Shutterfly Holiday Cards

I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy start to an amazing holiday season. So much has been going on and there has been many great changes - all of them positive - which gives me much reason to celebrate and be thankful. This year, I wanted to send out the perfect holiday cards. In the past, I have used Shutterfly to do birth announcements and birthday party invitations.


This year, I decided to use Shutterfly for my holiday cards. There are so many beautiful designs to choose from. You can even split your order! Make half of your cards Christmas and the other half Holiday Cards. I plan on sending out some New Year cards this year.

This year's cards are going to be very special since it will be the first Christmas for our family's newest addition - a baby girl! I am so excited to send out holiday cards of my two baby girls together =) I definitely suggest checking out the great prices, quality cards, and fast delivery that Shutterfly has to offer when you are ordering your cards this season.

Best,
Loreen

Blog Candy Alert

My dear friend and design team member, Kim, is having some awesome blog candy. Her blog candy includes:

3 DCWV design cards
6 white doilies
Valentine Studio G clear stamp set
Friend to Friend heart stamp
Pink mini rose flowers
Magenta baubles
Card Scents in Snickerdoodle
Valentine ribbon
Red, White, and Pink Flowers
A mixture of foam hearts
Misc. WOJ and Magnolia stamped images


So what are you waiting for? Head on over and enter to win some great candy =) Her work is amazing so be sure to check out her projects too! Happy MLK Day =)

Hugs,
Loreen

P.S. Head over to Wish On A Scrap for the New Whiff of Joy Stamps. The Willow stamps also make adorable stamps for Valentine Day cards too.

Spotlight Technique

I was introduced to the spotlight technique by my friend. Click here to see Ann's page. She saw it on one of the Bella challenges. I decided to give it a try and I absolutely love how this card came out.



I am not really sure who makes this stamp because I stamped the image out when I was visiting Ann. I colored the image using Copic Ciao set C and my Copic Blender pen. The paper and punches are SU. I used the treading water punch and cuttlebug swiss dots folder on the background for my image. The ribbon is from my stash and the rain drops are from Cloud 9. The cardstock is SU and Bazzill. I highlighted the cupcake using my Sakura Stardust Clear pen. To make the images pop up, I used my Stampendous pop up 3-D sticky squares.

Do not forget that today is the last day to enter the challenge on my store blog. Click here to go to the challenge. It is such an easy challenge and you will enter for a chance to win Whiff of Joy's Lizzie with Box of Chocolates stamp. How adorable is this stamp? It's perfect for Valentines Day too =) I really love this stamp line!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Thank you so much for visiting and leaving comments. I have so much fun visiting my visitor's pages for inspiration.

Hugs,

Paper Pieced New Baby Card

One of my good friends at work is expecting her first baby girl this week. I was so excited that the little one will be here soon that I already made the card. It is possible that the baby will make her debut a little early right? My daughter was exactly one week early. Of course my own mother called my baby's birth date months ahead of time! The only problem with my own daughter arriving a week early was that it interfered with me taking my last exam to finish my law degree. Just as my own mother predicted, my little girl came the exact day of my Family Law final (fitting right?). I ended up taking the exam when I came out of the hospital and graduated from law school without any trouble =) It is so much easier to take a law school final after you have given child birth. Anything is easy compared to that!



Back to the card...I paper pieced Baby Bella Pea with designer paper from a DCVW pack. I also used nesties, bazzill cardstock, tuxedo black memento ink, Tim Holtz Distress ink in Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint, Stampin Up Punches & Sentiments, and EK Success corner punch. Of course I had to decorate the inside of the card too! I hope you enjoyed my card.



Do not forget to participate in the Whiff of Joy Challenge at my store blog. It is such a fun challenge and you get a chance to win an awesome stamp that is perfect for Valentine's Day. Be sure to check it out =)

Hugs,

Wish Challenge #1

As promised, the Wish On a Scrap Design Clique is hosting a challenge on the store blog. Come and participate in the fun challenge and get a chance to win 2 Whiff of Joy Stamps =)

One of the deadlines is tonight, January 4, 2008 at midnight so make sure you visit the blog now =)

I am so excited to see what you create. Good luck and I hope you have a great time participating in the challenge =)

Hugs,

Whiff of Joy New Releases & Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am so excited to share that my store Wish On A Scrap will be carrying the new releases from Whiff of Joy Stamps. Be sure to stop on over to the store to see these adorable new stamps. If you are up for a challenge, visit the store blog as we will have some yummy blog candy posted very soon.

Winter has gotten me in the baking mood. I made my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and then dipped the cookies into melted semi-sweetened chocolate chips. This simple treat was absolutely delicious.


Here is the recipe for chocolate chip cookies from Crisco:

3/4 cup butter flavored shortening
1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon real vanilla
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups of flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375. Combine shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into creamed mixture just until blended. Stir in choc. chips. Drop by teaspoon full of dough 3-inches apart onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375for 8-10 minutes for chewy cookies or 11 -13 mins for crisp cookies. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Remove cookies to foil to cool. Makes about 3 dozen.

Here is the part that I added to the recipe for my treats:
In separate small saucepan, melt bags of semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Dip each cookie halfway in dark chocolate and return to wax paper to cool. Place in refrigerator to set the chocolate. Enjoy =)

Thank you again for visiting my blog and for all of the positive comments. Have a great day.

Hugs,

Black and White Winter Card

Happy New Year! I still have not decided what this year's resolution will be. I would love to hear what you have decided to resolve for 2009.



The card for today was something that I had envisioned in my mind and then just had to put onto paper. I bought the stamp over the summer because I knew it would make a beautiful winter card. Black and white are my favorite shades; I wear them almost every day so I figured I would make a card that reflects my clothing style. I also decorated the inside of the card just as my muse Kim does on her beautiful cards.

Here are the details of the card:

• Stamp by Inkadinkado 96847


• Cardstock Stampin Up in Whisper White & Basic Black


• Black Memento Ink


• EK Success Medium Snowflake Punch


• EK Success Snowflake Long Punch


• Silver baubles & Silver Sliders


• Black ribbon

I hope you enjoyed my card. Here are some pictures of snow that we had in New York on New Years Eve. I thought I would share these because when I sent the pics over to Deb, she told me that my snow looks tropical compared to hers. I thought that was hilarious. How is the snow by you?

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead. Thank you so much for your comments =)

Hugs,

My 1st Tilda Card

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon and evening at Ann's house crafting our hearts out. I finally got a chance to color my first Tilda. Having now had this intense copic coloring experience, I have a new found respect for all the stampers who turn out these beautiful images on a regular basis! Although I totally enjoyed making this card, the coloring was so detailed!!

For this card, I used the following supplies: The paper used on the card came from a DCWV pack, the sentiment is from Stampin Up on the outside and inside of the card, rectangle scallop nestabilties, pop-up glue dots from SU, Copic Ciao 72 set A, bazzill cardstock, SU circle punch, SU scallop circle punch, paper punch butterfly & firefly, and an EK Success corner punch for the design on the inside of the card.

I wish everyone a blessed new year. Thank you so much for your support over the past year. I have enjoyed getting to know my readers and I appreciate all of the feedback provided. Here's to a prosperous and healthy 2009 =)

Hugs,

Birthday Dinner

This is probably going to be my last food and recipe post until next year when I decide to cook again ;) I cannot believe how good the food turned out for my husband's birthday dinner! I got the recipe from a member of a yahoo group that I belong called CopycatsClones-n-BrandNames There are so many wonderful recipes posted in the group and such nice members there.

Here is the recipe:

Cheesecake Factory Louisiana Chicken Pasta
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour

Cajun Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 small yellow pepper (chopped)
1 small red bell pepper (chopped)
3/4 small red onion (chopped)
3 whole garlic cloves (minced)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1-1/4 pints whipping cream
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
4 tablespoons fresh basil (thinly sliced)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1 cup mushroom (sliced)

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.

Add yellow and red bell peppers, mushrooms, and onion to same
skillet,until crisp-tender, about 4 minute.

Add garlic and crushed red pepper to skillet and saute 3 minutes.

Add whipping cream and chicken stock.

Simmer until sauce re-heats and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Add basil and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese to sauce, stirring to
incorporate.

Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low,
simmer; sauce will reduce and thicken.

Wash and drain chicken breasts.

Pound until very thin (the thinner the chicken breasts the better).

Mix breadcrumbs, flour, and Parmesan cheese together.

Place milk in dish for dipping.

Dip chicken in breadcrumb mixture and then in milk and then back in
breadcrumbs.

Place in fry pan that the oil has been heated and fry at medium high
temperature until golden crisp and cooked through.

Add more oil as needed.

Remove and drain chicken; keep warm.

Meanwhile, cook bow-tie pasta in large pot of boiling salted water
until tender but still firm to bite.

Drain and return to pot.

Add sauce and toss to coat.

Place pasta with sauce on plate, and top with chicken breast.

Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately.

Serves 5 to 7


Thank you for all the lovely comments. It is so nice to be back posting and reading your blogs =)

Hugs,

Hubby's Birthday

It seems that the week before and the week after Christmas are filled with tons of parties in our home. Today, is my husband's birthday and we are having another party at our house. I just finished cleaning up from my daughter's party and now we are onto another =)



It has been months since I have picked up my copic markers and I was not happy at all with my coloring on this card. Finding a male card was difficult too and so I settled on the golfer image - even though my husband has never golfed in his entire life ;) I will be baking his favorite chocolate chip cookies as part of his gift and I am trying my hand at a new recipe for dinner.

Here is the recipe for Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies:
6 dozen cookies

4 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
2 (3.4 ounce) packages of instant vanilla pudding (you
can use chocolate to make chocolate choco chip cookies
or any other flavor to get creative and change it up)
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350
sift together flour and baking soda, set aside

in large bowl cream together butter, brown sugar white
sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.
Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour
mixture. Finally stir in the choco chips and nuts.

drop cookies by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased
cookie sheets

bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Edges should
be golden brown.

keep in Tupperware and they'll stay super soft and
chewy for as much as a week and a half.


I hope everyone has a great end to the weekend. Happy Hanukah if you are celebrating =)

Hugs,

Elmo Birthday Party

Today we are celebrating my daughter's 4th birthday with family and friends. I made these cupcakes for her Elmo themed party. I am relatively new to baking so I am definitely happy with how these turned out.

Also, do not forget to enter for a chance to win some yummy blog candy over at Ying's. It is the perfect way to start thinking about those new year resolutions too =)

Hugs,

Seasons Greetings

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We had a wonderful holiday and my little girl truly enjoyed getting all of her gifts from Santa. It is amazing to watch the holiday through the eyes of a small child.


Here is a wreath that I made for my outside door. I used a fake pine wreath, stick decorations that were on sale, and ribbon. I twisted the decorations and ribbons right into the leaves of the wreath. The most challenging part was tying the bow =)


Seasons Greetings,

Merry Christmas

I still am not fully better, but I just wanted to wish my friends a very wonderful holiday. I hope to be back in full action for the new year. Here is a cute Christmas tree that was very easy to make. I used a cylinder shaped styrofoam cone, scrapbook paper cut into strips, and straight pins. I then dusted the loops with some sparkly modge podge. Finally, I screwed into the top a star that I looped some ribbon on.


Have a wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends, and good times =)

Out of the Loop

I have not posted in a very long time. If you were wondering what happened, I have been ill for the past 2 months. I am finally starting to feel a little better and I hope that I will be back to myself very soon. I am excited to catch up on my blog reading. I have been out of the loop for so long! I would like to thank Deb for being such an amazing friend. She has been an enormous help to me! I plan on creating some stuff and posting soon.

I also will be carrying Whiff of Joy Stamps and Magnolia Stamps. Feel free to check out Wish On A Scrap for the most adorable new stamps. I apologize for not putting forth a kit for the month of November. I hope to be able to do one for December. It really all depends on my progress. Thank you for all of your well wishes and understanding.

Hugs,

I've Been Tagged

Thank you so much for tagging me! All of these wonderful ladies were thoughtful enough to think of me: Ann, Susan, Kimmie, TA, and Kim. I hope I did not forget anyone.

Here are the rules:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my 7 facts:

1. I coached competitive cheerleading and gymnastics up until 2003.


2. I graduated from law school in 2004.


3. I never met a roller coaster that I did not like.


4. I do not have a passport and I probably will not get one.


5. I am currently collecting books for Schools for Schools. Feel free to learn more at Invisible Children. Ask me how you can help =)


6. I LOVE dark chocolate.


7. I was a founding teacher of a New York City Public High School.

I am not going to tag anyone, but I do wish everyone a wonderful end to the weekend =)

Hugs,
Loreen

Halloween Inchies

I made these Halloween inchies for a swap. Kim was nice enough to send me the witches to add to my inchies. I sealed them with modge podge (I know my regular readers are surprised ha!).

Trick or Treat,
Loreen

October Contest Kit

October's Contest Kit features Bo Bunny's My Darling Collection and costs $25 including shipping to a U.S. address. The kit includes the following:

• 2 sheets of My Darling Designer Paper


• 2 sheets of Bella Designer Paper


• 2 sheets of Clementine Designer Paper


• 2 sheets of Dots Designer Paper


• 2 sheets of Bo Bunny Double Dot card stock in Wine


• 2 sheets of Bo Bunny Double Dot card stock in Coffee


• 1 sheet of BFF My Darling Stickers


• 1 yard of Fall Leaves Felt Fusion in Brown by Queen & Co.


• 1 sheet of American Craft Thickers in Jewelry Box Metallic Wine Pink Alpha


• 1 package of Cream/Brown/Pink/Red Flora Doodles Mini Jeweled Paper Flowers by Petaloo


• 1 sheet of Rain Dots Peel and Stick Epoxy Eyelets in Pinks

Here are your choices of add-ons for the October Contest Kit:

Embellishment Add-On $8

• 1 package of Yummy Cupcake Palette of Petals Daisy Layers Flower Petals by Petaloo


• 1 sheet of Dahlia Rhinestone Stickers by Me and My Big Ideas

Alter It Add-On $8

• Halloween Mini Book Kit by Making Memories: 1 flocked chipboard mini book, 1 sheet Word Fetti stickers, 1 sheet tag stickers, 1 sheet circle alpha stickers, and 2 (1 yard) trim pieces

Halloween Stamp Add-On $8

• Inkadinkado Skulls Clear Seasonal Stamps

Pre-Order your October Contest Kit today by contacting me at Wish On A Scrap. Have a wonderful day.

Hugs,
Loreen

Bella Calendar Swap

As many of you know, the Bella Calendar Swap happens once a year. Tangii organizes the entire thing! I participated in the Bella Calendar Swap and wanted to share my work. I have never done anything like this before so it was exciting =)


Since school started, life has definitely been hectic around here. I have hardly had a free second at all. I am guilty of neglecting my crafts and my blog. I so miss summer!!



I just do not want to say goodbye to summer just yet. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Thanks for looking,
loreen

Blog Candy Alert at Gina's

My girl Gina at Splitcoast is celebrating 20,000 hits on her blog with some very generous blog candy. Check out her blog and contest at Gina P Crafts.

Enjoy!!!

Blog Candy Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Blog Candy Contest. I hope you all are enjoying the pretty blinkies to decorate your blog =) The winner of a new blog banner is:

Here are your random numbers:

29
Timestamp: 2008-09-06 00:23:23 UTC

Congratulations Sarah! Please email me with your information so that we can get you a new blog banner =)

I hope everyone had a wonderful week. Don't forget to check out the projects that the Design Clique has been working on with Wish On A Scrap's September's Contest Kit. Be sure to leave comments so that we know you visited!

Hugs,