ATCs

From Danica's Retro Fabulous Swap II - a multiple choice type swap where you choose a vintage image, a color combo, etc. and make it your own. I think it's a cool way to do an ATC swap.

I keep saying, "no more swaps" but then I sign up for more. I think it's just so I can complain about them.

Guess which one is mine?

Hello Hello

I've been working on ATCs for a Dr. Seuss swap at SIStv, tons of fun! Yesterday I painted all the cards and left them out to dry on the kitchen counter. Shane said, "they look kinda Miami Vice. I think I had some pants like that." Which in fact he did. They looked rad with that hypercolor t-shirt.


I've been baking up a storm lately, must be the cool weather (and my relentless sweet tooth.) This is my favorite butt cake ever. Remember my Big Fat Greek Wedding? I love that scene with the bundt cake confusion. Was looking for a clip but can't find one. Youtube has failed me.

Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

Cake:
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 cups diced raw cooking apples
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Topping:
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together, add the rest of the cake ingredients and mix well. Spread into a greased and floured bundt cake pan. (batter will be thick) Bake for 1 hour and 15 min. at 350.

Mix the topping ingredients together until blended. Then pour over the hot cake in pan, letting it drizzle down the sides. Let cake cool about 30 minutes in the pan before turning out onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Great served warm.

Hump Day!

Man, time flies. It's already Wednesday? We're busy this week finishing up all the monthlies - let's get em done and bill em out!

Yesterday we were downtown at a friend's house and saw the coolest thing. The building behind his place is all about alternative energy and they were putting up the first windmill in our area. The girl we were talking to called it an urban turbine - it's about 60 feet tall and the blades are 10 feet across. We got to watch them hoist it up with a crane. My camera was low on power and wouldn't let me take a picture, bummer. Tomorrow there is some big ceremony with the mayor and such. With the wind power and solar panels they plan to be at net zero by the end of the year. How cool is that? I want a windmill!

I'm almost done with my first amigurumi project - a crocheted purple octopus. He's pretty damn cute.

Also working on my rainbow swap cards, painting is fun and messy, love it. Did a little crackle action on these.


Hasta!

Finally

So long, see ya next year!


Yep, finally packed up the Christmas decorations. We have accumulated about 5 boxfuls over the years. It's good to get it down and get things back to normal.

Keeping up with the daily cards, and enjoying it. I really think that doing just a small project every day keeps the creative juices flowing. I think I'll post them weekly here, then I have to stay on top of it!

Daily Cards 2009 - Week 1


There, I blogged. Eat it, TreeGirl!

Yo Yo Yo

I did it, cleaned the office yesterday. Took most of the day but it's worth it, so much better. I can actually see my desk!

Hopelessly addicted to the Bouncing Balls mind jolt game on facebook. It's good for zoning out and decompressing. And I kinda shred at it.

Also made a daily card yesterday, whoot! So I'm currently up to date for the year, or I will be after I make one today. Better get on that.


Other projects:

This hat, for me-


Mittens for the fam. One pair down, four to go-


We have had the most bizarre weather today, high winds, rain, snow, sun, slush, no wind at all. Think we about covered the whole weather spectrum.

Oh, and a special thanks to Kate for turning me on to The Tree Man. Lovely.

Monday Again?

Friendship Bread Day 9/10: Release any accumulated air from baggie and squish to mix several times today. Tomorrow is baking day!

Made a mini album for Evan yesterday, all about yakin'. Seeing his face light up when he looked through it reminds me why I scrapbook.

.

The title letters on the cover were cut by the ever talented lpmkate. I love them! Evan did his own journaling:

Sunday

Friendship Bread Day 8/10: Release any accumulated air from baggie and squish to mix several times today. Should be getting nice and bubbly.


Scrapping on a budget: Just did another reduce, reuse, recycle ATC card swap. Love the concept of this, especially these days when le budget is nil. I cut up cereal boxes for the base of the cards - I happen to have several dozen for sale in my etsy shop all ready to go. Shameless plug I know. Anyway, then I used the edges from our dot matrix printer paper for the background, stamped the tree on newspaper, and voila! The woodgrain dymo tape is killer, and it goes with the whole theme. Thanks Linda for sending it to me! So, these little guys cost next to nothing to make.

Can't wait to get the rest of the set, especially Kate's celeb trash collage card, I freaking love those.

Off to work on my recipe cards, and maybe some "real" scrapping too. Later!

The Office

I recently did an ATC swap with cards inspired by the ever hilarious Office - I chose Dwight because he is my fave. The whole set is pretty cool, take a look:

And for your viewing pleasure:

Finally

I actually scrapbooked yesterday! It had been a really long time, I was starting to get worried that I'd lost that lovin' feeling for paper and glue, but no...it was just on the back burner. Made three layouts, nothing fancy but still - it felt good. Might do some more today, and I'm excited to do Ali's A Week In The Life project next week. There, I said it so now I have to do it!

Whenever I review a book on goodreads.com it always asks if I want to blog the review and gives the embed code. Here's what happened when I used that code:


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. Maybe the scariest thing I've ever read, including The Shining. ;)

When I say scary, I mean scary as in could we ever get to that place? I just couldn't get it out of my mind. Maybe it's good (or bad) timing, with the world in such turmoil right now. A very powerful read.

I saw it on the "banned books" shelf at the library and had heard of it before so I grabbed it up. Sort of ironic, it being banned - in the story a lot of things are banned and it is horrific.

PS: I could never vote for someone who has tried to ban books. EVER.

View all my reviews.


Pretty cool. Go technology!

awesome.

I got this "special edition trash card" in the mail from Kate. (Thanks, dude!) I totally cracked up when I opened the envelope, because of course it has Sarah "Stewardess" Palin on it. Love how she makes these collages, thinking it would be cool to do the entire scrapshack, every wall. That would take a lot of trashy mags!

TGIF y'all!

A Thank You To...

Commit 2 Paper! I got my prize today from the Scrapjacked challenge and it's a full-on kit! I am so stoked...and great timing since I need a little pick me up today. Thanks Ladies!

PS: Those SEI shiny die cuts are way cool.

Check it out:

Calling All Scrappers

SIStv has a fun n' funky new collection available for pre-order until 8/24/08. And, if you spend $50 in their boutique you get a $10 gift card! It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, right? Scrap on!