Everyone loves flowers

First, I would like to thank everyone who had the time to stop by and leave comments.  We are still in the stay at home order which was updated today to extend now until May 4.   I guess it will be reevaluated again at that time.  Now they are asking everyone to wear a face mask when out in public.  It is too bad each state is not having companies make non surgical masks for the public to be able to pick up someplace.   Stores are still dismally 
stocked, they have purchase limits on a lot of the items.  

I hope you are all well and managing thorough this very difficult time.

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Tiny Flowers
My Favorite Things - Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frame
Memory Box - Candy Jar
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Orange
Poppy Stamps - Little Hummingbirds
Spellbinders -  A2 Matting Basics A

Funny but real 

Yes, now toilet paper bouquets are worth more than roses.

A Bouquet of Spring

I made this design twice, once using the Martha Stewart punched Doily punch and the other without.

Materials
Cheery Lynn Designs - Lattice Heart & Vines
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Heartfelt - small Camellia Carnations
Martha Stewart -Punch Around the Edge Doily & Butterfly
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Purple
Spellbinders - Classic Square Large

Decorator's Dream Cookie Recipe
This is a website I found that also has the recipe.

I believe it originally came from King Arthur Flour but I can't find it on their website)

This is one of the best cookies I have eaten and make a fun cookie to decorate or just eat plain

1 cup (2 sticks, 8 ounces) butter

2 cups (8 ounces) confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons (1 3/8 ounces) light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract (note I use Lorann Oil Almond Emulsion bought from Amazon)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, light beaten with 2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon baker's ammonia*, optional

3 1/2 cups (14 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour

Yield about 4 dozen 2 inch cookies

Baking Temperature 350 Fahrenheit

Baking Time 8 to 12 minutes

In a medium bowl cream together the butter, sugar and corn syrup until light and fluffy ( I use a Kitchen Mixer for this)  Beat in the flavoring and salt.  

Add the baker's ammonia to the egg and water, stir to dissolve.  Add this mixture,  then add 1 cup of flour to the ingredients in the bowl,  mix then second cup and mix then third cup and mix finally 1/2 flour mix.  You should have a nice smooth will mixture dough.

Divide the dough in half, put each half in wax paper then a plastic bag.  Flatten each slight.  Refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Take one piece of dough out of refrigerator, and flour a clean surface.  Roll as thin or thick , for slight less crisp cookies roll it out more thickly.  We roll Decorators Dream Cookies 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick.  Use flour under and on top of dough to prevent sticking.

Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter .  ( I am lazy so I just use a 2 inch round cookie cutter to make it go faster)

Bake cookies just until they're slightly brown around the edges.  Let cookies cool on baking sheet for several minutes.  Transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

*Baker's ammonia will make an ultra-crisp cookie

Personally I have used Baker's ammonia and it has no shelf life, gets hard from absorbing the moisture in the air.   So I just don't use it anymore.  One more thing, if you do use it DO NOT eat the raw dough, it really smells like ammonia.

Spring has Sprung

Well, the Black Bear is awake now in our area, how do I know that you ask.  He destroyed my bird  and suet feeder.  Pulled them off the Shepherds Hook which by the way he bent almost to the ground.  Then tore the lid off the suet feeder and left it is pieces.  Next,  on to the bird feeder, smashed the plastic tube and managed to get it in pieces also. 

It has been a few years since I had trouble with the bear, he is a large male around 200 pounds and most of the time I can just scare him off by banging on something loudly.  But he managed to sneak in the yard late at night  this time.

On my once a week grocery shopping event, I see things still have not calmed down in my area.  We are still in the shelter in place until April 6th and then it might be extended depending on the virus numbers.  Store still has the hoarding issue, no sugar, flour, paper products, rice, dried beans and now people are buying most of the canned goods.  Even all the eggs were gone.   I have gotten very creative on making dinners now.

Materials:
Heartfelt Creations - Small Camellia Carnation
Poppy Stamps - Climbing Vine
Spellbinders - Majestic Elements & 5 X 7 Matting Basics A

I had many people ask about caring for Orchids.  I get all my information on watering, re-potting and problems with Orchids by watching Miss Orchid Girl on You Tube.  She has over 400 Orchids, from the easy to grow to the exotics.

I bought all my re-potting supplies from a company called rePotme Orchid Supplies.  They have really fast shipping and most months have some kind of discount of their products.

Easter Lilies

Greetings everyone, I hope you are well and taking one day at a time.  Even though we are isolated right now you are now alone.

Materials:
Art Glitter
Impression Obsession - Easter Greetings
My Favorite Things - Lily
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Purple
Spellbinders - Grand Ovals

I have re-potted all my Orchids now, they really needed it.  Some I am sure were in the same small containers for years.  I just can't believe how pretty they are when in bloom.


The other day a friend sent me a funny note.

I heard there might be a food shortage
We may have to start hunting our own food
I don't even know where Doritos live.

We took a drive this weekend to the Skagit Valley, WA but of course never left the car only a handful of people out in the valley which was nice.
They grow acres of Daffodils and Tulips each year. The Tulips won't be in bloom until April.  All the pictures I have posted are from the Skagit Valley area.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/roozengaarde/photos/?ref=page_internal

Yellow Daffodils

White & Yellow Daffodils 

Miniature Donkey Farm in the valley

Swans getting bugs in the growing fields.

Spring Basket

Hello and I wanted to thank everyone who stops bye.  I hope you are all well, I have been walking each day to try to relief the stress of living in a hot zone.  I have gotten really good and making cinnamon bread and cookies.  On my one trip to the grocery store each week I still see people hoarding items, especially toilet paper.  Still don't understand that, the shortages are being created from people buying more than they really need.

Some local craft distilleries are now making hand sanitize so more will be available to the Health Industries soon.

What are you doing to help relief the stress?

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Tiny Flowers
Memory Box - Scalloped Cake Stand & Woven Basket
Nuvo Crystal Drops - White
Poppy Stamps - Dianna Border
Spellbinders - A2 Matting Basics A &  Ribbon Banners
Glitter for center of flowers.

Easter

Hello and I wanted to thank everyone who stopped by and commented on my last design. 

For today's design I folded the white card stock in half then used the scalloped die slightly above the fold so when it cuts the paper both pieces are still attached.  Then you have a fun little window to peek into.

I hope everyone is staying virus free and this pandemic passes sooner than later.

Materials:
Heartfelt Creations - Small Camellia Carnation
Impression Obsession - Tiny flowers
Martha Stewart - grass punch
Memory box - Fuzzy bunnies & stitched clouds
Spellbinders - Classic Scalloped and standard circles

Peter Rabbit's Residence

Hello and thank you all for the lovely comments on my last design. Well, as many of you have probably read the Coronavirus has really hit Washington State hard.  I have never washed my hands so much in my life.

Today's design I used a Karen Burniston pop-up die, the only one I ever bought.  I find I can make a lot of fun designs using other manufacturers dies that work with the basic pop-up part. Also, the card folds in half very nicely to mail.

Materials:
Heartfelt - Small Camellia Carnation
Impression Obsession - Easter Joy
Karen Burniston - House & Fence Pop-up die
Memory Box - Stitched Clouds & Grand Alder Tree
Poppy Stamps - Egg Cetera, Country Baskets & Bunny Buddies
Spellbinders - Ribbon Banners

Easter Step Card Design

Greetings and I hope everyone is well.  I don't make many step card designs because I always forget how to do the cuts and folds.  I had to watch another video to get it correct.  Also I see the bunnies I have attached don't show up in the picture, which just figures with my lack of taking a good photo.

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Duck set, Farm girl (little duck) & Girl with Easter Bucket
Poppy Stamps - Bunny Buddies

Floating On a Cloud

Greetings everyone.  Gosh I can't believe how long it has been since I posted.  I hope everyone is well and enjoying the New Year.   I found a little trick to use when I want to color something white while using colored card stock.  I have a little bottle of clear glue mixed with a few drops of white Acrylic Paint. I painted the hair and wings with it and then applied some glitter.

Materials:
Cherry Lynn - Lace Corner Deco F
Memory Box - Stitched Clouds & Sentimental Happy Valentine's Day
Alexander Renke - Angel With Heart

It's your Birthday

I hope everyone is well, we are having the strangest weather this year.  It has rained on and off all summer and the temperatures have stayed fairly cool for us.

Today's design I used the shadow technique to create the lettering and behind the flowers.

Materials:
Heartfelt Creations - Small Camelia Carnation
Martha Stewart - Punch Around the Edge Pansy
Memory Box - Sentimental Happy Birthday
Poppy Stamps - Swirly Curl Border Outline, Bountiful Sunflower Background

Just a few pictures from our trip to Butchart Gardens, Canada.

Butchart Gardens

https://www.butchartgardens.com/

Victoria Butterfly Gardens 

https://www.butterflygardens.com/

High Tea at the Empress Victoria

https://www.fairmont.com/empress-victoria/dining/tea-at-the-empress/

Beauty In Bloom

Hello, sorry I have been away for a while.  First I had a gum graft which I have been putting off for a while.  It was painful and made eating challenging.  I will need to have the surgery again after the first of the year for the rest of the areas.   Then my husband found out he had melanoma on the top of his head. So he had surgery and we were lucky to find it hadn't spread.

Today's design I have had for a while but didn't get around to posting.

Materials:
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Heartfelt Creations - Small Camelia Carnation
Poppy stamps - Little Hummingbird's
My Favorite Things - Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frame

Spring Stoll

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the Spring weather.  I have all my garden boxes planted, the snails are eating their way through my garden boxes.  Now the birds are pulling up the new tender shoots and the mice are running around the yard eating the seeds.  I really need to borrow a neighbor's cat for a few days.

Impression Obsession - Farm Girl, Duck set, Cardinals, Tiny Flowers & Fence
Poppy Stamps - Evanston Birdhouse & Fairy Flower
Memory Box - Grand Alder Tree
Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

Blue  Clematis

Reddish Clematis

Spring Bouquet

Materials:
Art Glitter - White
Cuttlebug - Kassie's Brocade embossing folder
Heartfelt Creations - Small Camelia Carnation
Memory Box - Peace Doves
Spellbinders - Floral Ovals
Sakura 3d lacquer
Sizzix Susan's Gardens - Tool shaping kit

Well it's the weekend, raining and chilly.  Gave me time to work on cards instead of doing yardwork.
I went completely crazy with glitter on this design.  After embossing the purple paper I started shaping the flowers using the Sizzix Susan's Gardens tool kit.  I don't use it much but after watching some videos I always get in the mood to give it a try again.  After the flowers were shaped I used little dabs of the Sakura 3D lacquer and sprinkled on glitter.  I coated the birds with yellow glitter and decided to add the yellow Floral Oval for a little contrast.

Thank you for all your comments on my previous design I love reading them.

wild trilliums

A couple of years ago I noticed that Trilliums come up each Spring all around the yard.  So I now dig them up and have them all growing in the same area.  They tend to like shade and lots of moisture.

Out For A Stroll

The other day I told my husband I was giving myself a title I now am called the Kitchen Engineer. I use weights, measurements and temperature control, right.

Hope you are all enjoying some nice Spring weather.


Materials:
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
EK Success - Daisy punch
Hearthfelt Creations - Small Camelia Carnation
Impression Obsession - Farm Girl
Memory Box - Fancy Blossoms
Spellbinders - Classic Ovals Large & Floral Ovals

You're My Favorite

Greetings and thank you for all your lovely comments on my last design.
Today's design was just a fun take on what dogs are really thinking.

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Girl with Easter Basket (just basket)
Memory Box - Crisp Bows
Poppy Stamps - Patient Pup
Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

I have been growing Orchids  for many years now, I have them sitting in the bathroom where they seem to like the light from the two windows and the humidity.  Mine tend to bloom in February and then again later in the year.  I am always surprised how easy it is to grow them, really they just like to be ignored.

Here is a good article about how to get your Orchid to rebloom.

Starry Night

Greetings and hope everyone is well.  Just a quick little design using some negative cuts.

Materials:
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Memory Box - Leaping Deer & Tall Birch
Nuvo Crystal Drops - White
Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

Tea & Cake

Hello, and hope everyone is fine.  Looking forward to warmer days and Spring like weather.  The snow has stopped but the daytime temperatures are certainly cool.

On days like today I like to sip on some Earl Grey tea and bake cookies.

Materials:
Dee's Distinctively - Border No 3 (Steam)
Impression Obsession - Tea Set
Martha Stewart - Floral Vine Deep Edge  & Cherish Hearts Edge Punch
Memory Box - Petite Cake

Got Ya

Greetings, after four storms we now have over 2 feet of snow on the ground.  We have been snowed in for days now.  Last night the county snowplow came and cleared the streets.  My husband spent hours clearing one side of the driveway.

I watched a fun tutorial about making trees by mixing glue and white paint in a small bottle.  After you get your trees the way you like them you then coat them in glitter.   So I thought I would give it a try for my background trees.

Link to tutorial

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Girl With Watering Can
Martha Stewart - Cardinal punch
Memory Box - Gentleman Leaping (arms only)
Papertry Ink - In the Meadow

Box covered with over 2 feet of snow

On the left side of picture is a 2 foot long icicle

Have a Dog-Gone Great Day

Our next snow storm is arriving, we have 9" on  the ground and more tonight and Monday.  Can't believe how much we are getting, it is setting all sorts of records.

Materials:
Mama Elephant - Frame Tags Park Avenue Creative Cuts
Martha Stewart - Balloon punch
Memory Box - Happy Valentine's Day & Crisp Bows
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Red, yellow, purple & orange
Poppy Stamps - Aston Side Table & Frenchy, Patient Pup

Raining Birthday Greeting's

Materials:
Cuttlebug - Tiffany Embossing Folder
Impression Obsession - Tiny Flowers
Poppy Stamps - Ivy Tendrils & Stitched Umbrellas
Spellbinders - Ribbon Banners

Snowed Sunday night and all day Monday.  So far we have over 5 inches on the ground.  The morning lows are 16 degrees and the high is 32 degrees. The snow is not melting.  We have another big snow storm coming in Friday that will bring another 5 inches or so.

In all the years we have lived here I have never seen so much snow nor has it lasted this long.

There is over 5" of snow on the birdfeeders.  It looks like they have little hats on.

Snow covered wind spinner

Wintery wonderland in the backyard.

These are my garden boxes filled with lots of snow

Cupid Delivering Hearts

Materials:
Art Glitter - Red, green, gold
Impression Obsession - Cupid With Hearts & Fir Trees
Memory Box - Brand New Bicycle
Penny Black - Heart String
Spellbinders - M- Bossabilities Brick Pattern

For this design I went glitter crazy, I glittered the flower pot, bike, heart string and cupids outfit.

I made reservations for High Tea last weekend for my husbands birthday. Yes, he was the only male in the Tea house.   We also needed to kill time and went to a model train show and then over to Bass Pro Shop to look at how they design the stores.  I am not a hunter but the stores are still very impressive with life size taxidermy and huge indoor fish tank.

Yes these are life size Elk

Moose

Fresh baked scones

Three tier tray, sorry we ate the second layer before I remembered to take the picture.

Easel Birthday Card

Hello, this is my first time trying a easel card design.

Materials:
Art Glitter - Paris 322
Heartfelt creations - Small Camellia Carnation
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Memory Box - Sentimental Happy Birthday
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Crushed Grape
Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large. Gold Majesty Circle & Inverted Scalloped Circles

Heart's Full of Love

Hello and I hope everyone is well.

I always have so much fun creating a half envelope card design.

Materials:
Alexandra Renke - Cupid
Card Deco - Frame Card Fantasy Scallop A5
Cuttlebug - Kassie's Brocade
Heartfelt Creation s _ Small Camellia Carnation
Memory Box - Sentimental Happy Valentine's Day & Meridian Border
Poppy Stamps - Ivy Tendrils
Spellbinders - Classic Hearts & Lace Hearts

Be Mine

Hello and thank you for stopping by.  I used the Martha Stewart Punch around page for the heart frame.  It is too bad she stopped making craft punches.  This is really a simple and fast design to create.

I have a funny story to tell you.  I have a squirrel buster bird feeder.  It has weights so anything heavier than a small bird the seed opening close up. I also have a whole peanut holder for the gorgeous Stellar Jays we have here in Washington.  They don't care for sun flowers seeds.  So the squirrel hasn't bothered the sun flower feeder but has been trying to get the peanuts.  Both of the feeders are on a metal Shepherds Hook.  The squirrel can actually climb up the metal pole to my surprise.  So I sprayed the pole with Pam cooking spray.  He slides down and now has given up trying to get the peanuts.

Materials:
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Martha Stewart - Punch Around The Page Sweethearts
Memory Box - Fabulous Phlox & Sentimental Be Mine
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Pink center of flowers
Spellbinders - Classic Square Large

Valentine Greetings

Greetings this is my first design of the new year.  I first die cut the Floral Oval then removed the piece and ran the Classic Oval die through  my machine to cut out  the center. I embossed the background and reattached the Floral Oval.  I attached the Curvy Leaves behind the oval and the small Carnation flowers to the front.  To the center of each flowers I added Hot Kiss Pink Glitter.  I added the ribbon banner after I die cut it in white and twice in pink so I could create the shadow effect.  I added a little yellow ink to the birds wings and attached as shown.  Before I attached the front to the white card stock I added some mounting tape to give the design a little dimension.

Materials:
Art Glitter - Hot Kiss #87 glitter
Cuttlebug - Kassie's Brocade
Elizabeth Craft - Curvy Leaves
Heartfelt - Small Camellia Carnations
Memory Box - Peace Doves
Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals & Ribbon Banners

When I was in Nuremberg I purchased some Springerle wooden cookie molds.  I still don't have the recipe correct but I am getting better at getting the design to show up after they are baked.