Monday, June 13, 2011

Exploring My Inner Pioneer Woman

I love Ree Drummond. I love her light heartedness. I admire that she pitched her business attire and found herself quite comfortable living ranch life (while still doing well financially) - smart woman! Then, there was me - waking up, donning my heels and dresses, and loving each and every day for 32 years. I'm still trying to do the best I can while quietly attempting to be a better person each day. In true Ree Drummond style, I cooked my heart out this weekend. My sweet DH appreciates my endeavors. The house smelled delicious. I baked, I cooked and cooked, and cooked - from Friday until Sunday.

I started on Friday by making a huge pot of spaghetti sauce. My mother and grandmother would be very proud of me. It was rich with meatballs and Italian sausage. I, like my mother before me, let it simmer all day long to reduce and thicken. My home smelled like my childhood. I found myself wondering if I had instilled this slow simmer technique in our son. He loves to cook and is quite good at it. Did I teach him to let the gravy simmer for a long time? In the evening, I put the gravy in the fridge so the flavors would marry even more. Saturday night, we had homemade rigatoni pasta with the scrumptious gravy.

Sunday, I put on my Ree Drummond hat once again. I made a Brussels sprouts salad with dates, almonds, dried cranberries, and a mustard vinaigrette. I served this with Asian style sausage and green beans served over rice. My DH LOVED the sausage and green beans. I couldn't get him to ever eat them at a restaurant. Same thing with anything Brussels sprouts. But, he did manage to eat some of the salad. He kept telling me how delish the sausage and green beans were! Success!

Now, on to a card to share with you.

I've been working hard and trying to improve my skills. I started this card a while ago and just got to finishing it this weekend. I think I actually began it in March! On the front, I've masked two stamps to create the background. Then, there is sweet Tilda in the yellow dress. The yellow just didn't photograph well. If I tweak the brightness, it'll bleach out the other colors. So, her dress looks yucky! She and her balloon are elevated on pop dots. I wanted the walkway to look like gravel. I hope I succeeded. This is also my first attempt at creating black hair. I like it! LOL. Here are the pages of my card:



This is the inside left. I stamped a Magnolia butterfly image and added some glitter to it for sparkle. It's elevated on pop dots as well. The print of the stamp looks weird for some reason in the photo. The lens didn't see what was on the paper very well.



Inside right:



Both interiors:



I have to make a Father's Day card for DH. I've been procrastinating in case the one I have for sale doesn't sell. I could just change the sentiment on the front and use that card. *tee hee* When we first met, DH and I went trout fishing in central Nevada. He had this expensive rod and reel. He made me a line from a willow branch and added the line with a hook attached. He showed off his fancy gear. I just flicked my willow branch into the stream and immediately got a trout! My DH was quite chagrined! LOL Then, I tossed my little hook back into the stream again and caught trout #2! DH never caught a fish at all. LOL So, that card is reminiscent of our fishing date, LOL.

Have a wonderful week! Thank you for stopping by and reading my small book above, LOL. I so appreciate your visits and comments. Thank you sooo much!

XO,
Chris

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Magnolia Stamp Lovers(ends 6/18) - Anything Goes

2. HookedonCraft Challenges(ends 6/24) - Anything Goes

3. KB Challenges #17 (ends 6/19) - Anything Goes

4. Catered Crop (ends 6/23) - Follow the Recipe: Colors: Blue & Green, Stamps: Nature (buttefly, tulips, and sky stamps, Color Medium: Painted Ink, Embellishments: pearls, lace ribbon, pearls, Tools: Die Cuts, sewing machine, Techniques:sewing machine

5. Paper Sundaes #73(ends 6/18) - Girly Girl

6. Catch the Bug Blog (ends 6/18) - Pearls and Lace

7. Creations by GillM - Sketch w/ circle shapes

8. ECP Challenges #40 (ends 6/23)- photo inspiration (I chose colors yellow and green)

36 comments:

Sylvia said...

Your card is totally awesome Chris. I love all the details on the outside and inside. And your DP is beautiful. Your coloring is great also the black hair.
xxxSylvia

Riet said...

What a beautiful card Chris.

Hugs Riet.xx

Beth said...

Chris, your card is awesome! Beautiful inside as well!
I've had many cards look completely different on the camera than in real life. Sometimes it just doesn't capture the true colors.
Have a great day!

Karen said...

This is soooo pretty! : )

Myrna said...

Super sweet card Chris! I happen to love yellow so I like her dress! Our cards never do look as good online as they do IRL!
I follow Ree's blog too. I made her meatloaf Sunday night. We could feed the whole block with it. I swear that stuff grows in the oven!!!

Suzi Mac said...

This is adorable Chris, I love the green and yellow, Tilda is beautifully coloured, love the inside and your sweet sentiments. I find it hard to get a good shot of green and yellow. I know it's much brighter in real life.
Hugs
Suzi x

Mascha Zimmerman said...

WOOW BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT DESIGN!
Bye Mascha

Rene said...

