{Friends}

I am blessed to have so many friends in my life. I think one of the reasons I love the PTI Friends 'til the End set so much is the sentiments---they say exactly what I want to say!

When I decided to make this card, I wanted to send it to a friend, so I immediately went to this set. I hadn't used this sentiment, but it fit the card perfectly.

I loved this card that Nichole Heady made to introduce the Mod Squad set. I also like a card a little lower on that post with the grey and black color scheme. I decided to combine the two to make this card. I really like these "flower bursts" or whatever you would call them. I wanted to add a little color, so I chose a Raspberry Fizz button. That let to the ribbon and "friend" tag.


I also did the inside---I didn't want any words in there, I'll write my own message, but I wanted to use some white paper inside to make the note writing legible! I just made the same flower burst in Raspberry Fizz inside. What a fun card to make--details are below. So glad you came by today---enjoy your weekend. We have a wedding to go to, so I need to go make a card for the bride and groom's gift!


Stamps: Mod Squad, Friends 'til the End (PTI)
Paper: Smokey Shadow, SS White (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Raspberry Fizz, Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Tag trio die (Spellbinders), Raspberry Fizz saddle stitch ribbon, Vintage Buttons in Raspberry Fizz and True Black, Rustic Twine (PTI), DMC floss

{Clean & Simple}

The more I stamp, the less I stamp! I'm finding that Clean & Simple always makes me happy. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing layers upon layers and bling upon bling. But I just find that when I try that layering and bling, MOST of the time, it doesn't look right---so, I'm doing simple cards and moving on. This is really what I have time for anyway, so it's what works for me. I STILL love looking at all of Debbie's cards and I'll even do what I call a "Debbie" card occasionally, but there IS a reason that she's a big designer and I'm just a wife/mama/teacher/card lover! :) Let's face it, if I could "do 'Debbie cards' " I'D be the designer! LOL!

Anyway, on to the simple card of the day---you have to love Kraft cardstock! I am really on a Kraft kick lately. I just stamped the large flower from In Bloom three times with Fresh Snow. I thought I was using Plum Pudding cardstock (clearly not paying attention!) but after I photographed it I realized it's Elegant Eggplant by SU! I cut the flower out in layers and popped them up on top of each other. I stamped the leaves with Ripe Avocado on Spring Moss and cut them out as well. I scored the area for the sentiment and then stamped it in Ripe Avocado. I added three little buttons and smiled! I'm learning to be happy with less---less on my cards anyway! :0

I do hope you are having a blessed day---here's a picture of my little one who is ALL "Airsoft" all the time! It's funny to me how at the beginning of the summer it was "all LEGOS all the time"---he still plays with Legos, of course, but this is the newest passion! :) I love passion---give me a kid with passion!

Well, sometimes you get what you ask for! :)

Stamps: In Bloom, Vintage Picnic Sentiments
Paper: Kraft, Spring Moss (PTI), Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Vintage Buttons (PTI), Dimensionals (SU!), Glue Dots

{A quick birthday card}

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time trying to make cards for Joshua's friends---I don't have any "army/lego/monster" stamps---or any other typical Elementary aged boy appropriate (read GROSS) stamps. Star Prints may be my "go-to" stamp set this year for all of Joshua's parties---

Every kid can appreciate a star--- girl, or boy. You just stamp in different colors! I made this card in about 20 minutes---a record for me, I think! And it was probably only this fast because I have a star punch that fits these stars.

I just stamped five different stars in five different inks, punched them out, and them put them on the card. I popped the red star up on a dimensional (SU!'s version of pop up foam). On the stars that were flat on the card, I tied a button with twine and put it in the middle of the star with a glue dot. I love how the sentiment in this set is two different stamps, so I stamped part of it in one color and "star" in another to emphasize it (and don't you LOVE the font!?) LOVE IT~

I quickly made a little bag with these stars all over it to match the card. The whole thing took me less than 30 minutes---and on the day of a party, one hour before, this is what I needed!

I did realize after I had dropped my son off at the 1:00pm party, that I had been so busy making the packaging and card that I hadn't fed my son---yep, he went to a party at 1:00 in the afternoon with 1/2 of a scone and some milk in his belly---that's it. At 3:00 when I picked him up, I asked him if he was hungry. His reply? "No, I just had a bigger piece of cake and ice cream"---nice, yeah, go ahead and nominate me for Mother of the Year---I know you want to. (....but he did have a nicely packaged gift to give---I do have priorities!)

Stamps: Star Prints
Paper: SS White
Ink: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Pumpkin Pie (SU!) ***Did you notice in the latest PTI patterned paper that there is a pumpkin colored paper? YEAH! I can't wait---I LOVE Pumpkin Pie (the ink, not the dessert), but I don't have a reinker---and it's a bit dry---I might NEED that new color...
Accessories: Vintage Buttons in Enchanted Evening, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise, Rustic Twine (PTI), Foof-a-la button from Autumn stash, Dimensional (SU!)

{Mod Squad}

Here's a quick post---

I used the Mod Squad for the first time yesterday---it was more fun than I expected. I'm trying to get my birthday card stash built up so PERHAPS I'll remember to send some!

I love the glitter on this card. I used The Essential Glue pad and just stamped over the color and then added glitter; you get great coverage this way. I think if I were making it again I'd use smaller bling, but the gemstones were REALLY stuck on there and I wasn't willing to trash the whole thing!! Underneath all those little rhinestones are little blank places on the flowers---very cute! You can see the set here.

I worked in my classroom all day again, so I'm going to just leave you with the info below. Let me know if you have any questions~


Stamps: Mod Squad
Paper: Kraft, Rustic Cream (PTI)
Ink: New Leaf, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Berry Sorbet Saddle Stitch, Vintage Button,
Hero Arts Gemstones (really old!), The Essential Glue Pad

{July Blog Hop}

Hello again! It's time for the Blog Hop at Papertrey Ink. This month Nichole asked us to experiment with text. You can look here for complete details. This is what I came up with.

This is a notebook I've had for awhile. I use it when I go to church to take notes on the sermon or Sunday School lesson. There's so much I have to learn and I just can't remember everything, so I try to take notes and look back over them during the week. I have long wanted to decorate it, but it was just never a priority because it functioned just fine without the decoration---but, it looks a lot better now that I'm finished!

I have been reading through the Psalms this summer and Psalm 138 has meant so much to me, so I decided to use that as my text. I know you can't really read it from the photos, but it's a lovely Psalm. I typed it up in a WORD document and made it a light brown color. I wanted it to blend into the background. I printed it out on some Spring Moss Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper. (I just taped the paper to a piece of cardstock and then sent it through the printer.) I trimmed it to fit the notebook about 2/3 of the way down. On the bottom third, I used a Kraft piece of cardstock with some large polka dots stamped and embossed with clear embossing powder. After I attached the paper to the notebook (I just used Mono multi), I sponged all the edges with distress ink. I added a piece of grosgrain across the seam of the two papers. I stamped two small and one large flower from Friends 'Til the End onto white cardstock and colored them with my copic markers in the PTI colors. I used the Hibiscus Burst and Dark Chocolate color combos. Then I used some T1 in the shadows. I stamped the leaves onto more patterned paper and cut everything out and arranged them on my notebook, popping them up with dimensionals. I added some Dark Chocolate Vintage buttons, tying them up with DMC thread. Finally, I tied Hibiscus Burst buttons with rustic jute twine and put them on with glue dots all the way down the left side of the notebook. I covered the back and inside with Spring Moss cardstock and added a pocket at the front to keep handouts, or other things I might need.

