RETIRING!!

Stampin' Up has announced it's RETIRING stamp sets today. Check it out HERE. Dozens of stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog are retiring. Now's the last chance to get them--these sets are only available through January 18, 2009 ... And they're 10 percent off from December 9-23, so don't wait to order! (Here is the list reflecting the 10% off during this time.)

Call me or e-mail me now to get your stamps!!

more calendar pages

As promised, here are the other calendar pages from my Alley Stampers meeting.  I shared my calendar pages on THIS post.  Well, turned out, I messed up - I was supposed to do January and July .... not August!  So we have 2 Augusts!  I just have to print out a July and paste it over August.  Anyway, here are the other months the gals created:

Patty did April, May, November & December.  She used Digital Paper.  I've never tried that but the pages are gorgeous!  Also the Snowflake and saying on December is a free download from Creative Memories (magazine) that she downloaded and printed on cardstock.

Getting in the spirit of the season

I've been busy today.   Sonny and I decided to buy a real tree this year instead of using our artificial one (really didn't want to drag it out of the attic, if truth be told!).   We bought a nice tree yesterday.  Sonny grew up with a long needle Christmas tree and that's what we've always had.  I grew up with the Fraser Fir (think that's what they're called) with the little compact short needles and that's all we could find in the lots we stopped at (which was about 6!).  So, that's what we got.  We decorated it today and it looks really pretty.  So far, that's as far as I've gotten with my Christmas decorations!!  I'll post pictures when my house gets more festive!

I also spent a lot of time working on Christmas presents.  I made this today using SU's Decor Elements, a tile that I got at Lowe's and the red striped ribbon that is in the Holiday catalog.   I really like the way it turned out.  Hope the recipient likes it!

Did you know?

Arthur Wynn, the man who invented crossword puzzles, originally called them "wordcross" puzzles but a printing error accidently transposed the words and created "crossword". Since "crossword" appeared as the title of the puzzle on it's first day in the newspaper, that's the name that stuck.

A man named Adi Dassler took his first name and combined it with the first three letters of his last name to create the moniker for his brand of shoes: Adidas.

Rolls-Royce automobiles were named after two British engineers - Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.

~Strange & Fascinating Facts about Famous Brands

Calendar Obsession

I think I'm obsessed with making calendars.  I have made every type of calendar I believe .... big ones, coasters; CD's; etc. .....  Today, this is the one I made and I think I like it the best!!  I saw it first on Splitcoast and then on several blogs.  The black card base is actually a folded card (8 1/2 x 5 1/2") with winter, spring, summer and fall each on different sides (front, back, and inside).  I made a base for it to stand up on (you can see it in the side view) that can be removed when it's time to flip it inside out and slide it back on to stand up.

I cut designer paper with my Top Note die on my Cuttlebug and used the front and back of the designer paper to coordinate.

This is Fall made with Autumn Vine designer paper found in the SU mini catalog and felt flowers.

 

This is the Winter side.  I used Ski Slope designer paper also from the SU mini catalog and some punched snowflakes.

Here is Spring using the Bella Blossoms paper and the Filigree brad.

This is the Summer page using Summer Picnic paper and a cherry stamped from the Tart and Tangy set.

This is the side view so you can see how it stands up.  I just made a stand cutting the kraft cardstock 4" x 3" and scoring it 1" on 2 sides and slid it in (I didn't put adhesive on the bottom of the page).

Hope you have a splendid weekend!!

Sharon

Holiday Indulgence

Well, we are into that time of the year where over-eating is a must!  I must confess I am going to have a tough time staying on my weight goal this month!!  I should have gone ahead yesterday and weighed in and gotten it over with!!  Today was my Newcomer's Coffee where we each brought a dish to share.   With about 100 people present, you can just imagine all the food!  Luckily, I was at the last table to be called, so a lot of it was gone.  Not to fear though, I just got more at the dessert table instead!!  I was almost sick when I left!!  But .... it was soooo delicious!

Tomorrow is my stamp club get-together.  There's only 5-6 or us in this group so I shouldn't over-indulge on this one.  I am taking my 5-Cup Salad.  I always have this salad at Thanksgiving and Christmas but didn't make it this year for Thanksgiving.  It's so easy - I got the recipe when I first got married from my next door neighbors who were also Ashley's god-parents.  You mix together:

• 1 can pineapple
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can mandarin oranges
• 1 cup marshmallows
• 1 cup coconut

Yum!!

We are making calendars at stamp club.  We each took 2 months to decorate and we will be putting them all together tomorrow.  My months were January and August.  

I embossed the trees (from SU's Lovely As a Tree) with Holographic embossing powder (retired).  "Brr" is cut out with my Cuttlebug Alphabet.  The "ready, set, snow" saying is from SU's Best Wishes & More.

This one was fun!  The Sock Monkey with the inner-tube is from Life's A Breeze as is the flip flops in the sand!  The dolphin, fish and waves are from a Nestabilities I recently got.  I wheeled the sand and colored the shells with my Copics.  Everything is raised up with dimensional tape.

Can't wait to see the other pages of the calendar tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

Splitcoast Challenge Share

Here is a card that I did last week when my sister and her friend were over and we were doing marathon projects!  I found this challenge on Splitcoast called Decorative Circle Medallion.  I used a retired SU punch and the Nestabilities for the circles.  I used a Sizzix snowflake die for the snowflake with a brad in the center.  The paper is from a paper pack that I bought at Stamper's Alley. 

I was hoping to share the Christmas Planners that we made also but Marianne & Sharon both took theirs home to finish them.  So, I don't get to see the finished projects!!  Marianne used a Snowman theme with hers and spent most of the day either dry embossing snowmen or using the heat gun & embossing powder to make her snowmen shiny.  She now wants a "gun" .... a heat gun, that is!!  She's already bought back her Christmas present from our Mom.  I had gotten a Cuttlebug a few months ago for Mom to give to her for Christmas.  Of course, Marianne knew it because she had told me that was what she wanted.  She used mine so much last week that she told Mom to bring the Cuttlebug over on Thanksgiving & she'd pay her for it so she could use it NOW!!! 

The SU Bundle 3-Day Sale has been a big hit!! Unfortunately, several of the bundles are already sold out. They were only a limited amount available - SU mentioned putting about 10,000 of the Curly Label aside and they are SOLD OUT. Also sold out is the All In The Family, Star Struck and the Mission Embossable bundle. You can still order these items individually but just not at the bundle savings. When you click on the items (see link below), it will show whether it is still available or not.

Check HERE for pictures of the bundle items still available.

Rub-Ons are on sale HERE.

You can get the Country Living bundle HERE

Thankgiving foods .... start walking and a pie recipe

Below are listed some traditional Thanksgiving food Points. They sure add up fast.  I don't even want to tell you what mine were!!  Look out "Y" - I'll be there next week!!!

• Green bean casserole (¾ cup) *4
• Candied sweet potatoes (1 cup) *8
• Garlic mashed potatoes (¾ cup) *6
• Mashed sweet potatoes, canned (½ cup) *2
• Cranberry sauce, canned (1/3 cup) *3
• Bread stuffing (1 cup) *8
• Pumpkin pie (1 slice) *9
• Apple pie, 1 slice (store-bought) *7
• Pecan pie, 1 slice (store-bought) *10
• White meat turkey, 4 oz, no skin *4
• Turkey leg, 4 oz, with skin *4
• Wine, 2 fl oz *1
• Vodka, 2 fl oz *3

Here's a Thanksgiving calculator to see how far you need to walk next week!!  For example ....

1 piece pecan pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)   -   480 calories

1 piece pumpkin pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)   -  180 calories

A slice of pecan pie, A slice of pumpkin pie, ...that comes to 660 calories. You will need to walk 6.6 miles, 10.64 kilometers, or 13200 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.

While we're talking about pies, I tried a new pie recipe Thanksgiving and it was really good!  It was in the Charlotte Observer & called a Twofer Pie because it was a combination pumpkin and pecan pie.  It's definitely NOT a Weight Watcher's recipe!!

If you want to try it, here's the recipe:

• 1 (9") single pie crust, partially baked & cooled
• Pumpkin filling:
• 1 C canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 2/3 c heavy cream
• 1/2 c packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp dark rum (or flavoring)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp powdered ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Pecan filling:
• 1/2 c corn syrup
• 1/4 c packed light brown sugar
• 2 Tbs unsalted butter, melted & cooled (I just used marg.)
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 C pecan halves or pieces

Position oven rack in center of oven & preheat to 450.  Put pie plate w/crust on a baking sheet lined w/parchment paper or silicon baking mat.

Combine all pumpkin filling ingredients in food processor & process, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, for 2 minutes.  Leave filling in processor for a minute.

Place all pecan filling ingredients - except pecans - in mixing bowl & whisk until smooth.

Give pumpkin filling a final pulse in food processor; then rap the bowl on counter a few times to release air bubbles.  Pour into the crust.  Spread nuts evenly over the pumpkin layer.  Pour the pecan filling over the top, pushing any nuts that float back down.

Bake 10 minutes.  Reduce oven temp. to 300 & bake 350-40 minutes longer, until top is puffy & a think knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Thanksgiving is just a memory

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and I am still stuffed!!  We had a very nice Thanksgiving at my home yesterday.  My sister spent the night with us on Wednesday so she & I got a head start on our cooking when we woke up.  We had done most of the work beforehand so just had to make a couple of salads, pies and casseroles and figure out the timing of cooking it all!  This is the only time of the year I wish I had a double stove!!  We cooked the turkey on high heat and it only took a little over 3 hours .... the only drawback is every time the oven was opened, it got smokey in the house!  We had the doors open and a fan in the window.  Luckily, it was in the 60's and a beautiful day.  Our friends and relatives started arriving about noon and we munched on hors-doerves cheese and crackers - while waiting for dinner.  The guys went outside and played a little football.  After dinner, we sat around the table and played "Table Talk", a tradition I started last year.  It's a game of thought provoking questions.  I put 3 under each person's plate and they can pick one of them to answer or answer them all if they so choose.  The questions are like "What event in the past, present or future would you like to witness?"  What is your favorite childhood memory?"  It's a great way to get to know someone and sometimes you find out more than you wanted to know!!

Here's a pictorial tour of Thanksgiving at my house!

Our table setting .... BEFORE all the food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't this centerpiece gorgeous?!!  Our friends, Sharon & Bob always order the centerpiece for the table since Sharon doesn't cook!!

Marianne's oldest son, Derek, catching the football!

Harrison going for the ball .... if he doesn't lose his pants first!!

This beer's for ..... Marianne!!  Go Steelers!! 

My daughter, Ashley and her friend, Drew who joined us.

My sister & my husband.

Girlfriends!

 

Both my sisters on clean-up detail!!

After dinner snooze!!  My daughter's friend Drew and my mom.