Nichol Spohr LLC:

Recipe Shares + New Product Focus Layout (Bella Blvd)

I had several requests to share my recipes for Macaroni Salad and Taco Soup so here goes. :)

Macaroni Salad

Elbow Macaroni (cooked & drained)

Ham (I used a package of deli ham and just chop it up)

Shredded Cheese

Red Onion, diced (just a little, not a whole onion)

Miracle Whip

Mrs. Dash Table Blend Seasoning

Mix all ingredients. I don't really measure anything, just add to taste.

Taco Soup

1 can corn (undrained)

2 cans beans (undrained) I use black beans.

1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)

1 lb. hamburger (cooked & drained)

2 pkgs. taco seasoning

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, dry

1 small can tomato sauce + 1 can water

Put all ingredients in crock pot. I usually cook it for about 4-5 hrs. Serve with sour cream, cheese and fritos or corn chips.

Enabling Alert!

Check out the great tips on using your Silhouette on the Quickutz Blog HERE. Great ideas for making your own "chipboard-like" accents, backgrounds and using the print & cut feature.

And if you have the Silhouette check out a new freebie shape available under the Purchase Online tab in your Craft Robo software:

New Product Focus Layout featuring new Bella Blvd

Here's a layout I did for the July 1st Garden at Two Peas featuring new Bella Blvd patterned papers:

(c) Two Peas In A Bucket

To be able to add layers for the title and number accent over the bright striped Bella Blvd paper, I added some vellum to mute the vibrant stripe a bit.

I loved both the bright dot paper and cupcake paper but the cupcake paper was a bit too busy for me so I punched cupcakes from the paper using a 1" circle punch and adhered them to the dot design on the polka dot paper. Perfect embellishment for my cupcake/birthday themed layout.

The border and cherry chipboard accents were from a CK Kit of the Month. I loved how well the embellishments matched the Bella Blvd papers.

The grunge die cut is from Silhouette:

file_folder_grunge_1744

(c) Two Peas In A Bucket

(c) Two Peas In A Bucket

Supplies:

Pastels 12x12 AC Cardstock (American Crafts)

White 12x12 AC Cardstock (American Crafts)

Rainbow Ribbons Swing Into Spring Collection Paper (Bella Blvd)

Candy Buttons Swing Into Spring Collection Paper (Bella Blvd)

Treats & Sweets Sweet Celebration Collection Paper (Bella Blvd)

Celebrate 97% Complete Cardstock Sticker (7Gypsies)

Primary Paper Frills Assortment (Doodlebug)

Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter

Silhouette SD Digital Craft Cutter

Silhouette $25 Prepaid Download Card

Chipboard Border, Butterfly & Cherries (CK Kit of the Month)

Vellum (Hobby Lobby)

Chipboard Letters (Making Memories)

White Number Sticker, Rub-ons (Making Memories)

For a complete list of supplies used and additional images and information click HERE.

The kids are bugging me to go swimming so we better go enjoy the afternoon sun!

Have a great day!

July 2009 Celebrate the Seasons

I unexpectedly took a few days off from blogland. We had a big BBQ get together for the Fourth of July and the cleaning and cooking and preparing took a wee bit longer than I anticipated. It was a lovely weekend, though, and a nice little break. :)

The July 2009 Celebrate the Seasons class at Two Peas went live yesterday (the 5th of July). This month's sketch features a Fourth of July layout but could be easily used for other seasonal celebrations or events (Canada Day, July Birthdays, July Anniversaries, summer activities, etc.).

(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

Here is my layout, showcasing photos and memories from our 2007 Fourth of July:

(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

Click HERE for more information the class.

Click HERE for the post on the Education board.

Here's the video for this class, featuring tips & tricks for creating embellishments for this layout as well as tips & tricks for some of the tools used in completing the layout:

Supplies:

Corner Chomper Crop-a-dile (We R Memory Keepers)

Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter (this item is currently 30% off at Two Peas!)

Silhouette SD Digital Craft Cutter

Chocolate Mini Unicase 4x8 Alphabet (Quickutz)

Stardust Cookie Cutter Grand Alphabet (Quickutz) (this item is currently 30% off at Two Peas!)

Mini Dot N Go (Glue Dots International)

White 12x12 AC Cardstock (American Crafts)

Black 12x12 AC Cardstock (American Crafts)

White Vellum 4x12 Adhesive Sheets (American Crafts)

Cork 4x12 Adhesive Sheets (American Crafts)

Navy Wide Stripe/Mid Summer Nights Dots Traveler Paper (Little Yellow Bicycle)

Chopped Tomatoes White Minestrone Paper (Jillibean Soup) (this item is currently 25% off at Two Peas!)

