Monday, January 25, 2010

My Entry for This Week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge and DT Call!


Hello everybody! For this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge and DT Entry, I made an easel card. I've been seeing these, and finally went through a few lovely blogs that told me how to make one. (So many creative folks out there!) It was really fun, and Greta made one this week too! The stamp is from Whiff of Joy. Her name is Willow in the Summer Breeze.

Seeing that Simon Said "Punch It" this week, I used my two punches that I own profusely on this card. Perhaps I need to buy a few more!

Greta made the really sweet quilling flower for my card. She's having fun learning to do quilling. A little bit tedious for my taste, but she's getting good at it.

Thank you for looking and happy stampin' this week! Lisa :-)

Saturday, January 16, 2010

My Entry for This Week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge and DT Call!




Hello and happy weekend everyone! I would like to enter my card in the Simon Says Stamp Design Team Call and also in their weekly challenge. The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp was to make a card "Shabby Chic." Well, I think Charlotte here from Whiff of Joy fits the bill pretty well! Complete with coordinating vest and gloves, and bling belt, she is the picture of chic! And for the shabby, just in case you're wondering, the bottom of her boots ARE dirty. She does have to take care of her horse, after all!
I used a sketch from Friday Sketchers a few weeks back. This was a great challenge--thanks for the inspiration and for the opportunity to try out for the Design Team!
The flourish stamps in the background and on the inside are from a set of Simon Says Stamp's Exclusives called Flourishes Flourishing. The mushroom is from another Simon Says Stamp Exclusive set called Deer with Forest Family. And the "thinking of you" and the "hi" sentiment are from the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive set called Card Sentiments.


Take a look at Greta's card she made for the DT call too. Too cute!


Have a great Sunday, and thanks very much for looking! Lisa

My Entry for This Week's Winter Wonderland Challenge


Hello and happy weekend! I'm still working on those Christmas cards, and I'd like to enter this card in the Winter Wonderland Challenge this week. The images are from the Whiff of Joy Winter Stamp Kit. This was a great sketch! Thanks for the inspiration!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

A Christmas Card in January!


This year I decided I would try to make a few Christmas cards throughout the year, and then I wouldn't be caught with NONE, like this past year. Luckily, no one said, "Hey sister, where's my card? What do you make all those silly things for if you're not even going to bother to make me a Christmas card?!" But they should have.


So, I found this really fun Christmas card blog called Winter Wonderland, and I'm going to try and play along most weeks. Their challenge this week was pink, lime and brown (although I am too late to enter--better luck next week!) I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers, so I'm entering that challenge. My Santa stamp came from Whiff of Joy. It's nice to be back making cards again!


I did do something kind of new today, though! I made granola this morning, and I photo journalized it and wrote up a tutorial--just for you all! Take a look and let me know what you think!




Have a great rest of your weekend! Lisa :-)

My Recipe for Granola




Good morning! I wanted to share a recipe for granola with all of you. I've made it for years, and it is always a hit. Who needs store-bought cereal? This stuff is the best!


Thought I'd make a sort of tutorial for you--let me know how you like it!

Here are all the ingredients you'll need:




3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup nuts (I use walnuts and pecans)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds or wheat germ
1/4 cup coconut (optional)
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Just to let you know, I doubled my recipe, so you'll see two pans in my photos. You can double or even triple the recipe and freeze some for later (if you have any left over, that is.) Store granola in your pantry in an airtight container for a week or so. In your freezer if you want to keep it longer.



If you have people in your family who don't like raisins or coconut, just make the basic oat and nut mixture and then let people top it with what they like after it is done.


Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Farenheit. You'll need a large, heavy jelly roll pan or 13 x 9 baking pan.


Pour the oil in your pan and spread around with a paper towel.




Measure all of your dry ingredients in the pan--oats, nuts, sesame seeds and coconut if you are using it.




Place your pan in your preheated oven for 20 minutes. Stir your granola after about 10 minutes or so.




Meanwhile, move to your stove top.




In a small sauce pan, combine the butter, brown sugar and honey and place on medium low heat.





Stir occasionally until all of the butter is melted. Remove from heat and put in vanilla. Stir this mixture until vanilla is combined.






When the 20 minutes is up, remove your pan from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees Farenheit. Pour the flax seeds on the granola and stir. Then pour the butter mixture over your granola. Stir well to coat.




Place your pan back in the oven for about 10 to 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll know when it is done when the butter mixture has coated all of the granola and the granola is toasted golden, but maybe still a bit gooey.


Lay a piece or two of foil out on your counter or table.



When your granola is finished baking, it may still be a bit gooey. It will harden as it cools. Empty your pan onto the foil and allow your granola to cool.




Now is the time to watch for "granola snatchers." :-)







(Oops! Ignore my clean laundry there in the background, I'm telling you about my granola instead of folding my laundry!)




Once your granola has cooled, it is time to serve it up. Here are some things we like to eat with our granola: the kids like it with milk, like cold cereal; I like mine with yogurt with raisins or fresh fruit.




Any way you serve it, you've got some happy folks!


I hope you find time to try this recipe! I've made you a printable page with the recipe.

Click here for your printable recipe!

Let me know how you like it and if you have any new ideas or trouble with the recipe, just let me know!


Happy Sunday!


Lisa :-)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

First Card of the New Year!


Hello everyone! I hope your holidays were happy. I've finally found time to make a card. This time for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Hot Chocolate

Whiff of Joy: Red and Aqua (great combo!)





Happy stampin' and stay warm! Lisa

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

My Card For Simon Says Challenge


Hey Guys!
So I finally got back to making cards! Yay!
This one is for Simon Says Stamp challenge which is:
Party theme!
Talk to you later,