Love My Baby

Sponsor:  A Day For Daisies

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 

Sweet Sketch 138

I made two cards for you today using this precious image, "Love My Baby" from A Day for Dasisies! Can't you just feel the tenderness from Momma Giraffe to her new little one?  I was getting low on baby cards so I thought I would double up using this image! 

The little silver giraffe came in a package of three from my local Scrap That store.  Sad but the owner of this shop is moving out of state and trying to sell her store here in Fircrest, WA, for $40,000 or best offer.  I throw that out to those of you who have always dreamed of having your own scap store!  I do hope she can sell it as I will miss the fun extra papers that she sells.  The coordinating paper on this card came from her shop...it is Bo Bunny.  Who doesn't love Bo Bunny paper?  I loved accenting with the turquoise on this card.

Arlana, I loved working with this sketch too!

We have some new rules at SSW so be sure to check them before you play along!

If you have never played along at SSW.  This is your week!  We have a fabulous sponsor, A Day for Daisies.  Tammy creates the most beautiful  images that will dazzle your imagination!  Go take a peek and look around her shop.  This week as our sponsor, ADFD will offer a
$12 Gift Certificate to her store
for the weekly grand prize winner at SSW. 
So grab the sketch and go grab an image from ADFD and play along with us. 

A DAY FOR DAISIES provides themed categories of over 1000 fun and  whimsical digital images, including fairy tales and magical mermaids,cutie kids, vintage illustrations, sentiments and lovely designs for all occasions!

This is second card I made with "Love My Baby."  I found these papers at Michael's and knew it would go well with this card!  I love the softness of this card and how it came together.

Which is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Dinner

This was last night's dinner for my son's birthday.  I always ask what the birthday person wants me to make for their special dinner.   My son asked for lasagna and salad.  It was an easy request for me.  I know my provencal vegetable gratin dish is also one of his favorites.  My DH won't eat squash so that is why there is also corn.

This is such an easy veggie dish and so colorful! 

Ingredients:

Stove Top Version:

Saute:

Onions and garlic in Olive Oil

Add and Saute:

Zucchini

Yellow summer squash

Add and warm:

Tomatoes.  

Season with Basil and Thyme, Garlic Salt and Sea Salt

Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese

I've even used mushrooms before!

Another Version:

You can make it look even more spectacular by layering the yellow, green and red veggies 

on their side in a pryex dish. Saute onions and garlic first and then arrange uncooked veggies in rows on top of onions and garlic.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

It's quick and easy. Choose what you like and be creative with it! 

I also added a Cesear Salad and Garlic French Bread!

I have to add that the Brownie Trifle was a hit!

I personally am not a chocolate lover but of course, I tried it and it was pretty amazing!

I thought that maybe it had too much of the pudding mixture but it was perfect even for the first time try!

Easy Brownie Trifle

Tomorrow is my oldest son's birthday and he didn't tell me what dessert he wanted for his birthday.  I know he loves chocolate so I decided to make a Brownie Trifle.  I have never made this before so tomorrow will be a taste test.

I baked two boxes of brownie in a 9X13 dish.  Cooled and cut into 1" squares. 

The first layer is brownie and the second layer is layer is 2 packages Sugar Free Instant White Chocolate Pudding and 1 package of Sugar Free Cheesecake Pudding blended with 3 3/4 cup milk.  Then fold in 1 1/2 tubs of Cool Whip.   The pudding mixture will be used for three layers plus a little left over. 

Crush one Heath Bar and sprinkle over Cool Whip and Pudding Mixture.  Then lightly drizzle with Carmel topping.  Repeat layers two more times.  (3 Heath Bars total)

This is what it looks like after two layers.

I had about 9 brownie squares left so I made three little brownie trifle desserts in my one cup pyrex dishes.  I would show them to you but somehow they disappeared after dinner tonight!

Wonder if it will be a hit!  My family loves chocolate!

Hot Pink Water Pearls for Valentines

Just playing again with these fun water pearls.  I had two 50% off coupons that I used at Joann's to purchase these Hot Pink Water Pearls and also the two clear submersible lights.  Each were $4.99 so with the 50% off both items were $4.99 plus tax.  I couldn't pass it up.  It definitely was an impulse buy!  Can you believe Valentines is just around the corner????

Sweet Sketch Wednesday and

Wee Stamps

This darling image is called Rose's Bike Ride. 

You can find it here.

We have a wonderful week for you at

Sweet Sketch Wednesday! 

Arlana has provided this wonderful sketch from the past..one of my favoites.  Quick and easy to put together and it provides a great canvas for your focal point image. 

This is the card I made for Sketch 73 back in 2010.

Wee Stamps is our fabulous sponsor this week and I know and I promise you that you will absolute adore her images.  I know you will definitely want to purchase one of them...so go ahead and then show  us what you have done with your image.

"The owner and illustrator behind Wee Stamps - Sylvia Zet – creates unique designs of charming and whimsical characters, which are loved for their adorable little faces expressing innocence and trustful hearts. Wee illustrations feature cute kids and fluffy animals are available as digital downloads at www.weestamps.com and also as deeply etched red rubber stamps at Whimsy Stamps."

When you play along this week at SSW and follow the sketch, follow all of the rules and comment on SSW, you will have the opportunity to win

3 digis of your choice from 

Wee Stamps. 

Wouldn't that be grand?

I hope your enjoy my creation this week!  I loved adding the little butterfly that is chasing  after Rose on her bike.  I also added a touch of tickles to the center of the roses on the image.

Hope you are enjoying the New Year!  I have enjoyed playing along the past few weeks.  You probably won't see me every week as I am busy coordinating the events at SSW but I will try to show up a little more often.

Thanks for your sweet comments!

Icicle Arrangement

Happy New Year! 

I hope you are all enjoying the new year and relaxing and reminiscing the memories created in the past few weeks! 

I have all my Christmas decorations stored away for next year except this new icicle arrangement I made in November.  I just wanted to share it with you.  I saw an arrangement similar to this at a local craft store, Artco, here in Tacoma.  Their arrangement was much larger and they had used White Cherry Blossoms instead of the greenry and berries. My picture doesn't seem to do it justice but hopefully you can enjoy the beauty of this icicle wonder!  I have decided to keep this arrangement out for the month of January!

I was so taken by this snowy branch that has lights on it.  Then I found a pic that had the icicle greenry, icicles on a branch and white berries.  I found a small glass vase and added fine snow to fill the vase. And the cute little white birds are the finishing touch!  Wa la!!!! The lit branches are battery operated.  I change the batteries about every 7-8 days.

Water Pearls and Submersible Lights

  I also had fun this season experimenting with Water Pearls which you can find online.  I found mine at Joann's along with some submersible lights.  I was able to use, of course, my 50% off coupons which saved alot on this little exstravaganza.  The lights I chose could be several different colors: blue, green, or  red or flashing blue, green, red, and white.

The little pearls are about the size of a mustard seed.  You hydrate them and they become a half inch to a inch depending on the size you purchase.  I have seen them before but always thought they were marbles.  It's the light that makes this so appealing.  It's lovely in a floral arrangement.

Here are photos of the submersible light and the package of water pearls!

I used one tablespoon and it made about one gallon of pearls.  I will be experimenting more with this fun find...thanks to my good friend, Cheryl!

Remember the Moment

I am so happy to create this card for our incredibly talented sponsor, Tammy, who is the owner and creator of all the lovely images at A Day for Daisies.  This image is called "Music for Me."

A DAY FOR DAISIES provides themed categories of over 1000 fun and

whimsical digital images, including fairy tales and magical mermaids,

cutie kids, vintage illustrations, sentiments and lovely designs for
all occasions!

At Sweet Sketch Wednesday,

Arlana has created another wonderful sketch for you to play with this week. 

Play along and have a chance to win a

$12 Gift Certificate at A Day For Daisies

What a sweet gift!  Who wouldn't want Tammy's lovely images?

Hope you are able to enjoy the remaining days of 2011! 

