Cookie Decorating and me

 When I was at AFCI in Phoenix in January I got a few sample products to try. Manufacturers like bloggers to try their products and post our results on our blogs and social media accounts. Of course, they are hoping we had success and have favorable things to say.

One of the products I got was fondant from Satin Ice. Another item was edible glitter Disco Dust. I like how my project turned out and can recommend the products.

Satin Ice Fondant tastes sweet and does not have that intense flavor that many folks dislike about fondant.

I used a recipe from Joy of Cooking for iced sugar cookies. It's a little less sweet than a cookie recipe to be used without decorative toppings.

My little grandson, DC, enjoyed his space treats.

Learning Things: Grammar, Words, Crafts, Biomimicry

Do you use Grammarly or have you thought about a grammar checking program? I have used  Grammarly for about eighteen months and am delighted that it now works in applications like Blogger and Facebook without the need to copy and paste to check my writing. I like the weekly stats I get with the app. Grammarly lets you know your standard errors and compares your vocabulary to other users.
I love words. You may notice that I post Visual Thesaurus updates to the blog. I like that site because of the interesting stories about words, the pronunciation guide and the word maps that can help when Grammarly notes redundancy. It's especially useful when you need a carefully nuanced substitute.
I can follow up on my last blog post and report a successful paint night and an excellent white coat project. I never did finish my personal white coat project. My Wishblade failed, so I bought a new Cricut Explore Air 2, only to discover that it was challenging to use. My laptop solid state drive is full, and while I copied files to an external drive, I'm nervous about what files I can safely delete. Loading new stuff is impossible until then, So, when I have a chance I'll try to hook the machine up to my Mac and see what progress I can make in cutting my paper lace.
I do love crafting and am looking forward to today when I will spend the day in Dixon at It's All About the Scrapbook enjoying a class with friends. A chance to Cre8time. I think, May Flaum, the teacher, and a friend is a force behind my deep dive into crafts and art. My natural love of learning is a factor, too.

Speaking of learning new things, while at GreenBiz in February I was introduced to the field of biomimicry. It's very fascinating, looking to how nature solves problems and seeing if we can apply those solutions to our challenges in the design of structures, buildings, and processes. I'm taking a class right now from  Minneapolis College of Art and Design called Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology. 
It's a free on-line course which is an introduction to the master's program offered at the school.
As much as I love learning, I'm not sure I'm ready for yet another degree, though this is a field that is
very intriguing. The badge from the class is a sufficient goal for now. I think I will explore this subject more on the podcast. I'd love for you to join me at A Creative Approach Podcast and listen to all my exciting guests. (Links to an external site.)

Just 12 Days 2016

Remember my "Just 12 Days" pocket scrapping cards from 2 years ago?

Some Idea Prompts for "Just 12 Days"

Just Scrap 12 Days Design and a Little Art

This year I'm making scrapbook pages and offering the templates for your use.
I love templates and repeat the use of them, sometimes changing them up quite a bit.

Hope you find these useful in recording your "Just 12 Days". A gift for the holidays from me to you.

These are available in Dropbox at this site.

Here are some sample pages I made from these templates. You'll see that templates come alive with not only your photos, story, and title; but, the digital product, shadow styles and layer effects add a lot to the page.  Shadow styles I use on my pages are from Fiddle-Dee-Dee, Mommyish and Karla Dudley.

Supplies: cartoon image - Shutterstock Image ID:457393717, Copyright: Kazakova Maryia; washi tape - kwiniecki, eclectic ; buttons - DigitalDesignEssentials, Playful; stitching - treed, hello stitches ;  Patterned paper -  DDE, Playful; word art - blogovesta gosheva, free2beme; feather - feather6 by Stella; flower - TheDailyDigi85, HappyFresh, justbecausestudio

Supplies: Fonts - cherryla ornaments, Avenir light 65 medium, another shabby, traveling typewriter; Kit - Pixels&Co, genniferbursett,naughty christmas



Supplies: Fonts - Avenir, Traveling Typewriter; Kit - TheDailyDigi91, K Cronin-Barrow, Joie de Vivre; staple - OneLittleBird, Thrive 

Supplies: Fonts - AvenirLT65 Medium, Traveling Typewriter; Kit - OneLittleBird, Peartree

Supplies: Fonts - Avenir, Traveling Typewriter; Kit - DigitalPress, Gilded, AnitaDesigns, KarlaDudley, stitches - treed, Pixels&Co, HappyPlace, MeredithCardall

I'm working on other templates, so check back if you like these. If you do decide to use these in a mini album let me know. I'd love to see your pages. Remember, templates are not rigid or static. A few can work for very different pages for 12 days of scrapping. You can even make a mini book with just pages of one template and even one kit. 

I am trying to learn Camtasia; and, if I am successful, I'll make videos of creating these pages and more. I plan to give insights into how I scrap, use Photoshop tools and work with templates. I'll let you know.

Right now I'm waiting on my podcast. It has been submitted to iTunes and the website is built, though not yet available. I plan a Facebook page and FB group page, too. It's all very exciting. My first group of guests has been a delight to interview and I'm sure you'll enjoy their stories. I'll update on that info, too, as soon as I have the details.

How is your holiday planning? Most reading this know I'm a fan of Sun Basket. Good things to prepare and eat delivered to your door. There are also great recipes for cookies on the website. Those require shopping; no dessert ingredient deliveries, yet. They do have a party in a box for about 8 people that will make entertaining easy. Check it out. It's available to order until Dec. 22 for New Year (and for the rest of the 12 days of Christmas) delivery the week of Dec. 26.  Happy entertaining!

Here's my affiliate link to their site. 

December Birthdays, Magic and Secret Weapons

I have a birthday in December. This year was a very lovely celebration.
As a child, I did not like having a December birthday. I believe I've told this story before. Money was very tight at my house, and there was no way that my birthday would be anything special. I remember my thirteenth birthday with sadness. No party, there may have been a cake at dinner, I'm not sure. I got fifty cents and a white half slip that had so little lace on the bottom edge only that you almost needed a microscope to view. I was hurt, disappointed and angry.
When I was a little child birthdays got to be more fun because I shared them at a family party with my cousin Darrell who was celebrating his, too. The dates are only three days apart. It was affordable for my parents to share the cost. I remember those parties with fondness.
My husband is not the best of gift givers. He loves to be practical. After my childhood, I so much want to celebrate with frivolity! In some past years, I arranged my own glamorous celebration by getting tickets to the Crocker Ball. It was a way to celebrate and to support a favorite charity. However, it was more fun to bring along family members. Now, with increased ticket prices, going as a group has become too expensive. Maybe for my next "decade" birthday it might be an extravagant indulgence. Nonetheless, my husband, despite gifts of kitchen utensils and a electronics charging station, did treat me to a hot fudge sundae at Leatherby's and the next night a dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Cielito Linda.

Those were fun celebrations and more of what I enjoy about birthdays! Of course, sharing memories is great fun and the
California International Marathon is always near my birthday, too. I almost missed this shot of the front runner!

My son, Chris, had Cal and me join his family for the annual lighting of the State of California Christmas tree before dinner at Tres Hermanas, another special Mexican restaurant that my grandson enjoys. Here is a page I made to celebrate the tree lighting ceremony. I'm working on other pages to remember the evening. Creating things is a passion.

This is a lift of a page design by Lisa Truesdell. Supplies: Lynn Grieveson kit - fresh festive; Scrapaneers stitching and enamel dots; font - Traveling Typewriter; shadows - FiddleDeeDee and Mommyish; washi tape - blueflowerart - harmony, dawn inskip - autumn elements, MLE - holiday cookies, Karla Dudley - rad bundle; mesh - KAagard, freewheeling

At Get It Scrapped, we have been participating in "Your December Story" where Debbie Hodge encourages us to tell our story following "The Hero's Journey." My son, Joe, is my "secret weapon." I request, as my birthday gift, that Joe decorate my tree since he has no money. He does a beautiful job, and it's no small task - I have 500 ornaments. He helps with the rest of the decorating including the outdoor lights, too, and the undecorating; but I treat him for those efforts. With my neck problem and Cal's advanced age and health challenges, too, Joe is the secret weapon to a lot getting done around here. Folding the sheets, taking out the trash or moving it to the curb, emptying the dishwasher, hanging pictures, or just getting things organized. He's always helpful. He also helps by enjoying the treats Cal cooks and watches football with Cal, too. It takes the pressure off me and helps me keep the weight off! Joe is my "special gift," without whom, I'd not be ready for the holidays.

It's an extended birthday, too. My stepson and his family are planning a dinner out with me and Cal.
The moments with family and the memories we share are some of the best parts of birthdays and celebrations. Those gifts are the most precious of all.

I no longer take my knitting

Knitting projects and needlework canvases used to be an important part of my "carry on" luggage. Ever since sharp objects on a plane became an issue I've stopped bring handwork. Coincidently, smartphone apps have become more abundant. So, games, and when wi-fi is available, social media occupy my time. I did pull out and work on a pencil drawing over a year ago, but, that trip I had the luxury of no one next to me in my two-person row. I'm also a little too self-conscious to work on my art much of the time on a plane. However, I just purchased a new iPad Pro, and I think it may change my in-flight habits once again. I saw a preview of the photo editing app from Adobe. It's very cool. I'm going to download that soon. Photo art may replace FreeCell and Facebook as airworthy pursuits.
I did take a trip to visit family and friends on a journey ranging from Seattle to Calgary. Fiskateers was a great on-line group that Fiskars sponsored years ago. I made some good friends through that group and had a chance for a fun visit with one of those friends. Thanks, Cathy, for the opportunity to eat at The Tilikum Cafe and for introducing me to the world of aerial workouts. The facility with the trapeze classes in the main auditorium and the curtain dancing and pole dancing room was fascinating. Oh, to be 30 years younger and in perfect health! I think that would be a delightful place to work out.

Speaking of working out, I did not get enough exercise this trip and ate too much good food; just before the holidays, too! It was all worth it even if it's back to the diet again today. I had breakfasts with high school chums; when you went to a small boarding school, that's like seeing family. Family dinners at spectacular places like Seattle's Dahlia Lounge, Victoria's Cafe Brio, and Calgary's Workshop Kitchen were just replete with fellowship and fantastic food.

A Scrapbook page about dining with Elle at the Workshop Kitchen in Calgary.

Supplies- Kit - OneLittleBird, Woodridge; staple - Wishing Well Creations - Aflutter, dots - PCO, MeTime collab, PCO, BermudaTriangle, collab; stitching - WishingWellCreations, Stitched Down, page design template - Raquel Bowman at BPC ; distress edge - Vinnie Pearce, MakerII, distress papers - Kim Jensen, School Zone / Sahlin Studio, vintage worn and torn paper; fonts - Traveling Typewrite, Bohemian typewriter, shadows - Mommyish

The Royal Tyrrell dinosaur museum in Drumheller, Alberta was enchanting and expertly presented. I like the fact that you can see not only magnificent specimens; but, also, the process of finding and preparing these fossils. Since our visit was Sunday, no scientists were working; nonetheless, a big picture window in front of the lab let us view all the equipment and specimens at the workstations. I loved the educational aides, fun videos and graphic displays at the museum. Several of the displays are interactive and especially perfect for kids. The magnitude of not only the size of the specimens but also of contemplating the expanse of evolutionary time is indeed mind-boggling!

A scrapbook page I did about the museum.

Supplies: staple - Studio Wendy, Designer Resource, Template Elements, Kit - Vinnie Pearce, April 18th, sample, Watercolor; Inflight, Fonts -4990810, Traveling Typewriter, Avenue LT 65 Medium; Ribbon - Amanda Yi Designs, Limitless; twig - Ziska, Northwind; flower - Lynn Grieveson, Posey Kit

From riding on the Victoria Clipper ferry to splashing with my baby great-nephew in a kiddie pool to all the beautiful scenery, food and family and friends (the high school buddies were so fun!), it was the sort of visit that enriches the soul and broadens the mind.

While I am sad about some of the anger, hate and bad behavior in the world, a trip like this gives me a sense of all that there is for which I am thankful, including returning to a loving family at home.

Using Templates when making Scrapbook Pages

 On DSD (Digital Scrapbook Day) this year I taught a class at Get It Scrapped about using templates to design pages.
Even if you follow a sketch or design exactly, including supplies and title, one would not end up with the same page as a designer since your photos and story would be different.
However, in my pages that follow, you'll see how I used extra photos, and rotated the sketch to make four different pages from one layout. Definitely not a cookie cutter approach! I usually use a lot of different patterned papers and embellishments. This time I only used that style on one layout. My idea was to change the look by using different color schemes and sketch alterations. Template - Scrapbook Coach 21, Top Heavy, Layout 4 from GIS Template Library.
I hope you enjoy reviewing these ways to vary the look of your scrapbook page using one basic design.

This is a template variation from my challenge using Scrapbook Coach 21 Top Heavy Layout 4, in an analogous color scheme. I advise limiting colors in this scheme. While 5 can work, three is the most eye-catching. Here I've used four colors - yellow, yellow-green, green and blue-green. I eliminated one photo from the top band changing that to a slightly smaller and lower positioned journaling block and added a stock photo as a repetitive element in place of the original journaling. The title uses the template font Butterscotch regular with a Mommish glitter style in Ocean, shadow styles - Mommyish, ephemera, and string/brad, speech bubble and brad from the template with brad and ephemera recolored. Geo tag brad - Gennifer Bursett, My Happy place, Grape wreath - Kimeric Creations, Making Memories, wine bottle  and glass stamp - Stella, tag - gennifer Bursett, Now, Fonts - Avenir Medium regular and Traveling Typewriter.

This is a variation in a split complementary color scheme of yellow, orange and blue-violet. The modification I used here was my signature using a photo as an embellishment attached with a paperclip, Again I've kept a few of the templates elements in place, recoloring and texturizing the papers in Adobe PSCC, wood star clip - OneLittleBird, This Magic Moment, star - TheDailyDigi, Let's Get Messy, arrow brad - WMsquared, XOXO; styles - Mommyish, Scrapaneers Champions; fonts - Bohemian Typewriter, Avenir Oblique

This is a monochromatic layout in yellow. If you check your color wheel you'll see that olive green is a shade of yellow. I did need to recolor the green in the camera embellishment to make it dark olive. Neutrals, like black, white and gray, of course add contrast without color and I did add a low opacity wash of yellow to the ephemera in background. Many consider beige tones neutral, too. I tend to be more narrow in my definitions so I did add the light opacity wash.

Supplies: Papers - recolored and texturized in Adobe PSCC; Bow - Mommyish, I've Got A Plan; camera brad - A Sweet Caroline Amanda Yi Collab, Focus,Click, Repeat; Paper Dolls - The Daily Digi, My Life of Wonderful; Fonts - Myriad Pro, Traveling Typewriter, Bohemian Typewriter; Brade and speech bubble from the template, Scrapbook Coach Top Heavy/Layout 4 from the GIS Templates

This variation of the template challenge, that I demonstrated on DSD, is made in a variation on a triad primary color scheme where the blue is augmented by using blue-green. Brown functions as a neutral and also balances the predominance of blue hue. If using a complex color scheme it's probably best for those less experienced with color to use mainly materials from a single kit as I have done here. I altered one of the photos by making it a 2 photo collage. DDE Playful Kit by Gina Cabrera, brown sticker - justjaimee, September Storyteller 2014, tag - Sweet Shoppe, Studio Basic Designs, Adventure Begins, logo - ShePodcasts, some embellishments from the original template, styles Mommyish, fonts - Avenir Medium, Avenir Roman Italic, Lobster 1.3 regular. Template - Scrapbook Coach 21, Top Heavy, Layout 4 from GIS Template Library

Learning Book Making

 I really need to spend less time with screens and more time walking and getting other things done around here.
One thing I'm doing is making books. Exacting, frustrating, and anxiety causing projects but a satisfaction beyond measure when done!
I am having trouble keeping up in class. I have a book art project due already. I've only just got all the stuff I need. It is conceptually cool involving AMWA (The American Medical  Women's Association) and using pages of The Petticoat Surgeon.  Let's hope the execution works well! I will try to have good photos when it is done.
I just finished my hardcover with spine and three pamphlet stitched signatures book. It's not bad for a newbie. Everytime I make a cover I learn how it could be better. Despite using stacked copies of JAMA, I still drilled a couple of small holes in the kitchen table. Cal still insists on using the phone book so I could not repurpose that. Time to get some wood putty for repairs!

Scrapbooking for the Fun of It!

KimJensen_LiveOutLoud_brad, TDF88_vid_adventuretime kit; Fonts: Quicksand Bold, Remington Noiseless Reg; Fiddle-Dee-Dee Mystified template; Styles: Mommyish and Scrapaneers Championsstyles 

Lately, I've been back at making scrapbook pages for fun.

It seems that many of the pages I made over the past 6 months were ones for scrap assignments. It's good to be back creating just because.

Certainly, lots of fun things going on have inspired pages to scrap and pushed me to devote myself to my hobby. I'm using up old kits and products in paper and playing with templates and kits and even exploring techniques in digi.

I'm in a happier place than I've been in a long time and it is reflected in my work.

Oh, I'm still behind in things at home but spring cleaning is going on and steadily I'm getting on top of things. This month is starting slow but am loving the longer days. I believe I get sad in the winter.

This very happy page was made to celebrate my visit to Boston to meet with friends that are a part of the Get It Scrapped community. It was so fun to meet in person though we've been virtual friends for a while.

A recipe gift for you on my Birthday

I do not cook. Well, almost never. I tried a goat cheese scalloped potato dish for Thanksgiving but it did not work out as well as I’d liked. I tried it again; but, I modified the recipe and the results were amazingly good. It is definitely for special occasions only because it is high in fat!

So here is my recipe version for 

Lactose free chèvre potato gratin. 

(Full dairy and a vegan (for my niece, Danielle) option also listed.)

Serves 8-12

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare casserole dish (9.5 x 14 x 2.5 inches) by coating interior with olive oil or butter.

