Paper Scissors and More: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

January 2012 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Here's a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; the past be a bright dream; and may our friends remain faithful and dear......

Happy New Year and welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! What a way to start out a brand new year, by hopping through over 50 plus consultants' blogs and seeing all the fantastic creations they've made using this month's featured stamp of the month "Little Reminder", S1201. If you are coming here from Judy Faye Garner's Blog you're on the right path....and don't forget to check out all the consultant's this month for all their amazing ideas.

Celebration is what I think of when I see this set....the celebration of life, new life. This treat bag would make a great party favor for a baby shower, along with this coordinating gift tag.

Sometimes its nice to get back to the basics....I wanted to use an earth toned base cardstock, but I found the plain cardstock a bit to plain....it needed something. A paint brush, an old shipping box (for a back splash), chocolate re-inker (Z2211) and colonial white cardstock (1388) and wallah....a chocolate speckled base cardstock.

First for the treat bag, after creating the cardstock, I turned to my trusty Cricut and the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge available only through CTMH (Z1686). Using a 12x12 sheet of colonial white cardstock, place it on the cutting mat and load, then adjust the right/left to (R/L 2 1/4 inches) and the In/Out to (I/O 2 1/2 inches), select the Shape 7 and cut at 3 1/4 inches. Once shape has been cut out with the cut out shape to the left side of the 12x12 cardstock, cut the cardstock to 10 x 11 13/16 inches.

From the top across the 11 13/16 inch side score at 1/2 inch and from the bottom of the 11 13/16 side score at 1 1/2 inches. Score all the remaining measurements from the 10 inch side at 3/8; 1 3/8; 2 3/8; 6 1/8; 7 1/8; and 8 1/8. At the bottom of the 11 13/16 side cut at score marks 3/8; 2 3/8; 6 1/8; and 8 1/8 up to the 1 1/2 inch score line. Fold at score marks. Turn the treat bag upside down, cut a piece of clear plastic ( I used an old protector from my Cricut cutting mats) and glue over the cut out shape on the inside of the bag.

Once dry, about 20 minutes to be safe, stamp images directly on the bag. One of the stamps was actually worded "Welcome Little One", I carefully cut the word "One" off the saying, so I could substitute the number 1 in its place. Using Cocoa ink (Z2114) I stamped the words "Welcome Little" and on the excess scrap cut away from the 12x12 cardstock I stamped the number 1and five butterflies from an older stamp set from convention 2010 (Pictures This, one of my all time favorites). Next, stamping with the same set I stamped a swirl pattern near the 1 1/2 inch score line at the bottom of the bag and four butterflies in Smoothie (Z2196). Have fun cutting, that's really back to the basics after having the Cricut for a while. Notice the Cocoa butterflies are all popped up and one smoothie butterfly is popped up.

Next, the little embellished token at the top of the bag. I used an oldie but goodie and still available, Colonial White Mini Medley Accents (metal tag) Z1276.

How about a tag too?

Products used are CTMH unless otherwise noted......

Kraft Cardstock Z1375
Cricuit Art Philosophy cartridge Z1686
January SOTM "Little Reminder" S1201
Smoothie Cardstock X5763
Metal Brads Z1366
Milepost Shapes Z1464
Cocoa Ink Z2114
Smoothie Ink Z2196
Art Philosophy Tags Z1686 (Part of the Cricut Bundle Collection)
An assortment of miscellaneous ribbons
Coarse gold glitter

Now "Hop" on over to Jean McNutly's Blog and see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great ideas! Enjoy.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Roxie Mini Valentine Mailbox

Quick preview of part one of the Roxie Mini Valentine Mailbox I've been working on this afternoon.

Check back in a few days for more updates on this project.

Below are the before pictures.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Three Meat Lasagna

With the holidays come and gone and just about the last of the leftovers gone too, its time for some good old fashioned Italian comfort food. This is my spin off of Mom Appel's family recipe. Now, I don't measure when I cook so I'll try to be as precise as possible. Its Italian, made with love so it will all work out just fine.

First, brown one-half pound of ground beef, ground Italian sausage, and ground venison in a large frying pan. If you don't care for venison, substitute a quarter pound of each Italian sausage and ground beef. Once browned, drain excess grease from mixture, and move meat to the sides of the pan, leaving about a four inch circle in the center of the pan.

Mince 6 cloves of garlic, chop one-half of a sweet white onion, and about an eight of a cup of fresh parsley and add to the center of the meat mixture in pan on medium heat. Let sit for about 2 minutes, watching not to burn before mixing it into the meat. Once mixed add a teaspoon of salt, pepper, oregano, basil and dried tomato seasoning (Magi if you have it).

Add one 8oz can of Hunts tomato sauce, two 14.5oz cans of Italian diced tomatoes, and one 26oz can of Hunts pasta sauce, lower heat to a simmer and cook for about 2 hours. This makes the flavor come out.

Next, boil the pasta, the whole package of Lasagna pasta for about 10 minutes, al dente style. Remove from boiling water, rinse with cool water and lay out to dry.

Combine the following indigents for the cheese mixture of the dish. Two eggs, slightly beaten, 2 cups Ricotta cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.

Once sauce is done layer, first placing spoonfuls of sauce on the bottom of the 9x13 baking pan, next with noodles (usually 4 per layer), sliced stewed tomatoes (2 cans per recipe), cheese mixture, sauce and repeat. Finish with the remaining sauce and fresh shredded mozzarella on top.