I made some cards for friends that we’ve been separated from during the pandemic & social distancing. Sometimes we can see our friends for lunch (outside seating!), sometimes not! So many people are going through a lot these days, so I’ve tried to give cards and a small treat to my friends, at least once a month. These are the ones I’ve made for them this week. (Plus some cupcakes!)
All of these use the Heartfelt Creations Regal Frames & Accents die, and the background paper is from my stash. The first one here has some yellow roses.
My second one is pink, with Double Petunias (I just love petunias!)
And the last one here is the Wild Aster. Asters are such a joy to make!
And now to make some cupcakes without eating them!
I think this is my favorite card so far. I really enjoyed watercoloring my birds and flowers! You might not be able to see it very well, but I have a thin white piece of card stock glued (under the birdcage where you can’t see it) which extends out to the right a bit, to support the circular feel I was going for.
Aren’t they precious? This one is a Birthday Card for my mom, soon to be 81 years young.
This card uses the paper from Heartfelt Creations Cascading petals – the “I Want it All” package included the die for the birdcage and the birds as well. using the outline die, I created the shaped card, putting fold about one inch from the tops of the cage. I the. Cut another of the outline, and put the birdcage on top of it. Then the circle was placed beneath that piece, and the top of the card, to hide it a bit. Then I colored my birds and the flowers, added some dimensional wisteria and more leaves to round it out (pun intended, lol!). You will note, I avoided adding a ribbon or bow – very difficult for me, almost like asking me not to add flowers or glitter!!
The inside has light blue paper with a sticker sentiment.
Obviously, anyone who has been eating Keto for any time at all, knows that there are loads of ways to enjoy your favorite food, with just a little twist. My goals, is to add to your ideas, with things that I’ve tried, and continue to enjoy.
Today, we’re all about Tacos!!
The only thing missing here, are the chips! You can add sour cream, shredded cheese and salsa to your hearts content! We have ground beef, seasoned for tacos, avocado halves, and homemade Pico de Gallo. Delicious and filling, and carb count is near zero! Yum, I’m going back for more!
I truly intended to make a tutorial for this album, but alas! a videographer I am NOT, and frankly, I think people must make an album first, and then make a second one to film, as all the planning and preparation that goes into each page, would make for a very (very!) long tutorial!
This was an experiment in water coloring with my Zig Clear Color Brush Markers, which my son, Wes, gave me for Christmas (2019)! I really did try to use them over the past few months, but I was not doing so well, until I found a few tutorials on YouTube. I am by all means, not an expert, but this is a work in progress, and fun to learn a new skill. I’ve also been playing around with colored pencils, blending them with a variety of mediums, from water, to alcohol, to baby oil.
Also I have a new toy to make a more perfect bow (it’s called 2 dowel rods hot glued into a wood base, lol! My sweet hubby made it for me.)
This little card includes flowers from Heartfelt Creations, a window from the French Country Garden Collection, and the birds and leaves are from the HFC Cascading Wisteria collection. zig markers colored in the flowers and the birds.
This card was made with Heartfelt Creations Cascading Petals collection. It is a pretty big card, measuring about 7-1/2 inches tall, and 6-1/4 inches wide. I took one of the papers and cut the top right edge for my background, and the using the die cuts, I also used the paper pack for the bird on the right, and all the leaves and flowers.
For the inside of my cards, I like to use nice phrases from a sticker pack I found at either Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I also used a border strip at the bottom for visual interest, and then I shellacked the flowers and leaves with “Crystal Laquer”.
Generally I try to keep my posts to twice a week, on Sunday & Wednesday, but I am so pleased with this recipe, I just have to share – right now!
Ok, a little disclaimer here: I definitely am trying to create a Keto version of some of my favorite recipes, BUT I am not going to completely eliminate real flour or sugar, because, personally, I feel like the sacrifice to the texture and flavor is just too great. However, I bring the carb count of many of my favorite foods down to less than 1/4th of their original carb count, and this brings the calorie count down as well.
I think what is so amazing about this recipe is that it actually has the taste and texture of pound cake! Really! We started off using this cake for a 4th of July Red White & Blue Trifle, using strawberries and blueberries for the red and blue, and my mind just got to whiring!
Here is our Recipe:
4 EB XL eggs 3/4 cup almond flour & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup Monk Fruit 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil 1-1/2 tsp Xanthen Gum 1 tsp Baking Powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp real vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups clean & dry Blueberries
Mix the dry ingredients together while the eggs come to room temperature, add in the coconut oil and eggs all at once, and blend in well – the dough will seem gummy or extra sticky, this is normal. Now add in the vanilla & mix again. Finally with a large spoon gently stir in the blueberries, trying to avoid breaking or popping them. Spoon into 12 regular cup cake wells, or 6 extra large ones (my preference, as I plan on eating 2 regular size ones anyway!). Bake 25 -30 minutes at 350.
These beauties only have 9 grams of carbohydrates for each regular size muffin, or 18 grams for the large one I’m going to eat. YUM!
Oh yeah, serve warm, or if you can, save for breakfast tomorrow & reheat for 10-15 seconds (each) in the microwave. Enjoy!
This little beauty was one day late for a contest, but is destined as a sort of “Thank You” Card. It includes some generic paper I picked up from Hobby Lobby, and all sorts of my Handmade Heartfelt Creations flowers. I also used one of the Heartfelt Creations Petite Pocket dies to add a wee bit of lace to the top and the bottom. I cut a butterfly out of gold paper from a Spellbinders die, and added the sentiment, lifted with a bit of foam, about 1/3 of the way down.
The inside has plenty of room for sentimental words, photos, or whatever you like? Enjoy, and show me your cards in the comments below, I’d love to see!
My Celestial Creations 