A Birthday Gift

My sister-in-law's birthday was last month. I knew I was going to see her in March so I looked around etsy at some of my favorite artists and found these great earrings for her. They are amethyset and were made by contrariwise. She has some really nice things, if you check her out & buy something let her know you saw her here on my blog. Since I had the earrings I needed a card to go with them. This is what I came up with. They go well together I think, I hope my sister-in-law likes them, if not I'm gonna ask for them back & I can wear them! If you are interested in the card you can see more about it at my etsy shop.

Girl Scout Cookies!

Today is the day that the Girl Scouts were founded in 1912! Who would have thought then that they would still be around in 2008. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't love a good (let's face it they're all good) Girl Scout Cookie. In case you missed getting your supply, or already ate it, I found this site on the web to help you find some or some more. http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/

In honor of the great cookie, I am posting this card today in my etsy shop. A good cup of coffee goes great with a yummy samoa! Leave a comment with your favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavor.

Inspiration

I've been looking at a lot of old photos lately. Between the photos and the etsygreetings color challenge of a few weeks ago I've been inspired to work out a new line of greetings. This also goes along with my passion of giving people a card that is also a gift, something that will be put on display not just tossed in a drawer. I've been playing around with this idea for a while and have just decided to really start rolling with it. I had created a 40th birthday card a few years ago that ran along these lines. A listing for a custom card similar to it is currently available in my etsy shop. By the way that is my Mom (she's gonna be mad ) and she does ROCK.

So here is a Mother's Day card that really lets your Mom know what you think of her. The idea is to replace the photo with one of your own, to give Mom that truly unique greeting.

New from the Studio

I have a good friend who is expecting her first baby in April. This weekend was her baby shower. She is quite a bit younger than me but I think will make an awesome mother. My gift to her along with a basket full of other goodies, was this photo journal. I am planning on putting something similar in my etsy shop soon. Watch for it and other new baby items soon.

Inside front pages, place for baby info, time, date, weight,etc.

Detail of a journaling or photo area.

Back pages, I loved the saying on the last page.

National Pound Cake Day

Well in case you didn't know it, today is National Pound Cake Day. Who doesn't like cake? In honor of the day I took a short break from the studio to make a pound cake...it's baking now as I write this and I plan on having a cup of Sumatra coffee and a slice when it is cool enough. If you can't tell my other passion (other than paper) is food...cooking and eating! Here's the recipe I used it's super easy, I came from a great site http://www.recipezaar.com/. There's still time for you to whip one up for desert tonight. It's raining here and a good day to bake!

Neapolitan Pound Cake

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce)package cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1 (410 g)package white cake mix
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup quick strawberry milk mix (Quik)
1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup quick powdered chocolate milk mix (Quik)

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350° (325° for coloured fluted tube pan).
2 Using solid shortening or margarine (not oil), grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan

(non- stick finish pan, too). Or use a large loaf pan.
3 In large bowl, blend cream cheese and eggs until smooth.
4 Blend in cake mix and milk.
5 Beat 2 minutes at highest speed.
6 Add strawberry milk drink mix to 2 cups batter; pour into prepared pan.
7 Stir vanilla into 2 cups batter; pour over strawberry batter.
8 Add chocolate milk drink mix to remaining batter; pour over vanilla batter.
9 Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10 Cool upright in pan 45 minutes.
11 Loosen edges; remove from pan.
12 Cool completely.
13 If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

ETSYGREETINGS Color Challenge

The etsy greetings group is holding a color challenge. All those participating were to post in their shop a card using the colors of green and lilac. You can see all the cards on the etsygreetings blog. Please visit and vote for your favorite (mine I hope, #38)

This is my submission for the color challenge. I decided to do a Mother's Day card that would allow you to add a photo of your own Mom, but look as if you produced the card with that picture in mind. I accomplished this by having a pull-out tag that is overlaid with a clear transparency on which I stamped a flourish in a lovely metallic champagne color. It has really turned out well and I am excited to begin a new line in my shop with this type of card. Look for more soon both here and in my etsy shop.