The Inking spot of Crain Creations

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #47

Happy Thursday!  It's time for another MTME Pretty Patterns sketch.  This week I used the Bee-Loved set along with some paper from the Buzz-y Blooms pack (LOVE this paper!!).  I always love coloring this set because there are so many fun ways to color it.  

I used Sakura Stardust pen on the bee's wings, black Spica glittern pen on his body, and some uber fun Cinnamon Stickles on the center of the flower (convenient that I just found these stickles in a box this past weekend).  Sorry for the quick post, but be sure to head over to this post on the MTME Blog for all the sketch-y deets and to see what the Sketch team has done with this weeks sketch :)  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

My Time, A Year in Review Group Post... In LOVE

Today the My Time Made Easy DT are showing off some NEW things with some OLDer goodies!  I used the Insert Card Here template, but left the "insert" out so I could fill it with some Kisses. Yummmm!

For the box I used one of my favorite paper packs, Coffee Beans.  I am in love with all of the prints in that pack and these flowers are just too fun!  If you look at the first picture in the post you can see that my tag is "popped up".  For the tag I used the Timed Write digi set.  Using Gimp I placed and colored each piece and layered it the way I wanted it, then I added the yellow paper from Coffee Beans as a layer and voila... tag done! 

Make sure to visit the rest of the team to see some of their favorites!

Lauren Maeder

Kathryn Berthiaume

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

Stamps: Timed Write (My Time Made Easy)  Paper: Coffee Beans (My Time Made Easy)  Template: Insert Card Here (My Time Made Easy)

My hubby has a few screws loose, but I still love him, lol!

Today I am pairing up my project with this week's MTME Pretty Pattern Sketch Challenge, go to this post here for sketch challenge deets.

For my project I used the Pull Up Tabs Square template and filled it with Herchey's kisses :)  I used the Gray Screw paper from the Wind my Manly Gears pack.  The papers are perfect for my little giftie, because....

as soon as I saw this sentiment in the Wound Setiments set. I KNEW this package was gonna be for my hubby, lol!  I'll hide the whole package in his suitcase the next time he travels.  Please visit Lauren & Lisa... I promise they'll have some awesome eye candy for ya!!

Here's chirping at you... My Time Made Easy February Release

*If you are looking for my Pure Innocence February calendar page, please scroll down 1 post.  Thank you*

**Did you know My Time Made Easy is having a Design Team call??  
Check out this post here for all of the details!!**

Today the My Time Made Easy team is showing off it's newest template, Pull Up Tabs.  This template comes in both octagon and square.

There is a decorative topper piece, but I chose to use a scalloped circle instead... it fit perfectly!  The octagon is the perfect size for a 3" ish candle or some mini chocolates... yumm!!!  I added some decorative paper, from the Wind My Girlie Gears paper pack.

This is likely the busiest card I've ever made, lol!  I started with last weeks SCS Sketch and used more of the same Wind My Girlie Gears paper.  The birdie is from the BRAND NEW Wind 'em Up! stamp set, and the sentiment is from the Wound Sentiments set, also NEW!  I covered the "screws" on the bird with rhinestones and went over the beak, legs and "key" with black and silver Spica glitter pens... very sparkly

Well that's all I have for ya today, be sure to visit my other team mates to see their take on the Pull Up Tab template!

• Lauren
• Lisa
• Monique
• Kathryn

 

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #45

It's Thursday and it's time to get sketchy with the MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch team!  You can head over to the MTME Blog to get the deets on the sketch and see some inspiration from the Team.  I know, can you believe I didn't use digi paper?  I'm out of ink :( lol  I got out my VERY dusty distresser (that poor thing hasn't seen daylight in YEARS! lol).  The paper, Honey Cake by MME, is just perfect for this look!  I love it.

The image is from Tending the Garden, by My Time Made Easy (comes in Acrylic or digi). To add some dimension to the image, I used some Rouge Liquid Pearls on some random dots, and then a little Baby Blue Liquid Pearls in the center of the flower.  Thanks for popping in, can't wait to see what you create with this sketch!!

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #44, a birthday/anniversary Calendar

Happy Thursday!  Woo hoo, I just love these short weeks... it's already almost Friday!  Having the kiddo's home for one extra day always makes me happy :)  I used today's MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch for the cover of my Birthday/Anniversary calendar.  All 3 papers are from the Amethyst Sparkle digi pack.  One of my favorite things about digital paper is that I can print out as much as I want, since I plan on selling some of these calendars at a craft show I don't have to worry about planning out the papers (ya know making sure I don't run out of one).  The focal piece uses one of the frames from Killer Curves stamp set, and the slice of cake is from our brand new stamp set, Sweet Treats.  I used my copics to color the cake, but man if I found a recipe that would make that cake... I'd be one happy camper :)  I'll be back this weekend to show off the insides of some of these calendars, thanks to Cat for the 2012 Create-a-calendar template!!  You can head over to this MTME post for the deets on the sketch and to link up your creation!

Thanks for popping in!!  Hope to see you again soon :)

Stamps: Killer Curves, Sweet Treats (My Time Made Easy)  Paper: Amethyst Sparkle  Copics: E21, E23, E25, E77, E79, R35, R37, YR20, YR21, YR23  Challenges: MTMEPPS44

Huck's Dog Biscuit Recipe

Since I posted this project the other day I have recveived lots of emails asking for the recipe.  I think that I am not allowed to buy Huck biscuits from the Pet store anymore, good thing these are so easy!  Also, we passed them out to about 10 of Huck's furry friends for Christmas and everyone seemed to LOVE them :)  Go to this post for deets on the project, but for the dog treat recipe keep reading :)  I am NOT the original chef for this recipe, however I did alter it a bit to make it easier :)  The original recipe is from King Arthur Flour Co, called Best of Breed Dog Biscuits.  Here is my version:

• 2 cups Premium Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 cup rolled oats, regular or quick
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup peanut butter, crunchy or plain
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon cold water, enough to make a cohesive dough

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease a couple of baking sheets, or line them with parchment.

2) Throw all of the dry ingredients into my KitchenAide (mixer).  I use a dough hook.

3) Add the eggs and peanut butter, mixing to combine; the mixture will be crumbly.

4) Add enough water to bring the dough together; depending on the season, you may need to add a bit more (winter), or a bit less (summer).

5) To make biscuits using a dog-bone cutter, roll the dough about 1/4" thick, and cut with a 3 1/2" cutter (or the size of your choice). Gather and re-roll the scraps, and continue to cut biscuits until you've used all the dough.

6) To make dog "cookies," drop the dough in walnut-sized balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten them to about 1/4".

7) Bake the biscuits for about 40 to 60 minutes, baking the smaller cookies for a shorter amount of time. When finished, the biscuits will be dark golden brown, and will be dry and crisp all the way through.

8) Remove the biscuits from the oven, and cool right on the pans.

Yield: about 42 larger (3 1/2" dog-bone) biscuits, 60 smaller (round) biscuits.

Thanks for popping in!  Hope you're having a wonderful week!

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #43

Thursday means MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch Day!  Today we have a simple sketch for you, can't wait to see you work your magic with it!  Head here to check out the details of the sketch and to link up your creation.  The colors for my card were inspire by this weeks Pretty Palette challenge!

Here's the sketch...

Stamps: Bold Botanicals (My Time Made Easy)  Paper: Island Love (My Time Made Easy)

My Time Made Easy January, A Year in Review

Last night Jeff & I watched "The Help", and I LOVED it!!!  It got me thinking and I thought of a great gift idea... a movie, Hot Cocoa and an Throw Blanket...(snuggling up and watching a movie is awesome and cheap therapy!!)  

Today's group post is "A Year in Review", and I used the Disc-Covered template and made the DVD size.  The paper is from a FREE paper pack called Freestyle Florals...LOVE it!  All I needed now was some ribbon, some embellies to cover the "fastener area" and some rhinestones to make those flowers POP!

Thanks for stopping by, be sure to check out the rest of the My Time DT...

• Lauren
• Katie
• Lisa
• Debbie
• Monique
• Kathryn

 

My Time January Release, and a prezzie for a friend

This release from My Time Made Easy is cupcake-a-licious!!!  You can see all of the new goodies in the store, here.  I have a friend who has just started quilting and her birthday is coming up soon, and this is her little gift.  I used the BRAND NEW Sweet Treats Tote template and stuffed it chalk full of fabric!  You can visit my sewing blog next week to see the project I made with this beautiful fabric!

This template comes with a few different ways to hold whatever goodies you decide to fill it with!  For the front of my package I used some paper from the Candy Kisses paper pack.  Add some ribbon, flowers, buttons and voila!  A pretty package just bursting at the seams with Birthday Goodness!!  For my card I just stamped a Birthday sentiment from the Sentimental Occasions set.

Today is a group post from the My Time Made Easy DT, be sure to visit them all and be ready to blown away with TONS of inspiration for this awesome release!

• Lauren
• Katie
• Lisa
• Debbie
• Monique
• Kathryn

 

Cupcakes for Huck? My Time peeks start today!

