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Friday, August 31, 2012

Marbled Chocolate Chip Bars

Happy Friday!!! It's been one crazy week, that's for sure. My kids went back to school on Wednesday and it was a rocky start. I hope that in a few weeks, our new routine will be an old routine and I will look back on the first week of school with a smile and a shrug. In the meantime, I will bake.


This recipe is a twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie. The twist is there are melted chocolate chips on the tops, twisted into a marbled state. Does that even make sense? Probably not...it's been a long week.


I baked these in an 8x8 pan and they came out perfectly. I loved not having to scoop out dough to form cookies. Just press the dough in a pan and bake.


I used this recipe from the Confessions of a Cookbook Queen's food blog: Marbled Chocolate Chip Squares. The only recipe change I made was I added 1 cup chocolate chips to the batter and then used ~1/2 cup chips for the top swirly part. After the week we've had, I think the more chocolate the better.

I hope you all have a great Friday! Thanks for stopping by!!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tri-Fold card tutorial

I had this tutorial up on the Momenta blog last week and I also want to share it here. It's a tutorial for a tri-fold card that will fit into a standard A2 sized envelope. It's a great way to shake things up a little bit with your cards!

Here is what you will need:

-5 1/2 inch x 7 1/4 inch piece of paper (this will be the base of your card)
-coordinating patterned paper (I'm using the Family Outings paper pack)
-a focal point for the card front
-ribbon or twine
-Scor-Pal
-pop dots



Line up the 5 1/2 x 7 1/4 inch paper the long way on your Scor-pal. Score at 1 1/2 inches on both sides.


From patterned paper, cut a 5 1/2 inch x 4 inch piece. Adhere to the middle panel, between the 2 score lines. This will become the inside of your card.


Cut 2 pieces of patterned paper, 1 1/5 inches x 5 1/2 inches. Adhere to the front of the 2 folded sides.


Create your focal point by cutting paper 3 inches x 4 inches. I matted this piece with more paper, but you can creative here. Add a border punch, round the corners, whatever you feel like doing! I added a Momenta clear layered sticker to this paper. This will become the 'front' of my card.


I adhered pop dots to the left side of this panel, in the upper left and lower left corners. I added this to my folded card using just the side pop dots. You don't want to adhere all 4 corners or you will not be able to open the tri-fold card. Tie a piece of twine or ribbon around the card to hold it closed.


When you want to open the card, untie the twine. The front panel will fold open to reveal the inside of the card.


I added a sentiment box to the inside of my card. You could add a stamped image, another clear layered sticker or just a handwritten note inside.

 
This will fit into a standard A2 envelope, you just might need to add extra postage. Or maybe hand deliver it if your layers get too big! 
 
Tomorrow is the first day of the school year for my kids...the routine starts again! Yeah!! I hope you're having a great week so far...thanks for stopping by!
 

Monday, August 27, 2012

I'm back!!!

Hi Everyone! How has your August been??? We got back from vacation this last weekend. We spent 9 days in Maine visiting my sister and her family. I met my new nephew who is now 2 months old and played with my twin nieces, who are 2 1/2. It was a wonderful trip with great company and great weather. We even witnessed a crazy east coast thunder and lightening storm. That was pretty cool!

Here are some pics from the week...

My nephew Zealand...


My nieces Molly and Harbour...


Catching lobster on a Maine lobster boat...


Playing at Highland Lake...


Getting photos with all the cousins!!


We had such a great time!!! But now it's back to reality. My kids last day of summer camp is tomorrow and they start school on Wednesday. We also now have soccer season in full swing and my daughter starts her fall dance classes next week. It's about to get all busy up in here!

I hope you've all had a great August. I am looking forward to some blog surfing this week and getting back into the swing of things. Thanks for stopping by today!!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Taking A Break

Hi Everyone!! I will be taking a little blogging break for the rest of August. Our summer school break is almost over and we will be enjoying the sun, visiting family that lives far away, and trying to soak in those last moments of summer. I hope you enjoy the rest of August and I will see you soon!


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Retro Sketches #24

Happy Wednesday everyone! I have a Retro Sketches card to share with you today...isn't this a fun one?


I ordered some washi tape last week and was super excited when I received it this past weekend. I just had to break it out and try it with this sketch.


I love the tape!! I wasn't really on the washi bandwagon yet, but when I saw a great deal on Peachy Cheap I had to buy it. I'm so happy I did because it's a great product to add to my scrapbook arsenal. I love how it's just slightly transparent. I used it with some Jillibean Soup papers, a doily and a homemade flag.


So now I want to know...do you washi???

Thanks for stopping by!!

