Stamp Club May make-n-takes

I can't wait to share the brand new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Catalog with you. It is smaller but doesn't miss a beat. In fact, I think it is streamlined to perfection and my wish list is already long...We are making this nifty gift card holder this month. I can't wait to share the new paper, new colors, and the butterfly is made from my SU cardboard box, how fun?

Funky painted and fabric frames!

My friend, Colleen, asked me to make her daughter some of the cute swirly looking frames that are all over Pinterest these days. I worked on these using various painting techniques, mod podge and fabric flowers. I think they turned out great and hope her daughter loves them as much as I do. I also spray painted the cork board that all of the frames are on top of.

Tray Do Over...again.

I don't have a before pic of this but I originally bought this tray when it was red, changed the color to turquoise and then to black and now cream. You can see all these colors on the rim after I sanded down a few layers. I love all these colors and they seem to work together. By the way, I moved this tray from my screened in porch to my living room coffee table because my son heavily scratched the coffee table and I needed something BIG to cover it up. I will be refinishing the coffee table at some point but haven't figured out what look I want ...yet! Stay tuned.

My husband switched offices...again...and couldn't use one of the two shelves I bought from Ikea anymore. Of course, I snatched it up and sprayed it with a satin finish cream color. Hung them up and accessorized them a bit, no need to sand on these. Love the outcome.

Rocking Chairs Redo

I was getting ready to throw out these old rockers that the prior owners of our house left and Jonathan reminded how a little paint could spiff them right up. Glad I listened. I didn't even bother using a deglosser, I just sprayed using a glossy red spray paint, 2-3 coats and then added the pillow.

End Table Redo

This was an end table that a friend gave me so I decided to fix it up to fit my decor. A little deglosser, satin spray paint (2 coats) and some sand paper and here it is!

Chicken Salad Recipe

Quite a few of you emailed wanting the recipe for my mom's chicken salad. So we decided to remake it and take pics along the way. Enjoy and know that you can add or leave out what you like:)

Ingredients: Serves 8-10 sandwiches
4 Chicken Breasts (not boneless)
celery-one cup
Hellman's Mayo-as needed, not too much
grapes-one cup
pecans-1/2 cup
olive oil
salt
pepper

Directions:
Take your chicken breasts and rub down with olive oil and then salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. The chicken should be brown like the pic above. This keeps the chicken juicy. Let the chicken cool after baking and then peel all white meat off of the bones and place in a large mixing bowl. Next, begin shredding the chicken very fine and get out all the weird little things from the chicken, you'll see what I mean as you start peeling. Next, add the mayo and make sure it is Hellman's, that's my moms secret ingredient. Other brands don't taste the same. Add only a spoon full at a time and mix adding more if needed. You only want the least amount of mayo to hold the chicken together. Next, add your celery (chopped fine) and grapes, nuts, etc. Also, add some more salt and pepper to taste. This should be refrigerated and tastes better the next day. Will last a week in the refrigerator and is also great just on crackers. Enjoy!

FYI- We used 16 breasts to serve 120 women at the Mops meeting.