Good afternoon, my friends!
Back from a busy birthday weekend celebrating Grandma’s 80th birthday…lots to catch up on!
I have just a couple of things to share with you today…then off to my two daughters’ back-to-back field hockey games.
With so much Halloween & holiday-themed cards coming up, I had a wish for something a little lighter today…a LOT lighter, in fact!
A card based on one incredibly beautiful piece of paper by Webster’s Pages…I fell in love with this at first sight!
I had two pieces of this paper…used one for the background, and cut out the hot-air balloons with the other…then popped them up, of course!
Bits of sparkle here & there were made with Dazzling Diamonds…some framing with platinum Stickles, lace, ribbon, and that’s about it!
This reminded me of some photos a friend of mine shared this week of a hot-air balloon festival in New Mexico…
…aren’t they beautiful?!
Talk about an “uplifting” experience…!
Now for the next...
…one of my favorite stamp designers…Hope Wallace Karney has a beautiful collection of original art stamp sets that you can see here…
…”A penny for your thoughts”…carried by the beautiful bluebird…
A bit of glassy glaze & Dazzling Diamonds on the penny…platinum Stickles frames different areas of the card, some beautiful Graphic 45 patterned paper, lace, ribbon, and some sweet creamy yellow buttons, and we’re all done!
Still need a bit of a lift?
How about some homemade lemon curd?!
After making the Lemon Curd Bars last week using purchased lemon curd, I decided to try my hand at homemade today….and the results were delicious!
Here it sits…an extra large dollop of warm, golden lemon curd on a fresh slice of homemade Amish Friendship Bread…(I’ll post that recipe next time!)
Tart, tangy & VERY creamy…perfection!
Here’s the recipe I used today…
LEMON CURD
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
6 tablespoons lemon juice (3 whole lemon’s worth for me…)
6 tablespoons water
6 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, cut up
In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar and cornstarch. Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice, and the water. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.
Stir half of the lemon mixture into beaten egg yolks. Return egg mixture to the saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a gently boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter until it melts.
Cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour. Makes 2 cups. Place the prepared curd in an airtight container; cover. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
{recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens}
Give it a try! It was absolutely easy-peasy, lemon squeezy (literally!) …and it definitely gave me a lift today!
Hope your day is wonderful, and I’ll see you soon with something new…
Julie
Two beautiful cards! Love the hot air balloons...what beautiful paper! And the bird with the penny is very sweet.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your beautiful cards...you're so mega talented!
And that lemon curd looks yummy!
I could use a lift!! (and maybe a pinch and tuck too!) heehee Your work is lovely as always!! I LOVE lemon curd and now must try to make it. You are a bad influence!! ( But I love it!!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! You make it sound so easy but I know it's not!! I love the balloons!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lemon curd recipe. I always wanted to try so I will give it my best effort!
Have a great week! :-)
XO,
Janie
I have those same papers and adore them also! Both your cards are so pretty such a fresh feeling about them. My hubby loves lemons, have to copy this recipe! Thanks hun!
ReplyDeleteOk, I am drooling over your lemon curd! I love making it too, though not very often, 'cause it's just too tempting! Your cards are just stunning! I especially love the bird and penny one! I love anything with glitter and birds, so this is right up my alley!!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie!
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful! I went to the Air Balloon races in New Mexico decades ago!! We had so much fun!! Some of them would land behind where my mom lived!
I see that your mother is a dollmaker, me too, although I make miniature porcelain ones, and you are the second Julie Campbell I know, LOL, so with all of these coincidences, I just have to follow you!
Where do you live in Central CA? I'm in Elk Grove, right outside of Sacramento.
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving me such a lovely comment!
xxoo
Oh Julie...That looks so yummy, and your cards are just beautiful! I just love the little bluebird and the sentiment on that one...so precious! xo Paulette
ReplyDeletei have never had lemon curd. it looks very yummy.
ReplyDeleteyour cards are beautiful!
xo
elyse
Hi Julie, Thanks for the Pre-welcome, Oh my that lemon curd looks good, I guess I'll go get a lemon yogurt to tie my over for now! Have a great week! Hugs
ReplyDeleteI could eat that whole jar of lemon curd. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Your cards are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Glad you had fun at the birthday celebration. Love & blessings from NC!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, can this post get any sweeter!! Hot air balloons, Bluebirds and Lemon Curd!! Three of my favourite things! Love the two cards my sweet friend. There is no end to your talents! I am glad you enjoyed your time away and happy you came back safe and sound!! Love you loads! xxoo
ReplyDeleteThese two cards are so special. Really lovely colors in the card with the bird, and the balloon card is amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs Hanne
Julie,
ReplyDeletelove your cards, the blue bird one, is so ve´ry cued, I will take a look at the site adr.-Thanks,dear--and the lemon curd- uhhmmmm yummy photoes--
Hugs,Dorthe
Great project Julie, love your bluebird card and the lemon curd looks divine (home made lemon curd is one of my very favourite things, must make some soon!).
ReplyDeleteLOVE your ballon card, just beautiful! And thanks for alwayas telling us all your little "secrets" as to how you get your great effects (like the penny), so fun!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are absolutely Gorgeous! Thank you for the link to the stamp shop, I'm going to check that out right now! Have A Wonderful Day!
ReplyDeleteThese are both such beautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteI love your balloon card..the colors are gorgeous and your style is wonderful as always Julie! After I saw your lemon curd bars the other day, I had to pick up the Christmas Cookie magazine (BHG does a great job, don't they!) Now that you've said that the lemon curd is so good, I'll have to try it, too. Thanks for being such a sweet enabler!
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday~
xoxo
Joyce
Great cards again Julie! Love your stories, photos and recipe... as always also!! Glad you had a nice weekend friend!
ReplyDeleteYou are one busy woman!! LOVE the cards as usual and the lemon curd looks Delish! :-) Thanks for the "lift"!! :-)
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are gorgeous!!! (As always!)
ReplyDeleteYour balloon cards are marvelous, Julie!!! And your lemon dessert bars look so much like the ones my mother used to make that I'm remembering back to the time when I would come home from elementary school and she would be smiling and telling me she had just made my favorite dessert! Thanks for the sweetest moments remembered!
ReplyDeleteBIG HUGS!
Coralie
Breathtaking! Truly, Julie. I will have to add this card to my favorites list! Can you tell me, I seem to be having difficulty with the reading list like yours showing everyone's blog that I have added. Have you noticed this problem yourself? I appreciate any information. Have a lovey Thursday! Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteLove your cards...especially the bird one!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find the time to whip these up so fast!?
Nothing is better than Lemon..now that looks amazing..must try it my friend.
hugs......
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ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteLove your balloon card. That Websters Pages paper has the most vivid colors. Beautiful. When I was a young girl, I always dreamed about taking a balloon ride. It was something I always thought I would eventually do. Now, that I am older, I'm too chicken to try. :( Lesson: Take advantage of adventures when your young! :)
Maureen