Enjoy The Ride

Well, I dug into my Everyday Button Bits stamps by Papertrey again to create this card for the Use It challenge and I followed sketch 126 at CPS.



The challenge at Use It is to use a stamp, one embellishment or diecut and an unusual item. Actually, the unusual item had me stumped until tonight when I was at Curves and thinking about it. I remembered I had a piece of patterned overlay from which I decided to create the card base. I then used another piece of the overlay on the card front. Another unusual thing about this card are its colours I don't often use yellow let alone combine it with royal blue but I took my cue from the bit of patterned paper I layered on. My embellishment is the buttons to create the bike wheels.

And you know what, I like the finished product but how could I not with such a cute stamp and sentiment!

My Latest Addiction Is

......Papertrey stamps! For a chance to win some stamps, check out A Passion for Papertrey here!

House Mouse Cards

Finally! The last two house mouse cards from my class last weekend.





I'm still lovin' these stamps!

Sweet Treats

This week the Be Inspired challenge(no.41) at CBC is to create altered projects using items from your recycle bin as well as the textile folder.

I happened to have a few containers I had been keeping with the intention of altering and this challenge gave me the incentive to actually do it!

So first up is this container that originally contained chocolates.

I decorated it with scraps of Basic Grey paper and chipboard as well as felt letters by Thickers. I embossed using the swirl folder(don't have the textile folder) and added a bit of bling I found at the dollar store. I filled it with salt water taffy, yum!


Next is a Prima flower container I decorated also using Basic Grey scraps and chipboard as well as felt letters and more bling.

I used the swiss dot folder on this one. Then I filled it with strawberry creme jelly beans!


The question now is, who will I give these sweet treats too?

You're So Sweet

I created my very first card using Papertrey stamps today and I love them.



This card features their newly released Everyday Button Bits stamps, you stamp and then finish off with a button! So fun!

I decided to use the stem and leaves to create button apples(buttons from my stash) then used a sentiment from the same stamp set. Inks used were CTMH chocolate and topiary. And as this month's Papertrey Bloghop challenge was to incorporate not only a Papertrey product but also text, I used the script embossing folder along with paper by October Afternoon to create the background.




Ovals were created with Quickutz and Spellbinders with all edges inked in Ranger Tea Dye. I finished it up with ribbon from Inque Boutique and some Papertrey twine. I also popped up the oval on pop dots for a bit of a 3D effect.

And I'm dedicating this card to Regan and Dee who included me in their monthly Papertrey order, thank you so much ladies, you are so sweet!

Show and Tell Friday

This week I thought I'd show a handpainted plate that my sister gave me for Christmas in 2001.



It was painted especially for me by Doris M. Kirac and has a permanent spot in our kitchen!

More In A Pinch Cards

Finally! We got our computer back in working order. Despite having virus protection,it got a virus anyway and as a result the computer would not boot up. We now have a different virus protection in the hope that this won't happen again. And I bought a large external memory drive to back up our files and photos to, will do that later tonight!

Anyway thought I'd show the cards I made from In A Pinch Designs that feature Bo Bunny products.



Aren't they nice?



And as usual they feature some nice finishing touches with ribbon and twine!



Its a nice break to make something where you don't have to think but simply put it together!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

I'm still creating cards using up my existing supplies.



This card, based on CPS Sketch 125 uses scraps of cardstock, three different embossing folders, leftover Basic Grey chipboard and a large flower folded in thirds.

I also used my sewing machine to create a bit of interest and sanded the base coredinations cardstock after embossing. I added a bit of ink to the cardstock edges too.

House Mouse Christmas Cards

I've started delving more into the world of stamping and yesterday completed a class at one of our LSS. It was to create 6 cards using House Mouse stamps. I've completed four and love them.



The mice are coloured in using Copic markers in E00,E02,E33 and YR00. Then you can colour the rest of the stamp in any colour you wish.



The red and green we used were R29 and YG03.



Aren't they cute?!



And look at this wreath. It was created using the Martha branch punch and layering 24 branches in two colours on a 1/4 inch circle. Here's a closer look at it.



I'll share my final two cards as soon as they are done!I think I'm addicted! But there are worse things to be addicted to right?

Just A Note - Use It Challenge 19

I'm back on another coolish day with another altered notebook.




