Creative Outlet

Few new things

2008-05-31T09:19:00.001-07:00

So this first thing is something I did for my sister-in-law's birthday. It was pretty easy to do once If figured out what I was going to do to it. The hardest part was finding the pictures to go in it, hope she liked it! (it says FRIEND if you can't see it)

Next is a card I made for some friends of mine I did three of the same style only in different paper, they turned out pretty cute, one of my favorites.

This is this months RS birthday card, I was into summery things so this just sounded like a good idea, not really birthdayish but oh well.

And finally this was going to be my card I was going to enter for our stamp'n up contest this month but found out I'd jumped the gun and didn't know we can only use stamp'n up products, oh well, I'll try again. oh and on the front it says "these shoes are killing me, they must look fabulous!"

Too Cute!

2008-05-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

ok so i visited one of my favorite places, Hostess with the Mostess, and saw these way cute cheesecake pops. I really need to do a party to try these babies out. Thought I'd share if anyone else is having a fabulous get together.
Cheesecake Pops
Makes 30 – 40 Pops

Cheesecake Pops
Makes 30 – 40 Pops

5 8-oz. packages cream cheese at room temperature
2 cups sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
5 large eggs
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ cup heavy cream
Boiling water as needed
Thirty to forty 8-inch lollipop sticks
1 pound chocolate, finely chopped – you can use all one kind or half and half of dark, milk, or white (Alternately, you can use 1 pound of flavored coatings, also known as summer coating, confectionary coating or wafer chocolate – candy supply stores carry colors, as well as the three kinds of chocolate.)
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
(Note: White chocolate is harder to use this way, but not impossible)

Assorted decorations such as chopped nuts, colored jimmies, crushed peppermints, mini chocolate chips, sanding sugars, dragees) - Optional

Position oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer set at low speed, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and salt until smooth. Add the whole eggs and the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well (but still at lwo speed) after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and cream.

Lightly grease a 10-inch cake pan (not a springform pan). Pour the cheesecake batter into the cake pan and place in a larger roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake until the cheesecake is firm and slightly goldenon top, 35 to 45 minutes.

Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and cool to room temperature. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until very cold, at least 3 hours or up to overnight.

When cold and very firm, scoop the cheesecake into 2-ounce balls and place on a parchemtn paper-lined baking sheet. Carefully insert a lollipop stick into each cheesecake ball. Freeze the pops, uncovered, until very hard, at least 1 – 2 hours.

When the cheesecake pops are frozen and ready for dipping, prepare the chocolate. In the top of a double boiler, set over simmering water, or in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, heat half the chocolate and half the shortening, stirring often, until chocolate is melted and chocolate and shortening are combined. Stir until completely smooth. Save the rest of the chocolate and shortening for later dipping, or use another type of chocolate for variety.

Alternately, you can microwave the same amount of chocolate coating pieces on high at 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth.

Quickly dip a frozen cheesecake pop in the melted chocolate, swirling quickly to coat it completely. Shake off any excess into the melted chocolate. If you like, you can now roll the pops quickly in optional decorations. You can also drizzle them with a contrasting color of melted chocolate (dark chocolate drizzled over milk chocolate or white chocolate over dark chocolate, etc.) Place the pop on a clean parchment paper-lined baking sheet to set. Repeat with remaining pops, melting more chocolate and shortening (or confectionary chocolate pieces) as needed.

Refrigerate the pops for up to 24 hours, until ready to serve.
Introduction from Deborah & Elle

Chaos and Order

2008-05-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ok let me explain, my craft room is apperantly the cold storage room, so in the winter it gets NOOOOO heat. So it's been really hard to get things done in there because it's been so cold, hence it's become the room that everything gets thrown into because no one goes in there. And when I did do my projects (cards) I'd take everything out of the room with me to do it and then just set it all back in there when I was done. Hence the build up of stuff as well.
Well, I had finaly had enough and the weather has warmed up so i thought it was high time to clean it out. It felt soooo good. Now ii just have to get Todd to lay the carpet thats in waiting in there (and carpet pad) and that will clean it up even more. One step at a time I guess. Since having cleaned it I've completed three projects, two of which I can't post yet. One of those is my sister-in-law B-day present that I still need to get in the mail, the other is a card I made for my Stamp'n up group that is in a contest that's suppose to be anonymous so i don't want anyone to see it yet, the third, well I just haven't snapped a picture of it yet so you'll just have to wait.

May B-day card

2008-04-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

I found this idea at Doodlebug.ws and just adapted it for a birthday, they turned out pretty cute I think. The message on the front says:
1 Extraordinary person
1 Bunch of friends
5 balloons
1 large cake
Lots of laughter

Mix and enjoy!

Cake

2008-04-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Something I found on a friends blog, thanks Amy.

You Are Strawberry Cake
Fresh, sassy, and romantic.
You're a total flirt, who never would turn down a sugary treat.
Occasionally you're a bit moody - but you usually stay sweet!
http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcakeareyouquiz/

I don't know how they came up with this from the questions you answered but, whatever.

Stamp'n Up card

2008-04-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I think there is something missing on this card but I don't know what. I need something coming out of the flower I think but can't put my finger on it. Any suggestions?

More cupcakes

2008-03-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was able to help a friend do cupcakes for the RS birthday party/dinner and she had the colors all picked out and I had a little fun adding a little something. The flowers were really easy to do. I went to Michaels and got the color candy melts in the baking isle and some small sqeeze bottles, also in that isle, and doodles the flowers, let them set and then stuck them on. They turned out pretty cute. You could do this with almost any theme, they have all colors of candy melts, and you could trace something that was already drawn to make it really easy.

April card

2008-03-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a springy kind of card. I saw a lunch sack someone had done kinda like this and adapted it to a card. I don't know that I love it but it turned out pretty cute. Inside it says "Hoppy Birthday" (of course).

baby gifts

2008-03-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to a baby shower for quite a while. Well now I have two this month, eveyone is due soon or is just delivering around here. There are a bunch of pregnant women here, and mostly in my neighborhood. Anyway I have had these paint cans in my craft room forever and thought it was time to use them. I love to do them to put baby gifts in and had fun doing these up.

Notice also the cute outfits that went in them and especially the cute hair bands (made by Alea at Sugar and Spice, see below on my fav's) I loved them and will be getting some for Ellie soon, I love the cupcake clip, of course. Thanks again Alea for coming through on such short notice.

Great finds

2008-03-07T18:15:00.001-08:00

I found these great dishes at a site from Hostess w/ the mostess, the link is below if you'd like to check out thier other fun dishes. Prices arn't too terrible either. Notice the cute boxes they come in too.

WOW!!!

2008-03-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

this ones my favorite!

I was perusing some of my favorite places and I don't know about all of you but I am absolutly amazed at the talent of others. And when it comes to food and especially cakes (of all kinds) I am truely appreciative of the gift that some poses. So brides.com is haveing an amzing cake contest and these are some of my favorites. Hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

My Favorite things

2008-03-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

So here's my confession of a few of my favorite things, I hope you appreciate this Brittney! Actually it was fun to do. I think this tells me what a "hostess" freak I am. What can I say I love to throw a party! Please keep the giggles down to a minimum. : ) I'd also love to see my sister/sisters-in-law and friends do this. Thanks for the challenge Britt.  First, I think everyone can tell, that I LOVE cupcakes and everything to do with cupcakes. The paper cups, the frosting, different flavors, different things you put on top, ways to display them, EVERYTHING!

#2 Pollka Dots

2008-03-04T14:04:00.001-08:00

\I think this actually tops cupcakes, I have a huge obsession with polka dots. I love them on paper, on dishes (as you'll see), on my daughters cloths, on my cloths, on bags, on bedding, almost anything. I think they remind me of sprinkles on a cupcake.

#3 Dishes

2008-03-04T14:01:00.001-08:00

I also love dishes, plates, bowls, silverware, glasses, serving pieces, and out of all these I love cakestands the most! One day I would love to have a wall cupboard full of different place settings and serving pieces. A different one for every occasion. Along with of course table cloths, napkins, napkin rings, etc. I love to set a fun table.

