POCKET SILHOUETTES

I recently watched a crafting show where the guest assembled a scrapbook page that looked like it had louvre styled blinds in the background.  After watching the show I just had to use this technique in card making.  The very next day, two of my dear friends came over for a crafter's play date and we set about making our projects.  

Through trial and error, I was able to create this beautiful card.

Supplies Needed:

Stamp Set:  Pocket Sillouhettes

Card Stock: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point

Accessories:

Designer Series Paper ~ Maine Blueberry 

5 Petal Flower Punch

Spring Bouquet Punch - retired

White Gel Pen

Sponge

Sticky Strip

Paper Piercer

The frame was made by using my paper trimmer (you could use a HOBBY BLADE and straight edge).  I made the frame with measurements of 5 1/2" x  4 1/4".  I set the blade into the card stock at 3/4" and cut to 3 1/2" on the short side and 3/4" to 4 3/4" on the long side so that the border would stay 3/4" all the way around.  

Cut 16 ~ (4" x 1") strips of DESIGNER SERIES PAPER.  Score at 1/2" on all strips.  Fold and smooth with bone folder.

On the inside edge of the frame, I first marked (using a white pencil) the center point on each long side and then marked out 1/4" intervals to the inside edge of the frame (you do this so that you can evenly line up the slats).

Run STICKY STRIP along both long sides of the frame.  Starting from the outside edge on both ends place one slat with the crease towards the center.  Keep working in this fashion until all slats are in place.  Run another Layer of STICKY STRIP along the long sides and adhere to the card.

I embellished with the 5 PETAL FLOWER PUNCH, SPRING BOQUET PUNCH (retired) and WHITE GEL PEN.  The leaves were made from two of the petals from the 5 PETAL FLOWER PUNCH.  To get the white streaks from the center of the flower, I put a dot of the WHITE GEL PEN down and used my paper piercer to pull the color out towards the petal.

The stamped image is from POCKET SILHOUETTES, I stamped the image on Bali Breeze in Pacific Point and sponged the outside edges in the same color.  I layered the stamped image to make it stand out a bit more against the slats.  

**The first stamped image I had made was too big for the frame.  I had made the outside square to measure at 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" and it filled the inside of the frame.  I scaled down the image to 2" x 2" and it fit perfectly.**

SOCK MONKEY FUN

This is one of the first stamp sets I used out of the demonstrator sneak peek.  I hand trimmed the image of the sock monkey and the five bananas.   This card was easy to piece together, just time consuming in the trimming.  

To make this card:

Stamp Sets:  Sock Monkey

Card Stock:  Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss

Ink / Stampin' Write Marker:  Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, So Safron.

Accessories:

  Designer Series Paper ~ Bella Rose

1 1/4" Circle Punch

1" Circle Punch

Paper Snips 

ALFAJORES

These are the most awesome sandwich cookies ever~

I was first introduced to alfajores  by my Mother-in-Law, who brings a box with her every time she visits from Argentina.  My husbands favorite are the Jorgito brand, which are very soft and cake like.  They have a slight citrus flavor, a generous serving of Dulce de Leche and are covered with powdered sugar.  I really, really liked these alfajores.  

In 2005, we traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to visit family.  While on this trip we traveled four hours to Mar del Plata, which is where my husband used to spend his summer vacations as a child.  While visiting this coastal town we played on the beach (scared the locals with our pasty white skin), saw a real gaucho, ate amazing pastries every morning and sampled quite a few versions of this treat called alfajore!  I had two favorites as we headed back for Buenos Aires.  The first was coated in dark chocolate and the second was actually called a "Conito" and was only one layer of cookie with a swirl of Dulce de Leche that was covered with dark chocolate.  

This homemade version of the cookies is really, really good! I've made them quite a few times and they have always been a big hit.

~COOKIES~

15 T Unsalted Butter, room temp
1 C  Sugar
1 Egg, room temp
2 Egg yolks, room temp
5 C All Purpose Flour
4 T Honey
1/2 T Baking Soda
2 T Baking Powder
1/2 T Vanilla

1 Jar Dulce de Leche (spreadable) **

3 C Chocolate candy coating**

Cream butter, sugar, egg, yolks, honey and vanilla in mixer using the whisk attachment.

In another bowl mix flour, baking soda & baking powder; slowly add the flour mixture into butter mixture working the dough until it is smooth then let it rest for 30 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4" thickness and cut with circle cutter (this dough tends to stick to the board and the rolling pin quite easily, just piece the dough back together and keep rolling it out). 

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 350 degrees until they are golden brown. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Spread a layer of dulce de leche onto one cookie and sandwich with another cookie.

Melt the candy coating in the microwave starting at 1 minute and then stirring very well. Move to 30 second intervals making sure to stir well.**

Drop each sandwich cookie into the melted chocolate and then let the chocolate set.

Enjoy.

**You can make this with 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. Boil the unopened can of milk for 30- 60 minutes making sure to keep the can covered with the boiling water.  This Dulce de Leche is really good and gives a bit of a crunch to it in the cookie sandwich.  Making the Dulce de Leche this way is said to be dangerous as the can might explode.  Do NOT open the can while it is still hot.  I have used both versions of Dulce de Leche and find the convienience of the store bought spreadable version much easier.**

**when working with the candy melts, know that they maintain their shape even when they melt so you have to be very careful to stir well in between each melting cycle.

DREAMS, HEARD FROM THE HEART

This is one of the first cards I made when I got my UPS box full of new catalog goodies.  I stamped the butterflies in pink for the first layer and then I hand cut three more stamped butterflies and sponged the edges with chocolate chip ink to help them stand out a bit more.  I rolled the wings around a pencil to give them some shape and then I used STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS to adhere them to the base layer.  This card was super easy to make, just a little time consuming on the trimming.  I hope you enjoy it!

Supplies Needed ~

Stamp Sets : Dreams du Jour, Heard From the Heart

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette

Accessories:

Designer Series Paper ~ Bella Rose

HAPPY FALL

I was just tagged by my friend Alice which is her way of saying " I love your blog!  Happy Autumn!"  The rules are that I am to post a Fall photo and then tag a site that I like.  You can visit Alice's blog here.   Alice is beyond creative and is always ready to give encouragement or advice.  The rules of the tag are that I have to post a Fall photo and then tag a site that I like. 

I am going to tag Jill's Card Creations, you can visit her blog here.  I love going to Jill's site and seeing what she has been up to. 

I WISH ~ SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT

How many items can I make with one SCRAPPIN' KIT?

I have been playing today, trying to figure out how many things I can make with one SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT from Stampin' UP!  Well, I've only made three items and I've only barely touched the materials provided.  I think this is going to end up being a week long project.  I found the instructions for the 12 x 12 bag on Angie Juda's site

 http://www.chicnscratch.typepad.com/

Select the link for Stamping Academy and then go to the archives shown on the left side of the page and select May 08', there you will find a fantastic tutorial for making the bag.  I haven't decided yet if the two boxes will be for cards or for recipes.  

BOX INSTRUCTIONS

Cut desired card stock to 7 3/4" x 10"

Score at 1", 6 3/4" & 4 1/2", 5 1/2"

Cut score marks at the 4 1/2" & 5 1/2" to the crease as shown below.

Lid measurements are 5" x 5 5/8"

Score at 2", 3" on the short side.

Use STICKY STRIP to adhere the lid to the inside of the box.

All materials, unless otherwise stated, are from the I WISH, SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT from Stampin' UP!

**I used a frame from HODGEPODGE HARDWARE and SILVER BRADS on the bag and velcro circles to help keep the boxes closed.**

Thanks for looking!

ROSEMARY BREAD

I was given this recipe from a friend who found it on-line somewhere.  I love this bread, it is always a hit and it's super easy to make!

Ingredients

1 T Yeast

1 T Sugar

1 C Warm Water

1 T Unsalted Butter, melted

1 t Salt

2 1/2 C Bread Flour

1 T Chopped Fresh Rosemary

Place warm water, yeast and sugar into a large bowl.  Mix lightly.  Let the mixture sit for five minutes in bowl to proof.

Once the mixture has proofed add in melted butter, salt, rosemary and 2 cups of flour.  Mix in the bowl with a wooden spoon until well blended, then turn out the dough onto a floured surface (using the remaining 1/2 C flour) and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.

Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and let rise for 1 hour.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

Punch down dough and let sit for five minutes.  Divide the dough in half and shape into round loaves, tucking the ends under.  Place on oiled cookie sheet and let rise for 45 minutes.  

Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Brush top with butter and sprinkle with salt.

**You can use a mixer to knead the bread, just let the yeast mixture proof in the mixing bowl for five minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.  Add the last 1/2 cup of flour a little at a time and watch the dough.  When it starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl or the dough hook, it is ready to rise for the first time.**

**I have made this bread without rosemary, with a three cheese blend and with an Italian herb blend and it has tasted great each time. **

**If you want a crispy crust, leave the bread in the oven about five minutes longer.**

 

**If you do not add the salt, the bread will be sweet.**

**I've messed this recipe up too many times to count and it still turns out great! **

Have fun!

HAWAII INK ANNUAL GROUP MEETING PROJECTS

Sitting with my friends learning how to assemble the altered notebook.

From left to right: Kim, Whitney, Diana & Sylvia

My favorite project was this card.  The technique is faux silk and it was unexpectedly easy.  My group had this project first and looking at the card that was placed on the table as an example,  I thought it would be difficult and was pleasantly surprised.  My friend Doris taught this project.  The "silk" is actually tissue paper that you stamp your images onto and then crinkle up.  Using your glue stick you completely coat whatever sized whisper white card stock you are using and then open the tissue paper (not trying to smooth it out) and then pat it down onto the card stock.  While patting the tissue down it was like watching magic, the silk look just happened.  This technique is super cool!

FAUX SILK

FALL BLESSINGS SCRAPBOOK PAGES

ALTERED NOTEBOOK

SEASON OF SIMPLE GRACE GIFT BOX & CARD