lindaalbrecht

Fun Friday

There's just something about Friday's-- that anticipation of looking forward to the weekend.  I love weekends.  Even though I don't have a "real" job outside of my home, I like what the weekends bring.  Everybody home and working together, down time when we can watch a movie or stay up late,  planning Sunday dinner, that kind of stuff.

I feel like I accomplished some good things this week.  Checked some things off of my to do list--that always feels good.  Now only four more things to check off for the month of April (creative stuff.)  That doesn't include house stuff, like washing windows and working on the flower beds, but it will all get done if I keep going.  At least the weather and the spring sunshine is giving me some extra energy these days. :-)

Creative stuff.....
here's a little Melissa Frances and  Shimmerz project.  The combination makes for some lovely art.  
  

 
 
I used one of my favorite papers from Melissa Frances called Dawn.  Pretty little rose buds on a distressed background.  The flowers and leaves are also from Melissa and are Crystal Clear Stamps that I used on cardstock.  I applied acrylic paints and Shimmerz "Pink Poinsettia" directly to the stamp then onto the paper.  Everything that sparkles (flower, background, stamped images, twigs)were all given the Shimmerz treatment.  It's an awesome little product, that's for sure!

So, what are your weekend plans?  Sometime fun and rejuvinating, I hope.  I might shop for a few flowers to fancy up my empty garden planters.  Makes me smile thinking about flowers and gardens :-)

Enjoy every little moment and all of the simple things,
Linda

Life is good

The sun is shining and we are going to blaze past 60 degrees today because it is already 53 at 10:00 am.  So exciting!  I want to bring out the cushions for the lawn furniture, but I'm almost afraid that I'll jinx this nice weather spell. 

I even saw buds on the trees and bushes this morning when I went out to the backyard to gather some twigs for one of my projects.  Finally... spring is going to force it's way into MN...let's hope that it stays!

So many things are in the works these days.  Too many to mention and some that I can't share, but believe me I have been busy.  

I want to share a few new ways to use the bird pattern that I gave to everyone who asked for it from This Post . I made  them for Valentine's day, but really you can do them up in lots of ways to use them throughout the year.  (ETA: feel free ask for the pattern in your comment and I will email it out asap!)

Here's one idea (and my favorite for today.) 
    
I used a Melissa Frances Vintage photo frame that I covered with patterned papers.  Then I layered some fabric and batting together and stitched up the outside edges.  Next I added the trims, buttons, bird(that I made from my bird pattern) and some twigs and artificial greens and flower.  Of course there is also a glittery Melissa Frances chipboard heart and a white feather.
 Notice for the birds wing and tail this time I used some window screening.  If you'd like to do this to your bird pattern also, just cut out the wings and tail pieces from both the fabric and the screening.  Glue them together then apply a heavily coated paintbrush of white paint.  I also sewed the unbleached muslin fabric bird together then painted on a ight coat of white just to stiffen him up and make him look more like a heavy canvas.  As usual, a light brown inkpad was used to distress him up a bit.
  I just love this little door hanging...so springy and whimsical.

Here are a couple of other ideas for using the bird pattern:
  
 All papers and tags on these 2 are Melissa Frances.
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 Anybody for some dessert?  We had such yummy choices at my sister Cheri's house on Easter sunday.   Our little Becky (my son Cole's girlfriend) opted for the Strawberry dessert, but my favorite was the Chocolate Almond Pie.....
 OH. MY. GOSH.  Incredible..... and amazing..... and my sister says it's easy to make so I snagged the recipe from her.  Here it is....Enjoy!!

"Chocolate Almond Pie"
20 large marshmallows
4- 1.5 ounce Hershey chocolate almond bars
1/2 cup milk
1 & 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1- 9" pie crust, prepared

Melt marshmallows, milk and candy bars over low heat.  Remove from heat and cool. Whip the heavy cream with vanilla and almond extracts until stiff.  Fold into the cooled chocolate mixture.  Pour into prepared crust.  Top with additional whipped cream and garnish with slivered toasted almonds and chocolate powder. 
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 Life is short... eat dessert! ;-) :-)

 My sister Terri's famous sugar cookies.  THE BEST EVER... and look how they sparkle.

Okay, I am going to go outside now to check out the perennials.  I bet that they are working on reaching for the warm sunshine that we have been blessed with today.  Crossing my fingers!!

Enjoy your day!
Linda