Bad Girls Creations

Happy Monday!

The December's Bad Girls kit was an eclectic mix of the antique and the modern. I was very pushed from by comfort zone, but I loooooove that. When I take products I don't think are my style and make them work, it makes me feel like a little slice of creative-genius might just live in me.

PEACE - I have recently taken up reading for pleasure again since having kids. This means I have to make the time in my busy life, but it was the first thing that came to mind when I thought of what brings me peace.




THE TERMINAL - My family went to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia this past weekend and it is entirely housed in an old train station. The checkerboard pattern on the children's themed paper was perfect for my slightly masculine railroad theme. I simply cut the squares out and placed them randomly around my photos.




BEST FRIEND - When I saw the back side of the cute tag paper in this kit I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I created a very masculine layout honoring my husband. This is a great way to use leftover tags.



NURTURE - This layout celebrates just one of my roles as a mother. I love the romantic elements in this kit, especially those big beautiful flowers by Prima. I used the beautiful Nursery Rhyme paper from the kit to start with a shabby chic feel and added more modern elements with the bling.



HELLO Card - I love finding ways to re-use the packaging of much loved products and Prima always makes their packaging gorgeous! I removed my flowers and simply cut the craft paper packing in half. It made creating this card as easy as pie.
.
.

4

I swear...I'll leave it alone now! At least for a little while. Not that I'm promising I'll never change it again. Cause I probably will.

Yes, another few tweaks of the blog look.
To answer your many questions....

- The three columns was a download I found by typing "3 columns blogger" into google. It required me to redo all of my widgets in the sidebars, but it wasn't too bad since I know html. The dotted grey lines were a part of the template.

- I am still liking the little girl on my header...so she's sticking around. Her chubbiness is endearing.

- I have added a few site map helps for those of you who want quick access to my recipes, tutorials and the like. To those of you who are unsure as to who Chicken and Fifi are. Simply click Meet the Family in the right hand toolbar.

- Yes, the timezones at the bottom all coincide with people I know and need to call. My mother lives in Sweden and my Father-In-Law is deployed in Iraq as a Therapist helping our soldiers deal with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We miss him, but we do get to do video calls with him via Skype occasionally.
.
.

3

Daily December Layout + Free Template

(Click to Enlarge)


This tutorial adapts the December Daily Album that Ali Edwards does each year (isn't she a genius?) and making it a bit smaller and easier to chew. I tried her idea last year and failed miserably...so this year, try an easy-peesy version that can be completed in less than one hour....yes, you heard me right....less than one hour.This project can be either 8.5x11 or 12x12* depending on your preference.

SUPPLIES
- 2 pieces 8.5x11 red cardstock or 1 piece 12x12" red cardstock
- 2 pieces white cardstock
- Your favorite Chipboard Alpha
- Marvy Circle 1.5" circle punch
- Good Cheer line by October Afternoon
- 2 or 3 red and green buttons
- assortment of all of your leftover numbers from stickers/chipboard alphas
- Heidi Swapp Snowflake Ghost Shapes or diecut paper snowflakes
- White and black photo pen.
- Paper Trimmer
- Sewing machine (optional)

Downloadable template for calendar base. Click here to download for FREE!
(Yeah, I'm cool like that.)

The following steps should either be done now, before December 1st and then filled in as you go along or between December 26-30 while the month is fresh on your mind.

- Open template using Microsoft Word. Print calendar template onto white cardstock. Trim around edges of grid.



- Adhere to layout lining inside edges straight along edge of red cardstock.



- Use a 1.5" circle punch to punch 4-5 circles of patterend paper.



- Use a trimmer to cut cricles in half.



- Line half circles along right edge of white grid to form scalloped edge. Adhere to layout.



- Sew a straight line stich around edge of your grid, going directly over your scalloped edge as well.



- Use white, red, green or other coordinating chipboard alphabet to write December 2008 along left side of white grid.



- Using a 2" square punch or trimmer to cut squares of multiple patterend papers from your hoilday paper line. Punch a few with your circle punch as well.



- Set these small papers aside in an envelope. Store with other supplies.

Throughout the month of Decemeber do the following...

- Take photos and keep a record of activities done on each day of the month (if you don't write it down, you will forget). Don't worry if you miss a day, you'll want to have a number of empty spaces on your grid by the end. You may choose to only include holiday themed activities or document all occurance throught the month of December.

When you're ready to assemble your page...

- Pull out stored supplies. Print out photos from month of december.



- Choose which photos and memories you would like to display on your layout. Trim photos to 2" squares.

- Place photos on white grid on appropriate dates first. Use a white or black pen to write short descriptions of photos directly on the photo.



- You should have some empty squares leftover. Place punched squares of patterned paper on empty grid spaces. Making sure you use a random mix. Add some circles of patterned paper to the middle of a few of your squares.

- Take any coordinating chipboard or sticker numbers and lable date numbers on free squares.



- Add a few colored buttons to corners to break up and soften grid lines.

- Add Ghost or paper Snow Flakes to "white space" of layout edges.

*To adapt this layout to a one page, 12x12" layout, print the grid to the same size and configure your layout like the example below.



Hope you love this idea and that you can use this simple project to document a frenzied month that means so much to your family. This same layout could be easily adapted to Hannukah or other alternative holidays besides Christmas.

6

RECIPE // Fancied-Up Kentucky Hot Browns

Still recovering from Thanksgiving.

Not every dish is washed yet.

Need to update a few recipes I tweaked this year.

Enjoying a lazy weekend.

Someone asked me last week for ideas on holiday traditions for a young couple looking to make their holidays more meaningful. I realized all of our Thanksgiving traditions are food related. But hey, that's how it should be. And so I am going to share an Ahern family Thanksgiving tradition that everyone should adopt. Kentucky Hot Browns.

I first heard of these traditional Southern sandwiches a few years back and they have since joined our family recipe box on a permanent basis. The REAL recipe uses white sandwich bread (like Wonder Bread) and is not quite this fancy.  They are a fabulous and easy way to use up turkey leftovers after Thanksgiving and we always have them the day after our Thanksgiving meal.

*Warning: This recipe is not intended for those watching calories, on a diet or desiring to be healthy in any way. Consumption of this recipe may lead to cardiac arrest or serious widening of buttocks and thighs. But man, is it ever good!

Fancied-Up Kentucky Hot Browns

Makes: 4-5 servings

INGREDIENTS

8 slices sourdough bread

16 slices cooked turkey

4 slices tomato, cut in half

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups whole milk

1 cup grated sharp white Cheddar

1/4 cup grated Mozzarella

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

8-10 slices bacon, cooked

DIRECTIONS

- Preheat oven to low broil (if you don't have a low broil setting use regular broil and keep rack in middle of oven.

- Place pieces of bread onto baking sheet and lightly toast in oven for 1-3 minutes, watching carefully so as not to burn. Remove and set aside to cool.

- Cook bacon on griddle until crisp. Set aside to cool. Then chop or crumble.

- White Sauce: Melt butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, bring to a boil and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and the flour has cooked out, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in 1/2 c. cheddar cheese and all mozzarella until melted. Season with salt, and pepper, to taste.

- To assemble: Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Line bottom of dish with toasted bread slices. Top each slice of bread with 2 thin slices of turkey and 1/2 slice of tomato.

- Pour cream sauce even over bread slices. Top with remaining 1/2 c. cheddar cheese. Place under low broiler until warmed through and browned on top. Top with crumbled bacon and freshly chopped chives (optional). Serve while still warm.

.

6

Life Lessons and Thanksgiving

Oh, I prepped everything. Every little detail. Last night before I went to bed every vegetable and fresh herb was chopped and labeled. Every dish was clean, every recipe printed and written out into a timed schedule so as to all arrive at the table at 3:00pm sharp. A homemade sticky-bun breakfast sat eagerly on the counter, raising to perfection, just awaiting the morning when we would awake and start the holiday with family harmony and peace.

Everything was in place for a harmonious, stress-free and flawless Thanksgiving Day. However, Thanksgiving morning started with this...



Ella awoke early this morning, snuck into the Living Room and got into a large sized bottle of my white acrylic craft paint. She turned it upside down and poured it onto our carpet. She then walked down the hallway with it pouring out. After that activity lost it's joy, she squeezed it into her hands and did this to the coffee table and then rubbed her hands, in creative circular motions, on our television screen and cream painted apartment walls. This was the only picture I dare take, since Matt was fuming and the morning turned to chaos. Ella was sent to her room and Matt had to quickly dress Evangeline and take her with him to Wal*Mart to purchase our very own wet/dry shop-vac. (It's a good thing Wal*Mart has no soul and forces its employees to work on Thanksgiving) Visions of security deposits danced in my head as I stayed home and poured warm water onto the paint on our carpet, hoping to keep it wet until Matt's return.

On his return I took the girls into our bedroom and occupied them watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade while Matt scrubbed each paint stain on the carpet until it was all lifted up....an hour long procedure.
But there is a happy end to the story. We sucked it up...literally and figuratively, and carried on.

Everything got cleaned up to perfection with the help of the wet/dry vac and about 2 gazillion Clorox wipes. And the dinner made it to the table at 3:00pm precisely. We spoke with the kids about the first Thanksgiving, they made a foam turkey craft and colored a Pilgrim coloring page, we each said what we were thankful for, had family naps and then watched The Incredibles into the evening.

It was a happy day and I was so clearly reminded that attitude is everything. We kept our cool and ended up having a wonderful day with our little family.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
.
.

9

Something Happy

I really love being a Mom. Finding fulfillment in my day to day life of mothering is not something I usually struggle with. But last week was a doozy. Matt worked late every single night and no matter how much cleaning I did, my children followed right behind me and messed it more than before I started. I found myself raising my voice repeatedly and handing out a few spanks...two things I rarely do. By week's end I was completely frustrated and frazzled and spent.

On Friday morning I received a visit from two women from my Church. As I welcomed them in I noticed one of them baring aluminum pans and grocery bags. in her arms she carried a ready-to-bake homemade Italian chicken and rice casserole, a bag of salad, a bottle of Ranch salad dressing, garlic and cheese croutons, a loaf of French Bread and a plate of homemade double chocolate brownies. These wonderful women then sat down on my couch and asked me how I was doing, listened to my frustrations and let me know that every Mommy has weeks like this.

They then shared a passage from a talk by LDS Prophet Thomas S. Monson, entitled Joy in the Journey.

The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, “Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.”

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

I want to leave this message with all of you and add to it to try a little harder to love and nurture your fellow women. That dinner and that message lifted my spirit, renewed my commitment to taking joy in the foibles of Motherhood and reminded me of the small moments which make up the happiness which encompasses our lives.

Make some brownies and share them.

.

4

DMV Drag Out

I am a super-nice person. Ask anyone. But I don't tolerate other people being rude or coming after me. And I know how you blog-readers love it when I confront lousy people in public, so I had to share my experience at the DMV yesterday.



I had Ella and Evangeline with me, so when I arrived I went to the information desk where the woman directed me to the appropriate line to have my registration renewed. But after waiting for 20 minutes I was informed that that was the wrong line and I had to go to a different one entirely.

The new line ran parallel to the Information desk and was only 5-10 feet away. As we waited Ella began to quietly sing a song and wind around one of the rope poles. The nice woman next to me commented on how beautiful my kids are and how fun they are at this age when they have so much energy.

We waited and waited. Soon 40 more minutes has passed and we were still in line. At this point I noticed out of the corner of my eye, the woman at the Information desk looking at my kids and sighing, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. I chose to ignore her. Then her sighs became louder and louder and finally I looked her right in the eye. Then we had the following exchange.

Information: Your kids need to settle down.
Me: Um...you need to relax.
Information: Well, you need to get your kids under control!
Me: My kids are under control. But they're they're also 4 and 2. And someday, they'll grow out of being so hard to handle, but I doubt there's still time for you to grow out of being a cranky old beast!

Then she was silent. And the woman in line next to me, bless her heart, said as loudly as she could, "Some people forget what it's like to have little children!" and the man on the other side of me added equally loudly, "I think your children have been very patient."

After I was finished in line I had to walk past the information desk on my way out. When I approached, the woman looked down and avoided my gaze. And you know I can't just let it go. I said, "Yeah. You should be embarrassed." and left the building.



Well, was it everything you hoped for?
And no, I did not get my registration completed. Matt forgot to sign the title for our van.
That means I get to return tomorrow and face my DMV nemesis once again.
Bring it on!

16

Recipes that Rock: Iowa Corn Casserole

Many of you asked about Iowa Corn Casserole.Well, it's truly amazing and delicious and EASY EASY EASY to prepare!

What's better than that?

Nothin.

I first fell in love with this recipe while serving a mission for my church in Iowa. I lived among the gorgeous rolling hills and farms of Southwest Iowa for 1 year and this reminds me of that time in my life.

So here's my cherished recipe. It's savory, but sweet. Perfection.

Iowa Corn Casserole

2 (17 oz.) cans cream style corn

1 (17 oz.) can "niblets" corn (undrained)

8 oz. sour cream

Dash of salt and pepper

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 stick butter, melted

2/3 c. onion, finely minced

1 sm. Box (8.5 oz) cornbread mix

- Grease 9x13" casserole dish.

- Mix all ingredients in bowl and pour into pan.

- Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees (until brown and dry on top).

5

Check Me Out!

1. My review of the Xyron Create-A-Sticker is up at Craft Critique. Read it here. Even if you're not a scrapper....if you have kids, you must own one of these. I really went in depth and gave lots of good ideas for using this product, which is a staple in my life. I swear if my house caught on fire, I might grab my kids first and then my Xyron. Okay....maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration.

2. Sometimes I create something and when I look at it a few days later I think....eh, not so much. We all have hits and misses. But my current project up at the WorldWin Cardstock blog is amazing. It's this adorable Silhouette of little Ella and I am making one for Evangeline as well. Cross my heart, this takes 30 minutes....flat!

I made it and I am not afraid to admit how much I love it and how well it turned out. I rocked that project people! I'm just sayin'. For full, step-by-step instructions click here.

Make sure to leave a comment on the WorldWin blog so I look like I was a pretty cool Guest Artist. (wink!)


3. Check back later today. I have so many fun things to report that I'm gunna two-post-this-bad-boy today!

5

Tip: Using Large & Bold Patterns

I got a great question yesterday from a blog reader, Audrey, who wants to know how to use large, bold patterned paper. I know how intimidating this can be when you're first getting used to it. Here are a few tips to get you started...

Tip #1 - Go MinimalLet your bold patterned paper be the majority on your layout. Choose one of the colors from the pattern to add a small frame to a photo and then journal right on the photo. This is a great way to get a big impact from a print you love and still bring focus to your photo and journaling. This is one of my favorite layouts. I love the simplicity and I love this bold patterned paper.



Tip #2 - Cut it upA craft Knife can be your best friend when working with large patterned papers. I love the Bo Bunny retractable craft knife for this job. Cut out certain large elements of your pattern and use them as a focal point for a coordinating paper from the same line with a smaller pattern. In this layout below I cut a large flower from the patterned paper that is along the top of my photos and used it to accent the smaller patterned paper from the same collection.



Tip #3 - Overlap EdgesYou can also use your craft knife to just cut the edge of a large pattern out and overlap them over your photo. This is a great technique for making your photo look like a part of the overall layout and also creates the illusion of multiple layers without all of the effort. For this layout I cut the edges of the swirls in the pattern and laid them over the photos edges.



I hope that helps answer your question.
Go forth and create with bold, graphic and large patterns!
.
.

7

Sunday Sketch

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted a Sunday Sketch and so here is a 2 photo sketch for you to enjoy. 2 Photos alaways seem to be the hardest number of photos for me, so these sketches are a big help.




Pailsee Press Digital has a brand new set of digital brushes that are amazing antique snowflakes. "Brushes" is just another word for what traditional scrappers might call a stamp. Except these stamps can be recolored and made any size. Using just one of these brushes I was able to easily make my own patterned paper and embellishments. I can't wait to use the other stamps in the set! Buy them here for just $2.99.

But Emilie, you only used 1 photo! That's okay. The great thing about sketches is that you can always adapt them to fit your needs....or number of photos.



Kylie Elliot sent me this fabulous layout she made using this past Sunday Sketch. Email me layouts you have made using one of my sketches and you too could be showcased here. LOVE it Kylie!

3

f-f-f-friday!

Just found a new blog called Friday Fill-Ins.
So fun!
Here goes.

1. The last band I saw live was Morrissey.
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is Iowa Corn Casserole.
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is finished. Woot!
4. Thoughts of scrapbooking fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear cute geometric print tops.
6. Bagpipes make me emotional.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit, tomorrow my plans include scrapbooking for some upcoming assignments and Sunday, I want to nap!

And because no blogpost should be without a picture...
Please to enjoy: Squirrel Sandwich.



.
.

7

Sage Advice from a Concerned Toddler

Ella sat in silence, regarding her pizza thoughtfully. Suddenly she looked up, an earnest expression crossing her sauce stained face. Her words came out carefully and with a steady tone which implied gravity,

"Mama . . . promise me you'll never eat lava."

Her mother hid her smile.
"I promise, Ella."

.

6

Little Photog

I picked up my digital camera today and noticed that the memory card was full.
Not possible I thought to myself.
Then I flipped through the photos on the card and it became clear.
Ella has taken up photography.
Here's a sampling.



Not bad, eh?
.
.

10

Get Ready to Rock!

#5 - MeganK
#13 - Jilly
#19 - Jaime Wilkins
#36 - Jennifer Kolakowski
#37 - sandra

Email me your Names and Mailing Addys!

To all of the commenter....the stories were hilarious!

And now for one of my most shamefully awkward moments...

I was 16 and a Girl's Choice dance was coming up. I was not planning on going, but at the last minute all of my friends pressured me to ask this guy from my homeroom that I barely knew. Dan seemed like a nice guy and was pretty good looking so I asked him and he accepted. I looked forward to a big fun group date with all of my close friends. Unfortunately, one of my friends invited a girl I was totally annoyed by. Her name was Amy-Beth Honeymiller and she had been dating her boyfriend for 2 years. Well, on the day we all got together to plan our fun date, Amy-Beth dominated the planning and made a plan to kidnap the boys on the morning of the dance at 6:00 am and take them to McDonald's for a candlelight breakfast. That seemed fun enough so we all agreed.

Each girls was assigned to call another girl's date's Mom and warn them of the coming kidnapping. I called my friend's date's Mom as assigned and Amy-Beth was supposed to call mine. She didn't. I showed up to his dark house at 6:00 am and knocked and rang the bell relentlessly. Finally a sleepy-eyed Mom arrived at the door and beckoned me in. That was awkward enough, but it gets better. I drove my date, blind-folded to the McDonalds where we met Mary-Beth Honeymiller with her blindfolded boyfriend in tow. She had not checked on McDonalds opening time and we had to wait 30 minutes until they opened. While we were standing there in awkward silence, my date reached his hand out and grasped my shoulder, jokingly saying, "Emilie...is that you?" to which Amy-Beth loudly exclaimed, "Way to go Dan! Your grabbing Emilie's BOOB!!!" Dan snatched his hand away from my shoulder and we all stood there...not saying one word...for at least 20 more minutes. It was so completely uncomfortable. The rest fo teh date never recovered and me and Dan barely spoke after that.

8

This & That

A bunch of you have asked what lipstick I wear. So here's the deal-io. I'll tell you only if you agree to read and follow my detailed instructions for application. Otherwise, you'll buy it and hate it and then you'll begin to hate me and my lame blog in consequence. Do we have a deal?

Loreal Infallible Never-Fail Lip Colour. And here's what you do...Buy a darker shade than you actually want. Put it onto one lip at a time and immediately blot it with tissue. This will leave just a thin layer that won't crack and is not mask-like. Repeat with lower lip. Use their gloss as directed. This totally works. I swear. At the end of the day use Mary Kay Oil free make-up remover for super simple removal.



Mini Album Class. There's a new online class starting over at the WorldWin cardstock blog. It is taught by 2009 Memory Makers Master, Kim Frantz. It is completely free and is taught over the next four weeks. It also includes templates and instructions for a matching case. I'm totally making this as a Christmas gift. Of course, you can customize it to whatever them you want. I'm so IN! The first installment can be found here.





I finally updated my Pumkin Love recipe with a photo.
Here it is.
Delish.





My current celebrity crushes...

Ben Sollee


Vince Vaughn




Just found a new and delightful website.
It's called Not Martha and it's a fabulous collection of crafty experiments by one Seattle woman.
She's my kind of woman. I found a gazillion things I wanted to try.



I am mostly a "live and let live" kind of gal, but if I have to hear one more thing about the Twilight books, the Twilight movies, The Twilight men...especially Edward...I'm gunna lose it.



People seem to like to pressure me to read these books since they know I majored in English Lit in college. But why would majoring in Classic English Lit give me a desire to read a Vampire book? So no, I won't read it. And while we're at it no, I will not join Facebook. LOL! I love that you love me, and want to share pictures with me, but I know people who have had scary experiences with Facebook. I guess you just never know if the nice guy from your 3rd grade class is now an axe-murderer. But thanks for loving me enough to ask!



A blog Award to love.

I have received all of the blog awards and I am so flattered, but this one was by far my favorite....the Marie Antoinette Award. Thank you so much Krista for passing this award onto me. This award means she feels I am real in who I am. What fabulous praise!

I pass this on to some of the most real blog chickies I know...
Adrianna, Cathy, Emily, Michelle, Stacey and Roxann

Rock on Girls!

.

.

10