Summer Mini Preview Card Builder Wheels Birthday

Today's Masculine Birthday card is SO simple!  I used Stampin' Up!'s new Builder Wheels with the Triple Cell Cartridge (inked with Not Quite Navy, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry) to make this masculine yet glitzy card.  I rolled it onto an 8-1/2 inch wide piece of Whisper White then cut it down to 5-1/4 wide by 4 high after wheeling.  Then, I used the Gold Glow Smooch Spritz to give it some sprinkles of gold shine. 

Here's an easy tip: I also glittered the ribbon using a large shoebox (though Stampin' Up! has a great Color Catcher too) with a piece of Stick Strip at the top to hold the ribbon. You have to hold the Spritz Spray upright so the ribbon couldn't just be put down on a table to spray it.

Stampin' Addicts is having another fun blog hop on April 30 to showcase the new Summer Mini catalog...join us back here on April 30th to click through and see 25 stampers' best projects!

Recipe Monday #26 Roasted Chicken with Herbs and Honey and May Stamp Camp

Greg altered a recipe he found on America's Test Kitchens for supper yesterday.  I think it is the best thing he's ever made!  We aren't Herbs de Provence fans (lavender in food?), so he substituted only some of the spices for that.

Salt and Pepper (or use your favorite chicken spices that aren't a particular type of cuisine) four Chicken Breasts and heat one Tablespoon of oil in a skillet (we use a dutch oven to reduce splatter) until hot and steamy.  Cook on one side for 5 minutes at medium high, then reduce heat to medium, add lid and cook for 15 more minutes. (Should reach 160F on a meat thermometer)

Remove all but one table spoon of fat from the pan and add 1/2 cup of low sodium chicken broth (box or can okay), 2 Tablespoons of honey, and nice sprinkles of Rosemary, Marjoram, and Fennel. Remove from stove and whisk in 4 Tablespoons of butter and 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar. We use this as a dipping sauce for the chicken and serve in individual containers.  Now after all this French cooking, you'll need to go for a walk to burn off the calories! :)

May Stamp Camp Creations

I'm sure you recognize Jackie Topa's Stationery Box. I haven't made these with my stampers until now, and I really hope they enjoy them!

We'll also make this Origami Box, but I'm not sure who to credit for the design...sorry.

You may or may not wish to gift the lemon-tea salt scrub inside the box...it only fits with the lid open...:)

More Retiring Color Information...and Bleaching Technique

New color kits will be available beginning July 1 for one year only. For example, if you have the pastels and want to change them out for the new Color Collections, a kit will be available with a new case, new insert, and just the pastels in the new colors. You would move the carry over colors to the new case. Similar kits will be available for the markers, water color crayons, ink pads and cardstock.

Full size CRAFT ink pads will be retiring with the exception of black, white, and vanilla. Craft ink will be available in spots and reinkers only after July 1. SU! will carry blank craft ink pads if you want to create a full size craft ink pad.

The Blush Blossom marker will be available in the next catalog

Retiring color items will be stocked through the end of May. On June 1, the retiring list will be published and it will become the usual free for all. Once it's gone, it's gone.


Sorry I've been busy this week!  If you're inspired to try bleaching, please stop by and upload your card at Stampin' Addicts.  It is Technique Challenge 49. (Tech49)

Here's my latest Technique mini tutorial which actually includes 2 types of bleach stamping: bleach stamping or bleach highlighting.  Be sure to use a good apron over an old shirt, work over a tile rather than carpeted floor, and be super careful.

Bleach Stamping

1. Put a full size paper towel (folded in half and then in half again) in a disposable square plastic container (Gladware type)
2. Add a bit of water to keep the paper towel in place (it dilutes the bleach just a bit too)
3. Pour in only enough bleach to wet the paper towel
4. Use the paper towel as your ink pad and stamp onto colored cardstock.
5. Your heat tool can be used to speed the drying process.
6. Dispose of bleach safely so that it doesn't spill and make a mess.

Shown on the background image below:

Bleach Highlighting

1. Stamp your image with versamark or craft ink
2. Cover with Clear Embossing Powder
3. Heat Emboss
4. Put a bit of bleach into a small cup and use a brush or Q-tip to highlight an area that would look nice lightened or white.

Shown on the surfer image below:

Colors...get 'em while they're hot!

Stampin’ Up! announced some amazing changes to the color lines this week!

They are now called Color Collections instead of Families and have been rearranged for ease of selection as Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles. We were allowed to share with our customers so that you may plan your purchase decisions based on this new information. The new (or old In Colors) will be available for customers beginning July 1, and the current (but soon to be retired colors) will be available for purchase until June 30th.

Some Stampin' Up! colors are retiring that I will miss such as Brocade Blue and Creamy Caramel, so if you would like to order any of these 30 pretty colors in cardstock, ink pads or refills, you’ll need to do so before June 30, 2010.  A complete list is shown in the picture below.

Several In Colors from the last couple of years have returned, including my all-time favorite, Baja Breeze! (Also returning are Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, River Rock and Tangerine Tango.)

Three of this year’s In Color favorites are not going to retire and will be available for purchase into next year: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Soft Suede. Kraft has been renamed as Crumb Cake….yum!, but that doesn’t help my diet at all!

Below is a chart of remaining colors that includes the five new Core colors (Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist) Click on and print the pictures to pick out your new favorites for July 1st while you make plans to re-stock your retiring favorites before June 30th. Five other new In Colors will be available in July that will now last 2 years instead of just one, and they sound lovely!

I hope you are as excited to try Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso as I am, and I don’t even drink coffee.

Stampin' Addicts Technique Challenge #48 Color Spritzer Tool

Tuesday's Technique Challenge is to use Stampin' Up!'s Color Spritzer Tool to create a background for cards or projects.  You're welcome to give any of the challenges a try! http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/stampin-addicts-challenges/


I was going for a spray painted masculine look in my super simple example.

Recipe Monday #25 Chocolate Puffs and an easy card...

Today's Chocolate Puffs Recipe is so easy and fun. I served these at Chicks and Chocolate last Thursday.

Ingredients:

Milk (just for brushing the tops of the pastries)
Spray cooking oil
about 3 Hershey bars, regular size

1 package of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets

1. Thaw your puff pastry and preheat oven to 400F.  Spray your cookie sheet with oil.

2. Place the first puff pastry sheet on pastry board (or clean countertop). Cut the pastry into three strips at the folds.  Then cut the pastry into 5 approximately equal horizontal strips.
3. Put a small rectangle from a Hershey bar on each rectangle.  Roll the pastry around the chocolate, and put it on the cookie sheet seam side down.  Continue for 15 little puffs.
4. Brush milk onto the top of each and spring with coarse sugar.
5. Repeat with second pastry sheet for a total yield of 30 puffs.
6. Place in the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes. Cool for at least 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Finally I'm able to get a card uploaded...sorry about the picture problem!  This card is a CASE (copy and share everything (not everything-there were changes, but that is what CASEing stands for) of the card on page 13 of the Stampin' Up! big catalog.  We made simple cards that would be easy to reproduce at home at class last Thursday.

More Simply Adorned charm inserts

Here are the two charms I sent for a recent 5/8" charm swap:

This one is for Halloween and was made using the web wheel and the Eat, Drink and Be Scary Set.

"I Stamp" with paper snips and a wood-mounted rubber stamp in case there was any doubt. :)

I didnt' choose to swap this one, but it is another option which uses the Picnic Parade Spring Mini Hostess Level 2 set.

Simple Cards Aren't Simple for Me!

Why does it take so long to make a card that doesn't have layers, brads, ribbon, etc.? I usually just give up and go with it when I try to creat a quick card.  Today's offering is no exception, and I even used the Stampin Addicts' sketch challenge (#46) for the layout! My 5 for $5 guests will choose one of these two cards depending on what occasion they need.

I wanted to provide an example of how simple it is to create cards using an inspirational layout.  Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration set made a cute focus for this card I think.

I used sponge daubers to add the color to the stamp and then stamped it onto the cardstock for the hearts.

 

One Sheet Wonder Stampin' Addicts Technique Challenge #47

Today's challenge for Tech47 over on Stampin' Addicts is to make a One Sheet Wonder batch of cards (Come on over and play. Participants don't have to use my template).  A One Sheet Wonder is using patterned designer series paper or stamping your own and cutting it in pieces to make a variety of different cards. I've altered the typical cuts for my uses including the top and bottom of an Easel card.  I didn't make a gatefold as is fairly standard, but the horizontal cut I made of the 5-1/4 X 4 inch piece (shown used on the middle two cards) could have been used for the background layer of one gatefold card instead of course.

First, stamp your 8-1/2" X 11" piece of cardstock.

Next, cut your sheet into a 5-1/4" X 8-1/2" sheet and a 5-3/4" X 8-1/2 inch piece.

Third, make the top left piece shown below.  It is the Easel top/main layer and is 5" X 3-3/4".

Fourth, cut the bottom right piece at 5-1/4 X 2-1/4...then cut that piece at 2" and 1-1/2". Also, cut the Easel base at 3-1/2" X 2-1/4". The remaining piece below it may be used to die cut the butterfly bookmark piece.

Fifth, cut the other side into a 5-1/4" X 4" piece (and cut it in half at 2-5/8 horizontally).

Sixth, cut the bottom right piece into a 5-1/4 " X 4" piece.

Then, cut it in half diagonally.

Put all your scrap strips in a line of increasing size for the strip card. Do not include the strips on the bottom left.

Shown below on the top and bottom left are the diagonal cuts fashioned into a pocket for a butterfly ribbon bookmark and a Friends card. The middle two cards were made with the horizontal cuts, but I stamped a Thank You image sheet for the top middle card. On the right are the strip cards with added image or sentiment focus images.

I plan to give this photo mat Easel card to my mother, but I want her to be able to use it in her living room without a Mother's Day or birthday sentiment. If you'd like to put a sentiment on the bottom, it would look lovely.

Recipe Monday #25 Fruit Pizza and A Butterfly Bookmark Pocket Card

Fruit Pizza is an old favorite that is still yummy!

Ingredients:
1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Seasonal Fruits -I like slices of Kiwi, Strawberries, Bananas and Mandarin Oranges and Grapes (sliced in half).

Press the dough evenly into a pizza pan and bake about 15-20 minutes at 350F.
Using a mixer, whip the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until it is smooth.  Then add vanilla. (Be careful not to sling the sugar out of the bowl.)
Arrange the fruit slices onto the pizza beginning in the center in concentric circles for a pretty presentation.
Serve as soon as possible.

Today's card has a pocket that holds a butterfly bookmark.  It is another from the Vintage Vogue One Sheet Wonder (which will be posted tomorrow).  I stamped the for you from the Great Friend set directly onto the  diagonal cut cardfronts and used a leftover piece from the OSW page for the butterflies (by tearing the scrap to fit the butterflies I wanted from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit by Stampin' Up! ).  I also used the "other" side of the cardstock from cutting Pretty in Pink Fancy Favor boxes for the diagonal edge and backed each butterfly with Old Olive cardstock. About 8 inches of Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon and some rhinestones from the Eggcellent Eggs kit finished the bookmark.

Paper Rose Photo Easel Card

When I saw these gorgeous roses by Julie Williams, I had to try them.  I used Pretty in Pink cardstock and Regal Rose classic ink for sponging without using the color spritzer that Julie did.  The Rosebud is simple...It uses two petals and follows Julie's instructions, but I wrapped a large Old Olive leaf from the Birds and Blooms Dies set around the base of the bud. I added the Rose embellishments to the corner of an Easel Photo card (just add a picture in the open area) for a sweet touch. 

The Vintage Vogue set by Stampin' Up! makes a great set for a One Sheet Wonder set of cards.  I used Old Olive, So Saffron, Brocade Blue and Pretty in Pink for this card. Come back Monday and Tuesday to see more of the cards I made with this Color Combination and set.

This will be one of our projects for April Technique class on Thursday, April 1 at 9:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.

If there is any doubt, this is not a mail-able card unless you are sending a box. :)

Easel cards have been attributed to Penny Wessenauer.

Fold and Crimp Technique Fun

Tuesday's Technique Challenge on Stampin' Addicts was Fold then Crimp Background.

What a great use for the crimper this technique is! I saw it on Lyssa Zwolanek's blog, and she had seen it from her downline Cathy Breuning from Lake Mills, WI. Cathy credits Tami White originally.

The way I did the technique was first to get my edges even. Using a 5-1/4 X 4 inch piece of cardstock, I scored the four inch side at two inches and the long side at 2 inches from each end as well. Then, I scored a diagonal in the corner and used it as a template to score my fresh sheet of cardstock using only one corner so that they would all be as close to the same as I could manage.

Once the cardstock corners were folded, I just put it through the crimper. I unfolded the corners and finished the card.  The Level 2 hostess set Wings of Friendship by Stampin' Up! makes a sweet little get well card.  This card will be one of the 5 cards for $5 we make at my Chicks and Chocolate event next Thrusday.

Recipe Monday #24 Braised Beef Tips and You're Invited to Join my Team!

Braised Beef Tips
1½ lbs of beef sirloin tip (a sirloin steak can be substituted)
1c flour
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter or margarine
½ c chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
½ lb mushrooms, sliced
1 c beef bouillon
1 c red wine
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Blend flour and salt then coat meat cubes. Melt butter in a deep skillet or a roasting pot. Add meat and brown. Transfer meat to a 3-quart casserole. Add onion, garlic and mushroom to butter in roasting pot. Cook over medium heat until onion is soft but not brown. (About 5 minutes)

Then add bouillon, wine and Worcestershire sauce to mixture. Stir to blend. Pour the contents of the roasting pot over the meat in the casserole dish.

Cover and Bake at 350 F for 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. If, after baking, the gravy is too thin, thicken it with flour on the stovetop.

Serve over noodles. Rice or potatoes may be used for a change.

Serves 4 adults.

You're Invited to Join my Team! I'd be happy to tell you more about Stampin' Up! and support you as you grow a business or as you grow your hobby! Just email me for information if you're interested!  This page was made using My Digital Studio and was fun and easy to make.

Fan my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/pages/Edmond-OK/Rhonda-Griffin-Independent-Stampin-Up-Demonstrator/311456514198?ref=ts between now and March 31 to enter a drawing to win a FREE Very Thankful Stampin' Up! Stamp Set.

Tip: Hemp Twine Storage...My husband is awesome!

So I complained about the twisted up wad of hemp twine being all over the place and totally out of control.....and my fantastic husband came up with this compact and easy to manage plan.

It took all of five minutes for him to punch a hole in the top of one of our undivided brad holders and wind the hemp twine into it.  Now, it is easy to use and neat!

Build A Bear Candy Bar Holder

In his Sunday Best with his Bunny Ears and Easter Basket.  This candy bar holder features the Build A Bear Dies and the Beary Hoppy Sizzlit Die which includes the basket, eggs, bunny ears, tie and shirt collars. Such a fun way to dress up your bear!  I added a strip of paper from the Sale A Bration designer series paper pack, Welcome Neighbor and stamped the happy easter sentiment from the A Good Egg set for a finish.

My Stampers may choose to make a boy bear or a girl bear with the Easter accessories for technique class on Thursday, April 1 at 9:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.