atomic

Remember those jars I purchased back in June? Well, I finally found the perfect use for them.

Candy and buttons! Doesn't every crafter need a sweet supply while she's working? I think so. 

One of my all-time, hands-down favorite candies is the Atomic Fireball. Once you get through all the fiery layers, you're rewarded with that sugary center. Mm-mm. I love cinammon. And these last for.ev.er. Perfect crafting candy.

...Now I just need to get to crafting.

random thoughts today.

My, how quickly things can change.

Thank goodness for doors--easy to close. I am making some progress, however...At least in small ways.

Plastic baggies are probably one of my favorite inventions, especially when it comes to holding stamps, projects, or even pizza (as LeanneAllNatural can attest to!). I had fun re-housing some very old foam stamps, and using leftover address labels. These particular stamps are so cute and friendly, I'm glad they are now in a more accessible/pleasing-to-the-eye pouch.

I used clear envelopes for my Christmas cards last year, and have quite a few left over. I thought they would make a perfect home for some stickers and large die cut letters. {They kinda look like new, don't they? Love that.}

Clear envelopes should be available for purchase at any stationery store, although sometimes they're tricky to find... In Denver, I've seen them at Xpedx and Donahues Paper Emporium, and they go for about $5/100. They seem to last for.ev.er.

In other news, a woman at my Bible study is kindly letting me borrow Denyse Schmidt's Quilts book. Isn't that a tasty cover? Quilts are pretty intimidating to me, but it sure seems like something every crafter should try at least once, right? Have you used this book/made any of Denyse's quilts?

So that's where I'm at today. Brain everywhere. Trying to clean up my mess and ponder future fall projects. Hopefully I will have an update on The Bag before long...

Be well!

tea time

I fell in love with this teapot's pattern as soon as I saw it. {Plates and mugs are also available at Cost Plus World Market.} My friend Shannon kindly gave this to me for my birthday!

I think I like it so much because it reminds me of vintage fabric--warm and worn, but with a twist of modernity.

Here's a Thank You card I made yesterday...

Although now I'm wondering why I didn't pull in the browns and blues from the pot itself! I guess I was just feelin' the butter yellow theme. I am very much into my flourish stamp these days, and was glad to use it in a different way for this card. Tea anyone?

Be well!

happy birthmonth!

The interesting thing about birthdays is that they are rarely celebrated on the actual day of birth. Especially if it's on a week day, as mine was this past Tuesday. Does this happen to you too?

From cards arriving in the mailbox to meeting up with dear friends who live far away, the birthday celebration kind of rolls along, making it more of a birthday month. And who doesn't like that?

A couple of fantastic cards from the dear friends:

This one is from my friend Tess. Those little flags are snipped pieces of paper, with her doodles on it! What a wonderful and celebratory way to use scraps. The handwriting is also her own...

I see a future rub-on creator in the making... :)

This one is from my best friend Leanne, who never fails to create a cheerful card:

I love that cupcake stamp, the colors, the paper, everything--read more about how she made this card on her blog.

Even my pumpkin recognizes it's my birthday month. It must! Look at how much it's grown...!

"from little acorns, mighty oaks grow..."

Our soon-to-be little acorn:

Raul and I are excited to pick up our new addition at the end of July! He is still too young to come home (4 weeks), but we are preparing anxiously for his arrival. And throwing around names like crazy.

See you soon, little one!

basil-me-mucho

Happy July! Summer at its best is on its way... And with it, bringing enough sunshine to ripen my plants. Patience, patience.

{Two of my tomato plants--these will yield cherry tomatoes.}

{Pumpkin, yellow squash, and zucchini, now with some girth!}

I have never grown Basil before, but I am having a hoot with it this year! Look at this bunch I clipped this morning:

The cool thing about basil is that if you prune it every few weeks, it will grow back bushier and stronger, giving you even MORE leaves to cook with. {This is the second time this year I've pruned; I chopped up that batch and stuck it in the freezer in a baggie with some olive oil for future pesto.} Just trim the leaves/stalks down to the first few pairs of leaves at the bottom to prune. It will look sad, but not for long.

One of my favorite things to do with herbs, especially dill, is to make Herb Butter. I've never tried it with basil, but I think I have no excuses now!

PESTO BUTTER - Good on beef, veal, chicken, or your favorite bread.

1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon corasely ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened, with wooden spoon until creamy. Beat in flavor ingredients; blend well. Transfer flavored butter to waxed paper and shape into log about 6 inches long. Wrap, twisting ends of waxed paper to seal. Let set in the fridge for a day; then enjoy!