Valentine Apple Pie

My mother was absolutely the best pie maker in the world....apple, rhubarb, raisin, peach, lemon, cherry, coconut cream, banana cream...well, I don't think I can name all of them.

My husband has been wanting my apple pie for some time now. So I finally decided to make it for him for Valentine's Day! Well, it was a big hit.

I always make my pie in a 9X13 pyrex dish. Then I decorate it according to the holiday. Thanksgiving is a turkey...Christmas is usually holly and berries.....just whatever I decide to try.

This time I added a little cinnamon and sugar on the heart.

My mom had a wonderful crust recipe that she made by feel...I use to know how to make it the way she did...However, I found that if I wasn't making it on a consistent basis, my crust was not flaky like hers. So I finally resolved myself to using the following pie crust. It is a winner and works every time.
Never Fail Pie Crust
Mix together with pastry blender: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup shortening, 1 teaspoon salt.
Add to first mixture: 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup water, 1 Tablespoon vinegar
Mix together with fork.
This recipe is perfect for a 9X13 dish or three 9" rounds. If rolled very thin you may get four rounds. Sometimes I just make a baby pie for the kids! They love it!
My favorite tool for making apple pie is the Apple Corer Slicer Peeler by Pampered Chef. A real time saver....you just have to remember to buy firm apples. When buying golden delicious apples, I look for the greenest apples I can find. If they are yellow, they are too soft for this tool and you will have to peel, core and slice by hand.
Judi's Apple Pie Filling
10-12 golden delicious apples....sometimes I throw in an apple or two that is getting too soft to eat...any variety.
1 cup brown sugar
3-4 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon plus of cinnamon
1 teaspoon plus of nutmeg
2-3 Tablespoons of melted butter
Mix together and pour into 9X13 dish prepared with bottom crust. Cover with top crust. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees.
Enjoy!

Thank You
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Sweet Sketch 36
Sponsor: Soft Pencil


Whoo Hooo! It's Wednesday again....time for Sweet Sketch Wednesday. If you haven't taken the time to play along...this is your week. Our sponsor is Soft Pencil. They are offering $10 towards your choice of digis from their site. Take a few minutes and brows around in their shop. You might also want to check out their blog.



The image I used was such a sweet image.....Flowers for You. Perfect for Valentines, Easter or a little Thank You. As you can see I chose to make it a Thank You card since I can use them in my stash!

The sketch this week is so perfect for almost any image. Come on....get your creative juices flowing and play along with us this week. Check out all the details on Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Supplies:
Image: Soft Pencil Flowers for You. SU Short and Sweet
Paper: SU Groovy Guava, Barley Banana, Certainly Celery, Nana's Nursery Baby Girl
Ink: Copics
Tools and Embellishments: Nesties, SU Word Window, SU Modern Label, Flower Brads, Ribbon, Pearls

A Wagon Full of Hearts
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Sweet Sketch 35
Sponsor: The Stamping Boutique





I loved this image from The Stamping Boutique. The picture doesn't show it but I used stickles to add sparkle to the lace cloth, the wheels and the star dust from the hearts. Also it was my first time using this new border punch from Stampin' Up.




Our sponsor this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday is The Stamping Boutique. Tracey has wonderful images on her site. Please take a few moments to check them out. You will love her designs.

Sweet Sketch 35

Just a special thanks to all of you who have shown your love and concern for Nancy and our family. We appreciate your thoughtfulness !

Supplies:

Image: The Stamping Boutique Wagon Full of Hearts

Paper: SU Purely Pomegranate, Melon Mambo, The Paper Company Db Sided Mulberry, Provo Craft Little Princess Hearts

Ink: Copics

Tools and Embellishments: SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Marvy Heart, Stickles, Brads, Ribbon

Wish Big

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sweet Sketch 34

Sponsor: Digital Pencil Too

First off, I want to thank Mo at Digital Pencil Too for this fabulous image! Isn't she the sweetest thing you have ever seen? Be sure to take a moment to view her images. I love her attention to detail! If you play along this week at SSW, you will have a chance to be the Winner of the Week and receive a $10 gift code from Digital Pencil Too

Arlana's sketch is fantastic this week. You will see what I mean when you view the design team's cards! Unbelievable!!!!

Go ahead you can create something fabulous too! Check out the details at SSW.

Supplies:

Image: Digital Pencil Too: End of Summer

Stamp: SU Short and Sweet

Paper: SU Bashful Blue, Heidi Grace Designs A Bird's Tale/Flowers, Imaginisce Baby Powder/Oopsie Daisy

Ink: Copics, SU Pink Passion

Tools and Embellishments: Marvy 3" circle, Sizzix Circle Scallop, SU Circle Punch 1 3/8", Fiskars Circle punch 1 1/2", SU Modern Label, Ribbon, Brads, Stickles

True Friend

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sweet Sketch 33

What a Sweet Sketch we have this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday! I love Arlana's sketches. They are so fun to create with!

This card is for my dear friend who is battling her second round of stage 4 Breast Cancer. I have never sent her a Valentine card before but this one will be sent with heartfelt love and prayers!

This week at SSW our sponsor is Digi Stamp Boutique. Sally-Ann has such wonderful designs. Take a few minutes to check out all of her designs at her shop. You will also enjoy visiting her blog. For the Winner of Week, her prize is $10 free digi images from her shop! So take a few minutes and play along this week. Check out all the details at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Supplies:

Image and Stamp: Digi Stamp Boutique Coco and Little Hearts, SU Simple Friendship

Paper: Bazzill green, Me and My Big Ideas heart, Imaginisce Baby Powder Tiny Tantrum

Ink: Copics, SU Old Olive

Embellishments and Tools: Stickles, EK or Paper Shapers Heart punch

As For Me and My House
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Sweet Sketch 32

Our sponsor this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday is Fresh Brewed Designs. Heather has such wonderful designs as you will see from our Design Team Cards this week. Also you will want to stop by her store to check out all of her designs....a very talented lady! Visit her blog for an added treat!

Fresh Brewed Designs

Hope you enjoy my card this week! First off, I have always loved the scripture, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." So when I saw this image on Fresh Brewed Designs I knew it was the one I wanted to use.

Then as I hunted through my papers I knew that the checks and hearts would give this image a homey look. I was going to use white paper for the window and then stickle it for the glistening look from the sun but I loved the little heart inside the house and I thought that the blue in the window looked like curtains.

I chose the Cuttlebug Divine Swirl to give texture to the plain paper but also to look like swirly clouds. Since the sentiment was already written around the image, I decided to make a garden in front of the house. I call these Teri's Flowers as she is one of our DT member at SSW and uses these flowers in a lot of her creations. I just love them.

I was going to put a flower on the circle but decided that the house needed "Sunshine from Above." Thus the yellow rhinestone. It could have used a larger rhinestone (It is 3/8") but I am trying to use my stock on hand and this way the focus is still on the image!

Enjoy! Now let us see what you can create for us this week! Follow Arlana's sketch. Check out the details on SSW. If you are the winner, you will receive $15 of digi images of your choice. Whoo Hoo!!!

Supplies:

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs: Me and My House

Paper: Su Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze, K & Company Wild Raspberry

Embellishments: Paper Piecing, Nestibilities, MS Circle Cutter, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls, Fiskars Heart Border Punch, EK Flower Punches, Ribbon, Rhinestones

Thanks for visiting my blog and thank for all the sweet comments!!!

Thanks Snow Much Again!
Sweet Sketch 31
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Guess I am still stuck on snowmen and love the Thanks Snow Much sentiment! Joni at Inktegrity had this cute Bear Hug image which I just couldn't resist. So here it is! I had some fun with paper piecing and lots of punching, square, circles, border, label, word window and nestibilities along with this cute ribbon that my sister, Arlana, shared with Nancy and me.

Integrity is our sponsor this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Take a few moments and check out her store and blog. Joni has some great designs that you will enjoy. Play along at SSW and you will have a chance at being the Winner of the Week. Intergrity is offer free digi prize to the winner.

Also Arlana is looking for a few new Design Team members, so if you are interested, check out the details at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Supplies:

Images: Inktegrity Bear Hug, Computer generated sentiment

Paper: SU Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Making Memories; Kelly Panacci Atomic Turquoise, Turquoise Mini Squares

Ink: Copics

Embellishments and Tools: Stickles, Brads, Ribbon, Nestibilities, McGill 1 7/8" square punch, SU 1 3/4" circle punch, Fiskars 1 1/2" circle punch, SU eyeleet border punch, SU Modern Label, SU word window punch

Thanks Snow Much
Sweet Sketch 30
Sweet Sketch Wednesday




Hard to believe that this is the last week of the year and that a New Year is on it's way! Although I always enjoy the New Year...a great time to organize and regroup and make all those wonderful new resolutions!

This is the 30th week of Sweet Sketch Wednesday which is one of my sister's sketch site. Arlana has always been so creative and is continually full of new ideas. For those of you that have followed us these past 30 weeks, I hope that you have enjoyed her sketches and the creativity of all of her Design Team. Arlana is busy again creating new sketches for the New Year so we hope that you will hang around to enjoy the fun.

This week at SSW our sponsor is Squiggle Fly. I chose this wonderful Snowman and had so much fun creating this card. Squiggle Fly is offering 3 digis to the Winner of the Week. So take a few minutes this week and let your creative juices flow and post your card on SSW. Check out all the details at SSW.

Supplies:

Image: Squiggle Fly, Snowman, Computer generated sentiment

Paper: DCWV

Ink: CopicsEmbellishments and Tools: Marvy 3" circle punch, MS Circle punch, SU Modern Label, MS Snowflake, Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Brads, Stickles, Ribbon

Happy New Year! Thanks for Stopping by!

Be Merry
Sweet Sketch 29
Sweet Sketch Wednesday






I just loved this Snow Rollin' image the moment I saw it. Reminds me of my younger years playing in the snow. This week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday our sponsor is Fresh Brewed Designs.


You will want to check out the DT designs at SSW to see some of the fun snowball images.
Also check all the other images at Fresh Brewed Designs. You will love them too.





Merry Christmas! After all the excitement is over, relax and take a few moments to create your own card to play along with this week's sketch. Check out all the detail at SSW.The prize for this week's winner will be $20 worth of digi images! Wow! Sounds like it is time to definitely play along! Hope you will!

Supplies:

Image and Stamp: Fresh Brewed Designs Snow Rollin' and SU Short and Sweet

Paper: The Paper Studio: All I Want for Christmas, SU Certainly Celery

Ink: Copics and SU Bashful Blue
Embellishments and Tools: MS border punch, Cuttlebug Snowflakes, Nestibilities, SU Oval Punch, Modern Label, Stickles, Brads

Sweet Sketch 28
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Giddy up...Let's go!

What a fun image and sketch this was! This image is from Digi Stamp Boutique. I just fell in love with Santa and Rudolph! Our sponsor this week is Digi Stamp Boutique. Sally Ann, the owner, has such wonderful images and is offering a fabulous $15 prize of her digis...your choice if you are the Winner of the Week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. All you have to do is play along and use this sketch of the week with any of your stamps or images. Check out all the details on SSW.

Supplies:

Image: Digi Stamp Boutique: Santa and Rudolph

Paper: Paper Studio, My Minds Eye, DCWV Red

Ink: Copics

Embellishments: Nestabilities, SU Word Window, MS Snowflake, Rhinestones, Ribbon, Stickles, Gold pen

Have a great week as you complete your final preparations for Christmas Day!

Whimsical Girl Thank You
Sweet Sketch 27
Sweet Sketch Wednesday




This darling image is from Bee Crafty. Isn't she just precious! This week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, Bee Crafty is our sponsor and is offering 3 digi images to the "Winner of the Week." What a fun time to play along and have the opportunity to win a few new fun images to add to your collection. Check out the details at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Also check out all the cards that the SSW Design Team has made just for your inspiration!




Supplies:
Images and Stamp: Bee Crafty Whimsical Girl, SU Short and Sweet
Paper: American Girl, SU Pink Passion
Ink: Copics
Embellishments: Brads, Ribbon
Tools: SU Modern Label, SU Scallop Oval

I have two cards this week using the same sketch. Several weeks back before we had a sponsor for this week, I used this sketch with an image from Digi Stamp Boutique. I had used Sophie for a Christmas card which you can view here. But I wanted to see how Sohpie would look as a Birthday card! Isn't she classy! Love those boots!
Thanks for all your sweet comments this past week! Have a great week as you continue to prepare for the holiday!
Big Wish SophieSweet Sketch 27
Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Supplies:
Digi Image and Stamp: Sophie from Digi Stamp Boutiques, SU Short and Sweet
Paper: Paperil: Rouge & Mocha, SU Pink Pirouette
Ink: SU Close to Cocoa, Copics
Embellishments: SU Large Oval, Brads, Ribbon

Grandma's Sleep Over

What a fun weekend I had with my grand daughter. I always try to do something fun and different with her. At four I can already tell she has some spectacular creative genes!

Two months ago my older son, Derek, told me about Wilton Food Writers. So I was on the hunt for them. I couldn't find them in Tacoma but on my last trip to Utah I found the gold mine at Michael's! They offer Primary, Neon and I think pastels... Then I found the Christmas display and located the Christmas Green and Red pen. When I returned home, Michael's also had the Christmas display.

As you can see, she was quite occupied with the Food Writers. Yesterday she asked to decorate some cookies for Derek's birthday present!

If you have any fun creative ideas to do with children, I would love to have you leave me a comment and share your ideas! This is a monthly event with my grand daughter and future grand children so I can use lots of ideas! Just trying to create memories and traditions with them!

Sweet Sketch 26 and Double Take 26
Sweet Sketch Wednesday






Wow, December is already here! It's hard to believe that it is almost Christmas again! It is my favorite time of year but for some reason my time seems to get busier every year. Just wish I could slow time down a bit!


Our little part of the country has made national news the past few days. My heart is heavy for the families of the four police officers who were shot and killed on Sunday morning just 12 minutes from my home. It will be a very difficult Christmas for their families and loved ones.

This week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, our sponsor is Whimsie Doodle. Melyssa has wonderful images on her site. Take a few minutes and check out her designs here. If you play along this week at SSW and follow Sweet Sketch 26 or Double Take 26, you will have a chance to become the Winner of the Week and win two digi images from Whimsie Doodle. So get your design juices flowing and play along!

This week we have a Double Take along with Sweet Sketch 26. You can use either sketch to create your card.

I had so much fun working with these fabulous Whimsie Doodle designs. Hope you enjoy both of my cards. Have a great week working on your Christmas preparations. Just finished decorating my house....loving the festive feel!

Supplies:

Images and Stamp: Whimsie Doodle Digi Images, SU

Paper: Old stock not sure of the name

Ink: Copics, SU Basic Black

Embellishments: Stickles, Scribbles, Rhinestones, Ribbon

Tools: MS Snowflake, Marvy Snowflake, SU 1 3/4 circle punch, MS Circle cutter, SU corner punch

Double Take 26

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Supplies:

Images and Stamp: Whimsie Doodle Digi Image, SU Perfect Presentation
Paper: Debbie Mumm Harvest and Holiday, Old Stock not sure

Ink: Copics, SU Old Olive, Real Red

Embellishments: Ribbon, Rhinestones, Stickles, Scribbles,
Tools: Sizzix SU Large Circle, Sizzix scallop, SU scallop punch, SU 1 1/4 circle punch

Thanks for stopping by!