Trendy Twine Design Team

Hey Crafty Friends-

Well....the cat is out of the bag. I'm now officially part of the Trendy Twine Design Team! I am so excited to get crafty, and create some great projects with this fantastic product!

 For those of you that are new to my blog I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I have been married to my retired Air Force hubby for 16 years. We have two beautiful girls, ages 3 and 4. I have been a crafter for as long as I can remember, but I have become more serious about it in the last year. I created my blog, I have a project published in Cricut Birthday Idea Book this month, and now I am on my first design team. All of this in less than a year! I would classify my crafting style as a little shabby chic, a little cutesy, and very fun! I love to do more elegant projects when the mood strikes but no matter what, I always try and keep my creations quick, simple, and stunning. Enough blabber about me. On to the projects I created that landed me a spot on the team. Oh...and I made the cupcakes too!

Everyone knows I love cupcakes right? So I couldn't resist creating this cupcake stand using the Cupcake Stand die from Lifestyle Crafts. The paper I used was a Martha Stewart stack I bought at Joann. All the edges were inked using Tim Holtz Festive Berries distress ink pad. The twine I chose to accent my project is Trendy Twine Valentine Cherry Cupcake. I used it to cover seams on the stand, weaved it through a paper doily placed under the cupcake, and added twine bows to the doily and the strawberry topper. A few pieces of bling and it's perfection! If I do say so myself .

To make the card I used the same Martha Stewart paper and took advantage of the negative space left from cutting the base circle for the cupcake stand. I cut the card at 4 1/2 x 6 and lined the circle up over the strawberry image. I popped the card up on foam dots to create a little more dimension. The circle was framed with the Valentine Cherry Cupcake twine, and a twine bow added to the top. Rounded corners, a little bling, and a Happy Birthday stamp from My Creative Time finishes it off!

Well crafty friends, I hope you like what you see. I have so many creative ideas swirling around in my head that I can't wait to share with you. I'm hoping to start filming some videos for you soon. My first post will be up on the Trendy Twine blog on July 2nd, and another on July 18th.

Here is a list of the entire Trendy Twine design team and their blog links. Please hop along and visit each one leaving a comment on all of them and the Trendy Twine blog  to be entered in the giveaway. You could win a spool of your choice!

New Members
■ Anita http://happypapercrafthappenings.blogspot.com/
■ Ashley http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
■ Becki http://www.happycardfactory.com/
■ Candi http://chaos-n-crafts.blogspot.com/
■ Helen http://www.craftingcricutmom.com/
■ Izzy http://writesnapscrap.blogspot.com/
■ Jessica http://kissinkrafts.blogspot.com/
■ Karen http://scrappycanuck.wordpress.com/
■ Kate http://www.scrapperscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
■ Kerri http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/
■ Margaret http://auntmargaretdesigns.blogspot.com/
■ Sukie http://scrappindhilly.blogspot.com/
■ Yvonne http://onecreativemomma.blogspot.com/

Returning DT
■ Alyssa http://mythoughtsexactly.co/alyssas-blog/
■ Jamie http://jamiek711designs.blogspot.com/


Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon for more inspiration!

Exciting Things!

Hey Crafty Friends-

First of all, IT'S FRIDAY! Second, I am excited to to share with you that my first project has been published in Cricut Birthday Idea Book! Another goal checked off my list.

Third, today I have coffee in hand finishing up my final 3 days of work before I am a full time crafty mom! I'm so happy for the creativity to be unleashed.

And finally, my big news will be hitting my blog on Monday. So it's very busy around here! I hope you will come back Monday and see what is making me a happy girl. Hopefully you will be happy too!

Work, work, work! Almost there

Working on the blog today. Great changes happening all around. Thanks for sticking with me while I work out the bugs and get things running smooth. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Denami Design Birthday Blog Hop

Hey Crafty Friends-

I am thrilled to be a part of this fun hop. I have been a fan of Denami Design for quite some time so I figured it's time to participate in a hop and share the crafty love.

I created this card by stamping the Teeny Heart Background stamp in rose red ink on a craft cardstock base. I rounded the corners and inked all the edges in brown. Martha Stewart Doily punch was used to create the pretty white border that was stamped with Happy Birthday , also in rose red. And of course we needed some bling to add a little sparkle. The balloons are 1" circles punched from various patterned papers and popped up on foam dots. And a little Posy Trendy Twine for strings is the perfect finishing touch.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you'll follow me and come back soon for more inspiration. Please hop a long to the next blog on the list:

1. Laurie Willison http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com
2. Kerri Smith http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/   <---------- you are here
3. Andrea Matthews http://workinprogress-am.blogspot.com/

If you want to start from the beginning of the hop you start at the Denami Blog http://denami.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday Pin

Hey Crafty Friends-

I have been so loving my doilies and scalloped circles lately, that I have been using them in all my projects. Today I created a Happy Birthday Pin and added a little shine with the scalloped circle tool from Epiphany Crafts. Turned out so cute. Hope you like it........Come back soon for more inspiration!

Trendy Twine Guest Designer

Hey Crafty Friends-

Today I am the guest designer for Trendy Twine! I am so excited to be able to create this fun Valentine Banner using my new favorite Cherry Cupcake twine.

I layered 2.75 inch craft cardstock scalloped circles cut from my Cricut Preserves cartridge on top of 4 inch doilies. They have been run through the Big Shot with a Swiss dot folder and the edged have all been inked with Stampin Up Rose Red ink.  The hearts were cut from the Sweet Treats cartridge at 2 inches and the letters were cut at 1.5 inches. The letters as well as one of the scalloped circles were cut from white glitter paper.  All the layers were popped up on foam dots for dimension.

Glue dots were used to connect the doilies together. I then added buttons tied with Trendy Twine bows for a little extra cuteness. Then the twine was tied on the ends to use as hangers. SO CUTE! I am so happy with my finished project! I hope you like it too. If you would like to pick up your own Valentine Twine please go to AnniesPaperBoutique.com to purchase. Thanks for stopping by and come back often for more crafty fun!

Sweet Cards & Decadent Desserts Blog Hop

Hey Crafty Friends-

Welcome to the hop! I love the way this cute little project turned out. I hope you like it too.

MAD ABOUT YOU CUPCAKE TOPPER VALENTINE!

I cut 2, 2.75 inch scalloped circles out of craft cardstock from the Preserves Cricut cartridge and glued them together, inserting a toothpick inside. I cut a 2 inch heart out of DCWV Sweet Stack. I inked the edges of the scalloped circle with Stampin Up Rose Red, and inked the heart with Chestnut Roan. I also stickled the scallop. The Mad about you is from the Close to my Heart stamp set MAD ABOUT YOU. And the To: and From: are also CTMH. I popped the hear up on foam dots, added a couple small gems, and a bow made from Trendy Twine Strawberry Cupcake. I love when my ideas turn out so cute! Now on to the recipe. What better than DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES and BUTTER CREAM FROSTING to go with this Valentine:

CUPCAKES
Ingredients

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cupcakes pans or use paper liners. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Spread batter evenly between the prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 min. Check and add additional time if needed. Timing depends on oven. Allow to cool.   

            

FROSTING

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  Easy-Add clear vanilla extractAdd to shopping list clear vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons milk

Makes:

About 3 cups of icing.

Instructions:

Step 1

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.

Step 2

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.

Step 3

For thin (spreading) consistency icing, add 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk.

Step 4

For Pure White Icing (stiff consistency), omit butter; substitute an additional 1/2 cup shortening for butter and add 1/2 teaspoon No-Color Butter Flavor. Add up to 4 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk to thin for icing cakes.

Hope you enjoyed visiting my blog today! Hop on over to the next blog on the list!

Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/

Anita : http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com

Janet : http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com

Nicolette : www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Jearise : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com

Jamie : http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com

Kerri : http://www.crafttimeandcupcakes.com/   <------------- you are here

Melissa:http:..www.timeweavers.wordpress.com

Kristy - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com

Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com