Shrinky Dinks and Grand Sentiments by JustRite

Good morning!  

I realized as I was going through my picture folders that I have many projects in there that were never shown here.  So today I have a couple of JustRite projects using the Grand Sentiment's set.  I love when I can use Shrinky Dinks and a stamp set to create a fun embellishment.  I dressed up a little burlap bag by stamping the sentiment directly on a piece of white felt.  I cut it to the correct size I needed using scalloped fabric scissors and machine stitching it.  I tied a bit of seam binding around the bag into a bow.  I added a Shrinky Dink butterfly for an accent. 

For this birthday card I also used the Grand Sentiment's set and stamped it in aqua and green.  I cut the center out of the frame to create a shadow box appearance.  I tied seam binding vertically into a double bow.   I added a couple of those butterflies to finish it off.  ;) 

Well this gal finished her first full week of school.  I am so excited about this class! They are such a nice group of boys and girls and we are off to a great start! On the down side, I was completely exhausted this week!  I have to get used to being on my feet all day again. Hopefully, I will adjust soon and get back to my normal crafting schedule!

I will be back on Monday with Crafty Secret's Linky and Design Team Party as well as a brand new release from JustRite!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Coffee Cafe'

Good morning friends! 

 I am finally in full swing at school. I met my 23 little people and I think it's going to be a great year! The downside is that being back on my feet all day is totally kicking my butt! I was so tired yesterday that I think I could have gone to bed by 8.  I didn't, but I could have! ;)

I have a little coffee shop card to show you today.  It was a card I created using the City Buildings CCR. I used bold colors that were a bit retro to me.  I added a large gingham bow to go along with the feeling of my card.  I placed a large polka dot brad and twine to the center of the bow.  I used a black scalloped sticker for the awning. 

I added a bit of glossy accents to my table and chairs to give them a bit of depth. 

Many of my cards don't have sentiments.  I like to wait until I am going to use it to decide what it should say.  

Any suggestions for this card?  

I am off and running this morning!

Have a great Wednesday!!

I Want to Ride My Bicycle.....

Now that you have the Queen song in your head! HA!

 Over the summer I had made a few cards just for the heck of it.  It was nice to just play and experiment a bit. I had these colorful twist ties, like the ones you used to get with sandwich or garbage bags.  I hadn't used them, but loved their bright colors. 

I've also been playing around a bit with texture paste and stencils.

I stenciled the background with a Heidi Swapp star stencil and texture paste that I added a bit of silver paint to. After it was dry, I glued the twist ties to the cardstock to give my bicycle a colorful backdrop. 

I added epoxy dots to the wheels and a bit of colorful twine to the handlebars. I love its happy colors. :) 

This is my first full week back at work, and I am trying to stay organized with everything.  I feel like a juggler these days!  I've planned all of my meals for the week, did my lesson plans, and now I just need to get caught up on a few DT assignments.  Hopefully, I don't pass out in bed by 8:00!  ;) I'm planning on getting back to crafting tonight.....

Fingers crossed! 

Have a great day!

You Are My Sunshine......

 It's official. I am back in school.  I had an institute today and one more on Monday.  The kiddos arrive on Tuesday for a full day.  My room is ready, and I am working on my lesson plans this weekend.  I got this. ;)

So once again my craft time has been limited.  My brain can only fit so much thinking into it at a time.  And right now it only has space for "school stuff."  ;)  

So I am sharing a card that was featured in the June issue of Cricut Magazine.  I created a sunshine shaped card using Accent Essentials.  The clouds were cut using the April Showers cartridge and the banner from the Party Picks and Pennants cartridge. 

I layered a Martha Stewart packaged doily under the yellow circle and added a bit of seam binding, twine, and rhinestones to finish it off. 

I am off to do a bit of grocery shopping and to buy a couple of birthday presents.  I have a busy weekend ahead of me!

Enjoy your weekend!

Delight.....

It has been a couple of crazy days. Sending one kid off to school, while taking the other one with me to my school.  So much to get done before the students arrive next week.  Our school has been under major construction this summer. We had air put in, asbestos removed, and now cleaning everything up in time is the challenge.  I feel like I'm in an episode of Restaurant Impossible! ;)  I made a lot of progress in my room yesterday and am headed back there today. Wish me luck that I get most of it wrapped up today. :)

Today's card is another beautiful image from Crafty Secrets. It was colored using my Inktense pencils.  ( I told you I would bombard you with projects using these pencils!) ;) 

I added shades of red, pink, brown, and a bit of yellow to the rose. I did a watercolor wash around the rose to add a hint of blue.

