Photo Tray

I’ve had this photo tray from 7 Gypsies for quite some time. As I came across a little of this and a little of that (trinkets) I put them aside. Just this week I had enough time to arrange and re-arrange (because that’s part of my creative process) the little treasures that have special meaning and remind me in some way of each family member. This little tray is hanging in my kitchen and each time I see it , it sparks fond memories of FAMILY.

Mango Slaw

For me, growing up in the 50’s was a great peaceful, satisfying time. My childhood was a time of Ozzie and Harriet, leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. My family, like most families I knew, always sat down for meals together, including breakfast. We were expected to be on time, help serve, clear and clean up. We were also expected to participate in the table conversation. Sunday midday dinner was served in the dining room. We wore our church clothes and used the best china. We all ate the same food, no special menus or diets were considered. We certainly understood that we needed to “clean our plates” and if we balked the “starving children of the world” were quickly mentioned. Many of my fondest childhood memories are food related . . . my mother canning surplus fruits and vegetables for instance. I loved watching her assembly line. There was a big freezer in the basement and my mother froze the excess garden harvest. I can remember my mother trying out new recipes found in the Sunday newspaper.

Well I don’t can or freeze the excess garden harvest . . . we don’t even have a garden. But I love trying out new recipes. When our children were little they use to look through my home and garden magazines and pick out recipes that they thought looked good and/or interesting and we would try them. Some of those recipes have become family favorites (Strawberry Cheese Delight) and some were never to be made again (Sausage Casserole).

I still like to try new recipes . . . some are keepers and some are never to be made again. One of the keepers is this Mango Slaw recipe - easy to make and delicious too!

Mango Slaw

4 cups of cabbage & carrot slaw mix

1 cup mango, peeled and diced

1/4 cup red onion (optional)

Mix together

Make the Dressing

¼ cup mayo

1 T cider vinegar

1 T sugar

¼ t salt

Mix well & then mix with the slaw mixture

Serve & Enjoy

I substituted the cabbage and carrot slaw mix with a broccoli slaw mix.

Scrappin The Same Photo

One of the questions on the Croppin Paradise forums this week was - Do you ever scrap the same picture more than once?


Yes . . . and that’s an under statement! With my daughter having 4 boys there are a multitude of times when they are all in the same photo. I complete an album for each boy every year and that means scrapping the same photo four times. I can’t bring myself to use the same layout or design for these photos . . . somehow that would be cheating lol! When I received the Easter Morning photos from my daughter to scrap I was in awe:

1) because the boys look so stinkin cute!

2) I’m wondering where she gets the energy to get 6 people up, feed, dressed and out the door for church and

3) I had to decide on a paper line, embellishments and a design for each layout.

So . . . here is what I came up with.

I completed these two layouts for a DT assignment at Croppin Paradise.

I used the Fresh Print Clothesline papers from Little Yellow Bicycle for this layout and thought they worked perfect for this boy page.

The Jenni Bowlin papers were the perfect match for this black & white photo!

First Birthday's

A child’s first birthday party . . . is it really for the child or for the parents for surviving that first year? After celebrating 4 first birthdays I’m not sure if the milestone was greater for the children or for my daughter and her husband lol! First birthdays are an important time for any family and to remember the day I created a layout for Elisha’s album using the oh so FUN Apple Jack papers from Sassafras available in the Croppin Paradise Store.

I think the pinwheels added that extra playful touch to the layout and this is how I made them:

1) I cut my paper for the pinwheels into 2 inch squares.

2) I then cut on the diagonal of the squares, toward the center of the paper 1 inch.

3) I placed a glue dot in the center of each square.

4) Then I folded every other point to the center of the squares and secured them on the glue dot.

5) Adding a brad to the center gave the pinwheels a finished look.

These little pinwheels are so easy to make . . . add a few to your next layout.