Paper Pleasing Ideas

Reason For The Season Preview - All That Scraps

Diane has created another great stamp set, Reason for The Season.  This is just one of the 4 images and 3 sentiments.  For me, this set is great, because I can use it to express my faith!

Head over to the ATS Blog to see more samples and for your chance to win your own set.  Have fun and happy stamping!! 

Stamping Weekend Getaway !

Man, I had a great weekend.  I didn't get my 20 projects done, but I got close.  Seventeen!  We stamped, relaxed, and went out to enjoy the beauty of fall.  I am so used to the way this area looks in fall, so I didn't take many pictures, but we did have some company.

These ladies are everywhere here, and I am so used to seeing them, that I really don't notice them anymore.  But, my sister-in-laws are not so accustomed to these lovely creatures, so I went out and took pictures for them.  They know me well, and I can feed them from my hand.  I had to put my camera down for that part, but they snapped some pictures of me feeding the deer with their cameras.

They are starting to get their winter coats, and you can see all the yellow in the trees.  Yep, it was time to head inside.

 

Between all of us, we made more than 60 cards!!  We had FUN, and we played hard.  I only brought 1/4 of my stuff, and yet, I got a ton accomplished.  I brought all the stamp sets that had not seen ink, and put them to use.  I can hardly wait to show you more of everything.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

Christmas Joy !

I so *heart* this card !  I used my Sizzix die to cut out the letters, and punches for the holly leaves.  I used a Cuttlebug folder on silver CS for the background and then added the ribbon.  The letter were attached with dimensionals, so that they stand off nicely, and it gives more shadow for the leaves, as well.

It is a really easy card to put together, but it is so great for the season.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

Products be purchased 24/7 at my Online Stampin' Up! Store.  Click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner.

Christmas Skating Fun

Here is a couple cards that I have made so far this weekend.  I used all the same products, just flipped the sketch.  So you can try this out, too!  I have a page for sketch flips over on the right side, and I have added this one to there, too.

This card is all Stampin'Up! products, except for the primas.  The red patterned paper is a flocked DSP and is in the (not-so) Mini Catalog.  It is so lovely, and you just HAVE to run your fingers over it!!  I also added the Basic Grey taffeta ribbon to bring out the silver CS mat under the image.  I like the elegance of them,  just right for a classic card.  Try out the sketch flip today, have fun and happy stamping!!

You can purchase products to make this card at my Online Stampin' Up! Store, available 24 / 7 !!  Click on the Shop Now button in the top right corner.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Stamp I Go

See a car.  See Julie in the car.  Julie is driving her car to the cabin.  The cabin is in the woods.  Julie is going there with her sisters.  They are going to

STAMP ALL WEEKEND LONG!!

Did you like the trip down memory lane, to the good ole days of Dick and Jane?

Yes, I am heading to my cabin for a weekend of stamping.  I am so pumped, no need to cook for the family answer the "Mom, Mom, MOM" cries.  YAY for me, I only have to stop for one meal.  Now that I am on Isagenix, I can make my shakes, and keep stamping ... LOSING WEIGHT WHILE I DO!!  I am only 4 pounds away from another HUGE goal, and I hope to reach it by the end of the month. 

I am bringing a TON of un-inked stamps, and hope to make AT LEAST 20 cards by the end of it all.  I know it is a low number, but I want to finish that many.  More would be a bonus.  And you know me, I will probably be posting from there, as well.  So see you on the other side of my mountain of cardstock ... have fun and happy stamping!!'

Pastel Christmas

I wanted to try and make Christmas card that was traditional, except for the colors.  I chose pretty in pink, bashful blue, and certainly celery.  I had my camera on the wrong mode, it looks so much nicer in real life.  This is 2 of the sets in the Stampin' Up! (not-so)Mini catalog!

I used the boho blossom punch for the center of the snowflake and used the new snowflake punch for the back one.  I used a strip of pink CS and covered the seam with 5/8 celery grosgrain.  I added the snowflakes with a bashful blue brad that I covered with dazzling diamonds.  Have fun and happy stamping !!

Negotiations Are Over !!

I have been on the phone with Stampin' Up! lately.  Just  few times.

You see, I had a permanent position on the All That Scraps Design team, for more than a year now, and was bound by a contract. 

Well, I faxed SU my contract and voiced my concerns about the October deadline.  I spoke with a wonderful gentleman, whom I shall not name, and we came to an agreement ... I can stay with All That Scraps on the Design Team until January 1st.  There were no angry words, no wishes that I would quit early.  In fact, I think it went great.

To be quite honest, while I appreciate the support from all of you, I was kinda hurt at some of the comments in This Post.  I do understand the heart from which they were given, though.  The ones about stifling my creativity.  Funny thing, that creativity.  Using ONLY Stampin' Up! stamps was what got me on all the design teams in the first place. They loved the way I put together my cards, and asked if I would do the same with their images.  To date, I have had the pleasure of being asked to design for 9 different companies, never applying to one.  

