I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

That is the name of Sankari's challenges this week on Christmas Stampin' All Year Long. Her challenge: A white Christmas card. This is truly a challenge for me. I had been trying to come up with something ever since we were given the challenge. I added a "little" color, but here is my mostly white card.

Recipe:

Stamps: Wonderful Words SU!

Ink: SU! Bliss Blue & PaperTrey Ink Snow White

Paper: glittery white cardstock (hard to see in the photo) that I got in a share a LONG time ago; Bliss Blue-SU!

Ribbon: from my vintage stash

Other: blender pen, Snowflakes embossing folder by Cuttlebug

With a blender pen, I lightly added blue ink around the embossed snowflakes.

Maria added this sketch if you need one but it's not part of the challenge. I would LOVE to see your WHITE cards. Be sure to see what the other diva's designed.

It's the little things...

Last nite I rec'd an e-mail from a gal with Making-Handmade-Cards saying they had discovered my blog and would like me to be on their design team. They sell e-kits. You can read more by clicking here and if you subscribe to receive their newsletter you get the Floral Kit that I used here.

This paper had the white center and I just added the dots with a white gel pen. The felt flower is cut with Flowers Layer 3 SU! die. If you don't have this die you can cut your own or google free flower templates and find all kinds of patterns.

The crocheted flower (by me Ü) is using my friend Melissa's pattern (you can find it here) and I used DMC floss 315. Orange button is Basic Grey.

SU!'s Pumpkin Pie cardstock matches the orange in this digi print perfectly.

This is my second post, so be sure to scroll down for my first post today.

No Winter...

I love this sentiment from Lizzie Anne Designs "Say It in Script". Actually, I love ALL the sentiments in that set! Ü

I used LAD's Garden Inspiration digi print for my paper and this makes a super easy card! I cut my sentiment paper using Nestibilities Labels Two with SU!'s ivory and sponged with Rose Romance ink.

The button is Basic Grey and I crocheted the flower. Felt flower was cut with SU! die.

Aaron's art

edited: OOPS I posted the wrong owl. changed it now

I thought it would be fun to show you Aaron's artwork. You will notice an erased part by the tall dino. That is an image that didn't make it, but we are going to maybe make it into a digi image.

This....became this.... and this....

became this....

Release Day

You can now see Aaron's stamps at TreeHouse Stamps. If you buy any of them, please leave a link or e-mail me when you make something with them as we would love to see it. Aaron made this card for his stint as PaperTemptress junior design team member. He used Gumdrop Green (darker) and Sour Apple paper. I love how he colored this dino. He said this is how he pictured it in color when he was drawing it.


Aaron and Benjamin both groaned and protested when they saw me coloring this dino pink. Ü Aaron has named this dino "Philip" and I told him that Philip needed a girlfriend, so I would like to introduce you to "Priscilla". heehee I used Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #224 (and Aaron did as well). I added Crystal Effects to her "toenails", drew her some eyelashes and added white dots to her eyes.

Here is my version of "Phillip". I used SCS sketch challenge #234. I drew the "grass" freehand. I would have colored it green, but I only have the two green Copics that I used for the dino and I didn't want it to be the same color, so Aaron said to color the grass brown.



PS: Aaron does not get anything for these stamps if you buy them, so family and friends don't feel like you HAVE to buy them.

Now off to color the mushroom. Ü

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the owl that Aaron drew and I entered in a TreeHouse Stamps contest last fall. Ashley (from THS) named her Ms. Hoot. Isn't she the cutest, quirkiest owl ever? Ü

TreeHouse Stamps is having their reveal tonite and the new stamp sets will be available tomorrow. He also has a dinosaur set that won a contest a few weeks ago that will be available.

I used Black Licorice and Watermelon cardstock from The PaperTemptress.

I stamped the Watermelon paper with SU!'s canvas stamp using Pink Passion ink. It matches perfectly. I added a couple of brads (also by SU!) to the punched sentiment.

LAD sketch challenge

Today is my turn to host the sketch challenge on Lizzie Anne Designs. I love this bird from the Bless This Nest set. For my sentiment I just colored the second line from the Supergirl saying single with a marker and stamped. I thought the saying was perfect for this bird.

Here is the sketch I drew. I would love to have you play along. You can upload at Lizzie Anne Land.

CSAYL #22

This week's challenge is anything goes. I used my SIL's stamp set and know it's SU! but not the name. I used Cosmo Cricket paper.

Maria designed a sketch if you need one to help you along.

Be sure to stop by the blog to see with the rest of the Diva's designed.

Dare 2 digi

Yesterday's challenge on Dare You to Digi Stamp was to create a scene. This is not something I'm very good at, but I had this tree digi image that I found on Mel's blog here (scroll down to where it says "Tree image paper and text" and you will see it).

I printed the image once on white cardstock and then again on 5 different sheets of patterned paper.

I cut scallops freehand on a sheet of scrap PAPER (not cardstock) and used SU! Soft Sky ink to sponge clouds on my cardstock. I just sponged right over the trees because I was going to cover them up with patterned paper.

I don't know if this is cheating or not for this challenge, but I stamped the grass with SU!'s Trees Three grass stamp several times with SU's Certainly Celery and then a few times with Old Olive to give the grass some depth.

I cut out one of each tree shape (I will be able to make 5 cards becuase the image is a whole row of trees), sponged the edges with Old Olive ink and adhered to the corresponding tree shape. (the patterned papers I used starting from the left are: K & Co Christmas pad, Cosmo Cricket's Happy Camper, Fancy Pants' Crush, Rusty Pickle's Lucky, and Scenic Route's Lexington Ave.)

With a light gray Copic marker, I shadowed under each tree piece that I had adhered.

"Thinking of You" is computer generated using Danette font.

Kolaches

ko·lac·ky (kə-läch'kē, kō'läch-) n. pl. kolacky or kolache also ko·la·ches

A sweet bun made from yeasted dough and usually having a fruit or poppy seed filling.

I had tried making Kolaches a few years back and they turned out so dry that I never tried again...until now. After doing some research on the internet, I learned that the secret is a very sticky dough.

Farmer's Market started today and I love going in and usually would buy peach kolaches from a vendor. She will be sad to know that I can now make them myself.

These turned out so soft and fresh and yummy! I made peach and cherry from fruit I had put up myself last year (used the last bag of frozen peaches), raspberry (from a fruit filling that is used in coffee cakes, bismarks, etc), cream cheese and cream cheese/raspberry (Benjamin's idea). Some had a crumb topping, some drizzled frosting.

Hungry yet? Come on over! This is what I did today, so tomorrow I will have some stamping goodies to share.

PS: I've made over 100 crocheted flowers now! It is easy to get alot of them done when you are riding in a car!

Kona fun

Remember this post with the fun birthday card I along with several others made for Joy Kennedy? Well, here is the rest of the fun projects I sent her. I had to wait until she received them to post.

I made this file box with Lauren's Timeless Template Filled with Flair that you can order from PaperTrey Ink. Lauren's templates are soooo easy and they go together very quickly!

I used one of my first crocheted flowers that I made to put on the box and love how it looks. As you can see, several more cards would fit, but I was wanting to get this to Joy, so didn't take the time to till it completely. I also left the cards blank so she can send them for any occasion she needs. Here are the extra cards I made to go inside. I love this Kona! He is so fun to color!! Don't forget that you can purchase this Our Craft Lounge exclusive set from eP for only $14.99!! What a bargain!

CSAYL #21

This is my week to be hostess. My challenge is to find a creative way to use eyelets on your card.

Did you, like me, go crazy buying eyelets when they were the rage? This year I am trying to use all those embellies that I just "had to have" and eyelets are one of them. I realize that I only used 3 on this card, but this card was so easy to make that I made 10 of them. So in fact I used up 30 eyelets!

I would love to see what you come up with using eyelets. Please leave me a link to your card. Do you need a sketch to help you get started? Maria came up with this one.

Be sure to stop by the CSAYL blog and see how creative the other divas were with eyelets.

Crocheted Flowers

**Edited: Had some questions on what size crochet hook I used. I used a size 3 crochet hook.

This is what I've been doing. I took several skeins of embroidery floss with me yesterday when we took Benjamin to take his ACT test (not quite 1.5 hrs one way). I made lots more than this, but these are the PaperTrey Ink colors that Nichole shared on her blog. These aren't made with her pattern but my friend Melissa's.

Double challenge

This card was made using this week's sketch challenge #232 on SCS and Dare U 2 Digi Stamp's challenge of brown and orange using a digital image. My image is one that I won in blog candy from The Coconut Shack called Honey Bear. Inside the card I printed from the computer "what's the latest buzz". Ü

I hand stitched on the swirl image above the bear with embroidery floss as well as made French knots in the center of the flowers. Glitter is added to the bee's wings. Paper is some that was in my stash.

Felt Flowers

I have quite a bit of felt from my bear and bunny making days (the felt was used for their jackets) and decided to cut a bunch of flowers. I used a SU! die as well as my flower Cuttlebug die to make these two cards. I'm also trying to use scraps of paper I have in a file as it is getting way to thick.
Inspire Details:
paper: Provocraft paper pad
CS stickers: SU (borders and "inspire")
other: felt, button, embroidery floss


Striped card details:
paper: My Mind's Eye (stripe) and solid unknown
other: SU! scallop sticker; felt, flower dies, Basic Grey button, embroidery floss

This is pre-posted as I am taking Benjamin early to Kearney for ACT's. We hopefully left at 6 AM.

