New May Arts Team and 2 Giveaways

There's big news on the May Arts blog and you're going to want to hop over and get in the giveaways.  I'll be back with some May Arts goodness soon.  So proud and happy to remain a part of this awesome team!

I'm back with a Blog Candy Winner and an Announcement

We're back from vacation.  Back from birthday parties

Building with Legos

Look, Mom...Nana brought gumballs!

Hanging out in the treehouse

Dance recital

Family breakfast after church

and puppy counsins chewing the same bone...now, that's puppy love!

There were so  many more precious moments spent with our sons and their families that will remain in our hearts forever. Moments to savor in quiet times.

But now....it's time to get back to laundry, ironing, cooking, cleaning, Stamping and a Blog Candy Winner!!

Oh, did you remember I always add more than what you see 'cause I love to surprise you?

Here's my winner:

 

Random Integer Generator

                                                         Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2011-06-20 00:11:04 UTC

jen said...

I totally love that chair card- the colors & lo make me happy! And that baby card cracks me up!!!!! So fun!!!!

what an amazing prize too! wow!!!

June 8, 2011 11:21 PM

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment and post the candy on their blog. 

Now my announcement!  I'm honored to say that I've been selected to be on the Rubbernecker Stamps Design Team!     Be sure to pop over the RN Blog and welcome the rest of the new DT members. 

Big News & Candy from May Arts and Creative Imaginations

                                

It's May Arts/Creative Imaginations Week!  You know they always have super prizes just for commenting on the daily posts....Want to know what's up for grabs this week? 

This.....

and all of this!

Now for the "Big News" !!  I made the DT once again for May Arts Ribbon!!  Woo,Hoo!!

Thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to comment on my project!  I owe my spot to you!

Don't forget to sign up for my Blog Candy as well....I added something new today.  :-)

A little update

First of all, thank you to everyone who offered prayers and good wishes for my hand recovery.  It is getting better each day with rest.  It's just something that comes and goes and when it comes....I'm disabled for a few days.

Secondly, BOTH of our computers died...Murphy's Law, right?  First the laptop, then the ancient desktop.  The desktop has been replaced but we don't have it fully installed yet.  We need a 12 year old to help out!!   The laptop will have to wait until the budget recovers.

Thanks for hanging in with me....in the meantime, head over to the May Arts blog.  They are hosting a "Best of" week featuring all the favorites of the designers.  You're sure to find a project or technique you can't wait to try.

                                                        

Oh, Happy Day!

No Foodie this morning...I did bake cookies yesterday but they were the yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Andes mint chips.  YUMO...  I'll be back later today with something yummy for you but I did want to share some happy news.

I can't wrap my head around it quite yet and when I read it, I screamed so loudly that the dog thought we were having a party.  She started jumping around, too....

My happy news?   I am one of the new Design Team members on the SplitcoastStampers Clean and Simple Fall DT!    Off to bed so that I can wake up and see if it's still real. 

Here is a partial list of the new DT as well as links to the awesome outgoing Summer DT.

Thanks so much for allowing me to share my happy news with you!

Cutting Cafe Winner!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random integers, generated with replacement:

9

Timestamp: 2010-08-13 01:10:17 UTC
 Betty Wright said...

Charlene, this is just AMAZING! Stunning design and detailing! Beautifully done!


August 9, 2010 12:08 AM
 
Congratulations, Betty! We will get your Cutting Cafe Sets to you asap. 

Foodie Friday, A Challenge and an Announcement

The  recipe for Foodie Friday follows, but first, I have some happy news and a challenge for you. 

Sharon Johnson, yes, THAT Sharon Johnson (!) has asked me, yes, me (!) to join her fabulously talented team at No Time to Stamp as Guest Designer for the month of August.  I took about one whole second to think it over, did a little happy dance (out of sight of the dog) and typed "yes" as fast  as my fingers could hit the keyboard.  You have to understand that Sharon as been my stamping idol from the time I found her on SCS years ago.  I think I have a notebook full of her creations that I printed out from the days before we had a laptop and I had to run from the office to my studio to try to case her beautiful work.  So without further ado...

Are you ready?  Here we go:

August 6 - ssnotime151 - One Layer Card - Today's challenge is brought to us by Barbara Anders and here is what Barbara says: I'm challenging everyone to make a one layer card. That means only the card base--not the base + one other layer--no layers allowed, LOL! Embellish however you want--ribbon, buttons, bling, scoring--anything goes, but no layers.

Aack...no layers!, no DP, nothing but your base and whatever you want to put on it but NO layers.

Here are my samples:

and this one from yesterday's post qualifies too. 

I used deckle edged notecards by Fabriano and Savvy Stamps, a bit of ribbon and some stick on pearls.  No sentiment so I can use these for birthdays, thank yous, thinking of you  or get well cards.

Be sure to check out the awesome samples from the Design Team:

Deb Neerman - Paper, Ink Scissors, & Stamps

Barb Anders - Paper Pursuits

Jenny Groop - One Krafty Kat

Janine Orchard - 2bKrafty

AJ Otto - The Willow Garden

Deb Saaranen - Dream in Color

Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover

and of course,

Sharon Johnson - No Time to Stamp

Ok, here's your dinner!

                       

This is Not Your Momma's Tuna Casserole!  Nutritious, creamy and oh, so good!  Easy on the budget, too and not a can of soup in sight. I cut the recipe in half for DH and I...just use 1/2 of each ingredient and bake in a 1 quart casserole (above).

Not Your Momma's Tuna Casserole

2 cans (61/2 oz. each) albabore tuna (you can use canned salmon if you prefer)

6 oz. (3 cups) uncooked egg noodles

1/2 c. chopped celery

1/3 c. sliced green onion (or red onion or any mild onion in your fridge)

2/3 c. regular or  lowfat sour cream or plain yogurt

3/4 c. regular or lowfat mayonnaise

2 tsp. yellow mustard

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. salt

2 small zucchini, scrubbed, sliced (not too thick)

1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 medium tomato chopped

Optional - fresh parsley, dill, basil or chives may be added in before baking or sprinkled on after baking

Lightly butter a 2 quart casserole.

Drain and break apart the tuna.  Set aside.

Cook noodles until al dente.  (they will continue to cook in the oven...mushy noodles are icky)

Drain and rinse in hot water.

While the noodles are cooking, combine the sour cream, mustard, mayonnaise, thyme, salt and herbs, if using.

Combine the cooked noodles with the tuna and sauce mixture.  Spoon 1/2 the tuna mixture into the casserole, top with 1/2 the sliced zucchini.  Add the remaining tuna mixture and zucchini. 

Top with the shredded cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with the chopped tomato and bake 5 minutes more. 

Serves 4-6

Enjoy...save some for me, please!  I'll be stampin' those one layer cards!

A Request for Andrew - Can you help?

Update:  Andrew has been admitted to the hospital.  Please continue to pray for him and his parents.  If you can leave them a message on their Caring Bridge site (link below) it would be much appreciated. 

A few of you might remember that I requested prayers for Andrew, the nephew of a friend of ours, who has been diagnosed with multiple brain tumors.  This picture is from his Caring Bridge site.  If you would like to read Andrew's story and leave a message for his family, I know they would appreciate it so much. 

Andrew is 10 years old and loves baseball more than anything.  He has now lost all his hair due to the chemo treatments.  We weren't sure how comfortable Andrew's family would be putting his information out here in cyberspace but Andrew's aunt said he is going through a particularly difficult time right now and is in need of  encouragement. 

I know that cardmakers are the most wonderful encouragers!  If you have a moment, could you  please send Andrew a card?  It would mean so much to his family and I know it would lift his spirits. 

Here is Andrew's address: 
                                                                Andrew Wernicke

                                                               19445 Benington Drive
                                                               Brookfield, WI 53045

I had thought about sending him a baseball inspired card and then decided to send this one hoping it would bring a smile to his face. 

                              

I used an EK Success punch for my waves and popped them up on dimensionals so the fishes could jump in and out of them.   I cut the fish out and then coated them with Crystal Effects to give them shine and dimension.  My sentiment is computer generated.  This is for the CAS77 Red fish, Blue fish challenge on SCS.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classis, PTI

Stamps - SU Fishy Friends (retired)

Ink - Copic marker

Accessories - EK Success large scallop embossing die, Spellbinders circle die, SU circle punch, computer, Crystal Effects, dimensionals

   

Get Ready to Hookie Lau..We're Going to a Luau!

I've been keeping a secret!  I was asked to be the Guest Designer on the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog!


The Design Team theme is .Luau.   You are free to create whatever you want.   How's that for fun?  I decided to make a little set that could be used for a party or for a romantic little Hawaiian evening with your honey.  ;-)

First up is my card, which I made as an invitation but could also be used for a fun summer beach card.

The images are from an acrylic set I found at JoAnn's by Fiskars called "Island Fun".  The totem image is a single that I just stacked one on another, embossed with clear embossing powder then cut out.  The flower and sentiment are from the same set.  See those little swirly things around the flowers?  Well, they were left over when I used my swirled MS border punch on another project.  I knew I could use them on something!

Next up is my little glass charm which also doubles as a wrist lei.  I punched flowers from mulberry paper then strung them on pink elastic cording.

Finally, is a little favor box.  This is actually the cute Life Savers Box from the Cutting Cafe.  This box holds 4 packages of Lifesavers.  I didn't have any Lifesavers but guess what?  It also holds 4 of these yummy Ghiradelli chocolates that just happened to match my box. 

It's summertime...great time to plan a Luau.  Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to see what the fabulously talented Design Team has in store for you then grab your grass skirt, your ukulele, your vivid colors and stamps and play along. 

This is also for the F4A20 Free for All Challenge at SCS - Show Us What Ya Got...how'd they know I HAD to go shopping?  Who ratted me out?!

Supplies:

Paper - K & Co. Citronella

Stamps - Fiskars Island Fun

Template - The Cutting Cafe Life Savers Box

Ink - Versafine

Accessories - large flower punch, elastic cording

CAS74 - Carrie's Cakes

A surprise for you and one for me, too!  First, the surprise for you..... I'm the Guest Designer for the CAS74 Inspiration Challenge this week.  Jen has chosen Carrie's Cakes as our Inspiration this week.  Oh my!  What gorgeous, gorgeous cakes, but oh the prices!!  We can dream right?  Here's the cake I chose as my inspiration:

 

Isn't this a fun cake?  I'll be making another card or two, or three for this fun challenge...so much eye candy to inspire.

Here's my card for this cake.  I made the rose using a pear shaped punch, the tendrils are strips of vellum that I colored with marker and curled with scissors.  I sprayed the rose with Glimmer Mist.

What do you think?

And the surprise for me?    I've been chosen as the Featured Stamper #178  this week on SplitcoastStampers!  I can't believe it!  My little gallery was chosen as the gallery to CASE (Copy and Share with Everyone) this week.  Gosh! I'm about speechless (which if you know me is saying something!) 

I hope you get a chance to play along with both challenges.  I appreciate your comments so much. 

 

Cutting Cafe New Team and 2 for 1 Special!

I'm taking a quick break from this

to tell you about this:

Regina, of The Cutting Cafe has announced the new members of the Team.  A BIG Congrats and welcome to all the newbies!! 

To celebrate, Regina is having a 2 for 1 special to celebrate the new Team.  Yep, any set you want of equal or lesser value FREE but only until Monday,  June 28th Midnight so if you've had your eye on a couple of sets, now is the time to head on over the Cutting Cafe and stock up because there's no limit on how many sets you can purchase. 

Hope to be back on schedule with posting tomorrow! 

 

Blessed!

I've been AWOL for a few days (plus a day for recuperation...I'm old!) because I've been having the time of my life with our grandchildren.  It was a jam-packed few days that included our granddaughter's dance recital, "Beauty and the Beast"...(I must say it the title fits her perfectly!),  swim lessons, tennis lessons,  our grandson's 5th birthday...

Can you just imagine the sound of this?  Too fun and yes, the tongue does help, I know...I used to color that way!  And no, I didn't buy those drums, his Daddy did!   Brave Mommy and Daddy :-)

The most precious time, though, was our granddaughter's decision to commit her life to the Lord.  Her Daddy baptized her.  We are so proud of her!

I'll be a bit sporadic for a bit as I'm going on our annual berry/peach pickin' trip but be sure to check in....there are some fun surprises coming...including one for me this morning...I'll be a Guest Designer for the CAS challenge on SplitcoastStampers July the 5th!!  Woo,Hoo!!

Now off to see what you all have been creating!  Happy Summer!!

   

It's the House Mouse Grand Prize!

 

Wow...look what arrived in today's mail.  I was so excited, I just set everything out on the kitchen counter.  There are waaay too many goodies for my little photo box.  I was the lucky winner of the very first House Mouse  and Friends Monday Challenge blog hop.    I'm pinching myself that's for sure!  What a blessing.  Be sure to hop on over to the blog for this week's challenge #71...there's still time to play.   It's a "sweet" one!  (hint, hint)

I've Been "Paper Cubed" and Cricut Cake Giveaway!

  

Hi Everyone!  I am so excited and feel so blessed to be asked to join the very first awesome Design Team on a new challenge blog called,  Paper Cubed or P3. 

The team will be charged with making one wildly awesome 3D project each month  (no cards)  that hopefully will inspire YOU to think outside the paper box.  You'll have a whole month to complete your project so no pressure and lots of time to be wildly creative.

Here are the rules from KIM our lovely DT leader for each challenge beginning May 1:

The one major guideline is this, the challenges are for 3D projects only (hence the name paper cubed, get it?) so cards are pretty much excluded here. Think big, think OUT of the box so to speak and really go wild! The challenges will be posted on the 1st of each month. The deadline is midnight EST on the last day of the same month. Winners will be announced on the 5th of the month following the challenge. 


The Top 3 winners each month will receive a badge for their blogs.

One caveat from me....my illness may prohibit me from participating in the first challenge but I'm sure gonna try.  In the meantime, click the link on my sidebar to visit the rest of the lovely ladies on the team. 



Have you seen the giveaway on The Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot to win a Cricut Cake machine?  If not, head on over there and sign up. 


Woo,Hoo...we're gonna have some fun!!!

Vacation and Sick Leave

Hi Everyone,

Just want to let you know that I've missed a few days posting because we have been on vacation visiting our family.  We had a wonderful time but have come home sick, sick, sick.  Fever, body aches, head cold.  I hate traveling because it happens every time.

My brain is foggy so will be off for a few days more until I can stop aching at least. 

Thanks again to every one who visits regularly.  I appreciate you!!

Don't forget about the blog candy drawing on 4/22!!

  

Cutting Cafe Giveaway Winner!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in The Cutting Cafe Giveaway.  Here is the winner;


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

29

Timestamp: 2010-03-25 15:50:28 UTC

Donna said...


Wow, this is the cutest card I have seen in a long time, you are one creative, talented girl. Thanks

Donna C.
goCricutgo
March 24, 2010 4:39 PM

Donna, please send me your email address (cookiebaker57@gmail.com) so we can get your stamps to you.  If the winner does not respond in 3 days, another name will be drawn.

Just a quick note to let you know that I will not be posting for a few days.  I burned my right hand last night with scalding water.  It is pretty painful and since I'm right handed, crafting  and typing are not possible.  Thankfully, I keep several bags of frozen peas and corn in the freezer just in case and keeping it iced has kept the blistering to a minimum.  

Thanks for understanding.

It's Here!

  

 

It’s here! The First Release Day for Ethereal Forest Designs!

 

There are 27 images and sentiments for purchasing on their newly formed store. The design team has been busy creating cards this past week using the wonderful images and you can find them on the Ethereal Forest Designs Blog!

 

Please take a moment to browse the images at the Store, then hop over to the Blog and leave a comment! You could possibly win a free image, if you do! We’ll draw a random winner who has left a comment on the EFD Blog on Tuesday, March 2nd.

 

Make sure you become a “follower” on their blog to stay up-to-date on Blog Hop, New Releases and Challenges information.”

 

  

There's No Place Like Home

I've had a secret for a  week or so but haven't been able to share until now.     Whooooopppeeeeee!

Ok, got that out of my system...I am going to be a CAS (Clean and Simple) Guest Designer in April!  SCS has been having a CAS Olympic challenge.  I made it through two rounds but got cut in the final...You can go see the heavy competition and see why.  There are some awesomely creative people in the world of ink and paper.  

One of my goals this year was to make a design team and make an effort to try out for something on SCS.

I am totally and completely on my knees and thankful for the awesome blessings I've been given...and all at once too.  I'm getting too old for this much excitement!

My friend, Patty, loaned me that adorable birdhouse, an oldie from D.O.T.S but sooo easy to paper piece.

I just stamped a bunch, paper pieced the houses, colored the stand and ivy, played with punches and ribbon.  Truly 10 minutes and done. You could change the sentiment to suit any occasion!

         

I'm thinking of having a regular blog feature on Sundays.  Clean and Simple Sunday. SCS sponsors the CAS challenge on Monday so you'll be all practiced and ready, LOL...me, too!   What do you think? 

BTW, a faithful commentor, Mandy, has new blog candy you may want to check out.  There's a photo in my sidebar.  Good luck!

Supplies:

Paper - Papertrey

Stamps - D.O.T.S, Papertrey Home for the Holidays (I inked just part of the stamp) wink,wink

Ink - Versafine, marker

Accessories - MS punch, buttons, ribbon, glue dots, twine