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Papercrafting inspiration, techniques, projects and beautiful supplies from Close To My Heart(R) featured here.
My love of gardening, cooking, coffee, camping, furbaby love, and entertaining. Welcome to my blog, and thanks for stopping by.

Friday, June 30, 2017

Peas Please!

Tried a new recipe this week with the produce from my garden. Yes, you heard that right. The Prooo-duce from my Gahhh-dennn... Well, peas that is for now. Just peas. Waiting for the tomatoes patiently.  I'm trying to use what is in my cupboards instead of buying more groceries. I found a recipe that would allow me to not only use my Peas but also my Garlic Scapes.  What?! You don't know what Garlic Scapes are? Well, let me educate you. They are the twirly top growths that come off a garlic stem. They rob your garlic bulb of energy so snip those suckers off and eat them. They are mild like a chive.  Now you know.

The recipe I tried is:
Orzo with Lemon, Peas, and Romano Cheese
Verdict: VERY Lemony (I reduced it already in my recipe for you)
Note to self: Don't use so much lemon zest next time
*I find shucking peas meditative in case you were wondering.


Orzo with Lemon, Peas, and Romano Cheese
2 cups of Ditalini Pasta (I used instead of Orzo)
1 1/2 cups Peas
1/3 cup grated Romano Cheese
4 TBS. EVOO
Zest of 1/4 lemon
Juice of half a lemon
3 Garlic Scapes sliced thin (or 2 crushed garlic cloves)

Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside. Cook EVOO and garlic until soft 2 minutes, add peas until bright green (2 minutes) don't overcook, add cooked pasta until warmed up, add lemon zest, juice and cheese until all mixed in.  Add salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste, and a final topping of grated cheese.

*I served this dish with some shrimp because that's what was in the freezer. Delish.


Monday, June 26, 2017

Custom Folio 3: Amy

Amy is my third roommate at Close To My Heart's 2017 Convention.
I've known Amy for about ten years now and have grown to be very fond of her. 
We share the love of gardening, and I love her dry sense of humor.

Amy is an inspiration with her business, a loyal friend, and has a little twist to her which I became instantly drawn to. Takes one to know one. This is my first time rooming with Amy, and I hope she doesn't prank me like I intend to do to her.  LOL  Just kidding.

What I wish for Amy at Convention is that she is inspired, laughs so hard she pees herself, has a chance to relax, and finds a big Sticky Boy!

Meet my friend, Amy:
*I tucked a few handmade envelopes of seeds harvested from my garden into her planner.

Supplies Used: Live Beautifully, Uptown, and All About the Gold Paper Packets. Cardstock - Pixie, White Daisy, and Sea Glass. Gold Shimmer Trim and Glitter Paper. Cricut Artbooking for front cover overlay and Flower Market for flowers and bees.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Custom Folio 2: Martha and Summer Coffee Lovers Bloghop 2017

At the encouragement of an artist I admire, I'm linking up my first piece of artwork to a Bloghop! It figures it's coffee themed, right?  It's the 2017 Summer Coffee Lovers Bloghop. Thank you, Lisa (BZ Scrapper), for your confidence and inspiration.



My project story:
Martha is my second roommate at Close To My Heart's 2017 Convention who I am 
meeting in person for the first time. I've had the opportunity to talk with Martha a few
times on Facebook and here is my initial impression. She just makes me laugh.

Martha's favorite color is turquoise. She is a coffee-holic like me, seems fun, and full of energy. I'm thinking she is pretty spunky.  So, we shall see...  Oh, and she hates mornings about as much as I do although I think she caved in and signed up for the 5:30 a.m. 5K.  Uhhh, that wouldn't be me no matter how much coffee.  Go for it, Martha!

What I hope for Martha at Convention is that she has fun,  gets "away from it all", has a chance to reconnect with her hometown friends and enjoys some awesome java and conversation with a few new friends too.

Introducing Martha-folio:






Supplies used: CTMH Live Beautifully and Uptown Paper Packs, CTMH Cardstock - Sea Glass, Pixie, and White Daisy. CTMH Cricut Artbooking, Flower Market, and Artistry cartridges. Gold Shimmer Trim. All stamps are Close To My Heart except "With enough caffeine, I could rule the world."  This is an old rubber stamp I picked up second hand. 

Custom Folio 1: Harriet

One of the things I love most about going away to events with my creative friends
 is giving each of my roommates a handmade gift. These are the recipients
 every creative person dreams about because they truly understand how much time,
effort, love and thought goes into each gift.

Close To My Heart Convention 2017 is upon me and this year and I have three roommates
of which two I am meeting in person for the first time.
I didn't have much to go on but I hope I did each lady justice.

May I present to you, Harriet. She loves the color pink, is a breast cancer survivor,
and has had a few recent tough situations. My wish for Harriet is that she feels uplifted, happy, calm, and at peace with her new custom folio with love from me at Convention.

Here is Harriet:
*I tucked some Cozy Chamomile Tea into Harriet's planner so she can feel serenity now.

