Biker Chick Tania Willis has created another wonderful Training Reel with our Makin' the Grade collection. Be sure to click on the video below...
We love how Tania brought out the bolder colors in this collection and made our gorgeous cork pieces jump off the page.
The cardstock Favorite Pieces and Chipboard Pieces are so easy to add to a page and with a little twine makes them really stand out, but let's have Tania tell you all about it...
Biker Chick Tania Willis never ceases to amaze us with her creative ideas and training reel tutorials. She has come up with another clever mini album perfect for your travels this summer. Please be sure to watch it and download the instructions that follow.
See the video below...
Please feel free to download Tania's complete instructions for this project.
Biker Chick Tania Willis has another amazing Training Reel to share using our very popular Splash collection. Tania created a fun block patterned page with some very cool details. You can watch her put it together and download her complete instructions at the end of the post.
Watch Tania's video below for tips and details on how to make a fun page with our Splash collection.
We are really excited to share another Hello Spring Training Reel from Biker Chick Tania Willis. She is the best at showing our fans what they can with our collections on video.
This adorable page uses many of our Hello Spring collection elements in a fun and creative way that Tania will share in her video.
The bright happy fun colors make our cardstock stickers really pop, like these sentiment banners from our Favorite Pieces stickers.
But let's have Tania tell you all about it in her video...
Please download Tania's detailed instructions in the PDF document below
We have another fun Training Reel with Biker Chick Tania Willis. She is working with our NEW Canvas Album and Hello Spring Collection and some wonderful mixed media elements to share in her video.
This album has such a fun feel to it with the bright colors from our Hello Spring Collection and the paint that Tania added to the canvas. It makes such a wonderful gift idea, especially for Mother's Day.
Tania made a point to use our Hello Spring Clear Cut Shapes on her project and there is a tip in the video on how to make them stand out on a project.
This is how Tania prepared all of her pages for the album with paint before she added photos and embellishments.
Close up of Tania's first page. You can watch the video or visit her blog Whachu Talkin' bout Willis for more details about this project.
Please download detailed instructions for Tania's project below.
We have a new Training Reel to share from Biker Chick Tania Willis with our Swoon collection and she wants to challenge you with an idea in her video. We will provide 3 lucky winners a $25 prize pack.
Tania has created this gorgeous wedding page with our Swoon collection. Please see her video for details and a challenge for you to try that might land you a Little Yellow Bicycle Prize Pack.
Tania's CHALLENGE: 6 x 6 Decorative Edge Cardstock Use any of our 6x6 Decorative Edge Cardstock from ANY of our collections with one of the two ideas presented in the video. You can spin the ideas any way you want. Load your project to our Facebook Wall or email it to lizq@cthruruler.com with 6 x 6 Decorative Edge Cardstock Challenge in the subject line.
Submit your challenge idea by May 15th. We will choose 3 winners to receive a $25 prize pack and feature your project on our blog. Load your project to our Facebook Wall or email it to lizq@cthruruler.com with 6 x 6 Decorative Edge Cardstock Challenge in the subject line.
Please visit Tania's blog What' Chu Talkin' Bout Willis for more of her wonderful ideas. We look forward to seeing your project ideas.
We are very pleased to present another Training Reel from Biker Chick Tania Willis. She did an amazing job with our Saturdays collection on her funky album. Please be sure to watch Tania's video below and download her detailed step by step instructions on how to create this project that would make a perfect home décor item or gift idea.
The holidays are fast approaching and if you are like me and still have a laundry list of things to do to get ready for the festivities, you might want to take a break and check out this cardmaking idea in case you need one more special craft item for family or friends. I am using both the Wonder & Wishes and Winter Twig collections today.
This is not a new card idea, but I think the beautiful collections from Little Yellow Bicycle give it an updated look and I can really appreciate how different the cards look with the two collections even though the steps are the same. I challenge you all to grab your LYB collections and try it out too!
This is called a Tri-Fold Shutter Card and it is a really fun idea for adding a bit more embellishment, style and sentiment to a card, mostly because the way it is folded provides a lot more real estate to decorate. It is also really EASY to make - I promise. But not to worry, there is both a Training Reel and written instructions to talk you through it. I used the gorgeous Little Yellow Bicycle Wonder & Wishes Collection for this Christmas Card.
See how it opens up and has a "Pop Up" effect. I love that it has a number of panels to design and decorate. Not to mention how I was able to really showcase some of the specialized collection embellishments like the 10 Things Present pocket.
I love this perspective and that ribbon is really a cardstock sticker from the Favorite Pieces embellishments. You cannot believe how easy it was to make this card! It was so easy that I had to make two of them just to make sure I had all of the holidays covered this year.
This "chilly" card was created with the frosty Winter Twig collection and is a more generic holiday card and can be used for the different holidays at this time of year. I love how all of the blue brown and white go together, but leave room for many shades of good winter fun.
I am smitten with the little chipboard "skater" and had to add him/her to my card. This card was just as fun with the multiple panels to design and decorate and I also appreciate the Clear Cuts with glitter accents, because Little Yellow Bicycle uses "responsible glitter" and it does not come off on you!
Little Yellow Bicycle is so good about the little things. The attention to detail is so much so that the tiny journal cards come pre punched with this fun notebook pattern. I only needed to add it to the card.
Please see the video below for product ideas and tips on how to make these cards.
I have also included a PDF of instructions for how to make this card.
Looking for a Holiday Project to "spruce up" the old homestead? Try this adorable little Christmas Tree Centerpiece made with the Wonder & Wishes collection and inspired by Little Yellow Bicycle's Paper Flower Kits. It gives just the right amount of flair with the least amount of work. You will be surprised at how easy it is to make.
The design is really quite simple and uses just a few of the embellishments from the Wonder & Wishes collection like the Confetti Garland and Button Dots.
See the Training Reel Below!
Ready for dinner!
Directions for creating your own Chrsitmas Tree Centerpiece:
Hello everyone and, may I say...Hello Fall! Fall is definitely here in the northeast, and I'm happy to report that the beautiful Hello Fall! collection from LYB is making its way to a LSS near you.
This warm and colorful collection features a "Family Tree" kit that you can make into either a two-page layout or two single-page layouts. It's quick and easy and perfect for family reunions, Thanksgiving pages, or just documenting your family history.
So here's Biker Chick Liz Qualman with the latest LYB Training Reel! She has taken this kit and given it her own special twist!
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Sometimes it is fun to follow instructions that have already been created for you and add your own embellishments, style and photos. That is how I feel about the Little Yellow Bicycle Hello Fall Family Tree Page Kit. It is such a great design and idea, that I only needed to add a few more embellishment ideas from the Hello Fall! collection and my own photos. This is a must have item!
It's Monday again and that means it's time for another LYB Training Reel featuring the always amazing Biker Chick Tania Willis and the perfectly sporty Game On collection (which happens to be available at your LSS now)!
You are going to have so much fun making this layout and learning new painting techniques (wait 'til you see what Tania can do with bubble wrap. SAVE THAT BUBBLE WRAP people! Don't be tempted to pop it!!) There are a lot of kids in my area playing "Fall Ball" ... and this layout is perfect for those of you with baseball-playing kids.
But here's what I love about the Game On collection. You can take any layout (like this awesome one right here), and just "swap out" the materials to make the layout you want in the sport you need! My son is not a baseball kid ... but I do coach his U13 Travel Soccer Team (Go Canton Warriors!) So if I need a soccer layout...no problemo! I'm going to scraplift this layout and use the soccer papers and embellishments, and make a soccer one with it. Maybe I'll even show it to you when I'm done!
So here we go people. Pick a sport ... any sport ... we have four of them for you...and GET YOUR GAME ON with Tania!
Here are a few more close-ups of Tania's layout:
(bubble wrap!!!)
(more bubble wrap!)
What will this Biker Chick come up with next? Who knows, but I'm sure of one thing ... it will be CREATIVE!
Here are the instructions for this home run of a layout:
We have so much more to share with you this week ... we'll have a BRAND NEW Sketch Challenge from our very own Liz Qualman, plus more from Game On Guest Designer Suzanne Sergi!
And in case you missed my Summer's Last Hurrah post last week, head over there and leave a comment for your chance to win some Sweet Summertime! I'll be picking a winner later this week!
Hi friends! Hope you had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! For many of us here in the U.S., Labor Day means back-to-school (though some kids have been back for a while!)...
Have you seen the Head of the Class collection at your LSS yet? If not, watch for it because it's on its way!
These cards make a perfect "back to school" gift set for that special teacher, or can be enclosed with a teacher gift, sent to school to offer encouragement on testing days, or used as journaling cards on your layouts! So many things you can do with your cards! But first, ya gotta make em! So let's get to it!
Here's a peek at the whole set:
Now check out the Training Reel video tutorial - Tania will walk you through the steps to make the pencil-shaped card in the front!
I love how she used the paper crimper to make the eraser holder!
And now a few close ups of each of the cards:
10 Things I Love About School (have your student - or the entire class! - fill out the pencils for a super special card their teacher will cherish!)
Check out the downloadable pdf for a templated for this fantastic apple-shaped card!
Cutey-cute-cute Elmer's Glue bottle!
I especially love how Tania made the lead for the pencil tip (watch the video to find out)!
When you finish the cardset...save those extra stickers and embellishments to make "Lunch Box Notes" for your kids! For many years, I would use my scraps to make tiny cards to stick in the kids' lunches to let them know I was thinking about them throughout their day. You just need a tiny square of paper - or really any shape or size - and an unused embellishment or two - add a quick note - and you have a special card that will make their day.
One year, my daughter saved ALL of hers (she didn't tell me until she brought them home on the last day). Another year the owner of my LSS told me she had non-scrapbooking moms coming in to buy stickers and papers because their kids told them about my son's Lunch Box Notes and wanted some too! What a simple way to make a kids' day! Sadly, by about 6th grade, my kids had outgrown the Lunch Box Notes - guess they were too cool for them! Still, I sneak one in every now and then, and they still like the surprise! You're really never too old for a Lunch Box Note!
Make Your World a Little More Moxie Fab!
Finally one more quick shout out to our friend Cath Edvalson over at Moxie Fab World, who posted this wonderful blog about Head of the Class yesterday. If you missed it, just follow the link! Be sure to follow Cath's blog to keep up on all the Moxie Fab-ulosness!
That's it for now! We'll be back with another Training Reel next Monday - featuring the all new Get Your Game On collection!
It's that time of year again ... Back-to-School! And you're going to love the new Head of the Class collection from LYB! Packed with primary colors, cool geometric patterns and a teeny bit of grunge - Head of the Class easily accommodates school-themed layouts and projects for students of all ages. (Follow the links above to preview the entire collection ... which you should begin to see at your LSS later next week!)
So...ask pretty much any kid what's their favorite subject, and odds are, they'll quickly reply "RECESS!" ... which is why this fun layout from Biker Chick Liz Qualman will make you AND the kids happy - and be a perfect back-to-school addition to your scrapbook!
You can put together this awesome layout by following Liz's Training Reel right here:
But wait! There's more! Full instructions, a few close-ups ... and a sketch!
Just to get a closer look at the details. Liz mounted the "Recess" sticker and inked the edges with black. What a nice way to coordinate it with the "Best" banner!
Chipboard and a little bit of bling!
Want to make it your own? Liz added a sketch! Have fun! (And send us your creations!)
We hope you have fun with this layout and sketch! Click below to download the full instructions!
If you just can't get enough of Biker Chick Liz Qualman and her super sketches ... follow this link to her blog for more!
Be sure to come back next week for another Training Reel from Little Yellow Bicycle ... and good luck to all the kiddos with their new school adventures!
I'm telling you, folks, these Training Reels just keep getting better and better. It was a sweltering 93 degrees and humid here in Connecticut today, but one look at this Sweet Summertime layout by Biker Chick Tania Willis just made me cool and happy that it's SUMMER!!!
Here ... take a look:
See? I mean the colors and the details and just the fun of it all is amazing in its awesomeness, isn't it? In the video, Tania will show you how to make this oh-so-cute little watermelon journaling card with the cute little bite taken out of it!
And so much more, I just need to let her tell it herself. So now here's Tania!
And a few more quick close ups!
Love love love love love love LOVE it!!!
And here is the PDF with all of the instructions PLUS templates for the watermelon journaling card!
You can follow Tania's blog by clicking here. Go over and share the love, ok? Did I mention Tania recently joined the Fiskars Design Team too? We are so lucky to have her!
Have fun making this bright and cheery layout, and come back later this week for some more Biker Chick Sweet Summertime shares before we roll out all the new goodies for CHA!
Hello friends! Hope you're enjoying the Sweet Summertime! Have you picked up your Sweet Summertime collection yet at your LSS? It's a rainy day here in Connecticut today (not complaining, because we have had some gorgeous weather lately...but today it's a little drab and wet) ... so I'm looking forward to playing with these beautifully colored papers to bring a little bit of scrappy-sunshine-in-a-package and happiness to my day!
Today Biker Chick Tania Willis is back with another fun and easy LYB Training Reel! She'll show you how to make a shimmery-summery set of cards using layered flower embellishments, featuring the brand new Sweet Summertime collection from Little Yellow Bicycle!
First, take a look at these four fun cards you can create with elements from the Sweet Summertime collection (and a little help from Tania!) ... remember complete instructions are available in a downloadable pdf at the end of this blog post!!
And now, here's Tania with the video. Watch it and then scroll down for more close-up pics and complete instructions!
Here are a few close ups of the cards and layered embellishments Tania has created:
Hello Sunshine ... You Make Me Happy:
and a close up:
When Life Gives You Lemons ...
and a close up:
Sweet Summertime:
and a close up of this one:
And finally, You Make Me Happy:
...and a close up!
And here is a pic with whole bunch of flowers that you can make by layering paper flowers with LYB embellishments to make a unique assortment. Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it and get a better look!
Sweet Summertime is HERE! We began shipping last week, so if you haven't seen it already, you should see it any day now at a LSS near you.
You will go crazy for the beautiful brilliant, summery colors and juicy watermelon and lemon images. I personally love the fireflies, dragonflies, and the lemonade stand. Well, actually, I just love it all!
So here's Biker Chick Tania Willis with a lovely, summery 12x12 layout, plus a Training Reel tutorial showing you exactly how to make a three-dimensional pinwheel that exactly matches the cardstock pinwheel stickers from the collection. This is a must-see, folks.
Then take a look at the photos, and download full instructions for how to make the entire layout at the bottom of the blog!
And here are a few close ups!
Make this pinwheel by following Tania's step-by-step instructions in the Training Reel:
Don't you love the spinner, kite (look at the tail!), and dragonfly?
And another close up! I think it's so cool how Tania used the Journaling Cards as elements in this layout.
Tania did such a great job, didn't she? You can visit Tania's blog by clicking here!
Now download the instructions (click the link below), run to your LSS for some sweet Sweet Summertime, and get working people!
Hi everyone! Wow what an exciting weekend it's been. So much inspiration around the scrapbooking community with all the posts and challenges for National Scrapbook Day ... and hopefully all the moms out there received some much needed rest and appreciation yesterday on Mother's Day! We will be picking the lucky winners of all the LYB loot later today, so keep watching!!
Are there are a lot of babies being born in your life like there are in mine? In the last few months I have gotten both a niece and a nephew and it seems like my family is exponentially growing. If you are like me and on the hook for a few gifts...how about a quick and easy project to create a set of baby gift cards that are on hand and ready to go. The Little Yellow Bicycle Tiny Princess or Baby Saurus collections are the perfect materials for creating this custom set of cards that will wow all of the new mommies in your life.
This card was made with a unique template for creating the cute little onesie, which is available for download at the end of this post. It also includes the gorgeous Tiny Princess Favorite Pieces cardstock stickers and Jewel Pieces. The warm, bright colors really draw a lot of attention to the card and will bring a smile to your friends and family.
It was so easy to create one card, that a set of four cards was a simple addition. Now I have a few cards ready to send with a gift and no need to stop by the store. The video tutorial below explains each of the steps in the process for creating these cards and there is also a PDF with the complete written instructions. Please feel free to download the template that I used to create the onesie and sentiment on my cards, or download the blank template to create your very own sentiment.
Thanks Liz! Love these little cards! Remember, you can mix and match with the Baby Saurus collection to turn these little girl cards into perfect cards for baby boys!
And if you're expecting your own bundle of joy, it's easy to adapt these cards into adorable and original baby announcements! Just use the blank onesie template Liz provided (below), and make it your own!
So much excitement for National Scrapbook Day! So many people were so creative. What a great excuse to take a little time for yourself and soak up all the inspiration. I couldn't believe how many great classes, challenges, and tutorials were available - and most of them for free! I hope many of you took advantage of the Big Picture Classes All-Day Crop and Challenge (and giveaways!)!
And now to follow it up ... Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
We have TWO special Mother's Day treats for you! First, our very own Sharon Kropp (who is a mother of four herself) was asked to be a guest blogger for Creating Keepsakes' blog today! Sharon made a beautiful layout to share for Mother's Day...and we thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway with Creating Keepsakes! So we put together a big goodie bag, filled with "Mom's Favorites" -- papers and embellishments from some of your favorite collections: Savor, Fresh Print Clothesline and Elizabeth Park (the collection Sharon used for her Mother's Day layout)! It looks a little something like this:
The prize, silly, not the layout (you have to go over to the CK blog to see that!) What a lovely Mother's Day gift for YOU!
And then we thought ... well why let Creating Keepsakes have all the fun? So we decided to give one away too!
So here's how you can win. FIRST, follow the link to hop over to Sharon's blog post at Creating Keepsakes, and follow the instructions for a chance to win. SECOND, leave a comment on THIS blog (or our Facebook page), telling us either (1) Why you love being a mom, or (2) One thing you love about your own mom [or both, if you wish ;) of course].
CK will pick one winner, and we'll pick the other. And don't forget there's still time to enter our National Scrapbook Day giveway by leaving a comment on yesterday's blog!
Winners will be announced Monday! Plus on Monday we'll be back with an all-new Training Reel featuring Biker Chick Liz Qualman and the Tiny Princess collection! The fun and creativity just keeps coming!
Finally, we wish you a very happy, restful, and creative Mother's Day!
Way back in January, we posted a pic of a beautiful birdhouse made using the Twig collection by Biker Chick Renee Foss on the blog (you can see it here). We received so many comments on that little cutie, we asked Biker Chick Tania Willis to make a spring birdhouse using the Elizabeth Park collection, for the newest Training Reel - so you can all make one for your very own!
So Tania got to work and ... WOW! What an adorable project!
So cute, isn't it?
Here's the Training Reel. Tania had a little trouble with the upload and had to play with the resolution (darn that YouTube!), so in the beginning the colors in the beginning of the video are not as bright as they should be.
All of the instructions to make the birdhouse are in the PDF down at the end of this post. Ready to get to work? Here are a few more pics so you can see the house from every angle!
This is the Left-Hand side of the house (I love how Tania used the scored papers from the Elizabeth Park Paper Flower Kit to make the fence!):
Check out the blinged-out centers of the stick pin flowers! So sweet!!
And the Right-Hand side:
And of course, more cute flowers!!
Here's a close-up shot of the front:
I love the little touches of bling Tania added!
And a sweet little butterfly taking a rest on the roof!
Hi everyone! It's another Training Reel Monday with Little Yellow Bicycle and Biker Chick Tania Willis has rocked another layout - this time using the amazing and ever-so-springy Elizabeth Park collection! Check it out:
One of my favorite pieces from the Elizabeth Park collection is the Paper Flower Kit. It comes with everything you need to create amazing dimensional flowers - layered and pinwheeled - like these:
And Tania gets you "up close and personal" with the flowers in her video tutorial! She'll show you exactly how to make them, step-by-step!
Here are a couple more of the flowers in the layout:
So many flowers! Feels like spring!
I also love how Tania used the Fabric Frames in this layout to add tons of dimension.
So here's the video! Take a few minutes and take a look!
And here are the complete, step-by-step instructions!
Do you ever look at a layout and think ... gee I wish I had thought to do that? Well this is one of those layouts. I love it when someone shows me how to take a simple embellishment and with a twist or a crumple...take it to the next level. Take a look:
See what I mean? Love those flowers! And the best part? It looks complicated - but it's not! You CAN do it. Tania shows you how! From the paint splatters to the simple-to-make-but-WOW-how-did-she-think-of-that flowers (three different kinds), everything about this layout is just cool. Not to mention, it features the oh-so-cool Twig collection.So there's that too.
Here are a couple more close-ups of those amazing Twig flowers:
I can't really decide which one is my favorite, but I think it's this one!
So here's the Training Reel and be sure to download the instructions!
I'm so happy to share a new Training Reel - a brand new Elizabeth Park Card Trio from Biker Chick Jen Gallacher!
What a fun way to say a warm "Hello" to spring as we count down the days to the official release of the beautiful Elizabeth Park collection!
So take a look at the Training Reel, and be sure to scroll down for close up pics and the downloadable PDF with complete instructions (and a handy-dandy shopping list of materials you'll need for when you hit your LSS when Elizabeth Park hits the shelves!)
And now, here's Jen:
And a few close ups of the cards! "You Are So Loved":
"Sing":
"How Does Your Garden Grow":
And the instructions! You can find more fun ideas from Jen by following her blog. Have fun!
Biker Chick Tania Willis has outdone herself once again with another Training Reel - making this fun-tastic set of Valentines featuring the Cupcake Love collection!
These cards feature many elements from the collection - but they're only the beginning! Following Tania's basic templates, you can mix and match other pieces (stickers, banners, chipboard pieces, and more!) to create a whole batch of custom Valentines. Plus - these are so simple, they're perfect for kid's Valentine exchanges - or Grandma & Grandpa - but still perfect for you to make for that special someone!
Here's the video ... but be sure to scroll down for more close-up photos and complete dowloadable pdf instructions!
And now, the close-ups!
What a great idea to create a lace up pocket to hold love notes or goodies!
A close up:
I love the raised circles and stitching on this card:
So sweet! Here's another angle:
To make other versions of this card, use a chipboard heart with the "u" from the chipboard shapes, or cluster several cupcake shapes and/or hearts together!
And a close-up:
And last but not least - I love how she stacked these valentines one on top of the other! What a cute idea!
These little stick pin hearts are so cute!
And here are the instructions! Have fun creating these amazing cards. Thanks Tania!
And, oh, one more thing - in case you missed it, we have MORE Valentines for you - Biker Chick Jen Gallacher did a Training Reel back in November with more Valentines from the Cupcake Love Collection. You can see that video by clicking here!
I'm so excited to share Tania Willis' latest Training Reel featuring the new Cupcake Love collection. I am in LOVE with this layout! So adorable!
In case you missed today's Biker Chick Spotlight post on Tania, be sure to check it out. She's an amazingly talented scrapbooker and has some great tips for how to stretch your scrapbooking dollars!
Here's the layout Watch the Training Reel below and scroll down for close-ups and complete downloadable PDF instructions (which include full materials list)!
Look how the epoxy conversation heart dangles from the bakers twine:
Hand-stitched epoxy conversation hearts:
Tania shows you how to make the hearts pop:
Tania's signature ... hand stitching:
Cute cute cute! Love how Tania threaded beads on the stick pin!
Tania's back with a new Training Reel featuring the Savor collection - a fun and simple scrapbook page to capture all your favorite holiday treats!
This page is simply perfect for saving all your favorite cookie recipes, like Tania did, but it's also so versatile, it's also great for each of the dishes from your holiday feast! What a nice way to preserve your family traditions - not to mention how helpful it will be next year to have them all in one place!
Watch the video to learn a cool border technique ... as well as a quick simple way to make the pocket pages! Complete downloadable instructions appear below.
What are your family favorites? At our house, we have our "tried and true" recipes that we make every year, and then each year I like to try one or two new ones - to see if they're "keepers"! Last year we added two that are definitely keepers: Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies and Oatmeal Cranberry Chip Cookies. M-m-m-m! I'll be baking some of these tomorrow. I've included the recipes below, in case you want to try them!
Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies
¾ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. water
1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
2 cups dark semisweet chips
2 eggs
2 ½ cups flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 lb. Andes Candies (two to three boxes - depending on how many you consume in the preparation phase!)
In a large heavy saucepan, over low heat, cook butter, sugar and water until butter is melted. Add chocolate pieces and stir until partially melted. Pour into large mixer bowl and let stand about 10 min, until cooled slightly. With mixer at high speed, beat eggs in, one at a time. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, beating just until blended. Chill dough for about one hour for easier handling.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or parchment. Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake 12 – 13 minutes, NO LONGER (cookies will crisp as they cool). Remove from oven and immediately place one mint on each hot cookie. Allow to soften, then swirl mint over the cookie. If desired, decorate with sprinkles. Remove from cookie sheets and cool completely. Makes 80 cookies.
[For this one, we found that using a whole mint is a little too much candy and gets messy when it's melted - so we break the candies in half - still plenty of minty-chocolatey deliciousness, with less mess!]
Oatmeal Cranberry Chip Cookies
½ cup plus 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
3 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. Add oats, raisins, and chips. Mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen.
The newest edition of Training Reels features Biker Chick Jen Gallacher, teaching you how to make these three adorable cards using the brand-sparkly new Cupcake Love collection (which just started shipping last week!):
In the video, Jen walks you through how to make the "I Love You" card.
(Be sure to download the pdf for complete instructions on how to make all three!)
And here are a few more close ups of each of the cards:
"I Love You":
"Lovely":
And "XOXOX":
OK so here's the thing. We know many of you are in the middle of the holiday season and your "To Do" lists are pretty long with holiday decorating and baking and greetings and shopping and more! But I just have to tell you, I stopped by my LSS the other day and Cupcake Love had just come in. It took my breath away. A-dor-a-ble!
Now I work for LYB and could probably just ask them to send me the collection. But no. I had to have it. NOW. I'm telling you. I. BOUGHT. EVERY. THING. All of it. Everything! Brought it home and spread it out and, well, see for yourself:
(Indeed)
Are you drooling yet? Thought so.
But not only that. I woke up at 4 a.m. (Yes! Jen Gallacher time!) dreaming about all these lovelies!
So listen. We know you're busy. But go ahead and pick yourself up some Cupcake Love. It will make your day. And if you're too busy now, just set it aside with a plan to make the cards (or something else equally amazing) later. We'll still be here! We'll even remind you! And we guarantee when you're in the middle of your mid-winter doldrums, working with this collection will bring a little bubble-gum-sparkly-pink-with-a-cherry-on-top happiness to your day. Because like the sticker says ... Cupcakes Make People Happy!
Last night we posted the latest Training Reel - Greta Hammond's Christmas Delight Chipboard Mini Album and promised to post photos and directions today. We keep our promises here at LYB and we know you've been waiting all day! So get your supplies ready because we have a feeling you're going to be kicking off the holiday season by makin' this little beauty:
In case you missed it yesterday, here's the video again. In it, Greta walks you through the album page by page, and gives you step-by-step instructions for making the sassy little pinwheel flower on the cover!
And what better way to spend the day after Thanksgiving than with a little scrapbooking? No need to cook ... you can live on leftovers and focus on creating cute little pocket pages like this one:
And fun little circle tabs like this:
Don't you just love how Greta extended the album by adding little mini pages? They're easy to make using pieces from the Christmas Delight Journaling Tablet - practically all the work is already done for you!
Make it to give away or be selfish and keep it all for yourself (don't worry, we won't tell)!
