A Bird, A Best Friend and Beautiful Blooms

I must say that this has been the longest Winter that I have ever experienced.  Don't get me wrong I am all for enjoying what each season has to offer. I even enjoy a good snowstorm.  The kind of storm that keeps everyone inside with a cup of hot coffee and a good book (or in my case a good craft magazine).  But oh my goodness enough is enough already!! I have shared in past posts about my poor snow driving skills and everyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I don't go anywhere if there is a threat of snow. At the rate things are going,  I really didn't think I was going to get out in civilization until July.  Until today...we actually had a day where the dreaded white stuff was not falling from the sky.  My best friend Heidi and I had made plans at the beginning of February to have lunch which was of course cancelled due to snow.  We decided to take advantage of today's weather and spend the afternoon together.  Heidi and I are more like sisters --having known eachother all of our lives.  We lived right next door to eachother from birth and have stayed friends to this day.  We have been through so much together--happy times as well as sad.  I truly don't know what my life would be like without her in it. 

This is my favorite picture of us growing up.  I am the shabby chic dresser on the left and Heidi is the proper pulled together one on the right. 

We had the nicest afternoon.  First a relaxing lunch and then a little shopping at the cutest gift shop.  They have the most wonderful seasonal merchandise and with our need for Spring we couldn't wait to get inside.  We were definitely not disappointed.  Just look at this silly little bird I found.  I love the decoupaged book pages. 

We each needed a few things from the grocery store so we decided to go shopping together.  We just could not leave without taking one of these beautiful primroses home with us.

After this lovely afternoon I feel like a whole new girl.  Just what the doctor ordered to chase away these stir crazy Winter blues. 

Picture of the Week

Sassy--- the Easter Beagle

This is what happens when I am yet once again SNOWED in!!!  I think even Sassy is now wishing for Spring.......

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop---Design Team Appreciation Day

It's that time of month again!!!! Time for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  I participated for the first time last month and had such a wonderful time meeting fellow crafters and viewing their art, I just had to join in the fun once again.  Papertrey Ink has an amazing design team that provides so much inspiration.  I could sit for hours reading their blogs and learning from their completed projects.  This month's challenge is entitled "Design Team Appreciation Day".  Our challenge was to go through the team member's blogs and find a project that was especially inspirational to us. Then recreate the project with our own spin, making it unique.  There are 11 team members so there was a lot of inspiration to choose from. Here is the list--just click on each name and it will take you right to their blogs. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to be inspired.....

Erin Lincoln

Maile Belles

Dawn McVey

Debbie Olson

Heather Nichols

Lisa Johnson

Melissa Phillips

Michelle Wooderson

Niki Estes

Kim Hughes

The design team member that I chose for my challenge inspiration was Betsy Veldman. Betsy is such a talented artist and I know you will enjoy reading her blog as much as I do. The project that I used for my inspiration is this sweet card created by her. 

I loved the idea behind this sweet card.  My little spin on this already wonderful idea was to add additional blank pages to create a mini scrapbook.  The scrapbooks are thin enough to be mailed in a regular envelope just like a card.  How fun would it be to send a photo filled card to your special loved one.  They can easily slip into your purse for a cute brag book.  I created two for this challenge......

What a fun little extra to give the new mommy at her baby shower filled with photos of her special day....

I first saw Betsy's card in December and created several fun Christmas themed projects. (click on the previous link to see the rest of the Christmas projects)   My favorite was this little recipe book....

I hope you can all take a minute to stop by and say hello to these talented ladies.  I really do appreciate each one of them and the inspiration they provide to me.  Thanks girls :)

Hey there Chickie

When Alex and I were running errands a few days ago, I convinced him that I needed to run into Michaels for just a few minutes.  As he patiently waited in the car,  I quickly looked around in search of a fun new toy to help chase away the Winter blues.  It didn't take me long to spy the new Martha Stewart Spring  border punches.  They were all super cute but I finally decided on the adorable chick family. 

I  love using these punches.  They punch so smoothly and and the images are so precise.  The really cool thing about these new border punches are  the way the ends fold for easier storage.    I could hardly wait to create something using this punch.  I set to work and came up with this card.....

I wanted the little chicks to be yellow but the pieces of grass to be green. I punched two images one of each in the desired color.

I then separated the little green chicks from the "grass" base. 

After glueing the grass to the yellow chicks, I added a little ink for accent. 

The card itself measure a 5 1/2 inch square which made punching four  1 1/4 inch squares the perfect amount to create the pieced background.  I used my new large scalloped die from Papertrey Ink to finish off the background adding little holes made with my paper piercer to match the stitiching done by my sewing machine.

The flower was created with  blank chipboard embellishments from Maya Road using both the positive and negative pieces.  To finish off the card I added ribbon from Martha Stewart and some fun buttons from Papertrey Ink.

A fun project to complete.  The colors so bright and cheery on this most dreary winter day.

Picture of the Week

My beautiful flowering pear tree.  This picture without doubt was not taken this week.  I just thought we might all need a little dose of Spring about now.  Oh just look at that happy blue sky.  Ahhhhh---it will not be long now...........

Roses and Starbucks

Two of my most favorite things.   My husband sure knows the way to my heart. There was a yummy blueberry muffin too but it was eaten too quickly for a photo :) 

Because Alex's office was closed today in honor of President's day, we decided to continue our Valentines Day celebration.  We spent the morning doing nothing special--running errands before another big snow fall set to bring us 6 more inches of snow--but we were together just the two of us.  We then went to one of my favorite restaurants, The Log Cabin Inn for an early lunch.  It is actually an old log cabin that was renovated into a cozy restaurant.  We sat at a table in the back room next to  a wall of windows that overlooked a little creek and a wonderful forest.  Today the view was almost hidden by the gigantic icicles that were hanging from the roof.  Our meal was delicious and we had such a lovely time together. 

I also wanted to share with you these beautiful Valentines that I received in the mail.  With all this snow that has fallen in the past week,  the mailman is having a difficult time delivering.  There were several days last week when he just could not get to our street.  I was so happy that these little hand made beauties were able to make it to me before Valentines Day.

First from my wonderful friend Joyce (Scrap for Joy)

I just adore the image she used on this card.  Love You Tons too Joyce :)

And then from my talented friend Michele......

Just look at that sweet little cupid!!! She used one of my favorite papers from Basic Grey. Thank you Michele---  I could not love it more.

I sure hope you all had a special day with your loved ones. 

xoxoxox

Picture of the Week

Happy Valentines Day. 

Wishing you a special day filled with love.

xoxo 

Just for Fun

When Alex was a little boy I used to love reading to him before bedtime.  As he grew,  the bedtime tradition quickly became a thing of the past.  Books were packed up, given to the local library, or to friends for their enjoyment.  There were however a few books that I just could not part with.  You know the ones that we read over and over again--so much so that I could probably read them without even looking at the pages. Just for fun I thought I would share some of the pages of one of my favorites.  It is so appropriate after this weeks weather.....

So all of my snowbound friends---this is a great book to read to all of the special little ones in your life.  See snow can be fun---SNOW CAN BE FUN :) 

Winter "Blues"

The next time I wish for a big snow or listen longingly to the weather reports of cities receiving record snowfalls,  would someone please smack me.  With Friday's snowfall of 23 inches and now with last night's and today's addition of 6 inches and counting I don't think I will ever again venture outside of my home.  Except of course to shovel.  We are making the best of it and I must say it does bring a neighborhood together.  Everyone checking on eachother and lending a hand whenever we can.  I know my son was sure thankful to a kind neighbor who brought his snowblower over to help him dig the driveway out.  With the schools all closed and even my husband's office closed for the day,  it allows for some fun family time.  As the saying goes "When life gives you lemons, make lemonaid".  Well I say "When Winter gives you the blues, make Blueberry Buckle"  And that is just what I did.........

Blueberry Buckle

1/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

2 cups blueberries

In a mixing bowl, cream butter with the sugar until light and airy.

Blend in the egg.

In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture.

Gently fold in the blueberries.

Pour into a greased and floured 8 x 8 inch pan.

Topping

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup butter

Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon in a bowl and cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. 

Sprinkle over batter in the pan.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 -45 minutes.  Place the pan on a rack to cool.  Cut into squares and serve warm.  Serves 6

I am sure this would be wonderful with vanilla ice-cream however I just can't bring myself to eat something cold and white :)