Time to vote!

Your vote counts!  It's free, it will only take 3 mintues of your time.  Canadian Scrapbooker is having a Sketchy Challenge using a Canadian manufactuer, and I've entered a layout. 

Here is a link to my layout - simply click on the link and leave a comment - it's that easy :o)

Thank you!

Polar Bear - Harmonie - layout

On the Canadian Scrapbooker website right now they have a sketch challenge to use a Canadian manufacturer on the sketch layout... oh right up my alley! I love a challenge, and I love supporting our Canadian companies too.
I chose to use Harmonie out of Laval Quebec.  I used their winter line called La Banquise, including one of their chipboard cut outs! 

I first glimmer misted it with chalkboard glimmer in "Concord" then added Ice Stickles to it.  I coloured the seam binding bows with the Copic air brush system.

I have no idea why my daughter loves winter so much, she must be CRAZY!

The journaling reads:

"Why on earth would you choose Winter as your favorite season?  It's cold, it's heavy, it's wet, it's time consuming, and it's COLD! You start asking for the snow in September, as soon as the leaves start to turn colour and the air gets crisp.  It must have something to do with you being  born in March - you are a true Winter lover Vanessa, my little Polar Bear! January 29 2011"

Check out all the entries - vote for me!

Copic - Working with Limited Colours - contest

On the Copic Marker web page they offer up a contest monthly.  This month they challenged everyone to use only 6 markers to colour an image (their selection)  This is the first time that I have taken part in anything like this.  I'm taking the Copic Certification course September 18th, and I'm sure I will learn tones of techniques and tips and tricks.  I'm really looking forward to it.

None the less, here is my take on the challenge.

"Building a Birdy House" Birdhouse kit from Ezee Pzee

OK, my disclaimer first - I have a two year old and a three year old, and they are in *love* with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - and I'm in *love* with the way Goofy sings "I'm building a birdy houusssee" with his warbley voice ... forgive me, it really is funny in my house :o)

Anyway ... I picked up a birdhouse kit from Ezee Pzee, and I believe the only retailer in Ontario currently for Ezee Pzee is still Loonie4Scrapbooking. I Loved this little birdhouse kit from the moment I saw it in, I believe it was Canadian Scrapbooker - Spring 2011issue. 

I used the Bo Bunny Gabrielle collection, papers and trim,  and an assortment of Prima flowers.  The little bird came with the kit too, I added some Paper Clay to him to give him some dimension; thanks for the tip on that Louise Williams.  I coloured the bird with my Copics and added a bling for his eye.

Let me know what you think!

recipe time!

Why not ... it's still creative.  Tis the season to be canning ... and I love to share a good recipe when I get one.  So here are five!!  Three are my personal own recipes, tried and true!

Enjoy and let me know how your preserves turn out!

Pickled Beets


2C Vinegar
2C Sugar
2C Water
1t whole cloves
1t allspice
1t cinnamon
1 thinly sliced lemon


Cook small young beets. Cool and peel (I recommend boil them one evening, drain them, then peel them the next day, it makes it super easy) Mix all ingredients except beets, and bring to boil. Add beets and bring back to boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Pack in sterilized jars and seal.


If you double this recipe it uses 3lbs of beets uncooked - makes 6 jars of 500ml each.


Red Bell Pepper Jelly (sweet)


2lbs firm red bell peppers
2C white wine vinegar
1t sea salt
2 small red chilies
10C white granulated sugar (I told you it was sweet)
6t powdered citrus pectin


Halve and seed the bell peppers. Cut them into small pieces and finely chop them in a food processor or blender. Place in a non reactive pan and add the remaining ingredients (seeding and chopping the chilies), except for the powdered pectin. Put the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour.


Add the powdered pectin, increase the heat, and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Skim the surface to remove any scum. Remove the pan from the heat, ladle the jelly into warmed sterilized jars, seal. It will be ready to eat after 2 weeks.


Makes about 10 cups.


I recommend to use a jelly netting or cheese cloth to remove any of the larger particles as this makes a very nice jelly if it doesn't have pulp in it.


