Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Razzleberry Dazzle Card

I really like how well the Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry coloured card stocks go together and am pretty pleased with how this card came together.

After layering the paper on my 5" square card base, I added a strip of card stock, which I ran through my Cuttlebug with a border embossing folder.  I stamped the flowers (from the Eastern Blossoms stamp set - SU) using matching In Colour Stampin' Write markers.  I added some Dazzling Diamonds and faux pearls to the card and repeated a flower and some designer series paper on the inside.  I'll add a sentiment later when I'm ready to use the card.

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Loaf

I always buy the large can of pumpkin puree around this time of year but don't always make 2 pies.  Pumpkin muffins are one way to use up the leftover puree and I often make Pumpkin Loaf with Orange Glaze as well.  Here is another great recipe that uses that remaining one cup of pumpkin: Cream Cheese Pumpkin Loaf.  The addition of cream cheese makes this quick bread incredibly moist, rich, and flavourful.  It's good just as it is but can be made even better by adding some chopped walnuts to the batter!

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Loaf

4 oz. cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, 1-1/4 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, 1-3/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional), 350 degrees F, greased 9x5 loaf pan, 60-70 minutes

Candy Countdown Kit

I purchased this kit from Stampin' Up and I think it's an adorable way to count down to Christmas.  Every year the kids do the chocolate calendar, and one year (ages ago) my DH surprised me with a little note & gift on each of the "Twelve Days of Christmas".  Now it's my turn to surprise him...(I don't think he reads my blog so I should be ok sharing this with you now.  I wanted to make sure I gave you a couple of days in case you wanted to try this - or a similar - project.)

The kit includes 25 quick-fold boxes, pre-cut decorative card stock and numbers, mini clothespins, rope, and ribbon.  Sure, you could make and cut all this stuff yourself, but for less than a buck a box, and a whole lot less work, this kit was a great deal.  It didn't take too long to assemble and decorate the boxes (I just did it 'assembly line' style with the t.v. on in the background.  The most time-consuming part was tying the knots in the ribbon handles.)  I kept things simple and used the embellishments included in the kit exactly as they were.  You could definitely add further stamping, embossing, or additional accents.  The boxes are sturdy and if treated carefully (as in, don't rip open the lid to find the present!), I'm sure they will last year to year.  (Maybe next year I will be the lucky recipient!)  The most fun is finding little gifts just the right size to fit in the boxes.  I will share what I included in the boxes in December as he opens them...just in case! ;)

Dream Cookies

Just hearing the name of Angie's Dream Cookies, I knew I had to bake them as soon as possible.  They are similar to a shortbread cookie but have the interesting cream cheese frosting on top.  They are very simple to make and I got 48 cookies from the batch using my scalloped biscuit cutter.  It looked like I made too much frosting but I spread it on generously and used the whole bowlful.  Angie's right: you'd better give some away (or freeze them for the holidays) because they are very luscious and difficult to stop eating!!  Click on the link above to get the recipe from Chic' n Scratch if you'd like to bake a batch yourself.  Thanks for sharing, Angie!

Miss U Smiley Card

If you own a Gypsy, have you registered it and downloaded your 5 free cartridges?  This is a super promotion offered by Provo Craft and you have until December 31st to take advantage of it.  Although I already had 2 of the cartridges offered, I didn't have Blackletter, Printing Press, or Indie Art so those were great additions.  I was also able to get Smiley Cards - a cartridge of emoticon faces and "text" phrases to go with the card bases and envelopes.

Here is my first card using this cart.  Since these are all digital versions of the cartridges (you don't get overlays, handbooks, or an actual physical cartridge) it's a bit of a guess as to how to cut and assemble the cards.  If you've used any of the other layering cartridges, some trial and error - and a good pair of reading glasses in my case - and it's not too difficult to get started.  I began by planning the card on my Gypsy, starting with the envelope so I could size the card to fit (it ended up a bit of a squeeze because of the fibers I added but it'll work).  I cut the card base in Close to Cocoa textured card stock, then the emoticon face and the cheeks and tear layers.  I added the googly eyes with glue dots.

Inside, I cut the miss you phrase and the thought bubble (the bubbles co-ordinate with each phrase), which I had to trim a bit to fit in my round card.  I also cut another circle layer in white card stock so I could add my note inside the card.

These emoticon cards and icons are so cute and they, and the text phrases, are perfect for the tweens & teens in your life - or anyone you know who is glued to their computer or cell phone!

(If you have a Gypsy and haven't updated it yet, you still can here and get your free cartridges until December 31st, 2010!)

Summer Harvest Scrapbook Page

 
The bright orange, green, and yellow designer print papers of the Beautiful Power Palette by Creative Memories worked perfectly with my summer photos.  I cut the title using the Cheerful Season Cricut cartridge (also Creative Memories) and added some layered Paper Flowers from the palette.  Now that the weather is turning chilly I know it will be nice to look back on the sunnier days of the year and remember all the great, fresh produce DH pulled from his garden.

Milk Bag Organizer

One of the earliest posts I wrote on this blog was about cleaning and organizing my fridge.  (You can read it here.)  I recently read that one of my favourite actors, Will Arnett, is a bit compulsive about his own refrigerator and likes to keep it neat and tidy.  He is responsible for putting away the groceries and he is adamant about keeping small items on small shelves and tall items on the big ones.  This endeared him even more to me like you wouldn't believe!  (Watch a clip of Will on Jimmy Fallon demonstrating his ability to put even more food in an already-full fridge!)

One inexpensive organizing gadget I love is the plastic milk bag holder.  (My kids tell me that only Canadians use bag milk.  Can this be true?)  It holds 4 litres of milk (3 bags) and 'dispenses' them through a cut-out at the bottom.  This allows you to keep the milk bags in a vertical space so they don't take up valuable shelf space in the fridge.  There is even a little notch where you can put the tag closure (which has the expiration date on it) so you can keep tabs on the milk's freshness.  (This is not a problem for us since we go through a lot of milk - we drink it all up in the week before I go shopping again).  If you use bag milk - no matter where you live - I highly recommend one or two of these organizers to keep those slippery bags in line.

Citrus Slice Card

I was inspired to make this card from a sample in last year's SU catalogue and lifted the technique of double-stamping the citrus slices (from the Tart 'n Tangy stamp set) and then punching out and popping up the centres.  I used last year's 'In Color' collection as well, for the card stock, paper, ink and ribbon.

Inside, I duplicated the citrus slice and added a 'thanks' sentiment...need to build up my stash of thank-you cards again!

Small Batch Easy Fudge Brownies

Not everyone wants a 9x13 pan of brownies or has a large enough oven to fit that size of pan, so I'm sharing the recipe I use for Small Batch brownies from Pampered Chef.

While I was having my kitchen renovated I actually made these in the basement in a toaster oven!  (Just because you are cooking in the rec room doesn't mean you can't have homemade brownies!)  This recipe yields the perfect amount for a quick treat during the week, dessert for a couple of friends, or a care packaged for students and their dorm-mates.  I used the small bar pan from Pampered Chef but little baking sheets made for toaster ovens will work as well.  Note that the baking time will be slightly shorter in the toaster oven.

Small Batch Easy Fudge Brownies

1/4 cup melted butter

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup cocoa

dash of salt

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, DIVIDED!

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, DIVIDED & optional

350 degrees F, small bar pan (approx. 9x6") Conventional oven: 18-20 mins./Toaster Oven: 15-18 mins

Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

 I do a lot of laundry and I buy the industrial size box of detergent but these 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets are a great idea.  They are a load's worth of detergent, softener, and anti-static all in one.  You simply add a sheet to the wash, where the detergent is released, then transfer it to the dryer with the clothes.  The softener and anti-static are heat activated in the dryer.  You can use two sheets for larger loads.  These are perfect for university students since they have only to take a sheet or two down to the laundry machines and they don't take up any room at all to store.  They're also great for kids at home who are just learning how to do their own wash!  Really easy! 

I don't like to use softener or dryer sheets (I have very sensitive skin and I don't like the spots dryer sheets leave on fabric sometimes) and I'm not big on scented stuff, but my daughter, who's away at school, absolutely loves this product.  She finds that her clothes smell really fresh for a long time and loves how easy the sheets are to use.  The refill pack is shown in my photo, but you can also buy the refillable dispenser - a plastic, snap-shut case like the kind baby wipes come in.  There are different scents available and the price point is pretty good.