October | 2013 | Sunshine in my pocket

Archive | October, 2013

Hello Sweetheart! Card

By KariV on October 13, 2013 in Paper Crafting

Hello, weekend! It’s been a crazy weekend for me filled with cooking, baking and delivering gifts to my daughter and my NEW granddaughter! So I’m a little late in getting this post up for the Paper Smooches Challenge!

This week, the challenge was inspired by this picture:

I thought the black lace would lend itself nicely to a Halloween card, and I started out using the cute Monster from Paper Smooches “Falling for You” stamp set. But then, it turned a little cutesy instead. (these monsters have a mind of their own sometimes!)

That black lace has so much movement and I used a basting stitch to give it a bit of a ruffle:

I sewed that ruffled lace right onto the newsprint paper, then added some polka dot paper and a bit of washi tape to cover the white thread.

That little monster is somewhat of a flirt! I turned the “girl” monster to face him…by stamping and tracing it on the back of the paper. I have to say…it didn’t turn out as cute as the stamp itself. 🙂

I added a little grey shadow beneath the monsters and some glossy accents to the eyes for a little shine. That will dry clear, but for now it’s a little thick on that left eye!

Aren’t these guys so cute? Happy Halloween!

Also linking up to the current Simon Says Stamp Challenge: use a rubber stamp.

Supplies Used
Stamps: Paper Smooches “Falling for You”; Elle’s Studio “Hello Sweetheart”
Paper: My Mind’s Eye “Haunted” 6×6 paper stack
Other: Black lace, glossy accents, Inktense Watercolor pencils, Little black suit washi tape

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Caramel Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

By KariV on October 11, 2013 in Dessert, Halloween, Recipes

I love Fall baking! These are some of my favorite pumpkin cookies…the frosting is SO good. I’m sharing the recipe over on Mom Endeavors…and I think you’re going to love it! Check it out here.

While you’re there, leave a comment and let Sara know just how fantastic these look. 😉 Thanks friends!

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Exciting Announcement! And blanket sewing tutorial

By KariV on October 9, 2013 in DIY, Gift Ideas

I just can’t wait to tell you: I’m going to be a GRANDMA!! I know, I know…it’s pretty hard to believe. But, by the time this posts, I MAY already be a grandma. My daughter went into the hospital last night to be induced.

Oh. my. goodness. So I’ve never been a grandma before, but I imagine that grandmas SEW! So guess what I’ve been doing?

Sewing! One of the first things I put together is a baby blanket…with a really SOFT minky inside. It’s a simple project to start with, so how could I resist?

Now, notice the PINK ribbon. It’s a girl! But I bought the aqua fabric before I knew 🙂 ….girls like aqua, too.
Here’s how to make one:

You will need —
1 1/4 yd. minky fabric
1 1/4 yd. cotton fabric
matching thread
sewing supplies

Put the soft fabric on your cutting mat right side up. Place the printed cotton fabric face DOWN on the minky. Trim the minky to the same size as the cotton fabric. Pin all the way around. Sew, leaving a 3 inch hole in order to turn it right side out.

Turn it right side out by pulling the fabric through the unstitched portion:

Iron the cotton side of the blanket, turning that edge under 1/4″ to match the stitched portion. Then top stitch, making sure to close up the hole.

Look how soft and awesome this blanket is:

Don’t you think it will be perfect for newborn baby pictures?! Can’t wait!

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Taste Test Tuesday — Hummus 3 ways

By KariV on October 8, 2013 in Cooking Light, Taste Test Tuesday

Taste Test Tuesday is back! Starting with a fun experiment with hummus.
I have never made hummus before, but I’ve always wanted to. Luckily, the famous (infamous?) Casey Conrad (fitness and health guru) was here for a few days and she whipped up a batch of hummus! She divided it into thirds, added garlic to one part, spinach to another and shredded BEETS to another!

Just look at that bright pink color! I love beets in my Hot Pink Breakfast Drink so I thought it sounded perfectly reasonable to add it to some hummus. 🙂

Now, a quick note on the Sesame Tahini that is required to make hummus. I always thought it came in a squeezable tube…which is perhaps why I haven’t been able to FIND it in the store. It actually comes in an orange and brown can with a lid. Casey instructed me to look near the jam at the health food store, and sure enough, that’s right where I found it!

Hummus is surprisingly easy to make with a food processor. Just throw the basic ingredients in (garbanzo beans, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt), mix it up, add your flavor choices and VOILA! Homemade Hummus. As I work out my favorite hummus recipe, I will be back to share it with you!

And now for the taste test RESULTS:
it was completely divided! Some liked the spinach the best, some liked beets, and some liked the garlic! I personally, liked them all, but I have to say the garlic won me over.

So try adding some different veggies to your next batch of hummus and let me know if YOU find a winner.

Do you have a favorite hummus recipe? Let me know in the comments below.

Be sure to come back this week, when I will share a Gluten-Free & Vegetarian Chocolate Cake that is actually delicious! Casey taught me just how to make it…and you will be surprised at one of the main ingredients!

Until then,

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10-13-good-timber-does-not-come-with-ease

Dose of Sunshine Monday — Good Timber

By KariV on October 7, 2013 in Inspiration

Let’s talk about adversity. Everyone has it at sometime in their life, right? It has been said that adversity makes us stronger…it shapes us into the glorious person we ultimately can be! Do you agree?

This weekend we got a nice reminder of enduring our trials and coping with adversity in General Conference, a world-wide church conference which is televised twice a year. I created a sketch/watercolor to share with you today:

Thomas Monson was actually quoting a poem

by Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

_____
That is the complete poem; now that I shared it with you, see if you can find my mistake in my sketch. Sigh.

So if you are facing a trial, think about strength; think about reaching sun and sky and light and air; think about holding counsel with the stars. Someday. When you have conquered and made it through!

I hope these images brought a smile to you today! Have a wonderful week.

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