Red Pepper Jelly (this is my personal recipe)


12 slender sweet red Peppers
2 C red wine vinegar
4 jalapeno peppers
6C sugar
1/4 t salt
2 packs knox gelatin


Use same process as above recipe - made 5 1/2 jars of 250ml




Jalapeno Pepper Jelly (again my personal recipe)


14 Green Peppers
17 Jalapeno Peppers
1C water
5lbs (2KG) sugar
4C apple cider vinegar
3 packages knox gelatin
1pk certo liquid
1t chilis crushed


Use same process as above - again I recommend to strain the jelly - pulp bad :o)


This recipe made 14 1/2 jars 250ml




Home Made Ketchup


15 ripe plum tomatoes
1/2 C apple cider vinegar
2T brown sugar
Garlic powder
dehydrated onion flakes
cinnamon (just a pinch)
celery salt
salt
cayenne pepper
black pepper


four hour cook time - use a food processor or hand blender to pure all ingredients. This doesn't make very much ketchup but it sure is good, and the kids will LoVE it <3

Prize winning entries into Newington Fair

I entered a few layouts and cards into our County Fair, five entries to be exact - and every entry placed!  This was the first year I've exhibited in the fair.  I think this was a good debut if I do say so myself. 

The first category was "Enjoying the 2010 county fair" so I did a photo of my daughter standing next to the sign that dictates if you are tall enough to ride on the ride.  She is a shorty, and well, she never did get to go on any rides that year.  I took the idea for the title from a Beatles tune "Ticket To Ride"

Journaling reads:

You are not quite tall enough to ride the rides yet at the Newington Fair.  Maybe next year you will get your "Ticket To Ride"  Vanessa Sept 2010

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Cappella), Echo Park (Sweet Summertime - yellow polka dot), Little Yellow Bicycle (measuring tape), Echo Park (Walk In The Park - letters), Bazzil Basics - cardstock
Embelishments: Girls Paperie (brads), Basic Grey - Opaline (bling), Prima (rub-on & flowers) Dollar Store (flowers and doily), seam binding ribbon, October Afternoon (twine)
Machine stiching and typewriter.


The Second layout I'm calling School Days. The category for this exhibit was photos earlier than 1960. This is a photo of my late father, taken around 1956.  

Journaling reads:

Dad, I know you weren't very scholarly. But you were one of the wisest men I have ever known.  You use to know the answer to every question we asked as kids, and when you didn't know the answer you would make something so farfetched up that we had no choice but to laugh!  I miss your wisecracks, your smart ass remarks and your tough lessons that you taught me.  Life isn't the same without you here.  Frederick Paul Rice Sept 19 1948 - Nov 23 2008, photo taken 1956

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: background paper - unknown, Bazzil Basics - cardstock, Bo Bunny - Timepiece collection (subtitles and watches)
Embellishments: 7Gypsies - key, Ranger -Ultra Thick embossing powder, twine
Other: Cricut, and old typewriter font for journaling
The other layouts you should recognize from previous posts Avonmore Berry Farm, and Baby's First Halloween. I've added links to the previous posts so you can see close up's of those two layouts.

 

Page Maps September - Auntie Em's

Wow, is September really here? Summer is starting to fade away, I've noticed the outer leaves on trees turning their autumn hues already.


But what September does bring with it, is the Copic registration class. I will be attending the first Copic course on September 18th. This will allow me to teach Copic techniques. I'm very much looking forward to this opportunity. I've had so much fun with the Copic Markers, and find myself adventuring out of my box too, blending colours, adding more texture and the like.

So, without further adieu, September also brings another PageMaps reveal. Mellisa and I received some Bo Bunny new Double Dot, and some more of Emma's favourite Stella & Rose from My Minds Eye. She also provided some flower pins and crocheted flowers.

I must say, this 3 photo layout was alot easier to do, since I knew I wanted to do a layout of my son's first haircut ... boy did he need it, what a shaggy mop top he had going on before that hair cut. This weekend he is going to have his 3rd haircut. Time really flies, soon I won't be measuring time by the number of haircuts my kids have had, but the number of baby teeth that have fallen out, then by the number of A's they got on their report card, followed by the number of sleepless nights I've had worrying about them being out too late ... and life goes on like that.

Supplies:

Patterned Paper = My Minds Eye (background), Bo Bunny (brown), Basic Grey (orange), Graphic 45 (blue)

Embelishments = Prima (flowers), Petaloo (crochet flowers) stick pins (I believe they are Little Yellow Bicycle)

Journaling = Journaling card by MME, rubons Karen Foster

Other: Ranger Distress Ink, twine, Glimmer Mist, brads (Basic Grey, Stampin Up, dollar store)