Create With M.E.

"Monkey Stuff"~Thanks Stampin' Up!

Most little girls LOVE horses.  NOT my little girl.  She is all about the Monkey.  I'm not sure when it started but one birthday a couple years ago her birthday list had "Monkey stuff" on it.  I had no idea what that would mean but she now has a lot of Monkey Stuff!  And I mean stuff.  It's funny how when you see something "Monkeyish" you think of her.  She has Monkey P.J.'s and robes, (yes multiple) pillows, blankets, rugs, lamps, flashlights, figurines, mugs, cups, slippers, mirrors and of course LOTS and LOTS of stuffed animals. 

Stampin' Up! came out with some GREAT decor elements to put on her walls so I got them for her for Christmas.  She loved them but we have been so busy we haven't had time to take Winnie the Pooh and put them up..."I mean come on mom I am 11 now...winnie the pooh is so....babyish"  Here is an idea of what these monkeys might look like on her windows.

Here are some details about the Decor Elements available:

 

They are just adorable.  Well, I might not have had time to redecorate her whole room but I had fun playing with some on her door.

Here is what she came home to yesterday:

I used our Stampin' Up! punches for the Monkey after being inspired by a card that Jan Carlson created.

Here is a close up of the monkey.  Isn't he a cutie?

Needless to say I got lots of hugs and kisses when she saw her door!!  That was worth the effort!! 

If you want to order these Decor Element monkeys give me a shout out or you want your own copy of the Decor Elements brochure which includes all the Wall Vinyl Stampin' Up! offers just let me know.  I am happy to get you your own copy.  Or you can Download the pdf file of the main brochure here and the new insert here

Ps.  I'm still working on that perfect Oatmeal cookie recipe.  I have yet to find "the one"! stay tuned...

Order 24/7 online here

  

Pocket Card~A Place to showcase a scallop flower

Stampin' Up! has a new venue for Demonstrators to network and view unlimited samples to use in our business. It's called Stampin' Connection and the only way you can get access to this vast array of samples is if you are a demonstrator. What I love is how most Demonstrators are so willing to share.  This week while I was oogling a few of the samples I ran across a beautiful pocket card by Jessica Luther from Marysville, CA.  I at once copied it and sent one to my neice for her 15th birthday with a little cash in it.  I didn't want to put Jessica's card verbatim on my blog so I made some changes today so I could post an original idea.  Here is what I came up with it's her basic card but I changed the design.

It starts with a Scallop Square cut from the Big Shot that is what determines the size of this card.  Then I picked out some Sweet Pea DSP which determined the colors of my card.  I have been playing with the scallop flower and Stampin' Up! had just posted a video tutorial of a technique for us called Faux Suede and so I just had to make it into one of these flowers. Here is a close up.  What I like is because you are splitting the cardstock you almost get a two-toned look on the petals.

Here is something interesting I found.  I could make my flowers a lot smaller when I faux suede the scallops first this means less bulk so I can put it in an envelope and since it's distressed the more squishing the better the flower looks. With the cardstock being thinner in weight the flower tends to shrink up in size when you distress it.  Here are a couple of samples...

 

The first one on the left is the one I used on the pocket card, you can see it's almost half the size as the original which is on the right.  The middle one is faux sueded but not "scrunched" just curled a little I even left the bottom layer with no snipping so it amost stays true to size but it has much less weight to it visually and physically.  The one on the right is the original created with "full strength" cardstock scrunched up like I showed you last week here.  So, you want to CREATE this Faux Suede Technique?  Here are some picture how to's so you can "play" along.

 

First you punch about 3 scallop circles (you won't need as many because as you will see you will get two scallops from one) take your bone folder and starting in the middle of your scallop circle run the bonefolder repeatedly from the center to the outside of the scallop circle going all around the scallop until you see the cardstock starting to curl and split into two layers at the edges.  It doesn't take too long.

Then peel the two pieces apart revealing a great "suede" finish.

 

2-2-2 for the price of 1! (this has to be sung to the jingle for...what was that...doublemint gum? correct me in my comments section if I am way off base!)

Then take your paper snips and snip between each scallop about 1/2" into the center.  Then follow my step by step from my last post here.  So you want to see what I put in the inside of this card?  Just a little something for my friend to enjoy during these cold winter days! 

So you want to have access to all the great samples and Videos too?!  Well yeah DUH?  Who wouldn't and what would you say if I told you you can get over $385 worth of Stamping supplies until the end of Sale-A-Bration the end of March for only $169!  This is a great kit for all beginning stampers and even those who have been stamping for awhile.  Here is all you can get and in addition you also receive any stamp set from the Big Idea Book & Catalog (up to $47.95) for FREE!  Want to go Digital? We have a Digital kit also.

So you want to start looking at all these great samples today? Sign up today on my website by emailing me with all your questions and I will share my password so you can get started today.

Here are the Basic Starter Kit contents:

And the new Digital Starter Kit:

And dont' forget in addition to these kits you get to pick any stamp set in the Idea book & catalog up to $47.95! This is the BEST Stampin' Up! offers.  Why not get started today? Email me! to get more information and so I can answer all your questions.  Promotion ends March 31st so don't wait too long.

The Quest for the Perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookie~Reviews varied

Since I posted about the Perfect Chocolate Chip cookie a few days ago here I have had requests to find the perfect Oatmeal cookie.  I have up to this point been very happy with the recipe on the top of the Quaker Oats container for "Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies".  I usually changed the raisins to Craisins because that is what my husband likes but my biggest complaint is they are kinda thin and often break even though they are very delicious. 

So while searching online I found a blog called the smittenkitchen and thick, chewy oatmeal raisin cookies.  While these cookies were good the reviews in my home were varied.  Don't get me wrong no one in the family took a bite and spit it out or put the cookie down and most ate more than one. LOL  My husband gave them a thumbs up which meant the most to me because this is his favorite cookie hands down. My concern was although it was good and thick and chewy it didn't have that melt in your mouth taste that the vanishing cookies have.  So my plan is to combine the best of both and see What I can come up with next week during another spare minute.  The trick I learned with these cookies is that you need to chill the dough before baking.  That helps the cookie hold it's form.  So I am going to keep with my craisins and try chilling the dough and see what happens.

But in the mean time here's what they look like they do look yummy don't they?  Come on over...I'll save you one!

You are the STAR~at my workshops!

I had a workshop this week and saw this STAR Chipboard on my desk that I had glittered awhile back with cosmo glittler.  It was just calling my name to be used in a special project so I had to make it the center of something special for my hostess Becky.  I create this post-it holder for some special post-it's I had stamped for her with the "I heart lists" set found on page 116 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  Here is the cover of the holder.  It was for Becky of course which is why there is a big "B" on it. tehe  She was the STAR that night.  Everything I made she got to keep!  I KNOW everything can you believe it!  How lucky can one person be?!!

Of course I had to add exactly what Becky needed on her list of things to buy....hopefully from me...

 

So silly I am! So if you want to be the star of your own workshop please email me and I will create just as darling of a project to give to you when it's your turn to be the STAR!  

This booklet closed with a little velcro.  It's something I am sure Becky will be proud to have on her desk and use.

Email me today to get your workshop on my calendar before Sale-A-Bration ends in March!

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Scallop Punched Flower~How To

I have had a lot of fun playing around with the Scallop Punched flower idea that I have seen online on others blogs.  Here is my version that I demonstrated at last weekends Stampin' Up! upline meeting.  I was talking on the phone last week to one of my sidelines (Hi Leslie!) and we were brainstorming about this flower.  First I used what I had seen online.  Here is the actual sample made from one of the flowers.

I made this flower by spraying my paper first and then then scrunching it up and then flattening it out and letting it dry overnight.  You probably don't need to leave it over night but I had a workshop so I played with it before I left then finished it up in the morning.  After it was dry I punched out my scallop circles.  Here are two flower side by side.  The one on the left used the pre-distressing method and then the one on the right I punched then scrunched afterward

 

 

So how do I make one M.E.?

Basic Flower

1. Punch between 5-8 scallop circles out of cardstock depending on how full you want your flower.

2. Using your papersnips cut between each scallop about 1/2" into the center carefully to not snip off the "petals"

3. Now distress each layer.  Scrunch and twist.  Do not worry if you lose a petal now it will be ok. Unfold each layer carefully.

4. Layer all circles on top of each other and punch center with crop-a-dile.

5. Add brad of choice

6. Now distress some more.  Scrunch and push flower petals into center to make it look the way you want it to. You can spray the flower with water at this point to try to get it to scrunch even more.

 

Predistressed flower

1. spray cardstock with water

2. Scrunch as small as you can get it.

3. Smooth out and let dry.

4. Follow Steps 1-6 above

 

Lastly while I was talking to Leslie she mentioned vellum so I thought hmm what if you ran vellum through the dotted embossing folder and the Big Shot?  Then punch and scrunch.  I did that and loved it and then I took a dab of the platinum paint still available from the Holiday mini catalog and tipped the flower and put it on a black and white card.  I loved that look!  What do you think?

 

 

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Girl Scouts~They LOVE Papercrafts!

I told you I had plans to visit the local Girl Scout troup Friday.  Well, we had a lot of fun making some great projects!  I wanted to share some pictures today of the girls working dilligently on their crafts.  I think I even saw a few tongues sticking out as they worked so hard to make their projects just the way they wanted them to be. 

