Happy Thanksgiving: Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today!! It is a day of gratitude and do you know what I am most grateful for at this moment - the fact that my husband does all of the Thanksgiving cooking!!

My card of Thanksgiving includes a wonderful sentiment - one that I most definitely could do a better job of living by.


A week or so ago, I mentioned my husband's leftover turkey soup and that I liked it better than the actual Thanksgiving.  It's also the reason that we rarely accept invitations to other's Thanksgiving meals - we wouldn't have the leftovers for the soup!  And I am going to share it here.  There's really nothing fancy about it - it's mostly just dumping in everything you have left over!

---

Leftover Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass2 bay leaves1 pinch marjoram1 pinch thyme1 pinch basil2 Tblsp butter3 Tblsp flour1/4 cup rice1/2 cup chopped celery1/2 cup chopped onion2 cups fresh mushrooms1 handful thin or medium egg noodles1/2 cup chopped parsley3 Tblsp sherryLeftover gravy, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberries, etc.Chicken stock
Take all meat off the bone and set meat aside. Cover with water, add spices, salt and pepper and simmer slowly for 3-4 hours. Remove bones and strain for stock.
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in stock. (It should be 1 1/2 to 2 quarts, if not, add chicken stock). Bring to a boil.
Add rice, celery, onion and a handful of noodles. Simmer 25-30 minutes.  Saute mushrooms. Add to soup with diced turkey meat, all leftovers, and parsley. At serving time, add sherry.
Enjoy!

---

My card uses the sketch from clean&simple stamping. I've used it twice this week - it must be a keeper!

I'm also playing along with Crazy 4 Challenges Thankful theme and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.

• Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Soft Stone
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone (the small shadows)
• Accessories: Hemptique white twine, Neat & Tangled Crystal Clear sequins, Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise button

Guest Spot with Merry Monday

This is my second post today!

I had the great privilege of being the Top Pick at the Merry Monday challenge a few weeks ago so I get to be their guest today!!

This week is a sketch challenge (my fave!!!).   My card really took on a life of its own.  This card started out with bright colors and patterns and singing birds but it just wasn't coming together. Then I woke up Saturday morning to swirling snow and two other challenges that were playing with negative die cuts.  With all of that inspiration - this card came together very quickly!

Crazy 4 Challenges calls their negative die cut challenge "being negative".

And for Just Us Girls, it is technique week:

• Stamps: WPlus 9 Folk Art Flurries
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals
• Ink: white
• Accessories: Seasonal Sentiments dies (the word and the snowflake), Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade twine, misc white button, Martha Stewart border punch

BE Re-Inspired with The Alley Way Stamps

It's the beginning of the second week for The Alley Way Stamps BE Inspired challenge and it's my job to remind you and to re-inspire you!!

The picture is full of neutrals with an intense flash of green and a few other fun colors!  I focused mainly on the colors - but the freebie stamp set with purchase this month includes a little fence - so with the fence in the background - I had to use it!!

I hope you play along.  If you don't yet own any stamps by The Alley Way Stamps (available at the link or now at Simon Says Stamp - they do have digital freebies for you here!

I particularly like this week's sketch at Crazy 4 Challenges as I thought that angled panel would work perfectly with the fun TAWS stamps!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Tweet Spot (free with $40 purchase), Background Check (on the green flag) and Doodle Frames ("hello")
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Wausau Paper Astrobrights Glow (the green)
• Ink: Memento black, Copics, Versamark (on the green)
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Hibiscus ribbon, Stampin' Up embossing folders, My Favorite Things fishtail flag die

Nuts and Bolts for You!!

One of the new sets at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) includes this darling robot!


