Summer in North Dakota is just getting started

 

Summers on the prairie in North Dakota a simply gorgeous! I snapped this canola field while out and about with the hubby last weekend. We had a block of time to spend with each other, a rarity these days! We spent a good part of the day road tripping and out running  scattered popup storms in the area. A small  storm was rolling in and the contrast between the dark sky and the brilliant yellow blooms of the canola took my breath away. I really wish I had grabbed my camera before heading out the door!! It has been too long since my last trip out with my camera, way too long!! Hopefully soon I can get reacquainted with my camera... and with this area that I have grown to love!! The next month or so the crops will be blooming and I want to capture as many as I can!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Extinct Layout

I know it has been ages since I have shared anything crafty here. Today I am popping in to share a dinosaur bones layout. This is a 8.5x11 horizontal layout for our 2015 Project Life album.
 We paid a little visit to our state house in Bismarck over the kids' spring break in March. I was blown away by all of the cool dinosaur bones on display there!! Quite honestly, I am not a big dino fan, but even I had a blast checking out all of the bones!!

(Sorry for the wonky picture taken with my cell phone!)

The patterned paper is from an old paper pad and the green swirls were my inspiration for the layout. There is a lot of green going on here. I think it is funny that it looks like the flower cluster is going to be dinner for this skinny fellow!
The "extinct" die cut is from the Silhouette Store

I used Mister Huey spray mist for the splatters,
a little Washi tape, paper flowers, felt flowers (ugh! I HATE felt!) and some green rhinestones and I matted the entire layout on green textured cardstock and called it done!

Hopefully I wont look like this dinosaur the next time I update my blog! :-)
 Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Brave Girls Faithful Friends book review

 

Brave Girls Faithful Friends A 90-Day Devotional For Brave Girls Like You!

My daughter is one of those girls who makes friends easily no matte where she goes. I like that Brave Girls Faithful Friends reinforces her desire to be a friend and to have friends. Having just completed the second grade Hailey is able to complete each devotional on her own, but I am thrilled when she wants to share her devotions with me!
 Each devotion starts with a relevant scripture followed by a thought-provoking devotion and then ending with a meaningful prayer.

Brave Girls Faithful Friends is divided into sections with titles such as; God is my best friend, Bible Friends, Critter Chat (my daughter loved reading about various animals and their “friendships.”), Friendship Starters, Friendship Fixers, Friends at Home, Quizzing the night away, and Friendship Fun Zone.

 Brave Girls Faithful Friends is a great tool for girls between the ages of 7 and 10  to teach friendship skills that will last a lifetime.

I received Brave Girls Faithful Friends from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones Book Review

 

The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones

The First Easter Ever tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection using kid friendly words and illustrations. My 8 year old and I read the book together, she most definitely could have read this one on her own, but enjoyed sharing it together.

Some of the things I like about The First Easter Ever are that the story is pretty accurate and age appropriate, the book is a good value price-wised book, and being a paperback is very kid friendly.

 The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is one my children know well, but each year as we prepare for Easter we like to read it again. The First Easter Ever will be re-read many times in our home.

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review- Duck Commander Devotions for Kids

 

Duck Commander Devotions for Kids by Korie Robertson & Chrys Howard

 

The first devotional for kids by the Robertson family of Duck Dynasty fame!

With the Robertson clan’s flair for down-home wisdom and their wholesome family values, this devotional reveals the heart and faith of this much-loved family from A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty. The more than 6-million moms, dads, and little ones who are loyal fans of the Duck Dynasty family will love this collection of inspirational messages.
Our family, like many other have grown to love the Robertson family while watching them on TV each week. Having recently reviewed the Duck Commander Bible when Duck Commander Devotions came up to request and review I jumped at the chance. Just a couple of days before requesting this devotional book for my children they had seen it at a local bookstore and had begged to get it. Once the book arrived they were anxious to begin reading the daily devotionals and gaining insight to not only some of their favorite characters but also new insight in the Word of God.
As a parent I appreciate that each devotion includes a story involving one of the Robertsons, scripture, a prayer and a Duck Commander in Action section. I like that my kids are learning more about  people that I consider to be good role models.


The Duck Commander Devotions for Kids comes in a hardback version, perfect for little ones! It is a good size (6x8) for little hands. And even though the target age group is 4-8 years, the message is presented in a way that my 10 year old is really enjoying it too. Korie and her mother, Chrys, deserve 5 stars for Duck Commander Devotions for Kids!!
**I received this book from the publisher through the BookLook program in exchange for an honest review.**
Thanks for stopping by!
~Until later

Lefse

Our 4H club held our Activity day the end of January. We received an email with various things offered for the kids to do. (Some of these projects will be judged for the state fair later this summer.) When I shared the list with Hailey she had her choices picked in an instant, Hunter on the other hand is a schedulers dream! There was only one activity he really, really wanted and he was wide open for whatever else was available!! When the schedule for the day was emailed back to us, Hunter was not so sure about learning how to make lefse! He had only tried it once before and was not a big fan. Lefse is one of many new to us Norwegian foods we have discovered since moving to North Dakota.
 On Activity day time came for the boy to head to the kitchen, the nice lady demonstrating how to make lefse is one of Hailey's BFF's great-grandmother. She showed the the kids how to rice the potatoes and mix the dough, and then one by one each took his/her turn rolling out the dough until it was paper thin. Then using a long,flat woooden stick the rolled out dough is moved to a hot round lefse griddle. It browns very quickly and forms bubbles, which you smack with the stick to flatten. The stick is used to turn the lefse to cook the other side and then to remove it from the hot griddle. Butter is spread over one side and then it is topped with a good covering of cinnamon sugar before it is rolled up and eaten. Much to Hunter's surprise he really does like hot lefse (cold lefse, not so much.)

 I am using the Project Life system to try and get our stories documented. I used the Seafoam Core kit for my title card and a Design A Page Protector. I embellished with a little Washi tape (hurray for finally using my Washi tape!) Thickers, and Kaiser Craft yellow pearls. The little journal piece on the bottom left picture was cut with my Cameo.

In case you you want the recipe you can find one here--> http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Norwegian-Lefse/

Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Christmas Ornament Card 2014

 I found making my Christmas cards this year was so much easier once I had everything organized!!  Having everything in these baskets made it so much easier, and I didn't lose any time looking for lost supplies!
Once I decided on my layout and supplies I took a short cut that saved me tons of time. I wanted to use my Spellbinders scalloped rectangles for a couple of layers, but didn't want to crank them one at a time! So, I used my Big Shot to die cut one of each size I was going to use. Then I scanned those two die cuts with my printer, I was then able to use those files with my Cameo! I didn't need to cut my cardstock down to use in the Big Shot nor did I have to cut them one at a time! I was able to cut my 8.5x11 cardstock using page fill and they were cut very quickly.

 Instead of making a traditional A2 card I chose to make a hanging ornament. I stamped my sentiment on the back and added the year. (Oh my, looks like this one could have been lined up better. Opps!)
I used the Close To My Heart Mary and Babe stamp colored with Copic markers and popped the brown layer with foam tape. I used a tiny hole punch to make the tiniest hole to thread my cord through. Even though I made a lot of cards and each card had several steps involved it ended up being quite easy to mass produce.

I love my little basket of Christmas ornaments.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later~