Hi all!  It’s Kylie here! :o)  The Shabby Shoppe team are taking a little time off to spend with family and friends throughout this holiday season…and we are ‘sending’ the BLOG on a well earned mini-break.  We will be back on JANUARY 14th…yes, back and bloggin’ before you know it!!  We’ll be returning with all your favourites, starting with a mega LOTW post…so don’t stop uploading your gorgeous layouts to the gallery.  Don’t forget, we’ll be wrapping up our PROJECT SCRAP 2012 - so make sure you pick up the December templates we shared recently (or any of the other months, for that matter) so that you can scrap through the holidays.  The Easy-As-Pie Template Challenge #30 – btw, a perfect end-of-year design! – is on right now too…so don’t miss that one!!

And of course, I’ll be back to fit in the FREE JANUARY DESKTOP somewhere before the end of the month rolls around!  Hope you’ll stop by for your free download :o)

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS :o)  We all wish you the best and most wonderful ‘end of year’ and joyous & safe start to 2013!  THANKS so much for your support in 2012 and for being a very special part of the Shabby Shoppe community!  Hugs & Kisses to all!  :o)

KylieShoppe News, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Happy Weekend!!  It’s Emily here with an inspiration post for you!  Goodness, I am always so inspired by these posts and was feeling quite challenged to come up with my own.  I tossed about a few ideas but one kept showing itself to me OVER and OVER and I just had to go with it.  The latest and greatest crafty trend out in the world (Can you say PINTEREST?!) is chalk, chalkboards, and chalkboard paint!

Now I actually have quite an aversion to chalkboards and chalk.  In my non-scrapbooking life I am a middle school English teacher who used to have to write on chalkboards ALL. THE. TIME!  I despised the chalk dust and the screech-ey, scratch-ey noise fingernails and chalk can make on a chalkboard (I seriously just got goose bumps writing that sentence!).  I was so relieved when they replaced my chalkboard with a white board.  So obviously, when this trend of schlepping everything in sight with chalkboard paint emerged, I was less than thrilled.  I realized however that I truly did enjoy certain elements of the chalkboard look: the dark frosty background, the contrast of the white chalk against the dark background, and the way colors pop against it as well.  It dawned on me that digital scrapbooking was the perfect way to jump on the chalkboard bandwagon without getting any chalkdust on my pants! Whoo hoo!  I looked through my past layouts and found a layout that used a dark, chalkboard-like background and white text and I knew I had been subconsciously percolating this whole chalkboard idea for awhile.  Let’s do this!

SP has several papers that work perfectly for that chalkboard look and feel.  Here are direct links to the kits right in the shoppe!  Yours Truly, Wonderful, Occasions, Modish Girl, Clementine, and Brrrr.

Here are links to some of the best chalkboard fonts out on the web.  I could have listed dozens more but I had to say, “WHOA” at some point! LOL!  They are all free to download for personal use only.

The chalkboard fonts work AWESOME with the great Tips and Tricks post from lego a few weeks back!  Be doubly inspired!  Also, Lindsay shared a great blog link that shows how to get a cool chalk effect using Photoshop!  Check it out HERE!  So much chalkboard-inspiration-goodness! 

Keep scrolling to see some stellar takes on this whole chalkboard trend from our a-mazing Shabby Artists! Be patient as they load ~ I inserted them as full-size images to really make the chalkboard look visible!

 First up is the ADORABLE layout from Amber ~ She applied the trend to perfection with a school-themed layout!  It goes perfectly with her element cluster and inspired title!

Next up is a breathtaking layout from Kylie ~ Her use of the chalk effect with the floral brush work is beyond inspirational!  The button elements add so much to the overall effect too!

 Take a look at this stunning example from Kim ~ She has expertly added this trend to her title work and it brings her layout focus and undeniable style!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this layout from Casharina!  She was able to apply the effect to a holiday layout!  I doubly love that her picture background pulls double duty as her chalkboard look!  The font just pulls it all together!

Lego has also produced a stunner!  She went with the traditional deep green chalkboard background color and it is set off perfectly by her choice of paper strips and spot-on chalk effect fonts!  Look at those chalk snowflakes!

Finally ~ Here is my take on this whole “I can’t stand real chalk, but I sure do love the look” trend!

Look for all of these layouts from the Shabby Artists in the gallery if you would like to know credits and such.  Please make this chalkboard trend your own and post it in the gallery!  I can’t wait to take a peek!  Thanks for taking some time to be inspired here on the Shabby blog!

EmilyInspiration, Uncategorized 6 Comments

I know, I know tomatoes, mozzarella, basil … all things that make me think of summer.  But then again, aren’t these the holiday colours, too?  Anyway, we eat this Italian treat all year round because it’s so yummy.  And probably like anyone else with kids I can never ever have enough good pasta recipes.  Lego here to share a super-easy and really yummy family favourite:

This is what you need … and what you get :-)

• 500 g (16 oz box) whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 fistful of pine nuts
• appr. 30 small cherry tomatoes
• 1 package (250 g) of Halloumi cheese (Greek cheese for grilling)
• 20 dried tomatoes (when in olive oil: rinse a bit)
• 1 mozzarella cheese ball (rinse and try to get it at room temperature)
• fresh basil
• olive oil
• 12 slices of prosciutto crudo (or any kind of dry cured ham)

• First you’ve got to cut, cut, cut!

• Fry pine nuts without oil in a non-stick pan for about a minute.  They should not get dark!  Set aside.

• While the spaghetti is being cooked al dente in salted water (see package) fry Halloumi in a non-stick pan until it turns brown.  (You wanna get that yummy crust ;-)  Set aside.

• Put tomatoes in the very same pan and melt a bit.  Add dried tomatoes.  Heat and stir for a minute or two.

• When pasta has finished cooking and you have rinsed it, put it back in the pot.  Add tomatoes and Halloumi.  Cover the pot, set aside and let rest for about 5 minutes.  (Believe me, it’s worth it.  We found out because the second helping always tasted better ;-)…  I guess because the pasta can absorb all the yummy tomato flavor!

• In the meantime place ham slices on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.  Grill in the oven for about a minute or so.  (Depends on your grill actually!)   They should get a bit brown and crispy.  The crispier, the better!

• Put on a plate and drizzle with some good olive oil.

• Sprinkle with pine nuts, mozzarella and basil.  Place ham chips on top.  Serve and enjoy!  For a heartier version: drizzle with more olive oil ;-) or add more ham strips.
• Buon appetito!

Here comes the recipe card to download…CLICK HERE to download or click on the image below.  I used one of the very handy Muffin Man recipe card templates!

Thanks for checking in with the blog today!  Don’t miss tomorrow‘s entry when Emily shares her creativity with us in her inspiration post!  Since I won’t have the opportunity to “blog” to you in the very soon future, let me wish you wonderful Christmas celebrations with your beloved ones and the bestest for the New Year!

legoFood Stuff, Free (not desktops), Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi everyone!  Lindsay here to bring you one of my very favorite treats EVER!  The Chocolate Chip Cheeseball!  With the holidays FAST approaching, it’s always great to have a quick and easy go-to recipe either to take to gatherings or just have on hand for festive holiday snacking!  This is that recipe for me!  It’s super easy to make and everyone who has ever tried it LOVES it!

So here’s what you need to make this sweet & creamy treat!

:::INGREDIENTS:::

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup mini chocolate chips ~ divided

1/2 cup chopped pecans

To make the cheeseball, first you mix your softened cream cheese and butter with the vanilla.  I did not take a picture of this step, as I have not yet mastered the art of holding both my camera AND the mixer.  So apparently professional food blogging is not in my future.  Oh well!  After you’ve got that mixed up and nice and fluffy-looking, mix in the sugars.  The recipe says to “gradually” mix in the sugars, but when you have a four-year old helper, there’s no such thing.  And really, I don’t think it matters!  To finish it up, stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips.  Next, you need to chill the mixture so you can shape it into a ball later.  I like to help this step along a little by wrapping the cheeseball in plastic wrap and forming it into a ball shape.  I think that makes it WAY easier to make into a lovely-shaped cheeseball later!  When chilling time is over, I just unwrap my pre-formed ball and stick it into my nut and chocolate chip coating mixture.  But whatever cheeseball-making method you prefer is fine!

By the way, the coating mixture is the 3/4 cup of chopped pecans mixed with 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips – just spoon it over the top and use your hands to lightly press the mixture onto the top and sides of the cheeeball!

And that’s all there is to it!  We like to eat this with chocolate Teddy Grahams, but any chocolate graham cracker will do – it would probably be good with regular graham crackers too!  (actually, it’s pretty good to just eat straight off a spoon!)

  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do!  And as a little gift to you, here’s the printable recipe card!  Click here to download OR just click the image below!

Happy Holidays, everyone!!!  …and make sure you join lego tomorrow for another festive recipe!

LindsayFood Stuff, Free (not desktops), Uncategorized 3 Comments

Casharina here today, to bring you a new, and healthy twist to the “smoothie!”  So lately I’ve been working really hard to lose weight, and let me say it is SO hard!!  I have been running walking fast/ jogging, on the treadmill and recently I’ve really been focusing on changing my diet.  With that, I don’t want to “diet” because honestly, I love sweet food way too much to say no, and I do not have an ounce of willpower in my system to say no to the delicious good stuff.  So in an attempt to loose, I’ve been changing small things that don’t make a ton of difference, but will help lessen the calories I take in.  Since it’s almost the first of the year and people are thinking about making their resolutions I figured I’d add a new healthy snack/meal that I have tried and really love!  Let me warn you, the color of these little monsters is kind of disturbing, but if you can get passed that I bet you’ll love them!

Green Smoothies:

Okay so let me explain…these little green monsters can be made just about any way you’d like to make one.  I’m going to share a recipe that I developed to fit my taste buds, after finding various recipes and including only the ingredients I had and wanted to try.  I’ve helped myself to these for the past week, and I don’t know if it’s pure coincidence or not but the dry skin on my arm seems to be clearing up!

For this tasty treat you need only a few ingredients!

• 2 cups of fresh greens (you can use any green: bok choy, spinach, baby spinach (has a milder flavor), kale, etc.
• 1 to 1.5 small banana(s)
• 6 oz. water
• 1 Tbsp. milled flax seed (optional)
• 1 cup mango

Directions: Add the flax seed and fresh greens to the blender.  Then add in the water, banana and mango.

A few little tips:

I like to use frozen bananas (peel fresh bananas, cut them in halves, and place in a freezer bag) as they make the shake a little thicker and COLD.

 I recently learned that bananas with brown spots are extra sweet so don’t toss them, freeze them up!

Can you believe this was the first time I ever had a mango?  I had to search the internet to find out how to cut and eat a mango. Lol.  So here goes my version:

• stand up the mango, and slice on each side of the large seed in the middle, this is not like a normal seed, it’s a large thick piece in the middle of the mango, you’ll see what I mean when you try.
• Next, you’ll slice it, leave it in skin and slice almost through it, slice it long ways and short ways, and then scoop out the pieces with a spoon.  Now, you’re done!! That’s it!!

 You may want to add more fruit, if it’s not sweet enough for you.

Add some ice cubes to make it even colder – the colder it is the better it tastes!

There are so many ways to enjoy a green smoothie.  So far in addition to this recipe I’ve also used banana and peanut butter (this was my favorite!), and banana and strawberries…they’ve all been delicious!

That’s it for today, I hope you enjoy this recipe and if you choose to make one, or have a yummy recipe I’d love to hear about it!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for another delicious treat…this time from Lindsay!

CasharinaFood Stuff, Uncategorized 2 Comments