Summer Camp is here!!

I have to share my excitement with you because my new Studio Calico scrapbooking kit- Summer Camp arrived this past Friday which means it was the BEST day of the week! I love when I get my new collection because it is sooo inspiring and gets me in the creative mood! It's colorful and full of fun goodies!! I love Studio Calico, they are so great at coordinating the whole collection to be cohesive yet fun and full of surprises! If you haven't experienced a Studio Calico kit, you definitely should, it's worth it!

I receive a new kit at the beginning of every month and have one whole draw from one of the organizers in my craft space dedicated to them. I usually take everything out of the package and admire it for a while, thinking of all the possibilities and creations, then I put the whole kit in a big zip loc bag and label the kit name and date. This helps me stay organized and keeps each kit together with all it's components so that I always know what I'm using for each project. These zip loc bags are so convenient and cheap! They are sold in the paper goods section of every store and measure 14 3/8"x 16" which is big enough to hold all of your 12x12 papers and embellishments. Hefty even has a diagram on the back of the box displaying the uses for these plastic bags, which includes protecting photo albums and to store crafts. What do you use to store your scrapbooking kits?

 

Love You Forever

Now this post is going to feel a little like fall, a little pumpkin spice, a little apple streusel, reminds me of all the things I love about the change of seasons.

This card is titled "I Promis to Love You Forever", the colors and design create elegance and sophistication. Accents of pearls give it just enough texture and pop. The solid cardstock mixed with a herringbone print is also a great touch to add interest and the stitching creats that homespun look. With the fall season just around the corner, this spicy color palette is sure to stir some delicious creations!

Supplies; Cardstock-Bazzill; Ribbon-Cosmo Cricket; Border Embellishment-Cosmo Cricket;

Patterned Paper-Studio Calico; Pearl Flourish-Want 2 Scrap; Pearl Embellishments- Recollections

My Space

Being creative has become a part of life for me, since before I can remember. I've been drawing, coloring, etc...from a very young age. Art classes were my favorite in grade school and my schedule was always packed full of them! Art is my passion and creating is my heart. Life isn't full filling for me, if I'm not being creative. I've always said that in order to truly be happy, you must do something everyday that makes you happy (or try anyway) and that happiness for me is creating something new, something beautiful, and something that may be inspirational to others. I also love gathering inspiration from other creative people, the world is full of them and the internet has helped us all connect in some type of way. When I am creating, I am truly in my element!

One of the most important parts of creating, is having ample space to do so. As of right now, the hubby and I are living in a one bedroom apartment, so space is very limited...BUT rest assure that I have carved my little sanctuary out of 3/8's of the living room :-). For now, it's my little piece of heaven. Recently I've been trying to get more organized and keep things neat, (we all know how awful it is trying to be creative and inspired in a big mess) so I've been more diligent about organizing things in a way that I can keep them neat and make it easier for clean up after a new project. I wanted to share a few pictures of my space with all of you, I hope you enjoy and please note that this is only the beginning, hopefully sooner than later we will be on to a bigger and better space, where I can really have my own sanctuary (like a WHOLE room) :-)...nevertheless, I'm grateful for what I've been blessed with thus far! Enjoy;

full view from living room

                 work table                                                           extra work space

storage                                                              desk

What I like most about my space right now is that I share it with my husband so usually we are still together while doing the things we both love to do because I know once I get to have my own crafting room, we will rarely see each other... :-/

What do you love most about your special space??

A Time to Remember

This past Sunday, August 1st was a very special day for Chris and I, it was our first wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe that a year and 2 days ago I was walking down the isle, we were ready to change our lives forever...

It was an amazing day, one that we will never forget. Coincidentally, we finally received all of our wedding photos/album from our big day this past Saturday, and it was a very welcomed anniversary present! The album is gorgeous, all the pictures are so stunning! Here are a couple of my favorites from the ceremony;

I felt like a princess and Chris was my prince charming of course! We couldn't have asked for better weather or a smoother experience. Everything was PERFECT!

Now exactly a year from today we left for our honeymoon in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It was so beautiful and relaxing, we had an amazing time. We rode ATV's around the countryside, took a ride over to Nicaragua for a day for some great sight seeing, visited one of the area's most active Volcanoes, also took a hike in the rain forest and a dip in the hot springs. I wish we were heading back there again...if only we could rewind a year, but of course all good things must come to an end...until our next much needed vacation that is. Here are some snap shots of us at the airport in Miami waiting for our connection to Costa Rica and also when we first arrived in CR;

Here's to a happy, healthy and long life together babe! :-) I love you more than words.