Thanks so much for looking tonight---enjoy the hop! Psalm 138 is written below, if you are curious what the text says. And details of what I used are, too!
Kathleen~



Stamps: Friends 'til the End (PTI)
Paper:Kraft, Spring Moss, SS White cardstock, 2008 Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper, Friends 'til The End pp (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, VersaMark (Tsukineko), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories/Tools: Clear embossing powder (Ranger), Copic markers, Hibiscus Burst & Dark Chocolate Vintage buttons, Rustic Jute twine, grosgrain ribbon (PTI), Heat tool
(Marvy), dimensionals (SU!)

Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise.
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

{A birthday card & a recipe you don't want to miss}

I can say you don't want to miss this recipe because it's not mine---it's my mom's. Frankly, MOST of my "you don't want to miss this" recipes are my mom's! She's an amazing cook. BUT, first the card---you must wait for chocolate!

A friend of mine has a birthday today---I'll admit, I'm actually pretty bad about sending birthday cards---crazy, I know. I send a lot of 'thank you' & 'thinking of you' cards, but I'm bad about birthdays! This friend was the one on our faculty this year that made sure EVERY person in the lower school had a card signed by everyone else on their birthday---I COULD NOT miss sending her a card. I was inspired by Nichole Heady's card from earlier this month when she challenged her design team to use fabric on their cards---I bought some muslin the other day and decided to try it. I LOVE IT! It adds such fun texture---oh, if only I could sew a straight line, I'd pull out that sewing machine! Someday....

Anyway, I started with a 5" square card in New Leaf. I added some patterned paper from the Snorkel line. I used heat n' bond to put cardstock on the back of the fabric to give it some stability. I cut my fabric using a Labels 2 die by running it through the Cuttlebug until it cut through (maybe 8 or 10 times?). Then I stamped the stems from Everyday Button Basics onto a piece of cardstock and placed it over my fabric shape and punched holes using my paper piercer. I sewed the stems using a basic backstitch with some DMC floss (3 strands). Then I stamped some leaves directly onto the fabric and sewed buttons on as my flowers. I am going to LOVE this set ( I say that every month, I know)---I adore all my buttons...I'm sure I've moved into the thousands by now....it's Papertrey's fault. BUT, I digress----I added birthday wishes from Mini Messages on the right corner and tied some twill around the card. I thought of several things to add, but I liked it like this---and, my friend will like it---and this is why I made it! Details are below---but I'm going to make you scroll down through the yummy Hot Fudge Recipe....

It's not often that my sweet husband asks me to make food for him---especially dessert. He likes dessert, but he's not crazy about it, so he rarely asks for anything. SO, when he does, I make it---after a recent visit to my mom's house, he asked me to make this--Homemade Hot Fudge----I felt like I HAD to make it---right?

You start with chocolate chips in a double boiler (or baking chocolate, but this is what I had).
Then you add a stick of butter & melt it---hey, I didn't come up with the recipe---my mom did.
Next, a cup of sugar---ditto above---just wait until you see then NEXT ingredient
Add one cup cream---cook for 5 minutes.

Oh my----now, you need to test it and make sure it's OK---it may take a few recipes to get it just right---just keep testing it---I'm sure you'll find just the right recipe! :0

I tested it on Joshua and a friend he had over---they said it was fine---I needed to check for myself.
THIS is how I will serve it to my sweet husband tonight---bless his heart~sorry for the blurry pictures--I think my camera was obstructed from the unusual amount of drooling....

Thanks for looking today---the written recipe is below---

Speaking of recipes---have you been to the Tasty Kitchen? I'm in love---really. I knew I loved Ree when I first 'met' her (The Pioneer Woman), but this site is amazing---I'm going to add this recipe to the site right now---enjoy your evening! Thanks for stopping by~

Mama's Hot Fudge

10 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips eta:I realized in the middle of the night that I had used the whole bag of chips and not just 6 oz. that the recipe calls for---hmmm, I think I'll stick with the 10 oz. It's soooo smooth this way. (also, the 10 oz. of the 1 2 0z. bag was because several had been eaten out of the bag before I got started---me, 2 boys at home---trouble)
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/8 t. salt (I just realized I left this out and it tastes fine--but mama adds it!)
1 cup cream

In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips. Add butter and melt, stirring constantly. Add sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Add cream and cook for five minutes. Store in refrigerator and heat as needed---or just eat it right now---it's up to you!

Stamps: Everyday Button Basics, Mini Messages Paper: New Leaf Cardstock, Vintage cream cardstock (under fabric), Carbonation patterned paper-Snorkel Line (Cosmo Cricket) Ink: New Leaf Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft Spring Rain buttons, Summer Sunrise Twill (PTI) foof-a-la buttons, DMC thread,) Labels Two dies (spellbinders)

{A LOUD BABY CARD}

OK---sometimes, we just aren't crazy about a card we make, right? This is a good example of that, but, I decided to post it anyway---This card started about a birthday card---thus the loud, fun paper. When I pulled out my "ha-pea birthday" sentiment, it actually said, "ha-pea anniversary"----yep, it was in the "Ha-pea birthday" little bag and it said that on the front, but obviously it got put in the wrong bag. Well, I couldn't think of ANYONE that I could send this to as an anniversary card, so I just used the "sweet pea" sentiment and made it work--

I used Cosmo Cricket papers from the Snorkel line and some New Leaf cardstock. I'm still learning how to color, so it's a little darker green than I wanted, but practice, practice, practice is what I've been told! I made this for last week's CPS challenge, but I didn't get to post it---so, here it is---but it does follow the CPS sketch 124 if you want to see the sketch.

Short and sweet today---have a great day and thanks for stopping by~
Kathleen


Stamps: baby bella pea, sweet pea (Stamping Bella)
Paper: New Leaf (PTI), Boardwalk & Carbonation-Snorkel Line (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Oval nestability die, Labels Four die (Spellbinders), Oval punches, dimensionals, real red brads (SU!), Summer Sunrise, New leaf vintage button, rustic twine (PTI)

{Sending hugs...}

I was checking my school e-mail the other day and saw that TWO of my colleagues at work lost their mothers. It's very sad when someone loses their mama--even if they "were expecting it". Death is just hard for those of us left behind.

I had already planned to use Dawn's Color Challenge to make a card, so I decided to make two cards exactly the same. I kept these very simple. Since I didn't know either lady that passed away, I wanted to just let these women know that I was thinking of them.

I used Papertrey's Friends 'til the End set. I really, really love this set---I'm sure I have said this before, but I really do. I made a simple card from Vintage Cream cardstock and I stamped the smaller flower in the corner with Scarlet Jewel ink. I masked it and stamped my other two flowers with Raspberry Fizz. (I keep my 'masks' in the CD case with my stamps so I don't have to make a new one every time--it's a time saver, especially on stamps like this.) Then I masked those two flowers as well and stamped the leaf in Spring Moss. I added the sentiment from the same set using Palette Noir ink. Then I added some Hero Arts gemstones to accent the sentiment. Finally I tied some Scarlet Jewel satin ribbon around the card and finished it off with a Spring Moss Vintage button and some matching DMC thread.

Everyone around here was out of town this weekend, so Joshua and I went to my parents and spent the night. I made my first strawberry preserves! I was so surprised at how easy it was (unless I give you some--then you can think I labored for HOURS in a hot kitchen stirring and stirring.....until I finally had just the right consistency.) But for the rest of you, you should DEFINITELY TRY THIS----it's way too easy! I think I'm going to make some blackberry this week---I really enjoyed it and I LOVE blackberry jam! I'll show them to you after I get them all spruced up with some stamped labels---my family thinks this was my ulterior motive for making said preserves. You know, buying the cool Fruitful set from PTI and then stamping cute little labels for them before I give them to people ....but I would never do such a thing. Some other people might,----you know, BUY the new set, but not me. I don't even OWN that set---really, come look in my little stamp area---now, it would make my preserves look better, I'm sure........ but, of course I don't have it, so I'd have to purchase it, you know....uh,......to make the preserves look better. I have stamps that will do, well, they don't have the cute berries on them and I'd have to use the printer to make the labels and that costs money, you know. It's all about presentation----I'm just saying....



Stamps: Friends 'Til the End (PTI)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss
Accessories/Tools: Gemstones (Hero Arts), Scarlet Jewel Satin ribbon, Spring Moss Vintage Button (PTI), DMC thread

{Another Green Card}

This is the other card I came up with for the It's All Green to Me Challenge on Moxie Fab World. This was a much simpler card and took me forever to finish---what's that about? Well, I also did another little thing that I'll tell you about later, so perhaps that's why it took so long.

I started with Kraft cardstock and made an A2 card. I stamped the branch from Rustic Branches with VersaMark on half of a panel of Dark Chocolate. Then I used clear embossing powder to emboss. I distressed the edges with my scissors. I stamped the tree from Father Knows Best in Dark Chocolate and New Leaf on Rustic Cream cardstock. I embossed and cut out the image with a square nestability die. I stamped the sentiment from the new Trademarks set and cut it out. I tied jute around the image and added the sentiment in the middle of the tree trunk. Then I threaded the buttons and attached them using glue dots. I popped the image up with foam tape and put the panel on the front of the card justified to the left side. I wrote "reduce reuse recycle" on the side of the card with a Copic marker and then I added three more threaded buttons. Altogether this card didn't take too long, but it took me 3 days to get it done!

So, in other news, I saw the latest Harry Potter movie last night with my oldest daugther, Caitlin. It was good---there was a guy in our theater with the funniest laugh! Everytime we would laugh, Caitlin and I would look at each other crack up---it was so funny! SO, are you a Harry Potter fan? What did you think of the movie? I'm warning you----I'm a rabid Potter fan!


Limited Edition supplies:
Stamps: Rustic Branches, Father Knows Best, Trademarks (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream (PTI)
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko), New Leaf, Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Square Nestability die (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Rustic Jute twine, Rustic Wood buttons (PTI), Copic marker

{It's All Green to Me Challenge}

There's a challenge on the Moxie Fab World Blog. It's the "It's All Green to Me Challenge" and you can participate until July 20th. I don't usually do this sort of challenge, but as soon as I saw it, I thought of a couple cards and decided to play....I LOVE summer---when my brain has the time/creativity to play!!

Anyway, this is the first card I came up with---I love this stamp set and it never sees any love---but I wanted to use a "Who's That Girl"---I actually saw one in my mind that was a shopper or a "lady at lunch" but this is the only one I had, so I went for it!! (These are a stamp line from My Favorite Things stamps---look here for their "Who's That Girl" sets---dahhhhhhrling!) I had looked on an "eco-friendly website" that had all sorts of t-shirts and other items and I saw this quote: Green is the new black and that's what started my little brain a-spinning!

I wanted to make sure the green was GREEEEEEEN---catch your eye green, so I used the green paper from my Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper---that is GREEEEEEN! This color is called "Fuzzy Navel"---you HAVE to love that! I started with a piece of Kraft cardstock and stamped the sky line image from the same set in Versamark ink. Then I stamped my girl with black ink and then again onto the green paper. I colored the girl with Copic markers and paper pieced her dress. I layered that on a piece of Dark Chocolate cardstock and turned it "wonky" on my card. I typed the words up in WORD using Bauhaus 93 font and printed them on more Lime Rickey. I punched the "eco-chic" using the SU! small oval punch and layered it with the large oval punch. Then I cut out the other sentiment and attached it "off" of the card. I added a piece of Old Olive ribbon and some crystal gems. This was a fun card---

You should go try that challenge out---you have until MONDAY night---more than enough time to make something! Thanks for looking today~Details are below!

