Three in One

Hello all and Happy Halloween!

Here's a little project made by Bean and Sprout.  We made a few of these.

I also want to share a card I made using an adorable FREEBIE from Birdie Brown.  I really  fell for this image.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes and the paper is Shery K Designs.  My card meets the following challenges: Paper Makeup - Layers, Love to Create - Lots of Layers, and Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes.

And here is a card Bean made all on her own for her teacher.  Just a reminder: SHE'S ONLY  5.  And I'm one of those who encourages a child to think on their own...sure I give a few options, like papers and layouts, but the rest is up to her.  She is using Halloween Windows Cat from Bugaboo Stamps.

I am entering Bean's card in the following: Art with No Boundaries - Halloween, Crafty Boots Junior Challenge - Halloween, and MyGrafico - Halloween.
So I hope you all are staying dry if you're on the East, and that you have a wonderful and safe evening!!

Blue Christmas

Hello and Happy Monday!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Today I'd like to share a CAS card using a stamp from DigiStamp Boutique.

Why blue?  Because that's one of my favorite colors!!  I saw a layout like this somewhere, and I wish I could give proper credit, but I go to so many sites that I don't always note these things (and I try to make a point of giving credit where credit is due).

I'm attempting to show a little bit of the dimension.  I LOVE pop dots!!  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes.  That's it for today.  One more Christmas card complete!!

This meets the following challenges:

• Holly Jolly Christmas - Here Comes Santa Claus
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Birthday Bobblehead Bunny

Hello and Happy Saturday!  My mom is back from Rome and I think all will be good in the world again.  As long as I don't have to stay home with Monster Baby, then I won't go crazy.

Anyway, this week, the challenge at Catch the Bug is a recipe challenge:

1 CIRCLE 3 BRADS

And it gave me an opportunity to make a birthday card for Auntie Diane.

I don't make circle cards much, but this was super easy!  Used my nesties to make the base, cut off one bottom (so the card can stand), then put my DP on top.  I don't know why I don't do more of these!

Can you see my little cut bottom?  The little flowers are a Cuttlebug die with 3 TINY brads (I don't even recall buying those tiny little things).  Sewing.  And the adorable Bobblehead Farm Rabbit with a little glaze.  I know she'll love it because she likes all my stuff....even the "bad" stuff!

This meets the following challenges:

• Fab n Funky - Animals
• Nutcrafters - Round and round
• Charisma Cards - Don't be Square 
• Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Gingerbread Freebie

Hello and Happy Friday!  Today is FREEBIE FRIDAY at Bugaboo stamps and I'm here to deliver the 4-1-1.  I've got to keep on top of the jive talk so I can keep up with Bean!

So this weeks freebie is Gingerbread Pocket...and he's got other friends in pockets too!  The papers are Shery K from MyGrafico.

I'm using Jolly Ranchers as my prop so you can see just how little this pillow box is!  I'm thinking it will hold a pair of earrings (made by me of course) this Christmas.  So you have ONE WEEK to get your freebie!!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

This meets the following challenges:

• Crafty Ribbons - Christmas
• Sassy Studio - Pink Christmas
• ABC Christmas - Up To You (Anything goes Christmas)
• The House that Stamps Built - Anything but a card
• Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

Chubby Butterflies

Hello and Happy Thursday.  Today at Catch the Bug is Oldie but Goodie day!

Also, you still have time to enter this weeks challenge - BINGO.  I mention that because my card also fits the challenge: Button, Sentiment, and Paper Piercing.

I did the piercing with my sewing machine - without the thread.  I can't imagine doing that by hand!

My lovely butterflies are Chubby Butterfly 1 and Chubby Butterfly 2, and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.  The "topper" is CAS and is put on the PTI CS with pop dots for added dimension.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!!

This meets the following challenges:

• The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
• Make it Monday - Anything Goes
• One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
• Stampin Sisters in Christ - Peaceful, John 16:33

Soar with Doodle Pantry

Hello all and Happy Wednesday.  Today I'd like to share the card I made for my DH's 41st birthday.

I'm using the adorable Super Birdie from Doodle Pantry and the text circle is a freebie also from DP.  I went as CAS (clean and simple) as possible - since I'm horrible with masculine cards, I figured just do the minimum.

For his birthday, we treated him to a hang gliding - thus the super bird...the inside I wrote for him to soar on his special day.  I will enter this in this months Doodle Pantry challenge - Use a Doodle Pantry image.

Here's a pic of him getting ready to fly.  Now he wants to do this full time....boy did I screw up with this present!  I should have got him a vacuum cleaner!

This meets the following challenges:

• Creative Stamp Friends - Man Card 
• Eureka Stamps - Things with Wings 
• Lollipop Crafts - Happy Birthday
• Make My Monday - Red White Blue 

Bugaboo Winter Penguin

Hello all and Happy Tuesday!  So, my mom has been in Rome.  She looks after Sprout during the day while we work.  That means I took last week off and my DH took this week off to watch the baby.  I thought: this will be a breeze and I'll get some crafting, sewing, and house cleaning done.  Well, that wasn't exactly what happened.

1) Sprout fell off the bed - again
2) she doesn't sleep, so I now have a million ways to entertain an 8 month old for HOURS at a time
3) my house is a DISASTER
4) my DOG ATE my CAT (no joke) - May Sid rest in peace
5) said dog got out and may possibly be poisoned - he's been sick for days
6) Friday I had a mini melt down

So to all you SAHM's - I applaud you for being able to keep it all together!!  And here is a pic of the little monster who brings me such stress!!

Today I'm also sharing a card using a rather new release over at Bugaboo Stamps.

I've actually made a few Christmas cards so far!  So I'm happy about that.  This little guy is Winter Penguin - can't wait to get the rest of the collection!

I went with a rather CAS look, trying to use his skis to work with the angle.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes (such a GREAT set!).

Make a Wooden Button

Hello all and Happy Wednesday. I hope you all are well. I on the other hand am still dealing with Sprout issues. Did I mention that at 8 months old, she is now crawling? So she grabs everything in sight, bumps her head a LOT, cries all the time day and night, and is still adorable. I guess with age comes patience - so thank the Lord I'm OLD!!

Today I'm sharing a super quick way to make a 3D embelishment.  Here is another use for those wooden shapes you might have laying around.  Make a coordinating button for your creation.

Pick your paper, and your wooden shape - does NOT have to be a circle.

Put glue or Mod Podge on your wooden shape.

Place shape on wrong side of DP - I make sure to press down on the shape for full glue coverage.

Allow to dry (doesn't take long at all), cut around shape with scissors or xacto, and use a nail file to soften edges.

Use Cropadile to punch holes.  Hint: punch down slowly.

Add to your creation.

 I'm using Bugaboo's AKV Baby Blocks for my baby tag, and now the button is the same as the DP.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Petite Pairs and I added a little sewing.  Thanks for stopping by.  I will be linking this up with Tatertots & Jello, Flamingo Toes, Skip to My Lou, and Inspire Me Fridays.

Fall Inspiration

Hello and Happy Saturday.  Today, the new challenge at Catch the Bug is:

Yeah, well, I'm not really good at inspirational photos, but I gave it my best shot.  I went with colors and an apple from the Bugaboo Brat Apple Mini Set.

I know it's rather CAS (clean and simple), but again, I'm short on sleep and have an 8 month old with an attitude!  She doesn't allow me much free time...but I know it's temporary.

This meets the following challenges:

• Sarah Hurley - Autumn
• Simply Create - Anything Goes
• Divas by Design - Anything Goes
• Inky Impressions - Colors of Autumn
• Little Red Wagon - Fall

Lovely Bugaboo Freebie

Hello and Happy Friday.  Today I get to share another fabulous FREEBIE from Bugaboo Stamps!

I don't usually lean toward these types of images, but really fell for this one when I saw it.  I'm more into "cute" but thought this was absolutely lovely.

The papers are from Shery K and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.


That's all from me today.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  I hope to get much needed sleep.  We took Sprout to the doctor to ask why she's not sleeping....because she's a baby.  Yup, that was the answer we received.  Oh well...

Window Owl

Hello all and Happy Thursday.  For me, it's Sleepy Thursday.  We've been having a lot of problems lately getting Sprout to sleep.  She just refuses!  That makes for rough nights and even rougher mornings.  Anyway, I have a card to share using a wonderful FREEBIE from Designed2Delight.

Faith is bringing back the progressive challenges, so if you use this freebie by October 19 in the D2D challenge, then you get next months image free.  It really is a win-win situation.

OK, I'm not taking credit for this card at all.  As a matter of fact, I was inspired by Dee's card during the Blog Hop.

Here is the inside...which shows the D2D freebie better.  I didn't include any embellishments and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Holiday Best.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

This meets the following challenges:

• One Stitch at a Time - BOO
• Scrappy Frogs - Fall/Halloween
• My Sheri Crafts - Apple or Pumpkin
• Sweet Stampin challenge - Through the Window
• The Poodles Parlour - Halloween
• Designed2Delight - Use Image

Stella Says Sketch with Edward Elephant

Hello all and hope you had a fabulous weekend!  Today I'm sharing a thank you card using this weeks Stella Says Sketch:

It's a super duper easy layout!  I've been collecting the Edward Elephant collection at Bugaboo Stamps - he's so sweet.  Now, I finally had a chance to color him up!  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's A Word for You.

I hope you get a chance to use the sketch for a chance to win.

This meets the following challenges:

• Platypus Creek - Be Thankful
• Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes
• Annabelle Stamps - Thanks
• Stampin With the Dragon - Animals

Party Boy with Cupcake

Hello and Happy Saturday!  Today starts the latest Catch the Bug Challenge:

ANYTHING GOES

So I'm sharing the card I made for my Brother's 43rd birthday!

I'm using Wee One Cupcake Boy and I thought I'd give banner making a shot.  It took two attempts, but I think I did ok.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's A Word For You.

It's rather CAS because I wanted the colors to "pop."  Hopefully he liked it!  Thanks for stopping by my short post today and have a wonderful weekend!

Bugaboo Freebie Turkey

Hello and Happy Friday!!  Woo-hoo!  I made it!  So, I'm a big fan of FREEBIE FRIDAY at Bugaboo Stamps and can't wait to share it with you all.  So without further adieu:

He made me smile because he's got such a silly little face!

The papers are from Sherry K Designs and the little sentiment is computer generated.  So snatch him up while you can!

Make New Mexican Red Chile

This post is specifically for my little cousin Sarah.

Hopefully, the chile you got is good and tasty.  So let's start!

1) clean your chile.  Take off the tops and empty the seeds.  Also, keep an eye out for any areas of mold.  If it's just a spot, take it off and keep the rest of the chile.  If it's too much, throw the pod away.

2) do a couple of water washes.  Fill your pan with clean water and move the pods around to clean off any dirt.  Do this a few times.  Warning: this is when you will start to choke and cough!!  LOL!

3) boil

4) once your chile is soft and has changed color, it's time to blend.

5) using tongs, put some pods in blender and a good amount of clean water.  (you can click on any image to make larger)  Take note of how much I put - do NOT try to rush by putting in too many chiles.  Trust me on this one!  Add garlic and salt.  Blend....blend....blend....blend.  Take your time here.  Allow it to FULLY blend.  This is also a good way to get rid of any extra little seeds so they don't get caught in your teeth.

6) repeat step 5 using up the rest of the pods.

STOP HERE FOR CHILE ONLY, OR CONTINUE TO MAKE WITH PORK

So put your blended chile aside.  Yes, this is the nice, bright color you are going for.  The darker red chile you see in some restaurants are usually made of powdered chile.  Not my favorite.

 1) Get a pork loin - trust me, this will save you time from cutting all the fat off.  BUT, you don't get chicharones from the loin.  So it's all up to you.  Cut into small squares.  Add some oil since it's lean and you don't want it to burn or dry out.  Cook it FAST.

2)  Once the meat is cooked and a little browned, add some flour.  Mix to make sure the flour covers the meat properly and it also soaks up the oil.

 3) Your meat should be nice and coated and a pretty color (I'm all about pretty colors!).

4) Add your chile to the pot and stir.  This is the messy part when the chile will pop all over the stove - but it's worth it!!  Bring to a boil until the little bubbles gather in the center.  NOTE: with the flour on the meat, the chile will thicken, so don't be afraid to add a little fresh water to thin it out a bit - which makes dipping the corn tortillas easier when making enchiladas.  You will want it thicker for posole and just eating.

I hope this helps!!  We miss you and look forward to seeing you next month!!!!

Bugaboo AKV turkey

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I've been a little busier than usual, and only think it's going to get worse!  Anyway, I'm here to share a new release at Bugaboo Stamps.

He is the latest in the AKV series.  I actually had to google a turkey to get an idea of the colors!  I know, I can color him anyway I choose, but at least I found out they're mostly brown-ish.  The papers are from Sherry K Designs, and a computer generated sentiment.

A little close up...I think this could use a little glossy accents.  I'll have to consider that before sending it out.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!!