Here is a little of what they were working on Click on the photo below to take you to last weeks post for more on these projects.

You will notice the moms jumped right in also and had just as much fun making projects and taking them home!

Aren't they just the cutest?! Working so hard it was so sweet to hear them say who they were giving what to.  I really enjoyed being with them and I even got some HUGS when it was done.  I mean really what more can a person NEED?!  

Yesterday's Cookies~Big Hit with my Valentines!

Yesterday's cookie recipe was a HUGE hit with my Valentines. If you have time today or this week give them a try and then let me know how you liked them. I am baking two more batches today for my Small Group at Church. I sure hope they feel the LOVE I put into each cookie!

Tell your Valentine how much they really mean to you today!

Enjoy!
M.E.

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie~America's Test Kitchen

I just had to share a few pictures of the cookies I told you I was going to make yesterday for my Valentines.  They are the "Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie" from America's Test Kitchen.  My husband and I are huge fans of the Cooks Illustrated Cookbooks and America's Test Kitchen show.  We DVR (record) the show every Saturday at noon so when we come in from working at River Bend for our lunch break we can watch it and when we get interupted to go take care of a customer (which almost always happens) we can pause the recording so we don't miss a thing.  This week they showed these cookies.  Well, both Chuck and I love Cookies so this was a must re-create!  They are a little different than your regular chocolate chip cookie recipe from the back of the bag but still very easy to make. 

Here are a few pictures of mine then I copied the recipe below...not sure how "Kosher" that is but I guess if the Test Kitchen Police come to me I will take it off.

Look at the Size of those thing first of all!  They are HUGE! 

 
You can only fit 6 on a cooling rack but YUM don't they look good!

The recipe is supposed to make 16 but I got 14 out of mine. I would have done 16 if I had read that in the actual recipe but I took my recipe off the show and they never said how many it made.  I read this later.   I have yet to try one so I can't tell you if they are the BEST Chocolate chip Cookie so I will be reporting in on the taste test results later.

Here is the Test Kitchen recipe or you can click on the Link above to print your own.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
from the Episode: The Cookie Jar


Avoid using a nonstick skillet to brown the butter; the dark color of the nonstick coating makes it difficult to gauge when the butter is browned. Use fresh, moist brown sugar instead of hardened brown sugar, which will make the cookies dry. This recipe works with light brown sugar, but the cookies will be less full-flavored. For our winning brand of chocolate chips, see related tasting.

Makes 16 cookies

1 3/4	cups unbleached all-purpose flour  (8 3/4 ounces)
1/2	teaspoon baking soda
14	tablespoons unsalted butter  (1 3/4 sticks)
1/2	cup granulated sugar  (3 1/2 ounces)
3/4	cups packed dark brown sugar  (5 1/4 ounces) (see note)
1	teaspoon table salt
2	teaspoons vanilla extract
1	large egg
1	large egg yolk
1 1/4	cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (see note)
3/4	cup chopped pecan  or walnuts, toasted (optional)

See Illustrations Below: Don't Bake in Batches

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

3. Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

4. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but will require 3 batches.)

5. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Step-by-Step: Don't Bake in Batches

Baking two trays at a time may be convenient, but it leads to uneven cooking. The cookies on the top tray are often browner around the edges than those on the bottom, even when rotated halfway through cooking.

TOP RACK	BOTTOM RACK

Step-by-Step: Measure It Right

Even a tablespoon too much or too little flour can have an impact on cookies. Here's how to measure accurately.

PREFERRED: WEIGH FLOUR For the greatest accuracy, weigh flour before using it. Put a bowl on a scale, hit the "tare" button to set the scale to zero, and scoop the flour into the bowl.	SECOND-BEST: DIP AND SWEEP Dip a dry measuring cup into the flour, sweeping away excess flour with a flat edge. This method yields more accurate results than spooning flour into a measuring cup.

Step-by-Step: Creating a New Classic

Here's how we improved on the Toll House classic to create an even better cookie.

TOLL HOUSE RECIPE: Creamed Solid Butter Creaming butter creates a cakier texture in cookies.	OUR RECIPE: 1 Whole Egg, 1 Yolk Eliminating one egg white also boosts chewiness.
OUR RECIPE: Browned, Melted Butter Melting butter contributes to chewiness; browning it enhances flavor.	TOLL HOUSE RECIPE: 2 Whole Eggs Whole eggs contribute to a drier texture.
TOLL HOUSE RECIPE: Beat and Bake Baking the dough immediately after mixing doesn't allow the sugar to dissolve as fully as possible.	OUR RECIPE: Whisk and Wait Whisking sugar into the liquid ingredients and then waiting 10 minutes allows more of it to dissolve, setting up better flavor and texture.
TOLL HOUSE RECIPE: Less Dough The smaller the cookie, the more uniform its texture.	OUR RECIPE: More Dough Three tablespoons of dough per cookie increases its crisp-chewy contrast.
TOLL HOUSE RECIPE: Equal Amounts Brown and White Sugar A 1-1 ratio of brown to white sugar creates a cookie that's neither crisp nor chewy.	OUR RECIPE: More Brown Sugar Using more brown sugar than white makes for a chewier cookie.

