Upcoming Events

Four back to back events coming up starting this weekend.  Looking forward to it!  Prepping like a busy bat in scrap cave ;)  I will be teaching my 2 page Winter Wonderland class at all 4 events.  I will also have my Card Class kits available for sale.  Limited availability of the card kits...message me if you would like me to save you a kit. 

Feb 14 to 16 - Cool Crops in Andover, MA.

Feb 21 to 23 - Scrap-A-Way MOM'n'ME in Warwick, RI.

Feb 28 to Mar 2 - Ready Set Crop in Leominster, MA.

Mar 8 - A Crop to Remember in Souththington, CT.

Want to join Jean and I for our Just Scrappin' crop in May and/or September?  Registration forms can be found HERE in the files section and deposits are coming in daily.  Reserve your spot ASAP!

If you have been trying to get into a Cool Crops event, they have openings at their March Cromwell, CT event.  Head over HERE for more info.

Whirlwind Weekend

This weekend totally felt like a whirlwind weekend. I got a TON of stuff done and yet there is still so much to do. Trying to get ready for 2 back to back crops so I can enjoy winter break with my boys. 


Friday I designed a card class for a Mom n Me crop. The cards came out super cute and can be seen HERE. I spent a few hours Sunday afternoon while the boys were with friends playing basketball prepping for the class...I'd say it's 60% prepped. More to go today and my goal is to get it done! My favorite has to be the Super Hero card...waiting for the matching die to show up for the super hero before I can continue but everything else is going to be prepped and kitted to go by the end of today!!!

Going solo this weekend meant I also spent a lot of time driving back and forth between practices and games...for a total of 3 practices and 1 game and 2 religious ed classes. Good thing there was no hockey, they got the weekend off. 

We also squeezed out some time for fun...Friday night, I took the boys to Sky Zone for Jumpalooza with their friends. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.  Lots of fun and a great energy burner for the kids. Two tips - One, buy your tickets online to ensure they get in and two, sit as far away from the DJ as possible. There weren't many seating choices and I was about 20ft. from the speakers...I think I get a Mother of the Year award for knitting 2 1/2 hours straight next to the speakers. I did have my earphones in for an audiobook but it was still loud.


In between all that, Saturday night, I put up 14...yes FOUR-TEEN freezer meals. It just had to get done, I had bought all the ingredients and I didn't want it to spoil. I'm so glad I did it and that it only took 3 hours. Now I have a freezer full of meals that just needs thawing and then dumped into a crockpot to cook. A few easy sides and dinner's on the table. The details will have to be another post on another day. 

What else? I started knitting a new hat and accomplished a few more rows on the baby blanket. We checked out 2 antique stores hunting for a specific something for my booth, had a playdate, watched some shows (the boys and I are watching a new series Almost Human together) and got some shopping and visiting in.  Busy indeed but fun and productive!  How was your weekend?

Crafting Cards

I was asked to teach a card class for an upcoming Mom n Me event.  The class will be for the "ME's"...2 classes of 12 with an age range of 8 to 14 years old girls and boys.  I thought about it long and hard because I wanted it to be do-able for them and still be nice looking cards.  There will be quite a bit of cutting and prep work but I think they came out fun and cute.

So here is my class description

Crafty Card Class - Join me Saturday afternoon for a fun, quick and easy card class.  We will use some fun products like washi tape and wink of stella markers to create SIX cards perfect for the kids (or kid-like adults) in your life. Please bring scissors and tape runner.  Everything else will be provided.

SIX cards...one is not in the picture, if you're counting.  It's a bonus card.  One that I had in my brain and just had to put together.  If you're one of the MOM's coming to the event and would like to make these cards too, feel free to message me and I'll put together a kit for you.  In fact, if you would like a kit, just let me know and I'll put one together for you. Your cost is $10 and can be mailed (shipping extra) or delivered to you at a crop.

