Let the spoiling begin...

This is the card that I made to go along with the quilt I made for my colleague's baby.

The stamp is from my stash (stamp - not cookie), and I have no idea where or when I got it, and or what stamp line it is from.

The greeting with it is "Let the spoiling begin", and I thought that was perfect for this family and their little girl!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Baby Quilt

I finished the baby quilt that I had started over the Christmas vacation today.  Tomorrow along with a really cool monkey card it will be delivered to the baby it was intended for.

She arrived last week, but unfortunately, I did not have the quilt finished : (

I had it quilted at a local quilt shop.  They do alright work (nothing exceptional), but the quilting is done in a monkey pattern, so I thought that was rather fun!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

January Stamp of the Month Club

Somehow this month has been super hectic and I forgot to post the Stamp of the Month cards.

This is a subscription I get through Karina.  Each month we get a stamp set and three completed cards.  I think I will make a card with this set tonight....

For this month the stamp set was Snowflake Soiree.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap"! It's Monday...

I HATE Monday.  I really do.  I don't know why, it's just such an awful reality check after an all too short weekend.....

I digress...., my project for today (crafting is what keeps me sane - honestly), uses Cajun Craze card stock, Early Espresso card stock, and Whisper White card stock.  

The Designer Series Paper is from Fall 2012 Stampin Up mini catalogue and was called Perfectly Preserved.

The hemp twine is also Stampin Up, but I believe it has been discontinued (shhhh, I'm using up old stuff again).  The stamped images are from the coordinating stamp set.  I LOVE them, and need to use them more often!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Chia Bread

Last evening I made bread because I knew that it was unlikely I would get up at 0500 hours to get this done and be able to leave on time this morning.

Earlier in the week at Costco I found a large (of course) bag of Chia seeds, so I added them to the bread!

Turned out fantastic, really tasty and of course full of fibre!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

More Socks!

I finished this sock a few days ago, however, had lots of other "blog filler", so today I present you with my newest sock.  This is the completed sock of the one I was knitting while on the road home from Christmas vacation .
I tried it on when I finished and loved the feel of it, so now I am on a mission to complete the other as it felt so super cozy on my foot!
Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Countdown to Christmas

Did you realize that today means that there is only 11 more months until Christmas???  I LOVE Christmas, and this year, I do plan to be more organized for it than I was this past year.

It is going to start with finishing all the projects I did not this year, like for example, this cookie box.  

I started with a basic box that I got at the dollar store for a dollar.  I used Designer Series paper on the top and sides, and used my ink pad to sponge the edges of the box and paper.

The decoration on top is yet another of the Christmas ornaments made with the awesome Framelits and coordinating stamps from the Stampin Up winter catalogue. Big fun as my son would say.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

 

Kathy

Maple Sugar Bread

Over the weekend I made bread and I decided that to make one loaf into a sweet bread.

For this one I rolled out the dough, spread it with brown sugar and then sprinkled it with my Canadian Maple Sugar Grinder.

Baked, it was delicious!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Doughnuts!!!!

On the weekend my son I decided to make jelly doughnuts (probably my favorite).

We used the Filled Baked Doughnuts recipe from the Robin Hood Flour and of course I used Robin Hood Flour as any good Saskatchewan farm girl will, even when we re-locate....

These turned out quite tasty, really good straight out of the oven, but a few seconds in the microwave the next day and they taste fine.  The strawberry jam inside is of course mine from the pantry!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Dinner?

Again, with this question!!!  What is wrong with my family?

This evening, I went all out...., no really, I found at Costco this weekend a really big bag of zucchini that I could not leave behind (you know how it is when you shop there)!

Well, another question.... what to do with it now?  Tonight, I made dinner with it.

I used this Zucchini Pizza Casserole Recipe, and it was awesome.  I especially loved the carbohydrate content of this recipe.  I switched the ground beef ( : (( ) for ground turkey, and it tasted awesome.  Left overs for tomorrow ; )

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"Crap"! It's Monday...

Alright, I am back with another s"crap" project!

I took a store brand chocolate bar, wrapped in Designer Series Paper (like probably three years ago) and  used my Paper Crimper to seal the ends.

The stamp set is from the p.s. I Love You stamp set from Stampin Up (also likely retired), a random red button (because it is pretty and I like red almost as much as purple), and a scalloped circle punch.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

April Calendar Page

Here's the April Page!

Again, the base is Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, and Whisper White from Stampin Up.

The image is from the Stamp of the Month for December from Close to My Heart.  The ink colors are Raspberry Ripple, and Pacific Point.  The Designer Series Paper is Dotty for You from Close to My Heart.

The flower is a plain white flower that I got at that awful box store that starts with an "M" a while back.  They were on clearance, a box of a million (?) for $0.99.  I used my Summer Summer Starfruit marker to color it.  The brad is from Sale-a-bration 2012. 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

March Calendar Page

This is my version of the Close to My Heart December Stamp of the Month for the monthly calendar I am currently making.

The base is Sahara Sand, and Whisper White Card Stock from Stampin UP, along with the Gumball Green Ribbon, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, and the brad is from Sale-a-bration 2012.

The Designer Series Paper is from the Dotty for You Collection from www.closetomyheart.com.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

February Calendar Page

This is my take on the February design from the Close to My Heart December Stamp of the Month

The card base here is Sahara Sand, Layered with Pacific Point, Whisper White all from Stampin Up.

The Designer Series Paper is from the Dotty for You collection from Close to My Heart.

The hearts are from Stampin Up's Red Glitter paper, and I used the Owl punch for the hearts.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

January Calendar Page

If you follow my blog, or know me, you will have likely figured out by now that I have commitment problems when it comes to crafting.  Now, don't get me wrong I LOVE being able to create, but I have a problem with being "loyal/faithful" to one product or means of creativity.  Hence, the reason my blog rambles all over the crafting spectrum from food to fabric, fibers of sheep to pulp (paper).

Today, I started on a product I found on another blog: Jen's Jewel Box of which she used the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month to create a calendar with the miniature images in the December set.

Now, here comes my take on this.  I of course have several different craft product used in mine version.

The base is Sahara Sand card stock layered with Pacific Point and Whisper White card stock from Stampin Up.  The designer series paper is from the Dotty for You Collection from Close to My Heart.  The button, bakers twine and ink is Stampin Up.

So, there you have it....some of the best of everything!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Dinner?

Upon getting home from work last night, I am of course asked by child and husband this class question!  What's for dinner?  Usually, on Monday we have left overs from the weekend, but I had unexpected out of town company for the weekend, so my left overs were "dinner" on Sunday.  Now, what to do?

I took a quick look on one of my favorite  food websites and found this recipe: Swiss Steak Dinner Recipe.  

Now, before you think I have somehow converted to eating beef, do not fear, I simply substituted chicken breast for the beef! : )

It turned out lovely, might do it again, and it was fairly quick to make.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Christmas Card #1

Over last year, I managed to make enough Christmas cards by playing with different stamp sets and using up scraps, that I was able to give all of the people at work a Kathy made Christmas card (I gave these to people I knew would appreciate such a gesture - those who prefer store bought received such).

I gave out more than 50 cards not including the ones that I posted to family and friends.  

Lots of these cards were VERY well received and as such I am beginning my "stash" for next Christmas, only ??? days til Christmas!

For this card I used Sahara Sand, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla card stock from Stampin Up.

The image is from the To You and Yours stamp set from Close to My Heart. 

I colored it with my Copic markers.

The greeting is stamped with Early Espresso colored ink, and the ribbon is 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon from Stampin Up as well.

I LOVE this card.  I hate birds, but it looks so pretty..

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"Crap"! It's Monday

Yesterday while at my least favorite "big box" store I came across some chocolate bars that they sell under their brand name.  Since the price was right, I bought 3 for the purpose of wrapping up for quick gifts.

I did just that today!

I used left over Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper, ribbon from Sale-a-bration last year, and stamped the heart from the p.s. I Love You stamp set (probably retired).
Quick and easy, but kind of fun too, and the recipients of these (yes, there's another one) almost seemed to think they were cute!  Purpose served.
Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Cookie Day

Today my son and I made cookies for his lunch this week.

We used the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, but changed out 1 cup of chocolate chips for M & M's of which I had a bag lying around taking up space!

They are delicious!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pizza Buns

After having pizza for supper last night, I decided that Pizza Buns would be an awesome lunch for my son along with some fresh vegetables and dip next week.

So, today we made pizza buns.

This is just a basic bun dough recipe.

I rolled it out and filled with pizza sauce, Mozzarella, Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, mushrooms and green peppers.

Let the dough rise in the pan.

Then baked for 25 minutes at 350 F.

Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pizza and Movie Night

It's Friday evening, after a VERRRRY long week.  How is that possible?

I decided to make pizza tonight since all the left overs are gone :(

I mixed the dough in my Kitchenaid (had the motor changed out, works awesome).

Here's the "how" of how I do it:

1 1/2 cups very warm water in the mixing bowl

1/3 cup canola oil added into the mixing bowl

1 cup flour

- mix these together for about a minute then add

1 tsp yeast

3+ cups flour

-add the flour slowly until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl

-once dough has formed a ball on the dough hook, beat on medium speed for 5 to 6 minutes

- divide dough into 2 (I put one in the pizza pan for tonight, and the other made into a round disk that will bake tonight on the rack under the pizza and then be frozen for a pizza crust at another time

- after formed in pan let rise for 20 minutes in 175 F oven

Here's the end result:

The picture is a little off, but alas there is none left to photograph!  Even my brother the self appointed Pizza Aficionado had to agree it was quite tasty!

Now off to relax with the family and watch a movie (or sleep).

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Thank Goodness It's Thursday!

This has been a really long week, and it's not over yet!!!!!

Yesterday evening after my son's swimming lesson and eating the last of the "left overs" I realized there was nothing for dinner tonight, and unless I wanted to be cooking this evening after riding, I better do something about this.

While looking through my cupboards the other day for something (?) I stumbled across one of my  Pampered Chef cookbooks with a recipe for a very quick and tasty (as I now know) turkey chilli.

This is dinner along with toasted bread (yes the one that was almost lost in the fire of the other day).

Yummy for  a really cold day like today!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Chocolate Coconut Cake

My colleague friend received her full time Registered Dietitian Job a few months back.  Unfortunately, I was re-deployed for several weeks to another clinic so was unable to make a cake to celebrate her accomplishment.

Last night I baked a chocolate cake, and decided against the regular Butter Cream Frosting, and went with a Coconut Cream Cheese Icing.

 

The technique for this is:

1 block of softened cream cheese

2 tbsp cream (no milk will not produce the product you want - I know - I tried once)

1 tsp clear vanilla

- mix on medium speed until all are combined together

- add in :

1/2 cup coconut

4+ cups icing sugar

- mix on low speed adding icing sugar until you get the consistency that you want

 

I toasted a handful of coconut for the top to make it look a little more fun!

 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

 

Kathy

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yesterday evening my son and I made muffins for the lunch box.  After almost 3 weeks off over Christmas it has been kind of hard to get back into the routine of the real school and work life......

We made chocolate chip muffins, to use up some of the sour cream from the refrigerator : )

Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/3 cup canola oil

3 heaping tbsp ground flax seed

1 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix together in order listed and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Gifting Bread

For those of us that grow up on the Saskatchewan prairies there is nothing more comforting than a loaf of fresh bread.  It is like a birthright for us, and it is what we know will always provide comfort.

Maybe it's the being surrounded by grain all of our lives, but we learn how to make this product, and even into our adulthood, it provides comfort and the feeling and sense of "home". 

Today, I packaged up a loaf for my colleague friend - a Stubbler Jumper as well, as I knew she would appreciate this offering. 

In true Saskatchewan frugal fashion I created a wonderful package.

The paper wrap is from the shipping boxes that Stampin Up sends out.  After cutting to size I stamped the greeting with the Creatively Yours stamp set, used Early Espresso Bakers Twine, and a button.  

TAH DAH!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

A Day of Mourning; Kitchenaid Style

I decided that today I would make bread again, using my ever trusty Kitchenaid Stand Mixer.  For the past 13 years it has been in my home mixing everything from butter cream icing, to bread.  I have grated over 100 lbs of cabbage in a single evening with it, sliced 50 lbs of beets on another evening, mixed countless batches of cookies and just about anything else in between, most recently I have even started grinding whole grains with the grain attachment.

Sadly, today, I believe it has reached the end of it's life.  The smoke pouring out of it's head, and the crackling sound inside leads my horrified self, husband and brother staring in shock at it as it smoked and crackled itself out (yes, we had the fire extinguisher - I keep one in the kitchen - why? why not?).

Now, it sits stinking on my counter, I believe I will have to get more of a heavy duty one of these for what I use it for....

However, before it completely started on fire, I did manage to rescue the bread dough, and bake it:

Here are three of the six loaves I made - and yes it you check out any of the reviews for this stand mixer it will tell you it is good for up to 3 loaves of bread, so if you have one of the 300 - 325 watt mixers, don't over work them like I did mine, however, it did do this for almost 13 years.....

Funeral service will be tomorrow as garbage collection is early Tuesday morning : (

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Steel Cut Oats Microwave Style

Almost every morning, I make Steel Cut Oats for my son and I for breakfast.  Since I know you can make instant oatmeal in the microwave I thought there was no reason why I could not made Steel Cut Oats in the microwave.  This brings me to the point of this blog post, most people cannot believe I do this!

 

To be able to cook it long enough in the microwave, you need a really good microwave dish, which until recently has been a Corning Ware Baker, but sometimes, it boiled over : (

 

Back in November my friend and I attended the SCARS (Second Chance Animal Rescue Society) Christmas Bizarre for fundraising for this cause.  She and her family adopted a puppy from last years event, and I of course have the garbage dump rescue cat for my son.  While we were there I met Andreea who is a Pampered Chef Consultant.  She had on display the Small Batter Bowl!  It is 4 cups/1000 mls, glass and perfect for the microwave.  

 

Today I used it for the first time, and here is how I make my Steel Cut Oats in the microwave:

2 cups milk

2/3 cup Steel Cut Oats

- place in microwave safe bowl

- microwave for 6 - 8 minutes, (I like my oatmeal more soupy than chewy) -cook longer if you like sticky oatmeal

- stir every couple of minutes just to get all the bottom oatmeal cooked

- after cooking pour into glass dishes, wait a couple of minutes before serving

I always add a bit of brown sugar to mine, my son likes sprinkles or a few chocolate chips on his, sometimes a bit of cinnamon - let your imagination go!!!!

Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Sweet Shop Sweets for the Sweet

Last night I decided to play with some of my favorite papers, this of course is one of them!  I LOVE candy (really)!

The card base is Island Indigo, layered of course with Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper, the edges are sponged with Island Indigo Ink as well, and then I just had fun with my left over Sweet Shop Stickers placing them on the Whisper White Card Stock. 

The ribbon is left overs as well (OMG - I am using last years product again) : ) from Sale-a-bration 2012 at Stampin Up, and the little brad was also part of the Sweet Shop line last year.

The greeting is from the Sweets for the Sweet Stamp set.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Knitting in Canmore

Alright, so I am knitting in Canmore again.  For those of you that frequent my blog you will by now know that I spend a lot of time in Canmore, knitting. 

The reason I spend so much time here is partly because it is beautiful, and partly because my son skis here weekly.  Since I love knitting and it is such an easily transportable craft, I tend to do a lot of it in Canmore.

I actually bought this yarn almost a year ago at River City Yarns.  It took me a while to catch on to how exactly to knit with it, but now that I have figured it out, you can actually knit this during one ski lesson, and evening in front of prime time television!

This is a picture of why I love Canmore and in general Kananaskis Country, and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.  How much fun is it so ski with this as your view?  It's beautiful!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Knitting in the New Year

I am often asked how I have the time to craft along with working almost full time, taking my child to art, violin, piano, swimming, skiing, and horse riding each week, and making sure that there is a homemade, food group balanced warm dinner on the table every night. 

Well, one of my secrets is that I really do not sleep much at night.  I am one of those people who vary seldom gets more than about 5 hours of sleep, but  I think that they must be quality sleep because I am able to function quite well on this.

Now, New Years was not an exception to my being able to craft all night, not because it was planned that way, but because I managed to somehow destroy/break/generally make unsuable my insulin pump!!!! 

A frantic call to Medtronic late in the evening, and a new pump was dispatched out to me, however its ETA was almost 11 hours later.  That meant that without an insulin pump, I had to check my blood glucose every 1 - 2 hours all night long to give myself injections of insulin with a syringe (OMG - it was like being a kid again). 

The benefit of this I guess. is that while I waited for my new purple insulin pump to arrive I knitted socks all night long, and was able to finish this pair.

Once the pump arrived and I put the new one on, I along with these socks slept most of New Years Day.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy