{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)