Stacy's Paper Crafts

A Valentine for Him

 

Hi, hope you all had a great weekend! Today is my "Monday," DS had a teachers workday yesterday. I didn't craft this weekend but I did clear off the table today to make the a few Valentine's so I can get them in the mail early... meaning on time before Valentine's Day! LOL

 

This one has a more masculine feel, I really like how the grey patterned hears turned out. I stamped the images and layered them behind the white panel that I adhered using pop dots to give it some dimension. Easy peasy :)

Are you getting excited over all the CHA sneak peeks?  Here's a great website where you can check out a lot of the sneak peeks in one place...

CHA 2012 Sneak Peeks

I'm really looking forward to the new Unity Stamps Christy Thomlinson designed...

CT Unity Stamps I  and  CT Unity Stamps II

I'm still browsing the sneak peeks but those stamps and the album kit Simple Stories is introducing are definitely on my wish list!  Documented how fun is this??!

What's on your wish list?

Happy 2012!

Happy New Year! I'm back :) Yep, and I'm feeling totally inspired to create! I did not set any "New Years resolutions for 2012" but there are so many things I'd like to do in 2012. On the creative front, I want to scrap more, sew more, and play with paint! Painting is definitely something new for me and out of my comfort zone but mixed media & canvas art looks like so much fun! You'll definitely be seeing some of that on my blog this year.

I started cleaning my scrap room and got distracted LOL I decided to use up some paper scraps to create a few Valentine's Day cards. This is one of them. Not only did I use some paper scraps, but I also dug out my old DYMO label maker to create the sentiment, and used a chipboard heart that I've had in my stash for a LONG time. I created a little window after adhering the patterned paper strips across the card base and then added some inking around the edges.

Thanks for looking! 

Happy Holidays to you all!

Hi Everyone, hope you're well!

I've decided to take a break from blogging until after Christmas. There's just too much to do. After been sick with the flu, bronchitis, and a sinus infection for 8+ weeks I'm just behind on a lot of things. So I'm going to enjoy my holiday stress free, catch up on what I can catch up with, and forget the rest! LOL 

Wishing you all a happy & healthy holiday! See you in 2012 :)

Merry

Only 23 days 'till Christmas.

Just thought I would put that out there for you :)

Have you started your shopping yet? I haven't purchased or made a single thing yet. My Christmas cards are almost finished though :) This is one of my latest creations. I really LOVE this houndstooth pattern, I think it's probably going to be my "go-to" background stamp for awhile. 

Natural/wood colored buttons are another one of my new loves. I picked up a little packet of about 20 from Michael's $1 bin a few months ago. I'm kicking myself I should have gotten more. I added some black wire through the button holes and a little distress ink around the edges.  Then I used versamark ink to create a snowflake pattern on the card base. The focal snowflake was embossed using red glitter embossing powder. I also added some black dots around the snowflake using a black pen.

Thanks for looking!

I ♥ Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas

Especially the recently released 6x6 paper pads that are perfect for card making. I love that Simple Stories also included smaller versions of the tags that are included with the 12x12 sized collection.

25 Days of Christmas

For this card I only used patterned paper and cardstock... actually I did for all of the cards I'm sharing today. The patterns are so lovely I didn't really want to add anything else to it. 

This card features a strip of patterned paper and one of the mini tags propped up with foam tape.

I added some ink and edge distressing to create some texture for this card. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the hoodstooth print :) 

Thanks for looking :)

Celebrate Autumn

Wow, I can't believe that it's been more than a month since I last updated my blog. Thanks for your sweet e-mails regarding  my absence. I'm here, just a little preoccupied by some things but I'm still crafting.

My mojo was MIA for so long and now it's back. Yay! I've been watching YouTube videos featuring mixed media art... so fun! I'm really a "clean & simple" kind of crafter but I'm so intrigued by the layering, gluing, and "go with the flow" vibe that seems to go along with mixed media art.  I think I may just have to give it a try. My walls could definitely use some art so hopefully I'll be able to pull it off! 

I've been working on Christmas cards too but I decided to take a break from them to create another fall card. I found this fall text patterned paper at Hobby Lobby, they have some cute patterned papers I haven't seen at my other local craft stores. I paper pieced the pumpkin and added some texture to it using an embossing folder & some inking. 

Thanks for stopping by :)

 

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

Can I just tell you how much I LOVE ♥♥♥ these muffins??!! In my quest to finding suitable GF replacements for some of my favorite gluten filled recipes I've mostly had to embrace the fact that gluten is unique. Many of my recipes are just "good enough" replacements, meaning that they don't exactly taste the way my "gluten" version tastes, but they usually end up being "good enough" to satisfy my craving. 

Well these muffins are BETTER than my wheat flour recipe! I've been experimenting with sorghum flour and I really think it really gives these muffins a great flavor! They are light and have somewhat of a fluffy texture which some, especially some commercial GF baked goods lack.  I hope that you'll bake some for yourself :) When you measure the flours, sift well to ensure you are only using what you need. My motto... "You can never sift too much!"

This recipe yeilds 18- 20 medium/large sized muffins. I'm ashamed to say that between my son, husband, & I they only lasted two days! LOL I made a second batch &  froze them hopefully they'll last a little longer. They freeze & thaw very well, & are great to keep as a freezer staple. 

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup white sorghum flour

1 1/4 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca starch

2 teaspoons xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

2 1/4 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 cups or 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl sift together sorghum flour, rice flour, tapioca starch, xatham gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift well!

In a separate bowl mix eggs, sugar, oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, & cloves.

Slowly add wet ingredients to the flour mixture, mix well. 

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for approximately 18 to 20 minutes. 

 

*Printer Friendly Version: Download Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

Eat Ham!

Happy Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and WCMD. This is one of the cards I created this weekend. I wanted to get a head start on my Thanksgiving cards so I pulled out my Copics & BIC markers to color this funny little turkey. Love his little sign, you could easily customize it by doing a little masking and replace ham with beef, tofu, pie, ect. :)   

This one features an oldie but goodie from TAC. I bought this set 5 or 6yrs ago and it's one that I can never seem to part with.  It just seems to weather the trends. Anyhoo, thanks for looking  :)

$2 stamps are fun!

Last year I picked up this stamp from ACMoore for  $1, the actual cost was $2 but it was miss marked. Even at $2, that's a great price for a medium sized image that can stand on it's own! Paired with a little Basic Grey patterned paper it's a perfect not so cute card for my tween son. 

Hope you're having a great week! Saturday is National Card Making day :) Are you doing anything special to celebrate? I'll be crafting of course and hope to have several cards to share. It's been so cloudy here I haven't been able to capture any good photos this week. Hopefully we'll have a clear, perfect picture taking day here! 

It's pumpkin season

Today is the first official day of fall yippee! Goodbye humidity, you won't be missed :) I'm looking forward to trying out a few gluten free pumpkin recipes this year.

GF baking is a combination of science and using the right flour blends. Last year most of my concoctions were pretty inedible! LOL but they have improved greatly much to the relief of my DS. My DH even likes my gluten free foods better than gluten filled ones, and that's saying a LOT!

I have a few ideas on how to tweak my favorite whole wheat pumpkin bread recipe using a GF flour blend, once I perfect it I'll be sure to share the recipe with you all.

In honor of pumpkin season I whipped up this cute little pumpkin card using this weeks Clean & Simple  sketch...

 Supplies: Stamps: TAC, Paper: Basic Grey pp, Bazzill & PTI CS

Thanks for looking :)

Happy Fall

Well I thought fall was here. It's been somewhat chilly and rainy all week, but today it's humid and warm again. I won't complain too much though because the sun is shining. It's been MIA most of the week. I need my sunshine! LOL This weather has been so crazy these last few months, I'm definitely looking forward to cooler drier weather :) 

Supplies Paper: Basic Grey PP, Bazzill & PTI CS, Stamps: TAC, Other: Button, scrappers floss, PTI double-ended banner die, Circle Nesties, pop dots, & Palette Burnt Umber Ink. 

Thanks for looking, hope you're having a great weekend!

Happy Double Digits

Supplies--> Paper: Bazzill CS, Simple Stories PP, Alpha stickers: American Crafts & Basic Grey, Other: PTI Double-Ended Banners

My son will be turning 11 years old in November. That just sounds sooooo crazy to me! LOL He's in 5th grade this year, his last year of elementary school. I'm still trying to wrap my mind about what it'll mean to have a middle schooler. 

These photos were from his birthday last year. He was so excited about the "double digits." Last year he was really into Bakugan & Pokemon cards but this year, not so much. Now he's really into Anime & Manga especially. Naruto is one of his favorite shows.  He loves his video games of course,  but he also loves to draw and read. It's amazing how much his interests have changed in a year. 

Anyway I just had to share a little bit about my sweet boy :) This layout features patterned paper from Simple Stories' Destination's Collection and some AC alpha stickers that I've had for a very long time. 

Thanks for looking!

Make It Monday

Hi ya'll!  Yep, I'm back :) 

It rained pretty much most of the weekend here so I spent some time in my craft room. I sorted through things, updated my wish lists, and did some blog hopping.

I also had an interesting conversation with my son. He asked me why I had a scrap room "since I don't scrap any more." So NOT fair for him to call me out like that! LOL But it's true, I haven't scrapped in awhile, so I'm going to be working on that. 

Today I'm going to share a card with you that I created for PaperTrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge. This weeks challenge is to create a background pattern using stamps that aren't necessarily background stamp images. 

For my card I used the area rug from On My Couch Additions.I inked the stamp using black ink staggering the image on each line and then inked the edges. LOVE how this turned out. It kinda reminds me of a Basic Grey pattern :) This was a fun challenge, a great way to look at your stamps a little differently. Hope you'll get a chance to play along too. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: PTI, Paper: Making Memories PP, Bazzill & PTI CS, other: button & floss, black ink

Hi :) it's been awhile. Summer has kept me busy & away from crafting. My mojo must be on vacation too because I haven't see it in awhile. I don't anticipate updating my blog much until school starts again at the end of August, but I'm hoping my mojo will return before then.

I spent some time browsing the new CHA releases and there are several products on my wish list. Simple Stories has a few collections coming out, I really love the addition of the 6x6 paper packs they're releasing. Happy Day and 25 Days of Christmas are definitely on my wish list. 

Fancy Pants has some cute stuff too Fancy Pants CHA. Lilly Bee is a new to me company, love what I've seen so far! You can see lot's of CHA sneek peeks here. 

A Masculine Thank You Card

Hi All! Hope you've been enjoying this warmer weather. Our summer vacation started a couple of weeks ago. I always make it a point to send Tim's main teachers a thank you card at the end of the year to thank them for their hard work. Sadly I often forget to thank the other staff members who offer support to the teachers & also the students.

This year I had several opportunities to interact with several "support" staff members including our school principal who happens to be a guy :) Can you believe I did not have a single card that would be appropriate for a man??? I whipped up something really quickly but didn't get a chance to photograph it. It was a nice reminder of why I like to have several cards on hand for those moments when I don't have time to create a card.

Which brings this little card into play. I like to keep my masculine cards pretty simple, so I chose two patterned paper scraps, PTI sentiment, a little distress ink, & some foam tape to create this CAS card. 

Thanks for looking!