Happy Birthday to The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges!

So far July has been a very busy month and it doesn't look to let up anytime soon! Yesterday I was able to get some laundry done, calls made regarding our missing Rocky and then my son came home from work saying his 5 month old iPhone had died! Last night we Googled how to fix it then let it and the computer do their thing while we slept but this morning it didn't look like it had worked:( Off to work he went leaving me to work on the phone so I did the Restore one more time and Voila! it worked!!! Whew! Now if we could just find our dog all would be right with my world anyway!

The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges celebrates it's 2nd birthday this month and I have been on the design team for about a year and a half (I think)! Being on the design team really challenges me to create new projects instead of just CASEing someone else. 

Guess who else has a birthday this month? ME!!! I will be celebrating a BIG one this year...#60!!! What can 59 year olds do that 60 year olds can't? Say they're 59--LOL! That was the only thing I could think of! I will be 59 for ONE MORE WEEK! 

Now, on with my Cupboard Trilogy Challenges project for the month...

I LOVE Triple Time Stamping and couldn't wait to use my new stamp set, Bloom with Hope, as a Triple Time Stamping card. I also used the new In Colors and they are really growing on me! My favorites are Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow! I want to try this card again using Blackberry Bliss cardstock!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies...

• Paper: Whisper White and Tangelo Twist
• Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow
• Stamps: Bloom with Hope
• Punches: Word Window and Modern Label
• Other: Ginormous Pearls (retired), 7/16" Natural Trim (retired), Dimensionals

Well, I'm off to see what I can get done today! I already cleaned my very messy kitchen and have a load of clothes in the washer. One more load of laundry to do and I will be caught up...AGAIN! It will be in the high 90s (F) today so if it's not done before noon it's not likely to get done today!

Till tomorrow...

Kat

Zoo Babies Meet Alphabet Press

The theme last month for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges was Yellow and I immediately thought about a baby card! Then my mind went to Zoo Babies...a stamp set I purchased several months ago but hadn't used yet. When I finished the card I thought it could be used for a baby or a first birthday. What do you think?

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stock
• Ink: Daffodil Delight, Hello Honey, Early Espresso and Memento Tuxedo Black.
• Punches: 1 3/4" Circle and 1 3/8" Circle
• Alphabet Press Embossing Folder
• Other: Dimensionals and Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (retired) 

I hope you enjoyed the card for today. I have two more for you tomorrow. Then I should be caught up with my Design Team Projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges for last month. Whew! I am really behind! My husband asked me last night if I was bored with my blog or having a writer's block! Guess what I said? NO!!! I never get tired of blogging and I never, never, never have nothing to say:) 

Till tomorrow...

Kat

Secret Garden Explosion

I checked The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges website this morning but they hadn't posted the new 
challenge yet. Then I remembered that I hadn't shared the cards I used for last month's Design Team projects.

I'm sure you can see why I called this Secret Garden Explosion! I started adding flowers and I just couldn't stop! Secret Garden is a stamp set I bought at the very last minute before it retired because I had bought the matching framelits and they just didn't look right without the stamped images. Unfortunately since I made this the beginning of last month, I don't remember all the materials I used. I will give you the ones I remember...

• Paper: Hello Honey, So Saffron, Gumball Green (retired) and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper (retired)
• Ink: Hello Honey, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar; Daffodil Delight Blendabilities
• Stamps: Secret Garden (retired), Hardwood
• Big Shot with Hexagon Hive Thinlit and Secret Garden Framelits (retired)
• Other: Dimensionals, Glue Dots and lots of Basic Pearls

Well, I think I did pretty good! The longer I looked at the picture, the more I remembered!

Thanks for stopping in today! One of my favorite quotes is from a meteorologist  named Joe Bastardi..."Enjoy the weather, it's the only weather you've got!" It just makes me happy every time I hear him say it:)

Kat

Shabby Chic Friend Card

Today I have a Shabby Chic Friend Card as my design team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges!

This card did double-duty for me as it was also used for a Shabby Chic Swap! Shabby Chic is a real challenge for me so it was fun to stretch myself!

