Hello, everyone!  It’s me again – Amber!  Aren’t you excited?! LOL!  I know I am! :0)  I’ve got PAGES of inspiration for you today!  When I was a kid, I remember looking through old family albums, or boxes full of pictures of my ancestors.  My mom and sister are a Genealogists, and they’ve been able to find some pretty neat stories about our family, too.  I love those stories just as much as I love those pictures!  Then, when I got married, that opened several new lines of pictures and stories!  So, I thought that my last post here on the Shabby Shoppe Blog would be PERFECT to share some of my most precious heritage photos with you!  And, I got the team to play along with me! :0)

This is my Grandma when she was about 17 years old.  She was the Drum Major for her high school marching band!  She was my inspiration!  Because of her example, and this super cute picture, I learned how to play the clarinet and joined my high school marching band!  I have always loved this picture! :0)

I remember this picture hanging up on Grandma’s wall.  I LOVED to go there to see the pictures of my Mom as a little girl, and as she grew!  What a blessing it is to me to have these pictures!  This one is one of my favorites!  Sitting next to her, on the left, is my aunt- her older sister.  Aren’t they both SO cute?!

This one is pretty special to me, too.  This is my Dad when he was about 2 years old. :0)  I LOVE this picture!  Another one of my favorites!  He says he doesn’t remember anything about this picture.  He was told that a man just came around his neighborhood one day with this horse and some props and took pictures!  (That would be SO much fun!  I can think of a couple of girls at my house who would LOVE to have an opportunity like that!)

Next up is inspiration from the team!  I’m SO happy they were willing to help me with this post!  I love their layouts!  Prepare to be AMAZED!

WOW!  Huh?!  Lindsay’s page is SO elegant, perfect for that photo!  The picture is of her Grandma and Grandpa at their wedding in 1954.  And, look at the clusters!  Just BEAUTIFUL!  Aubrey said she didn’t have access to her family photos at the time, so she asked her neighbor for some of theirs – what a wonderful idea!  Love the page she made with them, too!  The stitching reminds me of a baseball diamond! Clever!  Her choice of papers and colors – oh, and that banner – they’re PERFECT for baseball photos!  Baseball was such a major event at that time, and I love to see pictures of it! :0)

Here’s more eye candy for ya, huh?!  Kylie really outdid herself here!  LOVE.  THESE.  PAGES!  What can you say about Kylie’s AMAZING clustering?  I always go back to her pages for inspiration – and she NEVER disappoints!  These are layouts of her mum.  In the first one, her mum is with her brother.  They look SO cute together!  (This picture reminds me of the one of my mom and aunt.)  In the second one, her mum is grown, and just beautiful!

And, last, but certainly not least, Kylie’s Great Grandmother!  Just GORGEOUS!  That picture is just enough to melt ya, isn’t it?  Love the layering, love the colors!  Thank you so much, ladies! :0)

To see these super cute layouts in more detail, go to the Gallery!  The girls will be uploading within the next day or two!

Do you have any pictures of your ancestors that have been passed down to you?  Do you have old family stories to write up?  I would LOVE to see how you’ve scrapped them!  Please upload to the Gallery for all of us to see! :0)

Okay, this is where I sign off…  It has been so incredibly wonderful to be a part of this team.  I have so enjoyed sharing bits of my life and knowledge with you!  While it is a bit sad for me to be signing off for the last time, I am quite proud of SP for making a decision that will be better for her and her family – family is everything!  SP is an incredibly talented and amazing woman – as you all know! :0)  I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this team – and I will be sticking around the gallery.  I wouldn’t dream of leaving that!  Hope to see you all there, too!  Bye! :0)

AmberInspiration, Uncategorized 9 Comments

Hello again!  Amber here to share a hybrid project with you!  Do you have kids that ask you, “Is today Christmas?” or “How many days ’till Christmas?”- yet no matter how many times you try to explain to them when it is or how far away it is, they still don’t understand?  I know with my kids, some of them really have no concept of time – except for the time of today or right now! :0)  A couple years ago, I went looking online for a Christmas Countdown idea to help with this issue – hoping to provide my kids with a visual aid to help them to understand – and, I stumbled across a few ideas to use 4 x 4 wood cubes for calendar blocks, or chore blocks and such.  One even suggested using these ideas to use for a Christmas Countdown.  And so, this is what I came up with!

