All Wrapped Up

Had fun with this card. Stamp set from SU! All Wrapped Up. Colors: More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, White, Creamy Carmel. Used a swirl embossing folder, Top Note die, and Weathered stamp to create the backgrounds. I really didn't have the correct size crochet edging for the jar topper so I took a little doily cut out the center and used needle and thread to run a gathering stitch, and sticky tape held it in place on the jar. Also used the sticky strip to hold down the ribbon. The little two step stamping leaves in the jar are not from the same set. They were part of incentive stamps that only a SU demo could get. Just love it when I can go though my stuff and start using it!

Didn't do a lot today. It is really hot and muggy. Talk about the dog days of summer this is it. I did do some stamping over the weekend so that was a good thing. I spent several hours in the stamp room Saturday night reorganizing the ink, and cardstock. My SU order should be arriving this week so I needed to have things cleaned up so I could work in my new goodies so I can use them. Can't wait!!!!

Stamping trails
Karen 208

L@@K MA! It's No Layer Friday!

Did you ever notice that cards can get to complicated. Not to mention heavy by using lots of layers. Yes they look wonderful and yes I still love layers, but sometimes I yearn just to stamp a simple card that still looks great without all the layers. So welcome to No Layer Friday. I'll be sharing no layer cards with my readers each Friday. This card features Older but Wiser stamp set from SU! It was a hostess set and retired now. This is actually the first time I've used this stamp set. Shame on me! I can't tell you how many stamps I own that have still yet to be inked. Ah....someday when I retire and have time to just stamp then I'll have ink all over the place!!!!! Maybe even on the cat. Seeing how Burbank loves to jump up on me when I'm stamping. I swear he sits in wait till just the right moment to pounce.

Okay colors used: Mellow Moss, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Regal Rose, and Creamy Caramel markers. Other items Score Pal, StazOn Jet Black ink, White cardstock. Click on the image to get a better view of where I placed the score lines.

So glad the weekend is finally here! I'll be getting up early tomorrow and heading down to the flee market to meet Sarah. She is going to have a spot set up there to sell things she made. Hope she does well. Then seeing how the flee market is right next door to mom's nursing home I'll be stopping in to visit with mom for a bit before heading home.

Stamping Trails
Karen 208

It's Thursday.....

and tomorrow is Friday....thank goodness! It's been a long week, and I'm looking forward to a nice weekend. Been so hot this week. I guess I shouldn't complain as I know in a few months I'll be complaining that its cold! Never a dull weather day in Ohio.

Didn't get to stamp today. I did make some peanut butter fudge. We are having a pot luck tomorrow at work. The recipe is a lower fat version but it still has lots of sugar in it.

1 can fat free evaporated milk
1 2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons reduced fat butter
1 10 oz bag Reese's peanut butter chips
2 cups mini marshmallows

heat milk, sugar and butter let boil for 3 minutes stirring all the time. Remove from heat and add the chips and marshmallows. Stir till smooth. Pour in 8x8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Put in fridge for a few hours till set.

I'm also making salsa chicken. I have to put that together now and let it cook on low in the crockpot all night. That way it will be ready for lunch time tomorrow. For that I do:

3 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 can black beans
1 jar salsa
1 cup frozen corn
1 packet taco seasoning mix

Put it all in a crockpot on low for 8 hours. Serve with fat free sour cream and taco chips. YUM!!!

Stamping trails
Karen 208

Dream

I have a friend that is really having a tough week. She wants someday to buy a little log cabin, leave work,and everyday worries behind her. Well I don't have a log cabin stamp, but I do have a word stamp that says Dream. It's from SU! Natural Beauty one of my favorite stamp sets.

Colors used: Bordering Blue, More Mustard, Vanilla, and Basic Gray designer paper Periphery. Other things used: beads and stick pin from Pretties kit, aqua painter, pop dots, paper doily, and blue ribbon. It may not be a log cabin card, but I think it will lift her spirits to find this on her desk in the morning.

It was another hot day!!! I did find the energy to go ride bikes with hubby. It wasn't so bad in the early evening. We went out at 7 pm.

Stamping Trails
Karen 208

Up late stamping tonight. I should be in bed getting some well needed zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's but here I am doing a blog entry. Oh well, maybe I can get caught up on the sleep tomorrow at work. (SMILE)No I won't go to sleep at my desk I'll just think about it. This card uses Spellbinders dies Labels 3 and Small Circles. I used the rolling technique on the butterfly. Haven't done that one in a while. For those who may not know how to do it....ink the stamp in a lighter color ink, then roll just the outside edges of the inked stamp with a darker ink and then stamp it on the cardstock. Colors used: Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink, and the base card is a textured piece that I picked up from Hollo's Paper Store. Embossing folder is a new one I just purchased by Tim Holtz. The splatters are made with Smooch Spritz Sliver Foil. Stamp set Great Friend by SU!

Went to the local park and took a 2 mile nature hike with hubby. It was cooler in the woods thank goodness as we have been hit with a heat wave. In the mid 90's and humid. You can just look outside and see a haze everywhere. I was dipping with sweat at the end of the hike. Jumped on the swing in the playground and swung for a bit to cool off.

Stamping Trails
Karen 208

Tired

Been a busy weekend. Didn't have time to stamp. John borrowed my laptop to take to a friends house. He left me with a smaller one, but I was having trouble with that one. Did lots of yard work, and rode bikes. Even spent some time this evening playing badminton with Skip that was fun. Sarah and I went shopping yesterday in Medina. That was fun. She is wonderful to spend time with. Really good for me when I'm in a funk. Picks me right up. I wish I had 1/2 of her energy.

So I got the new AARP magazine. GOOD GRIEF.....I'm not 50 yet let me enjoy my last 2 months of still being in my 40's.

Rode bikes early this morning. It was hot outside today, and according to the news it will be hot all week. JOY. Well it's better than being cold and driving in snow so I'll stop complaining now. Made a quick stop at Catan's. I needed to pick up supplies for a Christmas gift I'm making. Nope not saying any more about that.

Not looking forward to working all week, but hey it pays the bills and keeps me in craft supplies, and speaking of craft supplies I'm putting in a big order with SU. I'm treating myself to some birthday goodies!!!

Stamping trails
Karen 208

Christmas Card & Good Deed

I was in the mood to make a Christmas card today. After taking Skip for his tests I came back and stamped a little bit. The flower is the same pattern for the other card and project I posted but I used a bigger crochet hook so I got a larger flower. I also used embroidery floss that has light catching highlights in the thread. I don't think the camera picked that up in the photo. The stamp set is one of my favorite Christmas sets by SU! Yuletide Montage. Designer paper is Fruit Cake by Basic Gray. Image and base card uses shimmery white cardstock. This stock is wonderful for water coloring. Also used some Spellbinders dies. Used the out of the box technique to have the angel's wings pop out. Please drop me a comment and let me know how you like the card. I had fun making it.

Now for the good deed. I stopped at the grocery store earlier today to pick up some stuff for Skip. When I was putting my cart in the cart return I found that a woman had left her wallet in the cart. I took it back in the store to the courtesy desk and turned it in. I know if I had left my wallet like that I would have wanted someone to turn it in. I felt good about being able to help out.

Good day on the scale lost another pound. YAY

Stamping Trails
Karen 208