Alison's Kitchen and Crafts

31 is now here!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

I joined the 31 team a couple of weeks ago, and I already have my three month goal met. It is so much fun selling and talking about things that I love. Here is a link to my website, please check it out. I can also do catalog parties and ship what you need to do so. I would love to get you free stuff. http://www.mythirtyone.com/27465/

Gone to long

2010-08-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

I have just been so busy with what the summer has to offer. I will be getting back in the flow of things. I have a great new business venture I am very excited about.

Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert

2010-04-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Friday March 5, 2010 we set out to the concert my husband has been waiting for. Brad Paisley is his favorite singer and has waited a long time to see him. I leave it to Adam to buy the best tickets he can get. We only found out about the concert not even 2 weeks before he was here. We get to the concert and have the worst seats ever, 2 rows from celing bad, so far away you can't even see the big screen. Well knowing people in great places makes all the difference in the world. before I show you where we ended up let me just tell you Miranda Lambert is horrible, she sounded bad and looked bad. I would not go see her again for free, and she sang forever.

I watch 4 wonderful kids, and their father owns the securtiy company for Thompson Bowling Arena, he got us 2 rows from floor on the side of the stage, they were the best seats because how the stage was set up. Besides the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill front row seats we had a couple of years ago, the best concert ever.

Check out the new blog!

2010-04-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have updated my blog. It has everything broke down under tabs. Check out the latest cooking post.

Chocolate sheet cake - Pioneer Woman

2010-02-25T19:35:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy that I have not posted in forever. We have moved and put the house up for sale so I have been so busy. I made another Pioneer Woman recipe, Chocolate sheet cake, and oh my does it taste good and oh does it ever make a ton. If you ever need to make a big amount of something for a gathering or family reunion, make this. One of the easiest things I have made.

Ingredients are:
flour
sugar
salt
buttermilk
eggs
vanilla
baking soda
butter
cocoa powder
milk
powdered sugar

I mixed all the dry ingredients together and then the wet together.

once you mix them seperate then combine and pour in baking sheet, a big baking sheet pan

once you put in oven start mixing the ingredients for the icing

When the cake comes out the oven pour icing on cake right then

You will impress anyone that tries this cake.

I am a Stampin Up Demonstrator!!!!!

2010-02-05T06:31:00.001-08:00

I took the plunge last night and signed up. I have wanted to for a while but just would not take the leap. I look foward to meeting new people and doing what I love. If you get a chance please stop by my site.
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/alisonlee/

Simple, Perfect Chili for a cold snowy day.

2010-01-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

I rushed out Friday afternoon trying to beat the winter storm. Was not lucky, half way thru the store it was just a snowing. We get to the front door of the store and make a mad dash to get the groceries in and get out of the wet slush that is falling. Made it home safe and pretty dry. I will be away from home for a few days so I wanted to make Adam something he could eat on while I was gone. Chili is not my favorite thing to eat, I HATE BEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I only added one can of pintos to this chili.

Ingredients are

garlic

oregano

cumin

cayenne pepper

chili powder

ground beef

tomato sauce

salt

masa(corn flour)

optional: are pinto beans, kidney beans,jalapeno,diced tomato

first get ground beef and garlic cooking

then in a large pot I put the tomato sauce and all the spices

then once the meat cooked I added it to the sauce and spices and you are supposed to let it simmer for a hour but my mixture was too thick for that so I added the tomatoes and a little water to the pot and let it cook at once.

see too thick

now it is simmering for hour and it smells great!

French Breakfast Puffs OH MY!

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was still in a cooking mood so I decided to make the Pioneer Woman french breakfast puffs. I am not much on sweets, but my husband ate them up!

The ingredients are:

flour

baking powder

salt

nutmeg

sugar

shortening

eggs

milk

butter

sugar

cinnamon

cream the sugar and shorting

then add the milk and the flour and nutmeg

then fill 2/3 of the way and bake at 350

once they cool for a few minutes roll in butter and then in sugar and cinn

I just did the tops. I thought all of it was too much. Adam said they were great.

There are so many ways to name this one!

2010-01-24T10:28:00.000-08:00

Pioneer woman calls it Egg in the Hole. She also references 13 other ways to name this recipe. I made this for Adam for breakfast, I don't do eggs that well, working for McDonalds for over 2 years in high school, you would not want to eat them either. It was so simple, five minute total for the whole thing. So here is the steps.

The ingredients

sliced bread

eggs

butter

salt

black pepper

So simple

cut of holes(I used a glass)

cook for one minute then flip

Then plate

Try this sometime, it will be gone.

All that was left was the juice!

2010-01-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

I have babied this beef brisket for 3 days. The marinating and waiting.....and waiting... and waiting.... and finally the cooking slow for over 3 hrs. I tell you it stuffed all six of us. This time I made Pioneer Women Beef Brisket. It for me was just a little salty, and did not shred, but it was devoured. So I will get to the good stuff.

Here is the recipe

Braised Beef Brisket

The Ingredients are:

beef consomme(not beef broth)

low sodium soy sauce

juice of lemons

garlic cloves

liquid smoke

beef brisket

One thing I can say is that none of these recipes have very many ingredients

Next we prepare

the beef consume(looks pretty gross)

The soy sauce(I will had half of this mext time) A little strong

the lemons

The garlic, oh!!! bring on the garlic

The liquid smoke(I think this is what makes it)

The brisket. I went to Kroger and was looking all around the meat dept for beef brisket and the meat guy says this is way cheaper. Beef brisket is like 7.00 or more a pound. He says it is the same thing as beef brisket just leave the spices off. I think he was wrong. It would not shred.

