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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Little Things, Day 1

Welcome to the Second Anniversary of Simplicity! Thank you all, each and every one, for making Simplicity the happy place it is. Your encouragement and support mean the world to me, and to thank you, I have a whole week of festivities planned, including...

wait for it...

wait...

wait...

A GIVE-AWAY EVERY DAY!!!!!

That's right. SEVEN days of GIVE-AWAYS!!!!

This week's festivities were prompted by a reader who asked me to discuss design tips for taking an ordinary clean-and-simple card and making it look fabulous. The key to achieving that transformation is a LITTLE THING: the one small touch that pushes a design over that line without cluttering it up so it isn't clean and simple anymore.

So this week, we're celebrating my favorite LITTLE THINGS that make such a BIG difference.

Some are items I've used for years, and at least one is a newer product that's quickly becoming a favorite. Each day, I'll post cards that spotlight one of these LITTLE THINGS and give some away!

*squeal*

Each give-away will be open for 48 hours and then I'll draw a random commenter who answered the question for that post. Ya gotta answer the question for your entry to count! Please leave only one comment per post! Some days will have more than one winner...some of the items are fairly small, and it is more fun to give away multiples of those! If you win, you have 48 hours to send me your snail-mail address. If I don't receive it in that time, I'll select another commenter to receive the prize.

Let's get started, shall we!

Today's LITTLE THING is Stickles! Oh how I love this form of adding glitter to a card because it's just so easy. No mess, no trying to dump glitter back into a little container.



Today's card is an effort to continue working on Christmas cards all year long. It uses Papertrey's Framed set combined with Stocking Prints. The Deck the Halls sentiment fits perfectly in the frame opening, doesn't it? I used Memento inks and Baby Blue Stickles to accent the top of the stocking. The card is 4.25" square.

BTW, in the future, I'm going to do a quickie tutorial with photos on how to use the Framed set. The idea behind this set (and a similar one at Waltzingmouse) is really very cool, but I found it difficult in the extreme to get a good impression (this card took three tries) and finally figured out some tricks that do make this set easier to use.

Today's give-away will have two winners...each will win three bottles of Stickles!

STICKLES Give-Away Question
This week's questions all focus on (surprise!) LITTLE THINGS. For today, what is one LITTLE THING that makes a big difference in your kitchen? For me, it's a Pampered Chef apple slicer/corer. Golly, we use that handy thing all the time!

197 comments:

  1. oh goodness, I love your card!

    One little thing that makes a difference in my kitchen is my crock pot- we love it and have made so many fabulous meals with it.

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  2. I love your card and I hope you don't mind but I am going to CASE it as I am behind 10 cards for a Christmas Card challenge that I do every year!
    My little thing for the kitchen~ my glass press that I use when frying bacon, burgers etc.

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  3. The image does work perfect with that set, very pretty card. I wholeheartedly agree with you about stickles vs glitter. I hate the glitter mess. I guess the little thing in my kitchen would be my bamboo spatula. It is on the narrow side and fits perfectly in my hand. I use it in some capacity every day.

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  4. Lovely card! My little thing is my rice cooker, which I rarely use to cook rice. I mainly use it to steam vegetables, and they come out great every time.
    Kegbo

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  5. I absolutely love your cards and all your hepful hints. I'm so glad you started this blog and I hope you're making cards and helping us for many, many more years. I love my Pampered Chef bread knife. Everyone who uses it loves it too.

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  6. I always save your blog for last - it's like my favorite dessert! My favorite little thing in the kitchen is really little: a magnet that looks like an ear of corn that MUST be stuck to the front of the dishwasher when it's turned on so that after it goes through the cycle and someone opens the door to take out one thing, everyone else will know that the stuff inside is clean. Not that they will necessarily empty it and put the dishes away, but so that they don't toss their dirty stuff in with the clean...

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  7. Congratulations of two fabulous years, Susan!

    A couple of small squeeze bottles filled with our favorite cooking oils, originally intended to hold condiments or melted chocolate, have made a big difference in our kitchen. No more fussing with oily lids and clunky bottles.

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  8. Love your card! I use Stickles a lot! Please be sure that someone else gets the Stickles, as I have lots, but I must answer your question anyway! The ICE CREAM SCOOP!!! Yummmmmm....... Thanks for the fun week! Looking forward to question #2! Hugs...

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  9. Can my answer be stickles? :) I don't cook much, but I do grill and stir fry. I love love love the pampered chef scrapers for the stir fry skillet. I love the colors of your Christmas card. I always say I'm going to do them throughout the year but only get like 3 done.

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  10. Natalie WintersteinMarch 19, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    Happy 2nd blogoversary! (Yea, probably spelled that wrong...) I love your card...it makes me want to make some Christmas cards, too. :)

    My favorite "little kitchen" item is the Pampered Chef mini whipper! I love it and use it for all kinds of things but especially eggs.

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  11. You have an incredible eye for design and color.
    I've been visiting your site for a while but I want to weigh in on my favorite little thing in
    the kitchen, isn't that funny? Anyway, it is my
    red spatula from Williams Sonoma that I have had
    for years! Great little tool. Also, I have oodles of stickles so not interested in winning
    anything.

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  12. I would love a tutorial on Stickles, too; I don't even know what they are. Little kitchen thing, eh? Hmm........pizza cutters. I have three of them. I use them for slicing all sorts of things. LOVE them!!!

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  13. Very pretty Christmas card!

    My favorite 'little thing' in the kitchen comes from the 'junk' drawer. It is from Pampered Chef and is a little opener, cutting tool that slices through single layers of paper. Wish I knew the 'official' name for it but I gave them away as stocking stuffers one year. Makes cutting out coupons so easy!

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  14. Love, love, love your blog. You have helped me turn PAB (plain and boring) into CAS.

    My kitchen little thing (does thin count for little?) is parchment paper. Love it for baking -- makes clean up so easy.

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  15. I would love to know how to apply Stickles so they look good...whenever I do it, it makes my ink bleed....icccckkkk. This is quite frustrating as it is the last thing I do, and then of course, my whole image is ruined. My friend loves them, I hate them. That being said, my favorite little thing in my kitchen is my itty-bitty Pampered Chef measuring cup that measures by tablespoons--very helpful when making my Italian salad dressing!

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  16. The favourite thing in my kitchen is ..... my husband!!! He does virtually ALL the cooking in our house because I cook to eat but he cooks because he enjoys it so I'm more than happy to let him!!!

    I'm so glad I discovered your blog too as it's opened my eyes to CAS and taught me that less really can be more! Thanks and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

    Kathyk

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  17. Gorgeous gorgeous card.

    Tiny thing that makes a big difference in my kitchen? Taking ALL the dishtowels off the counters and stove and fridge and away to the wash every Monday.

