Throw Back Thursday With THREE Freebies

Welcome to The Cherry On Top's Throw Back Thursday.

How's that for a throw back photo?  Ha!  I'm the little one with my mom and two older brothers on our one and only family vacation.  I can't say I remember much, but I've got a stuffed animal AND a box of Cracker Jacks, so it must have been good!  Hehehe....

Today, I'm bringing back Surf, Sand and The 4th from the Digital Scrapbooking Studio.  It was an enormous store wide collection from over a dozen designers and some of the collection is still available.  I've made two frame frickies available again and as a super special treat, I'm even bringing back the template from that blog and you can get the link in this blog for it.  Keep scrolling to get the three freebies.

This was LouCee Creations portion of the collection.  What a super embodiment of the beach. 

This image is linked up to the blog where you can find the download.

Here's another example of a frickie and it is quite a doozy! A frickie is a quick page and or a frame, depending on how you use it and if it comes from The Cherry, it's free. Hence, a frickie.  Hehehe...

I really love the way it turned out and that you can use more than one photo if you like.  You could always place a lovely paper and elements in the two smaller squares if you have no photos for them.  PattyB Scraps did such a smashing job on this collection.

This image is also linked up to the blog where you can get the link for the free frickie.

Ah!  Here is A-Manda Creation's portion of Surf, Sand and The 4th.  Isn't it just stunning?  This is also a look at the free template that we've made live again for a limited time.  Keep reading to get the link for it.

This image has the link for the free download.

If you are all about the free stuff, then The Cherry is the place to be.  I've still got our Dog Daze kit up for free.  It will be free for just a couple more days and then it will be gone.  Grab it while you can.  This next preview is the new, coordinating freebie for Dog Daze.  You can find it in our new group page on Facebook.  You may have to scroll a bit to get to it and you will find the link in the comments. I'd love for you to become a member of our group.  I'll be posting challenges, sketches, inspiration, tutorials, exclusive group freebies as well as games, links for more freebies and YOU can post your lovely layouts and other crafty projects there, too!

Click on this preview to get to our group and join us in daily shenanigans!

Here's a look at the kit.  It's on two different blogs and there is also a coordinating quick page on another entry.  This is no longer free.

Here is some scrappy inspiration with our new, free collection, Dog Daze.  This one is from me, using a template from Brenian Designs.

This lovely layout is from my scrappy sister, Dana.

Thank you so much for giving The Cherry some of your precious time.  If you download anything from us, remember it is for Personal Use ONLY and leave us some love as a way to say thanks via a comment, share or +.

Scrap something lovely, share it in our group on Facebook and join us for a laugh.

See you tomorrow for Freebie Friday.

Valentine's Cards and Free Templates

Welcome to The Cherry On Top.

We've got some hybrid inspiration for you, today in the form of a Valentine's Day card.  We also have links for a free card template and some fun free letter templates to play with.

We made these mini albums not long ago, using our free February goodies from a previous blog.  This mini can be made in minutes and with very little supplies.  Make either one of these mini albums and consider using it as an insert for a card.

I designed two layouts using Amanda Creation's new release, Stuck On You.  I scaled them back to a 6x6 format and inserted the layout into our free, basic card template.  I printed out some sweet Seuss quotes that suited my boys then added this simple pocket with some coordinating scrap paper.  Here, I put in the boy's mini albums.

I know JJ loves this picture.  I designed these letters and the heart as a template.  It's really fun and versatile.

You can move the shapes around into any format you like.  I switched it up for my other's son's card.

Once the layouts were created, these cards took a few seconds to layout and print.  Just cut the card out and fold it in half and your already finished.

This is the letter template.  Use it as you like.  If you want the card template, click here.

Did you miss our last hybrid?  We designed these paper card wallets and the templates are also free.  Click on the image to get the tutorial and the template.

This is our latest free template or quick page if you like.  It's been a real hit!  Click on the image to get to the blog for the link.

If you are all about the freebies then make sure you Follow us here, on Facebook and Pinterest, where we share all kinds of freebies daily.

Thank you for joining us and happy scrapping!

The Cherry On Top Links Up With The Digital Scrapbooking Studio's Winter Collection

Welcome to another huge, fantastically awesome, scrappy edition of The Cherry On Top.

Hehehe...I know, I know!  I have to consider decaf!  Hehehe...

We are totally kik'n it, today with scrappy inspiration, TWO hybrid projects, a couple of tutorials and a freebie, of course.

I'm jumping right in with the hybrids using A-Manda Creation's collection, I Love You A Latte. Isn't that the cutest name for a kit?  I immediately thought card and later thought, "Ooh!  This card could easily be turned into a tag."  Oh, how the mind works at warped speed.  Hehehe...

Here's a peek at the hybrid card.  Amanda has a template in her collection that you can use to make it and I've got the tutorial and some photos on just how to do it.  It's really, really easy and won't take you long at all.

This is the template I designed and the examples I made.

If you don't see Amanda's in the shop yet, they will be there soon.

Here is a look at the collection.  Isn't it super awesome?!

There's a shot of the tags.  You can purchase the tags already designed, by yours truly or you can grab the template and design them to your very own style.  You can also use that very template to design your card.  Keep scrolling to find out how.

Here's a look at all three tags.  Simply print and cut.  Punch a small hole left, right or centre if you like and add some coordinating ribbon.  Think about glitter glue for some added bling, like I did on the tag to the right.

Tip:  To get that effect on the tag with the heart, all I did was put a blob of glitter glue on the inside of the heart and used an end from a paper clip to spread it in just the right shape I needed.  It looks really cool and 3 dimensional. 

This is what your template will look like when you open it up.  Design your very own tags like I did above, with Amanda's lovely, I Love You A Latte kit.  I simply inserted the papers and used the word art over the cozy.  So easy and literally made in minutes.  These tags measure 5 inches.  If you want them bigger or smaller double check and make your adjustments before printing.

If you want to make the card like I did above, get your template from above ready, with the layers on the side in view and copy what I did here.  Click on the layers of the template that make the cup.  Do this BEFORE you insert your papers.  Duplicate or copy those layers, then invert the layers and drag them to the top of your original template like shown below.  You may have to click on all 6 layers (both cups) and shrink them up a bit to fit on your screen.  Do a test to make sure the cozy still fits nicely on your cup then make 2 more copies of it.  One will be for the front, one for the back of your card (if you even want it) and one if you want to make a pocket for the inside of your card.

Here's what the card will look like after you insert all of your desired backgrounds and Amanda's word art.

I thought this one had a bit of a masculine, warm touch to it.  Mix and match your papers and use your favourite designers word art from this mega collection or design your own.

All you'll have to do is print, cut and fold in half and you're set.  If you want the pocket, you'll have to print it, cut it and glue three sides only and position it on your card.  You can also use some scrap card stock if you prefer. (That's what I did.) Keep the size of whatever it is you want to insert into the pocket, in mind.  *This template is just large enough to hold a credit card sized object, placed the long way.

You also might decide to use your card, after printing, as a template, trace around it over some coordinating card stock to line the inside of your card.  Here's what it looks like from the inside with something tucked in the pocket.  If the pocket isn't fitting perfectly, make your own by tracing on some paper, cutting and gluing in place.

The talented designers at the Studio have several kits and or collections in this gorgeous mega.  I've had the honour to play with four of them.  Check out some scrappy inspiration from The Cherry.

This lovely layered up layout uses A-Manda Creation's collection, I Love You A Latte.  I decided to leave the blue out of this one and came up with a soft, elegant and very warm design.

Here's a layout with Amanda's collection, an older template from Lissy Kay Designs and I used the template from Amanda's collection to scrap up the large cup in the cluster.  So you can use that template to make tags, cards and use it in digital or traditional scrap pages.  Ya gotta love that kind of versatility.

This layout show's off two designers creations.  A fantastic collection, Winter's Frost from Aimee Harrison Designs and an awesome template from Heartstrings Scrap Art that's also a part of the Studio's super collection.

Heartstrings Scrap Art sure does have some gorgeous templates.  Here's another one of Byrony's templates from the Winter's Frost mega collection at the Studio.  This time I paired it up with The Kit Cart Designs collection.

The Kit Cart also has layered papers in the Winter's Frost collection.  If you don't have a lot of time to scrap, then these layered papers are ideal.  All I did was plop in a frame, mimicked a few of the elements from the cluster already designed on the page, added a few other coordinated elements and a touch of a snowy stamp from my own scrappy stash and of course, a picture with Liam and a very lame snow man.  Hehehe...BOOM!  Finished in minutes!

Pop over to Kit Cart's blog and grab this #freebie while you're at it!

LouCee Creations also has a nifty collection.  I really love that blue grey colour and this squishy, cold face is the best!  This collection has such a warm, homey feel.  I love it.

ALL OF THE AMAZING PACKS ARE JUST $1 EACH FOR A LIMITED TIME!

So, how would you like that freebie?  I've designed an overlay for you.  The birdies are from my Commercial Use stash, along with the tree, fence and flakes.  All of the rest is from The Kit Cart Designs' Winter's Frost Collection.  This is in png format.  All you have to do is right click and download.

Just put a picture behind the overlay and you're set.  See!

Remember that all of our freebies are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  They are not to be resold or claimed as your own.

Wow!  That was one heck of a spectacle, eh?!

Thanks so much for joining us here, at The Cherry. I hope you also join us at the Studio to shop around and play along with the monthly challenges.  See you there!

Top 5 Thanksgiving Sides

Welcome to a foodie edition of The Cherry On Top.

We asked around to friends, family and fans what their favourite sides and desserts were to see on the Thanksgiving table and now we're sharing healthy(ish), easy and quick versions of all of them.

Let's dig in to those lists so that you know what should be on the table.  We'll focus on the sides today and do the desserts later this week.

The resounding, most popular, by far side, was sweet potatoes.  They are preferred in many different ways and we'll share a few of them.

Check out this one!  The image is linked up to the full recipe.  So many fans like their sweet potatoes even sweeter, by adding marshmallows.  This recipe even has a pecan streusel.  This might be a new favourite for you, if you like it extra sweet.

If you haven't got your slow cooker already set up with something else than you could just chuck them in there, but it does take a really long time.  I just wash cut and steam, then put them in a serving dish with a generous pad of butter.

Mashed potatoes were an easy second and definitely a favorite of ours, too.  Consider adding some sour cream instead of milk for some added richness. This image is linked up to a very basic recipe.

If you want to try out something different this year, then why not give this recipe a try. It sounds fabulous.  It's a loaded mashed potato casserole.

Coming in third place is stuffing, but it definitely gets tricky.  There are so many ways to make this family favourite.  As a child, I did not like my mother's stuffing, but these days I make a very similar rendition to it.  You can find this very traditional, basic recipe in last year's Thanksgiving Special, right here.

I love BuzzFeed and this image is linked up to 25 stuffing recipes.  Some classically basic and some totally different.  It's definitely worth a look. I'd like try a few, myself.

It might be a no brainer, but number four is gravy.  Once again, there are many different ways to make gravy.  Your basic liquid should come from your meat and or your vegetables and potatoes if you are making those as well.  I use a mix of all of those.  The next main thing you need for gravy is a thickener.  In Europe, they don't do gravy.  They do saus which is basically the same, just a bit thinner.  You can use flour, corn starch or potato starch to thicken your gravy.  I've weened off of the flour and now use potato starch.  You need a fraction of it and it keeps your gravy tasting more like the meat and veg rather than the thickener.

Try out this basic recipe from Serious Eats.

Click here if you'd like to see a video.

The way I make gravy is a lot different than recipes I've seen and it's the way mom makes it.  Kind of. I might call it lazy mama's gravy.  Hehehe...There is no rue.

Reserve potato, meat juice and or vegetable water to equal at least a cup, depending on how much you need.  (If you forget, no worries.  Just get water from the tap.) This amount is good for four.  Don't fret if you don't have good stock from your meat.  I don't always have it.  If you do have stock from your turkey, make sure it is isn't too greasy.  You may have to skim off the fat.  (You'll see a visible layer or fat bubbles.) When I don't have enough meat stock for the gravy, I add half of a cube of bullion.  Either beef, chicken or vegetable depending on your main course.  I warm my pan or pot, add the liquids and when it starts bubbling, I add the bullion, stir and add pepper and any other herbs that go with the meal.  (Italian seasonings are often a safe bet.)  Then, in a separate lidded container, mix 1 teaspoon of potato starch with 2 teaspoons of COLD water and shake until combined.  (You can use corn starch or flour, but it will give your gravy a floury taste, too.)  Pour this in your gravy stirring slowly all the while.  If it isn't getting thick enough, make another small mix and slowly add the mix whilst stirring.  Wait before you pour it all in to see if the mix is thickening. It shouldn't take but a few seconds.  Keep tasting until it's to your liking.

Should I not be surprised that vegetables were the least mentioned side?  Green beans and broccoli were the only mentions.  Although corn is definitely a classic and really easy as well.  We'll link you up with this green bean casserole from Girl On A Mission.

Here are some fun printables from A-Manda Creation to distribute left overs or keep your own food organised in the refrigerator.

Bringing a little something extra to a family or friendly dinner?  Consider these fun, festive additions to your favourite bottle of wine or bubbly.

Last Year's Thanksgiving feature was quite a doozy with many more recipes, tips and other related stuff.  Check it out here.  Our Thanksgiving/Fall Pinterest board is full of ideas of all sorts.

Here are a couple of our freebies from last year. Napkin and utensil holders that ar ready in mere minutes and place cards.

And here is our current free printable. There is also a free template so you can designs your very own placemat.

That's a wrap.  We're coming back with the desserts, more games and activities for the big day.  

We'll see ya then!