I had to marinade for 48 hrs.

cover and wait...wait...wait...

wow looks good.

ready to eat and eat and eat.

Blogg Challenge Card.

2010-01-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

I found 2 blogg challenges I wanted to enter this week. The only requirement this week is RED. I took what I had left over from making a birthday card and created a new card for Valentines Day. If you like to do challenges please visit the blogg. http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/01/week-34-colour-challenge-red.html & http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-51.html

The whole card front and inside

Just the front

The back using my custom stamp Adam had made for me.

I used Stampin Up Night and Day paper

Stampin Up Real Red paper, Ink and Ribbon

Stampin Up Love you Much stamp set

Stampin Up Whisper White paper

Stampin Up Three heart punch

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Jodi's Birthday Card!

2010-01-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

My friend Jodi had a birthday December 31. I wanted to try this paper from Stampin Up holiday mini catalog. It's from the Night and Day specialty paper. I wanted to come up with something special for her. I have known her for many years, but just in the last couple of years we have become close and I truly love her, and she is a great and postive person in my life. Special people should get the best of your talents, nothing less.

This is the front

This is the the whole card.

Soups on with a side of cornbread!

2010-01-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

I sat with my cookbook and made a grocery list of all the things I needed for a few recipes. I really needed to collect several things I was lacking in the spice cabinet and liquids like sherry, red and white wine vinegar. I started this morning with marinating a beef brisket, it has to marinate for 24 to 48 hours.

I decided to make Sherried Tomato Soup and a pan of Cornbread.
first the ingredients for the soup
white or yellow onion
butter
diced tomatoes
tomato juice
sugar
chicken base
black pepper
sherry
heavy cream
parsley
basil

Lets get to cooking. first start of with onions and butter in pan.

Then after you get the onions translucent add the tomato juice and diced tomatoes.

add the sugar and chicken base

then add the heavy cream.

then add the pepper, sherry and the herbs

Then just keep warm and serve.

The skillet cornbread she makes was very good and very easy to make

Ingredients are.

yellow cornmeal

all purpose flour

salt

baking powder

buttermilk

milk

egg

baking soda

shortening

mix the dry ingredients together and the wet together

warm the skillet with 2 teaspoons of shortening

once you pull it out add the mixture and bake for 25 min.

Enjoy and try a new recipe once in a while. I love to cook and it is a stress reliever. I really get a joy when someone likes my cooking and requests a dish I have made. Enjoy

Are you ready to get started?

2010-01-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

This is my first post on cooking with the Pioneer Woman. I really need to get to the grocery store to stock up on a few things so the recipe I am making first is ......
Chicken Spaghetti makes 6 to 8 servings. Now I have made my version of this for a few years, my mom has a version using velveta cheese instead of shredded cheese and you don't bake it in the oven. So lets see which version is better.

First make sure you have all the ingredients:
Chicken
spaghetti
pimientos
onion
green pepper
cream of mushroom soup
cheddar cheese
season salt
pepper
cayenne pepper

I will start off with a picture of the pages.

I started with getting the chicken cooked and cutting my veggies.

Then after the chicken boiled I kept the chicken stock and cooked the noodles in it. Then cut up the chicken.

Once you have all the stuff ready you mix it all up.

Put it in a casserole dish and cover the top with a little cheese and bake for 30 min or so.

And the finished results is this!!!

It was very good, much easier to make than my other Chicken Spaghetti.

Happy Birthday Aunt Debra!

2010-01-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Debra will be celebrating her birthday this Thursday. I had a couple of suprises for her, she got her birthday card and her Hobby Lobby package today. She does not know that I have one more suprise comming.
The supplies I used on her card were Stampin Up Raspberry Tart paper, and Stampin Up cardstock and American Craft ribbon. Happy Birthday! I think that my husband has messed with my camera settings, this picture is horrible.

I am a stamp!

2010-01-07T22:13:00.000-08:00

My husband designed me a logo to have on my projects I make. I had this lady make me some stickers with Alison's Kitchen and Crafts on them with little cupcakes. After a while they will be costly. I was sitting at his parents house Christmas Eve and he was acting like a small child wanting to open presents, and he wanted me to open this one gift first. He is the worst at waiting till Christmas to give me my gifts. He really spoiled my Christmas gift last year, he bought me a pink Acer netbook and he just had to let me have it 2 weeks before Christmas. I was so upset with him, I made him wrap it ad put it under the tree.

So finall we open gifts and I unwrap two stamps and when I look at them I realize they have my name on them. It was so sweet, I love them and can't believe he was creative enough to think of it. So here they are. Note: the last pic is the round stickers I got.

Turning 30

2010-01-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

Well, we will see how this goes!

2010-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Debra told me about this blogg she loved to read http://thepioneerwoman.com/ . She used to have blogg, but now it is website. I looked at it a few times, but not one I read everyday till about 5 or 6 months ago. She has a cookbook now that has so many stories and great pictures. I like that she cooks real food, not the recipes that have 200 ingredients and 6 hours to make.

I plan to cook thru her cookbook at least in a year, maybe shorter, the cookbook is not that big. I will be blogging about it everyday. I do need a few things that I don't have like a dutchoven, and a bigger cast iron skillet. I am sure there will be a few things she used that I don't care for like clam sauce or wine, wine to me is so gross. I will at least try everything once. If you know anyone that like to cook like me this is the perfect gift. Make sure though, I was going to buy it for someones birthday and found out it is not their idea of a good gift. lol.

