Friday, April 16, 2010

Just Another Day in the Kitchen...


Good morning, my friends!

Hope your day is going well!  This will be a quicker post today--got lots on my plate today--got to get hopping!

I find my posts returning again and again to a kitchen theme...I guess that's natural, as I think about it...we spend so much time in our kitchens every day...I'm sitting here at my computer in my kitchen right now...it's an important place in our homes, isn't it?!

Well, I made a couple more kitchen cards yesterday--there are so many kitschy and wonderful images out there, I just can't stop myself!

This first one uses an adorable image from Crafty Secrets' "Homemade" Images & Journal Notes booklet...


This is also for this week's Crafty Secrets' forum challenge over  at Splitcoast--to use the very first sketch challenge card as our inspiration...not sure how true to it I stayed (had to turn it up on it's side!), but oh, well!  

I used some wonderful Graphic 45 paper and some the blue argyle print is a retired Stampin' Up print. 


I love making these flowers with circle scallop punches--so easy and fun!  Sorry I didn't check the button for stray glitter before I took the picture...but sometimes even when I do, I find that glitter just has it's own mind...doesn't always want to be obedient to our wishes--goes wherever it pleases!  Oh, well!  I love my glitter!  Love these little cookie cutters I got at Michael's last year--just perfect for a card like this!

And now for this one...


This is one of my favorite kitschy kitchen images ever---and I had to scan the cover of one of my cookbooks to get it!  This is an adorable children's cookbook that I just love!


Each page is just a treasure--and the recipes are great, too!


Lots of silver shavings glitter, of course...with a healthy dose of Dazzling Diamonds, too!  The adorable polka-dotted  & strawberry paper is from Gooseberry Patch--how fun is that?!

And speaking of Gooseberry Patch, have you found their new "bookazine" yet?  I just got mine at Target a couple of days ago, and it's fabulous! 


My daughter Annie had another class party today, so I whipped up these little yummies from the new cookbook magazine...


Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used chunky--that's all we have in this house!)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Roll dough into one-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Use a fork to press a crisscross pattern into the top of each cookie.  Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden.  Let cool before removing from sheet.  Makes 2 dozen.

I was a little uncertain about these, but just had to give them a try--NO FLOUR???--but they worked beautifully!  I did have to press my fork into sugar (of course--it sparkles!) before doing my crisscrosses--the dough is SUPER soft!  I also baked mine for 12 minutes--perfection!

I have some good-looking stew in the crockpot right now...also from this book--I'll let you know how that comes out in my next post!  Thanks, again, Gooseberry Patch ladies, for all the wonderful recipes & inspiration!

Just had to close with a couple of pictures of me in the kitchen...why not?!



There's my beautiful mother....and me with messy hair and my fingers in my mouth--classy girl!


Yep...I still love those darn Wheat Thins....!  Wish I had that beautiful hobnail milkglass pitcher--I love milkglass!  By the way, my sister just reminded me (thanks for coming for a visit, Becky!) that Mom still has this very high chair sitting in her kitchen--now filled by all the grandbabies...lots of sweet, messy little fingers have banged on that tray!


So, go and make something delicious today....or just stick a spoon of peanut butter in your mouth...that's okay, too!

See you soon with something new!

29 comments:

  1. Hi Julie,
    First of all, I want to thank you for the wonderful salt and pepper tag you made for Elizabeth's swap..I love the whole tag but especially the clock face. It is so darn cute! I enjoy coming to your blog to see what vintage wonderfulness you've created. you do such a great job with all of the Crafty Secrets images and I like the others that you use, too.
    The post about your great-grandmother was very intresting and aren't you lucky to have those old photographs. They are beauties!
    I guess I'll see you at the next swap!
    Now I think I'll go stick a spoonful of peanut butter in my mouth-Yum!
    Joyce

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  2. Love all your cards, the vintage look and the kitchen theme! They are wonderful. I also love Gooseberry Patch!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe too!

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  3. It's crazy to think Mom still has that high chair in her kitchen for all the grandkids to use. Love you sis...glad your mine!

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  4. I love your kitchen theme! The pictures are so cute!

    Have a nice day
    Angelika

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  5. I love that little girl with the rolling pin and cute cheeks in the first card.

    The peanut butter cookies sound delicious!! I love peanut butter everything, especially cookies. I will have to try that recipe.

    And I just love the pictures of you as a little girl, so, so darling!!!

    Hope you're having a wonderful day!!

    Erin

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  6. LOVE the cards!!! How cute are you as a little girl?!!! Thanks for sharing the recipes!! Hope your day is great and your weekend GRAND!! :-)

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  7. Hi Julie!
    Thank you for your lovely comment! It's so nice to meet you.
    You make so many beautiful things, LOVE your kitchen themed cards!...love all your cards!!
    Have a great weekend!
    Mercedes

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  8. A recipe with only four ingredients in it? I'm all over that! And I just can't say enough great things about your cards. They're ALWAYS wonderful!
    Have a great weekend!
    Carol

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  9. Great post! First - the recipe sounds wonderful. Second, I'm going to have to hunt down that book. Third - LOVE the cookbook cover! thanks for sharing. And finally - you are adorable - messy hair and fingers in your mouth and all! VERY FUN! Brings back all the wonderful memories of cooking with our Moms when we were little. Sigh. Perfect days!
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Karen - Some days are diamonds

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  10. Julie,
    I love this post and the vintage pictures and that great Early American chair you are standing on! Nothing like a good peanut butter cookie out of the oven with a glass of milk or cup of coffee! Yum.
    Robin

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  11. Those photos are just precious! Reminds me of my own kids in the kitchen years ago! Can't wait to try the recipe--we just love peanut butter cookies! I'll be back soon to visit and to enjoy reading your posts!