As the next in our "Biker Chick Spotlight" series, we thought we'd tell you a little bit more about Greta Hammond, before we introduce her Christmas Delight Mini Album Training Reel (yes we'll wait while you scroll down to take a peek) ... OK!
Greta Hammond is a creative force who really needs no introduction in the scrapbooking community! We have been lucky to have her on our Biker Chick team since 2007 and she's responsible for some of the amazing creations you've seen at trade shows, on our website and here on our blog... like this beautiful Christmas Delight Envelope Album:
Greta also made these cupcakes that literally look good enough to eat using our Cupcake Love collection (which ships next week!):
But there may be a few things you might not know about Greta ... we asked her a few questions and here are her answers!
LYB: What is your ‘go to’ embellishment?
Greta: Chipboard, buttons or string/twine seem to be what I reach for if my projects needs a little umph!
LYB: Cardstock or patterned paper?
Greta: Both!! Ideally, I have both available to do my project. I adore pattern paper but definitely use cardstock to offset the patterns and give a bit of texture to my projects.
LYB: Crops or scrap alone?
Greta: If I want to get anything done, I have to scrap alone at home. However, I do love the occasional retreat or crop with friends!
LYB: Favorite types of projects—pages, mini albums, cards, altered projects, etc?
Greta: All of them! My creativity flows best when I can do a variety of projects. I get tired of doing the same thing so I like to mix it up!
LYB: Chronological or out of order?
Greta: All out of order!! I’ve never been good at the Chronological thing. I think I work best if I can work on the pictures and stories that speak to me at that time. Plus, working on assignment makes it difficult to do any sort of order!
LYB: Sit down or stand up scrapbooker?
Greta: Again, both! I typically sit when scrapbooking but I don’t usually sit for very long. I like to stand up to get a different view and I tend to be a bit ADD and have to go change a load of laundry, make a phone call or check emails in between working on a project!
LYB: Are you a neat scrapbooker or is your space a mess?
Greta: I’m messy. Can’t help it. I absolutely HATE cleaning up after scrapping and my messy room would attest to that!
One more thing you may not know...Greta's also a published author! She co-authored the book Kick it Up! Add Spice to Your Scrapbook Layouts last year (you can take a peek by clicking here)
And now ... here's the latest Training Reel, featuring Greta Hammond's Christmas Chipboard Album (and come back tomorrow for more photos and downloadable PDF instructions)!
Consider yourself warned ... you will have to run right out and get your supplies when you watch our newest Training Reel, featuring LYB Biker Chick Tania Willis and her incredibly adorable Savor Recipe Book Envelope Album!
What a fun way to save your favorite family recipes ... or to give to the bride-to-be or as a housewarming gift (along with some tasty treats) to warmly welcome a new family to your neighborhood!
Tania used the envelope album kit from our Savor Collection, along with some extra papers and embellishments from the Savor collection, which she details in the video (or you can look at the full list of supplies in the downloadable instructions, which appear below the video link)!
Now, here are page-by-page close ups for while you're working!
A view from the top:
Inside "flap page" and shown with the flap opened up (love it!):
A cute little pocket:
And another pocket page!
One of Tania's favorite recipes!
The recipe card opens up so you can fit the whole recipe!
A whimsical touch ... untie and open up a special journaling fold-out page!
Tania shows this step-by-step in the video!
A short page holds a picture:
Back of a short page!
Have fun folks! Oh and here's one more tip ... if you do decide to make one of these to give away, make sure you get enough supplies to make two, because you will want to keep this one for yourself!
Who couldn't love a Monday when it means another Training Reel from LYB! The latest class features Biker Chick Jen Gallacher making these fun holiday cards featuring the Christmas Delight collection:
Big news! We're proud to introduce Training Reels from LYB! periodically we'll be sharing online videos featuring fun projects you can create using LYB's latest collections! First up: Boo-ville Card Duo featuring LYB's Spook-tacular Boo-ville collection!
Aren't these absolutely adorable?
See the video here...
... and download the instructions below for complete detailed instructions, plus a bonus card!
Here's a closer look at the first card:
And the second:
And the bonus!
I don't know about you, but I just can't wait to get started!
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