Halloween Card and a Pumpkin Dip Recipe

I was looking for a Halloween card using Batty for You for my Tuesday Night Stamping Club and came across this cute card by Charmaine Ikach that I couldn't wait to make. I see a lot of square cards on the blogs I stalk, but I don't make many of them . . . until now!

Here's the recipe for a delicious fall pumpkin dip you'll want to make over and over!!

Jenny's Pumpkin Dip

Combine 15 oz. solid-pack pumpkin, a 5 oz. package instant vanilla pudding, and 1-2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Fold in 16 oz. of Cool Whip and serve with graham cracker sticks or gingersnaps. Enjoy!!

It's 80 outside but it's Christmas in my craft room!!

Well, I just got the fabulous Tree Trimming Trio from Papertrey Ink and after playing with it a bit, I love it!! And my favorite way to use it is to offset the tree and add a sentiment from Signature Christmas (another new release from PTI) in a darker color on the left side. For this card, I used K. & Company's Christmas paper from last year and PTI's New Leaf stitched ribbon. I stamped the tree on Shimmery White CS in SU! Certainly Celery ink rocked in New Leaf ink for a little dimension. I think the best color for the star is SU!'s So Saffron. The red ornaments give a wonderful pop of color and I stamped the sentiment in SU! Basic Gray because it's softer than black. Can't wait to make more Christmas cards with these wonderful sets! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Food Network to the Rescue!!

I was at a loss as to what to fix for dinner tonight before I went to the store this morning, so I was beyond thrilled when I watched Saturday's episode of "5 Ingredient Fix" and saw two completely new recipes that sounded delicious. We are not squash eaters, but since we are trying to eat more nutritious foods, I thought this might be a good first step. And anything that contains feta cheese is good, right?!? The orzo contains squash, feta, and fresh mint, which might be the single most wonderful herb in the world! Chris has some growing in our herb garden or I never would've used it. It added the most delicious flavor to the orzo! The Tzatziki sauce that I made to go with the shrimp was fabulous, too, and it only has three ingredients - shallots, capers, and Greek yogurt. YUM!! I will definitely be making this easy meal again and again - even Bailey ate it! I hope you're inspired to make it, too!!

Oh, How I Love Gyro!

Greek Fest time in TN is one of the best times of the year!! This year, we enjoyed our very favorite Gyro (me), Greek Pizza (Chris), and a cookie (Bailey). In her defense, Bailey has been sick this week, so her appetite isn't quite back to normal yet! We also visited the sanctuary, which is so amazingly beautiful!! Bailey took this picture of the domed ceiling, but a photo doesn't do justice to such a fantastic work of art. With a box of baklava in hand, we boarded the shuttle just as it began to rain, thankful that the weather cooperated long enough for us to enjoy our little piece of Greek heaven!

Balloons Galore!!

There is truly NO LIMIT to the number of amazing projects you can create with Papertrey Ink's Everyday Button Bits stamp set!! I was blog-stalking :o) this morning and found this adorable card by Lauren Meader. WOW! WOW! WOW! I had to make it immediately, and she even includes a tutorial which makes this technique super easy to CASE! I used some of SU!'s new In Colors and Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. My rectangle and sentiment are a little hinkie, so I'll be more careful next time! Thanks for stopping by today! The family & I are going to Greek Fest this afternoon so tomorrow, I shall regale you with tales of gyros and baklava and Saganaki cheese - OH, MY!!

Teacher Appreciation

Back in May, I made a little framed art piece for Bailey's teacher using Papertrey Ink's Teacher's Apple and it turned out very cute!! So I was very excited when a friend ordered a card based on it. Just between you and me, I think the card turned out so much cuter than the framed art!! I used 3 acrylic blocks and put an apple on each one, which made the entire process so much easier. I can't wait to make more of these cute cards for the teachers at Bailey's school. Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening!!!

More Everyday Button Bits

I have been obsessed with PTI's Everyday Button Bits since I borrowed it from my friend, Cele. I've looked at every project on the PTI website and on Splitcoast Stampers, which is where I found this beautiful card! I loved it when I saw it and then I didn't like it when I made it, but now I LOVE it again since I put the little banner on it! Can you see the little clouds? I punched a piece of copy paper using Stampin' Up!'s Scallop Oval Punch to make a mask and sponged on Bashful Blue Classic Ink. I'm sending this card to my Angel buddy in SD - hope she likes it!!

Everyday Button Bits ROCKS!!

I know that Papertrey Ink's set, Everyday Button Bits, has been out awhile, but I am just now getting to use it (thanks, Cele!!). It ROCKS!! The only bad part is having to dig and scrounge through my button jar for the perfect button!! But, I look at it as sort of a treasure hunt so it's all good!! When I saw this card on SCS, I couldn't wait to CASE it! I am so bummed that I don't have more of the cherry print paper from SU!'s Tart & Tangy DSP, but I found a scrap in my stash that worked, so YEA!! Enjoy the rest of your day!!

Happy Grandparents' Day!!

We enjoyed the most wonderful Grandparents' Day with my parents yesterday!! We all went to church together and then they came over and ate a delicious lunch with us. My friend Michele's chicken roll-ups are their favorite, so I fixed those, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach (they liked it; we didn't!!), and an amazing fudgey chocolate meringue pie!! Mom said it was the best meal she'd ever had! Probably not, but we had a wonderful time together and that's the most important thing to me. We are so blessed to have such special people in our lives! Have a great week!!

Michele's Chicken Roll-Ups

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Thinkly sliced han

Thinly sliced Swiss cheese

Bacon

Shake 'n' Bake

Soak chicken in salted water for 45 minutes & pat dry - flatten chicken between pieces of platic or wax paper till an even thickness - layer on a piece of ham & a piece of cheese and roll up - wrap a piece of bacon around the chicken and dredge in Shake 'n' Bake - secure with a toothpick and place in a 9x13 baking dish lightly sprayed with cooking spray - bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Yum Yum Supper

Tonight's supper was this delicious Slow-Cooker Lasagna that I found in the most recent Kraft Food & Fun Magazine. I have never been a big fan of my slow cooker (aka Crock Pot), but this recipe looked delicious and easy, so I decided to give it a go. It was fantastic - the very best lasagna I've ever made!! Even my 8-year-old daughter ate it! I never knew something this delicious could come out of a Crock Pot. Since I knew you'd ask, here is the recipe. Hope you enjoy!!

Slow-Cooker Lasagna
1 lb. ground beef
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 container (15 oz.) BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Ricotta Cheese
1 pkg. (7 oz.) KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 egg
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

BROWN meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Mix ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, egg and parsley. SPOON 1 cup meat sauce into slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles, broken to fit; and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles, broken to fit; cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cover with lid. COOK on LOW 4 to 6 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; let stand, covered, 10 min. or until melted.

Don't Forget Grandparents' Day!!

Those of you who know my family well know that Chris grew up on a 600-acre farm in East Tennessee. His dad and his wife still life on a farm, although a smaller one, and they LOVE their John Deere tractors. So, when I saw this Punch Art Tractor, I nearly plotzed! And, as it happens, Grandparents' Day is THIS SUNDAY, so I was thrilled to be able to make this card. The seat, if you can't tell, is one of the hearts from the Heart to Heart Punch. CLEVER!! And the big tractor tire is made using the SU! Scallop Circle Punch and attaching the scallop with repositionable adhesive to a piece of copy paper and off-setting the same Scallop Circle punch to create the pointedness! Cool, cool, cool! So, go right now and make this cute card for those special, farm-oriented grandparents in your life!!

Endless Purse Possibilities!

I have seen and made several purse cards, but this is my very fave!! I just discovered this blog, Flowerbug's Inkspot, and I am so glad I did. It is super easy, but beautiful!! For the purse, I punched a 1 3/8-inch circle out of Papertrey Ink's Raspberry Fizz designer paper and cut a small sliver off the top. I used the Word Window Punch & a little brad for the purse closure and the Large Oval and Scallop Oval for the handle (be sure to punch the Large Oval first and then punch the Scallop Oval around it.) I also used one of SU!'s newest In Colors, Bermuda Bay, and Basic Black. I can't wait to make more cute purses!! Have a great day!!

