papermonkey.org {make time for playtime}

Little Diva in Training

 

New Toodles & Binks has arrived! Look at this cutie - supposedly a double for T&B owner Kay's daughter who is affectionately called Toodles. Here she is skating with her cat - so silly and gun it puts a big dorky grin on my face as I sit here alone typing to you. If my expression was captured on camera as I sit alone in my craft room sometimes you would laugh at me big time! Allan likes to imitate me doing just this - he says I stick my tongue out to the side when I emboss :(

Sooooo here we have Toodles & Binks Skate, one of the newest images available at Stamp Galaxy (and yes, they do ship internationally from the UK). I matched her little outfit to today's color challenge at Splitcoast Stampers, which was to use Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray and Not Quite Navy. Not my favorite color combo, but once I added a splash of pink with the Stampin' Up! Taffeta Ribbon and white sparkly snowflakes (Martha Stewart punch with Dazzling Diamonds glitter) it all fell into place for me. I cut the panels with Megabilities Mega Rectangles by Spellbinders. The white felt Poinsettia is by Hero Arts.

 After coloring the image with Copics you see above I added a topcoat of Shimmerz Paints, my new fave toy. I used Sky Blue, Iced Lavendar and Evergreen.They do not cover up your Copic shading but add a subtle glimmer that the camera doesn't always pick up - you have to see these in action in real life! Such sparkle. They are available at TheRubbercafe.com store. I added some Liquid Pearls to her scarf, necklace and purse chain too. All about the bling!

The sentiment on the outside of the card is from Melanie Muenchinger's Tee Talk stamp set (designed for Gina K Stamps). I just love the fun and unique words from the set. They were created for her Little Tees stamp set, but I use them for everything. I sponged a bit of pink around the sentiment. To really diva-fy the card I added crystals and pearls from K&Co. that are from Sweet 'n Sassy Shop. A whole pack of these babies are under $3 and self-adhesive.

 

Inside I put the Figures of 8 Quotation which is available separately at Stamp Galaxy.  The cardstock is sponged with Baja Breeze.

Connie, who won my HUGE giveaway yesterday, will be receiving these stampa as well as EVERY OTHER T&B stamp currently in production thanks to Kay! Woo hoo I am so excited for her as I dream of all the crafty goodness she will be getting :)

Will anyone be headed to CHA this January? I will be reporting at CHA for Craft Critique, then sneaking in a Copic Certification as well as a Prima Masters Class in Chino. If you are headed to any of these things let me know I would love to meet some blogging friends :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Orange Blessings, Orange Cake, Orange Ya Thankful

 

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends and family in America. Today's card is for you: it uses stamps from Gina K's So Grateful set. I will keep my post brief as I know many of you are most likely super busy today.

A cornucopia of Copics deserves some BasicGrey Ambrosia don't you think? A very simple card for this Thursday, using Memento Tangelo Ink to sponge and stamp. The scallop edge paper is Bazzill, the pretty, lamé textured ribbon is May Arts. 

I have a simple, quick cake recipe for you too. This Orange Cake recipe is by UK Celebrity Chef Rachel Allen. It makes a dense, moist cake that has the smooth, shiny surface of a brownie. It is wonderful with coffee, and tastes even yummier the next day. You can substitute lemon for orange. I used a cooking conversion site to figure out the measurements for myself, I will post both.

Orange Cake

• 100 grams butter (7 TBS) 

• 2 eggs

• 100 grams each Caster sugar and icing sugar (1/2 cup Caster and 3/4 cup icing sugar)

• 125 grams flour ( 1 1/4 cup)

• 1 tsp baking powder

Icing 

• 100 grams sifted icing sugar (1 1/4 cups)

• 1-3 TBS orange juice 

Directions:

1. Melt the butter and allow it to slightly cool.

2. Whisk eggs with finely grated zest of one orange (only use the colored outside - avoid the bitter white).

3. Add the sugars and beat on low speed until blended, then beat on high for 5 minutes or until the batter is light and fluffy. Fold in butter by hand, then fold in the flour by hand.

4. Butter the sides of an 8 inch round cake pan, and put a round of parchment paper on the bottom. dd the batter to the pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 30-35 minutes.

5. Allow cake to sit in pan for 5-10 minutes to set, then remove and cool on rack.

6. Make the icing - slowly adding a few drops of OJ to the icing sugar at a time, beating, then adding more until it is the right consistency. You want a drizzly icing that drips off the spoon. 

7.  Arrange cake on platter and drizzle icing over the cake. Serve.

Thankful

Thank you for stopping by, and for the kind words you leave me so often in your comments. I know I am not the best or most talented artist out there, I just love coloring and making cards so much. This blog comes from that passion more than any ability. Many of you have been here with me from the beginning. As I progress and grow and well, learn what to do along the way I sure am enjoy the journey, and love your company along the way. I am thankful for all the friends I have made through stamping, both real and online :).

I am thankful to have man who has been my rock, my guide, my love through both good times and bad. Allan came along just as I was ending a relationship of over five years, most of them bad. I wasn't really looking for a relationship but there he was, with open arms to heal my hurting, stubborn heart, to shelter me from the world, and to allow me to find my own strength to not need sheltering.

I am thankful for a mom, dad and brother who love me so much, and nephews that I will hopefully get to see very soon after so many years apart. I am most thankful to have been blessed with the most wonderful grandpa anyone could ever have. He passed away in his sleep on Thanksgiving some years ago and I think of him every year with such love on this day. I miss him so much.

I know these are not the best of times for many. If you are going through a hard time, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you have a blessed, healthy and prosperous 2009 surrounded by those you love, who love you. 

And here I said I would be brief. Thank you again. If you have the time, I would love to hear what you are most thankful for today.

Suzy

Little Tee on the Prairie

  

Hi everyone! Here is the perfect little card for your favorite stamping girlfriend. It is made with the tee and flowers from Melanie Muenchinger's Little Tees stamp set (designed for Gina K Stamps) and the words from her newest set, Tee Talk. This is such a fun and easy set to use - just stamp the tee shirt on some paper, stamp a sentiment onto the tee shirt, cut the tee shirt out and you're good to go.  Little Tees has been my go to set for a fast card  - apparently a lot of you out there feel the same way because soon after Melanie came out with a second set, Just So Sporty, and she has just released a third set in the series, Tee Talk. Talk about cuteness, practicality and value in one little package: you get 45 new words to stamp onto the tee shirts (or anything else) now!

Another reason I love this set: are you a BasicGrey fan that uses up all the pretty patterns in the front of the pad then has nothing to do with the solid papers? My solid BasicGrey paper colors often get unloved, but the solid color has some texture or distressing printed onto it that makes the tees look so realistic. Finally I can use them up lol.

This card uses papers from BasicGrey's Urban Prairie as well as Bazzill Textured and Bling cardstocks. Stampin Up! Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss are in there too. I love to layer :).

I stamped the tee in Ancient Page Chocolate onto the green paper, and stamped a few flowers in Memento Rose Redas well. For some bling I added Swarovski Crystals to the tee as well as the "shopping bag" I created.

To create the shopping bag I used my Scor-Pal to score the patterned paper and cut  the bottom of the paper about 1/4 inch in to have flaps to tuck in (let me know if you want exact instructions I would be happy to provide).

I used a little scrap of May Arts ribbon around the bag as well for no other reason than I hate to waste anything lol. Finally I stamped the flowers onto the tissue paper and the smallest Nestabilities Labels One die cut. 

How about tucking in a small stamp or pack of embellishments into the bag - what stamping addict wouldn't love to receive that?

