Easy Holiday Napkin Rings/Placecards

Need table setting ideas for the holidays?

I've got 3 ideas for you on the May Arts Blog today.  Whether your table is casual or dressy, one of these quick and easy ideas are sure to spark your imagination.

Thanksgiving - May Arts Style

It's November and that means my very favorite holiday is on the way.  I love Thanksgiving...I always have.   It reminds me of happy times, good friends, family, counting our blessings and those oh so good smells coming from the kitchen.

I've got a quick, easy and elegant way to help dress up your Thanksgiving table today on the May Arts Blog.  Here's a sneak peek!

By the way, you'll find it easier to leave comments on the May Arts Blog now!  YAY!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Thankful

for You!

Foodie Friday and One Layer Wednesday OLW23

How's that title for messing up your days of the week!  It's perfect for the kind of week I had this week...I actually had look on my computer for what day it was yesterday...I seem to have misplaced a couple of days this week...

Ok, as promised, here's your Foodie Friday treat.  Thought since I made you wait, I'd serve it before my card...after all, it's still warm!  Mmmmmm!

This is a simple and not too sweet Pineapple Cake.  A mere 20 minutes to mix up, 30-35 min. to bake and you've got a warm and yummy treat that's great for breakfast or dessert.  Who needs a mix when this cake is so super quick and easy.  Bet you have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Pineapple Cake

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened

1 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temp.

1 c. packed brown sugar

1 c. chopped pecans

1 c. coconut (omit if you don't like it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan; set aside.  Drain pineapple, reserving the juice.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for about 30 seconds.  Add sugar and beat until fluffy.

Add eggs, beat until smooth.  Add flour and reserved pineapple juice, alternately beginning and ending with flour.  Beat at low speed just until combined.  (overbeating = tough cake)

Fold in pineapple with spatula.  Spread in prepared pan.

Combine brown sugar, pecans, and coconut.  Sprinkle over batter.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Serve warm.

Makes 12-16 servings.

Now here's my take on the One Layer Wednesday OLW23 Heavy Metal Challenge.  The challenge is to use metal on your card.  Thank goodness she didn't ask us to play an electric guitar..I'm so not musically gifted!  Darn it!

I just got these awesome SEI Moonrise Filigree Metal Accents in yesterday's mail...perfect for this challenge!  Is that leaf not gorgeous!?  There are 5 other beautiful coppery metal accents included. 

I scored 5 lines down the left side then ran a strip of copper sequined border that I picked up at JoAnn's awhile back on clearance.  The sentiment is PTI First Fruits stamped in Dew Drops Brilliance Cosmic Copper ink.

Heavy metal indeed!

Gotta run, my cake is getting cold!!

                 

Gratitude - CAS33

Yesterday was such a fun day for me. This card was chosen by the DT on SplitcoastStampers as the CAS Sketch Challenge for this week.

For those of you who may be newbies to SCS or stamping, CAS is Clean and Simple. Basically using a minimum amount of "stuff" and leaving some white space. White space doesn't have to be white as you can see here...it's space without any clutter that draws the eye away from the main focal point.

I decided to challenge myself and make another card using my sketch and a new $1 stamp I picked at Michaels and the sentiment from a new set by Making Memories called Autumn Splendor. I used a 50% off coupon and got it for about $4.00. This set is a bargain, ladies! There is an awesome snowflake that can double as flower, a fleur de lis, a lovely leaf, and the Gratitude sentiment I used here.

Overall card size is 5-1/2" x 3-3/4" . The tree is clear heat embossed although it's impossible to capture it in the photo. The center panel is popped up on dimensionals as is the image panel. Why don't you give this sketch a try and link your creation here...I'd love to see them!

Supplies:
Paper - Papertrey Dark Chocolate, First Fruits DP, SU Ivory, Tango Tangerine
Stamps - Michael's $1, Making Memories Autumn Splendor
Ink - SU Chocolate Chip marker, Tango Tangerine
Accessories - dimensionals, twine, clear EP, button, sponge

Thankful

Totally forgot to blog this! This is a triple CAS DT challenge card for Splitcoaststampers. You can find the challenge details here if you want to play along.

My base is a Fabriano notecard. Beautiful texture and elegance. Stamps - Papertrey First Fruits, Ink- Papertrey Dark Chocolate and Sakura red glitter pen, Ribbon - Target.

Clean and simple. What do you think ?

First Fruits Thanksgiving Table

Happy Saturday,

I just love Thanksgiving. It makes me angry sometimes that retailers just "jump" right over it in their rush from Halloween to Christmas. To me, it's a time to spend with family and friends and express our thanks to our Father for the blessings we've been given....even in hard times.

Several of my Stamp Campers are hosting Thanksgiving dinner so I thought they might like some ideas for their tables.

I just love Papertrey's First Fruits...so many possibilities! I chose this shock of wheat because it isn't too fussy and would be just as happy paired with Chinet as with your good china.

I used SU's Haiku DP paired with More Mustard and Tangerine Tango CS and inks. After stamping the wheat in More Mustard, I tapped the edges of the image with Tangerine Tango, then stamped in Versamark and clear embossing powder. I added just a touch of additional sparkle to the wheat tops with a Sakura Gelly Roll sparkle pen in a coppery color.

The images are cut with the largest size Spellbinder's Nestibilities plain and scalloped ovals, the edges are embossed and sponged with More Mustard for depth.

I created the names of the placeholder with my computer and punched it out using SU's word window punch.

The tiny tin is perfect for holding mints or a small treasure. I thought a small gift by each place would be a nice touch. I covered the edges with DP after first running a strip of Scor-Tape from Scor-Pal around the edges. The top pieces were also cut with a circle Nestibility.

I made the napkin ring by first cutting a strip of heavyweight acrylic to fit the napkin and then sticking it together with Scor-Tape. I did not adhere the DP to it but made it to slip on so the rings can be re-used. That way you don't have to "re-create the wheel" each time. :-) You can let your guests slip the designer piece off the ring to take home while you keep the master ring to use again!! Pretty clever, don't you think? :-)

I'd love to know what you think!

Season's blessings and Happy Stamping,

Charlene