Lil Pumpkin

Good Morning! Today's share has it all except of course, the kitchen sink! It has stitching, scallops, circles, rectangles, dry embossing, stamping, designer paper, distressing, buttons, and ribbon. Need I tell you it was not a quick card! I think this is the first card I made in awhile that did take more then a few minutes. This card even caused me to clean up a bit, notice I said a bit! I lost the pumpkin I had embossed for the center of the circle and rather then just make another I start putting things away in a futile attempt to find it. I still could not find it so I ended up making another. I just adore this pumpkin paper that came in a Halloween scrap pad that I purchased years ago. Stamp is from Hero Arts.

I seem to be drawn to fall colors lately I think it is because we are already seeing colors on the trees change. Fall is in the air we even had a 40 degree morning a few nights ago, can you say BRRRRR. It definitely is way too early!

I hope you enjoy my bright and cherry pumpkin card today and thanks for stopping by.

Chocolate Delight

Fair warning to dieters... You might want to skip this post! This Chocolate Chocolate Triffle is heaven in a bowl. It is made very similar to the "Red, White & Blue" triffle I previously posted but I wanted to change things up and came up with this recipe. This one is good for when the prices of fresh fruit are sky high or when you just need a double CHOCOLATE fix!

Recipe

1 large box chocolate instant pudding
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 14oz. Carnation Condensed Milk
1 10 oz container heavy whipping cream
1 Pint container heavy whipping cream
1 13X9 Family Size Brownie Mix (Don't burn them... that's another story!)
1 small dark chocolate candy bar- Shred or curl for topping
sugar to taste about 6 Tablespoons

Directions
Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, cool completely. Cut into 1" squares.

In a large bown combine pudding mix, milk, water and condensed milk. Mix Until smooth.

Whip smaller container of whipping cream until stiff adding about 2 T of sugar. Fold into pudding mix until no streaks remain.

Whip remaining whipping cream adding about 4 Tablespoons of sugar, just to taste sweetness until stiff.

In a glass bowl or triffle bowl place 1/2 the brownies, 1/2 the pudding mixture, 1/2 the whipped cream. Repeat layers. Top with shaved or curled chocolate candy bar.
Refrigrate leftovers, like there will be any!

Servings 12 Calories about a Zillon!


Enjoy your Sunday I am taking my dessert to a picnic in an isolated bag of course!

Have a SWEET day!

Happy Holidays

Hello and Happy Saturday. I still have not tackled cleaning my stamp room. It seems like every time I walk into it I pick up something else and start playing. I hate it because it is really over due for a massive cleanup. Anyone have any free time this weekend and feel energetic?

For this card I used a color combo that normally I would not think would work but it is perfect together. I went with Lasting Impressions "cashew dots" and "avacado bold stripes". I first created the tree using LI software then embossed and mounted it to a scalloped rectangle "Nestie", then added a matching button. I wanted to make it an all Lasting Impression card so I went with a gold brass sentimetal to complete it. I really am not happy with the sentimetal they seem to rust easily and turn colors. Does anyone else that uses them have any tips or problems with them?


Time to go shopping for dinner and party makings for tomorrow. Enjoy your evening and thanks for popping in!

Hi!

Just wanted to say hi and I couldn't think of a better way then with this bright and cheery card. If you are going away for the long weekend I wish you safe travels.

For this card YES, another dry embossed card!:) I used Lasting Impressions cone flower (L953). The paper is also from Lasting Impression seaside checks and black polka dot. I dotted the flower centers with a white marker. Other supplies include Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder, 1/4" black rick rack and a couple of tiny black buttons that I really didn't care for so I added some black 3D glossy paint to center. I almost forgot the stamp is from Penny Black and I stamped it using white Colorbox ink then embossed using seafoam ep.

These colors work so good together, don't you think?

I also wanted to alert everyone that Blog Candy is coming up real soon.

Thanks so much for stopping in and have a great day!

Multi Purpose Challenge Card

Hello! Tonight's share is two-fold well maybe actually three-fold. The third being I got to use one of my favorite sets. Unity has a challenge posted this week to pick a card from a Design Team member and case it. I chose to case Maren. For my card I used S.E.I "Black Orchid" paper and since this card has a nice fat bow on it I'm entering it into Allison's Suggestive Sundaychallenge.

To create I did not have any matching dew drops for the card so I cut tiny circles from matching stock and placed it underneath a clear dew drop. After allowing it to dry I mounted both on to a button that I colored to match using Copic marker.

