Treasured Friend

This is the first card I have made with the Autumn Blessings set that I won in Chrissy D's blog candy. Did you know Chrissy actually designed this set herself? I think that's cool! The sentiment and the berries are both from the set, and the background is Stampin' Up!'s Print Pattern stamp. I saw a card similar to this in my latest edition of Paper Crafts magazine, and wanted to try it for myself. I never thought to use more than one color on that Print Pattern stamp before. Doh! Doesn't it look cool multicolored? You could do some fun Mardi Gras stuff with it too, if you used purple, green, and yellow. :) Remind me of that on Fat Tuesday. Oh wait, every Tuesday around here is Fat Tuesday. Never mind. ;o) LOL.

I had a little trouble deciding which way was "up" for the berries.... and to be honest, I'm still not sure. I felt like they should all be hanging down, but it seemed that no matter which way I turned it, some still went up or sideways. Chrissy, if you're reading this, can you give me some insight? I'd love to know what you think!

Not much else to report today. I'll be back tomorrow with a CBC Challenge Card, so stay tuned! Oh... one more thing. Would anyone miss it terribly if I stopped giving supply details at the bottom of my posts? Does anyone even read that stuff?



P.S. Copics are 30% off at Hobby Lobby this week.... ;o)

Henry? .... HENRY!

Those are pretty much the words that were being said as I rounded the corner to find this:



He was tired of Blue. He wanted to watch Charlotte's Web. Never mind the fact that I have the dvd's secured on a shelf well out of reach. Apparently a Radio Flyer car, a wobbly bassinet insert on the playpen, and a strong willed toddler trump all of that.

My Mom said, "I can't believe you ran for the camera instead of getting him out of there!" I've been trained well though haven't I, fellow SCS toddler moms? ;o)

All Kinds of Fun Stuff

I don't have a card to show you today, but I did want to get a post up with some fun stuff for you to see.

First, you've read about the things I've been sending my summer sister, Lorie. Well, she has been sending me equally fabulous cards and gifts, but I tend to not post things like that on my blog. Don't ask me why not, there is no good reason. I just don't. But, I keep seeing happy mail on everyone else's blog (including hers!), and decided it was just silly not to share. So here is a picture of everything that was sent in my final envie from Lorie.



I am THRILLED to get Elvis stamps. OMG. You.Have.No.Idea. I luvvvv me some Elvis. Especially at Christmas time! I have my great-grandparents Elvis Christmas LP (yeah, we're talkin' VINYL here people!) and love listening to it. I also used to have a huge fluffy Elvis blanket that (I shouldn't even be telling you this).... hung on my bedroom wall for YEARS. I've been to Graceland, and I can't wait to go back. Yeah. You might say I'm a fan. I love the man, the music, the movies, you name it. Best Elvis movie? Live a Little, Love a Little. Hands down.

It's hard to see in the picture, but the bottom layer there is some acetate card bases. How cool is that? I really had no idea they even made them. I always just used SU's window sheets and folded them. I have a few primas in the picture - there was actually a huge container of them, but I couldn't fit it in. Then the gelly roll pen, post-it holder, gift card maker thingys (she might not know it yet, but I need instructions for those - lol!) and super cute Billy card. What a great gift, eh?! And do you see the sentiment on that post-it holder? It says, "You're the bee's knees". hee hee. I collect bees, and "The Bee's Knees" is also the name of my family blog. ;o)

Next, I want to show you this....

I received a number of comments about the ribbon I used on yesterday's card. Some people asked where I bought it, and the answer is Hobby Lobby. I thought I'd show you a picture of the spool in case you wanted to find some for yourself. :)

And finally, I've been tagged by my blogger (and Bella) friend Cheri. Although I've given up on the tagging part of these, I love to play along and answer the questions (kinda like those getting to know you emails that I can't seem to ever get enough of), so here's a little more info on me than you probably ever cared to know (LOL!):

Things you love… (skipping the obvious family, friends, God, etc. here)
1. Snow
2. The smell of fall (leaves, pumpkin pie, etc.)
3. America (I'm pretty patriotic)
4. A Good Sale
5. The Olive Garden

Things you don’t love…
1. Seafood
2. Mean People
3. Eating meat off the bone (I'm weird, I know)
4. Temper Tantrums (from boys or hubby... grrr)
5. Humidity

Songs on your iPod/Playlist (I'm going with favorite CD's for this one, and these are just a few of MANY...)
1. Stones In The Road by Mary Chapin Carpenter
2. Smokey Joe's Cafe Original Soundtrack
3. The Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits
4. Bathhouse Betty by Bette Midler
5. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrisette

Favorite Foods/Drinks
1. Caesar Salad
2. Diet Pepsi
3. Pizza
4. Mushrooms
5. Italian food, in general

And there you have it! I hope you have a great Saturday. :)

Bellaholic Sketch Challenge #1

This is my first sketch for the Bellaholics Yahoo Group. I love drawing these sketches up, and can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! So, without further ado, here is your sketch for this week:





And here is the card I made with it:



Pretty cute, no? :o) I love that ribbon. It was actually the insiration for my sketch. I've been wanting to use it for ages, but was never sure what to do with it. Did I mention it's elastic? That part is kind of a pain to work with, but I still love the ruffled edges.

Now for the fun stuff. Make something using this layout and at least one Stamping Bella image... it doesn't have to be a card, but stick as close to the layout as possible with whatever you make. Then link your project in a comment on this post, and next Friday I will use random.org to choose a winner for a little prize from me. You don't have to be in the Bellaholics Yahoo Group to be eligible to win, but if you love Bella's, why not join? It's a fun group with lots of great challenges, swaps, and ideas! So remember.... use the sketch, one Stamping Bella image, and have it done and posted and linked here by midnight on October 16th to be eligible to win!

I also want to talk for a minute about yesterday's post. I got a few comments asking what kind of black paper I used, because it seems shiny. It is just plain ol' Basic Black, from Stampin' Up! I used black stickles on all of the "spokes" of the web for a little extra shine. The rest of the shine is probably coming from the overhead lighting.

And if you read yesterday's post, you saw a few fun comments I've gotten about Bella's from my friends. (hee hee). I'll leave you today with another one. This was posted on yesterday's card by my friend Noelle, who always knows how to make me smile. :o)

Big thanks to my friend Michelle who sent me a HUGE envie full of images (including the one I used on this card!) this week. Thanks, Michelle!

Have a good weekend!!

Zoo Videos

Here are some videos from our last day at the zoo. They're all short. Just some snips to give you a glimpse into Henry's little life! :)

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

And here's a fun little something I found on a blog I read, so I had to try it. Pretty accurate, eh?!

The Recipe For Sarah

3 parts Allure 2 parts Dignity 1 part Silliness Splash of Boldness Finish off with a squeeze of lime juice

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

A Dark Web Of....

...Bella? hee hee... This reminds of a conversation I had recently with my bff. Well, not so much a conversation, as a comment he made about my blog via email. It was something to the effect of, "What the hell? Is there a Bella for EVERYTHING?" LMAO. Why yes, yes there is, doll. ;o)

A few weeks ago, I created a blog signature for my blogger friend Kimmie. She offered to pay me for it, but instead I just asked her to send me some images of some of her Hanna Stamps and Magnolia stamps that I didn't have. She did just that, and tossed in a few Bellas and other fun goodies as well! Thanks, Kimmie!

Then I have another friend who emailed me shortly after this stamp was released... I think her words were, "What the hell? Why are her legs coming out of the pumpkin's mouth?" Hee heeeee! I love my friends. :o)

Speaking of friends I love, my friend Lorie is celebrating her birthday today! Happy Birthday, Lorie!! I have something I'm working on for you, but like everything else I've sent you, it will be fashionably late. ;o) Lorie and I found each other on SCS long before either of us was blogging. What brought us together? A mutual love for the GREEN BAY PACKERS! Woot! Go team!!

As for the card... it's ok. I think I liked it better before I added the tag, but what's done is done. You know how it goes.

Ok, enough from me! Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my first Bellaholic Sketch Challenge! There will be a little gifty for a random lucky participant! More details tomorrow... :)

Enjoy the day, and click over to my family blog for some yummy recipes I made yesterday!



Details:
Stamps: Trickortreatabella (Stamping Bella)
Ink: Unknown
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, White (Unknown)
Other: Web Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Copic Markers, Stickles (on web and pumpkin face), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Small Tag (Avery), Black Brads (Making Memories)

Mama's In The Kitchen!

I chat online with a group of moms, and one of those moms has been a terrible influence on me. She's always cooking something in her crock pot, and I finally caved and decided I should try it too. :o) Isn't that awful?! I actually made a Beef Stroganoff earlier this week, but I want to tweak that recipe a bit before I share it. Tonight I made french dip sandwiches, and they really couldn't have been easier. I *heart* french dip sandwiches! I can never get enough! NEVER! Hubby even enjoyed these. He said they were as good as the cheesy beef sandwiches we get at Portillo's when we go to Chicago, but I think he was being a tad generous there. I mean, they were tastey, but I don't know that ANYTHING can top Portillo's!!

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

2-3 lb Beef Rump Roast
2 cans Campbell's Beef Consomme
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Mozzerella Cheese
Butter
Hoagie or Sub Buns

Place roast in slow cooker and cover with both cans of consomme. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Remove roast from slow cooker, and pull apart with fork. Save juice for dipping. Slice and butter buns, place on cookie sheet and broil on low until they've reached desired crispiness. Remove bun tops, and add beef to bun bottoms, then cover with two slices of cheese and return to broiler to melt. If you've never broiled things like this before, please notet that they go FAST! I stand right at the oven with my eye on it the entire time to make sure it doesn't burn. Once the cheese is melted, you're good to go! Yum city!

Then, after dinner, I decided to make some banana bread...



For those who aren't aware, I love Goofy. I used to collect all things Goofy, but have cut back substantially on my purchases in the last few years. Hubby bought me this kitchen timer for Christmas last year though, and I just love it! I had to get it in the picture. :)

For the banana bread, I used this recipe. The only changes I made were that I used two large bananas (not sure if that was more or less than what was recommended, but it worked), and added about a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. :o)

If you decide to try either recipe, let me know!

You're The Berry Best

Today's CBC Challenge is to make anything but a card. I have seen these little packets around the blogsphere for awhile (usually with a KitKat bar inside), so I thought I'd try my hand at one.... Except to be different (you know how I love to be different!), I put something else inside:



I saw these near the check out at Michael's one day, and I had to buy some because they totally took me back to my childhood. I bought a pack for me, and a pack to give as a gift in this little pouchy. :) The pouch is super easy to make. Basically just measure your cardstock so it is big enough to wrap all the way around, with an inch or so overhang at the ends, then secure it with adhesive and crimp each end. It's hard to see the crimping in the photo, but it's there, I swear.

And again, don't the new Tart n' Tangy and old Fruity Phrases sets go so well together? It's one of my new favorite combinations.

The designer paper is from SU's Summer Picnic line. I've had a few comments from people saying that they'd wished they had bought that paper when it was available in the summer mini.... but don't forget it's also in the current catalog! It's not too late!

Don't forget to click the links in my sidebar to see what the other Challenge Chicks have created this week, and if you play along link your work on Courtney's blog for a chance to win a little prize. :)

Finally, I know, I know, this is the third day in a row that I've posted since I said I was cutting back. In my defense though, I made this a few weeks ago. It was included in that final package that was sent to my summer sister, Lorie. ;o)

Enjoy the day!


Details:
Stamps: Tart n' Tangy, Fruity Phrases (both Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DP
Other: Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers (on strawberry), Stickles, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Chiclets, Paper Crimper

The things kids say, part 1

Somewhere along the line, Henry became "You". Here are a few recent conversations:

Me: Who put your socks behind the crib?
H: You.
Me: You did?
H: heh.

Me: Who's Mama's bug?
H: You!

You get the picture. So, I've been trying to teach him his name... his real name. Here is the conversation that took place last night:

Me: What's your name, honey?
H: You.
Me: No, your name is Henry.
H: Heh.
Me: Can you say Henry?
H: No. (lol!)
Me: Can you say Hen?
H: Hen.
Me: Ree?
H: Ree.
Me: Henry?
H: You.

Oye. Back to the drawing board. ;o)

Simple Redemption

Redemption from what, you ask? Yesterday's card, of course! hee hee. I couldn't leave that at the top of my blog for more than a day, so I had to make something and get it posted. :) I ended up grabbing one of the many (and I do mean MANY) Fluffles images that was sent to me when I requested them on the WRAK forum on SCS. People were so generous, I love it! I've had them for a few years now, and I think I've only used one or two of them so far. That's never a good thing! Fluffles needs to get out and play more!

I used a cool grey (CG1) and a warm grey (WG5) copic together on this card. I wasn't sure how it would work, but I think the end result is cute. I used the cool grey to pick up the warm grey and then applied it to the paper. Then I used the CG1 marker alone as the floor with some clear Stickles applied over the top for texture.

The idea for the partially cuttlebug'd background with the sentiment at the bottom came from this card, that was recently featured on Taylor's blog. The swirly folder reminded me of unwound yarn. And I am loving this dark grey and cameo coral color combo. A vast improvement over yesterday, no? LOL!

Well, my plan to cut back on blogging doesn't seem to be working so well! I'll be back tomorrow with another CBC Challenge, and then maybe I'll skip Wednesday. Maybe. This stamping thing is addictive, in case you haven't noticed. ;o) The good news though, is that I snuck in an episode of Ugly Betty last night, so now I'm only one week behind on that show. I'll get caught up eventually...

Enjoy the day,

Details:
Stamps: Fluffles (Stampendous), Feeling Groovy (Verve Stamps)
Ink: Going Grey, Black (Unknown)
Paper: Cameo Coral, Dark Grey (Unknown), White (Unknown)
Other: Heart brad, Grey Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder