CAS-ual Fridays (School)

Yes. That is my atrocious handwriting *blush*

But this was the second attempt to write on the "chalkboard" and the first one was worse because I used real chalk! LOL

Trust me when I say this one is far better:)

The new CAS-ual Friday challenge is all about school projects.

My kiddos go back next week, so school was fresh in my mind when I created it.

I have not even taken them school shopping yet, so I think I deserve a queen procrastinator award. 

Their first day is TUESDAY!! *sigh*

The only stamp used here is the apple. I drew an eraser, cut it out, lined it partway with white gel ink and snipped a piece of white cardstock for the chalk.

We are sponsored this week by Pretty Paper Studio and they are offering a great prize!

So why not join in the fun at the CAS-ual Friday blog and show us your school-themed projects?!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Rhubarb Snack Cake

Yes, you are at the correct blog *smile*

I thought it was time to share a recipe and because I made these Rhubarb Squares a few days ago they were voted in!

I never realized how many folks have never eaten rhubarb until recently at a farmer's market where 2 of us were excitedly sorting through a large bucket of gorgeous green and red stalks like kids who had just discovered amazing new legos! *chuckle*

This other shopper and I were delightedly picking and choosing the best stalks and sometimes gleefully exclaiming about what we were going to make first with them, when we looked up to see a large crowd of other shoppers were gathering around us and gazing with amusement at our frantic movements and high pitched giggles!

Several onlookers engaged us in conversation asking what the stalks were and how we ate them.

I was shocked! 

Adults who didn't know the mouth-watering delight of this glorious herbaceous perennial plant???

As a kid I picked it out of our backyard and munched on it raw all day long. That tart bite made for lots of funny faces but I couldn't get enough. *smile*

This recipe involves a thin buttery cake-like layer on the bottom, the rhubarb jam-like layer in the middle, and a crisp, crumbly topping.

So on to the recipe.

NOTES: Keep in mind I like the tartness of rhubarb and like to allow it to shine in a recipe, not overwhelm it with sugar. If you prefer things a bit sweeter, increase the sugar in the filling layer a smidge.

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen.

Rhubarb Snack Cake

FIlling:

1 1/2 lbs rhubarb, trimmed and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 1/2 T. fresh lemon juice

2/3 c. granulated sugar

1. Mix together and set aside

2. preheat oven to 350. 

3. Grease 13 x 9 pan and line with parchment up 2 opposite sides to create a sling, then grease again.

Cake layer:

1/2 c. butter, softened

zest from one lemon (1/2 t. -1 t.)

2/3 c. granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 c. all purpose flour

1/3 c. whole wheat flour

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt (increase if using UNsalted butter)

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/3 c. plain greek yogurt

1. Beat first 3 ingredients together until light and fluffy.

2. Add eggs, one at a time, incorporating well.

3. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and ginger.

4. Add flour mix intermittently with the yogurt until all is incorporated.

5. Spread this batter into the bottom of your well greased 13 x 9 baking pan

Crumb Topping:

1 c. all purpose flour

1/3 c. dark brown sugar

1/4 t. ground cinammon

1/8 t. salt 

4 T. butter, melted

1. mix dry ingredients together, add butter and stir until crumbs form.

Next: Pour all the rhubarb and juices that have accumulated onto the top of the cake layer. Don't worry, the excess liquid will not make your cake layer soggy:) Spread the rhubarb out so it is in one layer and then top with the crumb mixture.

Bake for 55-60 minutes.

Cool completely in the pan.

Loosen sides that are touching the pan, and lift out.

Cut into squares. 

Eat out of hand, or plate and top with some Maple Cream Sauce! *wink*

I hope you make this snack cake and love it!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

CAS-ual Fridays (banners/flags)

If this looks wonky I apologize!
Our neighbors are moving and yesterday a moving truck ran into and pulled down the power/cable/phone lines connected to my house!
We have power back but no internet yet. *sigh*
ETA: Internet is up and running now! Thank goodness :)

Join us this week at CAS-ual Fridays because our super cool challenge is banners and flags!
Who doesn't love a good banner, or flag on their project?

I couldn't resist using that awesome scroll frame and embossing it with gold e.p. 
Doesn't it look classy?
This card is for a friend who worked very hard to accomplish his goal and I can't wait to give it to him!

Be sure to link up your project to the CAS-ual Friday blog for a chance at winning the goodies this week!
Thanks for stopping by, 

XOXO

    

School days...

With school fast approaching here in the east, (we start after Labor Day) I thought I would begin creating my teacher thank you notes now.

That way I have them ready when the occasion arises.

And what better way to start than with this darling new stamp from Denami Design!

This Back-to-School Chickie is so cute with the notebook, pencil and apple. Perfect for any grade teacher:)

I paired it with the Brushed Thank You sentiment, the Small Apple, and the Solid Block Border (I love that checkerboard look!). Finished with some twine and a button, this card is ready to go!

Check out the sale this week on the Back-to-School Chickie, and get it while you can! It's never too early to begin on those teacher thank yous!

Thanks for stopping by,

Be sure to visit the Denami blog for lots of sweet ideas using this stamp. The Design Team really went all out for this one!

XOXO

CAS-ual Fridays (splish splash)

It's Friday!

And that means time for a new challenge on the CAS-ual Friday blog. 

This week it's things you might find in the water!

We are sponsored by Stop and Scrap. 

They are offering a $20 gift certificate to this week's winner!

I used a large dry paintbrush to add swaths of blue paint along the bottom of my card base, topped it with a paper pieced sailboat, and heat embossed the sentiment. Two opposing rounded corners and it was done. *smile*

Sweet and simple!

I hope you'll join us for this new challenge and link up your water inspired project to the CAS-ual Friday blog for your chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

CAS-ual Friday (square cards)

Hi friends.

My CAS-ual Friday post is a late one this week. 

Without going into too much detail, I LOST my stamps for this week's challenge and Michele was a super-duper girl to send me more!

 (Who loses stamps, right? *sigh* I'm an idiot sometimes)

So with mailing time and other issues I'm the last post of this challenge...but there is still time to join us!

This week we were challenged to create square cards.

I like stepping outside the norm sometimes and this was fun.

Stamps from Stampotique! Aren't they fun? They are also our sponsor this week and have offered up a $30 gift certificate to the winner! AWESOME prize!

I white heat embossed everything and then used Copic markers to color over the white e.p.

Simple really, but it packs a punch:)

I hope you'll join us and play along at CAS-ual Fridays...only one day left!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Craft Dash challenge #1

Wahoo! 

I'm joining in the first ever CRAFT DASH today with a bunch of other crafty friends, and we want YOU to play along!

Did you read that correctly? 

Yep:)

It's a 10 minutes craft dash to get your creative spirit flowing and just play with paper/stamps/ink/etc for 10 minutes. And whatever you come up with: a card, a tag, a SB page, or whatever floats your boat, is what we post!

I took a photo of my work space right before I started this challenge...

*groan*

Yeah...it's a bit...shall we say, messy? *chuckle*

No judging!

Before beginning, I set myself a ground rule. Everything I used had to be in sight. 

I couldn't go to my shelves and grab a certain stamp, or a bottle of glitter, or an embellishment. All product had to come from within my reach and within my sight:)

So I started my stopwatch, and managed to create this slightly awkward card you see above. *smile* I really wanted to break my own personal ground rule and get into the box of Prima flowers I have on a shelf nearby, and also to dig through my PP collection, but I didn't.

Stamp used is from WPlus9. 

As I was finishing the card up, I really wanted to add a spray of rhinestones but since I couldn't see or reach them, I went with a previously die cut flower stem that was under a pile of scraps.

What do you think? 

Want to join in the fun?

There is a prize...!!!!

Doesn't that look spectacular? *grin*

The challenge will run for 10 days, so you have until August 25.

Be sure to stop by the blog and see what this new CRAFT DASH challenge is all about!

You will see lots of designers playing along, and have a chance to link up your own 10 minute creation!

Oh, and for the record, this card took me 8 minutes and 19.6 seconds! *smile*

See the proof?

Hope you'll join in the fun!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Bold, bright, & beautiful Hop

Happy Sunday! 

Welcome to the Denami Blog hop where participants are showcasing their Bright, Bold, and Beautiful projects:)

If you'd like a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the Denami shop, then start at the Denami blog and be sure to comment on each blog along the hop.

If you arrived from RUZA'S blog (isn't she awesome?!) then you are on the right track:)

I did a lot of masking for this one, but was really pleased with how it turned out.

Denami supplies used for this card: 

Medium Solid Hibiscus

Small Solid Hibiscus

Dropping you a Note

Black twine

Your next stop is the talented Heidi! 

Be sure to leave comments for two chances at winning a Denami gift certificate worth $20:)

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Little Boxes...

I'm back with a new spotlight stamp from Denami!

This week it's the Open Box stamp that has been in my collection from the beginning.

There is just something so appealing about it. 

It's full (or empty?) of possibilities!

And it is ON SALE *grin*

I wanted to show how playful it can be by adding cute pets to mine. 

My kitties love to play in empty boxes (as do my kiddos). 
An empty box is the best. toy. ever!

Denami Products used:

Open Box

Cuddly Pals set

A little message

Ruby button

Don't forget to stop by the Denami Blog and see what the rest of the DT has done with this awesome box stamp!

Thanks for stopping by,
XOXO

Sketch challenge

ETA: This post was scheduled but blogger is against me!!! *sob*

Happy Monday folks!

Today I'm posting a card made for the newest challenge on the Denami blog. 

Its a sketch:)

For once I pretty much stuck to the original design, aren't you proud of me? *smile*

Denami products used:

Small Splatter

Brushed Bee

Mini grass

Spring Flowers Set (cling)

Happy Birthday (cling)

Twine

Don't you like how that splatter stamp adds subtle but fun textural interest to the BG?

 I was pleased when I discovered how cool it looked:)

Be sure to stop by the Denami blog for even more form the DT, and to link up your own card using this sketch!

Prizes from Denami are always top notch!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

CAS-ual Fridays (cloud 9)

Sometimes I feel lucky to know so many truly kind people:)

People whose smile can lift your spirits, who always lend a helping hand, who have a kind word when you need it.

I hope you all have someone (or many someones) who are that way for you. And I hope you know how blessed you are because of it. *smile*

Today's card is for the new CAS-ual Friday challenge!

Create a project with something you would see in the sky!

I went with a rainbow. They make me happy!

After stamping the Denami rainbow multiple times on colored cardstock, I cut each row out and flipped them over (so the stamped lines wouldn't show) and adhered them together.

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp! They are so fabulous and always offer a generous prize to the CAS-ual Friday top pick winner, so be sure to enter!

Link up your clean & sophisticated project to the CAS-ual Friday blog so we can come see it!

Remember we are looking for a guest designer this week too! Eeeek

Thanks for stopping by, 

XOXO