Fairy Matchboxes and Beautiful Butterflies

Hello and Good Day to You!

Several weeks ago I was looking at beautiful printables online and I came across some adorable fairies and butterflies that you could decorate matchboxes with.  I enjoy making things like this, so I immediately purchased the printables, which included the template for the matchbox, and I made several matchboxes.  I have them displayed in a cookbook hutch with a glass door.  Each time I pass by, I have to smile because they are just so darn cute!  I thought you might like to see them.  You can decorate them any way you wish - and the sky is the limit!  I guess that's what makes them so much fun.  I purchased the template and the printables from Pixie Hill Studio on Etsy, if you find yourself wishing to make some!

Aren't they beautiful and fun?  It takes you away to another magical place and time!  And we could all use another magical place and time right now.

Happy Good Friday!

Greetings, Friends!  Happy Good Friday to You!  I have several Easter projects I want to share real quick!  This is an Easter card I made using my Cricut Maker.  LOVE THAT MACHINE!

And this is another cute project I made with my Cricut Maker.  I love the 3D bunnies!

I love making very small business-sized greeting cards.  I found this adorable stamp of a snow bunny, and I had to have it!

Are you on bunny overload?  LOL!  I've also been busy making some Easter and Christmas domino necklaces.  I'll share those soon!  I hope you all have a wonderful Easter. 

Banana Bread

Greetings!  We recently ended up with an abundance of bananas in our house - and neither one of us eat that many bananas, so the logical thing to do was to make banana bread.  The funny thing is, I've heard that lots of people are making banana bread right now.  That made me laugh because I next to never make banana bread, but I am now!  Banana bread is okay.  It's not something that makes me jump up and down about, but when I tried this recipe, I really liked it!  I made three mini loaves the day before yesterday and gave one to Ms. Lily and Ms. Genice, two of my sweet neighbors.  Our little loaf didn't last long, so I made three more mini loaves this morning.  The house smells heavenly, and there is nothing quite like warm banana bread with a little pad of butter melted on top.  Serve it with a cup of hot tea or coffee.......and you're there!  I thought I would share the recipe with you.  Another thing I was excited about is that I was able to get in Cricut Design Space and cut out a nice little box to put my mini loaves in when I'm giving them away.  I'm happy when I can use my Cricut for things like this!  I found some cute little envelope printables online and enclosed a quick note to tell them to enjoy their bread. 

Grandma's Easy Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 bananas)
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips - optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a stand mixer, or hand-held, mix together softened butter and sugar until well combined.  Then add in eggs and mix well.  Next add in vanilla, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and mashed bananas.  Then, while the mixer is on, slowly add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix slowly until completely combined, scraping the sides and the bottom.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan or pans.  If using one 9x5 loaf pan, bake bread for about one hour.  If using three mini loaf pans, bake bread for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  (A note from me:  Check your bread at 35 minutes because it might be done!)  Let the bread sit for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.  Serve and enjoy.  I added chopped pecans and it was heavenly!

This recipe came from www.eatyourselfskinny.com.

Have a good day.  Stay inside and stay safe!

Bunny Garland

Hi, all!  How are you holding up during this coronavirus crisis?  I would be lost without my love of papercrafts.  It's getting me through every day.  I saw a cute bunny garland on Pinterest and I used my Cricut machine to cut all 32 of them out.  I purchased a Cricut machine several months ago.  I was

concerned that it would be way over my head and it would cause more angst than happiness.  I told myself that I would gradually work my way through learning as much as I could - that it's not a race or a contest - that I have no deadlines to meet - it's strictly a "fun" thing for me.  I have done exactly that and I am completely in love with it!  I still have a million things to learn with it, but that's okay.  It's just for me and so far, I have completely enjoyed it.  So, if you're thinking of getting one, DO!  Here is my bunny garland.  I love using newspaper print for anything.  I think it's adorable and I may not want to take it down after Easter!

I hope you have a wonderful Easter celebration.  I am going to miss having my kids here.  :(

I'm Still Papercrafting!

Greetings, friends!  Are you surprised to hear from me?  I've kind of surprised myself to be making a post this morning; however, with the Coronavirus Pandemic forcing us to stay home and slow down, I realized I had time to post some cards I've been making.  It's carthartic, too, to feel that I can communicate with others while not even leaving home!  So.........how is everyone doing?  The funny thing for me is that while of course I'm troubled by everything that's going on, and it's certainly not a happy time, I am enjoying staying home and embracing a slower pace.  I love that my calendar is completely free of any commitments and that I don't have to go anywhere or do anything.  If something doesn't get taken care of today......well.......there's always tomorrow.  No one is coming over and I don't have to go anywhere - it's freeing to me - and I love the calmness and tranquility.  I do miss going to the grocery store, though, and I look forward to the day that if I decide to bake bread, I can run up to the store and get whatever I need, and that's not the case right now!  ANYWAY, I've been having a great time crafting at home, so I'll share a few of those things.

I purchased a cute die a couple of months ago and just never used it until now.  It's from Paper Smooches.  I'm in love with it.  It is absolutely perfect for the types of cards I like to make.  I love the simpleness, the crispness, the cuteness, and how elegant it is.  I've been going through all of my stamps to see what fits in that little rectangle. It works with so many sentiments.  I have been putting together a family directory for all of my relatives, as well as a birthday list, so I'm going to try my best to send birthday cards to the women in our family.  Sorry to the guys, but masculine cards are just not my forte, unless I find something perfect here pretty soon.  I fussed around with adding rhinestones or pearls to some of the flowers, but I ended up taking them off.  It seems perfect when it's kept simple.

Hope you are all doing great!  It feels nice to post again!