The first recipe is BBQ Jalapeno Poppers it calls for 6 ingredients. YES!

Wish me luck. Also, I will be doing a givaway of her cookbook soon, so stay tuned!!! Happy Blogging Everyone!!!

Something I always wanted!

2010-01-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

This has been a very busy few weeks. I had a wonderful Christmas. I was blessed to recieve a great gift the day before my birthday this year, with all the baking and cooking I like to do, I have put this item to good use. What is you say? A Kitchen Aid mixer!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in love!

Christmas Party Invites!

2009-12-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

The Lee house holds a Christmas Party every year. Each person brings a new wrapped ornament and we each draw a number and we basically fight over the ornaments one at a time. I made the invites this year to look like a ornament. I used patterned paper from Stampin Up.

Chrstmas Cards!!!!!

2009-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

I have been so laxed in blogging lately, I broke my netbook screen, My hubby got a new laptop so here I am. I used several colors for my Christmas Cards this year, my Aunt Debra made a card several years ago I saw it on my last visit and I just could not get the design out of my head, so with her permission and help I think I did a good job. Materials used were, Stampin up paper in Choc Chip, Real Red, Old Olive. The ribbon is Real Red also from Stampin Up! The snowflake was cut out with my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! We had a good time despite the rain. Here are some pic's from the night. We host a Halloween party for all the friends and family that come to trick or treat in the neighborhood. I made Candy Corn bags that had popcorn and M&M's, (candy and corn). I also made them just very simple treat bags. I saw a similar candy corn candy holder on Clear Dollar Stamps blog.

Operation Christmas in full force!

2009-10-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to finish my Halloween crafts for the kids, but everytime I get started I think of something else I want to do for a Christmas Gift.

I found on http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/notecards-and-carrier.html , the cutest card holder, I changed the size a little and the look. I love to bake and I know a few others that also share the love of cooking, so I made a vamped up recipe card. I used Sweet Stack paper, and a corner rounder, and my wonderful husband used illustrator, and made me a SVG file for the front. I also had him make me a signature stamp to put on my products. I will share the SVG file with you for free. Enjoy your download. http://www.filefront.com/14803247/Window.svg

A Goody-Goody Gumdrops Stampin Up set found a new home!

2009-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have wanted the Goody Goody Gumdropsset for a while but you had to spend a ton to get it. Not me, I found it on Ebay for less than $10.00. It had never been used. I loved putting my stamps together. Welcome home my new beloved stamp set!
After a couple of trying weeks I was not sure that I wanted to have anything to do with Stampin Up! I came to my senses and knew there was a talented demonstrator out there for me. I will share her work at a later date. I love Stampin Up! I love my new demonstrator!

SCAL project: Deer

2009-10-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Here's another project for your Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot! Two deer SVGs are included. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think!

Per a request at the Sure Cuts A Lot forum.

2009-10-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Someone at the Sure Cuts A Lot forum requested a SVG file that could cut this image. I think I may have come up with something that will accommodate the request. As always, click the image to download.

Enjoy!

Chalk Board Sure Cuts A Lot project

2009-10-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a project requiring 4 cuts for your Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot. Simply choose a base color, shadow color, highlight color, and black.

Let me know what you guys think.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

2009-10-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween, Taylor and I were not allowed to trick or treat as kids, so the first year in our home we went all out. Taylor and I both love to decorate for it. I have a great neighborhood to trick or treat in so all of our friends bring their kids to our house and we make a party out of it. Here are the invites that I sent to all the kids this year, Thank you to my Aunt Debra and Adam for helping me get the windows right, and I love the ghost and cat Adam put together, I put the idea in my head and I love the end results. I used the Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot, also Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch for the inside. Sure Cuts A Lot is the best thing ever invented.

Free Ghost SVG!

2009-10-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. Here's a free Ghost SVG file for your Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot. Happy Halloween! Just click the ghost to download.

Also, if there's a SVG you'd like to have for your Cricut, let me know. I can make just about anything, maybe someday we can turn this into a business!

Hunter turns 2

2009-10-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

I did cupcake picks for Jennifer's little boy for his birthday. The colors are orange, green and brown. It is Fall theme. I also decorated his gift bag from me in this theme. I used stampin up paper, I used sure cuts a lot with svg files that my wonderful husband made.

I found my sweet, sweet nieces on this blog!

2009-10-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

I am a blog surfer, I love to see what people are doing. One of my favorites is my friend Frances, she has the best blog. One of the blogs she watches is this onehttp://rhondathompsonphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/sneaky-peeky_29.html
this photographer is fab. Wow I can't wait to see the rest.

Twin Girls Baby Shower!

2009-10-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Jennifer is expecting twin girls and Jodi and I threw her a cupcake and polka dot shower. I really had fun with this shower. I am a detailed person, very driven to do my best. She got tons of great stuff and she deserved it. She is such a blessing in my life and I love her dearly, her husband even left me a very sweet message on my facebook yeaterday thanking me for all my hard work. It makes all the hours spent on the little things so worth it. Here are some pics from the shower. A huge, I mean huge thank you to my wonderful Aunt Debra for doing the invites, and Jodi, it was a pleasure working on this shower with you. Almost forgot thank you to mom, Kendall and Lily for helping me get all the cupcake picks done. Also I recieved a sweet gift from Jennifer for giving her a shower.

This is Jennifer

These are the favor boxes with pink cupcakes with a "Thanks a Bunch and the date" sticker to match

We spent over 8 hrs. baking cupcakes. 200 cupcakes, We made white with vanilla buttercream icing, Banana cupcake with honey, cinn frosting, chocolate with chocolate buttercream icing, coconut with cream of coconut squeezed inside, with coconut buttercream icing, and lemon with lemon glaze.