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  18. I am so excited that you are going to put a little tutorial out on how to use the Framed set! If you make a card with it for an 11 year old boy's birthday using stuff that I already have I'd love you FOREVER! ;-) I do struggle with those masculine cards!

    My little thing in the kitchen that I love - hmmmm there are so many things that I like! I like the silicon muffin liners and silicon muffin tins. I like the liners for making muffins as they don't stick and you don't need paper cups and can use them in your regular muffin tins. I didn't like the silicon muffin tins origninally, because they were so wobbley getting the muffins into the oven, but then I found a GREAT use for them. When I open a large tin of something and only use part of it (like tomatoes or tomatoe sauce or chicken stock), I freeze the rest in the silicon muffin tins. When frozen the stuff just pops out and goes into a freezer bag. Now I have tomatoes or whatever already measured waiting for me. I also freeze chopped fresh parsley, celery and onions this way so I'm half way ready for a pot of soup!

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  19. One thing in my kitchen I can't live without is my mini whisk. It's less than half the size of a regular whisk, and although it seems useless, I find that I whip it out all the time! Its good for mixing a single egg, for whisking hot cocoa in a mug, for mixing a single serving of pancake batter, etc. Thanks for a fun giveaway!

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  20. The one little thing in my kitchen that makes a big difference is my pizza cutter... I use it almost everyday to cut up food for my little ones. Makes the job so quick and easy!

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  21. Love your card! I have yet to ink up my Framed set. I can't wait to see your tips.

    I've got a lot of gadgets in my kitchen that are great. But, I think the little thing in my kitchen that makes a big difference is a bamboo tong-type grabber that I won as a prize at a Pampered Chef show. We only use it for taking the toast out of the toaster, but we use it every day. With four kids in the house, it's so reassuring for me to know that they can use this wooden tong to remove the toast without burning their fingers or getting electrocuted.

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  22. My favortie thing in my kitchen is my little basket lamp (that I made). I store larger utensils in the basket and the soft glow of the light makes cooking so much more enjoyable! Then after the kitchen is clean I leave the little basket lamp on and it glows softly till I turn it off when it is time to go to bed! I also use it in the mornings when I go in to pour my coffee - it doesn't hurt my eyes like the overhead light!

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  23. As a vegetarian, I can't deny the power of a nicely-sharpened knife. I chop a lot. However, as my knives aren't particularly sharp right now, I'll go with my #2 favorite: my garlic press -- from Pampered Chef -- which is extra-great because one does not need to peel the garlic before pressing.

    PS: as much as I love glitter in all its prettiness, I admit turning to stickles time and again because I also HATE. the. mess! Definitely an important "little thing."

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  24. Love the stickles on this card. You're absolutely right, it is the one little thing that really makes this stand out.I love all of your CAS designs...whenever I try to do it, my cards look like they are missing something, then I add one more thing, and then one more thing...and then they aren't so CAS anymore.

    The one little thing that makes a BIG difference in my kitchen is our dog, Bentley. He weighs a lot less than my vacuum (or my broom), yet he does a better job of keeping the floor clean :) He sits under my kids' chairs at the table, and now that's the cleanest spot in the house. No more dried on spaghetti or petrified peas along the baseboards, he gets 'em all! Too bad we didn't have him when the kids were in the highchair...he would have loved that.

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  25. My favorite little kitchen thing is my small little bamboo cutting board. Thin, lightweight, and cleans up AND dries quickly. I've thrown all my other cutting boards away. This little guy is my workhorse!

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  26. Lovely card. I. too, love stickles. One favorite thing in my kitchen that I use all winter is my grapefruit knife.

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  27. My husband.

    He's not very tall and he does all the cooking.

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  28. beautiful card, today... as always! the one little thing in my kitchen that makes a big difference for me is my pampered chef jar/bottle opener thingy. i use it pretty much every day.

    love stickles, too! i like glitter, but since my craft space is the kitchen counter i don't like getting glitter everywhere. with stickles you don't have that problem!

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  29. Great card. I love stickles too. They make everything pretty.
    I will appreciate your tips on how to use the frame it stamp as well.
    In the kitchen, I'm really glad we bought a good set of knives years ago. They make all the difference in getting stuff done simply.

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  30. Oh Stickles are very cool. I have a bottle of white, but that's it. It seems to make my ink bleed - any suggestions (or do I just need to be patient and make sure it is truly dry)?

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  31. I love your blog, and all your artwork!!

    The one little thing in the kitchen that we love is the ice cream scoop!! We use it all the time!!!

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  32. My one "little thing" in the kitchen? Has to be parchment paper. I only discovered it a few months ago but now I am hooked, hooked, hooked!
    Have a great weekend and God Bless,

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  33. My favorite "little things" in the kitchen are small rubber spatulas from Williams Sonoma. I use them so often that I now have three sets of them so that I don't have to keep washing the same set after every meal!

    I lurk around here much more often than I comment, but you are one of my daily blog stops. I appreciate your perspective and your willingness to share your lessons learned.

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  34. Love your work. Stickles are a girls best friend.
    The small thing in my kitchen is an oval shaped VERY sharp chopping thing. I don't know the official name but you cut by rocking it back and forth or you can slide it on food like a knife, chops like a darn.
    Myrna

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  35. Happy 2nd Blog Anniversary!!! Let's see, that is Cotton, or China....So somewhere this week there should be a card with a dish towel and plate??? Or maybe a China doll in a cotton dress! ;-) Love the card! Looking forward to your tutorials also.
    My favorite small thing in the kitchen is a small egg shaped gadget that you throw in the pot with the eggs when you are soft boiling them. When they are done....the ring around the egg turns purple! LOVE IT! Haven't had a hard soft boiled egg since we got it.
    Lu C

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  36. I would have to say my red silicone scrapers from Williams Sonoma. They do a great job at clean up from jars or cans so every bit is used. Also, they can be used as a spoon in stirring something in a pot without melting the scraper. And they don't deteriorate like the old rubber ones did.

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  37. Congratulations Susan on your two year anniversary. Love CAS. Little thing in the kitchen I'd have to say the toaster. It gets used so much it's a wonder it hasn't died yet. Breakfast: Vegemite on toast. Snack: sliced tomato with lots and lots of white pepper on toast. Yum. The toaster really does get a work out.

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  38. I visit your site every night when I get home from work for inspiration or, sometimes, just a good giggle.

    My husband; he is my favorite thing in my kitchen. Whether we're cooking Kraft dinner or an elaborate meal for our friends, he's the bomb. He pours me my wine, he chops the veggies, he flips the meat and he loves making creme brule. He also oohs and aahs over every card I make and actually makes specific comments about the things he REALLY likes about it. I know; weird as a three dollar bill isnt' it? But I love him anyway. :-)

    Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement to mull over ideas.

