FS104: Molly's birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY!!!!


WoooHoo! This week is Molly's 3rd birthday! (Molly is Debbie's daughter).

I made her this piggy bank (plus we got her a few DVDs.

I used my copics to make the pig - it is a great kids gift!


Molly's card is this week's featured stamper card!

This week's featured stamper is BevR. Here is her gallery! {This} is the really beautiful card which I cased. I changed colors and stamp set - changed the oval to a square. I changed my stitching to zig zag too.

White base with black and riding hood red paper (cuttlebugged with swiss dots). I then zig zag stitched around the card. Bella rose designer paper with the zig zag stitch.

I changed the oval in BevR's card to a square! The stamp is It's a celebration from Papertrey Ink! I stamped in pink Pirouette and riding hood red, kiwi!

The ribbon is may arts! Love it - I get mine from Cindy! (Starlitstudio) - check out my sidebar for shoppin links!


stamps: Papertrey Ink {It's a celebration}
ink: riding hood red, pink pirouette, kiwi
paper: riding hood red, pink pirouette, black, bella rose, white
misc: sewing, ribbon, nesties

Coffee Cake!

Tomorrow is my turn to host playgroup. One thing that I love is coffee cake (warm!)

I went to my bisquick box and the recipe was no longer listed (GASP!)

So I hunted down the recipe - thought I would share it with you here!

Bisquick Coffee Cake: Betty Crocker

Heat oven to 375°F.

• Cinnamon Streusel (below)
• 2 cups Original Bisquick® mix (I actually prefer the low fat version)
  
• 2/3 cup milk or water (skim)
  
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg (I use all white egg beaters)
  

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 9-inch round pan. Make Cinnamon Streusel; reserve.
2. Stir remaining ingredients until blended.
3. Mix in a 1/4 of the Streusel topping and spread in pan. Cover with Cinnamon Streusel.
4. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown, testing with a toothpick.

---

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

• 2/3 cup Original Bisquick® mix
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons butter (I use Smart Balance)
  

Mix all ingredients in small bowl until crumbly. Cutting them with a knife and fork helps separate the butter.

Serve with coffee and friends! :)

Sympathy Card: Triple challenge

This card qualifies for three challenges: the color challenge (CC203), the sketch challenge (SC213) and the Ways to use it challenge (WT203).



I made this per Todd's request for a client who passed away.

The color challenge: Garden Green, Pacific Point and Baja Breeze. The WT challenge is alcohol inks (not just copics, or copics used in a different way).

I started with a white card base with garden green (cuttlebugged with the swiss dots folder), then the baja layer (cuttlebugged with the birds and swirls folder). The pacific layer is cuttlebugged with swiss dots as well. I used glossy white for the main image, the stamps are from Papertrey's new Sympathy set. Beautiful sentiments. The butterfly is glossy white paper punched with the Martha Stewart punch. I used Ranger alcohol inks (meadow and denim) on the butterfly. I sponged it on the baja layer, although now I wish I hadn't. I don't like it at all. I used the ink Meadow to dye the white button green. Teal sakura stardust pen on the outline of the butterfly and the trail.


stamps: papertrey ink {Sympathy}
paper: white, baja breeze, pacific point, garden green, glossy, Ranger (meadow, denim)
ink: baja breeze, pacific point, garden green
misc: button, martha stewart butterfly punch, cuttlebug folder (swiss dots, birds and swirls)

CHA - January...rubbin' elbows with the famous Peeps!

Imagine total craft immersion! {GLORY!!!!} You walk in the convention center in Anaheim and it is wall to wall crafts! You can see it, hear it, feel it, touch it and even SMELL it (okay - some of the smells were NASTY, but still)! {HEAVEN!!!!} Debbie and I were rushing from place to place with our new aprons (thanks Memory Makers) - our convention bags and boatloads of excitement!








Here are my peeps Joy & Cami from Our Craft Lounge! Talk about a buzz! Can you say sparkle fluff? Love the pink flock!!! I am so *proud* of these two ladies! ROCK ON GIRLS!!!!