I ordered the polka dot balloons online. I am in love with them.

I painted this block. It took forever, it will be a one of a kind.

I made the banner, it is my favorite project so far. She will be putting this up in there room.

Cupcake picks for all the cupcakes

Also the pink flowers are Martha Stewart paper flowers.

here are the presents

I made her Thank you cards, I think I made her 4 or 5 different kinds.

My sweet gift I recieved.

Baby Shower Time Again!

2009-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

My wonderful Aunt Debra made these invitatons for a baby shower I am hosting with my wonderful friend Jodi. The shower is for twin girls. The theme is pink and brown, and cupcakes and polka dots.

Here is the invitation, and I made sock cupcakes for the babies, and a banner that says "twiced blessed". I think that I did pretty good on the banner to be my first one.

Color Combo Challenge!

2009-09-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

I made this fish card a little different. It flips down instead of up.

Stampin Up Color Combo Challenge

2009-08-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

I made this card using Pink Petticoat Hettie digital stamp, with stampin up colors.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-08-23T12:51:00.001-07:00

Adam and I celebrated our 9 year ann on August 5. he took me to this tiny cabin in Tellico Plains at Caney Creek Village, we went to Bald River Falls, and there is a beautiful bridge we pass that I love. We love the area and it is on the way to where we camp in Citigo Creek. I used Stampin Up stamps and card stock.

Here is the card

and here is the cabin we stayed in.

Here is Bald River Falls

The covered bridge.

Playing around with acrylic stamps.

2009-08-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Stampin up stamps and acrylic stamps are very different. I love my stampin up stamps, but I have a few acrylic ones. I have tried everything to stamp with acrylice stamps but with the stampin up ink, I just could not get it to work. Finally I talked to my aunt Deb and she told me to get memento ink, and I found it on sale at Hobby Lobby half price. Well it did not work at first. I found somewhere to take a nail file and rub the top pf the stamp to make it not bead up. FINALLY! a card was made. It is not my best work at all, but this is what I made playing around with it. Here is my new jungle stamp set and the card I made.

It's baby shower time!

2009-08-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a few things for my friend who is having twin girls. I have been looking at these photo albums, waiting to get one and make something. I went very simple on this one.

Adam made a card!

2009-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Adam is so wonderful. He finally got my craft table up, and I got most of it organized. With all the craft stuff and all of Adam's Install Heroes stuff we were running out of room. Anyway, he was sitting in the office and I came in the room and he rolled his chair over to my table and said that I had enough room to have a guest crafter, so I made him the guest. I showed him how to use various Stampin Up items and we used the same stamp, but made two totally different cards. Here they are. Did he do a good job or what!

This one is Adam's

Here is mine

Card Time

2009-08-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

I have not been in the crafty mood lately. I decided to sit down and try to get creative. These two cards I have made are just something I threw together. I like black and white and I was practicing embossing. here they are. Adam has been teaching Photoshop so I can show my cards better.

Wow it has been too long!!!

2009-07-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

Aaron and Rebecca at his graduation.

First time seeing martini grass. Hilton Head

This is the view from the beach club patio. Hilton Head.

This is Adam with his new BFF Gretchen! She is Rebecca and Aaron's dog. She is in love with Adam.

Sorry I have been slacking with my blog lately. We have been so busy all summer. I have not wanted to craft in a while, my craft space is upside down and all over the place with trying to come up with a good way to lay everything out. The summer started out very hectic for us. We thought we would never get out pool up and running. Adam worked on it for 2 weeks. Since Adam is unemployed from the Circuit City close, we can go whenever I am not working, and going is all we do. My brother in law left in March for Parris Island (Marine Boot Camp), while he was gone Adam and I became extremely close to Adam's sister in law Rebecca. I never took the time before to get to know her, and when I finally did she makes me laugh all the time and I love her dearly, and her family treats me and Adam like extended family. I am very thankful for that.

Aaron graduated boot camp in June and we took vacation at the same time, off to Hilton Head we went. Rebecca's sister has a home there, they live there in the summer and Knoxville in the winter. Rebecca, Adam, and I headed up and stayed with her sister, we had a great time. Aaron was home for 9 days, we feel lucky because we got to spend a lot of time with him while he was home, he was super busy getting things in line and they made time for us.

Forth of July weekend was packed. I had to work the whole weekend, but I get off very early so Friday was spent at family lakehouse, Saturday party and Adam's parents, Sunday brunch at Lakeside Tavern with Aaron and Rebecca and dinner with the family. Monday after the 4th Aaron, Rebecca and Adam headed off to Camp Lejune to drop him off.

The next weekend was Adam 30th birthday. July 10 Friday night 14 of us went to Sidesplitters for the Hypotist show, one of our own Gary went up on stage and talk about funny. I have never laughed so hard. If you have never been you have to go sometime. Saturday I suprised Adam with a party, it was very hard to pull off since his uncle asked him what to bring to our house on Saturday. I still went on as planned. He does not like suprises. He was a good sport.

The next week was bad, my back went out Monday morning and I was down for 3 days. Adam and I have a new obsession, Dexter!!!!!! we have watched all 3 seasons in a matter of 4 days. Saturday I had a baby shower for Allison and Shawn.

This weekend we are going out of town again and will be gone for 4 days.

I hopefully will slow down soon and blog about something better than what I have been doing.

Blog Candy !!!

