Everyday This Week!

Everyday this week, this little monkey has been playing outside! He loves his sand box and outdoor toys. I love that he's outside playing - he sleeps so good at nap time :)

Everyday: 

LOVES his truck!

Zack is a bit of a dare devil! He will jump off of anything, the higher the better. He wants to do tricks on his bike and test every boundary. We have our hands full with this one!!

Artisan Design Team Wednesday Wow

Thank you for joining me today for this weeks Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team blog hop! Hopefully you have arrived from Wendy Weixler's blog. If not, keep clicking on the button at the bottom of each blog post and hop to work your way back around.

This week I have a scrapbook page and a matching card to share with you. I've been trying to catch up on my scrapbooking, so I made a pile of all the picture that need to be done. This one from a few Father's Days ago was perfect for what I had in mind for this weeks project. 

The background is spritzed with the Silver Foil Smooch Spritz (I'm very sad this is retiring). Then I put together a chevron background with 3 inch strips, sewing over the middle of each zig zag, giving them a little dimension. The Beyond Plaid and Amazing Family stamp sets were a great addition to this Father's Day page!

Once I finished the scrapbook page, I had an idea for a matching card. I used all the same colors - just converted it into a card. I find it so hard to design "guy" cards, but this one came together really quickly, and I love it!

Thanks for hopping with us this week!

Please continue on to Cindy Beach's blog - I can't wait to see what she has created this week!

Stamps: Beyond Plaid, Amazing Family

Ink: Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse & Island Indigo

Paper: Basic Grey, Whisper White, Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse & Island Indigo

Tools & Accessories: Basic Grey Stampin' Write Marker, Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, Naturals Designer Buttons, White Baker's Twine, Paper Piercing Tool, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, 2 1/2 Circle Punch, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, 3/16 Corner Punch & 1 1/4 Scallop Circle Punch

Other: Toothpicks, sewing machine, white thread

Enchilada Sauce

I used to buy my enchilada sauce at the store, until one day I went to make enchiladas and didn't have any sauce left. Since then I have been making my own. I have tried at least 10 different recipes. Finally I have found THE ONE. It was so easy to make and so yummy. By far the best one I've made yet. I based it on a recipe I found on Pinterest (here), but I changed a few ingredients.

Enchilada Sauce Recipe:

1 small onion - loosely chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

3 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp pepper

1 large tomato - loosely chopped

1 cup home made chicken broth

Throw it all in a blender or magic bullet (that's what I used) and blend until smooth.

Done! So easy.

Artisan Design Team Wednesday Wow

Thank you for joining me today for this weeks Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team blog hop! Hopefully you have arrived from Wendy Weixler's blog. If not, keep clicking on the button at the bottom of each blog post and hop to work your way back around.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I thought I would create a little something to give to my Mom. My mom really is the most amazing mom, so this saying was perfect for her gift.  My Mom's favorite color is green, so of course, I incorporated green into the color scheme. 

First I sprayed the kraft box with Vanilla Smooch spritz. I then added a few layers, first Lucky Limeade polka dot paper, then Natural Composition paper (the one embossed with the flowers), Natural Cotton ribbon and finally Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine. I used the Creped Filter paper with a Natural button and Vintage faceted button, tied together with more Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine. The saying is from the Amazing Family stamp set and it's stamped with Calypso Coral.

Thanks for hopping with us this week!

Please continue on to Cindy Beach's blog - I can't wait to see what she has created this week!

Zack's First Bike Ride of the Year

Zack got a new bike a couple of weeks ago and he has been itching to try it out. So, I took him out for his first bike ride last week. (Finally the weather is starting to improve, so we've been able to be outdoors a bit more.)

Zack caught on quickly to his new bike and was cruising around in no time. 

Just like Jake & Levi, Zack loves to ride his bike!

I'm not sure why he was smiling like this, but this was the smile he gave me for every picture.

Zack went around the park at least 10 times. He got hot, so he took off his jacket and went another 10. He was so tired after this and had a great afternoon nap!

A little play time in the park too!

Artisan Design Team Wednesday Wow

Welcome to this weeks Artisan Design Team blog hop! This week we are featuring the projects we shared on facebook for the month of April. You hopefully have arrived from the oh-so-talented Wendy Weixler's blog. If not, keep clicking on the button at the bottom of each blog post and hop to work your way back around.

This weeks project is a card that features the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit, Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper and the Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper. 

The flower from the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit was the perfect addition to this card. It was so easy to put the flower together, and it added the dimension I was looking for. I got the inspiration for the color combination from the Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper and the Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper. My favorite part of this card is the little hanger (Cute Clips) with the saying.

Thanks for stopping by today! Please continue on to Cindy's blog, she always makes the most beautiful things!!

Stamps
122710 (wood-mount) or 122712 (clear-mount): Family Reunion Stamp Set
126340 (wood-mount) or 126342 (clear-mount): Made for You Stamp Set
131395: Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit

Ink
126975: Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad
126982: Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad
120967: Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write Marker
123002: 2011–2013 In Color Collection Stampin’ Write Markers (Calypso Coral)

Paper
120953: Crumb Cake Cardstock
100730: Whisper White Cardstock
130814: Epic Day This & That Designer Series Paper
126922: Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper

Accessories & Tools
125573: Calypso Coral Baker’s Twine
129389: Hung Up Cute Clips
131269: Epic Day This & That Designer Washi Tape
107066: Color Spritzer Tool
126883: Ticket Duo Punch
119877: 1-3/8" Square Punch
113439: Big Shot
127010: Finishing Touches Edgelits Dies

Levi's Birthday Celebrations

This past week was all about Levi's birthday! 

He started the celebration out on Thursday with a class birthday party at Galaxyland. The kids had a great time playing in the 4 story play park. 

Cupcakes...

and gifts with his friends.

On Saturday, his actual birthday, Levi got chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast:

And a surprise cupcake after dinner:

Perry the Platypus!

The fun continued on Sunday with a family party. Levi requested turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner and then pavlova for dessert!

Happy 7th birthday, Levi!!

Playing with a new game:

Our big boy is 7!!!!