{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

{Happy Fourth of July}

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Joshua wanted to do some sparklers last night---so we went outside around 9:15. I told him to go get his shoes on and he came down in all this camouflage stuff---LOL! What is that about?


In my earlier parenting days I would have had a fit (I wasn't as enlightened as some of you) --- this was not what I had in mind for my 4th of July pictures! But now---in my "old age" (*wink*--sort of) I just went with it! I love his little quirks and his fun personality. I really had to crack up with the gloves! What a hoot!

We are going to some friends' house to celebrate today. I'm bringing hot dogs and buns for everyone and Homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream----I'll take some pictures and share it with you all---it really is a great ice cream. The vanilla is amazing and you can just add whatever you like to it to make it "yours". My family likes butterfinger---this started YEARS ago when Dairy Queen first came out with the Butterfinger Blizzard! This was the first one, people! My mom found an ice cream recipe that tasted EVEN better---and we've made it ever since!

So, what are YOUR plans for this holiday? I hope you get to spend some time with family or friends. Whatever you are doing, be thankful you live here---even if you are frustrated with things at this point in our country's life, it's a GREAT place to live. I, for one, am SO GRATEFUL the Lord brought me into this world HERE. How blessed I am!! I could have been born ANYWHERE! See you tomorrow~

{Yep......I have issues...}

OK----now, I'm going to be a little vulnerable with you here---I have issues. There, I said it---it's out there---here's the one I'm talking about today (because let's face it, I have LOTS of issues!) I used the wrong color on a color challenge & it's bothering me----seriously? Don't I have more important things in my life to be worried about? OH YES----but many of those things I can't control.....I CAN make a new card to get the Sahara Sand off my mind!



Yesterday I posted my Raspberry Suite Color Challenge card---here's the swatch again so you can see the colors--I didn't have any Soft Stone, so I used Sahara Sand.....clearly I need better lighting!

So, since David is out of town and I had some extra time last night---I did another card. I kept it pretty similar to the first one, but I used Basic Gray instead of Sahara Sand....and even though this gray is a little darker than Soft Stone, I feel better---OK, no making fun of me in the comments---just leave me with my issues!

This time I started with an A2 card in Basic Gray and stamped the largest image from Polka dot Basics in Versamark. I embossed them with Black powder. That looks so nice on the gray. I set that aside and stamped the smaller hearts from Heart Prints in Pure Poppy, New Leaf, & Raspberry Fizz on Stamper's Select White cardstock. I stamped some extras on another piece of paper so I could pop up a couple of them----see detail picture below. I stamped the sentiment from the Friends 'til the End set. I really love that set.

Again, I used my Uniball pen & ruler to draw a box around the images. I messed up a little bit, so I "embellished" it with some stick-on Crystal Elements gems. (It's always a good idea to have extra embellishments on hand for just such occasions!) I layered the image on some True Black cardstock and popped it up on dimensionals. Finally, I tied some black satin ribbon around the card below the image.

Ahhhhhhhh, now I feel better now....much better! Thanks for looking---and I'm trusting you to keep my secrets!


Stamps: Polka dot Basics, Friends 'til the end, Heart Prints
Paper: Basic Gray (SU!), True Black, SS White (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark (Tsukineko), Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Accessories: Black embossing powder (Ranger), Heat tool (Marvy), Crystal Gems (Mark Richards), Dimensionals (SU!), True Black satin ribbon (PTI)

{A Color Challenge}

Every week when Dawn McVey puts her color challenge up I swear I will get to it---and then the time passes and I don't. Color IS a challenge for me, so I tend to put it off. I decided I had no excuses today, and I went for it---here's the picture for the challenge. You still have plenty of time to get in on it if you want.


I actually made another card first and I hated it---I had finished all the elements, but when I put it together it just looked BAD---so I threw it out. REALLY---the things I could keep I did, but a few elements I just needed to throw out! :)

Anyway, I don't have Soft Stone cardstock (HORRORS----a Papertrey cardstock I don't own---I seriously think it's the only one.....wouldn't you know?I guess I *NEED* it, huh?) SOOOOO, I used Sahara Sand instead. It truly looked a little more gray in my room, but when I brought it out in the dining room to photograph it, it doesn't look very gray at all. I had some Basic Gray from SU, but it still looked too dark---it would have looked better than this, I think---oh well! C'est la Vie--I had fun anyway! I started with a 5 x 5 card of Sahara Sand. I stamped the damask star from Star Prints in three colors on to Stamper's Select White cardstock. Then I stamped the sentiment from the same set in Memento Tuxedo Black. I "boxed it all in" with a black Uniball pen.....no Copic multiliner for me----I don't own one, so I used what I had! :) I layered that image with Raspberry Fizz and Pure Poppy papers. I tied some saddle stitch ribbon around the whole card (I cut a hole in the fold of the card) and then added three buttons to embellish---there it is! I hope you enjoyed it---and go try this challenge yourself---it was much easier when I went with SIMPLE---the first one was much too complicated and it just looked bad!

Thanks for looking! Have a great day~

Stamps: Star Prints
Paper: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, SS White (PTI), Sahara Sand (SU!),
Ink: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf (PTI), Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Saddle Stitch True Black ribbon, Vintage buttons (PTI), Foof-a-la button (red--gotta get some pure poppy buttons, people!), Uniball black pen