Tech Difficulties

  Our family computer has bitten the dust this past week. One morning, I work up to the black screen of death but was lucky enough to open it up in safe mode to retrieve all of my photos and videos that have not been backed up. We are currently just using my dad's business computer but it is hard for me to get on it since there are three other adults always on it.

   Once, we get a new desktop or get this one fixed I will post my photos of the blood moon I took Sunday night.

Reasons

   It has been a couple of weeks that I posted anything for Scrapbook Challenges. The reason behind it is that the wonderful Brynn Marie has given the crew members a little break while she is on the hunt for some new talent.

Here is all the info you need to apply.
Are you a card maker, traditional, pocket, digital or hybrid scrapbooker looking to add to your design team resume?
Scrapbook Challenges is looking for some fresh faces to join our team for the Fall/Early Winter Term. If you are interested in joining the Sketch Crew please read on for more details!
What we look for in a team member:
Crisp, clear well photographed designs.
A consistent style.
An active online presence (blog, social media, galleries)
The ability to really make a sketch unique and your own.
A great PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and sense of humor.
Term: Late September 2015 – January 2015
Requirements include:
1. Ability to complete 2 (two) layouts or projects based on SC Sketches before their stated due date every month.
2. 2 (two) additional challenge layouts per month.
3. Participation in team blog hops and special events.
4. Ability to fully commit to a 4 month term.
*Additional opportunities are available for those interested in sketch design, blog contribution, tutorial writing and more. Please see application.
What you get:
1. Name, bio and photo featured on our DT Page.
2. Link from our DT Page and Blog to your personal blog.
3. Design Team Badge to display on your blog.
4. Social Media exposure of your designs (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest)
5. Additional incentives that will be announced at a later date 😉
Additionally, SBC is looking to add a Social Media Coordinator to the team! What we are looking for in a  Social Media Coordinator:
1. Strong communication skills
2. Strong organization skills
3. Knowledge of current scrapbook and social media trends
4. Must be self motivated, reliable, flexible and a team player
Responsibilities would include:
1. Promote weekly challenges and sketches on official SBC social media accounts.
2. Weekly Facebook posts to SBC facebook fan page.
3. Actively update the SBC Pinterest page
4. Organize any team Social Media events (blog hops, IG loops, etc)
How to apply:
1. Fill out and submit our online application here. (http://scrapbookchallenges.com/the-team/sbc-sketch-crew-application/)
*Please be as complete with your application as possible, an incomplete application will not be considered.
Additional Information:
1. International Applicants are welcome to apply.
2. SBC has no brand, store, designer or manufacturer requirements so you are free to create with your favorite brands or designers.
3. Submissions must be received NO LATER than September 22, 2015. Submissions received after this date will not be considered for a DT position.
4. New DT members selected will be notified by September 27th and the full announcement will be made shortly after.
If you have any other questions please post them here in the comments or e-mail admin@scrapbookchallenges.com.

Be sure to apply. It is a great team to work on. I should know I have been on here since 2013 and I am continuing the journey with them.

Applesauce

Sorry, for posting the weekend recipe so late but it is worth the wait if you like applesauce.  Plus, this applesauce has no added sugar and I also I am sharing a mix-in option.  Since everyone knows what applesauce looks like I am not going to share a photo of mine. Also, one more good thing about this recipe is that it freezes wonderful. I make a few of these big batches throughout fall and freeze it in mason jars. It is snack in the middle of winter when it is hard to find tasty apples.

Ingredients:
3/4 peck apples ( I used purplicious and zester organic apples the cider mill offers)
3 c. water
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Peel, core and cut apple in large chunks. Place in a large stockpot.
2. Add water and cinnamon. Add 1 tsp. of cinnamon if you just want a cinnamon hint.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes or until the apples are mushy.
4. With a stick blender or a blender, puree the sauce to your desired consistency.

Mix-ins:
Add 1 lb. (or 2 lb. if you want to do the whole pot of applesauce) of cooked strawberries to half of the sauce before pureeing. Now, you have a yummy strawberry applesauce.

Stuffed

   That is what you would be after eating these tasty things. This recipe is a family favorite and also is the newest one added to my recipe book. Last Saturday, was the first time I ever made these and I was not sure how my mom would like these since she always said she didn't care for stuffed peppers. Just to be on the safe side I ended up stuffing a couple of zucchinis for her. I am happy to say I made my a stuffed pepper lover.
Here is what you need to.
Ingredients:
3 hot peppers, chopped finely
1 c. onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves
2 c. water
1 c. chicken stock, no salt
1 1/2 - 2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 1/2c. quinoa
5 large tomatoes, 2 left as is and the remaining 3 squeezed for their juice
1/3 c. salsa
5 bell peppers, halved from top to bottom
2 zucchini, scooped out to create little boats
2 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
2 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, add the first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Add quinoa, cover and reduce to a shimmer, medium low heat. Shimmer for 15 minutes.
3. In the food processor, chop two of the tomatoes until smooth. Pour into a large shallow baking dish (I used a 15" x 10" glass dish). Mix in the salsa and juice of the three tomatoes.
4.  Chop up the zucchini that was scooped out and the squeezed tomatoes. Stir into quinoa. If the filling seems soupy cook out some of the extra moisture by cooking over high heat with no lid for about five minutes, make sure you stir it often so it doesn't burn.
5. Preheat oven to 350 F (177 C).
6. Spoon a 1/3 cup of filling  in each pepper half and a 1/4 cup in the zucchini boats. If there is any filling left just go back and add more filling. Place in baking dish, filled side up.
7. Top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 - 40 minutes. The peppers and zucchini should be tender.

Anniversary House

   Tomorrow, is my parents 35th wedding anniversary. Every year, I go the handmade gift route for my parents. I love that with just a little money and some of my time I can give them a piece of one of a kind artwork. I originally was going to give them a stepping stone since they love the ones in the garden and have hinted a couple of times that they needed a few more. However, one evening I was walking in Hobby Lobby I saw this paper mache house the was begging me to take it home. I thought this would be perfect as a gift since my parents love those flameless candles to light up their bathroom during the night.

Supplies: fabric (DCWV), acrylic paint, stain (Tim Holtz), paint (Tattered Angels), gelato (Faber-Castell), dew drops (The Robin's Nest), modeling paste (Liquitex), stamps (EK Success and Technique Tuesday), ink (Close To My Heart), mask (The Crafter's Workshop), resin embellishments (The Paper Studio) and paper mache house.

   Here are a few closeups. I love those resign scrapbooking embellishments from Hobby Lobby. It was the perfect touch for above the doorway. The stamp set I used on here has to be 10 years old. It was something I won and that I rarely used. 

   I wanted to add some texture to the adhesive fabric I used to cover the house so I added some modeling paste on different areas with my favorite brick mask.  Then, I just went back with a rag that had some distress stain and rubbed it on the areas.

 
   Just so they remember when that got it I placed a big label on the inside of the roof top.

   The grass area was the hardest part. I didn't have the right color of paint or mist. Plus, I didn't want to have the flatness of paint. I decided to color some modeling paste with gelato and frosted the  edge and placed the diamond dew drops in the paste while it was wet. This ensured I didn't have to glue down every one of those little pieces by hand.

   Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see my latest recipe share. 

My Take on the Midori

   Two weeks ago, I jumped on the bandwagon for the midori (handmade version is called fauxdori). It is basically a cover that has elastic running through the spine to slip notebooks in. Everyone, knows I have a notebook sickness. I have a stack of them in my bedroom. When I told my mom about this leather cover book I was going to make she said she wanted one too. I did two different ones and will just share my personal one today. For my mom's I followed the instructions on this blog post I found on the blog Stamped in His Image.   

Here is mine. This one is a little different from the blog post I linked to. 

1. I added two extra elastic strings by adding an extra hole in the top and bottom of the spine. 

2. I also ran the fabric lining through the whole inside. I didn't find that the fabric bunched when it was folded. 

3. I didn't use the tooling leather on mine (only reason was they only had one package at my Hobby Lobby and I was using it for my mom's). I ended up buying the leather trim pack, the leather is softer. 

 Supplies: fabric, leather, twine (Timeless Twine), elastic 2mm cording, wooden bead, loose sheets of notebook paper. hole puncher (We R memory Keepers, and pattern paper (Nikki Sivils, DCWV, ?)

   Here is what the inside looks like. The fabric I used was a scrap from a purse I made four years ago. 

 The notebooks were simple to make and very cheap too. I bought a packages of 150 sheets of notebook paper for 82 cents and just used some of my pattern paper scraps to make the covers. All you have to do is trim the paper to the size you want, fold i have and staple it. I then just trimmed the pages with a craft knife so they were even. The last step in to glue them into the covers.

Pie Time

   I have decided to start sharing some of my recipes here every Saturday. The reason behind branching out from the paper crafts posts is because I also have the love of cooking/baking. It is something I do everyday and find it just as relaxing as sitting in my studio playing with pretty papers.
 I figure today's one would be perfect for this holiday weekend. It is a mixed berry pie with a nice bright citrus note that makes this pie pop even more. Like all my pies, this is packed with tons of fruit and hardly any sugar. Plus, cleanup is fast, that is always a good thing.

Ingredients for crust:
1 c. flour
1/3 c. cold butter
pinch of salt
1 - 3 Tbsp. cold water

Directions:
1. In a food processor pulse flour, salt and butter until the mixture has a coarse consistency.
2. While the processor is running add a tablespoon water at a time. Add enough water to form a dough.
3. Chill while you prepare the filling.

Ingredients for pie filling:
2 lb. strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 c. blueberries
3 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. sugar, divided
1 organic lemon, zested and juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
2. On a lightly floured surface roll dough out large enough to fit into a 9 inch glass pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, mix berries, flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, lemon zest and juice.
4. Pour filling into crust top with the remaining sugar.
5. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes. Until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden.