Author: Charlene Becker

I'm 51, wait what? Not sure how that happened... But the best thing about it is that I have a 14-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. Besides loving on them, I love to share my love of Cooking & Stamping with all of you. I also have a love for crafting, writing, painting, photography, travel, dining, and creative adventures!
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3-D Anti-Bacterial Holder Tutorial & NEW CLASS – New style from Bath & Body Works! Register online! Ships October 1st!

Charlene Becker

Hey Y’all!  I was SO excited to see a new pocket hand sanitizer (Anti-Bac) from Bath & Body Works! It’s smaller and it’s oval! So now it fits in the oval punched paper holder better and it saves card stock since the box is shorter. 🙂 I used the tutorial by Erica Cerwin and modified it a bit. My step by step video tutorial is HERE. Anti-bac holder www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Here is how I put this cute hand sanitizer box together: Start with a 3″ x 9″ piece of card stock.

Antibacterial holder www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Score the long side at 1″, 2″, 5″ & 6″. Fold on the score lines and set that aside. Then work on the bottom piece. Cut a piece that is 1-1/2″ x 6″. Score on the long side at 1/2″, 1-1/2″, 4-1/2″ and 5-1/2″. Then turn the piece at score it on the short side at 1/4″ and 1-1/4″.

Antibacterial holder www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Then fold on the score lines and cut off the corners of the small piece. You can then apply your adhesive (I prefer sticky strip). Then you can use the oval punch to punch the center.

antibacterial holder www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Then you’re ready to peel the back off the sticky strip and put your box together! I like to adhere one side, then the front, then the other side, then the back.

Sweetpiecesbyme.com

sweetpiecesbyme.com

Sweetpiecesbyme.com

I’m also excited to announce that I have a 3-D Hand Sanitizer holder kit for purchase. It’s $15 (shipping included, and you get everything pictured here PLUS a PDF file instructions. (does not include stamped images or the pocket anti-bac) They will be all ready to put together with sticky strip on them (you would just peel it off!).

REGISTER HERE

antibacterial holder 3-D www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Just register HERE by the 25th and I will be shipping them by the 1st. If you just want the instructions in a PDF file it is $5.00. (select which one when you register)

The stamp sets I used are Amazing Birthday, Grateful for You, Howl-O-Ween Treat and White Christmas. You can view these and all the other products I used by clicking the items below.

Antibacterial holder www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

My step by step video tutorial can be viewed HERE.

Supply List

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sympathy Card

Mojo Monday 414 – Contest

Charlene Becker

Well, that weekend went by super fast. 😦 I love those long holiday weekends, playing in the pool with the kiddos, having a BBQ (or going to one in our case), cold beer, spending time with family. My mother in law came to visit this weekend. She is so sweet, she brought me some jewelry. She loves to find great pieces at consignment/resale stores and sometimes she gives me her own pieces. It’s just a thing she does and I think it’s so special. This weekend I got to work on her wedding invites for her wedding in October! So fun! (I would not have her use store bought ones) 😉

Besides that, I was working on some tutorial videos which I will talk about here but also share in another post. Very fun stuff! But here is the card sketch for over at the Mojo Monday blog….

I had lots of ideas for this card….here is something coming together…I just love the Flower Patch stamp set with matching Framelits! I didn’t end up using the Blackberry Bliss. It seemed to dark to me as this was for a sympathy card.

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com Flower Patch, SympathyAnd here is my finished card. I used Mint Macaron for my base. (5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ size A2 card) I also used the Butterflies Thinlits. The Fine-Tip Glue pen works great for these types of die cuts. Check out my video HERE on how to use the Fine-Tip glue! I share a cute Halloween Anti-Bac holder in the video! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com Flower Patch

Supply List

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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Stampin Up Holiday Catalog is HERE!!!

Charlene Becker

Hopefully some of you have been catching all my sneak peeks and now you can finally order from the new Holiday Catalog! Order your favorites now while supplies are in stock! 🙂 I know I did & will order more ASAP! There is SO much to love in this catalog.

Holiday Catalog 2015
Holiday Catalog 2015

I have too many favorites to list them all, but here are some MUST haves! I either already ordered these or definitely will this month. I’m already planning my Holiday card classes and will be posting them up in October!!!  To see more on my online classes click HERE. To see more about my in-person classes, go HERE.

Supply List

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

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Mojo Monday 413 – Amazing Birthday & Cherry On Top DSP

Charlene Becker

Just a quick post since I’m doing this at 2:45AM! Ugh! I was trying to get it up here on Monday…I will pay for this tomorrow when my toddler comes in my room around 7:00 AM saying “I NEED MIIIILK”. He loves his vitamin D milk. 🙂
So here is the tall & skinny sketch from over at Mojo Monday. I love that this is a 3.5″ by 5.5″ inch card as opposed to the standard A2 (4-1/4″ x 5 1/2″). You would just use a 3.5″ x 11″ piece of card stock scored at 5.5″.

