I *heart* Hanglar

Howdy everyone! I can't believe in just a few short hours it will be Monday again *sob* -- the weekends just go too quickly, there is way too much to do -- & I have to admit I am NOT looking forward to a doctor appointment tomorrow. It just seems wrong to have to go see a doctor on a Monday. On the other hand, Mondays completely stink -- so why not get all the yucky stuff out of the way in one day, right? 

So I'm moving at my normal snail pace -- it took me a week to finish this card -- & another 3 days to take the photos -- 2 days to edit -- & I finally added the watermark today LOL. Efficient, no? What can I say -- too much to do!

So in the spirit of the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday -- I spied this adorable Hanglar that I thought was perfect. 

If I had to guess, I would say my friend Tammi sent this image to me -- she's like my crack dealer for Hanglars, lol -- she keeps me well stocked :)

I kept it fairly simple -- I colored the image with pencils -- had a bit of a mishap with the heart -- after clear embossing it, it CRACKED. All I did was try to uncurl the image which had become a bit warped after heating it --- & it CRACKED. I am sending this card to a friend & I really didn't want to send a broken heart!! So -- luckily I did have another image (see -- well stocked) so I colored the heart again, embossed it again, cut it out,  & was very careful when gluing it on. I think I see a hairline fracture -- but I'm not doing it a third time, lol!

The white paper is all shimmery card stock ---- *love* that stuff -- embossed with the Paisley & Dotted Cuttlebug folders. Some red ribbon -- a few small flowers -- very simple!

I must be a freak but I just love this time of year. I love that the only holiday in the near future is Valentine's Day. No stress. Even our winter this year is fantastic. A few snowstorms -- & hairy drives to work -- but really some wonderful temps. This whole week is supposed to be in the 40's -- 40's?? In January? In WISCONSIN??? Lovin' it! I get the snow --- but not the zero degree temps that make your snot freeze!

I hope you have a wonderful week -- so many at CHA this week, lucky ducks! My week consists of work --- parent teacher conferences -- & HEY a Pampered Chef party on Friday! Not CHA but not too shabby either :)

Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Muffins

Hello all, & happy Sunday to you! I hope you've had a swell weekend. I *heart* Sundays :)  That is my day to stay home, clean & do laundry (ok, I definitely don't *heart* cleaning & laundry) but I usually get to spend some time in the kitchen which is fun for me. It used to be a chore, but now that I work I look forward to baking & cooking, especially when I'm trying new recipes. I used to spend hours browsing through cookbooks. Now I spend hours browsing an evil site called Pinterest. If you've heard of it -- you are probable as addicted as I am. If you haven't heard of it -- then go check it out so you can be as addicted informed as I am!

So here is one of the fabulous recipes I came across just a few days ago. We LOVE muffins around here, especially muffins involving chocolate chips. This recipe makes 18 muffins, & since I made these 4 hours ago, 6 of them have mysteriously vanished. 

Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Muffins

source: Bake Me More

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 (4 serving) box instant vanilla pudding
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips (I used mini)

Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 muffin pans with paper cups, or spray. Combine all ingredients except for chocolate chips. Stir until moist, then fold in chips. Batter will be lumpy - don't overmix. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full & bake 23-29 minutes. Makes 18 muffins.

How easy is that? I made these while my kids were out in the snow, & when they came in they had these fresh out of the oven, plus some hot chocolate. Mmmmmmm....

I haven't been spending a whole lot of time in the craft room. When I do have extra time, it's usually in the kitchen --- or playing our new favorite game Ligretto with the boys --- or trying to get my house organized. I don't make New Years resolutions but I did decide this year is the Year of Organization. Thanks to Pinterest I have found some great blogs that are completely dedicated to organizing. Oh, the inspiration! I see a lot of trips to Goodwill in my future. If you are trying to get organized as well, I'd love to hear about it -- what your plan is, what you've done so far, & any tips & tricks you've learned :)

Have a super week!!! 

Sundays with Crissy ~ Beating the Blues!

Hello all, happy Friday the 13th! Eek! Wish I didn't have to leave the house today -- think they'd understand if I took an "unlucky" day at work? 


Today is my day to post my card for Sundays with Crissy. This month's theme is "Beat the Mid-Winter Blues" -- which is quite open to interpretation :)

Well right away, this is the image that popped into my head. One of my very favorite High Hopes images -- "Time Well Spent". I had intended to color the image with pencils so I stamped it onto regular ole GP paper. But then I decided on Copics -- which was more of a challenge than usual because I really don't like this paper for Copics. I usually use Papertrey. But now I hear there are MANY awesome papers available for use with Copics & as much as I'd like to test them out, I've been really good with not spending anything on crafts -- so I will have to make do. Anyway, I kept the card pretty simple -- papers are Basic Grey Pyrus -- added some twine & a flower -- YES a flower  -- it's a MANLY flower -- with a button. And twine. Manly. 

Be sure to visit us this month at Sundays With Crissy & be sure to link up your project -- you could win some free digi's!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend! We got lots of snow here in Wisconsin -- FINALLY! I really wanted it for Christmas but better late than never. Funny thing is, the day before the snow came -- my husband cut the grass!! We had temps in the 50's! Crazy midwest weather......

Pull Apart Bread aka Monkey Bread

Hello all! Happy Tuesday. So far... not a good week :(  A couple of rough days at work -- hopefully things will turn around or I may have to hit the bottle (Just kidding! I don't drink. Much).


I do have a card all ready for my Sundays with Crissy post, but alas.....my day is the 13th. A few more sleeps! Meanwhile, I wanted to share an oldie-but-goodie recipe with you -- for Monkey Bread! I made this for my monkeys this weekend & they loved it (Ok, my 13 year old MAY NOT like being called a monkey. Monkeys are babies. He's an ape, at least).

MONKEY BREAD

2 (7.5 oz) tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

3 TBSP butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup syrup

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I omitted the nuts)

Spray bundt pan with cooking spray. Combine the melted butter & & syrup in small bowl. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg (& nuts if you are adding these). Pour half the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture on top. Lay the biscuits around the pan, overlapping the edges. Top with remaining syrup & brown sugar mixtures. Bake at 350 for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for a few minutes, then invert onto a plate.

Made this Saturday morning, it is Tuesday & it is GONE. Such an easy treat that the monkeys themselves can help with :)


See you back here on Friday for my Sundays with Crissy card! Have a super week!

Thank You Tilda

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 92 now & we don't know where the heck she is.

I've always loved to walk -- I used to walk a LOT before I was working, when the kids were in school. Now it seems like there isn't enough time. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I decided I *have* to start walking again. I did really well over the holiday -- I figured the more I walked, the more I could eat. I just need to keep at it. I do not have good genes -- lots of heart problems in the family -- so I really need to get moving. Yeah yeah, I should eat healthier too. One thing at a time.

Hmmmm .... wonder if I should moon walk instead of power walk ......

So I have a surprise today - a card that HASN'T been previously posted! Yep, hot off the presses. I had this stamp that I won in some blog candy & decided she was perfect for a thank you card.

This is Tilda with 3 Flowers from the Hoppy Easter 2010 collection. I colored her with Copics -- the papers are DCWV Old World Stack -- added lots of Crackle Paint on the edges -- the sentiment is from an old SU set called Seeing Spots. Don't think I ever even used that set -- the stamps look awfully clean! Lots of flowers (spritzed with Glimmer Mist), pearls & other doo-dads.




Not my best coloring but hey -- I'm out of practice!

Can you see the shimmer on those flowers?

I will be adding this to my Etsy shop as soon as I finish the inside -- my paint is drying :)

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

7 Kids College Fund -- Try Something New (new stamp -- well, new to me!)

Magnolia-licious Highlites -- Anything Goes (my favorite challenge!)

Totally Tilda -- Thank You

Simon Says Stamp -- New Something (New stamp again)

Papertake Weekly -- Anything Goes with New option

Thanks so much for visiting & enjoy the rest of your week!