the shops in the hop! And, I kept my goal of not spending too much money. All I bought was a couple of embroidery patterns and books. I also bought a small piece of fabric and a yo-yo maker but I bought those for cardmaking. I can't wait to start making some yo-yo flowers to use on my cards.

We had a great time but I think next time I'm going to drive my truck even if it costs more for gas. My Mom has a Toyota Corolla and I just plain don't fit in it. She doesn't like to drive so I always do the driving. Because of the position I have to sit in behind the steering wheel, I now feel like I have done about a hundred squats. I have the sore muscles but didn't get any of the benefits.

Please be patient; I will get to my blogger friends who left comments while I was gone but it may take some time!

For those who win my candy, expect a few yo-yos in your goody boxes!

You have one more week to enter to win my candy. Please spread the word!!! I don't have enough entries yet.

Blessings,

Pink Saturday

Sorry fellow Pink Saturdayers. My internet was down and I wasn't able to post for pink saturday. I would now but I have an appointment soon. I'll have something extra special next week.

Blessings,

Deco Black Velvet

I think I've decided I can finally be happy with my card making. I sure like this one anyway! I love anything about the 20s. I used to think I was reincarnated from a Flapper!!!

I tried to get the Art Deco feel with this card; I hope I made it!

When I saw the challenge at Chrisma Cards, I new I had to use this stamp. Their theme is a little black dress. I used the water color pencils (again) and as I was painting it I realized it was beginning to look like velvet. Next time, I'll go for that look from the beginning. The stamp has a lot of solid areas so it worked out well. As always, it looks better in person. I added glitter to her neclace and the fringe on her dress. There are several stamps in this set. Two other large ladies from the 20s and a number of smaller images. I really love them. You'll get to meet the other ladies soon.

I used the sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches.

I'm going to bed early tonight. Usually, I go to bed about 2:00 am and go to sleep between 3 and 4. I have to get up at 7:00 in the morning. That's going to be a real challenge. It will be a great day though because my Mom and I are going to a quilt shop hop. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some great pictures to show everyone. Nitey, nite!

Blessings,

Thursday Thunks

At Thursday Thunks they supply us with some questions and everyone is to write about them on there blog... simple as that. We also go to each others blogs and see what everyone wrote. Go on over and play along. It's fun!!!

1. Recently Berleen and I discovered the allure of the Twilight series. Have you ever been sucked in to the latest "thing"? (Like Harry Potter, the movie Titanic, social networking, etc. etc. etc.) I don't think so. Maybe with my hobbies and art. I do buy the latest stamps and use the latest techniques for cardmaking. However, I only buy them if I personally like them.

2. What software do you use for your email? Windows Mail (only trusted senders) and hotmail.

3. Are you comfortable being nude? No, I have mirrored closet doors giving me a whole wall of mirrors in my bedroom. I rearranged my room so that I don't have to stare at myself every time I sit on my bed!

4. What is something you plan on doing this summer? Camping, camping, camping and in between, gardening.

5. Do you have a favorite movie/book quote? If so, what is it? Not that I can think of.

6. How many email addresses do you have? Five, but I only use three.

7. Is the sky falling? No, who are you, chicken little?

8. Have you been to the Grand Canyon? No, but I'd love to go.

9. When was the last time you mailed a hand written letter? I wrote a letter to the wonderful family of the beautiful woman who, quite literally, gave me her heart!

Blessings,

My Black Bicycle

The challenge at Created by Courtney is to use a toy as inspiration. My favorite toy is my red bicycle so I used Rosalie's Bicycle stamp by Sarah Kay. The only other toys I have laying around the house are dog toys. I don't think they would bring much inspiration!

The photo didn't bring out any of the pink so I scanned it instead. It came out a little better but still doesn't do it justice. I drew pink around each of the starbursts on the patterned paper and doodled pink on the edges of the image and on the gray cardstock. Her blouse, the napkin on her picnic basket and the bow on her hat, are also pink. If you click on the picture to make it bigger, you'll be able to see the pinks better. What appears to be a gray strip on the bottom of the card was put there by the scanner.

The challenge at Whiff of Joy this week was to make a black and white card with a splash of color. I ordered some Whiff of Joy Stamps but haven't gotten them mounted yet but I still wanted to challenge myself with this one.

I'm going to bed earlier tonight so it may be easier to get get up early on Friday for the Quilt Shop Hop. It's going to be so much fun!

Blessings,

Clothespin Fairy

I started this card for Danni's Flutterby Wednesday and decided to combine it with some other challenges. When I got finished I didn't think it would go for Danni's challenge but thank goodness I used that MS punch. Her challenge is to use die cuts or punches on your card. Also, she is now accepting fairies in her Flutterby challenge.

I picked the patterned paper because of the Card-a-Licious challenge which is to make a thank you card using stripes, dots and pink. There are green, yellow, and pink circles/dots and sparkly stripes on the paper. It also follows the Papertake Weekly challenge (pastel colors), the Pink Elephant challenge (pink, green and yellow) and the Crafty Creations (sparkle).

The image is a free digi download from Inky Impressions and, of course, I water colored her. I also added sparkle on the fairies wings.


Blessings,

Chocolate Ballerina

I finally got a chance to participate in the Basic Grey Challenge. This weeks challenge is to take inspiration from your favorite chocolates.

My favorite chocolates are usually whatever is on hand, except mint (yuck). But really, my favorites are chocolate with either cherries or raspberries. This Basic Grey Blush paper is perfect for either one. All of the paper is Basic Grey except the pink cardstock. The image is a Cute Daisy May digi stamp. Once again I colored her with water color pencils. I put a little flower on her tootoo. The picture turned out a little blurry so it's hard to see. Sorry!

Blessings,

Carrot Cake with No Bunny

Doesn't this look yummy!!! It is!

I've still got a few pieces left if you want to come over.

This is the best carrot cake I've ever eaten. The recipe actually comes from a buffet restaurant. I've enjoyed it there but it is even better when you make it at home. I was going to make it into a bunny rabbit cake for Easter. The recipe only makes one layer and I forgot to buy enough carrots to double the recipe so we didn't get our bunny this year. It's a tradition that we had when we were kids. My Mom always made it when we were kids and I took it up again several years ago. Oh well, I'll make a bunny next year. Here's the recipe.

Chuck-A-Rama Carrot Cake (adapted by me)

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup salad oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/4 cups carrots, shredded

Peel and shred the carrots. (The recipe says to use a 1/16 in shredder but my food processor doesn't have one so I shred on the regular blade.) I just washed and didn't peel the carrots this time and it turned out great.

Place the first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk to aerate and mix. Stir in the walnuts and raisins. Add the remaining ingredients and mix by hand until well blended. It will be very thick at first but the carrots break down quickly and it becomes thinner but still quite thick.

Place mix into a greased round 9 inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Let cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

As you can see, I baked it in a rectangular pan. When I make it as a round cake, I bake it in two round cake pans so I will have layers. That way, you get more frosting with each bite! (hehe) If you cook it in two pans, decrease the time a bit.

This is what it looks like when it comes out of the oven. I wish I would have taken a picture before putting it in the oven. It doesn't look very good at this point but you won't be disappointed!

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound cream cheese
1/2 pound margarine (I use butter)
1 3/4 pounds powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

Place first 2 ingredients in a bowl and bring to room temperature then beat until smooth. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add remaining ingredients and beat until light and fluffy.

Okay, I don't use a recipe to make frosting. This is how I do it.

I put about a 1/2 stick of butter and an 8 ounce package of cream cheese in a bowl and wait until they come to room temp. Since I usually forget to take it out of the fridge, I place them in the microwave for a bit until they are soft. I add a teaspoon of vanilla and a couple of splashes of milk and whip it with the Kitchenaid mixer until it's fluffy. Then I add about a half of a two pound bag of powder sugar to it. Before I turn on the mixer, I place a kitchen towel over the the mixer so p. sugar doesn't puff out all over the kitchen. I turn on the mixer and whip till fluffy adding a little milk or more powdered sugar if needed. As you can see, I add some chopped walnuts to the top. One of these times I'll get energetic enough to decorate with little piped carrots.

You have to follow a recipe when baking but I seldom actually follow a recipe for anything else. I take a look at the recipe and then make it my own.

I hope everyone likes this cake as much as I do. Now I'm going to get myself a piece of the leftover cake!

Blessings,

Birthday Birdie

I haven't been feeling very well for the last couple of days so I haven't been very productive. I made this card last week and was to busy to take a picture and post it.

I didn't realize it while I was making it but it's almost monochromatic. Everything is yellow/orange except the birdie and leaves. My Mom came by last week and took a bunch of my cards to give to her friends. I chose this image because she really liked these Cute Daisy May cards. I think she'll probably pick cards like these when she needs more cards. She paid me a little for the cards. I didn't want to charge any more than they cost me so we were both happy.

No challenges on this one. It's just a card I made for fun! I used watercolor pencils again. I ordered a larger set from e-bay today so hopefully they will be here soon and I will have more colors. I can't wait to ink up the Paris street scene stamp again when I have more colors.

I really wanted to get to some challenges but just haven't been feeling well and when I was, I didn't have the time with Easter and all. I'll have to get some done tomorrow and Thursday because I won't be able to get to anything this Friday and Saturday.

It is the Treasure Shop Hop (quilts) this weekend. The area I live in is called the Treasure Valley. The hop consists of quilt shops in Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon. My Mom and I will be driving ALL day on Friday. On the first day the shops are pretty spread out. However, we'll be seeing some beautiful scenery in the mountains of Oregon and Idaho. On Saturday, hopefully my sis will be able to join us and we will go to all the shops around town. Each shop has giveaways and goodies. Last time I went, I came home with a ton of snacks and about a dozen bottles of water. I've sworn I'm not spending any money this year. I've been buying some paper and stamps so I don't have much money left. However, payday will be on Thursday. Hopefully, I'll get some great pictures to share with you when I get back.

I wish the scrapbook shops would have a hop. I'm sure there are shops that I don't know about. Maybe I'll have to rip the page out of the yellow pages and do it on my own.

That's about it for this one!

Blessings,