For this sketch I instantly thought of Amazing Birthday! I love the 1-1/4″ circle stamps that it has. So easy to stamp & punch! I love love love the Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper, it is so, well, YUMMY!!! Get some, you won’t regret it.

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com Amazing Birthday

Here are the products I used for this card:

Sorry such a quick post! Stay tuned this week for the Tuesday deals and a quick video using some of those products! Thanks for stopping by!

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September Stampin’ Up Card Class, In Person, Online or Email option; Thankful Forest Friends with Into the Woods Designer Paper

Charlene Becker

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com Online Card Class $15I’m SO excited to be starting my classes online! I’ll be offering my kits for purchase, which will include everything you need to stamp the above 4 cards. (Except stamped images!) Complete supply list and shopping list will be included in the directions.

These beautiful fall themed cards are so fun to put together.  The deadline to sign up for this class is September 20th in order to reserve your packets.
Make these 4 lovely cards for only $15. Class fee is waived with a minimum order.

You have 3 options to purchase this kit:

  • In person: My class will be on September 20th from 2pm-4pm at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 3609 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, CA.
  • Online: $15 or waived with a minimum order.  Just place your online order on my website of more than $25 merchandise, and use host code SYGEWYZC.  I‘ll mail out the packets and email directions on September 25th.  Please note** Do Not Choose – No Contact – when you place your order.  This is so I can see where to ship your packets!  I cannot see who is ordering when your online account is set up with no contact.
  • Email only:  Receive the printable PDF directions, by September 25th for all the cards with complete supply and shopping lists for only $10. These are my in-class directions sheets and contain full measurements and step by step directions. The photos have not been watermarked and the sheets do not have my name on them, so they are demonstrator friendly to reuse them for a class.  You may offer the sheets for free with any $25 order.
Recommended supplies to assemble these projects as shown with the packets:
Stamps: 139723 Thankful Forest Friends (suggested blocks are A, B, C & D) and 134276 And Many More (suggested block is B)
Ink Pads: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Tip Top Taupe, Old Olive & Tangelo Twist
Markers: Early Espresso, Tip Top Taupe, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Rich Razzleberry
For In Person & Online packet customers all card stock will be precut, punched (if needed), scored and embossed to make assembly as SIMPLE as possible. Your packet also includes envelopes!

To celebrate my first month, your ONLINE kit purchase will include a FREE embellishment kit! (Not valid for the in-person class or email) These are hand picked items by me! Sometimes I will include retired items or something made by me (like “card candy”), but mostly, they are current Stampin’ Up items. It’s a great way to try new products! 🙂 Here is a picture of this month’s FREE embellishment kit! (I reserve the right to make substitutions) 😉

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com FREE Embellishments!

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Authentic & Yummy Pasta Carbonara

Charlene Becker

So I’ve been in search of a great Pasta Carbonara. Something that reminds me of my honeymoon in Italy. That first night, when we arrived late because our flight was delayed, we missed the meeting with our travel group, asked the front desk for a local restaurant…and we enjoyed probably the BEST food we had the whole trip! Yummy Pasta carbonara,  bruschetta and red wine! (Heaven on earth) So I found this recipe on Pinterest and made a couple modifications and it was definitely close to our Italian experience! Now if only I can recreate that delicious Italian bread and bruschetta!

Here are the ingredients:

  • 8 ounces pasta – I love to use Tortiglioni or a large rigatoni (something imported from Italy!) but you can use spaghetti noodles (1/2 pound)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 7 slices bacon, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; reserve 1 cup water and drain well. You can leave the al dente pasta in the water to stay hot.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, a small pinch of salt and Parmesan; set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes; leave excess fat (I only used about 1/2). Set aside bacon.Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium low.

Working quickly, stir in pasta and egg mixture, and gently toss to combine; wait to season with salt because the bacon and Parmesan will add salt and you don’t want it to end up being too salty. Toss in bacon. At this point keep stirring and do not let your heat get too high. The sauce might look runny at first but it will “tighten” up as it cooks. This allows the eggs to get to a safe temperature. Kind of like when you make Hollandaise sauce.  You will only cook it for a few minutes more. If the heat is too high or you cook it for too long your eggs may scramble.

Only add the reserved pasta water if your sauce gets too thick for your liking.

*Optional*Add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired. I also top it with fresh grated Parmesan and a little fresh ground pepper which is how it’s served in Italy! It’s so delicious!  Enjoy and leave me some love if you like it! 🙂

Pasta Carbonara - www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

Paper Pumpkin

Paper Pumpkin Giveaway!!

Charlene Becker

Hello Friends!

If you’re here you have seen my video or saw my picture of my Paper Pumpkin Kit Giveaway! Yay! So here is what I’m giving away and why…

This Birthday Bash Paper Pumpkin kit!…not the finished card or bag 🙂 I’m doing this because I want to share these amazing kits with everyone!!! Also because I’m back at this blogging thing and would love some followers. Then I can share my card inspiration with others and maybe earn an occasional comment or two 😉

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com FREE Paper Pumpkin KitSo, how do you win? Easy! Just become a Follower on my blog AND comment on this post. Please comment only ONCE! To become a Follower: under my picture on the right side you will see “Follow This Blog”, click to follow and enter your email address so you will get my blog updates. Then comment on this post saying “I’m a follower”, or feel free to say something nice about my blog 😉

TO GET UP TO 5 EXTRA ENTRIES!!!…..Read on…..

1 extra entry for sharing my giveaway picture on your Pinterest board (my username is sweetpiecesbyme)

1 extra entry for tweeting about it (tag me @sweetpiecesbyme)

1 extra entry for sharing it on Instagram (tag me @sweetpiecesbyme)

1 extra entry for sharing it on Facebook & Liking my Page www.facebook.com/sweetpiecesbyme

1 extra entry for sharing it on your personal blog (link my giveaway picture back to this post)

If you do any of the above for extra entries, you must comment on this post with which ones you did so I can keep track! (Please only comment ONCE!)

Come back here on Sept 1st (or maybe the 2nd) and see if you won!!! If not, don’t worry, you can still sign up for Paper Pumpkin and get 1/2 off your 1st two months! Read on….

If you are ready to sign up and start receiving your super cute Paper Pumpkin kits, click on this 50% off flyer! Enter the promo code: HALFOFF at checkout so you will get 50% off your first 2 months! What a DEAL!!!

50% OFF Paper Pumpkin

I plan to have many more giveaways so please come back often! I will also be regularly posting new cards and projects, tutorials and fun videos! I say fun because I am funny and well therefore fun 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!! ~ Charlene

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Mojo Monday 412

Charlene Becker

Yay it’s Monday! Well…by the time I post this, it could possibly be Tuesday. 😉 We put the kids to bed, did the dishes and picked up toys, then finally I got to make my Mojo Monday card. It’s been a rough few days being sick, but I’m feeling so much better I’m gonna stay up late! haha (praying I don’t get a relapse!)

www.sweetpiecesbyme.com
Happy Haunting

Here is the cute sketch by Julee:

I couldn’t help but use the awesome spiderweb doilies…AGAIN! Man I just cannot get enough of these! You’ll be able to purchase these Sept 1st, don’t worry 😉

PhotoGrid_1440487714860

And in which case you will also need the Fine-Tip glue to use when adhering these beautiful embellishments! Trust me, you’ll NEED this.

Fine-Tip Glue www.sweetpiecesbyme.com

I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to stamp the background in a random pattern using Rich Razzleberry. Then I stamped a couple of those creepy looking spiders from the All Year Cheer stamp set, using the Archival Basic Black ink (which will be in the new catalog!).  MUST HAVE.  Once I adhered the Spider Web, I cut little banners with the design paper and the rich razzleberry Happy Haunting Washi Tape. I doubled the tape so it would look a little darker. Of course I had to add some bling! The Metallics Sequins are SO pretty AND versatile! You can use these on almost every card…and for $5 for approx 750 pieces, well, you can’t argue with that. 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! Please leave me some love! xoxo

Holiday Catalog - SweetPiecesByMe.com
If you don’t have a demonstrator, please let me know & I’ll be happy to mail you a catalog! Starts Sept 1st!

Learn more about the benefits of being my Sweet Rewards customer!

Here are all the products that I used on my card.

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Mojo Monday 411

Charlene Becker

One of these days I’ll actually post the Mojo Monday challenge on Monday! 😉

Sadly I must make this a short post because I’m already in bed at 10:30 pm (which is early for me) because I feel like I’m getting the flu. I’m dreading tomorrow because my husband works so I’m on my own taking care of our two toddlers! Who’s gonna take care of me?? Wahhhh!! Ok I’m fine now. 😉

Mojo411

So this card is special because it’s for my Stampin Up partner in crime, Trini! Her and I go way back to when I first found SU. I used the Mojo Monday 411 sketch to make something  that might be worthy of her. She always makes the most amazing cards!!! Saturday is her birthday and I really hope she has a beautiful day! ♡ Love you girl!!!

MOJO411 Charlene Becker

Also, I used the Bow builder punch and the Vintage faceted buttons that are part of the Weekly Deals this week. Get them while they are on sale! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

Endless Birthday Wishes - Charlene Becker

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Paper Pumpkin – August

Charlene Becker

This month’s Paper Pumpkin has arrived!!! It is SO stinkin cute! I’m in love with all of it. The colors, the flowers, the gift boxes, the stamps (includes a sympathy stamp!). If you haven’t tried Paper Pumpkin yet, now is a GREAT time to try it out because you’ll get 50% off your first TWO MONTHS! That’s just $10 per month then the price is only $19.99/month. Just use Promo Code: HALFOFF at my website HERE until September 10th! You can cancel at any time or skip a month!

Paper Pumpkin August 2015
Paper Pumpkin August 2015