I followed Use it Challenge 19 to create this one:

1/ Use old monochromatic papers - I couldn't find monochromatic papers but did find this old Close To My Heart Paper.
2/ Add a TAG or a LABEL to your card - I created my own tag from coordinating cardstock that I then embellished with stamps, ribbon and my new markers. I'm loving the markers for their shading capabilities.
3/Use at least one of your favorite STAMPS. - I love my 'birdies' stamps!
4 Add a LAYERED FLOWER - I used a few of my older Prima flowers embellished with bling!


And this book passed the 'Brianne' test since she wants it!

A First Magnolia Card

Good morning everyone! Its cool out there this morning, not like July at all! So before I get to housework thought I'd share my latest card.


I created it based on CBC Be Inspired 40 that features one of my first attempts at colouring a Magnolia stamp.



Be Inspired this week was to create a card based on their sketch with the bonus item , the textile folder.I don't have that folder but used the paisley folder instead along with some Basic Grey scraps to create a base for my stamped image.

I think this image is meant to be cut out and perched on a swing or ribbon but I kept it more simple this time. Overall I'm pretty happy with it, need more practice to improve the shading.

Have a great day!

Pink Lemonade Ice Cream Squares

Kathryn gave me this recipe she found in Chatelaine Magazine a week before our family reunion. She had recently made it and people loved it. When I read it I thought it would be a great compliment to the desserts other people were bringing so I whipped it up. And when I say whip, I mean it! Kathryn suggested combining the ice cream and the lemonade in the kitchen aid and it worked beautifully.

This serves a fairly large crowd and is light and refreshing. Everyone who had it at the reunion loved it!

Pink Lemonade Ice Cream Squares

355-mL can frozen pink-lemonade concentrate
2-L container vanilla ice cream, preferably natural
11/2 cups (375 mL) graham-cracker crumbs or vanilla- or chocolate-wafer crumbs
1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar (optional)
2/3 cup (150 mL) unsalted butter, melted
1 lemon (optional)
6-oz (170-g) container fresh raspberries, about 11/3 cups (325 mL) (optional)

1.Thaw lemonade. Line a 9 x 13 in. (2-L) rectangular baking dish with parchment or waxed paper, letting the edges hang over the sides of the dish. Scoop ice cream into a large bowl. Let stand until softened slightly, 10 to 20 min. Meanwhile, stir crumbs with sugar in a medium bowl. Using a fork, stir in butter until evenly mixed. Turn into prepared baking dish and pat evenly over the bottom. Place in freezer while preparing the filling.
2.When ice cream is soft enough, add lemonade concentrate. Using a wooden spoon, mash and stir just until blended. If you want it tangier, taste and stir in 2 tbsp (30 mL) juice from lemon. Remove base from freezer and spoon ice-cream mixture overtop. Smooth as best you can. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Freeze until firm, at least overnight. If leaving longer, overwrap with foil. Will keep well in freezer for at least 2 weeks. When ready to serve, remove from freezer. Let stand for 10 min. Then grab the sides of the paper and lift the dessert to a cutting board. Slice into squares. Top with berries.

Enjoy!

Family Reunion

Well I would have had this post up sooner but for some reason I can only load one photo at a time?

This past Saturday we hosted a family reunion at our house. It almost had to be inside as morning thunderstorms rolled through but luckily, the rain and clouds cleared up and we spent a great afternoon/evening outside in the sunshine.

The kids decided to play a bit of football in the green space behind our house.

But first you have to plan the strategy!

Then execute that strategy!

While they were doing that, some of us lounged on the patio. Here's Amanda, Carolyn, my Mom and Brittany.



Then my Grandma, Chris, Steve and Brianne.

Its me with Blake and Russell in the background.



And what would a reunion be without awesome food!

Look at all the yumminess

We had some great desserts too but I didn't get pics of them. I will share a dessert I made in a later post though.

Thanks to everyone who came, it was a fun afternoon and so wonderful to see you all!

Paper Bliss Blog Candy

I don't often do this but Michelle at Paper Bliss is offering such an awesome Cuttlebug Blog Candy you just have to check it out! Click here to check it out.

Chatterbox Cards

I decided to continue on my roll of using up my Chatterbox paper and created two cards based on the sketches at Card Patterns.

This first one is based on Kris Swain's bonus sketch. The inside says 'miss you'.



The second is based on Eva Dobila's sketch.



Loved both of these sketches, great sketches to create from!