A Hybrid Gift From Boutique Cute Dolls

Happy holidays!  Thanks for stopping by The Cherry On Top.

Yay!!!  I'm teamed up with Boutique Cute Dolls this week.   We've got a super hybrid project for you!  Hurry!  Grab your scissors, glitter and goodies because you won't want to miss out on this one!

It's what's pictured below.  Just click on the image and download.  Then come back here and see how I put it all together and pimped it up.  Place a photo of the gift receiver in each designated space.  When the gift giving is over, get all of the tags together, fasten and give again!

Here's is ideally how it looks.

Cut out your tags, after printing them on decent card stock.  Maybe something with a nice underside or adhere them to scrap card stock that matches, like I did.

Get some of your favourite embellishers and get set!

I simply dabbed a few drops of glitter glue to get a splash of bling and dimension.

Plop on a few pearls for some serious pizazz!

Just one drop of glitter glue and a rhinestone.  Bingo!

Dress it up even by more adding ink.  Simply rub it over the area you want.

Use a deep dark brown ink for a more antique look.

Don't forget to ink up the back.

As you can see, I've punched a small hole in the right corner of each tag.  Make sure there are no embellishments in the way!

Use a small ribbon to attach the tag to your gift.

Then keep a long ribbon handy.  For this is what you can use to string them all together, like I did here, below.  You could use a ring or long pin brad.

(The printable FREEBIE is no longer available.)

You can even use it as an ornament on the tree!

Seriously, I had this baby together in about an hour and I'm super stoked with the result.  Thanks to Boutique Cute Dolls for sparing all of these gorgeous goodies!  I used a bit from several different collections to make this.

Thanks again, for checkin us out.  Pin this if ya don't mind and if you are really into FREE stuff, then take a visit to my Facebook Page, The Cherry On Top.  I've got tons of free stuff over there, everyday and not just digital stuff either!

Happy, happy holidays!!!

Boutique Cute Dolls and ME!!!

A very happy day to crafters and scrappers across the globe!

I made my blogging debut for Boutique Cute Dolls! What an honour working with such a talented designer and design team. 

For my first BCD entry, I talked about Boutique Cute Dolls newest release, “Always Remember” with focus on photos, aesthetic and simple observation. I chose a couple of layouts that high light just what I’m referring to. 

Janyelle has included two photos of what looks like a very special day.The one in the centre, framed, drawing your eye first. The second, taking a back seat, yet its presence also noticeable for its fun and the use of the large bracket. The photos are a huge part of this layout. Not only because we’ve all been to a wedding or have been in one ourselves, but we understand the importance of this very special event. A layout like this is a sweet reminder of the magic of marriage. Is the frame not a symbol of the rings and eternity as well? A subconscious choice? Maybe, but still excellent. Especially, with it’s centred positioning. Creating even more impact with the red flower and contrasting, green bow. Excellent!

Julia created this layout with emphasis on the large photo. Ah, childhood. What a time to remember and what better way than documenting through pictures. Is this not why we scrap? Coupling our memories with craft, design, art. What a fantastic way to express ourselves and through diverse media as well. Going back to the layout. The large photo is definitely an attention grabber, but the framed, contrasting, coloured picture also draws your eye. A good layout should draw the viewers eye around the page. These layouts definitely do that. Julia has chosen three focal points. The last being a super, duper stacked layer, right dab in the centre. Perfect! I told you these ladies were good!

Let’s look at Ellen’s layout next. Where is your eye drawn and why is it drawn there? The frame, the picture its location? Bingo! Centering our layouts is very often a preference and we may at times try to fight it, but sometimes it just turns out perfect by doing so. I love looking at pictures and cherish old pictures, too. Ellen has this same appreciation. Not only did she frame what we are supposed to be focusing on, but she also placed the photos on the apex of her layering. Wow! Have you ever even thought to analyse a layout like this? How else do you learn and become the ultimate scrapper?! Hehehe…I’ve only been scrapping over a year, but through observation and just playing around, I’ve come along way, Baby and so can you, by scanning layouts with an observing eye.

Of course you don’t always have to have photos. An awesome grouping with word art can have a lot of impact as well as a knockout layout with a beautiful sentiment or words of encouragement. Your work doesn’t have to be perfect or as good or better than someone else’s. What matters most is that you have fun doing it.

Here is my layout with "Always Remember" from Boutique Cute Doll (FB).  OK, the layout is pretty cool and a bit intricate, but that photo!  That photo!  My friend, Cormac is quite the photographer.  I cannot take such a good picture.  To me, this picture steals the show.  

Having fun scrapping is the most important aspect.  There are some rules and science involved, but it all comes natural when you keep doing it and you keep looking into the art of design rather than just "at" the design.

I've got a lot of links if you are interested in Boutique Cute Dolls designs.  Every image is linked up and of course, the purple high lighted words are also linked to the Oscraps store where you can find her lovely kits.

Happy scrapping!  Until we meet again.  I'll be participating in Romajo's blog 12 days of Christmas FREEBIE-A-Thon so stay tuned!

Easy, Cheap Meal Ideas

Thanks for coming to visit The Cherry On Top!

Today I'm starved and thought I might share with you some meal ideas.  One is super duper easy to whip up and you might just have all of the ingredients in your house at least most of the time.  The other is a popular Belgian meal that I thought anyone would love.

Let's start off easy!  I grabbed these pictures from the internet.  My pictures of food usually look ...not so yummy.  Hehehe...

This is pasta carbonara.  I only recently started making it, but it is so popular even with my extremely picky, Autistic, sensory sensitive children.  As you are preparing your pasta to boil, you start on the sauce.  First, fry up some bacon pieces.  Chop'm up if they aren't already, then put them to the side.  You can use many different things to make this creamy, cheesy sauce.  I've used cream cheese, herbed cream cheese and sour cream, although most recipes call for heavy cream.   Seeing how my hubby has heart complications, I go for the "Light" cream cheese or "Light" sour cream.  I also find that when I use this, the consistency comes out perfect!  No rue or starch needs to be added for the thick consistency.

Use a container of cream cheese or sour cream or even mix them up if you don't have a full one. (This is for two adults and two little ones.)  Keep the temperature low so nothing sticks to the pan and just keep on stirring slowly.  Put in peas if you like.  Add some parmesan cheese or some other kind of hard-ish cheese.  I used emmental once it was just as delicious. A touch of white cheddar might be ok, too.  Wait until it melts, throw in the bacon to warm it through and add some pepper.  You don't need salt because your bacon is salty enough.  It would probably be pretty good if you just sprinkled that, in the can parm, too. If you didn't have any other cheese.  Get the consistency you like by adding more cheese or more cream.  Ready in about 5 minutes!  Wow!

Uitsmijter is a typical Belgian meal.  I absolutely love it for so many reasons.  Though, I totally pimp it up!  American style, baby!  Hehehe...

First, wrestle up some over easy eggs.  I put my eggs in a sleek, slim skillet and cook them just until they set.  You are gonna want to have them a little oozy.  Mmmmm....Put them aside.  Use the same pan for the rest of the meal.

Second, ya get your slices of bread.  I cut mine thick.  Then I melt butter or herbed butter, even better and spread it all over both sides of my bread.  The beauty is, the bread doesn't have to be fresh because your gonna toast it up in the pan!  Awesome, right?!

When one side is finished toasting (maybe a minute or two) flip it over, add a nice thick piece of cheese and a generous slice or two of ham, rather thinly sliced, then slap those eggs on top and let it get nice and warm all the way through.

If ya wanna do an extra step, you could pop it in the oven for just a few minutes.  Your egg will cook a little more if you don't like it too, gooey and the ham will start to get crispy if you used thinner ham.

I serve mine up with a bit of rucola or a small, simple salad for some roughage.  Mayo is a nice compliment and I MUST have hot sauce.  Hehehe...

The kids are not a fan.  So, I just make them either eggs and ham or a ham and cheese sandwich, which they absolutely love.

If you need more details let me know.  I'll be happy to help!  Until the next time. Bon appetite!

Scrapbooking with the Gang from Graphic 45 What An Amazing Event

A super, happy Saturday to you friends, fans and family!

I had a fantastic afternoon, yesterday. I attended Scraptastic in Belgium. It's an all weekend event of various paper crafting and just good ole' creative fun. I cannot even begin to tell you how fortunate I was to attend an event like this. Juggling it between two handicapped children and my ill husband wasn't easy, but I had perma-grin throughout the entire workshop. Seeing the owner and her beautiful family all standing there in front of the class, welcoming us, was very, very special, indeed. I just have to share with you, the project we feverishly constructed as well as photos of friends I  made there.

This picture comes from the Scraptastic site. Gorgeous, eh?!  Of course, no one finished their project, but that's nothing new. I've never attended a workshop where I finished a project. No worries!  It's just great to be there among fellow scrappers and creative beings.

I'll be sure to post my project when I finished it. I'm in the middle of three UN-finished projects using Graphic 45. Hehehe...  I'll make it a point to finish them all up in the next week and post them all together. There's a peek at one a little further on.

 Here are some of the very happy scrappers and total G45, adoring fans!

This blondy here is, Nadine from Wallonia. She was really a star! A very, very nice woman who was completely ecstatic to be there, too. We exchanged info so we can meet up again and share all of our stuff. I love when that happens!

And here is the gang and Nadine! I didn't want to burden them by asking for yet another picture. Hehehe...I must say, they are a great family. So warm, friendly and helpful. Diane seemed magical and radiated happiness, beauty and genuine passion for people, nature and travel. Ya felt like ya knew them for ages. Now, THAT is special! Thanks for exceeding my expectations. That NEVER happens! Hehehe....

Here are some other projects I made with Graphic 45. I usually have to mix and mingle all of the little pieces of G45 I'm lucky enough to find here and there. It doesn't matter because I love it ALL! Hehehe...Anything you make with Graphic 45 comes out beautiful because the products are always fantastic.

