Monday, August 13, 2012

A Healthier Coffeecake?

I just love coffeecake! When I was young, both of my grandmas would make coffeecakes, but I preferred cake with frosting back then. Now that I'm old, I understand...
This coffeecake has some whole wheat flour along with some oat bran and blueberries:

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oat bran
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder-I like aluminum free, such as Argo brand
1/2 cup sugar
about 1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup milk-you can use water plus powdered milk
about 2 tsp. vanilla
Blueberries-about 1 cup-I had less than 1 cup today (also good with cut up strawberries)

Mix dry ingredients well. Make a well in the center and add egg, milk, oil, vanilla. With a fork, beat the egg with the wet ingredients. Then, gently but thoroughly, mix all together. I poured a little more than half in to a greased 10 inch pie plate, sprinkled my blueberries on top and topped that with the remaining cake batter. You could just fold the blueberries into the batter, or you could top off the batter with the blueberries.

Bake at 375 degrees F. Check after 20 minutes. Toothpick inserted in center should come clean. Edges will be golden brown. I usually sprinkle a cinnamon sugar mixture on top before baking, but did not do that this time. It looks better with the cinnamon sugar!  You can sprinkle powdered sugar on top just before serving.

I have made this with diced fresh strawberries. It reminded me of that strawberry quick bread recipe from years ago.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Stampfest-Altered Books

Lynette and I began a new stamping project today...Altering books. We found lots of inspiration on Pinterest boards showing altered books and art journals! It was therapeutic (relaxing) to play with the papers, inks and stamps,and also to work on these together!
These 2 "layouts are Lynette's creations:
..and these two "layouts" are mine:

Distress Inks by Tim Holtz
Stamps by Peny Black, Rubber Stampede, Studio K/Inkadinkado, Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous, and unknown stamps from Lynette's stash.
Perfect Paper Adhesive
Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso (used on cover-not shown in photos)


Sunday, August 5, 2012

Family Photos On My Wall

My daughter helped me re-arrange the photos on the wall in the living room. I plan to add more photos as time goes on. The above arrangement is a HUGE improvement from the previous arrangement.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Stampfest cards from June 25, 2012

My friend and I like to stamp together. I call it a "Stampfest". We found inspiration for these cards at some marvelous websites...listed below the cards.

 Some guy cards

3 close up's of this "nesta" flap card

This "nestability flap" card was inspired by a card by Val at Val's Craft Room

This tri-fold card was inspired by a card on Holly Simoni's Wyoming Art Cafe


 This card was inspired by a card found on Karen Titus' blog Stamping on the Back Porch

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Welcome Baby Vivian Mae

My dear friend's daughter just had a baby. Here is the card I made.
Stamp by Stampin' Up!
Ink is Ranger Distress
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder