I Played It Again

I'm so excited that I got to contribute (in a small way) to  The Daily Digi.  They have a feature every month called Play It Again where they display several layouts with the exact same photos and journaling, but scrapped by different people.  You get to see all the different creative paths that can be taken with the same photos.

I've been a fan of the Play It Again posts ever since they started, so when I saw an opportunity to participate (thanks to my guest CT spot at The LilyPad), I jumped at the chance.  And to be completely honest, it had not escaped my attention that Katie describes the Play It Again contributors as "some of the best scrappers in digi land." That might have had some bearing on my enthusiasm to participate. Just a little, maybe. Here is the layout I created:

Froggy's Cardstock by Gina Miller; Plaid Addict 3 by Rachel Young;
Paint Swatch Templates and Vintage Vogue Elements by Sahlin Studio;
Summer Minimalist by Fruitloop Sally; Sprinkles V3 by Valorie Wibbens
Photoactions by My Four Hens Photography

I really love this layout. I've considered reusing it for some of my own photos! I've been a little interested lately in placing titles and elements in somewhat random spots on my design, and I did a little of that here ... It can create "trapped white space," which is supposed to be a no-no, but the rebel in me tries to see what I can do. Thanks for looking!

Mini Quiches, New Layouts - August 24, 2011

A while ago I wrote about my new technique of making large meals, and then freezing a portion to keep as an easy meal in a few weeks, instead of eating leftovers in a few days.  One of our favorite meals is a broccoli & cauliflower quiche.  It's delicious, but the leftovers usually don't get eaten, which is a real shame because the recipe makes a lot of filling:  it fills a big 10 inch deep-dish pie plate.

So, I thought it would be great if I could work out a better end for this quiche by freezing it in small portions before the final cooking step.  It worked!   Instead of making one large quiche, I can make 6 small ones.  I use 5-inch pie tins.  I fill them with crust then spread the filling between them all, and then slip 4 of the pies, uncooked, into the freezer.  I cook the other two right away for dinner that night.  Here's a picture:

How do the frozen ones taste?  Pretty darn good.  I would have to say that they are not quite as awesome as the freshly baked ones, but the difference is minimal.  Since I can make 6 (possibly even 7) small pies out of this recipe, that means I can get THREE meals out of this one!  ... Until Miller starts eating quiche.  But even then, I'll still get two meals out of one prep.

Here is my recipe.

To fill the 6 small pie plates, I use 1.5X the recipe for a single pie crust.

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 4 Cups total broccoli & cauliflower (2 cups each), chopped small
• 3-4 green onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese (1/2 of a block)
• 6 oz. mozzarella cheese (1/2 of a block)
• 4 eggs, beaten well
• 1 Cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or less)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Melt butter in a pot then cook the veggies in it until soft-ish, stirring once in a while.  While that is going ... Shred the cheese. Beat the eggs and then add to them the milk, salt and pepper and mix well.  Get the pie crusts all ready. (I would have made the crust earlier and just need to roll them out.)  By now the veggies are ready, so distribute them among the pies (about 1/3 Cup each), then top with cheese, then pour on the egg mixture (about 1/3 C each). Bake at 425 for about 25-30 minutes.

The mozzarella cheese in this recipe really is good.  When I first found the recipe, I thought it was weird to have mozzarella cheese in it, so I substituted cheddar.  But then one day I tried a mix of both, and discovered that the firmness and chewy-ness of the mozzarella was really quite nice.  The original recipe also had more milk, and I found that the filling was often too wet.  I've made enough substitutions that I think I can call this recipe my own.  It's one of our favorites.

Here are some more layouts. This first one is about a trip to a local amusement park with  my mom's group. The funny thing about this day was Miller's outfit. He couldn't let me be prettier than him, so we were both wearing necklaces when we left the house.  Plus, he had on some REALLY baggy pants.

Postage Frames by Amy Martin
Boy, Oh Boy by Designs by Lili and Leora Sanford

Just a little summary of the preschool summer camp Miller went to.

Froggys Cardstock and Stitched Alpha by Gina Miller
Stand Tall Alpha by C.D. Muckosky; Template freebie by Miss Tiina

This is a Project: Love, Me page about a relaxing activity I would like to start doing: gardening.

Sketched Frames by Scrapping with Liz; Froggys Cardstock by Gina Miller
Vingtage Vogue Elements by Sahlin Studio; Unique by Designs by Anita

That's all for now! I'm itching to organize some templates while Miller and the scientist are at the park.

New Layouts August 19, 2011

I haven't been making a lot of pages, although the length of this post may indicate otherwise. In reality, I'm behind getting them up here on the blog, so they have piled up. What have I been doing instead of scrapping? Giving myself a little creative break, doing some file organization (photo actions), trying to spend more time playing with Miller. I did open up my Wacom Tablet that I got for Christmas and plugged it in to the computer. I think it will be fun, although Miller has actually used it more than I have so far!!

This first layout has pictures from the State Fair. It explains why Miller was begging to be carried so much - he literally had handfuls of corn kernels in his shoes and never thought to dump them out!

Sunday Afternoon Elements by Kelly Schmidt; Ten Things Papers by
Baers Garten; Color Swatch Templates by Sahlin Studio

This is a little spider that we found while he/she was making his/her web. It was interesting to watch it go round and round so fast. I kept calling it a "he," and every time the scientist would say, "I'm pretty sure it's a she." And I just stood there wondering why that mattered so much.

Ten Things Elements by Baers Garten; Sunday Afternoon Elements by
Kelly Schnmidt; Pumpernickel by Valorie Wibbens; Painty Frames by Amy
Wolff; Sewing Table by Gina Miller Designs; The Wolff by Heather Hess

This is just a picture of Miller when we were visiting my mom.

Snapshots by Karen Lewis Designz

This is my ode to templates. It was inspired by a layout I saw in a gallery, and the scrapper had left the default journaling guides on when she saved for web (instead of toggling on her actual journaling layer). So the layout had these columns of text saying "journal here ... journal here." But I thought it was a neat idea for celebrating templates, which I really like to use. So I left the title as "title," and one of the journaling boxes has the pre-typed text from the template, although the font I chose probably makes it hard to read.

Recyclables IV by Scrapping with Liz; The Everyday Papers by
Valorie Wibbens; Your Day Solids by Rachel Young Designs;
Free Spirit Alpha by CD Muckosky

Just me and Miller being silly.

One Fine Day by Amy Wolff and Valorie Wibbens; Simple Journalers 1 by
Gina Miller; Photography Frame by Joanne Brisebois

A Project: Love, Me page about how I relax.

Froggy's Cardstock by Gina Miller Designs; ever+always by Lauren
Reid and Micheline Martin; June Bliss Templates by Amy Martin

I actually have more, but I figure this is long enough already. Hopefully I'll get them up in just a couple days.

Scrapped Out!

I am scrapped out!!  I've been scrapping so much these last couple of months, with my guest spot at the Lilypad (which isn't quite over yet) and my Digichick spot, which I'm sad to say I have given up.  There are a lot of exciting things happening at The Digichick right now, which also means more activities for the creative team.  It just didn't fit in with my creative level and my schedule right now, so I had to say good bye.  :(

Here are some layouts I've done, though.  I can't quite shake this minimal thing I've got going.  This first page is kinda about Miller's little summer camp that he went to and kinda about the aftermath of getting his blood taken.

Kidding Around by Kelly Schmidt designs; Template Pack 16 by Kaye
Winiecki; Spring Sprocket Cardstock by Gina Miller Designs

This is one where I had a photo that I liked, but no story to go with it ... But now it's been a few months, so I just tacked on a different story! It still relates to the pirate costume, though. Miller comes up with these games where I'm supposed to say certain lines ... and when we get to the end, then we start again at the beginning and go through the scenario yet another time.  This game is about mistaken identity.

Daffodil templates by zinnias and swallowtails
Yoho Yoho by Valorie Wibbens and Emily Merritt

This one has pictures from when we went to the State Fair.  But the little story alludes to the fact that without James and Miller I would probably never leave my house.  Well, not quite, but I am a real home body.  The picture of me in the layout is one that Miller took - that's why it's all blurry and my face is cut off.  But on a whim I threw it onto the layout, and I liked how it looked.

Family Ties and You Make Me Smile by eNKay Design
Press Plate no. 30 template by Paislee Press

And a couple more Project: Love, Me pages. This first one was about celebrating an event that would not usually be celebrated. I chose to write about my graduate school career that ended with only a Masters degree, not a Ph.D.

An Afternoon at the Park elements by Sherwood Studio;Yin and Yang
Template Collab by Scrapping with Liz and Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs
Spring Sprocket Cardstock by Gina Miller Designs

The theme for July was celebrations/traditions. I wrote about a tradition I would like to instate/continue for my family: camping at the coast every summer, like my husband did when he was little.

An Afternoon at the Park elements by Sherwood Studio;Yin and Yang
Template Collab by Scrapping with Liz and Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs
Spring Sprocket Cardstock by Gina Miller Designs

Thanks for stopping by. I know I mentioned up above about being scrapped out. I'll still have some new layouts to share soon, but after my Lilipad gig is up, I'm planning to take a nice long scrapping break.

No More Alarm Clocks

Friday was the last day of Miller's summer camp.  For three weeks, four days a week, I had 2 1/2 hours all to myself.  I REALLY liked it.  He REALLY liked camp, and I bet he'll miss it.  However, I did not like having to set an alarm to be at camp on time.  I haven't had to use an alarm clock regularly for years, maybe even a decade.  I think the world gets up way too early.  This camp was so great because it was basically all free play time.  They could play inside with toys or blocks, they could play outside in the amazing park, they could participate in the art projects - all up to them.  It was a great first experience for him.  Miller will be starting a real preschool in mid-September, and I will get a few hours to myself again. And even better, it's AFTERNOON preschool.  No alarm clocks.

I've been busy making layouts.  Taking advantage of my guest spot and my 2 1/2 hours :)  This first one is a 2-pager for Miller's 4th birthday.  This was a special party for me because we stayed in our own town instead of traveling to where all the family is.  It really meant a lot to us that they all came here for the party.

Make a Wish by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbens
June Bliss Templates by Amy Martin; Photo actions by My Four Hens

Make a Wish by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbens; Everyday Life 12x12
Templates by Gina Marie Huff; Photo actions by My Four Hens

I finally got some curtains for Miller's "apartment," so the room felt finished enough to scrap about it.  Before this, he did not have his own room; his stuff was just all over.  Now he has is own space.

photoy templates v. 4 by Amy Martin; Splatz Mats by C.D. Muckosky
Decorative Stitches by Valorie Wibbens; Make a Wish by Valorie Wibbens
and Sahlin Studio; Stylish Stocks paper pack by Pixel Gypsy

This page was about my entry to the California State Fair and meeting my online scrapping buddy Stef who also entered and won. I still have more fair scrapping that I want to do, but this was the most important part.

Paper Palooza #4 Template by Gina Miller Designs
Country Fair Picnic Papers and Mixed Media by Sahlin Studio

Just a cute picture of Miller.  Gosh, I wish he'd cut his hair.

Faded Masks and Mats by Scrapping with Liz; Growing Like a Weed and
The Joy of Life by Captivated Visions; Free to Be by Tracie Stroud

These were just some pics from a few months ago that I'd set aside to scrap.  Nothing particularly noteworthy about them, but I thought the little quotation word-art was funny and matched the photos really well.

Trademark by Lauren Reid and One Little Bird
Frame-It 2 by Sabrina's Creations

Finally, this is the tentative cover for my 2011 printed scrapbook. I love the simplicity of the design. I think it's similar to last year's cover, so I like the consistency of that.  I also like the words I wrote ... sometimes I surprise myself.

Sketched Frames by Scrapping with Liz;
Your True Colors by Captivated Visions.

That's all for now! Thanks for looking!

Whole Wheat Cookies and New Layouts - July 17, 2011

I bought flour this week, and when I grabbed it I thought it was unbleached flour.  In the middle of making cookies, I realized it was whole wheat flour.  Lazy as I am, I didn't want to run over to the store for regular flour, so I took the chance and used the whole wheat.  And they turned out fine! I was really surprised - I couldn't taste the difference.  They also didn't look very different either - I think because they were oatmeal chocolate chip, and I usually expect an oatmeal cookie to look more brown.

Here is the recipe I used:

• 1 C. butter, soft
• 1 C. dark brown sugar
• 1/2 C. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 C. whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 C. quick cooking oats
• 1 package milk chocolate chips.
• Mix up in the usual order (I do everything in one bowl - no pre-mixing dry ingredients for me).  Drop by tablespoon scoop and  bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Before I get to my new layouts, I want to share my digiscrapping news.  In June I participated in the challenges at The Lilypad.  I completed all seven challenges and was entered in a drawing to win a guest spot on their CT.  And I won!! My guest spot has already started, I'm so excited!!

