Candy Factory

We have become a candy factory at our house lately. We started by making nougat. Then we started playing with different flavoring. So far we have made vanilla, orange (my favorite), raspberry, cherry, and banana nougat. We also made a vanilla nougat covered with a layer of carmel. We have made 4 batches of carmel. We plan to dip most of the nougat in chocolate today.

Last night, I made two batches of divinity. Again, we have enjoyed playing with flavorings. I made banana divinity. I LOVE it. It reminds me of circus peanuts. I also made a batch of coconut divinity. It didn't set up right. I was in a bit of a hurry thanks to a certain 2 year old...so they were sticky. I decided since they were sticky, I'd put coconut on top. I hope that our neighbors enjoy them. I know that my husband will.

I received a recipe for microwave divinity many years ago. I still use it every time. It is SO easy.

Microwave Divinity:

3 eggs whites

4 cups sugar

1 cup Karo syrup

3/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla

In a large microwave safe bowl combine the sugar, Karo syrup, and water. Cover, but vent. Heat in microwave on high for 10 minutes. Stir. Recover and heat on high for another 9 minutes. While the sugar mixture is cooking, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. I recommend using a Kitchenaid mixer as this recipe make a lot and you need a strong machine.

Once the sugar mixture is cooked, slowly pour it into the eggs while beating constantly. Add vanilla and coloring if desired. Beat on the highest speed your mixer can handle until the divinity sets up (about room temperature). You know when it sets up because it is no longer shiny and when you lift the beater up, the divinity doesn't sink back down.

Spoon onto wax paper and let it completely cool. Once you start spooning it, work quickly because it sets up very quickly once it really starts to cool. It makes 40 to 70 pieces depending on the size you spoon them out.

I thought I'd include a picture of the world's cutest chocolatier!

Christmas Gifts

This is what I've been up to this weekend.

Birthdays

I created this card for my wonderful sister in law for her birthday. I used the color coach to help me pick the colors. It was a big hit.

I love using paper to create fun flowers. I made this card for my mom for her birthday. She really liked it. Again, I used the color coach to help me pick colors. I don't know that I would have put these together without it's help.

For my birthday, I got spoiled! My wonderful mother in law gave me money to get exactly what I wanted. I took advantage of free shipping, hosting a party, and my discount to maximize the amount of product I was able to get. I think I did pretty well. Now I can't wait to get playing!

Table Runner

I got this brillant idea to make a table runner that serves two purposes...to decorate for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. I found the wonderful fall fabric at Pine Needles in West Jordan. I knew I had to get it. So I came home and cut it up. I was able to make 3 runners with it. For the Christmas side, I got fabric from my stash (for my personal runner, not pictured), and picked up more fabric from Wal-mart. I made the runner pictured for my mother for her birthday. She loved it! I love the idea of having a table runner that lasts for 2 months instead of just one. I'm thinking of making 5 more so that I have all the months covered!

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack

When: Saturday, November 20^th

Time: 11am to 3 pm

Where: Lynsey Allred’s House

2224 West 10755 South, Basement apartment, South Jordan

Cost: $15 ($10 reserves your spot)

RSVP: lynseyvanorman@yahoo.com or 801-721-0889

A stack of cards consists of 3 cards in each of the 5 designs. For this class you will make 1 stack, but if you are interested in creating multiple stacks and getting all of your Christmas cards made in one day, just add $12.50 for each additional stack. I will have envelopes there to purchase for $3 for a set of 15. Don’t forget to bring your adhesive. I will have refills there if you need to purchase them.

October Club Projects

For these projects I used "Delightful Decorations" , "Tags 'til Chirstmas", and "Four the Holidays" stamp sets. Paper used is old olive, chocolate chip, cherry cobbler, and crumb cake. Ink used is old olive and cherry cobbler. I also used early espresso and old olive 1/8 taffeta ribbon and the half pearls. The Designer Series Paper is Jolly Holiday.

Fall Wreath

This is the new wreath that I have hanging on my door. I love it. It was so easy. I got packs of fall leaves at Wal-mart last year. I picked up some foam core at the dollar store. I cut it into a square. Then I pulled out the glue gun and went to work. It is super easy and it is super light...it is held on my door by a magnet.

Fall Scrapbook Layout

Halloween Costumes for Mr. Owl

The top picture is of the box front for the cards that are pictured in the bottom picture.

If you are interested in making these cute card and aren't in my stamping club, please leave a comment with your contact info and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for looking!

Train patch quilt

I purchased the train fabric 3 years ago (I think) at Hobby Lobby so I could make a lap quilt for my husband. Needless to say, I didn't make it three years ago. We decided to do a train theme in my son's "big boy" room, so I spent a few hours piecing the number above. I wanted to break up the train fabric with some conductor hat fabric, but thought it would be overpowering, so I made the 4 patch blocks instead. I LOVE how the top turned out. We will be tying the quilt at his birthday party on the 19th.

Here is a better look at the patches themselves. Isn't the train fabric fabulous?

Airplane Disappearing Nine-Patch

The matching pillow for the quilt below.

I finally finished the quilt top for my son. I bought the fabric over a year ago. I cut the squares for the center out FOREVER ago. I spent the last three nights working on it. Totaling about 7 hours. I had some trouble with the borders and not having enough fabric. I ended up having to cut the middle border down. Originally it was 1.5 inches wider. I LOVE IT.

Now, I want to get it professionally quilted. Anyone know where I can get it done? Finished size is 54 x 62 inches. How much will it cost? I will need it by mid August.

I've Been Busy

Enjoying my summer!

Happy Father's Day

Last Chance Party

Below are the five projects we will be creating. I really hope to see you there!

Last Chance!

The Last Chance Lists are here! Click on the following links to see what products are retiring.

Stamp Sets

Accessories

Definitely Decorative

Shop 24 hours a day by clicking on my Stampin' Up! Website on the side bar. Or, leave me a comment with your contact info and I'll get back to you.

My Digital Studio

I decided it was time to order My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up! I have never used any scrapbooking software before. Loading the program on my computer was super easy. I do wish the software came with an instruction manual, but there are lots of resources online to help.

I spent about an hour creating this first layout from a blank page. I love how it turned out. I like that the mats around the pictures are color matched to my son's coat.

The program comes with lots of goodies. I also like that Stampin' Up! comes up with lots of fun downloads to add to the program. I can't wait to purchase more of them when my budget allows.

How to frame a cross stitch

I have worked at three custom frame shops in my life. Part of my responsibility was to frame stitcheries. If done right, they will last for generations. If done wrong, you'll be lucky if they make it 20 years....

Having anything custom framed can break the bank. Having the stitchery stretched and prepped is a very expensive part of the process.

So, hopefully this tutorial will make sense...

Supplies:
stitchery
frame
foam core (that poster stuff that has foam in the middle)--acid free if you can get it
straight pins
double sided tape
glazing points (they keep the stuff in the frame)
hanging hardware
paper sack or butcher paper


Here goes...start by selecting a frame that your stitchery will fit in. I bought mine at Walmart. I liked that it had a wood insert that could be placed behind the glass so that the stitchery wouldn't touch the glass. (sorry no picture)

Next, cut a piece of foam core that will fit into your frame. If you can get acid free foam core use it!

Make sure that the foam core fits into the frame with just a little wiggle room.

Next, center the stitchery on the foam core. This can be a tricky step. I usually start by placing a pin into each side and the center and then folding the extra fabric around and measuring to make sure it is centered.

The next step is the painful step. You will pull the fabric taut as you go along each side. Place a pin every half inch or so. Place them straight down into the foam core.

A look at the top edge with all the pins in place. Once you are happy with the placement of the pins use the flat end of a pen (or something similar) to push the pins all the way in flush to the foam core.

Next, I like to use double sided super sticky tape to adhere the extra fabric to the back to the foam core. I NEVER cut off the extra just in case it needs to be reframed in the future for any reason.

Then I place it in the frame to make sure it fits.

Then I turn over the frame to make sure that it is centered the way I want it to be.

This is the wood insert that came with the frame. A mat would work the same way. Since it is wood, I didn't want the wood to actually touch the stitchery because it would ruin it.

To solve the "I don't want the wood to touch the fabric" problem, I used my handy dandy glue runner that I use for scrapbooking and adhered some acid free paper to the wood to protect the fabric. Where the paper wasn't long enough, I just overlapped it (no picture, sorry).

These are glazing points. They are found in the framing section of most craft stores. You just may need some way to secure the stitchery in place. The backing that came with my frame no longer fit properly because the foam core was too thick.

Just place them flush. The pointy end sticks into the frame. There is a tool to set them, but I always just use a flat head screwdriver.

For a nice finished look, I usually use butcher paper, but didn't have any, so I grabbed a paper bag and cut it open so that I could use it for backing.

Using the same handy dandy glue runner for scrapbooking, I ran adhesive along the edge of the frame and then placed the paper securing it as I went along. Then I used a razor blade to trim along the edge to give it the finished look that you get from most frame shops.

I then found the center of the top edge of the frame and marked it. If the frame is 11x14 or smaller you can use a sawtooth hanger. I like the nail-less kind. You can usually find them along side of the other framing hardware. They are truly worth the extra money.

It was a very narrow frame so the sawtooth barely fit. If you can, don't place it quite so close to the top edge.

Then, hang it on your wall and enjoy it!

If you have questions, please leave a comment and I'll try to answer them.