The focal point was fun to create!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe and Very Vanilla card stock; Soho Subway Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Crumb Cake (for sponging...lots of sponging), Early Espresso
• Chalk Talk Stamp Set
• Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals, Extra Large Oval
• Other: Ribbon Roses (retired), Crochet Trim (also retired but SU carries one similar), Linen Thread, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Basic Pearls and Glue Dots

I will be back a little later today with day one of the A to Z Blogging Challenge! Check back to learn a little about ME!!!

Kat

The Cupboard Trilogy Design Team Projects

I sure hope it is warmer where you are than it is here! Today is definitely a stay inside by the fire kinda day! Brrr!

The Cupboard Trilogy theme for this month is Christmas/Holiday so I looked through my stamp sets to see which ones were being neglected this holiday season. I love this little retired Stampin' Up! stamp set and I hadn't used it yet so got busy!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock; Season of Style Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Scentsational Seasons (retired) and Tags 4 You
• Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Gray
• Label Bracket Punch
• Other: Dimensionals, Basic Pearls

The second card I made for The Cupboard Trilogy...

I love the way this one turned out! I still think there need to be something in the middle of the sparkly mosaic but haven't figured out what yet so am leaving it alone! The Ornament Punch is retired from Stampin' Up! but is new to me so am loving using it!

Inside

There are so many things I like about this card!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Pool Party and Island Indigo card stock; Silver Glimmer Paper
• Stamps: Tags til Christmas (retired), More Merry Messages
• Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Old Olive
• Punches: Ornament (retired), Scallop Border and Mosaic
• Other: Dimensionals, Glue Dots, 1/8" Silver Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I hope you enjoyed these cards today! I always enjoy making them and sharing them with you.

Have a great weekend and I will be back Sunday night with the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat

Another Cupboard Trilogy Design Team Project

Now for my second Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges! Again I used circles, not spots! My circles being the ornaments and the circular paper doily. Hey! I got the stripes right again though!

I am loving the combination of Island Indigo, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party and Smoky Slate! I don't normally like blue but I am constantly being drawn to Island Indigo!

Did you know that you can still purchase the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Framelits even though they aren't in the current catalog? Well, the answer is YES you can! I love this set and these ornaments were perfect for this card.

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Island Indigo and Whisper White cardstock; Silver Glimmer Paper; Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes and Endless Wishes Photopolymer
• Ink: Coastal Cabana and Island Indigo
• Other: Decorative Label Punch, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals and Glue Dots

It's supposed to get cold here this weekend with lots of wind. I will be thankful for our wood stove and good supply of wood! It's time to bring out my winter clothes and my Keen Bern Baby Bern boots! They will be three years old in December and still look like new! 

Stay warm and have a great weekend!

Kat

Spots & Stripes for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges

Welcome November! 

First off I have to explain that somehow "spots" translated in my brain to "circles". I read the challenge several times and each time it translated for me the same...circles! It wasn't until after I had completed and submitted my design team projects to The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges that I realized my error. Well, it is what it is! I didn't have time to do the projects over but those neat spots from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set would have looked great on this card before embossing the bottom section. Hmmm...I may have to try that! At least I got the stripes right:) 

Thinking I was supposed to use circles, I decided to try my hand at making circle punch roses. Making them this small was a little challenging especially for my first time. I do think I will try them again. Make sure you have Glue Dots on hand if you try making these roses; so much easier than glue!

So, how did I come up with adding the Coastal Cabana to this card? By using the Color Coach, of course! I am finding the Color Coach to be a very valuable tool when trying to decide what color to add for that extra little pop!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard and Coastal Cabana cardstock; Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Chalk Talk
• Ink: Chocolate Chip and Coastal Cabana
• Punches: 1 3/8" Circle and Bird Builder (for leaves)
• Big Shot with Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder and Chalk Talk Framelits
• Other: Dimensionals and Glue Dots

I will be back a little later today with my second design team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges.

Kat

October Cupboard Trilogy Design Team Projects

I submitted two Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges this month. The first using the Truly Grateful stamp set by Stampin' Up! (of course)...

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock
• Truly Grateful stamp set
• Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Summer Sun (retired)
• Woodgrain Embossing Folder
• Punches: Decorative Label and Large Oval
• Other: Linen Thread, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

The second project I did, I really love! I started by making a file folder and the card just took on a life of it's own after that. The rock and roll technique on the main image really turned out beautiful, I think. What do you think? I stamped the main image a 2nd time in Cajun Craze, cut out the center and popped it up with Dimensionals in the center of the design.

No surprise, the NEW Envelope Punch Board far exceeded expected sales so will be backordered till the middle of October. I love, love, love office supplies so will be making lots of these little file folder cards!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze and Bashful Blue (retired) card stock and Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper
• Day of Gratitude stamp set (retired but I love it) and Truly Grateful
• Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze
• Envelope Punch Board
• Punches: Decorative Label and Extra Large Oval
• Other: 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon (Love it!), Sticky Strip, Glue Dots and Dimensionals

Tomorrow I am going to show you a card my granddaughter made while I was visiting! She is eight and did such a good job!

Kat

September Design Team Projects

Good Morning to all of you in blogland! Summer is coming to an end and I can feel the nip in the air that signals Fall's fast approach. We are having nippy nights and very warm days. I try not to complain about the heat because I know that all too soon we will have frost on the ground and I will have to trade in my flip flops for warm fuzzy boots! I hope my flip flops can remember how much I love them through all those cold months! Oh, but that's not what this blog post is about! I could do a whole week of blog posts on SHOES! But, alas, I will spare you:)

This month I created two Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges! Usually I feel really lucky to get just one done plus commenting on my share of the entries. Last month we had an amazing 75 entries--WOW! There were some pretty amazing cards entered! The theme for September is Male--my hardest category! However, when I think of Male cards, my mind immediately goes to The Open Sea stamp set by Stampin' Up! Love it!!! So that is the first one I took out to make this card...

I started out by deciding I wanted to make a 5" x 5" square card. Then I decided to create a background for my ship so stamped the log image in Crumb Cake and the world image in Early Espresso. Looking at it now, I think I would stamp the world image in Soft Suede but it is what it is:) My son saw this card and loved it so I guess when I finish the inside it will be his birthday card come November.

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up supplies:

• Card Stock: Midnight Muse, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Midnight Muse
• The Open Sea Stamp Set
• Punches: 1 3/8" Circle and 1 1/4" Circle
• Other: Stampin' Sponges, Dimensionals, Antique Brad and Linen Thread

For my second card I pulled out a retired favorite, . So what to do that I hadn't already done?!!! Nothing fancy but...

This time I decided cut my card stock at 4 1/4" x 11" and folded it in half to make the card 4 1/4" X 5 1/2", then laid it on it's side (opening on the right). 

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card Stock: Midnight Muse (can you tell I love that color!), Bashful Blue (retired) and Whisper White
• Ink: Midnight Muse and White Craft Ink
• On the Fly Stamp Set (retired)
• 7/16" Burlap Inspired Trim--Love it!!!

This one was super quick and easy! Move that left hand fishy to left a little bit and it would be "perfect"!

I have so many things backed up over the last month that I want to share with you but will just go one day at a time and do what I can do!

Thank you for stopping by today! I have more for you tomorrow so be sure to visit again!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello and Happy Monday to you! Also Happy Labor Day! Actually, Hubby and DS are laboring on the deck at the moment; replacing boards that were rotting after nearly 20 years in the elements.

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Thanks, Sandra! Okay, let's get started...

The weather...We started out with a cool morning but it is heating up fast so will likely be in the high 90s today! We have a few clouds and some wind.

Right now I am...Waiting for the dishes in the dishwasher to cool off so I can put them away and waiting for the laundry to finish in the washing machine so I can hang it out.

Thinking...About all the cards I need to get made today.

On my reading pile...The Iodine Crisis by Lynn Farrow; The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts (book 2 in The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy); 350 Best Vegan Recipes (yes, I read recipe books); and our read aloud is Galloway by Louis L'Amour (another book in the Sackett series)

On my TV...Nothing! I was hoping to watch Secret Millionaire last night but it wasn't on. I have been reading a lot.

On the menu for this week...I will start planning menus next month. For now, it's whatever sounds good at the moment.

On my to do list...

• Pack up some stuff to take to the thrift store
• Make about 30 cards
• Clean out refrigerator
• Trip to town tomorrow to deliver Stampin' Up! and take stuff to thrift store

In the craft basket...

• Granny Square afghan--I will get back to it when it cools down a little; probably later this month.
• Socks--I took the sock apart I was working on and have it knitted through the heel flap and am working on the gusset. I have to take it apart again to the end of the heel flap cuz something's funny but will work through it. Hopefully will have at least one finished sock by next week. 

Looking forward to this week...I am looking forward to seeing friends tomorrow and to doing some stamping this week.

Looking around the house...Dining room table is littered with mail and books from the weekend. It tends to be our drop spot:( Kitchen is clean; dogs are sleeping in the living room. Hubby and DS had to make a run for more lumber (1 1/2 to the store and the same back).

From the camera...

Hubby found the Dave's Killer Bread Store in Clackamas last week!
He brought home lots of good sprouted wheat bread:)

On my prayer list...

• My granddaughter as she starts school this week--3rd grade.
• Joan, an 82 year young friend who has started sharing her faith through a blog I helped her create. This is helping her cope with the loss of her husband and her failing health. You can visit her at Vital Concerns. Leave her a comment or send her an email to encourage her:)
• Some friends making poor choices.

Bible Verse; Devotional...

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Well, it looks like even with several interruptions, I still made it through this post! I will be back tomorrow with my Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges. I actually did two this month!

Have a great day and a wonderful week!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I am beyond apologizing for not posting for the last week. I don't know what has been wrong with me for the last couple of months but surely this month I will be able to get back on a schedule so I can get something done!

It is time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by the super busy and talented seamstress Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Her creations just keep getting better and better so hop on over if you get a chance to see what she has been sewing. Mondays are a favorite day for me to visit her blog because it's Warp & Weft Reveal Day! Always something fun to see! But let's get started with the Chit-Chat!

New cookbook hubby bought me last week:)

I am...

• Reading: The Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow
• Listening to: The gentle whirr of the ceiling fan and my hubby using the drill and skill saw outside (he's replacing boards on the deck).
• Watching: We just finished watching Abel's Field--great movie! I hope to watch Secret Millionaire tonight.
• Cooking/Baking: Still a little warm for much cooking or baking. Yesterday we made Eggplant Pizzas--very yummy! I ate the leftovers for breakfast this morning:) 
• Happy I accomplished this week: I caught up on some emails that were long overdue; survived week 4 of a special diet I have been on (more on that later); got my Design Team project done and submitted to The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges.
• Looking forward to next week: Getting back on some kind of a schedule!
• Thankful for today: God's love and saving grace.
• Bonus Question: What is your favorite thing about the fall months? I like the changeover to my fall wardrobe and being able to use the fall colors on my cards. 

Okay, that's it for me this week! I hope you are having a great Labor Day Weekend and I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday:)

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

This must be a good week because I am able to do the Sunday Night Chit-Chat AND Happy Homemaker Monday. I even have a few cards to show you later in the week:)  Our host for Happy Homemaker Monday each week is Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

I was hoping the Royal Baby would be born on my birthday but alas a week later and still no baby! I just read that Princess Kate is in labor so maybe today??? Now, why would I want the baby born on my birthday which was July 15? Because I don't know a single soul who shares my birthday! We meet people all the time who share a birthday with my hubby, my son and my daughter but not me. If you were born on July 15, please let me know that there is someone out there who shares my birthday!

Okay, let's get started!

The weather...We have been running in the upper 90s for a few weeks now. I heard that it might start cooling down into the 80s this week so we will see.

Right now I am...Trying to unplug the bathtub drain! Any brilliant ideas? So far Liquid Plumr is not doing it's job! In fact, I think it's more plugged than ever!

Thinking...About all I need to do today! 

On my reading pile...I am reading The Covenant by Beverly Lewis. I have several new Debbie Macomber books on my reading pile--happy reading for sure!

On my TV...I have been watching America's Got Talent. You know what? Some do and some really don't!!! Some of those acts are almost painful to watch!

What I found while surfing the net...Well, technically I didn't find this while surfing the web; I found it on a blog I frequent, My 1/2 Dozen Daily. It's called Connecting Threads. Super cute fabric and notions; good prices! The other thing I like about this website is that there are so many choices that I feel overwhelmed!

On the menu for this week...Still not in the menu planning mode! Maybe I will get back into it in the fall. In addition to being vegan, hubby and I have narrowed our food choices yet again by giving up wheat for a couple of months.  We have done some reading on the Wheat Belly theory and decided to try it for a bit. We are not going gluten free, at least for now, but will try to be mostly wheat free for the next two months. We are also watching the Glycemic Index of our meals.

On my to do list...

• Laundry--not much but always have some. I try to do a load every weekday.
• Get my VC Rocks virtual roomie box ready to mail this week. Wanted to get it done last week but that didn't happen.
• Decluttering with trip to thrift store.
• Make Thank You cards for hubby's clients.
• Make and post Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges.
• Dust each and every room in the house.
• Clean the bathroom

In the craft basket...I am still working on my granny square afghan. I need to figure out how I want to put it together. Currently the two choices in my mind are zigzag like a chevron or Around the World (like the quilt). What do you think? I tried to take a picture from my Pinterest Board to show you what I mean by the zigzag chevron but it wouldn't work so if you want to see what I mean go to my Pinterest Knit/Crochet Board.

Looking forward to this week...A weekend with two of hubby's brothers and their wives! It will be unforgettable, that's for sure! I will try to get some pictures:)

Looking around the house...Dusting needs done and bathroom needs to be cleaned. Jars of canned apricots need to be washed off and put away. Dog toys are EVERYWHERE!!! DS just came home yesterday with MORE dog toys! He had one for each dog but our English Bulldog, Rocky, ended up with all three!!!

From the camera...

Rocky was looking so cute lying on our bed sleeping but when I came in with the camera he got that "Oh no, not this again!" look on his face! He hates having his picture taken! Some mornings he will sleep on our bed for a couple of hours after we get up! Now, I know what you're thinking and NO he does not sleep with us. He does, however, come in after DS goes to work in the mornings for a bit and he actually feels like this little ritual is his right! He is pretty cute and sweet though!

On my prayer list...

• Friend with prostate cancer
• Carla and her family after loss of nephew
• New housing opportunity for church family needing a place to live
• Mom not feeling well today

Bible verse; Devotional...

"And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Ps 50:15

"...Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. Prayer has "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire"..." Christ's Object Lessons by Ellen White

Well, I'm off to work on that drain a little more. It might need hubby's magic when he gets home.

Have a great day!

Kat

The Cupboard Trilogy July Challenge

 The challenge for The Cupboard Trilogy Design Team and now for anyone who wants to join for this month was a sketch. I have never done a sketch other than to get a basic idea of what I want to do and then go from there. This time I was supposed to follow the sketch! Well, there's a first time for everything.

Here is the sketch...

And here is my interpretation...

I wanted to make a graduation card for a girl who loves her horses and was part of a horse club all through high school. She can also be a girly girl and I think I was able to incorporate both into this card. 

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black and Pink Pirouette card stock; dsp from unknown source
• Stamps: Horse Frontier and Love & Laughter (sentiment)
• Ink: Early Espresso and Concord Crush (retired)
• Punches: Photo Corner (retired), Itty Bitty Shapes, 1 1/4" Square, Scallop Border
• Other: Delicate Details Lace Tape; Basic Rhinestones; Pink Bling from unknown source; White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen; Paper Piercing Tool & Mat; Dimensionals

Believe it or not, I made a card yesterday and forgot to take a picture of it before I sealed it in the envelope:( I will try to re-create the card next week to share with you. 

Well, today I am traveling home so don't know if I will get home in time to do the Sunday Night Chit-Chat or not. I hope you are enjoying the last day of your holiday weekend!

Kat

Creative Elements Birthday

My card today is the one I did as my design team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge for June. I had a hard time getting it to photograph well but this is pretty close to "real life"! I love the colors pink and gray together and this card did not disappoint! Usually I try to do something a little bit fancy for my design team project but this month I went with Clean and Simple! There's a lot of elegance in Clean and Simple:)

I used the background image in the Creative Elements stamp set to stamp on the Basic Gray card stock in Basic Gray ink. I also used the same image in Pink Pirouette to stamp on the white but used the stamp-off technique to make it very light. Pink Pirouette is a very light pink and I wanted to flowers to show up so had to make the background image even lighter by stamping-off. If you're not familiar with stamping-off, it is when you ink up your stamp, stamp once (lightly) on a scrap piece of paper and then on your card stock. 