Old Friends~ New Tradition

At the end of last week I received a surprise in the mail. It was a card from a very dear friend of mine. We've been friends since 2nd grade (about 20 years as she put it) and have gradually grown apart over time due to distance and separate life paths. But the good thing about always remaining friends and staying in touch from time to time is that you always stay connected some how, and although it's far and few between, when you get together it's almost like yesterday and no time has past at all. That is how I feel around her...she is my special long distance friend. The funny part is that I've been thinking about her lately and how we've been  needing to catch up, which was exactly when I received her card. Life is funny like that.

In response to her thoughtful card, I of course had to make one to send back. The sentiment is so fitting- I miss you. To create this card I used part of my July Studio Calico kit- Continental. I love Studio Calico coordinated kits, they are always so fun and have such great color combos/embellis! I also LOVE to incorporate stitching (whether by hand or on the sewing machine) and also some kind of fabric or ribbon. That must be due to my fashion/apparel background. I spend my days around clothing, fabric/swatches, ribbon, buttons and fasteners. It always spurs up some kind of creative ideas! Here is the outcome;

Supplies; Textured Cardstock- DCWV(matchmakers); Patterned Paper- Studio Calico;

Flower- Studio Calico; Textured Fabric- K&Company;

Distress Ink- Tim Holtz(pumice stone);

Rhinestones- Other; Sentiment Stamp- Other.

I love the color palette for this card. Its sweet yet sophisticated with a little bit of distressing to produce a worn look. For the flower design on the top left, I cut it out of a Studio Calico advertisement card that was patterned on the back side, and I couldn't resist using the pattern, it's so beautiful and adds a great focal point to this card! I definitely think my friend will enjoy receiving this in the mail. It's worth saving! I would like this card-giving to become a tradition, almost like a pen pal, a new way to stay in touch more. Since we live far apart, I'm hoping that we are able to constantly write to eachother to stay connected and keep our friendship strong, afterall...who has time to sit on the phone for hours anymore! And being a memory preserver, having everything in writing and documented makes it so much better for future keepsakes (which reminds me, I still have all of her letters from Middle School!!!) :-)

Excitement in the Air!

Today is the BIG day! It's the start of the Summer 2010 CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) Trade Show!!!! I'm so excited, you would think that I was going to be there!! (Not quite, but wish I were, for sure!) I look forward to reading/seeing all the new products that are coming out from other bloggers that will be there. For now, I have to live vicariously through all of them, but hey, it's better than nothing!

There are many sites that have already been posting updates on the show for weeks, building our suspense even more! A couple in particular are; Studio Calico, Scrapbook Update and CHA's very own blog. Check into these sites for continuous updates throughout the duration of the show. This year its in Rosemont, IL at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, July 27th-July 29th.

Breakfast Heaven

Blueberry pancakes with blueberry compote, a sprinkle of confectioners sugar &

a side of maple butter.

Happy Monday!!

Hopefully everyone is rested from a relaxing weekend and ready to hit the grind again! I had a pretty good weekend, was able to clean the whole apartment and the hubby helped without me even asking, which is ALWAYS a plus (I love him for that)! I was also able to clean and organize my craft space a little, and I'm loving it, makes me want to create all day and all night (if only time would allow!). I will have pictures to follow shortly.

We had a couple visitors this weekend, my husband's sister and cousin, which was a nice welcome. They are always a pleasure and easy to please so I had already decided I wanted to try making the famous blueberry pancakes as served at the Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant (in the lower east side of Manhattan). Chris and I heard about it while watching Bobby Flay's Throwdown on the Food Network on day, we were impressed and wanted to try them out for ourselves and after an hour and 1/2 wait one Sunday afternoon we both came to the conclusion that it was well worth it!  I searched online for the recipe, thinking that I probably wouldn't find it, but luckily I came across a blog which features all things baked by Hilary and she actually had the recipe! I couldn't believe it! Now, the pancake recipe I believe is from her own personal archive, but the recipe for the blueberry compote and maple butter (the two most secret ingredients) were all there! I was so excited, I went straight to the grocery story after work on Friday and bought all the necessary ingredients that I didn't already have. It was my mission to make these delicious blueberry pancakes and I sure did!

Of course I got up a little later than planned on Saturday morning, but nonetheless, I started right away on the recipe. With a little help from Mr. Man, breakfast was a big success! We included a side of scrambled eggs with cheese and some Portuguese linguica (aka-sausage). I will definitely have to make them again soon, especially since I had to buy buttermilk for the first time EVER and the store didn't sell it in a small container, of course so there's plenty more of that! Anyway, enough ranting, I wanted to share this recipe with all of you (see below) and please be sure to check out Hilary's blog, she has many more goodies to share, I know I will be visiting again!


Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberries


Serves 3-4. This is adapted from Let Her Bake Cake's basic pancake recipe.

2 eggs

220 ml (1 scant cup) buttermilk

5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

190g (scant 1 1/3 cups) plain or all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup blueberries

Separate the eggs so that the yolks go into a large bowl and the whites go into the bowl of a stand mixer or a bowl large enough to fit a hand held electric mixer.

Add the buttermilk and melted butter to the yolks in the bowl and beat together. In another bowl mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

With a stand mixer or electric mixer, whip the egg whites to hold soft peaks.

Now pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and stir lightly until just combined. Some lumps are OK. Fold in the egg whites until just combined. It's OK if some of the whites aren't fully incorporated.

Rub a non-stick frying pan with a bit of butter and heat over medium-high heat. Add batter to pan to make whatever size pancake you want (I like small ones made with a heaping tablespoon of batter - my pan fits about 5 of these at a time). Pancakes are ready to flip once a few bubbles appear on the surface and and the tops are starting to go dull. Just before they are ready to flip, sprinkle a few blueberries on top of each pancake. Flip and cook another minute or two.

If you wish you can keep the pancakes warm in a very low oven while you cook the remaining batter.


Blueberry Compote

Serves 3-4.

1 cup blueberries (preferably wild blueberries, if available)

1 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 strip lemon peel

1/4 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Turn down heat and simmer very gently until mixture is thickened, about 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally during cooking time. Spoon compote over pancakes while still warm.


Maple Butter

Serves 3-4. You can adjust the amount of maple syrup to make it more or less pronounced, depending on your tastes.

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup maple syrup

In a small saucepan, melt together butter and maple syrup over low heat until melted. Serve immediately over pancakes.

Bat Mitzvah Surprise

Good Evening All!

I hope most of you have had the chance to enjoy the beginning of the summer! I just came back from a trip to Miami for my cousin's bachelorette party! It was a blast and I'm really glad I went! I will have to post a few pictures from the festivities soon...

Today I thought I would share some pictures of a large collage that I made for a colleague of mine. She had her daughter's Bat Mitzvah this past May and wanted a keepsake that would be on display during the party and then kept in a shadowbox frame as a momento for years to come. She provided the color story (bright purple, hot pink & lime green) and also a bunch of personal pictures and childhood ephemera. I gathered all things crafty such as; the rub-ons, stickers, patterned papers, flower embellishments, gator board, etc. It was a big hit at the party and a pleasure to create! I definitely look forward to creating more in the future.

It's FINALLY mine!!!

I'm sooo excited!! I was finally able to purchase Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium!! I'm SUPER excited and can't wait to dive in! All programs are installed and ready to go! I feel like it's Christmas!!! Yeay!!!!!!!!!! After I spend some time using it I will have to let you know what I think! :-)

Hope you all are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend! And remember, when you get a chance, to thank a Veteran for their services in helping to protect us all.

~Love is in the Air~

Hey there! So it's been a while since I've posted but I wanted to drop in a share a couple of lovely cards I've created lately. Tis the season for Love and Marriage, so why not!


This first card is an engagement card with a vintage/nostalgic feel. Vintage is always beautiful to me. The muted, rustic colors and the beautiful patterned floral papers. Vintage + Love = a match made in heaven if you ask me!

I created the shaped card by hand, with the good ol' pencil and exacto knife. (Those "old" tools will never grow out of style and are sometimes the most affordable, comfortable and accessible crafting tools you will ever own!) I then inked the edges using Tim Holtz vintage photo distressing ink. I cut out the title shape, inked the edges, used a rub-on from Cosmo Cricket's Beautiful You, then created the title sentiment and printed it out on Studio Paper ink jet transfers and rubbed it on for the finishing touch!

This next card is a little more "retro" with the black and white polk-a-dot patterned paper. I also gave it a more bold style adding the black borders around the edge of the title and front frame. The stitched bow with a flower button accent gives it a feminine touch. Very classic and as my husband said...it reminds you of lingerie. (Right up my alley! *wink*)

Hope these cards can be a source of inspiration for some of you! Enjoy.