Thanksgiving Turkey

In club this month, we made a 6x6 scrapbook page to fit the Thanksgiving theme.  I wanted to make a simple turkey, because most of my customers have children.  The body of the turkey was made with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge by cutting out a three inch oval.  SU's large oval punch was used for the feathers.  For the comb of the turkey's head, I used a bow from a giftbox of a Cricut cartridge.  His beak was made from a square punch cut in half to make a triange.  The waddle came from yet another punch...the wing of  the SU's bird punch. 

Of course, this scrapbook page will look much more complete showcasing a picture.  I plan to have each of my family members write something that they are thankful for on the pull out tag.  Gobble-gobble! 

Materials Used:
Paper:  Orchard Harvest DSP, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake,
More Mustard
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Raspberry Ripple
Stamps:  Pursuit of Happiness
Tools:  large oval punch, square punch, SU bird punch, scallop edge punch, decorative label punch,
Sizzix tag die,
Embellishments:  Raspberry Ripple ribbon, googly eyes,

Seven Layer Dip Cups

This recipe is familiar to all of us, but its presentation caught my eye right away.  A friend of mine brought this seven layer dip in individual servings to our last stamping club, and I'm stealing the idea to take to a ladies event tonight.  Thanks for sharing, Kim!  Here is the recipe just in case you want to use the idea, too.  Kim won't mind.  She's a sweetheart. 

Ingredients:
2 cans refried beans
1 package taco seasoning
2 cups guacamole
1 8oz. container sour cream
2 cups salsa or pico de gallo
1 cup shredded cheese
2 tomatoes
1/2 bunch sliced green onions
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
9 ounce plastic tumblers
tortilla chips

Directions:
In a small bowl, mix refried beans and taco seasoning.  Layer the ingredients in each cup in the following order:  beans/taco seasoning mix, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, shredded cheese, tomatoes, olives, and green onions.  Store in the refrigerator until serving time and serve with chips. I used Frito Scoops.  This recipe makes about 12 nine ounce cups. 

Kim obtained this recipe from this great blog:  www.sixsistersstuff.com 

Triple Time Stamping

Isn't this a beautiful card?  I used a technique to make it called triple time stamping.  Follow along if you'd like to learn how to make it.

Start with three pieces of card 

stock that measure 2 x 3 1/4, 3 x 4 1/4, and 4 x 5 1/4.  

Lightly adhere the layers together as shown.  You'll be taking them apart in a couple of steps.  

Use a large stamp.  Ink it up well, and stamp all card stock layers together.  

Your card stock should look like this.

Keeping all the layers together, stamp the other images.

Gently peel the layers apart and mat them on three different sizes of card stock.  The mat sizes shown here are 2 1/4x 3 1/2, 3 1/4x 4 1/2, and 5 1/2x 8 1/2 (folded in half to make the base of my card).  

Now you're ready to adhere the layers back together, add ribbon, and a sentiment.  Pretty easy, wasn't it?  

Materials Used:

Card Stock:  cream, old olive

Stamps:  Wonderfall, Day of Gratitude. Canvas

Ink:  crumb cake, early espresso, tangerine tango, and old olive

Tools:  oval punch

Embellishments:  ribbon

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

Halloween 6x6 Scrapbook Page

Tomorrow at club, we'll be making this 6x6 scrapbook page to hold a spooky Halloween photo.  I know the bow does not go with my son's scary picture but couldn't resist how cute it looks.  I'll be yanking it off before he can see it.  If you'd like to make a page like it, here are the materials I used. 

Paper: very vanilla, black, Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP
Stamps:  Spooky Bingo Bits. Jack of all Trades, Tricky Treats
Ink:  black, tangerine tango
Embellishments:  black and gray satin ribbon
Tools:  1 inch circle punch, 1 3/8 square punch

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. 

Where We Belong

Books written by Emily Giffin are some of my very favorites.  I enjoyed reading this book about characters who experience the joys and complexities of adoption...a subject close to my heart.  I hated to see this book come to an end, but feel hopeful that it might have a sequel.  Its ending certainly lent itself to that possibility.  Pick up a copy.  I bet you'll love it, too!  

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.
 
For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.  (review taken from www.goodreads.com)

With Sympathy

Sympathy cards are the hardest to make but, in my opinion, the most important to send.  Here are a couple that I made recently.  They are made out of the same materials but have their own unique look.

Materials Used:
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, and Pear Pizzazz DSP
Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers
Embellishments:  brads, Pear Pizzazz ribbon
Tools: scallop oval and large oval punches

Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  Have a great week!

A Colorful Card

The brighter the colors the better in my opinion.  I used two of my favorites on this card...Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango.  What are your favorites?

Materials Used: all Stampin Up
Cardstock:  Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper:  Tangerine Tango
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, and So Saffron
Stamps:  Printed Petals, Circles of Friendship, Vogue Verses
Tools:  Circle punches (1 1/4 and 1 3/8)
Embellishments:  ribbon

A Little Birdie Told Me

What is it with owls and birds lately?  They're everywhere!  It took a while, but they have grown on me.  When I saw this stamp set in the Close To My Heart catalog, it haunted me until I bought it.  I'm so glad that I did.  Most of the materials used are Stampin Up, but of course, you can make it your own by using the stuff that you have on hand and changing it up a bit.  That's what I did!

Materials Used:
Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie
Designer Series Paper:  Washington Apple (retired)
Ink:  Black Staz-On, Real Red, and So Saffron
Embellishments:  Ribbon, Brad

Rotel Cups

I found this appetizer on one of my favorite cooking blogs and had to try it.  There was only one problem.  It had Rotel tomatoes in it.  I'm always a little leery of using this delicious product.  When Darlin Arlin and I were first married, I added Rotel to a pot of chili.  He asked me if I was trying to kill him.  His Yankee tastebuds just weren't used to the spice we use in the south.  Well, I'll have you know that he's come a very long way since those early days of marriage.  He actually likes spicy food now and doesn't even complain anymore if I put pepper in the mac and cheese.  Ok, back to the recipe.  Here are the things you'll need to make this tasty appetizer:

3 pkgs. mini fillo shells (in the freezer section of the grocery store)

1 can Rotel, mostly drained (of course, I used mild)

1 bag real bacon bits

1 1/2 cups shredded colby and monterey jack cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

Mix Rotel, bacon bits, and mayonnaise in a bowl.

Add cheese.  Stir.

Now fill the shells.  I just used a tablespoon of filling at first to make sure I had enough of the mixture to go around.  Then, I went back and added a little more to those that needed it.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20.  They will be hot and bubbly when done.  

I hope you enjoyed learning about these tasty treats today.  

School Days Layout

Are your kids excited about going back to school?  It's been fun listening to my son as he speculates who his new teacher will be and tries to guess which friends will be in his class.  We are all set for the big day... new clothes, new shoes, new school supplies... just make the beginning of the school year exciting.  One thing is for sure.  My camera will be fully charged on that first day.  Here is a 6x6 layout that is ready to hold those special pictures.

Materials Used: All Stampin Up
Cardstock: crumb cake, marina mist. white, daffodil delight
Designer Series Paper: Polka Dot Parade
Ink: black Staz On, real red, daffodil delight
Stamps: Golden Rule Days (retired), Every Little Bit
Embellishments: red gingham checked ribbon
Tools: circle punches

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  What was your favorite part of the new school year?

Oreo Delight

One of my BFFs recently had a birthday, so I made her a special dessert at our last stamping club.  It's called Oreo Delight.  I got the recipe from one of the cooking blogs I follow Meals at the Muirs.  I don't like sugar (I know, totally weird), so I didn't even taste it, but it seemed to be a huge hit.  Let me show you how to make it.  You'll need the following ingredients:

  1 package of regular Oreos, split

1 stick butter, melted

5 oz. box of instant chocolate pudding

2 tubs 8oz. Cool Whips

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

Directions:

Crush the whole bag of Oreos in a food processor or in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.  Save a 1/2 cup of Oreos to sprinkle on top of the dessert.

Pour the rest of the Oreos in a glass 9x13 inch dish.  Mix the melted butter in and press down to make a crust.  

In a separate bowl, make the chocolate pudding according to the directions in the box.  Put it in the fridge to set up.  

In another mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese with powdered sugar.  Fold in one tub of the Cool Whip.

Now to finish the rest of our dessert and layer our ingredients... On top of the Oreos, spread the cream cheese mixture.  

The next layer is pudding,

Add the last tub of Cool Whip on top of the pudding and then the reserved Oreos.  

Happy Birthday, Glo!

Christmas in July

For someone who can't stand to even look down the Christmas aisle at Hobby Lobby this time of year, I surely had a great time getting this class together.  We made three projects:  a card, box with tags, and a mini scrapbook.  The No Peeking stamp set and Be of Good Cheer paper from Stampin Up was used on all of the items.  Many thanks to Demonstrator Debra Simonis for sharing the idea of the card and box with tags.  The scrapbook was made out of toilet paper rolls!  I guess you really can make a scrapbook out of just about anything!  Here is a closer look at all of the pages in the book.

See the little tab at the right?  Those are tags that additional photos or journaling can be written on.

If you would like more information about how to make these fun items, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Two Pocket Card

While in Minnesota, we had dinner with a friend of Arlin's who snowmobiles with the clan each year.  His wife made a beautiful dinner for us.  We had a great time visiting with Bob and Lois in their lovely home by the lake.  As I looked at the decor in their house, it didn't take me long to figure out that they really like birds.  Knowing that I'd want to make them a thank you card, I knew right away what the theme had to be.  I made this two pocket card for them once we got home using the perfect materials from SU...Cheep Talk stamp set and Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper.  (both retired, but the possibilities for making a similar card are endless)

I started with an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of double sided paper.  

I folded it long ways like a hotdog.  If you work with elementary kids, you know exactly what I mean! Using a bone folder will make your creases nice and neat.  

Fold the paper again in half.  You will now have a piece of paper the size of an A2 card.  

Open the paper to its original size and make a cut as shown from the side of the paper to the middle fold line.

We're going to make a couple of folds.  Bring the top left hand corner down to the middle fold.  

Bring the bottom right hand corner up to about 1 1/2 inches away from the middle fold as shown.

Fold the entire bottom right hand side over the bottom left side of the paper.  

Fold the top right flap of paper under the top left.  

Fold the paper at the top as shown.

Almost finished!  Bring the entire top half of paper and fold over the bottom.

Turn the card around.  

Whew!  I'm glad most of the birds ended right side up.  That was pure luck!  

I'm opening the card back up to show you where you can add sticky tape to keep the flaps glued down.  This card does not open in the center like most cards.

Now that everything is glued down, it's time to decorate the outside.  I added a one inch strip of coordinating paper to the bottom of the card.

I then made the tags which measure 2 1/2 x 5 1/4.  Don't forget the ribbon at the bottom of the card and on the tags, too!  

If you make any two pocket cards, I'd love to see them and get ideas from you!  Let me know if you have any questions!  

P.S.  I used several punches on my card:  corner punch, 1 3/8 circle, and scallop circle.