Let’s get started!  I’m so excited to show you how to do this!  You will need:

• (2) Cubes of wood - these ones measure 3 3/8 inches on each side
• (1) 2 x 4 measuring 7 inches long – long enough to fit the two cubes on top
• Sand paper
• Mod Podge
• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Block Designs measuring 3 inches by 3 inches

First, you need to design your blocks.  I used most of SP’s Holiday-themed kits, and then some from other kits here and there.  You are going to need to design squares for the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for one block, and the numbers 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 for the other block.  I also made a title block measuring 6 1/2 in x 1 1/4 in – or the size needed to fit on the small side of a 2 x 4.

The number 6 is also used as number 9, so design your block so that it can be flipped over and not look like it’s upside down.

When you are finished with all your number blocks and the title block, arrange them together to be printed.

(Number four is my favorite!  I LOVE the little train!) :0)  So, now that you have your blocks printed, you are ready to cut your wood!  Measure your 4 x 4 and cut your two blocks so they are square.  Then for the base piece,  cut a 2 x 4 so it’s long enough to put the two squares on top.  Sand down the rough edges.  Wipe them clean, and then you are ready to paint!

When your paint is dry, sand the edges again to give it a good “used” look.  After you’ve wiped the blocks off, you are ready to Mod Podge your designs onto the cubes and title block!  (Be sure to remember what numbers go where – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for one block, and 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 for the other block.)   And, once they are dry, you are finished!  YAY!  :0)

Super simple, right?  I hope you’ve enjoyed this!  My kids LOVE these!  And, I would LOVE to see what you come up with!  Just post your Christmas Countdown in the Gallery!  Or, you could even use this idea to make countdowns for other holidays – Easter, Halloween, Birthdays… or make one for you parents who are excited when school is about to start for the kids! ;0)  You could even make them into dice for a fun game.  The possibilities are endless! :0)

Be sure and stop by tomorrow, because Aubrey will be here with our next inspiration post!  And, I wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

AmberHybrid Projects, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Hey there!  Amber here to share this week’s Layout of the Week!  I’m so excited!  It’s always so much fun for me to browse through the Gallery - everyone’s layouts are so different, so wonderful, and I learn so much from each one of you!  So, I just have to say, “Thank You”!  And, for our winner today, I have chosen the super cute layout entitled “Sisters At Play” by lil_goldie!

Isn’t this ADORABLE?!  I LOVE the colors in this layout – blue and brown are my favorite!  They make such a CUTE girl page!  I LOVE the stitching and the flower clusters!  I LOVE the alpha – another one of my favorites!  And then there are the pictures!  How sweet! :0)  I also happen to LOVE hats!  Especially on little kids!  And then, I can relate to not having any pictures up of your youngest child.  I have plenty of pictures taken of my little one, just none printed! :0}  So, I, too, need to get on the ball!

Thank you so much, lil_goldie, for posting this page for all of us to enjoy!  Can’t wait to see more of your layouts!  Please check your email for your $10 gift card to the Shoppe!  (Be sure to check your spam folder if you don’t see it!)

Thanks again to all who post in the gallery!  Come by tomorrow as Rosy shares our next Inspiration Post!  Have a wonderful day! :0)

AmberLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Hi there!  Amber here again – this time to share a couple tips that I always use in my layouts!  I want to teach you a bit about LINES!  Lines?  Yes, I know. :0)  Lines are simple, yet they can have a profound influence on a layout!

Take DIAGONAL and CURVED lines for example – they suggest movement and energy.  These lines are GREAT for layouts with busy kids or when you need a sense of movement.  Take this layout for example.  I needed to make it look like Christopher was flying like Super Hero’s with capes are supposed to. ;0)  So, I used straight and curved papers positioned at an angle to help with that.

With HORIZONTAL lines, you get a sense of calm, or rest.  I suppose with this next layout, it’s the simplicity of the design, and the horizontal lines that give this effect – and I LOVE it!  :0)

And, with VERTICAL lines, they portray strength and structure – like pillars in architecture.  So, with this layout, vertical lines are PERFECT- as these two are both such great strengths to me!  Can I tell you how much I LOVE them?!  It’s my Dad and my niece, both of whom have battled- and survived! – cancer, at great odds, mind you.

So, you can use lines for the papers in your layout – but, how about how you position your embellishments?  Do your embellishments draw your eye to your subject – or away?  This is one of the things I remember most from when my sister was teaching me about scrapbooking.  Turning that tag, or that star, or that bow – anything that has a point or corner – toward your picture will draw your eye where you want the focus to be.  Obviously, you aren’t going to be able to get every point in that direction – so, just choose the important ones. :0)  The effect is very subtle – but, it can make quite a bit of difference!

And, here’s some examples of what I mean!  :0)

So, there ya have it!  I think I just gave you 99% of the tips I have for scrapbooking! :0)  All in one post! :0)  A lot of the stuff I know about scrapping and using Photoshop, I’ve learned from the Shabby Artists – both past and present.  I hope I’ve taught you a bit… it’s been great fun!  I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have to share some of the things I know with you via the Shabby Shoppe Blog!  I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving - I suppose even those who aren’t in the U.S.! ;0)  I LOVE Thanksgiving!  Take loads of pictures to fill your November Project Scrap 2012 Templates – which Kylie will be sharing tomorrow on the Blog!  SO excited!

Bye! :0)

AmberTips and Tricks, Uncategorized 7 Comments

Hey there, it’s Amber here with my very first post on the blog!  So excited to be here and share a family recipe for Food Friday!  My husband has perfected this recipe and was so willing to share it and help me with this post.  We have the PERFECT set-up – he made the rolls, and I took the pictures!  LOVE it!  LOL!  I have to admit that cooking is not my favorite thing to do!  But, I LOVE sharing the wonderful recipes we have come across, and I hope to be able to do it again, very soon!

So, let’s get started, shall we?!

Is your mouth watering yet?  He he!  I LOVE cinnamon rolls!  Okay, so first, you need your ingredients.  (Please don’t let the amount frighten you – it’s completely worth it!  I PROMISE!)  :0)

          ROLLS:

• 2 x 1/4 oz packages Yeast
• 1/4 cup Butter, soft
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 4 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 cup Warm Whole Milk (105-110 °F/ 40-43°C)
• 2 Eggs, lightly beaten
  

         FILLING:

• 1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 Tblsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Butter, soft
• 1/3 cup All-Purpose Flour

             FROSTING:

• 1 x 8 oz. package Cream Cheese, soft
• 1 Tblsp. Butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 tsp Whole Milk

Alright!  Now, starting with the rolls…  In your mixer, blend all your dry ingredients together – flour, sugar, yeast, salt.  Then add the butter, cutting it into the flour mixture.  Add your warm milk, and lightly beaten eggs.  Mix together on 2nd speed for 8 minutes.  Now, you place your dough, either in the bowl you mixed it in, or a ceramic bowl, (which will hold the heat in better).  Place your bowl in a warm area and let the dough rise for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.  Oh, and at this time, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, or 204 degrees C – can’t forget that!  :0)

Okay, while your dough is rising, prepare your filling by mixing the dry ingredients together – the flour, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  Make sure your butter is soft and spreadable – not melted!  When your dough is ready, roll it out into a rectangle – on a lightly floured surface – making the dough about a 1/4 inch thick.  Spread the butter edge to edge on your rolled out dough.  Using a sieve – it makes it easier! – sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the butter.  (Oh, and if you have leftover cinnamon stuff, it’s GREAT on toast!  :0) )  Now, starting at the widest edge, roll your dough!  Isn’t this exciting?!

This next step is tricky for me to explain, so bear with me!  We use a long piece of string or dental floss to cut the dough into 12 equal parts- making each roll about 1 1/2 inches wide, or tall – depending on which way you look at it.  :0)  Slide the string under the rolled dough, wrap the ends over the dough, opposite each other – twist the ends once.  And, pulling the strings’ ends away from each other, “pinch” the dough until it cuts through all the way.  Does that make sense?  I sure hope so! :0)  Now, place your rolls close together on a greased cookie sheet.  Place them in a warm area, and let them rise for 30 minutes, or until double in size.

It’s time to bake!  Place your cookie sheet in your preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.  While they are baking, add all your frosting ingredients into your mixer bowl and whip on HIGH speed for 2 minutes!  Remove your rolls when they are ready, and let them cool for a few minutes.  Spread your frosting generously over the tops of your yummy smelling treats.  Pour yourself a LARGE glass of milk and savor every delicious bite!  :0)

And, I made a 4×6 RECIPE CARD for you to download for free!  To make it, I used SP’s super fun Baked With Love Recipe Card Template Set, the beautiful Gracie kit, and a couple other things from here and there!  You may click here, or on the image below to start downloading! :0)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this as much as I have!  Thank you for being here today, and we will see you back on Monday for LOTW!  Have a wonderful weekend! :0)

AmberFood Stuff, Free (not desktops), Uncategorized 7 Comments