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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Hunt for My New Iron

I went to Walmart to pick up a few emergency items...toilet paper and cat food. Other people have things like milk and bread on their shopping list. I always seem to be out of TP and cat food? I used also fill my never ending need for hairspray at Walmart - but they no longer carry my brand so I have to make another trip for that (better stock up).

While I was there, I decided to pick up a new iron (isn't that on your emergency shopping list too?). I have actually been wanting this iron for at least 3 years now. It's from Black & Decker, it's called The Classic. My mother has it and I use it when we visit her in Pennsylvania. It looks just like the old iron I used as a kid (I loved ironing pillowcases - I don't do that anymore). It heavy, gets really hot, and makes great steam. The only thing missing is the black and white fabric covered cord.

At one time I had plans to decorate my laundry room in a kind of retro kitchen kitch. You know, bright cheery colors like this.

I have a bunch of vintage kitchen towels and table covers in these colors also. Just picture a shelf full of old canning jars filled with buttons, clothes pins, detergent etc. And one of those tin signs that say Laundry.

Well those plans changed when we moved to Arizona. The laundry room in our house here is right off the kitchen, and these colors would not work well at all (our house in California had the laundry room at the end of the hall so I could have done any color scheme without worrying about how it flowed from the other rooms).

But I needed a new iron, and decided to get it anyway. Guess what. Walmart no longer carries it. They have recently re-merchandised their housewares dept and the adorable iron that I have been coveting for years was not there! Gasp! I didn't panic though, all those years of retailing kicked in. I knew there must be a clearance section somewhere where the put all the discontinued items...maybe it would even be on sale.

After searching for some time - I found it. In the clearance section (by the pool supplies?). One lonely box left. The iron was only about $25 to begin with (from what I remember), so I was excited that I was going to get a deal. We finished our shopping and headed to the check out line.

That's where the trouble began. I ended up in line with one of my not so favorite cashiers. Yes, I go to Walmart way too often, I'm pretty familiar with the employees. I should have gone to another line, but we weren't in a hurry so I stayed.

You guessed it - the iron didn't have a tag and the UPC was not scanning. My little checker tried it several times - very slowly - looked for her glasses - punched in the number by hand...no luck. On goes the blinking light. She stands there and waits for someone from customer service to come and help.

I won't go into all the details, but after 20 minutes of listening to my little checker complain about how terrible Walmart is to work at, and how stupid all the managers are (her words, not mine) they finally came back - and not with good news. The price on the iron was no where to be found. They could sell it to me, but it would have to be at the same price as the other irons. Can you believe it - I'm thinking I'm going to have to pay even more for this discontinued iron that it was originally priced. I must really love this thing. Turns out - they only charged me $20 (well $19.97 actually).

So now my new iron is finally at home with me. I won't get to decorate my laundry room as I had originally planned, but I'm happy I finally made the purchase (maybe I learned something about the perils of being a procrastinator?).

I also purchased a bottle of distilled water. We have lots of minerals in our water here that leave crusty deposits on everything. This is what my old iron looked like because I used tap water. Yuck!

After all that work, I have decided to treat my new iron with more respect and it will from now on only receive distilled water, and hopefully live a long and happy life with us.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Raspberry Suite #10 & TPE #20 - Two Birthday Cards

Both of these cards are made with the colors from Dawns Raspberry Suite Challenge #10. I'm a little bummed, because the colors are perfect in real life...but they are photographing more pink (sure...that's what they all say). The suggested colors are Melon, Cream, Berry and Dark Brown (from Papertrey Ink). I used Bazzill solids that are close (I guess it's all in the lighting). The second card is also made using this weeks Sketch from The Pink Elephant.

These cards are for two of my fellow Gemini Birthday friends. I know one of them reads my blog...so we'll see if she's surprised when the card arrives in the mail. At least she won't know which one is coming to her.


Folded Flower Birthday Card

I wanted to try this folded paper flower technique. I really like how it turned out.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Acrylic Stamps (Romantic Backgrounds from CTMH); Ribbon (Michaels); Ink (Chocolate Chip and White pigment from SU); Border and Circle Punches (EK Success); The Happy Birthday stamp was from the dollar bin at Michaels, plus some hemp twine and shell buttons from my stash.

Four Square (sort of) Birthday Card

I love the classic 4 square sketch, but I wanted to do it a little different (I'm in an "asymmetrical" mood). Apparently I'm in a "hidden message" and "throw as much as you can on the card" mood as well, because I did it all for this one.

I followed the sketch with a center circle, but couldn't just stop there. So I made the circle into a tag that opens up and the entire card is held closed with the little swivel tab attached with a brad.



Inside the tag reads an assortment of "Belated" messages. I should make a ton of these cards, because I'm always late...sorry!

The card opens up along the middle seam.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill Basics); Acrylic Stamps (Romantic Backgrounds by CTMH); Ink (chocolate chip from SU and VersaMark); Ribbon (Michaels) plus button, brads, tab and hemp twine from my stash. The "belated" sentiment was created on my computer using assorted different fonts. The Happy Birthday stamps are again from the Michaels dollar bin.

Now that they are made - what do you think the chances are that I'll actually get them in the mail any time soon? Happy Birthday Girlies.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

CPS121 & 365 Cards Day 115 - Keep In Touch Card

This card was works for two challenges. I followed sketch #121 at Card Positioning Systems and the challenge for today over at 365 Cards was to use paper piecing.



The telephone is stamped onto patterned paper and then cut out freehand. I added a brad to the center of the phone for dimension, and then attached to the belly band with foam tape.

When you slide off the belly band to open the card - it reveales the hidden sentiment.


Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill), Patterned Paper (October Afternoon), Clear Stamp (Sizzix), Font (CK Typist).

Monday, June 22, 2009

Summer Salsa

If you come to dinner at our house, you might just hear my dear hubby say "if you like what you are eating...too bad, because it can't be made again".

I have a habit of 1) Not following recipes and 2) Not writing anything down when I make up a new recipe.

This is my attempt to change that. I didn't have anything planned for dinner, but had picked up some chicken breasts and corn on the cob earlier. I think I was originally intending to make some kind of chicken corn enchilada soup in the crock pot...but that didn't happen. I decided instead to just grill them up with a little seasoning (both the chicken and the corn on the cob).



I boiled the corn first, then put it on the grill with the chicken just the char the outside a bit.

As I'm rummaging through the fridge to see what else I can serve, I come across the following ingredients just calling out "use me before I turn to complete mush":

2 Nectarines, 1 Mango, 1 Cucumber, and 2 Tomatoes (previously picked from the garden)

add to that some fresh Herbs (Italian Parsley, Basil, Mint) also from the garden

and the juice from 1/2 a grapefruit (taken from the neighbors, we have oranges, they have grapefruits)

plus some hot sauce, salt, pepper and onion powder



Chop them all up - mix together - taste for seasoning, and I ended up with a really yummy Summer Salsa that was delicious on top of the grilled chicken breasts (that I pounded just a little to even out the thickness so they would cook faster).

I have some salsa leftover, so I think I will add avocado cut into chunks (I'll have to go to the market for that), and some frozen shrimp (always some in the freezer) and I'll have Summer Civeche tomorrow.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Pincushion Swap - What I Sent

Here are a few photos of the Pincushion and sewing supplies I sent to my partner for Sandra's Summer Pincushion Swap.

We were not to contact/notify our swap partner before we send our package, so the recipient of my package doesn't know who or where it's coming from. I love surprises. I received my package from Dolores in Toronto (see earlier post).

This package is being sent to Joke in the Netherlands. I hope she likes it. I wasn't able to learn much about her from her blog, but I was told that she likes the colors Blue and Rose and she enjoys Quilting, Machine Embroidery and Cross Stitching.




The package I sent included a few Fat Quarters and Floss in her favorite colors, Aida Cloth for Cross Stitching, a cute little Quilted Bag (not made by me), and some super soft matching Socks as well as the Pincushions. I also had to include a handmade Note Card.



The Pincushion is just a basic design, but I really liked the Rose Pink/Peri Blue color combo, and I think Joke will enjoy the romantic floral pattern. I used two different vintage buttons, the one showing here is my favorite (so I made that the top), it has a little etched leaf pattern in the button. The bottom is actually a 3rd contrasting patterned fabric in pale pink with roses. The decorative pins were purchased with my card making in mind, but I though they looked perfect in the Pincushion, so they are going along as well.



Here are all the goodies packed up and ready to be shipped. I just missed the Post today, so the package will have to wait until Monday to be sent. Hopefully it won't take tooo long to arrive in the Netherlands. We'll have to wait and see.