Another Beautiful Coffee Card

I am LOVIN' my new Verve "Delightful & Delicious" stamp set!! I found this beautiful card on the Verve website and couldn't wait to CASE it! I really like the way it turned out - check back for more "Delightful & Delicious" projects in the coming days!!

Inspired by Julie Batta

With all of the beautiful Autumn projects that are appearing on the blogs now, I can't help but be inspired!! When I saw this amazing card by Julie Batta, I couldn't wait to make one myself! I've made a pumpkin using the smooth oval punch before but never the scalloped oval and never crimped!! I made this card for Bailey to send to a couple who gave her a beautiful pumpkin from their garden. I think the embossed square gives the card a polished look that I love. I used my favorite Little Leaves Sizzlet Die and freehand cut the stem for a super simple but striking card that anyone would love to receive. Thanks for stopping by tonight and have a wonderful Labor Day holiday!!

Wild About You

I've been desperately trying to clean up my craft room and in the process, I have found a ton of old card fronts. When I found the one that inspired this card, I knew it would be a perfect birthday card for a little boy. I love how the layered scallops look like big bite marks! This is a super simple and versatile card. Hope you'll try it!

Inspired by Mary Fish

I'm still working on my friend, Karen's card order and looking on-line for inspiration. I found this lovely card by the super-talented Mary Fish. I love the Little Leaves Sizzlet and think it makes a great focal point for a card with beautiful patterned paper. I am really starting to love all these beautiful cards that are simply put together! I find I get so much more done when I stick with simple styles and beautiful "ingredients." I can't believe I've done a week's worth of posts in just one day! Woo Hoo! I hope you have a productive week, too!!

Treat Yourself to a Wonderful Day

OMGosh!! This is the cutest, CUTEST card I have ever seen!! This little punched banana split was in this month's Stampin' Success magazine and I instantly fell in love . . . Again, super simple - the ice cream scoops are made using the 3/4" circle punch and you use the scallop border punch to make the toppings; the bowl is half of a 1 3/4" or 1 3/8" circle; and the banana is a sliver of the large oval punch with the corners rounded a bit. Lots of adhesive later and here it is . . . magic!

Coffee Lovers Unite

OMGosh!! I am completely in love with this stamp set!! It's my very first purchase from Verve Stamps and I'm sure it won't be my last. I have been looking for the perfect coffee stamp set and this is totally it! I copied this card directly from Jen del Muro, who does amazing work. If you can't tell, the inspiration is none other than my favorite Starbucks! And isn't the sentiment so true? We girls gotta have a lot of caffeine to keep us going! Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy the holiday weekend!!

Inspired by Nichole Heady and PTI

Isn't this the prettiest card?!? I found it on Nichole Heady's blog and was THRILLED that I had Life, the stamp set by Papertrey Ink that she used to create the card. This is a great set but I haven't really explored all of its possibilities yet. I love how the little tag turned out - the rounded corners on one end add personality as does the little bit of Night of Navy ribbon and the trim that I punched using Fiskars Apron Lace border punch. Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day!

A Little Punchy!

Prepare to have your mind blown, then put back together and BLOWN again!! I've been on children's birthday cards for my friend, Karen, so I'm been checking out my favorite blogs for ideas. I have loved the projects I've seen on Amanda Coughlin's blog using punches, and when I checked out her blog today, I found this adorably precious project and immediately went about figuring out how she did it! I was surprised by how simple it was to create. The clown's hair is my FAVORITE part and the tiny googly eyes add lots of personality! Keep reading for info on the punches I used and give it a try yourself! Thanks for stopping by!

IMPORTANT! Be sure to attach the head/hat first to a 2 3/4 x 3 3/4 piece of white CS; then attach the arms/hands; and then the pants/shoes. If you don't do it in this order, you'll have seams that show. Carry on!!

Head - 1 1/4" circle

Arms - Word Window

Hair - Boho Blossoms

Pants - Full Heart punch cut in half

Shoes - 5-Petal Flower

Hands - Trio Flower

Bow tie - Heart to Heart punch and regular hole punch

Hat - 1 3/8" square trimmed to a triangle

Nose and pom pom on hat - regular hole punch