Green challenge card~
Stamps: Going Places (MFT)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI), Fuzzy Navel-Lime Rickey (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories/Tools: Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, small & large oval punches (SU!), Crystal Gems (Mark Richards), Copic markers, WORD program, printer

{Get Well Breakfast}

Hello there! A friend of mine had surgery last week and I wanted to do something to help with the meals---she has had dinners taken care of, so I decided to put together a quick and easy breakfast basket--it's not much, but is something that her 14 year old daughter could easily put together for a fun breakfast---something besides cereal!












I put this scone mix in this bag---have you ever tried this Sticky Fingers scone mix? Now don't get all righteous on me and say that you ONLY make your scones from scratch (because you'll hurt my feelings....) Anyway, if you DON'T feel like making scones from scratch, but you would like to have them someday---try these. I get them at Fresh Market, but they are probably at many other places (or you can order them online from the link above). This mix is a "just add water" mix and anyone can make them. Have you had this Devonshire cream with your scones? AMAZING!!! You MUST try it---Fresh Market again, in the dairy section---plan to pay for it---but it's worth it! I found these bags at Target on clearance some time ago---12 for 74 cents! SCORE! You can do so much with a plain little bag like this! I used Rustic Branches on this bag in Ripe Avocado. Then I stamped the sentiment from the Tea for Two set in dark chocolate on Ripe Avocado paper and just cut it out.

Then I put some TAZO tea bags in this a large glassine bag, I cut the top off with pinking sheers and decorated the front. So, so simple---I embossed and cut the Green Tea patterned paper using a Labels Four Nestability Die. I stamped the teapot in Pure Poppy on Vintage Cream cardstock and cut it out using an oval Nestability die. I embellished it with Rustic Wood buttons and Rustic Jute twine. Lastly, I added the little sentiment label from the same Tea for Two.

Finally, I made a card to write a note to my friend---I used the same sets, but I used Versamark to stamp the branches and added clear embossing powder and embossed them. I cut the sentiment out using a tag from Ribbon Tags Trio and then wrapped jute around the card several times and sewed the buttons on.

I'm positive this was more fun for me to create than for her to receive---it was so fast and simple to do--you should try it---you should definitely try the scone mix (and cream---come on, you have to do it like the Brits! That's where I first tried cream like this---in a British home on a choir tour in college...it ruined me!)

Thanks so much for looking in today! Enjoy your week~
Kathleen


Stamps: Tea for Two, Rustic Branches
Paper: Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream cardstock, Green Tea Leaves Patterned paper
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate, Versamark
Accessories/Tools: Label Four die, Oval Nestabilty die (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Rustic wood buttons, Rustic Jute twine (PTI), Dimensionals (SU!), Clear Embossing powder (Ranger)

{more cosmo cricket}

Do you love Cosmo Cricket? Come on, I'm a fan, you can tell me! I DOOOO love their papers---they are just fun and lovely and everything in between---I should scrapbook more---I'd REALLY love them on a scrapbook page. I actually HAVE been scrapping this week---I finished my 2008 Christmas album---I don't really show the photos of my scrapbooks, but it's done and I'm so grateful. I haven't finished an album in YEARS, so I'm very excited to have those memories down on paper.

I just have a quick card to share---a friend had some surgery this week and I wanted to get her a little pick me up---I found a begonia with "berry sorbet" blooms....isn't it funny how you see color in different words based on your ink 'supplier'??!! (ok, if you don't do that, don't tell me---I'm sure someone out there knows what I'm talking about!)

I used Smokey Shadow cardstock as my base and stamped the largest flourish from Fancy Flourishes in Vintage Cream across the front. I cut a strip of Berry Sorbet to go across the card and stamped the smallest flourish using VersaMark. I cut a small strip of Everafter paper (Something Blue) and scalloped the bottom. I placed that on top of the Berry Sorbet strip. I added the 'Praying for you' Sentiment from Damask Designs and then added three Berry Sorbet Vintage buttons with Vintage twine. I hope this brings her a smile!

Thanks for looking today~David is out of town this weekend. I usually end up staying up late and stamping---I still wake up early though, so that's not good---we'll see how much I get done. Enjoy your weekend~


Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Damask Designs (PTI)
Paper: Smokey Shadow, Berry Sorbet (PTI), Everafter-Something Blue (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Vintage Cream (PTI), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Berry Sorbet Vintage Buttons, Vintage Twine (PTI)

{Cosmo hello}

My daughter was looking through my card stash last night and she found this card---I really love this little branch from Beyond Basic Borders. When I saw it, I knew I wanted to use that branch for another card----I have gotten a LOT of buttons since I first got that stamp!!! I also wanted to use the CPS sketch this week, so I pulled out some Cosmo Cricket Snorkle paper and started~here's the sketch for the week:




















I started with some Summer Sunrise cardstock. I used two pieces of Snorkel paper. I scalloped the short one with the threading water punch. After I attached those to the card, I cut out my Top Note Die from Vintage Cream cardstock and cut part of it off. I stamped the branch in New Leaf ink and then chose buttons to put on the "dots" that are around the leaves. I stitched them all with DMC thread and used glue dots to attach them to the card.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set and punched it out with the small oval punch, then used the large oval punch to make a layer. I used more buttons and floss to tie in the buttons on the branch. I wrapped more floss around the image, popped it all up on dimensionals and put the sentiment on. I love how cheerful this paper is---I'm looking forward to using some of the other paper from this same line!



Short and sweet tonight---Joshua has a friend over and I'll need to get them to bed soon. FYI---boys talk and giggle at night, just like little girls---but don't tell him I said so~~~



Stamps: Beyond Basic Borders
Paper: Summer Sunrise, Vintage Cream (PTI), Snorkel-Carbonation (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: New Leaf (PTI), Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories/Tools: Top Note Die (SU!), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), DMC thread, Spring Rain, New Leaf Vintage Buttons (PTI), Yellow & Red buttons Foof-a-la, Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Small & Large Oval Punches (SU!)

{happy new baby}

A friend of mine had her first baby a couple weeks ago and I'm hoping to get over to see her in the next few days. I have a little gift to give her and I needed a card. For the first time ever, I actually woke up with this card in my mind---it was the strangest thing! Now, it actually looked different in my mind---different stamp set, colors, but it was this card! And, I like how it turned out---now, if I could just wake up with dinner made and my house clean in my mind and then everything happens that way, I'd like that, too.









I started with an A2 Kraft card. I scored it in 1/4" on all sides. Then I scored it again at 8 1/2 (that score line is hidden by the ribbon.) I then turned it and scored 1/2" diagonal lines going both ways stopping at the other score lines to form the diamonds. (just the bottom part of the card is scored this way from the 8 1/2 to the 10 3/4 score lines). This is SUPER, SUPER easy with the Scor-pal---it only took about a minute to score the whole card. Next I cut a piece of patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Lil' Man line and put it inside the score lines on the top of the card. I stamped the image from Bitty Baby Blessings onto that same paper as my focal image. Next, I stamped the image onto another piece of that paper and then onto a different patterned paper from the same line. I cut the elephant out and then cut the ear out of the plaid paper. I glued those onto the stamped image.

Next, I stamped the small elephant into the diamonds in colors that are in the papers. I tied some stitched ribbon around the whole card and added the sentiment with one of Tim Holtz's keepsake pins. I embossed and cut the tag out using Spellbinder's Tags trio (trimmed) and slid it through the safety pin. I have admired his pins on a lot of Debbie Olson's cards, (of course, I admire EVERYTHING on her cards, but that's another post!) but my LSS didn't have the plain ones. I went ahead a got a package of these Trinket pins, but I never used them. They say stuff at the top of the pin and I've never felt like the "saying" fit whatever card I wanted to use it on---this one is fine. This one says 'keepsake' & I think that works on a baby card. I still want to buy some of the others, so, I'll keep looking.

