Icebox Coconut Cake Recipe

Icebox Coconut Cake Recipe

1box of yellow cake mix
3 eggs + 1 egg yolk
1 cup of cold water
1 stick of butter, melted (1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla
1 can evaporated milk
1 large container of whipped topping
1 cup of crushed coconut

1.  Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2.  Using a hand mixer or electric mixer combine cake mix, eggs and water until creamy.
3.  Add the butter and vanilla, mix well.
4.  Spray a large oven proof baking dish with cooking spray and pour the batter into the dish.
5.  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
6.  While cake is still hot, punch holes throughout the cake and pour the can of evaporated milk into each hole. Place in refrigerator until cake is completely chilled.
7.  Add whipped topping  and then the coconut on top of the cake.
8. Garnish with canned (in their own syrup) orange slices, cherries or fruit cocktail (well drained). Optional
Store in refrigerator.

My mother has made this cake for years, I just add a twist with the extra egg yolk, vanilla and real butter.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

A Christmas Day Blog Hop Announcement

"Christmas Day" card by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

Hay, Everyone!! Let's do a Christmas Day Blog Hop!!! I know everyone is busy creating gifts BUT you can post your giveaway which can be a card, a tag, a dangly charm, a beaded item, whatever that is for any occasion AND the list of blog participants with links. Simple fun and a sweet way to end the Christmas Day festivities while you prop that laptop on your belly and lay in bed resting all that food and fun from the special day! So, email me (icon down the right side of my blog) or message me on Twitter or Facebook with you name, blog addy and "I'm so in" note....=) I will post the blog list here, on my website, Facebook and add a link to my Twitter...this will be so much fun!!!

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Integrity...a 12x12 Scrapbook Layout

Melissa (GodsMixedMediaGirl) taught me to make flowers today!

These are three I made following her live show! Thanks, Mel!

Today has been the most productive day, no, I take that back, this week has been the most productive week I have had in a long time! I made three 12x12 layouts that I want to use as wall hangings, one is a gift. I have made a 16x20 shadow box layout that only needs to be framed. I have also completed two altered composition books and made one 8.5x11 and  one 8x8 scrapbook albums that were commissioned pieces. Today is just Wednesday too! =) Tomorrow I will cut out the tree skirt I have planned for a friend and I plan to work on it through the weekend. I am having such fun creating and as I go along, I have made a wonderful list of projects to work on for 2011. Now...I must get through next week so that I can finish my second novel! I am loving all that is happening these days....

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

My first handmade paper flower.....

Thanks, Mel!!!! You taught me well!!! Hugs....

2010 in 5 Minutes or Less...

Cute Christmas Gift made with scrap paper

by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

5 Minutes Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh) rever10


It is a total given that if I did set a timer for five minutes and recapped on the past year, hands down it would be the creative flow and growth that I have experienced this year! I am so excited that I have discovered scrapbooking and paper arts but I have discovered art journaling, painting, altering objects into art, and learned that using what you have is a wonderful way to recycle, reuse and to recreate, which has also become my theme for my world of art and creativity. I treasure the love, peace and hope that flows from my soul and being. I am completely happy and looking forward to an amazing year to come. What about you? What is the one thing you have gained in a positive air of 2010?


Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com 

Altered Composition Notebooks...

Today I altered two composition notebooks for holiday gifts. For this one I used earth tones beginning with the paper (thanks, Judy), a vintage photo print (thanks, Melissa), Tim Holtz hardware, a couple of mismatched flowers with fall leaves from the dollar store and vintage buttons. I love the feel of this cover because it gives a ray of energy and happiness.

This is the inside of the front cover. I like to finish out my composition books, they look crisp and clean that way. The added pockets and tags give additional places to write notes or favorite quotes or Bible verses.

 I kept the same theme going on the back cover again with pockets and tags. The back cover is the same green that is used on the front cover.

This altered composition notebook scream vintage, does it not? The paper again is beautiful by itself (thanks again, Judy) and the mismatched flowers along with Tim Hotlz hardware, vintage buttons, bling, the back of an ATC card where the front isn't completed (thanks, DeDe) and features sticking out the top. I do love, absolutely love the rhinestone vintage button, I am looking for more of these.

The inside carries the vintage theme with an edge to it. I loved this paper because of the daisies. I also added pockets and tags to the inside covers....

 On the back inside cover I added two tags to the side pocket rather than one. I wanted to use the remainder of the scraps wisely so I added them here.

I have made a video, just need to get that edited and then I will post it on YouTube. I really look forward to giving these as gifts. It is fun to make notes and write grocery lists in something that looks like this rather than just plain old pieces of paper LOL. =)

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

What is my next action?

Ornaments I painted and decorated for our tree this year.

I will have them available for sale on my website also.

Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky) reverb10


As I have been thinking about the past year and all the amazing things that have happened. I discovered youtube, streaming live on three different networks, twitter, Facebook, radio program, various mediums that I have learned.  Now that I think about what 2011 will hold for me and what I will do next, I see myself celebrating...


Bring 2011 on, I am so ready to move out of the past 10 years and pray that the next ten will be filled with peace, hope, love and joy. God is so good in taking us to this point of victory and creativity.


Love, Blessings and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

Rita's Banana Pudding Minus the Bananas Recipe

Rita's Banana Pudding Minus the Bananas Recipe

Super Easy and Quick Dessert

Half of our family loves bananas while the other half wouldn't touch them. So, I made this super easy and quick dessert that everyone can enjoy. The meringue isn't hard to make at all and it makes a large batch to share. So, let's get started...

Ingredients:
2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding
6 cups of milk (I use fat free milk but hay, use which ever milk cranks your tractor)
1 box vanilla wafers
3 egg whites (put the yokes in a small plastic container and freeze for a cake or something)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/4 cup sugar plus 1/8 teaspoon

Directions:
1. Prepare the instant pudding as the package directs which should call for the milk.
2. Layer the pudding mixture and vanilla wafers in a large over proof bowl starting with the wafers and ending with the pudding.
3. Put the pudding/wafer mixture in the refrigerator while you make the meringue.
4. Put the egg whites into a mixing bowl. Using a mixer, beat the egg whites on the highest speed.
5. Add the cream of tarter and continue mixing.
6. Slowly add the sugar. Continue mixing until stiff peeks form.
7. Pour over the pudding/waffer mixture.
8. Bake in the over on broil, but watch it closely allowing the meringue to lightly brown.
9. Serve warm or cold, it is delicious both ways.

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Rita's Amazing Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Rita's Amazing Shepherd's Pie

Makes 8 servings

Meat Layer Ingredients:

4 pounds ground hamburger (I use Schawns, very lean)

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 large union, chopped

3 Tablespoons Worcestershire

1 Tablespoon Cilantro, fresh, chopped

salt, pepper

Mashed Potatoes Ingredients:

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubbed 

1/2 cup heavy cream (can substitute for fat free milk)

3 Tablespoons of butter

Directions

1. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray.

2. Cook hamburger until done and crumbly, drain in colander.

3. Add peppers, onion, Worcestershire sauce, cilantro to the skillet, cook, stirring often until tender and onions are transparent.

4.  Add meat to mixture, cook 2 minutes, stirring often.

5. Place in a deep oven-proof baking dish, set aside to prepare mash potatoes.

6. Boil potatoes in water adding a little salt, cook until tender, drain.

7. Add cream, 2 Tablespoons of butter and mash until a creamy smooth (you can use a mixer for this) I leave the mashed potatoes a little moist so that they fill in the hamburger mixture...ummmm)

8. Pour the mashed potatoes on top of the hamburger mixture.

9. Sprinkle with paprika, optional.

10.. Place the dish into the oven, broil until the potatoes are golden brown on the peeks.

Serve with corn on the cobb or have it alone. Freezes great too! For a family of 4 simply divide the dish in half. With 8 services, I feed 5 for supper and have 3 servings for lunches the following day. Quick, easy and delicious....

**Tip:  I buy peppers, onions and celery, chopped them

and place them in the freezer so they are ready for recipes.**

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

Community...

Recycle, Reuse, Recreate ~ Now they are closed and now...

...they are open...recycle, reuse, recreate...

Made with scrapbooking paper, adhesive & this Starbucks coffee envelope template.

Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris) reverb10

OMGosh, the word for today is community!! I tweeted earlier this morning that I seriously doubt that there is enough room in cyberspace to hold all the praise I have for not only the community where I live, worship, shop and love to stay-cation these days much less what the online community has meant to me in 2010!!! I say it again, OMGosh...WOW...Awesome...Thanksgiving...Praise... I will do my best to keep this short and sweet like the recycled coffee envelope above...

I have discovered so much during the past year and just a few months beyond that has opened up a world of friendships, connections, spirituality and love that I never ever dreamed possible. 

First, within my own community, after the terminal illness of my father and our son's brain surgery, our family was able to worship once again together in church. Two years, people, that we were not able to worship together!! The first Sunday we attended we went because, one, our family and friends were there so it was familiar! We were tired and weary physically, emotionally and spiritually for the long year of illness that bound our family to our own home. We were so ready to have fellowship with people, actual people, who served and loved God as much if not more than I did. Plus, they were friends, family, neighbors who had walked the road of the past several years with us! Who wouldn't feel good about that. Although we fully miss our former church family, we know they are there and praying for us. 

Second, while my father was ill and we were going through nine months of observations and testing that led to Joel's brain surgery, we discovered live worship online of a local church and our home church had live services via television, podcast and on their website each week. Although it wasn't the same as being with people, it was a blessing to be a part of an online community when we weren't able to physically attend church. (I will stop harping about the faith element in a moment...well, probably not LOL so just keep walking with me please). 

Then as I mentioned yesterday, I discovered the online art community! OMGosh, OMGosh they are friends, no they are more than that, they are family! Through them I have "come a long way baby" in my creativity, my spirit, my love and my passion for the art I create. I get it...I understand what another artist is trying to say through their work. As a caregiver still for our son Garrett, art is my respite and spending time online wither I am streaming live with a show or supporting another artist, I am connected to like minded people who love art regardless of the medium they decide to work with. I have friends all over the world because of the internet. (Why do you think at Thanksgiving, I can sum up my blessings in one word??) The online community via tweeter, ustream, stickam, Facebook, YouTube, etc etc are tools to bring people together to share, learn and belong. It doesn't matter what you wear, if you have makeup on or if you are experienced artist or a newby, the community will encourage and lift you as you grow and develop your own work as they help you see your unique signature in what you are working with.

Thus the faith has come full circle, for by the faith that lives within me, makes me the artist I am today and will grow me into the artist I will become. In 2011, I want to create a community of artists with one stop streaming, one stop gallery, one stop chat, one stop awareness just for artists regardless of mediums the artist might work with. It has begun, now it is time to finish it...

Loving my community and I wish you...

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Reuse, Recycle, Recreate

Sometimes I worry that because I don't have the right tools or the latest and greatest papers and embellishments that I can't create things like scrapbooking pages, cards, art journaling pages or backgrounds. A few months ago, I accepted the challenge to not buy art supplies other than adhesive until my birthday. At the time that was around two hundred days away...now, it's less than 75 days ahead. The great part is that I have kept that challenge. I have reused, recreated, recycled and used what I have on hand to create art. 

Sometimes what we need is right in front of us and with the New Year rolling around, something you might add to your New Year's Resolutions is to accept the challenge yourself to reuse, recycle and recreate. You will not only feel better about yourself and your art, but you will clear out many things that otherwise might never get used. Our blessings come from being good stewards of our time, money and resources. Think about it. So I challenge you today to create something with the theme **reuse, recycle, recreate** I can't wait to see what you come up with. =)

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Beading Creation

I was looking through some of my past creations and saw this collection. It is one of my favorite because of the blues and golds. I love the combination of chain and beading as well as bringing the simple and bold together. Just wanted to share this with you...loving creating something out of nothing. =)

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Early Morning...

The Tennessee River Wild Life Refuge photographed by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

~ Psalm 143:8

I must admit mornings are not my favorite thing to experience,  but how could I possibly get a photo like this one without a morning drive. While people are rushing to begin their week, I am looking past the obvious facts like today is Monday, the long week has begun or that the fog is so thick it could be sliced with a knife, as my dad use to say.  That is how it is with life, our busyness or the crises at hand can't let us see past the fog to the sunrise of victory that awaits us when the fog lifts. Regardless of the haze or the fog, God loves us, as His Word declares. We are to trust our faith and rely on the hope of what is to be. Outward appearance should reflect that faith and that hope by smiling and being happy. However, that large cup of coffee sprinkled with vanilla doesn't hurt either. =)

Thinking a green jadeite and red kitchen could really spark morning creativity for our family. What do you think? 

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Art Journaling at the River

 I wanted to share a couple of art journaling pages that I plan to use in a digital project. I love the colors that create the center of the right page. The little white flowers was something I created using the wooden tip of a brush. I am falling in love with water color crayons and pencils.

I am truly loving this layout and the colors that it represents. The bottom color is popping through the white paint and I loved that. These art journaling pages I will also use in a digital project. The stamps made the perfect third layer background. Love these colors.

The Tennessee River tonight! I wanted to capture these colors so that I could find paints in my stash to match these vibrant amazing colors of the sky reflected in the waters which are mirroring the fall colors of the leaves in the trees at the waters edge. I felt this was a reflection of my soul, bright, sunny, happy as I think about the whole day. God is so rich and good to give me this opportunity to thank Him for a happy spirit. If I were to write a song at this very moment, it would say "Create within Me..." I want others to see my strong faith of hope, love and peace. In all that paths that I have walked, and there have been many, I know where my strength comes from and that is in the personal relationship I have in Him and the many friends that share my love for creativity and art. There is power in creating with color.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Recycling a Children's Book into a Vintage Mini Album

This mini album was so much fun to make! Of course, anytime I can recycle materials I am in my comfort zone. There are a lot of new materials especially from Close to My Heart. The colors are magnificent and represent the fall and coming holidays well. 

The base for this mini album is a children's book that was missing elements so I took it apart and recreated it into this lovely mini album. It is a gift for a church minister and his family to show our appreciation for what they have meant to our entire family. I wanted some really vintage detailed elements to the book, but since I didn't know if his wife scrapbooked, I kept the inside fairly simple with photo/journaling spots, simple mini albums within and cute tags. The colors were fall earth tones with turquoise as the main color theme.  Surprisingly the additional frame on the front cover wasn't heavy nor did it take away from the rest of the album. The detailed video of each page can be found on my youtube channel.

Continue to find ways to recycle, reuse, and recreate. It is amazing to see something to damaged turn into something amazingly beautiful.

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Healing through Art Journaling

 I have started a new journey with my art journaling through two series of classes. One set of classes is with 21Secrets which is a group of artists coming together teaching 21 different lessons in art journaling. The other class series is taught by Tam at Willowing. The pages featured are from week 1 of Tam's lessons.

 The drawing above is the self portrait we were to do. Not bad for a first timer. =)

I loved the lesson for this week, especially in how to do the eyes. I have asked for help in making ears since I don't have the hair to cover them as Tam does. =)  I like the butterfly on the cheek which represents my new life as an artist. My theme was Create.

I simply can't stop looking at the eyes. I see me in them, knowing the depth I have seen and the path I have walked to get to this point.  I see them searching to learn more so that the happiness and peace within will live on forever.  Loving these classes....

Love, Blessings and {{{hugs}}},
RHC

A Layout Challenge!!!

I designed this layout sketch so that you could create a page for a prize. My layout is completed and posted below. I think this is fun and functional, with all the elements meshed to the bottom right corner, it would flow well alone or with a 2 page spread.  So have fun with it...

This is my finished layout based on the layout sketch challenge. The paper is K@Company and the stamps are from Close to My Heart I also posted a video about it on youtube! I totally totally love love love this photo of our sons, Ethan and Joel while we were at the beach a couple of years ago. I had to frame it for the time being! Adorable... The pocket and the title piece are from a product package. Using what I had was important to me in creating this layout.

Now, it's your turn. Create a 12x12, 8x8, 6x6 or art journal the sketch.

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

Tile Art using Unglazed Tiles

I am so excited about all the possibilities surrounding decorative tile!! I plan to make a series similar the one above for a wall mural in our home. The earth tones are symbolic of our life as a family because of our love for living within farmland and hayfields as well as living among family, four generations to be exact. Not to mention the earth tone elements will go with absolutely every color I might wish to use in decorating the room! LOL =)  The class I will be teaching tonight, demonstrates taking unglazed tiles, stamping on them and making them durable and usable in whatever element of decor you wish to use, like as a coaster or as a tiled mural.  The photo above is using Close to My Heart stamps which you can see at my online store.

There are so many ways to decorate the tiles. This one is a stamped image on a piece of card stock and transfered to the tile, so it is not a direct stamp to tile. Then I used various markers to complete the look I wanted for this lovely lady. When trying various markers on a scrap piece of prepared tile, I realized that some simply do not work. On this tile, I shaded in areas with pencil...I was very pleased with the results.  It is totally fun!!

Also, check out my new exciting adventure with Close to My Heart...you will love what you see and all that you have to work with. Loving it....

Love, Blessings and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

My creation for Breast Cancer Awareness...

In 1980, a sixteen year old girl felt something in her left breast that didn't look right. After seeing that it was an obvious knot, she told her mother and her mother's best friend. They took her to a doctor that led to tests and a biopsy. Fortunately, the knot was fibrocystic. Imagine how difficult it was to tell the guy you were dating that you were being tested for breast cancer. Imagine the emotions that went with that. I would know because I was that girl. The guy showed up for the biopsy to be there with me and is still with me 30 yrs later. Not everyone is as lucky as I was. Many have fought the battle of breast cancer and won while many didn't have a chance to fight.

It is important to self-check and there is free information to do this. Many within our families are hit with this disease. 

Today, we have the gift of reminder and knowledge via the internet, friends and family openly talking about breast cancer. Wearing pink is a symbol of remembrance of the heroes that have gone before us paving the way for more research as well as representing ourselves or someone we know that has had the dreaded disease. 

In the past year, Facebook participants have taken this reminder to a level of creativity by asking one word answers to "what color bra are you wearing today" to "where is your favorite place to leave your purse."  Clearly for me some 30 years later, I self-check and have regular mammograms, but it is these reminders that help me do so. When I saw the mention of the purse on Facebook Monday, the purse stuck in my head. So when I moved on to other things, it was my actual purse that reminded me to call and schedule my mammogram. 

 An artist that I watch streaming live has a wonderful tool on his website called Boobies Wednesday. It was with that reminder that I created these art journals for October's Breast Cancer Awareness emphasis. It isn't meant to be distracting but a creative artistic reminder that self-check and yearly exams are important from your head to the top of your head, know your body and let your doctor decide if something that concerns you is something to really worry about.

My father lost his leg to cancer after fighting the battle four different times. Death came, but it wasn't cancer that took his life. He fought the fight. I am a fighter too, won't you join me as we represent breast cancer awareness this month, it's not just a disease for women, but of men too. Self-check.

One like these art journals/notebooks were created for someone that wishes to journal their steps into treatments for breast cancer. She wants to see the miracle unfold on paper. It is her story to share that I wish never had to be told. Through women and men like her, we have tomorrow before us.

Now, where did I put my purse?

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

Making my own FRED, Moving the Studio, & Some Exciting News...

I know this may not be the most amazing photo and background, but I was way to excited to show you this adorable inexpensive way of preparing my layouts PLUS it's hot pink! I saw someone using a tool called a FRED but when I checked into getting one, the cost was around $100. I found all of these items in my studio waiting to go up on the wall, adding a little hardware and a stand, total cost for me? No more than a cost of $15! Pretty impressive especially for me putting it together. This tool is easy on my arms, shoulders and ever pressure point Fibromyalgia can throw at me on any given day! It's not a total miracle but it will make scrapbooking easier for me and saved a few dollars too. =)

If you have seen my youtube videos of my studio spaces, the one unattached to the house and the annex station, I finally had to move the annex station along with much of my studio to our living room. The location is perfect for being closer to our son Garrett who has special health care needs. However, the video/streaming live and other station will remain in the annex portion for a quieter location for technological work. The living room is just the transition until the 28x18 studio in the new addition to our home is completed. This way I can teach classes in my home, have access to materials and supplies that I will need and still be available to Garrett.

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com