New >>>>>>> "From The Pantry" Challenge!

I know that I often cross promote here on my blog to different challenges at SCS and I would like do it again... This is such and awesome challenge and my immediate thought was what great scrapbook embellishments it would make!

Check out the Challenge here...... TLC216 Metal Stamping

So... I want to challenge everyone to make a scrapbook embellishment or two and add them to your page or LO and post it to both keyword challenges

Keywords are:
Here.................... FTP09MS
There................... TLC216


Challenge Ends 4-20-09 and I will be giving prizes for the best embellishments.

I will upload my sample when I get home tomorrow...

Happy Easter Everyone!

We will be enjoying a great weekend together at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

SCS 52 Week Challenge #15

Sweet Rainbow layers of Goodness
We love Easter at our house... It is one of our big “Family” holidays and even now that we live so far away from our extended family, my DH & I still try very hard to make it a Family affair. The recipe that I have based the Challenge around today is one of our family favorites for Easter because everyone can help make them and I can't wait until we have grandkids so that we can share and “pass-over” the fun.

SO... based on the recipe included... Your challenge is to choose any one of the color combinations that you see in the cookies below. You will then need to use those three colors, (and only those three colors) , plus white or cream (you have to have the inside frosting of course...) to create your layout. Then to “Pass-over” the fun, your other part of the challenge is to either make an extra LO to share with your Secret “Word” Sister (ask Lela if you need a secret sister) or make a batch of cookies to share with a friend or neighbor.

There will be March Madness bonus points of 6 per upload entry if you scrap photos of You & Your Family Cooking...

Rainbow Egg Cookies
from Betty Crocker

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 egg
3-9 different food colors (the Neon colors work the best)

1/2 Can Betty Crocker® Vanilla Frosting

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Stir cookie mix, butter, flour and egg in medium bowl until dough forms. Divide dough evenly among 3 bowls; tint each dough by stirring in a few drops of desired food color.

2. Shape 1/3 cup of each color of dough into a rope about 5 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Place ropes side by side and a little more than 1/4 inch apart on floured surface; roll until 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 2- to 2 1/2-inch egg-shaped cookie cutter so each cookie has 3 colors. (see picture below)

3. Sprinkle with sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. (When rerolling dough scraps, carefully lay matching colors together.)

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Spread frosting on bottoms of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies.

My Sample... (with photo of DS's making these cookies)
Easter 2002 - DPS
Also... here is another take on this challenge.... Easter 2000

Please upload using keywords: SCS52WK15

Happy Birthday to my Sweetheart...

I remember the first time I met him... it seems like just yesterday!
And THAT was 25 years ago...
My how the time has gone by and yet to me he is still the same!
Love and memories will be treasured in my heart forever....
Happy Birthday, I love you Sweetie!

Happy Birthday to my SON!

I am not sure who is feeling older... Me or the Man-Child! I think he is feeling as many growing pains as I am. I wish I knew how to help him make the transition from boy to adult a little smoother. He wants to be so many things when he "Grows-UP!" and if truth be told... he could be.
He is smart, very talented with his hands and has the biggest heart.

Happy Birthday SON!!!!!

Promises.....

I promised my family and friends that I would put more attention into my bog. That is like journal writing for me... "Aint gonna do it! ~ not everyday anyway..." So I decided that even if it was only a sentence or two, I will try to post at least twice a week. We shall see!

Happy April Fools Day!

"Life Surrounded by Color" Challenge...

I have found myself in this one color mode lately, I think it is my way of changing from all the rich, dark beautiful colors of Fall and Christmas to the fresh pastel colors of Spring and Easter...
So in honor of my one color status your challenge is to take your one, (yes one!) favorite color and scrap a page or a card using only shades of that color. And to help you with your challenge I have posted my favorite one color dessert... (just like on the Truffles, white embellishments don't count).

I will be giving away blog candy and PRIZES to those who play.... Deadline is midnight (12:00) East Coast Time, March 31st, 2009 (please post page link as comment or upload to SCS)
Keyword for SCS upload is FTP09MT

Chocolate Mocha Truffles

Ingredients
• 2 packages (12 oz. each) semisweet or milk chocolate chips

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened at room temperature.

• 3 tablespoons of instant coffee or hot chocolate granules
• 2 teaspoons warm water
• 1 pound chocolate coating or use chocolate Ice Cream Topping
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips melted (optional)

Instructions
Melt the chocolate chips (microwave or double boiler). Add cream cheese, coffee or hot chocolate and water; mix well. Chill until firm enough to shape. Shape mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for 1-2 hours or until firm Melt the chocolate coating in a microwave or double boiler. Dip the balls in the chocolate and place on the waxed paper to harden. To save time you can use the chocolate ice cream topping that goes hard when you pour it over cold stuff. Optional: Melt the white chocolate and drizzle over the truffles.

"From The Pantry" Challenge #4

This is the "From the Pantry" Challenge#4 for our SCS: 52 Week / Thursday Challenge #11

I am going to call this challenge... "A Hint of Irish Green"

When I contemplate St. Patty's day memories of my childhood, I think of my Grandmother Irish Stew and homemade Soda bread. My Grandfather use to drink Irish Coffee that smelled so good but tasted so bad. My Great- Grandma use to make a huge stacked white cake with green sprinkles (coconut) that had just a hint of mint or lime. She always decorated the top to look like a shamrock. Recently, on Kraft.com, I came acrossed the recipe and picture for this cake and so in honor of my Irish Heritage, I would like to use that as our Challenge today. Here is the recipe and you will find the Challenge below...

Lucky Shamrock Cake

Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups Baker's Angel Flake coconut
Green food coloring
3 baked 9-inch round cake layers, cooled
1 teaspoon of lime juice or mint flavoring per cake mix
1 2/3 cups vanilla butter cream frosting (Bottom of page)
Green decorating icing

Directions:
Tint coconut with green food coloring and add few drop of fresh lime juice or mint extract.
Leave 1 cake layer whole; cut 1-inch slice from remaining 2 cakes so that cake fits along curve of whole cake.
Prepare vanilla butter cream frosting. Using small amount of frosting to hold pieces together, arrange whole cake at top of serving tray. Place other 2 cakes along lower edges of whole cake, fitting cut ends along curve. Place 2 small slices between 2 layers as stem.
Frost cake with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with coconut. Using decorating icing, outline the cake.
Makes 12 to 16 servings

***Vanilla Buttercream Frosting***
1 (16-oz) package powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
3 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
Beat sugar, margarine, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. If frosting becomes too thick, beat in additional milk by teaspoonfuls, until of spreadable consistency.
Makes about 2 1/2 cups frosting

My Challenge to you is to use the Irish Colors of Green & White to create a page, LO or DPS. You can use sprinkles of green, shamrocks or anything else to show an “Irish Blessing” (hint.... hint)

Please remember to upload using the keywords.... SCS52WK11

You can find my samples here... "Blessed By The Irish"

"A Touch of Spring" - Inspirational Challenge

I was asked to be the Guest Host for today's Inspirational Challenge... So no food today, I get to share with you all another one of my loves... And at this time of year, I get really bored with the drab colors of Winter and I start to get the itch to get out in my garden and fill my heart with the touches of Spring. Also at this time of year, my Irish heart starts longing for new tapestries to hang on my walls.

So my challenge to all of you is for you to create a wall hanging (LO, page or DPS) using any the spring style colors, designs and/or inspiration that you get from my favorite tapestries at the following web site: Simply Tapestries

You can view my LO here.... B's Birthday Bash

Don't forget to upload your treasures using the keyword: IFC29
And you can view the Gallery here...

Remember to come back here and post a reply with a link to your page so that we can leave you lots of comments! I can't wait to see all of your inspirational Touches of Spring....

"From The Pantry" Challenge #3

Good Morning Friends... "From The Pantry"

SCS: 52 Week / Thursday Challenge #7

I like to think that Valentine's Day is for the Love of My Life.... And because I have several, between my Husband and my boys, I always feel like I have to make a choice. So for my February Challenge to all of you, I am going to give you a choice.

You can choose Challenge A ~
Which will be like the Sweetheart Chocolate Lollipops:
You need to use a brown base, White or Cream DP with Red and Pink Accents

OR

You can choose Challenge B ~
Which is like the Jell-o Cupid Cups:
You need to use a red base, White or Cream DP with Chocolate Accents


Chocolate Lollipops
Prep Time: 20 min ~ Total Time: 2 hr
Makes: about 2-1/2 doz. or 30 servings, one pop each

Ingredients:
4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate
3/4 cup* (1-1/2 sticks) butter
2 cups sugar
3 * eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups* flour
4 squares BAKER'S White Chocolate, melted
* Assorted Valentine sprinkles

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate 1 hour or until dough is stiff.
SHAPE dough into 2-inch balls; insert lollipop stick into each ball. Place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets.
BAKE 8 min. or just until set. (Do not overbake.) Let stand on baking sheet 1 min.; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. Drizzle with chocolate; decorate with sprinkles. Let stand until chocolate is firm.


Cupid Cups
Prep Time: 15 min ~ Total Time: 4 hr 15 min
Makes: 8 servings, 2/3 cup each

Ingredients:
1 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted
2 cups* boiling water, divided
2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1-1/2 cups* cold water, divided
ice cubes
1 cup* thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Decorations: assorted Valentine sprinkles and candies


Directions:
DRAW heart design or write Valentine's Day message in each of 8 (6-oz.) clear plastic cups by piping chocolate onto insides of cups. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm.
ADD 1 cup boiling water to 1 pkg. gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water; pour into cups. Refrigerate 1 hour or until gelatin is firm.
MEANWHILE, add remaining boiling water to remaining gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to remaining cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until thickened. Stir in COOL WHIP; spoon over gelatin layer in cups. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Decorate as desired.

The Recipes are from Kraft at www.Kraft.com


My samples are:








The Keyword is SCS52WK07

Next....

Here is my next round of 365's.......