2009-06-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

My Stampin up demonstrator is got really good blog candy. Go check it out http://http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-blog-candy-giveaway.html

Mothers Day gift

2009-05-19T18:32:00.001-07:00

here are some tags that I made Adam's mother for part of her mothers day gift.

It's baby shower time

2009-04-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Allison is having a girl, I can't decide what ribbon to go with. tell me what you think.

2009-04-27T18:47:00.001-07:00

As you may know my brother in law left for boot camp on March 30, 2009
my Aunt Debra came across this website where you can find all kinds of info and try to find your family member from the graduation the hold there every weekend. Well we have found 4 pictures of him and I had to share.

Finally crafty again.

2009-04-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a card that I made my grandparents. It is a new stamp set.

Second Camping trip of the season

2009-04-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we went on out second camping trip this weekend and it was fun. I got dumped in the lake twice (bur) and Adam went in once. I really need to be at home getting my craft room finished so I can work on cards. I just love to camp so that is what we will be doing every other weekend for a few. here is a pic of Adam and Sam after there fight with a jet ski.

Well I finally have something new to share.

2009-03-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been away so long, but too much going on. I work every other weekend, and so first sign of pretty weather, camping here we come. I love to camp, and we started off our camping season early this year.

My craft room is a mess, we are having to move stuff around because MY space has to be shared with Install Heroes stuff, and I mean lots of stuff. I have not done anything crafty, and I have new sets of stamps that I have not got to use yet.

On a more serious note, I am very sad, my brother (in law) which I think of him as a blood brother because I have been around so long, he joined the Marines and he leaves for boot camp today. I am upset with myself because life is just passing by and you don't think about till too late, we don't spend enough time with Aaron and Rebecca. They invited us over to their house on Thursday for dinner so that we could visit with them just the four of us, and It was very nice. We went to a going away party last night for him at Rebecca's sisters house, and I had a very good time. We have a breakfast this morning with all the family at 8 a.m. and we see him off at 4 p.m. People probably think that it is silly to be sad, but Aaron had never been away from home this long all together he will be gone somewhere like 6 months. I am very excited for him and can't wait to see in in his uniform. I get to see him graduate in July.

Ok, had lots to talk about, sorry for rambling on, and on.

My monthly Stamp Challenges

2009-03-04T01:57:00.001-08:00

My SU demonstrator holds a online crop and these are my cards I made. If you have never been in a online crop, it is very stressful. I wanted to throw my net book at Samantha(Love Ya Sam).

Here is my sponge challenge. I used SU real red, and a Digital stamp from Pink Pedicoat.

I just used circle punch for the bubble gum, a retired SU stamp from "A little Love" 2004 set.

Ok this one is better. I used Oops-a-daisy paper by Paper Studios, and just small metal colored brads.

I had very hard time with this one. I used a turtle stamp out of the dollar spot at Target. DCWV paper and SU Wild Wasabi ink, and Sakura Stardust pens.

Finally posting again

2009-03-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

I have been lazy with my posting. I had to make a card for a birthday. She is a bird watcher. I will be posting more later.

Bird Pattern: Tricia-Rennea Art Blog

Teachers Gifts

2009-02-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

I made teachers gifts. Here they are.

It's finally finished

2009-02-07T13:42:00.001-08:00

Well the Valentines are done. The husbands are glad as you can see.

Valentines Gifts

2009-02-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

I am making Valentines for Sarah and Felicia's class, and I came up with this idea and the hearts hold crayons a little coloring book, and a pencils. Then I made mini Valentine cards. Tell me what you think.

Blog Giveaway!!!

2009-02-01T01:34:00.000-08:00

My Stampin up demonstrator, and dear friend is giving away good stuff. Visit her blogg for a chance to win. Enjoy and good luck.
http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/2009/02/sp-february-giveaway.html . Sorry I don't have a clickable link. I have tried and I can't get it to work. (Maybe I should ask the Install Heroes(lol) Husband to help me with that.

Install Heroes.....Call and we will come to the rescue

2009-01-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

Sounds kind of cheesy right? Well everyone, please hope for the best for us. With the closing of Circuit City that has left Adam, Brendan and Ryan scratching their heads. With the way things are they had about a 5% chance finding jobs paying as well as they were making. Leave it to them to come up with a solution, that is where www.installheroes.com comes in. As of Thursday Jan. 30. They are offically a corporation. They have been slammed with work everyday. So they look tired, they have been working their CC job till it closes, and that is brutal to them. (The customers are comming in and they treat the employees like dogs). They have installs in between that. I have not seen Adam in days. So everyone PLEASE pass along this info if you know anyone that needs computer repair, a suround sound installed, just about anything electronic and computers they can do. They beat Firedog and Geek Squad prices. Have a happy day all.

Playing with paper and pop dots

2009-01-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

I love pop dots and paper. I am struggling with thinking outside the box, with my cards. I am obsessed with my scallop punch. Need more punches.

It was a craft and baking weekend

2009-01-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have been under a ton of stress with Circuit City going out of business, and Adam starting his own company. So on Saturday and Sunday I have crafted. Went to my dear friend Samanthas for a Stampin up camp, and we made two cards. Sunday, I played with one of my new stamp sets. Here they are.

This one I made on Sunday.

These are the ones I made on Saturday.

Thank You Bakerella!!!!!!!!!

2009-01-25T14:23:00.001-08:00

I just love this blog. She is very talented. . I had to try this recipe. here are the results. I never eat anything sweet that I make, but let me tell you I did this time. I have been watching very close to what I eat and have not had a Soft drink in over a month, so I deserved to taste this.

No more word verification

2009-01-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry to everyone. I did not know that I had that set and I hate having to do that everytime I visit a blog.

ok I am posting for Deb's challenge!

2009-01-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

Ok the picture is ........ Molly. Dawn's dog. We babysit her for Dawn when they went to the beach. Let her out to go potty, called her and called her and this is where we found her. She would not stay out of our pool. Finally had to take the ladder off.

I Love Valentines Day, can't you tell?

2009-01-19T11:34:00.000-08:00

Another card yes. I took idea out of the new Spring Stampin Up catalog.

Here is my sexy mama card.

2009-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

My aunt Debra made one if these and it turned out so cute, so I wanted to make one and here. it is.

I am not loving this one

2009-01-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

please let me know what you think please. You won't hurt my feelings.

Cards,Cards, and more Cards!!!!!!

2009-01-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

Here is another Vday card. I am in a crafting mood.

Look in the mailbox and what do i see?

2009-01-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

MY SAKURA GELLY ROLL STARDUST PENS!!!!!! YEAH I LOVE GLITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two more Valentine cards

2009-01-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

I made these two cards in no time. I love Valentines Day.

Thanks Samantha

2009-01-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Samantha is my Stampin Up rep, and when my Aunt Debra was here over Christmas her and her Fiance came to visit. Samantha is in the first picture. Thanks for showing Lily and Kendall how to craft. They just love you as much as me and Debra do.

Don't know if I am in love with this set

2009-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

I made my mother in law a card for someone, but I just don't think that I love this set. Anyway, here it is.

First Valentines Card

2009-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

I got together with Samantha today and we crafted.

The Time Has Come

2009-01-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

OK I have thought really long and hard about doing this. As I sit on the couch watching The Biggest Loser, and Ruby, I know I want that to be me conquering the world of weight loss. I think that for me I need to have a way to be held accountable and know that if I let myself fail, that everyone will know. I am making a drastic lifestyle change, not a diet, a LIFESTYLE change. I will be posting my starting weight, along with a picture of me. I would like to encourage others to join me and start loving yourself enough to want better for yourself. I would like everyone that reads this to please be there for me and help me, send me words of encouragement, or stories. Please if you want post a blog about me getting others that don't usually visit my blog to come and help me along. The more the Merrier.

The second part to this is not to hurt anyone, but I plan to send letters to everyone that I can so that they can be there to support me, but not only that, I think that EVERYONE needs a wake-up call from time to time. As I sit at Christmas dinner at Adam's grandmothers house, you look across the room and we are huge, everyone in the room is big, even most of the kids. To my family and friends please get up and do something active, get the kids off video games and and chicken nuggets and go outside and play. Get up from the computer and TV and walk your dogs, and get moving.

I am also a smoker, and I really want to stop that also, but I am admitting that I don't think that I can handle both at the same time. Any Suggestions?

So if you love and care about me, please help. I Love myself enough to help myself. Thank You.

I got new stampin up stuff !!!!

2009-01-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

I got new stampin up stuff and new stamp sets.

This is my Bold Brights Ink Spots set

This is my Scallop Punch

This is my Clear stamp set of Cupcakes and clear acrylic blocks. They are cool the stamp set sticks to the block, but there is no sticky stuff on them.

My updated my craft area

2009-01-06T11:05:00.001-08:00

I was running out of room at my craft area, so my hubby put me a makeshift shelf. It will do for now.

RIP old friend

2009-01-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

Well the moto krazer has bit the dust.

But I have a new friend.

Happy Birthday Jodi

2009-01-01T07:50:00.001-08:00

We suprised one of our dear friends Jodi with a party Monday night. She had no Idea. I recived a giant cupcake pan, and the first cake is a disaster. I am I perfectionist when it comes to parties and gifts. Anyway here are a few pics.

The cake had sparkler candles

These are the favors for guest to take home that I made with my Cricut. They contain mini cupcakes.

my new best friend !!!!!!

2008-12-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

This is my new best friend. My wonderful husband bought me this mini laptop for christmas. It is a Acer Aspire One, it weighs 2.5 lbs. I can just blog away now.

Happy Birthday Felicia.

2008-12-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

Dawn's daughter Felicia just had a birthday on Tuesday, the 16th. Friday we had a very fun day. I suprised her and took her to the Lollipop Shop off the Sevierville exit, and they have the coolest thing, you can fill up your bucket with anything you want from one wall and the buckets in the middle of the store for one price. Then we went and saw Bolt the movie in 3D, that is a very cool thing to see, and she got a whole new outfit head to toe at Kohls. Then she got twister moves at her party that night. I love that little girl.

Let there be treats.

2008-12-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Here are the bags everyone got to take home after the party. I used my stampin up snow swirled stamp set and earth elements ink spots to decorate the bags.

Cranberries all around

2008-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

My husband made for Thanksgiving homemade cranberry sauce.

And I made homemade Cranberry bannana bread with and without pecans for my goody bags for the Party and friends.

Merry Christmas Dawn and Jodi.

2008-12-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

I finally got to give then their gifts. I found the cutest bags for them. They got pj's, candy, and my favorite hair product.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!!!

