Monday Morning

Kind of a weird Monday. One, daughter J is not here, she has been gone all week end to a lake camp with the youth from church. We have a winter storm that hit on Friday morning early and I am sure that the kids got lots of snow. Which they will really enjoy I am sure. It is also a holiday for the schools around here for President's day.


I took my alarm clock to mom's since we would be gone over the weekend. I will have to go get it today, but it is strange to not have it as I usually go back to sleep after hubby goes to work. I gave up though and have gotten up to catch up on a few things. So, guess that will work out for the good in the end.


We had a great week end. I really wasn't wanting to go out to the dessert in the middle of winter storm, was not so worried about the weather there as I was about getting back over the mountain pass with the snow they were predicting. The wind was blowing like crazy here in town, with an obvious chill to it. I went and bowled my league games, had one really good game, two average games. Then went to drop a couple of things off at Mom's that she just had to have, knew she needed them all week, but waited until Thursday (left me a message while I was in my cardmaking class) knowing that I was trying to get things loaded up for the trip. Finally got the trailer loaded and off we went. Once we got over the pass the weather was great. Kind of windy, which it always is in the dessert, a little chilly on Saturday with little spurts of rain. Not the best conditions to ride in, but not the worst either. Sunday morning we got up and the sun was out, warmer and hardly any wind. We took off on one more long ride just tootling around and then back to camp where we packed it all up and headed home by way of pizza at Mojave.


Friday was also the birthday for a sweet little lady that lives at Mom's place. She is the president of their Red Hat Society group so I made her a red had card. Simple card using embossing folder. I think it turned out cute.

I also received a really nice card from Linda in the swap I was involved with.

As a bonus, she included this neat little scratch note pad made using a time card with butterflies. What a creative idea to use the time card.

I did go to a card making class on Thursday, and while I enjoy the exposure to new techniques, was not happy with the class this time and not really sure I will continue on with them. First of all, I just hate not having directions to take home so I can make the card again. I mean really is it such a great design that it has to be a national secret? The other thing is she uses papers that are left over from a year ago so we can't purchase them, uses stamps that are not available any longer for purchase, uses supplies that the store is out of (and the story has become pretty well known for not having the supplies in stock) and my favorite was having us use a coloring technique with a set of colors that we all wanted to buy but come to find out is not available any more as the company that makes them has discontinued them. The store's stock has pretty much been the same answer as well, it is ordered and should be here the end of the month, or in two weeks. I just hate it when I decide to buy some little gizmo or such and then cannot buy it anywhere. There is a really neat little distressing tool and sanding blocks that "Close To My Heart" carries, went online to find a local demonstrator, she wouldn't take my order, told me to go online and order it through the web page. Back to the subject of the class. I have the cards that we made, but need to finish them all up a bit. Needs the ribbon embellishment as there was no ribbon to match my cards at the store. I don't understand why this woman couldn't kit the cards like she did last month. I know she went to the big craft show, but she also knew that this was a monthly thing. Maybe it was just a bad set of events for her, there was stamps missing (the images to be used for the card) supplies that were not available, her computer died so we were not able to have the hand outs. She didn't even have the sample cards made for us to see what we were making. She did have the box of almost 40 chicken cut outs that she had to make in order to get 8 that were usable. She had problems with the Cricut, and she cut them out the night before the class. Did get to use some cool water pens, but of course the shop was out of them. Will post photos when I finish them.

Okay, today is a rubber stamp class, supposed to bring home a rubber stamp. It is the same teacher so will see what kind of day she is having. Sadly, this is the same woman that teaches many of the lower cost classes that are monthly classes. Hmmm, maybe she is why they are lower cost. In my opinion, they are still pretty pricey for what we get. Guess I better get off of the computer and get my bag together for the class. I feel that if I am having to pay for the materials used in the class, I should not have to take all my own materials. I know, just kind of strange that way.

Well, thanks for dropping in and come back for a visit soon.

Lost Post

Well, I lost some postings it would seem. I know I posted after the 5th. Leave it to me to do that. Well, to show you what I have been up to I will just post all the photos and go from there.

This is from the class I took. Ink Boot Camp. We made a page for each of the techniques she showed up. Jenn Starr was wonderful and I actually had a great time and learned a lot.

This is the Distressed and Spritz techniques.

This is done with pigment inks.

This is the alcohol technique done on glossy or photo paper. I think it is my favorite from the class. I made the mottled background. I also went and picked out five colors to start with and all that goes with it. I already have several ideas for cards and such using this method along with some other mediums.

I am involved in my first card swap with a an internet group. The group is Card Crafts on Yahoo. They are a great group with great ideas. Some one on the group had posted about this video for making a pop up card with balloons. You can go here to see it. I used her idea and came up with this card for a "Travel" themed card.
The front is done with chipboard and ribbon sayings and a stamped image I colored and cut out then attached with foam dots for a dimensional look. The person this card is going to likes to visit California and Disneyland. I was really happy to find the paper with a palm tree image to use for this.

The inside is done with a Mickey Mouse punch to make balloons and with a small font I stamped the word Mickey on the balloons. A sheet of Disney paper had a border so I trimmed it off and used it for the bottom of the balloons. I used an acetate sheet to make the sticks of the balloon, but I think my sheet was way thicker than it needed to be. I know, I will be making some more of these, they are just too fun.

This is a view from the side to show the pop up effect a little more.











The theme for the next card is "Letter B". The card has to have an animal, flower, food or color to represent the letter. I think I accomplished it.





I used my Cricut cutter for this one. The pop up spring is made by punching a circle then cutting it in a spiral. I used my School Book Plantin cartridge to cut the circle so I could make it the correct size. The letters on the front and the word on the inside was done with the Lovely Floral cartridge. I cut the butterflies for the pop up out of some printed paper I had. I will make this type of card again, but will cut the spiral a little tighter and will pay a little more attention to the positioning of the start of the spiral. I have one more card to make for the swap, it is a free theme, so can do what ever I want. I bought some Flower Soft stuff to try making a card with a tree on it. Will see how that goes this afternoon.

Well that is all for now. I am off to have lunch with my mom. Today is my birthday and she is taking me out. The local quilt shop sent me a newsletter that showed some new fabric they got in that has little cakes all over it. Just can't pass it up and will get a little bit to make an apron for my cake class out of it. I have been sick so didn't make the class this week, I put the cake layers in the freezer until I am ready to work on them. Next week I have to take cupcakes.

Tomorrow is bowling and now that my new eyes finally got here am hoping that I will be able to see the arrows better. Maybe bowl a better game. Although, if I can just bowl as well as I did Saturday I will be happy. Hubby is off tomorrow so maybe he will go with me.

Thanks for stopping in and drop in anytime.

Electric Pressure Cooker

Isn't it funny how a set of letters or a word can be the same spelling but totally different meaning based on the context.

For instance...PC

To me that always meant personal computer. Now that I am walking down some different roads I have learned that it also means Pressure Cooker and Pampered Chef.

Enough of a diversion there. Last night was my second experiment with the electrical Pressure Cooker that I had purchased. I cooked a small roast. Funny, hubby came in and saw me getting ready to brown it and commented that it was a really big roast. He has no clue as to how much they shrink when cooked. Our son G happened by, told me about his phone emergency (he dropped it in the toilet) saw the food and decided to stay long enough to eat. Weren't we so privileged? (Okay, see the huge sarcastic look in my eyes as they roll when I say that) At any rate, there was four of us for dinner. Now remember, I haven't bought groceries, my menu plan was based on what I had on hand. So, I rummaged through the pantry and found a lonely package of instant mashed potatoes, a jar of beef gravy, then made a salad to go with it all. Had some rolls left over from New Year's as well. I will be buying groceries soon, today is payday, but since I strayed from the meal plan will be able to take my time going shopping.

Back to the PC. I followed a popular recipe from my internet group, followed the limited directions for operation as well. Again, it took two cycles to cook. The roast tasted good, but could have cooked a little longer. Just about the time I finish eating, I am thinking what am I doing using this gadget if it is going only be about 10 minutes quicker than cooking it in the oven. I cleaned the kitchen and sat down and found some info on the web about this particular cooker. One comment was made about the difficulty sealing the lid and that it blocked the pressure rod. Due to the handle design, I had some reservations about how long before it broke. However, when I had cleaned the cooker back up, I did investigate and found that my lid is locking to seal, but is blocking the pressure rod. So...back it goes to the store and I will get a different model later on.

Mom's house finally sold and the final contract was sent to her yesterday for signing. It was some kind of ordeal to be sure to get that thing signed. At any rate, I am pleased that in between the trips to mom's I was able to get that nasty spice cabinet cleaned out. It was stuffed to the hilt with all kinds of spices and herbs. Many of which I have had since my first years of marriage, almost 30 years. I know they don't spoil, but at some point am sure they loose their flavor. I knew they were old because they were little tin boxes and the bottoms still had the grocery tag on them, from before scanning days. Yes Virgina a little plastic gun was used to stamp a price then attach it to the product. I had a large tin of Marjoram, barely any used out of it, I have never cooked any dish that called for it. At any rate, anything old, showed and expiration date that was expired, all thrown out. I cleaned out the cabinet shelves and put down new liner paper as well. OH IT LOOKS SO NICE! And I can actually find what I am looking for. Today I will start on the freezer and pantry. It is pay day so am ordering in pizza tonight. Shhh, don't tell hubby until it is already here. LOL

This is before.







This is after.











Well, I am off to do some household chores. Oh, can't forget, I am got my steamer. Looks great and it had really great reviews for this model from those that purchased it. Next week will have some tamales and try it out. When I buy groceries, am getting ingredients to try and make my own tamales and well as flour tortillas. Guess I need to cook a pork roast for dinner one night and then pull and shred the left overs for the tamales. Also, my mom is getting me a Kitchenaid mixer. I am making payments for it, but there is a huge sale on one I like so I can get it while it is on sale. Was putting some things away in the garage earlier and spotted a pasta maker I bought and never used. Something about mixing everything on the counter that really grosses me out, but it is something I have wanted to try. If I like it, there is an attachment for the mixer I can buy separately. I always wanted an electric one to save my arm from mixing and rolling, but the machine bought was very cheap and I can use it later on for other things as well.

Schwan man is coming on Monday. I don't buy much, but do buy things that I would never make from scratch or things I want to try to see if I like them. I am always careful and set my limit before I order and never go over. Poor guy will not be getting rich off of us. I am looking forward to trying a gnocchi dish created on the show Top Chef. I love dumplings in all forms, so know that I will probably like it. However, have been waiting for the right time to try it. My problem with cooking cheap around here, I mean frugally, is that my bunch doesn't much care for pastas or rice. Leaves out a lot of possibilities. I have two weeks this month that hubby will be gone so can try some new dishes and eat some fish.

I almost forgot, I also went yesterday and signed up for two little classes at the scrapbook store. Both are next week while hubby is gone. The first class is a Cricut class, she will show me all the features on my machine and teach me to use it. The store also has a Cricut club that meets once a month and they have over a hundred cartridges that I can take my machine to the store and rent the cartridge out to make cut outs. I think that is just amazing because I can try one out and decide if I will use it enough to buy it. Thankfully, our Walmart carries the cartridges at a much cheaper cost than the craft stores, but they don't carry some of the specialty ones or the retired ones. Then, on Saturday they are having a crop and bunco night. I paid for J to go with me and she is so excited. We play bunco up at mom's place with the ladies, and really have fun with it. I have however, in order not to be overwhelmed as I usually do to myself at crops, am only taking tools, photos, and plan on finishing up a couple of projects in progress plus I really want to try out some of those cartridges. I won't let myself dive into the crafts until I have this whole house cleaned up. I tend to get focused in one thing and want to do only that. I have a couple of sewing projects to finish up as well, but I am really ready to make a few pages and really want to make some cards. I have all these supplies that really need to be used. There is a card making class and a flower making class later in the month that I want to take as well.

Drop in again and have a great weekend.