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  12. Julie, I think I love your kitchen cards the best! You're right, we love our kitchens! The red and blue is unusual for you and caught my attention right away! So much to learn! I must get a flower punch. I have to tell you I remember when we first tested the recipe for this peanut butter cookie. We couldn't believe there wasn't any flour either - yum! We would earn Gooseberry Bucks each time we would make a recipe to bring in that could be used towards our purchases. OH Julie, I just know you will become a regular contributor in their new magazine! How exciting! Have a lovely weekend! Elizabeth PS - cutie patootie in the kitchen!

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  13. eeeps! so cute!

    love the vintage image, too. vivid colors and you can see how illustrators like this inspired mary engelbreit big time!

    happy weekend, happy baking!

    xo
    elyse

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  14. Morninr Julie

    You are spot on, it;s natural as we spend so much time in our kitchens that other things revert there are well, like your lovely cards.

    It's clear from your pictures your love of cooking started at a very early age. I guess mine did as well, as I rememebr at the age of 10 entering a cake for a local village show and winning first prize, much to the horror of all the WI ladies.

    The judge said she was impressed by the filling in my coffee sponge, a a buttercream of coffee and walnut. I still make that recipe and so do my children. Old habits.........

    Have a good weekend.

    B x

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  15. Julie, we have been visiting each other at the same time as a message from you just came through my e-mail box! What a wonderful thought! We are both connecting with each other at this moment! I just ADORE these newest cards of yours!! Oh how I love them. I love anything with kitchen vintage looks. I love the pictures of you as a little sweetie! How adorable you are! I just know you will do wonderfully with your workshop today!! You will bless everyone you speak to. I wish I could be one of them! I send you loads of love and hugs! I am so happy to be back online and able to visit my dearest friends daily! Love you much! xxoo

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  16. O this was so much fun to read and I love the photos. Of course the cards are stunning as well

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  17. Hi Julie, What a delightful post. Loved everything and made a copy of the peanut butter cookie recipe. Some of my fave photos of my boys are ones of them "playing" in the kitchen and those of you as a little girl are charming. Don't you just love glitter? Today, while yard saleing I found a bunch of old salt shakers to store my glitter in. I was a happy girl. xoxo

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  18. HI julie,

    Thank you for the kind words. I just picked up the new Gooseberry book the other day as well. Just looked thru it and I see some great recipes to try.

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  19. Those are great images!

    And I think a little stray glitter just makes everything look better, don't you? :-)

    Have a great weekend!
    Anne

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  20. Julie, I loved seeing the darling little pictures of you. Thanks for the recipe and cute image! I love your cards. Have a nice weekend! Twyla

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  21. Those are just the cutest pictures and your cards are lovely! Very nice visit. Hugs, Diane

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  22. Hi - what a lovely post - your cards are gorgeous! - So nice to see the photos of you in the kitchen - xxx

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  23. Dearest Julie! WOW! You are my 300th member and I am glad that I found you. Before I looked at my comments, I clicked on your photo in the members box, but was unable to locate you. I just wanted to come by and thank you for joining...and for visiting my silly post! Please feel free to visit anytime for tea, and on special occasions, pink champagne! All calorie free, of course!

    You love British movies as well? Period, bien sûr. So do I! Being a French teacher, my outlets are similar to yours, ART (I illustrate), book-making, I just love making things with paper and making gift tags. I also play the harp, so we are busy!

    Have a lovely Sunday and glad to meet you! Anita

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  24. We really love your cards! Especially these retro ones!! The little cookie cutters add that special touch, too cute!

    Hope you are having a great weekend,
    Laura and Michele

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  25. Hi Julie ~ I was strolling the neighborhood and came upon your lovely comments and had to take a detour right here to your beautiful page! You look to be one of those people who is not only beautiful but very creative, as well. I'll look forward to stopping by, often. Happy Sunday!
    xx P&H

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  26. Hi Julie, what a darling post! I love my kitchen more than any room in our home... the photos of you when you were a little girl are precious! And how sweet your mama still has that little high chair in her kitchen for her grandbabies! I didn't know about that magazine, I am heading over to our Target today to see if they have it! Wishing you a beautiful Sunday... xoxo Julie Marie

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  27. Yummy stuff, love your cards and what a fab kitschy kitchen cover on your kids' cook book (whoa, far too alliterative there!). The peanut butter cookie recipe sounds good, I have to limit my wheat consumption so I might just have to give that one a go, TFS!

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  28. Your card is beautiful, I enjoy your work.
    Thanks for sharing ~Diane

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  29. Love it love it,,love it!!! All of it!!! Yes all of it! Every single bit of it! Did I say all of it?

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