Queen for the Day, Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge

This card was made for 2 purposes...one was to CASE a card on SCS to honor a stamper who consistently uploads cards for challenges and is also consistent leaving positive comments. This is only the second week, and Peggy was the one chosen.Peggy was one of the first SCS'ers who sent me a private message after I uploaded a card to one of the challenges on Splitcoast Stampers. Her card was a touch of springtime which caught my eye immediately because it had 3 large daisy cutout flowers on it. The colors and layout were different, but it reminded me I had bought these huge Dahlias by Martha Stewart and wanted to get them on a card while it was still spring!
I am also submitting this for today's Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge to make a Clean and Simple card. You can view the scripture and the wonderful cards made by the design team by clicking on the SSIC blog on my sidebar.
The frame was made using my scor- pal and the Cuttlebug and running each side through the cuttlebug by lining up the score lines first. I learned this by a blog by Leslie called "Running with Scissors"...also on my sidebar. I love the effect you get with this!!
Thanks for stopping in! I hope you're enjoying a restful Sunday!
and if you haven't visited for a few days, check out my new bargain...bookshelves in the previous posts...
Have a blessed day! ~

It's a "Major" Find!!

Most of you who read my blog (all 3 of you :) ) have actually seen my stamp room. But not many know that one of my favorite past times is bargain hunting on Craig's List...I usually drop in at least once a day and do my usual search. I have been looking for bookcases for over a year now, and two days ago, these are what I found!! I can't tell you how excited I was to see these, so much so that I ran to get my cash out of the bank faster than you can say, well what can you say in 15 minutes?? I even managed to stuff one of them in my car and drive home before the lady could change her mind!!

I have had a really nice two days just putting up pretty things on my shelves. I emptied out bags of primas and arranged them in clear glass vases...put up several of my own favorite creations (of course they match the decor) and a few from friends that I keep forever. If you don't see your card, please know I rotate these all the time, so there are usually at least a dozen...although today I'm just showing a very few. Remember you can click on the picture for a closer view...it is a little difficult to catch the detail and still frame the entire piece.

I have this framed sentiment that I love which is shown in one of the pictures...it reminds me that making cards is not the final end, it's remembering people and sending out cards that is the reason for my passion. I really don't want to lose sight of that...and this sentiment, "Write it on your heart that those you love are life's most precious gifts..." reminds me to write write write those cards.

See those framed roses in the center on both shelf units....that was a garage sale find years ago that I went and had framed. I love them. And the small dainty pedestal dishes with the roses on them is from a set of dishes that my Nana had that I decided to use to store things in. I do love to display beautiful things, and this set of dishes is so special to me.

Oh, and in the right corner, that tall thing with ribbons hanging from it is an antique coat rack, another find from about a year ago from a very old house in Loveland, Colorado. I decided I would hang ribbon that I bought just snippets of and didn't have an entire roll...it is pretty~

See that blue settee in the corner? That's a bit of a story, too. I have had that piece of furniture for over almost 16 years. I did give it away to a dear friend who needed it when I had a full place with no room. About 2 years ago, I talked with her and found out she was moving, and asked her if I could have it back. In the time that had elapsed, I had two daughters move out and a lot of empty space. It fit perfectly in my stamp room, I couldn't have been more pleased. It really does put an entirely true spin to the old adage, "What goes around, comes around." Who knew??

I will share more pictures of my room another day, but for today, just wanted to share with you my latest bargain that has me thrilled. I don't think these shelves could have been a better fit, color, or design for my space.

Thanks for looking...and sharing my happiness over my new find!!

FLLCCEL1, FLLCCEL3

Today I have a bit of sunshine for you!! The first card is a sketch challenge for Flourishes...I used a new set to me, Beach Life , for this card. The bottom panel had round circles in the sketch, so I colored up these flip flops and punched out circles and added a little bling to them!!

The second card with the Easter lily is a CASE challenge from Flourishes to find a designer and CASE one of her cards. This was easy to find the designer, Dawn Burnsworth!! Her lily card shown on her blog, My Stamping Thyme was gorgeous!!

