Slimline Birthday Card + Recipe

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I'm still enjoying the slimline craze. It gives you the real estate to build scenes, which has always been one of my fave things to do - but now that there are products built for that size, it's even easier. I like how quickly this has taken hold of the industry!

I was watching Simon's live today and was THRILLED to see that they now carry beautiful, top opening self-adhesive slim line envelopes - I had to buy a bunch! IN MY FAVORITE COLOR - Audrey Blue! So excited. But there are other colors too. 

Anyhoo - I have a slimline card and video for you today. I've been enjoying some simple, "make a card" type videos during all this craziness - it's not something I did a lot of before, but there's something relaxing about it right now that I'm enjoying - so I hope you are too - that's what today's video is. Just the start to finish process on this card. 

It starts with the stitched slimline frame from this cute slimline scene-building die set. I just used the frame portion today. 

Then I used these images and matching dies for the focal points. 

I freaked out a bit when I got my order, because the embellishments I used today COME ALREADY IN STORAGE CONTAINERS AND LABELED! And it's for the system I use, which is this one. I might have shrieked! Zero extra work to put them away - I love this so much. Plus the embellishments are adorable, which you'll see in the video. 

On top of the die cut panel, I ink blended this beautiful layering waves stencil in three ink colors with Life Changing Blender Brushes (inks listed below). Then I Copic colored the images extremely simply, and popped them up with foam dots, connecting the fishies to their balloons with silver cord - I have a little trick for making this type of thing very fast, that you'll see in the video. 

I used these cute bubble embellishments. Stay tuned below the video for crafty sales and a delicious recipe!

Here's the video - if you don't see a video player below, click here to watch on YouTube.

Simon Says Stamp Envelopes SLIMLINE... [ SSS ] (1) 4x8 Shellabration Stamp Set –... [ TRN ] (1) Shellabration Coordinating Die... [ TRN ] Trinity Stamps SLIMLINE SERIES WONKY... [ SSS | TRN | ELH ] (1) Waving Hello- 6x9 Laser Cut... [ TRN | ELH ] Elizabeth Ward TINY CONTAINER BEAD... [ SSS ] (1) Bubble Blower: Transparent... [ TRN | SSS ] (1) Bubble Bath - Flat-Backed Rainbow... [ TRN ] (1) Sending Love - Clay Envelope... [ TRN | SSS ] (1) Just Keep Swimming- Clay Fish... [ TRN ] Life Changing Blender Brushes: 4-Pack... [ PFS ] Premium Dye ink Pad : Sapphire –... [ PNK ] Premium Dye ink Pad : Slumber –... [ PNK ] GKD Color Companions Ink Pad- Blue... [ GNK ] Copics at Simon Says STAMP! [ SSS ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding... [ AMZUS ] Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675 [ SSS | ART | AMZUS ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | CST ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] New at Ellen Hutson [ ELH ]

Click the sales graphics to shop the Independence Day Sales below! There are serious bargains to be had. 

Now for the food portion of the weekend!

I recently made a favorite recipe. This can be made with cauliflower or broccoli, and it's from one of my favorite websites! It's lemony and delicious - perfect for summer. I would have said perfect for a potluck, buuuutttttttt we all know that's not happening! So enjoy my modifications to the recipe and a link to the original here. Changes in red are mine. 

What do you have planned for the 4th? We will be making ribs and these amazing crispy potatoes I posted about here and doing some huge house projects. No relaxing here! But possibly starting the week a little more squared away!

I hope you have a safe and happy weekend! 

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
10% off sitewide at Arteza here with code Understandblue6 through 7.31.2020
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

God's One True Brownie + a Giant Sale

 *Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I know we've all been doing a lot of baking. America went from low carb to an all bread diet in five minutes in March. We don't eat very much bread, so that hasn't really become part of our lives lately, but for some reason, I have baked a few more sweet things than normal - mostly because I don't want to waste bananas, etc. 

But I had some of my favorite dairy-free chocolate morsels before all this started, and found an AMAZING brownie recipe that very closely resembles a confection from a local company called Miles of Chocolate. Miles of Chocolate is a refrigerated, brownie like bar with a chewy edge, but a very dense, truffly, fudgy center. It's AMAZING. Sadly, I can't have it any more, because it has dairy, but this brownie recipe is DEAD ON if you do one simple thing with the brownies - put them in the fridge. The already fudgy brownies get denser and get that truffle-like center to them. They are so incredible I dubbed them Pandemic Breakfast Brownies. You know - because nothing matters anymore.

So stay tuned for the recipe - but first - I'm a guest of Picket Fence Studios today! They have TWO exciting things happening - an AMAZING sale, and they are Simon Says Stamp's Brand of the Month! Follow that link throughout the month for giveaways and surprises! I'm so happy for them - they are such sweet people and work harder than anyone I know.

I used their Geo Pineapple Stencil and Paper Artsy Infusions for a 2-for-1 technique for today's cards. I finished them with Margarita and Irish Coffee Sequins. The sentiments are from this reverse sentiment strip set. I love the way the black makes the sentiments pop.

Here's the second part of the twofer technique. So fun and different.

So here's the video! Come back for brownies! :) 

Geo Pineapple Stencil – Picket Fence... [ PFS ] Sequin Mixes. The Entire Collection –... [ PFS ] Paper Artsy GREEN MAN Infusions... [ SSS | JGG ] Simon Says Stamp SENTIMENT STRIPS... [ SSS ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Sakura CLASSIC WHITE Fine Line 05... [ SSS ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | CST ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] All – Picket Fence Studios [ PFS ] Picket Fence Studios [ SSS ]

I don't know what the magic is in this recipe, but it's magic. Here is the original dairy version, and here are my edits:

I weigh everything when I bake, so weights are included. 

1 1/4 cups (249 grams) sugar - 1/3 cane sugar (83 g), 2/3 brown sugar (166 g)

5 tablespoons (71 grams) Miyoko’s vegan butter

2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, cold

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup (75 grams) Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder

1/3 cup avocado oil

1/2 cup (63 grams) all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (128 grams) Enjoy Life Allergen-Free semi sweet morsels

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 8 by 8-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a microwave safe bowl, add the butter and sugar. Microwave for about 1 minute, or until the butter is melted. Whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Stir in the oil and cocoa powder.

With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a cake tested inserted into the center has moist crumbs attached. Do not overcook. Let cool completely before cutting and serving. Store in the fridge for truffley goodness.

Don't forget - my large zippered project bags are still for sale - made from my own art. And, of course, the Perfection is For Serial Killers gear :).

Click the graphic below to enjoy a sale and free shipping at Picket Fence Studios this weekend!

I hope you have some new traditions to build this 4th of July, since it certainly won't look like any other. Let's face it with creativity. Our Pandemic Cocktail live will still go on on Saturday at 4 PM Central time - just follow @latishayoast on Instagram to see when we are live. The theme is red, white and booze, and I have a simple and beautiful drink for you!

Stay safe. 

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
10% off sitewide at Arteza here with code Understandblue6 through 7.31.2020
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE