Brown Sugar, Figs and my Niece...a few of my favorite things.

PTI Blog Hop and Lauren hosted a challenge with her Timeless Templates. I used one of her free templates Stocking Stuffer.

I wanted something cute and springy to hold Erica's birthday present so I used this holiday template to create more of a Rain Boot look.

Lauren asked us to use inspiration from Bath & Body Works signature collection. I love and use the Brown Sugar and Fig body wash and I adore the Brown and Pink color combo. Speaking of figs, fig season is not to far off here in Cali. It begins in late summer and lasts into October. I {heart} figs.

I used the label as inspiration for the layout of the front of this rain boot too. From the top spout represented by SU ribbon, the three lines of text where I used SU Rub-Ons, two primary figs replaced on my rain boot by a flower and bird from PTIs Anniversary Set, and I embossed a background with Ranger Bridal Embossing Powder to represent the label on the back of the bottle of body wash that shows through the front. I really love how this rain boot came together.

The DP is from SU and I am pretty sure it's Tea Party; it was a scrap and I cannot recall.

Love you Mum.

K

Another Wonky Cake...

This time for Easter.

It was marbled cake with buttercream. good.

just because...

Turbo.

Tug.

love you.

k

Four Star Bread Pudding...

First, a big apology for horrible pictures... this was hard to photograph. It tasted much better than these photos look and I'll spare you from too many pictures, this time.

( I know, I know, horrible pictures..I swear, it was yummy)

This week's TWD recipe is Four Star Chocolate Bread Pudding. I love bread pudding and was excited to make this - it's one of the reason I wanted this book!

It was good. I think my bread could have been more stale and this was better the 2nd day after it set-up more.

Definately, we will have this again with many variations! I sub'd walnuts for the raisins in the recipe and would love to try it with dried cherries. Check the recipe here at A Baking Blog aka Upper East Side Chronicle.

love you momma.

k

Tug killed the Easter Bunny.

Actually, not this year. We are still trying to catch the two bunnies in our neighborhood but our dog did not kill the Easter Bunny. A few pictures of our home and the Annual Easter Bunny visit to Tug and Turbo. They waited patiently while the Easter Bunny hid their treats (behind a very dirty sliding door, baaaad Easter Bunny).

blue PEEPS in the grass.....

blue peeps on top and below the target with one yellow chick....

a row of peeps....

one more yellow chick hiding....

two happy boys full of peeps and loving their new toys. (they HATED the ears, so did Hubby but it wouldn't be Easter without two Easter HAMS.....(hahahahahahahaha)


a few shots of Easter fun around the house.

French Kisses from Sunsweet. yum.

two cute chicks and spring FLAIR....

My Easter egg tree. I love it.

And a blue signing bunny.....

some bunny loves youuuuuuuuuuuuu!

k

Cards....

I love Sunday afternoons! We cleaned the house this morning, then I spent hours in my craft working on projects and just having fun.

I borrowed three card design sketches from Lauren's Blog.

I love this sketch for a card!

Mom - like the colors? Looks like Hawkeyes' Color, I realized that AFTER I made the card.

Despite being non-Cyclone colors, I love it. It's on a clear base.

The stamps are from PTI's 2007 Limited Edition release. I love them. The swirl at the bottom is random stamp I have. I added some silver bling for more dimension.
I love the clean, crisp colors and design. I think the clear cardstock is a nice, classy look with black, gold and white.

Here's the next sketch.


No sentiment like the card asks, I made a set of 20 cards for Jessica as some personal stationary.

I really "shrunk" Lauren's sketch on these cards but it looks awfully cute!

This was so simple - some basic gray paper, a monogram stamper from JustRite stamps and a few paper punches. I put some glass beads on it for a simple but fun addition. Classy and fun. Each card is different since the striped pattern is not repeated.....so cool.

Last sketch I used, I REALLY took liberties with this one, as you will see. But, it was my inspiration!


I had a folder for my purse to hold address labels and stamps.

I used Basic Gray paper, stamps and chipboard for these. I love this look!

I am always digging around for my mailing supplies when I travel....so, I am filing them in one compartment. I used Lauren's sketch to pull together the front of this, I think it's super cute and funky.

It has four pockets on the inside, which is decorated too.

I really love these papers with the birds in my favorite colors of pink and green! This is made from one file folder and template can be found here.

Love you and miss you mum.

K

I proposed Marriage...

not to my Hubby but to Chef Dorie Greenspan.

For THIS recipe.

Really, I did. Here.

Look how yummy that is. It's not the traditional meringue on top... it's a fresh whip cream with sour cream - just a little - and it gives it a "W"O"W" Factor!

I am not a big fan of any pie. I loved the Blueberry Pie from Dorie last summer. But look at these layers of creamy custard with nutmeg and cinnamon and fresh, ripe bananas. w.o.w.

The topping is wonderful.

The custard was smooth and soft....it' looks heavy but was not - it was soft and cloud-like. (See why I want to marry Dorie - think how good it would be IF she made it instead of me!!)

Hubby had 2 BIG pieces right after assembly. I had...well, I had some. It was good for breakfast too - better the first day but still perfect the 2nd.

OK...enough of my new love story.

I hate to say but I'm gonna. I love pie. Good Pie. This Pie.

Love you too Mum!

K

a birthday card....

for Pam.

outside. Pretty.

Inside. Pretty too.

The paper is all by Stampin Up. Loving this card with the little tab to keep it closed. Another Birthday Boy (aka Dad) is getting a card with this same style but different paper. No posting that until it arrives in the mail.

Love You.

K

Louie the Lilly...