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card Stock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray
• Stamp Sets: Creative Elements, Papillon Potpourri and On Your Birthday (retired)
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray
• Other: Sponge Dauber (to color in butterfly); Elegant Butterfly Punch; Basic Rhinestone

The new Stampin' Up! Catalog started last Friday! If you would like to browse, click the button on my side-bar for a pdf version of this fabulous new catalog! If you would like to order, click the "email me" button on the side bar or go to the Stampin' Up! website, order and choose me, Kathy Skinner, as your demonstrator (if you don't already have one.

I will be back this afternoon with my Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Our Chit-Chat is hosted each week by the super talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. My picture tonight is of our once very beautiful tree that my husband cut back to make way for some new solar we are putting up next month. More on this later!

I am...

• Reading...The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood.
• Listening to...The movie that's playing.
• Watching...We are watching We Bought a Zoo:) It's my second time to watch it and I love it!
• Cooking/Baking...I have been working on some gluten free cookie recipes. We have a friend who is gluten intolerant so I am trying to perfect a couple of recipes.
• Happy I accomplished this week...Fibromyalgia and allergies were a problem last week so I am just happy I kept up with the basic housework.
• Looking forward to next week...Getting some projects off my list! I have nearly 40 cards that need to be made and in the mail this week! How do I get myself into stuff like this?!!!
• Thankful for today...Hubby was really sick Friday night so I am thankful he is feeling better. We think it had something to do with the papaya he ate as he was the only one that ate it and was the only one to get sick.
• *Bonus Question* If you could only eat ONE FOOD for the rest of your life, what would it be? I think it might have to be pizza! I love a gourmet pizza with artichoke hearts, basil, spinach, mushrooms, etc. I now have to eat pizza with no cheese unless I buy a non-dairy cheese substitute like Daiya but it is still super yummy! Who knew pizza could taste good without cheese?!!!

Well, that's it for me tonight! I will be back tomorrow with my design team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge for this month.

Kat

Cupboard Trilogy Project for May

Ahhh, the A to Z Blog Challenge is over and I completed the challenge! I was a bit late with a couple of posts but overall, I am happy with how I performed and to have finished! I have sooo many plans for the challenge for next year and will definitely schedule some or most of my post ahead which means I will also have time to do other posts as well.

Yesterday I slipped out to my crafting spot to get my Cupboard Trilogy Challenge Design Team project ready to upload. I should have done it weeks ago but... The theme for this month is Spring Flowers and nothing says spring to me more than Betsy's Blossoms! My pink flowers photographed more red but they are really Primrose Petals! And yes, I fussy cut all the flowers!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry card stock; Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper
• Stamp Sets: Betsy's Blossoms; Easter Blossoms (retired--for sentiment); A Round Array
• Punches: Scalloped Oval, Large Oval and 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo
• Other: Dimensionals (of course), Basic Rhinestones, 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon

Yesterday I received my first boxes of the new 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog! I was beyond excited!!! I was able to download a PDF copy of the new catalog to my iPad a week or so ago but I am VERY tactile so having the catalog in my hot little hands was intoxicating! Do you need a new Stampin' Up! catalog of your very own? Email me by clicking the "email me" button on the side bar! I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Tomorrow's card is a masculine card. They are super hard for me because I am a girly-girl and like using girly colors and flowers--guys usually aren't into that:(

Have a great day!

Kat

C is for Cupboard Trilogy Challenge

My Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge this month is an Easter card using the Stippled Blossoms stamp set! I love the way this card turned out--just like it looked in my head:) That's always a plus.

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! products (some will be missing because I am at my daughter's and forgot my Stampin' Up! catalog--what was I thinking?!!!):

• Card stock: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette and Raspberry Ripple
• Classic Stampin Pads: Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Raspberry Ripple
• Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms; sentiment from retired Easter stamp set
• Other: Dimensionals (of course); 5/8" flower trim (Spring catalog); Basic Pearls

Oh, my! What will I come up with for the letter D?!!! You'll have to check back tomorrow to see:)

Have a great day!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Happy Stampers Club project from last week (more on that later)

It's time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat:) We are started off each week by the very talented and super busy Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! Check out the beautiful purple mug rug and coffee cozy she made for a custom order! Oh so pretty!!! If you want to play along, check out Carla's blog post to find out the "rules" then be sure to put a link for your post in my comment section as well as Carla's! You can also play along in the comment section if you wish! So, let's get started!

I am...

Reading...I know you won't believe this but I finally finished all three books in the Happiness Key series by Emilie Richards!!! The first one was hard for me to get through (probably me, not the book) but the last two were really quick reads! Not sure what to read next. For our read aloud we are almost finished with Jubal Sackett by Louis L'Amour (only 12 more books to go in this series)

Watching...We watched Larry Crowne with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts! It was great! Hard to have a bad movie with both of them in it!

Listening to...I feel like a broken record because every Sunday night I am listening to our English Bulldog, Rocky, snore but that is the only sound going on in the house right now!

Baking/Cooking...We have a friend who is gluten intolerant so yesterday I made him Black Bean Brownies and GF Cornbread. The Black Bean Brownies were good but I want to make a few changes (will keep you posted). I will share the Cornbread recipe later this week.

Happy I accomplished this week...

• Finished and posted March Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges
• Finished and delivered February swap card
• Got ready for and completed our monthly Happy Stampers Club (three projects)

Looking forward to next week...Not having to go anywhere:) I have plenty to keep me busy here at home.

Thankful for today...Hubby and I are both well! Plus he is going on a business appointment tomorrow that we thought he lost out on when he was sick. Rarely is my husband so sick he can't work but this time he was really down!

BONUS QUESTION: Have I ever left the house in my pjs? I know I did when my 40 year old son was in school and I had to take him to the bus early, early in the morning. We live waayyy out in the country without another house in sight and I do go outside in my pjs frequently. But I don't wear them where anyone could see. My granddaughter has pajama day at school once a year and I have threatened that if I was there when she was having pajama day I would take her to school in MY pajamas:)

Well, that's it for me tonight! I do think this is the latest I have ever done the Chit-Chat (almost 9:30 pm--past my bedtime) so it will be off to bed for me! Have a great night and I will be back tomorrow with the list of supplies I used to make the card above!

Kat

March Design Team Project

Sorry I have been MIA for a couple of days. I had my Happy Stampers Club on Wednesday and then Thursday I felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under me...no.energy.at.all! Guess I pushed my self a little too much after being sick last week:( Feeling a little better today but have that headache I had when I first got sick so hoping it's not starting all over again!

The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges DT project for March

It seems that most everyone I talk to is glad February is over for one reason or another and I agree. February did not turn out to be a real winner for me either! I was sick for a week; did not accomplish even half of my goals for the month--more on that another day; and I have been itching the last few days (gotta figure out what that's about).

But now that March is here I have a clean slate...I can make a new list of goals, try to stay well and figure out which food is making me itch again. I can also finally share with you the Design Team project I did for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge this month! The theme is Mother's Love! They swear me to secrecy until they post the new month's challenge. I am so NOT good at keeping secrets! PLEASE don't tell me secrets!!! Be sure to check out The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges to see what the other Design Team members did with this theme AND what the challengers are coming up:)

Closeup of corner detail

This card had me stumped at first. I knew I wanted to use purple because varying shades of it are my mother's favorite color. And I knew which stamp set I wanted to use--the retired Messages for Mom stamp set from Stampin' Up! But from there I just started building; a little this and a little that. I got the card "finished" but it was till missing something so I left it overnight to see how I felt about it the next morning (great idea by the way). The next morning I was thinking about some butterflies that I had stamped so cut one out and placed it on the card. Tada! Just was I needed!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Whisper White and Concord Crush (retired) card stock; Vellum
• Messages for Mom stamp set (retired); Strength and Hope (also retired)
• Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad (retired)
• Big Shot with Honeycomb Embossing Folder
• Other: Basic Pearls (lots of them); Paper Doilies; 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon (this ribbon makes any project look pretty)

I have a few more Mother's Day cards to make but only have one MOM so this one will go to her:) 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Kat