SUGAR COOKIES!!!

I'm making  1-2 batches of cookies today for a Bake Sale at Daniel's school. The Grade 6 classes are raising money for Art Supplies as there was no money in the budget this year for them. Art is an important subject, IMHO...

So--  I am baking some simple and easy Sugar Cookies! Thought I'd share my favourite recipe for them here today. I have been making this recipe since I was a teenager. It came from our neighbour, Carol C., in Riverview, NB.

Enjoy!

Sugar Cookies 

Preheat oven to 350 deg F

Ingredients:

1 cup margarine
1 c white sugar
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Method:

"Pam" a cookie sheet.
Mix all ingred.
Roll into 1” balls, roll balls in a little wht sugar. Place on cookie sheet.
Press down gently with a fork or the bottom of a glass.
Bake 10-12 min, just watch carefully-- til SLIGHTLY golden- my ovens have varied over the years so not sure of exact time. 10 min seems about right most times.
Enjoy!
These are delicious and light tasting and they freeze like a DREAM  so you can make them well ahead of time! 
~

A new layout to share

Over at Sketches: Creatively Yours, we share a new sketch and Design Team interpretations every single week.
Here is the latest sketch...



Sketch #22-11 created by
 Ali MacDonald for Sketches: Creatively Yours



"Sand Dollar" created by Yours Truly
 using my own sketch from S: CY as inspiration 

Journaling reads:
Daniel, in grade four, your school’s teachers helped their classes do a study of different aspects of Grand Pré, the National Historic Site. Your class was tasked with exploring the Tidal Mud Flats so vital to that area. The creature you were asked to focus on was the Blue Mussell. You drew it, too, and talked about its’ special features. Your class did a montage of a tidal mud flat on the wall, complete with the students’ drawings and 3-D representations of some of the creatures found in a Tidal Mud Flat. You can see it in the background of this photo. Here you’re holding one of the papier-maché Sand Dollars made by your class. This exploration was such an amazing way to learn about and explore a topic! You also had a class trip to the Historic Site in late spring.
~Daniel, Grade 4, Spring 2010


Be sure to pop on over to S: CY and see what the Team has created with Sketch #22-11!

Also, we have special words for our Blog readers/ followers at the end of our post this week... did you know we are always looking  for talented Guest Designers?
No??
Well go on over and check!  
See you soon!

PS: Be sure to check our FB page too...


~

A Christmas Layout!!

Hi everyone,

We have a brand new Sketch up this week at Sketches: Creatively Yours! It's by Ann Seleshanko, our Senior Designer. It's awesome! Here it is:

S: CY Sketch #21-11  by Ann Seleshanko 

 ...and here is my interpretation~ from Christmas 2009... 




Our Tree: 2009

 Here's a closeup...


Glass beads, ribbon, and brads- a closer view...

 Here's the journaling: 

Thanks for popping by!!
~

My layout for S:CY this week...

Today we have a brand ***New*** sketch up at S:CY...

S: CY Sketch #20-11 created by Yours Truly

Here's my layout for the sketch.

 "Small Storm: 2010" 

The pics are some that Kate took after a small storm we had in January 2010. Just 6 cm of snow, but BOY did it ever blow around!




Information about this layout...
 * Indicates items from MUCH older stash
** Recycled items




Journaling reads:

January 2, 2010

Snowed a bit

** 6 cm **

Blew around a lot

Pretty at dusk pics

TY Kate! 

Journaling font: Corbel 

CS:
Bazzill Jacaranda

Patterned Papers:
"Little Boy Blue Collection" by Piggy Tales
*Scallop edged strip used at top: "Little Boy" #063
*Dots: "Cow in the Corn" #066
*Circular pattern at top: "The Horn" #068
*Dk. Blue paper: "Sheep in the Meadow" #065


*Patterned strip across top: Marrakech chip stickers by Basic Grey
*Patterned strip across bottom: Marrakech chip stickers by Basic Grey
 Number stickers: BasicGrey Stella Ruby and Blush


*Pale blue grosgrain ribbon: Savvy  'n Sassy store
Stickles: Diamond

 Lettering:
*Make it Special (from Dollarama)


**Snowman: cut from a photo Christmas card sent to us last year... saved the photo and then filed the snowman in my Scraprack for later use. :)

Please go have a peek at what the rest of the S: CY Design Team and our awesome Guest Designer Andrea Wiebe created with the sketch! LINK to S: CY is HERE. See you soon!
~

Some fun tricks...ideas...

Hi Everyone! 
I got a LO done this past week! Can you believe it? They are pics & journaling from Jan 2010, ones from our daughter Kate's very relaxed 16th birthday!
 Here is the journaling: 

Sweet Sixteen- How the heck did THAT happen, Katie? Wow…This year, you had a quiet birthday with just the six of us here at home. You asked for a pound cake from Sobey’s instead of a DQ ice cream cake this year, so we got you one. The bright pink and blue icing colours were a hoot, but those cakes ARE delicious… it’s well known that they’re yummy! You and Dad enjoyed all the icing!  Grandma and Grandpa gave you a beautiful handmade wooden box with an inlaid horse as your special  16^th birthday gift. It was gorgeous! So nice that your birthday fell on a weekend! We just had a relaxing, no-stress day, it was fun.   ~Jan 12, 2010

"Sweet * 16" layout lovingly created by Ali

OK, a question for you. 
How's everyone out there doing in being sure they use up items in their "stash" of scrappy supplies? 
I was so happy a few days ago about this... this is a LO where I managed to use a strip of  Colorbok paper that I had been hoarding- just a bigger "scrap"- really. As you can see, I put it to work as a sort of border accent on a LO... on the left... 
Then, I also fussy-cut a handful of flowers from what had been left over from THAT scrap after I made the strip on the left. 


I used the fussy-cut flowers to: 
1) "edge" my journaling- just glued the flowers  in place one by one in a "strip" to create visual definition along the top and bottom of the journaling block... 
2) and used one of the flowers  accent the space between the words "Sweet" and "16." That flower was glued onto heavy CS first, then I pop-dotted it up in just the right spot.  


Wanted to share the happy feeling using scraps gives me, LOL LOL


Additionally, here's an idea that I used on my title,  "Sweet * 16"
One of my NEEDED letters (an "i,") had been damaged- I think it fell, and I then had run over it with my office chair. Oops!  It had white "scuffs" on it from the rubbing on the laminate floor in my office. So... after looking at the situation, I scruffed up ALL the brown Thickers (ie: all my needed lettering and numbers) with a regualar nail file first. Then I wiped off any dust on the letters, and coloured over the whitish scruffing with a Copic Marker in E44 (Clay). 
:o)  I just love how it turned out. The white that showed up on the lettering after sanding was WAY too harsh! This looks really neat ... an easy and fun way to individualize those letters and make them a little more casual and unique all at the same time. 


Other info about this LO:


Main CS- Chatterbox Butter by Bazzill
Blue CS-  Twilight: Close To My Heart (CTMH)
Kraft-coloured CS: Desert Sand by CTMH
Patterned papers- 
Graphic 45- Christmas Past collection "Deck the Halls" #4500139 (burgundy & cream)
Colorbok- a large scrap from my stash 
(burgundy w/ Floral)
TPC Studio- Mediteranean Summer Collection (smaller scrap) 
(turquoise strip under title lettering)
 Ink: Twilight by CTMH
Title lettering: American Crafts Thickers
Corner punch: Creative Memories
Copic Marker: E44 (Clay)
Small Lettering - Glitz Designs in Ivory
Journaling Font: Corbel


Hope you liked the LO!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for coming by!
~

Card Sketch #8 at S: CY

Hi Everyone!


Card Sketch #8 is up at S: CY and I invite you to check it out!


I created 2 cards for this one, using the sketch as inspiration-- a jumping off point, so to speak. :)  Here you go, first- the Card Sketch, by Ann Seleshanko...

S:CY Card Sketch #8 by Ann Seleshanko



"Warm Wedding Congratulations" card
created using Ann's S: CY Sketch #8 as inspiration



"Happy Birthday" card for a kiddo
 created using Ann's S: CY Sketch #8 as inspiration

I was thrilled with Sketch #8 because in making these cards I was able to put some older supplies to good (GREAT) use! The dinosaur card enabled me to use a CUTE CUTE CUTE dino diecut I had been hoarding since the start of my scrappin'n career ... LOL... SILLY...and those rub ons were from "Mod"-- a few left over ones from a larger sheet that I had in my stash. The card turned out SO  cute that I was thrilled. Oh yes- the striped paper is some older Crate Paper I had in my scraps bin from the first time I EVER ordered anythig online!! What a hoot! It just all went really well tohgether... with the added Glitz Designs BRIGHT green mini lettering, I was as pleased as punch. Simple and fun! Thanx Ann for the Sketch!

Sketch #8 also  meant that I was able to try out my Big Shot-- I had a heart shaped embossing folder I had been wanting to use and boy, it turned out sweet on that wedding card. I used some Close to My Heart "Bliss" paper, too. Loved doing those fussy-cut apple blossoms! Right up my "alley" here in the gorgeous Annapolis Valley!

Thanks so much for popping by my Blog today.... Be sure to head on over to S: CY and see what the rest of the DT there created with Sketch #8. Well worth the time! Have a GREAT weekend!

~

New Sketch at S:CY & my interpretation!

Here is a brand new sketch over at Sketches: Creatively Yours, created by our Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko.

My interpretation of the sketch is below. I was really happy with it! I used stickles and separated flower petals to create a sort of purple-y-teal peacock feather "eye" at the top right hand corner... and adhered everything with Glue Dots!

This is so appropriate as I was chosen as the Glue Dots Facebook Fan of the Week yesterday morning! This was sooo exciting! Boy, what a treat. LOL Thanks Glue Dots! I wanted to update my Blog right away with this LO but had to wait for the Sketch #19-11 Reveal this AM! LOL

Hope you like the layout.

Be sure to go to S: CY to check out Ann's PERFECT Sketch, which I used as a jumping-off point to inspire this LO- clearly it is not EXACTLY the same but I LOVED the inspiration!  That sketch has now been saved in my arsenal of "mucho-helpful" sketches.

Go have a peek at what the S: CY DT has created with this Sketch!!! Some awesome work!!

"Peacock Splendour: 2009" by Ali MacDonald
created using Sketches: Creatively Yours Sketch #19-11

Thanks for popping by, please become a follower and I will pop over to your Blog or Gallery and say hello, too! :)

Have a great day all! :o) THANKS AGAIN, GLUE DOTS!!!!
~

Wanted to share a few new layouts with you today...

"Christmas Decor" layout based on my sketch below

 Please note: the embellie in top right corner was affixed with a Glue Dot or two. I sure use them a lot!  I was selected as "Fan of the Week" on their Facebook page today... what a special treat and honour: TY Glue Dots! I LOVE that product! It seriously is never far out of my reach!

Here is the sketch that this LO is based upon:

Sketch #16-11 created for Sketches: Creatively Yours by
"Yours Truly"

"Merci" card created
based on my Card Sketch #7 @ S: CY as seen below

"Des Jeans Bleus"  layout created
 with Bryan's school artwork from the year 2000
using S: CY Sketch below 
Again, a Glue Dot was used to affix the star button and one of the pinwheels. 

Sketch created for S: CY by Ann Seleshanko 

"Artwork by Noah" layout created with inspiration from
S: CY Sketch below

Sketch  #13-11 created for S: CY by Yours Truly 

"Peekaboo 2011" layout of Noah in his clownfish toy bin was published by
Scrapbook News and Review a few months ago for their
"ORANGE" page call. Kate took these sweet photos. 

Journaling reads: Noah, you have always loved the safe and secure feeling of small, enclosed spaces. When you were given a new toy bin, the first thing you did was crawl right into it!
It was neat to see you playing a kind of “Peek-a-Boo” game when Kate came in with the camera to snap a few pictures. You were so happy inside your Clown Fish toy bin! We all love the big smile we can see in the second picture, and the way your nose pokes out in that last photo!
Later on, you did start “being OK” with storing all your stuffed animals and Beanie babies in the toy bin, but not until you’d used it as a hiding spot for a few days!
I really love your quirkiness, little man!!
Photos by big sister Kate: March 2011
Journaling by Mom: June 6, 2011

"Typing, April 27, 2011"  layout describes Noah's beginning (EXCITING) ability to type and how this could be very important to us in expanding his communicative abilities! What I wouldn't  give to better understand this little boy! 

"Noah's Artwork- Grade 2" layout describes how I love to open
his backpack to see his creations every day! 
 Glue Dots were used to affix the button to this page. 

"An Original" - Artwork by Daniel, Grade 5, Spring 2011
Pastel and watercolour

"Aviation" by Bryan: 2000 - Gorgeous watercolour painting I took pictures of, and saved.
TY to my MIL for the airplane buttons!
Used Glue Dots to affix them after removing the shanks. 

