SAS Coming Soon!

My kids had VBS today so I had a little time to get started on the samples for the Stamp a Stack class coming up on July 14. I browsed the catalog & found a cute card on pg 43 so I pretty much cased it with  just a few changes.

Thanks for taking a peek today! I'll be back tomorrow!

Artisan Contest!

Super excited to report that I got THE call last night! I was chosen as one of the 20 finalist for the Artisan Award contest! Happy Happy Dance!!! So grateful for the leading of the Holy Spirit on which projects to send! Here is one that I didn't end up sending...

I am so thankful for my friends that encouraged me to try again. Also a big thank you to Connie Collins last years Artisan Award Winner! She saw me at leadership & encouraged me to try again. She told me she had entered 4 times before she finally won!
The 10 winners will be announced on awards night at convention next month. The count down begins!...
Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Summer Starfruit Convert!

I must admit when I first saw Summer Starfruit I was less than excited. Leave it to my super creative friend Lynda to make a georgeous card with it! I loved her card so much I cased a lot of the elements she used to make this...

I love how this card turned out! The new piercing templates are one of my favorite items from the new catalog. It's a simply perfect way to really step up your cards! I also used another of my fav's the new Papillon Potpurri stamp set with matching punch! I LOVE Butterflies!!! My friends will be making this card tonight! Ok now back to getting things ready for tonight's class...
Thanks for stopping by today!

Time for Lemonade!

We have been having lovely summertime weather! I was inspired to do a 3-D cup card for this month's technique class. I hope to have time to make up a few different samples to display but we shall see what time allows. But for now here's the first one...

Thanks for stopping by!

I am really glad this week is about over. My husband had a friend die in a car accident last weekend & the funeral was today. So sad. I stayed home with the girls. I haven't done too much creating but I was so inspired by the new Holiday Mini Catalog that I just had to make a Christmas card.

I do have a lot of projects to finish up this weekend so I'll be back to share later.

Celebrate Summer!

I am finally feeling better & looking more normal. Still not 100% but at least I can go out in public with out scaring anyone. LOL! Thank you Natalie for taking the time to comment. It was much appreciated!
Anyway today I wanted to make a card for a friend that I know has been counting down the days till summer vacation starts! I saw a cute watermelon card in this months issue of Paper Crafts magazine & I thought nothing screams "SUMMER" like watermelon right?

The girls & I have been embracing all the yumminess of summer, taking weekly trips to the farmers market to get fresh fruits & veggies. Our favorite thing to get is big boxes of strawberries! I let the girls eat their fill then I wash the rest, hull them, & pop 'em in the freezer. My hubby & I decided a couple weeks ago to start eliminating heavily processed foods as much as possible. Further fueled by watching the HBO documentary "The Weight of the Nation" about the child obesity epidemic. Did you know one of the best things you can do for your families health is eliminate soda, juices, sports drinks,etc..? Luckily we rarely drink that stuff so cutting it out isn't a huge deal. Its been fun to find healthy alternatives to some of the girls favorites. We have never let them eat a lot of sweets to start with but one of their favorite treats is ice cream! They used to get a half a scoop once in awhile & they were over the moon the other day when I let them have 2 scoops of our new homemade "ice cream". I saw this recipe on pinterest & my kids absolutely LOVE it! It's seriously just frozen bananas!!! Our favorite flavor is strawberry/ banana but they have all been delish! We have been having a lot of protein fruit smoothies which I really enjoy. I also have never seen my kids polish of a bowl of baby carrots & ask for MORE! But its been happening! For their afternoon snack I served the carrots with what my girls now call "Carrot Dip" & they ate it ALL! Here are some of our favorite recipes so far (also blogging them so I don't forget myself)... 

All measurements are just my best guesstimate.

Carrot Dip:

1/4 c. Greek Yogurt

1 tsp Italian Seasoning

1/2 sprig Fresh Rosemary (optional) 

1/2 Clove Garlic

1/4 tsp Garlic Salt

Smoothies: (Serves 4)

Strawberry/ Banana

2 Frozen Bananas

4 Frozen Strawberries

1 c Fresh Spinach

1 Scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder

1 c Milk

Berry/Banana

1 c. Fresh Blueberries

2 Frozen Bananas

4 Frozen Strawberries

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

2 Tbsp Raw Honey

12 oz pkg  Soft Tofu

Tropical

2 Frozen Bananas

1 can Crushed Pineapple

1 Mango

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

1 c. Milk

Another favorite is Chicken Salad but we replace the mayo with greek yogurt!

Chopped Chicken Breast

Cilantro

Red Onions

Greek Yogurt

Dijonaise

served with sliced Avocado! 

Ok I can see this post is probably my longest EVER so I will save the rest for another day.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Lots Going on...

Sorry I've been MIA but its been a roller coaster ride around here. I was planning on posting last week but I had a crazy allergic reaction to some face stuff I put on & I have been looking a lot like this...
 

NOT fun! Seems to be getting worse by the day. It feels like the time my whole face was covered in poison oak. I went to the doctor today & they gave me some cream to put on it so hopefully it starts working soon. Anyway I do have some good news & the card from last week to share. The good news is my Artisan entry made it to SU on time!

We made this card at last weeks get together. This is a case from the SU website. I thought the card was so cute & it was a quickie too! Anyway thanks for taking a peek today. I hope to be feeling better & blogging more soon.

Almost forgot the other good news!!! The 2012-2013 catalog is live! Click here to see it!