Tonight's Menu

 Let's start with dessert.  Here we have Double Chocolate Biscotti.  This is a recipe I've made many times, using both unsweetened cocoa powder and Nestle chocolate chips.  Sometimes I frost them with chocolate ganache. 

This photo doesn't look appetizing, but I wanted to show the quick method for making Parmesan Chicken.  First moosh the chicken tenders in mustard;  most recipes use mayonnaise but I adapted to use mustard for a less fattening choice.  If the package of chicken happens to contain the larger breasts, I use kitchen shears to cut them into "fingers".  After slathering on the mustard, roll in seasoned panko bread crumb/shredded Parmesan cheese mixture.  Place on a sheet pan lined with greased aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, bake at 350 degrees for only about 25 minutes.  Don't overcook.  While the chicken is baking, roast veggies of your choice on a separate sheet pan.  Add a salad and bread for a delish and quick dinner. 

PRETTY

 Kimberly proposed an ATC swap with PRETTY as the theme.  There was a quick turnaround, but only 3 ATC's were required, meaning this was a must do swap.  Kimberly does the most beautiful work; therefore I did my best to be creative, use oodles of stuff, and think PRETTY. 



I made an extra ATC in order for Kimberly to keep one for herself.  The top 2 ATC's use vintage scrap from Germany layered with diecuts and old flowers.  The bottom 2 ATC's use papers from Graphic 45 plus bits of fabric and, gasp, hand stitching. 

I included a little envelope for my note to Kimberly and postage fees.  These should arrive in the mail on Monday or Tuesday.  I think it won't ruin the surprise factor to post this now. 

In the Zone

 I got into a zone this morning and made a bunch of cards for Operation Write Home.  Two reasons for the push.  I'm going to mail my first group of cards on Monday, the more the merrier, and I'm just full of ideas for cards.  I have so many papers and ephemera in my stash; it makes putting together a design with embellishments a joy.  In the top photo, all the cards except the two on the right use papers from a new pad I got at Michael's.  The colors are perfect for masculine cards that I hope will appeal to our soldiers.  Yes, yes, plenty of gals in service, too.  Thank you one and all. 

I decided to utilize the four Patriotic medallions and sheet of stars & stripes paper I've had for some time.  I added a border punch and vintage crepe paper.  Just for variation I went with an image from a Tim Holtz paper instead of circle die cut on 1 card.  I glued on some old Dennison stars too, but they don't show up in the picture.  23 cards done.  Hmmm, I think I'll make 2 more for an even 25. 

My Latest Operation Write Home (OWH) cards

 I am making decent progress on my way to 50+ cards for OWH.  I think I've made over a dozen cards in about 2 weeks.  WELL!  I had to paint my guest room and make 3 ATC's for a swap.  Still, I plug away at it for an hour or so most days.  I am not fast; I don't do assembly lines.  I do use odds and ends that are on my craft table...little bits left over or that I notice in my stash and want to press into service. 

 I did end up buying some new cardstock and a new paper cutter.  My low tech Fiskars paper cutter is an essential, but the measurement markings were difficult to read so I gifted myself with an improved model.  Since the OWH card size is exactly half of a 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock, I bought a pad of dark neutrals in that size for convenience.  I have so much beautiful patterned paper on hand that I'm all set with that.  I continue to use my Crafter's Pick "Ultimate" glue for everything. 

Just look at those colors!  I get color inspiration everywhere; then come home and look for suitable papers.  Every card has to be identified as coming from the OWH project; I just make little labels on my computer.  Then each card has to be "tucked" into it's envelope, just so.  I hope I'm doing everything right.  

Just For Me

 Here is my new 2nd floor guest room and office.  I am excited about this because it provides for a nice guest space instead of the 3rd floor crowded attic/storage/craft/guest room.  AND, I can store my jewelry supplies and sewing machine here rather than spread out over the library and dining room. 

 Currently I'm preferring neutral colors in my decor, yet look at all those gay colors that I also gravitate to.  I decided to paint the walls a pale bone/grey color to calm down the coral quilt and colorful barkcloth curtains that make me smile.  And YES, I did paint the room myself.  I didn't plan to; I tried to hire it done.  The painter didn't call me back after a couple weeks.  So me and Benjamin Moore got it done.  My creaky old bones and joints were only able to paint a wall a day.  I read a DIY tip that paint brushes, rollers, etc can be wrapped in Saran-Wrap for storage for a day or so.  This is a real time saver and worked perfectly.  Be kind and don't look for paint "holidays".  I balked at adding a 2nd coat. 

Here is the room as it was used by my husband for his office.  He had massive heavy office furniture that we had a fun time moving.  That was then; this is now.  A room just for me...and my guest. 

I'm a Machine

 Kim Laws  posted  recently about Operation Write Home http://operationwritehome.org/blog/; a grass-roots organization that supplies hand made greeting cards to our Military Heroes.  Yesterday after I studied the card making guidelines (no glitter!) and searched my stash for the correct size envelopes (no exceptions!) I began to have some fun.  I only have 18 envelopes on hand; my goal is to make those 18 cards then access my commitment.  I pep talk myself that these are not for me, nor do I know who will use them, and I must stay away from possibly inappropriate themes.  After all, these are going to our men and women who are in harms way, deserving of a little something to bring a smile.  I couldn't sleep last night thinking of layouts and color combos.  Now that I've spent a couple hours on them I hope I can settle into the rhythm of a card making machine. 

Circle of Giving

 

 How thrilling would it be to be caught in a never ending circle of giving?  As Captain Picard said (it was him, yes?), "Make it so".  I am the happy recipient of the fab bits and bobs above, compliments of my chosen daughter Laura.  Can you believe that "mail art" drawing of Marie Antoinette?  I'm surprised the postmistress didn't sneak it into her private treasures.  Laura and I love to poke fun at print ads, because, really, they ask for it.  Martha is always good for snarky material.  We love our Martha, but gads, can she get over herself for a minute?  Nowadays Laura includes an art piece by the talented 4.5 year old Miss Violet who won't be left out of any fun.

If I can get it together enough to seal a box for Laura, the one that has been sitting in my living room for 2 weeks, I'll include this little paper doll frill for Miss V. 

Part of my giving circle is the private book club funded by my friend Linda, from CA.  She sends me boxes of books every year containing the most eclectic and electric choices.  All of the books make their way to my senior exercise class to be shared over and over.  One of the senior ladies loves my craft projects so I took this bracelet to her this morning.  The previous bracelet I made for her must have bewitched her 5 year old grandson since he secreted it away with him.  In that case she didn't even know she was giving.  It just keeps circling around. 

Quickie

I wanted to make a couple of cards today, but since I haven't crafted in weeks, I wanted to ease back into it.  Sometimes I get on my own very last nerve with all of my fiddling and fretting over which papers and elements to use.  I vowed to be easy-breezy today.  Thank you Anna Griffin and Graphic 45, again and again, for giving me the inspiration and products.  I started with a lovely illustrated note card; a gold doily, a center image from papers strewn across my desk and G45's new Bohemian Bazaar papers = two quickie cards. 

Here's a quickie of a different sort.  I had a sweet tooth ache, but didn't want to bake something.  I had a new pack of graham crackers; a small jar of marshmallow cream; a large $1 Hershey bar.  Quick.