Supplies Used: Live Beautifully Paper Pack, Cardstock - Pixie, White Daisy, and Sea Glass,
and Gold Shimmer Trim. Cricut Flower Market for flowers and Artbooking for front cover overlay.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Camping and Crochet at Cranberry Lake

It's extremely difficult to be a legit glamper when you REALLY have to watch every pound of weight being pulled by a Subaru Forester. So, what's a girl to do? Add color to your pillowcases with a little crochet trim! A simple whip stitch plus some single crochet and whala!  Beautious! And, it gave me something to do when the lake was too choppy to kayak.
The yarn is a "blank" of sock yarn that I dyed last year with a group of friends. It may have even been two years ago! You know...Queens of Unfinished Projects! You know who you are. Three more pillowcases to go. Perfect for my next three camping trips. #Campcrafting
Cranberry Lake was gorgeous. The loons were in prime vocals every single night. Breeze was refreshing, and the campground was clean and quiet. 

You know it's great when you don't want to come home.





Enjoy these ADK views and my colorful pretty pillowcase!




Thursday, June 15, 2017

Basil and Chive Creamy Dressing

Herbs are my FAVORITE garden item. They can be perennial like garden sage, thyme, chives, and the aggressive white onion and mint. They can be annual like basil, rosemary, lemongrass and the delicate pineapple sage. I also LOVE my dill and cilantro re-seeders. And, how about those two year herbs like tarragon and parsley?  
Early to show their glory, they are a great way to freshen up your garden lettuces now and perhaps peas. But, they can also brighten up off-season tomatoes and cucumbers. Here is a quick, easy dressing I whipped together with my Magic Bullet.  Hope you enjoy.


Basil and Chive Creamy Dressing
  • 6 Basil Leaves medium size
  • Handfull of Chives cut in half
  • 2 heaping TBS Mayonnaise (Hellmans please!)
  • 1/4 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
  • Splash of Wine Vinegar
  • Few twists of salt and pepper
  • Few squeezes of fresh lemon
  • Squeeze of honey
Put all into your Magic Bullet or blender. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust ingredients as preferred.  I poured half of mine over a pint of cherry tomatoes and 2 slices of cubed day old Italian bread. Refrigerate remaining dressing up to a week.

*I could use this as a straight dipping oil!  Great alternative to a caprese salad or a tomato sandwich until fresh tomato season.

#mykindaherbs, #herbsareeasy, #easygarden, #fresh, #healthy



Thursday, June 8, 2017

Rhubarb Apple Crisp With a Zest

Do some dishes you make have a history? Ever thought of journaling or scrapbooking those special dishes? The Rhubarb in this recipe is grown in my backyard garden but traces it's roots literally to my late husband, David Lennon's, grandmother's garden in Blind Sodus. I received a splitting from my mother in-law, Mary Ann Lennon. She received her splitting from her mother in-law. Interesting that this Rhubarb has been passed down from some pretty awesome mother in-laws. #motherinlawblessed. 

The Homemade Vanilla was a gift from my sister in-law and brother, Roberta and David Billa. 
Pure Vanilla home brewed from vodka and vanilla bean.  #sogood
 The final product. Both versions incredible but I would pick the
orange zested pecan version if I had to only choose one.

Rhubarb Apple Crisp
1 1/2 c. Rhubarb cleaned and cut into 1/2 in pieces
1 1/4 c. Apple diced and peeled (I used granny smith and pink lady blend)
2/3 c.   Sugar
1/2 c.    Flour divided (I used wheat/white blend flour)
1 tsp.    Vanilla (I threw in an extra healthy dash)
1/4 tsp.Ground Cinnamon
              *Zest from half an orange
2/3 c.   Old fashioned oats
1/2 c.   Brown Sugar light (don't pack it)
             *Handful of pecan pieces
3 TBS. Butter softened and broken into small pieces


  1. Preheat oven 375 F. Coat 6-cup baking pan with cooking spray.
  2. Combine rhubarb, apple, sugar, 2 TBS of the flour, vanilla, cinnamon and orange zest. Toss and place in coated dish.
  3. Combine remaining ingredients in bowl including remaining flour, oats, brown sugar, and pecans. Add butter and rub in with hands until mixture holds together in little pieces. Spread on top of mixture.
  4. Bake  until golden brown and filling is thick and bubbly (50-55 minutes).
*I made two batches of this recipe one with the orange zest and pecans and the other without.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Did You Miss Me?

What's Cookin Good Lookin?!

I haven't posted in a while instead focusing on Facebook, Instagram, and Vending. But I have to tell you that I miss my Blog. The primary challenge I am facing is growing my followers on my Blog. The growth on FB and Instagram is so fast and immediate whereas my Blog growth is what I imagine childbirth to be like.
So, for now I am looking at my Blog as a way to share my love of journaling. It'll be a hodge podge of topics I love so will include Moose, coffee, cooking, gardening, mixed media and papercrafting, sewing, cocktails....basically whatever I like.  If you like my Blog, please 
share it, give me a comment every now and then, and keep reading.

 The original "Cuttlebug". 
Paw embossing ONLY!