Ingredients:

5 lb russet potatoes

1 medium to large white onion

1-2 cloves garlic (1 teaspoon)

1-2 cups of crumbled goat cheese or vegan chèvre (1 cup minimum to 2 cups maximum should work, just depends on how cheesy you want the dish. I use closer to 1 cup.)

kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste and ground nutmeg (less than 1/4 teaspoon total of the nutmeg)

2 cups lactose-free whole milk and 1 cup olive oil (OR 3 cups heavy cream for full dairy version OR 2 cups soy milk and 1 cup olive oil for vegan alternative)

Peel and slice one medium size white onion to 1/4 inch slices

Heat skillet with vegetable oil or butter to medium heat and add onion slices to caramelize.

Mince 1-2 cloves of garlic, about 1 teaspoon) and add to onions when almost done caramelization. Remove onions from heat when lightly caramelized.

Peel the russet potatoes and slice to 1/4 inch slices .

Divide potatoes in three parts and layer one portion in casserole. Sprinkle with a third of goat cheese (or vegan chèvre) spread a third of prepared onion/garlic over top of layer.

Season with sprinkled kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and very fine dust of nutmeg (I used a barely visible amount).

Repeat layers and seasoning for two more layers.

Pour two cups lactose-free milk and one cup of olive oil over ingredients. (Substitute 3 cups of heavy cream OR two cups of soy milk and one cup olive oil, if full dairy or vegan alternatives desired)

Bake for 90 minutes.

Enjoy!

If you make this, please let me know how it turned out, if you liked it and if you have any suggestions for improvement.

Healing

One thing I have learned from having surgery is how weepy and vulnerable I feel after a procedure. I cry for no reason, and my emotions are near the surface. Still, I am happy I have done these. My knee has been the most wonderful story. I am still a bit bruised and swollen (and not wearing makeup yet); so, the plastic procedures are hard to be enthusiastic about; though, even now they look good and I know in a few months will even be better. I am glad the eye surgery is over, and I think no more procedures.) I feel more myself. However, my husband has been the most patient of men as I work on the emotional stuff.

Obviously, one procedure after another has had its toll on the blog. It's been hard to do more than Facebook recently. I am getting enthusiastic about scrapbooking again, and I am looking forward to completing school for the semester. I am producing a few interesting prints. I plan to post those when I have more done. My French has improved even though I have not devoted the time I should have to my lessons. Art history has been fun. I think I like studio classes best, though.

I had some wonderful travels in October and hoped to pull things together into some scrapbook pages. I did try to keep up on Facebook, as I took the trips; but, looking back is a lot of fun, and I get to use my DSLR pictures!

Here are a few layouts from the past few months that I made for "Get It Scrapped" at http://www.DebbieHodge.com. It's been fun creating a variety of digital, paper and pocket pages. 

Supplies: papers and elements: Traci Martin Designs Missing You, Mommyish All A Flutter button, Amanda Yi The Darndest Things alpha, fonts: Pastiche Brush Regular, Avenir LT 45 Book Italic, template: GIS Template Scrapbook Coach 19 Double Wide lesson 3

Supplies: Papers - American crafts “Do IT Yourself”, epoxies - Me and My Big Ideas “mambi Sticks”, brads & baker’s twine - stash, wood veneers - Studio Calico, Basic Grey

Supplies: Paper - American Crafts; Pebbles, JenHadfield, Home Made; Studio Calico, Wanderlust; stash, paperclip, wood veneer -stash, 3x4 cards- WeRMemoryKeepers, confetti and cork stars - Studio Calico, die cuts and puffy sticker - stash

Supplies: TDF79_kimeric_summertimeblues, ProductPlay_DHodge_sketch2_template

Supplies:TLP_kwiniecki_freezefactor, TLP_ForeverJoy-COZY-UP, ClubScrapDigital_inkededges, file: MSD_201403_PhotoPlay_EPitts_Template

Supplies: One Little Bird - Crazy for You kit, Mommyish - I'm So Fancy kit, A Pennington - Honey kit, staple, Fonts: Heart and Soul, Trend Rough Sans One, Bohemian Typewriter, Traveling Typewriter, Styles: Mommyish, Distress Brush: Karla Dudley. Template: Debbie Hodge, Packed 2-Pagers| Layout 4 

Thank goodness for the Creative Team projects! They've kept me creating even when I've been challenged by the wear and tear of surgical procedures. The fact that I've been making art, too, has me reflecting that I have been busy! Just not blogging much. I've always found it a challenge to keep up even in the best of times, but I do save it for a personal record and like to look back. So, I am sure I'll keep at this.