Kids Card Class

We had fun outside crafting this morning. We played with punches and made 4 fun cards!

Cyndee's Wedding Shower

As I begin to pack for my trip I decided to show another past shower.  Today it's Cyndee's showers turn to be in the spotlight ;)  the lunch was simple, but looked so nice.  My favorite would have to be the skewers with the double chocolate hearts!  For favors we gave out a heart shaped cookie cutter with a little message attached with their wedding date and a cookie recipee! 

Amanda Shower

Another flash back shower :)  Oh how I will miss seeing my Sierra family every day!  Here is my matchy matchy bridal shower for my friend Amanda!!! 

Gift Wrap

Cake using the Cricut (pre Cricut Cake)

Candy Bar Favors

Tables using the favors and fruit as decorations

Erika's Baby Shower

After Nicole's shower I wanted to flash back to some fun showers from the past!  These fruit skewer food centerpieces were from my cousin Erika's baby shower.  She did not know if she was having a boy or a girl so we decorated for both using pink and blue.  The potted plant in the front was the table centerpiece.  They had a baby on the front and then baby things mixed into the centerpiece (using the cricut)!

Nicole's Shower

Here are two pictures from Nicole's shower!  The first one has the little purse and the second shows the cake bites I made on the stand.  Though they turned out well I think the stand needed something like a bow or some color ;)

Nicole's Purse

This is the first version of my Zebra Purse!  I loved it but, the only problem is that the paper was a little thin.  When I filled the purses they were not as stiff as the second one I made.  With this one I glued the black on the front of the purse and the jewel before I assembled the purse.  This way it was solid and dry before it sits up as a purse.  Again the thin material made it hard for the purses to stay closed because the top was sturdy and wanted to pop out.     

For fun I made the "love" tag.  I figured it was fitting for a wedding favor :)

Stampin' Up!
Punches: Tag
Stamps Tiny Tags

10 cards for $10 Class

10 cards for $10 Class

Date Change to June 27th  6:30-8:30pm 

Panera Bread, Stockton

Cake Bite Try Two

I would love to say this was my first try but I would be lying!  I have only tried one other time, but it was a flop!!!  The cake part was great, but the dipping part was lets just say less than perfect!  So I thought I would put my steps on my blog to help others and more than anything remind myself later of how I made them!  Last time my chocolate was too thick, so called a few friends and went online.  My favorite website was crickpop.com!  She had a whole troubleshooting info pages of her trials of cake pop making!  So here we go!!! 

I started with a box cake mix and a can of frosting.  I needed Red Velvet and this was the only box they had.  YOU DO NOT NEED THE FILLING if you buy a box like this.  Follow the directions on the box of how to make your cake and bake it to the directions for your pan size.  Once the cake is done and a bit cool scrape it into a large mixing bowl and mix in 1 can of frosting.  I learned that if your cake is too hot the ball mix is too sticky ;(

 Next form your cake bite balls.  I wanted them all to be about the same size so they looked nice on the stand and to get an accurate count of how many it would make in the future.  To help with this I used my small Pampered Chef scoop (if I were making cake pops I would use the Med Scoop).  I scooped them out and then put them on a piece of plastic wrap on cookie sheets or in a stack able container in the frig to cool for 5 hours.  (many of my friends freeze them but I read a lot of people online talking about the cake pops cracking from the expansion as they warm?!?) Not to mentioned it did not work for me last time so I was all about trying something new :)

 I took one layer out of the frig at a time.  First I rerolled each  layer to make them smooth.  They are a little rough when they first come out of the frig.

 Ahhhh, my saving products, or so I think.  Everything was the same as my first try until I got to this step.  Last time I put my chocolate in a double broiler on the stove.  I don't know if it got too hot, or the bowl was too big, or if I added too much chocolate, or I did not add enough oil or a mix of things, but last time did not work.  Friends said they used a small bowl and the microwave, so I thought I would leave old school heating and join the microwave era. 

 I put a half of a bag of the chocolates and a little bit of virgin olive oil into the bowl and put it in the microwave for a minute, stopping every 20 seconds to stir.  This great ceramic bowl did wonders.  After about a minute of stirring it was ready.  I dropped each bite in one at a time, swirling it in the cup to coat it.  Then I used the candy dipper to lift it out and tip it onto the plastic wrap lined container .  (Before I had a thicker dipping tong and it was hard to get off the dipper without making a mess.  My friend used a tooth pick but that did not give me enough support, I kept dropping them last time).

The shower is black white and red.  I did not want to use black frosting as drizzle so I used sprinkles.  I covered about 8 bites and then sprinkled.  If they are drying faster or you are taking a bit longer sprinkle 4 at a time.  Once they harden the sprinkles will not stick ;) 

 All done and sorry for the bad picture.  I let them sit for about 10 minutes and then cut one in half so you can see all the colors together and up close.  All together 1 cake mix, 1 can of frosting and 2 bags of Wilton's chocolate melts made a whopping 65 cake bites!!! 

 Storage note:  They can be made and stored for 3 days prior to the event.  Make sure they are at room temperature and in a sealed container.  I like this Snapware container because it has 3 levels and inside each level you can flip over the cupcake racks and it makes 2 short layers ;)  All three layers snap together under 1 lid!

Extra Chocolate Note:  I learned that a way to save your unused chocolate is to pour it into a bowl or pan (depending on how much left) lined with plastic wrap.  Then when it is hard pull out the chocolate and finish wrapping it in the plastic wrap.  To keep it extra sealed place it in a plastic bag or container.  Then just brake it up and reheat when you need it again ;)

Good Luck on your own cake pops or cake balls ;) 

Kids Game Class

Kids Game Day

Friday June 22- 9-11am

@Michael Faklis Park (By Trinity Park)
Cost per Child-$10.00 or place a $25 Stamp Order per child
Each child will get to create 3 games (Memory, Tick-Tac-Toe, and Go Fish) to take home!

Happy Father's Day Day!!!

I am so Blessed to say I have the best dad in the world!  Many say I am a lot like my dad and looking at this picture I can see why.  I have to say neither of us was nervous, we just spent our time walking along the path talking about who was there and how pretty it was.  Happy Father's Day Dad!  I just wished everyone was as blessed as my brother and I growing up with a dad like ours!

I loved this card.  My dad loves being on the water.  Growing up any nautical thing made me think of my dad and his service in the Navy.  His joy in life beyond taking pictures is being on the Delta on his sail boat.  So when I remembered I had this paper it was PERFECT!  I just cut the paper to center around the anchor.  Then I stamped the saying onto white paper and punched it out using the XL Decorative punch.  Due to the colors I needed something to blend it in so I sponged the edges and lightly sponged the center.  To make it stand out I used a dimensional on each end.  So Simple, Yet So Dad!!!

Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Punch: XL Decorative Punch
Paper: Retired Nautical Expedition

Blossom Butterfly

This must be my favorite card.  I got this idea from the catalog and changed the sediment.  you start with a basic card and add a colored boarder and then a white polka dot embossed boarder.  To the top you will stamp one of the mixed bunch flowers and punch.  Next punch one more Blossom with your colored paper.  To make the butterfly cut the top and bottom petal out of your blossom.  To add your sediment boarder you white sediment paper with your colored paper and stamp using the coordinating color :)  Simple and clean!  And today remember to "Cast your burdens upon the  Lord, and He will Sustain thee"!

Stampin Up!
Punch: Blossom
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Blessings from Heaven

Blossom Tag Card

Since I forgot to post yesterday I thought I would post twice this morning.  This was my blossom gift tag.  I folded a piece of paper in half and stamped the stamp going off the top just a tad (you might be able to see above the right leaf).  Then you punch the card out with the blossom punch making sure to save a little of the fold (so it stays together).  Then I stamped the center decoration and punched it out using the 1" circle punch. and adhered it to the center.  To make it look a little more fun I used the blossom punch and punched out a blossom in green.  I cut the petals apart and used them as leaves.  Now you are ready to attach it to the top of your gift!

Stampin Up!
Punches: Blossom, 1" Circle
Stamps: Mixed Bunch

Simple Blossom

This card was so easy, but I loved the way it looked in person!  It was so simple to make.  All you do is adhere a white piece of card stock.  Then you stamp the flower on and add a black jewel with some sparkle in the center of each flower.  You are done!!!

Stampin Up!
Punches: Blossom
Stamps: Mixed Bunch

Expanding Blossom

I just love this stamp!  All I did for this card was was stamp the stamp in three colors.  Then I punched the stamp with the Blossom Punch.  to help expand the flower I cut the back flowers in petals and glued it together.  At the class I did not make the back layer as thick and it gave a whole different look.  Happy Cutting!!! 

Stampin' Up!
Punch: Blossom
Stamps: Mixed Bunch

Scrap Day & Purse Party

Wednesday will be my Scrap, Stamp and Stay Day. It will be at my house from 10am- 4pm.

Cost-FREE!!! This is a day to start a new project or finish one you have been working on forever!!! You can bring your materials for a project you are working on or just a bunch of paper& adhesive and come and play with my NEW stamps!

 

Purse Party- DATE CHANGED Saturdayday June 16- 1-3pm @ Panera
Cost-$15.00 or place a $25 Stamp Order
We will be making 4 cute purses that could be used to hold a treat or as a card!

Blossom Class

This class is on June 12th!  I have decided to have only one class at 6:30-9pm at the Stockton Panera.  There was not enough interest for the morning time.  I would love to see you there!  If you will be going please let me know in advance so I can prepare materials for you.

 

Post Megan's Shower

Just look how cute my little milk cartons look on the table ;)  I loved the pattern on the table with the red flowers and the black table cloths.  I wanted to do something fun the dessert.  Originally I was going to make a cake and use my cricut cake to cut out the women and lay her on sugar sheets that matched the milk cartons.  Sadly when I went to buy the sugar sheets they were out.  So last minute I decided to use the hearts from the invites to top the cupcakes and add the pregnant lady to the top of the whole cupcake stand!  I think it worked out better than I had planned!

Megan's Shower

Today is my friend Megan's baby shower.  We cant wait to spoil Megan a little today!  Here is Megan's invite and favor.  The white heart on her belly is puffed out with a dimensional to add a little something else to the card.  The favor is the Milk Carton Die filled with chocolates and closed with a clothespin topped with a heart ;)  Tomorrow I will post a few pictures from the shower!

Cricut: New Arrival
Stampin' Up!
Die: Milk Carton
Punch: Small Heart

Thanks So Much Purse

This is just my simple thanks purse.  I cut the purse out of pink with the Big Shot and adhered the tabs and the handle.  Then I stamped the large heart from the P.S. I Love You stamp set.  I know this set is retired but I just love it!!!  Then I attached a tag stamped with "Thanks so Much" using a heart shaped brad.  It works with a round brad, but the heart shaped on just gave it a different look.

Stampin Up!
Punches: Heart, Tag
Stamps: P.S. I Love You, Tiny Tags

June Class Changes

I have changed the date and or times of two June classes:

Purse Class- Saturday June 16th @ 1-3pm = Place to be Decided =

Kids Game Class- June 22nd @ 9-11am = Park =

4 You Purse

What a fast few days I have had in Fresno!  I got to see some good friends and do a little Scrapbooking too!  This is one of the purses from my purse party ;)  It is a fun candy or gift card box for any party!  I used my Big Shot to cut out a green purse.  Then I sent it through the Big Shot again in the polka dot folder.  I felt this softened it up a little with the bright green.  Then I stamped one of the tags from the Tagtastic stamps in pink.  I punched it out using the XL Curly Label.  I topped off the label with a stamp from Tiny Tags and a bow on the side ;)  Happy Craftin'!

Punches: XL Curly Label
Stamps: Tagtastic, Tiny Tags
Die: Purse, Polka Dot Folder

Zebra Purse

I love this purse!!  What can I say?  It is just so much fun!  This purse is the second purse I made of this type.  The first one is for Nicole's shower and you will see it soon.  The one thing I learned is that when making 3D boxes I need to remember to use a thicker paper.  So when I made this purse I die cut the purse with black paper first.  Then I cut the zebra print with the die cut.   I cut off all of the outer parts to the purse and only kept the center.  I even cut off the top flap to keep it black.  Then I glued the zebra over the black die cut.  This left the purse extra strong and the sides black.  Once I had adhered it together, I glued on the stone to add her hint of red.  Once this was all dried, I adhered the side tabs to create the purse and glued on the handle.  I learned that for favors glue holds better than adhesive.  You never know how warm it might be on the way to the party or how rough people are going to be when putting the candy in the favor ;)

Stampin Up!
Die Cut: Purse

Gift Card Boquet

Purse Party Class

Saturday June 16th, 2012

1-3pm PLACE TO BE DECIDED

Cost- $15 or place a $25 Stamp Order

We will be making the 4 cute purses below.  The blue one is the surprise purse ;)  I am waiting for one of the new punches to complete the purse!  If you would like to make the purses and see the finished backpack come to the class on Thursday!  Please RSVP so I will have materials ready for you!

All Swirls

Oh how I  love this paper!  I first used it to make my friend Megan's baby shower invite and favor (which I will post soon!).  If you had a large stamp with a pattern you could easily make your own purse pattern as well!  I started by using my big shot to cut out the purse.  Then i glued the two tabs and the handle onto the purse.  After that it was SIMPLE!  I wanted a little red so I used the small scalloped circle to cut out the red.  From the left over patterned paper I added a 1 3/8"circle to match the backing of the purse.  Just to add a little shine I added a black jewel to the center!  Again I love the colors and cant wait to make another purse!  So far my favorite die!

Stampin Up!
Die: Purse
Punches: Small Scalloped Circle, 1 3/8" Circle 

Nothing but Heaven

I am so excited that I get to craft with friends today!  I love this simple card!!!  I stamped the Mixed Bunch blossom on white paper in blue.  Then I used the blossom punch to cut around the blossom.  Then I used the small center stamp and punched it out using the 1" circle punch.  I attached it with a dimensional in the center.  Then I used the blossom punch to cut out the leaves.  I cut the flower into 6 leaves.  Then I attached the whole flower onto the card.  When I was done I used one of the stamps from the Blessings from Heaven to add a sediment to my card!  Have fun stampin!!!

Stampin Up!
paper: 2012-2013 In Colors
Stamps: Mixed Bunch & Blessings from Heaven
Punches: 1" circle, Blossom