Universal Yums: Italy and Belgium

We recently enjoyed the final two boxes in our 12-month Universal Yums gift subscription: Italy and Belgium. As it turns out, they were two of my favorite boxes. As usual, each box held a variety of snacks, an informational card, booklet and sticker set. 

This is what came in the Italy box:

I’m always a big fan of the activities, articles, and trivia in each Universal Yums booklet. I learned all sorts of interesting things. Did you know that Italy holds the world record for the world’s largest truffle (4.16 lbs, sold for $61,250) and world’s largest pizza (131 feet in diameter)? Or that 10 of Shakespeare’s 38 plays are set in Italy? Venice, nicknamed the Floating City, has 117 canals and 417 bridges - wow!

So how were the Italian snacks? Delicious! I loved the tomato and oregano ring crackers and the pistachio candy bar. The jellies were fantastic, packed with flavor. I was concerned that the pepperoncini potato chips might be too spicy for me, but they weren’t at all. They were flavorful and extra crisp - fabulous! 

This was everything in the Belgium box. 

The booklet had a short article about cuberdons - we discovered those for the first time during our time in Brussels this summer. Yum! I learned that heavily-urbanized Belgium has fewer forests than the rest of Europe, but boasts the most castles per square kilometer (a total of over 3000). It is the world’s largest exporter of billiard balls. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned is that the Brussels sprouts of my youth are not the same as the ones now. In the 1990’s, the chemical that makes sprouts bitter was identified, making it possible to breed the less-bitter sprouts that are now popular in trendy restaurants. 

I loved the Belgian snacks. My favorite was the chocolate bar filled with raspberry yogurt, but I also loved the hazelnut truffles and the apple cookies. I was confident I wouldn’t like the mustard and pickle-flavored potato chips (since I don’t like mustard or pickles very much), but they were actually pretty good! I wouldn’t necessarily buy them again, but I had no problem finishing my portion. I was also unsure about the violet candies. I don’t love floral desserts, but these were fantastic - sour and sweet and bursting with flavor. 

I've loved our year-long adventures with Universal Yums. I've learned a lot about different countries and tried foods I otherwise wouldn't have. A subscription to Universal Yums makes an excellent gift, but if you want to sample one first, I recommend buying a single box. These are affiliate links for the Italy, United Kingdom, and Korea boxes, all of which I've tried. I see that they also have the Greece box, which I haven't tried.... yet!

Congrats, You're An Aggie!

Not every scrapbook layout needs a traditional photo. For this page, documenting Trevor's acceptance to college, I treated the email that he received like a photo. The text of the email serves as the journaling. 

Congrats, You're An Aggie! (affiliate link)

I embellished the layout with two hearts, punched from the background paper, as well as the header of the email, cut like a flag. I'm happy with how this simple page turned out. 

A Very LEGO Christmas

Not too many years ago, Christmas in the deRosier house meant LEGO. There was always a LEGO Advent calendar and at least one (usually two) of our family members unwrapped LEGO sets or idea books on Christmas morning. We have LEGO ornaments for the tree and even a LEGO train. We’re big fans. So when I was asked to promote some of the newest LEGO products available this holiday season, I jumped at the chance. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy a product through one of these links, I will earn a commission. Since I haven’t taken on any freelance assignments since my cancer diagnosis, this is currently my only source of income. Thanks for supporting My Creative Life!

Now let's look at LEGO's newest Christmas releases. Check out Santa's Sleigh! Isn't this super cool?!

I adore the LEGO Christmas Tree. 

The LEGO Gingerbread Ornaments look like so much fun!

And this LEGO Poinsettia! How neat is that?!

The LEGO Nutcracker is new this year too. 

And I can't forget the LEGO Disney Advent Calendar. It's perfect for fans of Disney Princesses and LEGO. 

If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the Christmas tree. Or the poinsettia. What about you? Let me know in the comments which set caught your eye and if any will be wrapped under your Christmas tree this year. 

Rosie's Studio Bayfair Collection - 24 Cards (and Counting!)

On Saturday, I did something I've never done before: attend an ordination. I've been to an installation (where an existing pastor formally begins working with a new congregation) but never an ordination (where a seminary graduate formally becomes a pastor). It was a really neat ceremony and incredibly satisfying to see my friend officially become Pastor Rob. 

This is the card I made for him.  

I used paper and die cuts from the Bayfair Collection from Rosie's Studio (affiliate links here and below) plus scraps from a woodgrain paper by Echo Park. After I finished Rob's card, I made a few birthday cards. And some thank you cards. And some everyday cards. I've now made 24 cards using the Bayfair collection... and I still have a bunch of papers and die cuts left! 

Here are all my cards (so far!):

I'm particularly fond of the whale and lobster holding banners in this last batch. 

It's been awhile since I've made so many cards at one time. I had a lot of fun putting them together and it's good to see my card box filling up again. 

State Bird Window Clings Using Gallery Glass (American Goldfinch and Northern Mockingbird)

After making diamond art ornaments featuring two of the state birds, I thought it would be fun to use a different medium to make another pair of state birds. These window clings of the American goldfinch and Northern mockingbird are made from Gallery Glass. They're currently on the window in my craft room - that's our neighbor's tree you're seeing through my window. Aren't they cute? Affiliate links below. 

Gallery Glass - Bird Window Clings

Materials: 

• Gallery Glass leading - black 
• Gallery Glass paint - yellow, white, black, orange
• Gallery Glass workmat
• Gallery Glass toolkit (I didn't know it existed until I wrote this post, so I used a skewer)

Steps: 

Draw a simple bird shape onto a piece of scratch paper, then position it under the workmat. Use the black leading to outline the shape. Let the leading dry completely (overnight is best). 

Use the paint to flood each section, much like you would when decorating a cookie with royal icing. I used a skewer to create a variegated color in both tails and the mockingbird's wing, but it dried a solid color so don't bother with that. 

Let the paint dry completely, again overnight. When it is dry, carefully peel the birds off of the workmat. Now you have a window cling that that will stay on the window until you peel it off. 

Here's a closer look at each bird. The mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. 

The goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey, and Washington. 

It would be easy to adapt this project to make literally any bird. Give it a try!