Cade

I'm helping with a baby shower this week for a baby boy scheduled to arrive in April. I wanted to do a name picture for him. I usually use vinyl when I use a picture frame. However, I did not have baby blue vinyl so I used scrapbooking paper and put it on the inside of the frame instead of the outside. The colors are very soft so it doesn't show that well in a picture. I turned off my flash so that I wouldn't get a glare. I like it even if it doesn't photograph well...at least for me who needs some photography lessons. Maybe this summer I will take some lessons when I have more time. I'm off to our Bible study of Esther. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! See you tomorrow.

The Coach

I should be sewing Easter bunnies but I got side-tracked. I just wanted to sew for a sweet little boy whose dad is a baseball coach. I also found some Easter egg baseballs....too cute! One day he will probably follow in his dad's steps and love sports and play baseball. But right now he is one special baby boy!

Personalized Easter Pails

These pink pails may be my favorite........at least right now. I wanted the entire name to be seen from the front and not wrapped around the pail so I cut it 2" in height. I added 1" and 3/4" circles. I think these would be pretty to use at a baby shower or birthday party. These pails are for two sweet little sisters. I've gotta get better at hiding things in my background......I'm definately a novice at photo shoots! Somebody give me some advice...haha! Have a super Friday!
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Easter Pails

These are going to be sooooo cute. With an initial or name and polka dots won't they be great for holding eggs, chocolate bunnies and Peeps? A new twist on the Easter basket tradition. I have 2 dozen in an assortment of colors.........purple, green, yellow, white, pink and blue. Get one before they are all gone!

Happy Birthday!

A dear friend at work is having a birthday and we are celebrating tomorrow. My part was to bring the dessert so I'm bringing cupcakes! Cupcakes are so much fun and they make everyone smile. I chose an aqua, white and yellow color theme. I would say it's a "springy" combination but we're suppose to have snow tomorrow so that won't work. Let's just say I like those colors. Anyway, it's gonna be a Cupcake Wednesday. I'm thankful for all of my friends. Have a great "snow" day!

Recipe Sunday-Poppy Seed Chicken

Most of my recipes are family favorites given to me by friends. This one is no exception. One of my friends who loves to cook for her family shared this recipe with me many years ago. It is simple to prepare but is really a dish that could be made for company. Once the chicken is cooked it only takes minutes to put together. It is a creamy mixture of chicken, 2 soups, sour cream and almonds topped with buttery Ritz crackers. If you would like the recipe for Poppy Seed Chicken just send me an email. Enjoy and have a wonderful Sunday!

Pottery Barn "Copy Cat"

Have you seen the latest Pottery Barn catalog called "Nest....at home"? Everything is so beautiful with birds and bird nests as the inspiration for the catalog. Well I fell in love with the mantel "scape" that featured silver, wrought iron and glass candle holders and birds and bird nests. It also had a few sprigs of white dogwood. I just had to have that look but at $68.00 for 2 birds and $59.00 for one nest I had to be creative with my shopping. Well a friend just happened to give me a bird for my birthday (unbelievable) and I found beautiful stems of large dogwood at Target for $10 a piece and 2 nest for $1.97 at Hobby Lobby. So that was the beginning of my copy cat mantel. I pulled out all types of candlesticks I already had.....wooden and glass. I also had a "cloche" which is a glass dome. It was perfect to cover my bird, nest and eggs. And there it is..........my spring mantel. What do you think? Almost as pretty as Pottery Barn and only cost a few dollars.

POTTERY BARN MANTEL

MY MANTEL

Wedding Present

Their wedding invitation is black and white.....very elegant. So I used the same colors to make a few gifts for the couple. Using my Cricut I cut their name and initial in vinyl and placed on the outside of an 8x10 picture frame. The paper can be changed out if they want since the vinyl is not touching the background paper. A journal in coordinating paper and notes in plain black finish the gifts. The initial on the front of the journal was part of their invitation. I just cut it to the size I needed. Happy Friday!

Simple Little Candle

I found these little votive holders and added an initial, a little ribbon, a few polka dots and now it's a perfectly sweet gift or table favor. I love my Cricut!

Recipe Monday Part II

Ok the bread is baked now what? I had to come up with a cute way to share the mini loaves of Poppy Seed Bread. And with my new Cricut anything is possible. I found a free file for a "bag". I could have cut it out in any color paper but I wanted something clean and "springy". So I chose white card stock, added an orange bow, a short name, a loaf of bread and voila. I want to share more about the Cricut later. Have a great President's Day!

Recipe Monday-Poppy Seed Bread

This is an old recipe shared with me by a dear friend. Her son and mine were best buddies from 1st grade until about the 3rd. Unfortunately they had to move but I still love this recipe and make it quite often. She also gave me a Strawberry Bread recipe that I will have to share later. From the first time that I made it I changed the vanilla extract to lemon extract. I just prefer the taste of lemon and poppy seed together rather than the vanilla. Anyway you fix this bread it is delicious. It is also a great treat to share. I made 9 mini loaves and 6 mini bundt pans...just the right sizes to give to others. So enjoy!

Poppy Seed Bread

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. sugar

3/4 c. oil

1 tsp vanilla (or lemon)

1/4 c. poppy seed (have you priced them lately? $$)

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 c. evaporated milk

Beat eggs, add sugar and oil and mix well. Add vanilla (or lemon) and poppy seed. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together and add to above mixture alternating with evaporated milk. Bake in 2 greased loaf pans (or any combination sizes you like) at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes (check more often if using small pans). I added a glaze today. Mix about a cup of powdered, enough water to make it spreadable and a tsp. of lemon extract

My Wonderful Valentine gift

I didn't get the usual bouquet of beautiful roses or the big heart shaped box of delicious chocolate candies or an expensive bottle of perfume or even a romantic dinner in a nice restaurant but what I did get was a weekend with GRAYSON! This is the best Valentine's weekend ever. Grayson arrived on Friday in the cold and snow. His mommy and daddy had to go to San Antonio, Texas for business. We have played and laughed and catered to his every want or wish. He is a funny little fellow. He loves to be a comedian and as PawPaw says he just needs a stage. The telephone and remote controls are his favorite toys. Of course he gets what he wants even if it means the phone is off the hook for hours and no one can call us. All he has to do is reach in that direction and we get whatever he is reaching for. I hope my daughter isn't going to read this for we may never get him back for a weekend. We went to Sunday School and church today and he loved being there. Someone walked in his room with a cupcake and he started reaching for it and whinning. Of course they gave him the whole cupcake and took pictures on their phone to show me in church. God has truly given us a little blessing by the name of Grayson and he's the best Valentine gift ever. Another little secret, we made his Mommy a Valentine booklet from pictures we took outside in the sunshine yesterday. She's gonna be happy and surprised!

Sweet Treats for My Sweet Friends

I have been busy making Valentine treats for my dear friends. Gotta deliver them tomorrow just in case we have a good "wintery mix" tomorrow and we have to stay home Friday! HaHa! Treat bags are from Elle's Studio. The bags are sent as pdf files which must be unzipped and then printed. You cut the bags, clue them together and fill with goodies. They are so simple to put together and she designs the greatest things. Her shop can be found at http://www.shopellesstudio.com

I love these bookmarks. Edie at "Life In Grace" designed them and offered them to her blog followers. The colors are great and the scripture is beautiful. It is Numbers 6:24-26. The bookmarks are once again a pdf file and once printed can be cut out and put against white cardstock. Edie is a medical doctor who chose to stay home to make a home for her blended family. Her site is http://www.lifeingraceblog.com

Last but of course not least, Hersery's Milk Chocolate bars are covered in fancy Valentine papers. I bought these from "Lettering Delights". It is a super site to purchase graphics, fonts and doodlebats. They are always having 40-60% off sales. Every "LOVE" item is 60% off right now. Check it out http://www.letteringdelights.com

It's not too late to make treats for your special Valentines. Happy Creating!

Valentine Tins

I saw these tins and thought I would use them for something but not sure at the time for what. Then I thought how cute they would be to hold Valentine treats. And since I have a Cricut now I can put names on everything and make it personal. So that's what I did. They are filled with goodies and will be delivered soon for Valentine's Day.

Congratulations Saints! and a Sweetheart Onesie

I've never watched an entire Super Bowl game until tonight. The game was so exciting! I am thrilled that the Saints have won! Drew Brees and his little boy were the highlight of the game for me. He was so precious there beside his daddy. We knew it would be tough but we all hoped for this outcome and the Saints didn't disappoint us! Who Dat!

"Who Dat Nation"

All I have to do is say whoooooooooooooo and my machine starts stitching Who Dat. I have stitched so many shirts for little ones. It has been fun getting everyone ready for the big Game. However, I have had to neglect my blog. I hope everyone is doing well and have their big celebration planned. Have a great Thursday. Geaux Saints!