Step-by-Step: For Perfect Cookies, Look to Sugar

Crunchy edges, chewy centers, and big butterscotch flavors—that chocolate chip cookie framework sounded pretty sweet to us. As it turns out, perfect cookies have a lot to do with sugar and how it’s treated. Sugar that is dissolved in liquid before baking caramelizes more readily than sugar that simply melts when exposed to the same amount of heat. What would happen if we rested our cookie batter after we added the sugar to allow more of it to dissolve before going into the oven? EXPERIMENT We prepared two batches of our Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. Dough from the first batch went straight from the mixing bowl onto the baking sheet; the other batch rested for 10 minutes (with occasional whisking) after we combined the sugar with the recipe’s liquids. RESULTS Cookies baked from the rested batter boasted not only richer, deeper flavor but also crisper edges. EXPLANATION Dissolving the sugar in liquid provided by the melted butter, vanilla

I Love YOU!~Quick and Easy Valentine Banner

Ok Done!  What do they say?  A picture is worth a thousand words....

......Hhmmm M.E. not talking....ok I can't.  Tehehe....I made this very quickly using my Stampin' Up! Flower Folds Big Shot die!

 

LOVE my Big Shot so this banner could be made specifically for my Big Shot!  Ok no I didn't make this banner for my Big Shot.  It is in my family room on my room divider dividing my family room from my Stamping Studio.  It is a reminder to my family how much they mean to me every day!  

Remind your family how much you LOVE them everyday by purchasing your Flower Fold Die here:

Now I need to go bake my family some cookies in case the banner doesn't quite say it all.....until next time.....
 

Simply Adorned~and some snow fun!

I couldn't wait to show you some of the Simply Adorned Charms I have been working on for a swap I am in.  A Swap is where you make a number of projects all the same and send them to a hostess and she swaps them out with others and you get back the same number of projects but all different!  Yippee these are going to PA and I can't wait to get my supply of charms back.  I created 24 of each size so I will have LOTS to show you in the upcoming weeks.  I am going to just show you the inserts, not inside the actual charm so you can get a good look.  I was pretty happy with how these turned out.  Here is the first one it is the 1 x 1" square Charm.  It's pretty small but I think I was able to get it pretty stamped up!

Here is the close up...ignore the "Pumpkin Pie" background if you can it's not part of the project just a mat for my copywrite image:

 

The center of the flower is a mini glue dot and I dipped it in dazzling diamonds.  I like that look, just adds a little glitz to the charms.  One thing you will notice on my charms and that I think makes it finished is I sponged all the edges.  I really like that look especially if I am trying to do a vintage look which is big right now.

So here is what 20 of them look like all done!  NEAT!
 

 

Here is the next larger size 1" x 1 1/4" Charm Just a little larger:

Ooh that looks huge but it's very tiny.  Ha Ha... Talk about a close up!  This one I actually used the by product of the pinking hearts border punch on the first insert.  See the Old Olive zig zag piece?  That's what you punch away to get the actually border on the first charm.  Cute huh?  I again sponged all edges with creamy carmel and for this one I spritzed it with the color spritzing tool so give it that speckled look.  I punched out the medium size butterfly with the new beautiful wings embosslet out of the mini catalog. It cuts and embosses using the big shot in one fell swoop.  LOVE IT!

Lastly here is the largest charm insert.  Although this size is not yet available I will be prepared when it does come available.  I will let you know when you can order it.  I believe we had some quality control issues on it so Stampin' Up! wants to make sure it's perfect. 

 

I really like this one too.  I stamped the background from the Charming set then stamped the lg. flower from the Vintage Vogue set with Versamark ink and embossed it with Clear embossing powder.  Then I spritzed it again with the Color Spritzing tool.  I took Creamy Carmel ink and a sponge dauber and rubbed ink in a circular motion around the flower to make it pop.  Add a tiny tag punched with the new jewelry tag punch.  Too Cute!  The Rhinestones came from the new Eggcellent Eggs kit. 

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I promised some snow fun and just had to share my daughter Abby this morning enjoying the large snowfall we got yesterday and the piles her dad made this morning with the tractor before he went to work.  I think her big brother had a little fun with her.  She was all smiles throughout it all!