365 Days - Jan. 23 -24

365 Days - Jan. 21 - 22

365 Days - Jan. 19 -20

More 365 Daily's....

I have week #3 of my 365 daily journal finished and finally uploaded. Here are my pages...


365 Days - Jan. 17-18

365 Days - Jan. 15-16

365 Days - Jan. 13-14

365 Days - Jan. 11-12

More 365 Daily's....

Okay... Here are my pages from Week #2...


365 Days - Jan. 9 -10


365 Days - Jan. 7-8

365 Days - Jan. 5-6

"Daily Moments" - 365 Days a Year!

Here are my first six pages in my 365 day journal using stamps, scraps and stuff from my stash...


365 Days - Jan. 3-4

365 Days - Jan. 1-2

365 Days - Jan. Cover

52 Weeks / Sketch #1

I have chosen an awesome website entitled "52 Weeks / 52 Sketches" which will be my challenges and my guidelines for my 52 Weeks book of "Treasured Moments: 25 Years Together"

So for your viewing pleasure... Here is my first completed LO.




If anyone is interested in the website for these challenges... please click the blingie at the right.

52 Weeks -VS- 365 Daily

I have been putting more and more thought into both Challenges and trying to decide which way I would like my approach to be. Some things that I kept asking myself was...

• DO I have time to commit to this Daily
  
• DO I want to scrap that many pages of myself
• DO I want it to be just "ABOUT ME!"
• DO I want to make every page 12 x 12
• DO I want to have both Challenges going at the same time
• Do I want to keep the two Challenges separate
  
• DO I want to incorporate them together into one.

After two full weeks of doing a little scrapping, checking things out and drawing inspiration from others around me. I have decided to keep them separate.

My 365 project will be a 5 x 8 daily scrapped page, including words of wisdom, favorite photos, poems and journal thoughts. Just what ever strikes my fancy for the day.

On the other hand... My 52 week challenge will now be full 12x12 pages mostly hybrid-digital LO's. I still like my original thoughts of my 52 weeks being about the precious "Alone" time spent over the past 25 years with just my DH. I still feel very strongly that by the end of the 52 weeks I will still want to have these pages printed into a book for my DH. There fore, my the need to create some awesome hybrid style Lay-outs.

"From the Pantry" Challenge #2

At this time of the year our family is usually so full of Party Food and we start to settle into our New Year routine and goals. We like saucy comfort foods and easy desserts. So, for this challenge, I decided to give you an easy one... In honor of a New President, Goals, Diets and the New Year, I have chosen a fun and easy dessert.

Festive Meringue Desserts

Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 1 hr 10 min Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

4 egg whites

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup blackberries

1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips melted

3/4 cup thawed Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)

PREHEAT oven to 300°F. Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Blend in vanilla.

SPOON or pipe meringue mixture into 3 (4-inch) rounds onto each of 2 parchment or foil-covered baking sheets. Use a large spoon to make a large indentation in the center of each round, building up the sides of each round as much as possible.

BAKE 1 pan at a time on center oven rack for 55 min. or until dry and golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely on baking sheets. Carefully remove meringues from parchment.

TOSS berries together; set aside. Place chocolate in small microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring after each min. Just before serving, fill meringues with the berries and whipped topping. Drizzle with chocolate.

Your Challenge is to create a scrapbook page or two using Red, White & Blue, Skinny or Small Photos, and you must includes some sort of list or record. Either goals, diet tracker, important thoughts or feelings.

Blog Candy prizes will be awarded to the 2nd and 52nd comment writer... Good Luck!

Also if you are a member of SCS and will be posting your page there, please use the keyword

SCS52WK02

"From The Pantry" Challenge #1

My DH is from CA and the Rose Parade is a big part of his Family's Tradition.
The #1 Family Treat that we have every New Years Day for Brunch while we watch the Rose Parade is what has usually been called...

TOAD-IN-THE-HOLE

What You Need:

12 slices of bread (two for each person)
1 Tbsp. margarine, softened
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
6 eggs
6 slices Bacon, cooked, crumbled


What You Need to do:
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Cut hole in center of each of 6 of the bread slices, using 1-1/2-inch cookie cutter or rim of drinking glass. Discard removed bread circles or reserve for another use.
SPREAD remaining bread slices with margarine. Place, margarine-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Top with cut-out bread slices to make four sandwiches. Break 1 egg into each hole. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and the bacon.
BAKE 15 to 20 min. or until cheese is melted and eggs are set.


What Your Challenge Is:
Create a one photo LO with the picture in the center. Please leave enough white space around the picture to make it look like the baked egg in the center.
Sprinkle the outer edges of your LO with remaining bits of paper, DP's, confetti, embellishments, ribbons, brads and or buttons.
Bake (journal) a 15 to 20 word tag that can be added to your page. You may use hidden journaling if you choose.

Here's my Example:

Happy New Years!

I wanted to start the New Year off the right way! So here is my very first card of the year to say thanks to all my Friends. We had a great 2008 / And it's looking mighty fine for 2009!

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR BEING MY FRIEND...