Ok, so my puppy, Huck, MIGHT be a teensy bit "spoiled" but he certainly is NOT getting cupcakes :)  Today the My Time Made Easy DT is showing off the versatility of the brand new Hey Cupcake! Template.  Since Huck was out of Biscuit treats I just HAD to bake him some more, and they fit perfectly in the Hey Cupcake Box.  I left out the insert inside so I had more room for treats :)

For the top, my sentiment is from the Sweet Sentiments set (available January 8th).  I printed it on some Kraft Prism cardstock and then took the Biscuit cookie cutter and traced it around sentiment, cut it out and decorated a little :)  The decorative layer is from the Candy Kisses digi paper pack (also available 1/8).  Huckie will like it, lol!

This template is very quick and easy to make.  I'll be making at least half a dozen more for Huck's "friends".  Hope you enjoyed my peek today, be sure to visit Katie, Lisa and Lauren for some more inspiration using this fabulous template!!

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #42

It's Thursday and that means it's time for a MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch!  Head over to this post here to see the original sketches, some Sketch Team inspiration, link up YOUR creation and for the deets on how you can win a Pretty Package template from My Time Made Easy FREE!!!

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketches are back!

Did you have a wonderful holiday?  We sure did and now we are ready to get sketchy!  Here is my card for this weeks MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch, you can get all the deets here.  It's not that I am sick of Christmas stuff, but I really wanted to make something UBER girly and bright and happy :)  And what's more girly than butterflies and PINK?!? I used the All A Flutter stamp set for the sentiment and the solid pale pink butterfly, the paper is the Fluttering-By digi paper pack (this is one of my all time fav papers from MTME).  I made the butterfly using the Flutters & Flowers cut file, the butterfly cut out is 2 pieces and I just love the layered look!  To balance my card a little and give the flower paper a little "pop" I added teeny rhinestones in the middle of the solid flowers.  Well thanks for popping in for a look-see, you can see more Sketch Team inspiration over on the My Time Made Easy Blog.

Stamps: All A Flutter (My Time Made Easy)  Paper: Fluttering-By (My Time Made Easy)  Cut Files: Flutters & Flowers (My Time Made Easy)

MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch #39

Happy Thursday!  Happy Sketch day!  HEre is my card for this week's My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns Sketch, pop on over to this post here for the deets.  I used the girl from the Ginger Snaps stamp set and inked her up with the Glue Pad and then added some Chocolate Brown Sparkly fluff (she looks better in person, I promise :)).  She has some rhinestones buttons and eyes, and red glitter bow...Love all of the textures!  I used a hodge podge of papers this time... the Christmas paper is from the Hot Holidays pack, the red houndstooth is also from MTME, but I can't remember the pack off the top of my head, and the snowflake paper is from the FREE 12 Days of Snow Flakes pack!  I just love when mixing and matching papers is soooo easy :)  Thanks for stopping by.

A Thank you Package

Today the My Time team is showing off our "Year in Review", we mix a little old with a little new.  I've made a "Thank you package".  Yesterday I was picking up the kids after school, I'd already had one and had just grabbed my oldest son.  While I was looking back to see if everyone was belted in before I started to drive off (yes I was still parked), a lady plowed in to me, bounced off of me, back in to the front of me and then in to the car in front of me.  We were fine (somewhat shaken up), the car will need some repairs but was totally driveable and looked fabulous compared to her car.  Anyway, my youngest son wanted to get out of the car (who can blame him right?) so I helped him out and had him sit on the planter in front of these two businesses.  Then two men started yelling at each other, and the kicker is that neither of them was involved in the accident!  Anyway, these women from one of the business' let my boys sit in their office while I took care of the Police stuff (the Police were amazingly wonderful too by the way).  They kept making sure the boys were ok.  It doesn't seem like much, but when you are as shakey as I was, my brain totally shattered, it was all I could do to take care of the things I was supposed to there... knowing the boys were ok and being looked after was a Godsend!  Sooooooooo I made those ladies a Thank you package...

This was so wasy to put together, I cut everything out while hubby cleaned up the dishes from dinner and then assembled it all while watching The Christmas Clause with hubby and kiddo's (one of my fav Christmas movies)  I used the A Box is a Box template, without the cutouts because I wanted to use lots of layers and patterned paper (remember this "Coffee Beans" paper pack?  LOVE it!).  I also used the flat top version so I could more easily cram every nook and crannie inside with the most goodies :)  I used the Bow Tie cut file (this is an AMAZING MUST HAVE!!! and I will be using it on nearly EVERY Christmas Present under my tree!!!  Well that one and the Abra-Bow-dabra)  I mean seriously, at $2.50 how do you NOT buy one :)

I stuffed the inside chock-full of homemade scones, a jar of my Triple Berry jam and some of my households favorite hot cocoa!.  I hope those ladies enjoy a toasty & cozy afternoon snack at work!!  Thanks for visiting, check what the rest of the DT has for you...

• Lauren Maeder 
• Katie Cotton
• Lisa Kind
• Debbie Marcinkiewicz
• Monique Hansen
• Kathryn Berthiaume