Pincushion Swap - Received My Package

Look what arrived in the mail while we were away in New York....a package from my Pincushion Swap Buddy Dolores.


It not only contained a beautiful Cross Stitched Pincshion, but all sorts of other goodies too: lovely Asian print Fat Quarters, Floss, Ribbons, a Cutter, adorable Buttons (I Love Buttons), Flower Embellishments and a Fridge Magnet from Toronto Canada.


Asian prints are one of my favorites - I can't wait to use these beautiful fabrics.


The Pincushion is cross stitched with a different pattern on each side. Both patterns are square, but then the two squares and stitched together on the diagonal to create this cool twisted effect. Dolores has a link to the directions on her blog here.

Thanks Dolores - I love everything, and Thanks Sandra for coordinating the swap. What FUN!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Look What's Growing In The Garden


I was going to make Tacos for dinner tonight.

I might have to try something Italian instead?


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Summer Sleepovers

I love sleepovers. Especially at this age (Little K is 8). The kids can pretty much take care of themselves. When you have an only child, having a friend stay over is quite a treat, plus it makes my life easier because they entertain each other (which means I can actually get something done).

But my favorite part about sleepovers is breakfast. I usually try and make something just a little bit home made (do pancakes from a mix count?). This morning is was fresh berries, sausage and pancakes with butter and warm syrup. There is always enough left over for me, which is probably why I'm willing to do it.





Aren't these juice glasses adorable. I've had them since Little K was just a few years old. They are from World Market. They still sell them, but now they are made of plastic and back then they were actually made of glass. More practical YES, but as cute...I think NOT. Surprisingly I still have a full set of pig, cow, cat, dog, bee and ladybug.

The berries were super fresh and delicious.


I love how little girls appreciate the silly details (which is what I love to do). I made individual heart pancakes with the bit of batter that was left.

We used this cow jug, which I think is supposed to be for cream, to serve the warm syrup. I should have taken a photo AFTER breakfast...he was a sticky, gooey mess but the girls had a blast making him MOO syrup.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

TPE Challenge #17 - Little K's Funky Thank You Card

Little K is at it again. She was so excited to see every ones kind comments about the card she completed for the last Pink Elephant Challenge, she wanted to do another. Plus, Lori's daughter Hannah is the Guest Designer at The Pink Elephant this week, so she wanted to support her fellow kid scrapper.

The Challenge for this week is to follow the Recipe: 3 Buttons, 2 Layers and 1 Sentiment.

We recently went to Michaels and picked up some Patterned Paper Stacks (they are on sale this week), so she was excited to use some of her new paper.

We broke out the stamps this week. I'm not a big stamper, but I did go through my phase, and I have some in my stash. It was much easier for Little K to stamp her sentiment (I usually create them in Word), so I think she'll be using the stamps again.

I sooo wanted her to add a scalloped edge, some brads and a ribbon...but Little K reminded me it was HER card (and I should back off...my words, not hers). She really does have a very different style from me, and I love to see it emerging.

UPDATE: Check out the Cute Button on the right side of my blog from The Pink Elephant...this card was recognized as one of the top 5 cards of the week. Little K is thrilled!

365 Cards - Day 94 - Green & Black Birthday Card

Making cards really was not on the agenda today, but when I saw the inspiration for today's Challenge at 356 Cards...I had to make at least one.

Green is my favorite color...and right now, the bright, slightly limey green has my heart (although I do love all shades from olive to pine, and my house is a testament to that).

Here is the inspiration (it's an ad, but not sure for what):

And here is my card:


Supplies are mostly scraps. The Cardstock and paper flower are from Bazzill. Not sure where the patterned paper is from (I've used it before). The ribbon is from Michaels. I'm going to have to get more of that - I've used it on several cards and it just always seems to work. Martha is on sale at Michaels this week, so I picked up a few new punches. Love this border one (although if you look quickly - it kind of looks like Mickey Mouse Ears don't you think?). I tried to add a pearl pin through the knot in the ribbon, but I had already used a glue dot to hold it in place, and the pin would not go though (I'll remember that next time).

Monday, June 1, 2009

Get Excited...

Allison over at Cluck. Cluck. Sew. posted this on her Blog and I just had to share.

I would be proud to wear a Tiara of wrenches and bolts...hummm...wonder how I could make that?

Now - all my crafty buddies - get out there and do what it says!

You can find the original image as well as printables on Matt Jones' Flickr site here.