Thank you, Flamingo Scraps

Hello, all! I just wanted to give some thanks to Flamingo Scraps for choosing me to be one of their Guest Designers for June. I had a lot of fun working with products that can be found in the Flamingo Scraps store. Many of the products sold there are not what I would usually use but I found a love for Webster's Pages there! Like I needed to love any more scrapbook manufacturers! Lol! Here are all the pages I created for Flamingo Scraps, including a page using the Flamingo Four products. Follow the links under the layouts to the original posts describing each of the pages over at Flamingo Scraps. Hope these pages inspire you to try something new!

Father & Son layout.

My June Bug layout using the Flamingo Four.

Man and Wife layout.

Lady Luck layout.

This and That

Hello, all! I've had a busy week, what with papers due, housework, kids running amok, and a fabulous tea party. I finally have some time to sit at the computer and post a few layouts I have been working on. I've got two pages I completed with my June Scraps of Darkness Welcome to the Jungle kit, one using the DCWV Lemon Flower paper stack, and one I completed to celebrate my Mad Tea Party.

Back in Black layout. Using my Scraps of Darkness June kit I created a page for the Stalker Challenge over at SOD about a music group, artist, or poet that got you through a tough time. This will also be for the Lyric Challenge over at scrapbook.com; the topic bring AC/DC. I did this page of my heavy metal shirts from my younger years. Heavy Metal got me through a tough adolescence and a stint of rebellion. I distressed the papers from the Bo Bunny Zoology Line and used Slate Glimmer Mist and Stiletto Glimmer Glam to paint them black. I used bottle caps and some Rock stickers from my stash. The title letters are colored black with alcohol ink in Pitch Black.

Birthday Wish 19 layout. This is a page I created to record my eldest daughter's recent 19th birthday. I scrapped the pictures of her cake and her blowing out the candles. I used my Scraps of Darkness June kit for this one as well and went for an 80's rock theme. I used a lot of Stickles to make doodles on the page and used ribbons from my stash to crisscross over the papers. The flowers are Petaloo and from the kit as well. The title letters are Thickers.

Bloom layout. This is a page I created for several challenges: the Monochrome challenge (yellow, with the twist of a Lazy Summer Day), the Too Much is Not Enough challenge (flowers), and  the Scissors, Paper, Ink challenge. I used the DCWV Lemon Flower Stack for this page and the photo is of a rose that bloomed on a lazy summer day. I fussy cut all the flowers you see on this page and tore the papers (no straight cutter allowed). I used Mustard Seed Distress Ink to ink the edges. And I printed the title using my computer.

Hatter layout. This page is to celebrate the Mad Tea Party I had this past weekend and for a couple of challenges: the Monochrome Challenge (Your favorite rose color, with the twist of Lessons from the Garden), the Technique Challenge (embossing, handmade embellishments, and doodling) and the Welcome to Wonderland Challenge. This is my daughter dressed up as the Mad Hatter. Most of the products used on this page came from one or another Scraps of Darkness kit. The corner chipboard flourishes are from Dusty Attic and the black flourishes around the photo are cut with my Cricut Expression and the October 31st cartridge. The title letters are foam Thickers with some liquid pearls.

Hatter close up 1. Here you can see various different flowers all dyed red with Glimmer Glam in A Positive and Glimmer Mist in Scarlet. The butterfly was embossed then cut out and dotted with Black Diamond Stickles. The rose bud is handmade with red ribbon and the heart is from a floral sprig I bought on clearance.

Hatter close up 2. The paper is from Prima's Mistables Collection and the checkered ribbon is from my stash. I used some Prima mini roses and some Petaloo flowers I dyed red.

Grungy Monday #13

If you're looking for the Mad Tea Party post, it's the one below this one.

Hello, all! Today is Grungy Monday #13 over at Studio L3! I guess 13 is my lucky number because I was chosen by Linda to be a guest designer for this week! Guest designer along with me is Suzanne Bouchard. I can't tell you how excited I am to be doing this! I love all things Tim Holtz! This week's technique uses Tim Holtz's Adirondack Alcohol Inks. Here is a a link to the technique on the Ranger Ink website: Tim Holtz Demos Adirondack Alcohol Inks.

Since I am mainly a scrapbooker, I created a scrapbook page with this technique. Here is my take on this technique. I created the background for my page.

Time layout. These are three photos of my eldest daughter at three points in her life; as a baby, a youngster, and when she graduated high school. Time does fly! I used the Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink technique on glossy paper (12 X 12). The alcohol ink colors I used are Bottle, Denim, Sail Boat Blue, Lettuce,Purple Twilight, Eggplant and Silver. I matted the photos with black and turquoise cardstock. And I used various clock and time stamps with Archival Ink to make a pattern. I added some ruffled trim that I used Lavender Fields Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist on, some Webster's Pages velvet ribbon, a Prima rose, a Petaloo flower, Thickers in Lullaby, and a Tim Holtz clock and game spinners.

Here is a close up of the background with the flower cluster and title.

For more techniques, products, and information, please visit Tim Holtz at http://www.timholtz.typepad.com.

Mad Tea Party 2011

Hello, all! And welcome to the tea party! Every year the Mad Tea Party is hosted online by the fabulous Veronica at A Fanciful Twist and this is my second year participating. As most of us who participate in the Mad Tea Party, I love all things Wonderland! This annual blog party gives me the perfect excuse to throw my very own tea party at home! So me, my two daughters, my son, and a couple of friends of theirs sat down to tea and we all invite you to join us. I'll be sharing photos of the table decorations and food, and the recipes (that did not originate with me) for the treats we are offering.

This is my dining table all decked out in Wonderland splendor and loaded with so many foodie goodies!

These are a few of my tea pots, each with its own tea. We have Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Green Teas here.

Another view of some tea pots and chess pieces.

Eat Me mini cupcakes. Four different flavors to satisfy every one's tastes: lemon, strawberry, red velvet, and chocolate.

Would you like jam on those cupcakes?

We have some Darjeeling tea in this tea pot.

My eldest daughter, Jane, and her friend, Hannah, enjoying some tea.

My son, Scott, and daughter, Kassy, enjoying some cake and sandwiches.

Golden Afternoon Lemon/Strawberry cake. This was made with boxed strawberry cake mix and store-bought lemon icing piped with a star tip.

Bread-and-Butterfly Pineapple Cream Cheese Sandwiches. I used rye bread for these but I think white bread would have been a better choice.

Bread-and-Butterfly Pineapple Cream Cheese Sandwiches

3/4 cup soft butter

1 tsp cinnamon

20 slice of bread (your choice)

1 1/2 cups soft cream cheese

1/2 cup pineapple, finely chopped and drained

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Combine the butter with the cinnamon and spread over 1 side of each slice of bread.

In a small bowl, cream the cream cheese, if necessary, and stir in pineapple and nuts.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over 10 slices of bread and top with the other 10 slices. Remove the crusts, if preferred, and cut each sandwich into 4 squares of 3 fingers.

Humpty Dumpty Deviled Egg Sandwiches. If you love deviled eggs, you'll love this sandwich!

Humpty Dumpty Deviled Egg Sandwiches

3/4 cup soft butter

20 thin slices of bread (your choice)

5 hard boiled eggs

2 tbsp mayonnaise

2 tsp mustard

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

Spread 1 side of each slice of bread with butter.

Place the eggs, mayo, mustard, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper in a food processor. Whirl until a spread is formed (I used my potato masher instead). Add more mayonnaise, if needed, to bring it to spreading consistency.

Spread the mixture on 10 slices of bread and top with the other 10 slices. Remove crusts, if preferred, and cut into squares or fingers.

More Pepper Chicken Salad Sandwiches. These were a favorite, so you might want to make a double batch!

More Pepper Chicken Salad Sandwiches

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp ground black pepper (I used more, hence the name)

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (I used the kind you can find in a can)

1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds

1 stalk celery

bread of your choice

Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch them carefully, as they burn easily.

In a medium bowl, mix together mayo, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

Spread the mixture onto slices of bread and top with other slices of bread.

Very Merry Un-Pickled Sandwiches. Just another name for cucumber sandwiches, lol.

Very Merry Un-Pickled Sandwiches

2 medium size cucumbers

1 tub whipped cream cheese spread

shaker of dill weed

1 packets of dry Italian seasoning

your choice of bread

Peel cucumbers and slice thinly. Set aside.

In small bowl, stir together cream cheese and dressing mix; mix well.

Using a butter knife, spread the mixture onto the slice of bread; a very thin layer of this mixture is enough.

Lay one slice of cucumber in the middle of each bread (I laid four slices in the four corners of the bread and then cut them into squares). Add one shake of dill weed. One or two small shakes is enough.

Top the slices of bread with other slices and cut into squares. Remove crust, if preferred.

Here is Mr. Hedgehog taking a break from croquet.

The red queen; it's your move.

This is a playing card centerpiece I created for this event.

All Ways Are MY Ways Cake. This is the Queen's favorite recipe for cake!

All Ways Are MY Ways Cake

1 Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix (I used 2, 1 box, amounts of water, oil and eggs for each layer - I have a very deep heart baking pan)

3/4 cup water

1/3 vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 container (6 oz) Strawberry Greek Yogurt ( I used one to mix in with the batter and used another to layer in between the layers)

1 container  (12 oz) Whipped White Frosting (can be store-bought)

3/4 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping

10 fresh strawberries (I used more, because Hey, It's MY Way!)

2 tbsp of mini semisweet chocolate chips

Bake 8-inch rounds 27 to 32 minutes, 9-inch rounds 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool at least 10 minutes, then remove the cakes from pans and put on cooling racks. Cool completely.

In medium bowl, add frosting; fold in whipped topping.

On serving plate, place one cake, rounded side down. (I spread strawberry yogurt over top of the layer) Spread with 1/3 cup frosting almost to the edge. Cut about 5 strawberries into slices and arrange on the layer. Top with second cake, rounded side up. Frost sides and top of cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with about 5 halved strawberries in the center of the cake. Sprinkle chocolate chips around the outside edge of top of cake. Store loosely covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.

The inside of the delicious, delectable, and delightful All Ways Are MY Ways Cake.

It seems the Mad Hatter left his hat on the table. All the tea and cake must have been distracting!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you had a good time and filled yourself with tea, cake, and sandwiches. It was wonderful having you here. Don't forget to stop and smell the roses....

If you become a follower or an existing follower, please add that with your comment. I will be doing a random drawing on July 1, and announce the winner here. The prize will be a whole lot of scrapping and crafting goodies! Please check back to see if you're the winner and contact me. The winner will have 2 weeks to email me at forevervampress@aol.com , his or her address or will forfeit the prize. Thanks for visiting and playing along!

Scraps of Darkness June Reveal

Hello, all! Been a while since I've posted anything. Sorry about that! I have been working on layouts but they are for different GDT's and challenges that I can't post yet. But today is the 15th and you know what that means! This month's reveal for Scraps of Darkness! The 15th is probably one of my favorite days of the month because I get to see all the DT members' work with the month's kit. I find such inspiration in all of their pages! I hope you do, too!

This month's kit is called Welcome to the Jungle and is full of Bo Bunny Zoology papers, warm colors, and beautiful flowers and foliage! I love the leopard prints in here! This kit is awesome for your zoo pics, and if you're like me, you have a ton of them. Or you could use it for anything jungle themed or on the wild side!

Scraps of Darkness June Kit - Welcome to the

June's Scraps of Darkness Sketch by Charlotte (suepup)

Tiger Cub layout. This is my take on this month's sketch. When I saw this striped orange paper, I knew I had a perfect picture to go with it. This is my son when he was a couple of months old, wearing Tigger pajamas that belonged to his big sisters before him. I cut around the tiger shape on the paper and added layers of cardstock behind him to frame the photo. I hand cut the large black circle and added Stickles in Paprika. The black flowers are Prima Button Blossoms in steel and the orange ones are from Petaloo Flora Doodles Bristol collection. The chipboard pieces are from Dusty Attic and Art Parts by Weny Vecchi, painted over with Peeled Paint Crackle Paint. I used some vinyl Thickers for the title and Lime Green Stickles for the tiger's eyes.

Wild Animals layout. I had fun creating this background paper using the cardstock from the kit and some stencils and stamps that I had in my stash.  I also used Wild Honey, Vintage Photo, and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, Jet Black Archival Ink, and a brown Sharpie marker. I used a grass Fiskars border punch, Thickers foam alphas, a Petaloo Darjeeling flower, and a Bo Bunny Zoology cameo. I used a sketch from the Bo Bunny Sketch Challenge for this month, as seen below:

Bo Bunny June Sketch Challenge

Walk on the Wild Side layout. These are my favorite shoes! I love the leopard print on the inside and the red plaid on the outside with black leather ribbon across the front with the rhinestone buckle! I used the leopard print paper for this one, black and red cardstock, bling from my stash, and Christmas Red Stickles. The title is two different Thickers styles and some Christmas Red Stickles. I used the Twisted Sketches sketch #105, with no twist.

Twisted Sketches Sketch #105

Ferocious Feline in Training layout. This is my niece's new kitten, Ariel. Isn't she so sweet?! I thought this paper would be cute for pictures of her and I did some stitching, tearing, and distressing to show kittens' mischievous behavior. Everything is from the June kit except for the feather flowers, which are from a different Scraps of Darkness kit. I used a sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, seen below:

Sketchy Thursdays Sketch for July's GDT Challenge