Clean and Simple

This has to be one of the hardest "techniques" for me to do when it comes to stamping. This weeks CAS (Clean And Simple) challenges on SCS was to use pink/coral, kraft and one other color. I chose a pretty aqua blue.

As soon as I saw Nichole post about crocheting flowers I knew I wanted to try. Then my friend Melissa posted an even simpler one and that "hooked" me (heehee, you will only get that if you crochet). Well, it took a few tries to get one to look right, but I finally did it.

Crocheting with embroidery floss (Nichole's idea) is a great idea, but was kinda tricky until I got the hang of it. It's been quite awhile since I've crocheted.

Okay, so here is my Clean and Simple card with a crocheted flower using embroidery floss and also a felt flower cut with a Cuttlebug die. Sentiment is from the Paper Tray set by PTI. Kraft cardstock is also by PaperTrey Ink. Polka dot paper i retired Groovy Guava from SU! and button is Basic Grey.

Whimsie Doodles

I just found one of the cutest new digi sites called Whimsie Doodles. She even has this free digi image to play with (you can find it in the right column on her blog). I normally like to find the paper I'm going to use and then match the colors to it, but this time I colored the image and then got very lucky to find this paper in my stash to match!

The paper is by Scenic Route and is actually Halloween paper! I'm not a big Halloween person, but loved the colors in it and bought it for that reason. This piece is called Salem Scrap Strip and the stripes were perfect for the colors I used in my turtle.

I added Crystal Effects to the flower and spots on the turtle. She is colored with Gamsol and colored pencils. Added photo corners with SU! punch and some ribbon to finish it off.

Father's Day projects

Today I have two projects to share with you. One is for PaperTemptress and is a wallet card. This was inspired by one Nichole made last year. I love the leather looking cardstock PaperTemptress carries and remembered the wallet Nichole had done and knew I wanted to make one. For mine I just cut the cardstock ~Gray Leather (sponged with Storage Units, Ink & More's Cream of Wheat ink) and Hot Fudge 4.5" x 11" and sewed them together (AFTER I had sewn around the edges of a small piece for the inside). The sticker on the front is Basic Grey's embossed sitckers by K & Co. I am going to insert a gift card for my dad on the inside. "Happy Father's Day" is by Art Gone Wild.

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My second project is using Lizzie Anne Designs digi paper from Garden Inspirations (I just cut the brown part of the striped paper to keep it monochromatic) and the solid brown is also from the Garden Inspiration digi set. I don't have the best printer and when it prints solids it makes it stripe looking. But it looked kinda cool like a faint tone on tone stripe.

The stamps I used are Happy Father's Day single and stars from In the Background. I used Nestibilities Label Two dies. Brads finished it off.

Krafty Raspberry Chocolate Cream

When I saw this color challenge on Dawn's blog, I knew I wanted to play. I was busy last week getting the boys' rooms ready, so didn't get to stamp til yesterday.

The challenge is already over, but I still wanted to make a card using these colors. I was inspired by a layout I had seen in a CTMH catalog. Papers are PaperTrey Ink and stamps are SU!

This is my second post, so be sure to scroll down for the first one I posted today.

My Boys are HOME!

YAY!!! My boys are back! We picked them up Saturday. It seems to take Benjamin time to transition back. We are slowly hearing stories of his two weeks in AK and I have some pictures that I will share with you a little at a time this week.

Aaron had fun helping with Bible School and I hear he is quite the actor. LOL!! He's always been melodramatic, so I believe it. Ü

When the boys are gone for a few days and come home, I make their favorite foods and usually a special dessert. This is the dessert I made and it was YUMMY! They both loved it. The only things I did different was I didn't divide the chocolate pudding powder. I added 2 cups milk to all of it. I also used crushed Butterfingers instead of Heath bars because I knew the boys both liked Butterfingers. They also loved the goodie baskets on their dressers.

For the main dish I made the easiest French Dip my friend Gloria shared with me...

one dry pkg Italian Dressing (found in the salad dressing section)

one dry pkg AuJus mix
1 can beef boullion (or French Onion soup)
2 large chuck steaks

Add it all to the crock pot and cook til done. I put it in at 7:30 am on high and it was done at 11:30.

I also like to cook a thinly sliced onion in butter until done and put on toasted buns (butter bun and fry in pan until golden brown) with the yummy meat.

Aaron's favorite....

Golden Carrot Buns

4 c cooked sliced carrots (I use our canned carrots)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup warm water (110* to 115*), divided
2 pkgs (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon molasses
2 teaspoons salt
8 1/2-9 cups all-purpose flour

Place carrots in a blender or food processor. Add eggs and 1/2 cup water; puree until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in remaining water. Add carrot mixture. Stir in oil, sugar, mollasses, salt and 5 cups flour; beat until smooth.

Add enough remaining flour to foram a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down.

Shape into roll. Place 2" apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour.

Bake at 350* for 18-20 minutes or until browned.

Now I leave you with a few pictures from Alaska (you can click on the photos to see them larger)...

Benjamin (on the left) and his friend Jonathon at the top of a mountain they climbed

Butttons and Ribbon

That is our challenge from our hostess Vicki this week's CSAYL. I sat upstairs at my desk totally blank as to what to do and then it hit me to make the buttons be "ornaments" and the ribbon the string from which they hang. I love how it turned out.

The paper isn't even Christmas paper (Marrakech line by Basic Grey), but reminds me of snowflakes softly falling for some reason. (might have to do with the after effects of a severe migraine I had yesterday and I was delerious LOL)

I didn't want the sentiment to take over the ribbon and buttons, so stamped it on the solid green (from the same paper pack) to be muted somewhat.

The ribbon is SU!'s Mellow Moss taffeta that I rec'd in some blog candy and I love the soft sheen to it. It is so wonderful to work with. I sewed the buttons (also Basic Grey) on with SU! Linen Thread.

**tip #1: when sewing on buttons to paper, don't make a knot to the back. tape the end (beginning and ending) down to keep it from coming undone. This keeps a "bump" from the knot showing thru your paper

**tip #2: thread a long piece of linen thread, embroidery floss etc. This way you can use it for several projects before running out. (I keep my threaded needles in a Altoid tin)

We would love to have you play along. Stop by here to see what the other divas created. I didn't use this sketch, but here is one if you need it.

National Doughnut Day!

I'll share the history of this important holiday in a minute.

I'm popping in to say I'll be back soon. Both boys come home tomorrow~ Benjamin from AK and Aaron from staying in town all week with my in-laws while he helped with Bible School. Bruce helped me Wed clean Benjamin's room and will do the windows today and yesterday after I got home from my dr. appt. I started tackling Aaron's room. Benjamin's was just VERY dusty and had little to do but it's a large room (both boy's rooms are~ in fact larger than DH & mine). I need to get Aaron's finished and he is a pack rat. I got half done and then was sneezing so much decided I better take a break, so am back to finishing today.

While in Grand Island yesterday, I bought the boys' favorite treats and am going to fix up a little gift basket for each of them, plus make some "welcome home" banners. I have to get all their bedding washed and hung on the line so it will feel and smell fresh and be ready for them both to crash when they get home. Ü

I will also be doing lots of baking, breads, cookies, snacks etc to be ready for them as well. Aaron loves carrot bread (a yeast bread you make with mashed carrots, recipe will be posted later), so need to get that done.

I have some cards made, just not photo'd cuz it takes so long! Since I'm using Aaron's camera and his stuff is not downloaded on our computer, I have to take the pics with his camera, take the card and batteries out and put them in a broken screen camera, then put on the computer. If they don't look good, I go back and take the batteries and card out of the broken camera and put back into Aaron's and back and forth. Confused?? Ü

I hope I will be able to be more consistent posting every day after Benjamin gets home since I will have my camera back. I do have to chuckle as I rec'd a notification that someone unsubbed from my blog because I post too much. LOL!!

Okay, now on to your National Doughnut (or donut) Day history lesson according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"In honor of National Doughnut Day, Doughboys and Engineers (started by Todd Oliver) are being offered free doughnuts. On National Doughnut Day, look to see if your local doughnut shop, or other organizations, are offering free doughnuts to solicit donations for the Salvation Army or for another needy cause. If you find them, please be generous."

"National Doughnut Day is on the first Friday of June each year. The holiday celebrates the doughnut (a.k.a "donut") — an edible, ring-shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. Many American doughnut stores offer free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day. In 2009, both independent doughnut shops[1] and large national franchises offered free doughnuts in the United States."

"National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers behind the front lines in France.
Soon after the US entrance into WWI in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that "huts" that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service, would serve the needs of US enlisted men. Six staff members per hut should include four female volunteers who could "mother" the boys.
(The canteens/social centres that were established by the Salvation Army in the United States near army training centers were called "huts".)
About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly-baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near to the front lines, two Salvation Army volunteers (Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance) came up with the idea of providing doughnuts. These are reported to have been an "instant hit", and "soon many soldiers were visiting Salvation Army huts". Margaret Sheldon wrote of one busy day "Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee."
A legend has spread that the provision of doughnuts to US enlisted men in WWI is the origin of the term doughboy to describe US infantry, but the term was in use as early as the Mexican-American War of 1846-47."

So, there you have it...go eat a donut today.