Pinned it and did it!

I saw a pin for these cookies on Pinterest.  I thought they looked and sounded tasty.  So, I made them.  Just out of the oven they are amazing!  There is a little melted bit of gooey chocolate just under those marshmallows.  Yum.  I would definitely make them again.  Click here for the original post with the recipe.  They are called Hot Cocoa cookies with a marshmallow.  Thanks Pinterest! This one was a winner.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll talk to you again soon.
 

Thankful

I am so thankful for my family and friends and that I am blessed to live in a place where I am able to enjoy so many freedoms.  I pray that each of you has a multitude of things to be thankful for as well.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll talk to you again soon.



(I actually pinned the recipe and then made the sugared cranberries, don't they look pretty!)

In the library

Here is an updated version of my DIY award ribbons.  Every year (almost) I run a contest in the library "The Great Pumpkin Character Contest".  Students decorate real or plastic pumpkins to look like storybook or sometimes movie characters.  I award gift certificates to the book fair and each grade has a first, second and third place winner.  I run these contests on a shoe string budget, so I make the awards and certificates myself.  This year I got a little fancier with the award ribbons. 

The last time I posted my ribbons I had several requests for a tutorial.  I never got around to getting it done.  So, this time I took pictures as I went with the idea of showing anyone interested how I put them together.

Here goes.....

You will need to decide what color combinations you are going to use for your awards, I used fall/Halloween colors for mine.  Then you will need to gather the following supplies,
*1 1/2" circle punch
*1 3/4" circle punch

*Crepe paper streamers in three colors for each level of award (3 different colors makes a little fluffier rosette), mine picks were:
     1st place, lavender, dark purple and black
     2nd place, orange, yellow and black
     3rd place, lime green, clover green and black
*Coordinating 1 1/2" Satin ribbon for each level or award (Purple, Orange, Green)
*Coordinating card stock for each color of award (Purple, Orange, Green)
*White card stock for printing award medallion and for blank circles
*Glue or glue gun (I used a glue gun since I was making multiples)
*Sewing machine
*Computer & printer
*Regular scissors
*Pinking shears

Punch 3, 1 3/4" circles from the colored card stock for every ribbon
Punch 1 blank white circle for every ribbon
Create your award medallion in your favorite software (I used Publisher)
Make sure the circle of your medallion is just a tad smaller the 1 1/2" so you can use your circle punch to punch them out.  Create one for each ribbon.

Cut your satin ribbon in approx. 6" lengths and your streams in lengths of about 3 feet.  Stack your streamer and pin at one end.  Stitch them down the center using the highest tension and the longest stitch.  That will cause them to gather automatically and you will not have to mess with trying to gather them by hand.

Fold your gathered streamers in half at the stitching and cut fringing down the length of your gathered streamer.

Using your blank white circle glue a length of your prepared streamer to the outer edge of the circle and cut off excess.

Using the first of your three colored circles glue to the front of the rosette then flip it over and glue the second colored circle to the back of your rosette.

Use the third colored circle and attach the satin ribbon to the bottom edge as shown. Make sure the satin face of the ribbon is facing toward you so when you flip it on to the rosette it is the right side up.

The flip it over and glue it to the back of your rosette.  Now you have a finished back that looks nice and neat.

Flip it back over and glue your award medallion into the center of the rosette. Trim the bottom of your satin ribbon with pinking shears to keep it from raveling and fluff up your rosette. Done!

I hope you found this helpful.  Thanks for stopping by and I'll talk to you again soon.

In the library

I have only just jumped into the 21st century with a "smart" phone.  I have found it pretty handy for quick pictures and getting a wider angle then any of my current DSLR lenses. The image clarity is pretty good too.

I finally finished the entrance to the library for book fair.  I think it turned out fairly well for using butcher paper and tempra paint.  The theme this time was Sir Readalot's castle and a kingdom of books.  Our students were very excited for the fair by the time I finished the decor, which was the goal.  The more excited they get about books and reading, the better!!

Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.

In the library

It seems that once October hit the only chances I got to be creative were at school and photo shoots.  My studio has been quiet for the last few weeks but, I have been busy creating.  The reading teachers at school asked if I would paint the door to the leveled library.  They gave me the general idea of what they wanted and then I painted it.  Our doors have a heavy duty varnish on them that allows us to paint on them with tempra paint and when we get tired of the image we can just wash it off.  Hopefully I won't be washing this off for a while.

