February Bake Along Challenge 2017

I really waited until the very last minute of this month to post these photos. Our challenge this month for the King Arthur Flour  Bake Along was to make dark chocolate eclairs. This was a new experience for me. I had never made choux pastry before. It was lots of fun and we had yummy dark chocolate eclairs for a couple of days. I am sorry to say that they were eaten WAY TOO FAST!!! But now that I know how easy this was to make, I will definitely be making them again.

#bakealong
King Arthur Flour

#bakealong
King Arthur Flour

Until next time...

Baking Along

This year I decided to challenge myself to some new adventures. I am crafting again. I am expanding my geocaching trips. I joined a new book club and I am participating in a monthly "Ladies Who Lunch" group. I am also following a baking challenge on King Arthur Flour website. Today was my first step into the later.

King Arthur Flour produces a blog called Flourish. Each month they publish a recipe with tips and tricks to teach you to bake up a storm called #Bakealong. This month the recipe is Pizza Party Buns. It was a lovely yeast bread recipe that smelled heavenly even as it was rising. While the recipe called for unbleached  bread flour, I only had all purpose in my kitchen. Also my yeast was slightly out of date, but still rose wonderfully. Here are my results:

Hubby says we will need to make more in the future. I guess they were a hit.

Until next time...

A Christmas Card Layout

I have been collecting and bundling my received Christmas for years now with every intention of creating a scrapbook layout with them. I have a friend who does this every year and it's usually one of my favorite layouts this creative lady makes. After not scraping for a number of months, maybe even years, I was inspired to create this after seeing her layout today. I fussy cut images and words from my cards. I made a pocket for the page with the collage of images and inserted photo cards, personal notes and images from the cards that did not really match the layout I created. My paper is My Mind's Eye Vintage Christmas.

Thanks for the inspiration Lynn!!

Until next time...

Back To Planning Happy

Now that the book challenge is over, its time to hop back on the craft wagon. I started using my first Happy Planner this past summer. But I have been a few months behind. I use my planner for journaling, a little scrapping, and sharing events. Mostly I do this for myself because it's fun!!! I am going to share a couple of pages here with you.  I am trying to use up little odds and ends of embellishments and papers from my huge stash as I downsize and declutter this year.

Speaking of decluttering, I am also challenging myself to downsize the amount of "stuff" we have in our house. I am following Home Storage Solutions 101 with their 52 week declutter suggestions. Just 15 minutes a day to a less cluttered life. And I really need some decluttering. We started in the kitchen this month. I have been making sure I am adding at least one thing to the donation box everyday even if I don't get to complete the daily guidelines. My hubby has already pointed out how much neater the kitchen looks without all the paraphernalia all over the counters. I can't wait until we clean out the cabinets. There is stuff in there that has not seen the light of day since we moved into this house four years ago. I am hoping less stuff  will lead to less stress in our lives. For now though, I need to get to bed.

Until next time...

Reading Challenge 2016 - COMPLETE!!

Yep! I did it. I completed my book challenge for this year today. I read 42 books of various topics, genres, authors and pages in 2016. (Frankly a couple more if you count the ones I completed before I started my challenge). I fell into this challenge late. It was the end of March when I found the Popsugar list and decided to give it a whirl. I was stuck in a rut looking for new books to read and new authors to fall in love with. The variety of this challenge allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. I researched books that would fit the topics. I skipped a couple that I simply COULD NOT FINISH and found others to replace them. All in all it was a great experience for me.

Loves This Year:

1. Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon A Time #6) by Cameron Dokey -  I really enjoyed this author. I also read "The Storyteller's Daughter" for another category this year. Her stories are adaptations of fairy tales with a twist. Light reading of a story you may already know. 
2. The Devil's Intern by Donna Hosie - In this story "dead" people living in purgatory decide to turn back time and change the conditions of their deaths. I was not sure if I was going to enjoy this book. In the end I thought it was great and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
3. And on the order of devils, The Devil's Grin (Anna Kronberg Thriller #1) by Annelie Wendeberg - This was a nice beginning to a thriller series for me. I am not one for gory stuff. This delivered for me and started me on a new series as well.
4. Everybody's Got Something, by Robin Roberts with Veronica Chambers - I laughed out loud. I cried. I recommend this one to all.
5. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyers - I could not put it down!! Another adaptation of a fairy tale and the beginning of yet another series for me to read. (Do you see a pattern here?) Imagine the world in the future, fairy tale princesses and CYBORGS!!! An unusual combination, but done so well.

Not A Fan:

1. Sand In My Bra And Other Misadventures, by Jennifer Leo and Jessica Maxwell. I expected it to be super funny with all the chapters written by different comedians, but there were more chapters that were less funny than ones that made me laugh.
2. The Drowned World by J.G. Bullard - One word: SLOW!! It could have been great and maybe in its day it was. For me, not so much.
3. Out Of The Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis - EVEN SLOWER!!! Enough said...
4. I may be shot for this one, Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen. Jane, I love reading your stuff, but this one took me forever to finish and I was annoyed with it when I was done.
5. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - I really wanted to love this one. I have seen the movie so many times. I even own two copies of the DVD. 

To see the rest of my choices this year, flip to the Book Challenge 2016 page of my blog. Please excuse the size of the print. Blogger has been messing with me all evening and I can't get it quite right. 

Popsugar has posted a new list of books to entice you to read more styles of books for 2017. I decided to skip the new list. I have many new series to complete thanks to this challenge as well as ones I had been working on prior to the challenge that I really want to get back to (Outlander!!) Hope you find lots of good reading material this year yourselves. If you read anything great, send me a comment. I may add it to my list for 2017.

Until next time...

A Couple of Days Of Tags

I have had an interesting week. Baking cookies. Viewing Twinkle light displays. Shopping for gifts. Wrapping said gifts. Attending a holiday concert. Stopping by urgent care to top it all off. Needless to say I have gotten behind on my listing and Advent art tags. So today while I have been doing laundry, icing gingerbread and making dinner, I have been trying to catch up.

This shows the placement of the tags in the book.
Just look for the number circles.

This is day 1 which i listed previously,
but is complete now that I added it's number.
The art journaling on the back is listed in the
previous post.

Day 2
Guidelines from 30 Days of Lists:
Activities I would like to try this month
From Mickie's Niche:
"Let It Snow"

Day 3
From 30 Days of Lists:
People Always Ask Me
From Mickie's Niche:
Glitter or Glitz: Use glitter, sequins, or other sparkles

Day 4
30 Days of Lists:
I Find Magic In
Mickie's Niche:
Santa Claus is coming to town!

Day 5
30 Days of Lists:
Things I Learned About Myself This Year
Mickie's Niche:
Use ribbon or lace

Day 6
30 Days of Lists:
On My Desk This Week
Mickie's Niche:
Be inspired by the Nutcracker

I have flipped to the next page in the book.
Number 7 is first and foremost on the page.

Day 7
30 Days of List:
How Can I Be Helpful?
Mickie's Niche:
Add wings to something that doesn't normally have wings.

I love the snowman with wings. Off to my next "catch up" duty.

Until next time...

December Lists and Daily Art Journaling

I am almost finished with my Book Challenge for 2016!! Time to start working my way back into the creative, artsy stuff!! This December I have decided to participate in a daily art journaling prompt as well as a daily list project. Both of these promise to not take up much of my time. But knowing me, my OCD will make it take a little longer than it should. 

Here are the links: 

Mickie's Mind

30 Days of Lists - December 2016

 I am using a December daily book I created a couple of years ago that has just been sitting around waiting to be used. It was made with manilla folders and lots and lots of Christmas papers and embellies. It has lots of nice pockets to stick tags and art work into as the month goes on. I am happy to have the chance to use it this year. 

For today's prompts I tried to just stick with the time frame. Mickie's wanted us to use a napkin in our art. My list prompt was my favorite things about December. I know I have a number 1 around here somewhere in my stash, but I will add it later. 

Flamingos for Christmas?! Yep, it was the only printed napkin I had in the house!! 

Until next time...

I Made It To #19!!

My photo editing program has been giving me grief. Here's where I am so far...

 

 

 

Until next time...

Up To List # Lucky 13!!!

Catching up on my lists. Enjoy...

 

Until next time...

Day 8 of 30 Lists (plus #7 too)

I debated if I was going to publish Day 7 as there are a few in the past I have not published so that I did not hurt anyone's feelings. But heck, get over it!! So here's number 8 with number 7 thrown in for good measure.

Until next time...

Day 6 of the 30 Days of Lists

Until next time...

Creative Alert! Creative Alert!!

Today I find myself doing something crafty. I am participating in the 30 Days of Lists Challenge on Facebook. For the month of September I will receive a daily prompt to list journal. I found a small book in my stash of crafty "stuff". Here are a couple of pages to share.

     

Until next time...

Mixed Media Morsels Part 1

Yes, yes, I know. This "I am not going to craft again any time soon" idea apparently was a false statement. I have been crafting almost every day since i said it, except for days that I am doing some binge reading. So what'cha gonna do?

I found a wonderful little YouTube channel by Cat Hand called Mixed Media Morsels. It is a video series where Cat shows us different techniques to use in our crafting on a small scale. I am creating a 5 x 5 inch journal with examples of all kinds of techniques I can use in bigger projects. I will just have to browse this little book for ideas when I hit a wall.

I am a little behind on the series, but that's ok. I can catch up at my own pace. I am trying to do a small craft every night to keep the juices flowing. Also, I want to use up some of the many, many, MANY products I already own here in my studio, so I may be doing things a little differently to accommodate my situation. Here's a few samples from this week so far:

MMM 1 - The plastic wrap background

In this example we were to make our page very wet with paint and water. Then we laid plastic wrap on the surface, wrinkled it up and let it dry over night. Well, I don't own regular plastic wrap. I have Press 'n Seal which is textured. The substitute worked, but it left little spots from the textured wrap. I am good with that. I really kind of like it.

MMM 2 - Collage Background

Here we were to take tiny scraps of paper we had laying around and make a collage. Then we embellished it with pens. I used a decoupage medium that did not like my markers. I did a second collage with various letters I just had laying around the desk. The decoupage medium is all used up now and I can buy something new for next time that I can write on. Problem solved! Hee! Hee!

Using up my supplies with a second collage

MMM 3 - Alcohol Background

This one is my favorite so far. We painted a coat of paint and let it dry. Then we painted a second coat of paint. While it was still wet, we used a paint brush dipped in alcohol to create the droplet affect on the page. It was so cool!!!

I took a page I had already painted from another project. The colors were greens and browns. Then I painted the purple on top. My alcohol was downstairs. It was late and I did not feel like heading down to find it. So I had a bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel on my desk. I dipped my paintbrush in it. It's mostly alcohol anyway and it worked great! I can't wait to try it again.

MMM 4 - Glue Resist Background

This technique was a snap. Paint a background. I once again used one that was previously painted. Use a bottle of white glue to draw images, lines, words, squiggles and allow it to dry over night. Once it was dry, cover with a coat of paint. Then use a baby wipe to rub the paint off of the glue.

Simple, right? This page was a problem for me. I did not have regular white glue. So I used tacky glue which is much thicker. It made it hard for me to squeeze the bottle and create some beautiful squiggles. Then instead of using acrylic paint, I used a shimmer acrylic glaze I have had sitting around forever. I figured it would be pretty and shiny. Well that glaze did not want to come off of the glue!! So I did the best I could and told my OCD to calm down. I did not have to be perfect. 

MMM 5 - Tissue Paper Background

I also really like this one. In fact I used it before on my textured pallet I made in my Artisan group a while back.  It gives such a nice textured background. You just want to touch it when you see it.

In the journal I used dark blue tissue paper left over from a gift of the past, white craft paint and black ink. On the pallet, I used the same dark blue tissue paper and masking tape, with peach colored paints and brown ink on top. Next...

Previous project using the tissue paper background.

MMM 6 - Inchies!!!

These are inchies. They are 1 x 1 inch squares that you create using paints, stamps, stickers, anything you have just laying around. And we all know I have LOTS of stuff just laying around. I used three index cards and painted them with Inka Gold Metallic Rubs. Then I stamped and stickered with some old tiny stamps DD left behind when she moved out. I cut the index cards into 1 inch squares and used a Sharpie to doodle on the edges.

Then I glued them onto the 5 X 5 inch page of my journal randomly. Issues: Inka Gold did not like the stamp ink I used so the ink kind of smeared when I used the matte medium to glue it all down. Also, the matte medium dulled the shininess of the Inka Gold, duh. Bad choice on my part, but oh well, live and learn. Also the page is SUPER THICK because I used the index cards and covered the whole page in the journal. It feels really out of place with the other pages in the journal. Once again, live and learn.

All in all, I feel very accomplished this week with all my effort. The pages are really cool and I am anxious to move onto MMM 7. 

Until next time...