70% off @ Michaels !

Boy oh boy ! I was there only to buy frames for my next workshop when I found this sale... 70% off all red and blue tags. And I shop like crazy !

Look what I found for only $22 tax included !

Now I'm thinking to go to another location because that was too much fun... I don't know if you have this kind of sale where you live. I hope so.

Vegas Dolphins

One of our favorite trip was the one we made few years ago with an RV around Las Vegas. Of course, I made a scrapbook on it, even if I'm sure I have few pictures left to scrap.
I'm gonna share one layout of this album today to warm you up. I know not everyone has the chance to be in the 70' (I think it's more than 75F today in Houston), so some pictures taken in warm weather will help you to hold on to the soon-to-be spring.

 

 

Some Heidi Swapp pink frames, free handcut and a well loved white alphabet stickers found back in time at Tuesday Morning.

 

If you cold, I hope you have fun in the snow (we missed some here).

Strawberry cake

Yesterday, I have finished one of my ribbon & lace project, and today, I finished the second, a layout with a crochet background. I did sent both of them to Northridge Pub. and will wait few days before knowing their choices.

 

 

As I still had energy left, I made this simple-but-fabulous strawberry cake for a party :

 

 

 

If you want to taste it, cook two round or square 8" vanilla cake. Cut strawberries in half. Make some whipped cream. Put strawberries then cream on the top of one cake. Cover with the other cake and spread cream again. Decorate. Eat. Go to bed. I did.



Kiss of Love

It's soon to be St Valentine's day, and I will have a workshop just before it. Last year, we made a layout based on a sketch found on the Scrapbooks Etc website :

My version of this page is a 12x12 layout with a 4x6" picture.

I used a dark pink designer paper with red velvet flourishes for the background, white glitter paper for the heart, and glitter ribbon for the stitching. the title is made of miror magnets and letter brads. Journaling came from  vellum quotes by Colorbok and are maintained with fabric buttons by K&Company on small round self-adhesives pad.
The frame was cut with my Cricut Expression  and the Storybook cartridge. The white heart was cut hand-free, then the border of this heart was torn and rolled.

I have already made the layout for my next workshop, but I will wait a little bit before showing it to you. I've got the submission fever, and I sent it to Northridge Pub.

OMG ! They did it again !

I'm soooo happy ! I have just received a new e-mail from Northridge Publishing : they want to publish the business card holder I made Monday ! Hihihihihi !
I guess I will not be able to share it with you soon. It's gonna be publish in July, wait until then...

Continuying with my San Antonio scrapbook, here is a layout of my daughter, on the Riverwalk cruise. A little stamp from China again and a distress ribbon with a matching die-cut are the only elements on this page. I found the butterflies too heavy to put something else on it.

 



I will never end this album ! I got too many ideas coming in my head for some next submissions. Let just say I'm using crochet these days...

Riverwalk cruise

This cruise was not the kind I like (big boat, kids club and open bar), but it was a good way to discover the Riverwalk from another angle.

This is an 8x8 layout from my San Antonio scrapbook, still with the same pack of paper by K&Company. The little green frame is by K&Company, but from another collection. A butterfly stamp I got from China. the "Remember" stamp is a $1 rubber stamp from Michaels. The green flower ribbon is from a Christmas collection by American Crafts.

Submission ?

I create like crazy today. I had a idea since few days, but no time to do it. Finally this morning I was able to play with my Cricut and create something to submit to Northridge Publishing. Of course, today was the due date... I cannot show it to you for the moment, but I can tell you it's a business card holder with a monogram.

Instead I will show another layout from my San Antonion scrapbook. this one is about the Riverwalk. I use matching butterfly and flowers stamps and my Cricut for the frame.

 

 

After creating like crazy, I'm gonna wait like crazy, checking my email every ten minutes beginning tomorrow...

Convento courtyard

I'm still not done with my San Antonio album, but I made some progress with picturing it. So today I present you a new page of this 8x8 scrapbook with pictures taken in the Alamo's Convento courtyard :

The whole album is made with only one pack of 12x12 DCWV's Garden party paper. I use my Crcicut to cu the letters (Storybook cartridge). The flowers are by Prima Marketing with a center made of crystal sand, and I found the ribbons @Hobby Lobby.

I still have 4 or 5 mor layouts to do, but it's busy Monday, so probably not today.

King cake 2

I'm finally done with my cooking ! I made 8 of them this morning, it's gonna be a blast ! We have 5 almond cake and 3 apple cake. Look at them :

 



Pretty easy to do. If you want the apple one, just use 2 puff pastry sheet put together and filled with apple sauce.
If you want the almond kind, follow these step :

Galette des rois
King Cake Recipe

Print Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 30 min

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 2 eggs + 1 egg for painting
• 1 tablespoon rum (optional)
• 1 pound puff pastry (2 rounds)
• 1 large dry bean or fève figurine

Directions

1. To make the frangipane, blend the butter with the sugar until well combined. Blend in the almonds thoroughly. Beat in the 2 eggs one at a time and then the rum if you are using it.
2. In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg.
3. Roll out half of the puff pastry into a round about 12 inches in diameter. Place it on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, paint the outer 1 1/2 inch circumference of the pastry with beaten egg.
4. Spread the frangipane in a round in the center of the pastry so that it just meets the painted on egg. Press the bean into the frangipane somewhere close to the outer edge.
5. Place the other puff pastry (rolled out into an equally sized round) on top of the first. Use the times of a fork to press the edges closed. Brush the top of the galette with the beaten egg.
6. Use a paring knife to etch a pretty pattern into the top of the galette. Traditionally this is in a cross-hatch pattern, or concentric half circles, but you can make up your own pattern if you are feeling creative. Don't cut through the pastry, just etch.
7. Cut a small hole in the center of the pastry to allow steam to escape. Place the galette in the refrigerator to cool for at least 30 minutes before baking. You can make it a day in advance as well - just be sure to keep it refrigerated.
8. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the refrigerated galette in the center of the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is dark golden brown. Serve warm.

New gallery

I'm starting today a new gallery @ two peas in a bucket, where I will show my old and projects :

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/user_profile/576951/

It's not complete for the moment, I'm in the process of adding pictures... What a day ! My contractor finally remove the old fountain in my backyard (after one year of asking...). I had time to walk the dog, clean the house, make some yogurt AND create my gallery before 2PM ! Of course my day will end @2:30 when I have to pick up my kids from school, and the house WAS clean until my dog came back from the yard... BUT, I will consider it like a good day anyway, with maybe some little extra time to scrap this evening.

Good day to you too !

Friendship card

The day I returned from France was the due date for a Northridge pub. submission, challenge style (3 colors : chocolate, olive and cream, and one element : tree). I had something in mind so I decided, despite the tireness of the jet lag, to create this card.

I think the idea was good, but I should spend more time on my writing. I choose handwriting, and with perspective, I should choose printing.
So, I wasn't pick up for this one. Ok ! My loss, your gain, because I can share it with you !

 

You probably recognize the Tim Holtz I talked about last Black Friday... I cut the tree handfree, but the leaves are from the Art Nouveau Cricut cartridge.

 

Now I need to focus on my next workshops. One layout and one frame. The page is almost done, but I have some problems to find the exact frame I want. I was looking for the Prima Marketing white frame, but it seems unavailable at this time. It will be my quest for these 10 next days...

King cake time !

In France, we have a great tradition : the first sunday of January, we celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men with a almond stuffed cake. Inside is a charm (historically a baby), the one finding it is crowned king or queen.
Almond paste and puff pastry, it's one of my favorite cake. Every year, we invite friends to share this cake with our family, and its always a huge success. Last year I made 4 of them ! Here they are...

 

 

This year, we will celebrate it at home next week. I will probably make 5 or 6 cakes, with one or two stuffed with apple sauce for my nuts allergic friends.

 

I got few days before the party, so I will have time to scrap and show you my work. Let me know if you want the french king cake recipe...

Christmas is still alive here...

I'm not quite done with Christmas. And you're probably not too.
First, I never want to put down the tree. I always let it until mid January.
Second, I made few (!) pictures during this time, and I cannot let them until next december to scrap them.

So even if I got few assignement on this new beginning, I will be stuck with Christmas a little more.

But because I just came back from my trip, I don't have time to make a new canvas today, so I show you an old but cherish one for now :

 

 

This one was publish on the Scrapbook Etc website for a Christmas challenge a while ago. It's two gold painted wood frame glue together, with black snowflake by Prima Marketing, few paper and a small ribbon.

 

I love this kind of frame. I made two of them last year for pictures of my daughters and theirs cousins making gingbread houses. I will show you later...

Happy new year !

We just came back from France, and after a early breakfast at Ihop, I can play again with my scrap stuff. So I made a quick card to wish you the best for this new year.

BONNE ET HEUREUSE ANNEE !