Who would have thought that a robot could be this cute??
I had every intention to color him in.  I always stamp my images a few times on scrap paper so I can experiment with colors.  I had him colored in the tan with red/tan striped legs...darling!  But as I looked at the card, I really liked the old fashioned newspaper comic look of him.  Plus he has such a sweet, innocent look to him.  (OK, maybe I over-think my cards!)
After I made that decision, I realized that I do that a lot with TAWS stamps.  There's a new cat set that I used here in the same way.  And I used the new dog set here.  That's one of the many reasons that I love The Alley Way Stamps.  They can be fancied up - but they are cute and charming enough to stand alone!!
He is on the inside looking through the window.  The sentiment that is next to him comes from the same set and says "I'm Nuts and Bolts About You"!
I had the window cut, the cute paper on and him peeping through but it was a little dull, so I paged through current challenges.  Crazy 4 Challenges has a ribbon and challenge.  It hadn't occurred to me to add bows to this masculine card - but after I played around with a double bow (tutorial here) and added a bright red button - I LIKE it!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Lighter Than Air
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Pink Paislee Secret Crush Heartbeat
• Ink: black
• Accessories: EK Success Sticko gem, Papertrey Ink Fine Linen ribbon and Pure Poppy button, Spellbinders narrow rectangle die

Love Knots, Hugs and St. Nicholas

It's my day to share over at The Alley Way Stamps and I thought it would be fun to use the new stamp Love Knots for the challenge over at CASual Fridays: Knotty or Nice!  I love this "knotty" heart!

I had envisioned the look of an aspen tree - a white bark - and when I saw the colors at The Paper Players - I knew it would be really sweet to keep it subtle with pops of color.  I also used the sketch from Unscripted Sketches.

This week's challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges inspired me to create another Christmas card.  The challenge was to use our favorite holiday stamp.  I'm not going to say for sure that the stamp on this next card is my very favorite stamp...but I liked it so much that when it was released last month by The Alley Way Stamps - even though I am on the design team, I couldn't bring myself to use it because I was afraid I wouldn't do it justice.  I spent yesterday at a Christmas parade, then at a Christmas concert with a full orchestra and 300 choir members.  I woke up this morning to snow.  If I can't do this stamp justice right now in my joyful Christmas mood, I'll never do it justice...

I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop and I am also going to add this for the current challenge at Christmas Cards All Year Round: Santa.

Love Knots and Huts

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Love Knots, Jibber Jabber ("hugs"), Trees Company (bird)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Pool Party
• Ink: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Versmark, Memento Espresso Truffle, copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler twine, EK Success border punch, white embossing powder

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Jolly Holiday
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red, Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Simple Stories Handmade Holiday Winter Wonderland (the brown with snowflakes), MME Winter Wonderland (the stripes)
• Ink: Memento Espresso Truffle, copics
• Accessories: ribbon from Joann, Echo Park Christmas This & That brads, white felt (on cuffs), Gold Spica (on candles)

Birthday Birdie: New Stuff!!

I got to play at a friend's house and she has her pre-order from Stampin' Up!!  I didn't have much time so I found this fun bird (actually it was the hat for the bird that caught my eye) and threw together this card.  Although it has new Stampin' Up dsp, new stamps, new dies and a new button - when I got home, I realized I didn't use any new colors!!??  What was I thinking??  I'm at the point in my "collection" that I have a stamp(s) for every occasion, holiday and in every possible style - but new colors are always welcome!



 

I used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts and the birthday theme from Crazy 4 Challenges.

BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar

has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Papaya Collage (pre-order), Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Paper: Stampin' Up Comfort Cafe (pre-order), Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla
• Ink: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Creamy Caramel (edges and sprinkles)
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Bitty Banners Framelits (pre-order), Natural Designer Buttons (pre-order), misc ribbon and gems

The Cousins' Birthdays

Look at this handsome and very silly group of kids - my two boys and my brother's two girls.

They all have birthdays within two months of each other - so we got together for one big celebration this weekend!  (The little one was actually laughing hysterically - although this particular photo looks like she is upset.)

The birthdays meant that I got to make two birthday cards for little girls.  (It's such a joy to do that as my boys rarely care about the cards that I make for them.)  Here's the card that I made for Karina who is turning 4.  I used this week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and I am also going to enter this at Crazy4Challenges (which seems a little unfair as their challenge is to make a child's birthday party and the challenge came out on the day that I already had two cards to make!!)

I haven't used the elephant very often and I got a little chuckle when it called my name for this card.  It's for my 4-year old niece, Karina, who is a tiny itty-bitty little thing - she still fits into 2T clothes!  But she is a whirlwind - constantly on the move, non-stop chatter - probably where all her energy goes!

I put this card together for my 7-year old niece, Natasha.

There is a story behind this simple little card.  I was ecstatic recently when my sister-in-law told me that Natasha wanted to make cards just like "auntie Kim".  So, I put together a package of cardmaking supplies for her birthday gift.  This card was made in the style of the package I put together - I pre-cut a number of colors of background cardstock and I used a variety of border punches.

Check out her face after she stamps her first stamp!

And then see how proud she is to color it in!

And this happy auntie can now proudly present Natasha's card!  Look at her creativity - she even drew in tree branches for the bird!

ELEPHANT CARD

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Wild About You, Hero Arts Birthday Messages (balloon)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo dsp, Lucky Limeade and Pumpkin CS
• Ink: Stampin' Up Going Gray and Melon Mambo
• Accessories: Martha Stewart flower punch, Stampin' Up Pumpkin grosgrain

OWL CARD

• Stamps: Hero Arts owls, Studio G sentiment
• Paper: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo
• Ink: Memento black, copics
• Accessories: Martha Stewart border punch, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on balloon)

ENJOY TODAY (Natasha's card!)

• Stamps: Hero Arts Wonderful Birthday
• Paper: Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise
• Ink: Memento black, Tombow markers
• Accessories: Martha Stewart border punch, Jolee's flower stickers, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on hat)

Crazy 4 Challenges: Joy Folds

I just updated my Favorite Challenges tab at the top of the page and I had hoped to do every challenge this week, but my goal is already quickly failing - there were 8 challenges this weekend and this is only the third challenge that I have done!!

But it's a fun one!

Crazy 4 Challenges challenged us to do a Joy Fold card which has always been one of my favorite folds - it's very easy but packs a big impact.

The top layer opens up (the edge of the button holds it closed), then the bottom layer opens down and here is the inside.  (That poor little flower on the inside really needs some leaves which I plan to do - but what I don't want to do is take the photo, connect to the computer, edit the photo and re-post - so you get to see it looking lonely!)

There are great, detailed instructions here on Splitcoast Stampers including a video, but the concept is very simple.  The big layer is 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" and you score at 5 1/2".  This leaves one side the same size as a standard size card and the other side about half-size.  The smaller layers is 3" x 8" and is scored at 4".  Then you just decorate it as you would like.

I said that I was going to have "proud-mama" photos today and here they are!

The Colorado Rockies present the Chaparral High School band performing the national anthem!

Here they are leaving the stadium. My guy is the saxophonist between the two tubas.

The weather really is as bad as it looks...

But the storm passed over and the game only started one hour late.  I occupied the waiting time taking photos.  Do you see that lighter line of seats way at the top of the seats just below the shadow?  That's a purple row of seats marking an elevation above sea level of one mile - thus our city's nickname - the Mile High City!

Finally the sun did come out and it was a great game - my youngest was really into it.

This is what baseball players get paid $15 million to do!

All in all, I thought it was a wonderful Saturday night, but my boys don't agree as the Rockies lost 7-8 in a very controversial and tough loss.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Love and Caring
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz CS and dsp, Old Olive, Daffodil CS and dsp, Bali Breeze dsp (the pumpkin piece)
• Ink: Stampin' Up Markers in Pear, Olive, Daffodil, Pumpkin
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Corduroy button, Daffodil grosgrain and border punch

A Polaroid Center Step!

Isn't that just the strangest title?  A Polaroid Center Step??

This week's technique at PaperTrey Make It Monday is to create a Polaroid effect using various masks to get the white halo around the image.  They have a great video and a beautiful card to demonstrate this technique.

Since I was already branching out of my comfort zone with a new technique, I decided to play along with Crazy 4 Challenges which was to create a Center Step card.

Now, does the title make sense??!!

Here it is!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Wishing You (the mini dragonfly on the chartreuse side panels is not in Wishing You)
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Fresh Snow, Versamark
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Simply Chartreuse, Kraft
• Accessories: Papertrey buttons, Berry Sorbet satin Ribbon, May Arts white sheer dotted ribbon

Designed2Delight Freebie

Designed2Delight put out the cutest digi this week.  They have the best deal - if you make a card with their digi that week and link back to their blog - you get a free digi for the next week.  This week's deal is up tonight.  (I had hoped to put a card up earlier so you all got a chance to play - maybe next week!)

