YUMMY! Taco salad at home!

I love taco salads, but wanted to make them at home. I know we can make our own shells, but I wanted a quick fix. I have been on the lookout for some pre-made bowls and finally found them! I got them at one of my local Walmart. I browned ground beef, added some taco seasoning, and a can of black beans. I put the lettuce in the bowl, added the beef mixture on top and then layered with, Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, shredded mexican cheese, and topped it off with sour cream! YUM! Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

I "Heart' U!

SCS had a great tutorial on this adorable card. I bought quite a bit of Valentine paper from the SU clearance rack and used it for these cards. I used a heart from our new Framelits to cut the Heart for the center! These are our new Framelits. They come in a great plastic envelope that snaps, but in anticipation of more of these to come I redid the storage! I used one of our empty Clear Mount Stamp Cases. I cut our magnetic sheets down to size, put the information sheets that come in the envie with the Framelits in the front and back, adhered the magnet sheets to that, and then the Framelits cling right to the magnet! Voila!!! Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Cinnamon Balls

I haven't made these in years. At least not since I started using and selling Demarle at Home. I would use my old metal mini muffin tins and would be lucky to get 3/4 of them out of the tin in a whole piece. I am going to a friend's house tomorrow for a tea and this is what I am bringing. So much easier in my mini muffin tray from Demarle! Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Peanut Brittle Christmas Tree

A Hostess gift festive style! I made this homemade peanut brittle and poured into my Demarle Tree Mold. Once cool, I just unmolded and wrapped up. This stuff is always a hit and I make it every year. I usually spread it out on my Silpat and let it cool, and then break it up, but this makes a cute presentation too! (Tree Molds are on sale right now! Contact me if you want to order one! They can be used for baking cakes, brownies, etc.)

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs!

I love making fun things for parties! I have made fruit kabobs in the past with longer skewers, but found these shorter ones marketed for candy apples I knew they would make a cuter smaller version of something I saw on Pinterest. I cut up a store bought pound cake into squares, put a strawberry on one end , a piece of cake in the center, then another strawberry on top. I then melted green candy chocolate melts (for the Christmas combo of red/green) and put in my icing bag and just piped the squiggles all over. Refrigerate a few minutes to harden the chocolate...and voila! They are wrapped up and ready to take the the holiday party tonight! (I think I will make again for Christmas Eve!)

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Ravens!

I have been busy crafting! I have made a Raven's wreath for the front door and have been making bracelets for sale in my Etsy shop. Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Great Finds at Homegoods!

I love going to Homegoods since I never know what goodies I will find! I stopped by tonight and held back at buying some gorgeous bowls and things and just grabbed these goodies! Two of the things will be re purposed! 1.) I got two of these. My beach chair has a cup holder, but the other two chairs we use don't. So my husband's and son's drinks always end up sitting in the sand! These will come in sooo handy on our beach vacation! 2.) These are sold to put around your veggies and are made of silicone! I saw them and immediately thought about my yarn cakes balls. I usually use rubber bands or hair elastics and these will be so much better as they are adjustable! 3.) These are called cinch hooks, like a carabiner And are marketed as shower curtain hooks. I want them more for handing things! Like my keys on my purse! And I have other ideas as well! Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me.........

Isn't that a song? Well I do.........I always sense when someone is watching me. I was eating an apple when Snowball decided she needed to go outside. I opened the patio door and was standing there waiting for her, eating my apple. I felt eyes on me! I looked up and sure enough......two pairs of eyes were upon me!!! Would they pounce? Nah............just my backyard squirrels, relaxing in the patio roof overhang. I ate the apple, then tossed it to the rocks on the side of the patio to see what they'd do. YEP! Scavengers that they are, one jumped right down to inspect. And off he/she went to enjoy an afternoon snack. Happy Stamping & Knitting!

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Sweet 16 needs quick gift!

Connor needed a gift and card to take to a friends 16th birthday dinner/party. Guys don't know what do get girls who are friends so he suggested cash. Easy! Cash is impersonal, but who doesn't like to get it...right?! So I went to my bin of scraps and grabbed some Greenhouse Gala dsp. I used the scallop border punch on Whisper White and them mounted the dsp to it. This was mounted onto a Chocolate Chip base card that was embossed with an embossing folder. For the sentiment, I created the words on my computer and printed onto WW cardstock. I used the large circle punch and cut it out. Then I ran sticky strip around the circle and then covered it with some scrunched ribbon I had in my ribbon stash. (non-SU) The large brown ribbon is a retired product that I hoard!!! I stamped the inside with the birthday phrase and cake. The can, is made from an empty fruit pop-top can that is covered with the same DSP. The flower is die cut and mounted onto the can. I added ribbon to the ring of the pop-top. (the can has filler and cash inside!) Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Beautiful Wedding!

Nikki and Jacques had a beautiful wedding on 5/26! I was so glad to be a part of their special day! I made the invitations see this post, the name cards and the table numbers. It was a labor of love, but I loved the personal touches that were put into this wedding. In honor of the Addie, the daughter they lost, butterflies we incorporated in the theme. I used the Big Shot and the Scallop Square die for the base of Melon Mambo. I mounted a square of black on top of it and used a pre-made number that I purchased in a set from a local craft store that I cut down. It is double sided. The butterfly is also cut with the Butterfly die cut and then I ran them through the Big Shot again and embossed them. The body of the butterfly is adorned with black rhinestones. The name cards were just black and vanilla cardstock cut down to fit in the butterfly holders. I used a pink rhinestone on some to indicate the vegetarian choice of entree. Love how it all came together! Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net