Aloha!

AHHH!!! Computer issues... and my "geek squad" (my son) is out of commission for the summer (boo) ... so I have to mustard through and try it all myself... I have been trying trying to post since Friday!  

OK so here I finally have  it.. quick fun little card -- I made a handful of because they are fun, bright and simple -- for everyone!!! 

 

I added rhinestones in the flower center since the colored brads I had just weren't doing it! Aloha is from a clear stamp that was hiding out below some other school supplies that I was tossing out! Sometimes cleaning out is a good thing! 

 

Fun colors from Playdate Cafe

  

Awesome sketch from CAS(e) 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day! Hug the ones you love! 

ALOHA

April Showers bring May Flowers

Its been a really rainy start to May, so I am not sure how the flowers will really "bloom" but with the Build a Blossom punch, you can have flowers bloom all year long! It took me a while before I knew I HAD TO HAVE this punch... you know, I am the one that looks and looks and then figures out all the angles I can use this punch for -  besides its recommended use... though I am still working on that angle, I will say, it got my attention and made it to the order list NOT TOO LONG AGO!.

Here is todays card:

I used the Island Floral Big Shot die for the center flower (in Daffodil with the Chocolate button attached) and the two pieces behind the punched flowers.

 It been a busy few weeks, for me at my FT job. We were audited, which means work ahead of time and then during and of course after. So my craft room was cleaned up and nearly had nothing hanging out for me to show.. but I did manage some cards, like this, for mothers days inspiration.

If I do not get the chance to wish the mothers out there a HAPPY GLORIOUS DAY, on Sunday, at least I can feel like I made cards that expressed such a sentiment!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hug the ones you love!

Have a great day!

Day 8... Crunchy Fudge Cookie Tin

 I am a brownie lover... truly I am.. there is probably a 12 step program for me ... but I love brownies.. they do not have to even be BROWN for me to eat them.. I love BLONDIES... CONGO BARS ... since truly I think they are all the same type food  BUT I COULD BE WRONG.... so when I have the opportunity to make something that even resembles brownies... I go "hog wild"...

Its the love of chocolate... I really believe that.. or I am just totally convinced of it in the meantime!  You can put nuts in them. I will eat them. You can add dried fruit, figs, and I will still eat them. Add a little marshmallow and though I am not a fan, I will eat them.. HONESTLY!!!!

I found this recipe which I believe I keep around to drive the teens and my fiancee crazy since its 1/2 healthy and 1/2 my love of brownies!  They are called Crunchy Fudge Cookies... we are great friends!!   {{recipe incluced - see below if you are dying to just bake up a batch! }}

I made a batch {{which actually made more than the 24 cookies it claims}} - filled two  tins with 6  cookies. 

I love the look of the belly band - and the flower..



Cookies just look like they are in heaven here....



 I used some ribbon behind the flower to dress it up a bit, added the tag, which is fitting for the occasion, since I wouldn't want to share them either... now I have proof I wouldn't have to.. I might use this as a my tag on all the goodies I do not want to use... so I do no have to! LOL!!!

EDITED TO ADD: Nugget tins can house 12 chocolate nuggets; I believe I purchased my tins through Specialty Bottle - HERE, since they are bookmarked on my computer. I have had these tins for a while now.

Last but not least... is the yummy recipe... that now that I have you this far, I can tell ya.. This recipe is gluten free... but that doesn't matter - you can always change it up if you wanna... but now you are shocked... I heard the "UGH?! REALLY? HOW COULD SHE?..." Yes I heard it. Hey, a gal has to to watch her waistline when she is addicted to this sort of eats.

Crunchy Fudge Cookies -- Gluten Free 

 Cookie Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker - Gluten Free Bownie Mix  

3 cups Cinnamon Chex - Gluten Free

1/3 cup water

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 Tsp Vanilla extract

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Glaze:

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

1/8 -1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

3 Tsp milk

Heat oven to 350° F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.

In large bowl, mix cookie ingredients with spoon until blended. Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.


Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set.  In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cinnamon. Stir in milk until smooth. If necessary, add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze reaches drizzling consistency.

Cool cookies for 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool 10 minutes before glazing. Drizzle cookies with glaze.

** There are quite a few different ways to make these. Of course, this one is from Betty Crocker - you can view here. I have made and usually make this one  HERE from Fiber One, which again I do use the Gluten free mix. 

THE BEST OF THE WHOLE DANG THING... THEY ARE 70 CALORIES... when the cookie is made BIG ENOUGH... HOORAY!!!!!!

Again. If you leave me a comment, with your name, you will be entered to win some BLOG CANDY!! Who doesn't like BLOG CANDY!!! Or FREE STUFF!!!



Thanks for stopping by!

Hug the ones you love!

Have a great yummy delicious day!

My Hero... and ...a small glimpse in my personal world...

{{ project is at bottom of post- first is just a small glimpse about me & my hero}}

I am 34. I have recently figured out that I am a foodie. I am a single mother of two teenagers (13 year old girl, 15 year old boy), their father passed away in 2002, car accident. We were never married.  I read a lot. Its my escape so I do not read much that makes you think..{wink wink}. 

Though my first name is CheraLynn, I prefer Chera, since not many people get that right either! {{smiles, laughs}}. I laugh - a lot... mainly at myself. ... sometimes at my children. 

I work full time outside the house and am the Executive Assistant for the Corporate Vice President Compensation & Benefits. One of my favorites duties is assisting in the processes of International Mobility (expats). I used to work in Intellectual Property (patents) for this same company. This job is where I met my fiancee.

His name is John, but since hes a 1SG, I have almost been trained to call him Yank (short version of his last name). Of course, this gets his attention more than his first name, unless you throw in the middle name, then he thinks he is in trouble. He has been in the National Guard for 23 years. He holds a civilian job- in which has gone from the manufacturing floor to the corporate world in about 14 years.

At the workplace, we met when he moved to the location in which I work - and had to pass my office to get the coffee room - this sparked morning hellos and eventually dinner after work - that ladies and gentlemen was just over 5 years ago. I have high hopes that 2011 has something like wedding bells in store for me... {{fingers crossed}}

Yank is my hero. He is my 'first and my last'.. the first person I want to tell something to and the last person I want to see at night.


Ok now on to the project:

Homemade paper Flower & Rhinestones

A few years ago, I attended a class where we made paper... put inkers on the paper, blew threw straws, used wet naps, you name it I think we used it! Once the paper dried- we stamped images on it, with Stazon ink. I filed this paper in a box and recently when I was cleaning up my goodies from Christmas FOUND IT! I used it to classy up this frame of Yank and I.   I used the Island Floral BIgz Die from SU! to make the flower in which I did scrunch up. I tied the petals together with chocolate ribbon, and knotted it then put a rhinestone on the top (some of this shows).

 Due to the fact that I didn't have instructions on making the designed paper, I cannot give you more instruction than I did - my apologies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hug and kiss the ones you love!

Glitzy Petals

I will admit, I am one of those people that doesn't ever pack until the last very minute, and then hope all the clothes that I want are clean and ready. This hasn't changed since I was a teenager... I recall the noises coming from the other side of the door when I was living at home, and its almost vacation time.



I usually remember everything.



I think as I get older I have some OCD that kicks in and then I pack, unpack, and repack... so in preparation for my weekend with my fiancee, I sat in the craft cave and got cards and boxes made for birthdays I have coming up - while the washer and dryer were in full force in the basement. HECK its Thursday, I do not leave until the butt crack of dawn tomorrow morning, what the hurry?



I have a lot of colors that I haven't broke the seal on the ink pads, {gasp} which just itches to be done, so I wanted to use them. The Color Throwdown again did it for me.. their challenge uses Pixiepetals from Etsy


Here is my take:





I had to use the glitter brads in the center of the flowers. It gave them some WOW that I thought they needed.

The flowers are from the Island Die for the Big Shot, as well as the leaves. I crumbled the spritzed CS once they were cut, waited for them to dry and then attached the brad. It was simple to put together. I used the Soft Suede textured CS for the base, giving me the clean look I wanted.

Ingredients: Stamp: Upsy Daisy; Ink: Red Riding Hood; CS: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Red riding Hood, Soft Suede; Others: Big Shot- Island die, Glitter brads

Thanks for stopping by!

Now I am off to get some things put together -

let the clothing decisions be made! .. and maybe even

PACKED!!