Our scrapbooking retreats wouldn't be complete without Grisel's Wild Buffalo Dip.  At about 1:00 in the morning when dinner is a faded memory, we bring out the dip.  Don't deny it girls.  You know who you are!  To make this wonderful appetizer, you'll need the following ingredients:

Grisel's Wild Buffalo Dip

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken

Frank's Red Hot Sauce (to taste)

1 8 oz. bottle of Bleu Cheese Dressing

1 8 oz block softened cream cheese

grated sharp cheddar cheese

Mix the cream cheese and salad dressing until well blended.  Add chopped chicken and stir. Place this mixture in a small baking dish.  My dish was about 7x7 inches.  Pour on the hot sauce.  I added a generous amount so that I pretty much saw a sea of red with very little of the white mixture peeking through.  Top this with grated cheese.  Bake in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts.  Serve with tortilla chips, triscuits, or cut up celery.  Prepare to be amazed! 



Making cards for my mom is always fun, because she's my biggest stamping fan.  She saves all the cards I give her in a special box.  I really like the following card, and it's too bad I can't give it to her.  She reads my blog.  (Hi Mom!)  Good thing I have some other surprises up my sleeve for her for Mother's Day.

Materials Used:
Cardstock:  Whisper White 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 for card, 4 x 1/2, Old Olive 5 1/2 x 3, 4 1/4 x 1 7/8, Not Quite Navy 4 1/4 x 3, scraps
Designer Series Paper:  Paisley Petals (This new paper is gorgeous!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Stamps:  Fabulous  Phrases and Broadsheet Alphabet
Embellishments:  white button, Old Olive ribbon, twine, brads
Tools:  small and medium oval punches, bold blossom punch

(cased from SU demonstrator Mary Fish)

I love it when the nice guy in the big brown truck leaves presents on my doorstep...especially from Stampin Up.  It's always fun to play with new stamping stuff, and I've been doing just that.  Here's a Mother's Day card that I cased (copy and share everything) from the talented SU demonstrator Mary Fish.

Here are the things you'll need to make this card...

Materials Used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White to make a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch card, 4x3, 2 3/4 x 3/4, Pear Pizzazz 5 1/4 x

3 1/2, Rose Red 5 1/2 x 1, 3x1, scraps of Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Concord Crush, and Rose Red

Designer Series Paper:  Concord Crush

Stamps:  Something to Celebrate

Ink:  Concord Crush

Embellishments:  Pear Pizzazz ribbon in lengths of 6 1/2 and 5 inches, brads

Tools:  Fun Flowers Sizzix Die, Big Shot, Scallop Edge Border Punch

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!

We Hobbies love Mexican food and try to slip it into the weekly menu at least once.  I've been making a casserole that is one of our favorites for a long time.  I received the recipe from my dorm mom, Sheila, at college at least twenty four years ago.  Ouch that hurt to write!  Considering that my keys are lost half the time, I can't believe that I've kept up with the recipe that long, but I'm glad I did! It's been wonderful to get reacquainted with Sheila recently through Facebook.  Not a sweeter lady exists! 

 Ms. Sheila

Here's what you'll need to make Sheila's Mexican Casserole:

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 can diced Rotel tomatoes

1 pd. hamburger meat

1 medium onion

1 bag crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos

Brown hamburger and onion.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Drain.

In a separate bowl, mix soups and tomatoes. 

Add the soup mixture and meat together.  Heat through.

In a casserole dish, put a layer of crushed Doritos on the bottom.  Top with half the meat mixture and then cheese.  Repeat making another layer of crushed Doritos, meat, and cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 

Team this casserole up with a green salad, and your tastebuds will do a happy dance! 



My son has had the most awesome teachers!  I can't believe it's almost May and time to think of end of the year gifts.  This project shows one of the things he'll be giving his teacher in a few short weeks. 

I started out with a simple composition notebook. 

It was altered with some scrapbook paper, ribbon, and diecuts. I simply used strong adhesive runner to attach the paper to the front and back of the notebook. 

It needed a matching card. 



I hope she'll like it!  

Materials Used:

Paper:  Real Red Cardstock (SU), Grade School Paper Stack with Glitter (Hobby Lobby) I love this paper pack! 

Accessories:  Red Striped Ribbon-retired (SU)

Ink:  Real Red (SU)

Stamps:  Word Play (SU)

Tools:  Makin the Grade Cricut Cartridge for apples, Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge for the envelope, Cricut, Decorative Label Punch (SU)



Is this not the cutest little card?  It's perfect for writing a small quick note.  The sentiment can be changed to fit any need. 

I folded a piece of patterned paper and layed it on the oval scallop die just short of the bottom blade so that the fold would stay intact, and I wouldn't end up with two oval pieces of paper.  I then added the handles.  They were made from the same die cut.  To finish the project, I added the embellishments and sentiment.  Easy!

Materials Used:
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip and White
Designer Series Paper:  Old Olive
Stamp:  Short and Sweet
Ink Pad:  Old Olive
Accessories:  Old Olive Ribbon, Stitched Felt Sweet Pea Flowers-these are retired, but you could use lots of other things...paper flowers, large brad, punches, decorative buttons
Tools:  Oval Scallop Frame for the Sizzix
All products used were from from Stampin Up.

(I got the idea for this project from wonderful Stampin Up demonstrator Becky Roberts.)

Since Mother's Day is coming up in three weeks, I've been busy making things for that special occassion.  I'll be sure to share those with you in the weeks to come.  Here is a two page layout that we made in my last scrapbooking class.  My mama's picture is going to look beautiful on it! 

My photography skills need some fine tuning, so thank you for being patient while I'm learning.  This photo doesn't show off the bright beautiful colors in this layout as vividly as they appear in person. 

Materials Used:
Paper:  Dark Teal, Light Teal, Red, and White Cardstock (all from Hobby Lobby)  The printed paper was also purchased from HL.  Isn't it beautiful? 
Stamps:  All Year Cheer (retired) and Notes and Details (both from SU)
Accessories:  White Ribbon (SU)
Tools:  Scallop Circle #2 Sizzix for the Big Shot, Doodletype Font in the Cricut

Because I am an elementary librarian, I spend much of my time reading children's books.  When I do read an adult book, I often turn to author Jodi Picoult.  She researches her topics thoroughly and her titles are always unpredictable.  I like it that there is usually a surprise I didn't see coming at the end. 

Although one of her older books, Plain Truth is one of my favorites that she's written.  The Amish always intrigued me as a child so learning a little more about their lifestyle in this book was very interesting to me.  This book was entertaining, informative, and helped me learn a little more about myself. 

The discovery of a dead infant in an Amish barn shakes Lancaster County to its core. But the police investigation leads to a more shocking disclosure: circumstantial evidence suggests that eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher, an unmarried Amish woman believed to be the newborn's mother, took the child's life. When Ellie Hathaway, a disillusioned big-city attorney, comes to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to defend Katie, two cultures collide -- and for the first time in her high-profile career, Ellie faces a system of justice very different from her own. Delving deep inside the world of those who live "plain," Ellie must find a way to reach Katie on her terms. And as she unravels a tangled murder case, Ellie also looks deep within -- to confront her own fears and desires when a man from her past reenters her life.
(review used from http://www.goodreads.com/)

Are you looking for a fun and easy Easter project to make with the kids?  This adorable bunny just might do the trick. 

Start out with a piece of white cardstock that measures 3 2/8 x 9 1/2.  It is scored at 4 and 5 1/2.  Fold it to make the body of the bunny.  You will also need another piece of white cardstock cut out in the shape of a scallop.  I used a large Sizzix die cut for it.  I scored it so that there were 12 scallops that will go on the front of the rabbit.  The remaining scallops will go on its back. 

Put red sticky tape on one side of the scallop as shown and place it on the body of the rabbit. 

Use two different sized ovals to make the ears and feet of the rabbit.  Add them to her body. 

Now it's time to add the different features of her face.  I used two different sized circle punches for those.  Draw on the whiskers.

Add an Easter greeting to the belly of the rabbit.  I used a larger oval punch than was used for her feet and ears.  Now affix three small flowers popping the center one up with a pop dot.  Don't forget to add her bow.

Open the rabbit and affix candy.  I used red sticky strip tape again.  Add a velcro dot to keep her closed. 

The last thing your bunny needs is a cottontail! 

Materials Used:

Paper:  white, pink, black, and green cardstock, colorful polka dot paper, 

Accessories:  ribbon, white pom poms

Tools:  punches (oval and round), small flower punch, large scallop circle 

We will be making these rabbits at my stamping club this Thursday.  Thanks for stopping in!

Do you need an idea for a cute baby shower card?  These were very easy to make.  Follow along if you'd like to learn how. 

Start out with a 5x5 inch piece of white cardstock.

Place circle punches strategically where you'd like them to go. 

Using the Bigz Sizzix Scalloped Large Square, run your paper through the Big Shot.  If you don't have one of these, you NEED one! 

Now run your artwork through the Big Shot again using the embossing folder. 

Adhere your embossed piece to a brown piece of cardstock that measures 5x10 inches or 5x5 when folded to make a card. 

Stamp your sentiment on a small piece of white cardstock.  Mine measured 1 1/4x1 1/4 inches.  Mat your sentiment to a colorful piece of cardstock that has been run through the Sizzix using the Scallop Duo Square die cut. 

Adhere your sentiment to the card using 3 dimensionals or pop dots.  Add the bow using glue dots. 

Materials Used:

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue

Stamps:  Best Yet (retired)

Accessories:  Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Bashful Blue Stripe (retired)

Tools:  Punches-1 3/4, 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1, 3/4 Punches Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Bigz Scallop Square Duo Sizzix, Bigz Clear Large Scallop Square

All materials used were Stampin Up.

(I got the idea for this card from SU demonstrator Sheila Batty.) 

Before making my first recipe post, I have to tell you that I am no Julia Child!  I like recipes that are quick, easy, and taste good.  If a recipe has many more than five ingredients in it, I'm probably not going to attempt it.  I found the following recipe on one of my favorite cooking blogs called Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour.  It seemed to be a hit last night with my friends at our spring scrapbooking class. 

Symphony Brownies

Ingredients:
Brownie Mix (I used Pillsbury)
3 Symphony Candy Bars

Prepare brownie mix according to directions on the package.  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Pour half of the brownie mix into the bottom of the pan.  Remove the Symphony bars from the package and place on top of the mix.  Spread the remaining brownie mix on top of the candy bars.  Bake according to the brownie directions.  Let cool, cut, and enjoy!

There are many beautiful examples of scrapbook layouts on the internet! I've seen some real masterpieces.  One of the reasons that I started this blog, though, is to show that scrapbooking doesn't have to be intimidating.  My scrapbook layouts aren't anything fancy, but I hope that they show that pages can be made fairly quickly, be attractive with good clean lines, and serve the purpose of letting your pictures and story be the focal point of each page.

Here is a layout that I am anxious to put our Easter pictures on.



Materials Used:

Solid Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Old Olive (Stampin Up), Medium Blue (Hobby Lobby)

Print Paper:  Plaid (Hobby Lobby)

Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie Ribbon (Stampin Up)

Tools:  The Cricut was used for the Bunny Border (Doodle Charms Cartridge) and Letters (Doodle Type  Cartridge)