I wanted a sentiment that didn't distract from the main image, and found this bead.  It must be a bajillion years old, but since I am a craft hoarder ( I throw nothing away......ever), I dusted it off, and used it here. I think it worked pretty well, if I do say so myself! 

Tomorrow Brian, Cortney, and I head to court.  We had filed for guardianship of her since she became 18, and tomorrow we stand in front of a judge. There is a part of me that still hurts that we were dealt the hand we were dealt. 

 She is 18. 

She should be a legal adult capable of making her own decisions. 

She should be heading to college.

There is still that loss. 

Still those moments when you dwell on the things that "should have been." 

I won't dwell long. 

Especially when she hugs me good morning, or tells me she loves me.

She is and always will be my girl. 

Have a great day my friends!

Birthday Hat and a Recipe...

Good morning and happy Monday to you all!  Today my son started his first day back at school as a junior. I start in a few short days.....summer is winding down. 

My lil' family and I spent the day together yesterday.  We went to the race track.  (Great parents aren't we? ;)

Cort loves horses and enjoyed watching them. Kyle placed his 2 dollar bets and won a few bucks.  One of his long shot horses came in first and he was all excited to have almost won 20 bucks, but unfortunately it was disqualified for bumping another horse. :( 

It was a beautiful day and I was glad to have the day to be with my kids and hubby. :)

I have a birthday card to share with you today that was published in Northridge's Cricut Magazine.  It uses the Straight from the Nest cartridge.  I added loads of glitter, Melissa Frances tissue paper garland, and a sentiment from SRM stickers.  

The center of the flower was a large gem from Prima. 

Since placing Cortney on a healthier and gluten free diet, my entire family has been eating better.  I've been cooking more and ordering out less.  It takes a bit more time and creativity and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can continue this trend when I go back to work.

I found this delicious recipe from The Food Network for:

Penne Pasta in Vodka Sauce.

I substituted the noodles for Gluten free noodles and the vodka was also gluten free. (Smirnoff)

 Ingredients

12 ounces penne (gluten free)

3 TBS of olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 large shallot

1 28 oz can whole plum tomatoes, crushed by hand

1/4 cup vodka (optional) Smirnoff is gluten free

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping

2 TBS chopped parsley or basil

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to box. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain pasta. Drizzle lightly with olive oil, toss, and set aside.

2. Heat 2 TBS olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, vodka, the reserved cooking water, 1/2 tsp salt and the red pepper flakes. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 12 to 15 min. Stir in the cream and simmer for 1 more min.

3. Add the cooked pasta, the remaining 1 TBS of olive oil, the grated cheese and basil to the sauce. Cook, tossing  to 3 min. Season with salt.  Divide among the bowls and top with more cheese. 

Have a great day my friends!

Smile........It's Friday....

Normally I revel in the fact that today is Friday and tomorrow starts the weekend.  But for me this just means I am one day closer to going back to work.  

Let the craziness begin.

I love my job, love the people I work with, and love my students, but as I have mentioned before it's the mornings that kill me.  Trying to get everyone out the door on time is a challenge! I am sure once I do it  for a week or so will get me right back in the swing of things!   ;) 

So before my whirlwind starts I am posting a card that I think is peaceful.

 Think "Zen." 

I loved creating this card using an image from Crafty Secrets because I got to color with my Inktense pencils, listen to music, and drift off in my own little world.  

I wanted the flower to stand out here, so I used lots of white layers with a subtle embossing for texture.  I added a sentiment on vellum, and adhered a few sequins here and there. 

Kyle starts school on Monday, so this weekend we are spending a bit of time as a family.  We are spending Sunday at the Arlington Race Course. Never too young to start  "bettin' on the ponies," right? ;) Cort loves horses.  Many years ago she used to ride horses at a special therapeutic riding center. I am sure it will be a fun day and the weather is supposed to be beautiful.

Have a great weekend my friends!