Look Ma! No Ink!

Warning: No ink was used on this card!

(lol)

For real though, I have this set of "die cuts" that I got from Michael's Craft Store a while back which included the big flower in the back, the "yeah yeah wow" and the "thinking of you" card. And of course, you can't forget the Martha Stewart doily: one of my most recent crafting staples. Team this up with some butterfly die cuts and some bling and you're good to go! No ink necessary!

So anyway, sorry if the picture is small, but this was taken on my phone at my office! How could I have forgotten to take pictures of my card?! Ooops :/

Please leave a link to your website! I love inspiration and seeing how others layer their cards/layouts!!

Hope you enjoy!

recipe

paper: papertrey ink pti - terracotta tile & stamping up su - dusty durango

ink: NONE!

die cuts: misc from michaels; sizzix big butterflies; martha stewart doily tags

bling: kaiser and misc from michaels

Wedding Wishes - Lattice

Hi Friends!

WOW! My twitter feed said it has been 54 days since I posted. So, I am asking your forgiveness in telling you that I will be posting a card once per week this entire week! (Hopefully you haven't forgotten all about me and that you still care about my cards!)

So, without further adieu...

I've been really wanting to get into my craft room for a while...I've been avoiding it because it's such a disaster area in there! Seriously, what a mess!

I finally tidied everything up in there the other week and made some (what I think) super cute cards!

This one I did most recently for a friend at my work. One of her husband's family members is getting married and I think I put her in shock when I blurted out "I'll make you a wedding card!!" lol. I was desperate to create something fabulous :D

So, the pressure was on at that point...I never like to disappoint my friends with anything I make, especially when they are giving it to someone else! EEK! I'm really pleased with how this came out though....and don't you just LOVE the lattice die cut? Ya. Me too :)

I'm also a big fan of this color combo. And I forgot how much I love embossing (I impressed myself because as much as I love embossing...I suck at it. But I was determined to make it absolutely perfect.)

I hope you enjoy this post and all the posts this week! Thank you again for coming back to see my after so long :) I truly appreciate each and every one of you!!

recipe

paper: papertrey ink pti - smokey shadow; random yellow shimmer paper from michael's

ink: versamark

die cut: sizzix lattice die cut & big butterflies; sizzlits lots of tags - stampin up su

embossing: silver

misc: kaiser craft bling; tulle from local craft store

Get Your Heart On!

You're Absolutely Fabulous...No Seriously, You Are!

Hello Fabulous!

Quick and easy post for a quick and easy card...

...you can really make it for an occasion.

Or any color combination (you know me and my Hawaiian Shores. LOVE.)

(isn't the inside of the card cute, too!?!)

Create [Something] Fabulous Today!

recipe:

paper: papertrey (pti) in hawaiian shores and rustic cream

ink: papertrey (pti) in hawaiian shores and smokey shadow

stamps: stampin up (su) aviary and absolutely fabulous

die cut: sizzix lots of tags

misc: bling; stampin up (su) 3-dimensionals

I Found It!!

YYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!!

Katy Perry's Black Shatter nail polish by OPI

SOLD OUT in both Ulta's in my city and everywhere online was selling it for $20+ (ridiculous and worth every penny).

However, after over an hour of searching online, I finally found it for the normal retail price of $8.50 here. HA. Take that Amazon.

...the only crappy thing is having to wait 5-7 business days to receive it

...why haven't we invented a way to mix online shopping and instant gratification??!

I'm mixing mine with this awesome shade: The One That Got Away

(also in the Katy Perry OPI line)

I know it's weird...but I've seriously been thinking about this nail polish for days.

And soon I will have it! Be sure to check out the link below!

Black Shatter how-to here

Hope you love it as much as I do!!

Pearl Earrings

Now that I have your attention..

Go Here: Diary of a Jeweler

To win these:

Aren't they pretty?! Seriously though...this is a good friend of mine's new blog. He's extremely knowledgeable and is a GIA certified gemologist. Big Time. His goal for this blog is to inform and to give confidence to a younger subset of customers who would otherwise be intimidated walking into a jewelry store.

Blog him, facebook him, tweet him - get the word out...and get a chance to win these awesome pearl earrings :)

Here's the website again: www.amirchokr.com

amazing photography by my other good friend, Naomi Chokr (his wife)...a fabulous duo they are

www.naomichokr.com

**by the way blog friends, sorry I've been absent! Happy New Year lol

I'll be back soon :*

Recipe: Corn and Crab Chowder

OMG 2 posts in one day?

I just had to post this recipe immediately

...because it was so freaking good and everyone needs to try it!

Hubby and I were watching Rachael Ray yesterday (it was the only thing on in the afternoon) and she was making this Corn and Crab Chowder which my husband was drooling over.

So today I decided to make it for him, and DAMN it was delicious. I guess Rachael Ray knows what she's doing ;)

For the original recipe, go here. For my slightly altered recipe, see below!

(I noted my additions/alterations with an *asterisk)

Oh, and this isn't a low-fat meal...it calls for whole milk :)

Enjoy!!

1 tablespoon *extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 potatoes, peeled and diced

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

*2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced

*2 bay leaves, *dried

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning blend, found near seafood department, or on spice aisle at the grocery store

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups *chicken broth

1 quart whole milk

3 cups corn kernels, scraped fresh from the cob (*you'll need 5-6 cobs. I only had four and had to add some frozen)

8 ounces cooked lump crab meat – fresh is available in plastic tubs at many fish counters (*make sure to feel through it to make sure there aren't any bits of shell)

Heat a deep pot over moderate heat. Add vegetable oil or EVOO, about one turn of the pan, and butter (*what the hell is "about one turn of the pan? I have to clue either...I just let the butter completely melt before moving on to the next step).

As you chop your veggies, add them to the pot: potatoes, celery, onion and red bell pepper (*and garlic). Then add the bay leaf. Season vegetables with salt and pepper and Old Bay seasoning.
Sauté veggies five minutes, then sprinkle in flour. Cook with flour for two minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and combine. Stir in milk and combine. Bring soup up to a bubble. Add corn and crab meat and simmer soup, about five minutes.

Adjust the soup seasonings and remove the bay leaf (*I added a mix of thyme, oregano and a few other spices I had in the kitchen...along with a bit more Old Bay and s&p).

*I served it with some buttered French bread. I also saw Rachael add a puffed pastry to the top of hers which looked really nice, but I couldn't find any in the store)

To finish off the night, my husband made us some Peppermint Hot Chocolate :)

Have a delightful night!!