Friday, March 29, 2013

{crafty} Blog Hop with Glitz Design


This month the Social [Media] Butterflies are featuring Glitz Design, and are so excited and happy to be included in the Uncharted Waters inspiration week. If you haven't checked out their blog, make sure you look at it now-- http://glitzitnow.com/blog/

I love the Uncharted Waters collection and as I started playing with it my mind was wandering to my wedding photos which have sat completely un-scrapped for nearly 7 years! I love the mix of blues with pink and yellow in this collection and really wanted to play that up with my background. I sprayed a few colors of Mister Huey on my craft mat, sprayed it with water and then blotted it with my cardstock. I also added a few splatters for more interest. To add to the "artsy" feel of the page I added modeling paste, random stamping, and dared myself to scribble without fear!




Thank you for looking! Next up is the fabulous Kristin!

Be sure to keep hopping along for more beautiful creations with Uncharted Waters and leave comments along the way for a chance to win a Glitz Design prize pack!

Glitz Design
Shay
Corinne
Trisha
Amanda
Kristin T.
Suz
Jenny
Malika
Ellie
Jen
Kristin D.
Social Media Butterflies

Thursday, February 28, 2013

{crafty} SMBiGBlog Hop with Elle's Studio

Welcome back! We are glad to have you back for the February edition of our Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop.

You should have come here from Jen's blog, if not head back to the Social Media Butterflies home base to start from the beginning.

This month we are sharing with you our LOVE for Elle's Studio, using her You & Me collection and showing how it inspired us. If you've never bought any products from Elle's Studio before, make sure you check out the shop! Her tags, stamps & new papers are total must haves! Elle is also joining us for the hop this month, and we could not be more excited to have her join us! 

My layout for the hop is a little bit different. Rather than using the collection items I took inspiration from them to create my page. I found a lot of inspiration in the You & Me tidbits



My background was inspired by the "love" tag. I created it in Silhouette studio and used my sketch pens to draw out the words, with one standing out in pink. I also carried through the stitching, hearts and chalkboard images you see throughout the collection.


Next up is Corinne! And be sure to check out the rest of the ladies in the hop, and see how they used the You & Me collection!

Amanda <--you are here
NEXT UP -->Corinne

But before you go we have an awesome prize pack from Elle's Studio You & Me collection to giveaway for hopping along with us today! You get an entry for every blog you comment on along the way! Winner will be announced Monday March 4th.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

{crafty} Time SMBiGBlogHop



Welcome back! We are so happy to have you back for the January edition of our Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop!

You should have come here from Susan's blog, if not head back to the Social Media Butterflies home base to start from the beginning.

This month our focus is on TIME. In thinking about what I wanted to make for the hop this month and how time can apply in so many different ways I kept coming back to MAKE TIME. I don't always have the time to pursue what I love to do for myself but I am learning that it is important to MAKE the time for it and that I can without needing to feel guilty or selfish. Whether it's deepening my faith, creating art (at least, I consider it art) or reading. I am learning that if my priorities are in check everything else tends to fall in to place. At least every once in a while ;-)

In all the years that I have been scrapbooking, this is my very first project that is just about me. I had some "oops' moments but I am trying not to let them bother me too much. I've noticed there is a fine line between a fun messy look and just looking messy. Hopefully I didn't cross that line too much.

I used a Heidi Swapp color magic memory file and mini memory file. Studio Calico's Monkey Bar's kit, Noah outline stamp and Block Party Stamp. For the inside of the large folder I used several Studio paints, Liquitex acrylic inks, modeling paste and a black paint pen.









Thanks for looking! 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

{crafty} Printables & Etsy

When I started my Etsy shop it was with one main purpose in mind, to share my love of everything paper in the form of inspirational words and quotes. Sometimes I do veer off to do something fun or whimsical, because let's face it, it's fun! 

I have some new altered frames and other projects in the works but lately my shop has taken quite a turn from paper based items to vinyl decals and signs. I have learned a lot along the way, like the fact that my love for fonts may soon overtake my paper hoarding problem, but I am learning more every day. I have been thinking about going back to school for the last few years and I suddenly (like just now as I started typing) decided I want to go back for Graphic Design. I have always been crazy undecided when it comes to schooling. I went to school for Psychology then jumped to Graphic Design (weird huh!?) and eventually Interior Design and all of that was many years ago. In the meantime I am going to play and teach myself what I can. After creating vinyl designs I recently started leaning towards print designs as well because I love the versatility of making quick color and size changes. Here are a few designs I have made recently. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen this first one, for a limited time I am making this available as a free download! I just ask that you please give credit where it's due if used in a project. 




I admit, while I do like this one I do plan on revisiting it. I like the way this font played well with these words, I'm not sure it was the right choice.

 I also recently used this design in another color scheme as a bold title for a layout using Crate Paper's Acorn Avenue (photo removed for publication)

Sunday, January 6, 2013

{tasty} Spicy Buffalo Lentils

There are some things I am just simply not good at.

Time management may top that list. I confess, I am a procrastinator. You give me a hard deadline and you bet I will get it done, albeit I will surely wait until the eve of said deadline to start it. No deadline? Let's just say I have projects I started over 3 years ago that still sit unfinished. I have a never ending to-do list of ideas for home projects, craft projects, recipes...and simply not enough hours, or sometimes desire, to get them done.

Also on that list? Creating recipes. I am, however, one heck of a recipe follower. There are times that either I or my husband have a recipe idea and I make it happen. There is that little detail however of remembering how I made it. Of course, I can't make it that easy on myself and just write it down as I go. Or when I do write it down I throw it away or bury it in the mail pile and it's never seen again. Or I write down my ingredients and the meal turns out exactly as I hoped for but I didn't take pictures. Who wants to take pictures every 30 seconds while they are trying to get their family fed? Yep, that sounds like me but eventually I get my act together, even if it means making the same thing 4 times in a month.

I am still struggling to find a decent place to take natural light pictures in my house. It's proving to be quite difficult. We should move.


 Spicy Buffalo Lentils:
  • 2 cups cooked Lentils
  • 2 Carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 Celery stalks, diced
  • 1/2 small Onion, diced
  • 3 strips of Bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/3 cup Franks hot sauce
  • 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 1/2 TBSP Olive Oil, divided
  • 1-2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 TBSP Honey
  • 1/3 cup Blue Cheese, plus more for topping
Cook bacon and set aside. 

Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain off any excess liquid. We always have either brown or french green lentils on hand and both work well for this dish. 

In a small dish combine hot sauce, vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, garlic and honey and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Heat remaining 1/2 tbsp of olive oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook until softened, about 6-8 minutes. Add crumbled bacon and 2 cups of lentils and stir to combine. Add sauce and blue cheese and stir to fully coat lentils. Served topped with additional blue cheese.



You can certainly enjoy this dish on it's own, but serving it up with slow cooked pulled pork is a fabulous idea too!