I went out on a limb and... *gulp*

...submitted 2 projects to our LSS as class ideas. I submitted my scrap box and mini album. AND... the owner loved them and I will be teaching classes on how to make them! She also asked me to submit other projects to teach. Yay!!! I've always thought it would be fun to teach scrapbooking classes and now I get to!

New Favorite Coffee Spot

I've discovered a new coffee shop in downtown Bozeman. I've been going to Rockford, which is a great little place - it's just a cool looking building. Can't say I'm terribly fond of their coffee, but they do have free internet and a comfy couch. This weekend, though, we went to Wild Joe's Organic Tea and Coffee House and now I'm sold. Sorry, Rockford, but you just don't compare. Wild Joe's is bright and spacious, with tall ceilings and amazing leather couches, free internet, and good coffee. The ambiance is wonderful. Oh yeah - and the plastic cups its coffee comes in are made from corn and completely compostable. Yep. Plus it's just a few doors down from RoShamBo and Stix. Sorry, Rockford, I've found a new place.

I said I would...

... and I HAVE. More pictures here.

My Inner Martha meets the Craft Monster

Scrap Box

I saw an idea like this on 2ps and I liked it. I changed the idea a little bit, but this is what I came up with. It was fun. It takes 2 sheets of 12x12 patterned paper and 3 sheets solid 8.5x11 cardstock.

Do you feel like a ROCKSTAR?

I DO.

Call me crazy, but while I was playing with my wanna be Hambly I got stuck on a rockstar theme. But the best part is that these are completely my designs - I carved the stamps and everything! Don't know how I'll use them yet, but I love how they turned out. What do you think?

My Hambly Solution

What do you do when you want to play with Hambly but you're out of money for the month? You take what you have in stock and make your own! These are my Hambly wanna be overlays. They were fun to make - now I want to play with them!

del.icio.us

I started a del.icio.us site. It's a terse blog where I can post links to pages with tags. For example, my wishlist! It was Leif's idea - he was going to set it up for me so that he could find my wishlist easier by sorting according to the tag. I believe the beta version of blogger will allow me to do the same, but I'm not ambitious enough to switch over yet. Anyway- I didn't let Leif set up a delicious site for me, but I decided to set one up for myself today. And then I had to add all the things I've seen lately - Hambly and Li'l Davis and Basic Grey (the new notch tool, you know). I even skipped watching Martha to do it. *GASP*! What is this world coming to?? Anyway- yes, Leif, del.icio.us is a wonderful thing and it is easy to use. Thank you. For all who want to see this amazing feat I have performed, it's located at...

http://del.icio.us/lou52

Enjoy!

The Brilliance of Others...

...inspires me. As I've been reading blogs (and I've been doing a LOT of that lately) I sometimes link to other sites and find brilliance. Today was one of those days. So often, though, I forget what I've seen, lose the idea, and miss out on the fun. Here are some ideas I want to remember. They're brilliant, radiant, wonderful.

Kitchen cozy from a sweater

Mason jar candles

I know there are more out there... but these are the "good things" for now.

How I Spent Yesterday...

Leif took Eliana last night so I could get some creativity out. I got 3 layouts done, but this one I particularly like. I've been wanting to play with the pink and brown color combination, and decided this was the photo to do it with. I went crazy stamping on the page, which was fun and something I don't often do - I even used a stamp I haven't touched in a couple years and used it differently than it was intended. I found a new use for an old stamp!! I made my own photo corner, and I used some embossing powder I got 4 years ago and haven't found much use for until now. The photo lifts up and has a second, color picture and some hidden journaling behind it.

MIM challenge update

Here's the deal:

Starting in September, I will post two new challenges each month. Ideally, they will be posted on the 1st and the 15th of each month. There is no deadline, though I know you procrastinating scrapbooker types and you may want to impose your own deadlines (say the 30th and the 14th) just to keep up with things. =) There is no voting, no getting kicked out, no losers. There will, however, be an award for those who participate in all of the challenges. The challenges are designed to be fun - you can take them or leave them, but please, have fun. After all, isn't that one of the reasons we scrapbook?