    Regena Baine

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  39. Congratulations on your blog-anniversary. I am a big fan of stickles too. With stickles I dont have to worry about getting glitter all over my craft space and everywhere else in the house too. No pouring back into containers too.
    My fav little thing in my kitchen is my knife. Cant cook without my trusty old knife. I've had it for 15 years and counting....

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  40. Totally darling card :) I'm not the cook in the house, hubby is (lucky for me and the kids LOL!) but one thing I don't think I could live without are my Tupperware containers. From the cabinet modulars to the square modulars that I can fill with leftovers and stack three high and three deep in my fridge - heaven :)

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  41. Your card looks fantastic! The stickles is just what it needed.
    To answer the question: in my kitchen the fine grater from microplane makes all the difference. It's just so absolutely perfect for chocolate or lemon. Now I keep the skin on my knuckles ánd the grater doesn't rust away in the dishwasher.

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  42. Love the card and totally agree with you on stickles. I love colouring first with copics and putting clear stickles over-top so the colour shows through - that way I don't have to have every colour in the world! (I don't have many copics - 2 in colour family) but they don't bleed when they get wet.)

    My favourite kitchen tool is my glass scrapper. I love to cook but have never learned the art of cooking cleanly. Cleanup is a breeze, everything just scraps right off the stovetop. It also takes a nice thin, smooth layer off my butcher block to sanitize after cutting meat.

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  43. Happy Blog anniversary..two years? Has it only been two years? I feel like I've known you all my life! Love the day I stumbled on to your blog and changed my whole perspective on making cards..
    I must say I'm not a fancy gadget girl in the kitchen..I do love my rice cooker. makes life so easy for me. Perfect fluffed rice every time.
    p.s I loved the color, the design, the proportions of this card..simply as if they were all made for each other! Haven't got any stickles with me..but love glitter in any form!!

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  44. Love love love blues for Christmas! My most useful little thing in the kitchen would have to be my Tupperware spatula, nothing is left in the bowl after that's been through!

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  45. Happy blogaversary and what a fun week you are planning. My favourite thing in the kitchen is my ceramic fry pan - it is so easy to clean,

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  46. My little thing in the kitchen that I like is my salad dressing mixer dispenser. Not sure what else to call it but I can make the dressing in it and then have it on the table to use as a dispenser. As well it has a mixer built in -you just push on the top and besides all that it is teal colored and matches the kitchen so well.

    I have never used stickles but would love to try. Love all your cards.

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  47. Love your card and yes Stickles are definitely a fav of mine. It's a standard joke amongst my friends that I don't do mess or glitter (once the kids get hold, oh my!) but I do love sparkle and stickles is my way of getting that sparkle with minimal mess!

    My 'little thing' in the kitchen... hmmm ... my grater that has a container attached, solves the bits of cheese everywhere problem.

    Thanks for the chance to win, I can't believe this is your second anniversary, you've become such a staple of my blog reading and card making inspiration that it feels like you've always been on hand to inspire me. Thank you :)

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  48. Hi Susan, Your card is great and I really like the technique of boxing the image but leaving part of the sentiment of picture out, brilliant.

    My favourite little thing in the kitchen has to be my potato peeler. It's just perfect for the job, does all veg and fruit and gets used most days, in fact we've worn one out, it had hardly had any metal left and was dangerous LOL.
    I have lots of stickles, love them, so pass me over please, many thanks anyway:0)
    p.s Great of you to have this celebration, good fun:0)xxx

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  49. Susan, happy blogoversary. I love seeing your creativity everyday. I know I should comment more, but I am not very good at it. Thank you for sharing.
    Stickles - hmmmm, I have never gotten the hang of stickles as they take soooooo looooonngggg to dry, I am too impatient. Is there a trick to working with them?
    My favorite kitchen gadget has to be my PASTRY CUTTER. Not the wire one, but the one with the solid sides. Pampered Chef used to sell one. I used to bake a lot and it got a lot of use. I also use it for making egg salad and chicken salad. One of my girls absconded with it when she moved into her own apartment. It took me a while to find a new one.

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  50. Oh, what a fun week this will be! Thank you, Susan, for your generosity and for sharing your ideas. Your card is beautiful!
    One thing I use in my kitchen alot now is the Pampered Chef chopper. I had this thing for a year before I ever used it! It intimidated me. The thought of taking it apart to wash it and then trying to put it back together just intimidated me! I finally faced my fears and figured it out. I am no longer intimidated by this little gadget and now I use it all the time! And I love it! :)

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  51. Love your wonderful card. Enjoyed reading all of the favorite kitchen items - many are the same. Mine is my little, SHARP, paring knife. Fun celebration - congrats on two years. You've given us lots!

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  52. Congratulations on your anniversary! Love your work and creativity. I have a vegetable peeler that is ordinary (not brand name) that I use all the time. It is so much easier than using a knife to do veggies and some fruits.

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  53. My faverite little thing in the kitchen? My p-38... the can opener I recieved 35 years ago while in the air force to open my c-rations. It's never failed me in rescuing a can that refuses to be opened all the way (I have this recurring vision of mice dancing - and worse- on my canned goods in the store)!

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  54. Qué linda idea Susan!! Me da pena estar tan lejos para jugar con ustedes, pero como leo tu blog cada día y aprendo mucho de tí, voy a jugar igual!!! Por cierto, maravillosa tu tarjeta, como todas. Para mi el pequeño elemento que hace la gran diferencia en mi cocina es, decididamente mi pela papas!! sin él demoraría mucho tiempo y derrocharía alimentos. Por eso es mi gran amigo... jajaja... Felicidades por el segundo cumpleaños.

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  55. I so enjoy your blog visits and a big blog-versary to you of course .It will be exciting to see the surprises ahead this week. I love the blue stocking and of course the way you used the framed set from PTI combined on your card.
    Now for your question, my new favorite kitchen tool is my OXO peeler. I am left-handed and every other peeler I had over the years also peeled my fingertips no matter how careful I was while working.No more troubles with this tool!

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  56. My zester! Perfect strips of lemons or oranges. (If anyone knows who pilfered my melon baller, please let me know.)
    And, Susan, I start every day with your blog: a peaceful, creative, and sometimes zesty way to start the day.

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  57. Happy Anniversary! I just discovered your blog a week or so ago and am so inspired by your C&S cards. The little thing that I love in my kitchen is my garlic trolley. In seconds, I have tiny, minced garlic to throw in a recipe.

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  58. This is the first time I post to your blog so before I answered...I wanted to tell you that I look forward to each blog post you do. You are such an inpiration to me. I have always gone "over the top" thinking that is what makes a card look great...the cards were time consuming, frustrating AND took forever! I found your blog...saw your cards and said WOW. Simple is best!
    I live in FL and have orange trees in the back yard. When the oranges are ready, nothing I like more is to pick an orange every morning and grab my lil 20 year old plastic tool I have had that sort of looks like a crochet hook to help me peel the orange. It is a hook at one end that cuts down into the skin. Makes peeling oranges so easy.

    thank you and Happy Anniversary!
    Manetta

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  59. I love your blog. The best thing in our kitchen is the pizza cutter. We seem to use it every other day. There is nothing an 18 year old boy loves more than pizza!

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  60. Hi there - Love seeing your daily posts - on all your blogs!! Anyway, my favorite little thing in the kitchen is the small open container I put my coarse salt in. Makes it so much easier to use.

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  61. 1st of all, congratulations on 2 years !!

    As for the kitchen, I can't have enough cutting boards. I have 11, several different sizes. We use at least 5 per day as I use one for breakfast to cut my hard cheese (part of my morning diet), then at supper, I have one for my meat, then another for my veggies,,,then later, my husband will go in the kitchen cut up fruits for his late night snack. The days I'm home at lunch, I'm using one too.... They are a necessity in my kitchen!

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  62. YEAH! I love stickles! My electric kettle is my new favorite thing in my kitchen. I can have a cup of tea in just a couple of minutes!

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  63. My lime green Melamine spoon rest is one of my favorite things in my kitchen. Love the color, the functionality, and the near indestructibility!

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  64. The 'little thing' in my kitchen is my wooden toast tweezer. No more burned fingers or unplugging the toaster in order to snag the bread slice with a fork. I picked it up at a Christmas craft bazaar from a woodworking retiree. Beautiful wood with an inset ultra-magnet to hang it by. Starting the morning right sets the tone for the day! ;-)

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  65. Happy Anniversary!! Neat card and I like Stickles too.

    Love my Oxo hand can opener-easy on 'old' hands and cuts like butter!!

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  66. Happy Anniversary! I'm so glad you take the time to give a little of yourself through your blogs - both Simplicity and Questioning My Intelligence. You truly make me smile somedays and somedays make me reflect and dig a little deeper into life. Thank You! And as a fellow CAS cardmaker I love your cards and have CASE'd so many of them. Vist my blog someday when you're bored and you might be tickled to see my versions of them (galpalmt.blogspot.com).

    I love, love, love my Tupperware scraper. Not sure where or how long ago I got it but I use it for scrambled eggs every Sunday morning, to scrape the sides of bowls when I'm baking or transferring leftovers into containers.

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  67. Congratulations on your 2 year Anniversary! You
    have made this a happy place for so many of us.
    Thank you so much for all the inspiration,
    information and fun that you provide. My one
    little kitchen thing is a salad spinner.

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  68. the little thing that I use a lot of times in the kitchen is fruit skin peeler..without it, I just don't know how to peel the skin of an apple for my 2 years old son.

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  69. Would love to learn how to use those frames! It looks perfect on your card. I have lots more stickles than I use, so count me out on that contest. My current favorite in the kitchen is my Cutco cheese knife. The blade has open areas, and for some reason that keeps the cheese from sticking to the knife. Works great, especially when cutting lots of cheese for sandwiches or appetizers! Fun reading about others's favorites.

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  70. Woohoo! Congratulations on two years! Love that gorgeous card! The one little thing that makes a big difference in my kitchen is the cannister of Clorox wipes! They are so easy to use and get the icky clean up job done in a hurry.

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  71. congratulations on your blog anniversary! too cool. :-)
    i gave my DH a KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas this year. it has quickly become a gadget i don't think *I* can do without! i love it!

    Jackie from MO

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  72. I always want to spend my time creating cards, so my favorite thing(s) in the kitchen is . . . TAKE-OUT menus!!

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  73. Congrats on the anniversary and thanks for this "little" giveaway chance! My little thing in the kitchen is an extremely sharp paring knife. It's used at least once every single day, it's never put in the dishwasher, and it's mine - no one else is to touch it.

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  74. happy 2nd anniversary! I am always amazed at how a little touch of stickles can add so much to a card! my favorite kitchen item is my salad spinner!
    linda patti tpatti@windstream.net

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  75. Happy Blogoversary! I love the card - especially the fact that it's not red or green - and I agree that Stickles rock the glitter world.
    The one little thing that makes a big difference in my kitchen is my tea kettle. Tea, coffee, oatmeal, dissolving bullion, cup o' soup, defrosting cold cuts (put the plastic bag of cold cuts in a bowl and cover with hot water from the kettle - defrosts without cooking!) - it comes in handy for everything!

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  76. Wow Susan...congrats on your anniversary!!! I love coming here every morning. I love your sense of humour. You make me smile.
    My handy tool is my reemer...I use it to put lemon in my morning hot water.

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  77. Love the bright blue of this card. I only a couple colors of Stickles so I would love to win more.
    My little thing is kitchen scissors. I use them for everything from opening unopenable bags to cutting up chicken.

    tigerlily55 on SCS

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  78. Well...I just found my Christmas card for this year. :-)

    Without a doubt, my favorite kitchen items are my grandmother's pot holders. They're thin and worn...so worn that I usually feel my fingers getting warm before the pan is pulled from the oven. I still use them just about every day anyhow...Grandma passed away 11 years ago, and it's like having her in the kitchen with me.

    tinab158 at hotmail dot com

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  79. Susan- Congrats on your second blogiversary! I love Stickles, but don't use them often enough (note to self). My fave little thing in the kitchen isn't very little, but I use it each and every day. 7 years ago, I "invested" in a Jura Espresso machine. But no more Starbuck's at $4.00+ a cup. This baby has paid for itself in the first year. Love it!

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  80. Congratulations on two years of blogging! I really enjoy reading your entries. <3 The one thing that makes a big difference in my kitchen is Pampered Chef rubber scrapers, big and little. I use them for everything cooking, since they are heat resistant. I couldn't cook without them!!!

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  81. I love the card, and am going to check out that set so please do the tutorial! Little BIG thing: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. BTW, gotta grab it and clean this keyboard...

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  82. The little thing that really makes a difference in my kitchen is my tomato knife. I make us a small salad almost every night & I love that little knife.

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  83. Do NOT put my name in the hat - I don't need more Stickles, but I wanted to tell you I read your blog EVERY DAY! I look forward to the tutorial on making this frame work - I do everything crooked.

    My kitchen go-to gadget is my Oxo Bottle Opener. It's just a V-shaped metal thingie with teeth. Slips over ANY bottle or jar lid and grabs it to open it.

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  84. Happy anniversary and for two years of inspiration! Thanks for having a generous give-away this week. My favorite little thing is a Martha Stewart polka-dotted spatula that I got as a gift from my sister. Nothing, and I mean nothing, sticks to it, and it's really cute, too.

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  85. My crockpot is a godsend because when I'm working it's nice to come home to a warm meal! Love this blog!

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  86. Love your blog, congrats.
    My little thing is washing dishes as I cook a meal. I can usually have most things washed by the time we sit down to eat. It makes after meal clean up much less daunting.

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  87. Someday when I grow "younger" I want to be just like you. Love your comments, cards, and ability to express yourself. My little thing is a pair of kitchen shears by Cutco. They come apart and go in the dishwasher and are uses several times a day for many things.

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  88. Great card! Non-traditional and gorgeous color! I'm looking forward to the tutorial on the frame. Been considering one, but held off 'cause you suggested using a pen (which I haven't tried either). I was surprised and happy to see you use a stamp (I'm terrible with a pen). As for the kitchen item: scrub buds (from Amway). Discovered them years ago. Made of stainless steel, work like a charm, and DO NOT scratch!

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  89. Fantastic card... my little thing in my kitchen is my 7 year old son. He loves to help me cook, and he's been helping since before he could reach the counter. Although its not always a time save, it always makes cooking more enjoyable. He loves stickles too.

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  90. Congratulations on your blog anniversary! I absolutely love my Cuisinart Mini-Prep Processor. It's perfect for chopping onions, peppers, garlic and the like. It saves me lots of time, and doesn't aggravate my arthritis. I've had it for years and it works perfectly.

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  91. My favorite thing is the I-Slice which is always in reach because it's magnetic--I keep it on the fridge. I not only use it almost every day, but they also make a great little hostess gifts when I go to someone's house.
    As for Stickles, I have a bunch of colors that I use for my card classes. They're so handy!

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  92. I always love your insight into how you make your cards. As for the little thing in my kitchen, it's a measuring cup that goes from 1/8 cup to 1/2 cup and also measures tablespoons by sliding a button. No more multiple measuring devices when cooking.

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  93. love the blues in your card and the stickle really does help to make the image pop.

    Our one little thing in our kitchen is our hotshot. I quickly (in under a min) heats to a boil up to 2 cups of water. Perfect for my teas and oatmel.

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  94. Congrats on the anniversary! I would say the wine aerator is a revelation. Helps elevate even the most humble bottle to something more special :)

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  95. Happy Anniversary, I love your blog!

    My favorite thing in the kitchen is a VERY sharp knife, makes all the difference.

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  96. Happy, happy anniversary! Your blog is awesome and makes me realize I don't really NEED all that stuff in my craft room. I love how beautiful simple things are...I love your cards and focus on the message rather than the bling.

    My favorite thing in my kitchen is an Oxo peeler. It makes peeling potatoes (or whatever) a breeze.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win Stickles (one of my favorite things in my craft room).

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  97. Congrats on your blogaversary!!
    i'm not much of a kitchen gadget person, but i love having a sharp knife and good pans :)

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  98. Very industrious...making your Christmas cards already. I am still waiting for that Ch card burn out to go away. I usually start in July. I love stickles too. Kitchen item? My Pampered Chef Salad dressing making container. It has a plunger type thing on the lid to mix the dressing. I make all of my salad dressing. It is just so much better. I use a base of olive oil and lemon juice and go from there. In summer, I add fresh herbs from my herb garden. Thanks for asking.

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  99. Your blog is a daily read for me. I don't think a day has past that I haven't gleaned something from your words, be it an idea, thought, technique, whatever. I couldn't live without a rubberized shelf liner scrap that I put underneath my cutting boards. If I didn't they'd just slip & slide; this makes it possible to have fewer, okay none so far, accidents with a knife.

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  100. Love Christmas cards that aren't red & green!
    My favorite little thing in the kitchen is my Pampered Chef circular organizer - all(or most!) of my tools right at my finger tips.

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  101. (hope this doesn't come through twice. First time I sent it nothing happened)
    I would love a tutorial on how to use those stamps. I just can't seem to get it right. My favourite kitchen gadget is a small quilted potlid knob holder. A couple of the knobs had fallen off (rather old but love the pots) and my husband replaced them. However they were not heat resistant. This little 'goodie' has saved many a burned finger.

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  102. Love your card. Love Stickles. Thanks for the chance to win some.
    My favorite "kitchen" thing is my toothbrush. No, not for my teeth. I use it every day to clean those nooks and crannies around my sink and appliances that collect crud and can't be reached with a cloth.

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  103. Love your stickles! My favorite kitchen tool is the Pampered Chef scoop - comes in 3 sizes - and I use them for meatballs, ice cream, cookies.....and the scoops have the great lever action to push everything out!

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  104. ooooh look at all these comments ALREADY - {sigh} well my kitchen big thing - a sharp knife!

    I literally just told myself I really don't like stickles and than of course I see what YOU used it for and now I must have some! I gotta love the way I am so easily enabled~ :)

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  105. I love your blog - and also all your cards. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Would love a tutorial on stickles - hear so much about them, but have never tried playing with them.
    My favorite thing in kitchen is my rice cooker. Works amazingly well on rice - but also use it for steaming veggies, etc.

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  106. Your cards are amazing. My favorite kitchen item.... my kitchen scissors. I use them for everything from food to those plastic straps.
    Jackie

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  107. can't wait...what a week this will be. off to a good start already. i like the contrast of the lighter Stickles with the darker blue stocking.

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  108. I can't believe this is only one-year old blog and it's such a successful and inspiring one! YOU make the blog amazing with your excellent tips and writing! It's always such a treat to visit! Love that stocking with the Stickles by the way!
    *the little thing in my kitchen is my Oxo Peeler! I can't live without it. In fact, I always bring it to my mother-in-law's (hers is terrible!!).

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  109. oh - forgot my favorite "little" kitchen thing. My husband's Kansas Mennonite grandmother's cast iron skillet. love how it cooks, love drying it by lighting a burner under it for a minute or so, love putting it away. the whole process enters me into a long line of cooking women, near and far.

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  110. Congrats on your second blogiversary, Susan! I hope you continue to be inspired to share your fabulous work - both your beautiful cards and your wonderful design descriptions! It is always a pleasure to visit here!

    Please count me out of your kind giveaway. But still to answer your question: I adore my two 8x6" cutting boards(http://www.epicureancs.com/kitchenseries.php) -and they are dishwasher-safe too.

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  111. One of my favorite little kitchen things is the bamboo tongs from Pampered Chef. They allow me to grab things out of the toaster without burning my fingers or risking electrocution. Congrats on the blogavesary!

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  112. Happy 2nd blogaversary Susan - I love your blog - but I think you knew that! My favorite little kitchen thing are my kitchen scissors - I use them almost everyday!

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  113. I love my kitchen scissors. They come apart for easy cleaning and will cut anything from paper to plastic to chicken bones to just about anything.
    I use Stickles a lot. They are so much easier than anything I can think of for bling and that includes stick-ons. More bang for your buck as the saying goes.

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  114. My fav little kitchen thing would have to be my mini chopper......it is so handy to chop onions.....then I keep them in a small jar in my refrigertor.....always ready at a moments notice!

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  115. Congrats on two years, Susan! (Has it really been only two years?! I feel as if I've "known" you longer than that, LOL.) I read your blog every day. My big little item in the kitchen is a favorite Cutco knife that always stays sharp--I can't stand a dull knife. My second little thing is kitchen organization--have items stored near the place you use them: plates near the table and the dishwasher, glasses near the sink and frig, pots near the stove. Saves tons of steps!

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  116. I love the non-traditional Christmas colors you used on your card!

    My favorite little thing in the kitchen is an old paring knife that's been sharpened so much a good majority of the blade is gone! We've tried new knives over and over, but keep going back to our old fave!

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  117. WOW! That's two years worth of invaluable ideas! Thanks so much, Susan ---- YOU ROCK!....and my favorite little kitchen item is my hands-free can opener that leaves a rounded edge once the can is opened...and my second item would be the Pampered Chef mini whisk for mixing so many things in a jiffy without any lumps!

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  118. I love stickles too..sometimes I just don't want to wait for them to dry!

    My favorite kitchen thing....kitchen scissors. I use them for cutting everything my kids eat (it feels like anyway). So much easier than a knife for so many things.

    Thanks for the inspiration and fun conversations!

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  119. The one LITTLE THING that makes a big difference in my kitchen? Our little kitchen scale. We use it to weight *everything*. Oh, how I love accuracy . . .

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  120. 115 comments? Holy cow, I only left to go to church! To answer the question, my one little thing, although it's not so little, is my cap opener. It's not the round rubber mat, but the rubber strap that you put around the cap and then torque (ooooh! - a garage term in the kitchen area!) down to the size of the cap. Works every time, and my weak wrists just worship it! Susan, I love the card --- the colors, the sentiment, the sock off-center, the frame, just everything. I've been lusting after that PTI frame set, but thought "If Susan can make her own frames, I can too" but the only trouble, I can't make them as mess-free as Susan can! Now that I know you're going to do a tip-day on that frame set, it's in my basket! Been here every day since you started your blog, Susan, and I gotta' say it's some of the most pleasurable moments of my day!

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  121. What fun! Congrats on your milestone! I love the way you used a border around your card, and of course, love the stickles! In my kitchen, the little thing that makes a big difference is the circle-shaped rubber thingy that helps me open really tight lids on jars. I can't live without it--well, I could live without it, but I would never be able to open my favorite salsa. ;-)

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  122. Happy 2nd!! I love your blog. It was the first one I ever bookmarked so I could check easily every day! Card is gorgeous as always. I don't own a single bottle of Stickles; but I've been dying to try some.

    Little thing in my kitchen?? Hmmm...there are two things that I LOVE. One is the light over the sink. Seems silly but my last house didn't have one and it was ANNOYING ( and dark! ); I SO LOVE having that light right over the sink to flip on whenever I need it. The other is a tool from Pampered Chef, it's a mini flat silver spatula thing, but bent, and all three sides of the metal part can cut things. I use it to cut and serve brownies when I make a big batch and it's the best thing EVER!

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  123. Wow!
    So exciting, 2 years - your blog has become a fixture in my life. I decided to use google reader since I couldn't get yahoo to work!

    Hmmm...the best tool I've had in the last year is a vegetable peeler that I get at my local hardware store. It has a large "trapezoidal" shape or it looks like a flosser on steroids. This peeler has changed my peeling attitude! I no longer dread peeling potatoes. It's very fast and sharp.

    Happy Anniversary!
    Lisa (aka tennisrules)

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  124. Congratulations on your blog anniversary - it is one of my favs. Love the card and stickles. My little thing in the kitchen (hope it is "little" enough to qualify)is a george forman grill. I live alone and use it a lot for my single meals. Thanks for your give-away.

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  125. Happy second anniversary, and thanks for all you share with us!
    My favorite little thing in my kitchen? Hmm, hard to narrow down, but I would have to say my spatulas...now that there are silicone ones, they rule my kitchen! Other not so little fave- my coffee press. I heart it the most when I travel- I take it with me if I'm going to be gone for more than a few weeks!

    Thanks for the wonderful blog - and the chance to win! ;)

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  126. I am so in love with your blog - such great cards - simple it looks but I am never able to come up with simple in fact! My favorite little thing is an egg whip that is only 7" tall. A friend gave it to me as a stocking stuffer one year and it sits on my stove always. Looks like a little egg with feet and a funny face. Always makes me smile and useful too.
    Lura

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  127. Congratulations on your 2nd blogoversary. I recently found your blog & became a subscriber. I hope this is open to subscribers too. Well, my little thing that makes a difference in my kitchen is my favorite little Prestige knife. I don't feel comfortable cutting with any other one.

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  128. Congrats on your anniversary...love your blog!

    I couldn't do without my tongs. Since I'm 5'1", I can't reach anything beyond the 2nd shelf in my cupboards. My tongs make me 5'7"...what a difference.

    PS I love stickles. No card seems "dressed" without them.

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  129. I love giveaways! My "can't do without" in the kitchen is my silicone cutting mats! I can do anything on them and their easy to clean and fold when I need to pour something from them!

    Kris in Alaska
    funamom at yahoo dot com

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  130. Congratulations on your blog-anniversary! I have been a follower for a long time but just subscribed to your blog.
    My favorite thing is a plastic knife I have had for years works great cutting brownies or whatever without scratching the pan!
    Love your cards!

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  131. Your card is gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win!

    The little thing that makes a big difference in my kitchen is my vegatable steamer. I use it probably 5 nights a week. Just toss the veggies in, add water to the bottom part and set the timer. In 10-15 minutes you've got fresh steamed vegetables. It makes it so easy to have really nice veggies with dinner and it takes no extra cooking effort on my part which I love! You can add herbs and spices in there too, and the whole thing is dishwasher safe (except the base which doesn't need to be cleaned) which makes it easy to use too.

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  132. Happy 2nd Blogaversary!

    One little thing in my kitchen that makes a big difference is my Pampered Chef version of the Slap Chop! I love that puppy! I use it most when making meals with ground beef (tacos, spaghetti sauce etc) where you don't want big pieces of ground beef.... I cook up the beef and then take my daily stresses out on it with the chopper thingy to create little pieces of ground beef.

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  133. I loved your card. Always so wonderful in design and spacing.
    My little thing in the kitchen is not so little. I had the same pots and pans for 35 years. I finally bought a new set of Berndes about a year ago. I love them. It is amazing how much better the lids fit. So much easier to clean than stainless steele. I sent my others to Goodwill for someone else to use another ?? years.

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  134. My cast iron fry pan! I use that ALL the time. Wouldn't be without it.

    Love that card, BTW!

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  135. My little thing is my small sharp knife, fits my hand perfectly and makes slicing so easy. Love the idea of making Christmas cards all year (something I should be doing) and this card is darling. Really hope you do a tutorial for this set.

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  136. Congrats on giving us two years of happiness and inspiration! My favorite little tool is masking tape and a black Sharpie. I label every container of leftovers before they go in the fridge; find we use them much more when we can quickly read what the mysterious blobs in the Rubbermaid containers are.

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  137. This is fabulous I love it. love the colour too

    The one thing I couldn't do without in my kitchen? has to be my hubby, I go to work and he does everything!!

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  138. I love the look of the square frame in this card.

    A little thing which makes a big difference in my kitchen is a small grater which grates frozen ginger perfectly. When you cook a lot of stir-fries keeping your ginger frozen, then grating it saves time.

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  139. Congratulations on two years of blogging! What an accomplishment! My little kitchen gadget that makes a big difference is my Tupperware peeler. It's super sharp and is wonderful. I've taken it other places if I know I'll be peeling something. The only problem is my right hand daughter can't use it. It's her excuse to get out of peeling potatoes! My other item, even though it's not small, is my microwave. I use it every single day throughout the day.

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  140. Only one little thing from my kitchen, hmmmmmm, I think I would have to say my little paring knife, use it all the time to cut things up. Love the card, interesting with the frames, I have not seen these cards as pre-made cards. I love using stickles to, they make a nice little added touch.

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  141. Beautiful card! Williams-Sonoma dish towels make a big difference in my kitchen. They are thick, absorbent and last for years!

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  142. Thank you for all the great ideas I get from your blog. My favourite little thing is a grapefruit spoon - it has a serated edge to get the segments out easily, but doesn't catch against your mouth. Hope it is OK to enter this give-away from the UK.

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  143. Congratulations, Susan! I am so thankful for the inspiration you provide for so many. "Blogoversary" sounds rather Irish and fitting for March, Natalie W.
    My favoutite little kitchen item is a plastic spatula; it not only can clean out jars, scrape plates,or spread condiments, but can cut sandwiches without the need for a cutting board or knife. Katydid

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  144. I love that set from PTI and also have difficulty with it! I thought it was just me. I look forward to your tips on using the set! Also love the card. I have some Stickles and have always been afraid to try them out.
    I also love the kitchen. My reach to tool, although not the coolest, is a spring whisk that can sit flat is a bowl. Great for whisking eggs!

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  145. I love your blog and thanks for having it for 2 years. I really like the cas look. My kitchen thing I really like and helps so much is my big Kitchenaid mixer. it is the best for things with thick batter, like christmas cookies.

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  146. Love, love, love the card! I especially love the non-traditional Christmas colors. My favorite kitchen item is my Pampered Chef small scoop. I use it all the time for making cookies.

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  147. Happy Anniversary...and many more! Still enjoying your blogs and your autheticity....a favorite part of my day! :)

    My favorite little thing in my kitchen is a Kitchen Aid pink handled santoku knife. It makes the dreaded chore of chopping those oh-so-good-for-you-veggies a little happier.

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  148. Love your card,so clean and simple
    My favorite kitchen tool is a portable kitchen timer that I can carry to any room I am working in so I don't forget there is something cooking I need to check

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  149. Pampered Chef just came out with a micro plane--it is a mini. Perfect for zesting citrus, fresh ginger, fresh nutmeg. It's great.

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  150. Oh, I love this blue Christmas card. It looks like it would be difficult to line the square up accurately, but your card is perfect.

    My one little thing in the kitchen is my veggie peeler. I went through a whole string of rotten ones that were uncomfortable to hold and didn't peel well. I purchased a Pampered Chef peeler a number of years ago and haven't looked back since1

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  151. love the sparkles susan, so pretty!

    my little kitchen thing is a tiny orange juicer! makes me smile to have fresh orange juice every morning!
    hugs

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  152. My little thing is a peeler that slides on you finger so that the peeling blade is in the palm of your hand. It actually makes peeling kind of fun.

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  153. MIne is the little Pampered Chef timer. It keeps me from burning dinner because I can carry it with me while I'm making cards or reading your blog. She made sure she pointed out the little clip on the back and asked me to clip it to me! P.S. I've never used stickles. Can you believe that!

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  154. Citrus reamer-I use fresh lemon on everthing!

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  155. Great card. My favorite little thing in the kitchen is my kitchen timer--otherwise we would be eating a lot of burnt food.

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  156. Hi Susan! How exciting...2 years in blog-land! I have to say my fav little thing in the kitchen isn't little at all...it's my double oven. Oh how it makes baking all those Christmas cookies so much faster! :) Awesome card too, BTW!

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  157. I have never used stickles before!! Although I have heard so many wonderful things :)

    The one thing in my kitchen is a hand-held knfe sharpener. I got it from Cost-co and it takes two seconds to make my knifes freakishly sharp. Couldn't live without it!

    Happy Blogiversary!!

    ~Kelly

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  158. Hi Susan,
    I really enjoy your blog and cards. I had had CASED many from splitcoast before I realized they were all yours. Your blog makes me smile and laugh. My favorite little kitchen thing is a pair of basic 8" or 9" scissors. I buy a couple pairs at a discount store for a dollar or so and use them all the time for opening packages, trimming meats and they are great for cutting pizza! They go right in the dishwasher and when they break or wear out just toss them and buy another pair for a dollar.

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  159. I too love your card. Look forward to a video/tutorial on making the lines. I don't cook much, but always need something to re-close a bag of lettace greens, chips etc. I use a jumbo size plastic paper clip. Comes in many colors!

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  160. The thing that makes a big difference for me in the kitchen is my lettuce spinner. I soak all my veggies with some drops that disinfect everything...then when I dump the water and spin the excess out, I am always amazed at the dirt left behind!

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  161. Love the framed look, but I've never used stickles...I did have a Ball State prof with the last name Stickle if that counts!
    My favorite kitchen item is a magnetic knife rack on the end cabinet so knives and scissors are always handy.

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  162. Little things... I'm a fan of our compost bin, makes me happy not to have to throw away all those food scraps.

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  163. Hi Susan,
    Happy 2nd blog-aversary! I've been reading (and occasionally commenting) for the last few months, and even though I don't do CAS normally, a lot of your cards influence my card-making. I really appreciate all of your blog posts - they're my special treat every day!
    My favourite little thing in my kitchen would have to be my vegetable peeler; no, wait, maybe it's the paring knife.... or the garlic press or the spatulas from Pampered Chef...... sorry, can't pick just one!

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  164. My hubby who does most of the cooking makes the biggest difference in my kitchen!
    DeniseB

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  165. Gorgeous card. I too enjoy stickles!
    My favorite "little" thing in the kitchen is a tea infuser, for tasty mugs of tea when that is what is needed!

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  166. These comments read like a Pampered Chef ad! I'd say our Pampered Chef garlic press is super handy.

    Thanks for the update on Stickles and bleeding. I've only used them once or twice and the ink bled. So I'll have to try again with different inks. Thanks for the tip, and happy anniversary!

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  167. Happy blog anniversary! My favorite little thing would have to be a little timer. I hate to cook and tend to get distracted, so the timer makes sure everyone doesnt end up eating a burnt mess :)

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  168. For me the one little thing is so simple and basic- a good paring knife. I reach for mine at least a dozen times a day.

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  169. The most important little thing in my kitchen is the jar opener I got from Lee Valley Tools - works every time! In case you've never seen this wonderful gizmo, here it is:
    http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=44271&cat=2,40733,40734

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  170. I love the little Martha Stewart whisk that I bought a few years ago at Walmart. It has a chunky aqua-coloured handle that is so comfortable to hang on to. I use this every time I cook!

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  171. Happy Anniversary Susan! I visit your blog every day - it's one of my "happy places" on the web.

    The best little thing in my kitchen is my Tupperware can opener. It is awesome for left handers like me and it leaves no sharp edges to cut your fingers on.

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  172. Cute little card, Susan. I can't wait for your tutorial on using the framed set. I haven't bought one yet because I am afraid my impression would not be even all around.

    One little thing in my kitchen I cannot live without is a complimentary bottle/jar opener (I don't even know the real name for it). It is a piece of rubber thing about 5" round and it grips the bottle top or jar lid and makes it easy for me to open whatever. And the best part is that it was free -- it has our local pharmacy name and phone # on it. Can't ask for more.

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  173. Love Stickles!!! Fav kitchen gadget is my Pampered Chef Garlic Press!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta have one if you love garlic! :)

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  174. My little thing in the kitchen is pull out cutting board.....okay maybe that's not so "little." :)

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  175. Love your card and am very happy you are going to share your time-tested secrets to working with the frame set...I have it and have the same problem! My favorite thing in my kitchen has to be my flat whisk. If you make sauces or gravy you just can't live without it! Happy blogaversity!

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  176. My little thing in the kitchen is a cruet I put olive oil in. Congrats on your 2 year anniversary. Love your blog!

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  177. I got to have my lovely sharp Victorinox knife!

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  178. I check out your cards everyday - first time commenter. The stickles make the little stocking elegant! My little thing in the kitchen is my Pampered Chef pitcher. Use it all the time for juice. Ruth V

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  179. We have a little plastic thingy that we put in our cups when we make hot chocolate in the micro wave so it doesn't boil over. We use it every time. ;-)

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  180. Congratulations on your blog anniversary and I must say, I look forward to the Simplicity emails every day. Your work is so inspiring.
    My favorite little kitchen gadget has to be the Pampered Chef silicone cutting mats. One for fruits, vegetables and meats. No cross contamination and as I chop the veggies, I can just roll it up a bit and take the mat & all to the pan. Plus they're so thin they take up almost no room when stored.

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  181. Your Christmas card is so cute.
    The one little thing that makes a difference in our kitchen is an 8" fry pan, that thing gets used several times a day! We've gone through several of them over the years!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  182. Happy Anniversary! I love the card! And your daily emails--what a fun way to start my days! My favorite little thing in the kitchen is the rubber bottle scraper we brought back from Holland. It gets the last little bit out of the bottle without making a mess. Thanks for the fun!

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  183. Susan ... congratulations on your 2nd year blog anniversary! It's such a joy to travel the "paper-crafting road" with you! I'm looking forward to your Framed Stamp Set tutorial.

    The little kitchen gadget that came to mind is my Firestone knife sharpener. It's a small hand-held tool that fits nicely in my utensil drawer and allows me to quickly sharpen my kitchen knives.

    Thanks for the chance to win the blog candy!

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  184. Hmmm, difficult question, as I LOVE kitchen stuff! I think today I'll say the pouring tips for my vinegar and oil bottles. It is so much neater than pouring from a large bottle, and easier to control the amount. And I feel like a real chef when I use them!

    I'd really love a tutorial on those frames! I used mine for the first time last week, and it was a struggle.

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  185. Hi Susan! Congrats on your blog-a-versary. I'm such a huge fan of your Simplicity and Questioning My Intelligence blogs. I look forward to visiting with you every day.

    I love Stickles, too. And the Stardust pen. Both give you lots of bang for the buck and add just the right oomph to a card.

    As for the kitchen, I have to say that my favorite thing in the kitchen is not really a thing, but a person. My husband. He took over the cooking when I went back to school to finish my Bachelor's degree 11 years ago and I'm thrilled to let him stay. He's having fun creating in the kitchen and I get more time to do creative things in my workroom. It's a heck of a deal! However, if you are firm about a "thing", then I'd have to say it's our double oven. I'm so glad we invested in it. We use the small one all the time and it's been a huge savings in electricity.

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  186. I thought I left a comment yesterday, but wonder if I went all of the way through the process. My kitchen little thing is garlic salt!!

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  187. I love Stickles! Being a professional chef I have a lot of things in my kitchen that I love but mostly I love all the space. I got to design my kitchen, now have room for all my cooking needs, whether they be a small quick supper for my self or large batches of holiday baking. I love being in my kitchen!

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  188. Beautiful Christmas card!! I love the way you used the stickles...sweet!!
    A little thing I love in my kitchen is my stainless steel peanut! I use it after working with fish, onions, garlic...it sits in my soap dish and after preparing food, I rub my hands on it like soap, and it takes the smell away:)!!!

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  189. My favorite little thing in my kitchen is my tea bag squeezer! Saves my fingers from being burned every time! L.Campbell
    lcampbel@courts.state.ny.us

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  190. Congratulations on your blog anniversary.
    My favorite kitchen thing is my Rubbermaid bowl scraper that can be use when cooking and will not melt. I have several.

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  191. Thank you for two years of your blog! I like this Christmas card... would never have thought to buy baby blue Stickles, and they're perfect here!
    My favourite little thing in the kitchen... I think my microplane. Love it for garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and more.

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  192. I really love this blog thank you again!
    I appreciatee all my kitchen tools but the last was a black pampered chef item to break up hamburger, my sister gave it to me and I use it to break up several items in the frying pan.

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  193. You are best inspiration!
    I love my 4" X 6" cutting board. I find myself using it over and over during almost every meal. I use it to cut small amounts to add while I am cooking or to protect my counter top while I cooking. It sits right behind the knife block and is very convenient.

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  194. Congrats on your anniversay - read your blog every day! I have several favorites but couldn't live without my Bodum milk frothing jug for making my latte every day which I enjoy while reading thru my fav blogs in the morning!

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  195. Lovely card. TFS. I guess my favorite little thing in the kitchen is two cup coffee maker.

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  196. Love this card!! Great colours, super simple design. It's fab!

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  197. Love your card. Congratulations on the 2nd. Anniversary. Love the first ray of sun on the clean work top of my Kitchen, on a spring day is what I like the most ....first thing in the morning.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!