Month: April 2015

‘Tis the Season

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

charrie shower card artisan embellishment and hello life

Tis the season…

For showers and weddings that is.

And you might know I love a good theme.

charrie shower invitation
So when I received this invitation to our family friends’ shower, I thought it would be fun to repurpose some of it for the card I made.

I gently removed the lace bow and added it to the card I created with vanilla and kraft card stock, a tiny watercolor, and the SU artisan embellishment floral cutout.  A simple “love” sentiment was added from the SU Hello Life Stamp set.

charrie shower card artisan embellishment and hello life

I then continued the theme when wrapping the gift.

Charrie Wedding Shower Gift Wrap 1

Instead of wrapping with paper, I used burlap which can be repurposed and was from our son and daughter-in-law’s similarly-themed shower and rehearsal dinner.

I made a big bow with some new kitchen towels that were on the registry, stuffed in a couple wooden spoons (they go with the gift inside), and tied it all together with lace to match.

Off to the shower today to celebrate Charrie and Corey and wish them many years of love and happiness.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

PS  I received a very sweet note and invitation from the HUGELY talented Leslie Mahon at InkPaperScissorsStamp.com to enter my card into The Paper Plunge #29 April Showers Challenge.  It is a less-known challenge that I am super happy to learn about and participate in.  For my card crafty friends – hope you will check it out.  If you have created a baby or wedding shower card, take the plunge and play along with us!

The Paper Plunge

 

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

/ Jodi / 11 Comments

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are one of my hubby’s faves, and I was surprised to notice I had not posted my recipe here yet.

When I make oatmeal cookies, I like to make them ginormous – – – typically about 3 inches in diameter.

It just seems to be the right way to make them….  Do you think I subconsciously consider them healthier in the cookie category?  There are oats.  There is fruit.  Sometimes there are nuts….   (no worries about that little ole’ bit of butter and sugar!)  😉

I also tend to flatten them a bit before baking, which I do not do with my chocolate chips and others.  I think because they are so full of HEALTHY oats, they don’t tend to spread and flatten as much on their own.

oatmeal raisin cookies 3

To me, the best oatmeal cookies are not puffy or fluffy, but crispy on the outside edges and chewy on the inside.

I change up the fruit or nuts for however the wind is blowing for me that day, so sometimes I add just golden raisins (which I always buy over the standard “brown” ones), other times I use raisins and dried cranberries (like this time).  Sometimes I add chopped walnuts… and sometimes not.  I’ve been known to add dried cherries or dried blueberries (and even candy orange slices once!).

oatmeal raisin cookies 2

So for you oatmeal cookies lovers, here’s my favorite tweaked from the Quaker Oats canister lid called “Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:”

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

  • Servings: 2 dozen ginormous or 4 dozen regular sized cookies
  • Print

Ingredients:oatmeal raisin cookies 3

14 Tbsp softened butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups uncooked oats
1 cup golden raisins (or fruit/nuts of your choice)

With electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for two more minutes. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add oats and raisins and mix well.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll dough into large 2 inch balls (or smaller 1 inch if you prefer), place on baking stone, and flatten with the palm of your hand.

Bake 8 minutes for small, 10 minutes for large.

Jodi’s Best Cookie Baking Tips: Electric oven provides most even, consistent baking. I always bake on stones as opposed to aluminum or glass or metal.  I always refrigerate my cookie dough for several hours before baking. I always under bake as the cookies continue to cook slightly while cooling on the baking stone for 2-3 minutes before removing to cooling rack. Cookies freeze well if stored in airtight freezer bags after completely cooled.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Celebrate Today

/ Jodi / 25 Comments

PP238 CYCI64
It’s Friday!  Reason enough to celebrate – eh?

PP238 CYCI64 2

The card I am sharing today, however, is in celebration of a special couple’s anniversary:  my Dad and “Mom II” Carole.

It is such a joy to celebrate their happiness.  They are such great role models of a truly caring, loving married relationship.

Though my biological parents divorced when I was young,  I am happy for both of them that they have found loving, lasting marriages on Round 2.

(And for those of you that weren’t around when I was a new blogger close to a year ago,  I’d love to share one of my favorite posts with you from back in July of last year to read the story of my reunion with my Dad.)

PP238 CYCI64 3

So Dad and Carole, I join you in celebrating your upcoming special day.  I thank you for your love and example.  And most of all, I love you dearly.  Celebrate YOU!

For my cardmaking friends, I am submitting this card for two of my favorite card challenges:  The Paper Players, which is hosting a Die Cut Challenge this week, and Can You Case It, which is hosting a color challenge this week.

CYCI64pp239

And here are the “Ingredients” for my card:

StampinUp’s Crazy About You Stamp Set for the flowers and leaves
StampinUp’s Perfectly Penned Stamp Set for the sentiment
Lil’ Inker Designs Stitched Mat Rectangles for the Die Cut stitches and cut out rectangles
SU Whisper White, Black, and Crisp Cantaloupe Card Stock
Inks:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistsachio Pudding, Memento Black
Boho Blossoms Punch
Wink of Stella Clear Brush
SU Pearl Embellishments
Old Olive StampinWrite Marker for leaf veins
Adhesive

Celebrate today and EVERY day – at Life in Between.

Cheers & Happy Friday Hugs,
Jodi

Discovering the FUN in Art

/ Jodi / 59 Comments

watercolor 2 tulip 040415

Can you tell what it is?

This is Watercolor #2 on my journey to learn watercolor painting.

So I have to admit……   I found myself struggling to post this….  Not feeling it is good enough…..  Starting to take this “art” business much much much too serious!  And then one of my sweet bloggie friends, Laura at CreateArtEveryDay, inquired about how my painting was coming.  I told her I was struggling with whether to post or not… what everyone would think…. not wanting people to feel obligated to “Like” or comment….  Wondering if it was “better” than my first  (hubby said yes – son said he liked first better…) Oiy Vay!  Then I worried – Does anyone care about my “art?”  Will they stop visiting my blog if I share less than lovely art work?  Sheesh!

Then wise, sweet Laura encouraged me.  She said (and she gave me permission to share):

If I let those feelings stop me, my blog would be private. I think the point here is encouragement and support and FUN, not perfection. I’ve done all of that second-guessing, but part of making something every day is really forcing me to not worry about what anyone thinks and just post it. Your first flower was really good, I thought. You definitely have talent. It just takes lots of practice to be happy with watercolor paintings (in my experience) and I’m still not there yet. I’ve come to the point that it’s about fun. FUN. And Relaxation. And DE-stressing. Forget everything else. If you painted it and you enjoyed it, that’s all that counts. Your followers love you and they want to share in your experiences and experimentation. At least, that’s how I see it. Otherwise, I’d post nothing, ever.

It’s all about fun. I just want to see you have fun with whatever you do. No one would expect to sit down at the piano and play Beethoven, but people put such high standards on their artwork. (I’m preaching to myself too, believe me.) But for me, this is about growth and happiness and relaxation and healing, more than anything else. So I just can’t take it seriously. I won’t. And I really hope you don’t either. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it. I really hope you fly and just set yourself free, Jodi! 🙂

How lovely is that?!

Thank you, Laura!

And then I remembered WHY I started this blog…. not for “likes” (though I certainly LOVE your LIKES!)….

Not to “prove” anything….

It is a hobby…. It is my space to share the stuff I love to do at life in between!

So I’m posting it – and you know what?  It was FUN to do!  Fun to watch water and paint create something on paper.

Gallery worthy?  No!

Fun?  Yes 🙂

So last week for my first watercolor, I drew the flower with a pencil first.  For this one, I just “drew” the basic shape with water and paintbrush.  This was another tutorial by Lindsay at The Frugal Crafter.  Lindsay makes it look so simple!  She just whips these up in about 5 or 10 minutes while chatting away and being funny and relaxed and silly.

Wonder if I’ll ever be able to get so free and loose and relaxed while doing this?   I’m a bit “heavy handed” with the paint.   I want to just touch the paper with the brush and watch it “move.”   This watercolor stuff is HARDER than it looks!  (FUN Jodi – FUN!)     I have a new appreciation for some of the talented artists I know that do this now!

Thanks for sharing the journey with me my friends!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

P.S.  Hope you’ll visit Laura’s blog too – she shares a fun new creative experiment every day @ CreateArtEveryday

Standing out in the Crowd

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

crocus white

I’ve spent too much of my life trying to be like the rest.
Trying to fit in
with the right look, the right clothes,
and the right way to be.

Trying to please the wrong people,
worrying what they would think
if I do my own thing
if I choose to be me.

I now choose each day
to stand tall and stand proud.
Embrace that I am me
And that is okay to be.

Like the crisp, clear white crocus
amidst bright yellows and rich purples.
Reaching and stretching…
and standing out in the crowd.

Mikey and I headed out for a lunchtime walk yesterday when the clouds cleared briefly on a gray, rainy day. I took my camera along intent on capturing a clump of purple crocuses that had caught my eye on a recent drive by a nearby church.  But once I got close, what stood out amongst the rest was this crisp, clean, pearly white one – so unique amongst the others.  And that is what inspired this “poem.” 

Thanks for indulging me.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Tracks of My Tears

/ Jodi / 40 Comments
railroad tracks nick

Photo by Nick McKinney

In the car the other day, I asked my son, Nick, if we could stop for a few minutes along the railroad tracks and take a few photos.

I’m always thinking there is a good photo there and have tried a few times, but have never been completely happy with what I’ve taken.

When we stopped and got out of the car, Nick proposed a challenge:  We each take five photos, and then we’ll see who gets the best one.

After literally laying on the road and standing guard for each other to warn of approaching cars, Nick took the prize with this photo I am sharing today.

I love the different perspective he found…  I love that he turned the camera to portrait, which I rarely think to do…. I love the blur in the distance, but also the way the lines draw you to the “dreamy, mysterious” distance….  I love the blur of the smooth track and the detail in the rusty fasteners and am fascinated with how this simple hardware design creates the track that holds a train in line…

And I love that this photo and the memory created in those few short moments brings to mind an oldie but goodie song, The Tracks of My Tears … as I smile… and my eyes tear up with pride.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Beauty in the Blur

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

blur rose of sharon 2

As I walked around to the “other side of the house” this past weekend basking in the sunshine and warmth and hope of what’s to come, I noticed how the sun was hitting these dried up pods on the Rose of Sharon bush.

I focused in on the pods and “bokehed” out the background giving it a blur.

Soon these brown pods will turn green and then purple with a bounty of beautiful flowers.

Little bursts of Spring are surely beginning to pop up around here in Mars.

Open your “blurry” eyes this Monday and take it all in!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Blur:  Find beauty in the blur.

 

 

Enjoy an EGGcellent Easter!

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

cadbury egg cracked

The anticipation is over – time to dive in.

Easter egg green and blue

To brightly colored eggs…

Easter Eggs 2015

and yummy sweet treats!

Mason and Ella making Cadbury Blondie Bars Easter 2015

And could anything make me smile more than receiving this photo texted to me yesterday of these two cuties making “Jodi’s” Candbury Mini Egg Blondies and decorating it with my name?!??!!

Mason and Ella making Cadbury Blondie Bars Easter 2015 Jodi

I am truly blessed!  Thank you Mason and Ella!  ❤

Wishing you all blessings and joy and the anticipation of Easter Eggs YOUR favorite way!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

My First Watercolor

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

My first watercolor 040115

I’m being extremely brave and sharing my very first drawn-from-scratch watercolor project with all of you.

Oh Dear…. Please be gentle!  You don’t know how many times I wanted to redo this and and pretend a retry was my first….

I know this is so very far from being anything worth sharing, but I wanted to post it to hopefully look back on a year from now and see that I have grown and developed.

This blog project has been a way for me to express the things I am discovering and enjoying at “life in between.”  As I started with stamping and card-making, my desire to express my creativity a bit more led to watercolor on cards with stamps (which I still love to do), but I was itching to try a watercolor from scratch – and I have NEVER been good at free-hand drawing!

So, of course I did what we all do now to learn a new skill, I searched for a tutorial on YouTube.

I came across a phenomenal “teacher” via tutorial at TheFrugalCrafter where Lindsay demonstrated how to paint a sweet pea bud.

I know – I know…. you were all thinking this was an eggplant or maybe a wilted purple rose – right?!  🙂

So it didn’t turn out to be a sweet pea bud per se, but hey – it’s a start.

And….

It was FUN!

Thanks for sharing this journey with me!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

My Most Favorite – for 33 years!

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

33 anniversary card

Today, my hubby, Marty, and I celebrate 33 years of marriage.

Yep – 33 years ago today – a very young and naive 19-year old girl said “I do” for now and forever to a 23-year old boy about as different from her as Eddie and Eva on Green Acres (okay – maybe I wasn’t quite that glamorous and Marty wasn’t quite that Midwest farmer, but we were – and still are – a pretty classic example of opposites attracting.)

And you know what?

He is still my favorite!

Maybe even more so….

I tell people that are going through “stuff” in marriage, there are good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, good months and bad months…

Heck – there are even tough years…

But, you know what?

Life isn’t perfect.

People aren’t perfect.

And marriage and monogamy with that one special someone is a pretty special thing.

And I am so fortunate in so many ways for so many things and so many years and so much love and safety and stability and genuineness and standbyidness….

Yep – Merv (that’s what I call the hubster) – you are STILL my MOST FAVORITE!  (and this is the card I made for him.)

I love ya,
Gert (that’s what he calls me)

I know – we are goofy!  🙂

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi