Happy Birthday, Sis!

Several months ago my sister Betsy asked if I could put together something to celebrate our birthdays.  We are 4 years and one week apart.  I said if she’d send me a couple of shadow box frames, sure, I could do that.  I thought about it for a few months and came up with the following shadow boxes. 

I’ve printed off the computer and cut out our names and birthdays and the sisters’ sentiment with Nestabilities.  The Air Force pin commemorates that we are both Air Force brats and we were both in the AF.  The drawing is a scan of a sketch Betsy did of both of us with our dog Mitzi under my left arm.  I colored them with watercolor pencils.  I made both flowers with the ornament punch.

The first is mine, with pinks and reds and a rose.  My pin is Jamie Moyer, my all time favorite Mariner.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Betsy’s is in blues with a quilters’ pin in cloisonné with a white magnolia.

And this last picture proves to my skeptical sister that I did them both at the same time before I shipped hers off!

She got her shadow box in time for her birthday (not normal for me).  I also made her this birthday card using Diana Gibbs’ spotlight technique I linked in my post for Janice’s workshop. 

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome!

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Holiday Bundle Sale – Save 20%!

Dates: October 19-December 16, 2010
You can purchase select products--perfect for Amazing cards, Beautiful packaging, and Cherished gifts--at a 20 percent discount! Click on photo above to see the bundle flyer.
Things to Remember:

• This offer is available on all order types (customer, demonstrator, workshop, and online). Additional products from current catalogs may be purchased on the same order.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
• You must use the bundle item codes provided. The 20 percent discount will not be applied if individual bundle item numbers are entered separately.

Hurry and don’t miss out!

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome!

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Janice’s Halloween Party/Workshop

Janice loves to entertain and when she hosted my SU workshop on Saturday, she pulled out all the stops.  Her house was decorated for Halloween/Autumn and the food was marvelous.  Theresa helped Janice in that department and we all ate like pigs!  Here are pictures of Janice’s table, her goodies, the ladies who all enjoyed themselves and the make and takes we made.  Click on any picture to make it larger.

First, a picture of the table before we messed it all up.  You can see the little pumpkin poop treats I made next to the little black or orange gift boxes Janice made. 

Here’s a couple pics of ladies enjoying themselves before we got started on the make and takes.

Before lunch, we made this with Delightful Decorations and the Movers and Shapers die with the ornament window.

Here’s the food set out on the table (love that sneaker bowl) . . .

the mummy dogs . . .

and the “cockroaches,” actually twice-baked potatoes decorated up with bacon and green olives.  They were full of melted cheese and served with sour cream to dollop on top. Yumm!

After lunch, we made this Christmas card, a CASE from a gorgeous card designed for her Founders Circle swap by Diana Gibbs.  Read all about it here.  (Click on “here” for a live link.)  I used gold cord instead of red ribbon.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  I hope Diana is flattered!

 

Scroll down to her Aug. 23 post for her video tutorial on this spotlight technique using Elements of Style stamp set or click  here. 

After our second make and take, we had dessert, as if we hadn’t had enough good stuff to eat.  Theresa made these darling little “skeletons” with covered pretzels stacked on a tiny red velvet cupcake and topped off with a marshmallow head.  I love this pic of Theresa and Janice.

And if the skeletons weren’t enough, Theresa made this awesome pumpkin gingerbread trifle.  It is a supposedly “lite” dessert from Taste of Home.  You can find the recipe here.   It tasted every bit as good as it looks.

We all had a great time and can’t wait for Janice to throw another party!

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome!

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

October Creative Images Meeting

We had a lot of ladies at our first meeting at Priceless’ new location on Easy Street.  Trish was still moving in but Bonnie uncovered a table for us and we were good to go.  We had Kari as a guest and Dani is a returning member.  Here’s a pic of Janice and Lona with Trish back behind her new counter.  Click on any picture to enlarge it.  Lona looks thrilled that I’m taking her picture!

 

Of the thirteen ladies there, eleven brought an exchange card (theme “Thinking of You”), but only Jeannie and Therese brought ATC’s, so we moved the ATC swap to November hoping for more participation.  Bring ten and leave with ten, theme “Old World” is just a guide, not a requirement.  All of our themes are that way.  Also in November, we are signing up for the January shoe box swap/stamp camp.

This first card is Ella’s lovely butterfly.  She said the dotted Swiss background on the butterfly came on the paper and was not embossed before she die cut it.

Connie made this with a puffy fabric flower and designer papers.  Love the sentiment.

Holly used some of her ephemera photos for her leaf-themed card.  The lady walking through leaves, the leaf brads and swirls all work great together.

Janice made this darling tea bag holder with the fold Rosie taught us a few months ago.

Here’s the insides.  Makes you want to have a cuppa tea.

Jeannie found this pear card in her stash from past exchanges.  Dani had made it long ago!

Therese made this cute round card.  Lots of fussy cutting, my fave, and love the ric rac trim on the brolly.

Here’s my palmy sunset.  IRL you can see the shimmery cardstock it was brayered onto.

This is Lona’s Warm Thoughts card.  IRL it is a much BRIGHTER hot orange!  Lona does not do subdued!

Here’s Pam’s pheasant from SU’s Autumn Days.  I like the brown grosgrain ribbon with the knot under the bird’s tail.

Rosie made this easy, quick and painless card at one of my workshops. 

Tange made this swirly card in shades of purple, green and pink. 

 

I did the project this month, little Halloween luminarias.  You can barely see the flameless votive candle inside with the lights on.

But turn the lights off and there you go.

These were really simple to make and can be made for any season or occasion.  Think blue and white with snowflakes, white with bells, endless possibilities.  But, hey, it’s our October project!  I used SU’s Haunting jumbo wheel on vellum with black Stazon for the trick or treaters.  Dimensions for the base are:  3 x 10.5”, scored at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10”.  Stamp on vellum and cut squares to fit openings punched with 1 3/4 punch, with slightly smaller 1 3/8 punch to make the feet.  A 1 1/4” square punch would also work.

That’s it for this month’s meeting.  More in a week or so for Janice’s workshop.  We’re making Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome!

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Clearance Sale

From October 5–18, we’re adding over two hundred more discontinued items--some at up to 80 percent off--to our Clearance Rack.
Things to know about the Clearance Rack Blitz:

• Orders for Clearance Rack items can be placed  Online by clicking on the button at the left of your screen or through me personally.
• Qualifying orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin’ Rewards.
• While the Blitz lasts from October 5–18, some items, depending on availability, may be made available in the Clearance Rack in the future.
• All discontinued items are available only while supplies last.
• All sales of discontinued items are final.

Let  me know if you need any help. (Thanks Angie!)

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Angela’s Crop

I’m not a scrapper, but I was invited to a crop by Tange to demonstrate my Big Shot and do a make and take. Angela’s house in Summerfield is huge and to die for! It is called White Rose Plantation and has its own website here. {Just to make sure, ya'll do know that when I type "here" and it is in a different color, that is a live link, right?} You can see how this great house was constructed and how it looks today! Lots of room for 10+ scrappers to spread out between the dining room, foyer and living room. Here’s a few pics I took before

and during the crop. Click on any pic to see it bigger.

Yep, that’s Gale! Kelly had this nifty drink holder, trash container. Gotta find me one of these!

This is Terry’s little boy. I never caught his name, but he wore the cutest little bib during lunch – a camo print with “Major Trouble” on the front. Love it! He was no trouble at all, talking to and entertaining himself with a bag of Cheetos and his toys. He zonked out for a nap after lunch!

This is the little 6 x 6 make and take page I put together using printed letters which I fussy cut and colored and the four leaf shapes that come on the Leaves 2 Bigz die for the Big Shot. I sponged the edges of the leaves, curled the tips over a bone folder and drew veins on with a Versamark pen.

I made some drawing prizes for this workshop and another I am doing later this month. This little candy bar holder can be found on Angie Juda’s Chic ‘n Scratch blog here. {This is another live link!} Look at her Sept. 29 post. Today, Oct. 4, she posted her video tutorial on how to make these.

I made a belly band with the Haunting Wheel and wrapped it around a film-strip punched orange layer. The two ladies who won them were really happy.

Angela’s Dad made lasagna as our main course at lunch and everyone else brought yummy dishes, appetizers, salads. I brought dessert and everyone wanted the recipe. I’ve had this recipe for almost 30 years, given to me by my sister from Minnesota. Whenever any of her friends bring this dessert to a potluck, someone would say, “OMG, you brought Redford!” I told the ladies at Angela’s I would put the recipe here:

The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford

First layer:

1 Cup Flour

1 Cup finely chopped pecans

½ Cup butter, melted

Mix flour, butter and pecans till crumb like. Press into bottom of 9” x 13” pan and bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees until golden brown. Cool.

Second layer:

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1 Cup powdered sugar

½ of an 8 oz. container of Cool Whip (I used light as if that would make this less fattening! LOL)

Beat well and spread over cooled crust

Third layer:

1 large package of chocolate pudding (butterscotch, banana cream and lemon also work great)

1 large package of vanilla pudding

4 Cups cold milk

¼ Cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix until smooth and thickened. Spread over cream cheese layer

Fourth layer:

Spread last half of Cool Whip over pudding layer. Sprinkle with grated chocolate bar. Refrigerate until chilled.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome!

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) -:¦:- ***
((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨))
-:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)