One little word: a look ahead to 2011

I've never really liked New Year's resolutions. But Ali Edwards' one little word concept appeals to me. Choose one word to invite into your life and see where it leads you.

Choosing my word this year hasn't been easy. There are two that jumped to the forefront and they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Discipline.
Spontaneity.

To choose the first and live with it successfully for a year might lead to feeling satisfied and accomplished.
For years I've thought I lacked discipline. I start all kinds of things that never get finished. I sign up for online classes with a burst of enthusiasm which dwindles as the days pass. I start tracking my Weight Watchers points on Monday and let it slide by week's end. I know I need to add a couple of days of cardio to my exercise regime but it never happens. I haven't been able to sustain a daily spiritual practice. I can't even take my vitamins every morning for longer than a week or two!

To choose the second would probably be more fun! How many times have I said or thought, "Let's.........." or "Why don't I........." only to talk myself out of it? Why not just let go and be joyful and childlike?

I can't decide. I've got about 24 hours to make up my mind.

One little word: A look back at 2010

The one little word I chose for the year was "fearless". My intention was to be more open to new experiences, to not allow myself to be restricted by fear. There were no dramatic mountaintop moments, but I did try some new things (acupuncture, for one) and say "yes" more than once when asked to do something out of my comfort zone. While I didn't keep myself laser-focused on my word, I never completely lost sight of it either. In fact, the universe dropped it right at my feet this summer when we were visiting the New Museum in New York City. There was an installation by Rivane Neuenschwander called "I Wish, You Wish." Hundred of ribbons printed with the wishes of previous gallery visitors were hanging from the walls. We were invited to randomly select a ribbon and then replace it with a new wish written on a strip of paper. The blue ribbon I pulled from the wall read, " I wish my fears would not limit my actions."

Halloween Workshop

It's time to start thinking about my favorite holiday --Halloween! I have a workshop scheduled Thursday, October 7 and Sunday, October 9. We'll make everything you see in the photo using CTMH's new Halloween paper pack called "Hooligans" and "Thriller", our September Stamp of the Month. Let me know right away if you're interested in joining us. The fee is only $20.

This card features a cool "cracked glass" technique that is hard to see in the photo. I stole the design from another CTMH consultant, who describes the technique in detail on her blog, so go there to check it out if you're curious.

 

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Life is sweet.


2. The key is to just keep going.

3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: of school going?

4. The last prepared freezer dinner is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon.

5. On the 1st day of August I placed an order for new CTMH products . I’m excited to play with the Halloween kit, Hooligans.

6. Our kittens, Mose and Finn, are extremely lively and energetic in the morning.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cocktails---again, tomorrow my plans include laying carpet squares in the RE building and picking Claire up from the airport and Sunday, I want to enjoy having Claire home!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I'm going someplace cooler if the temperatures don’t get out of the 90s soon.

2. I’ve never really had a sense of adventure and daring.

3. Perhaps today you can make it a point to smile while you are driving.

4. I wish I had a true adventurer’s spirit.

5. Compassion is the key to joy.

6. I always try to be polite no matter how difficult.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cocktails, tomorrow my plans include poring over the new Close to My Heart catalog and Sunday, I want to buy a big piece of white laminate at Lowe’s (if their saw is fixed) for the display unit in my workshop.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I like to eat and drink when following the
Weight Watchers program:

1. CranBran Vitamuffin Tops - 1 point


2. Beck's Ultra Premium Light Beer - 1 point

3. Unsweetened Iced Tea - 0 points -- counts toward water intake

4. Celery Sticks and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese - 1 point

5. WW Chocolate Pretzel Blast mini bars - 1 point -- but it's hard to eat just one

6. Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins - 1 point

7. Gardenburger, Original Flavor - 1 point

8. Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt - 2 points

9. Trader Joe's 9 Whole Grain Crunch Cereal - 1 point for 1/2 cup -- good on top of yogurt

10. Lean Cuisine Pepperoni French Bread Pizza - 6 points -- high points, but a safe way to get your pizza fix. Add mushrooms and peppers.

11. Diet tonic and lime - 0 points -- not counting the vodka, of course!

12. Kashi TLC Cherry Dark Chocolate granola bar - 2 points

13. Skinny Cow Brownie Fudge single serve ice cream cups - I don't have one of these in the freezer right now, so I'm not sure about the points. But, they are delicious and because you have built-in portion control, it's a great treat.

Let's Play Catch-Up

Here are two of the things that have been keeping me busy lately:

Mose and Finn

We've also been to Santa Barbara, Chicago (no photos!) and New York.

I haven't been doing much scrapbooking, but I took two great classes with Donna Downey at EMI Scrapbooking in Cumming last weekend.

I'm also learning mixed media techniques from an online class with Claudine Hellmuth.

 

That's it! We're up-to-date!

Inspired!

Last week I spent about 36 hours in Concord, North Carolina being inpsired by some of the most creative women I have ever met in my life!

Gretchen and I attended Donna Downey's Inspired Artist Workshop and crammed as much as we possibly could in the little time we had. We both had to be back home on Friday, so we couldn't stay for the main event, but we took full advantage of the mini-workshops being offered on Thursday. And, we shopped until we dropped! We are already planning our return next year!

Here we are with Donna in her little on-site shop that was loaded with canvas and fabric embellishments. Gretchen went wild for the iron-ons and I invested in a journal -- along with a few other things!

Each of the mini-workshops I took was taught by a very talented artist. I made a travel journal out of an old book. A tiny little album with a skeleton key spine (Jenni Bowlin's class--I was excited to meet her). A distressed storage tin. Fun fabric flowers (I think Margie was my favorite teacher!). A miniature canvas with bits of emphemera. The mini canvas collage might be my favorite project. I haven't finished mine yet, but here's a photo of one made by our teacher, Lisa Super.

This event definitely lived up to its name!

Open House Make & Take

Drop in to my Open House this Friday to pick up your free copy of the Summer Idea Book. While you're here, you can make one of these cards to take home with you. It would be a sweet Mother's Day greeting. You'll also enjoy a special chocolate-cherry treat!

Both cards were adapted from a pattern in Wishes, our cardmaking how-to book. The price of Wishes has been reduced from $29.95 to $21.95! It's a great value!!

If you're signed up to crop Friday night, you'll receive a little kit to make your favorite of these two cards.

We'll have homemade pizza for dinner and the chocolate-cherry treat for dessert. Make a $20 purchase from the new Idea Book and you'll crop for free!

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you.

Kiss Me..............

I'm Italian! There might be some Irish floating around in my bloodlines, but somebody will probably pinch me today for not wearing green!

I have two friends who were born on St. Patrick's Day so I made a card like this for each of them:

All supplies are from Close to My Heart. The printed paper is from the Animal Cookies pack. The stamp is So Lucky. I bought it to use for Valentine's Day, but obviously it was made for this! I popped up the clover leaves with foam dots. I pressed a brad down into the center which really gives it a lot of dimension but is hard to see in the photo.

I wish Selma and John a very happy birthday and a happy St. Paddy's Day to the rest of you!


May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,

May good luck pursue you each morning and night.


~Irish Blessing

A Favorite Soup Recipe

I've been making Chicken Tortellini Soup for about 10 years. The recipe is adapted from one I found in Taste of Home's Quick Cooking mazagine. Don't be afraid to adjust it to your taste. This is probably what we'll have for dinner at my Friday night crop this week. Everybody loves it! I hope you will, too! Don't forget to visit the Recipe Carnival again this week for more great food ideas.

Chicken Tortellini Soup


8 cups chicken broth

1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, plain or Italian

1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Salt and pepper to taste

Baby carrots, cooked separately (I buy a small bag of the mini baby carrots and steam them)

Cheese tortellini, cooked separately (I use a bag of frozen tortellini)

2 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken (I cook the chicken in the crockpot the day before I make the soup)

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Combine the broth, tomatoes, spinach, salt & pepper. Slowly bring to a simmer. Add the cooked carrots, tortellini and chicken and cook until everything is heated through. Add the Parmesan cheese to the pot just before servings or let each person add it to their bowl.

Makes about 8 servings.

Recipe Carnival

I love to read recipes! A new cookbook is just as good as a novel as far as I'm concerned. And, after more than 30 years of cooking for my family, I've gotten pretty good at being able to pick a winner.

I am participating in a recipe carnival should be a great source of winning recipes. What is a carnival you may ask? Is there cotton candy? A blog carnival is a collection of links about a certain subject that is published regularly. In this case, every Tuesday there will be a new post with links to recipes as well as shopping and food preparation tips. Just click on this link and enjoy. I hear Christy's brownies are not to be missed!
And, maybe someone will even share a recipe for homemade cotton candy!

Got Soup?

During the winter I like to serve soup for dinner at my crops. Here's one of my favorites:

Hearty Corn Chowder
(published in The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
16 servings
This quick-cooking soup is served every year at Marist School's Holiday Traditions festival.
 
