Wild About Stamping - A new Magnolia-licious sketch challenge for September

Can you believe it's already September??? Where in the world is the time going? Each year just goes by faster and faster. *sigh* I'm always happy to see fall arrive though. I love the beautiful colors and the crispness in the air. It just gives me an awesome feeling. Not sure why, but I love it! Well, with the arrival of September, comes a new sketch challenge for Magnolia-licious. This month, it's Diana's turn. And she actually chose a project for us instead of using a sketch. And what a fun and awesome project it is, too!

It's a Scor-Pal project for an accordian file. You could use this for a multitude of things! Diana suggested stamped images, which I thought was perfect. Thus, the theme of my project was born. This accordian file went together pretty easily too! I will be the first to tell you that I normally have to do these types of things twice cause I always mess it up my first try. I got this one on the very first try! WOOHOO!!! The directions are available here.

For mine, I used three different Magnolia stamps. The lion from the Pet and Animal collection, the sign from the Chasing Butterflies Collection, and the tag. They're all colored with my Copic markers. The oval behind the lion was cut with my Nesties and then lightly airbrushed with my Copics, just to take the sharp edge off the bright white. I just hand drew the grass line with my Copic multi-liner pen. I can't find the sign in stock right now at Magnolia-licious. But if you're interested, please just send Diana an email.

So whatcha think? Would you like to win this accordian folder with a few little treats inside? If you would, just leave me a comment on this post by midnight Monday, Sept 7th. I will draw a winner Tuesday evening via Random.org. Watch the Magnolia-licious Highlites blog this coming Friday for more information about this amazing accordian file.

Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and I hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!!!

Spring Has Sprung...

It's the first day of Spring here in Australia and it's my Wedding Anniversary so here are some florals on florals on florals from an old Vogue Living article to celebrate...

Etsy Contest :: A Handmade Moment :: Last Day!

Make sure to watch our cutsy and modest little video for the Etsy Handmade Moment contest. Last day is today! Thank you to everyone who has already watched it!!!!

Easy Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Rice Bake

Easy family comfort food- chicken and rice bake with spinach.

Looking for weeknight supper ideas for the (can you believe it's that time of year again?) back-to-school frenzy? This super simple toss-together recipe is budget-friendly and versatile. If you don't have chicken on hand try using pieces of cooked turkey or your favorite sausage. Vegetarian? Use a can of white or black beans instead. The Mediterranean and Santa Fe- thanks to the fresh and unexpected spike from tomatillos- flavors in this fabulous recipe cozy up to a parade of proteins.

A family favorite from the archives, this is easy comfort food to bake and savor before the fall begins its alchemy, spinning green into gold.

Read >>

Bitten By The Bug new challenge and blog hop with candy!

Hi everyone! Sure hope you had a wonderful weekend! They never last long enough for me, how about you?? Well, at least we're adding some fun to your Monday blues by having a blog hop for Bitten By The Bug today! YAY! That means that not only do you get to feast your eyes on all the new projects of the talented BBTB designers, you also get a bunch of chances to win some yummy blog candy! YAY!!! The new challenge this week was to use the ribbon cut from the Paper Pups cartridge. I don't know if it's because it's fair time, or what. But all I could think of was putting it on an animal. LOL! This cow from Paper Dolls Dress Up is one of my very favorite Cricut cuts, and I haven't used it yet this year. So I decided to combine the two of them since this cow is defintely cute enough to win first place in a contest! I put it together with the tree and grass cuts from ZooBalloo with my Design Software.

So now onto the blog candy. Leave me a comment on this post by midnight Friday night, and I'll pick one winner via Random.org Up for grabs is a fun package of Rob and Bob Studio 3d stickers, some beautiful Basic Grey rubons, some pretty clear tags, and a Cuttlebug cut and emboss set, Treetops.

Ok, if you got here via the amazingly talented Kazan, then you're on the right track! After you leave your comment here, then continue on to see the fabulous work by Michele Kovak. Michele is the last stop on the blog hop, and I promise you're in for a wonderful treat! Be sure to take some time to look at all of Michele's wonderful work. Thanks so much for joining in on our blog hop today, and hope to see you back again soon! Don't forget to check back on Saturday to see if you won! HUGS!

Bitten by the Bug Blog Hoppin' Monday (with CANDY!)

Welcome blog hoppers, to Busy with the Cricky. You probably arrived here from the blog of the fabulous Penny.

Today's BBTB challenge cut is the ribbon from Paper Pups. I combined the idea of a winner's ribbon with our sweet Pomeranian, Duncan, and my dh's approaching birthday. Duncan adores my husband so I know he will want to participate in the birthday festivities.

Duncan's card is bone shaped with the blue ribbon attached. I ran the dog collar through the spellbinder wizard to emboss a pattern. I then attached Duncan's faux tag. I used MS PowerPoint to create the birthday tag featuring the phrase, "Best Dad a dog can own". I also created Duncan's faux name tag in PowerPoint.

Inside the card I used a Stampin' Up birthday cake stamp and Happy Birthday stamp as well as a hand drawn puppy paw.

While you are here be sure to leave a comment to be registered to win today's blog candy. I will be drawing a name on Thursday. Also, be sure to view the previous blog post and guess at the number of times my cut files have been downloaded and a chance to win a small blog candy.

I know you must now move on to see what awaits you at the amazing Carole's blog. Thanks for stopping by today.

A Pretty House

I think this house is so pretty and charming. The all-white background is divine and I love the little hints of blue and pink and red and green.

All images via skona hem

Displaying Collections

I often talk about collections and how to display them. Here a few images to inspire...

All images via skona hem

Bright & Colourful

I love these two bright and colourful vignettes....perfect inspiration for Spring!

Top image from British Homes & Gardens and bottom image from Notebook magazine.

Also, I would like to send a huge thanks to Vera Klein for her mention of Absolutely Beautiful Things in this month's Notebook Magazine!! xx Anna

It Has Potential

This little old fisherman's cottage {bottom image} is one I've often admired on my morning walks over at Straddie. I think this house has so much potential and when you look at the top image you might possibly agree with me?!

Image 1 - elle decor

Flavor of the Month. . . .Move over Lemon Squares

....There's a New Bar in Town!

Flavor-of-the-Month: Lemon-Lime Edition

If you love lemon squares, you'll flip over these Key Lime Bars! Tangy and sweet with a coconut crust....I could honestly eat the entire 9 x 13" pan in just one sitting.

The recipe comes from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion.

Key Lime Bars
(tweaked from the King Arthur Cookie Companion)

2/3 c brown sugar
1 & 3/4 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
3 c sweetened coconut
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 c unsalted butter (1 stick)
-------------------
cream cheese (8 ounces)
1 & 3/4 c sugar
pinch coarse salt
3 TBSP all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1/2 c fresh squeezed key lime juice

Preheat oven to 300. Toast the coconut on a parchment lined baking sheet for 8-10 minutes. Set aside.

Raise oven temp to 350. Lightly grease a 9 x 13" pan.

Combine the brown sugar through unsalted butter. Mix until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture; press remaining crust into the prepared pan. Bake 16-18 minutes; until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

Beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the sugar and salt and mix until well blended. Stir in the flour and then beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, beating well after each addition. Stir in the lime juice (room temperature makes for easy squeezing) and a drop of green food coloring (optional); mix until smooth. Pour onto crust.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the 1 cup reserved crumbs. Bake 10 minutes more until set on the sides and still slightly wobbly in the center. Remove from oven and let cool 1 hour. Move to refrigerator and chill.

Cut using a handy-dandy bench scraper, pressing straight down to cut all the way through the crust.


Flavor of the Month theme for September....a tribute to John Hughes. I was a teenager in the 80's. No one captured that era better that John Hughes. I think I watched 16 Candles at least 50 times during high school. Did you hear that John Hughes died in August? I think we need to honor his genius with a baking tribute.

Here are just some of the movies he wrote...

• 16 Candles {oh, Jake Ryan!}
  
• Pretty in Pink {James Spader, evil, but gorgeous!}
  
• The Breakfast Club
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Mr. Mom {LOVE Michael Keaton watching Young & the Restless}
  
• Vacation
• Weird Science
• and more! Go here for more inspiration...

I'm thinking Pretty in Pink Cupcakes, or my sister's suggestion...a Breakfast Club Sandwich. :) If you haven't seen any of these movies, click on over to your Netflix and add them to your list!

