What a New Year!

This year so far has been a whorl wind. Where does the time go, I don't really know...

My days are filled with physio, organizing, cooking and activities with the kids. Which has been keeping me happy and obviously busy. I have done a bit of swapping: A special birthday swap with Tee, as well as my January tag, themed: Baby it's Cold outside. Here's the tag I sent to Tee via The Altered Paper's monthly tag swap.

I used a plain vanilla tag and stamped it with a large Winter Cottage Postcard stamp, I bought from Michael's store, in black archival ink. I then inked the tag with Tim Holtz Distress ink in Salty Ocean from the summer trio. I used a stamped image of Magnolia Designs- Midwinter Tilda with Lantern, that was stamped on watercolor paper. I then colored her in using my Tim Holtz Distress Markers and a water brush. I added some fun yarn as the tail, in our favorite color: PINK!
I had so much fun making this kind of tag! I don't usually color, but I really enjoyed doing it, so this is a technique I will definitely be doing more of in the near future!

Tee has since decided she's no longer going to be hosting swapping via her blog, so a fellow swapper, Amy has decided to open a site under the same name for swapping purposes:  http://alteredpaperswaps.ning.com/
 I sincerely hope those of us reliable swappers will find it to be a safe and fun place to swap through. Feel free to stop in and join in some of the awesome new swaps, as well as the ongoing tag-a- month swaps! Thanks again to Amy from the crafty book nerd, for this great undertaking.

Now, my darling daughter Ana just had her 3rd birthday! I can't believe how big she's grown or how smart she's becoming. She amazes me everyday, and truly fills my heart with joy!

I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and she said she wanted: to bake her own cake, and decorate it and eat it. So we did just that! I found this awesome recipe for a "from scratch" chocolate party cake! The only thing it doesn't tell you is exactly how long to bake it, just to check it for firmness: I used my convection oven, and it took just over 25 mins. It was moist and lightly chocolaty, and oh so delicious!! Mmmm...

We covered it using this recipe for a butter cream icing, and it was stunning! It's not too sweet, and was easy enough to make. And of course we added in some pink food coloring just for the occasion, with some sprinkles and candles to top it all off!  And voila perfectly girly birthday cake! Well it tasted perfect at least, I do not claim to be a pro in any way.
The best part was having fun making Ana's birthday wish come true, and the cake was definitely was good enough to share!

Stay Inspired!
~Elysia