"Swarming" at Ms. Suzanne's House & Her Super Scraproom

I had a wonderful day yesterday.  I spent most of the day with six of my favorite people at our friend Suzanne's house.  Suzanne hosted a "swarm" for our cricutting friends.  It is really easy for this group - we have gotten together so frequently that we have the "bring a dish" food down to a easy pattern, we know who brings the cricuts, laptops, etc.  We had two expressions going yesterday along with computers loaded with Cricut Design Studio. 

MFK (my friend Kathy) and I managed to miss the photos... Not sure what happened there... But I did manage to get everyone else in a photo.  Maybe Kathy and I were too busy scrapping more of the Vegas trip??  Okay that's our story.

I really need to share Suzanne's scraproom with you.  She has a space that we all covet; so organized and well stocked!

Suzanne and Casey at desk 1:

Moving around the room clockwise:

And again to the right, in the closet:

Also in the closet, both sides have built-in shelves:

On the next wall is desk 2:

Teaching Casey to use the Cricut:

We had a lot of chatting and scrapping happening.   Pictured here is Toby getting some much needed R&R:

And here is Beth: 

And finally (since Kathy & I avoided being photographed) are Pat and Suzanne:

I am sooooo lucky to have these wonderful friends.  And I soooo enjoy my time with them.  Suzanne, thank you for hosting!!!

Welcome to the blog hop and brand new release of Party Time from Wags 'n Whiskers

It's Friday and it's time for the brand new release of the adorable collection from Wags 'n Whiskers called Party Time!!! This new collection is illustrated by a new artist to Wags 'n Whiskers, and her name is Emma Metcalf. So welcome to the blog hop to celebrate the release! If you have made your way here from the wonderful and amazingly talented Michele, then you're on the right track. If not, then please be sure and head back to the beginning at the Wags and Whiskers blog so you don't miss a thing! While you're hopping along, don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs for the best chance to win prizes! At the end of the hop, four blogs will be chosen at random, and those four blogs will pick a winner that will get to choose two digital images of their choice!  So four different winners of two images each!  Now just in case there are any broken links in the hop, you can always head back to the Wags 'n Whiskers blog to get back on track. Nikki and Lacey will have all the hoppers listed along with links to them.

For my card today, I chose to use Ellie and Squeak! Aren't they the absolute cutest???!!! I colored them with Copic markers.

I kept the embellishments very simple with this card cause I just wanted all the focus on Ellie and Squeak. I used some of the amazing silk May Arts ribbon that is avaialbe at Stamp and Create, along with some Kaiser flat backed pearls and some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

This collection is being released in both rubber stamps and digital images, and they will be available for purchase at 7am Eastern, 12:00 GMT, 4am Pacific.  There is a limited amount available in rubber, so get them quickly before they're gone! Ok, so from here, your next stop will be to see the "oh so amazingly talented" Mina! I can assure you that you are in for a big treat!!!  Thanks so much for joining us on our celebration blog hop today! Good luck in the draws, and I can't wait to see all the fabulous works of art you'll be creating with these images! The blog hop will remain open until Monday at 4am Pacific, 7am Eastern, and 12:00 GMT.  HUGS!

Wags 'n Whiskers Sneak Peeks Day 2!!

Hi everyone, and welcome to day two of sneak peeks for the new release of Wags 'n Whiskers stamps called "Let's Party"!  The stamps will be available for purchase tomorrow at 4am Eastern, 7am Pacific in both digital and rubber. But there is a limited amount of them available in rubber, so be sure to get them fast before they're gone!  Today's card features an adorable stamp called Toby's Big Day. I just love ALL the new images by Emma, and if you want a chance to win the entire release in digital, click HERE to get all the details! Toby is colored with Copic markers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the bow is made from May Arts silk ribbon along with the Bow Easy, both of which are available at Stamp and Create.

Please be sure and visit the rest of the Divas to see their fabulous creations using this adorable release of images!

Chris, Michele, Melanie, Lacey, Nikki, Karen, and Jeanette

Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back tomorrow for the blog hop to celebrate these gorgeou new images! Don't miss out on all the fun! Hugs!

Gluten-Free Baguettes with Greek Olive Tapenade Recipe

Rustic, easy gluten-free baguette baked from Pamela's Gluten-free Bread Mix.

Why do you always crave the things you can't have? Is it because desire dims upon acquisition? Is it the crusty chestnut that the chase is more interesting than the catch? Do we simply take for granted the things we hold, the things we use, the things we eat, day after day? Familiarity breeds perhaps not contempt but a subtle numbness. We slowly turn off to the everyday beauty, the generosity of the simple luxuries in our life. It seems to me a form of forgetting. A spiritual amnesia that coaxes us into believing we want what we don't have. And we neglect to appreciate what we do possess.

Which brings me, I'm sorry to say, not to any esoteric mystery, but. To bread.