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter or margarine

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped celery

2/3 cup finely chopped onion

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 (11-ounce) cans kernel corn with red and green peppers

5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated skim milk

1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add carrots, celery and onion and sauté until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the flour; slowly add the water, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly. Stir in salt, celery salt, paprika, pepper and corn. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Gradually stir in cheese until it is all melted. Stir in evaporated milk. Add sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. If desired, garnish each bowl with a sprinkling of parsley.

Note: the last time I made this I added a chopped red bell pepper. I also reduced the amount of cheese by 1 cup and it was still yummy!

Got Mojo?

I guess I wore myself out with all that blogging in February! I got back on track by challenging myself to make a couple of cards using both the Mojo Monday sketch and the color challenge on 365 cards.

I used my sewing machine on a card for the very first time -- something I thought I would never do! But, I found a cute, little mini Janome for a very good price on Overstock.com and couldn't resist. The felt embellishment was already stitched. I added the zigzag. The crumpled flower from an earlier post found a home here. I would never have thought to use red on that card, but I like the way it pops!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Miss Prescott Had Once Been in Love

I've been saving this project for last because I made it as a Valentine's Day gift for my husband. I don't think he reads my blog, but you never know and I didn't want to spoil the surprise. It's been a hard secret to keep!

This collage was inspired by a kit designed by Jenni Bowlin, a well-known scrapbook artist. I have always loved to collect bits and pieces of ephemera. If you look closely you'll see, among other things, an old ledger, vintage sheet music, postage stamps, a whiskey label and a cigar band. I found the portrait of the young woman at a flea market last summer. When I brought it home, Richard commented that she looked like me! Something about the round face and the glasses, I think.

I loved the process of assembling the collage and was so pleased with the way it turned out that I e-mailed a photo of it to Jenni. I was thrilled when I received a reply asking if it could be featured on her blog! So, now I've been published! I hope you'll check it out there. My friend, Christy G., took some cool photos while I was working on the collage at the SSNA retreat a couple of weeks ago and they are included in the feature.

I've been dreaming up all kinds of variations of this project and can't wait to make some more!

I hope you're all having a happy Valentine's Day spending time with the people you love the most!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Your Lucky Day Thirteen

I know I've missed a couple of days in the countdown. It's hard to blog every day! But, I have something big planned for tomorrow and today I'm going to share a little embellishment that I really love.

Crumpled paper flowers!

For these examples, I used CTMH paper from Notebook and Veranda for the top two flowers and a page from an old book for the one on the bottom.

Now, for those of you who know me and know that I used to be a librarian -- don't worry. No first editions or valuable texts were harmed in the making of this flower! The page came from one of my childhood Bobbsey Twin books! If you don't have one handy, you can easily find inexpensive books with nicely aged pages at flea markets and thrift stores.

Here's how to make the flowers. Use a scalloped circle punch to punch five circles out of lightweight, double-sided printed paper. Stack them up and pierce through the center of all five at once with your piercing tool. Use a small brad (any color--it won't show) to hold the five circles together. Now, beginning with the top circle, crumple it up so that it folds in on itself. Crumple it up good! Don't be afraid. Crumple the second circle in the same way. Do the same with the third and fourth circles, crumpling them up around each other. Leave the bottom circle flat so that the flower will be easy to attach to your artwork. Choose a button to complement the paper. (I have a collection of vintage buttons that I love to use for projects like this. Close to My Heart also has a nice variety of buttons that match our paper packs.) Unfurl the flower petals and attach the button to the center of the flower with a piece of foam tape. Push it down firmly and crumple the flower petals back up around the button a little. That's it! I love them!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Eleven

A Valentine's Day edition of Thursday Thirteen. My 13 favorite love songs from my I-pod:

1. Al Green -- Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

2. Bonnie Raitt -- Something to Talk About

3. Buddy & Julie Miller -- You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast

4. Counting Crows -- Accidentally in Love

5. Dixie Chicks -- I Can Love You Better

6. Faith Hill -- This Kiss

7. James Taylor -- How Sweet it Is

8. Kasey Chambers -- If I Were You

9. Lucinda Williams -- Still I Long for Your Kiss

10. Lucy Kaplansky -- Don't Mind Me

11. Marvin Gaye -- Distant Lover

12. Mary Chapin Carpenter -- Shut Up and Kiss Me

13. Nanci Griffith -- This Heart

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Days 8 and 9

Missed yesterday! Sorry about that. To catch up, here are two Valentine's Day cards I made with a sort of shabby-chic vintage style. I love collecting ephemera and old photos to use in my projects.

Inside the baby card I stamped "Be Mine".

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Seven

This scrapbook page doesn't have a Valentine theme, but it does include a photo of someone I love very much -- my daughter!