Thanks for stopping by today! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these Cosmo Cricket papers---I hope you do to! For you local girls, they had a bunch of their crafting kits on sale at Archiver's----maybe there are still some there! RUN!!!! Come back to see me---it's sad (for me!) how much it makes my day! :)


Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings (PTI)
Paper: Kraft (PTI), Lil' Man-Mischievious Max, Jumping Jack (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Ocean Tides, Pure Poppy (PTI), Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Tags Trio (Spellbinders) Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger), Trinket pin (Tim Holtz), Saddle stitch Pure Poppy ribbon (PTI)

{Butterfinger Ice Cream}

Here's the recipe I told you about yesterday---Every time I make this, I wonder why I don't make it more often....then I look down at my rather round shape and I remember---yep, it's not a low fat version---but it's a must once a year, people! I hope you'll try it---it's amaaaaazing! Again, the ice cream is just an amazing vanilla ice cream and we add Butterfingers---you can add whatever your family likes!




I have a large ice cream maker (had---wait until you hear that story), so I make a recipe and a half---but for the normal ice cream maker (the old fashioned ones ( 5 qt.??)----not the new fancy, shmancy Cuisinart), one recipe is just right. Since I was making so much, I had to use the industrial size bowl and my hand mixer. I NEVER use my hand mixer for major things anymore---Joshua wouldn't even do it---his "arm gets too tired with that thing"---he's right, but spoiled....but this is another story, yes?

First, beat your eggs until light and fluffy~

then add the sugar & salt and mix well.

Add in the evaporated milk and whipping cream (I TOLD you it wasn't low fat~)

Add in vanilla and break up the Butterfingers---7 regular ones per recipe. We use the food processor for about half of them

And then use the "smash 'em up version" for the rest---you need some big chunks!!

Mix this all together and pour into an ice cream maker "thingy"---the proper term, I'm sure! Add whole milk to the fill line on said "thingy".

Here's the interesting story part....oh, FIRST as I was packing up to go to our friends' party, I realized that I only had a little bit of rock salt---WHAT? Why am I NOT the girl who remembers EVERYTHING when she is at the store, why oh, why, oh why??? Anyway, just a tip here: don't try to find rock salt at 3:45 pm on July 4th---everyone has already bought it--seriously---it's GONE. BUT, another tip: Kosher salt does the trick---so, there ya have it---BACK TO THE INTERESTING STORY (which I'm sure is much more interesting to me than you.) I get it all to the house and get all the salt and ice put in around it, put on the motor, plug it in----and hear the most interesting noise---not at all the normal, obnoxious noise I usually hear when it's churning, but a whiny, non turning sort of noise---yep---the motor was having one heck of a death party---and RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FOURTH OF JULY ICE CREAM!!!

So, I'm in a bit of a panic---but my lovely hostess and her husband just happen to have a very similar model made by the same company and voila, it works----chaos averted, whew! (I am a bit sad that we have lost this machine---because I REALLY wanted to try Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Ice Cream soon----perhaps they will have these models on sale since the Fourth of July is officially over----I might need to help the economy with a purchase.)

So, here's the final product---I didn't take any pictures of people enjoying it----I should have, but I was scooping and didn't want to touch my camera at that point! Below is the actual recipe---and if you really lasted this long---you deserve some great Butterfinger Ice cream----I give you permission to have some.

Fourth of July Ice Cream
(yes, that's really the name of it)

6 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
2-8 oz. cartons whipping cream
2-cans evaporated milk
2 T. vanilla
Whole milk enough to fill freezer to the fill line.

Beat eggs until thick. Add sugar and salt and mix until fluffy. Stir in cream, evaporated milk and vanilla. Mix well.***(if adding Butterfingers or other additions, add them in now). Pour into freezer and fill with whole milk. Follow Ice Cream maker's instructions to finish the ice cream.

A few variations on vanilla:
Butterfinger: 7 regular sized bars, crushed
Chocolate: 1 & 1/2 c. Nesquik
Strawberry: 1 qt. mashed with a touch of sugar added to them