Redemption

I am the Queen of Cakes! I have re-claimed my kingdom and title!
After many failed attempts, I finally conquered my quest. I was begining to think I was crazy, with my coconut shells, 'galloping' along with my trusty blond squires as I attempted to perfect the Holy Grail of baking...Fondant.

Since this is a documentation of all my things creative, I am sharing with you all my failed attempts and triumphs. This way my girlfriends will know that I am only human and make LOTS of mistakes before I get sugary perfection. Below are the photos of the mishaps, the finished pieces and the lessons I learned.
COOKIES
Before...don't forget to add the vanilla, but they will still taste good if you use enough powdered sugar.
After...yum. Don't refridgerate your iced cookies. The icing gets white spots all over it.

CUPCAKES
Before...cupcakes don't need 30 minutes to cake at 325. Anyone that tells you that is crazy. Also, don't try to multi-task your baking. They tell you to cook on the center rack for a reason.

After...Marshmellow Fondant is very pliable, fairly tasty and easy to make. NEVER buy fondant unless you are making a standing figure. Also wear food safe gloves before adding food coloring and kneading. Especially if you are going out for drinks 2 hours later. You will have brown palms for a while.

CAKES
Before...I thought that using the chocolate modeling clay would be a great idea for making the figures. I was wrong. The chocolate was difficult to work with and crumbled easily. Also once it dried, it was hard and VERY brittle. Every time I looked at it a finger or arm would fall off. I'm sure there is a way to make this work, but I haven't found a website that exlains the tricks to me.

And after...I learned to use fondant for making figures, but to stabilize the body so the weight of the head doesn't smush the body. Also, Wilton Fondant is ick, ick ICK! NEVER use it if you plan on it being eaten.


For those of you that would rather buy their cakes and cookies, I'm glad you can afford it. For the few that would rather bake than buy, but don't have the time, call me and we'll work something out.
All in all this was a fun week getting all this together. Some headaches, but I think that Elizabeth caused that with all her screaming.

Joker of cakes

So. For some reason I am having a terrible time with creating these cakes. I 8" round and 15 cupcakes are to be created for the shower in 2 days. I have burned the cupcakes and singed the cake. I'm not sure what is happening, but I know it's not my fault...

By the way, my new show premiers on the Food Network tomorrow...'Kulinary Kalamities with KrzyKramer'. It's sure to be a big hit.

Cake boss, I am not.

So. Chocolate modeling clay tastes good. I've eaten all my mistakes. I have comsumed 21 oz of chocolate/white chocolate so far. I don't feel good. Pants are tight.
I think my house is too cold to use modeling chocolate. It gets too hard to fast and breaks apart. I will try to use regular fondant tomorrow and hope for better results. I'll post a photo of my chocolate creation later. After I've cried myself to sleep. And digest...

Cake Boss, here I come!

Ok, so you know those fabulous tv shows featuring crazy awesome cakes? Well, Lily & I are addicted to them. I love how they create such beautiful things, only to be gobbled up for some wonderful occassion.
I must admit, I love to bake. Everything. Cookies, cakes, candies, it probably explains my weight gain...Since the arrival of my first daughter, I make it a point to create her birthday cake every year, and now I'm hooked. Every year the creations became more elaborate, with her 5th birthday decorated with hand made chocolate butterflies and caterpillars. I've got all the tools, spatulas, spinning trays, cake/cupcake pans, icing tubes, tips and papers. You name it I have it. Usually I only used wholesale bought buttercream (the same they use at Kroger, the wholesaler is around the corner from my house). It has a good flavor that kids (and Rob) like, comes in a HUGE 5 gallon bucket and is shelf save for 6 months.
Now with that being said, I love the look of those cakes on tv. The modeling and fondant is so beautiful. I've never liked the taste of fondant, it's pretty nasty. it's like eating a slab of Crisco with sugar added. Ick. I considered just making the pretty cakes Lily likes for her and let her discover the nasty-ness herself, but who wants to be dissapointed on their birthday with a gross cake? Until now...
I am co-hosting a baby shower this weekend and ofcourse offered to make the cake and cookies. I've been doing a little research and found this AMAZING site filled with great information, including a marshmellow fondant recipe. Hummm... I'm not a marshmellow fan, but others are, so I decided to make it today to sample it. OMG!!! is all I have to say. It's tasty, easy to make and did I say tasty? I am so excited now to create the goodies for the party this weekend! It was really easy, I'm now a fondant making queen! Now they did say it's not the best for modeling, but they also have the recipe for making modeling chocolate!! I whipped up a batch - tastes like a tootsie roll!! I know I'm going to have to beat Rob off with a stick for the rest of the week with these tasty goodies around. I'll post the final results on Sunday so you can see the yummy-ness!

