Inspired by a Friend Friday/CPS155

Actually, it was on Tuesday that I was inspired by my friend Barb's color choice for our stamp club project that night. TEAL! How refreshing. (I need to post the fun mini calendar we created with the SU bird punch. Love it!) It has been so cold and muted lately that bringing some color to the party was appreciated. I also used the CPS sketch for this week. Check out the list of today's blogs at Unity!!!

I'm on a kick with the scripture from the {ippity} Devotion set! I can't get enough of it!




Supplies
Stamps: Devotion (ippity by Unity)
Ink: Craft White, Taken with Teal
Paper: Kraft, Taken with Teal, laser cut paper
Accessories: Half Pearls, Prima Flower, Kraft Ribbon, embossing folder

My First H{ippity} Hop!

It's Monday!!! (Actually, it's Sunday evening, but I needed to get this posted and didn't trust that Blogger would do it at the correct time.) Doesn't seem to have the same ring as "It's Friday". ;) That's okay at least we aren't under 12" of snow this particular Monday. That is definitely a blessing!

I'm sharing with you a card I made with the Ippity set Devoted as well as my first excursion using fabric on a card. The background is fabric except for the card base in additional to the die cut butterflies. The ribbon and fabric was picked up on my shopping trip yesterday. The quotes in this set are absolutely beautiful and appropriate for times when only God's Words will do.

Supplies
Stamps: Devoted (ippity Stamps)
Paper: Kraft
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Orange Memento
Accessories: Fabric, Brown Grosgrain, Colored Rhinestones, Nestabilities Labels, Cuttlebug Butterfly Die, Prima Flowers
Challenge: Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use it 258

Goodies and a Gift

Just thought I would share a few goodies that papercrafters may appreciate in addition to beautiful handmade items by Kerry. (Right now I am over the moon that she is going to show me some sewing projects next weekend!!)

The gorgeous bag Kerry made for me!!!

The reversible bibs that match the bag.

Got this ribbon at Hobby Lobby. It was a grab bag of 30 yards for $1.99!

Found these at Joann's as Kerry was helping me pick fabric for next weekend.
They are 5" X 5" swatches of fabric for quilting projects that come in coordinated groupings.
Three of each pattern fabric with ten different designs per package.
I was picking up fat quarters, then saw these are realized that even though there would be a price difference per yard I really didn't need yards of fabric rather variety in small pieces. On to of that each package of fabric is coordinated! After holding fat quarters to fat quarters to try and coordinate I was relieved to find something brainless on the shelf!!
Perfect! I grabbed three different packages!!

Happy Birthday, Mom! This Flair's for You!

I have always felt that I didn't give enough time to birthday cards for my immediate family. I feel like I create and create for the sake of creating, then when the time comes to make something special for someone special I just don't deliver. I was hoping to change that with mom's birthday card this year. I love her for some many reasons...she supports me in everything I do, loves my husband and son, bakes like nobody's business, shows interest in my hobby when I know her true love is knitting...so many things.

All in all mom and my dad are truly wonderful people. (The previous post was my dad's birthday card...ironically, his birthday is after my mom's. Who has been procrastinating? lol!) They're not perfect parents. Mitch and I aren't perfect parents, but we all have done and are doing the best we can for our children. It is amazing the perspective you get when you have your own children and look back on what your parents have done for you.

Ok...done with the sappy part of my post. Hope you enjoy the card and all of the other wonderful creations by Unity customers. Go here to start your adventure with Friends with Flair.

Check out the new {ippity} stamp SALE here!

Supplies
Stamps:
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Kraft, Wisteria (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Large Flower (Prima), Shimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Butterly Punch (Martha Stewart), Fabric Flower (K & Company), Leaves Die (Sizzix-SU), Border Punch (SU), Gemstones, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft)

Live

I couldn't resist this paper when I was at Archiver's on Monday. It is Little Yellow Bicycle's Lucky You line just it time for lovers of all things Irish such as myself to enjoy before St. Paddy's Day. My last post also included the use of the same Cuttlebug Embossing Folder used on acetate. (I have a weakness for that lately, too. Should have gotten more acetate while I was at Archiver's!)

In addition to my paper inspiration I also used the Friends with Flair Unity Challenge for this week. I know I should wait until Friday to post, because I will inevitably run out of time and ideas before it comes around. Oh well...life goes on.

Supplies
Stamps: December KOM (Unity)
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Night of Navy
Paper: Lucky U (Little Yellow Bicycle), Kraft
Accessories: acetate, cuttlebug embossing folder, buttons (PTI), wild wasabi stitched ribbon, nestabilities

{ippity} Winter Release 2010/Valentine's Day Card

I'm excited to share the new {ippity} Stamp release with you! After some technical difficulties you can click below for ordering and pricing. I have two great sales going on for the new and previous releases as well as FREE SHIPPING! Thanks for visiting!

