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Love those Cuttlebug embossed backgrounds. This design is a giant sticker from a dollar store sheet. One peel-off greeting and this 5 minute design is finished... really! all the gold trim on the border and the flowers are already a part of the sitcker.
I do like these corner stitching stickers. They make putting together a quick card easy as well.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that picks up a couple of paint samples every trip to the store! These squares of metallic finish Ralph Lauren paints make beautiful backgrounds and features on cards. I backed it with a polished stone background and used it to enhance a 3D cutting of a lily.
The layout leaves a perfect spot on the lower left to add a peel-off greeting for the appropriate remembrance.
These adorable penguins (Dollar Store stickers) remind me of the cartoon character Chilly Willy. The corners are stitching stickers (a gift) and done up with green metallic thread. A gold peel-off greeting is the finishing touch.
At his time of year we are often so busy preparing for holidays that keeping up with the day-to-day things like meal planning can take a back seat.
I gathered some of my favorite EASY main dishes that take just minutes to prepare. Rachael Ray will have nothing on you!
Enjoy!
stovetop
2 Tbsp corn oil 1 lb pork cut in 1” cubes 1 can (20 oz) pineapple tidbits ½ cup Karo syrup (lt or dk) | ¼ cup cider vinegar 2 Tbsp catsup 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1 clove garlic, crushed | 1 bunch green onion, 1” chunks 2 Tbsp cornstarch 2 Tbsp water Hot cooked rice |
In large skillet heat corn oil over medium-high heat. Add pork and brown on all sides. Add pineapple and juice, corn syrup, vinegar, catsup, soy sauce and garlic. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until pork is tender. Add green onions. Mix cornstarch and water, stir into pork mixture. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium-high heat and boil 1 minute. Serve over rice
crockpot
2 lbs of steak cut into ½ inch cubes 1 small onion, cut up 2 tablespoons flour ½ teaspoon salt | ½ teaspoon pepper 1 ½ teaspoon paprika 14 ½ oz can of diced tomatoes 1 cup sour cream |
Place steak and onion in crock pot. Stir in flour to coat. Add remaining ingredients, minus the sour cream. Stir well. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours. Add sour cream, stir in thoroughly and cook 30 minutes more. Serve over egg noodles.
stovetop
4 boneless chicken breasts 1 clove garlic, minced | ½ cup chicken broth 1 Tablespoon lemon juice |
In nonstick skillet sprayed with Pam, slowly sauté garlic over low heat. Add chicken and cook over medium heat about 10 minutes or until brown on both sides. Add broth and lemon juice. Heat to boiling and reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken to serving dish. Reduce remaining liquid for around 3 minutes. Pour over chicken.
3-4 lbs chicken, cut up 1 jar (12 oz) apricot preserves 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt | 1/8 teaspoon pepper ½ cup orange juice ½ cup water 2 Tablespoons brown sugar |
Remove skin from chicken parts. Rinse in warm water and arrange in crockpot sprayed with no-stick coating. In separate container, combine all remaining ingredients. Stir to blend well and pour over chicken, being sure to coat each piece well. Cover with lid and cook on high for 6-7 hours.
6 boneless pork chops or cutlets 2 cups orange juice 2 cans undiluted chicken and rice soup 1 cup uncooked Minute rice | 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 4 Tablespoons butter |
In a large skillet, melt butter and brown chops on both sides. Remove meat from skillet and add rice, stirring to coat well with the butter. Put rice in crockpot sprayed with non-stick coating. Add all remaining ingredients, stir well and place chops on top.
Cover and cook on low 9-10 hours (or on high for 6 hours).
oven
1 lb catfish 3 Tbsp nonfat yogurt or mayonnaise 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese | 2 Tbsp flour 1/8 tsp pepper ¼ tsp paprika |
Wash fish, pat dry. Cut into 4 equal portions. Brush fillets lightly with yogurt or mayonnaise. Combine remaining ingredients. Dip fish in Parmesan mixture, turning to coat on both sides. Place on shallow baking pan sprayed with vegetable cooking spray. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness, until fish flakes easily with a fork.
1 pkg corkscrew noodles, in tricolor cooked and drained 1 can olives, sliced 2 cans button mushrooms, drained | 1 can three-bean salad, undrained 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 1 can marinated artichoke hearts, cut small 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed. |
Mix all ingredients in marinating container. Cover and toss together. Refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally.
2 lbs beef roast, trimmed 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 onions sliced 1 cup dry red wine | ½ cup ketchup 6 Tbsp brown sugar 3 Tbsp vinegar ½ tsp powdered ginger | 4 cloves garlic, pressed ½ cup beef broth salt and pepper, to taste |
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat and brown roast on all sides. In the bottom of a sprayed crockpot, place the sliced onions first, then the browned roast.
Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over roast. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or until meat is tender and can be shredded with a fork.
Pour cooking juices into a saucepan and simmer on the stove until reduced, about 10 minutes. Serve sauce over the top of the beef.
The stitching sticker of a gift bag was a gift in itself - from an online friend. I mounted it to bright pink paper and stitched in pale teal. I had a sheet of these little 3D gift box stickers to I filled the bag and let one spill over to the table. Lots of fabric sticker birthday phrases become part of this fabulous bag of tricks.