I think I actually scared Suze Weinberg! Seriously! I got to the Make and Take table and she was on her last bit of energy and I started screaming. I had to call my friend Cindy to let her know that I was sitting across from THE SUZE WEINBERG. Suze helped me make a ring. Here we are showing it off! {GORGEOUS! -> That's what Suze called the ring, not me!}

This is Wendy Vecchi! She is the "female" T!m Holtz! Her new line Studio490 is a really fun group of stamps! She razzled and dazzled us. Again, I think she was slightly afraid of me - but I warmed her over! By the end of her demo, she was LOVIN' me! She gave me one of her tags and signed my Ranger book "To my BFF Beth!" Now don't worry, I am not dumping Nichole. I have room in my heart for more than one BFF! They both have different styles~



THE MAN! THE MYTH! THE LEGEND! T!M HOLTZ

Tim made me the most amazing work of art (his words). You can see that I am holding it up - the tag weighs at least half a pound - I KID YOU NOT! It is amazing - hardware, grungeboard.....I love it! He was amazing and acknowledged IN PUBLIC that Cindy Lyles is his biggest fan! He might have said that just to shut me up! {grin}

He was unbelievably gracious and very approachable!
Thank you for the tag T!m {you ROCK!}!















Is she not the CUTEST THING EVER? Yes - I met Heidi Swapp! She is amazingly talented - WOWed me (like that is a hard thing to do) and made me want to run out and buy her masks and invisible paper! Check out her video on invisibles!








Man I look pale! This is Trudee (I call her T-bird). She was there to color copics! She is actually a rock star and I was able to worm my way up to her and take a photo! She is one of my favs from SCS!






Here is Stamper Sharon! LOVE HER! Sophisticated and Talented! I was so thrilled to finally meet her (and I got to stamp with her at the Just Rite stamp booth!)










Look who I found! Debbie Olson and Lisa Johnson! Papertrey Elite x2!~ Rubbin' shoulders with the big wigs! I think I screamed when I saw Leese the first night and then when Debbie came up to me at the reception, I hugged her (not once, but twice!!!) and let out a few squeals of delight!








Lookie at this shot! Me with Val Stangle, Jenn Balcer,
Cambria Turnbow, Lisa Zappa and Joy Kennedy! Her sister, Joyce (who is stunningly beautiful) is next to Joy!







Thanks for enjoying the journey with me!

CHA - Through my eyes....SCS cupcake reception

CHA started out with a fun flight with my BFF Debbie from Albany, NY in the pre-dawn darkness of Satuday.
We made it to California and had a quick lunch with my sister Karen. We rushed over to CHA to get our badges early (but were unsuccessful!) We snuck in anyhow to check out some of the booths.

We met up with Lisa (Johnson), Kendra (Weitstock) and Heather (McNally).





We soon ran into Jenn (Balcer) and Val (Stangle)













Cupcakes - YUM!

Woohooo! I finally met Ellen Hutson! We have known each other for years and finally met in real life on Saturday! What a sweetie!











Here are some of the Hanna Stamps! girls - Amanda (I got to meet her sweet baby), Diana Gibbs (who is just the funniest with a spark of energy!), Adela (sophisticated and fun!) and ME!







Leese (aka Lisa Johnson) is such a sweetie! We had so much fun together at CHA!

I will post more tomorrow!

WT202, LSC 204 - Birthday Cards

I made these cards for the twins (Brittney and Sarah). Bella has their party this weekend.

Black base, pink passion with the spots and dots folder (Epaperie), some designer paper, mayarts ribbon (Starlitstudio), dimensionals, punches (SU!) and some fun new stamps! WOO Hooo!

The stamps are Heather's new Around & About set from Papertrey ink. The flower in the center is from her set in pink passion. The circle sentiment is in True black ink. The initial is from Nichole's new Fresh Alphabet! Fun font - very clean!



stamps: Papertrey {Fresh Alphabet, Around & About sentiments}
paper: Black, pink passion, DCWV patterned paper
ink: true black, pink passion
misc: punch (SU!), cuttlebug Spots & Dots , mayarts (starlitstudio), dimensionals

Triple Challenge card!

This card is for the SC212, WT202 (Pattern Pizazz), LSC204 (Paint it black) challenges on SCS.



I started out with black cardstock - added some patterned paper and then the pink passion cardstock. I stamped with the new papertray True Black ink and loved the coverage. Very clean! True!!! TRUE!!!

I stamped the image again on a strip of pink passion and placed that layer on top of a cuttlebugged layer of black cardstock. You cannot really see the embossing on the black cardstock but it is there - promise! This is really a kewl look in real life. I used pink passion ink for the butterfly and the flowers. I punched out a butterfly from the same patterned paper and colored some of the dots in with pink passion marker. The sentiment is from my friend Heather's new stamp set Around & About Sentiments from Papertrey Ink. Love it!


Here is a close up of the card:







They way I stamped it created a POP off the page look - it's pretty kewl!


I used the martha stewart butterfly punch on the pop up butterfly (patterned paper). I colored in some of the circles with the pink passion marker and some with sakura stardust.

The sentiment is on pink passion cardstock, then mounted on black cardstock.

Love this look!

HEY MA! NO WHITE CARDSTOCK!





Don't forget the inside of your card. When using black cards, you need to cut a piece of inexpensive cardstock in a light color (I was wrong MA! There is white)....and adhere it to the inside. Heather created these awesome long stamps to go with the Around & About Sentiments. I just stamped them on the bottom to create a finished look!




stamps: With Sympathy, Around & ABout Sentiments (Papertrey ink)
paper: DCWV patterned paper, pink passion, black (white - inside)
ink: True Black (PTI), pink passion (SU!)
misc: punches (SU! and Martha), cuttlebug (bloom dots), dimensionals, sakura stardust

Wonderful News & Off To CHA!!!

Hey Everyone!

Karen got into Drama Club. She has to read for parts, but she is in the play! Phew! Risk Reward is tough!~ Thanks for all your well wishes and positive prayers/thoughts! She is so appreciative!

I am leaving for CHA in the morning on Saturday. I am so excited. My BFF Debbie is going with me! Woohoo! I am planning on meeting up with some favorite friends and enjoying every moment. I hope to post pictures here - I will bring the mac and the camera - but I am just warning you that I may not be able to get internet access at my sister's house (it didn't work last time)....If I find some fun things - I will be sure to post them when I return! I have a Guest Featured Stamper Hostess this weekend! Can you guess who?

Breast cancer card

This was a super simple card to make. I made it for Todd to send one of his clients. She was just diagnosed with her second bout of Breast Cancer. I picked up the pin at church and adhered it to the center of the flowers (primas). Inside I put a note that she could easily remove the back of the pin and it would slide out of the flower. She can place the pin on the lapel of her coat. Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink {Everyday blessings}.

Start with your 4.25x5.5 card in white, adhere the patterned paper, take a strip of coordinating paper across the bottom third. The primas are layered on one another and adhered to one another (and the card) with adhesive. Pin slips right though like a brad.


stamps: Papertrey Ink {Everyday Blessings}
paper: white, designer paper (my minds eye and Target $ pack)
ink: black soot
misc: prima flowers, pin (breast cancer awareness)

Go with your whole heart

Super K. Karen, my eldest daughter, is a phenomenal singer and actress. She has talent which was obviously passed on from someone (I am just not sure who...) Todd and both do not sing. From the time she was 2, Karen was able to recite entire scenes from movies. She was animated and even used accents and intonations! It was funny and impressive at that young an age. She still impresses me with her ability to memorize lines.

This year, Karen decided to try out again for the Drama club so she could participate in this years play, Midsummer Night's Dream. Karen is quite familiar with the play. Her teacher last year, whom Karen ADORES, spent a great deal of time teaching Shakespeare. Karen loves Shakespeare and is really hoping to participate in the Drama Club. She has to audition for the club this year and space is limited. She also had to make a very difficult choice. She had to resign from her position in the Select Chorus. There was no way for her to participate in both. After much debate, discussion and tears, Karen made her choice. I know that she prayed about it, she spoke with our pastor about it, and she did not make the decision lightly.

I made this card for Karen and slipped it in her school folder so that she would find it today. I thought the sentiment was appropriate. Inside I hand wrote that I loved her, I was proud of her and I supported her choice....no matter what it was! Inspired by Nichole Heady's card on her blog.

It is so hard being a parent. It is so hard allowing your child to make tough choices. I just want to wrap Karen up in a cocoon and protect her from hurt. As a mom, I know I cannot do this. Instead, I have to let her make her choice and follow through on that choice. If she fails, I will be there to comfort her. If she thrives, I will be there to cheer her on. I know that this is a tough life lesson and that she will grow and bloom, like a butterfly. She will be a better person for taking a risk and going with her heart. I don't want her to look back and say "I could have....I should have...." I want her to say "I took a risk!".


stamps: heart prints, heart prints sentiments
paper: white
ink: regal rose, chocolate chip (and marker)
misc: heart punch, dimensionals

FS102: Stamp_Momma

This week's featured is Stamp_Momma (aka Lori Craig). I cannot WAIT to meet her next week! WOOHOOO!

If there are any spelling errors this week it is because we got ROCK BAND 2 for the Wii and we were playing all night (and drinking beers like REAL ROCK STARS). I don't drink - but singing makes you need beer! LOL! And I had 3 beers and I am a little woozy! WOOOHOOO! We decided to name our band 4 milks and a broccoli (after our trip to the grocery market when I bought ...4 milks and a broccoli)...Catchy name...huh?

Here is Lori's gallery and this is the card which I cased. I changed the colors and stamp set - used baubles in lieu of brads and eliminated the extras on the scalloped oval (sentiment).

Phew - it was super easy to use this Fairy Tales set from H&M stamps (Hey Heather, this set is ADORABLE!). We were making cards for the troops tonight and I made this one! I thought it would make a nice card for a soldier to send home to his daughter.

Background is bravo burgundy, rose red and regal rose with a little aqua mist (papertrey ink) thrown in!

I used nestabilities for the main image and sentiment - regal, rose and burgundy cardstock (along with white)....dimensionals on the main image, sakura stardust on the wand and the main image scallops. Simple, easy card!


stamps: H&M Fairy Tales
paper: white, regal rose, rose red, bravo burgundy
ink: regal rose, rose red, bravo burgundy, aqua mist (PTI)
misc: nesties, sakura, dimensionals, baubles

Much Appreciated

My neighbor dropped off a coat for my daughter Karen. My neighbor is a petite little thing - skinny, beautiful (HATE HER)...just kidding! I really love her...she has the biggest heart! I treasure our friendship!

Karen looks so sophisticated in this coat. It is a beautiful caramel italian wool....so we immediately decided to send a thank you note.

I created this (5x5) white base. I added some DCWV designer paper. It is from a pack I picked up at Joanne's a long time ago. I used a zig zag stitch around the edge. I punched the white layer with my marvy punch and the ruby layer with my nestability oval. The ribbons were scraps from my desk. I stamped on the brocade wide grossgrain ribbon with the dark chocolate papertrey ink. I sewed both scraps of ribbon directly on the card. The main image and sentiment are from Garden Of Life. Alli has a knack for making some SUPER flowers! Main image mounted on dimensionals. I have a small green rhinestone in the center of the flower. Fun! What do you think?

stamps: Garden of life (papertrey ink)
paper: white, ruby red, dcwv paper pack
ink: chocolate (papertrey ink)
misc: ribbon (SU!, mayarts), dimensionals, nestabilities, punch (marvy), rhinestone, sewing

CC201: Kraft, Baja, Not Quite Navy

This is my color challenge 201 card! Don't you {heart} these colors? I made the card for my BFF Debbie and her DH Chris (Todd's BFF). It was a cold and sunny day back on January 13th, 2001. Debbie was yawning uncontrollably (it's a nervous thing)...

It was one of the most beautiful weddings and I was honored to be the NUMBER 2 lady in the service (yeah, Debbie was Number 1)....Todd was the best man, I was Matron of Honor and baby Karen was flower girl (she was only 3). Victoria was just over a year old. Good times! Good times! So Todd and I are going out to dinner with the happy couple! I thought I would make a card for the occasion!

This was a SUPER-DEE-DUPER easy card! Kraft base, punch the edges with the corner rounder. Then a strip of not quite navy. I punched it with the Martha edge punch. Then I added a strip of white cardstock. I put a mayarts ribbon (white polkadot) around the card. The main image is from Papertrey Ink (Wedding Day). I punched the scalloped circle with my nestabilities, then stamped the circle image with Baja breeze (it is Baja cardstock). I stamped the same image again on the white circle and punched it out with the nestability circle. Then I punched an even SMALLER circle, stamped the flourish from the Wedding Day set in baja. I added that final image with dimensionals to the two previous layers. I used some stickles on the flourish. The sentiment was perfect....Happily Ever After - in Not quite Navy ink. I love this font! Simple card. I love the simple clean look! What do you think?


stamps: Papertrey Ink {Wedding Day}
paper: kraft, baja breeze, whisper white, not quite navy
ink: baja breeze, not quite navy
misc: martha stewart edge punch, corner rounder (SU!), ribbon (mayarts), stickles, nestabilities, dimensionals