Silver Boxes

Friday, April 06, 2012

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Note Card Set No. 3

If you haven't already noticed, I'm constantly on a quest to use up my paper scraps.

This note card set uses a chevron design made of strips of patterned papers.

I made some pink, yellow, & blue, & then a combination of the three with the leftovers.

I finished them off with a strip of white with a sentiment stamped on it.

Then a small die cut butterfly (from the dollar store) mounted on a foam square.

Do you have anything that you make out of your scraps? I'm always looking for new ideas... please leave me a comment & let me know what you like to make.

Enjoy your day!

Check out these great parties I link up to!

Monday, April 02, 2012

Fruity Iced Tea

Spring is here & that means getting out all the spring & summer recipes.

Barbecues & backyard parties are just around the corner!

Ya-hoo!

Fruity Iced Tea
makes 6-8 servings

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
6 bags black tea (I use Earl Grey)
4 cups boiling water
1 1/2 orange juice
Unstrained juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cups pineapple juice

In a small saucepan, combine sugar & first measurement of water. Bring to a boil. Continue boiling until liquid is clear, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Place tea bags in heat-resistant pitcher; add boiling water & let steep about 5 minutes. Remove & discard tea bags. Add sugar syrup to tea. Mix well. Let tea cool & refrigerate until chilled.

Add orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice & chilled sugar syrup. Refrigerate a few hours, preferably overnight. Serve over ice in tall glasses.

~~~~~

Enjoy this spring day!

Check out these great parties I link up to!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Spring Cleaning 2012

Have you begun your spring cleaning? I've done a few of the tasks on my list, but have lots left to do!

In addition to my regular cleaning, here's my list:

Update: After talking to some friends of mine, it has come to my attention that you may think I do this whole list every year. While I strive to do my very best, alas, I don't complete this list every spring... ever! :) It is simply a guideline & something to work towards. Don't let it stress you out. :)

Second Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop!

Welcome blog hoppers!

I'm so happy to be taking part in the Second Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop!

You should have come from Nina's blog, Nina's Time Out.

If you stumbled upon this blog hop & want to participate, you'll want to start HERE.
Check out the rules for a chance to win some prizes too!

My "Smiley" layout was made with these products:

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Patterned Papers - Echo Park, Dots & Stripes & Style Essentials collections
Scallop Punch - Stampin' Up!
Pearls - Making Memories
Vellum Butterflies - Jenni Bowlin
Tiny Butterflies - Dollarama
Canvas covered chipboard Alphabet - American Crafts

Most of these products were purchased from Crop Chocolate. :)

I love me some layered pattered papers! I used the scallop punch to add a decorative border.

Here's another little strip of the scalloped border to echo the three main strips.

This is today's hop list if you're lost:

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to leave a comment on each post for a chance to win the prizes!
If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, become a follower/subscriber - I'd love to get to know you better!

Now, head on over to the next stop - Scrap Happy's Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers

Happy Hopping!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Blog Hop Announcement!

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be taking part in the Second Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop! It starts today with several bloggers posting their projects & keeps going tomorrow with a bunch more bloggers posting new projects! Be sure & follow along to get some really great papercrafting ideas as well as making some new bloggy friends.

I hope you'll join us!

https://cropchocolate.com/

The theme is borders - whether they're made with an electric tool or a manual tool. I'm sure you'll find some fresh, new inspiration for your crafting!

Here's the run down:

-The hop will start at mommyx2's blog at 8am MDT on Friday, March 23 (Today!) with the first group of postings. Saturday, March 24th will have the second group of postings.

-Everyone will have until 8am MDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to comment.

***To be eligible to win on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, you need to comment on each blog along the hop and be able to receive packages (no post office boxes). It is open worldwide. The winners will be selected via random.org and announced at http://centralnyscrapper.wordpress.com/ on Wednesday, March 28.***

-We have two confirmed giveaways. One is a 12×12 Hello Spring Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park and another is a 12×12 Fourth Of July Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park (generously donated by Echo Park Paper Co.).

-Some of the bloggers along the hop have mentioned that they plan to offer blog candy. Be sure to look for those announcements and follow the steps they would like you to do to be eligible for those prizes. I sadly joined the group too late in the game & thus don't have candy to offer you. So sorry! I'll plan better next time! But hopefully you enjoy the pretty eye candy you see along the way. :)

Here is today's blog hop list:

Be sure to come back tomorrow to visit me (and see my project) as well as visiting Saturday's participants! And maybe you'll be one of the lucky winners!

Start hopping!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Button Cards

As I'm restocking my box of handmade cards, I'm endeavouring to make multiples of each design to save some time. It's also a great way to use up multiple scraps & other left over supplies. These are the latest design.

They were inspired by the button cards that are actually packaging that My Mind's Eye mounts their buttons on.

I changed some of the buttons to fit my colours & style a little better.

The papers are all My Mind's Eye. I used bits of ribbon & sentiment stickers to finish things off.

Easy & sweet... Just my style!

Stay tuned for a papercrafting blog hop I'm participating in this weekend with a chance to win a great prize... come back on Friday for more details. It's going to be good!

Thanks for reading!

Check out these great parties that I link up to!

This project was featured on:

Monday, March 19, 2012

Root Beer Cookies

Hello, friends!

Well, I took a week off blogging & had a nice little breather. My posts may continue to be touch & go in the next few weeks, so thanks for going with the flow. :)

While I had my aforementioned breather, I had a chance to do some baking; trying some new recipes as well as pulling out a few oldies that needed to be dusted off.

This is one such recipe.

Who doesn't like root beer? Well, I guess that could be a silly question since I didn't like it as a kid.

I had a sip of a friend's as a teenager & wondered, "What was I thinking, not liking this?!"

Thus began an adulthood enjoyment of my favourite flavour of pop (or soda for my American friends).

And when you can combine the flavour of your favourite beverage with a favourite type of food, life gets just a little bit better.

Root Beer Cookies with Root Beer Frosting

makes 3 dozen large cookies

Cookies:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. root beer extract or concentrate (I found mine at the Bulk Barn. Check natural or specialty food stores.)

4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter & brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in buttermilk & root beer extract.

Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375º for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Frosting:

3 1/2 cups icing sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

3 Tbsp. water

1 tsp. root beer extract or concentrate

In a mixing bowl, combine all frosting ingredients. Beat until smooth.

Frost cooled cookies.

Enjoy with a cold root beer on the side! YUM!

Enjoy your day!

Check out the great parties I link up to!

This recipe was featured on:

Friday, March 09, 2012

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

I hated mushrooms as a kid. Actually, I hated a lot of vegetables as a kid. I grew out of that as an adult, thankfully. And, because there is justice in the world, now my kids hate mushrooms (among a few other things). Sweet justice, according to my parents.

Oh well.

When I make something our kids don't like, they have to have at least some.

When it comes to this appetizer, that just leaves more for the adults in the room. :)

Crab-Stuffed Mushroom Caps

20 mushrooms

20 large white mushrooms with stems

1 tsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp minced onions

1 can (4 oz.) crabmeat, drained

2 Tbsp. unseasoned, dry bread crumbs

2 Tbsp. low-fat mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. chopped, fresh parsley

1 Tbsp. grated, Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 black pepper

2 or 3 drops hot pepper sauce

Preheat oven to 400º.

Wash the mushrooms & pat dry with paper towels. Pull out stems, leaving a hole where the filling will go.

Mince all or most of the stems to make 1 cup. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add minced stems & onions. Cook & stir until vegetables are tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Be careful not to burn them.

In a medium bowl, combine mushroom-onion mixture with all remaining ingredients. Using a teaspoon, stuff mushrooms with filling, mounding on top.

Arrange stuffed mushrooms in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 400º for 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

And now here's the whole thing without the pics:

Crab-Stuffed Mushroom Caps

20 mushrooms

20 large white mushrooms with stems

1 tsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp minced onions

1 can (4 oz.) crabmeat, drained

2 Tbsp. unseasoned, dry bread crumbs

2 Tbsp. low-fat mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. chopped, fresh parsley

1 Tbsp. grated, Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 black pepper

2 or 3 drops hot pepper sauce

Preheat oven to 400º.

Wash the mushrooms & pat dry with paper towels. Pull out stems, leaving a hole where the filling will go. Mince all or most of the stems to make 1 cup. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add minced stems & onions. Cook & stir until vegetables are tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Be careful not to burn them.

In a medium bowl, combine mushroom-onion mixture with all remaining ingredients. Using a teaspoon, stuff mushrooms with filling, mounding on top.

Arrange stuffed mushrooms in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 400º for 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Grab one before your guests get them all! ;)

~~~

This week I've been so busy that blogging has taken a bit of a back seat. Maybe you noticed? If you have, you are indeed a faithful reader. Thank you!! My posting schedule was kind of off & the time I usually have to write & prepare posts was pretty abbreviated.

I do have some reasons:

1) Our church is in the midst of preparing for our annual Easter musical which means a couple of practices a week. (Have I ever told you that I'm a singer? Yup, true story.) This is great fun & one big highlight of our spring, but as you can imagine, it's a huge amount of work as well. In addition to me singing in the musical, my husband is playing the saxophone in the orchestra. As my former voice teacher (who is also the one who writes the musicals we perform - Amazing? Yes!) says, "If the musical is in your future, then practice is in your present." Truer words were never spoken.

2) We've been dealing with some sickness in our home - sore throats & my daughter fractured her arm a couple of weeks ago. Sick kids home from school, doctor's appointments, x-rays...

3) Those things combined with life in general & a couple other extra things on our plate just takes up what free time we have.

I'm not complaining.

I'm simply asking you to please have pity on me if I go AWOL for a few days this month. :)

Deal?

Thank you, my friends! You rock!

Now, have a wonderful weekend!

Check out the great parties I link up to!

This recipe was featured on:

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Note Card Set No. 2

My card making days have been few & far between lately, but this past weekend I was able to pump out this notecard set using a bunch of Echo Park scraps I had kickin' around.

All these patterned papers & stickers are from Echo Park's Country Drive, Little Girl, Splash, Summer Days collections.

Nut Jar Upcycle

Can you guess this little container's humble beginnings?

Well, you likely already have because of the name of this post. :)

But in case you skimmed over that part & really are wondering, it all started with a little almond jar like this.

After we ate the yummy almonds, I kept the little jar thinking it was a great size. But what to do with it???

I finally just started playing, not really having the whole vision when I started.

Here's what I did:

1. Paint the lid black with craft paint.

2. Cut some patterned scrapbook paper to fit the jar.

3. Apply the paper with Mod Podge.

4, 5, 6. One by one, layer the tabs on the bottom of the jar, using Mod Podge on top of each one.

7. Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the entire paper surface. Let dry.

8. I learned how to make rolled paper flowers using this tutorial. I made 3 bigger ones & 3 smaller ones. Apply with hot glue.

Now to figure out what to do with it now that it's all prettied up... any ideas?

I'm thinking it would be great as gift packaging with a sweet little gift inside (maybe jewelry?).

Please share your ideas as to what you think I should do with it! :)

Enjoy your day!

I link up to these great parties!

This project featured on:

Friday, March 02, 2012

10 Spray Paint Ideas!

Now that it's March I'm crossing my fingers for the weather to get a bit warmer soon so I can get out & SPRAY PAINT!! Not that it's all that cold (we've had a surprisingly mild winter), but just cold enough to deter me from getting to some of the spray paint makeovers I would love to tackle. After spray painting 1 coat on my lamp revamp in my basement, I've learned my lesson. Definitely waiting for warmer days out in the fresh air...

So for now, I'm just compiling lots of inspiring ideas to use when the warmer weather appears. :)