Of course, since this was a new release, I did not have it...but I had been given this set "I Am the Way" from ODBD by a special friend last year. When I saw Dawn's card, I knew I had to give it a whirl! Of course, Dawn's coloring is amazing...so I didn't attempt to match that, but love this set and the layout and the paper by Basic Grey!

This is the last of my challenge cards, I made 4 this time around, and it took awhile!!

Thanks for looking and your sweet comments! Have a great week!

This is my submission for this week's challenge on the Flourishes newsletter to use pink and green for your card! I love this Flourishes stamp, it is my go-to and is so versatile. This was stamped in Vintage Sepia and sponged with pink pirouette. Then silver pearls and pink ribbon and gorgeous paper added and you have a card!!

I hope you like this one, I don't think you can go wrong with these stamps...

As always, thanks for looking and I am always encouraged by your comments!

Have a good evening! It's late here, I'm about to relax and watch a good movie!

It's a Celebration!!

I absolutely love the sweetness of this image from Stampavie. I can't tell you how long I've waited for my liquid applique to come in, but couldn't get my hands on it! So, I finally scrounged around and found a white tulip paint writer for my frosting, and then used some pink cotton candy stickles for the polka dots!

This is my submission for this week's Flourishes Celebration theme: make a card that depicts some type of celebration! Flourishes is celebrating this week with lots of challenges and goody bag prizes...check out the Flourishes Newsletter for all of them, but hurry!!

Thanks for stopping by, hope this card gives you a smile! I have two today, so come on back!

Whatcha Got Cookin'?

No, this isn't another recipe post, I am just trying to think of a catchy title to go with this Baking Tilda...today is a new challenge on the Just Magnolia blog, a sketch. While my sketch isn't exact, I think all the components are there!! This was a new Tilda for me, colored in copics and I made a ribbon flower from the wide SU striped ribbon and paired this with some buttons from PTI and antiqued with a bit of Tim Holtz distress inks in Tea Dye. I also used some new nestabilites, Labels 8. I love this card...it made me happy to make it and reminded me of one thing that gives me joy and I am missing right now...and that is hospitality and cooking up something special for others. So I am entering this in Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge to make a card that brings you joy.
Each week the SSIC has a challenge with a short devotional and this week is by my dear friend, Peggysue...so head on over to the SSIC blog (see sidebar) to view.
I am behinder and behinder in challenges...and wanted to try a few more today and tomorrow, so please come back!!
Have a great day!!

Teapot Tuesday, Feel Better!

This week's Teapot Tuesday is taken from a quilted inspiration of a teapot with calicoes and gingham in pinks, greens, and blues.

The "soft side" of the challenge was to make a card for a local (to me) woman of 22 years who has just recently been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments. My heart goes out to her, and this will be sent to help her feel the love and encouragement knowing others are praying for her.

I am making one just like this only in blues for our daughter who is going to have surgery in two days for skin cancer which was just recently diagnosed as melanoma. While melanoma or any cancer is frightening in terminology, we are encouraged that it is in the early stages, and normally responds favorably to removal. Although no surgery is fun at all...so I am nervous for her. It's a mama thing. I am so grateful that I can send cards to others who are going through trials even more difficult than ours...it really does help ease a burden to reach out to someone else.

If you'd like to read more of Lindsey's story as told by Mothermark (Cindy) you can go here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483090

Thanks for stopping in...

I used impression obsession stamps for this and some beautiful paper that I'd like to wrap myself up in from a good friend...made by Melissa Frances, and some polar white flower soft applied with Allene's quick grab glue for the shawl collar, cuffs, and pockets. Don't you wish you had some bunny slippers just like these?

A few of my Favorite Recipes!!

A friend at stamp club brought a caramel fruit dip with sliced apples and it was so yummy. The recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Creme de Colorado. I will be sharing two fruit dips that you might enjoy for your next gathering or just a quick snack at home. So good and healthier than store bought cookies!

My friend and I got to talking about our love of cooking, and she told me she still had her first cookbook, the yellow striped Betty Crocker's for children...and what a coincidence, so did I! What fun it was to reminisce over those recipes that I recall making for my family to earn a Girl Scout's badge, like the porcupine meatballs!

Now it is so easy to google a recipe and download it...but I have to say I love my old cookbooks...I can leaf through them and they bring to mind not just a recipe but a memory. Many I have hand written notes dating back to the early 1980's when I made a certain cookie for my daughter's preschool party...or a special entree for a dinner with friends. Those recipe pages that are stained and almost falling out of the book are probably the most treasured. It also reminds me that I am not as adventurous in cooking as I once was...and maybe I should try experimenting a little bit more.

Anyway, hope you enjoy these.



Caramel Fruit Dip

1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp vanilla
8 ozs. cream cheese (may use light) softened
fresh fruit for dipping

Put sugars, vanilla and cream cheese in blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Serve with a colorful assortment of fresh seasonal fruit such as apple slices, strawberries, or pears.
Great for a healthy casual snack or afternoon teas!


Orange Cream Fruit Dip

8 ozs. cream cheese, softened
7 ozs. marshmallow creme
2 T fresh orange juice
1/2 tsp pure orange extract
(or if you don't have that, I've added 1/2 tsp of orange zest)

In food processor or blender, mix all ingredients together. Chill until ready to serve.
Created especially for strawberries!

These chicken enchiladas remind me of the kind in the restaurants with the green tomatillo sauce...they are spicy and creamy. To speed things up, I usually use a roasted rotisserie chicken from the store and a 16 oz. jar of Tomatillo salsa which is just the right amount. But hey, if you want to go for making your own salsa and have the ingredients in your produce department, then let me know how it turns out.
This is our oldest daughter's favorite too, and since giving her the cookbook, she makes her own from scratch. I am so impressed!!

Chicken Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce

1/3 cup half and half
6 ozs. cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
3/4 cup finely chopped onion (make it fine, you don't want to taste crunchy onion bits.)
Tomatillo Sauce
12 8-inch corn torillas
3/4 Cup shredded cheddar
3/4 Cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Condiments: shredded lettuce
chopped tomatoes, olives or sour cream (your pick!)
Sauce:
1 store bought jar or make your own:
2 dozen tomatillos, husked
4-6 serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded and minced
3 cups chicken broth
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 tsp salt
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Beat together 1/2 and 1/2 and cream cheese till smooth. Add chicken, onion and salt to cheese mixture and blend. Soften tortillas by wrapping in damp paper towel and heating in the microwave on medium heat for a minute or wrap in foil and place in low oven.
Spoon a thin layer of tomatillo sace in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Dip each tortilla in the tomatillo sauce. Place approximately 1/4 cup of chicken mixture down the center of the tortilla. Roll and place seam side down in the baking dish. Spoon remaining tomatillo sauce to taste over the casserole. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 20 minutes or until hot. Remove foil and add the cheeses. Bake for additional 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese melts and sides are bubbly.
Serve with condiments and enjoy ...ole!!

Serene Sympathy

It's my first time joining in Becky Oheler's Challenges...using a video and giving specific matting and colors. The goal for me is to use my Papertrey Ink stamps and find easier card formats to put together a card more quickly with less fuss and still have the impact I desire. So, I made this with a PTI set and used versamark ink and white pearl embossing powder. A happy "mistake" is there was some enchanted evening blue ink on my leaf that hadn't all been cleaned off before I stamped in the versamark...giving subltle blue hues and sheen to the leaves. The top was scored twice and a simple cream taffeta ribbon tied for ease of mailing. The ribbon was supposed to be blue but I didn't have any which matched, even with my copics to color, so I just kept with simple cream. The combination is stunning, enchanted evening and soft stone cardstock...I love it!!

Tell me, what do you think of this as a sympathy card...would you prefer the colors be lighter for the base and more embellishment? I am beginning a swap and need to make quite a few sympathy cards...so I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks for stopping by...have a blessed day!