Paper Pleasing Ideas

Prairie Problem ~ WOW !!

I know you think I am going to say grasshoppers, or gophers.  No, I don't wish for that, but I don't want what we had last night either.  We have been getting a lot of rain lately - about 15 inches, so far this spring!  That is an INSANE amount of water for our area.  Only about 60% of the crops have been planted this year because farmers just cannot get on the fields.  Well, last night, we had another DOOZY of a storm.  Here are some pictures that a friend of mine took of the DEVASTATING after effects.

The first shot is the pretty one - I watched the lightening for about 3 hours last night before bed.  Literally it was one right after the other for that length of time, so beautiful.  For the first 2.5 hours or so, there was no rain, just lightening and soft thunder.  Then, it started to pour...

Look how high the water is on her fence in the back of the yard !!

This was taken AFTER the water had receded a bit, I wonder how many of these people will be able to start their cars today ?!?

For those that live in Saskatoon and area, you will recognize this Confed intersection - apparently, it was 5 feet under water in a matter of minutes!!

Same intersection, different angle. 

Another friend of mine woke up to 7 inches of water in his basement!  While this may be normal for some people, we in the prairies in Canada are not really used to having this type of thing happen.  Please pray for all the families that woke up this morning to SEVERE damage in their homes.  Many are going to need help.  We are not a part of that misfortune, that the Good Lord for that!!

MEXICO - Here We Come !!

I know you've been waiting, since I have recieved emails.  Now, I am happy to announce that...

 ISAGENIX IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN MEXICO !!

In fact, there is an incentive for the first ones who sign up there now, until Aug. 1 ~ FREE enrollment for your own wholesale account!!  As a side note, product will only begin shipping on Aug.2nd, per red tape/legal issues. 

But, imagine the opportunity you have!!  Be among the FIRST people in Mexico to start losing weight, and even create some extra income for your family (if you so choose)!  The opportunity is SO GREAT, right now, and the time is right.

You can open your own account by following the instructions posted HERE.  If you need any help, I have a personal translator now (His name is Google ... hehehe) and can answer questions you may have.  *Spanish is NOT my native language, though, so bear with me!!* My email is listed on the link above, or here ~ reneejul1 (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca .  Just replace the word with the appropriate symbol and ask away!  IN cse you didn't know, here is a picture of all the countries that can, at this point, purchase Isagenix products.

As always, ANYONE should feel free to ask me any questions, and I will do my best to answer them.  Here's to health and happiness in Mexico!!

 

 
 

Mini Paper Roses ~ Video Tutorial

It is uploaded and ready to go!!  Enjoy making these for your cards or scrapook pages!!

Tootles, have fun and happy stamping !!

The Last Of Them

Well, I got the video part of the tutorial done last night, and will have that up and running this afternoon some time.  The picture one is going to be done this weekend, though, since I have a grad tonight.  Meanwhile, you can feast your eyes on the last of the teachers gifts, and also a masculine version.

I used DSP for the flowers (retired, don't know the name), and sponge the edge of the one flower to really show off the petals.  There are so many things you can do with these flower, TRY THEM !!  The tutorial is HERE.

This is the masculine one.  I made a tag (just a rectangle with the corners cut off), after stamping on my images from Natures Silhouettes (#111542) in chocolate chip and the new crumb cake ink!!  The sentiment os from Thank You Kindly (#111700).  I probably would have made a smaller tag, but we needed to write a message on the back.  This is the last year that Wally will be driving the bus for our kids, he is retiring.  Both the boys signed their names on the back, as well as Russ and I with a little note.  He is a hunter, hence the image.  If you want to make the almond bark for yourself, or a gift for anyone, HERE is the step-by step.  Well, I better get to work getting that video edited.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

 
 

Tutorial Coming !!

I am working on both a video tutorial, and a picture tutorial.  I think the video one will be easier to understand, but for those that can't load them, the picture one will be another option.  Due to the overwhelming comments regarding the roses ... I should have known, but wasn't sure, since they are a bit more work.  Well, I'll get on it.

Cherished Bouquet

My sister is getting married this year, and I thought I'd get a jump on her card.  When it comes closer to the wedding, I will probably forget ... lol.  I was trying to learn a new technique (it really wasn't hard) and add it to a card.

I MADE THOSE ROSES !!  I took strip of CS and twisted them to get the roses, and finished them off with a adhesive pearl in the centers (which Stampin' Up! is going to carry in the NEW CATALOG ~ AHHH !!).  Video Tutorial for Roses is HERE !!

My card is 5 X 5 and I used perfect plum, white and pale plum (retiring!!).  I embossed the white with the Stampin' Up! Elegant Bouquet folder (#115964).    I punched the pale plum strip with the Eyelet Border (#113692) and used some of the retiring mellow moss taffeta (#109069).  I added my image panel ~ stems are stamped from the Fifth Avenue Floral set (#113734) ~ and did some paper piercing in the corners.  I added some leaves in the bouquet and some more adhesive pearls to the centers of the embossed flowers.  I stamped the sentiment (Baroque Motifs #113490) in perfect plum and I was done.

To be honest, it looks like it took a lot of time but, those roses come together REALLY FAST.  I was shocked at how little time it really took to get them finished.  Next time, I think I will use strips of CS of the stems instead of stamping them.  Hope you like it.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Almond Bark Gift Bag - With Tutorial !!

