Author: Scraps

AlcoHOLidays | Easter | Trio of the Southern Cross

Sips

The “shadowy” origins of many Christian holidays are major bones of contention among the devout and while I’m used to the usual arguments surfacing around Christmas I admit I’m a bit surprised at the furor rampant (at least among my Facebook friends) over Easter‘s influences.

Nutshell: the bunny, chicks, and eggs that don’t really seem like obvious symbols of the Christian resurrection celebration? That’s because they’re actually fertility symbols and yet another example of the Church appropriating a holiday from the people they were trying to sway into their fold. Over time the old pagan symbols may have been assigned new meanings (the egg as a symbol for the empty tomb, for instance) and the original meanings watered down into nothingness for most people. It happened, accept it and move on is my stance, but I’ve heard of several folks adopting the less-controversial Passover rites instead.

Whether your rite of spring leans towards sunrise services, Seders, or sugary confections a nice, refreshing beverage is definitely called for. Maybe you’re trying to balance the richness of kugel, clove-studded ham, or one too many chocolate bunnies, or you’ve looked ahead on the calendar to summer swimsuit season and want to keep your cocktails light and fruity. Any way you look at it, one of these three cocktails is sure to fit the bill.

Each of these three cocktails starts with a base of KAPPA Pisco and end with a topping-off of soda water or, in my case, Perrier. For folks who are not a big fan of plain water, adding bubbles is one way to make it more palatable, but Perrier isn’t just sparkling mineral water, it also comes in a variety of lightly flavored styles. I’ve tried their Pamplemousse Rose (pink grapefruit) before and recently received samples of their unflavored, lemon, and lime styles to try in place of club soda or sugary soda mixers in cocktails. Challenge accepted.

I find club soda to taste, essentially, like “stale” water–I’m not a fan. Admittedly Perrier has a similar trait but for whatever reason the overall flavor is more palatable. Also, if it isn’t silly to say–they’re probably the same, but–the bubbles in Perrier feel smaller, more delicate, than your average club soda. Again, I realize that’s more than likely ridiculous, but perception is perception.

On to the cocktails!

A trio of light, bright drinks perfect for spring!

A trio of light, bright drinks perfect for spring!

KAPPA Fresca

1 ½ oz KAPPA Pisco
3 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
Bottled soda water (or Perrier Lemon)

Pour KAPPA Pisco and orange juice into an ice filled mixing glass.  Shake vigorously.  Strain into an ice filled highball glass.  Top with soda (optional) and garnish with an orange peel.

KAPPA Grapefruit Fizz

1 ½ oz KAPPA Pisco
3 oz grapefruit juice
1 oz bottled soda water (or Perrier Lime)

Pour KAPPA Pisco and grapefruit juice into an ice filled highball glass.  Top with soda water (or lemon lime soda) and garnish with a lime wedge.

 KAPPA Kooler

1½ oz KAPPA Pisco
½ oz simple syrup
Club Soda (or Perrier)
Squeeze a wedge of lemon and lime

Combine all ingredients into a Collins glass with ice. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with lemon and lime wedge.

Of the three, the KAPPA Grapefruit Fizz was my favorite while, surprisingly, Todd preferred the KAPPA Kooler, even though the flavor was mostly the KAPPA itself and he hadn’t liked the pisco neat when we did the tasting. Just goes to show that it only takes a little bit to take a drink from eh to excellent. The KAPPA Fresca, while neither of our favorites, is still a nice twist on the screwdriver or mimosa classics.

Cheers!

——————–

I received samples of both KAPPA Pisco and Perrier. All opinions expressed are my own.

Searching for Inspiration: the Guest Book

Third Time Wife, Wedding Planning

The guest book is one of those bits of wedding decor that actually has an honest-to-goodness purpose–it even gets int’s own table, putting it right up there with the cake in level of importance.

Darice Guest Book set, image via Amazon.com

Darice Guest Book set, image via Amazon.com

And, yet, after the wedding the guest book generally gets shoved into a box or onto a shelf, seldom to be looked at again.

Hardly seems fair, right?

Which is why I always thought, even when I wasn’t considering another marriage as a possibility, that having guests sign a photo mat that could then be hung in the home with a picture from the day made much more sense in the grand scheme of things.

Darice Signature Mat, image via Amazon.com

Darice Signature Mat, image via Amazon.com

And those crafty wedding vendors have even come up with a silver version with an engraving pens, just so you don’t have to worry about the mat clashing with whatever decor you have in your home.

 

Engraved Photo Mat by Cathy's Concepts

Engraved Photo Mat by Cathy’s Concepts (image via Amazon)

Then again. I’m not sure the signatures would be easily seen once hung on the wall, they might look more like scratches.

At any rate, I figured a signature mat was the way we’d go and considered the matter closed.

Until I found wedding blogs and saw all of the creative ways brides and grooms were collecting these mementos of their guests!

Thumbprint Wedding Tree, image via Thumbprint Guest Books

Thumbprint Wedding Tree, image via Thumbprint Guest Books

The thumbprint posters are absolutely adorable and I could have easily drawn one suited to us (a bunch of grapes, perhaps?) but I have a hunch that many of our friends would balk at the idea of leaving their thumbprint anywhere not legally mandated. We have some suspicious friends.

Envelope-filled guest album via Style Me Pretty Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography

Envelope-filled guest album via Style Me Pretty
Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography

Going back to the more traditional guest book, this book of envelopes is very nice–like storybooks with little extras, those envelopes just beg to be opened and the nice and funny notes inside read.

Wedding Guestbook pages from The Guestbook Store

Wedding Guestbook pages from The Guestbook Store

As a scrapbooker, of course I liked this idea of the the fill-in-the-blanks guest book with places for pictures, etc. Of course, these sorts of pages expect guests to spend a certain amount of time filling them out, and I’d rather folks have time to mingle than have their heads down over a page. Those that would even bother, that is.

"where is my birthday" Guest Book Calendar

From Flickr user vjoyking, a “where is my birthday” guest book calendar

And this guest book calendar is inspired! Having each guest sign on their birthday is not only unique but useful, too! You’ll never have an excuse for forgetting Aunt Martha’s birthday again. Of course, a perpetual calendar would also work well for this, it doesn’t have to be tied to a single year.

Guest Bench by Knocked Off Photo by Scott V.

Guest Bench by Knocked Off
Photo by Scott V.

Revisiting the more out-of-the box solutions, this guest bench is a lovely keepsake for a home, which brings up the idea that pretty much anything a person can sign is fair game for a guest “book” stand-in.

So what would we, wine lovers having a vineyard-themed wedding, choose to use as our signature item of choice?

All in good time… (meaning next update, of course!)

37 Home Decor | It’s A Frame Up!

64 Arts

Displaying Art in Your Home Space

You know, I used to think it was terribly vain to display my own art at home. For the longest time the only painting of mine to be on the wall was the one I had to frame for the student show back in 2004 or thereabouts.

Color study still life by Jennifer Walker

Some day I’ll frame the feather panel that was originally part of this piece.

Some time last year, though, I changed my attitude. I don’t know if it was anything major that shifted or just that I was running out of places to store finished work except the walls, but I started with a cork board above my computer and then started hanging different projects I created for Gauche Alchemy, etc. Now my gallery wall is a nice piece of inspiration in my home office and I look forward to filling up the rest of the wall space in there!

Obviously I did not use a level to hang some of these. Gotta fix that ASAP!

Obviously I did not use a level to hang some of these. Gotta fix that ASAP!

There’s really no rhyme or reason with my gallery wall, I just pick the best place by size when i have something new to hang up. Overall I try to keep a certain balance going, but since this wall is a work in progress, it’s going to be a bit off now and then.

I love my medal bar signs--I even leave the Halloween ones up all year.

I love my medal bar signs–I even leave the Halloween ones up all year.

We did something similar in the dining room above the bar, only this was a more deliberate grouping of tin signs and other objects. The large center canvas is newer than the rest of the groupings, and I’m still not sure that’s where it’s going to stay (which is why it’s still overlapping one of my tin signs).

Regardless of whether it’s framed photographs, paintings, prints, or shadowboxes filled with collected items, I think art on the walls makes a space feel more lived in, more alive, and more soothing all at the same time. Most of my items are wrapped canvases, but for everything else I like to find a frame that’s large enough to hold my art plus at least 6 inches, then cut the mat myself.

image via Amazon.com

image via Amazon.com

I have the Logan Do It Yourself Mat Cutting Kit (that I picked up at Michaels years ago with that ever-important 40% off coupon) that makes cutting straight and beveled mats pretty simple (though you’ll want a self-healing mat to protect your work surface, too).

But what about those items that don’t frame easily? The prints and ATCs (artist trading cards) and other things without sufficient border to slip behind a mat? There’s always the shadowbox option, just mount whatever you’ve got to the backing board and go. You can also drill or punch holes in the corners of canvas board and attach a hanger that way, like I did with my Shower Inspiration piece.

But for the 4×6 art card I received from my swap partner, Michelle, I wanted a way to show it off without permanently adhering it (since it has equally awesome sides). Here’s how I solved this riddle.

Now to decide where on my wall this one should go!

Now to decide where on my wall this one should go!

First I dug out a suitably sized frame from the tote of random frames I have in the garage. The glass and backing board are long gone–who know what I did with it–but that’s okay! I cut a piece of foam core exactly the side of the rear opening and made sure it fit snugly.

Doesn't everyone have a tote full of random frames? No?

Doesn’t everyone have a tote full of random frames? No?

Then I found a piece of card stock that would work as a background for the 4×6 card without distracting from it and cut it just slightly smaller than the foam core.

The royal blue picks up on some of the splatters in the background of the art card but still stands out enough from the black edges.

The royal blue picks up on some of the splatters in the background of the art card but still stands out enough from the black edges.

Adhere the card stock to the foam core–I used double-sided tape, but a glue stick would work just as well, I’m sure–and then fit the covered foam core into the frame to stay. Mine was a pretty tight fit as is, but if you have a little wiggle room, it’s not a bad idea to secure the backing into place in whatever way seems best.

Another option--useful if the card is very bulky--would be to attach ribbon straps to the corners of the backing board before securing it, so you could slip the card into place.

Another option–useful if the card is very bulky–would be to attach ribbon straps to the corners of the backing board before securing it, so you could slip the card into place.

Since I wanted to make sure I could remove the card or flip sides whenever I wanted, I used clear photo mounts at each corner to hold the card in place. All done!

Have you thought of adding any art to your space, lately?

Review | KAPPA Pisco

Sips
KAPPA Sour

KAPPA Sour

If you are a cocktail enthusiast (which you must be if you’re hanging around here, right?) you’ve probably at least heard of that classic drink, the Pisco Sour. You may have even browsed the recipe, thinking it was something you’d like to try, only to pull up sort when you saw it requires a raw egg white.

Before you think me cavalier on the subject, I consider food-born illness pretty high on the list of things to avoid. Memories of my Safety & Sanitation class are still vividly imprinted on my brain, even though it’s been almost 15 years! Salmonella is the bacterial baddie that could be in a raw egg, but the chances of that happening with a properly processed and stored egg is about 1 in 20,000 or 30,000. Hence, I have no issue at all eating the occasional raw egg white.

Granted, it’s usually in something like Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, or the occasional scoop of raw cookie dough (quality control, I assure you), but shaking one into a cocktail isn’t really that alien of a concept to me.

But plenty of classic cocktails make use of an egg white, what else is it about the Pisco Sour that makes it one of those drinks so many of the cocktail curious set skip?

Namely, the Pisco.

What is it and, more importantly, what does it taste like?

Pisco is a grape-based brandy from Peru or Chile, possibly named for the port city of the former. I was fortunate enough to receive a bottle of KAPPA Pisco from the same house that makes the fabulous Grand Marnier, Marnier-Lapostolle.

Before I get into tasting notes, can we just take a moment to admire that gorgeous bottle?! I fully admit that I’ve been known to purchase spirits for the beauty of the bottle alone, and this one is just a feast for the eyes. Apparently it’s designed by Ora-Ito (I might just have a new design crush) and at first I though the silvery sides were mirrored or some trick of a bottle within a bottle–then I realize it was just sections of clear glass letting the clear, crisp liquor shine through. It’s still a sexy as hell bottle.

When I opened said bottle I was reminded of tequila–that warm, enveloping sense of comfort that tequila evoke–but the taste is nothing like tequila. I found KAPPA Pisco both sweet and tart with a decided flavor of rosewater, like the perfumed French candies from the import stores. Todd found the flavors way too strong on its own, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how palatable it was neat.

Of course I had to try the classic sour with the KAPPA twist:

KAPPA Sour

2 oz KAPPA Pisco
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1 egg white

Combine KAPPA Pisco and rest of the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into a small champagne flute.  Top with tree drops, or half dashes, of Angostura bitters (to create the shape of the Southern Cross).

And how was it?

Amazing. The lemon juice amplifies the refreshing tartness of the KAPPA and the heady floral notes are toned down–though whether from the additional citrus or the egg white I’m not sure. As for the egg white, shaking it creates a head for the cocktail somewhere between a beer’s foam and a meringue and the texture it adds to the cocktail is just wonderful. Overall, the KAPPA Sour might just become my new favorite summer cocktail!

——————–

I received a bottle of KAPPA Pisco for purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

DIY Thank-You Cards Gocco-Style

Third Time Wife, Wedding Planning

Hooray! Something is finally, honest-to-goodness finished in regards to this wedding.

(Okay, so my cardigan is done, but so much else is in varying states of started or planning that to complete a task still feels very big!)

As usual, the whole process took a bit longer than anticipated, but that had to do more with weather than anything else. There are oodles of Gocco tutorials on the web, so I’m going to go through this one pretty fast because, really, it’s just that simple to use.

I had the computer print crop marks on the final copy of our thank you notes so I'd know exactly where to trim them.

I had the computer print crop marks on the final copy of our thank you notes so I’d know exactly where to trim them.

1. Print out a crisp, clear copy of the image you want to print. If you don’t have a carbon-based-toner printer (i.e. laser printer of photocopier) hooked up to your computer, you’ll need to head out to a copy shop and make a copy of your image. The screens react to the carbon-based toner, anything else won’t burn correctly.

2. Trim the image to fit your printing area and place it on the Gocco’s printing pad (make sure there’s a piece of paper on the sticky-side of the printing pad, you don’t want the image you’re burning to get stuck). Load the screen (along with the blue filter, if necessary) into the slot on the cover and two of the bulbs into the bulb housing.

3. (not pictured) Close the lid, click the bulb housing into place (line up the arrows) and then press the cover down until the flashbulbs pop and stop crackling (2-5 seconds).

4. Remove the bulb housing and set it aside to cool before removing (and properly disposing of) the bulbs. Your original image will probably be stuck to the screen–this is good, leave it there and remove the whole screen sandwich from the slot on the inside of the cover.

Of course, not even crop marks can 100% guarantee the image is straight--I had to print several test strips to make sure I was lining my paper up straight. And even then it was hit or miss.

Of course, not even crop marks can 100% guarantee the image is straight–I had to print several test strips to make sure I was lining my paper up straight. And even then it was hit or miss.

5. Fold back the clear plastic sheet on the front of the screen and apply your chosen ink generously over the area to be printed.

6. Return the clear plastic sheet to its usual position and let the ink smoosh down a bit. Smooth the sheet out so it’s all level.

7. Reload the screen into the lid of the printer and then peel off your original image, You should be able to see the burned areas of the screen fairly clearly from this angle.

8. Use some copy paper to test your screen and ink distribution. If you have any edges that need refining or a bad spot on the screen, fill it in with correction fluid. I used white-out and a flat-sided brush to clean up the second d in T’s name because it was smooshing over a bit. If a part of the screen didn’t quite burn all the way, you can carefully take a straight pin and scratch out any emulsion that might be hanging around in the way. Careful, though–too much adjusting can make the problem worse, but just enough will keep you from having to burn another screen.

After I printed all the pretty, textured stock I grabbed plain white sheets to keep printing as long as ink and/or space held out. Ink won.

After I printed all the pretty, textured stock I grabbed plain white sheets to keep printing as long as ink and/or space held out. Ink won.

9. After that, it’s just a matter of printing each card and setting it aside to dry. My Gocco kit came with one drying “rack” that lets the cards stand up without touching. After that gets filled it’s every flat space for itself. Make sure the printed areas don’t touch anything else until they dry and know that the heavier the ink coverage the longer the drying time. Since my cards only have printing on one end, I can stack them in offset layers to maximize space.

Red ink of any type stains the most, with proper cleaning you can get most of the messy bits off.

Red ink of any type stains the most, with proper cleaning you can get most of the messy bits off.

10. Finally, clean your screen if you ever want to use it again. With a piece of scrap paper under your screen, scrape up the remaining ink (you can store it in an airtight container if you want to reuse it and there’s enough to bother with) then wipe off the rest with tissues. My kit came with a small tube of OK Cleaner that does a great job of picking up any residue, though the screen stays stained. I then store my used screens in a quart-size freezer back to keep it from sticking to any of my other supplies.

If you run out of space or time and need to pick up printing another day, you can slip the inked screen into a freezer bag and store it in the fridge to keep it fresh and the ink from drying out.

Put on a movie and set yourself up someplace comfy for this step.

Put on a movie and set yourself up someplace comfy for this step.

It took quite some time–2 days and a little bit!–for my prints to dry due to a combination of high humidity and a little more ink getting through the screen than desired (that second d, I’m telling you…the bane of my existence), but by Wednesday night (I printed them on Sunday afternoon) they’d lost their tackiness enough that I could score and fold them. This part took no time at all since I’d picked up one of those scoring boards (thank you, Hobby Lobby coupon!) to help.

I know letterpress is the print darling du jour, but have you considered screen-printing any of your wedding stationery?