En Papillote Arts: September 2012

September 29, 2012

I'm Wild About You!

I know it's been a while since I posted, but I had an unfortunate fall a few weeks ago and ended up with whiplash and a broken coccyx. Much better now and really happy to be back in my studio!

So this week, at Our Creative Corner, our challenge is brought to you by our hostess Liliana Inguanti of Stampin' From Home. This is her very first time hosting and she brings us a REALLY beautiful inspiration photo for our challenge! She asks that we create a card or project with a country or western look, and we must use something plaid or gingham (checkered/tartan is acceptable too!), such as in a ribbon or designer paper.

Here is my design team card. As you can see, I decided to go Cowboy Western and took some liberties with the deets!

I've wanted to use this font, Bleeding Cowboy, for a long time. The sentiment just came to me! That almost never happens. Well, except when I'm trying to name a new recipe.

When I think of cowboys and the West, I think of cooling off after a hot day, drinking a bottle of sarsaparilla, sitting on the front porch. I also think of lasso's, lariats, spurs and tooled leather saddles. I tried to capture these elements on my card.

While I was at ScrapFest, I found these FABULOUS bottle caps at Archiver's. I had to color it with a Copic to make it gold because it was silver. And I used a piece of mesh screen under it because it just screams PORCH door.

Please drop by Our Creative Corner and join in on our challenge. I promise you'll have fun with this fabulous technique! Also, check out the awesome projects from the FAB design team - they are amazing!

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson- It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts (you are here!)
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

Cristina Barnes - Dot Dot Stamping Design

Liliana Inguanti - Stampin' From Home

Paula McClane - Scrap Addicts Attic

Lisa Minckler - You Made Me Ink!

Kim Price - Inkognito

SUPPLIES:

Paper - MME pp, Bazzill, Memory Box gingham, My Time Made Easy Digital plaid, PPI kraft

Inks - Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Copic marker

Other - Sentiment - Bleeding Cowboy font, My Favorite Things - Die-namics - Fishtail Flags, Tim Holtz Sizzix Embossing Folder, MME star charm, Tim Holtz chain tassel, bottle cap - Archiver's, mesh screen - The Funkie Junkie Boutique, twine and rope from my stash

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'd love to hear your comments!

September 15, 2012

Make it Masculine and Monochromatic

Our challenge this week at Our Creative Corner, is brought to you by our hostess Paula McClane of Scrap Addicts Attic. How about a sketch challenge with a twist - make it masculine with the OPTION of going monochromatic! Ooo, I LOVE it! Does our team know how to challenge us or what? So, here ya go!

Here is my design team card for some inspiration.

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Cristina Barnes - Dot Dot Stamping Design

Liliana Inguanti - Stampin' From Home

Paula McClane - Scrap Addicts Attic

Lisa Minckler - You Made Me Ink!

Kim Price - Inkognito

SUPPLIES:

Stamps - Hero Arts CG427 Flying Airships, 331074 Calico Borders

Paper - Authentique, Bazzill

Inks - Memento, Ranger Distress Inks, VersaMark Watermark

Other - Ranger Ultrafine Clear Embossing Powder, brads

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'd love to hear your comments!

September 08, 2012

Someone's In the Kitchen with Marcy

...And that would be my son, Scott. He made the risotto and I made the shrimp. I LOVE cooking with my sons! Scott took this photo on his phone - modern technology, go figure! We enjoyed this meal with a wonderful bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

Shrimp Francaise

Serves 4

1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

2 large eggs, beaten

1/2 cup flour

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Season shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper. Put beaten eggs in a shallow bowl. Spread flour on a plate and season with another pinch of salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until slightly sizzling. Dip shrimp in the flour, then in the eggs. Add the shrimp to the skillet and sauté until golden brown on each side.

When shrimp is cooked, remove them from the pan and set aside on a rack over paper towels.

Asparagus Risotto (Adapted from Mario Batali)
Serves 4

1 pound asparagus, peeled, trimmed and cut into one-inch-long pieces, tips reserved
4 to 6 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 medium shallot, diced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
Kosher salt to taste
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 of 1 lemon cut into 4 wedges

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add half the asparagus stalks and cook until quite soft, at least 5 minutes. Rinse quickly under cold water. Put cooked asparagus in a blender or food processor and add just enough water to allow machine to puree until smooth; set aside.

Put stock in a medium saucepan over low heat. Put oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat. When it is hot, add shallot, stirring occasionally until it softens, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is glossy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add white wine, stir, and let liquid bubble away. Add a large pinch of salt. Add warmed stock, 1/2 cup or so at a time, stirring occasionally. Each time stock has just about evaporated, add more.

After about 15 minutes, add remaining asparagus pieces and tips, continuing to add stock when necessary. In 5 minutes, begin tasting rice. You want it to be tender but with a bit of crunch; it could take as long as 30 minutes total to reach this stage. When it does, stir in 1/2 cup asparagus puree. Remove skillet from heat, add remaining butter and stir briskly. Add Parmesan and stir briskly, then taste and adjust seasoning. Risotto should be slightly soupy.

To plate, divide risotto into 4 large bowls and place shrimp on top. Garnish with lemon wedges.

A Little Kiss, Anyone?

I always say that I don't know everything, although my husband might beg to differ! BUT, I am always eager to learn and that is exactly what I did with our challenge this week at Our Creative Corner.

Hosted again by the talented Lisa Minkler of You Made Me Ink!, she asks us to create a card or project using the stamp "kissing" technique, but with a twist. You must include the letters X and O somewhere on your project! Lisa has included a nifty tutorial on the OCC blog.

Here is my design team project using the technique. The trees in the background have been KISSED! Please don't look at my crooked stitching - it was late!

I took THIS stamp and inked it in Hero Arts Cup O' Joe Mid-Tone Shadow Ink and kissed it to THIS stamp inked in Hero Arts Sand Shadow Ink. After a few seconds, I stamped the trees onto white cardstock. I was SO excited with the results for my very first time trying this technique!

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Cristina Barnes - Dot Dot Stamping Design

Liliana Inguanti - Stampin' From Home

Paula McClane - Scrap Addicts Attic

Lisa Minckler - You Made Me Ink!

Kim Price - Inkognito

SUPPLIES:

Stamps - Hero Arts Tree Trunks, Newspaper Background, and Just Because

Paper - Hero Arts, Neenah Solar White, Bazzill

Inks - Hero Arts Mid-Tone and Shadow Inks, Ranger Distress Inks

Other - Hero Arts Edge Frame (E) Papertrey Ink Twine, Copic, Glossy Accents, MME button, ribbons

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'd love to hear your comments!

September 01, 2012

I Dare You to Resist!

Our challenge this week at Our Creative Corner is hosted by the uber talented Lisa Minkler of You Made Me Ink! She asks us to create a card or project using some form of resist technique. In your post, please explain which technique you used and include this extra; your card or project needs to include a pair of wings (animal, angel, bugs, or by themselves..you pick as long as it has wings!) Lisa has provided links for some inspiration: How To Use Your Scraps & 4 Resist Techniques.

Here is my design team project using the emboss resist technique. Seeing the image POP after the ink was applied is magical!