[How-to Tuesday: Accordion Button Flower]

Last Saturday I talked about a Valentine's Day card I made that featured this cute little button flower. [You can view the original post on the card HERE.] Well, today I am going to show you a step-by-step tutorial on how to make one. Of course, you can buy one pre-made, like the Eternal Delights Paper Flowers from American Crafts, but this one can be easily customized to whatever style/color you want and is super fun to make. :0)

Materials Needed:

Scrapbook paper or cardstock

Button

Tape adhesive or glue

Dimensional adhesive or glue dots

Scissors

Circle cutter (if you have one)

[Step 1: Cut out a circle. I cut mine to be about 2 1/2 inches.]

[Step 2: Cut a slit halfway into the circle. Then begin folding the entire circle "accordion-style" as shown. You can make these folds as large or as small as you want.

[Step 3: Once you have finished folding, your circle will look something like this. Notice it's only a half circle.]

[Step 4: Repeat the first 3 steps again to make another folded half-circle.]

[Step 5: Glue & adhere both half circles together, intertwining the folds, to form a full circle as shown.]

[Step 6: Adhere a button with a dimensional adhesive or glue dot in the center of the circle. Voila! A fun accordion button flower! Perfect for embellishing cards, scrapbook pages, or you can even make them into a magnet by adhering a little magnetic strip on the back. The possibilities are endless!]

[I will be linking this up to these linky parties!]

[Jen]

[Scrapperday: Colorful Valentine's Day Card]

Today I thought I'd share an unconventional Valentine's Day card that I recently made. While there's still the traditional pink & red combo, there are splashes of other bright and cheery colors that still make it very festive.

I originally got the idea to make this card from Kristina Werner's blog KWerner Designs. [You can view her card and video tutorial HERE.] Of course, like always, I kinda made it my own with a different sentiment, types, of paper, technique, etc. Most of the materials (patterned paper, stickers, letters) were purchased at Target this time last year in their fabulous dollar section. I got a bunch of scrapbooking supplies from their Valentine's Collection saved some of it for this very occasion. :0)

[Want to know how to make this cute little button flower?? I will be posting a step-by-step tutorial on Tuesday, February 1st. Stay tuned and get your scrapbook/craft paper ready!]

Linking up to [these] parties! Come join me!

[Jen]

[Frame Friday: Valentine Frame]

Since love is in the air (literally, since V-day is almost 2 weeks away!), I thought I'd share this little Valentine frame. In the past I never decorated for Valentine's Day simply because I had just finished putting up all the Christmas decorations and didn't want to mess with more decorations.  But this year, I have changed my way of thinking and am now actually looking forward to decorating for this "love"-ly holiday. :0)

[Now, I cannot take credit for making this frame. This was actually something my mom gave me as a gift many years ago. I never really displayed it for Valentine's Day...until now. But I am sure if you wanted to make this frame, you could just modge-podge some red patterned paper onto an unfinished frame, paint the edges, and stencil in the word "LOVE".]

[However, I CAN take credit for the little button heart inside the frame. I just adhered them to some recycled paper with glue dots in the shape of a heart. Originally I wanted to fill the inside of the heart with more buttons, but could you believe these were ALL the red buttons I had?! Must have been fate.]

This is just the first of many Valentine's Day decor projects. Stay tuned for more fun DIY heart-filled ideas during the next couple of weeks! :0)

I will be linking this up to [these] parties!

[Jen]

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day! [Cake Recipe]

Who knew there was a national holiday for all the chocolate cake lovers out there! And there's only one way to celebrate this momentous occasion...by baking a delicious chocolate cake!

Here's a recipe that has been passed on from my grandmother, to my mom, and now to me (and hopefully one day to my daughter):

Chocolate Fudge Cake

1 c. Wesson oil
½ c. cocoa

½ c. water

2 c. sugar

1 ½ c. flour

1 t. soda

1 c. buttermilk

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

½ t. salt

Directions:

Measure oil, cocoa, water and sugar in medium saucepan over medium high heat.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Cook until bubbles begin to form on side of mixture.  Take off stove and let cool.  In mixing bowl, sift flour and salt together.  In pan of cooled mixture add eggs, one at a time.  Add flour mixture and buttermilk (mixed with soda) alternately.  Mix well.  Add vanilla.  Mixture will be thin and may have lumps. Pour mixture into 9-inch round cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick stuck in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

This cake is delicious unfrosted. But if you would like to add some more sweetness, store-bought or even homemade chocolate frosting is the way to go! I have made this several times, and it is always a hit. :0)

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day! How will you celebrate?

Sharing this recipe with [these] linky parties.

[Jen]