Thoughts of You

Our daughter is about to be deployed to Saudi Arabia. DH and I are truly sad that she will be so far away and in harm's way for months and it's really heartbreaking knowing that we will not be able to see her before she deploys. We decided to send her a little something to let her know that we are thinking about her. I used this set to make her card because I think it is one of the most versatile stamp sets from SU.

Card Stock: Whisper White; Pacific Point; Old Olive Inks: Pacific Point, Old Olive Accessories: Bigz Scallop Envelope Die; Whisper White Ribbon; Framelits Labels Collection; Dimensionals Stamp Sets: Because I care; Yummy; Field Flowers; Whimsical Words

'Tis the Season

These Christmas cards were so quick and easy and you can make a bunch of them in no time. I find the fastest way to make cards when you are making a batch is to score the card stock before you cut it. Here is what I did for these cards. Take 3 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" Very Vanilla card stock and score each sheet down the center at 4 1/4". Cut each sheet in half so that you will have six cards that not measure 8 1/2" x 5". Quick and easy... a lot better than cutting each sheet in half, then scoring cards individually. Card Recipe: Gifted and Perfect Ending stamp sets; Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler card stock; Cherry Cobbler Ink; Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine

Birthday Celebrations

This is for the SCS TLC363, Make Your Own Stripes. I am always at a loss when it comes to making birthday cards and I think this one will fit the bill... I cased this from Alberta's Gallery on SCS. She states she was inspired by a card on Pinterest.

Peaceful Snowflakes

I Watch every Scrapbooking show I possibly can and I especially love watching the ones on HSN. When I saw this Martha Stewart snowflake punch on clearance earlier this month, I had to order the set. The accompanying pamphlet with my punches demonstrated this card... I changed the colors a bit but still stayed within the color range of Martha's card. They were quick and easy cards to make for my January submission for the SCS Christmas Card Challenge.

From The Heart

The Splitcoaststampers' Inspiration Challenge 321 yesterday was "Everything Turquoise". I loved the simplicity of the inspiration I chose because it allowed me to make a quick and simple card. All supplies are from Stampin' Up! I used Tempting Turquoise and Early Espresso Cardstock, Branch Out and Water Color Trio Stamp Sets, Scallop Border Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, and a White Gel Pen to add the birds over the tree.

3-D Birthday

This card is for the FS258 SCS Challenge All Supplies are Stampin' Up! Stamps: Happy Moments. Card Stock & DSP: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Old Olive. Tools: Big Shot; Sizzlits Die & Apothecary Dies; Word Window Punch; Round Scallop Punch. Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Butterflies

My submission for SCS Sketch 367 using the Stampin' Up Bigz Beautiful Butterfly Die and the Beautiful Wings Embosslits. The card stock is 'My Mind's Eye'. Card made using Susan Bluerobot's 'Helping the butterflies fly free' tutorial.

Birthday Celebrations

Awning Birthday Card

This card is for my daughter. I will return later and list the stamps, tools, inks, card stock, and DSP.

Happy Birthday

Final card in this group and a picture of the three cards together. If I have enough DSP left, I will probably use it to make one last card tomorrow. Again, I used "For Father" stampset; Mocha Morning DSP; Very Vanilla & Soft Suede Card Stock; Soft Suede & Crumb Cake Inks.

Happy Birthday

Here is my second card using Stampin' Up!'s "For Father" stamp set and more of the Mocha Morning DSP. I will probably keep making masculine cards with the scraps until the scraps are all used up...

Another card tomorrow.

Birthday Wishes

DH's brother's birthday is next week and he asked me if I would make him a card. Thing is, he has three brothers and I did not want to make one without making a card for the other two. Masculine cards are hard to design so I visited Mary Fish's gallery and got inspired by her 'Thrilla in Vanilla' card and decided to case it. I changed the sentiment, the stamp, added DSP and matted my image panel.

After making this card, I used the same image stamp, card stock, ink and DSP for the other two cards and changed the card sketch for both. Here is the first card. I will post cards two and three within the next few days.

Mocha Morning DSP; Very Vanilla & Soft Suede Card Stock; Soft Suede, Crumb Cake & Basic Black Ink; For Father & Happiest Birthday Wishes Stamp Set (Hostess).

Congratulations

A retirement card for our daughter's FIL based on SCS Sketch Challenge SC364.

Here is a similar card using basically the same sketch with a few adjustments and embossing folders.

Santa Christmas

Clean and simple Santa Card. My inspiration came from coupons I received in mail from Macy's. I used Stampin' Up! Real Red and Basic Black card stock. The gold card stock is DieCuts with a View. The "Merry Christmas" stamp is from the "Come to Bethlehem" stamp set from Stampin' Up. I ran the belt through my Big Shot machine with the Square Lattice embossing folder. The belt buckle was made using two square spellbinder dies.

Something Old... Something New...

I've got batches of dsp yet I keep ordering more and more. Here are a few Christmas projects using some of the retired dsp from Stampin' Up. I saved a few cans after opening green beans to bake a Green Bean Casserole for Thanksgiving Dinner; I wanted to recycle them for the cans of Snowman Soup. I just received my Candy Wrapper  die from Stampin' Up! and made a few of the candy wrappers and filled them with Hershey's chocolate Kisses. I am placing them in candy dishes around the house for additional holiday decorations.

More views:

Holiday Sweets

Coconut Pound Cake

Look at my 'Holiday Cake'!  I do not like coconut but I love coconut cookies and  coconut cake if the coconut is incorporated into the batter.  Delish!  I found this great recipe for a coconut pound cake at allrecipes.com.  It was quick and easy and DH LOVED it!  We almost ate the entire cake within one week.  Needless to say I will  only bake this one for special occasions and only when we are having company over so that we can share the calories with them.

Here is the recipe if you are interested in baking one:

Coconut Pound Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1  1/3  cup flaked cocunut
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract

 Glaze:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan (I used my Pampered Chef fluted cake pan.  Check out yesterday's post for stoneware seasoning if you need to season yours).
2. In a large bowl, cream together 2 cups sugar and the butter.  Fold in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each one before adding another.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, milk, flaked cocunut, and 1 teaspoon coconut extract.  Beat into the creamed mixture.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake 1 hour, then cool on a wire rack for just a few minutes, then place on cake platter.

Glaze:  Mix together 1 cup sugar, water, 1 teaspoon coconut extract and walnuts.  Boil for 1 minute, then pour over warm cake.

Seasoning Pampered Chef Stoneware

I own a Pampered Chef 'fluted' cake pan and it has gone unused for more than 8 years.  I really wanted to use it  but I knew that I really needed to season it well so that my cake would easily come out of the pan.  I googled it and found a great 'seasoning recipe' for this cookware and it really works.  I was able to season my cookware one night and bake in it the very next.  Check my blog tomorrow for the recipe.

• Clean and dry your stoneware.
  
• Mix together 2 parts Crisco and 1 part salt
• Generously apply to total surface.
• Place in a 250F oven and bake for 30 minutes
• Let cool and smear the melted mixture over the stoneware surface again
• Return to oven and bake another 30 minutes.
• Let cool; smear the melted mixture over the stoneware surface again,  to oven and let sit in oven overnight.
• Next day, wash stoneware with dish brush under hot running water.  Dry and your stoneware is seasoned and ready to use.  

I own several pieces of Pampered Chef stoneware so I mixed together the amount specified in the recipe I found (1/4 cup salt, 1/2 cup Crisco).

Holiday Tweets

I made this with the Stampin' Up! Petal Cone die.  The challenge was to make a card or project without the use of stamps.  This project doubles as a holiday decoration as well as a treat holder.

Card Stock:  Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, and More Mustard.

Accessories:  Spellbinder star dies, SU Petal Cone Die, SU Bird Punch, Martha Stewart punch.

Baby Shower Favors

Baby Shower Favors

Baby Shower Favors

Diaper Cake

Saturday was the day of my daughter's baby shower and we had a great time.  I finally finished the favors that I was working on but did not make all that I had planned.  Making favors for a baby shower is a really big task.  The colors I used were Bermuda Bay, Pretty In Pink, Old Olive, and Daffodil Yellow (all Stampin' Up!).  I even tried my hand at a Diaper Cake.  I could not find my ribbon (lost in the jungle of scrap paper from all the crafting) so I purchased tissue paper to cover the rubber bands.

Baby Shower Invitations

Here are the finished invitations for my daughter's baby shower.  Now... on to the favors because her shower is right around the corner.