winners!!

Thank you SO much to everyone that hopped along with my new Design Team for CropChocolate.com.  We had so many nice comments and felt so loved. :)

So...down to the fun stuff!!

The winner of my trim grab bags goes to:

1. MomCleoJuly 27, 2012 10:02 AM:  this is too cute, I want one! Congrats on 100 posts.

The winner of the {SPECIAL} prize, which I've determined to be one of these letters is:

1. craftgirl007July 29, 2012 12:17 AM

   Congrats on your 100th post and this too cute altered letter. Neysa is going to love it. What a great idea!

   
   

   Ladies, I will message you through CC and get addresses (and your details craftgirl007!) and get these out to you!!  

   
   

   happy scrappin'!

   Amber

{BANNERS} away and my 100th post!

Today begins the first day of the {new} CropChocolate.com blog hop!  Each of my girls are going to have a Banner project to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing!  I am actually the beginning of the hop so you've come to the right place!  

I honestly REALLY struggled with this project.  I thought about doing a banner shaped mini album.  Then I was going to do this, and that - I couldn't settle on something that I liked.  I started looking around at room ideas for my baby's 2nd birthday "big girl" room, and I decided I wanted to make something to go on her door with her new colors.  This is what I came up with.

1.  I started off with a raw-wood "N", some chipboard banners from Maya Road, white paint, So Happy Together by Echo Park, mod podge, Black Soot distress ink, random letter stickers, Black embossing powder, random stamp and embossing ink, and Charcoal Twine from The Twinery.

2.  I started off by painting 5 banner pieces white.  While those dried, I traced the "N" out of the paper, glued down, inked the edges, and mod podged the paper down onto the piece of wood.

3.  After the white paint had dried, I took my Crop-a-Dile Big Bite and punched 2 holes in each banner piece, randomly inked them, and then threaded the black twine through them.  I draped the banner across the "N" until I was happy with where it fell, then tied it off on both ends.  I took the stickers and stuck them down on each banner and then put a light coat of MP over them for extra sticking power.

4.  I wanted more of a black "pop" so I heat embossed 2 flowers onto the "N".

At this point, I wanted to do more to it.  I wanted to add flowers or glitter or something - because that's what I do.  I went against the "norm" and left it alone.  Gotta say - it's one of my favorite projects and I can't wait to get it hung on her door!!  

Now, to the fun stuff. :)

I have this goodie bag of trims for a random drawing for those that eave a comment and follow my blog. :)

Then, I will be drawing for a {SURPRISE} piece of blog candy as a gift to you for my 100th post. :)

I'll draw them both on 7/31. :)

Now, if you're here to play along with the blog hop here's where you need to go next:

Christina

I've seen her projects for this hop (and everything else she does, too!!) and they're SO dang cute!

Once you get to the end, there'll be instructions where to go for the "main" prize.  

The blog hop ends Monday, 7/30 @ 8am MST so make sure you get to steppin' by then!

Happy Hopping!!

Amber

love notes.

I know it's not Valentine's Day, but I found a project that my scrappy friend Karen did for her girls and I've been wanting to do for Neysa for a while now.  

I turned an ordinary box into a patterned paper delight.  The top comes off so that I can put in little thoughts or sayings that remind me of her, or joy down funny things that she says and does.  I want to give this to her at one of her birthdays long down the road.  

You can find the original post here.  Karen has all sorts of awesome tutorials and stuff on her blog, too so check those out!  I also used this for the weekly challenge at CropChocolate.com.

crock pot orange chicken.

Not too bad!  A little sweet for my liking, but I think next time (yes - one I'll make again!!) I'll half the orange juice and add more balsamic vinegar.  

Here is the original recipe.

party in your mouth.

freaking amazing.  

plain yogurt, funfetti cake mix, and cool whip.  My kids are DEVOURING fruit like I've never seen {EVER} before.  This is definitely a keeper!!  

Find the original recipe here.  I halved all ingredients so I could put into a little bowl with a lid in the fridge to be able to munch on. :)  Also, when you cut the fruit, make sure you cut them in pretty good sized chunks.  The dip is heavy so little pieces don't work very well.

chicken enchilada pasta.

I'm kinda getting into trying new recipes.  It also helps that I'm in a Facebook group that challenges you to ACTUALLY TRY something you've pinned weekly. 

Here's my effort for week 1.

I say effort because I was not impressed with the meal.  When I first tasted it, it was ok.  As I kept eating it, it was not.  My husband and son liked it - my 2yr old did not.  Other friends have tried this and have loved it so it definitely comes down to a matter of opinion!  

You can find the entire recipe here @ Chef in Training.