Long Time - No Post!

OK, It's been awhile - a LONG while.  I'm not sure what to blame, but it was a strange combination of things.  I've been job searching for almost a year, and I had this funny feeling at the end of August that when the kids were going back to school that it was time for me to back too.  Well, September 1st and 2nd I had back-to-back interviews, and as a result I'm heading back to the work force this Monday.  Ironically it means I'll probably blog more because my time will be more structured, and I'll get into more of a routine!  Funny, eh?

So today I finally updated my blog to show the new mini catalog, which is TOTALLY AMAZING, and if I wasn't trying to show a profit finally this year for my business I would have bought half of what's in it already, but I have some stuff, and everything in there is totally cool!

So while I've actually been doing more than what I've been posting, I will start up again with the September Club Projects (too late for previews in case you want to come, but anyway)...


First up - I've been wanting to buy "Lovely As A Tree" for several years now.  For whatever reason I never brought it up to the top of the priority list, and now that I've finally purchased it, Stampin' Up! will most likely retire it at the end of this season.  I may have to use it multiple times this year for that reason!  (The Reason for the Season? nah!)  I've seen a ton of great examples of how to use this set - it is SO versatile!  I wanted something that used the big "grove of trees" stamp, and came up with this idea after browsing hundreds of examples.  Also, due to circumstances called "Great Rewards" where I had everything else, I ended up with not only the bulk buy of these Designer Label vanilla frames, but two boxes of Hodgepodge Hardware Vanilla that each contained some of these.  So it was about time I used them.

The next card is really a recipe card, and I'm compiling recipes from everyone who came to club this month and will send them out in the club orders - let me know if you want a copy.  Anyway, I love this stamp set "From The Kitchen Of" and if you notice I have it backed in So Saffron which allows you TWO chances to get the stamping of the 3x5 recipe card correct!  One could do a class on this stamp set alone!  If only one had thought of it when she was still unemployed (who could that be :-)!  Oh well...

Project #3: I always like to feature a "non-card" or at least a "super-card" - this is an idea I borrowed from Dawn Griffith of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts from about two years ago.  I have the instructions available for anyone that want them, but it's another stamping project whose main purpose is to hold candy - oh yeah!  Dawn is the queen of candy related projects, so check out her blog too for wonderful ideas.

These candy holders showcase the new In Color Designer Series Paper pack, which I'm excited about, because it gives you so more options with the In Color paper without having to pick and choose which ones as in the past.

So, here we go, a super-blog entry to make up for almost 2 months of nothing much of anything.  Hope my next post comes sooner than this one!

Cheers,
Peg

Tastefully Tuesday - Smoky Bacon Grill Sauce

Cooking out this weekend?  We are - having the family over for Foltz Fest!  Grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken, brats, etc. etc.  I'm going to try this stuff on my cheeseburger, or maybe I'll mix it in to the ground beef!

Flavored with bacon, tomatoes, molasses and brown sugar, this thick, mellow sauce will take your grilled meats to new heights. Open and brush on grilled ribs, steaks, chicken or salmon. Or stir it into your favorite recipe for pulled pork or Sloppy Joes.

Ingredients Needed: 0


10 fl. oz. bottle (300ml)

Tastefully Tuesday - Backyard BBQ Dip Mix

Your backyard BBQs will be the talk of the town when you serve this creamy, smoky dip. Just add mayonnaise and sour cream, and serve with chips, chicken wings, potato wedges or fresh veggies. Also makes a delicious spread for roast beef sandwiches. Each packet makes about 1 cup dip.

Ingredients Needed:

• ½ cup mayonnaise**
  **Real mayonnaise only.
• ½ cup sour cream***
  ***Light may be used.

2-0.4 oz. packets per box (0.8 oz.) 24g

Tastefully Tuesday - Roasted Garlic Infused Oil & Decanter Special!

Reward includes 5 oz. oil decanter and 8.8 fl. oz. Roasted Garlic Infused Oil.
Reward items may vary from those pictured.

New Color Kits

Hold on to your hats folks - TWO Stampin' Up! posts in TWO days!  Maybe tomorrow I'll make it THREE!  Ha ha...

Today I promised you more information about the new catalog, so check out this link (New Color Kits).  I tried to post the picture directly into my blog, but for some reason PDF files are not supported with this blog provider.  If you are interested in purchasing any of the kits, please visit my website and click on Shop Now or drop me a call/email line!  Some of the kits aren't available right away :-( like the Pastels and the Watercolor Crayons, but I will let you know when they do come available.

So sorry this is a shorter post than I intended - have a great 4th of July weekend!

Take care,
Peg

Today Is The Day! The New Stampin' Up! Catalog Is Here!

I'm so excited - the first day of the new catalog!  Of course as a demonstrator I've been drooling over this catalog for several weeks and dropping major hints to everyone about it, then I got to distribute catalogs to my returning Stamp Club Members last Saturday!  But today we can actually order from it - with a few exceptions (aren't there always a few?)  Let's not dwell on that for today, shall we?

I think I mentioned that I now have a downline right?  My BFF Lisa K. joined up with me in mid-June, and she and I are coordinating our Open Houses.  Mine will be Saturday, July 10th, 1-5PM, and hers will be July 17th (I think the times are the same, I'll have to get back to you on that).  But we will be featuring similar items, so if you can't make one, maybe you can make the other!  The only thing we ask is that any Open House order you place be placed with the demonstrator you are already associated with (and if you're new, then you get to pick!)  In my case, I will be offering a FREE stamp pad of any color with ANY size order, and a FREE catalog with orders of $50 or more!  Plus I'll have retiring product for sale, and of course yummy snacks from Tastefully Simple as well!

So I thought I'd give you a sneak peek of some of the samples we will be featuring (we each made two so we can share them later):

Stamp Sets: Friends Never Fade, Occasional Quotes
Colors: Pacific Point (base), Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stamp Set: Rough Type Alphabet
Colors: More Mustard (base), Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Textured Impressions Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Small Heart Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stamp Set: Elements Of Style
Colors: Pretty In Pink, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Accessories: 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Pretty In Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon

Stamp Set: Cute by the Inch
Colors: Naturals Ivory (base), Pear Pizzazz/Peach Parfait (left) OR Early Espresso/Cajun Crazye (right), Whisper White
Accessories: 1-1/4" Square Punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch

Stamp Sets: Awash With Flowers, Occasional Quotes
Colors: Crumb Cake (was Kraft), Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point
Accessories: 1/16" Handheld Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Gold Brads

Hope seeing these samples will entice you to come to the Open House, enjoy some discounted items and the chance to do a make and take with new stamp sets & colors, and enjoy some treats as well!  Please RSVP to either Lisa or me as soon as you can!

Take care,
Peg

Tastefully Tuesday - Lovin' Lemon Slush!

I'm so excited - in a little while I'll be heading with the girls down to Orland Park for a Tastefully Simple party at my cousin Ann's house!  Awhile back she ordered the Lovin' Lemon Slush drink mix so I asked her if she'd mind mixing it up for the party as well - she agreed!  So now I will have tasted all of our slush drinks as of tonight!

Sweet, tart and refreshing, this lovely drink mix is perfect for summer! Just add vodka and water, and freeze in the handy bucket**. (Or if you'd prefer, use rum or tequila in place of vodka.) Excellent served with fresh fruit, cheese and crackers for summer entertaining. Makes about 9 (8 oz.) servings.

Ingredients Needed:

• 14 oz. (1¾ cups) vodka
• Warm water (about 6 cups)

12.5 oz. bucket (354g)
TIP: For non-alcoholic cocktails, combine with 5 cups water or sparkling water. Chill, pour over ice and enjoy (do not freeze).

Fun Friday Cards!

Hi everyone,
I'm posting two cards today that I CASEd - I love to do that - it's still a challenge and fun to do, and the sense of satisfaction is just as great!

The first one is the Make&Take for my Hostess Appreciation Party, which my NEW DOWNLINE Lisa is hosting for the third year in a row at her house!  Thanks again Lisa!  I received this card as part of a Summer Mini Swap I participated in, and the designer's name is Cheryl Blaum. Isn't this cute?  I love the KISS technique on the pink scoop - this is such a fun set!

The second one is another cute idea I got from Stampin' Connection (one of the best reasons to be a demonstrator after the discount!).  This card is designed by Kristin Sova.  The only thing I did differently was used 1/4" instead of 5/8" Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon, since that's all I had.  Anyway, these two cards really have SUMMER written all over them, don't they?

So enjoy YOUR summer - I think I'm going to go find me a little bit of Tastefully Simple's MMM Mojito! and get packed for our Party tomorrow!

Take care,
Peg 

Tastefully Tuesday - Go! Go! Asiago Dip Mix - Returning Favorites

Another Returning Favorite today - Go! Go! Asiago Dip Mix (731299)!  I love anything having to do with Asiago Cheese - one of my favorites all the time!  I'm serving this one at my Tastefully Simple Mystery Host/Pampered Chef party tonight!  I'll serve it with Blue Aztec Corn Chips and some other chips as well!  Gotta a lot to do, so I gotta run!

Simply add mayo and sour cream for a creamy, cheesy dip. Serve with chips, crackers and crisp veggies. Or sprinkle the dry mix on warm popcorn, mashed potatoes, buttered noodles or French fries. Each packet makes about 1 cup dip.

Ingredients Needed:

• ½ cup mayonnaise (real mayonnaise only)
• ½ cup sour cream

2 - 0.75 oz. packets per box (1.5 oz.) 42g

Tastefully Tuesday - Warm The Oven! Savory Cheese Dip Mix

OK, today I just have to feature one of my new favorites "Warm The Oven! Savory Cheese Dip Mix"!  I know it's not a Returning Favorite, as I had promised for this month, but I served this in a recipe (see below) at my daughter's graduation party last weekend, and YUM-O!!!  Beware, double this recipe if you are planning on a hoard of teenagers (even girls!) coming to your house!  I was woefully unprepared, and had to rescue this wonderful appetizer away so some adults could try it as well!

Just add cream cheese and bake to enjoy the flavors of onion, tomato, garlic and spices. Serve bubbling with sliced French bread or crackers. Includes two packets (about 8 servings each). All natural.

Ingredients Needed:

• 8 oz. softened cream cheese

2 - 0.75 oz. packets (1.5 oz.) 43g

Anyway, this is the recipe I used (which can be found on the Tastefully Simple home website):

Warm the Oven! Appetizer Crescents
Submitted by Tina Dodge (IL)
Ingredients
1 packet Warm the Oven! Savory Cheese Dip Mix
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. milk
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions
Combine first 4 ingredients; mix well and set aside. Separate each can of rolls into 4 rectangles; press seams together to seal. Spread each rectangle with 2 rounded tablespoons of cheese mixture. Slice each rectangle into 12 wedges (SIDE NOTE: I sliced each rectangle into 6 long pieces and rolled them up); roll, starting with short end. Place seam side down on greased baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 8-10 servings (or 48 pieces).

Tastefully Tuesday - Classy Chocolate Pound Cake Mix

Moist, rich chocolate goodness! Just add butter and water. Top with whipped cream or ice cream for an easy and elegant summertime dessert. For delicious variations, try stirring chopped nuts, white chocolate chips or mint extract into the batter before baking. Makes about 10 servings. Kosher. (0g trans fat per serving)

Ingredients Needed:

• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) melted butter
• 1 cup water

17 oz. box (1 1b. 1 oz.) 481g

Of all the Returning Favorites, this one was voted most popular!  I just got my box yesterday, and I'm looking forward to giving it a try.  If you like the Absolutely Almond Pound cake mix, you've GOT to try this one - available for just a limited time (through July 31st!)

Thanks for stopping by!


Peg

Better Late Than Never - Teacher Gifts!

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay in posting the promised Teacher Gifts I made for my kids' teachers this year.  The gifts included both a stamped item and a Tastefully Simple gift - two-fer!

This project is Super Easy - Take a standard 3x3 sticky note pad and cover it with cardstock, then decorate the front.

The dimensions for the project are as follows:
Cover: 8 x 3, scored at 3 inches, 3-1/2 inches, 6-1/2 inches, and 7 inches
First Mat: 2-3/4 x 2-3/4
Second Mat: 2-5/8 x 2-5/8
Picture piece: 2-1/2 x 2-1/2

Stamp the Picture Piece as desired, I used the new "Awash With Flowers" stamp set that will be featured in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (and was a special Sneak Peek Offer in April).  The colors I used were Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, and Bermuda Bay for both ink and cardstock colors.

Put together the Picture Piece and the two mats.

Take the backing off of the sticky note pad and attach it to the inside of the cover using it's own sticky strip and more SNAIL (to keep it secure).  Fold the sides around the pad.  You'll notice a long end and a short end.  Attach the Picture/Mat piece to the front of the long end, but only apply SNAIL to the half closest to the fold.  The short end then tucks in between the Picture/Mat piece and the long end to sort of "lock" it into place.

Then I decorated an RSVP pen with a piece of decorated computer paper (1-1/4 x 3-1/4) rolled inside the barrel of the pen.

Put the whole thing in a cellophane bag, tie with ribbon and add a gift tag!

These are very fast and easy, and inexpensive.

Give it a try, and send me your version - I'll post it here!

Thanks!
Peg

Stampin' Up! Last Chance Lists Are Here!

They're HEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEEE!  The Stampin' Up! Last Chance 2010 Lists Are Here.  Click on the following to see:

Retiring Stamp Sets
Retiring Accessories

Retiring Decor Elements

These products will be gone for good (or sent to the Clearance Rack) by June 30th.  NOTE: For Accessories, they are only available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!  So if you see something you like, Click on my website link to the right and "Shop Now".

Thanks for stopping by!

Peg

Tastefully Tuesday - Returning Favorites - Honey Teriyaki Sauce

It's Tastefully Simple's 15th Birthday - they're celebrating by bringing back a few favorites from over the years so this month I will be featuring some of these.  In honor of grilling season, I'm starting with Honey Teriyaki Sauce (Item #236100) which is so popular you can buy it in a 12-Pack!  

I will be featuring Returning Favorites at my Pampered Chef/Tastefully Simple Mystery Host Party on June 22nd, 7PM, at my home.  If you place an order that night I will enter your name once for every $20 ordered - so you could earn this and other goodies for free!  And no, the Mystery Host is just for Tastefully Simple, I'm the host for the Pampered Chef part! (LOL)  These two product lines really compliment each other!

Rich and tangy with a hint of honey, sesame seeds and brown sugar. This savory sauce is perfect for stir-fry or dipping eggs rolls and wontons. Or serve on spare ribs, chicken or burgers to add a taste of Asia to all your favorite foods.

Also available:
Stock Up & Save with Our Honey Teriyaki Sauce 12-pack - Buy 11 & Get 1 Free ($8.99 value)!

Ingredients Needed: 0
8 fl. oz. bottle (240ml)

And for my stamping friends, stay tuned, another post is on its way!

Tastefully Tuesday - Asian Honey Mustard Dressing

This weekend I had the pleasure of having a party hosted by my godmother, Aunt Helen.  Hands down THIS was her favorite item!  When the party was winding down, and the beer bread was eaten and the chips were gone, she was using Triscuit crackers to mop up the rest of the sampler of this dressing that I had brought!  

We had a great time at her house, and she got lots of free product too!  June is a big month for hosting - you can win free collections with party totals of $500 or more!  My calendar is filling up fast, so drop me a line quick!

Open and drizzle over tossed greens, coleslaw, sandwiches, grilled chicken or shrimp. With the fresh flavors of buttermilk, ginger, honey and a touch of red raspberry vinegar, it makes a dandy dip for raw vegetables, chicken fingers or egg rolls. Also excellent stirred into pasta and potato salads. Kosher

Ingredients Needed: 0

8 fl. oz. bottle (240ml)

PLEASE NOTE: I have now become Paypal Certified!  This means that you can email with Tastefully Simple orders or Stampin' Up! orders and I can accept your payments via Paypal if you prefer.  Of course both offer very easy online ordering options as well, but Paypal works when I'm having private specials and you'd still like to pay in a secure fashion.  Contact me with your needs, wants, and desires, anytime! 


Tomorrow, stay tuned - TEACHER GIFTS!!!

Gift Card Holder

Retired Products/Colors Alert!  Otherwise everything else is current...

My younger daughter has the Best Girl Scout Leaders!  I was already planning on making them some awesome Thank You cards for their final meeting next week, when another Mom mentioned she was collecting for a Gift Card.  So it turned into a Gift Card holder card!  Saw this awesome idea on Stampin' Connection (cool website for demos to get ideas and discuss stuff) and adapted it to be able to insert a Gift Card into the insert.

Uses my favorite set Vintage Vogue (117690 wood, 118598 clear) from the Occasions Mini (and is still available now.  The retired product is the Groovy Guava color in the Designer Prints Paper, ink, and cardstock.  The red color is Ruby Red which is retiring (but Riding Hood Red is a great substitute for this color, yay!)
Remember, the retiring colors are getting back-ordered left and right, and at the end of this month there will be no guarantees on quantities anymore, so order while you can!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Peg

Tastefully Tuesday - Tasty Rye Bread Mix!

It's that time again - today I'm featuring Tasty Rye Bread Mix, which is another Spring-Summer Limited Time product, so check it out while you can!  The box says to add plain yogurt and milk to this mix, but of course I didn't HAVE any plain yogurt, so I started reading the rest of the box, and you can substitute a can of beer for both the yogurt and the milk!  Hey, another Beer Bread!  That's what I did, and it came out great!  I made it in my mini-loaf pan, so now I have a way to make my own Party Rye!  Cool!  So if that sounds appealing to you, head on over to my website, or give me a call today.  Better yet, host a party in June, and you may get it for FREE!

So simple and so good. Just add milk and plain yogurt to this caraway rye bread. Excellent for paninis and Reuben sandwiches. Kosher. 0g trans fat per serving.

Ingredients Needed:

• ¾ cup milk
• ¾ cup (6 oz.) plain yogurt**
  **Low-fat or fat-free yogurt may be used.

13.4 oz. box (379g) (Item #724800)

May Stamp Club Projects

The May Stamp Club projects are all about using supplies from the new Summer Mini Catalog, and as many retiring colors as I can!

Well I've been trying to cut back on "buying the world" to save on expenses, so I didn't invest in the Father's Day stamp set in the catalog.  However, I did get the "Rough Type" (118659 wood, 120072 clear) alphabet set.  And since not everyone needs or wants to make a Father's Day card, I will be offering the option of making your own message (within size limitations).  The neat thing about buying this set as a clear-mount, is that you can put several letters together to form a word and stamp once!  I've always wanted to do this!  This card also uses the new Specialty Designer Series Paper "Presto Patterns" (117175).  This paper is Whisper White, with a glossy white design that is revealed when you rub other colors on it.  There are two designs from that paper pack that lend themselves best to cards.  I decided to use the brayer and Brocade Blue ink.  It's fun to watch the design emerge!

The next card is for birthdays, and I used the new Builder Wheels, and Builder Wheel Spindle and Spacers (119895).  There is also a Triple Cell Cartridge available, but I used a normal Jumbo Cartridge (Handsome Hunter - retiring) for this project.  What I did was, I put Builder Wheel "So Many Stars" (118620) on one end, a spacer in the middle, and "Candle Crazy" (118618) on the other end.  Then using the Stampin' Around Wheel Guide (104834) 3/4" from the bottom of the card front,  I wheeled only Candle Crazy.  I moved the Wheel Guide to 3/4" from the top of the card front, and wheeled only So Many Stars.  Cool!  The next cool new product I used was Smooch Spritz "Gold Glow" (118770) all over the front of the card to give it some pizzazz, and inked Summer Sun onto some of the stars and candle flames.

The final project is where I'm going to let everyone "go a little nuts".  This is your basic Jr.Notepad Cover project, using my favorite stamp set from the mini called "Elements of Style" (118611 wood, 120045 clear).  The base cover is Confetti Cream stamped all over with Creamy Caramel (retiring) flourish (OK, if you check back a couple of posts, you'll notice the similarity - hey, why mess with a good idea?).  After that, I stamped the large floral bouquet with Taken With Teal (retiring), and using Watercolor Wonder Crayons and blender pens, I watercolored the design, cut it out, stamped a few more flowers, cut them out, and put them on with Dimensionals.  I backed the cutout design with Taken With Teal and added Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon as an accent.

OK, you ask, how are they going a little nuts?  Well, I'm basically going to give them the notepad cover and the stamp set, and tell them to use whatever colors they want.  Frankly, this is an odd combination, but not totally weird.  I think I used the following retiring colors: Taken With Teal, Pixie Pink, Cameo Coral (I will MISS this color!), Gable Green (I WON'T miss this one), Yoyo Yellow, Ballet Blue.  If someone wants to use other colors, or chalks instead of crayons, or watercolor pencils, or Aqua Painters, I'm going to have it all available to them.  And they can cut out the flower or not - back it with a different color.  I know, lots of flexibility here.  But I have the best Stamp Club in the world, and they're worth the potential mess we'll be making!

So, if these projects look fun to you, and you haven't planned on coming to my May Stamp Club, click on my website (Stampin' Up! logo on the sidebar) for dates and times!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

Tastefully Tuesday - Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix

Today for Tastefully Tuesday, I decided to feature Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix (209107) in honor of my friend Julie (wave Julie!) who loves this stuff so much she ordered two packages of it with her host order from her recent taste-testing party!  Julie was so successful with her party that she earned $50 in free product, plus 1/2 off a Samba Sangria Slush mix!  Cool!

This mix can be made into pesto per package directions, or used as a seasoning for all sorts of other things - very versatile, and I love anything with the word Pesto in it!  So give it a try - just ask Julie!

In under 10 minutes, you can create an exquisite pesto. Add olive oil and water (Parmesan cheese optional), toss with your favorite pasta and serve. Present with crackers, cheese or freshly baked Bountiful Beer Bread^™ as an hors d’oeuvre. All natural.
Ingredients Needed:

• 1½ Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese (optional)

2.8 oz. jar (79g) 

Summer Mini 2010 - It's Officially Open For Business!

Looky, looky, to the right (and below) - the Occasions Mini link has been replaced by the Summer Mini Link - so check it out!  If you come to my May workshop, you will get to work with THREE projects that all use stamp sets and other cool things from this amazing little catalog!

I've been preparing the May Projects using these products, and I'm also featuring as many retiring colors as possible, just to remind you of your favorites in case you want to stock up on things that will be going soon.  Remember, AFTER MAY 31, there is NO GUARANTEE on availability, just like with retiring accessories.  So June should be an EXCITING month!  Especially since my Hostess Appreciation Party is not until June 26th, so Club Orders may not be able to take advantage of last minute sales... keep that in mind... Stay tuned, if I'm ambitious, I may come up with a SPECIAL to help you order early and often!

Mini-Course Notepad Creations!

I had the best time teaching stamping to three 3rd-graders and one 5th grader this afternoon!  It was Mini-Course day at the grade school, and boy the kids were pumped up!  My students were so enthusiastic, it made it easy to teach!  I love to hear "wow - look at that!" and "that was fun" and "that was easier than I thought"!  We decorated an insert for RSVP pens, and then decorated the covers of the notepads that I prepared for them (I used Confetti Cream this year).  After a quick introduction into the do's and don'ts of stamping, they got down to business.  They loved the Stampin' Up! color names (I used mostly retired or retiring colors) and I got in a lesson on "alliteration"! 