• Stamps: Designed2Delight digi
• Ink: none
• Paper: SU Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Pink Pirouette dsp
• Accessories: SU flower punch, Punch Bunch leaf punch, SU Wild Wasabi ribbon, Smooch Pearl Spritz, Nestabilities Lacey Circles
• Challenges: the sweetest thing sketch challenge, Curtain Call Color Challenge, Crazy4Challenges: Valentine, Stampin' Royalty Hearts, Just Add Ink: Love

More fun stuff - - - - I am the proud recipient of:

I was nominated by Melissa at Smudges in Time.  Be sure to check out her blog - wonderful clean and simple cards.  I laughed out loud at her card from early February about chocolate!

The object of the award is to point out blogs that are fairly new.  I took the liberty of defining that as under 100 followers or less than a half a million views!!  (This such an arbitrary definition because it ignores people reading through FeedBurner or Google Reader - but I had to start somewhere)  In going through my blog list, I discovered that this requirement was kind of hard because not all blogs list their followers.  But...I tried my best...and would like to introduce the following blogs:

JENerally Speaking - wonderful CAS cards and you won't believe the pictures of where she lives!

Stampinantics - Paula has a great style.  Nothing is overly frilly or fancy - just well designed with very special and unique touches!

Seaglass & Sentiments - Christina just topped 100 followers so she really isn't new by my definition, but her cards are SO gorgeous, I had to include her here!

Sunflower Stamper - I have only recently found Jennifer's blog - in fact, I haven't even had time to comment on her blog yet so she will definitely be wondering who I am! - but she has wonderfully colorful cards with great scenes of flowers and butterflies - so very cheerful.

EnchantInk - I am seriously stretching the rules by nominating Andrea - I am sure she is wildly popular, but I can't find a follower list on her blog??!!  I love her cards, her recipes and her family stories (my gosh, they are busy and a little bit crazy!).  And she is the friendlist blogger that I know - so I really want all of my readers to find her!

For those of you that I have nominated:
There are just a few steps for each of you receiving this award:
1. Let me know if you accept
2. Post the image on your blog
3. Link back to my blog
4. Choose 3-5 blogs that you like, preferably lesser known blogs to give them some traffic!!

For the rest of you:
I hope that enjoy some new blogs!

BTW - I have another award to give out tomorrow - so come back for even more blog lists!!

Faith Butterflies

I combined a number of challenges this morning with a spectacular stamp set.  It would be hard to go too wrong when you use these gorgeous butterflies and sentiment.

This card is very different from my normal style.  It's as close as I ever get to the popular shabby chic style which was the Crazy 4 Challenges theme.  But when I saw the SplitCoast Color Challenge of River Rock, Basic Gray and white, then had these new stamps on my desk - it all came together and I am thrilled with the results!

An update on my rant from yesterday.  The temperature today is not supposed to break 0 degrees F.  That's really cold (and I usually like cold!)  Schools all over the Denver metro area are closed because of 40 below wind chills and concern over the kids waiting for busses (that would likely be late due to the ice on the roads!)  None of the schools have said anything about tomorrow but tonight is supposed to hit 18 below regular temp - I don't know what the chill factor will be - so I can't imagine they will let the kids hang out at bus stops tomorrow morning!  I don't know what I think about this - most of you know what it was like back in our days - uphill both ways in the snow!

FYI - for those that have never been near Colorado, you might be thinking we should be used to this.  NOT in the Denver area.  When you hear about cold and snow, it is almost always in the mountains.  Denver is on the prairie, not in the mountains.  In the Denver area, we often golf in January.  It may snow for a day or two, but then the sun comes out, the snow melts and it gets into the 70s.

Happy News on this cold day: my warm little coffee cups card was picked as a courtier (runner-up) at colourQ.

• Stamps: Our Daily Bread Faith
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, River Rock
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, River Rock CS and River Rock dsp, Whisper White
• Accessories: Nestabilities Lacey Circle, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Stampin' Up Basic Gray taffeta, pearls (colored with copics), misc lace
• Challenges: SplitCoast Color Challenge, Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge and Crazy4Challenges Shabby Chic challenge