Ten points if you can name that song title AND the musical it's from... : )
I was happy and surprised to receive a lovely little blog award from Meg over at Mega Crafty: The Sunshine Award! Thank you, Meg!
This award is particularly appropriate considering I am literally *craving* sunshine right now. Seriously... I think I need to consider moving states. Michigan is beautiful in the summer but sooo dreary in the Winter!
Sunshine Award Guidelines 1. Put the logo in my blog or post 2. Pass on the award to 12 fellow bloggers 3. Link to the nominees within my post 4. Let the nominees know they've received this award by leaving a comment on their blog
5. Share love and link to the person who gave this to you
There are so many of you wonderful bloggers that bring me a little sunshine on a day to day basis and are constant sources of inspiration for me. Although these blog awards don't mean anything in "real" life - I think they are a nice way to let you know that I appreciate you...
Each weekend in my Week in Review post I share with you some of my favorite crafty links I've come across during the week, from all over the blogosphere. Hope you enjoy... and happy weekend!
Project Keepers from CraftyPod These are nothing short of genius. Not only do I ALWAYS have multiple projects going on all the time with pieces of project strewn about the craft studio and house, but I also have some oil cloth stashed away! I'm so on this!
I think it's safe to say that I'm on the final stretch. But why is it when I am so close to the finish line that the end seems so very far away!
I decided that the only way to get my butt into gear and start to wrap this project up was to set myself some aggressive goals. I'm teaching a class tomorrow (today, by the time you read this!) and I made it my goal to have the studio ready to teach in!
Now, it's not going to be 100% finished by then. But the bulk of the work will be done and it will be a usable space once more. I hope!
So what's been going on? Well, let me show you...
Once the space was finally cleared out, I moved the major pieces of furniture back in to see how they would fit and look. Did I mention I'm a visual person?! : )
My stamping supplies are (mostly) neatly organized in the bookshelf, although they still need labeling.
I have a designated sewing area with new small table...
And my work table set up in the center of the space with space to work (and move around!) on all four sides.
Next item on the to do list? Painting! Argh! Painting always sounds like a fun, quick and easy project... until you start it! Thanks to hubby who racked up the good-husband points by finishing the entire priming part for me while I ran out to a meeting...
As predicted... the nasty vinyl coated siding has been less than easy to paint. Do you like the color? I went with yellow, obviously!
Tomorrow I have to put a second coat on (soooo was not planning on needing two coats! Boo!) and finish up the trim. Then all that's left is to clean up all of the "stuff" that's exploded into the rest of the basement... which I think is 95% trash when all's said and done.
Next week I'll be putting the finishing touches (for this phase of the project) on the studio, and will have a big reveal for you next Friday! Be sure to come back and see the changes!
Hi there! How is everyone doing? It's grey and cold and blah here in Michigan and I get more and more anxious for Spring with every day that passes! I think that's why I'm enjoying making cards in bright and cheery colors right now... really makes me smile!
But enough of my babbling... are you just dying to find out who won the giveaway?! Well... the random number generator at random.org chose number 25 of 36 entries which is...
Abby! (AVinNYC)
Hooray! Congratulations! Send me an e-mail and we'll get your colors picked out and your Stampin' Up! goodies on their way to you. I hope that you enjoy them! And thanks again, everyone, for entering... I've decided to work regular giveaways into my posts here at Ready, Set, Craft... so check back regularly for more chances to win!
Now, back to business! Today I wanted to share a few card ideas with you as well as my February Stampin' Up! News. I have so many stamping projects going on right now!
Here's a sweet birthday card that I made this week. I was inspired by a similar card recently sent to me by my friend and customer, Cindy, and by a card I received when I was new to Stampin' Up! by my upline Kristen.
I love that the card opens out to reveal the birthday message. I used the same happy birthday greeting as I did on these cards. It's from the "Happy Moments" Sale-A-Bration yet and has proved to be very useful! The cupcake is from one of our 2009-10 hostess sets called "Out of the Box."
With Valentines Day fast approaching, I feel like I'm making Valentines cards and treats every day! I've been working on cards for this swap (not pictured... I'm not ruining the surprise!), making cards for friends and family, and prepping for Friday's Valentines Stamp A Stack.
For those of you local to Michigan, my Valentines Stamp A Stack is this Friday (Feb 5) from 7-9pm at my home. For just $10 a person you'll make 8 cards in four unique designs - all supplies included! Drop me an e-mail (joanneroehm@yahoo.com) to get registered. All skill levels welcome! Here are a couple of the cards we'll be making...
And if you can't make the Valentines Stamp A Stack, I'll be hosting another get together on Friday February 26. It's the first of my monthly Stamp & Crop's! Stamp & Crop takes place on the 4th Friday of every month from 7-10pm at my home. Bring whatever projects you're working on and enjoy social time while you create! Plus, get ideas, inspiration, and tips from other stampers and crafters! Everyone is welcome - just drop me a line to let me know you're coming!
Don't forget that Stampin' Up's Sale-A-Bration continues through March 31! When you spend $50 of SU merchandise during SAB, you'll receive a FREE item from the SAB catalog (check it out on the right). And there's no limit! For every $50 you spend, you can select another FREE SAB item!
And finally, if you're looking to stock up on some Valentines stamps and want to help out the folks in Haiti at the same time, please take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s promotion to help Haiti:
To place a Stampin' Up! order, head over to my website. And feel free to leave a comment or drop me an e-mail if you have any questions about the products!
And if you want to try your hand at one of the cards above, I've listed the products I used below. I hope everyone is having a great week... thanks for stopping by!
Cupcake Birthday Card: 1 3/8 circle hole punch, Happy Moments stamp set (SAB), Out of the Box stamp set (hostess 2009-10), Pretty in Pink cardstock, Melon Mambo cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, 5/8 inch Grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo Stampin' Write, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write.
I Love You Friend, Card: Love You Much stamp set, Picture This stamp set, Pretty in Pink stamp pad, Sahara Sand cardstock, Very Vanilla cardstock, Pretty in Pink cardstock, Chocolate Chip cardstock, 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate Chip, Scallop Trim border punch, Chocolate Chip stamp pad, Heart to Heart punch.
Love You Much Card: Love You Much stamp set, Sending Love Specialty Designer Series paper, Chocolate Chip cardstock, Real Red cardstock, Eyelet border punch, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Aqua Painter, Real Red stamp pad, Chocolate Chip stamp pad.
It's the first Monday of the month - welcome to the February edition of CUPKINS, a collaboration between Meg at Mega•Crafty and I. Each month, Meg shares a muffin recipe and I share a cupcake recipe with the same theme.
This month's theme is Valentines Day, naturally! To see Meg's Valentines muffins, click on the Cupkins logo at the bottom of this post!
ChocolateStrawberry Cupcakes (strawberry filled chocolate cupcakes with sweet strawberry frosting)
To begin, bake your favorite chocolate cupcakes. My favorite recipe is Martha's one bowl chocolate cupcakes, but if you're stretched for time you can go the easy route as well. I used these cute cupcake liners by Wilton for my cupcakes...
Once your cupcakes are baked and cooled, grab your Wilton tip 230 and some strawberry jam. Fill up a piping bag. Insert the tip into the top of your cupcake and give it a good squeeze to fill it.
Yum! Filled cupcake goodness! Set them aside while you work on the frosting.
I used the basic buttercream recipe from the book Hello, Cupcake! with a few tweaks. Whisk one 13oz container of marshmallow fluff, then add 3 sticks of softened butter gradually, and beat until well combined. Next, add 1tbsp of strawberry extract, your food coloring and 1 cup of powdered sugar. Beat until fluffy and set aside.
Next it's time to pipe your chocolate... a la Martha's valentine filagree hearts per her February issue of Living. I used wax paper to pipe my chocolate on, and then key is to pipe out of the smallest hole possible. Pipe into hearts... or whatever you like!
Put your chocolate in the freezer for fifteen minutes to set. Then assemble your cupcakes!
And there you have it, a beautiful and delicious Valentines treat! Don't they look gorgeous on my new cupcake stand?
Happy (early) Valentines Day, friends! Now click on the Cupkins logo to head over to Meg's place!