{Order Here}

Secondly, this is the Valentine's Day that I made for Mitch. All in all it was simple, but I really like the finished product. I used embossed a 1/2 sheet of acetate, scored it and folded it around a white card base. On top of the white card base is a piece of shimmery red cardstock to help the embossing really pop. The acetate is attached with pop dots. On the inside I used a piece of silver cardstock large enough to cover the inside panel and allow for the decorative border to show along the side.

This was tough to photograph. I think the glare from the acetate made it a challenge possibly causing it to be a tad blurry.




Supplies
Stamps: None!
Ink: None!
Paper: Shimmery Red, Gina K. White Base, Acetate Sheet, Silver Cardstock
Accessories: Red Stickes, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Pop Dots, SU Border Punch

Ippity Candy Winner and Pre-Release Sale!

Gwen said:

This teapot card is adorable! Love the colors!

12:53 PM

Gwen will be receiving this fabulous {ippity} set! Thanks for playing and check back soon for more {ippity} fun!

Please send me your mailing information I will have this in the mail to you asap!!

Keep checking out the official {ippity} blog for release sneak peeks!!!

Remember I always provide free shipping on {ippity} orders of any size!

Pre-release sale:
All current sets are 20% off with free shipping!!!
Click here to order!

FWF Tweet Pots - Part 2 - Ippity Candy

Ok...here is another one of the many birthday cards I have been making for our "birthday season", which runs from February through May. Happy hopping!

Also, check back soon for new ippity releases! In preparation for the release I will choose one comment at random to win a current ippity set! A winner will be posted on Saturday.

Go here to check out the sneak peeks of new releases!!!

Supplies
Stamps: June KOM (Unity), Bevy of Butterflies (Unity), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Bordering Blue
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Ivory (Gina K.), Sage Shadow
Accessories: Moroccan Screen (Cuttlebug Embbossign Folder), Birds and Swirls (Cuttlebug Embossing Folder), Labels (Nestabilities), Border Punch (Stampin Up), Pearl Shimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), watercoloring supplies
SCS Challenges: Sketch 267, Color 257

Heart-Shaped Valentine Cards

I haven't had school since last Thursday, so I figured now would be the perfect time for Liam and I to get our Valentines done. :) These are a sampling of what I did. I really do like how they turned out. The sheet music I used was from my grad music history class over the summer. Somehow more therapeutic than usual. I will be posting pics of Liam's Valentines using PTI's Tiny Treats: Valentine set. He's two, so they are what they are. :)

For those affected by the snow storms/blizzard, keep warm and stay safe!!


Supplies
Stamps: Say it With Style (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Whisper White Cardstock, DP: Simple Valentine (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Raspberry FIzz, Old Paper
Accessories: PTI vintage buttons, music scores from grad school, string, heart nestabilities, circle punch

Friday Flair Birthday Card

Gorgeous stamp for a fun birthday card! I loved laying it with paper piecing and glossy accents, which takes FOREVER to dry. (Ask my thumb!) Check out all the other great blogs today at Angela's blog. Happy Friday!!

Supplies
Stamps: December KOM (Unity), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black
Paper: Pink (PTI), White (Gina K. Designs), Bittersweet DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Glossy Accents, Buttons, Satin Ribbon, Pearl Shimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)

Oh...and my new Vera Bradley hipster Sittin' in the Tree.

Creamless Creamy Mushroom Pasta

I was so not in the mood for a tomato-based pasta sauce and needed to cook up some fresh mushrooms before they went into slime-mode tonight. I wanted a cream-based pasta that could simply focus all of the mushrooms that I had available. I searched for a sauce without cream as I had none in the house and usually don't and found a suggestion to start the base from a roux. Ok, I can do that.

Here is my take on a creamless cream sauce for mushrooms and pasta. I also thought this would be fabulous with artichoke hearts if you have company who are not fans of mushrooms.

I took ideas from a few different recipes I found online, in my cookbooks and under the influence of Food Network.

Angela Magnuson of Unity Stamps tried this recipe on her family, with her own additions, and loved it. Check out Angela's blog Create This Moment.

Creamless Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Pasta and Mushrooms
8 oz. Farfalle Pasta (Bowtie - Barilla Pasta Plus is my recommended.)
1 lb. fresh sliced mushrooms (Baby Portabellas would be yummy. I had plain old mushrooms.)
1 T. olive oil
2 T. butter
salt

In a stock pot add water, salt and olive oil to boil for the pasta. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. At the same time heat the butter in a pan and saute mushrooms. When finished set aside.

Sauce
1 c. chicken stock (or vegetable...We have a couple vegetarians in the family, so I try to accommodate.)
1 c. white wine (gulp down the rest WITH dinner!)
3 T. flour
2 T. butter
1/2 c. parsley
3 T. minced garlic (I used the type pre-minced in olive oil.)
salt and pepper to taste

Add butter to a large skillet and bring to a SLOW simmer. Add flour little by little and whisk in quickly. (Do NOT have the pan too hot or it will burn the flour!) When all the flour is in SLOWLY add in the white wine and stock, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk after all liquid is added and bring to a slow simmer. Add in remaining sauce ingredients. Continue to whisk until the sauce has thickened. Add pasta and mushrooms to the skillet and mix throughly. Serve topped fresh, shredded Parmesan cheese. Don't forget to enjoy it will your leftover white wine. :)

Flair and a Little Comfort Food

Glad to be back with some Unity Friday Flair. I had to use this stamp from the December KOM the month to create a card for my husband. Mitch has supported me through so much lately with all of this pregnancy exhaustion and accompanying emotional roller coaster.

If you are up for a delicious soup recipe...here's my Veggie Stoup recipe. Enjoy!

Supplies
Stamps: December KOM (Unity)
Ink: Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Versamagic Red
Paper: Kraft, Simple Valentine (Papertrey Ink), Cool Caribbean
Accessories: Morracan Screen (Cuttlebug Embossing Folder), Nestabilities

Vegetable Stoup: Another Recipe Post

To be honest, I don't consider myself much of a cook. I'm not terrible, but I'm not a gourmet. My cooking is, generally, edible with the exception of a quesdilla that was left in the pan too long.

I have to say my inspiration for this recipe redo was from a Rachel Ray vegetable stoup of some sort. I don't even know if it was an actual recipe and have no clue how far I have deviated, so Rachel, my apologies if this is a total disaster of a dish from your original vision. ;)

Veggie Stoup

3 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped (We always have baby carrots around, so I just use a few handfuls of those.)
2 medium red potatoes, chopped (Leave on the skins. They are yummy and nutritious.)
1 c. frozen corn
1 c. frozen peas
1 c. frozen green beans
1 c. dry pasta (penne, bowtie, elbow have all worked for me. I used Barilla Plus. Extra protein in the meatless meal.)
2 cloves of garlics, chopped (I always have a standby of minced garlic in olive oil in the fridge. A couple tablespoons of that works, too.)
1 large can of tomato juice (30 oz.)
2 c. chicken or vegetable stock
2 T. olive oil
1 T. dried rosemary
1 T. garlic tabasco
Shredded cheese to add as a topping.
salt and pepper to taste

Add the olive oil to a stock pot and put on medium high heat. When the pan is hot add celery, carrots and potatoes, salt and pepper. Cook until beginning to get tender, then add chicken/vegetable stock and let come to a gentle boil. Turn down the heat to about medium, which should still have a gentle bubble to it, and continue to cook veggies until tender. Slowly add the tomato juice. Let come to a gentle boil. Add frozen veggies and pasta. Let cook for 15 minutes after coming to a gentle boil again, then add remaining ingredients. Let simmer for 15 minutes. If it seems to thick at all you can always add a little extra stock to thin it out. I will, however, be nice and chunky. If you love tomatoes, go for a can of crushed tomatoes, too.

I have also done this in a slow cooker. Much prefer cooking it over the stove, but it definitely will work.

Serve with toasted, crusty bread. I pick mine up at the grocery. Love it!

Crockpot Recipe: No Fuss Potato Soup

This recipe was given to me by my friend Patty. She made it for my son's baby shower. Loved it! Had to have the recipe. I made some changes as most of us do when we have a recipe. ;) Enjoy! Love to hear your experience and possibly alterations to the recipe.

No Fuss Potato Soup
6 c. diced, peeled potatoes (I used red potatoes and left the skins on...healthier, right?)
5 c. water (Or chicken broth minus the boullion cubes)
2 c. dried, minced onion (I used fresh.)
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. carrots, chopped
1/4 c. margarine
3 chicken boullion cubes
12 oz. can of evaporated milk
8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded (Subbed colby/jack)
1 T. chili powder (My added touch, optional)
salt, freshed cracked pepper/garlic blend to taste
dried parsley and chives (about 1 T.)

Combine all ingredients except for milk, parsley/chives and cheese in a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 7-8 hours or until veggies are tender. I did mine overnight on LOW, then cranked it up to HIGH for a couple of hours before serving. Probably would have done alright without the extra time on HIGH. (My friend used a programmable crockpot, so it would turn off after the 7-8 hours on HIGH.) The soup will seem VERY runny after the long cooking time. No worries! The cheese will thicken it up. Stir in milk, parsley/chives and cheese.

Serve with a crusty bread. Rosemary is my personal favorite. The more carbs the merrier!

I Got Mail!!!

And it was {ippity} Stamps!!!! I couldn't even decide what to play with first. So much glorious rubber, so little time! I now have everything in stock and ready to ship. As a thank you gift to my first 5 customers, you will receive a few sheets of the exclusive patterned paper selected just for {ippity}! (In addition to FREE SHIPPING!)

Onto a creation for this week...I have been slacking off the last couple of weeks...posting, mainly, not creatively! I was preparing for a couple of craft shows, which definitely kept me occupied! I plan on having some photos of those goodies uploaded, hopefully, this weekend. (Some PTI goodness in those projects!)

Have a fabulous Friday!!!

Stamps: Kissmas & Mistletoe {ippity} Stamps by Unity Stamp Co. & October In-Store KOM
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Palette Noir
Paper: Basic Grey, Regal Rose, Kraft
Accessories: Ribbon, Papertrey Buttons