Lemonade Front Porch Collection Paper (Jenni Bowlin)

Classic Velvet Collection (SEI)

Neutrals Velvet Collection (SEI)

Crystal Brads (Making Memories)

Slice 12x12 Metallic Silver Paper (Making Memories)

Kraft/Red Circle Journaling Sprouts (Jillibean Soup) (this item is currently 40% off at Two Peas!)

12x12 Three Little Birds Rub On Accents (Lily Bee Design)

12x12 Laugh Three Little Birds Rub Ons (Lily Bee Design)

Notch Tool (Making Memories)

Star Die (Sizzix)

Star Punches (Stampin' Up)

Circle Punches

Star Gems

Silhouette Shapes used:

star_border_1805

circle_stars_nested_1791

flourish_1019 (comes with the Silhouette software)

This layout is all about texture. I really wanted to create a lot of texture, without all the bulk. To do this, I used lots of textured papers (one of my very favorite things) and lots of die cutting and punching to create my own embellishments. I used Metallic Silver Paper, Cork Paper, Vellum and Velvet Papers to create my accents and title. So quick and fun. And I implemented some pre-made accents with my custom ones (the Jillibean Soup journaling sprouts). By layering the star embellishments right on top of the journaling sprouts I was able to create my own unique and custom accents for my layout. I wanted to show that you can use pre-made and custom die cuts together. :)

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday!

I'll be back tomorrow with more shares. :)

Fashion Inspired Garden + Stampin' Up Enabler Alert

First of all, new Stampin' Up.

As always I have found things that I need. Okay, maybe not need but I want them...badly. I am working on an order this evening. And if you need someone to order SU from I highly recommend, Jackie Wright. This gal is true gem. :)

Here are some of the things I am ordering:

Butterfly Punch (If you have the Flight of the Butterfly set (and even if you don't!) you will want this punch! I can't wait to get it!)
For All You Do Set (Another great set with a darling butterfly. I can't get enough butterflies, apparently!)
Seeing Stars Stamp Set (GREAT basics and I am betting that several of these coordinate with their star punches...which I have and LOVE).
On A Pedestal Stamp Set (I just think this is super cute!)
There are several message style stamp sets that I love. Great basics that never go out of style. I love to have lots of options for card-making and SU are some of my very favorites.
New ink colors. Check them out. I'm going to be picking up a few of these. Bright and fun!
New buttons! You guys know me and the buttons! I'm picking up these: Playground Designer Buttons and the Sherbet Designer Buttons too.

The new Garden is up at Two Peas and this month's theme is: Fashion Inspired! Love this theme.

I happened to see this t-shirt online at Old Navy, I think, and it immediately sparked the idea of using some amazing new boy-ish Silhouette die cut designs from the incredible Kerri Bradford.

the inspiration:

the layout:

(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

Ethan got this cute little motorcycle this past spring and was absolutely enamored with it (until his sister broke it...that's a whole other story). I love how these die cut designs go perfectly with this page/theme. And I used only cardstock, no patterned paper. I rarely, rarely just use cardstock only. And I love the results. I think it can be hard to find just the right embellishments for real "boy" pages. I freely admit the butterflies and flowers and girly touches come easier to me but having the right tools for the page made this masculine layout come together so easy! Love die cuts. Love the abundance of choices available. Love that this page doesn't say "girl" at all.

Click HERE for additional photos, the supply list and more information.

Want to see all the Silhouette designs I used on this layout?

Here you go:

checkerboard_border_sm_1718

checkerboard_title_1603

flame_1727

grate_grunge_1609

motorcyclists_1630

My process for this layout took a little work. I had originally planned something completely different and I had already printed all my photos and really didn't want to waste paper or ink reprinting them so I decided to just make them work.

For the left side of the layout I grouped the 2 larger photos together and resized my title die cut to help balance out the photo heavy bottom of the left side of the layout. Because I used a white cardstock background and lots of black accents I wanted to add lots of color with the die cuts (yellow and red) for visual interest. The chipboard title, brads (on the wheels) and star accent all add dimension to the page.

(c) Two Peas in a Bucket

The right side is mostly photos but I wanted an interesting way to add interest. I accomplished this by adding the checkerboard die cut border between the two rows of photos. Then to add interest to the black and white page I die cut a grungy grate out of yellow and gray, embellished it with rub-ons and added colorful red and yellow flames. Finally I tied both sides of the layout together with more chipboard stars adorned with embellishments.