#4 Scrapbooking stuff

2008-03-04T14:00:00.001-08:00

Ok I also love scrapbook stuff, now notice I didn't say scrapbooking, just the stuff. I love ribbon especially, I can never have enough. One of my favorite brands is Doodlebug. I go to their site just to look at their adds. They also have cute polka dot stuff like ribbon, buttons, flowers, paper, and on and on.

#5 Cookbooks & Recipes

2008-03-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

Ok last one. I love cookbooks and finding new recipes. I love to go to Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart for recipe ideas. I have a bunch of recipe books and will only buy ones with great pictures in them. I have to have the visual to sell me. I have some great ones from Gooseberry patch, they have ideas (usually party ideas) to go along with their recipes which I love.

TIme Out For Women weekend

2008-03-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

I thought since this post is all about me I'd do it here instead of on our family blog. I was able to attend Time Out For Women and had the best experiance! It was a two day, well ok, Friday night and Saturday event and I was able to go with two friends of mine Mackenzie and Dacia, which made it even better being with them.
We heard from Sheri Dew & Wendy Watson Nelson on Friday night and the music was by Jenni Oaks Baker, an amazing violinist and Mercy River a group of three women, all about my age I'd guess, and they were fabulous! I got their CD and would highly remommend it to all.
Saturday Dacia and I went and we had great seats I might add and paid the price to get them too. We heard from Emily Watts, S. Michael Wilcox, Chris Stewart, Jason Wright, Sharon Larson, and the music of Kenneth Cope. They were each such good presenters. I think I came away with a new determination to be more commited, to realize I DON"T have control over everything and to stop feeling guilty about that, that I have great power for good in being a women and especially a mother, and a greater assurance that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who really knows who I am and wants me to be happy. I am so greatful for this experiance and would encourage all who have the opportunity to go to do so.
The pictures are Dacia and I with Mercy River and us with our Fabulous books! : )

TOFW books

2008-02-29T07:26:00.000-08:00

I finally got these done last night, just in time for Time Out for Women tonight. These were a lot of fun to make, even more so because I'm giving them to friends. The small one is for my friend who is only going Friday night and there are only two speakers, Sheri Dew and Wendy Nelson. I did pages for pictures, for where we go to eat after, for our favorite speaker, for our testimony of the importance of being a women, for things we want to change or improve about myself, and of course pages to take notes on all the speakers. Thanks for going with me Dacia and Kenzie!

Dacia's

2008-02-29T07:21:00.001-08:00

Kenzie's

2008-02-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

Another Day Another Cupcake

2008-02-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

I wish I had a different cupcake for each day of the week, it would help things go so much better.
I have my Stamp'n Up card done and wanted to share. We do a card exchange in our group and it's so much fun to see what everyone comes up with. I am so excited to get Dacia's card, I've see it and it is too cute, I'll post it once we've done the exchange. (Dacia's permission of course)
I've done these pictures small but if you click on them you'll get a full screen view.

Fun Blogs

2008-02-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

I found these blogs on a friends blog and wanted to share them with others who I knew would appreciate them. Anyone have others let me know and I'll pass them along. (thanks Colleen)

cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com
hostessblog.com

March Birthday card

2008-02-26T13:09:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting here eating a Coconut Lime cupcake and drinking hot coco from the Coco Bean Cafe and really enjoying it! I thought I deserved a treat after I did laundry, cleaned my floors, stove, and fridge, ran to Walmart for diapers, and did all the other things expcected for mom to do. So I say I definately deserved it. Anyone here in Rexburg, I highly recommend visiting, it's a great treat to give yourself.

This is my card for the Relief Society birthdays this month. It was really easy to do, got it done in one night, mostly because I was on a deadline, but still not too difficult. I'll be posting my Time Out for Women books soon, I figure those I made them for should probably see them first, so it'll be this weekend some time.

If anyone has any great cute or crafty or both site they love let me know so I can pass them along.

Treat yourself to something fun!

Hello

2008-02-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be a good idea to have a blog just for posting my stuff I make instead of doing it on my family blog. Here I'd love to share and see other great ideas. I'll post the cards I make each month for my RS birthdays as well as for my stamp'n up group. Also any fun parties I do or other fun things I come across. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do. I welcome other ideas and comments so please contribute.