Thursday, April 25, 2013

Manly Wishes

     I've mentioned it before, but from time to time I struggle with creating cards for men. I recently saw a card on the Paper Crafts blog that I really thought was just the perfect card for a man, but still held true to my kind of crafting.


So, I decided to give it a try and I came up with this card! Manly without a slew of cliché male things which is what I was looking for on this one. The recipient enjoyed it so that is what matters most! What kind of cards do you struggle with the most? Leave a comment and let me know! Thanks for stopping by today!

Scrap Happy~
Melissa

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Paper Bakery Sketch Challenge

     I recently found a wonderful blog called The Paper Bakery. They are a kit club (which I'd love to subscribe to one day) and just started featuring bi-weekly sketch challenges! The sketch this week was so awesome! It really allowed for a little creative license while giving a nice base to work from. 



I wanted to create a bright and colorful layout using these goofy photos of my daughter. I tend to use bright and colorful for her, it just coincides with her personality! So, with a little bit of everything on this layout, I was able to create this: 


I seriously loved this sketch and can't wait until the next one comes out! I think I may become a regular!  Thanks for stopping by today! Hope the rest of your weekend is lovely!

Scrap Happy~
Melissa

Monday, April 15, 2013

Serenity Now!

     That title is the first thing that I think of when I see the photo that I scrapped...serenity!


I wanted to have my page convey the feeling that I get when looking at this photo. To do that, I started by playing with some water colors. I haven't done that in a really long time, so that alone was fun! (I've also renewed my kids' interest in painting again :)


I knew that I wanted to layer the watercolors beneath the photo but when I did that, it was still missing something. After some suggestions from friends and way too much contemplation on my part, I added some chevrons and I am so glad that I did! It gave it more of a pop.

Here is a close up of the title.






And a close up of the journaling.


The inspiration for this page came from the Pinspired Challenge Photo below. Information for the challenge can be found HERE!


Plus Paper Issues had a fun challenge encouraging the scrapping of Instagram photos so this is my take on that as well!



Thanks for stopping by to take a look today! I hope to get a few more hours of scrap time in soon and will post more projects as I finish them. Also, in wake of the recent tragedy in Boston, I just wanted to post below a message that I know many are feeling...



 ~Melissa

DCWV April Card Challenge

Hello All!

Just a quick post on this Monday morning to share a card that I made for the DCWV challenge. After I took this photo I added a 40 to the heart for my hubby's 40th birthday!


I looked at the card store for a card to purchase but I just could not do it! Not only were they pricey, they just didn't say what I wanted them to. Easy solution that I need to a little refresher for, was to just make it myself! And, with this cute sketch, why not?!?

Thanks for looking! Sorry I've been a bit MIA lately. I am hoping to post more as I am able! April and May tend to be very busy months for my family! Have a wonderful week!

Scrap Happy~Melissa


Monday, April 8, 2013

Hello Again!

     It has been a long while since I have participated in a Mid-Week Mojo with Scrapbook Steals. Other things always seem to get in the way of my crafty time and when my time is limited I have to prioritize my projects. Fortunately, this week, the MWM fit right in!


     Now, for any of you who have followed me for a while, you will know that this is one of my all time favorite collections...ever. American Crafts "Abode" was a sneak peek on their blog in on January 15, 2010. I've been in love ever since. The love is three fold I think: 1) coffee cups 2) houses 3) color. I just had to pull it out to use again with this layout.


     This was also my first time stamping on vellum paper. It took a while to dry but I like the effect that it gave. It also worked well to assist with my title!


     This red and aqua of this collection gets me everytime! I am hoping that I can fit in the MWM this week too! We'll see what the week ahead brings! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap Happy~Melissa


Friday, April 5, 2013

Five Friday Favorites!

     I decided to do another Friday Favorites post just because I find it fun! I love seeing what other people are enjoying so I hope you don't mind these kind of posts. As always, feel free to leave me a comment sharing one of your favorite things this week! I'd love to know what you <3 this week!

1) I love sequins! They do such a good job of adding a little sparkle to my layout, cards, etc. It is hard for me to create these days and not use sequins! I just picked up some more today at the craft store. And, I want to order from the place that I got this photo from sometime soon!

2) A friend of mine got me this perfume about two years ago when I couldn't stop smelling her as we chatted in my foyer. It is summer in a bottle and I love it almost as much as I love her. 


3) I do realize that it is almost spring. (I say almost since it didn't get out of the 30's today!) However, we are still needing snuggly blankets at night when the sun stops shining. I absolutely love my Dara & Co. blanket that I got several years ago. If I could justify and afford another one, I would get it in a heartbeat. I got mine on major sale at kidsteals.com and it is different colors than below but it is soft luxury to cover up with in the evening!



4) My kids and I stopped at the bulk food section in the grocery on Monday and they wanted pistachios. I had forgotten how much I truly love them. Salty green bits of happiness in a shell! What could be better?!?


5) I found this recipe for Overnight Oats and made it for the first time this week. I love the fact that it is a bunch of healthy stuff all sitting overnight to create something quick for me to eat in the morning. I eat about 1/4 of it per day and mix it with fruit. It is really yummy! This is before and after mixing it together. I forgot to get one of it before I dug in the next morning. I didn't add any of the mix-ins...just fruit.