This week I'll be sharing a few of the projects I've been working on around school.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.

Tasty Tuesday

Mmmm, pumpkin!  I love pumpkin in baked goods, scones, muffins, bread, donuts, pie (especially pie!) This week seemed like a good time to whip up a batch of pumpkin scones with a few tart cranberries thrown in for good measure.

They turned out great.  A nice little treat for those rushed mornings.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.

Monday Musing

Delicate strands glistening in the morning light.  A quick capture while on a walk with my girl Heather.  Her sharp eyes saw it first.

More fall color at the local park.  Chokecherries were ripening, a feast for the soon to be migrating birds. I'm so glad you stopped by, I'll talk to you again soon.

Monday Musing

This past week I spent a few hours in the company of family in this quiet spot where we each spent part of our childhood.  It was beautiful and familiar and wonderful to reconnect with people that I love so deeply.  So much time has passed since we had all been together in this place.  We were missing a few of our beloved but being together here brought back sweet memories and gave us an opportunity to create new ones.

Fall is starting to settle in, the water was cold but the children and dogs enjoyed splashing and chasing each other around in it.

I'm already thinking about how I can get back before winter moves in.  I want to dip my feet over the edge of the big rock one more time and splash sparkling drops up into the air just for the fun of it, to dream about spending a few days under the trees listening to the wind moving through the branches and the sound of the water rippling over the rocks, to sit on the porch and breath and make a promise... next summer.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll talk to you again soon.

Monday Musing

I went looking for some fall colors and shapes.  I found a few.

The air is a little cooler and the wind a little brisk.  I can smell green chili roasting as I pass some of the farm stands in the area.

Things are drying out and letting go of their seeds for next year.  The big trees are just starting to change color.  I'm planning a little drive to the mountains in a few days.  I hope to see more fall colors then.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.

Monday Musing

 

It's not officially fall around here but, the mornings are a bit cooler, there has been condensation on the windshield when I leave in the morning and a few of the plants are showing the beginning signs that the change of season is headed our way.  I wandered outside and just shot a few pictures as the sun was going down.  If you look closely, part of the blooms have given up their seeds, the next step in the seasonal pattern has started with just a few baby steps.  From my perch over the valley the trees around the river are just starting to take on those lighter shades of green before the yellow, orange and rust seep in. 

These trees are covered with all kinds of insects, ants, flying things and I even caught a quick picture of a lady bug.  The trees drip some kind of sap and the insects are everywhere.  I started to feel quite itchy after a few minutes of photographing the blooms.  I guess I'm not a true bug person.

I do enjoy the changing of the seasons, each one has it's own special offering and the time seems so fleeting.  I hope you take a few minutes to stop and look at the flowers, watch out for bugs!

I'll talk to you again soon!

Monday Musing

Playing around with Bokeh and post processing in Lightroom this past weekend.  My subject was a small little clump of wild flowers just outside the library door.
 

I used my 85mm 1.8 lens.  I've seen several really beautiful pictures around the web the last few days and wanted to try some on my own.  Still working on getting it just right.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.

Travel case

Just a quick post today, I made another mini suitcase with my suitcase die.  This one has a travel theme going on.  I may fill it with a few art supplies for a little road trip or create a travel journal for recording special moments.  We'll see what unfolds.

Wishing you a week full of fun adventures.  I'll talk to you again soon.

Afternoon art with friends

Saturday afternoon I had the chance to get together with a group of friends.  I took a bunch of my art supplies and some blank canvas' and we played with paper, paint and a few found objects.  This is a little bit of what the results were.  But, mostly it was about spending time with each other and having fun.  The food was really good too!

None of them had ever done a mixed media project before and they bravely worked outside of their creative boxes all afternoon.  It was a great adventure and I think their work turned out awesome!  Thanks ladies I had so much fun with you.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll talk to you again soon.

In the Library...

We started the year with a little fly.  Fly Guy that is.  My students are crazy for fly guy, a character created by Ted Arnold.  In fact, the second day I was open for check out, the fly guy book shelf was completely empty.

It had been full the day before.  I now have a waiting list.  It is so fun to see them excited about books.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll talk to you again soon.