It has really good flavor!

I'm so blessed with a wonderful husband. He made meatloaf last night. Now, he's not a huge fan of meatloaf but he knows I like it. I don't particularly like to cook so I don't get very creative but he likes to try new things so he found a meat loaf recipe and wanted to try it. He bought some "meat loaf mix". Hmmmm. Sounds suspicious. But I was all about trying it if he was willing to cook it. Afterwards, he sent email out to family members who knew he was experimenting with this. Here's how it went:



Amy: It has a really good flavor (she says with a funny look on her face.)

Jeff: So you like it?

Amy: It has a really good flavor (still with a funny look on her face.)

Jeff: So you like it?

Amy: Is this part a little pink? (That funny look is getting a little funnier.)

Jeff: I’m sure it’s done. It cooked for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Amy: It has a really good flavor. (That funny look is still on her face.)

Jeff: Taco Bell?

Amy: It’s a texture thing. (You know the next line; about the funny look and all.)

Jeff: The meatloaf mix meat is ground beef, pork and veal. Maybe that’s what it is.

Amy: It has a really good flavor. (Funny look etc.)

Jeff: Maybe next time I should just try the lean ground beef instead of the “meatloaf meat.”

Amy: It has a really good flavor.

That pretty well sums up our conversation at dinner. But he was such a good sport about it. I love him for trying to make me meatloaf!

(Sorry there is no picture included. It really wasn't very pretty!)

And MORE SNOW!

On Friday the 12th it started snowing AGAIN! This time it was the big, fluffy flakes and no ice so it was mostly gone by Sunday. But it was so pretty! We got nearly 3 inches. Everytime it has snowed this winter has been on the weekend. I find that interesting. Anyway, the boys built a snowman this time. The last snow we had was too icy and not good for snowmen or snowballs. But this was the perfect snow.

More fun with canvas!

I'm still playing with canvas and several different mediums - paint, distress inks, glimmer mists. My fingers are so inky! They may never come clean. But I love it!!

And here is my first canvas framed. I bought an unfinished frame at AC Moore and used a Distress re-inker in Vintage Photo. A dropper full in a mini mister 3/4 filled with water made a beautiful stain for this frame!

Playing with canvas and paints

So, I have had these ideas floating around in my head for the past 6 months or so. I have seen some of the mixed media artists play with canvas and paints and such and have wanted to try it but haven't had the time. Today I sat down with paints, stamps, embellishments and sticky-back canvas cut into 6x6 and here's what I came up with. Not too bad for my first time. I'm pretty happy with it!

I used inexpensive acrylic paints and layered in green, beige, blue and yellow. Then I stamped using a Hero Arts script stamps and a Donna Downey stamp. The chipboard oval is painted blue, the edges are sanded and distressed. Then I applied Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. The stamp says "today is all we need to nurture." from Donny Downey. The flower is Prima and the stem is just ribbon that I stapled using the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher. The butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch and are adhered using foam tape. The hardware is all from Tim Holtz. I have glued the canvas to a thick chipboard and I think I will frame this. I have plans to do another one or two. I just couldn't wait to share this!!

Here are a few close up shots.

Go create something today!

Two challenges this week!

Here are my attempts at this weeks Sketch Challenge and the mid-week color challenge, both from OWH Stars & Stamps blog.

 My first card was made using a Hero Arts stamps and green Zing powders. If you haven't tried Zing yet, run - don't walk - to your nearest craft store and buy every color! They are wonderful! I only have a few colors so far but I WILL have many more one day. Anyway, back to the card. I know I wasn't supposed to use any other color but I just had to or it looked nakie! The letters are actually made up of 5 layers each of Bazzill white cardstock so they have the look of Thickers.

Then, I went to AC Moore and wouldn't ya know it - a set of stamps that I have been eyeing for over a year were on sale for $5!! Well, of course I had to have them. I ran right home and made this card with red embossing powder. And I know, I know I wasn't supposed to use more color but it really needed the softening effect. Trust me! This picture really doesn't do the card justice. It is so much prettier in real life.

Anyway, moving on.

For the sketch challenge, I did several versions. I just loved this sketch. It's so versatile. I had so many small stamps that would work so well on this card. This will probably end up being one of my quick, go-to designs when I need to crank out a bunch of cards in a hurry.

And now for something completely different

Being snowed in this weekend has been fun. I have seen where some people have been going a bit stir crazy wanting to get out of the house but I have actually enjoyed not having to go anywhere. Done a little house work, a little card making, and even made a layout. That's something I haven't done in a long while. It felt really good.

First, I pulled out a set of Build-A-Frame stamps from Prima that I bought months ago but never really did much with. Here are a few cards I made. I ended up with about 4 of each design for OWH. Not really crazy about them but I was trying to step outside my box so I guess they are okay. The one on the left is embossed with green Zing powders. If you haven't tried these you should. They are beautiful! The one on the right is just stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme. Such a pretty shimmer on the color.

Next is this weeks challenge from OWH Stars & Stamps blog. Once again, I'm not too crazy about these cards. I think I didn't have the right ribbon so it just doesn't look nice. I tried several different ribbons but nothing was working for me.
Then, I searched through my stash and found this beautiful 2 1/4 inch wide lace and thought I would put a different spin on this card. I like how this one turned out!

Finally, I wanted to do a layout to help complete my 2004 album (yes, I'm way behind! And I know you aren't supposed to go back and work in the past but I have to finish this album!) I haven't done a layout in a long time and this was a lot of fun. I'm liking the way it turned out. I used the Static Collection from Crate Paper that I got at CKC last year. It's more of a Rock n' Roll and Travel themed paper but I think I made it work.

 
Thanks for looking!!

And now for something completely different

Being snowed in this weekend has been fun. I have seen where some people have been going a bit stir crazy wanting to get out of the house but I have actually enjoyed not having to go anywhere. Done a little house work, a little card making, and even made a layout. That's something I haven't done in a long while. It felt really good.

First, I pulled out a set of Build-A-Frame stamps from Prima that I bought months ago but never really did much with. Here are a few cards I made. I ended up with about 4 of each design for OWH. Not really crazy about them but I was trying to step outside my box so I guess they are okay. The one on the left is embossed with green Zing powders. If you haven't tried these you should. They are beautiful! The one on the right is just stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme. Such a pretty shimmer on the color.

Next is this weeks challenge from OWH Stars & Stamps blog. Once again, I'm not too crazy about these cards. I think I didn't have the right ribbon so it just doesn't look nice. I tried several different ribbons but nothing was working for me.

Then, I searched through my stash and found this beautiful 2 1/4 inch wide lace and thought I would put a different spin on this card. I like how this one turned out!

Finally, I wanted to do a layout to help complete my 2004 album (yes, I'm way behind! And I know you aren't supposed to go back and work in the past but I have to finish this album!) I haven't done a layout in a long time and this was alot of fun. I'm liking the way it turned out. I used the Static Collection from Crate Paper that I got at CKC last year. It's more of a Rock n' Roll and Travel themed paper but I think I made it work.