Isn't she so funny!!! Gretchen says the winner is.......

Blog Stalker #1 AND Blog Stalker #2!!! Both Barb and Sharon are getting a journal.... I couldn't pick just one of you ladies (and since there were only the two of you I can easily accomplish the task!)

I must tell you, I had an awesome day yesterday at my CMC's National Scrapbook Day Crop! I guess that CM actually calls it Memoranza, but no matter what they call it, it was a very nice day! I got to teach my Mosaic page to 16 talented ladies, who did beautiful work! I also made 4 sample pages with the CM goody product and my new Close to My Heart stamps and my new Autumn Leaves stamps. I will for sure post them later, but have to go to my Mom's to load up the photos. Also accomplished yesterday was a cute card, and the start of a mini-tin for a gift to be posted at a future date.

Congratulations Barb and Sharon! Journals coming your way!

Journals!

I love to alter journals! That is pretty much all I have been working on lately. I love choosing the papers and ribbons. I always get confused on how to put them back together and have to look at one that I haven't ripped apart yet. LOL! That is me, creative but not at all mechanical! So these are the unfinished journals... pretty as is, and very inexpensive, only $1 at Michaels. I also am glad that I figured out that I could re-punch the holes with my Crop-a-dile instead of cutting them with an exacto. MUUUUCHHH Easier!!

These are the finished journals, all of these are spoken for at the moment. However, in celebration of the publishing of my 50th blog post I would like to make one for one of my loyal blog readers, so if you are a loyal blog reader, even if you haven't left a comment before let one for this post, it is really easy! On Sunday night I will draw a name and make a custom journal for the lucky winner! Let a comment so I know you are out there!

Also wanted to share that I talked to Christy last night and the total is in for the Crop for a Cure is in, just over $1500 was raised! Way to go Christy, Tina and Barb and all of you generous scrapbook ladies! I just have to say again what a nice crop it was and I can't wait for the next one! (Details coming soon, check back!)

I am teaching tomorrow at Barb Shaffer's National Scrapbook Day crop at Berkey COB. I am on this what is is old is new againd kick and I will be making a mosaic page. I am so excited to be scrapping my pictures from our trip to Sight and Sound from January when we saw The Miracle of Christmas. I will post it when I get it done. Just another reminder, let a comment, maybe win a journal!

Take care and be blessed!

Chocolate PB Cake &
Grandma Jake's Cake Pan

My favorite cake pan... and that says alot since I am a cake decorator. This old Bundt pan belonged to my Dad's mother. Not exactly an heirloom or an antique, most likely purchased at GeeBee's or in a box of junk from one of the many auction sales that she and my Pappy Charlie liked to go to, don't get me started on the collection of mixers with no beaters that were only a quarter... ok... but no beaters???? The pan wasn't handed down to me, it came with the house along with so many other things of theirs that I won't part with, like the heavy chrome Sunbeam iron with the big black handle and cloth wrapped cord. It isn't teflon coated and you don't even have to put any elbow grease into your ironing, just eat your Wheaties so you have the strength to lift the darn thing. Anywho... there it is in it's bright orange late 70's early 80's glory... paint chipping off, but still well used and well loved...


How about that for a good looking cake? A rich moist double chocolate cake with homemade peanutbutter frosting.... Served best with a big old glass of COLD milk.... MMMMMM!!!

Any unusual "heirlooms" in your life? I have some others that I am sure I will share at some point!

Take care and be blessed!

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME CROP!!!



The Crop for a Cure yesterday in Somerset was fantastic! The ladies did such an incredible job planning and putting on an amazing event!!! I had a fabulous day... didn't accomplish much, bought practically nothing... and visited with my friends allllllll day long!!!!

I hope that they were able to raise a great amount of money for the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life! This event was held in memory of their friend and it was so evident that it was a labor of love for them and that was the reason for the great success!

I know that plans are in the works for a second event later this year, hopefully an overnighter. As soon as I know more I will post details.

The pictures above are the the little mini album tin that I did for my make and take yesterday at the crop and some pictures of the ladies making the tin... Class was well attended and I sold out all the kits I had prepared!

Have I mentioned that
I LOVE PAPER?????


Picked this big honkin pack of paper at Joann's a few weeks back... 300 sheets, but best of all it is 30 patterns, 10 sheets of each pattern. The perfect teacher's paper pack! It has some really awesome color combos, coordinates, some almost solid papers, too. I am going to be using some of it for my make and take on Saturday at the ACS/Relay for Life crop. Here is a little teaser... the project is a mini-tin accordion album... that's all I'm saying!


See all of my cropping buddies there!

Have some fun...


80's Music Quiz


or


Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?


I didn't do so hot on either one... go figure!

A Most Perfect Chicksa Weekend!


It was a scrapbooking foodies dream come true!


Adam's Pine Creek on Friday evening... YUM! Wonderful homemade, homestyle foods, salads and desserts. Chicken parm, Chicken piccata, Ranch baked fish, Meatloaf, pasta, veggie soup, chowder, Caramel Apple Walnut pie, Fudge nut brownies, rice pudding, apple crisp, key lime pie, strawberry cheesecake.... shall I go on??? Just roll me out to the car, take me home and let me take a nap...



Then we got to hang out in the hot tub... wow, after that I was so relaxed that I was pretty much worthless... had to go to bed....



Did get some scrapping done on Saturday! Wait and see my make and take for the ACS/Relay for Life Crop for a Cure this weekend! WOOOHOOO!!! It is just tooooo cute! I had an awesome time with Jody, Donna and Madonna! You gals are just fabulous!



Chicksa made her DIVINE homemade Wedding soup for me on Saturday! Delicious!!!!!



Sunday morning we were treated to an amazing breakfast at Rush House Bed and Breakfast which is owned by Madonna and her husband. The house is on the Historic Register and is just lovely! Our menu for breakfast was fresh fruit, homemade yogurt with berry compote, granola and honey, pancakes with maple or berry syrup, smoked ham, and bananas with sweet cream, pecans and nutmeg. Coffee, tea and juice of course!



I am absolutely thrilled to be teaching the next three weekends in a row! Happy Scrapping!

What's on my desk right now?

A pile of stuff, that I need to clear up so I can pack up so I can go to Jody's this weekend!


Can you tell that I fell in love with that paper from the goodie bag from our Camp Harmony Crop? When I first saw it, I wasn't so sure about it, but now I LOVE IT! I have been rationing it out for several little projects that I have going... gonna run out soon... and then it is no more. Oh well, all good things....

Baked a banana creme cake this morning... gonna give it some cream cheese frosting when it cools down! YUM!

Easter or Christmas????

You know it if you are from western Pennsylvania... this is picture from the front porch on Easter Sunday... We had more snow for Easter than we did for Christmas... wet Christmas, white Easter. Go figure... here's hoping that Spring arrives again and decides to stay a while.



I have much to blog about, so lets get started... I am soooooo excited to be going to spend the weekend with my Chicksa, Jody! I love to go to her house to scrapbook for the weekend and we don't get to do it very often, so it is a real treat!!! She spoils me with good food and company! We have so much fun! I am also attending my first Hen Party... so I will have to report on that... all I know right now is that it involves food, alcohol, hens, and crafting.... all things that I like!



I have a few projects in the works and pictures to post of those as well. My scrapping desk looks like a bomb went off on it! I have to get it under control so I can pack for the weekend.




Here is some rare trivia about me... I have been waiting not so patiently for many months for the new episodes of my very guilty indulgence... DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER! This evening at 9:00 PM I was on the couch, in my pj's with some chocolate marshmallow ice cream to watch the first new show of the season on A & E. I really don't know why I like the show so much, but I am addicted to it! I could guess that part of it is that they are real people doing their job, running their business, raising their families and they are just like many of us, not perfect, a little bit nutty and some to the fugitives they are looking for are so CRAZZZZYYYYYY!!!!!


Check back for upcoming posts.... I have a bunch of things saved to write about for the next few days! Until later, take good care!

Taste of Home Cooking School Report

What an awesome Goody Bag, only thing that could have made it better would have been if it was full of scrapbook stuff!! LOL!! We had a great time too! Our Culinary Specialist was April Hammerstrom and she demonstrated eight wonderful recipes for us...