This first one is recycled from a match box. It holds an accordion mini. If you click on the picture, you will be magically swept to my tutorial for the project.

This one is up cycled from a sock box and embellished with some old buttons. This image is also connected to the tutorial.

The next one is a a CD case, converted into a gift card holder. The tutorial for this one is connected with the link and there is a FREE template there as well.

This is also an up cycled project.  From a plain, black gift box to something a little more special.

I asked Jeff if Graphic 45 would ever go digital. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and our eyes open for that one!

I played a bit with some previews and made these layouts, just for fun.  Every feather painstakingly placed.  Ha!

See what I mean! EVERY collection is just stunning. This is the newest, "Couture". The bottom image is hooked up with a link to the Graphic 45 site.

My favourite and most recent FINISHED project. Hehehe...The lovely, tiny top hat using Bohemian Bazaar. Talk about wow factor! Beaming with brilliance and finery. I still can't believe I made this in a couple of hours, while watching football. Hehehe... I have more pictures in the blog dedicated to it's making. Just click and you can see it.

The next two images are just a glimpse of the project I'm in the middle of. It's really close to finished. Then again so are the other two!  Ugh! This is going to be a bird cage. It's looking great so far.

So stay tuned and see the end results from three projects using Graphic 45. Make sure to look out for the absolutely amazing products in your favorite craft stores or on line. I've hooked you up with some links and below are a few more.

Thanks a million for checking out The Cherry On Top! Make sure ya do it again and by all means, find the time to get crafty. You deserve it!

Graphic 45 Facebook Page
Graphic 45 on Pinterest
My Graphic 45 Pinterest Board

Graphic 45 Paper Top Hat Craft Idea

Whoo hooo!

Hello there, Fans, Followers and Friends!

I've been up to some paper crafting goodness. With the gorgeous products from Graphic 45, your creativity can reach some oxygen lightening levels! Check out this top hat I made for a future Graphic 45 workshop.

I used a cereal box for the base. It's really just two circles, a cylinder, some strips of paper, ink, a lot of double sided tape and glue dots. Then a drop of paint, glitter and some good ole bling!

I always keep the green wire on my paper flowers and wrap it around a thin paint brush for this spiral effect. Cool, eh? Do the same to get the paper spirals.

I wanted to keep some goodies around my hat so you can get an idea how small it is as well as see some of the products I used. It's a collaboration of manufactures like BoBunny, Webster Pages, Graphic 45...

Here is the front view.

This is a good view of the top and the back. I covered the seems with fabric tape and added blingy dots for more drama.

Loving the veneer bike with bling, too. The glitter was already on my flowers, that I bought at a discount store. I'm pretty sure this paper tape is from Hema. All of the papers are Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar collection. I'd be more than happy to make a tutorial if anyone was interested.

I put this whole thing together in a couple of hours, while watching TV.  Hehehe...

Thanks for hanging out at The Cherry On Top. Be sure to make it a habit!

New Furry Friends

A lovely day to you!

Yesterday, for the first time in my life and my boy's life, we went to a pound.  Like most children, my boys are crazy about animals and I figured there would be some shedding of tears, but I was determined to get some kitties and perhaps another, small dog.

This little fluff ball, affectionately know, for now as Pudding, is yet to be seen.  She is VERY shy.  We managed to scoop her up after everyone was in bed and hold her to us and give her some lovely din dinns on our lap.  She was just lovely and finally started exploring after the dog was locked up in our son's room.  (whispering...I just found her behind my printer.)

While on the other hand, this little devil is not shy at all, which is why we thought she would be great to take home.  Bring the other out of her shell as well.  She is extremely affectionate to all of the people here, but not so nice with the kitten and just a nightmare to our sweet doggie.  

Liam fell in love with a skinny, black kitty that was just bonkers.  He was all over the place.  No wonder there was an attraction there!  Hehehe...However, the lady suggested that he didn't get along well with other kitties.  There were the tears!

Then we moved on to the dog area.  The first dog was the kind of dog I would expect to see at a pound. OMG!  What a creature he was.  His bottom teeth stuck way out, his fur was abominable and of course, he was thrilled to see us.  Liam wanted this dog.  He told us that the doggy told him he didn't want to be here.  Brought tears to my eyes, but so did the sight of this poor beast!

While I fell in love with two little doggies.  One was a Papillion mix.  He was gorgeous and a real sweety.  He clung to me and the boys and got along swell with our Bichon.  He was not allowed to be released because he hadn't even seen the vet yet.  While back from her walk, came Dora.  An adorable Yorkie.  She was just the most sociable thing I have ever seen.  Unfortunately, we found out that she had cancer and would cost a fortune to fix.

While here at home, Poes (Pus) devoured several portions of good, kitty food and is enjoying exploring around the house.  Her favorite spot is the window, of course.  We have lovely, large window sills for her to sit it.

As cute as she appears, she is quite the little monster.  I'm afraid I'll have to buy more band aids, keep her far away from the dog and hope for better days ahead.

My idea of how it would be to go to the pound was exactly as I thought it would be...heart renching!