Oh Chris, this is so pretty! And I loooooooove the inside!!!! It's so pretty and cheery!
Rene :D

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful card Chris! Great job! I know what you mean about the pictures not coming out right! PS. I want to come and eat at your house. Your meals sound delicious =)

Cami said...

CHRIS! Shame on you! Don't be so hard on yourself! OMG this card is SO pretty and I don't know why you think it's just an OK card. It's gorgeous and her yellow dress looks great. You did a great job on coloring her hair black also. Your card is delish inside and out!
Hugs, Cami

Kim said...

This card is awesome. I love how you have colored her, and for a first attempt with black hair you did fantastic. Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

This is absolutely beautiful Chris!!!! It looks awesome on here!!!! What a wonderful job!!!!! Love the image and colors and image!!!! Fabulous!!!!

Barb Hardeman said...

Chris! Tell me again what it is you don't just love to pieces about this card????? Every you've done is beautiful, right down to the awesome gravel path. The scene you created is adorable, and the inside is exquisite, I love the way you did your panels and the butterfly is darling! You've done a beautiful job even while you were being Julia Childs in the kitchen (I don't know who Ree is, so my nearest association was Julia). Your meals sound so much more interesting than my out of the box quick fixes....
Hugs,
Barb

Elle said...

I think your photography skills are just fine. I feel the same way about mine-really stuggling with it. Plus, I LOVE your card! So bright and happy. Great job.

Christina C. said...

You are making me very hungry, girlfriend!!!!! Everything sounds delicious!
Your card is gorgeous....absolutely breathtaking. Lots of wonderful details and a beautifully colored Tilda. Fabulous job, inside and out!

Anonymous said...

You make your sauce just like my mother does! Nothing smells better! ;)

I think you have done a fabulous job on your card Chris! It is gorgeous inside and out. Love the scene and your beautiful coloring - love the dots on your walkway. Gorgeous job my friend! hugs, Angela

Chris said...

Chris, this is beautiful. You are much too hard on yourself. I love it!

Deb said...

Chris, this card is fabulous! Remember, we are our own worst critics. I absolutely love it.

Deb H.

Linda McClain said...

Ooo, I love the Pioneer Woman, too. I want to be her when I grow up. You card is adorable - everything about it is stunning. I'm so glad you played with us at Catered Crop.

Pam Sparks said...

I love the scene you created Chris and then the inside... just beautiful! I cook, but wow, you're a creative cook too! I guess I'm just too lazy. Our daughters all enjoy cooking though and every once in awhile I'll try something they've been up to!

Crystal said...

Oooh your recipes sound fantastic!!! Love your card, the inside is as beautiful as the outside. Your story about you & your hubby fishing had me giggling out loud :)
Thanks for playing along with us at Paper Sundaes this week!

Gill McCall said...

Chris WOW WOW WOW this is a simply stunning card and the colours are amazing as they all blend so well together.
Yes its fine to adapt the sketch from my challenge as its there just to give you the basics of an idea. I love it. Thanks for playing along in my challenge and hope to see you back again soon

Lisette Morris said...

Great card! Love the fun layout and all the details.

Karen said...

Such a beautiful card and so much work, but it was all worth it.
Thanks for joining us at hookedoncraft challenges for the first challenge and hope to see you again.

Peggie said...

How adorable. Love all the wonderful details inside and out. Great use of color.

Jenny said...

You certainly did succeed with that gravel driveway - I though Tilda was actually coming out to meet me. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Paper Sundaes this week.

cathylynn said...

WOW Chris this is magnificient!! So much to look at inside and out!! I love this DP's and your coloring is awesome! From the sound of it last weekend at your house was the place to be. WOW what a little Betty Crocker you must be!! I'm sure your family was well satisfied!!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

StampingScrapping.com said...

BEAUTIFUL CARD...
Love the coloring
You are VERY talented
Cindy
www.stampingscrapping.com

Amy said...

Beautiful card!!!! Thanks for joining Bugaboo's Catch the Bug challenge.

Only By His Grace said...

Beautiful card Chris. I can see how lovely it is. I can also see that you are a wodnerful homemaker. I think I will come to your place for dinner.
hugs Maz

cabio's craft corner said...

Darling card Chris. Your attention to detail is awesome and love this beautiful design :o)
hugs,
Cabio

Sandy said...

Hey Chris - yum, yum - just what I needed to read. I am trying to lose some weight here!! Your card is wonderful Chris - so full of texture. I thought the yellow dress looked great and that walk way is out of this world! Yep, I liked her hair too. Great card Chris - inside and out!!
XO
Sandy

Renée said...

mmmmm, totally making me hungry! Beautiful card, inside and out! thanks for playing with us at Catered Crop :)

Sandy said...

Wonderful - inside and out!!!!!

Christine said...

Chris, this is so gorgeous! Your colouring is amazing, and I just love your path!!

Lisa (mldesignworks) said...

Oh this is beautiful, Chris! I love your color combination! And I love Pioneer Woman, too! Thank you for your kind words on my blog, and I hope you have a great Independence Day! Lisa :-)