WHAT AN EXTREME HONOR!!

Creating with only Stampin'Up! products brought me blessings beyond my wildest dreams.  It also brought me YOU.  All of you that have come to visit, making my blog in the Top 20 for more than 2 years running now!  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that this girl who had a passionate love of the farm, and anything outdoors, would end up loving and sharing a craft with the world like I do.  It still blows my mind, as I sit here in tears, thinking about it!!

So, I want to let you know that my staying with Stampin' Up! is a good thing.  I can still link to my friends in the cyber world, just not stores.  I can do the challenges on Splitcoast, and still link there.  I can also create tutorials, and make cards, 3D projects, scrapbook pages (yeah, like that's gonna happen ... hehehe), etc, it will just be with mostly Stampin' Up! product.  Yes, I will still use other products, I will just not link to the stores.

And I think you will still like it.  I hope.  I really hope.

Special Card

Today's Scripture Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5 (NRSV)

Two rose bushes in my garden are a true gift from God. They are planted close to the house, and I have a perfect view of them. I can see and enjoy these plants all the time, especially when they are in bloom.

A few days ago, in a bit of a rush, I cut a few flowers and placed them temporarily in a container with water. Several hours later, I decided to transfer them to a vase. Much to my dismay, two short-stemmed blooms were drooping and lifeless. I quickly noticed that the stems of these two roses did not reach the water level. Consequently, they did not look as fresh as the other ones with longer stems.

I began to think about Jesus' words in John 15:5: "Apart from me you can do nothing." There are those among us who are fragile. They too are God's children. We have a responsibility to care for them by offering the Living Water, Jesus Christ, through our love, witness, prayer, and wise counsel. When we help them to find this Water, these fragile ones can grow stronger and bear beautiful flowers, as they were meant to.

*excerpt taken from The Upper Room online devotional.

Hungarian Pickles

My mom called me yesterday, and asked me if I wanted some cucumbers.  For pickling.  I headed to her place for the cucs and some picking salt (I was not going to buy a whole bag for one batch).  I knew I wanted to make my FAVORITE pickles, a recipe from my aunt, and thought I'd share the process and her recipe with you.

First, you need to gather all the supplies.  You cucumbers need to be peeled and cut into serving size pieces.  Most often, I just cut them in quarters, but it depends on the size.

Green fingers are from the peeling process - AHHHH.  Then you need to add some of the seasonings - a couple flakes of chili peppers, 2 cloves of garlic and a sprig of dill.  Depending on how hot you like things, you can add more flakes - BUT, as time goes on, the pickles get hotter.  The last jar you open will have more of a kick than the first one!

Now it is time to pack those cucs into the jar.  You know how they packed like sardines ??  That is exactly what you want.  When you think it is full, try adding more until you can't add anymore.  It is surprising how much you can fit into a jar!  NOW - you need to preheat your oven to 25oF.

 

Now it is time to make the brine that they will sit in.  Start with a big pot and add 6 cups of sugar.

To the sugar, you will add 4 cups of vinegar, 4 cups of water, 1/4 cup pickling salt and 2 teaspoons turmeric.  Smell this before you put it in there - such a yummy, almost sweet smell.  Heat this up until it starts to boil and then turn it down to low.  Everything will be dissolved except for the turmeric.

 

Now, you can start to pour the brine into your jars.  Fill them to part of the jar where it changes for the lid.  Wipe off the lip and jar, and then close the lid as tightly as possible. 

Add all the jars on the top shelf of the oven.  Shut the door and TURN IT OFF!  The oven will slowly cool, but this helps with the sealing part.  Set your timer for 60 minutes, come back and take them out.  I set them on my stove until I here the popping of the tops.  After they are sufficiently cold, I check all the tops - they should not sound hollow when you tap on them and should all be sucked down into the jar.  Anyone that does not seal should be stored in your fridge.

These pickles are crunchy, and the perfect mix of sweet with the KICK from the chili flakes.  Not too hot, but the little bit of something that is unexpected!!  Click below for the written/printable recipe...

Loads of Love

That is a great stamp set, hey?  There are so many things you can do with that truck, but honestly, I found the COOLEST THING EVAH!!!

  I did a workshop on Tuesday night, and am not in a habit of taking my camera along.  Please accept my apologies for the picture, it was taken with my BlackBerry.  Click on the picture to see it a bit better.

Seriously, though.  Now talk about a creative use for stamps!!  I have no idea how she enlarged it to make it fit for the quilt, but I know she stamped it and then used it as her pattern.  She is making the quilt for her son's Christmas present!  It is all hand stitched on there, and it is a navy/black hounds-tooth pattern.  The rest of the quilt is in soft greens and yellows.  To give you an idea of the size - the silver rims in the tires are as big as my wide spread hand!

I was literally standing there with my mouth hanging open - AMAZING.  SOOOO, what can YOU do with your stamps that is out of the box ??  Have fun and happy stamping!!