Inky Antics/Action Wobbles Co-Hop

Mummys wobble but they don't fall down. Ü

Welcome to Inky’s Action Wobbles Co-Hop! We’re excited that the Inky Antics and Action Wobbles Design Teams are hopping together this month. If you have been following along you have just come from Tricia’s blog. If not, please make sure to start at the beginning at the Inky Antic's blog so as not to miss out. Ü

I used 10991SC Frankie and Mummy Maker Clear Set & 10678D Mummy's Favorite (mummy riddle) drawn by artist Tammy DeYoung, along with an Action Wobbles spring to create this project. The Mummy Maker set was designed to use with Inky Antics Triangle Treat Box stamp template, but I just stamped the mummy face onto watercolor paper, colored and then punched with a circle punch.

I layered the face onto patterned paper and then the wobble action behind that. This is then centered onto another circle on the paper bag front. The black polka dot paper is by Fancy Pants and the rest from a Halloween paper pack I got on sale at Hobby Lobby.

Here is a quick video showing you how the mummy wobbles.

You can find the Action Wobbles on the main Inky website here, and the stamps used in this hop are shown here.

The blog hop starts today and ends tomorrow at midnight. Please visit each DT members’ blog to view their projects and leave a comment for each designer. The more you comment, the better your chances are to win. (Limit one comment per blog, please). Inky Antics will be drawing THREE people’s names at random, who will each receive an Inky Halloween clear set and a dozen Action Wobbles. The winners’ names will be announced on the Inky Antics blog on Monday morning, so remember to stop back and see if you’ve won. The AW folks will also be giving away even more Action Wobbles, so there will be lots of prizes all around!

Your next stop will be Kate’s blog. Thanks for wobbling with us!

Here is the line up in case one of the bloggers isn't up yet.

Main blog for Inky Antics - http://inkyanticsrubberstamps.blogspot.com/

Main blog for Action Wobbles - http://www.action-wobbles.com

Theresa – http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com

Crazy About Cricut - http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/

Michelle - http://inspirationblooms.blogspot.com/

Tricia - http://lshdesigns.blogspot.com/

Debbie - http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE Ü

Kate - http://www.scrapperscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Jovi - http://jovikloess.blogspot.com/

Monica - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/

Trudy - http://truesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Heather - http://greenscrapinmachine.blogspot.com

Midge - http://scrappintoxicmidge.blogspot.com/

Jackie - http://inkyanticsrubberstamps.blogspot.com/

Madge - http://www.thescrappinlounge.com/

Sherri - http://squeakyscrapper.blogspot.com

**entering this in the Crafty Friends Challenge #7

Calendar Wallhanging

One of the projects for CHA that I created for a Make 'n Take was this calendar wallhanging. It went fairly quickly, since I did alot of the prestamping ahead of time.

The background is cut from cereal/cracker boxes and then covered with patterned paper. Decorative cardstock “Indigo Bleu” & “Spring Jubilee” collections from Pink Paislee. Rubber stamp from Purple Onion Designs, calendars from Taylored Expressions. The fence is a svg. file I found online.

We used Mono Glue Stick to adhere designer paper to the front and back of the "chipboard" and Mono Adhesive Dots, Roller to adhere all the stamped and cut pieces.

To finish it off, punch two holes and add eyelets and May Arts ribbon to hang.

Burlap Pumpkin

Today we have had much cooler weather and it definitely feels like fall in the air. I want to share with you a fun project I created last weekend.

I have seen painted burlap items over the last couple of years and have kept it in the back of my head that I would like to do this "some day". Well that "day" had come! Saturday & Sunday were beautiful days and I decided it was time to make something new for fall. I was inspired by this project I had seen on Pinterest.

For my pumpkin, I folded some computer paper in half (this is BIG computer paper) and just took a pair of scissors and cut what looked like 1/2 a pumpkin. I opened it up and liked what I saw, so didn't do any other adjustments.

I pinned the pattern to 2 pieces of burlap I have had for awhile now (probably a couple of years Ü) and cut out the shape and then took outside to spray paint orange. I hand painted the stem and it is REALLY stiff, so am glad I didn't hand paint the whole pumpkin (it is stiffer, but not as stiff as the stem). I also hand painted the polka dots.

I let that dry and then sewed the edges together and VERY lightly stuffed it. I added the bow made with May Arts ribbon with a Tombow Power Tab. I love that the ribbon was wired to give the bow character. To the back I added a pop can top with a Power Tab to hang my pumpkin outside the house.

Now I think I need to make another one, but this one with chevron design. Ü

**entering this in the Crafty Friends Challenge #7

Halloween Treat Cup

We are partnering with May Arts  this week on Tombow. I LOVE their ribbon! It is so gorgeous and so much fun to work with. This was a fun project for me to create. Other than needing to use  May Arts ribbon and Tombow products, we were free to create whatever we wanted.

 

I had planned to alter an envelope, went to get one and saw a peat pot sitting on the shelf just calling to be altered and just went from there. I didn't have any plan of what I was going to do, so it was fun to just create as it came to me.

 

First I spray painted the peat pot black and while that was drying, painted white polka dots on some crepe paper streamers using the cap of Gamsol (it was the perfect size and stitting on the table in front of me Ü).

 

 

Now while that dries, the black paint has dried on the peat pot. Add a bead of Mono Multi Liquid Glue around the top edge.

Now this takes a little while to dry, so go mix up a batch of cookies. Ü When it dries it will be clear-ish. I forgot to take a picture of that. Adhere May Arts ribbon handle. The crepe paper should be dry by now, so just center it over the glue and pinch pleat it as you go all around the edge.

I used Mono Adhesive Dot, Roller to adhere the lace to the center of the streamer. The May Arts lace was white and I colored it with a permanent marker to make it black. To adhere the tiny May Arts tiny ric rac I used the Mono Multi letting it dry first and then adding it to the center of the lace.

Now it was cute like that, but I thought it needed a little something extra, so tied a bunch of orange buttons with black embroider floss and added them with Power Tabs cut in fourths.

Be sure to stop by the May Arts blog to see the fun creations by their Design Team. Thank you May Arts for the lovely ribbon you sent! I have more goodies I created to share with you this week if you would like to stop by.

**entering this in the Crafty Friends Challenge #7

OCL Freebie and Challenge

Our Craft Lounge's 133th challenge is to use an OCL image. Don't have one? Well then it's your lucky day as they have posted a digital freebie hot air balloon for you to use called Love Floats. (I helped name it Ü).

Just stop by the blog to pick it up and play along in our challenge. We would love to see what you do with the image.

I decided to paper piece mine. I love paper piecing with digi images. I just print as many images as I need different papers on regular paper, then use removable adhesive to tape all the different patterned papers I need to that sheet and run it back thru the printer.

Mom & Dad's anniversary is Saturday, so I created the Happy Anniversary on the computer and added it to the card.

Play along with us this week and be entered to WIN a $20 gift certificate from Our Craft Lounge. You have until 11:59pm Thursday, September 13th to enter. Participate as many times as you like! A random winner will be selected and posted here on the OCL blog at the beginning of next month. Here are the rules: use any stamps that you wish – get BONUS POINTS when you use OCL stamps! Link to your card/project at the bottom of this post using the link tool provided – **be sure to link DIRECTLY to your challenge card – not a general blog or gallery link & add the appropriate photo. Use the challenge as your basis – do whatever inspires you, but please base it on the challenge. If you upload to SCS, please use the Keyword OCL133. We can’t wait to see what you CREATE!

************** SALE *************** SALE ****************** SALE ****************

SALE ALERT!!!! Starts today on the OCL site.
Here are the details:

• On orders $25 or more (before tax & shipping) you’ll get 25% off.
• Sale ends Monday, September 10, 2012
• No coupon code required ~ it should calculate it automatically at checkout.
• Not applicable to wholesale orders or items that are out of stock.

Snowy's Woodland Pals

I'm back today with a couple more Inky projects for you. These use 11137MC Snowy's Woodland Pals Clear Stamp Set and X2-2940 Square Box Template stamp.

Tombow adhesive is perfect for these boxes.

BFB Twice a Bride

YAY! The next book in Mona Hodgson's series Twice a Bride in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series . I have loved the books in this series and this one is a wonderful story as well. Here is a fun trailer to view as well.

I love reading historical novels and this one was no exception. It takes place in Cripple Creek and this time the story is about Willow, Tucker Raines sister who would much rather paint than sell ice boxes. Her sister in law (Tucker's wife) has a miscarriage and her life takes a turn. She meets a photographer needing help and the story continues in such a fun fashion that is true to Mona's writing that you just don't want to put the book down until the last page and even then it leaves you wanting to read more about the family even though this is the last of the series.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Paperclip Bookmark

With some scraps, punches, buttons, and Tombow adhesives you can make some cute paperclip bookmarks. Try making mini ones as well.

Apply Power Tab to the back of aqua circle and adhere paperclip in tab.

Adhere large Foam Tab inside paperclip and 4 mini Foam Tabs around outside paperclip. Peel off paper from Foam Tabs and adhere second circle lining them up.

Apply Stamp Runner Permanent Adhesive to flower and small center circle and adhere to aqua circle.

Cut Power Tab in fourths and apply one fourth to back of button. Adhere to flower center.

Labor Day and Inky Christmas

 

Strange combo I know, but I wanted to wish you all a very Happy & Safe Labor Day weekend and also share a couple of Inky Christmas projects with you.

 

For my Inky Antics projects I used 11136MC Rejoicing Angels and 111358MC Heavenly Friends Clear Sets designed by Tammy DeYoung as well as 10189X Tall Bag Template stamp for both.

the little flaps are adhered with Tombow's Fastener Tabs.

BFB Be Still My Soul

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof is her first book in The Cadence of Grace Series and I can't wait to read the next one in the series. Click here to download the first chapter of Be Still My Soul now.

Lonnie Sawyer is a shy 17 yr old girl and can't wait to turn 18 so she can go and live with her aunt to get away from her abusive father.

Gideon O'Riley is a ladies man and only thinks of himself.

Because of one fateful night and false accusations, Lonnie finds herself married to Gideon. This book is full of twists and turns and keeps you wanting to turn the page until the very end.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

August 19-25 Menu & Recipes

Aug 19
B- none, we overslept and had to hurry to get to church
D- church potluck
S- fried chicken, creamy cucumbers, tomatoes, homemade wheat bread

Aug 20
B- cereal
D- leftovers
S- steak, twice baked potatoes, cucumbers

Aug 21
B- waffle cinnamon rolls
D- ham & cheese sandwich w/ lettuce & tomato, Cheez Its, grapes
S- creamed chicken (white sauce and add shredded chicken), rice, tomato, cucumbers

Aug 22
B- eggs & toast
D- turkey & cheese sandwich w/ lettuce & tomato, Cheez Its, apple
S- chicken salad sandwiches w/ lettuce, Cheetos, cantaloupe from garden, strawberry limeade

Aug 23
B- oatmeal with cranberries & toasted pecans
D- ham & cheese sandwich w/ lettuce & tomato, Cheez Its, grapes
S- creamed chicken (guys request to have this again), mashed red potates with skins, cucumbers, cantaloupe from garden

Aug 24
B- pop tarts
D- turkey & cheese sandwich w/ lettuce & tomato, Cheez Its, apple
S- Grilled chicken, Cheesy Potato casserole, cucumbers, bread

Aug 25
B- free for all
D- leftovers (lots of little bits of everything that need eaten), homemade choc chip cookies
S- hot dogs on the grill plus leftovers

What I spent this week
lettuce               2.38 (3 bunches of romaine)
peanut butter         2.48 (large container)
spaghetti sauce       1.00
2 dozen eggs          3.00
cheese slices         1.79
ham  5 lb             9.40
deli fried chicken    4.95 (this was 5 pkgs of 8 piece chicken marked down to 99¢/pkg)
milk  gal             2.99
ice cream             3.99
3 lb chicken breast   4.99
4 pkg soup crackers   1.16 (these were marked down and I will use them to make seasoned crackers or these for snacks/school lunches)
ranch dressing (2)    1.24
orange juice          1.50
whole wheat deli bread .99
margarine             1.25
Country Crock         3.68
hot dog buns          1.50
total spent          48.29

39.69 week one
27.73 week two
39.90 week three
48.29 this week
155.61  total for the month so far

I have $44.39 to spend this week and most of it will be on flour, sugar, etc.

Cutting Cafe Hexagon Week

This week on Cutting Cafe the design team is creating with hexagon shapes. For my card I used Regina's Hexagon Shaped Card Set. I shrunk the image down to 1" wide and then cut several from scraps of designer paper (all Fancy Pants).

I was needing a sympathy card so used the sentiment from OCL's Every Day Sentiments set.

Walnut Hollow Dresser

Hello and welcome to a FUN week with Walnut Hollow! I love their products and Tombow's adhesive's + Walnut Hollow =♥.
I created this project for Tombow's booth at CHA and I am needing to get more of the same products so that I can make them for gifts! I think they would be so cute on a dresser holding jewelry, a sewing room holding little supplies or a craft room holding embellishment...the list goes on.

My favorite "go to" adhesive for wood is the Mono Aqua Liquid Glue. This adhesive is perfect for wood!
Using Walnut Hollow's 28403, BOX with DRAWERS, VERTICAL I painted the edges all white that I knew would show. Then I lightly sanded it and "stained" it with brushing and ink pad on the edges.

I very carefully "sawed" off the front knobs with a knife. I painted the feet knobs (18010-00F, 1-1/2" BALL KNOB) and then larger door knobs (Hobby Lobby) green to match the designer paper (Fancy Pants).
I measured the drawer fronts, sides, back, inside bottom drawers, and top and cut papers a scant smaller and distressed edges with ink. I appied Mono Aqua Liquid Glue to the wood and then adhered the paper to it, smoothing out all the air bubbles.

After all the paper was dried, I added the new drawer knobs and the "feet" knobs with Power Tabs. Then I painted over all of it with the Aqua Glue using a foam brush. This helps seal it.

For the top, I added a silk flower with Mono Multi, then a crocheted flower with a Power Tab and last a glittered flat button with a Power Tab.
I am REALLY wanting to make one of these for myself now! Ü Have you used designer paper with wood before? What is your favorite Tombow adhesive to use?

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed today's project. Be sure to stop by the Tombow blog each day this week as the other Design Team members WOW you with their projects.

August 12-18 Menu & Recipes

School starts tomorrow for me and Tues for Aaron, so next week you will see what we had for our lunches. Here is what we had last week...note, lots of tomatoes Ü finally got some from our garden! YAY!!
Aug 12
B- toast
D- I wasn't feeling good, guys ate cereal, watermelon, jerky, who knows what else. Ü
S- BLT's, sweet corn, BLT's
Snack- Apple Bread

Apple Bread
2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. chopped apples
1 c. chopped nuts

Mix oil, sugar, & vanilla, add eggs one at a time mixing well after each. Sift dry ingredients. Add to oil/sugar/egg mixture. Fold in apples & nuts. Batter will be very thick.

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans.

Bake @ 325° for 60-75 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Then remove from pan.

**Note: I used apples from our trees and black walnuts that a friend gave us.


Aug 13
B- apple bread
D- Cucumber/Sundried Tomato Turkey Wraps, watermelon/muskmelon, Creamy Cucumbers
S- Patty Melt, creamy cucumbers
Snack- Raspberry Banana Dk Chocolate Chip Muffins

Aug 14
B- Raspberry/Banana muffins, milk
D- tacos, creamy cucumbers
S- left overs
Snack- deer jerky DH made

Aug 15
B- rasp/ban muffins, milk, juice
D- fried egg sandwiches, chips, cucumbers, tomatoes, fruit
S- steak, twice baked potato, cucumbers/tomato/onion with Italian dressing
Snack- blueberry frosted shredded wheat

Aug 16
B- muffins
D- leftovers -I made extra twice baked potatoes plus tomatoes/cottage cheese, grapes
S- met my family at Runza to celebrate Benjamin's birthday early+last day before he goes to college
Aug 17
B- cereal/poptarts/fruit
D- deer steak, rice, tomatoes, creamy cucmbers
S- pancakes, fruit
Snack- blueberry frosted shredded wheat

Aug 18
went to Chadron with mom & dad to take deep freeze to Benjamin
B- dry cereal to eat on the way
D-
S-

snack- vanilla wafers
this week's grocery list:
was able to hit farmer's market again this week. We are so thankful for this avenue to purchase fresh goodies, esp when we haven't been able to get anything from our garden (yet, hopefully) so far

watermelon       2.50
jalapeno peppers 2.00
sweet corn       5.00
cucumbers        2.00
tomatoes         4.00
10 lb bacon     19.90
3 boxes cereal   3.00 (blueberry shredded wheat, guys like eating them dry for a snack)
vanilla wafers   1.50
                        39.90

 39.69  week one
 27.73  week two
 39.90 this week
107.32  total for the month so far

Apple Treat Box

With school right around the corner for many (or maybe you've already started), all about apples is the theme for Cutting Cafe this week.

I used Apple Treat Box and for the border School Borders files. These cutting & printable files make this project super quick and easy. The hardest part is deciding on the papers to use. Ü The flower is created with a punch I have.

I added some old pattern tissue to finish it off. My 10¢ pattern has been going a long way. Now to fill it with some hard candy and it's ready to give to a special teacher.

Be sure to stop by the Cutting Cafe blog later today and see all the other apple inspiration.

Skinny Strawberry Notepad

This fun sized notepad fit will perfectly in your purse.

Cut solid green cardstock 5.5" x 8.25". Score at 2 5/8" from each long side. Fold on score marks.
Cut designer paper at 2.5" and the length whatever size you want to fit the front. Apply patterned paper to green piece front with Powerbond Adhesive as shown in photo.
Apply Powerbond Adhesive to small green check and adhere to front, top and back of notepad. Adhere notepad to inside green piece with Powerbond Adhesive .

I cut flap shape with my Cricut. If you would like this file send me an e-mail with your e-mail and I will send it to you (this is a svg. file to use with your cutting machine).

Make 2 score marks in the center with a gap wide enough to fit around the notepad.
Apply Powerbond Adhesive to “back” of yellow scored piece from outside edge to the first score mark and a Fastener Tab to “front” and adhere and wrap around right side of notepad cover.
Cut Power Tab in fourths and adhere two pieces to button and adhere to yellow piece.

Apply Powerbond Adhesive to where you want to spell out “notes” to bottom right front and add letters. (this helps them to stay put).

Decorative cardstock, buttons and stickers “Coconut Lime” collection from Jillibean Soup, Solid Cardstock from Bazzill.

August 5-11 Menu List

Here we go for week 2.

Aug 5
B-toast with peanut butter, milk, orange juice
D-left overs (roll-ups were big last week, so we only hate 1/2 one)
cottage cheese
grapes
potato chips
S- swiss mushroom burgers
fried zucchini
 carrot sticks
Coconut cake & homemade Oreo ice cream (this is to celebrate Benjamin's birthday as this is the last weekend he is home. Next weekend he is in a wedding and the next Friday he leaves for college as soon as he gets off work. He stays in town so we don't see him much.)
Snack: strawberry poptarts

Coconut Cake
1 white cake mix
4 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 1/4 c. water
1 c. coconut
1 sm. box instant coconut pudding mix
Mix ingredients together as for a regular cake. Add pudding and coconut last. Bake according to cake mix instructions. Let cool and frost.
Frosting
2 sm boxes instant coconut pudding mix
1 pt. cream (heavy)  (NOTE: I used 1/2 & 1/2 this time and it was just as good)
2 c. milk
Mix together until thick.

Aug 6
B-cereal, milk, juice
D-leftovers
S-ham & cheese sandwiches, dill pickles, Swiss Chard
Snack-Chex Mix
Aug 7
B-cereal, milk, juice
D-egg salad sandwiches, fried zucchini, baked beans, leftover cake & ice cream
S-Salmon Patties, cheesy corn spaghetti casserole, corn muffins
Snack-strawberry limeade this was so yummy and refreshing on a hot day!

cheesy corn spaghetti casserole
1 can creamed corn, 1 can sweet corn, 1 stick light margarine, 1 cup elbow macaroni, 1 cup velveeta. Don't drain any cans. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook in crockpot until noodles are done. AMAZING!! I also add chopped onion

Aug 8
B-cereal
D-leftovers
S-leftovers(just DH & me for dinner and supper, so we finished up the bits of everything that had been left over)

Aug 9
B-cereal
D-egg, sausage, red pepper, cheese rolled up in sun-dried tomato tortillas
cottage cheese, peaches, left over cake
S-BBQ Pork, baked potato, carrots
first time making that BBQ Pork recipe. SOOO simple and tender it just about melts in your mouth!

Aug 10
B- pop tarts, milk, juice
D-left over BBQ pork sandwiches with homemade buns, veggies, peaches
S-chicken wings, pasta, veggies

Aug 11
B-cereal
D-ramen noodles, chicken, carrots
S-left over chicken wings, sweet corn, tomatoes, cottage cheese

This week's grocery list
grapes 1.28/lb         3.35
whole grain bread      1.50
potato chips           1.29 (w/ .50 coupon)
5# red potatoes        1.29
pork sausage  1#       1.89
mozz. slices           2.00 (w/.50 coupon)
strbry pop tart  8ct    .75 (1.50 on sale plus .75 coupon)
3# chicken breast      5.99
strawberries           2.50
5+# Pork Roast         9.44  (1.86/lb) I cut this in half when I got home and rewrapped them both and put in freezer. Will get many meals from this. I also RARELY buy meat for more than $2/lb. I really look for sales, cuz after awhile we get tired of beef and deer.
frozen peas            1.55
cranberry sauce        1.52 (not that great a price, but considering it's for a recipe for 8 I went ahead and got it)
feta cheese            2.78 (we like this on salads and use it sparingly. This will last several salads and I take salads a lot for school lunches)
whipping cream         1.18
butter                 2.66
                      39.69
                      27.73   last week total
                      67.42    total for the month so far (more than I would like it to be-I like to have a reserve in case there are some great deals, so need to be careful this week since there are 5 weeks. Although the meat was more than I normally spend and will make several meals that probably won't all be eaten this month, so will carry over to next month.)

OCL/May Arts Blog Hop

Today is the last day for May Arts and Our Craft Lounge's  blog hop. I am sharing a project the I designed for a Make & Take at CHA using Our Craft Lounge's Tea Time set and May Arts Solid/Wrinkled ribbon in pale pink.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens. The papers are Fancy Pants.

Here is a list of the gals playing today. Be sure to comment on their posts for a chance to win prizes as well as stop by the May Arts blog for prizes given away there.

• Amber Hillman
• Deb Felts
• Debbie Fisher (me)
• Kendra Wietstock
• Lori Barnett
• Michelle Pearson

OCL/May Arts Blog Hop Day 4

Hasn't the inspiration on May Arts and Our Craft Lounge's DT been amazing? There are still 2 days left to comment and be entered to win prizes on both blogs.

I have another simple card to share with you today. I have a box full of scraps left over from CHA M & T's (Fancy Pants) and I decided to use some of them up for this CAS card (Clean And Simple). CAS has always been so hard for me to do, but lately, it's been easier AND I like the turnout.

The papers are by Fancy Pants. The sentiment is from OCL's new release Every Day Sentiments. I used May Arts Faux Suede Black Leaves to create a scallop. The soft suede fabric lends to the romance of the card. Then for a POP of color, I cut one flower from their Sheer/Woven Rosette's and tied a button on with Black String Burlap.

Here is a list of DT members playing today. Be sure to stop by their blogs and post a comment to enter to win some goodies!

• Michelle Pearson
• Broni Holcombe
• Debbie Fisher (me)
• Melissa Cash
• Kendra Wietstock
• Lori Barnett
• Stephanie Serrano
• Debbie Corbari
• Tammie Edgerton
• Amber Hillman

For OWL you do...

It's all about Owls on Cutting Cafe this week! If you know me at all, you know I love owls. I even have an owl board on Pinterest. Ü

I used Fun wth Owls and the new Chevron Fall Background Printable sets for my card this week. I colored the owl with Tombow's Irojiten Colored Pencils and blended with Gamsol.  Inspiration for the layout is from Kim Teasdale.

The twine is from May Arts and adhered with Mono Multi Liquid Glue. The rest of the card is put together using a Mono Adhesive Dots Roller. I even decorated the inside a bit.

It's the Olympics on Tombow

This is a very busy post with lots of info, so read carefully for a chance at some prizes. Ü This is a Tombow and Our Craft Lounge combined post and separate prizes.

This week on Tombow the DT is creating their own Olympics and we invite you to come and play along with us. There are prizes to be won! Each day from today thru Friday each of the DT will highlight a certain Tombow product. We invite you to play along using that product.

You will have one week to post your project on the Tombow blog in the comment section of each DT's post that you play along with and winners will be announced Friday the 17th. You can play and enter each of our challenges for a chance to win up to 4 times! Remember my motto...."You can't win if you don't enter".
My product is Irojiten Rain Forest Volume 2 Vivid Tones colored pencils. NOTE: This is the middle set only that you are entering to win.

These pencils are AWESOME! The lead is glued in to the wood covering, so no more breaking every time you sharpen them. Plus you can sharpen them any way you want, no special sharpener needed! I love them and love the colors they come in.

Since we don't have tv and obviously don't watch the Olympics, I had to do some research to see what events there are. I also found that the colors are red, yellow, blue, green and black. So I used those colors on my project AND used a sailboat stamp from Our Craft Lounge's Smooth Sailing stamp set.

The lid comes off and 4 rolls of Lifesavers are inside.

I created this Lifesaver Box using Cutting Cafe's template. The circle Lifesaver's represent the circle logo for Olympics and the sailboat represents the Sailing challenge at the Olympics. I also used Tombow's Power Bond Adhesive on the whole project.

This is also for the OCL/May Arts blog hop this week. I used May Arts 1.5" Black/White Twill Ribbon and cut it in half to tie around the box.

Our Craft Lounge has 5 prizes to give away from all the comments left on the DT's blogs, the OCL Blog and the OCL FB page from Monday thru Friday (midnight PT/3am ET).  Winners will be posted on the OCL blog on Monday, August 13th.

May Arts is giving away prizes too. Be sure to stop by their blog for more details.

Here is a list of who is playing today:

Debbie Corbari

Debbie Fisher (me Ü)

Kendra Wietstock

Lori Barnett

Melissa Cash

Stephanie Serrano

OCL/May Arts Blog Hop Day 1

Welcome to day one of the OCL/May Arts Blog Hop Week! We both have lots of fun and prizes in store for you. I will be participating all but Wed, so be sure to come back as well as check the Our Craft Lounge & May Arts blogs daily for chances to win great prizes.
My first project is very simple. I've been doing simpler cards lately AND flat ones that don't require extra postage. This card uses May Arts 1.5" Turquoise/White Twill Ribbon.

I used OCL's new Every Day Sentiments and Cutting Cafe's Butterfly Shaped Card file where I just shrunk it and cut one butterfly. I love how this simple little element added so much to the card.
Our Craft Lounge has 5 prizes to give away from all the comments left on the DT's blogs, the OCL Blog and the OCL FB page from Monday thru Friday (midnight PT/3am ET). Winners will be posted on the OCL blog on Monday, August 13th.

May Arts is giving away prizes too. Be sure to stop by their blog for more details.

Here is a list of who is playing today:

Debbie Corbari

Debbie Fisher (me Ü)

Kendra Wietstock

Deb Felts

Lori Barnett

Melissa Cash

Stephanie Serrano

Tammie Edgerton

August 1-4 Menu List

Before I share what we've eaten and spent for the 1st-4th, I do want to let you know that we eat alot of deer (DH hunts), fresh fish when he can get away or when BIL stops by with extra from his fishing and beef (we butcher our own), so that helps the grocery bill quite a bit. We also have a garden (though nothing from it yet due to severe weather), apple, pear and cherry trees, gooseberry, strawberry plants and wild chokecherries that we get alot of our fruit from.

Also, I need to clarify something. The $200/month is for food only. I've rec'd comments/e-mails from readers thinking it was for anything bought at a grocery store. We have separate budgets for misc (toilet paper, shampoo, etc), fuel, entertainment (eating out), clothing, etc.
In case there is anyone out there who wants to try to live on less and/or cut their grocery bill, I will try to be as detailed as I can. I will list the menu for that day and then comments if they apply. If you have any questions, just ask and I will answer you all.

Because it is so hot, a lot of our meals are not going to require the oven. I am having to be very creative as I am so use to doing lots of baking.
Here is what we ate Aug 1st-4th. (B-Breakfast, D-Dinner, S-Supper)
Aug 1
B- Waffle Cinnamon Rolls
milk
fruit
I picked up a pkg of generic cinnamon rolls in a can several weeks ago in the discount cooler at our local grocery store for $1.39, a pkg of 8 made them 17¢ each. DH & I each had one and Aaron 2, so there is enough to have again. These were so fun to make. I will definitely be watching for sales on these as they would make great school breakfasts'. Quick and easy, just and add fruit and milk.
I had my setting between light and medium and cooked for 3 minutes (2 they felt a little doughy) and they were completely done and for a "fake" cinnamon roll, pretty good and a great way for a treat when it is way too hot to bake!

D-Leftovers: spaghetti with meat sauce, lettuce salad, and garlic bread for the guys chicken salad on lettuce for me
apples w/ caramel dip

When I make chicken salad, I usually bake a whole chicken and that is part of one meal, then tear up the leftover meat for chicken and noodle and this salad. So out of one chicken, we can get 3-4 meals).

The bread was free! Local grocery store (LGS from now on) makes fresh bread and marks it down day after. They mis-marked this pkg of French Bread for 99¢ with $1.00 off. I asked if that was right and it wasn't, but they let me have it since I let them know there were others marked the same. I just cut slices, buttered both sides and sprinkled with garlic pdr. I "fried" it in a pan and after flipping it once added a little mozzarella cheese.
Snack: Orange Julius, popcorn
Chicken Salad (I made 1/2 recipe)
4 c. diced chicken
1 pkg dry Italian Dressing Mix
2 T. prepared mustard
1/2 c. mayo
2 T. red wine vinegar
1 c. halved red grapes
1/3 c. chopped walnuts
Mix all together and refrigerate. (*note: I did not have the Italian dressing mix on hand, but did have Italian Dressing, so added that and less mayo and it still tastes great)
Orange Julius
1 6-oz can orange juice concentrate
1 c. milk
1 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
8-10 ice cubes
Blend for 30 seconds.
The apple caramel dip has been in the refrigerator for a LONG time! I looked at the date and it said "best if used by 6/30/2011"! BUT it was still very good.
S-Deer steak gravy (cut up deer steak fried and then a gravy made)
rice
green beans
ice cream
I know people who don't like deer steak because it is too "gamey". The "gamey" taste comes from the fat. DH does all our butchering and cuts out every piece of fat. It does have a different taste, but is lean and very good.

**No cost for today's meal. It was all food we already had on hand. "Shopping" from your freezer, cupboards, pantry is always best first so that food doesn't go to waste.
Aug 2
B-made rest of Cinnamon Roll Waffles
D-Aaron & I ate in town as we had lots of shopping and parts to get, DH ate leftovers
S-fried egg & cheese sandwiches
sweet corn
grapes
peach kolaches

Aug 3
B-bakery donuts
orange juice, milk

D-grilled chicken roll-ups w/ tomato/basil tortilla w/ swiss chard
sweet corn
grapes
tomatoes
cottage cheese

the roll-ups are easy, just fill with any meats, cheeses and veggies you have. I had 2 teriyaki marinated chicken breasts left over, grilled them, then added shredded cheese, sour cream thinly sliced onion and red pepper, chopped tomatoes, swiss chard and rolled up.

S-BLT's (used Swiss Chard instead of lettuce)
grapes
tomatoes
cottage cheese

snack-cereal

We have a local bakery that gives you a free donut/roll when it is your birthday. I hadn't been in town when they were open until today and he gave me 4 rolls! (Thank you Joey from Westside Bakery!)

My guys like eating cereal for snacks. I have a rule for cereal and refuse to pay over $2/box. This used to be easy, but now is really hard to find cereal for that, but if you are patient and wait it does happen. Local grocer had Corn Pops marked down to $1/box. I got 3...guys were happy. Ü

Aug4
B-cereal, milk, orange juice

D-sloppy joes
sweet potato chips
tomatoes
cottage cheese

S-ate at Pizza Palace to celebrate Benjamin's birthday

snack: Cheddar Chex Mix

Sloppy Joes were left over from 4th of July that I had frozen. There is still enough left over for another meal or 2. To make sweet potato chips, I just slice fresh sweet potato and fry, then salt with sea salt.
farmer's market sweet corn $2.50
kolaches                                3.00
sweet potatoes                       2.28
cottage cheese                       2.00 (.75 coupon)
farmer's mkt tomatoes          4.00
gallon of milk                        3.23
tomato/basil tortillas             2.18 (had $1 off coupon)
Corn Pops (3 boxes)             3.00
Cheddar Chex Mix               1.55 (.60 coupon)
Bakery Rolls (8)                   1.99 ($1 off for being a day old)
farmer's mkt swiss chard      2.00
total spent:                           27.73 (several of the above items are still left so will be used again in this week's menu)

(found out you can use this in sandwiches. Have
never had it before. We really like it. It was a LARGE bag full that will last us awhile)

Happy Camper

I have a new card to share with you using another new stamp set by Our Craft Lounge called Happy Camper. This set is full of fun camping images (including a mosquito!). We aren't campers, but I love the old vintage campers and would really like to have one. Ü

I had fun paper piecing this image. I colored the windows and drew in the grass with Tombow's Dual Brush Pens.

If you would like another chance (or two) to win the new stamp sets, be sure to leave a comment on the OCL Blog and the OCL Facebook page also.

• Prizes: Any comments left from Tuesday through Friday on any of the OCL team member blog post(s), the OCL Blog posts and the OCL Facebook page will be entered into a drawing for prizes. We will give away one of each set for a total of 3 prizes. Comments end Friday, August 3rd at 3:00 am Eastern/midnight pacific time.

Here is a list of the DT who are playing.

Amber Hillman

Broni Holcombe

Deb Felts

Debbie Corbari

Debbie Fisher

Joy Stagg

Kendra Wietstock

Lori Barnett

Melissa Cash

Michelle Pearson

Stephanie Serrano

Tammie Edgerton