Let's Eat CAKE!

Cold, clear and beautiful ... that's what it's like outside here today!!! I think I'm going to have to go for a run at some point. I actually LOVE running in the cold. With the right gear, it's absolutely PERFECT. Brrrrr!!

I made this little card the other night ... just haven't had a chance to post it, yet! I am sooooooooo loving the Gingham Gala DSP (which YOU can earn for FREE by placing a $50 order!)!! It's just sooooo good!!

I used my Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends on the little flower, the edging on the cake, and to make the ombre effect on the CAKE letters. The outline is in Blackberry Bless ... I choose to believe this is a DELICIOUS purple cake!!! I love cake ... sigh ... perhaps I need to make one for myself today!

Stamps: Amazing Life
Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Blackberry Bliss; Stampin' Blends - Rich Razzleberry, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Grapefruit Grove Nature's Twine, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots

I am feeling pretty proud of myself! I had a BUNCH of new stamp sets (thanks to the Occasions/SAB preorder ... and again thanks to the Occasions/SAB catalogs going LIVE)! I mean ... I had a STACK!! I have used almost every last one ... I am down to about three sets, so stay tuned for some posts sharing those VERY soon!!! I feel validated in having ordered them all, because they will ALL get used!!!

Monday Montage #131

Ooooo-la-la! It's time for our Monday Montage Blog Hop! YAY!! I had so much fun making this card ... I have been dying to make a card with the Garage Gears ever since I got it. And TODAY was the DAY!!

I tried my darnedest to make the gears look "rusty" ... with a combination of sponged Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and Bermuda Bay (interspersed with a few layers of clear embossing powder), I think turned out pretty good!

Stamps: Geared Up, Crackle Paint
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Classic Garage DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, Classic Garage Metal Elements, Linen Thread, Clear Embossing Powder



Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I have been in and out my back door for over the past hour ... it's a lunar eclipse and it has been SOOOO fascinating to watch. I love watching such miraculous events and realizing how HUGE our universe is. It's AMAZING, isn't it???

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... their projects are STELLAR!

Sale-a-Brate EVERY Occasion ... with the Freaks!

Is there any BETTER excuse to stay inside on a cold, wintry day than to get crafty??? I don't think that there is!!After a short training run this morning, I came home, cleaned up and then sat down with my iPad (for HULU binging!) and some crafty supplies so I could finish creating for this month's Control Freaks Blog Tour. If you just got here from Melissa Stout's Blog ... isn't she FREAKIN' AMAZING???

I have loved coloring since I was a little girl. I have been known to pull out a coloring book and crayons ... or colored pencils ... and just go to town ... STILL. My Stampin' Blends are also SUPER FUN to play with. This Lovely Lattice image (which you can earn with any purchase of $50 RIGHT NOW ... for FREE!) is the BEST for coloring. LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE.

Stamps: Lovely Lattice (SAB), Piece of Cake (Occasions)
Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Watercolor
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Black Memento; Stampin' Blends - Flirty Flamingo, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Trio Corner Punch, Tufted Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Old Olive Linen Thread

Saw this puppy stamp set/punch bundle and nearly lost my MIND!!! The doggie looks like my sweet Juniper ... who is getting ready to celebrate her 7 mo. birthday next week. Oh the puppies!!! This image is happy, along with the little footprints, doggie house and bowl, right??? The PUNCH. I don't think you will be able to get me to give it up unless you pry it from my cold, dead little fingers!!!

Stamps: Happy Tails
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Red Glimmer
Ink: Memento Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Dog Builder Punch, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch, Stitched Labels Thinlits, 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon


Next up???  ... Super Cindy Elam!! One of these days I'm going to go and visit her on her lovely property with all her lovely creativity! It will be the best time EVER!!

Fab Friday #155

As I type this we are bracing for a full-on-blow-your-socks-off winter storm! I'm actually kind of excited!! We had a very dry winter last year, so this year has been awesome! The Salt Lake Valley is regularly in the top 3 cities in the entire US of A for bad quality air during the winter months. Not so much this year! We have had several small storms that have kept the air inversion under control. The storm tomorrow is especially welcome because I will be home all day, and I won't have to drive in it at ALL if I don't want to. YIPPPEEEE!!! I may go for a peaceful walk (I love walking in fresh snow!). I most DEFINITELY will spend some time stamping!!

Speaking of stamping ... here's the card I made for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge. I probably went a little overboard with my interpretation (in other words ... I kinda over did it!), but it's always fun to have something to look at as a starting point, right??

Stamps: Piece of Cake
Paper: Highland Heather, Whisper White, Vellum, Gingham Gala
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Cake Builder Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch, 5/8" Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

I added a little more to this sketch than is actually here ... hope you can get some fun inspiration from it as well!








Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I'm looking forward to a weekend of not having much to do. I'm not quite sure I have had a weekend like this in MANY months!! It's going to be GLORIOUS!!

Flutterby, Butterflies!

#ALLTHEBUTTERFLIES! Seriously, you guys!! I am a PUSHOVER for anything with a butterfly ... stamps, punches, dies, paper ... I want it ALL!! Hence, today's card ...

Stamp, punch, color and VOILA!!! Easy, peasy!! I didn't even try anything overly fancy with this ... just stamp, punch and color (I already said that, right??)! The punch that comes in this bundle had TWO butterflies in it ... a little one stacked on top of a big one (and they line up perfectly with the DSP ... which I didn't use for its butterflies on this particular creation).

You KNOW you NEED this, right???

Stamps: Butterfly Gala
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP
Ink: Black Memento, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Butterfly Duet Punch, Pinewood Planks Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Black/Silver 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon, Classic Label Punch, Metallic Pearls

I have starting training for the Outclimb Cancer Challenge, which is on March 2. I do stair workouts a couple of times a week ... this is my FAVORITE event of the entire year!! So many good people. Got to train with two of my besties this morning in the dark and cold ... but the conversation was good and made the stairs melt into the background as we climbed up 6 flights about 20 times. I am grateful to be healthy enough to tackle such crazy things!! Have a great day!!

A Little Yellow and Gray ...

True confessions ... I had my book group friends over at my house last Thursday night. And I was hustling up until the last minute to get the remainder of my Christmas put away. Alas, the ornaments were all over the coffee table in my front room. I'm a little OCD when it comes to putting them away ... each one is individually wrapped and tucked into it's own compartment in one of the several stacking ornament keeper containers that I have. I ran out of time ... I scooped up all my ornaments and just put them in the boxes. I took them downstairs to my craft room and set them out on every available flat surface I have. This is where the confession comes in ... they are STILL sitting there!!! I need to get them out of the way so I can STAMP some more!! Sigh ... that is my goal for tonight once I get home from work!

In the meantime, I'm sharing this cute little card I made LAST week before the piles of ornaments happened. I wasn't going to use the retired Smoky Slate gingham ribbon, but once I laid it on there just to "see" I couldn't stop myself!! I want gingham ribbon in ALLTHECOLORS!!! It's just SOOOOO much fun!! I also ended up adding the little rhinestone on the oval at the last minute. Not sure WHAT touched my card ... but SOMEthing definitely did ... it left a mark!!! So the rhinestone rescued me!!

Stamps: Bloom by Bloom, Beauty Abounds
Paper: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Pretty Label Punch, Rhinestone Basics, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Smoky Slate Gingham Ribbon (retired)

This week is the FIRST week in OHSOLONG that I don't have my calendar chock FULL of soooo many things to do!! I hope to get myself a bit organized ... and perhaps binge a little Netflix whilst crafting!! Sounds like a pretty good way to spend some of my down tie, don'tcha think???

A Challenging Day!!

I spent ALL DAY yesterday getting ready for my Book Group to come over (cleaning up the remainders of Christmas, cleaning up my house, making THREE different kinds of soup!)!! I've been in the same book group for over 27 years!! Seriously??? Is that even POSSIBLE??? I mean, I am ONLY 27 YEARS OLD!! Sheesh!! Luckily for me, I had this little card all ready to post! Which is GREAT since I was also the challenge hostess for today over on Splitcoaststampers!

I know I have mentioned here before that I STRUGGLE with "easy" or "clean and simple" cards. I mean, really ... I have just about every kinda fun tool and paper known on the planet, so it is hard to limit myself when I get to creating. This card is representative of what I call simple ... not a lot of crazy-weird techniques or fancy stuff. Although there ARE a lot of elements on here if you kind of count them ... but I'm not always so good at counting, so there's that!!

Stamps: Hello Cupcake
Paper: Lovely Lipstick, Early Espresso, Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Early Espresso Grapefruit Grove
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Grapefruit Grove Nature's Twine, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, Corrugated Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Trio Corner Punch

My son is taking his girlfriend to a Yule Ball tomorrow (you know what a Yule Ball is, don't you??? (If you are one of the 12 people on the planet who HAVEN'T read any Harry Potter ... a Yule Ball is a fancy dance/party hosted around the holidays.) Anyhow ... I am hemming a ball gown for his girlfriend's ROOMMATE to wear to the ball. And I haven't even started ... and it is TOMORROW (I said that, right??). And I have to work TODAY ... and she is supposed to come and pick the dress up TONIGHT!! Sigh ... why do I always do this kind of thing to myself??? Oh well!! At least she has promised to send me photos (which I know my son will forget to do!)! YAY!

Happy Weekending!!

Zipping On By!

This is going to be a VERY quick blog post! I have a SUPER busy day ahead (it hasn't started out super stellar ... puppy ate my left AirPod!!! Grrrrr!!).

I LOVED making this card ... and YES! you DO need the new Bitty Blooms Punch Pack!! You can make the most EXCELLENT flower bouquets with it!

Stamps:  Incredible Like You
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Lovely Lipstick, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Pineapple Punch
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Bitty Blooms Punch Pack, Tufted Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, Black/Silver 1/4" Striped Metallic Ribbon

See??? SUPER quick blog post!! Hope you all have a lovely day!!

January Blahs ....

I took down my Christmas tree last night (finally!). Not gonna lie ... my house just seems pretty empty without it. For some reason this year I was DREADING Christmas ... starting in about March. Seriously??? I have NEVER done that before!! But once I got my tree up, my usual love for all things "holiday" starting to kick in. I still have to pack all the ornaments and such up (which is a CHORE!)! At least I have a group of friends coming over tomorrow night for book group, so that should liven things up around here!

I have committed myself to sending birthday cards to everyone in my family this year. I should qualify that ... I will be trying to send to everyone on my hubby's side of the family, and to my immediate family (which is considerably smaller than my hubby's). All told, looks like I will be attempting to send out at least 150 birthday cards this year!!

I am off to a good start! I've sent out 6 already. This is one I did for my uncle. His birthday is tomorrow!! I hope he has as much fun getting it as I did making it. There are SO many fun possibilities with the Best Catch/Catch of the Day Bundle!! It's my new favorite for making "dude" cards!

Stamps:  Best Catch, Crackle Paint
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Wood Texture DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends
Accessories: Catch of the Day Thinlits, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, True Gentlemen Buttons, Linen Thread

I've got a busy couple of days ahead, so I need to get moving!! Unless, of course, I could get Mary Poppins to come over and help me with her magical skills!! That would make things go MUCH more smoothly!!

Monday Montage #130

I feel like I have my crafty life back!!! I don't even remember when the last time I was able to create just for "fun" happened!! Granted, I am participating with my fellow Monday Montage friends on a blog hop today. HOWEVER ... I had this card actually DONE a couple of days ago!! How WEIRD is THAT???!!?? I was actually AHEAD of the game!!! I feel like I have entered the "Twilight Zone"!!

BUTTERFLIES!!! For any of you that have been following me for a LOOOOONG time ... you KNOW how I am about my butterflies!! I absolutely LOVE them!! (I have a friend who is actually kind of "afraid" of them ... so she won't touch ANY image or diecut or punch that resembles one ... go figure!) This diecut (it's GORJUS!!) is from the new Beauty Abounds Bundle ... you KNOW you need it, right??? And I have a "thing" for monochromatic cards ... I saw this in my head before I actually made it, and it turned out just about how I pictured it. That NEVER happens!!

Stamps: Beauty Abounds
Paper: Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Accessories: Trio Corner Punch, Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies, Tailored Tag Punch, Metallized Pearls

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...



Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I have spent SO much time walking my puppy that past few months, that most of my "running" has kind of suffered. I need to remedy that THIS WEEK. Puppy (who is now 6 months old) is finally old enough to do a little running with me. This should be interesting ...

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... check it out!

Fab Friday #154

Oh. My. Goodness!! It's January 4th ... and I have posted for FOUR days in a row!!! I guess having a CLEAN craft room AND having NO Christmas projects to make is agreeing with me!!! WOOT! WOOT!!! And it's FAB FRIDAY!!! I thought that I was NEVER gonna come up with an idea for this week's color challenge, but I actually made TWO cards (I will share the other one at a later date!). It ended up being much easier than I thought it would be!

This Flowering Desert set is A-MAZ-ING!!! You can "build" your own cactus with a variety of different shapes and sizes. SOOOOO much fun!! I also made my own patterned paper for the background ... isn't it FUN???

Stamps: Flowering Desert, Crackle Background
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Lemon Lime Twist, Mint Macaron, Tranquil Tide, Highland Heather
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Happy Birthday Thinlits Die, Trio Corner Punch, Linen Thread, Sequins (these are some old ones I had from a Project Life Kit!)

A LOT of colors this week ... but I KNOW you can DO IT!!





Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I guess that the holidays are officially "over" ... maybe I should take down my Christmas tree??? I enjoy having it up so much that it is hard for me to take it down (aside from the fact that it's a LOT of work to put everything away!!)!! How long do y'all leave your tree up??? I'm sure you are ALL much better at this than I am!! I guess I'd better get with it!! Have a wonderful weekend!

The Sweetest Thing

I am on a ROOOLLLLLLL, baby!!! Three days in a row!! What in the world is going ON???

I made this card for my little cousin ... she is turning TWO! I have a feeling that I am going to be using this stamp set/framelits bundle a LOT!!! Isn't it ADORABLE??!!??

Stamps:  Sweetest Thing
Paper: Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Grapefruit Grove, Smoky Slate, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Sweets Framelits Dies, Trio Corner Rounder Punch, 1" Square Punch, 5/8" Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, Linen Thread

This is just a short and sweet post ... I'm heading out for a walk to get my steps in ... it's only 15 degrees!!! Brrrrrr!!!

Baby It's COOOOOOOLD Outside!!

Jeez LOUUUUUIIIIISE, you guys!!! I'm sitting here SHIVERING whilst typing this. It is SOOOOO dang cold outside ... it has gone up to a balmy 22 degrees (that's in Fahrenheit). I am FREEZIN'!!! I really should do something to get my blood moving. Stamping isn't really an active "sport" ... per se ... Brrrrr!!!

I spent a good chunk of New Year's Day in my craft room. Watched (listened to) some movies ... ate some food ... walked the doggie (and yeah ... it was 12 degrees outside when I did that!). I am LOOOOOOVING having some crafty time just for "fun"!! This rooster was crowing in my direction, so I had to do something about it!


Stamps:  Home to Roost, Buffalo Check
Paper: Early Espresso, So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay, Wood Texture DSP, Watercolor
Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Stampin' Blends - Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Crumb Cake Classic Weave Ribbon

I have started a new Stepbet Challenge with some friends of mine ... JUST the thing I needed to get some motivation to move in this frigid weather!!! At least we aren't having a temperature inversion (which is usually where we end up for much of January and into February)! The sky is blue and BEAUTIFULLY clear!!

Ringin' in the New Year!

Welcome to 2019!! It's a beautiful, bright, clear and VERY cold New Year's Day here in Salt Lake City. We enjoyed having some family/friends over to ring in 2019 last night ... ate a LOT ... played games ... and went to bed at about 1:30am! I've been sitting around in my fuzzy slippers with some leggings and a big warm sweater. I plan to spend the day watching dumb movies and stamping ... and eating some more, of course (aren't leftovers GREAT??!?)!

THIS is the Christmas card I almost started making two years ago. I was just finishing a super-clean in my craft room and had all my cardstock/stamps laid out on my table ... only to discover that I had stepped into a very wet spot on the carpet! Upon further examination, a FLOOD ensued ... and my craft room/basement was turned into a war zone!!!

2017 was also very busy ... what with plumbing and sheet rocking and painting that had to be done to clean up the mess AND my daughter's wedding on top of all that, my craft room didn't get back to a more "normal" until Super Bowl Weekend 2018!!! Holy COW!!! That was a HUGE mess ... and a LONG time with no workable craft space. So happy that this year I was able to get my cards done (FINALLY!) ... even though they didn't get in the mail until December 23!!! I'm feeling VERY accomplished!! That's a good way to start the year, isn't it??

So ... this Detailed Santa Thinlits Die is SOOOO cute. And SOOOO retired ... that's what happens when everything gets buried underneath mounds of rubble!!! Since I already had all the cardstock and such to make this, I decided it was still good enough to use!! I added a silver "Ho Ho Ho" sentiment using my trusty Cricut.

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Silver Foil, Red Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer
Ink: Poppy Parade (sponge dauber-ed onto Santa's cheeks)
Accessories: Detailed Santa Thinlits Die, Layering Squares Framelits Dies, 5/8" Striped Burlap Trim, Silver Glitter Glue

The inside I created with NEW family photos and My Memories Suite (the upgrade version of Stampin' Up's retired My Digital Studio). We had SOOO many pix that turned out SOOOO good. It was hard to pick a FAVORITE, so I just used one of the many that I liked a lot!

And here is a pic of this year's "neighbor gift". On what we call "Keebler Elf Sunday" at my house, we all get together and make over 1,000 of these yummy ginger cookies. I am responsible for bagging/tagging them to give away to our friends. We try to split up delivery duties so that it won't take TOO much of forever! I also used my Cricut to make the little tags on these.

As I have done the last several years, here is the recipe I use to make these cookies. Once you've had them, they will become a family favorite!

Lucky Pennies

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 C. (1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened)
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 large egg
granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a spoon to scoop the dough out of the bowl, then roll it with your fingertips into balls that are about one-inch in diameter (I think we actually go up to 1.5" diameter). Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Special note: This is a recipe that does NOT double/triple very well. If you want to make LOTS of them, you should make a separate batch of dough each time.

I may actually take a NAP today!! Gonna be a good year!!