Now on to layouts. Miller recently had blood drawn for some labs ... I'll just say it was not a fun experience, and I am so glad it is over. It has now been about two weeks since it happened. The scientist and I stayed at Miller's preschool for about 20 minutes this morning and just watched him a little. He was playing with a little boy on the swings, and after a while Miller asked the boy several times, "Did you know I had to have my blood taken?" It seemed that Miller really wanted this other boy to know about it. James thinks it is like a war story for him ... this horrible thing he went through, but he made it, so it's worth bragging about.

365 Neutrals by eNKay; Old News Paper and Soak It In by Pixel Gypsy

Miller had a blue life jacket that he used in the pool for the last two summers.  It is now, of course, much too small (I think it was even too small last year).  We got rid of it and acquired a new Coast Guard approved jacket for this year.  But he would have nothing to do with it at first.  He refused to go swimming at all ... for a while.  Now he loves it.

You Make Me Smile by eNKay Design

And a couple Project: Love, Me pages.  This month the general topic is celebration. I'm not a real big celebrating type person, but I do love cake...

Country Love by Etc. by Danyale; Double Page Journaling Templates by
Scrapping with Liz; Buttons from various kits by Gina Marie Huff
Stitches by K Studio; Cardstock from HoHoHo by Miss Tiina

And here I wrote about a failed tradition that James and I started several years back: reading the Declaration of Independence on 4th of July. I still hope to get this tradition going again.

Country Love  and Americana by Etc. by Danyale; Yin & Yang Template
Collab by Scrapping with Liz and Fiddle-Dee-Dee Design
Cardstock from HoHoHo by Miss Tiina

Thanks for looking!

New Layouts - July 9, 2011

Did you know that you can check out movies from the library? It's really nice for us because all of the movie rental shops have closed down in our town. Plus, at the library they're free! We've checked out several kids DVDs from the library over the last few months, and I finally picked up a movie for me. I picked Avatar. I really enjoyed it. I might even go buy it.

Here are a few layouts I've made over the last week or so ... This first one is pictures of my old cat Nellie.  I thought he was a girl when I got him ... then learned he was a boy from the vet. But I had already named him Nellie, and it seemed to fit him.  So I kept the name.  He died right after 4th of July three years ago.  He was only about 10 years old. I really loved him.  I had all kinds of nicknames for him, and I remember he used to sit on the toilet seat whenever I took a shower.  I think the sound of the water attracted him.  I would call him my "bathroom helper shmelper"  .... and I think that even morphed into "shmoop shmoop."  Our current cat Bob is just called Bob.  Well, I take that back.  He is occasionally called "Senior Bob-a-relli," which is a take from a song in the Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd. Actually, I believe Nellie's name even comes from Sweeney Todd.  I guess Sweeney Todd was pretty important to me in my college days.  Uh ... back to the layout.

Clip 'n Doodle Frames by eNKay Design; Missing You by Tami Miller Designs

I made this next one for a Digi Dare challenge. The challenge was to write about freedom, which is something the scientist and I talk about every once in a while. Basically, I talked about the trade-off between freedom and security, and how my gut chooses freedom, even if it risks harm. I even "won" the challenge!

Americana by Etc. by Danyale; USA Templates by Scrapping with Liz;
My Country by Studio Miki; Americana by Ziggle Designs and Tracie Stroud
Notebook from Desk Mess by Holliewood Studios

Miller started summer camp preschool this week. Leading up to it, he insisted he was not ready to be alone without me. I was scheduled to volunteer that first day, so that worked out nicely. By the third day he said, as we were getting ready, "I'm tired of you being there." (although I only stayed for that first day.) I don't think he really meant "tired of" in the way we usually mean. He's still learning all these phrases that he hears. My feelings were not terribly hurt.  I'm scheduled to volunteer on Tuesday again ... I wonder if he will allow that?

Ianthine Templates by Scrapping with Liz; Watercolor brushes by Faith True;
By Gina Marie Huff: Life is Good, Life365 Painted Papers
Sweet & Simple Life Kits #3,6,4, Hodge Podge 7 alpha, Cute Lil Patterns 2

Thanks for stopping by!