Best-Ever Taco Salad

Need a little something to get you feeling like you are "south of the border?"  This recipe is one of my favorites and with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, it makes me imagine walking on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I've been missing the beach again, with gulls sailing over my head, waves lapping as the sun rises on Banderas Bay. Sigh!

I love creating these colorful recipe cards, but I especially cherish my time at our local scrapbooking store where we exchange these cards on the first Thursday of each month. Sometimes we share tea or coffee from lovely china cups, but mostly we share the food described on our recipe cards.

But more than this store setting or our delicious goodies, we chat . . . everything from the decadent dessert someone brings, to what matters most to those of us that share these recipes.

I have come to realize that the food we prepare can bring us together and the simple breaking of bread among friends is that which nourishes our souls, more than simply a late afternoon snack.

TIP: Use a pretty plate;

it makes good food taste even better.

Set a pretty table;

it makes a simple meal

an occasion to celebrate

the everyday.

Merry Christmas to You

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

A holiday wouldn't be complete without creating a special Christmas card and mailing them out to family and friends. This extraordinary angel image is available through Moonlight Journey's 2010 Calendar. You can personalize, crop and edit in a snap and mail them out in just a few days. By the way, don't miss out on a cyber sale at their site!

Thank you all for your kindness and devotion in visiting my blog this year. Merry Christmas everyone!

Diva Molasses Cookies

The most important thing to me is to make a cookie is that tastes great! My mom always seemed to make the best cookies, and this happens to be probably one of my favorites. She would always say to use the best ingredients you can find. And, whenever possible, serve your desserts while they are still very fresh.

I hope this recipe gives you as much joy as it gave me as a child. The molasses and ginger make it a wonderful change of pace and seems especially appropriate this time of year.

I created this recipe card using the latest images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Grunge Divas", plus papers and overlays from Creative Memories.

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "Grunge Divas", Recipe from Mom

March Recipe Cards

This biscotti recipe has been in my family nearly 40 years. I used to make these cookies for my son, Brad, when he was a toddler. They are easy to make, and have a truly amazing anise flavor.

It's funny how these simple little cookies have created such a lasting and constant memory of my small little boy all these days of my life.

Enjoy!

CREDITS: STORYBOOK CREATOR 3.0 BY CREATIVE MEMORIES, "TEA TIME" ENVELOPE BY MOONLIGHT JOURNEY.

February Recipe Memories

A couple of years ago, I joined a recipe card club with some of my artistic friends at our local scrapbooking store. As time went on, I realized putting food together is an art just like everything else in life. Over this next year I will be receiving about 120 cards that measure 5" X 8." I have a special roll-top recipe box to hold them all, which really makes the journey of each month even more entertaining for me!

These were some of the cards I created, as well as, a couple of the special ones I received.

"Pa Pa's Delectible Crepe Recipe Card" designed by myself.

It is so inspiring to display my recipe cards on my kitchen counter as I begin a meal. I suppose my favorite meal is anything that's simple, or down-home cooking. I do enjoy stepping out of the box once in a while by coming up with ways to go all Italian, or do another meal all Mexican. I love traveling as it is such a good opportunity to learn more about local cultures and unique foods. I can't seem to get enough shrimp in my life.

Recipe card designed by Sherry Reiber

Recipe card designed by Andrea Wright

I wish I had more time to really develop my skills in cooking. I have a vast collection of cookbooks and family recipes just waiting to be made into really clever designs. Hopefully, you can dream along with me as I share a little bit of my kitchen.

CREDITS: "MEN WITH WINGS" BY MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, "CONSERVATORY" 2-SIDED PAPER BY 7gypsies, 'VINTAGE EPHEMERA & PHOTOGRAPHS" RUBBERSTAMP COLLECTION BY TJ DESIGNS, LLC, & RECIPE INSPIRED BY ELIZABETH MAXSON.

Manly Man Cards

"Life is a succession of moments."

"To live each one is to succeed." ~Corita Kent

I've been working on some greeting cards for my monthly card exchange. When I first saw these images from Moonlight Journey, I just knew I had to try making something using these destinguished gentlemen!

I am also back and running with my repaired computer. It started acting up right at the beginning of the One World One Heart Giveaway, and was in the shop three times in the past two weeks. Hopefully, everything will be fine. You just don't realize how your life changes without your computer!

CREDITS: BRAND NEW "DASHING MEN" IMAGES FROM MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, "IMAGINED" RUBBERSTAMP FROM PAPER BAG STUDIOS. QUOTE FROM CREATIVE MEMORIES, "DELIGHT DIGITAL POWER PALETTE" USING STORYBOOK CREATOR 3.0.

Country Music Cards

"Music

washes away

from the soul

the dust

of everyday

life."

Sometimes finding the time to create art becomes a little more difficult. I have so many ideas, and just not enough time in the day. With the holidays now past, I can once again focus on all my unfinished projects and all the new stuff I need and want to begin!

These cards are a work in progress for my art group. Every month I need to muster up 15 cards using a rubberstamp that all of us are required to use.

For the month of January, our stamp was this chair image from Paperbag Studios. I thought it might be fun to try something a little bit "country."

The stamp image was scanned and digitally enhanced in Creative Memories Storybook 3.0. Then I added a background, a banjo and a cowboy boot image from Deviant Scraps. The card itself was cut from a Martha Stewart paper pad called "Bandana," which I distressed with a Tim Holtz distress ink pad called "Rusty Hinge."

CREDITS: PAPERBAG STUDIOS, MARTHA STEWART, TIM HOLTZ, DEVIANT SCRAPS, & CM STORYBOOK 3.0.

Father Christmas Greeting Card

"My Beard"

by Shel Silverstein

My beard grows down to my toes,

I never wear no clothes.

I wraps my hair around my bare,

And down the road I goes.

Here is the first in a series of Christmas cards I am making using this extravagantly bearded fellow. This vintage bearded man image was a freebie from Tumblefish Studios. I have been loving the creations that have magically formed.

CREDITS: "SIR BEARDSFELLOW" COURTESY OF TUMBLEFISH STUDIOS, RUBBERSTAMP IMAGES FROM STAMPINGTON, HANDWRITTEN MERRY CHRISTMAS RUBBERSTAMPS FROM PAPER INSPIRATIONS, MISCELLANEOUS FABRICS FROM JOANN'S, AND BLANK CARDS AND ENVELOPES BY RECOLLECTIONS. BACKGROUND "CALISTO CHRISTMAS' BY ANNA GRIFFIN.

Mini Christmas Card Banner

Making this miniature Christmas pennant banner is not very complicated, when you use these adorable digital collage sheets designed by Becky Loyall of Moonlight Journey. I printed each tiny banner approximately 3" in height. They have recently added "craft projects" to their line of beautiful art. As soon as I saw this digital pack, I just knew I had to do something cute with it.

I think it just might turn out to be a very special Christmas card!

"Go ahead--it's Christmas--

decorate every little thing in the house."

~ Mary Engelbreit

CREDITS: "BELIEVE" pennant craft project from Moonlight Journey, "Vintage Market Alphabet" from Tim Holtz Alterations die cuts, "Christmas Cheer" Grand Adhesions from K & Company, Ranger "Stickles" in turquoise, and sari ribbon.

The Best Christmas Ever!

The holidays are back! The days leading to December 25th can be very exciting. Back in October, I felt the early whispers of Christmas when I visited the craft store in town. I feel like Thanksgiving formally introduces Christmas, but I like to begin my plan even before.

It's time to start my list. It will become my "making a list and checking it twice" list. Take a deep breath and imagine the Christmas of your dreams. I think of my childhood. Remember how you felt? I want to re-create that spirit and wonder now. I try to in my gifts, and in my hospitality. I truly do not yield to a tide of Christmas demands, but want the comfort and joy Christmas was meant to be. Let your emotions guide you through this holiday journey.

First Presents on my Holiday Workbench

Ever since I became a camper at the KC Willis Ranch a while back, I now experience a charge of excitement when browsing through dollar and resale shops. I saw these humble hangers, and began imagining how I could make them look more artsy. With just a little bit of sanding, some pastel acrylic paint, old sheet music, and a dollie head image, I began the process. Then finding just the right bow to top them off.

Christmas doesn't have to cost a lot of money if you give your gifts a little thought. For me, the joy comes in the making. Handmade stuff, whether it's just for a day or for a lifetime, is such a personal expression. And remember, perfection isn't the goal. It's often the little goof that is just the most precious part of a piece.

Start your list early, and maybe the spirit of the holidays just might be "Your Best Christmas Ever!"

CREDITS: HOLLIEWOOD DOLL IMAGES FROM TUMBLEFISH STUDIOS

The Brown Lady Ghost of Rayman Hall, England

This ghost is known as "The Brown Lady of Rayman Hall, England. The picture was originally taken in 1936 by Indre Shira and Captain Provand, photographers working for "Country Life" magazine. The photographers were shooting in the hall when they noticed the apparition.

The first reported sighting of "The Brown Lady Ghost" was in 1836, when Colonel Loftus said he saw her in a brown dress. Loftus reported that her eye sockets were empty. The next reported sighting of "The Brown Lady Ghost" was in 1926 when two small boys saw the apparition.

This was the project I completed last Saturday, October 23rd, when I was lucky enough to be included in a very fun Saturday event entitled "A Halloween Tea" at our local scrapbook store, Artful Scrapbooking.

Even though I cannot take credit for the original design by Ellie,

I did add some of my own images from Moonlight Journey.

A Halloween Tea

The punch was spooktactular with a fine white rising mist, sandwiches, shortbread finger cookies, all amazingly arranged by our hostess Pamela. We even watched some classic scary Halloween movies while completing our haunted houses. Thank you again, Pam, for such great effort and a spooky project to make.

To my delight, I also received this gorgeous altoid tin last week from my sweet friend Becky Loyall, of Whymsical Musings.

This tin created by Becky Loyall.

I was so inspired with her amazing gift, that I created these two tins to share.

Halloween tin images from Seneca Pond and Shabby Cottage Studio.

Ahhh......the fun of Halloween!

'Just can't get enough.

Alice's Banana Bread

The original manuscript, "Alice's Adventures Underground," was published in 1865, by Reverend Charles Ludwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Then later that year, the tale was published by Lewis Carrol as "Alice in Wonderland." Among it's first readers was Queen Victoria and the young Oscar Wilde. The book has never been out of print.

This banana bread recipe (one of my very favorites) will definitely be one of those baked goods that will call "EAT ME." Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that it will not cause you to grow!!

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY DIGI PAK "ALICE'S BRAG BOOK"

My Frog Prince

In the old times, when it was still of some use to wish for the thing one wanted, there lived a king whose daughters were all handsome.

Near the royal castle there was a great dark wood, and in the wood under an old tree was a well. And if the time seemed long, the youngest daughter would take out a golden ball and throw it up and catch it over and over again.

Now it happened one day that the golden ball dropped to the ground near the edge of the well and rolled in. The King's daughter followed it, but the well was deep--so deep that the bottom could not be seen. She wept and wept as if she could never be comforted.

In the midst of her weeping, she heard a voice saying to her, "What ails you, King's daughter? Your tears would melt a heart of stone."

And when she looked to see where the voice came from, there was nothing but a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water. "I can help you fetch it," he said. "But, if you would love me, and have me for your companion, I would dive below and fetch your golden ball again."

And it came to pass that with her father's consent they became bride and bride-groom. He told her how a wicked witch had bound him by her spells, and how no one but she alone could have released him. Now they two would go together to his father's kingdom and live happily ever after.

CREDITS: ALL IMAGES WERE CREATED FROM MOONLIGHT JOURNEY.

Mad Hatter Ranch Dressing

Give yourself the gift of better health...easy to say, but sometimes so challenging a thing to do. One of our local grocery stores provides locally grown "Lettuce Alone" with an optimally fresh, nutrient rich lettuce product, free from chemicals and preservatives.

Their bag contains mixed greens, which may contain red and green leaf and romaine varieties. I love to take a peek inside their label for new recipes for salad dressings. This week was a recipe for a ranch dressing, that I entitled "Mad Hatter Ranch Dressing."

CREDITS: Dressing Recipe from "The Dressing Room" at lettucealone@carmalot.com, and the Alice In Wonderland Images are from Moonlight Journey.

Halloween Art Journal Pages

It's that time of year when Halloween creativeness just keeps buzzing around me. I made this art journal page for one of my swaps. The tags are hidden in between the pages.

And, there are three artist trading cards in a black lace pocket on the last page.

I really love this time of year!

CREDITS: WINGED WITCHES USED COURTESY OF SENECA POND.

Autumn Enchantment Postcards

I have been feeling the Halloween spirit in my bones lately. I really enjoyed making these autumn postcards to mail out when October draws near. With the images I am proud to use from Moonlight Journey, these adorable postcards are a cinch to make. Thank you Becky for creating these 3-1/2" X 5" Post Office Regulation Size postcards. The colors are so rich and wonderful! Who would not want to receive these lovelies?

CREDITS: "AUTUMN ENCHANTMENT" AND "WITCH POSTCARDS" CREATED BY BECKY LOYALL OF WHYMSICAL MUSINGS AND MOONLIGHT JOURNEY.

Mysterious Halloween Cards

My candle was nearly burnt out,

When, by the glimmer of the half-

extinguished light, I saw the dull

yellow eye of the creature open...

~ Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

When the latest collage sheet was posted from Moonlight Journey, I just knew I had to make something special with these. The miniature digital designs are just so detailed, that a person can become mesmerized by their beauty.

Here are a few of my favorite Halloween greeting cards using these beautiful images. They truly can be easily created in an evening. I have included some of my favorite eerie quotes in the inside of each card.

Have fun making these!

Halloween Dreams

"Deep into the darkness

peering, long I stood there,

wondering, fearing, doubting,

dreaming dreams no mortal

ever dared to dream before."

~ Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven

As the night comes sooner, and the days become shorter, I suddenly get into the Halloween spirit once again. This two page spread is for an art journal that I have been focusing on lately. There is something very magical about creating artwork when the moon laughs and whispers, "Tis near Halloween."

Art Tag Swap

Artwork by Nan and Pam

On the third Wednesday of each month, I meet with a bunch of gals to exchange artistic gift tags at Artful Studio. With all my other commitments, I finally decided it was time to relax somewhat and join a fun art group. Plus, you get some fresh ideas, laugh, share family stories, meet new faces, and do what you like most.

Artwork by Elise, Mary, and Jo Ellen

Artwork by Linda, Sherry, and Carole

These are the gift tags I received. Some of them are real beauties! Thank you so much Pam, Jo Ellen, Carole, Sherry, Mary, Nan, Theo, Elise, Vivi Anne, Linda, Diane, and Betty. I probably will not want to use them for the reason they were intended.

Artwork by Vive Anne, Diane, and Betty

Artwork by Theo and myself.

Thanks again, Ladies!