Alright...I can't wait to see your lemon-lime creations! Link away! And thanks for participating! (Linky will close early on September 1st to avoid spammers.)

Visit last month's theme: pie!

FoodBuzz 24, 24, 24: 45 Years, 45 Beers!

{FoodBuzz 24, 24,24 is a blogging event hosted by FoodBuzz. One night per month, 24 bloggers host 24 meals in the same 24 hours...I'm very excited to be a part of this month's event!}

My husband's birthday was yesterday...the big 4-5. We had a few friends over to celebrate what we called "45 Years, 45 Beers."

We had 45 different beers, to share of course, and snacks and sweets. This IS Bake at 350, so let's start with the desserts, shall we? :)

{Cake Truffles & Cookies}

These were the red velvet cake truffles...I'm not sure I can have a party without cake truffles now. Click here for instructions on making them.

Cookies...I made bite-size ones so they were a little more cocktail friendly. Scroll down for decorating how-to's.


Then, the cupcakes...I used Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. (I bought this book last week and am IN LOVE with it.) The yellow buttermilk cupcakes were frosted half with chocolate fudge and half with creamy vanilla frosting. {I'm going to do a whole cupcake post on these next week...YUM!}

How do you like those beer and gun toppers? Very manly, I thought! {From the cuteness that is the Layer Cake Shop!}

Alright...the snacks...

{Beaumont Dip and Herbed Goat Cheese Balls, Tortilla Roll-ups}

Tortilla Roll-ups: I don't think you can have a party in Texas without these. Cream cheese, jalapenos, salsa, lime juice....I love these. You can make them ahead and the recipe makes a lot.

Beaumont Dip: This is a recipe my parents picked up in Beaumont (duh!), Texas. Easy, easy...and "always a hit." (Meg...that's for you.) Serve with tortilla chips.

Last, but not least, Giada's Herbed Goat Cheese. Goat cheese rolled in herbs and lemon zest. I tried not to eat them all...good thing the cake truffles distracted me.


Blueberry Sangria...mmmmm. For the non-beer drinkers. :)


Want to see all of that beer?


Yes, I bought 45 different singles! It was really fun to see them all together.

We have some seven left over....come on by!

The recipes!

Tortilla Roll-Ups

3 (8 ounce) pkg cream cheese
1 pint sour cream
2 TBSP salsa
10 green onion tops, chopped
juice of 1 lime
4 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
large flour tortillas

Combine all except the tortillas until smooth. Spread on flour tortillas and roll. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate several hours or overnight. slice and serve with salsa.


Beaumont Dip

2 small cans diced black olives
2 small cans diced green chiles
4 green onions, chopped (white & green parts)
3 tomatoes, diced
3 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients and refrigerate several hours. Serve with tortilla chips.


Blueberry Sangria, serves 15, easily halved
(adapted from 101 Sangrias & pitcher drinks)

2 c water
2 c sugar
3 c blueberries
2 bottles red wine (I used chianti)
2 c pomegranate cranberry juice
1/2 c brandy
1/2 c triple sec
2 oranges, halved and thinly sliced

Combine the water and sugar over low heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved to make a simple syrup. Let cool.

Combine 1 & 1/2 c simple syrup and the blueberries over low heat. Sit constantly until the berries begin to change color and the syrup thickens. Combine remaining ingredients in a large container. Add the blueberry mixture and stir well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve over ice.


For making the cookies:

• Pipe the edge of a mini circle in brown royal icing using a #2 tip (AmeriColor Chocolate Brown).
• Thin red and yellow icing with water until the consistency of a thick syrup. Cover with a damp towel and let sit several minutes (AmeriColor Super Red and Egg Yellow) .
• Stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop any air bubbles that have formed on the top. Transfer to squeeze bottles.
• Fill several cookies with red icing, using a toothpick to guide to edges.
  
• Go back over the wet red icing and drop on the thinned yellow icing to make dots.
• Let sit 1 hour.
• Using the brown icing and #2 tip, pipe on the number.
• Let dry overnight before packaging.
  

Thank you FoodBuzz....we had such a good time being a part of 24, 24, 24!!!

Next week...I'll show you more on the cupcakes and pre-party mishaps!