Birthday - CTC#34

I decided to play along with CASE-ing the Catty blog this weekend. It's another way for me to actually use my"stuff".

The challenge for this week was BIRTHDAYS, taking our inspiration from pages 5 - 12 of the new 2015-2016 catalog. I chose the card on page 7. I love the little doughnuts. I did change up my colors and used the Fabulous Four stamp set sentiment.

Well, I have confession.  I do not own the stamp set, Sprinkles on Top. So what did this girl do? I did have the DSP stack, Cherry on Top which had doughnut paper, so I used the 3/4" punch and punched those little sweet doughnuts out. They do have more of a border then stamping and punching them, but they were close enough for me.

If you look closely, the images have a blue shading around the edge. I decided to use the Shimmery White paper as the background piece , it is not as bright as the Whisper White and that seemed  to make the blueish background not as obvious.

The twine is Hello Honey which I felt matched close enough to the Crushed Curry. The patterned paper is from the Cherry on Top DSP combined with a Crushed Curry card base.

This about it for today.  I'm off to take the pup out and clean up my Studio space. A little later this evening my granddaughter and I are going to The Olive Garden for dinner. Love the soup and salad combo!

Have a CRAFTY weekend.

Hugs,
Bernie Bee

Congratulations!

Yesterday I decided to play along with the SUO CHALLENGE, Stars and Stripes, although I didn't add stripes my card which I hope still will qualify.

I haven't  played along many times with this challenge and,  honestly, I don't know why. It's really a great way for me to use my Stampin' Up products. The Star Framelits with matching Eclectic template for example. This was my first time using either of these products. :0)

 The paper in the Cherry on Top DSP stack is so much fun. I love the designs and colors and I used coordinating card stock for the stars and layering on this card.

 I also used the star from the Circle Cards thinlits. It nested perfectly with smaller star in the Star dies. The Congratulations sentiment from the Bravo Stamp set worked great for the finishing touch.

Have a wonderful day and go do something CRAFTY! Why not play along with the challenge over at SUO and get out those much loved, but seldom used products!

Hugs,

Bernie Bee

Cutest Baby Ever

Just a quick post late this afternoon.  This card is for the little one below and her parents, my youngest son, Joel and his sweet wife Kelly. She is our 3rd GD since April. She joins Kate born in April and Annabelle born in May, who is just a month to the day ahead of Wren.

The Lord continues to bless our family. 

Wren Bliss Perkins 

She is a tiny one weighing in at 6lbs.1oz.,19in long

The card is a mixture of retired and new SU products. Feel free to contact me if there is a product name you would like information on. Have a blessed evening a I hope some crafting is in your free time tonight. 

Hugs,

Bernie Bee 

Robot Happy Birthday - 2 Challenge Card

Isn't this the cutest little Robot? It's from the Crazy Robot cartridge. I was able to have access with my subscription to Cricut Design Space. I've only touched the tip of the "iceberg" with using the die cuts on the cartridges. So many choices, so little time!

This afternoon I played along with the sketch by deconstructing jen and the color challenge from colourQ. Loved both the sketch and the colors and just had to make a card.

The solid papers are SU and I included the new Cherry on Top DSP as the background paper. The stamp is SU's B.Y.O.P., the circles were cut using the Starburst dies. I finished off with a button and white twine, also by SU.

I hope you have enjoying your Thursday, I have mine. It's always a plus when I actually create something. Have a blessed evening, and if you have not created today, go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
Bernie Bee

Bread, Soup but NO Card

Good Morning my crafty friends.  Well I was right, I didn't get a card done. I did go into my Studio, looked around, saw some things I might use to make a card, then walked out...

I had spent time reading my 1 year Bible plan, catching up on emails, and just general surfing the web. Gads, that web surfing eats a lot of time! Have any of you noticed that? I needed to do a grocery run and make a  return, but that was  a "time eater" also. 

Since my GD was coming for dinner, she's a Marine stationed here in Pendleton about 20 minutes away, I decided to make her the Raisin Bread she had been asking for. I have a bread machine and I had the recipe, but let's just say, it was a FAIL. It tasted wonderful, but looked awful. If any one out there in Blog Land has a good Bread Machine Raisin Bread recipe, just send me an email (bpb4553@gmail.com). I found several on the web, yes here I go again, and will try one this weekend and let you know the results.

My Raisin Bread FAIL

I also made a soup that I haven't made in a very long time and served it with some homemade Sweet Milk White Bread.  I love soup, but I seem to stick with Chicken Soup, which is my very favorite. Oh, I have tried others, but always go back to Chicken Soup. The ultimate comfort food, but  thought today I would revisit an old favorite.

This Mini Meatball Minestrone is one that I made quite often when we had our 7 children at home. Since we raised our own beef and grew zucchini, it was a great match for use that was simple and economical. It turned out just like I remember and is on my lunch menu today.

 Although I like this soup anytime of the year, you might use it to round out your Fall/Winter menu.

Mini Meatball Minestrone

1 28 oz.can diced tomatoes

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 small zucchini, sliced (2 C, I use 3 C)

1 12 oz. Whole kernel corn (undrained)

1 Tbsp. Olive oil

2 ribs of celery, sliced

1 med. onion, chopped 

1/2 C broken vermicilli  (I just use reg. spaghetti) 

1/2 C Red wine (this can be omitted, but does aseem to give it more depth of flavor)

2 tbsp. snipped celery

1 1/4 tsp. instant beef bouillon

1 tsp. dried Oregano

1/4 tsp. dried basil

*1/8 tsp. garlic powder (next time I would use fresh garlic and saute it with the onions and celery.)

In a Dutch oven, add the olive oil until heated, add the onion and celery and cook until translucent. Add 4 cups water, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper, tomatoes, cabbage, zucchini, undrained corn, red wine, bouillon, and remaining herbs. Bring mixture to boiling;  reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 - 30 minutes. *I simmered mine for 30 minutes.

Meatballs - preheat oven to 350

1 lb. ground beef

1 beaten egg

1/3 fine, dry bread crumbs

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Add all ingredients to bowl, mix well. Shape into 36 small balls. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook apprx. 20 minutes. 

Add spaghetti and drained meatballs to soup; cook for another 15 min covered or until spaghetti is cooked. ENJOY!

That's about it.  I hope to have a CRAFTY day and pray you do also. 

Hugs,

Bernie Bee

Super Sweet

After many weeks of not creating a card, today I was able to. YEAH ME!

I wanted to make a card honoring the 
MOJO MONDAY sketch #400.

I had several different colors rolling around in my head, but I just received my SU order and the new paper pack, Cherry on Top DSP and just had to use it. I wasn't sure if I would  to like it, but I do.  There are lots of cute patterns and the colors are really nice. I also used the new in color, Watermelon Wonder. I think this one is my favorite out of the five colors. Who doesn't like watermelon? :0}

I used an image from the Cricut Design Space, Very Merry Tags and the sentiment is from Taylored Expressions, Fruity Friends, and other various products from SU.

I'll sign off for now.  I hope I can get another card created and posted tomorrow. See you then...

Hugs,

Bernie Bee

HOME!

I'm HOME! I landed in San Diego early yesterday afternoon. The day was long,I had to be at RDU in Raleigh by 5:15am, but  both of my connections where on time and the flights uneventful. Although it was hard to leave my children and GB's, it's nice to be home with my hubby. Hopefully, sometime with in the next year we will be back on the East Coast.

What glorious weather I experienced while in NC,though. Warm, sunny and low humidity. I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect. Unfortunately, N County is in the May gray,June gloom months with 

cooler temperatures and very little sun. Of course, the other 10 months have near perfect weather, so I shouldn't be complaining!

Some reflection:

On the last Friday evening at my daughter Stephanie's home, I rocking my granddaughter on the patio enjoying holding and cuddling  her. As I was sitting there, I was  entertained by a Robin digging for his "worm supper",(I haven't seen a Robin in SO long) watched the fireflies dance around the yard at dusk, and enjoyed the sweet fragrance of  Honeysuckle that filled the cool night air. These simple sights and sounds reminded me of the God who created them. The one who knew they would put a smile on my face and make my heart sing. I believe that is why I enjoy camping.  I love being out surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of His creation.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thursday.Today is catching up opening and sorting mail, doing wash, and some cleaning.I hope I'll be able to do something CRAFTY in a few days. I have lots of ideas floating around  in my head. We'll see how many actually get created.;)

Some Recent Pictures:

Annabelle

My grandson Kempton, #5, playing his last Flag Football game of the season. Jared, my SIL and his Dad enjoyed coaching the boys and did a great job.

Stay CRAFTY my friends!

Hugs,
Bernie B