Random Friday

I taught myself how to knit back in the fall of 2012...before our road trip to Florida.  I spent most of the ride knitting and haven't stopped since.  Currently, I am working on a baby blanket and it has been quite a challenge for this newbie knitter.  I forget to YO, forget to K2, forget to PSSO but thankfully this pattern has been pretty forgiving and the recipient won't notice.  Unfortunately, I am way behind schedule on it...the recipient arrived a month earlier than expected, I've been busy and am a slow knitter (I did mention I am a rookie knitter, right?).  Not that rookie I can't watch a show and knit, maybe that's why I forget YO's, K2's and PSSO's. 

I can also play a mean game of Battleship while I knit...I'm even slower then but a row here and there is better than no progress. 

The best thing about knitting unlike scrapbooking is that I can bring it with me when I'm stuck waiting for the boys at practice.  I'm sure you've been there...it's too far to drive all the way home or practice is too short to make it worth it.  Some times I run errands in the area, most times I bring my knitting.

Do you have other hobbies besides scrapbooking and card making? 

Thanks coach!

We are at the tail end of basketball season - meaning it's time for coach gifts.  The boys' coach's have been awesome, giving up their evenings and weekends to coach and even drive the kids to and from practice/games.  This year, I'll tuck in a gas card into these cards for each of them. 

Back to the cards.  These were super easy to put together.  I cut out the basketball player silhouette's on black cardstock using my cricut, sprayed a "blob" of color shine on the background, some droplets and a fine mist, stamped on a saying and matted on coordinating patterned paper.  Stamp is a Stampin' Up stamp.  Easy peasy! 

Got Washi?

It is snowing hard out there as I sit here and type this post.  *squirrel - what other adjectives are there for falling snow? I can't say snowing cats and dogs nor pouring...gonna have to look this up. And *squirrel* is something the boys and I use when someone loses focus or goes off topic.*  Back to Washi... how much washi can a girl have? Someone (you know who you are) asked that question on fb just last week. My answer - There's never too much washi tape. What is Washi tape you ask? It's basically patterned masking tape. Great for taping notes or cards to the wall/fridge since it peels off easily and is pretty. It's easily used on cards, layouts AND other home projects.  There are tons of ideas on Pinterest and in fact, I just started a Washi pinterest board.

One of the easiest pins I chose to try was to use Washi tape to decorate and easily identify charging cords and adapters.  It was super easy - just roll some tape around the object and cut.  Pretty and now the boys won't be stealing mine ;)

February Newsletter & a GIVEAWAY

This baby took a lot longer than expected but it was my first one using mailchimp (an online email marketing website).  I have to say I love how the end product looks - very polished with photos.  I hope you like it too.  If you didn't get a copy in your inbox and would like to sign up...

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I also have a GIVEAWAY going on today...how would you like a chance to win a 12 pack of Wink of Stella markers?  To enter, LIKE my Facebook page AND comment on this post or one that you find interesting. Giveaway ends at midnight tonight and winner will be announced on my FB page tomorrow.  One entry per person.  If you've already liked my facebook page, you can skip that step and make sure to leave a comment on my blog!

Weekend Wrap-up

Back with the Scrap-A-Way Retreats gang this past weekend in Warwick, RI.  Smaller class this time around but no less awesome!  Love teaching classes and sharing techniques/tips and my designs.

It was casino night and while the girls were hard at work, the three of us vendors stole away for a little fun...that's just how we roll!!! 

Next event with Scrap-A-Way is their Mom n Me crop Feb 21-23 also in Warwick, RI...looking forward to it and I better start working on my classes for the Mom's and Me's.

Random Friday - Layout Kits

Just some randomness about my Time2Scrap layout kits...

1. There are 2 boxes packed with papers, embellishments and cardstock waiting to be turned into layout kits...and I keep buying.  I'll admit it, I have a problem.
2. I see the layout/design in my head when I order the materials - it's gone by the time I get around to working with them :(
3. I usually don't add titles to my layout kits - this way you can customize your layouts to suit your needs.  When I have them, I add letter stickers to the kits to save you having to find coordinating letters.  Other times, I design titles and cut them out on my cricut.  This is time-consuming but fun for me.
4. I have designed 60 layout kits and just finished layout #61...here's a sneak peek. #62 is either glasses or baseball.
   
   
5. Some kits are pre-cut, most are not.  Same as #3, it's so you can customize your layout.
6. Girl themed layout kits are the hardest ones for me since I only have boys and nephews.  Totally working on this though, just had 3 nieces born in the last 2 months!!!
7. Sports themed layout kits are the easiest ones for me.  Any interest in wrestling kits?
8. It's also easier to design multiple layouts per kit than a single layout.  I have more material and embellishments to work with.

Have you tried one of my layout kits?  I'd love to hear some feedback from you.  Suggestions for kits are always welcome!

Happy Lunar New Year!!!

Today is the Lunar New Year eve...traditionally it's the day the entire family gathers together for a meal featuring delicacies of all sorts.  Most family members travel home for this and the celebrations in the following days.  We haven't made it "home" for New Year's in 11 years...I wish we could but the kids are in school and it's just too far and too expensive to travel for a week.  We usually travel in the summer and spend an entire month.  This year, I finally put these cute stamps to use and created Chinese New Year cards to mail to select family and friends.

In this year of the horse,

we would like to wish you

joy, wealth and health!!!

Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal

Anyone else tried making Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal?  I saw this on Pinterest and it didn't really interest me until a friend posted about it on Facebook.  It looked like a great idea for breakfast on the go, especially at crop weekends.  I had all the ingredients on hand so I whipped up 2 batches using frozen mangoes, vanilla yogurt and old fashioned oatmeal.  Results - it was good but dry.  There didn't seem to be enough liquid in the yogurt to properly hydrate the oats but I ate both batches.

A few weeks later, I tried it again.  This time instead of oats, I used granola and replaced the mango with blueberries.  Results - It was yummy but once again a little on the dry side.

I spent a few minutes on pinterest researching the recipe and noticed the addition of milk to the recipe.  Since I thought mine were dry, milk seemed like a great addition.  Next recipe, I added 1/3 cup of unsweetened coconut milk to oatmeal, vanilla yogurt and raspberries.  Results - it was really really bland and sour raspberries did NOT help at all. 

I really, really want this recipe to work so I'm going to give it another shot for my next weekend away.  This time around, I will use unsweetened coconut milk, oatmeal, vanilla yogurt and a sweeter fruit and a drizzle of honey.  I'll update here when I try it.  If you've tried this and have a good recipe, please share!!!

Just Scrappin'

 Looking back, I realized that I didn't blog about our September Just Scrappin' event.  Better late than never PLUS this will serve as a friendly reminder than we have two events scheduled for 2014 - May 30 weekend and Sept 26 weekend AND that we are now taking deposits for both dates.  Your crop fee includes your own 6 foot table, access to our tool table with 2 cricuts, on-site shopping...

one FREE 2 page layout class, optional classes (for a small fee)

 your 2 night hotel stay, meals including this yumminess...

and best of all, a whole weekend dedicated to scrapping to your hearts content with a wonderful group of ladies.  Won't you join us?  

Registration forms can be found HERE in the files tab 

or by emailing me at sluvs2skrap at yahoo dot com.

Weekend Wrap-up

It was a nice change to be home for the weekend after 2 back-to-back crops.  Friday evening saw me on my own, so I took to the roads and headed over to Andover to visit with Jean and the Cool Crops Crew, who were celebrating their 50th crop.  My boys rode with me most of the way (we were on our way to meet up with dad so they could go watch the Celtics game) and we watched the sun set in the mirrors and J got this cool shot of the sunset!

I came home to this...lots and lots of boxes blocking the garage.  And you know what this means right?  Bazzill & Core-dinations are in and I'm seriously stocked up on adhesives and a whole bunch of other goodies!!! 

I spent some time on Saturday unpacking the boxes, sorting papers and putting it all away.  I still have to price and label but that will happen during the week...

home for the weekend means I get to spend my time with my boys.  We managed to fit in 2 basketball games, baseball practice, a visit to the library, a visit to the winter farmer's market and antique/vintage co-op, sunday school, church and a hockey game.  Hubby does this all when I'm away on the weekends...I'm such a lucky girl!!! 

Sneaky Sunday

 Winter Wonderland (2 page layout)

 

I will be teaching this as a class at Cool Crops Andover, Scrap-A-Way Warwick, Ready Set Crop Leominster, and A Crop to Remember.  Limited Supplies...email me to reserve your kit.
Class times TBD.  Cost $10.00.

Got Moxxie?

Time2Scrap does!  Just got my Moxxie order in and am excited to share what I got in.  Some new collections, some older but a bunch of great themes that you will be excited to see.  They're hard to find themes...

These themes will be packed as collections...some with embellishments, some without PLUS coordinating cardstock!  There are three other themes that I will be designing as layout kits - Baseball, Perfect Smile (great for orthodontist pics) and Seeing Clear (great for glasses/contacts layouts).  Look for them in the store soon!

Smash Albums

SMASH albums...did you get one and put it together?  I love the idea of the SMASH album but think it needs to have a theme.  I wanted to start one for the longest time and couldn't find the right theme/topic for mine until we decided to drive down to Florida for the holidays in 2012.  I packed up some goodies in a small box and armed with my iPhone camera and an app to print to Walgreens, they even printed square pics on 4x6.  I scrapped on the road (in my lap), in hotel rooms and at my in-laws over the holidays. 

 My boys were trapped in the car with me for hours on end, so I had them fill out (answer while I wrote) questionnaires.  I had their opinions, thoughts and even resolutions recorded...SCORE!

Here are a few more pages. 

Oh Pinterest...What's Cooking?

I found a different recipe for a Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken on Pinterest,.  It's a recipe from the Chef Mommy blog and thought I'd try it out.  I even used her homemade Taco Seasoning...so easy and I had all the spices on hand. This dish was yummy and all my boys loved it.  We served it over jasmine rice with salad and avocado.

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used chicken tenders)
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (I used the cream of chicken)
1 cup salsa
1 package taco seasoning (I used 1 Tbsp of Chef Mommy's homemade taco seasoning)
1 cup sour cream
cilantro, for serving (optional) (I also added a little shredded cheddar-jack, black beans and scallion on top)

Directions:
Put chicken, soup, and salsa in slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over everything. Cook on low for 6 hours (I cooked mine on high for 3 hours). If shredding the chicken, pull the breasts out and shred; return back to slow cooker. Stir in sour cream and heat just until everything is combined.  Serve over rice with a side of salad and avocado.

It's Crop Season

It's definitely crop season...and I can tell when every weekend with one or two free has a crop penned in.  Looking for a scrapping event?  Want to know where I'll be for the next few months? 

Jan 31 to Feb 2 - Scrap-A-Way in Warwick, RI. **they still have seats available for this crop**

Feb 14 to 16 - Cool Crops in Andover, MA.

Feb 21 to 23 - Scrap-A-Way MOM'n'ME in Warwick, RI.

Feb 28 to Mar 2 - Ready Set Crop in Leominster, MA.

Mar 8 - A Crop to Remember in Southington, CT.

Mar 14 to 16 - Cool Crops in Portsmouth, NH.

Mar 28 to 30 - Scrap-A-Way in Hyannis, MA.

Apr 4 to 6 - Cool Crops in Portland, ME.

May 2 to 4 - Scrap-A-Way in Warwick, RI.

May 30 to Jun 1 - Just Scrappin' Weekend in Westboro, MA.

All of these dates are on my Upcoming Events tab here on the blog.  Leave me a little shout-out if you're going to be at any of these events!

Weekend wrap up

Spent this past weekend with the Scrap-A-Way Retreats girls in Mystic, CT.  It was a New Year's theme complete with a photo booth.  All the vendors decided to join in and have a little fun...how do we look?

Class was a hit...Thanks to all that joined me in my 4 page layout class. 

And I can't forget to mention the wonderful chocolate fountain spread on Saturday night.  It was the perfect pick-me-up!

2014 Goals

It's Jan 16...it still counts as the beginning of the year, right?  And therefore, I can still be setting 2014 goals for myself and Time2Scrap, right?  So here goes...

• Scrap a layout a week - I used to scrap for myself when I ran monthly all day crops.  Now that my schedule is too busy for all day crops, I haven't been scrapping for myself.  I fit it in with the Make-n-Takes and layout kits I design but it's not the same.  So, I will scrap more for myself this year. 
• Blog more - I have 2 blogs, one is my personal blog and the other is this one.  I have fallen behind on both of them.  This blog has been getting some attention, the other one sadly still needs some work.
• Take at least 3 crafty classes - I am signed up for Stenciled at onlinecardclasses.com and am really looking forward to it.  Also on my list is a Copic class.  The third, I will know it when I see it ;)
• Sign up for Mailchimp for newsletters.  It shouldn't change anything is you're signed up for my mailing list, it will just make the process easier for me.  Keep an eye for it in February.
• Cards for Yan - Last year, at a few crops, I offered a card Make-n-Take and donated the proceeds to a little boy, Yan, who is fighting cancer.  This year, my goal is to keep helping with your help.  I'm working on something and will share it here when I have a concrete plan.

That's it...2 that needs to be accomplished ASAP and 3 that will be year-long goals.  3 are more business related and 2 that are crafty...all of them do-able. Better go get my scrap on...I'm already behind on the scrapping goal.  Do you have any crafty goals for yourself?

Teacher Gifts

 Once upon a time, I taught card classes at a rec center.  There weren't always full so I had quite a pile of supplies left over.  The supplies looked sad sitting in baskets waiting to be turned into cards.  When it came time for teacher gifts, I hunted high and low for something that would be useful.  And so the teachers got card sets for X'mas.  Each year as the holidays got closer, teachers I bumped into in the hallways would stop and tell me "I'm so looking forward to your cards this year" and "I love the cards you gave me last year"...and a tradition was started.  Fast forward a few years and I stopped teaching at the rec center.  Now I design and make cards just for the teachers!  Packaging them is just a simple bit of twine plus a tag.

And if you would like to see what they got...here are the cards.

 

Oh Pinterest!

I have such a love/hate relationship with it.  I spend way too much time browsing it for ideas but love the fact that I can "pin" bookmarks and ideas visually.  I have decided to share my attempts at pinterest inspired projects, both successes and failures, here on my blog and call it "Nailed It Wednesdays!"

My first project of 2014 was to get myself organized enough to keep up with this blog.  When I say Elise Blaha's cork board calendar, I had an AHA moment.  The magnetic white board that is right next to my desk would be perfect for this and is currently a HUGE mess of papers and magnets.  Armed with two rulers and a roll of washi tape, I set to work taping out a calendar grid...easy peasy.  Then I wrote down what I wanted to blog about on post-it notes and stuck them on.  I'm on post-it note #10 and am loving it.  Pinterest Project SUCCESS :)  

It's that time again!

Bulk Buy time!!!  This time around I will be offering two bulk buys - one for Tim Holtz's Distressed Core'dinations cardstock and one for the usual Bazzill cardstock.  New to my cardstock bulk buy?  Here's the scoop...

• You will receive 60 sheets of cardstock, 5 sheets each of 12 different colors.
• Price includes tax and shipping to me.
• Price is for local hand delivery only - It does NOT include shipping to you. We can meet up or deliver at an event (check my schedule here).  Cardstock will be available for delivery starting Jan 31 (if all goes as planned).
• Mailing from me to you will be actual USPS cost.
• Order Deadline is noon Wednesday, Jan 15.  Email me (sluvs2skrap@yahoo.com) to purchase. 
• Payments in advance by check are appreciated or cash upon delivery.  No CC's or paypal please.
• Does not apply towards prizes or rafffles at crops if you take delivery and pay me at an event.

Bazzill Bulk Buy - $25.00 (includes tax and shipping to me).

Core'dinations Tim Holtz Distressed Cardstock buy - $23.00 (includes tax and shipping to me)

Weekend Wrap-up

Spent this past weekend with the Cool Crops Crew in Hyannis, MA.  Class was a big success...everyone loved the 'Tis the Season layout class.

And the pajama party was the coolest part of the weekend.  Everyone was dresses in PJ's, slippers and an accessory (stuffed animal, night cap, rollers, eye mask).  

Thanks for a great weekend Ladies!!!

Sneaky Sunday

Who's ready for another Sneaky Sunday?   Here's a peek in to the store...all NEW Winter themed collections in stock.  Love them all and finding it hard to pick a favorite, so I got them all!

What's Cooking

This is not a quick and easy recipe nor is it a meal.  It's a typical Puerto Rican dessert that my MIL makes over the holidays.  This year, I had a terrible cold that led to laryngitis and then a sinus infection meaning I couldn't taste or smell anything the entire holidays.  Getting back home, I dug out my handy "Puerto Rican Cookery" cookbook and got to work.  It came out awesome, if I do say so myself and when I posted it on facebook, I had multiple requests for a recipe so I thought I'd post it here.  

 Puerto Rican Rice Pudding (Arroz Dulce or Arroz con Coco)

1 cup medium grain rice
1 can coconut milk (shake can thoroughly and then set aside 3/4 cups)
3 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
2 cinnamon sticks
pinch of ground cloves - optional
pinch of nutmeg - optional
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 - 1 cup raisins (as much or as little as you like)

1.  Rinse rice and soak in water to cover for 2 hours.
 2.  20 minutes before rice is ready, combine remaining coconut milk, water, salt, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and ground cloves in a heavy pot.  Bring to a boil over high hear.  Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
3.  Drain rice thoroughly and add to the pot.  Mix and bring to a boil over medium heat (I took it to mean bubbling).  Reduce heat to low and cook until rice is completely dry.  Do NOT stir.  This took about 30 minutes for me.
4.  Add sugar and raisins, mix and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes.  Do NOT stir.
5.  Add reserved 3/4 cup coconut milk and mix.  Turn heat to medium and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until rice dries again.  Turn rice over occasionally and scrape bottom of pan.
6.  Remove cinnamon sticks.  Spoon rice onto a flat serving platter.  Allow to cool at room temperature before refrigerating.
7.  Enjoy!!!

Christmas 2013

Wishing you all the Hope, Wonder and Joy 

that the Season can bring! 

~ The Hiraldo family

Sneaky Sunday

It was very productive in the craft room a few weeks ago so I thought it would be a great idea to share a sneak peek with you on Sundays for the month of December.  I'd love for it to be a permanent weekly thing but I can't promise that I will have something to show after the new year when my schedule gets crazy.

Sneak peek week 1:  'tis the Season Make-n-Take (two 2 page layouts, 4 pages total)

I will be teaching this as a class at Cool Crops Hyannis, Scrap-A-Way Mystic and Scrap-A-Way Warwick. 
Limited Supplies...email me to reserve your kit.
Class times TBD.  Cost $15.00.

Product Spotlight: October Afternoon's Treasure Map Collection

I am in LOVE with this new collection by October Afternoon.  I don't have little ones at home anymore...gonna have to plan a trip or something pirate-y just to be able to use these collections.  Who remembers me talking about having to go to Arizona and the Wild West so I can use their Sasparilla collection?  A true addict I am ;)

You can see more of this fun collection HERE and HERE!  Collection kit pre-orders?

Time2Scrap Gift Certificates

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break.  Did you shop the great deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday AND Cyber Monday?  I sure did.  Just like any of you, I can’t pass up a good deal either and got the bulk of my shopping done.  I do have some people that are hard to shop for but I want to get them something they would love.  This is when I resort to gift certificates especially for my crafty have it all friends.   So, are you shopping for a scrappy friend?  How about a gift for yourself?  Let me help you with a special Time2Scrap Gift Certificate deal.

Time2Scrap Gift Certificate

·         Purchase a $25 Gift Certificate for a friend (or yourself, I won’t tell) and get a $5 bonus Gift Certificate. 

·         Gift Certificates will be delivered electronically and in a .pdf document so you can just print it out.

·         For an additional $2.50 – I will print and mail the Gift Certificate for you complete with a handmade Christmas card plus a handwritten message (your wording).

·         Order from is attached – fill it out, email it back to me and I will call you for payment info. 

·         Deadline to order is Dec 13.  Gift Certificate will be mailed out by Monday Dec 15.

·         Questions?  Please don’t hesitate to email me at sluvs2skrap@yahoo.com

And don’t forget Just Scrappin’ weekends in Westboro make great gifts too!  Registration is open and a $75 deposit holds your seat.  If you have the weekend on your Christmas wish list…let us know and we’ll email the gift giver a pretty Gift Certificate so it can be gift wrapped for you.

Time2Scrap Gift Certificate