Wrapping Up the Holidays.

Or at least getting a good start on them....

 

 

I love making a bag in a box  or a box in a bag...not sure what they are called but this is modeled after Santa's suit - Filled with home made caramels.  Cute little neighbor gift bag. 

This is a box created from our create a box punch board.  There are so many sizes to choose from.  This one will hold one of my favorite Godiva truffles.  I plan to use these as favors for a dinner party we are throwing this month.  So cute.  I also love love love the Under the Tree DSP.  The paper is heavier weight which makes it perfect for boxes.

 

Go check out what Jeanna has created to wrap up the holidays

 

'tis the Season to do some Blog Hoppin

'tis the Season to prepare for the holidays.   I always have grand ideas and ambitions and always seem to end up in crisis mode doing the bare minimum to get by and hoping that everyone appreciates that I even made an effort.


That being said - Operation Crisis Mode (red flashing lights)
Once again the 1st of the month has crept upon us.
My card this month is a snowman cut out - manually.

 I am no where near wishing it was colder or snowier, but snowmen make me happy.  This guy is just happy to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Check out the next hop off point at Jeanna Bohanon -

Blog Hopping with the Holiday Catalog

Oh my goodness, the ideas just keep coming!  There is so much jam packed into the Holiday Catalog, I want to play with it ALL!

Here are a couple more of my creations

 I found this layout on Kim Van Diepen's blog.  I love the tag topper punches and thought the Nutcracker and his mustache would work perfectly.

I know that not everyone gets into the Halloween thing.  I don't do the gory/scary, but love the fun decorations and things you can do with Halloween  themes.

The next project is a large candy bar holder.  The new tag punch works great as a Head stone shape.  The pumpkins, ghost and full moon create a perfect Halloween scene.

I am sure that Jeanna has some awesome ideas to share with you...Hop on over and see what she has to show you.

Clubbing Stampin UP Style

A couple of weeks ago, I had my club members over for our bi-monthly get together.  I love having them over to play with paper and make cards.  I love that they make the effort to come, when their lives are so busy.  Thanks to Stampin UP for providing opportunities for me to find new friends and strengthen the relationships with the friends I already have!

The cards we made...in no particular order...

I love the brick pattern of the back ground. I saw this technique on another card and figured out how to do this with my simply scored tool.  The horizontal lines are every 1/2 inch.  The vertical lines are also every 1/2 inch, but alternated every line so that they seem to be an inch.  Confused??? :)

Stamps - Wonderous Wreath, Holiday Invitation
Ink - Hello Honey, Tangerine Tango, Blackberry Bliss
Paper, Blackberry Bliss, Very Vanilla
Accessories - Wonderful Wreath die, in color sequins, simply scored

This lovely little number is a case from a project I saw on pinterest.  I love how you can color on embossed images with our blendabilities.

Stamps - Ornamental Pine, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink - Versamark, Memento ink pad - black
Paper - Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Silver
Accessories - White embossing powder, Blendabilities (old olive, smoky slate, crumb cake) Seam binding ribbon cherry cobbler, snowflake embellishment

The last project was one that I made at a demo get together made by Lea Christensen.  I alterred the design slightly.

Stamps - Bright & Beautiful
Ink - Versamark
Paper, Lost Lagoon, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, All is Calm DSP, Whisper White
Accessories - Silver & White embossing powder, frosted sequins, Silky Taffeta ribbon, Stars framelits, silver 1/8in ribbon


This is a non-traditional card as the inside is actually underneath the stack of stars. 



Fall officially arrives tomorrow, the Halloween decorations will be put up at my house and the pumpkin spice candles come out.   The roller coaster ride through the holidays begins!
Ta Ta for now.

An Evening of Tapas

I am taking a chance to share some of our summer activities.  Hopefully there will be more posts to come.

Our dinner group got together at our place for July.  We purchased a new camera for our upcoming vacation and decided to give it a try.  I definitely need practice shooting food shots, but I think I will enjoy the practice

If you really want to make A Friend, go to someones house and EAT with THEM.  The people that give you THEIR FOOD, give you their heart. 

We created a night of Spanish Tapas.


This is the place setting.  I found these place mats and napkins at the Square Nest, which happens to be one of my favorite stores to browse around and find a new decor item for the home or a new snap for my Ginger Snap addiction.  




Here is the layout of all the food we served.  We can't wait to dive in!!

As you can see there is a bowl of steamed clams, shrimp, and squid.  I did not get a pic of that dish.






In keeping with the Spanish theme...these are mushrooms filled with a chorizo stuffing










This is a traditional Spanish potato tortilla.  I love the simpleness of this dish.  We served it with a romesco sauce which is made from roasted red peppers and lots of garlic.

This is crostini served with a creamed cheese mixture, beef and a fig jelly.







We made a salad of cucumbers, honeydew and cantaloupe melon with a sweet poppy seed dressing.








We prepared a cheese plate which included Spanish cured meats, cheeses and a mix of olives.

Of course we had to make our traditional tomato gazpacho.  This is one of my favorite summer soups.   Cold, refreshing and good for you.

These are empanadas.  I love me a good meat pie.










For dessert we served a lemon mascarpone filled tart and topped with fresh berries.  Since I forgot to take a picture, I have thieved the picture from the site I used the recipe from.  I added blueberries to the fruit mix.



Recipes and instructions are offered at requests.  We have such a good time taking these chances to create food items we don't eat on a regular basis.


We already have our menu planned for the next time we host.  Ralph and I love to cook, eat, and a chance to share one of the things we love!


 Ta Ta for now

Use Your Words - Blog Hop

We have been on vacation and I meant to grab my card making bag with all the supplies to make the cards for this blog hop.   Needless to say, the bag sits in the craft room in the same place I left it.
 
I have flipped through my stash of cards that I have actually taken photos of and I think these two might work...

The first is a card I made for a swap at the Stampin Up Convention.  I love the white on white and dots on dots.

Ink - So Saffron

Stamps - Something For Baby

Paper - Whisper White, Soft Subtles DSP

Accessories - Pefect Dots and Large Polka Dot EF's,  Baby's First Framelits Dies, Bermuda Bay Bakers Twine, Little Letters thinlits

The second project is a gift card holder and I think the best Words anyone can say is Thank You.

 

Ink - Crisp Cantaloupe, Blushing Bride, Strawberry Slush

Stamps - Pictogram punches, Million & One

Paper - All Ablooom DSP, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding

Accessories - Whisper White 1/4in cotton ribbon, Itty bitty Accents Punch Pak, Corner Punch

Go see what Jeanna and her amazing creativity has come up with

I am a Big Shot Junkie Blog Hop

I don't know about you, but I am not sure I could survive in my crafting world without my Big Shot.  I would definitely have to reacquaint myself with my background stamps, paper punches and my paper snips for sure.  Out of any of my tools I use it the most.

August promotion for Stampin Up is once again some great bundles.

Buy one of the bundles at a 15 percent discount

Bundle Name	Stamp Set	Framelits
Sumthin' with Bubbly Words Bundle	Sumthin' Sumthin'	Word Bubbles
Decorative Goodies Bundle	Oh My Goodies	Deco Labels Collection
Celebrating Chalk Talk Bundle	Day of Celebration	Chalk Talk
Flowery Daydream Bundle	Daydream Medallions	Floral Collection
Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle	Bright & Beautiful*	Stars

*From the Holiday Catalog - You are going to love this stamps set...It is gorgeous!

The first project channeled Pinterest....
Stamps - Petite Pairs, Daydream Medallions, Chevron Background
Ink - Cantaloupe Crisp, Pistachio Pudding
Paper - Cantaloupe Crisp, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White and Gold Soiree DSP
Accessories - Floral Frames framelits, Burlap Ribbon, Pearls




Second Project was from my last workshop.  I haven't made a sourcream container in years.  In fact most people have no idea what I am talking about...so we will call it a treat container

Stamps - Oh my Goodies
Ink - Real Red, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry
Paper - Very Vanilla, Flashback DSP
Accessories - Deco labels framelits, Gold metallic bakers twine.


Hop on over to Jeanna Bohanon and check out her amazing paper crafting skills!

Bundle & Save $$$ Blog Hop

The Stampin Up Catalog has so many great options to save you money.  They have bundled products that coordinate with each other and have offered them at a discount.  You definitely don't want to pass these up.

Chalk Talk pg 11

Label Love pg 14...
Four Frames pg 21
Journal Bundles pg 29
Apothecary Art pg 57
Something for Baby pg 74

Itty Bitty Banners pg 79
Simply Sports pg 90
Playful Pennants pg 91/92
Starburst Sayings Pg 117

Honeycomb Hello pg 134
Flower Patch Pg 156

Tag a Bag pg 201

I am showcasing the Flower Patch set and the coordinating dies.  There are oodles of ideas in pinterest galleries and online.  I have opted for maybe a more subtle approach.

The blooming card did not photo well.  It is so much more vibrant in person.

Stamps - Flower Patch, Work of Art
Ink - Strawberry Slush, Wild Wasabi, Coastal Cabana, Versamark
Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories - Flower Fair framelits, in-color sequins, crushed curry EP, clear EP. Bermuda Bay bakers twine





Second is a non traditional way to use these stamps...

Stamps - Flower Patch
Ink - Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Paper, Crumb cake, chocolate chip, very vanilla
Accessories - Early Espresso cotton ribbon, venetian crochet trim, gold bakers twine, in color sequins, and designer very vintage buttons.



Last but not least....Bag in a box!  Do you remember those.  This one is just adorbs.  I used one of the flower patch stamps along the bottom border.   The DSP is all gold soiree which is all kinds of gorgeous..  I love the gold accents in the paper. 

Head on over to Jeanna Bohanon's and see what bundled products you can't live without!

My house smells

.....like bacon....still.  I know, you are saying "And that is bad?"  I love bacon too, but I am ok with not seeing, smelling or eating bacon for a while. I have tried candles, febreeze, baking bread and other goodies, etc.  Guess we will just have to let the fresh air from outside continue to circulate.  You know...they sell candles that smell like bacon....for reals.  They call them "man candles"  I think I will stick with ocean breezes or mountain meadows.


 I somehow ended up on the committee for my employee association.  We had our summer party this last week.  Through all the changes that took place with employee turn over I ended up as the vice chair and in charge of the food for over 300 people that picked up tickets.

We decided to rent a couple of charcoal grills from diamond rental.  Awesome grills by the way and totally affordable.  We grilled chicken, hamburgers, and hotdogs.  We served all the fixins - onions, cheese, bacon, tomato, pickles, bbq sauce and condiments.   We also had fresh veggie trays, potato salad, and chips. For dessert we had floats.  We filled the cups with ice cream and offered a can of soda for them to pour over the top.  That way I didn't have to deal with the foam and mess of pouring them.  Easy but a ton of work and a complete lack of support from our committee.   Whats with people these days and being responsible????

I cooked 16 pounds of bacon the night before.  I baked it which seemed to go faster then trying to do it on the stove top. Less mess and they don't wrinkle up. We sliced lots of tomatoes and onions.  I want to give a SHOUT OUT to my sweetheart RALPH.  He is so awesome with supporting me and the crazy things I get myself into.  Without his help it would have been a nightmare x 2.

Let me just say, I was flabbergasted at the lack of social eating skills these people have.  After I had seen the 3rd or 4th person take 10+ pieces of bacon, I decided to serve it myself.  This gentlemen walked up with an empty plate and asked for bacon.  I put 3 half pieces on his plate and he looked at me like

I told him the bacon was a garnishment to the burgers and sandwiches, he exclaimed  "but I love bacon".  I responded that we didn't have enough bacon to serve it as a main dish. This scene did cross my mind, fortunately...I had the serving utensil.

We did have salad and veggies left over, and some of the condiments.  The meat of course all disappeared.

The weekend was an attempt to recoup and catch my breath.  I did make homemade wheat bread on Saturday, Ralph weeded the tomatoes in the family garden and the little furry dudes played to their hearts content.

Sunday dinner was courtesy of left overs and my super chef husband.  Caramelized onion dip, tomato soup, toasted cheese sandwiches homemade dill pickles and a blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream.




Let the craziness continue as Summer is upon us.  My goals for summer are to Play Hard, Work Hard and Eat as much garden produce as my tummy can hold.  What are your goals for the summer?



Ta Ta for now