Thanks for stopping by and always remember those special moments in your life!

Hugs, Judi

Traditions! Traditions! Traditions!

Well, it's been some time since I have posted. Today as I was preparing for our holiday festivities, I decided that I would share some of my tradtions with you.

For years I never really knew what to do with all the Christmas cards that would arrive.  Some people have Christmas card hangers or pockets to put their cards in. But even with that a person is not able to have full view of the cards.  Eighteen years ago I got the idea to tape them to my front door....that way I can enjoy them through the season and vistors can see photos of old friends as they come to visit.

This is what my door looks like this year.  During the next week I will be adding about 10 more cards that will arrive after Christmas.  This is the last of the Christmas decorations to come down.  I usually keep my cards up through most of January.

At our household the best holiday dessert is a homemade deep dish apple pie. My mother was a fabulous cook and loved to bake pies of all kinds. Everything I ever learned about pie making I learned from my mother!  Below is a photo of our holiday apple pie which I baked this evening to be devoured tomorrow evening on Christmas Eve.  If you are intested in my recipe, you can find it here.

Years ago I use to prepare a full turkey dinner for Christmas but  about 12 years I realize that I was the only one that wasn't having fun on Christmas...so I changed the Christmas menu to the traditional ham and potato casserole that practically cooked itself while I watched the glow in our children's eyes as they enjoyed their presents.  Sometimes traditions have to be changed! 

Then again sometimes you don't even know that things are traditions until your family speaks up when you don't do them.  My homemade rolls are like that. I used Costco rolls one year and I've never lived it down.

Of course, the best tradition of all is just being together with family!

Whatever your traditions are

enjoy them with your family and have

 a very Merry Christmas!

Babe Basket

Sweet Sketch 112

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sponsor: A Day for Daisies

Good Morning!  It is another Sweet Sketch Wednesday and we are so pleased to have

A Day for Daisies

as our sponsor this week.  If you have not been to Tammy's site you will be in awe at her creations!  Her style is so unique.  If you have a favorite photo, she will even create a digital photo stamp for you!

The image I have used today is called "Babe Basket."  Arlana has provided such a fun sketch this week.  I first created the card below and then decided that I wanted to see what this image would look like with the blanket hanging over the oval so I created the card above.   I always love the added dimension.  The ribbon is from Walmart and has been in my stash for a while but I believe Walmart still carries this ribbon.  I added stickles to the little flowers and a brad on the center of the large flower.  If I make this card again, I will use the jewel as the center of the large flower to give the contrast in color as the stickles lightened the brad.

Be sure to check out our DT lineup at SSW.  You will love their fabulous creations!

If you are the lucky weekly winner at SSW for this sketch, you will win a

$12 Gift Certificate

from A Day for Daisies! 

Remember to grab this sketch and begin your creation!

Now I have some news that is difficult for me to write.

About six weeks ago I decided that I would stepdown from my DT position.  However, I will still be very busy behind the scenes helping Arlana as the DT and Sponsor Coordinator.  I kind of feel like a duck out of water but as you can see I will still have one foot in the pond.  There is a tremendous amount of effort that goes into a blog of this nature.  Arlana, Nancy and I are constantly communicating and working on it.  The SSW DT will still be hearing from me and I will continue to do my best to keep them organized.  As for blogging, I will be stepping away for awhile.  But I am sure that I will be peeking around!  You may even see an occasional card!  Next Wednesday I will be doing the SSW post as my final DT responsibility.   Now why am I stepping down?  Just too many things to catch up on.

I have loved working with the SSW Design Team and will greatly miss creating with them....they seem just like family...even the DT members that have come and gone.  Thanks so much for all of your inspiration and your sweet thoughts!

Now I want to thank Arlana and Nancy for the confidence they gave to me in being on the DT in the first place.    This goes back to the inception of SSW!   Arlana was recruiting her sisters as her DT.  Now you need to know that Arlana and Nancy are the Crafty and Artist ones in the family.  I have always loved crafts but if I cannot quite get it right I will always have Arlana do it for me.  When Arlana asked me to be on the DT I was really hestitant because at that point I had just learned how to use the paper cutters.  In fact I didn't commit to being on the DT until SSW #2.  Well, the rest is history and I have truly enjoyed creating cards and even amazing myself at times. 
Thanks to my wonderful sisters for all their encouragement!

To all of my followers: Thanks for being there for me too.  I appreciate all of your sweet comments and support.

My Recipe:

Image:  A Day For Daisies Babe Basket

Papers:  Design Originals Pink with Hearts, Imaginisce Baby Powder, SU Certainly Celery

Ink: Copics

Tools and Embellishments:  Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and Classic Ovals Large,

SU Scallop Edge Border, SU Eyelet Border, MS Frond,  Ribbon, Flowers, Brad, Jewels, Stickles





Welcome Baby

Sweet Sketch 111

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sponsor:  Digi Stamp Boutique

Happy Sweet Sketch Wednesday!I always enjoy making baby cards so when Sally Ann from Digi Stamp Boutique created this adorable little giraffe I knew it would make into a darling baby card!.  A new baby is always the star of the show so that is why I added the stars for embellishments.  I added the circles underneath the stars to give them more dimension.  My green paper doesn't show the hexagon pattern as well as I would like it too but hopefully you can see it or that you already know this paper!  Bo Bunny papers are some of my most favorite.  I loved working with Arlana's sketch this week.  It was was quick and easy to put together but has enough layers to make it interesting.

Be sure to grab this sketch!

Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor this week.  The owner, Sally Ann, has been such a faithful sponsor at SSW  for two years now....She sponsors us every month and we love her never ending supply of digis which she is constantly creating. 

 Be sure to take some time to look around her site.

For this week's challenge at SSW, she is offering

 6 free digis of your choice

if your are our lucky

Grand Prize Winner!

Now for some fab inspiration, be sure to check out our DT Lineup at SSW!

Thanks for visiting my blog this week

and leaving me a sweet message!

My Recipe:

Image:  Digi Stamp Boutique Baby Giraffe;  SU Short and Sweet

Papers:  Bo Bunny Double Dots, SU Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie

Inks:  Copics, SU Chocolate Chip

Tools and Embellishments:  Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangle,

Cuttlebug Stars Embossing Folder,

Marvy 1" cirlce punch, SU Modern Label, SU Large Oval,

Ribbon, Jewels,

Party Hearty

Sweet Sketch 110-32

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sponsor:  Stamp Fairy

Happy Sweet Sketch Wednesday!  Today I am showing off  Lenny Memorial from Stamp Fairy.  I knew he would make a wonderful birthday card for my SIL.  Well,  this card is long gone....out of my possession so I only have these photos to show for it.  It's always a challenge to create a guy card as it is so easy to create something girly.  I don't think I added too much fuss to this one! My favorite part of the card is probably the hearts made from the Cuttlebug embossing folder along with the EK Starry Night border punch!  I guess if you take those two things away there isn't much left!  However, Lenny is a great little soldier! I also glossed his little night goggles but didn't color them too dark.  I probably could have gone a shade or two darker in the grey tones.

This is Arlana's Sweet Sketch 110-32. 

 A sketch from the past...fun and easy and shows off the image to the tee!

Stamp Fairy is sponsoring SSW this week and has added some wonderful new images since the last time they sponsored us.  You will love looking around.  A few days ago they added some fun images that will work well for Halloween which by the way, is just around the corner.  If you are the Lucky Weekly Winner at SSW  this week you will win 4 digis of your choice from the Stamp Fairy Shop!  Grab the sketch and start creating!

My Recipe:

Image:  Stamp Fairy Lennie Memorial Day, SU Party Hearty

Papers:  Chatter Box Mini Sandbox Stripe, Scrapbook Walls Great Olive Stripes,

SU Red Riding Hood and Brilliant Blue

Inks:  Copics and Promarker

Tools and Embellishments:  Nestabilities Standard Circles Large and Small, EK Starry Night, Nestabilites Ribbon Tags Trio, Cuttlebug Stars Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Jewels, Glossy Accents