All of the papers used here are Close to My Heart, as are the butterflies and the felt crown.

I created this layout as an assignment for a class I'm taking over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. It's called "Point of View" and is being taught by Nic Howard. After you've been scrapbooking for a while like I have (15 years, I think!), sometimes things get dull and your photos all start to look the same. This class is designed to help you look beyond the obvious and find something different and fun in your photos. I'm looking forward to the fresh inspiration!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Six

I found this little wooden word in the clearance bin at Michael's right after Christmas. I roughed it up a bit with sandpaper and attached some vintage elements from my collection.
Cheap, quick and a little bit rough! It might be just the thing for your Valentine!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Five

More chocolate! These little nugget tins are easy and fun to make.

Each Hershey's nugget is wrapped in a strip of paper that is 3 1/4" long x 1" wide. Build the piece that wraps around the box by layering 10" long strips in varying widths. Mine are 2 1/4", 1 1/4" and 1/2". Use any paper you have. Add ribbon, tags and embellishments as your heart desires.

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Four

You can't have Valentine's Day without chocolate, so here is a delicious and decadent recipe from Nigella Lawson's book How to Be a Domestic Goddess.

Molten Chocolate Babycakes

scant 1/4cup soft unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
12 ounces best bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup sugar
4 large eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

6 individual 6-ounce custard cups, buttered
baking parchment

Unless you are making these up in advance, preheat the oven to 400 degrees, putting in baking sheet at the same time. Lay 3 of the custard cups on a sheet of doubled baking parchment. Draw round them, remove and then cut out the discs as marked. Press them all into the base of the cups.

Melt the chocolate and let it cool slightly. Cream together the butter and sugar, and gradually beat in the eggs and salt, then the vanilla. Now add the flour, and when all is smoothly combined scrape in the cooled chocolate, blending it to a smooth batter.

Divide the batter between the 6 custard cups, quickly whip the baking sheet out of the oven, arrange the little cups on it and replace in the oven. Cook for 10 - 12 minutes (the extra 2 minutes will be needed if the puddings are refrigerator-cold when you start) and as soon as you take them out of the oven, tip out these luscious babycakes onto small plates or shallow bowls.

Or............hop in the car and drive over to Trader Joe's. Check the freezer section for Chocolate Lava Cakes. Purchase. Bake as directed on the package.

In either case, serve with whipped cream, custard or ice cream. YUM!!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Three

Another card! It will be hard for you to re-create this one exactly because the stamp and the embellishments are no longer available. But, that's the beauty of a card sketch like the ones in our how-to books. Use the same sketch with your own stamps, paper and embellishments to create a unique card.



Card measurements
Card Base: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
Piece A: 5 1/4" x 4"
Piece B: 5" x 3 3/4"
Piece C: 3"circle
Piece D: 2" circle
Piece E: 1" circle

I'd love to see what you create with this sketch.
Leave me a link to your blog in the comments or e-mail me with a photo.

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day Two

Here's another easy card for Valentine's Day. This one features our chipboard Dimensional Elements. The newest episode of Art & Soul covers a variety of ways to use them. The little bee stamp is one of our Petite Perks -- an exclusive gift for my customers!

I also used a little bit of black textured cardstock on this card and I love the touch of sophistication it adds. This month CTMH Textured Cardstock Combo Packs are buy one, get one free with $2 from each purchase donated to Operation Smile's Haiti relief fund. Visit the Operation Smile blog for information about their on-the-ground response.
Stock up on every color combination and help this important and urgent cause!

Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day One

I'm joining CTMH consultant, Paige Dolecki, in counting down the days to Valentine's Day. I'll post a card, layout or project each day to help get you in the mood for love! Here's one of the cards we'll be making at my Valentine's Day workshops scheduled for Thursday, February 4 and Sunday, February 7. Let me know if you'd like to join us!

This card features the stamp set Love Birds. I used markers and the waterbrush to add a little color and some Liquid Glass on the heart. The Xs and Os are our new Lots of Dots alphabet stickers. They look white when you start out, but when you ink them up the polka-dot design shows through!

Simple but sweet.

Some pages, finally!

I did so little scrapbooking last year that I've challenged myself to do a page a week in 2010.


Here are a couple of layouts I did that were done for a sketch challenge on ScrapShare. Supplies for these are all Close to My Heart.


This first one uses paper and stickers from "Emporium."The stamp set is "Connections."








This next two-page layout is the first I've done from our Baltic cruise this summer. Nothing fancy here -- title cut with Opposites Attract and some Journey Journaling Spots from CTMH.

Sweet Lucy

After almost 16 years together, we said goodbye to our sweet Lucy yesterday.