Tuesday, January 31, 2012

"I Heart You" Printable Freebie

 Hey everyone! 

It's been wonderful and exciting to see the numbers of friends on facebook and followers on my blog who have been supporting my hard work.  I sure appreciate it!

I've been working hard on my new website and am proud to say I'm in the final stages of it being completed. I'll just be adding new products as they are made.  Feel free to check it out at

Here's a fun little printable I've made for you.  I saw this on pinterest and totally fell in love.  I just had to customize one for me and my decor.  Hopefully you'll find ONE out of the 21 printables that will match your decor!


As far as I know I can link the original post back to Aimee at Sprik Space. What a talented lady! 

Please be sure to follow my Terms Of Use.  It can be found in the Tou & Preview folder in the download. Thanks! :)




Monday, January 23, 2012

Want a good deal?

TODAY ONLY you can buy this adorable kit Snapshots of Life from LDrag Designs over at ScrapMatters for only $3.25.  That's 50% off!!! 

I think this is such an adorable kit, and would be great to use for those project life pages.

Kit is linked to store for purchase.


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Facebook Fan Freebie


Get the current facebook fan freebie!
If you "like" us on facebook, you can get this free template.
If you already "Like" Little Bit Shoppe Designs, be sure to pick it up too! Click on the "Exclusive" button on the left hand sidebar (it has a blue star on it). Thanks for your support everyone!

Friday, January 20, 2012

CT Layout: Weekly Menu

For those of you who know me, know I LOVE a great template!
Ramona at Memory Clips has these AMAZING kitchen templates.
I've planned my weekly menu for years.  But this template just makes them more fun to look at!

Included in this template pack is:
2 Sizes of recipe card templates
Weekly Menu (see picture below)
Grocery Shopping List
And a page for a recipe book (see picture below)
I will soon have a hybrid craft using the template below. Can't wait to share it with you!!!

Credits:



If you are interested in purchasing the amazing templates, you can find them at
Grab them quick...because they are currently 20% off.



CT Layout: Be Yourself





Template: Spring In My Step (coming soon, here)


Isn't this an adorable kit?
I absolutely LOVE this color scheme. All of my current favorite colors rolled into one!
If you are also interested in purchasing this kit, you can find it at
From




CT Layout: Sweet


Credits:
Kit: Love Letters


This adorable kit was just released by Down This Road Designs today at Scrap Matters.
What a PERFECT kit for your Valentines layouts and hybrid projects.
It's on sale right now so hurry on over and get, you'll be happy you did!



Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Where to find color inspiration?


There are so many places I find my color inspiration. 
Today I'm going to touch on one of my favorites.
Have you ever heard of:


I'm sure you're no stranger to it.  You've probably seen it pinned on Pinterest before. If not, you need to check them out!  It's updated nearly everyday with new color palettes and samples.

Design Seeds a great source of color inspiration. I use it all the time in designing my digi scrap kits, or designing blogs.
When we are home owners, I will definitely use this source as inspiration when painting and decorating the house.


I love the palette search option. They have a few different options.

1.  RGB color swatch match.
(Move the RGB color sliders back in forth until you find something you like.  Then they match that color with color palettes they have on their website.
2. Search by theme. (See print screen sample below)
3. See similar colors
(Next to the color palette you have the option to pick a color, and it will search for more similar colors on Design Seeds website.

For the use in designing I download the color palette of choice from the website, bring it into photoshop and use my Eyedropper tool to make a photoshop color swatch to make digital papers, or use the color hex number for matching colors in blogs.

Here's an example of a digital paper pack I made using Design Seeds "Frosted Tones" color palette.


 

Monday, January 16, 2012

Faux Cupcake Tutorial! Yum!



Good Monday morning everyone!

I have a fun little tutorial instore for you today!!!
Just a few quick reminders...yes...I know my digi links are unavailable right now.  I'm working with a web designer who is moving my store, so therefore the links ARE NOT working.  Hopefully within the next day or two they will be though..so check back soon.
One more thing...if you like what you see, please think about becoming a follower.  I enjoy seeing my online friends grow and it sure motivates me.  So if you'd like to keep these tutorials, digi freebies, layouts, recipes, tips and hints coming, please become a follower or share on pinterest or facebook so others can find me too :)

On to the tutorial!!
Several months ago I had seen some amazingly scrumptious faux cupcakes on etsy. I totally fell in love! I was bound and determined to learn how to make them.  After a few google searches, tutorials,  and trial and error, I figured it out.
What  PERFECT Valentines Decorations!
Muffin Pan
Plaster Of Paris
 Acrylic paint (for cake and frosting colors)
Cupcake liners
Lightweight spackling for frosting
3 " Styrofoam balls
Toothpicks
Hot Glue
Pastry Bags
Decorating Tip
Cupcake Toppers
Glitter
Sprinkles or other decorations
Cherries (cut from decorative red berry garland)
Optional:
Paperclay
Sandpaper

It may look like a lot, but the process is really quite simple:)
1-Put your cupcake liners in your muffin pan.
2-Mix plaster of paris according to the directions on the box.
The package recommends 2 parts plaster of paris to 1 part cold water.
(For me this made 8 cupcakes)
3-Stir plaster of paris and water mixture well. Fill cupcake liners.
4-The plaster of paris will take about 24 hours if not longer to set.  But before they are fully set and dried, you want to insert a toothpick into the center.
5-Once the plaster of paris is COMPLETELY hardened, cut 4 styrofoam balls in half. (These will be the cupcake tops)
6-Pierce the middle of the ball with the toothpick that is inserted into the plaster of paris. Then take the ball off the toothpick and squirt some hot glue into the hole you created with the toothpick. Put the styrofoam ball back on the toothpick. (Hopefully this makes sense)
Steps 7-9 are optional (I didn't do this)
7-Cover the styrofoam with a thin & smooth coat of paperclay.  Allow the clay to dry.
8-Sand
9- Paint desired cupcake color (dark brown for chocolate, yellow for yellow cake etc.)
The spackling mix resembles the texture of frosting. Yum. (But please...don't eat it!)
10-If you would like the desired color of frosting to be white, go ahead and fill your pastry bag with the spackling mixture. (Fill the bag and use just as you would real frosting. Working your way decorating the cupcake with the "frosting" from the outside in.)
11-If you desire colored frosting, add a few squirts of the colored acrylic paint. Mix well. Fill the pastry bag and use just as you would real frosting. Working your way decorating the cupcake with the "frosting" from the outside in.)


12-Add any sprinkles, glitter, beads, pearls, wire for photos or business card holders,
or cupcake toppers.
13-Let dry overnight.
14-Enjoy...and please remind husband and children these ARE NOT edible. Thank you:)

Some more helpful blogs with great faux cupcake tutorials:






Sunday, January 15, 2012

Wild About You


Credits:

Kit: Wild About You
By: Little Bit Shoppe Designs (coming soon)

Template: Sample Pack #26 Templates
(Released January 17th @ Two Peas)

 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Links are currently unavailable

My website is currently being redone.  I've been informed my links are not working as well as the link to my store.  Please be patient as these are currently under construction.  Come back soon to try downloading once again.
Thanks,
Erika

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Recipe: Eggnog French Toast



Eggnog French Toast
Original Recipe Can Be Found HERE

4 eggs, beaten slightly
1 1/2 cups eggnog
1 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
12 slices French bread
Directions:
1.
Whisk the eggs. eggnog, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a mixing bowl until well blended. Pour the mixture into a shallow dish.
2.
Preheat an electric skillet to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease the skillet.
3.
Dip one slice of bread at a time into the eggnog mixture, being sure to coat each side of the bread thoroughly.
4.
Place the prepared bread slices into the preheated skillet, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on each side. Place cooked slices on a serving plate and cover with foil to keep warm until all French toast is cooked. Serve immediately.

I've wanted to try this recipe for quite some time. I finally found the time (and left over Eggnog) to make this. It was good, but I made some modifications. First of all, it had only 2 eggs, so I changed the recipe to 4. Also, it seemed to have A LOT of Eggnog. Next time I think I'll adjust that too. It made the bread quite soggy.
My only other complaint is that I wish it had more of the Eggnog flavor. But over all it was still pretty good.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Recommendations For Friday Freebie?


Any recommendations for this weeks Friday Freebie?
Do you have a color swatch or theme you'd like to recommend?
Just email me your ideas!


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Digi Layout: Hunter's 12th Birthday


I want to wish my son a Happy Birthday! He turned 12 years old on Tuesday. We are so proud of him.  He's such an amazing boy.  He's exactly what I hoped my son would be.
Smart, good looking, funny, musically talented, obedient, and spiritual.  I'm not saying he's perfect..he has his faults..but for the most part he's a great kid.
Height: 5 Feet 8  inches
Weight: 175 lbs.
Shoe Size: 13 Mens
Best Friends: Dalton &  Logan
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Dessert? German chocolate cake
Favorite Song: Sexy And You Know It
Favorite Toy: Lego's
Favorite Movie: Tin Tin
Favorite TV Show? Military channel shows
What do you want to be when you grow up? Pilot
Favorite subect in school? Gym & Projects Class
Hobbies: building legos, anything WWII and WWI, playing saxophone, playing football,
and going shooting with his dad  
What you got for your birthday:
iTouch 4
itunes gift card
Authentic WWI helmet, that came all the way from France.
Sponge Bob Lego set
Star Wars Lego set
Birthday Breakfast In Bed:
 Peach pancakes with butter syrup, orange juice, and cut up fruit.
Birthday Dinner:
Spaghetti tacos
(You'd seen this on an i Carly episode and wanted to try it.  I must say, it was....interesting!)


CT Layout: 2012 Resolutions



Got New Years Resolutions for 2012?
If so, this would be the perfect kit to scrap those layouts!
Head on over to Scrap Matters to purchase this adorable kit!



Friday, January 6, 2012

CT Layouts: Security Coat




Kit Used: Baby Girl
By: Kristin Cronin Barrow

If you would like to purchase Memory Clips versatile photo clusters,
be sure to pick them up HERE


Down This Road Designs Guest CT Call!

Down This Road Designs is having a Guest CT Call!!
Do you want to be a guest on this Creative Team?
I have absolutely LOVE being on Angie's CT team. She is truly fabulous to work with.
Not to mention she has the most adorable kits!!!!
Apply today :)




REQUIREMENTS:
  • one layout or hybrid project per new release
  • be active in private CT forum
  • post layouts at ScrapMatters and two other galleries of your choice
  • layouts must be posted on your blog with credits if you have a blog
  • enable products 4 times a month
  • 1 blog or newsletter article a month

COMMITMENTS:
  • guest spots will run from January 15, 2012 to March 15, 2012
  • guests may be offered a permanent spot after the guest term
EMAIL ANGIE AT:
downthisroaddesigns@q.com
Subject: Guest CT Call
by January 15th with the following information:
  • name, forum usernames, and CT obligations
  • link to your most complete gallery and a link to a layout using Down This Road Designs' designs
  • a little about yourself and tell why you would like to be part of the team