"Seasonal Art- Summer and Autumn"
Some more of Bry's elementary school Artwork. I just love it!
 These precious ladybug buttons had their shanks removed, and then I affixed them to the LO using Glue Dots. 

"Funky Pics"- this is Bryan at almost 16... early 2011

"En Route- 2010" layout shows the kids on the sofa as we travel along in the 1990 Land Yacht RV we purchased so we could GO somewhere and still be able to keep Noah safe.
Created using S:CY Sketch  below.
 Pics taken by big sister Kate. 

Journaling reads: These are my favourite pictures of our boys, taken in the RV by their big sister as we drove along on our way home from camping in Bridgewater, NS. The boys, who were strapped in on the sofa, were just being generally cute and cuddly, playing together. They were having so much fun that Kate, seated across from them in one of the easy chairs, snapped these pictures. I think they are the best ones ever… they make my heart feel warm! Love all four of those kids so much…

S: CY Sketch #14-11 by Yours Truly

"Artwork by Daniel: Grade 4" based on
S: CY Sketch #10-11 below
The poinsettia and star embellies were all adhered with Glue Dots! 

Daniel's Grade 4 Christmas ornament was created using his fingerprints! What a treasure!

Sketch #10-11 from S: CY created by Yours Truly

Come back soon everyone! Happy you came by and would love to get to know you!
~

A new Sketch at S:CY!

Just wanted to let you all know that Sketch #18-11 has  been posted over at Sketches: Creatively Yours!  Here it is:

Now pop on over to Sketches: Creatively Yours and see what the girls on our Design Team have created with this Sketch. You'll be happy you did! :)

HERE is the link.

See you there!~

~

So excited!!

Yesterday I had the absolutely wunnerful duty of announcing the NEW Sketches: Creatively Yours Design Team! Go check it out! 


Now here is where I get bossy, LOL! Read thru to the end for a special announcement that you, as a scrapbooker, altered item artist OR cardmaker, will NOT want to miss. 

~

NICEST THING EVER!!!!!!

A client sent me a testimonial about the cards I have made for her. She said that I could share it on my blogs.

Here you go...

"Ali provides beautiful and creative custom cards for every occasion that surpass expectations. Despite the intricate detail and thought within each card, they remain affordable and are a pleasure to send to family and friends. They truly are a gift in themselves."

~ S. C. Aylesford, NS 

MADE MY DAY!!!!


Thanks for reading!

~

New Sketch over at S:CY!

That's right! New sketch available over at S:CY!

Actually, this week,  it's card sketch that I drew for the site. Hope you like it. We have 4 DT interpretations I am sure you'll enjoy!

Here's the LINK.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
~

New Sketch revealed over at S:CY!

There is a brand new, GORGEOUS Sketch over at Sketches: Creatively Yours, created by talented Senior Designer Ann Seleshanko... Go see!

Additionally, there are NINE interpretations from our talented Design Team Members! Be sure to pop by and become a follower if you aren't one already... then you'll never miss a post, a sketch or a Guest.

See you there!

~

You-whooooo! Guess who is....

 being spotlighted over at the Sketches: Creatively Yours blog!! You'll enjoy it, I know it for sure! Go see!


Have fun, and be sure to become a Follower of our Sketch Blog if you haven't already had the chance to do so!
You'll never miss a post, a sketch, or a Spotlight!

~

A new Sketch over at S:CY!

Check it out!!!


~

WOW: THOSE CARDS!!!

Ann and the girls on the Design Team over at Sketches: Creatively Yours have seriously WOW-ed me this week with their creations.

Go have a peek! Here's the LINK.

Enjoy... I know the cards are drop-dead gorgeous and the sketch is great! You'll love 'em!

~

Look who is Spotlighted today....

over at the Sketches: Creatively Yours blog!!  You'll enjoy it, I know it for sure!

Have fun, and be sure to become a Follower of our Sketch Blog if you haven't already had the chance to do so!

You'll  never miss a post, a sketch, or a Spotlight!

~

New Sketch at S:CY!!

Hi everyone...

Here is the latest Sketch I did for S:CY:

Sketch 13-11 by Yours truly...

...and here is the layout I created for it. Did it as part of Lain Ehmann's May 2011 LOAD class, which was a BLAST.

"Gr. 2 Artwork by Noah"

Pop over to Sketches: Creatively Yours and see what the Design Team has to offer for this Sketch. You'll enjoy it for SURE! (There are a tonne of layouts this week!)

~