Ingredients
    For the overnight oats:
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick cooking)
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • Variation #1 – Pumpkin Peanut Butter
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Variation #2 – Strawberry Banana
  • 2 to 2 ½ tablespoons strawberry jam
  • 1 small banana, mashed
Instructions
  1. Combine the oats, Greek yogurt, milk, and chia seeds in a bowl or jar, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and allow the mixture to sit in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. In the morning, stir in the desired mix-ins and enjoy.
What do you think? Do you like Five Friday Favorites? Let me know! Any fun plans for the weekend? Let me know that too! We are celebrating my hubby's birthday with friends this weekend so it should be fun! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap Happy~
Melissa





Thursday, April 4, 2013

Captain Birthday Boy

     I created this layout a while back for a sketch challenge but now that the deadline has long since passed, I don't recall which one! So, this sketch idea/layout is not my own but I love it all the same!

     We had a Superhero kind of birthday for my youngest on his last birthday. Not the Marvel superheros kind, more like the masked & caped kind of random superhero.


     I used my go to birthday collection which is Basic Grey's "Life of the Party" collection. I have used this several times for fun, celebratory layouts and it never disappoints. I added a cape to the little party boy sticker and we had a Superhero look to the whole thing!

   
     I purposefully purchased the "Birthday" alphas knowing that I had this theme in mind for his party. Have you ever done that? I had them for over six months before I actually needed to use them! I am a planner, what can I say?!?

     I kept the journaling short and sweet, mainly because I wanted it to fit in that space I had available! I always hesitate to write directly on the paper and typically want to use a journaling box instead but I like the look of it and I hope to do that more often!


     These colors and patterns are just so fun to work with. I am quite certain that you will see them again in another layout! Thanks for stopping by today!

Scrap Happy~Melissa

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Sweet Fun

     I had the chance to work with some adorable, bright & cheery paper and embellishments from Doodlebug this month since they teamed up with Kiwi Lane to collaborate on some scrapbook inspiration for the month of April. I'd love it if you'd stop by the Kiwi blog for some ideas using the Celebration designer templates and the cute Doodlebug "Fruit Stand" collection.


Thanks for stopping by today! Until next time...
Scrap Happy~Melissa

Monday, April 1, 2013

Happy Monday!


     A quick post Easter post today along with a few recipes in an attempt to apologize for my lack of posting lately! Things are busy, as always, but all is well! Before recipes however, I needed to share a photo of my newest little niece! We had a newborn photo shoot last week when she wasn't even a week old and I was so happy with how the photos turned out! She is the sweetest little thing and quite the snuggler!

     We changed up our usual Easter routine this year and actually ended up staying home with just our little family. Typically, we get together with our extended family but it didn't work out that way this year. It actually was kind of fun to spend the holiday at home and sharing more than one meal together.

     On Saturday night, I got all of the things that we were going to eat together. This was the breakfast/dessert line-up: Mini Breakfast Pies, Monkey Bread, Overnight Cinnamon Baked French Toast, and Simple Cream Pie. I've been pinning so many things onto my Pinterest board lately, I was excited to make some of them!

 
     First up were these little Mini Breakfast Pies. It is just a biscuit on the bottom along with the other ingredients and made in a muffin pan. These heat up very nicely in the microwave so they would be easy to make ahead of time for the school week as well! This is a recipe from allrecipes.com.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 pound breakfast sausage
1/8 cup minced onion
1/8 cup minced green bell pepper
1 (12 ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough
3 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1.    Preheat oven to 400º

2.    In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, combine sausage, onion and green pepper. Cook until sausage is evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
3.    Separate the dough into 10 individual biscuits. Flatten each biscuit out, then line the bottom and sides of 10 muffin cups. Evenly distribute sausage mixture between the cups. Mix together the eggs and milk, and divide between the cups. Sprinkle tops with shredded cheese.
4.    Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until filling is set.


     Next up was Monkey Bread. I had never even heard of it until some neighbors told me about it ten years ago. Now, I make it sparingly since I eat it nonstop if it's around!
     
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 cans refrigerated biscuits
10 tablespoons butter
1cup packed brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
1.  Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 12-cup fluted tube pan.
2.  Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in 1-gallon bag. Separate dough into biscuits; cut each in quarters.
3.  Shake biscuit quarters in bag to coat; place in pan. Sprinkle any extra sugar mixture over biscuits.
4.  In a saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to boiling over medium-high heat; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour over biscuit quarters.
5. Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Turn upside down; pull apart to serve.

And the last item on the list for breakfast was this delicious Overnight Cinnamon Baked French Toast recipe that I found on this blog.

 
This blogger really knows her stuff! I've made several things she's featured already and have loved them all! Here is this recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1 loaf stale bread (I used french)
8 whole eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
1/2 cup AP flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick cold butter, cubed
DIRECTIONS
1. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
2. Tear the bread into chunks and place them in the greased pan.
3. Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. In another bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the butter and mix until the batter comes somewhat together, like little pebbles. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
6. Take your pan with the soaking bread inside and sprinkle crumb mixture on top.
If you like soggier french toast, bake for 45 minutes. For a firmer and less liquid-y french toast, bake for an hour.
Serve warm with maple syrup and butter, if desired.

     Lastly, for dessert, was a Cream Pie that I found on this blog. The story behind the pie is entertaining if you'd like to read it! I just wanted to find something that was different and that everyone might like. I was (pretty much) successful in that!


 I love the rich, creaminess of the pie. It really turned out perfectly and I plan to make it again! Here is the recipe directly from their blog.

Simple_Cream_Pie_Recipe_by_jRoxDesigns
     So, there was a lot of baking, a lot of eating and a lot of chocolate this past weekend! I hope that you had much of the same since all three of those make me really happy! Otherwise, I hope that your weekend was filled with all of the things that make you happy! Stop by tomorrow for a Kiwi Lane post using a really fun paper collection!





Scrap Happy~Melissa