Jayden had his last day of school on Monday.  I needed to whip up something for a teacher gift, that did not look last minute would look FABULOUS!  So, I devoured the internet for something quick and came up with almond bark!  So easy to do, tastes great and looks like you spent a ton of time in the kitchen.  I did a step by step, so you could make some too!

I chose the Dairy Milk chocolate bar.  You can buy a box of 24 at Costco for $17 here in Canada, but any PLAIN milk chocolate bar will do.  I set up my double boiler station and started it boiling.  While I waited for it to heat up, I chopped my almonds (small handful), and took the wrappers off 10 chocolate bars.  That is about 1 lb of chocolate, and this will be enough to fill 4 bags.

Break the bars into the top of the double boiler, and start to stir.  It will not take long to melt everything, maybe 5 minutes!  Make sure to keep stirring until everything is smooth!

When it is all liquid, you can pour it out onto a baking sheet that is lined with a silicone baking mat.  THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Spread out the chocolate evenly.  Now, you can sprinkle your almond pieces over the top.  I also added some Skor bits for a little bit of flavor.  So far this has taken you about 10 minutes, but now you need to grab a book.  Put the pan in the fridge and wait 10 minutes or so.  By then it should be all cooled off.  Or you could go play Bejeweled Blitz on facebook, and forget about it for a bit longer.  It really doesn't matter, it is not going anywhere.

And the fun begins!  The silicone mat makes it easy to peel off the almond bark, and then you can break it into pieces.  Doesn't that look FABULOUS ?!?  Let me tell you that it tastes pretty awesome, too ... hehehe.  So now it is time to package it all up.

I used the same Island Floral Die as in THIS TUTORIAL, and attached the brad through the ribbon.  That way, the flower will stay on the ribbon, even when they untie it.  The leaf is also from the same die.  I added a Thank You tag with the Think Happy Thoughts set (retiring soon!  #115092), and used my Tag and Small Tag punches (#105934, 108264).  That's it, and it looks FANTASTIC !!  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Thank You - and New Picture :)

 I figured I had better show you the new picture of me and to say THANK YOU to the ones who noticed I had already changed it *wink, wink*.  It is nice to be able to take a picture straight on and not worry about that double chin .. Who Me??   NOOOO!

Some of you were posting that they thought they were on the wrong blog.  I can assure you ... you have come to the right place, hehehe.

I made THIS BOX yesterday and then mentioned that it would be nice to put that flower  a card, so here it is!

I made the same flower, only this time I did not add the rubbed ink, and changed the sahara circle for a chocolate chip one.  The DSP is a left over piece from my Sweet Pea pack, and the CS is so saffron and chocolate chip.  I punched it with the eyelet border punch (#113692), and added the 5/8 grosgrain (#109051).  I sued the marker to ink up part of the sentiment in the Oval All set (#113790), and then punched it out with the curly label (#112208).  I faux stitched with the marker, as well.  So, thanks for all the encouraging words, and compliments ~ You had me looking in my mirror all day.

Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

Flower Power - For Teacher !!

So many of you that live QUITE south of me are already sleeping in and enjoying your summer. Well, the last day of school here, is June 30, and so it is time for me to get teachers gifts on the go.  Here is one that I made up, and I put together a little tutorial on the flower for you.

I cut this flower out, using the new Island Floral Die (#118871) in the summer mini.  It is a larger flower, almost 3 inches across ~ LOVE it!  So, I cut 3 of them out, then rolled each into a ball, distressing it so the paper is more pliable.  Then, after flattening it out a bit, I rubbed the ink pad right across the top of each.  It really only gets onto the crease lines and makes for a more tattered look.  I used Pumpkin Pie CS and ink here.  Now it is time to assemble.

Is that not a STUNNING flower ?!?  I used the 1 1/4 circle of sahara sand CS, and one of the boho blossoms (#119852) in old olive.  It is all held together with a build-a-brad (#109128), and the leaves are the large ovals (#119855) in olive, as well.  The sentiment is from the Fresh Cuts set (#111634).

Here is another close-up, isn't it great?  It almost looks like a big poppy!   Don't worry, I have the FREE tutorial for the box HERE!  Even if school is out for you, this is a great little gift box for just about anything.  Man, you could even put one of these beauties on a card.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!

To any Papa's who read this blog out there in cyber space, this is for you!!  I hope you enjoy your day, and relish in your families who love you SO MUCH !!  I don't know what I would do without my own Dad, BUT also without my hubby.  You know he is awesome, when both boys want to be him.  There is NO wavering either.  I give the boys other options and they are ADAMANT that they will build houses and be a "worker man" when they grow up.

To those of us, that cherish the men in our live, make sure you let them know ~ everyday ~ but today especially.  For those of you that do not have your father's with you, be it military, distance, or even more tragic, my prayers are with you.

Russ and the boys on their joint birthday party, about 4 years ago. 

CHILDREN NEED A DADDY

Children need a Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding them high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!

Like being the deep music
That tells them all is right
When they awaken frantic with
The terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain
That rises in their hearts
And shows them how they might get home
When all else falls apart.

Like giving them the love
That is their sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
They'll always find him there.

Author Unknown