Lily's Creations

As I created my cards this week, I had a curly headed shadow peeking over my shoulder. On Friday, Lily had a snow day and begged me to make some cards. So I gave her some paper, crayons and markers and some stickers. She was not at all pleased with me. She wanted to make 'mommy cards' using stamps and the 'special' glue tape (snail). I gave her a stamp and her kid stamp pads and thought that would be the end of it. After about 5 minutes and 5 cards, she again said she wanted to make 'mommy cards' with me. So we used one card layout left over from a stamp camp I did a few years back. She loved the colors and using the paper crimper! Her creation is on the left, mine is on the right. We went thru step by step, I showed her how to do it, and she did it all herself. Did I mention she is 5?

After we made this card, she seemed to be satisfied, for about 15 minutes. She came back wanting to make another one. Since it was snowing out, I thought this was a great, easy card for her to make. She used blender pens, punches and a big background stamp too. I think we'll be doing this a lot more together now!

Inspire, not copy

This card is for the SCS Inspiration Challenge, IC214. This week’s inspiration comes from the fun Etsy store Groovy Inclinations. The artist is Mindy Wilson from western Montana. Her digital prints stem from illustrations and photos combined with alterations with a graphic program and her own painted textures. I choose the print Jelly Bean Soup for inspiration for this card. I do need to remember that it's supposed to 'inspire me', not to copy it. I made this card 3 time before I thought it was passable. I'm still not sure if I like it. I'm going to try a different print later today.


Card Stock: Whisper WHite, vellum, Soft Sky
Stamp Set: Embrace Life, Petal Prints
Ink: VersaMark, Craft White, Soft Sky, Basic Black marker, VersaMarker
Accessories: White, copper, black, non-su gold EP, sponge dauber

Scraps

I decided to use only scraps for this card. Every item came from my scrap bins of paper and ribbon. The strip of DSP Petals & Paisley inspired the color combination of this card. The only thing not froma scrap pile are the buttons.



Card stock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Apricot Appeal, Taken with Teal, DSP Petals & Paisley
Stamp set: Spring Solitude, Circle of Friendship
Ink: Certaily Celery, Craft White
Accessories: SU! markers, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Chcolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Tempting Turqouise, yellow buttons, white EP, turqouise grosgrain ribbon

For Rob

I made this Valentines card for Rob, he's not a mushy guy. Just a guys guy. So I created a simple card with some elements I had made for another card I took apart last year. I love this color combination, simple and classic. I had to use 2 different verbage stamps to get the passage. I used the 'you' from the Short & Sweet set with a BB marker. This card took me all of 10 minutes to make.

Card stock: Soft Sky, Basic Black, Kraft
Stamp set: Garden Silhouettes, Lithograph, Warm Words, Short & Sweet
Ink: VersaMark, Soft Sky, Basic Black
Accessories: SU! marker Basic Black, Clear & white EP, sponge dauber, neutral buttons, non-su ribbon

Challenge me!

It has been forever since I did a SCS challenge. I love doing them, they help me think outside the box. Here is the one I did for the Tuesday Color Challenge, CC252, Bermuda Celery Hunters...cute title. I don't have Bermuda Bay, so I used Taken with Teal instead. I used the owl from Goody Goody Gumdrops - my new fav - and since I think he's so preppy, I used classic preppy patterns in the background.

Card stock: Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White, DSP Certainly Celery
Stamp set: Goody-Goody Gumdrops, Pasley
Ink: Taken with Teal
Accessories: SU! markers, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Handsome Hunter, Going Gray, blender pen, fire brads, retired velvet ribbon

Embrace Life

Here is one I made just for fun, but I had trouble with my embossing. It looks like I have speckles, but it's just the white gel pen I used on the stamped image.

Card stock: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery
Stamp set: Embrace Life, Sage Sayings, versamark
Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Certaily Celery
Accessories: White gel pen, white grosgrain ribbon, retired brown ribbon, sponge daubers, white embossing powder.

Friends having fun!

My neighbor Karla likes to be creative, but with 2 boys and a full time job, has little time for it. She came over for a 90 break from the family and we did a little creating together. This was her first time stamping with me, and she's only ever been to 1 SU! party...poor thing! I gave her a crash course, and we'll be getting together again soon!
These are just 2 of the 7 we made together.
Olive You - I'm also using this as my sample for the SCS monday Clean & Simple challenge CAS48.

Card stock: Whisper White Stamp set: Olive You
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: SU! markers, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Always Aritchoke, Real Red, non-su red crystal.

Love U Always - I made this for a stamp camp at least 3 years ago, but Karla like it and wanted to make it.

Card stock: Whisper White, Rose Red, Green Galore, Gable Green
Stamp set: All About You, Too Terrific Tags
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: Small tag punch, white grosgrain, red gigham, silver cording, silver brads, non-su red organza ribbon

Not picked..

Thank goodness, she didn't pick this one! It's cute, but I love what we did instead!



Card Stock: SU! Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, More Mustard, Whisper White, DSP (retired)
Stamps: SU! Goody, Goody Gumdrops, Polka-dot, Warm Words
Accessories: SU! scallop, 1 3/8" 1 1/4" punches, white gel pen, non-su ribbon

Shower Invitation

Here is the shower invitation I created. Vanessa likes polka-dots and the baby's room is green, ivory and chocolate brown. I plan on making the party to match the invites, so it will be adorable! I'm not into the typical baby stuff for showers, I like a bit of sophistication!


Card Stock: SU! Chocolate Chip, Certaily Celery, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, non-su ivory shimmer
Stamps: Goody, Goody Gumdrops
Accessories: Cuttlebug polka-dot, SU! scallop, 1 3/8", 1 1/4" punches, SU! font casual, non-su ribbon

Getting the juices flowing...

I have recently re-designed the configuration of our basement. I installed storage shelving, curtians, cleaned and extended my office/creative space. It's now a fun place to be again, so I'm gettin' busy with creating! Here is the first of several cards I whipped up this week. I had 2 great reasons for making these cards. First, I had an order for some generic baby cards, and second, I volunteered to help host my neigbor's baby shower (I can never pass up planning a party)! I made up a few sample invitations and what I didn't use for the shower, went to my customer! Talk about killing 2 birds....

Card Stock: SU! Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip Whisper White and Almost Amethyst
Stamp Set: SU! A Little Love & Polka Dot
Accessories: SU! scallop, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" punches, non-su ribbon

No, I'm not dead...

It's been forever since I posted, and nearly as long since I've created anything new! This last year has been crazy!

We have all done a bit of traveling. Michigan for Rob and the girls, Lily even spent a week alone in Petoskey with her grandparents. Florida for Elizabeth’s first birthday in Disney, spring training and a short girlfriend’s weekend trip for me early summer. I went to Seattle for my brother’s 40th birthday celebration and the SheRox tri-athalon with my mom and sister this fall. Of course a few trips to Perrysburg for baseball, visiting, and packing my parents up for their recent move to Bradenton, Florida.

Lily started ‘big girl’ school and loves Kindergarten! She impresses us everyday with her growing knowledge and is always asking questions. She is very dynamic and
entertains us often with her ‘Lily-isms’ and singing; she is rarely quiet! We are also amazed about how mature Lily can be at times, it can be hard to remember her as a little one. She defiantly knows her mind, and her teacher calls Lily a ‘future CEO’.

This year started off a bit rocky for our youngest, Elizabeth. Acid reflux and difficulty with breast feeding led to many sleepless nights for all of us. She grew out of it by summer and loved being outside playing and exploring. Now Elizabeth is a toddler, learning new words, walking and is very independent! She likes doing things for herself like eating and turning the pages in books, although she still allows us to read them for her, for now. She is giggling all the time and enjoys playing with her big sister and chasing the cat.

I spent most of the year just taking care of the kids, Rob and the house. It has been crazy how busy I am just doing those things. I am amazed at how some of my
girlfriends are able to juggle a job with being a mother. Now that school started for Lily, I spend lots of time with homework and volunteering in her class. I haven’t been focusing on my MaryKay business and hope to be able to next year part-time.

I don't sell Stampin' Up! products anymore, but ofcourse still buy them. I am still passionate about being creative, so I have decided to change the focus of my blog to all things creative. I get my hands into a little bit of everything and I'd like to share that, life experiences, as well as card making here. So I hope you enjoy, if you actually read this.

Happy Holidays!

Life is crazy!!! We have been trying to establish a good schedule for us all, so far.... Anyhoo, we've been getting ready for the holidays, baking, Christmas cards (no creations, newletter instead) cleaning, you know the drill. Here is a little photo montage for the holidays, so enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our little pumpkin

Well, she's finally here! It's been a while since I updated this so here it goes...

Elizabeth Grace was born October 3rd at 8:00 am. via c-section, she was 9 lbs 10 oz (a little smaller than expected) and everything went as planned. However, if anyone tells you that a c-section is easy (yes Cristy, I'm talking to you:)) hit them for me. It was the scariest experience! Obviously totally worth it and the recovery time is a piece of cake, but the actuall surgery, yikes! Check out all our photos from the first week here Anyhoo...It's been a bit tougher than expected balancing both kids, the house and my business. Motherhood as eliminated all my free time, so I haven't been doing any card making or MaryKay.

BUT... I have just finished my yearly projects for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. If you haven't heard of them, they are a FABULOUS restaurant chain based here in Columbus. THey used to own Mitchell Fish Markets and Mitchells' Steak Houses, but Cameron sold those concepts off last year to Ruth Chris' Steakhouses and another company as well. Now he is focusing on creating new concepts to open, so far my favorite is Marcella's - YUMMM. Check out all I did for them HERE. It took quite a bit of time to create the items for the 15 current stores and they already have me slated for more for next year. I will be decorating my house for the holidays this weekend and life will slow down hopefully enough that I will be able to actually make my own christmas cards this year. I promise to update you on my creations as soon as I do them.

Hugs and thanks for all your well wishes!

Why I haven't been creating...

Don't get excited... the baby hasn't come yet. I was hoping my doctor would have scheduled a c-section for me sometime soon, but no such luck. My cervix is thin but won't open due to the scar tissue from multiple past procedures. That was a plus earlier in the pregnancy, but now... not so much.

Although I am not diabetic, the baby is now apparently 8 lbs, 12 oz (mini amazon) now, but it could be a pound either way, so she could be 9 lbs 12 oz, or 7 lbs, 12 oz. (if I'm lucky). I still have 4 weeks to term, and at this stage babies generally gain about 1/2 lb+ a week so she will probably be a 10 lb + baby. My doctor is unwilling to induce early or decide to do a c-section until we get closer to the due date due to possible complications.

I am very huge, very uncomfortable, and VERY ready to have my body back. I am still on limited activity, but have been doing everything short of jazzercise if it means I will go into labor. I haven't been doing much of anything creative, just trying to get my house in order before the baby arrives.

Rob has been a HUGE help these last 2 weeks and continues to make me sit or lay down all the time. He has put up with a lot from this pregnancy. Overall this is easier than Lily's pregnancy, but the last 2 weeks have been difficult and we are bummed that we could have 4 more long weeks (at least I am). As long as we are all happy and healthy at the end, it's worth it.

I promise, I will TRY to get to creating soon. I miss doing all the SCS challenges as they keep my mind thinking outside the box. Please be patient...I will return!!!!

I know it's not cards...

But I've really been busy! I just spent the last week preparing and planning my girlfriend's - mom's wedding. It was so much fun to get back into the Special Event planning hat for a week. It kind of makes me miss working in that field...kind of. Being 34 weeks pregant and creating 16 centerpieces, altar pieces and bunches of misc. items for the event made me EXHAUSTED by Saturday night. But it was totally fun, not that I'm ready to do that work full-time again.

Here are some crummy photos of the flowers I did. Each table was a different color or red, pink, purple, yellow, orange and green, with coordinating napkins and accents.

The altar had two lamp posts decorated with flowers on either side. It had a "street" theme.

My camera didn't do a great job capturing the essence of the room. The place for the event was called Snook's Dream Cars in Bowling Green. Ohio. It is a quirky little car museum that could have been really cheezy, but was done with great attention to detail and I loved it! They have done a great job getting not only beautiful antique cars, but have set up a great atmosphere and other car related memorialbilia and antique games that feature a car theme. My husbands favorite was the Drunk-o-Meter, that shocked you based on how drunk you are and how well you play the game. He is now commited to finding one for his "man cave". If you are at all into cars - which I am not - or even have someone in your life that is, check this place out next time your in town. It's a quick visit.

All in all, it was a great time, the bride and groom are in love, too adorable, and enjoy each other's company, what more can you ask for?

Off of cards, for the week...

I know it's been a while, but I haven't been making cards this week. This week I focused on gifts for my BFF's little sister, we are both pregnant with girls and due only 2 weeks apart. So I spent this week creating things for her to give her at her baby shower this past Saturday.

The first items are a set of custom onsies. The one shown is the one I liked the best, it makes me giggle. The image is an iron-on from Joanne's - too cute eh? I stamped the words 'little stinker' with whimsical lower case stamps and craft ink. I thought about using the Stazon...any suggestions? On the back, 'big' is done with Big Deal Alpha and pink fabric paint - the craft in light colors tends to dissapear after 1 wash - and 'stinker' again with the black craft. I made 3 others for her, one with her name 'Natalie', 'princess' and the last, 'Q-T'. All of them had the cute stick figures on them.

The last item I made for her is this...

I am SO impressed with myself. I made it late one night and almost had to wake my hubby up to admire my work! I also had to make another one for my bundle of joy 'cause it's just so darn cute!!! I have now purchased tons more fabric to make more for her and Lily, so they match. Now I can see why my mom had so much fun dressing my sister and I alike.

Well that's it for now. I promise to get back to stamping this week!