Crunchy Onion Chicken with Savory Herb-roasted Potatoes

Cornish Hen Under a Brick

Southwest Tamale Pie

Antipasto Stuffed Baguettes

Pork Tenderloin Salad with Fiesta Salsa

Mixed Vegetable Grill

Strawberry Napoleons

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Smells like Apple Pie in here thanks to Deanna and Lynleigh! They gave me this YUMMY smelling candle for my birthday. I lit it up as soon as we got home from the Taste of Home cooking school demo the other night. (Which by the way was AWESOME! I'll post more about that later!) This candle also coordinates with my Americana candle shade perfectly as well!


I just love candles that make the house smell like I have been baking all day instead of hanging out at my scrap desk. (Ha! Ha! fooled my husband again...) Some of my most favorites are banana nut bread, hazelnut cream, gingersnap, spiced cider, just to name a few.... I have lots of great candles to burn and am always buying new fragrances when we are at craft shows and shops. What is your favorite candle or aroma scent?

What was that song, good bye old friend, good bye... today we said good bye to my husbands old LOUD friend the 1987 Jeep Comanche Pick-up truck. I know that he was sad to see it go, me... ehhhh, not so much. It had really not been a very practical vehicle for us and it was getting up there. Not roomy enough for a family of four, a stick shift that I despised driving, and not to mention quite LOUD, if I hadn't mentioned that yet. (Oh, yeah I did mention that already!)

Sadly it was hit a few weeks ago, the damage out priced the actual value of the truck and even if that wasn't enough they would not have been able to get parts for her 20 year old body. All that damage done by a teeny tiny Geo Metro, driven by a little old man. Go figure. So goodbye old girl, hopefully you can be an organ donor to one of your brothers, sisters, and cousins who are still on the road.

Happy Birthday to ME!
(Happy 37th Wedding Anniversary to my dear parents!)

Yes, thirty--something today... and this is my gift to myself! Tickets to the Taste of Home Cooking School event tonight at the Pasquerilla Conference Center. I am taking my sister Lynnette with me and meeting my friends Lynleigh and Deanna. Special thanks to Lynleigh's husband, Russ for actually going to pick up the tickets for us. They were pretty hard to come by, most places sold out of them right away! I have wanted to go to a Taste of Home event for many years and it has just never been close enough to go, or like I mentioned before the tickets sell out so fast. Hopefully I will get lots of good recipe ideas, will post more after the event!

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Here is a fast and easy way to make a super moist rich cake. Best part of it is so few ingredients!



One box cake mix, I like chocolate.
One box COOKED pudding mix, again I like chocolate.
2 cups milk


Prepare pudding on stove top with milk. When it thickens up turn off heat, stir in dry cake mix to hot pudding. Pour into prepared Bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees until it is done, about 30 minutes. Frost with homemade peanut butter frosting and sprinkle with good Dutch chocolate sprinkles! YUUMMMMM!!!!

Chickies and Bunnies!

We made these adorable little tear bunnies and chickies at the camp crop last week. Just thought I would share them here on the blog... the pattern is my own. They have been one of my most popular classes. I think they would be just adorable on a spring or Easter page or even a baby page.

Speaking of classes, just a reminder that I am teaching a class (not sure what class yet, I am up for suggestions!) at the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life crop on April 21, at the Quality Inn, Somerset, PA. Let a comment if you need info! Hope to see you there!

Spring Purse

So it was time to put the red & white snowflake purse away, since it is now S-P-R-I-N-G!!! I had the idea for my spring purse since the moment I saw these bright cheerful striped tea towels at my Wal-mart! Purchased them that very same day, $2.88 for a two pack. Some yellow ribbon for $1.88 and two packs of pink posie buttons, can't remember the price, but less than a dollar a pack... and here is my new bag. Made the straps longer this time so it can be thrown over my shoulder. I am going to make another one, this time using something to help stiffen the fabric up a bit. It needs it since tea towels are not as hefty as placemats. However, to it's advantage, tea towels are BIGGER than most placemats so I get a bigger bag!

My last post about the candy stuff got me thinking about some childhood favorites and how to find them. Here is a great little website, Hometown Favorites, that specializes in old fashioned candies and regional foods. Also while channel surfing last night on the food network I saw this place, Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City. Last but not least for the redneck in us all there is this place, Redneck Snack Baskets.

Take care, have a beautiful day... April showers bring May flowers!