Pea Pickin Cake

This was my birthday cake. It is a Pea Pickin Cake...it wasn't pretty, but it was really tasty. I got the recipe from my cousin's wife. Here is the recipe:

Pea Pickin Cake

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

11 ounce can mandarin oranges (juice and all)

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 box of instant vanilla pudding (small)

Mix all together. Bake in 3 (9-inch) round cake pans for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees in greased and floured pans. When completely cooled, frost and refrigerate. Can be made 2 to 3 days ahead.

Frosting

16 ounce container Cool Whip

1 large package of vanilla instant pudding

20 ounce can crushed pineapple (juice too)

Combine all ingredients; frost layers of cake and refrigerate.

I hope you'll try it. It is really good and it was even better the day after....breakfast cake. Billy was so excited and kept saying "birthday cake" all day. He couldn't wait any longer at one point and took the cake out of the fridge and had it on the couch. Too funny. Summer Break sucks....kids 24/7...argh. Hard on the crafting (or even thinking)....I managed to finally finish my tags for the Summer Loving Tag Swap yesterday. I need to get them in the mail today. I need to work on two more projects...treasury shadowbox and Christmas ABC pages. I haven't had a lot of chance to look for fun stuff for the box. I screwed up the first one and had to order another box....double argh. My partner and I agreed to a later mail out date....so some of the pressure is off. :) I need to cut out the backs for the pages....27 of them...oy. I know what I want to do...it is a matter of cutting out the backs. Lazy ass procrastinater....that is what I am. Before I forget...Amy and Jane win the extra tags/books...congratulations. I guess I need to go and get some stuff done. :) Have a good day!

Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday....I'm 39...not ashamed of my age. Small blog absence.....things have been nutty. I got three swaps taken care of (as you can see).....charms, little books, and mailed out the tags from my Secret Garden Tag Swap. I had the hardest time getting the backs off of the vintage jewelry.....after that it wasn't bad....I enjoyed gluing them onto bails. I made two little books instead of one....yes, a food theme....I can't help myself. The one example of the fruit book was the wrong one....I needed to get them in the mail. I hand drew and watercolored them. I used the cutest fabric (that I've had for about 18 years) for the covers of the books. I didn't have much choice in paper (local UPS had super thin, linen finish, and card stock), so they are a little thicker than I wanted and not all of them folded up good....I am bummed.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure (it was all theirs) to join my guys in Phoenix for the Comic Con. Think Silver Bella for geeks, nerds, and the like. Everyone wore their badges with pride....everywhere. Billy got to join his Dad and Brother twice.....he took an Imperial Cadet Training Course....he wore the stormtrooper helmet the whole time. I was upstairs bored off my ass in the hotel room most of the weekend. Thank goodness they had USA on cable. :) It is going to be a long summer. They don't have summer school for Special Needs children here, so Billy is going to be a handful. Fun, fun, fun. I've been working on my shadowbox for Stevie...oy. I, also, need to work on 12 tags for Jonnelle's round of the tag swap. Nothing like having a great idea and being foiled by your printer/scanner that doesn't love you anymore. The printer works...the scanner not so much. I need to get a new one...scanners are important....I don't like using original vintage ephemera (photos and such) if I can help it. I have ABC pages that are due at the end of the month as well. I know what I'm doing for those....it will just involve a lot of cutting...procrastinating (as usual). Oh well.

Okay...now for the fun part....since it is my Birthday.....I'm going to have a giveaway. If you would like to win a set of Secret Garden Tags (shown in the last picture), just leave a comment on this post. I will leave it open until the Army's Birthday (Flag Day to civilians). I have two sets of tags, so two winners. I'll probably throw in sets of wonky little books as well and who knows what else. Good luck and now I need to figure out when the commissary opens....I want to bake my birthday cake, but I'm missing one ingredient.

I've signed up...now it's your turn

All that lovely fabulousness is from the amazing Amy Powers. The top photo is one of the projects in her new online magazine (www.amy-powers.com/mag/birthdaysubscribe.html ) and she turned around and made it into a swap (www.inspireco.blogspot.com/2011/05/birthday-treasury-swap.html ). Of course, I signed up...it is a swap I've never done before and my birthday is coming up....perfect. You fill out a small survey, so that she can match you up with a like-minded soul. I lucked out and got Stevie (http://www.myartcanvas.blogspot.com/) and both like very similiar things...awesome. It will make it a very enjoyable swap. Yes, the partner turn around time is quick...that Amy is on the ball. You have until the 31st of May to sign up.

Another swap to join (because we still need 8 more gals) is the next round of our Tag Swapper Group. Jonnelle is the hostess this go around. She chose the theme "Summer Lovin" and they are due to her by the 17th of June. If you are interested in joining us (and getting on the master list for the next round), email her at scraps4alex@live.com .

I found the cutest little craft store today. Right here in Sierra Vista...so nice to know that I don't have to drive into Tucson for some things. Much better selection than our neighborhood Walmart. I needed bails and they had a better selection than Hobby Lobby did back in Georgia. The prices are reasonable as well. Happy, happy. It left me enough time to get in a little thrifting. I've been working on my little book for Michelle's swap. I still need to figure out my front and back covers. I did something a little out of my comfort zone for the pages....I'm really happy about them though. I just need to pick my favorites and put them on the template. The best part...in today's paper was a 10% off color printing coupon for the local UPS store. Not extreme couponing, but it makes me happy to save some pennies. :)

I almost forgot.....I mailed off the tags in the last round (Secret Garden) of the tag swap. We have two extra sets that I will be giving away here on the blog. I need to take photos first. You know how slow I am at that, plus I want to give the girls who participated a chance to get theirs in the mail. So check back next week for a chance to win a set. It means I will have to blog....because I have been sucking at that. :)

A Happy Birthday and Two Week Re-cap

Long two weeks. Let's see....top photo is Day 8 of the Easter Swap..made by Sarah (http://www.mamabubbles.blogspot.com/). It is an adorable chick basket made out of a sweater and fabric. Day 9 was Monique (no blog) and she made pins out of rick rack. I've always wanted to attempt that...now I don't have to. :) The boys had a long weekend that weekend....one had a four day weekend, the other a three day weekend. The last photo is Billy with his Easter haul (and some of his brother's as well). This is the first Easter that he had some idea about the Easter Bunny. They covered it at school...he says, "Easter Bunny" pretty good. I had his IEP that following week..always a joy...at least I don't cry through them anymore. We picked up Hubby the next day at the aiport....the drive went pretty smoothly. We went to the Waffle House right after we got Hubby....it's been four months since we've been to one. Billy loves Waffle House...he can get a waffle, bacon and a coke. He ate his waffle and bacon and some of mine....darn him. Poor baby has been home sick since yesterday. :( Secret Garden Tags have been trickling in....I have eight more sets I'm waiting for....the tags are pretty good. Billy is waiting for me....so last, but not least....Happy Birthday, Mommy!! We love you!!

Easter Swap- Day 6

Day Six was all me. :) I had originally wanted to make something with a plastic communion cup, moss and some mushrooms....that so didn't happen. These were inspired by a basket I found at an estate sale. I had only seen the big safety pin baskets before...the one I got is only about 4" high. These are a tad smaller....I couldn't get 6mm and 8mm beads at Walmart. That purple one behind the green one has killed the spirit of ever making any more of these....I, thankfully, did not get that one back. :) I added a tiny Lindt Easter Bunny to each basket. I figured the chocolate would make up for anyone not liking the color they got....again.....I had to use what I could get at Walmart. There isn't a Day 7 item....she got sick. So tomorrow will be Day Eight by Sarah. I got another postcard yesterday.....haven't taken a picture of it yet. I worked on putting things together for the shop this morning....no pictures yet...that will have to wait until next week. Waffle duty.....I should so win their anniversary game...with the amount of waffles the wee one consumes....but, no..."sorry, you are not a winner"...yet again. :)

Tags and postcard number 1

I got my first postcard yesterday from Natalea (the hostess). I love the quote. I worked on my tags this morning. Very simple, but I used all those lovely scrapbooking things I got with my gift cards...I just love the Flora & Fauna line by Brenda Walton. It was hard not to hoard. I barely had enough green velvet trim for 20 tags. I used vintage crocheted trim as well....trying to use things and not keep them all to myself. The backs are even simplier (and not photo worthy)...I used pages from a 1990 edition of The Secret Garden. I just need to put my info on the backs and add some seam binding and they are finished. Tomorrow is Day Six of the Easter Swap...my day. :)

Easter Swap- Day Five

Michelle and her daughter were responsible for Day Five. If you have ever wondered what to do with those Swedish tart tins....here is an excellent idea. Too cute. :) www.thetatteredquiltcottage.blogspot.com

Creating to cure the blahs

Oy...I'm a posting fool today. :) I worked on the tags for my Secret Garden Tag Swap....since I am the hostess, it would be good to have some done. They aren't finished..as you can tell. But that paper got me to thinking and I decided to use some more of it. I bought all the paper and most of the fun stuff that was in that line with my Xmas gift cards. I figured I needed to use it. So I'm taking the paper and that Better Homes and Gardens Decorating book (I got three of those in Opelika, AL and haven't used them yet either) and making something. It has been a good distraction. I never just make anything.....I usually need a reason to create. So I'm kind of excited. I got my postcards from Moo yesterday. So those went out today. I wasn't sure about making postcards, so I ordered postcards of some of my favorite photos I've taken through the years. Some of the photos have been used on mini moo cards. I figured out a great quote and sat down and wrote them all out this morning. I mailed them after a quick jaunt to the Post Thrift Store. I usually don't get to go....Clark gets the car on the days they are open. He's gone, so I went. :) I've been a busy bee, but my "me" time is almost up. Thanks for all the suggestions for a SB replacement. :)

Easter Swap-Day Four

Kim is Day Four of this little swap. She made this little piece of happiness. This is so close to a snowglobe, I will have to hide it from wee one (he loves a snowglobe). www.craftytriathlete.blogspot.com

Easter Swap- Day Three

Amy (the hostess) was Day Three. She is a sewing fool...she made this little daffodil bag. She is very talented. It is pretty neat. www.craftingbycandlelight.blogspot.com

Easter Swap- Day 2

Wendy (who I was partner's with in Heidi's Vintage Tin Swap) was Day Two. She made this little egg to hang up...very sweet. www.weinkswonders.blogspot.com/

Easter Swap- Day 1

Amy had to pull some stuff out of a rabbit's bum to make up for a drop out....not bad. She made the bags herself....very cute. A paper mache egg to get all creative with and some shabby chic clothespins.

Easter Swap

Here is the stash we got for the swap.

Pity Party

My hubby left for TDY this weekend, I'm sick and Silver Bella was cancelled. I'm just bummed. I'm so sad about Silver Bella. It is the one thing I do for myself. I don't have the flexible schedule most ladies have...my husband's work takes precedence, I don't have family nearby to watch my children. I love being a vendor at Silver Bella....it is the only chance I get to do something like that. I do need to figure out what to do with the items I've been stockpiling for SB. I have over 70 jello molds/tins. I couldn't find them for awhile and then I found a bunch of them...argh. There are just some things that I can sell at SB that it just isn't feasible to do on Etsy. I just need a few more days to get over it. I have a bunch of fun things I got in my Easter Swap (I know because others have been posting about them)...I haven't opened any of mine. My postcards I ordered for the postcard swap are on their way here.....I need a good quote. I've got tags to finish and a little book to start on....one of the Bella's is hostessing a Bling Necklace Swap....I need to check my stash to see if I have enough vintage bling for that one. Her blog is www.backatyababe.blogspot.com if you are interested...she needs 23 ladies. Blah, blah, blah....I will get my head out of my ass...it will just take a few days. :)

Kandeland's 'Mail Love' Postcard Swap- Round Two

Natalea was kind enough to have another round of this swap. I couldn't think of what to do when she had the first round, so I sat it out. I know excatly what to do this time....well, except for which quotes I want to use. I actually have a notebook full of cool quotes....now only if I can find it in time. :) www.kandeland.typepad.com Head on over if you want to give it a try....sign ups only open until the 13th of April.