2008-12-19T11:14:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all that made my Birthday special. I am very blessed to have people in my life tha care so much about me. Our ornament party was on Saturday December 13. and I had a good day. First present I recieved for my birthday was pampered chef bowls, then I got a Circut, then I got Stampin Up stamps, My mother in law gets me a Winnie the pooh ornament with by birthday present every year, well I got 5 this year. I have enough for a whole tree that I will do next year. I recieved on Sunday at my suprise party. Candles, more pampered chef, a game, a blackberry that my husband bought me, jewlery and my wonderful husband took our wedding video and got it on a dvd, money lots of money, and my birthday present and christmas present are a combined gift that I get at Christmas. I got lots of good things this year. Not to forget 2 B-day cakes. Thank you Tammy for my Birthday Cut, Color and style. you did not have to do that.

Christmas is in the Air

2008-12-19T10:59:00.001-08:00

I have been a crafting fool this last week. I am finished shopping. I started in October. But my best friends Dawn and Jodi work the same place,they have secret pals all year and find out who has been buying for them at their Christmas Party and they had their christmas party last Friday. So I suprised them and got all this stuff to make their presents pretty. here are the pics. Also since all 3 of us have the best hair stylist in the world, I also got some things for her.

This is Dawn's secret pals presents.

This is Jodi's secret pals gifts.

This is Tammy's gifts.

Secret Pal Cards

2008-12-08T03:36:00.000-08:00

This is a Christmas card for us to give our hair dresser, Tammy is the best, and so we are giving her a gift on Saturday!!!

Dawn and Jodi work at the same place and they have secret pals. Their reveal and Christmas Party is this Friday. I made things for them to give their secret pal. We made the candy, and I found the cutest boxes at Party City, and I made a set of cards for each of them. Here they are. I made each of them a Just because, 2 birthday, and a thank you card.

My Ink Spots are here!

2008-12-08T02:30:00.000-08:00

I joined a Stampin Up club a couple of months ago. My Aunt Deb told me about a girl in my area that had a Stampin Up club that she was going to join, so I said I would join too. If you love to make cards and scrapbooking. This is a great thing to join. You only have to have a $15.00 min each month and it is a 10 month commitment, and one of those months you get so much in product free and a free stamp set, and my Stampin Up demostrator is the best and adds lots of goodies to your order. I got a stamp set and versa mark the first order and it was my hostess month, so I got a free stamp set and Ink I think. This month I got Ink Spots, and paper, and a versa mark pen, and my free gift this month is a pack of paper, plus a few other things. Samantha is my demonstrator and she is a very giving and loving person. I am lucky to live close to her where we can get together, and I can't wait for my aunt Deb to come down so they can meet. I don't have a ton of stuff so I am adding to it each month and Samantha has given me so much stuff out of her own things. Samantha thank you so much for being so kind, and I love spending time with you. I will have a craft room like you one day.

Nothing like getting together with friends.

2008-12-08T02:00:00.000-08:00

I have great friends. We decided to get together and make candy for the holidays and my annual Christmas Party. I always have something for my guests to take home from any party I have. It is a way of saying Thank You for attending. So I always have about 10 things I need and want to do but time is not on my side most of the time. Well here are what I have made and a couple of pictures.

The first thing we made was a sweet party mix and it was easy.
Get the following items: 1 box golden grahams, 1 box apple cinn cheerios,
1 bag stick pretzles. 3 bags white choc chips, and peanut butter.
Take 2 cups of each item and put in bowl. Melt 1 bag of choc and about 1 good heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and mix with the choc as it is melting. once it is melted, stir over the mix then on wax paper spread out good and it will harden fast and break up into pieces and store. It has a very good flavor and it will make a bunch. Great as a bagged gift.

Next we made thin mint, grasshopper like cookies. (This was easy)
Get 2 boxes of Vanilla wafers, peppermint flavor, and melting choc.
melt choc, add flavoring after choc melts. then dip wafers in choc and let dry. We used the forks from my fondue pot, turned the wafers over and after dipping into the choc, and then pressed firm on one side and it layed perfect, it took no time for this.

Last we just covered pretzles in choc. I for some reason I hate doing this with a passion. Dawn loves these, I just hate making them.

I have made other things like peppermint meltways, I don't think I will make these again, they turned out very pretty, but too much work and stuff in them, and cranberry oatmeal cookies, these need something more they are kind of bland, they are still good though.

It finally made it here! IT was MIA for 5 days

2008-12-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I am one lucky person and I feel very blessed to have wonderful grandparents like I do. I have a grandmother(I call her Aunt Debra), that I love very much and she is so good to me. I can talk to her about anything. She is one of the most talented people I know and I envy her so much. I love to craft things, but she can do circles around me. She sent me my Birthday/Christmas present out the day before Thanksgiving and I just recieved it on Friday. It was a CRICUT!!!!!!! As I opened the BIG box I was like a little kid, after getting thru all the peanuts and paper there it was another big box wrapped so cute, It was half Birthday and half Christmas paper with ribbons to match both,and tags. I am jumping around the kitchen calling Adam he pretends to be excited for me. Like I said, I am a very lucky girl and I wish my Aunt Deb and Pawpaw Dickie were closer, I really talk about moving to be closer to them so we can craft and just see each other. To my aunt Deb, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and I love you and pawpaw very much.

I think that I am Pineapple Upside Down done!

2008-11-26T21:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Jodi made the most delish PUDC. I usualy hate anything pineapple, it is to sweet for me, but I watched her make it and had a small piece it was so good. Of course my wheels turn wondering how to turn it into my own, and here it is. I had a good day. I got my first Birthday gift today and a new pan!!!!

Lemon Tea Cookies

2008-11-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe for Lemon Tea Cookies, and I love Ham & Goodys Lemon Cookies, the owner brings me a box every week. So I tried them and it is a simple recipe, and so here they are, if you want the recipe just let me know.

I finally got my Christmas Cards Made!

2008-11-23T14:21:00.001-08:00

Well about 6 hrs. later they are done. I started making different designs but I accidently made One that I am very proud of. So here they are. So they are on their way.

Merry Christmas !!!

2008-11-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

It is officially Christmas time. I have all my trees up. My husband thinks I am crazy. I have been working on my ornament party invites all day.

I am addicted to Embossing and Stamps

2008-11-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Hello all. I just joined a Stamp It Up group, and I love it. One more thing for me to do. Samantha and I had lot's of fun and I made what I think is a pretty card. It is Christmas tree decorating time and I will start that tomorrow. I have now 4 trees. ranging from 10 ft to 2 ft. I will start to post things as I move thru the holiday season. The present pile is growing.

Everyone Meet Milly!!!

2008-10-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

I started off with just Tily, my sister Taylor and my niece Lily gave her to me. Later our family grew when we got Katie, who used to be Taylor and Lily's dog. Well Tily had babies recently, and no matter how much you don't think you won't get attached, well Mily fit right in. She is going to be vacationing for a while with my mother because she needs better home training than I can give her, I am about to lose my mind. I love her dearly but for my sanity, she will be vacationing. All kid's need to visit their grandparents right? The black one is Katie and the one in the window is Tily.

Halloween, It's finally here!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-30T12:10:00.001-07:00

Well I have done all that I can do i guess, all the goody bags are made, and the cookies are bagged. I love to do this for all the little kids that are close to me. and since I don't have my own kids to spoil, I will spoil all the other kids.

Happy Birthday Allison !!!!!

2008-10-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Allison's Birthday is soon, so last night I was in a crafting mood. So I decided I wanted to make her a cupcake card. So I sat there at my new crafting table with all my new baskets and totes and started to work. after about 15 minutes I knew that i needed help. I started looking at the Internet to get ideas, and I found a template that I was trying to get in my head. I printed it and the size was all wrong, so my wonderful husband thinks that it is time to teach me Photoshop, I would rather just let him do it, he is amazing at photoshop and knows it better than anyone, but it would take him years to teach me, why should I learn it if I have him is my way of thinking (lol). Anyway, I got the card made and I had to make the envelope, and wrapped the present. I love this time of year, all the presents to wrap. All my friends get me to wrap their presents, they hate wrapping, I love it. If I don't blog before Halloween, HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!!!!!!

It's almost here !!!

2008-10-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Halloween is almost here and Dawn and I have been busy. I worked in the kitchen the other day making suckers and hard candy. Dawn came over on Sat. to help make candy apples. I thought we would never get started because of our party city trip. It looked like walmart the day after Christmas in there. Me and Dawn thought it would be a great idea for her and I and three count it, three kids to just run in. Never again. they did not have everything we needed so we still had to make a trip to the Walmart. Finally we made it here and got to work, i have to say for our first time making them, they look fabulous. Here is some pictures and I am gonig in there in a sec to start the caramel apples, yum! Ok I have made the caramel apples, not as easy as the candy.

I must be crazy, no I just love them

2008-10-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

So i think sometimes that i think I can do it all, but i can't. I thought it would be a great idea to have the girls over to help make pawpaw Dickie goodies to send to him for his birthday, well it is hard to get things done how they need to be with 4 different age groups. Lily is just like me, she loves to bake and do crafts, and Felicia loves to help but, she gets bored easily and kendall, rather be writing or drawing. So we set out to make several things, like peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate, boiled cookies, mini pies, hard candy, browine bites and a few other things. here are the results.

All about the holidays

2008-10-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

I always like the simple things, I love Christmas time. My tree and house are always decorated the first week of November and i take it down the day after Christmas because by then I am over it. So I started making my Christmas party Invitations last year, and with everything life throws at you I did not have one. So I am ready to have my party this year. I am a obsessed lover of snowflakes, not just any snowflakes I love silver or glittery snowflakes, and i am not a huge fan of red and green traditional Christmasy things. My tree, i don't do colored lights, only clear and lots of them, my mother bought me a 9 ft tree when we bought the house because i have a huge open tall living, kitchen, and dining area and it fits so well. My sister Taylor is very good at decorating for Christmas, she just has an eye for it. Her and her new husband just bought a big, beautiful new home with lots of space and i can't wait to see what she will do. but the whole reason for this long chat fest is because i am going to share my cards i made.

my first attempt at card making

2008-10-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows me from when i was a child, knows that i was not allowed to celebrate Halloween. I never understood it and still don't till this day, Now that I am grown i love to give out candy to the kids, so i wanted to send my family and friends cards just because. so here is my first card.

My Wonderful Strawberry Cupcakes with homemade strawberry buttercream icing

2008-10-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was in a cupcake making mood, so i had all the ingredients. So i made the cake mixure(strawberry) and then added the strawberries, you need to use sweetened frozen strawberries because fresh strawberries make it bitter. then I buy most of the time the alum. cake cups because you can put them on a cookie sheet and they stand on their own. and the icing is just 5 cups of powered sugar, 2 sticks of real butter and as much strawberry mixture you want. after you mix the frosting and it is still to runny add powered sugar till you reach the consistancy you want, and you want it a little stiff to stay on top of the cupcake. and i just use a gallon baggie to put my icing in, i like my tops messy and full.

My Very First Post

2008-10-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am very new to this so I hope that i get the hang of it. I have looked at several bloggers and they are so good at this. It is getting to be fall and that is when i get Crafty and want to bake all the time. I have joined an online stamp club and a craft group to go to each month, so i will start having a few things to show you.