Scrap Your Stash - Challenge Seven

Cardstock.  It is the staple of scrapbooking.  It's a work horse:  backgrounds, borders, mats, diecuts, journaling blocks, florals, stampable, embossable, glittered, textured, smooth.  And we have stacks of it; measured in inches.  Or racks.  ;)

Today, create your layout, card or home decor piece using only cardstock.  Cut it, tear it, punch it, stamp it.  Whatever it takes to use your stash and be creative.

Go.  Create.

Scrap Your Stash - Challenge Six

 

Did you know what looks good naked?  Or painted?  Or glittered?  Or stamped?  Or covered in paper?  

Chipboard.  

Chipboard is one of those great embellishments that comes in all shapes and sizes, but lets you be as lazy or as complicated as you want when you use it.  It's also one of those embellishments that can stymie you and it ends up in your stash instead of on your page.  Today, it's time to use your chipboard, naked or otherwise.

Go. Create.

We Are

Around here, things are getting back to normal, aka after the holiday living.  Around here, hockey has come to the house, and I'm not sure who is more excited, the hockey player, or his hockey-loving sister.

• We think this seems to be a lot of legs
• We are getting fitted for hockey gear, thanks to a pilot program here.  #MileHighMites
• Around here, we're adamant about carrying our bag the way the hockey players do.  That means the stick lays on the bag.
• We are getting the hang of putting on our own gear.
• We are on the ice and we're taking shots.
• We aren't sure why we continue to bring stuffed items into the house.  Beary Manilow has been gutted, like all stuffed toys that show up here.  Justin Beaver can attest to this practice.
• We have our eye is on the prize - goal-keeper - so writing the local NHL goalies seems like a good idea.
• We aren't thinking about what plans may come from such a collection.
• We are back up at UNC.
• We are about getting back on track:  lists, menus and more lists.

Happy Wednesday,

Scrap Your Stash - Challenge Five

Do you remember when wood in a scrapbook was a big no-no?  It was one of the top three commandments of scrappers.  It was everywhere, "DON'T USE WOOD, you'll kill your photos!"  And while it probably shouldn't be anywhere near heritage or one-of-a-kind photos, in today's digital-I-can-print-another world, these cute wood embellishments are no longer forbidden.   They're among some of the most versatile items and come in all shapes and sizes:  dark wood, light wood, embossed, colored, stars, word bubbles, animals, words, tags, frames and more.

Aaannnddd, you probably have a few of them sitting around.  Today, it's time to use your wooden embellishments.  Sprinkle them with other wood pieces, or mix them up with buttons and brads, tags or banners.  They are great for grouping and providing texture and interest.

Go. Create.

Scrap Your Stash - Challenge Four

 

Ribbon.  Velvet.  Grosgrain.  Sheer.  Satin.  Thin.  Wide.  Glitter.  Plaid.  Stitched.  Dots.  Floral.  Dang, it's endless.  Unfortunately, so is my supply.  

Ribbon is so easy to use.  Layout a simple border.  Cut smaller pieces of several coordinating pieces, notch an end and lay along an edge for little pennants.  Weave it.  Loop it.  Use it to highlight a photo.  String photos on it.  As endless are the colors, are the uses for it.

Today, use at least three different ribbons on your layout, card or home decor project.

Go.  Create.

Food For Thought

It's been a long time since I shared menu items.  Too long.  Though I've been cooking, most menus over the holidays were easy, simple stuff. . .not new or worthy of writing about.  But I do have a few things from the last month that were worth a note.

If you're undertaking the Scrap Your Stash challenges and need something fast to feed the family while you play, or maybe trying to get yourself into regular menu planning (because, truly, it's worth it) then check out the tried recipes below:

I've become quite the "when it can be made at home, make it" kinda cook.  Poptarts are one of those easy to make at home things, even if you use store-bought crusts (someday I'll figure out pie crusts.)  These Pumpkin Pie Poptarts are easy and tasty.  Me and my pumpkin lovin' clan wanted more.

I often fantasize about sipping a beer on the porch in the summer with hubby, or sitting with some alcoholic-y festive thing by the Christmas tree with him after the kids are in bed.  Fact:  it never happens because when I'm done with dinner clean up, I'm pretty much done with the day.  But that doesn't stop me from pinning a drink or two.  This Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule looked and sounded good.  It wasn't.  I think the ingredients would work, but in different amounts.  There wasn't enough tart cranberry thing for me and the ginger beer was overpowering.  I haven't decided whether to keep the pin and just rework the recipe, or delete it.  For now, it stays.

I love pork shoulder.  It's cost effective, makes a ton and you can do so much with pulled pork.  Like this 30 Minute Pasole.  It came together quickly and had awesome flavor.  Served with a side of Everyday Cornbread it was a good cold-day meal.

I have weaned myself off of Bisquick, but doing so left me without a fast waffle recipe, which can sometimes be multi-steps.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, unless there are five hungry people breathing down your neck on a Saturday morning.  I found this 4-Ingredient Dutch Cream Waffle recipe, tried it, loved it and it will now be my staple.  They were an interesting mix of crispy, yet light as air.  They also didn't get soggy with syrup or fruit sauce.  Good stuff.

Snickerdoodles are a staple at my annual Cookie Bake.  They were my sister's thing to bring, but then she moved to Kentucky.  Now someone usually makes them in her place.  We were well passed the Cookie Bake when I found these Pumpkin Spice Which Chocolate Snickerdoodles.  But I had to try them.  They baked a little long for me, so were more crunchy than chewy; I like a chewier Snickerdoodle.  I didn't really notice the white chocolate chips and the pumpkin spice is what you roll the cookies in, and it wasn't a whole lot different from the straight cinnamon sugar that is typical.  Given that, I'll stick with my sister's recipe.

I'm back in the saddle with menus, so look for more next week.

Happy Friday,

Scrap Your Stash - Challenge Three

Now, hopefully your stash doesn't look like this, but I suppose there's someone's who does.  If that's you, you may be beyond help.

Regardless, buttons are a staple.  They're inexpensive, colorful and come in all sizes and shapes.  Some are wooden and add a nice down-home feeling, glitter ones for that touch of bling; they're a great pop of color in any shape and size.

 

Today's your day for pulling out the packages, drawers, jars or whatever you store you buttons in and use them.

Go. Create.