Thursday, December 31, 2009

Christmas Canvas....

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This was a gift for my sister in law. Is it bad that I kind of wanted to keep it? I have been meaning to make a canvas for our home (since I really need to get on the ball and finish decorating), but it feels way better to give than to receive.

To make this I got my Iris box of scraps and pulled all of the vintage papers that I liked as well as a few red accents. I had found some vintage labels at a stamp show awhile back and hadn't really found a use for them...until now!

I cut my circles in various sizes and just started adding circles till I felt like it was done. Sorry that there isn't more of a science to it, I wanted it to feel a little random. I did place my red accents on purpose to make my visual triangle and added buttons to connect some of the circles and "ground" others.

That's it!

Seriously, it was a lot easier than I thought and I can't wait to make another!
I used regular acrylic paint as my base and I used Gloss Gel as my glue and sealer.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Milk/Egg Free Pioneer Woman Sheet Cake

I wanted to post a few links and share with you some of the things that I made this year as gifts.

But first let's talk food. :-)
This is the sheet cake recipe and instructions.

While this is a great recipe, Colin wouldn't be able to eat it.
This is my version.

Milk and Egg Free Pioneer Woman Sheet Cake
2 Cups Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Mix Together

1/2 Cup Buttermilk (I use 1/2 Cup Rice Milk and add 1 Tablespoon Vinegar)
2 Eggs (3 Tablespoons Oil, 3 Tablespoons Water, 2 Teaspoon Baking Powder mixed together in a separate bowl till it fizzes. This is my general replacement for two eggs in any recipe)
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Mix this together in a separate bowl and then set aside. I just use a large measuring cup that I use for the "buttermilk" and then add everything to that.

2 Sticks Butter (fleishmanns is milk and soy free)
4 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 Cup Boiling Water
Melt Butter, add cocoa then mix. Add boiling water and then let bubble for about a minute.

Mix your flour mixture, buttermilk mixture and cocoa mixture together. Pour into a sheet pan and bake for 18-20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

While this is baking work on your frosting.

1 3/4 Sticks Butter (fleishmann's is milk and soy free)
4 Tablespoons Cocoa
6 Tablespoons Milk (I decreased this to about 3 Tablespoons Rice Milk and then added 3 Tablespoons Water since Rice Milk is really sweet)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Pound Confectioner's Sugar

MIX THIS REALLY WELL! Otherwise you have lumps of sugar.

Unless you like lumps of sugar :-)

As soon as your cake come out of the oven pour frosting over sheet cake and spread.

Once I get the hang of making this I have a feeling this will be my quickest cake and frosting recipe. I can do this in under 30 minutes from start to finish.

Seriously, this is the best little chocolate cake that I have ever made.

If you make this let me know what you think...and as always, if you have any questions let me know that too.

I will do my best to answer them in future posts, by email or in the comment section.

And don't worry, I also made some crafty gifts too that I will be sharing later today or tomorrow. :-)

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours...

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Photo Card downloaded from Becky Higgin's Website.

We are nearing the end of our Christmas weekend and plan to hit up Hershey Park today as well as a bit of shopping for me at the outlets.

And if I manage to wander into the scrapbook store I swear it will only be for a few minutes :-) As far as I am concerned, that is the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. Which included a date with my hubby to see the Princess and the Frog. (Who cares if we were the only adults without children there.) Very awesome movie by the way!

When I get home I will upload the photos of the gifts I made this year. I realize that this really isn't too helpful for Christmas, sorry about that. But it still may give you ideas for birthday or thank you gifts. Or just gifts to yourself since it is oh so yummy!

Also on the agenda...
Toffee Recipe with photos :-)
My Sheet Cake Recipe
Chili Mix Recipe and Template Links
And answering questions about the overlays I made in Photoshop for Project 365.

Oh and there may be a photo or two of my adorable son who was wearing a Mickey Santa hat with his Mickey sweater. However, for some reason I didn't get any family photos of us together. No worries, I plan on having a "reshoot" before taking our tree down.

I'll be back to share soon but until then, I hope everyone enjoys every last bit of this Holiday weekend.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Guess What Came Today....

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Three of these.

One for Mommy.
One for Daddy.
One for Colin.

And I got them on sale.

The Fausts are going to be all matchy matchy this holiday season.

I seriously can't wait :-)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Scrapping Bella Winner!

I used random.org to choose a winner however you will just have to trust me since I'm not using my home computer to upload a screen shot.

The random number chosen was......41!

That means
apron girls said...
Your stuff is way too cute! Love those blocks and the Christmas To Do. Congrats on the Bella Babe.

December 20, 2009 1:51 AM

So Apron Girls please send me your contact info to kck182 at comcast dot net to claim your prize!

Again thanks so much for your sweet comments and playing along!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

But my productivity is sooooo delightful! :-)

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Since I have loads to bake....

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It's a blizzard here so it is PJ and movie day. Colin is thrilled. I however am not sitting on the couch watching TV, I am placing last minute gift orders and baking.

And ummm, updating my blog.

A girl's gotta have priorities!

Here's my December Collage Press LO. Note, I used the Joyride line with SUMMER PENN STATE PHOTOS! Now THAT'S versatility!

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P.S. Thank you so much for all of your encouraging words and comments! I can't wait to get started with my Bella duties and I look forward to getting to know everyone better!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Project 365 Photos...(Photo Heavy)

A few highlights from the past two weeks...

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11/28: Started Christmas shopping...in NOVEMBER! That's pretty good for me :-)

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11/29: Colin did a great job of giving away toys he no longer plays with. He donated them to "the little boys and girls who do not have any toys."

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11/30: How cool is it that Colin's drawings are starting to look like people. Weird looking people but people nonetheless.

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12/6: These two guys being very happy that I am home from my girls weekend to Christmas shop. Again...I'm getting a lot of this done EARLY!

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12/9: *sigh* I just love this!

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12/10: BEST SHEET CAKE EVER! I modified the version that I saw here. The one I made is Milk, Soy and Egg free baby!

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12/13: We got our tree this weekend and every time I look at these ornaments they make me smile.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

So I Am A Bella Babe!

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So I was contacted by the very fun and witty Emily, owner of Stamping Bella, to see if I was interested in designing for her new scrapbooking website, Scrapping Bella. It didn't take me long to say yes to playing with really cute stamps and a fun mix of products. However it did take me a little longer to email her my headshot and bio :-)

So checkout the blog here this week for the official announcement!

To say that I am excited, flattered, inspired, excited :-) would be the understatement of the year. However, I am most of all grateful for the opportunity!

And if you haven't had a chance to check out the website I would encourage you to do so now.

Go ahead, I'll wait :-)

Isn't it awesome?!

Okay that's it for now...I have some new LO's to share and loads of Project 365 photos to share that will shed some light on what the Faust clan has been up to over the last couple of weeks.

Excited? Me too!

The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur so I am anxious to see what we have been up to too!

Oh what the heck! Here's that LO that I was working on in this post where I realized that glue and toddlers don't mix.
You see that ribbon at the bottom of the photo? It's covering the big glue spot courtesy of Colin Faust.

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In the end I did thank him for "helping me" with my scrapbooking.

The ribbon was a nice touch!

*ETA* Have you seen all this stuff?

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The very generous Emily is providing my readers and new Bella friends a chance at winning all of this loot! So comment on this post to be entered for your chance to win!

Good Luck everyone!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Quick Update!

I have HUGE scrappy news to share...well at least HUGE to me :-)

Not to make you wait on the edge of your seat but I am on my way to work and well....it will take me more than 30 seconds to post the story.

I didn't fall off the face of the earth I am just being super productive in the Christmas department!

So productive that I have gotten totally behind in my blog stalking ritual :-)

Never fear, I will be stalking your blogs shortly as well as sharing my news.

Now back to your regularly scheduled day :-)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas Planning...

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I am thrilled to say that I have gotten most of my shopping already done.
Impressed?
Me too :-)

I am definitely a last minute type of gal so this change of pace feels a little weird but I like it!

I think that this planner has helped a lot and I love crossing things off of each list.

And just in case I forget how many days that there are left to Christmas I have this....
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These were my design team projects for the Collage Press Blog. If you haven't had a chance to leave a message over there be sure to do it right now! They are giving away the entire Joyride line and it is seriously the best Christmas line ever!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

I Should Be Packing...

But I am doing a bit of laundry so that my family can have clean socks while I am gone...I'm so nice :-)

I have quite a few LO's to share but I'm not sure if I am able to share them here yet or not. I do know that my Joyride projects should be posted this week on the Collage Press Blog.

I am hoping that a bit of the Christmas spirit will rub off on me during my girls only, best place on earth, Christmas shopping trip this weekend.

Now if I can just get my stuff packed and a little sleep I will be set. :-)

Please send good thoughts my hubby's way since he will have our little monster to himself till I get back. Colin has "assured" me that he will not stay up late eating popcorn or candy. I will be thrilled as long as no one gets hurt and they each get some sleep.

And Colin brushes his teeth before going to bed.

Sometimes you just have to lower your standards.

All kidding aside, I'm sure everything will be fine and I know my hubby will do a great job!