Continue reading

Wags 'n Whiskers Sneak Peeks Day 1

Hi and welcome to day one of sneak peeks to the brand new release from Wags 'n Whiskers called "Let's Party"!! This is an exciting day as we're introducing you to a new Wags 'n Whiskers artist, Emma Metcalf!! I think you're going to LOVE Emma's line of images which will be called "Millie and Friends"! I know I sure do! This line is being released as digital images, but there will also be a limited amount available in rubber. They will all be available to purchase at 4am Pacific (7am Eastern) time on Friday morning, June 25th.  I chose to use this cute image called Buddy's Balloon. I colored him twice and layered him up so he's 3d. I don't think you can tell it in the pics though. I used some yummy flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon is May Arts silk that is available at Stamp and Create. I added some Glossy Accents on the balloon and his cute little nose.

Please be sure and visit the rest of the Wags 'n Whiskers Divas to see other sneak peeks of the new release!  And there's still time to win the full release! Visit HERE to find out all about it!

Chris, Michele, Melanie, Lacey, Nikki, Karen, and Jeanette

Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again tomorrow for another day of sneak peeks, and then on Friday for lots of fun and prizes with the blog hop!!! Hugs!

One of Mr. E's Favorites : Mocha Toffee-Crunch Terrine

Desserts for Dudes

{We just call this "layered ice cream dessert", because we're fancy like that.}

Mr. E can't decide on his very favorite dessert, but this is one of them.  Frozen and creamy...it's like a combination of cheesecake and ice cream. 

You know what I love about it?  It HAS TO be made ahead of time.  In my book, that makes it perfect for holidays and company! 

Mocha Toffee-Crunch Terrine {or Layered Ice Cream Dessert}
(modified from Everyday Food , issue #2)

19 chocolate wafer cookies
2 tsp. instant espresso powder
11 ounces cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar
1 TBSP vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 & 1/4 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. toffee bits
1/3 c. chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 TBSP dutch-process (or natural) cocoa powder

Line a 9x5" loaf pan with 2 sheets of plastic wrap, long sides overhanging by about 3". Arrange 3 wafers, flat side up in the bottom of the pan.

Dissolve the instant espresso powder in 1 tsp. water and set aside.

Beat the cream cheese with the sugar several minutes until light and fluffy.  Beat in the vanilla bean paste.  Set aside.

In another bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form.  Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture in 3 additions until fully combined.

In one bowl, mix 1 and 1/3 cup of the vanilla cream mixture with the toffee bits.  In another bowl, add the cooled chocolate and cocoa with another 1 & 1/3 cup of vanilla cream.  Finally, add the coffee mixture into the remaining cream.

With a rubber spatula, spread the coffee mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Cover with 8 wafers, overlapping if necessary.  Add the chocolate mixture and spread evenly; cover with 8 more wafers.  Add the toffee mixture and spread.

Press the plastic wrap onto the top and freeze at least 4 hours.  Invert onto a serving platter; remove plastic.  Let sit 5 minutes and cut into slices.

 

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Are you guys feeling lucky?  The dancing queens, Molly & Amanda, from idance ordered cookies, but not for themselves, for YOU!!! They are giving away a half dozen cookies baked by little ol' me!

{Have you been to idance?  It's so fun!  Be sure to read their "revolution" page...I think it's something a lot of us can relate to!}

So, GO!  Go enter!  What are you waiting for?!?

Extension Cable Compatible With The Gypsy & Cricut

Have you seen the fabulous product for sale at ScrappinCricut?  Kendra is selling six foot long extension cable that will work with your Gypsy, Design Studio and Cricut machine.  I love this idea because the cable that connects my Gypsy to my Cricut is so darned short - I have to rearrange my desk to cut with my G.  But with the this, those days are GONE!!!  I had to laugh when I read one of her visitor comments.  It said thanks for improving on the shortest cord ever!  So true!!

Kendra's ad says:

"Do you use both the Gypsy and Cricut Design Studio and get tired of switching between two cords?

Well, do I have the solution for you!

I have an Extension cable now available that works with the Gypsy and the Cricut Design Studio.

It is a 6 foot cable that plugs directly into your Cricut, Cricut Expression, Cricut Create or Cricut Cake!

No longer do you have to reach over your Cricut, turn your Cricut around or turn it over in order to get your

Gypsy or Computer plugged it.

It is truly a must have for your Scrapbooking and Cricut needs!

They are available for a limited time for only $10.00 each plus shipping! Insurance is available if desired."

 

 

 

For more information visit Kendra at Scrappin Cricut.  She has a paypal "buy" botton for fast processing and all orders ship within two business days.   You don't want to miss this... How nice will it be to have six extra feet of cord when hooking your Gypsy to the Cricut????  Yep, no more tiny cable issues!!!!