Monday, August 13, 2012

CAS-ual Friday #65

Happy Monday everyone!! How was your weekend? Ours was hot hot hot!! It's so hot here right now. It's up to about 107 in the nearest valleys. Thankfully, I don't live in the nearest valley, but it's in the high 90's here. That is hot for us!!!

I stayed cool in my house and did the CAS-ual Friday challenge this week...make a Clean and Simple square card.


I do enjoy making square cards and this 5x5 inch is my favorite size. I added some score lines around the edges and added some Jillibean Soup paper squares in the middle. I found that big sparkly red button in my stash, I love it. I wish I could remember where I got it!


I even stamped in red! That is just craziness for me, I almost always stamp with black ink. It's getting craaaaazy up here in my craft space!! LOL!

I hope you had a fabulous Monday and thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

CASology #5

Happy Saturday!! I am playing along with a fairly new challenge blog...CASology. It's a clean and simple challenge blog and each week there is a cue card for inspiration. This week's cue card looked a little something like this:


My first thought was fish!! So I searched through my stamps until I came across this set from Avocado Arts. This is my first time inking up this set!


The paper I used is Bo Bunny Alora. Have I mentioned lately I love the colors of those papers?? I did some small paper piecing of the fishes.


I have been wanting to play along with these challenges for a while now. I'm so glad I found some time. Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Lunchbox Notes

My kids will be going back to school at the end of August and I like to have some lunchbox notes handy in case I want to slip one into somebody's lunch box. My daughter especially loves these and I plan on sending her a few during the first couple weeks of school.


These are 3x3 inch notecards and I used lots of great Momenta product on these. I used the Free To Be Me paper pad and clear layered stickers.


I really love that peace signs are trendy again. My daughter's new backpack is all about peace signs, I think she will really love that peace notecard! And I made a 3x3 box to hold all my new notes.


Because unless I can find these notes in the morning, they will never make it into the lunchbox! Here's the tutorial I shared a while ago for the 3x3 box. This box will hold quite a few of the 3x3 cards.


Now all we have left to do is...all our back to school shopping. My kids grow out of clothes so fast, nothing from last year fits anymore! At least I have some great little lunchbox notes ready to go.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

BombPop Cocktail

Who remembers Bomb Pop popsicles?? When I was little, they could only be found at the ice cream man truck and I do remember enjoying a few of them back in the day. I'm sure you can still buy them now, but I've got a better, grown-up version for you to enjoy.


See all the pretty layers? There is blue, red, and white...just like a Bomb Pop. Here is how you  make it.

1. Fill a tall glass or jar with ice.
2. Start with UV Blue Raspberry Vodka. Pour in 1-2 shots. Pour the liquid down the side of the jar as not to upset the ice.
3. Layer cranberry juice on top of the blue vodka. Pour the juice slowly down the side of the jar.
4. Layer lemonade on top.
5. Enjoy!!

This is a fun drink to enjoy at the pool or out on your back porch...or on Memorial Day or 4th of July or any summer day that you wish!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Friday, August 3, 2012

August-A Year In Review

Hi Everyone! This is my final post for My Time Made Easy this month! It's called Year In Review because we mix and match old and new products. I chose to use the old A Box Is A Box Template and make a pretty gift box with some new Buttons 'n' Bits digital papers.


This is a fantastic box for any kind of gift giving. It's big and deep and holds alot of stuff!!


I added some layered flowers on top using the Blooming Into Spring cut files.


And I added a matching tag using the Trendy Tags 2 cut file.


Please check out all the design team members today for some old and new inspiration!


Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Little Fruit Boxes-MTME

Hi Everyone! I have another My Time Made Easy project to share today. There is a new stamp set called Tooty Fruity available this month. There are great fruit images paired with punny sentiments, it's a great set! I made a tag set using the Well Rounded Tag cut file.


I colored my images using the free GIMP software, you could easily use copic markers or watercolor pencils for coloring. I paired each fruit with the appropriate sentiment. Isn't that picnic paper perfect on these tags? It's from the new Picnic of Patterns digital paper set.  There is a new cut file out this month called All Buttoned Up that I wanted to use. The top of this box is designed to look like a big button and would be perfect with the Grammy's Sewing Basket template. But you can easily design the top of the box to look like a fruit.


After making this tag and box set, I went crazy and made matching boxes for all my tags!!



The two tabs on the top of the box slide past each other for easy opening. And I discovered the boxes are the perfect size for 4 chocolate truffles...


...or 4 Ghiradelli chocolate squares!


I was thrilled to be able to make these boxes work for all my fruit tags. Here is my set all together!


All these new products are available right now at My Time Made Easy. Please check out some more great projects today using the August release products.


Thanks for stopping by today, Friends!!