Thanks for stopping by. One more day to go this week, can you say HAPPY!

Dry Embossed Holloween

I have to share a DUMB guy story with you all but first let me share another card quite similar to yesterday's (same layout) only all dry embossed. I used the same color scheme and papers but pulled my brass out for this one. Which do you like better? I also cut the wording for this one out using a new Halloween Cuttlebug folder.

Now on to this story you will love. First a little background I do not own a cell phone.... I see jaws dropping, how could anyone live without one? ME:) I love my quiet time as I commute back and forth to work. That is when I dream up all my creative ideas. I run a local readymix company and today the weather was rainy so I sent home all the guys with the exception of 2 drivers and the mechanic. The mechanic has been with the company awhile. I recently hired a new driver (2 weeks ago) who was not one of the guys working today. His name is Marlon!

Now on to my story for today. I received a phone call that the boss needed me to pick him up from dialysis and take him home so having to leave unexpectedly I told the mechanic to answer the phones and take messages. I was gone a little longer then expected. The boss decided he was hungry and took me to lunch. When I returned I was greeted with "Oh thank heavens your back" Puzzled I asked "WHY". A driver had returned and was paid in cash. They could not figure out what to do with the money so my ace mechanic says "I called Marlon". I said to him "Why the HELL would you call someone that has been with company less then 2 weeks" OK You will love his response Are you ready......
"He was the only one that would answer the phone".!!!! So then trying not to laugh to hard at them I asked where they found his number? In the phone book just below where bosses cell phone was!! Is that not FUNNY!

OK, I am off to nurse this headache I have had all week (wonder why) see above:)

Thanks for stopping by.

Trick or Treat Unity Style!

Good Eevening I made this card before finding out Unity has this adorable set up for blog candy. If you want a chance at winning your own "Little Monster" set hop on over to Brooke's blog quick! To create this quick card I used two Unity sets "Little Monsters" (witches hat)and "Flirty Flowers" (decorative circles).

Other supplies in case you didn't guess already include Lasting Impressions cs including pumpkin, grape,sunflower yellow and LI buttons. The moon was cut out using a circle die from Spellbinders.

Have a great evening I am going to try and get a very similar one that is dry embossed made now.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Scrappy Happy Hello

Welcome to my Monday! I was all gong ho to tackle and conquer my overflowing messy stamp room but instead went straight to bed with another migraine. I found out a fellow employee who only recently became ill died of lung cancer Saturday morning. So, I decided to turn a crappy day into a scrappy day! I don't do scrappy well but waking up feeling better decided to venture in and see what I could get accomplished when I came across these Heidi Grace chipboard embellishments. I also had a new set of Unity stamps "Flirty Flowers" that I had to put away. There is always tomorrow to clean :)

Other supplies include
Colorbox old rose, olive and country brown ink
LI lined paper and avocado button
Fiskar scallop punch
Here is what I came up with enjoy and have a great Tuesday. Thanks for popping in!

Cased Birthday Card

Hubby's Birthday was yesterday and while checking out blogs I came across Dawn's awesome Frankie Tutorial. If you have not seen it you must check it out! I instantly thought this is perfect card to give him for a couple of reasons. A.) It was super quick to make B.) I didn't make him one yet because I was stumped and the big C.) He is in need of some major dental work and his gift was a dental certificate to get it done. Perfect Right? Inside I used the purple paper to make a pocket and the slotted SU punch then slipped in the GC.

Mine is slighty different then hers instead of cutting the hair I used some decorative scissors I have that worked well and made it even quicker to create. This card takes less then 10 minutes to make, how nice is that?!

I have to thank Dawn I got off super easy on this one!

The wording is rub - ons and the paper is by Lasting Impressions.

I am off to finish off my fresh Blueberry pie that is in the oven. Yummers.

Birthday Card for Mom

I started my day with every intention of cleaning up stamping room since things are everywhere. It is way over due for a massive clean up. I started winding up this roll for ribbon that I have had forever and decided it needed to be used right now! I hate that!

Mom's birthday is coming up and I did need to make her a card anyhow. I also just got an order of Unity stamps that were calling me so I created this very special card for her. This stamp is geared more to the scrapbooker then the stamper and challenged me to make it work for a card instead. I decide to make it legal size measuring 9 1/4 " x 4".

Stamp set used from Unity UK-167* Greatest Of Friends. Paper was Lime Green (LI). Bazzil Turquoise. These are not colors I normally would put together but they perfectly matched the ribbon from Michael's. I used Colorbox "frosted White" then went over it with seafoam embossing powder. I cut out a tiny picture of mom for center of flower using a 3/4" circle punch. Other items include Prima flowers, brads, Fiskar scallop punch.

Now I really really need to gear myself up to clean the room, anyone want to come and help?

Thanks for stopping by, have a super evening!

My Cuttlebug Folder Storage

Evening! I know I am only a day late. My step son's birthday was today and I only have one more to go this week. My hubby's is tomorrow and my diet starts on Sunday from eating all the Birthday cake!

I thought I would share how I store my Cuttlebug folders since I now have 34 and a few more on the way. This is nothing super fancy but works pretty darn well. You could easily fit 50 in here and still be able to flip through them. The rack is definitely homemade and if I am not mistaken it was made by Kathy in her woodworking class at school. It is funny that all girls and boys were required to take a semester of Home Economics and Woodworking. Kathy passed woodworking with flying colors and almost failed Home Economics! You would never know it though today being the cooking diva she turned out to be.

It measures 11" L and 4" D and has plenty of room for two rolls of the standard folders. The newer border folders fit perfectly in the center and you can easily flip through to find the folder you want to use. Before I found this abandoned rack and put it to use I stored them loosely in a wire basket. To keep track of which ones I have. I cut the tops off the packaging, tossed the rest punched a hole in the corner using a standard paper punch and put them on a chain. You could easily substitute a jump ring.

How does everyone else store their folders? I am sure others would love to hear, post away!

Thanks for stopping by- Enjoy your evening!

I Love Your Blog Award

Today I had a pleasant surprise when I got on my blog. I found out I was awarded a Blog Award from Sue at Sue's Stamping Stuff. You made my week Sue I am so glad you enjoy my blog. Thank you Sue for Brightening my day!!!

RULES:
I have to pick 7 of my favorite blogs and…
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.
So here I go:
#1 Oh My Cuppy Cake I love Jennifer's blog check out her adorable cards . She is so talented.

#2 Kathy's Pretty in Ink Blog I always enjoy browsing Kathy's blog. Her use of color amazes me. My very talented daughter who has some pretty must see tutorials!

#3 Just Julie Her designs are an inspiration to any card designer. He cards have awed me for many years, even before blogging. A super person and great friend.

#4 Crazy about Mini Albums Peata is a master at mini albums. Lots to be learned from her blog and always tons of contest.

# 5 Lori's Stamping Spot
A very talented lady with some great tutorials.

#6 Wishing I was Stamping
You will love Kelly's blog not only is she very sweet and talented but check out all the awesome photos from her families alpaca farm.

and # 7 is: Heidi's Blog When I first started doing dry embossing which was not long ago, Heidi's designs most inspired me to continue. She is a master at it!

Pumpkin Patch

Good Evening. I seem to be in the Halloween mode this week. For this card I created the patterned paper using LI software and L9325 brass template. After embossing all of it, I layered it on to some linen black cardstock. I then layered it on to some LI "old lace" cs. I added an upper layer that I embossed using my "Swiss Dot" Cuttlebug folder. The circle wording was stamped on LI cs using black ink then punched out. I picked up this stamp in a dollar bin at local craft store knowing It was looking for a new home I snatched it up:) I inserted a dry embossed pumpkin into the center. I completed it by adding a strip of LI striped cs, tad of ribbon and buttons. Card measures 5.25 sq.

Anyone else make any Halloween cards yet? Leave me a link I would love to see.

Enjoy your Thursday and thanks for stopping by. Tommorrow I will share how I store my Cuttlebug folders since I have quite a large collection.

Best Witches

Good Evening or Morning depending on when you are viewing this. I still have not made the Birthday cards I need but I sure am having fun playing with some Halloween templates.

Before you have to look at this somewhat ordinary card. I have a super pretty one to share tomorrow only because I started it and then took some drugs for my neck and didn't want to screw it up so decided to wait.

This one I am sharing tonight I did a couple of different things with. I created it with the LI software and did a double on the hat to layer it for depth. I also used the "large dots " LI template to add dots to the hat before printing it out and then embossed them. Once I embossed the entire image I then colored wording, dots and spider with glitter markers for an added sparkle. To finish it off I did edging using a fine black tip marker and added 3D black paint to the dots.

All products used on this card are Lasting Impressions.

I hope you enjoy, thanks for stopping by.

Little Monster Take 2

Just a quick share on a card I whipped up this evening. The lime green paper is new from Lasting Impressions and I love the softness but brightness of it. I paired it up with some ballet blue cs from SU.
Supplies include... LI template, buttons and thread,Unity stamp "Little Monster", Cuttlebug "Argyle" folder, Rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities and striped limeade ribbon from Catan's.

The completed card is 4" square.

Altered Giant Clothespin & Calendar Coaster

Let's just start by saying I must be the biggest procrastinator yet! I have a long list of to make cards for family members so what do I pull out? You guessed it, some other goodies that I have been dying to play with! A good friend of mine sent me a giant clothespin and Kathy acquired the snowman template at a recent Lasting Impressions sale that I have been wondering what to do with. I thought it was ugly and at first told her I didn't want it. Boy am I glad I took it now,it fits perfectly onto the giant clothespin. Both gals made me do it, that's my excuse for today's project and share. This would make a wonderful desk accessory. I made it two sided so that you could display the monthly calendar on one side and important days to remember on the other along with a little pocket for notes or gift ideas.

Once I received this clothespin I went searching for ideas and found this terrific tutorial at Craft Critique

These would be a great gift make a matching set for each month. What do you think?


Supplies include: Lasting Impressions brass stencils, button, thread, software and paper, Giant clothespin, acrylic paint (for sides and top), 4x4 coaster (med wt.), calendar, Cuttlebug "snow" folder and ribbon.

Brother's Birthday Card

Finally, the weekend is here. You would not believe my week. It started off with my car not being done on Monday like promised. The dealer called me at 4:00 to tell me the truck bringing the parts did not arrive in time for them to put them in and I would have to drive this RED loaner another day. When I went to leave work the Airbag light came on and would not go off...HUM just like mine the one that was in the shop! I drove from work to the dealership to tell them I needed another loaner! Too funny! They decided NOT to give me another as I was a jinx. I told them NO they were warned not to put me in a red car! They did have my car ready to go on Tuesday and told me to just pull the one I was driving into the garage so they could write it up. This was no minor repair the whole steering column had to be removed> I suspect they will have a recall on this model very shortly as my car only had 14,000 miles and the loaner 21,000 miles both are 2007 models.

I am still running the entire show at work since boss is not expected to return this season. Anyone, that has ever tried managing an all guy shop knows my pain. The size of the shop is slowly dwindling. Two workers were hospitalized one with cancer and the other with similar symptoms to the boss:(. With all this happening my mojo for blogging and creating is down.

My family sucks! Most every member of importance has a birthday in August or September (Kathy included) shhh her birthday is September 18. Of course, they all expect a homemade card. My baby brothers birthday was this past week luckily his party is not until this evening so my card is timely:)

With my mojo down I was stumped on a card until I remember the old rule "just pick out some manly colors" and the rest goes together! You can never go wrong selecting blues, browns and tans for male cards.

For this card I used one of my favorite SU guy sets which is now retired "Words by Wilson". I used my new Argyle embossing folder on tan cs and paired it up with some perfectly matching patterned paper from Carolees called "Preppy Argyle" . The linen sentiment is from Joann's essentials which I inked a bit to match the rest. Added a couple of metal brads to the bottom and a little ribbon to complete.

A tip: I brushed the embossed cs with some ink to give it added depth and make it stand out more. I always use my Colorbox "dune" ink for this.

I now have one less card to make, now I am off to make cards for step sons birthday, hubby's birthday, aunt's birthday, mom's birthday, Kathy's birthday and anniversary. Maybe you ought to check back with me next year!!!!!!

Enjoy your Saturday and thanks for checking in.

A December Birthday Card

Good Evening! My migraine is still kicking my butt so I am somewhat uncreative but did manage to make a couple of cards before it knocked me out. I have had this CHF by Kim Hughes set forever and finally decided to put some ink to them. My color choices make it a good card for someone celebrating in December since I choose Colorbox "warm red and warm green" chalk inks. When I first started to make it my intention was a Holiday card but thought it looked better as a birthday card:). The paper is from Plaid and is a soft white and red checkered. Other supplies used include oval Nestabilities scalloped and oval, Cuttlebug new border dots which by the way is slighly different from thier "Swiss Dots" dots much larger. Rub on is from Lasting Impressions.

Completed card is 5.25 square.

Thanks for stopping by.

Little Monster

I hope everyone had a wonderful day. Mine started with a migraine and ended with a bigger one! I had made an appointment to drop my car off for what I thought was going to be an easy fix, after all it is a 2007. New cars don't go bad. I sat around the house all day waiting for a call to pick it up instead I got a call 15 minutes before we were due to go out of town (in my car) and minutes from when they were due to close for the day. They told me to come and get a loaner! My car is going to take a few days to fix. The main steering spring mechanism went bad. I hate driving a car that I'm not familiar with and not knowing where I am going. To top it off the car they gave me was red! Anyone, that knows me knows I have a huge phobia about RED cars! Luckily my trip there was uneventful with the exception of being told when we were 1/2 way there that we could not come home the same way. Now why could I not be told this beforehand so I could have looked it up. I was one ticked driver trying to make my way home some 100 miles away in one of the worst down pours ever of course, it was in the dark on a bunch of rural roads. Can you say super migraine!


This little monster sort of looks like me right about now with his bulging cross eyes and sort of green feeling. This cute set is from Unity and is called "Little Monster" I mounted him on purple and green Lasting Impressions paper. To give his hair and nose some sparkle I used Spica markers to color and Copic markers on the monster.

Thanks for stopping by hope you enjoy this cute lil card.

Orange You Sweet

We are half way through the week and that is a wonderful thing! Today's card was made just for fun. I have had this SU set for some time and just felt like inking it. I used color Mates "Dark Graceful Geranium" for cardstock and darker orange on the card and a pale peach for the upper. I used both Color Box "rose coral" and Imprintz "cranberry" inks to stamp the oranges on to circles that I punched out using a 1 1/4" punch. I added a bit of hand stiching around edging to finish off the card. The wording was done in word using a couple different fonts. It looks yummy, doesn't it?

Completed card is 5 1/4" square.

Thanks for dropping by, have a great evening!

Joy

Hello, here is another card I dry embossed while making the flower one I posted on Sunday. I thought I would give a non-traditional holiday card a try since I still had some of the Lasting Impressions "guava" colored paper out. The tree template is from Lasting Impressions and "Joy" which is a Sizzix folder was embossed on the back of some shiny white packaging I had on the table! Waste Not, just hope the glue holds LOL

Have a great evening. Kathy really put a bug in me to get a head start on my holiday cards. Since, I make between 75-100 cards to send out, I usually only pick one or two of my favorite designs and mass produce them. What about you?

A Holiday Giggle

Good Evening I actually got out of work while there was some daylight left today. How refreshing! I just hope I can squeeze out another early day soon so I can take my somewhat new car in to be fixed. It seems the airbag light wants to go on for me. I am so afraid the sensor is going to make the sucker deploy and make mincemeat of me :) BG!

I have used the Unity "Giggle Grove" set for so many other seasons I thought I would try my hand at making a simple holiday card. I stamped it on white cs and embossed it using a rectangle die from Spellbinders. I colored the circles in leaving some spots uncolored using Copic lipstick red marker and added some Ranger glossy 3D crystal. The bird was paper pieced using some real awesome paper I had from Chatterbox called "Gingerbread Flowers" and for the green trim, bird wing and scallop circle, I used the reverse side of the paper. I know, what a waste! This paper is a couple of years old but I would love to get more of it. Love it!. I thought about adding some ribbon to the card and opted not to. Do you think it is too plain? "Merry and Bright" is from HA.

I am off to make some sympathy cards a few relatives are in real bad shape and mom just told me a friend has passed.

Enjoy your evening and thanks for stopping by.

Sorry for the long delay in post. My boss (owner of company) just got released from the hospital on Thursday. Since his absence I have had to take over and fill his shoes which means working 55 hours last week. It turns out of all things he contracted Legionnaires Disease which took out the little kidney function he had left. He is now on oxygen and doing dialysis 4 times a week. We do not expect him back for several months.

Now on to todays share ...I needed a quick birthday card and this one whipped up quick!
I created this card using mostly Lasting Impressions supplies. I used Lasting Impressions Guava Dots, stripes, plain cs, rub ons, and S415,SG300 templates. I also used Swiss dot Cuttlebug folder, Nesties, linen white cs, a fine black marker, 3d black paint and a bit of my favorite b&w ribbon.

Thanks for hanging in there with me I did get a chance to make a couple of cards today so I will be able to post a little during the week even if I am putting in 12 hour days.