I finished with another phrase "It's Your Day" and used a pink gel pen to trim all four edges.
I've done this pattern before (gold on black with a carousel horse) but decided to give it a go again with a different direction. The blue metallic thread on gold metallic paper imparts a classy feel while the butterflies bring a bit of whimsy.
The butterflies are premade 3D stickers with wire and rhinestone embellishments.
These little carolers sere stamped and sent to me in a swap of images. I colored them with markers and used an ice blue to create snow for them to stand in and a flurry of snowflakes around them. The image was then torn out and mounted on green, then on burgundy cardstock. Gold foil peel-offs finish off the corners and a fabric sticker becomes the text block.
Yep, it's another square card! These dragonflies come with the full background printed out and then the individual bugs are mounted on top. I love the collage effect of it.
I made a pair of these ornaments using shiny rayon embroidery thread. The also have gold hangers and I've added sequins by stitching through beads.
This is one of my favorite 3D cards made recently. I mounted it on two layers of scrapbook paper and used gold paint marker to draw vines around the corners as borders. The text sticker is from a sheet of dollar store finds.
Whether you are new to polymer clay or just want to try a new technique, you will find Polymer Clay Central to be a valuable resource. Your visit to http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/masterindex.html#lessonsprojects will take you to their master index of lessons and projects. Categorized by Beginners; Canework; Holiday Ideas; Mixed Media; Faux Techniques; Projects; Sculpture; and Techniques - there is something for everyone.
Above the lessons you will find Articles, book and dvd reviews. If you scroll past these categories and the lessons you will find links to guest chats and interviews with top polymer clay artists. Scrolling WAY down will bring you to Tips and Tricks followed by the results of the monthly polymer clay challenge. You can see some great work here.
Here is another project we will be making at craft night (tonight!)
This kitchen angel is made from One Kitchen Towel, One Dish Cloth, and One Potholder. It is held together with rubber bands and pipe cleaners before decorating with ribbon.
No photo today! I'm sharing a website with you that will kick inspiration into high gear.
Click on http://www.making-greeting-cards.com/ to get started on exploring a site with Lessons, Tips, Supplies, Examples, Versus, Recipes (for art), Printables, Templates, Calendars, and Links: all aimed at helping you make homemade cards.
Warning: don't click until you have a few HOURS to explore. You will get so many ideas you won't be getting anything else done! LOL!
For our Women's Ministries Craft Night I designed this bracelet to be taught to the ladies. It is based on one I saw made commercially but their storyline has been ammended and I chose all new beads.
Each bracelet kit comes with a card to tell the story using the beads: "One night a bright star appeared to shepherds tending sheep in the fields. Three wise men followed it to the birthplace of Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Jesus worked as a carpenter and fished for the souls of mankind. 12 men followed him as disciples, learning and spreading the word of Christ. He was nailed to a cross, where He shed his blood for us to cleanse us from our sins. After three days of darkness He arose from the dead and is now in heaven seated with the Father. But He sent his Holy Spirit to be with us. All this he did because of his great love for us."
The yellow roses on this card are 3D and have been layered onto a paint chip sample, then a collage paper, and an embossed gold foil. All of these are mounted on a green cardstock for an all-occasion card.
Not all works of art are created of paper. As evidence of this I present to you this tasteful trio from Saturday's kitchen.
These three handsome pies will make their public appearance on Sunday evening at the pie auction sponsored by Women's Ministries.
Not that he does not appreciate my cooking, but none of these flavors are favored by my hubby, who asks that I bid on and return home with a pumpkin pie - or perhaps an apple crumb.
Here is another of those rare square cards. The stitching pattern is from the book "Classic Cards: 60 Projects for the Discriminating Crafter" (Marrian Piers) and is worked in metallic gold thread on black cardstock.
I used the frame to show off a Christmas carrousel horse and ribbon, both stickers, from the dollar store.
This is such a cute image I had a lot of fun cutting it out. I set it on this scrapbook paper with swirls. I think it looks like swirling snow so I added silver peel-off snowflakes.
The snow on the ground is a torn piece of handmade paper.
Only a few days till Ladies' Fall Craft Night at church. Here is one of the projects I am teaching.
To make this you need: A large pillar candle in a very light color (white or cream), a napkin with an overall pattern, a sheet of waxed paper, a heat gun.
Separate the napkin so you have only the very thin top printed layer. Measure the height of your candle and cut a strip from the napkin the same size. If your piece does not go all the way around the candle, cut another piece (you may have to use a second napkin) to finish encircling it.
Lay the first piece of napkin on the candle, smoothing it to remove any creases and so the top and bottom lay along the edges of the candle. Lay a length of waxed paper over it and pull waxed paper around to the back of the candle holding both ends together so it lays smoothly over the napkin.
Beginning at one end of the napkin use your heat gun to warm the waxed paper. You will see the wax from the paper and the candle melt together and the napkin print will darken. Move on around the candle, melting as you go until you are 'almost' to the end of the napkin.
Wait for the wax to cool and carefully peel away the waxed paper. Lay the other strip of napkin into the blank space, align a NEW piece of waxed paper and complete the melting process. Again, wait for it to cool and remove the waxed paper.
Set aside to cool completely. Then take the leftover napkin (that you peeled away in the beginning) and use it to buff the surface of your candle.
