Something new to look at***

New paper and new Verve stamps...

Something new to look at *** finally***

Distress stains and watercolor paper***

Such an easy and quick card to make...

I took a piece of watercolor paper and swiped some distress stains over it. Here I used Faded Jeans, Fired Brick and Peeled Paint.

I used my heat gun to dry the stains. Then I stamped this Penny Black stamp with VersaMark ink stamping it over top of the stains, then added seafoam white embossing powder. I heat set the powder, added a sentiment and some gemstones and I was done.

Simplicity!!!

On the Menu Monday***

I first made the Red Pepper Coulis.

In a blender add 4-5 roasted red peppers, a clove of garlic,
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard,
salt and pepper.Whiz it around and then slowly add 1/4 cup of olive oil. Before serving add fresh chopped Italian parsley and 2 Tbsps. capers.
Refrigerate until ready to use on the salmon.









I made of rub of brown sugar, salt and pepper, cumin and hot Spanish paprika, rubbed it on the salmon and refrigerated it for most of the day.

Looking good***

Potatoes and a couple of cloves of garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper... ready for the grill***

Asparagus tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper also ready for the grill.

Tomatoes topped with breadcrumbs,asiago cheese, parsley salt and pepper. Put under the broiler until brown.

They were yummy***

So were the asparagus

and potatoes.












Salmon was very good. It was cooked on a cedar plank on the grill***

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping in***

Hi ***

I got some new stamps today from "Purple Onion Designs" and decided to do a little paper piecing.

First off, I used some Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans distress stains on plain white cardstock and let them dry. I then stamped the image in black versafine ink on the stained piece and then again on some bits and pieces lying on my work table.
I cut them out and placed them on the already stamped image.
The background piece is stamped with Stormy Sky distress ink. It is the French Script from Stampin' Up.
I also used a little faded jeans distress ink around the edges. The seam binding was white and I ran some Faded Jeans distress stain over it to give it some color. When it was dry I tied the bow and added a tag and sentiment from Papertrey Ink.

Have a fabulous evening and thanks for stopping in....

On the Menu Monday *** a day late

I LOVE Pizza!! It's one of my favorite things to make and eat!!

But when I am in a hurry I let my bread machine do the work for me.

1 cup water
3 Tbsps. olive oil
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast

2 hours later you have a nice soft dough.


I made a quick no cook sauce from a tin of
San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried basil and salt and pepper.









I had a hunk of Fontina cheese and Mozzarella which I grated *** I love a cheesy pizza!!










Bake it until it is bubbly and browning around the edges..

I added some torn fresh basil from my garden as well***










I add a good sprinkling of pepperoncino because I like spicy***


So if you have a bread maker that has been collecting dust, get it out and make pizza tonight for dinner***

Celebrate***

The Season*** One more card forthe Christmas stash!

I saw this cute Unity duo at Scrappin' Great Deals here in London, Ontario and decied to ink it up last night.

Colored with Copics, a gold pen to do the tops, designer paper from Cosmo Cricket's "Mitten Weather" collection, some red gemstones and a bit of white bias tape.

Enjoy your weekend*** and thanks for stopping in...

More canvas fun***

My second attempt at a painted canvas.

I used Claudine Hellmuth paints, Crafter's Workshop stencils, Faber Castell markers, Pitt Pens, Inka Gold paste...

The love is rub on that I found as this is a gift for two good friends that are getting married soon.

Thanks for stopping in***

This card is done for Week 2 of the On Line Card Camp being hosted by Jennifer McQuire and Kristina Werner.

I stamped a Penny Black image and colored it with Faber Castell markers and cut it out.

The background is a Stampin' Up script stamp and the yellow piece of cardstock is punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

The sentiment is Papertrey Ink.

Unfortunately the background color really is a limey green which is one of the colors we were supposed to use this week but it sure didn't photograph that way.

This card is already on it's way to a good friend in Montreal so use your imagination.

Have a great afternoon and thanks for stopping in***

On the Menu Monday with Shrimp from Sunday***

My son Tyler and Alix, Britt and birthday boy Landon***



Boys will always be boys***


Alix and Tyler***





Britt and Landon***

A great weekend of celebrating, swimming, eating and relaxing***
I love it when all my kids are home!!!



Sunday was a quick dinner of grilled shrimp on the BBQ and salad...

Marinade for Shrimp

adapted from Cook's Country

one bag of 16-20 shrimp defrosted and patted dry

put them in a zip lock bag

add***

a couple of chopped garlic cloves

one jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

olive oil - about 3-4 Tablespoons

1 tsp. cumin

salt and pepper

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

zest of one lemon and one lime

juice of three limes and one lemon

marinate the shrimp for an hour

thread onto metal skewers

grill until pink..

Thanks Alix for taking the picture***

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANDON***

25 years ago today we were given the most beautiful gift***
There is no-one quite like you.
You are unique.
We are fortunate to have you
as our son.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANDON***
ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Fun Times in the City***

In the city of Kitchener Ontario that is!!! I had a class with oh so very talented Karen Ellis of the Art House Studio***

I am loving all this mixed media and called Karen after I saw some the gorgeous canvases she had done. I just had to know how to do it.

We had fun with paints and markers and mists and gels and masks and jute and paper and all kinds of wierd and wacky things....

We had a blast and now I can hardly wait to try another canvas and see what I can come up with!!!

Thanks Karen and if you are ever in her neck of the woods stop in...She would love it***

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!