500th Post! and Splenda Cheesecake

I can't believe that my blog site hit 500 posts! To commemorate the event, I've decided to send a goodie bag (to each of the four commenters who sent me comments on my Wed. Jan. 18, 2012 post, the actual day of the 500th post) as a thank you for being such faithful readers of Lynn's Blog.Whenever I have the opportunity to visit the Cheesecake Factory I can't resist ordering the Splenda Cheesecake. It's delicious! I really don't taste a difference from the regular sugar version. Since we live so far from the nearest CF restaurant, I decided I would invent a recipe and make a low-sugar cheesecake for my husband's birthday. To make sure we didn't overindulge (it still has cream cheese and sour cream) I made a small 6" size. I started with a simple recipe that came with the snap-lock cake pan and just replaced the sugar with Splenda Blend (halving the measured amount in the recipe). I worked out well and I topped it with melted blueberry jam (also Splenda Blend....shown in a previous post). I believe that serving a simple cake on elegant dishes raises the dessert to something special so I set this cheesecake on a vintage glass cake plate and used a sterling silver server that I found on consignment in S.F. If you keep your eyes open for beautiful things, you can find them for way less than brand new department store items. Imagine the good times vintage items have been a part of and create new memories with your family. Life is meant to be enjoyed; search for the beauty that is everywhere.

Birthday Card for My Sister

Not too long ago I saw the cutest card featuring a Shih Tzu die cut. The blogger had generously shared the siite where she purchased the die (http://www.scrappingcottage.com/) and so I purchased one, too. There are many great dies available for purchase from this company. My sister owns a shih tzu so I knew that she would appreciate a birthday card with the likeness of her sweet dog. Using the Hero Arts stamps, Martha Stewart punch, American Crafts paper, and Sizzix Framelits die I was able to create this birthday card. I used chalk to color the dog and inside the framed message. The balloons were paper pieced and MS crystal glitter was used on the cupcake so that the words would show through. Doodlebug Design twine was used for the balloon strings. The only thing I would change is the Mrs. Grossman gift stickers which are too light colored and transluscent. Perhaps a stamped image would have been better.....ahhh another reason to visit Ben Franklin Crafts.....I need a stamp of giftwrapped packages.....LOL! Oh, and don't tell my sister but included in her gift are packets of die-cut shih tzu dogs so she can make her own cards. I'm determined to turn her into a crafter! Thank you for stopping to read and look. I hope that what you've seen/learned will entice you to come back to visit again.

Making Guava Jelly

Recently, I heard that our state is planning to introduce some insect or virus to kill off guava plants as they are considered an invasive species. I am the granddaughter of a guava jelly factory owner and I cannot imagine not having guava jelly in Hawaii. With this impending disaster on my mind, I decided to ask my son to pick our precious little yellow guavas so I could teach him to make some jelly. From one little bowlful of guava we were able to produce a small jar of jelly (sweetened with Splenda Blend). Tonight I will make scones and tomorrow for breakfast we can have yellow guava jelly with our scones and tea. Cheerio, tah tah for now!

A New Toy

I must have been good in 2011 because Santa left me a bit of cash in the toe of my stocking. (I always leave it out just in case Santa is feeling generous.) Anyway, I used the extra cash to purchase a Cinch binding machine that was on sale at Ben Franklin Crafts (probably still is on sale). I was hesitant to buy another machine because I am really technically handicapped. However, the Cinch was well, a 'cinch' and I had success from the first try. Shown in the photo is my second project that I created for Valentine's Day using mostly Martha Stewart products (see previous post). I'm particularly proud that I recycled a Christmas ribbon and cut up used computer paper for the inside of the notepad. The gel pen hanging from the binding is from the giant (48 pens) pack of assorted colors available at BFC.) Now that I know that I can get the Cinch binding machine to do what I want it to, I have dozens of projects filling my brain. If you need a binding system that works, this is the one for you. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll return often to see what I have to share.

Valentine's Day craft goodies

I went to Ben Franklin Crafts to purchase the new Dandelion Design Valentine stamps but they were not in stock yet. But, not to worry because I did find oodles and oodles of yummy Valentine products. The store has a really large selection of the sweetest heart/love themed stamps, stickers, punches and other hard-to-resist Valentine's Day goodies. I thought that I would use this blog to showcase what I found. As usual, I gravitated to the Martha Stewart products and happily they were being sold for 25% off. I don't know how long the sale will last but there are other Valentine product lines on sale too so go check them out. In the posts to follow I will show what I've done with these supplies. I hope you will visit and take a look.

New Year / Thank You Cards

Here are three New Year/thank you cards I created yesterday. I kept them simple because I really need to get them in the mail. I used the Sister Stamps on two of them and a Mickey Mouse stamp that I purchased in Japan on the other one. The backgrounds were made by dripping and spraying watercolors onto watercolor paper and sprinkling them with coarse salt while they were drying to give the paper a mottled appearance. Additionally, I sprayed the background with a bit of gold and silver Tsukineko shimmer spray. The sparklers were highlighted with Martha Stewart silver tinsel glitter. To add a bit more interest to the dragon on the Mickey card I glued on some MS leaf glitter. I hope your New Year is off to a good crafty start. Tomorrow I head for Ben Franklin Crafts to get the new Dandelion Design stamps and some Valentine supplies. Oh, don't forget to use your BFC 40% off coupon this Saturday or Sunday.

Thank You Cards

I'm back to crafting after a long break. Both my boys returned home for the holidays so I decided to spend as much time with them as possible.......lots of cooking and eating! My oldest son returned to California today so I am finally organizing and putting away the Christmas stuff. Because I always like to get my thankyou cards in the mail within 2 weeks of Christmas, I've taken some time to play with the ' thank you' supplies I purchased before Christmas. American Crafts has a whole line of matching card making supplies (available at Ben Franklin Crafts) which makes creating thank you cards fun. (See bottom photo.) I used DCWV printed blank cards (from an old set I bought a while ago) as the bases. Using the AC scrapbook journaling cards and adding stickers/felt embellishments quickly turned plain cards into pretty ones to express my gratitude for the marvelous gifts I received this year. Next I will try to make some combination New Year's/thank you cards since I haven't sent out any holiday cards to some folks yet. I guess my New Year's resolution should have been to get things done faster AND clean up my messy craft room! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll return again soon.