Father's Day and a muffin

First I want to thank you for the nice comments and emails regarding my last post.  I didn't say anything for sympathy, but your sweet comments sure made me feel better.  I am mostly irritated that I let anyone take my power away from me.  If I like it, I like it!  I shouldn't care what other's think.  And I am NOT going to let people take advantage of me.  I'm not. 

Anyway, big thanks.  Really.  It meant a lot. 

I've been slaving away with my next Studio Calico kit and wanted to take a break to share a little gift idea that involves the new Documentary line, and also....  don't tell April but a wee bit of the next kit as well.

For Mother's Day I came up with a quick and easy idea that would save on clutter and provide years of memories. I shared it on the SC&T blog here.

With the same vibe in mind, I wanted to come up with something for Steve for Father's Day. Kimber-Leigh had posted on the Studio Calico boards a couple months back about a birthday book idea and the minute I saw it I tucked the idea away for Father's Day instead.  (I *think* it was Kimber-Leigh.  I can't find the thread anywhere to link it!)

I thought this would be a great gift to keep on giving.  I bought a 6x10 artists notebook, and embellished it simply with Studio Calico's Documentary line, and my favorite new punch, the labels (with those label stamps that you HAVE to get if you have this punch which means you WANT the Magellan add-on on reveal night.  HINT). 

After I took the photo I did move the "celebrating" alphas to the left just a wee bit to line it up a bit better. 

Studio Calico's Documentary paper, sticker alphas, fabrips.

Because I want this album to be used for several years and read many many times, I didn't want it to be lumpy at all, which is hard for a layering type of girl.  I also wanted to keep it simple and therefore more masculine, to better fit the boy.

Each year, I have attached those labels (cough, the label stamps, cough cough, check those out.  Hack) that I punched out of kraft with my label punch.

The following page will be my "card" to Steve, which is basically a love letter to my baby daddy.

The page after that I left to Morgan to decorate. 

(The two of them are wearing tye-dyed shirts that she made on her last week of school.  She's giving him his on Sunday.  I also didn't help her at all with her message and she did darn good, if I do say so myself.  And I do).

The next two pages were Payton's, or PJ, her "little name" as she refers to it. 

Payton did ask me how to spell I love you but she wrote it all by herself.  She is becoming a reader, that girl. 

Steve was spoiled on his birthday a couple months ago.  The girls and I picked him up one of these: 

If you are looking for a last minute Father's Day gift idea, you should go with one of those.  Steve loves it.  I took it with me when the girls and I went to the Balloon festival, and it was so nice.  Now that they are 4 and 6 I don't need a great big stroller when we do things, so I needed something small to tuck into my purse.  After all, I need to be hands free to break up any 4 and 6 year old squabbles, you know.  This camera fit the bill!  If anything it was too small and I was afraid I'd lose it.  I'm used to lugging my Canon. 

See how smart I am?  Gift for him.....  but I can borrrrrow it.  lol. 

I should also mention it's on sale.......

We are headed to the hills this weeked on a camping trip, and I whipped up a batch of muffins to give Steve with his card book.  He loves blueberries.  I have to warn you though...  this batch yielded a lot of muffins, and was dang delicious.  They are made with sour cream, and if you are anti-sour cream you wouldn't notice a taste difference, they are moist, and they are muy delicioso.

Blueberry Cream Muffins

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 t. vanilla extract
4 cups flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 cups sour cream
2 cups blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease or muffin pans or use liners.
2. In large bowl, beat eggs and gradually add sugar. Keep beating while gradually adding oil. Stir in vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, salt, and baking soda.

3. Stir dry mixture into egg mixture a little at a time while also adding sour cream. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour mixture into baking tins.

4. Bake for 20 minutes.

And that's it!  Muffins and an album.

If you are looking for something free, Nic pointed out this free print offer from Walgreens.  You have until Saturday to order.  Check that out here. 

Have a great weekend!  Davinie

P.S.  Blogger has made some fantastic upgrades!  Uploading photos for this post was so much easier!