Merrily We Live

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:42:00 +0000

update

Hey, y’all! So, since Pinterest has changed their TOS, I have decided to start pinning again. I have also removed the “No Pin” thingy from this blog so y’all can pin away...ha, ha!

I’ve been designing like a mad woman in Silhouette Studio and, hopefully, will get it posted here pretty soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:27:00 +0000

wrist warmers, Pinterest, thoughts

Hey, y’all! Did everyone “spring forward”? It’s nice to have more daylight but I sure hated losing that extra hour!

I have not finished those cards I posted about below...Miss Silhouette has been acting like a drama queen & I just didn’t have the patience to mess with her!

Here is a photo of a pair of wrist warmers & some kitty toys that I made for my sister. (The kitty toys are for her cat...not her!)

I’m sorry to say that I don’t know where the patterns for either of these items came from. I transferred all my PDF crochet patterns to Microsoft One Note. I didn’t realize that it didn’t transfer the web site name with it!

If these are your patterns please let me know so that I can give you credit!

Anyway, the wrist warmers were crocheted with Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue...the kitty toys with Lily Sugar ‘n Cream.

On to Pinterest. Today I read this post by Heather at Little Tin Bird. I’ve been hearing rumblings about Pinterest and decided that today was the day to do something about it. I’ve often wondered how people can just pin other people’s photos, etc. willy-nilly and not get into some sort of trouble for it!

So, I have deleted my Pinterest account and added the “no-pin” code to this blog. I know, I know...I have such marvelous content that people pin my stuff right & left...ha, ha!

If you’re interested, you can get the code here...under “What if I don’t want images from my site to be pinned?” Go read Heather’s post & the link to the article she read for more information.

See you soon!

Annabelle

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:38:00 +0000

designing st. patrick’s day cards

Hey y’all! I spent some time working on St. Patrick’s Day cards today. Silhouette Studio DE is just so great for designing...don’t know what I’d do without it.

Here’s what I started with...

I pulled out everything I thought I might use from My Library as well as some digital papers.

What came from the Silhouette Store...the cream background digital paper, the shamrock bouquet and the shamrock border.

The darker digital paper came from Two Peas. I designed the banners and the oval shape with faux stitching.

Irish Blessing and Happy St. Patrick’s day were made with Port Credit font.

I like to flood fill all my images with color so I can kind of see how things are going to look.

The digital papers are on the mat just for reference. When I get ready to use them, I just drag the paper from it’s file into the selected shape in the Studio software.

This is the first card. The left side is the card front...the right side is the inside of the card.

I made the four leaf clover inside by using the knife to cut off one of the little flourishes from the “bouquet” and welding it to a leaf.

Here’s the second card. The shape with the “blessing” on this card was designed by me. I just welded some of the banner shapes together.

Then I take everything apart and get it ready to be print & cut.

The second print & cut.

And, finally, just items to be cut.

Tomorrow, hopefully, I will get these printed & cut and start putting my cards together.

See you then!

Annabelle

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:10:00 +0000

randomness after a long absence

Louis loves to watch the Silhouette in action!

This is the valentine I made for my sister. Isn’t that little boy a cutie patootie? The “Say It With Flowers” card, tickets, flowers, lace border & heart background all came from the Silhouette store. I added some digital paper to the tickets & cut everything on the Silhouette.

I’m also working on a whole lot of other projects...like this...

and this...

I’m so in love with these Cosmo Cricket digital papers. I want to use them on everything!

Annabelle

Happy 7th Birthday...

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:41:00 +0000

...to Louis a/k/a Mr. Cupcake!!!

Oatmeal Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:26:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is next week...and that Christmas is right around the corner! This year has gone by incredibly fast, don’t you think? Wasn’t it just Christmas a few months ago?

I made Oatmeal Cookies a few days ago...

My beloved Kitchen Aid is vintage and inherited from Darrin’s Grandmother. I don’t know what I’d do without it!

Have y’all tried Reynold’s Pan Lining Paper? It has foil on one side and parchment paper on the other. I really like it. I usually use parchment paper on my cookie sheets but I was out of it when I made these cookies. I used the Pan Lining Paper and couldn’t tell any difference. I’ve used it in baking pans to cook a couple of main dishes, too. This will definitely be something I keep in my kitchen all the time. (Reynold’s is not paying me to endorse their product!)

I only used half the dough...this half will go in the freezer. I usually roll the dough into balls, freeze it on cookie sheets, then put all the dough balls in a bag. It’s really easy to take out however many you want to thaw & bake. I just didn’t have time to do that the other day.

And here are the cookies. Some of them look burnt on the bottom but they’re not...it’s just a shadow! Here’s the recipe...

OATMEAL COOKIES (printer friendly version)

2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)

1 cup raisins (optional)

Cream butter, brown sugar & white sugar together. Beat in eggs. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon & salt. Stir into butter mixture. Mix in oats. Mix in raisins.

Drop by teaspoons onto greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until done. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes approximately 4 dozen.

Veterans Day 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:26:00 +0000

Because of You, Unknown Soldier

By Courtney Tanabe

Because of you, I am here

Because of you, I am able to live freely

Yet I do not know you

And I have not done anything for you

But there you stand, ready to fight

And there you are prepared to die

For me

You've fought before

And you'll fight again

For someone you don't know

So thank you Unknown Soldier

Fighting for me

I'm here because of you

And I owe my future to you

Ravioli Lasagna

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:51:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Well, we got a little dusting of snow but it didn’t stay around long. It does qualify as the first snow of the season, though!

This is what we had for supper last night...Ravioli Lasagna. Cheesy and YUMMY! It’s ridiculously easy to make. It’s also way too much for just the two of us so I always put half of it in the freezer.

We had it with Crusty Cuban Bread that I made in the bread machine. I didn’t take a picture of that. The next time I make it I’ll do that and post the recipe.

RAVIOLI LASAGNA (Printer Friendly Version)

1 lb. cooked ground beef
2 bags frozen ravioli, cheese or beef (I use Louisa brand)
2 jars marinara sauce (I use Newman's Own)
grated Mozzarella cheese
grated Parmesan cheese

Cook ravioli according to package directions and then drain. Mix ground beef & marinara sauce together. Spoon a little of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Layer ravioli and sauce in dish. Sprinkle Mozzarella & Parmesan cheeses over the top. Cover with foil. Bake at 375° for 30 to 45 minutes.

That’s all there is to it. Hope you enjoy it!

Hooky Love

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:07:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! A long, long time ago, for a short period of time, I used to crochet...then I stopped. A couple of years ago I took up knitting but I never got past dishcloths, scarves & shawls. Why? Because I never quite grasped knitting. I never could figure out how to “read” the stitches. If I made a mistake, I had to just start all over again...unless I used a lifeline. I never could figure out where to rip back to...and then there was the problem of getting it all back on the needle again!

Then all of sudden I started becoming attracted to crochet again. And one day I decided to try it again. OH MY GOSH! It was love...hooky love! I understand crochet. If I make a mistake, I can rip back and go on. It’s just wonderful!

Then I found Lucy’s blog...Attic 24. I saw her Crochet Bag and had to start on it right away. My version is made with Sugar n’ Cream cotton...almost all my remaining dishcloth stash. It’s currently holding my yarn stash.

There is a chance we might get SNOW tonight!!! Anywhere from 1 to 4 inches!!!

Well, time to take the Ravioli Lasagna out of the oven, watch a little television with Darrin, then settle in with my hook, yarn and the first season dvd of thirtysomething...one of my favorite shows of all time.

Have a good night!

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:58:00 +0000

It Sure Is Dusty In Here!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:36:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I can hardly believe it’s been almost 8 months since the last time I posted!! A few weeks ago I was actually thinking about hitting the Delete key for this blog. Then last Saturday I got my usual weekly email from SiteMeter showing my stats. I’ve just been deleting it because obviously there was nothing to see! Well, something told me to open it...and...it showed that I had all these visitors...and I couldn’t figure out why.

Pinterest...that’s why. Someone pinned my “Make Your Own Silhouette Mats” post and other people were coming to read it! So, I took it as some sort of sign...and here I am.

I’ve belonged to Pinterest for quite some time but have avoided using it because I could see that it could possibly become addicting! But, as you can see by the “follow me” button over there on the left, I caved!

So, here I am with my blog all redecorated...oh, and a new name, too!

Above is a cute little piece I made to hang in my kitchen. Nothing fancy...I just cut it on my Silhouette from yellow card stock and stuck it in an old frame that I painted white.

Here it is hanging in the kitchen. This is the view from the kitchen, through the side entry and into the living room. Notice “thyme” under the clock...cut from black vinyl.

Be back soon...really...not 8 months from now!

Please Excuse My Absence

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:37:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Sorry for being MIA...the flu bug came visiting at our house. We started coming down with it at almost the end of February and are just now starting to feel like our old selves. And this was a “mild” case! One of our kitties, Rufus, was also under the weather with a stomach bug and had to go to the vet. Oh, joy!

I know I’m going to be absolutely thrilled to able to clean my house and get caught up around here! I am so ready to be back to normal.

See you soon!

Card Sketch Book

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:47:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I need a vacation to a warm beach somewhere. It’s snowing here again. We’re supposed to get somewhere between 1 to 5 inches according to who you believe. Then they said something about freezing rain on Monday.

Our printer went out a couple of days ago. I just thought it was just out of ink. Darrin stopped on his way home from work and bought new ink cartridges. I put them in...it printed a couple of pages and just stopped. Nothing we did made it print again. So we bought a new one. I had no idea how much the price of printers has gone down!! We ended up with a spiffy HP all-in-one. I LOVE it!

The other day Kristina Werner posted a video on her blog with instructions to make a card sketch book. She even has the pages in PDF format to download. Kristina said to staple the book together but I had a brilliant thought and decided to sew it together. Not so brilliant. I realized the cover is soon going to tear off. Next time I’ll follow the directions!

See how rough looking the top of it is from sewing it together? Oh well, at least I used my sewing machine. The poor thing has been neglected for a long time.

Here’s the inside. Very cool. Thank you, Kristina!

Well, that’s all I have for y’all today. Have a good Friday!

Make Your Own Silhouette Mats

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:46:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I hope everyone had a good weekend. Our weather was very spring-like...we even had thunderstorms last night. But, snow is on the way for tomorrow.

On to the subject of this post. I love, love, love my Silhouette. But their mats are not as good as Cricut mats, in my opinion. And, my gosh, the price is a little much, too. (Sorry, Silhouette America!)

I stumbled upon a couple forum posts about how people make their own mats so I thought I’d give it a try. I bought two 12 x 24 inch Cricut mats from Joann on sale for $13.49 and simply cut them down.

The pictures are not the best. I cannot wait for the photography class to start!

Sorry for the glare from my work light. These are the original 12 x 24 inch Cricut mats.

I marked the Cricut mat with the width-wise measurement from the Silhouette mat and cut the excess off with a pair of scissors.

Then I put masking tape down one edge. I did this so the sticky from the mat wouldn’t transfer to the Silhouette roller. Does it work?

Yes, it does!

It worked like a charm!

I left one mat at the full 24-inch length...in case I decide to cut something really long. I cut the other mat in half. So, for a little over $13.49 I got 3 new, good quality mats...in two different sizes. Two 13.5 x 8.9-inch mats from the Silhouette store would have cost $24.99!

It’s a good thing as Martha would say!

Sometimes It Just Doesn’t Work Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! It was 61 degrees here today! Almost all the snow is gone and it seems sort of strange to be able to see the ground.

Those projects I was working on just didn’t turn out very well. One of them was a card for a color challenge. I had very little paper in one of the colors needed. No embellishments, ink or anything in that color. But I was bound and determined I was going to get it done. Well, I did, but I’m not pleased with it.

Then I tried and tried to take a decent picture of it but that didn’t turn out either. I took the pictures the same as I always do, in the same spot, but I just could not get a good one. Tried every trick in Paint Shop. Nope. I seriously thought something was wrong with my camera. Took a picture out the window and it was fine.

So, I registered for a photography class at Big Picture Classes. It’s called “Get Great Photos With Any Camera” and will be taught by Elisha Snow. It’s a four week class and starts April 7th. I’m really excited about it! Until then I’ll just have to keep posting crappy pictures or none at all!

On a completely unrelated topic...a few weeks ago I bought a domain name. Now it seems that my new link is not appearing in Google Reader. From what I read, I thought the link would be redirected but I guess that’s not happening. So the people that were subscribed don’t even know I’m posting. (And look at all the excitement they’re missing!) I’ve searched and searched and can’t find out what to do about it. If anybody can help I sure would appreciate it.

I’m leaving you with a couple of pictures that I took in September! Yes, September. I will try to get my act together in the next few days! LOL!

My hydrangeas from late last summer. The pink ones were gorgeous!

It had just stopped raining before I took this picture. What a beautiful sunset!

Sending Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I’m working on some projects and will post some pictures probably tomorrow.

How’s y’all’s weather today? It is 42 degrees here right now...the sun is shining...the snow is melting. It’s supposed to be in the 50s on Thursday! No, spring itsn’t here yet...snow is forecast for the weekend. You know it was gonna happen!

My sister sent this link in an email today and I thought I’d share it. What we all need to see right now...a Flower Garden. Just keep clicking on the black screen.

Oh...Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Place

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! I hope everyone is keeping warm. Will this winter never end? It’s been so cold here with wind chills around –30 the past few nights. It’s hard to get inspired to do much of anything.

I made this sign for my studio today. It’s not a work of art but I like it! I just designed it in Silhouette Studio and cut it out of black vinyl. Then I just stuck it onto this old board I had laying around.

Here’s another shot of it. Please excuse the not so good pictures. All the light coming in the window made it hard to get a good shot. If you enlarge the picture, you can also see the labels I made for the white binders on the shelf. Those are mostly knitting patterns. I see Louis made it into the picture, too!

So that’s all the exciting news I have for y’all today! OK...I’m off to start another project. I have a cute cutting file for a little box shaped like a house. I’m going to cut that and then decorate it with glitter & stuff.

Oh, I joined Ancestry.com and have been having a great time starting a family tree. It’s so much fun looking at old census forms and things. Maybe I’ll find something really interesting like they always do on “Who Do You Think You Are?” Does anybody watch that? I love that show. It comes on tonight on NBC, by the way.

Have a good rest of the day!

Annabelle

2011 Blizzard

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:16:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Well, we made it through the blizzard in one piece and without the power going out. We ended up with nearly 17 inches of snow. I know people in other parts of the country didn’t get so lucky and I hope everything is back to normal for them soon.

This is our screened in back porch. This is the first time it ever had to be shoveled!

Under all of this is our driveway!

This is looking out across the street. I just think our birch tree is so pretty.

And Louis who hardly ever misses the opportunity to have his picture taken. The side porch is in the background.

Annabelle

Just A Note

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:27:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Bet you thought I quit blogging again, huh? Nope. My little cold was almost gone but then decided to turn into a sinus infection. I’m afraid to say I’m feeling better again because I might jinx things.

Didn’t do any card challenges last week. Didn’t do much of anything but drag around the house coughing, etc!

Right now I’m sitting here listening to very crappy music over the speaker on my old cell phone...waiting for someone to help me transfer all my stuff to my new phone. My new phone with internet capabilities! Yay!

We will be under a blizzard warning starting tomorrow. They say we might get up to 18 inches of snow. OK...that’s fine. That’s not that much snow...is it? Well, I didn’t think so until people started comparing the storm that’s coming to one that happened in the 70s. There’s been talk of snow being up over downstairs house windows & stuff. I understand that the snow will blow and all but how can it almost bury a house? I don’t know. But it’s beginning to slightly terrify me! We never had 18 inches of snow all at once in Mississippi.

I hope the power doesn’t go out. Now that really scares me! (Picturing this scene from Dr. Zhivago!)

Yikes! I’ve been on hold for nearly 20 minutes! What the heck are they doing?

Thinking it’s not too late to pack up my husband and the Kitty Boys and head South before the big snow.

On hold for 27 minutes...someone answers...they say I have to call from another phone to get this done! On the recording they say to have serial numbers from both phones...both phones must be charged up. Both means two, right? Could they not have also mentioned that you need to be calling from yet another phone? Thank you very much!

OK...y’all have a good rest of the day!

Annabelle

Mail Call

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! How was your Tuesday? Since we seem to be feeling better it was a pretty good day around here.

Look what our mail lady left for me today...

An order from Jo-Ann’s. I finally got myself a heat gun!! And some clear embossing powder. I just started stamping and have really wanted to try embossing. I also bought an adhesive remover because I’m always getting adhesive where it’s not supposed to be. And this very cool centering ruler. Why have I not gotten one of these before?

This came today, too...

My sweet husband ordered this for me from Half.com. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. “Since You Went Away” stars Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Joseph Cotton & Hattie McDaniel. Oh, and Soda the bulldog. It was made in 1944 and it’s about all the things that happen at home while Claudette Colbert’s husband has gone off to fight in World War II. I absolutely love their house. It is such a great movie. Thank you again, Darrin!

OK...that’s it for now.

Annabelle

I’m Still Here

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:52:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Just wanted to let you know I’m still around. I haven’t deserted my blog again! My husband and I have both been under the weather with some kind of sinus/cold thing for the past few days. Sniffles, coughing, etc. See y’all soon!

Annabelle

Shabby Tea Room Week #45 Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:50:00 +0000

The Shabby Tea Room’s challenge this week is called “White and Bright”. The rules are to create a card or project using white and/or cream plus only one additional color. I used white, cream and pink for another Valentine.

I made the accordian flower. The torn notebook page and the word Love were cut with my Silhouette.
SUPPLIES

Paper: Papertrey Ink (white cardstock), K & Company (patterned paper)
Pearls: Forever In Time (Pearl Halves)
Ribbon: from my stash
Doily: from my stash

Messy Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:24:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Hope you’re having a nice Wednesday. Since my husband is off on Wednesdays & Thursdays...it’s Saturday at our house. The temperature outside is 19 degrees. We got more snow last night, it’s snowing right now and will snow again on Friday. Perfect weather for staying up here in my warm studio with a hot cup of coffee and craft supplies.

I said I’d post some pictures of my studio. I haven’t finished decorating it yet because I’m still settling in. I put things where I think they should live...then as I actually work in it I find out that something ought to be somewhere else. I think it’s almost there though!

Well, maybe not. I just started stamping and only have a small stash of stamps & ink. I still haven’t decided how/where to store these things.

Anyway...here’s how it looks most of the time.

This is my work table. Sorry for the blinding light!

This is the other side of the room...where my computer, printer, Silhouette & paper cutter live.

In this picture you can see a corner of my cutting table on the left. And...the little used “workout corner” in the back!

I’ll post more pictures another day when it’s all cleaned up and purty!

Annabelle

CR84FN Color Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:41:00 +0000

This is my first submission for the CR84FN Color Challenge. The colors to be used are red, kraft & brown. Here is what I came up with.

The card, flower, hearts and tag were cut using my Silhouette.
Supplies Used
Paper: Papertrey Ink (kraft cardstock), K & Company (brown patterned) & the red is something from my stash.
Stamps: Hot Off The Press (Tiny Words & Images)
Ink: Inkadinkado (Coffee Bean)
Gem: Forever In Time (Birthstone Gems)
Fiber: DMC Embroidery Floss
Annabelle

OH.MY.GOSH!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Annabelle) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:37:00 +0000

Hey, y’all! Remember me? I can hardly believe it’s been nearly 7 months since I posted on this blog!

Where have I been? What have I been doing? I could say I’ve been off saving the world or something but that’s not true. I guess I needed to “find myself”. LOL! I just need to step back and figure out what the heck I truly wanted to do.

When I left y’all the air conditioner in the upstairs bedroom (my studio now) had just broken & a huge tree in our yard got blown over in a storm. Here’s what’s happened since then...

Got the tree cut up and hauled away...moved the bedroom downstairs...did a lot of decorating & fluffing...played a lot of computer games...got really bored...wandered around trying to find something to do...decided I really, really missed being creative...decided I needed another studio...went through all my stuff & got it all organized upstairs...and here we are.

See, nothing huge. But now I know that I absolutely have to have a place to be creative. I cannot have a happy life without being creative. That’s what I’ve learned after all these months.

Oh, I realized I’ve also missed blogging!

So I’ll be back with some pictures of my studio...and other stuff.

Annabelle