Join the Jungle at Lavendar Sentiments Scrapbook Store

It's a jungle out there! Or purhaps you feel like your photos are in a bit of a jungle? Get those summer time memories in a cute little hand crafted album you can share with everyone. This adorable little album measures 4.1/4 x 7... perfect for your 4 x 6 photos. And it's the perfect size to carry with you to share with your loved ones. Or better yet... it's the perfect size to GIVE to your loved ones. These albums are easy to put together and so fun to give as gifts!

Join me at Lavendar Sentiments Scrapbook Store located on Charlestown Rd (just behind the cinemas) Monday, June 23 at 6:00pm for a fun class where we will create this album. Call Lana to tell her you'll be there. You can reach her at the store by calling (812) 945-0790. Can't make it to the class but REALLY want to create this adorable album? Not a problem! Just call Lana and ask her for the kit. Everything you need is in the kit (you use your own adhesive supplies.) For a small postage fee, she can just slip it in the mail to you. Everyone loves happy mail. This would be like sending happy mail to yourself. he.

Check out the rest of these photos to see just how this fun album keeps going and going and going. You'll LOVE how easy it is! Sign up today! The class is MONDAY!

Very First Nimbees Challenge

THIS is my very first Nimbees Challenge card. And now, you ask "what is a Nimbee?" ME! I belong to a great group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators who occassionally swap ideas together and inspire one another. We have a group blog you can check out at this link... NMBS (which if pronounced, sounds like "Nimbees.") You can also find links to most of the Nimbees members' blogs to the right here on my blog. Check them out. They have some FABULOUS ideas!


The very first Nimbees Challenge was a Limited Supplies Challenge from my friend Teresa ( Inkfully Yours ). Each week there will be a new challenge on NMBS to help spark your creativity... OR... to give you inspiration to simply be the best copycat you can be (be sure to read my side panel where it says "Pretty Please.") A Limited Supplies Challenge is when the hostess suggests a few items to work with and you try to only use those items. I LOVE challenges! They really make me think outside my little box.


To create the blossom on this card I used the Scallop Punch for my base, the Large Star Punch for the next layer, and the Five Petal Flower Punch for the main blossom. The leaves were created with the Five Petal Flower Punch as well. All of these punches are available through Stampin' Up!. Contact me via email if you'd like to order them. Then you can make all sorts of beautiful blossoms!


MY CHALLENGE TIP OF THE WEEK: Make sure your aren't spending too much time on your creation. Some of the best cards I've ever seen are ones that take less than ten minutes to make.

Hello

The Stampin' Up! Retired List is NOW AVAILABLE. I am pleasantly please to announce that Bugs and Kisses is NOT on the list. Whoo Hoo! I love this set!

If you would like a copy of the Stampin' Up! Retired Stamp Set list, just email me and it will be on it's way to your sweet stampin' fingers. Be sure to check back for dates of my Retirement Party. Details will be posted very soon. I have a ton of retired stamp sets for as little as $10. You WON'T want to miss out on those deals!

16 Sweet Years and an 11 Year Old Sweetheart

Having been married sixteen sweet years, my husband and I decided to celebrate as we always do at our favorite bed & breakfast in Bardstown, KY... The Beautiful Dreamer. We absolutely LOVE going there and have been going there for the past ten years. The owners are wonderful Christian people and they spoil their guests royally! They are amazing cooks and hostesses. The Beautiful Dreamer is in the heart of Bardstown and is located directly across from My Old Kentucky Home and the Stephen Foster Story Ampitheater. We love our visits to The Beautiful Dreamer because there are fantastic restaurants, great shows, tons of antique and specialty shops, a state park, amazing tours, and much much more. I think now that we've been visiting for so long, our fav thing to do is just sit on the porch in the evening while listening to a wedding hosted at My Old KY Home. This gives us the opportunity to remember our own wedding while celebrating so many wonderful years together.

This visit to The Beautiful Dreamer was more special than ANY other. As we entered our amazingly decorated colonial room, there sat a handcrafted anniversary card just for us. No, it was not from the owners. My first thought was, "Aahhh, Dean (dear husband) must have had Wynne (dear daughter) put it together for him." So I picked it up and opened it with Dean looking over my shoulder. It was from Wynne HERSELF. She made the card, asked her school teacher for assistance in mailing it, and then asked the owners to have it in our room upon arrival. Can you believe that little sweetheart?!!! Of course, Dean and I both were crying and smiling and lovin' that little girl more than ever! What a special way to celebrate! She even had her little brother sign the card. God is good. Yes, He is oh so good!

Create a "fantastic" look with PAPER PIECING.

Learn how to paper piece on your projects at the next LAVENDER SENTIMENTS CLASS June 10th at 6:00pm. Paper piecing is very easy and gives your images a completely different look than any other. I personally think it creates that "printed" look as if it wasn't even hand made. You know, it's those cards you get and you think, "Did she MAKE this?!"


I couldn't resist using this plaid paper for this project. The minute I saw the paper I saw an adorable skit. Grabbed a few stamps and there we go! I absolutely LOVE the phrase of this stamp... "You look fantastic!" inside reads... "Now you say it back to me." he he he... love it!


In the class you will make two cards with a similar layout but different stamps. The goal is to learn how to take a layout and "flip it." The class is only $12 and you will make two cards. Remember, even though that seems like a ton of $$ for two cards, you are getting hands on experience with one on one training with this technique. Plus all supplies (other than your personal basic tools such as adhesives, scissors, and cutter) are included in this price. AND you recieve a 10% discount off any product you may want to purchase while attending the class.


Register for this class by contacting Lana at Lavender Sentiments Scrapbook Store located next to the Spaghetti Shop on Charlestown Road. Her phone number is 945-0790.


It's been awhile since I've shared a recipe. Some of you have told me personally this is a fun part of my blog. Thanks for letting me know you enjoy it. I REALLY appreciate you! If you have a chance, how 'bout shooting me an email with one of YOUR fav dishes? I know my family would really appreciate it. I just love sharing recipes with people I personally know. This has been a main source of my cooking habits. Tried and true, ya know? So here it is...


PORK CHOP AND POTATO BAKE
4 to 6 pork chops
veg oil (I used olive oil.)
dash of seasoned salt (I used Accent.)
1 can Cream of Celery
1/2 C milk
1/2 C sour cream
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (24oz) bag of frozen O'Brien or regular Hash Browns, thawed (I used 1/2 (36oz) reg hash browns.)
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1 (2.8oz) can of Durkee French Fried Onions

Brown chops in oil. Sprinkle seasoned salt to taste and set aside. Combine soup, milk, sour cream, pepper, and 1/2 tsp seasoned salt. Whisk mixture together well. Stir in potatoes, 1/2 C of cheese, and 1/2 can of onions. Spoon into a 9x13" pan lightly sprayed with nonstick spray. Arrange chops on top. Cover. Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover and top with remaining cheese and onions. Bake uncovered 5 more minutes.

Stamp Club Party... OPEN TO ALL!

Come and join the PARTY! This TUESDAY, May 27th from 3:00pm to 10:00pm, we will be celebrating National Scrapbook Month as well as May's Stamp Club... all in one place... and all for FREE! The projects you see here in this post (above and below) are just some of the items we'll be stampin' up!

The first make & take is FREE to all. After that, each make & take kit is will vary from $1 to $3. With gas prices the way they are, we can't let gift giving take a break. These projects are affordable enough for us to share with others as well as keep for our own treasures. Just $1 to $3... that's cheap! All make & takes are free to all Stamp Club members... yet one more perk of being a club member!

The above bookmark card is a great gift and greeting. At the party you will use Stampin' Up!'s Cutter Kit to create a "tear out" bookmark on your card.

This adorable mini album is perfect for the purse! And what great timing... with school out soon, photos of friends and/or teachers will look great in this album!

Learn the fast and fun way to scrapbook with QUICK STRIPS. I absolutely LOVE Quick Strips! They cut my scrapbooking time in HALF, honestly! And if you aren't a scrapbooker, you will love how Quick Strips work perfectly for your greeting cards. Check out the ones below... these cards will be super nice to say Thank You to teacher!

Stamp Club THIS SUNDAY, May 4th

THIS has GOT to be the most adorable gift card holder pattern I've ever seen. I got this pattern from SCS. I know how intimidating that site can be (trust me. it took me forever to navigate.) but it can be so fantastic for ideas! Having said that... it can also be time consuming to get onto that or any other stamping website. I have to be very disciplined when I visit. Sooooo... if you would like to but just don't have the time to visit fun stamping websites, let me do it for you! I will share with you what I discover right here on my comfy little blog. Visit any time you like. Email me with your questions or for instructions (a compliment or two from time to time might just make my day, he.) I love to share what I know and thus my Stampin' Up! involvement.

We will be creating this pattern of gift card at our next STAMP CLUB so you won't want to miss it. However, there is a way to get this pattern if you do have to miss club. (Remember, you don't have to be present at every club gathering to be a member.) If you can't make it to this Sunday's club (May 4th) and would like the pattern to this gift card holder as well as the card holder itself, email me RIGHT NOW with your Stamp Club order. I will mail your gift card holder to you. Stamp Club requires a minimum $15 order and you do not have to be a member to attend the fun. Just come! Club is always 2:00 to 6:00pm.

Check out the sidebar here to the right for the CAMP projects we will be creating immediately after club. There are still openings in the camp so RSVP right away! The camp is only $20 and includes all supplies needed for the three projects shown.

Here is a gift card holder using this same pattern I made for my neice who just had her bridal shower this past weekend. It turned out so lovely... just like my neice! I can't believe she is all grown up and getting married. sniff.

Last night's class at Lavender Sentiments was a big hit (with Cindy.) She got the royal treatment with one on one instructions. Our conversations were fun and the paper crafting was relaxing.

These were the two projects we worked on. The gift pail is none other than a vegetable can! What a great way to recycle! They make the cutest gifts and are so easy to alter when you use the Crop-a-dile. It will punch through metal like butter! Do you have a crop-a-dile? Order one today and start saving up those cans! You'll be saving money with not having to purchase little gift packages ever again. (I'm all for saving the green!)

Be sure to check out the next class coming up at Lavender Sentiments. You can see some of the details to the right (here in my blog.) The scrapbook page can easily be converted to a masculine theme. And the "thanks" card can be used for any kind of gratitude (not just for teacher.) Call Lana and RSVP for this class or ask her to email you the entire schedule of classes. The store phone number is (812) 945-0790. You can stop by the store and take a look in person at ALL of the upcoming projects. The store is located at 4510 Charlestown Rd. in New Albany. Feel free to email me with any of your questions.

BUGS and KISSES

This is one of my absolute FAVORITE stamp sets from Stampin' Up!. The bugs are just so stinkin' cute! For this card, I used the Purely Pomegranite TEXTURED CARD STOCK for my base card.

If you haven't worked with this textured card stock, you need to. It is so pretty! You can get them in the assortment pack and let me just tell you... the In Colors won't be here much longer so you will want to stock up now. Can you believe we are in the MIDDLE OF APRIL already?! The current catalog retires in July. That is when we say goodbye for good to these gorgeous In Colors. I am sure the new ones will be just as fabulous but I have to admit this year's have been my favorites.

I used the Fairy Tale and Beachfront Ribbon Originals for my ribbons. I love how the rick rack looks over the ruffly pink! For my cute little "gummy" worm (don't you think he looks like a yummy gummy, he) I used the BABY WIPE TECHNIQUE. This is probably one of my absolute favorite techniques. It is SO easy. Just drop a few REINKER drops onto a folded baby wipe and use this as your "ink pad." The reinkers I used were Rose Red, Bashful Blue, and Certainly Celery. Looks so yummy!

Comfort Chicken

1 lb chicken breast, boneless & skinless, cubed

1/2 C butter

1 med onion, sliced & seperated into rings (I'm not an onion fan so I just used a tsp of minced onion.)

4 med. potatoes, peeled and cubed

1.1/2 C baby carrots (I like to slice these in little round discs.)

1 C whipping cream

1 T dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

In large skillet, cook chicken and onions in butter til lightly brown. Add potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook over med heat for 30 min. or until veggies are tender. Stir in cream, parsley, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 10 min. or slightly thickened.

My kids ate this. My husband devoured it. I really enjoyed it but my tummy did not. I am not use to eating the butter/whipping cream type foods. So for those of you with stomachs like mine, eat a small portion. And enjoy!

Please consider sharing your recipes with me. I love getting tried and true recipes. I actually like cooking when I know the recipe has a greater chance of being tastey. Otherwise, I'd rather be STAMPIN'! he.

I just love the stamp set Forever in My Heart by Stampin' Up!! The hearts in this set are so fun and easy to stamp. On this card, I used the "kissing" technique (love when the technique has a fun name like that, he.) I inked the heart in Real Red first. Then I used the check pattern image from All in a Row (another fav) inked in Night of Navy to "kiss" the heart. Next I stamped the heart onto Whisper White and VOILA! Very fun! Very easy!

I am trying a new recipe for dinner tonight. It is from my new cookbook (got it at Christmas from my sweet hubby.) The Graceland Church youth group sold them as a fundraiser. I LOVE LOVE LOVE church cookbooks! This one is so great because it is three-ring bound and has a TON of recipes. It even has a recipe for PLAY DOUGH. Talk about fun! I will post the recipe tomorrow if the family enjoys it.

Wishing you and your families well!

Classes at Lavender Sentiment Scrapbook Store

This Thursday, April 10th at 6:00pm you can create these two lovely projects at Lavender Sentiments Scrapbook Store on Charlestown Rd located near the Spaghetti Shop across from Northside Christian Church.

Most supplies are included in the class fee of $12 and you will need to register by contacting Lavender Sentiments at 945-0790. For other class times and descriptions, email me and I will send you a copy of the store newsletter.

The projects we will create at this Thursday's class would be perfect MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS. There are all sorts of 12 x 12 page frames and this "Bloom" page will look beautiful with any photos. And what perfect way to wish Mom (or any special gal) well than to bless her with this card that reads "May God's everlasting love bring you everylasting joy."

Shout Out with WHISPER White

Whether you are a card maker or a scrapbooker or both, there are three essentials to making a card or page really "pop." One is BALANCE (or layout.) One is COLOR. One is DIMENSION. I guess you could call these the B, C, & D's (instead of the ABC's) of paper crafting. Although I am normally drawn to cards created with colored card stock, lately I have been having fun working with my Whisper White card stock alone. It's been a fun challenge to see just how eye-pleasing I can make a card seem by forcing the COLOR essential of my card to flow only through my inks. I must say I like the end products. I can focus on different techniques to create a "wow" factor.


These cards can be created at my next Stamp CAMP this Sunday from 6:30 to 8:00pm. The class is only $10 for all five cards. All supplies are included. You must register by emailing me by Saturday evening (no later than 6:00pm.) I will show you how to incorporate even more color to these Whisper White greetings so you will certainly want to be there!


The above card was created with the rainbow brayer technique. Two-Step Stamping is the feature that creates dimension for this card.

The Thanks card above features a sponging technique that incorporates the scallop punch as well as the large circle punch.

This card gets it's dimension from the color spritzer as well as some added grosgrain ribbon.

This card is quite possibly my favorite. The scallop punch and two circle punches along with some sponging help create the dimension for this card.

Hope to see you at the CAMP!

All for Love

Happy Easter everyone!

May you truly know the love of Christ and understand He did it ALL for YOU.

God's blessings.

Aren't these papers fantastic?! I used Bali Breezes Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! and just love how this card turned out! The stamp set I used is One of a Kind with matching Boho Blossoms Punch. So pretty! Hope you like it!

Here is an extremely yummy recipe shared with me by my friend, Vonda. Thanks, Vonda! It was so good! I can't wait to try new combos.

Crawler Cake
one boxed cake mix
one tub of frosting
4 eggs
1 C whole milk
1/4 C oil

Mix all but frosting together till just blended. Mix in frosting. Don't overmix or cake will "crawl" out of pan. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake 1 hour at 305 degrees. No need to frost... it's in the cake!

I used Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting. I will check the recipe and edit my post with the combos Vonda used. Thanks again, Vonda! I love getting tried and true recipes.