Holiday Cookbook

Click on THIS link to download a great holiday cookbook from Stamp TV!!

Now - get to baking!!  Christmas will be here before you know it!

Clear Mount SU Stamps

I want to share a video from Angie Juda about the clear mount stamps that you might be interested in.

Check it out HERE.

Early Christmas and I'm Certified!

Christmas came a little early for me.  My friend, Margaret and I decided to just order each other the Stampin' Up things we wanted for Christmas.  I sent a couple of items her way that she had on her wish list for Christmas when she placed an order last week.  And she gave me her credit card and I ordered a few things for myself for Christmas.  Isn't that the best way to do it?  Then, everyone gets what they want! 

Here are the items I received this week from the new Mini Catalog which starts January 5.  The stamp set is a clear set and comes in a DVD box so there is plenty of room for the stamps PLUS on the spine of the box is a picture of the stamps that are in the box.  Easier to see what you've got when it's on your shelf!!  I just wish Stampin' Up had done this years ago!  I don't know that I want to take all the rubber off my old wooden blocks for ease of storage but it's a thought.  I've about run out of room for those big boxes of stamps.

So I got the Vintage Vogue stampset (clear) along with the Very Vintage large wheel, 5/8" Celery Satin Ribbon, Red Corduroy Buttons, Scallop Corner Punch, and Two Step Bird punch from the Mini Catalog.  I got the paper pad, Welcome Neighbor, from the upcoming Sale-a-bration Catalog.  The Sweet Pea Stitched Felt pieces were a gift from Stampin' Up!!

I also received this pin because I am now CERTIFIED in My Digital Studio.

Here is a card I made yesterday using my new stamp set.

I used the Nestabilities Ovals and cut a Gold oval and a Rich Razzleberry Oval.  I stamped the "F" in Gold, embossed it and carefully cut it out.  The bottom of the Very Vanilla paper is wheeled in gold, embossed and distressed.  I crumbled up the whole paper, straightened it back out and sponged Soft Suede all over it.  I wanted to use one of the new felt pieces but I'm not so sure it really goes with the vintage-ness of the card.  Oh well .... that's what I did.  The ribbon and card base are Rich Razzleberry.

Well, gotta run - headed to town for a bone density test and thyroid ultrasound test.  Hoping to meet Sonny for lunch after his stress test.  And I guess we'll be headed back to town tonight to watch the Steelers .... hopefull BEAT Cleveland.  If we can't beat the Browns, we might as well give up!!  Last I heard was that Hines Ward was hurt and will be sitting on the bench with Troy Polamalu so I'm not so sure about our chances.

Blog Candy

Check out this blog candy HERE!

Clean and Simple

Getting tired of Christmas cards?  We're sure inundated with them at this time of the year!  I started addressing mine last night.  I'm not including letters this year so it shouldn't take so long to get them done.  I've already received five or six cards and have them on display.  My first card of the season usually comes from my Texas friend, Sharon, but hers wasn't the first one this year.  What happened, Sharon??? 

Today I cleaned off my desk ... what a mess!  I had embossing powder and glitter everywhere.  Now, let's see how long it stays clean.  After I did that, I got the urge to stamp again.  I decided to do the Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoast .... since my desk was clean and all!   Here are the rules for the challenge:

1. Clean: the design is uncluttered with lots of white or open space. Simple: having a clear focal point without a lot going on to detract from it.

OR

2. simple in design regardless of the number of embellishments or how long it takes to color, stitch or to use a special technique

OR

3. can be copied and mass produced fairly quickly… usually without a lot of coloring, layers, embellishments, tools and/or techniques

OR

4. any combination of the above

Plus, there was a color challenge involved - use Red, Brown and Vanilla or White.  I think this card meets the challenge and I am quite pleased with it.

I used Close to Cocoa paper and embossed it with the Petals a Plenty embossing folder using a thin wooden frame on top of the embossing folder to keep the center unembossed.  The Northwoods stamp was stamped on a piece of vanilla and I used my Copics to color it.  I used Champagne Shimmers to paint around the oval and Frost White Shimmers on the snow.  But, of course, I had to use some stickles so dotted it on for snow.

Low Fat Pumpkin Apple Bread

Yummm .... here is a delicious bread to make for the holidays and it low fat too!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin-Apple Bread   -    10 servings @ 3 points each

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup + 1 tsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 tea. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup eg substitute
1 cup low fat buttermilk
1 medium apple
1/2 cup cooked pureed pumpkin (or canned pumpkin)
1 tsp confectioners sugar

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Peel, core and grate apple. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a small bowl, beat egg, add buttermilk, apple and pumpkin. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Mix until blended. Spoon into prepared pan and bake about 1 1/4 hours or until tooth pick inserted new center comes out clean. Cook for 10 minutes and turn out onto rack and ool. Dust with confectioners sugar.

Chilly Snowman Sketch Challenge

It's been a long time since I've just been able to make cards and not been preparing for a class!  I don't have any classes in the near future so I'm just playing in my craft room (as evidenced by my 4 Dasher cards yesterday!)  This morning I made this card for a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  As I've said before, I enjoy doing sketch challenges - takes away some of the decision making!!

It is a combination of a few things that I have had for a while - the ribbon, the paper ... it's good to use up things you already have.  The stamp is one of the Northwoods stamps.  I used stickles and Liquid Applique on the snow.

Here's the sketch if you want to play along.

I'll be heading out soon to watch those Steelers.  Let's hope they can win today.  Time is running out to even think about getting a Wild Card position.  Luckily, Ben will be playing today but don't know how the relationship is now between him and Hines Ward after last week's comments.  We'll see!  Sonny is between a rock and a hard spot with his fantasy team.  His quarterback was Kurt Warner.  Last week, when Kurt had to sit out with a concussion, he picked up Matt Leinart, Kurt's backup.  Well, they haven't announced for sure this week who will play.  He's putting in Matt but if Kurt plays, he'll be up the creek with no quarterback!

More Amazon $5 Deals

Here's more Amazon $5 magazine subscriptions for you just in time for Christmas giving!!  Click HERE to read about it.

You know Dasher and Dancer ….

 I’ve been busy today with a single stamp!  I just love the Dasher stamp!  I made several different cards with it today.  It is such a bargain to be able to buy a single stamp – especially holiday ones.  Check out the other single stamps on page 208 of the big catalog and on page 31 on the mini.

It's Dasher the reindeer,
the fastest of all,
a quick tiny reindeer,
but not very tall!

There’s Dancer
the danciest dancer of all,
dancing about
and having a ball! 

And Prancer like Dancer
prances all day,
driving elves crazy,
but what can they say?

While Vixen plays tricks
on all the reindeer,
Mixing their sleigh bells
and having no fear!

Don't forget Comet
with a smile all the while,
you can see the teeth glow
from even one mile.

And Cupid the dreamer
who day dreams the most,
waiting for Christmas
and Holidays roasts.

Donner is jumping
about on the snow.
Eager for Santa
and the reindeer to go!

Finally, Blitzen with mittens
of gold lace and holly,
is happy, and zappy
and oh, so jolly!

Oh, yes don't forget Rudolph
with that nose red and bright,
shining his nose
through the thick of the night

So what do you think?  Which one is your favorite????

Shelli on Today Show

Shelli Gardner (SU Queen Bee) was on the Today show yesterday.  If you missed it, HERE is a link to her segment .... and you don't have to watch the whole 2+ hours to see it!  It was short and sweet.  I don't know about her hairdo though!  I really thought she'd be on the show a little longer.