Be Creative

Birthday Card Set for the Family Reunion Auction

 

 

 

                                             

To raise money a family reunion we had (back in August) we were asked to make or bring something for a silent auction.  I decided to create a set of birthday cards to auction off. I love this cupcake stamp and thought it would be so fun to create basically the same card but in a bunch of different colors and with different backgrounds. I won't break down the details of each card, but I think I have all the supplies I used listed below.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. 

Happy Stamping,
Sam

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

Wordless Wednesday (Winter Snow, Snoqualmie Pass)

I Love This Dog!

Seriously love this dog...and how cute is that tongue?!

Sent from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday (Fall leaves)

DearLizzy Challenge 11-11-11 @ 11:11:11 am

Saw this challenge on Elizabeth Kartchner's blog and thought I'd particpate.  After all, 11-11-11 doesn't come around all that often! Here's my handbag & iced raspberry green tea on the way out the front door to my car to start my errands for the day at 11:11 am on 11/11/11...

Polka Dot Thank You

When creating cards, or other crafts, inspiration can be found anywhere. I get a lot of inspiration from looking at stationary and cards that others have created online. Recently I came across a Thank You card from Paper Source and loved the simple graphic design:

 And here's my take:

I loved the color combo of the inspiration card, but I decided to use grey cardstock instead of kraft. I already had a "dot" stamp, "island" colored ink, and a "Thank You" stamp in a similar graphic design.

Quickie instructions: Stamp a dot repeatedly in the same color in an organized grid-like fashion on gray cardstock. Stamp the "Thank You" sentiment. Done.

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

My Blog (and a card)

One of main reasons I wanted to start a blog was to have one location to record my creative projects, whether it be baking/cooking, embroidery, sewing/quilting, stamping, card making, scrapbooking, photography, etc. I wanted to have one location to document what supplies I used and what the card/craft project looked like. (It just hasn't been enough to take a photo of the card/crafty project, as I tend to forget where I've stored the photo.)

I also wanted to have a place to link back to for submitting my cards for contests, challenges, etc...which brings me to today's post.

I have just entered my first Studio Calico weekly challenge from the SC blog this week. The challenge is to create a layout or card using any stamp that you've purchased in a Studio Calico main kit or add-on kit over the years. I had to make a birthday card this week, so I combined it with the challenge and created this card:

Quickie instructions: I created this birthday card using the circle background stamp from a SC Field Guide Add-on Kit. I stamped the circle background in Creamy Brown Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink on orange cardstock. I then sprayed Mister Huey mist in Orchard over the stamped image. Adhered it to gray cardstock and wrapped Oyster Divine Twine arount the middle. I stamped "Happy Birthday" on a punched out label. Adhered label to the card with dimensional adhesive.

Supplies Used:

InLinkz.com

Wordless Wednesday (Bella loves being under cover)

Happy Birthday Card (for my sister's August birthday, 2011)

I started this blog back in September, which was a month after my sister's birthday, but I took a picture of the card and wanted to share it here as soon as I was up & running...

Quickie Instructions: Carefully punch out the flower & circle shapes from the Good Day Sunshine (Girl) Accessories Sheet. Use the Quickie glue pen to draw a wet glue border around the flower and to cover the circle shape. Sprinkle with Prisma Glitter. While that is drying, stamp the Pearl Strands stamp repeatedly in Mango & Chamomille inks on the card to essentially create a patterned paper background. Cut a skinny rectangle of the "Quite a Connection" patterned paper to create a reddish strip across the middle of the card. Place a strip of the double-sided Red Line tape down the center of the paper strip, remove the backing, & sprinkle with glitter. Adhere to the card. Stamp "Happy Birthday" in Versamark in the lower Right Corner of the card & heat emboss with Chestnut Zing!. Adhere the small glittered circle to the flower middle and then adhere the flower to the card. Bend the petals up to create dimension. Use the sponge dauber and Distress ink to darken the border of the card.

Supplies Used:

InLinkz.com

Champagne Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I volunteered to make some cupcakes for a surprise mini shower for work today.  The second-time-mom-to-be happens to be a fan of champagne cake and I made it for her birthday about month ago. I had never attempted a Champagne cake, nor do I think I'd even heard of one. So, I "googled it" and came across a number of various recipes and reviews. I ended up trying this one. I was very suprised and happy with the results. As one reviewer stated, Champagne cake is like a cross between Angel Food Cake and Pound Cake.  I though that was such a strange comparison, linking those two types of cake, but it truly tastes like a mixture of the two. 

I decided to repeat the recipe but changed up the frosting this time around.  Here's how I made the Champagne Cupcakes: 

Ingredients

• 1 box (1-pound 2 1/4-ounce) moist white cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups extra dry Champagne (I used Martini & Rossi Asti, not dry)
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large egg whites

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place cupcake papers in a cupcake pan.

In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, Champagne, vegetable oil, and egg whites. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Pour the batter into the cupcake papers filling 2/3rds full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove them from the oven and cool completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling, you can begin to prepare the frosting. For today's cupcakes, I chose this Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

Final Steps:

Frost the cupcakes and taste one to ensure success (wink)!