Personal Challenge #3

I seem to be stuck in the "One Photo LO" rut lately. It could be that I have so many great photos of my baby that are just calling for their own attention! But I need to get into gear and scrap some LO that have more than one photo. Some 2pg LO would be nice, too. So that's it. By Friday I will do at least one LO using more than one photo. *spit* *shake* It's a done deal.

Someday

Someday I'm going to do this.
Someday I'm going to make a mini album.
Someday I'm going to include layers.
Someday I'm going to use transparencies.
Someday I'm going to scrap like this.
Someday.


Mini album made by Kristi Contes. I love it.

Personal Challenge #2 - complete

Okay, Tam - I think I used more than 10 buttons. =) I am a little bummed about the scan - the word "button" is easier to read in real life. I made it using chipboard letters as a template over a transparent blue folder, then cut it out. Overall I am very happy with the way this layout turned out. Despite the title, this is definitely NOT the cutest picture I have of my baby, but it was one of the few not already spoken for another layout. =)

Hambly Lust

Okay, so I'm not much of a "product" or "name brand" line person. Nor am I big on overlays. But - WOW - I've fallen for the Hambly stuff. I don't think our LSS carries Hambly. I'll have to check.

I DID create a wishlist at the hambly site, though, in case DH wants to buy me scrapbooking stuff in the future... say, for my birthday in a month?

Anyway- I'm such a cheapskate. I hate it when I fall for a line. My big complaint about overlays is that they're so darn expensive. I just don't see them as worth $2.80 apeice. I'd rather make my own using acetate and rubber stamps. But, alas, these are TOO cool. I don't think I can make them myself. Ergh. And that's why I'll probably buy some. But not until next month. I've spent my crafting budget for this month. Again, ergh. Well, here's to spending next month's scrapbooking budget in my head before next month is even here. Silly, silly me.

Personal Challenge #2

Okay... I hearby challenge myself to...

USE BUTTONS ON A LAYOUT

by monday.

I have a TON of buttons, and I keep buying them because they're so cool! But - I never use them. =( So this is the weekend. I WILL use buttons. I will.

this challenge has been inspired by a sneak peek layout for Elsie Flannigan's button class.

MIM Challenge Ideas

I have 6 months worth of ideas for the MIM challenge. They all just come flooding in when I think about it! OOoo! There's another one. =) Anyway- what ideas do you guys have? What would make a good scrapbook challenge? I'm up for anything you can throw this way...

My Own Design

I was playing with a Heidi Swapp mask (flower) and a mask I made myself (using Eileen's Tack it Over and Over) by inking over them using Colorbox pigment inks. I finished the paper by covering it in clear embossing powder for texture. I love the result. It was fun and it turned out kind of funky, and now I just need to find a layout to use it on!

Playing with Paisley

MIM Challenge!

I've been thinking about posting a bi-weekly or monthly challenge here on MIM. I'm always just a tad too late to sign up for the great challenges posted by the efferdare group and I never know where to find other challenges. I need challenges to keep me on my toes, to keep my ideas fresh, and to stretch my imagination. So... is anyone up for scrapbooking challenges this year? I'm thinking I'll start them in September. There will be no official sign up date, no elimination rounds, but there may be something for people who choose to complete all of the challenges. That's my thought. I've got a brand new baby, so I can't keep up with a weekly challenge, but what are your thoughts on bi-weekly or monthly? Preferences? I'd love to have a group of people join me for these challenges. If you're interested, let me know and we'll iron out the details of the challenge.

Favorite Salad Recipes

Okay, so I'm not a huge salad fan. But Leif is. Last year Nicole introduced me to a salad that I would actually eat - and today I found another. So, I thought I would post the ingredients for my two favorite salads.

Mandarin Orange Salad

Spinach leaves (preferably baby spinach)
Canned mandarin orange slices
Almond slivers
Olive Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (I use the Paul Newman variety)

Feta Apple Salad

Mixed Greens of any variety (I used Romaine and Leafy Green Lettuces)
Feta cheese
Apple chunks
Olive Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

I haven't tried it, but I imagine chopped walnut or grapenuts would also be good in the Feta Apple Salad.

The Feta Apple salad was really just a fluke that it turned out so good. Leif put apple peices in his salad and had me try it, so I decided to add some to mine. MMmmm. It was good. Kind of like a MacKenzie River House salad. The dressing wasn't as good, but they have a "secret" recipe.

Mark Your Calendars!

The new season of MARTHA begins September 12.

Good Things

The TwoPeas Photography Gallery is a GREAT place to gather new ideas for taking photos. Check it out if you haven't!

Martha's German Apple Pancakes

This morning I decided to make the German Apple Pancakes I saw on the Martha show yesterday. Mmmm... they're delicious! They turned out really well and are GREAT with some whipped cream on them. They'd definitely make a great dessert for company, if you ask me. Anyway- I thought I'd post the recipe. You can find it on her website, too. German Apple Pancakes

Makes 6 pancakes

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for tin, and 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for tin 2 Granny Smith apples (about 1 pound) 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 3/4 cup milk Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting 1. Preheat oven to 450°. Butter inside each muffin cup of a 6-cup nonstick jumbo muffin tin; coat with granulated sugar. 2. Peel, core, and slice apples into 12 wedges, then cut wedges into 3 pieces. In a medium bowl, toss apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add apples and sauté, turning occasionally, until caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove pan from stove; let cool 5 minutes. Divide caramelized apples among prepared muffin cups. Set aside. 4. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, eggs, and milk; process for 3 minutes. 5. Pour batter over apples. Transfer tin to oven; reduce heat to 400°. Bake until pancakes puff up, about 15 minutes. 6. Remove tin from oven; invert onto a flat work surface. Dust with confectioners’ sugar; serve immediately.

Good Things

I think these just look so fun - Chocolate Transfer Sheets from Fancy Flours. You can transfer the design onto your chocolate creations! I might have to get a sheet to play with so I can make pretty gold-swirled chocolate favors for Thanksgiving. It's definitely a good thing!

It's been a Martha kind of day...

1. Change the sheets
2. Laundry
3. Pick the first tomato from my garden!!
4. Work on my paper bag albums
5. Cut some fresh roses for my house from my garden.
6. Make fresh bread for dinner
7. Make homemade caramel for my hubby. Mmmm....

Heidi Swapp at Costco!

I have been wanting to play with Heidi Swapp stuff lately, but haven't been able to decide exactly what I want to play with. Well, yesterday we were at Costco and they had this Heidi Swapp assortment set (family theme - lots of girl stuff in it) and it looked so fun! I thought it through and decided to go for it. Tons of stuff - ghost alphabet and ghost shapes, chipboard alphabet and shapes and words and frames, adhesive jewels, photo corners, tabs, etc. I'm gonna have fun with this.

Fun with tinted wallets....

I was just playing with tinted wallet size photos... =)

From the Archives...

This is a LO I did a while back but didn't get around to scanning and stitching until now. I like the subdued colors - it's different from what I normally do.

Another LO

New Layouts!!

I got to scrapbook again today and I am excited about how these LO turned out. Yay!! I'm back in the crafting game!

Finally Crafting

Well, today I actually got to craft during Ellie's afternoon naptime. Yippee!!! I got the scarf I was knitting finished. Later she napped in her pack'n'play in the basement and I was able to complete a LO. I haven't scanned and stitched it yet, but it was nice to get back into scrapbooking. It's been two weeks since I've been able to scrap! We have craft night again Monday, though, and I'm planning on leaving Ellie with Leif (since craft night is in River Rock), so I should be able to get some scrapbooking done then. Yay!

Ellie's First Craft Night

Well, Eliana attended her first craft night last night at Michael's. I brought along some knitting to do, since it was a small project to carry and if I didn't get to it it would be okay. She was kind of fussy, so I didn't get too much done on my knitting, but it was nice to go. Leif offered to keep Ellie home so I could just craft, but I wanted Ellie to go. =) She's officially been initiated as a crafter.