 

EDIT TO ADD: So I'm a dork. I was off on my merry way when it hit me - what does a shopping bag and stamping have in common? Well, in my little mind I equated stamping with shopping. I'd rather be stamping=lets go shopping for stamps. Yes I hang my head in shame. Okay I added a couple of stamp shops to the mix - does it make sense now? The little Stamp Shop images are by A Muse, it is now completely dark here at 4pm so the photo is dismal. I guess it was *my* day and I did what I liked. Just roll with me, friends.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Allan is trying to talk me into bowling with dogs later tonight - I have no idea what that means but it is rainy and dreary here so nothing better to do I just may have to try :)

Hope your Saturday is a little more fun than mine lol!

hugs,

Suzy

p.s. - WOW thank you so much for all your comments yesterday! I think that may be the most comments I have ever received for a card. I am honored and floored - your comments make me feel like I am walking on clouds :) They really make my day. THANK YOU! Now I am off to visit some blogs and leave YOU some love right back :)

Thanksgiving Blessings Card & A Recipe For You

 

Happy Thanksgiving Canada! In our home we celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year - once on Canadian Thanksgiving and again in November for American Thanksgiving. Actual Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow, but we will eat today as Allan has to head intot he office tomorrow. The turkey just went into the oven so I have a moment free to post. Today's card is very quick and easy and uses a new Gina K set called So Grateful.

I stamped the pumpkin image twice, colored with Copics, then cut the pumpkins out for a total of 3 pieces. The pumpkin furthest behind is stuck with a flat glue dot, a 1/8 glue dot is on the one on the far left, and the far right pops up the most with a 3D dot that is 3/16th high I believe.

To get the ground looking the way it does, I apply three colors of brown in a pattern of dots, then dot them all with my Colorless blender so that they become muted and the colors mingle and you get a nice watercolor type effect.

The background is a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder in Autumn. I swiped various fall color Memento Ink pads against the words so they stand out.

For a homey touch I added some of the new Stampin' Up! brown felt ribbon (LOVE this stuff).

Autumn's Blessing Salad Recipe

I like a traditional Thanksgiving - every year we have my Grandpa's special turkey recipe - his trick for cooking the bird makes the meat very moist and flavorful.  His recipe, as well as other traditional recipes from my family can be found on my recipe page here.

Every year I also try something new. This year it is Autumn Blessings Salad which I adapted from a recipe I found on the net. I made the salad's dressing last night, and it is seriously delicious and very pretty - it turns pink because of the red onion. Here is the recipe as I am making it:

Ingredients:

Salad Dressing:

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons diced red onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup Canola oil
• 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds

Salad:

• 1 head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 cups baby spinach (cut only if the leaves are too big)
• 4 ounces shredded Mozzarella or Swiss
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/8 cup dried cranberries
• 1 diced firm, tart apple

The night before serving, toss all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor on lowest setting and blend. Serve over salad (Add the fruits and nuts right before tossing).

I am off to finish frosting the carrot cake we will have for dessert (another family recipe found here).  My grandpa passed away on Thanksgiving years ago, so the holiday is always bittersweet for me. He was a true pioneer, born in Alabama, made his way west and owned a gold mine in Nevada, helped to build the first Mormon church in Battle Mountain, made jewelry with the Navajos, traveling even to Iran to get the best turquoise. He had a full and good life, but he is still missed.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a blessed Sunday.

Suzy

Supplies List

Stamps: Gina K Designs So Grateful by Rupa Shevde.

Paper: Select White by Papertrey; Stampin' Up! Garden Green Textured Cardstock

Ink: Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Potter's Clay, Rhubarb Stalk, and Cottage Ivy

Accessories: Oval and Oval Scallop Nestabilities; Cuttlebug Autumn Embossing Folder; Stampin' Up! Felt ribbon from the Alpine set

Edgy Yet Sweet-Tee with Gina K

I so love this Gina K Designs  Little Tees set designed by Melanie Muenchinger. There are SO many things you can do with this set - there are 37 pieces to it!  So many options. I decided to use it for today's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge. These challenges are a great inspiration - I find myself doing at least 3 or 4 challenges a week and really think (hope) they are improving my card making ability. They are FUN too! I love the whole group bonding/camaraderie thang. Long story short: I highly recommend them :)

Card details: If you're a "regular" at my blog you know I love to paper piece, which is when you stamp onto patterned paper, then cut the image out. These tee shirts are just made for that! First I stamped the long sleeve tee in Memento Angel Pink, then I stamped the short sleeve tee onto BasicGrey Two Scoops patterned paper and layered it over the long sleeve shirt with pop dots.

The sentiment is embossed onto the tee with Detail White embossing powder. I would SO wear this shirt - I love the retro vibe.

The top blue layer of patterned paper is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. Three kinds of May Arts ribbon, a turquoise heart stick pin, and a few buttons act as eye candy.

Just a heads up - I am having my whole blog redesigned. I saw the new banner and am SO excited! I hated how my old banner didn't fit. Hopefully very soon you will get to see the new look!

Thanks for stopping by :)  Happy & inspired wishes to you!

Suzy

Make a Wish! A CPS Sketch

This week's Card Positioning Systems (CPS) Sketch was sponsored by Gina K Designs, so I thought it would be nice to use a Gina K Designs stamp. I love this little cake stamp, and I love what the Make a Wish! stamp set stands for ($7 from every set goes to the Make a Wish Foundation, which helps kids).

I wanted a lot of bling so used Liquid Pearls on the white part of the cake and then sprinkled some turquoise glitter over it while it was wet to mimic cake sprinkles.

The sentiment is Ranger Turquoise Embossing Glitter which ROCKS! Love the stuff - you can't get the same detail  with even ultrafine glitter.

Happy stamping!

Suzy

Stamps: Make a Wish!, Gina K Designs, the flourish is from MFT Stamps Boho Blossoms

Paper: Cool Caribbean, White, Black by Stampin' Up!, BasicGrey Phoebe patterned paper

Ink:  Palette Noir, VersaMark, Ranger Distress Ink in Broken China and Worn Lipstick

Accessories:  Sakura Yellow Glaze pen, Liquid Pearls in White Opal and Turquoise Embossing Glitter by Ranger, Heidi Swapp Distressor, sponge, Faber-Castell Artist pencils and Gamsol

Card Size: 4.25x5.5inches

Wishing You Joy & a Monkey Must Have: Shimmering Chalks

Hello friends!

First of all I wanted to thank you so much for your kind e-mails and words of encouragement as I embark on this new adventure called blogging! It really is a lot of fun.

Today's card is dedicated to Nancy Grant of Inkcicles. She sent me this fantastic Gina K. Designs set called Make a Wish! all the way from Alaska when I won her Blog Blessings. This set has been on my wish list for a while and I am so happy to own it. $7 from every stamp set sold goes to the Make a Wish Foundation.

When I received the set I knew immediately that I wanted to make the stone pathway extend out of the card. I penciled in the extension, then used my Micron Pigma pen in size 05 to go over the pencil. This is a fantastic pen to own for stamp use because it is super thin and waterproof once dry. I erased any pencil marks left behind and voila!

After using my pencils and Gamsol on the well and pathway image, I used a Sakura dark green enamel pen to trace over the stone. I wanted a rustic texture.

Next my Stampin Up Watercolor Minis were used to create a foliage backdrop for the well. Clouds were created by using my Shimmering Chalks and a scallop punch template. I really like how it turned out. Very simple yet full of charm.

Doris e-mailed me asking about my Pebbles I kan' dee Pastel Shimmers Chalk Set so I thought I would show their sparkly goodness. They have the texture of a sheer shimmery eyeshadow (MAC pigment to be exact LOL). Super soft, sheer, and blendable yet they have great color payoff. The set comes with small, medium, and large cotton/poly pom poms and a wooden alligator clip applicator tool that pinches the ball to pick it up. They are acid free and scrapbook safe. I bought mine on eBay for $12 but they retail for $16.95 US I believe. As with all my pictures, you can double click on the photo to get a larger image to see better.

{hugs}

Suzy

Stamps: Gina K. Designs Make a Wish!, Stampin Up Watercolor Minis

Paper: Stampin Up Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Textured Basic Gray and Going Gray, white

Ink: Ancient Page Black, Versamagic Chalk Inks - Aloe Vera, Tea Leaves and Hint of Pesto

Accessories: Pebbles Shimmering Chalks, Faber-Castell Artist Pencils and Gamsol, Sakura dark green Glaze pen, Pigma Micron size 05 pen

Card Size: 4.25x5.5 inches