I provided about a dozen ink pads, a bunch of stamp sets (I made the theme butterflies and flowers), and all the punched/die-cut images I've saved over the last year or so plus a few new ones (had to try the new Beautiful Wings embosslit).  I also gave them access to some retired and/or non-SU ribbon.  Each girl got a glue-stick, instructions, their decorated pad and pen, and any cards they made if they had extra time.

Anyway, I know you want to see their creations, but first here was my example:

Not bad, but you should see how they took this idea and ran with it!  First Hannah, the fifth-grader - I love how the red dots coordinated with the ribbon she found!  I wish I had taken pictures of the cards she made - very creative and talented mind!

Then there was Lisa, who liked using one ribbon to hold the notepad closed (which we didn't have on for the picture, sorry! - it was Apple Green grosgrain):

And Olivia, who became the queen of the "layered flower" look:

And last but not least, Caitlin, who did a great job incorporating sayings into her notepad cover!

Tastefully Tuesday - Artichoke and Spinach Warm Dip Mix

Add cream cheese and shredded Swiss cheese, warm gently and enjoy this classic favorite with crackers, chips or sliced French bread. For a tasty twist, stir in crabmeat or sun-dried tomatoes. Each packet makes about 1½ cups dip.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 8 oz. softened cream cheese*
  *Light may be used; fat-free will not set up properly.

2 - 0.5 oz. packets per box (1 oz.) 28g  (Item# 734309)

Of all the things I had at my Open House back in March, this was my hands-down favorite!  I had the leftovers for lunch the next day, and I'm serving it again this weekend with Mint Juleps while watching the Kentucky Derby!  I like to serve it with Pita Chips myself!  Enjoy!

Confirmation Card

This weekend Daughter #1 gets confirmed.  It has been a "school-year" long process, with classes every Sunday, service projects, special outings, and last weekend they finished up with a weekend retreat where they decided whether they would decide to follow Jesus Christ.  I'm very happy to say that Ruth did say "yes" so we will have the Confirmation Service this Sunday and then go out to brunch (not planning on dinner so I hope we get our fill!)

When trying to decide what card to make, I got my inspiration from several places.  First, I saw this really cute idea for a flower from Angie Juda's site and realized I had some of the first "Fleurettes" they came out with last year that used last years In Colors Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette.  Well guess what?  Those colors are coming back full-time so I got everything out of storage (just kidding, I never put anything completely away LOL!) and started to play!  The problem was I am literally down to scraps on Pink Pirouette.  I had an unopened pack of paper at the end of last year and sold it during my Open House - had I only known... anyway, this scrap was big enough to be a layer on a card.  I had plenty of Riding Hood Red because I loved that color and decided to keep what I had!  So I had my colors figured out - the third area that inspired me was the Stampin' Success catalog, where they used the flourish stamp from Baroque Motifs (still one of my favorite stamps) and did some "torn corner" thing that turned out to frame things quite nicely.  So, a "card is born"!!  On the inside, I was able to break out not one but TWO retired ribbons in these colors - wonder if they'll bring them back?  I LOVED the Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon - very cool!

So here they are - have a great weekend!

Tastefully Tuesday - Toasted Garlic & Parmesan Cheese Ball!

Today's feature is the Toasted Garlic & Parmesan Cheese Ball mix (723200)!  Super easy, just mix with 8 oz. of cream cheese and chill.  Even if you don't want to use this as a cheese ball, this is a great way to flavor cream cheese for use on bagels, toast, or with crackers!  And you get TWO mixes in one box!  I'm lovin' it!

A mellow garlic treasure with tangy undertones. Just add cream cheese; chill and serve with chips or crackers. Or for a warm dip, heat gently in the microwave. Makes about 12 servings.

Ingredients Needed:

• 8 oz. cream cheese

2-0.55 oz. packets per box (1.1 oz.) 32g

Elements of Style - Summer Mini Sneak Peek

I have a confession to make - my favorite stamp sets have always been floral - especially vintage floral.  Maybe it's because they are so versatile, and floral images appear so often on feminine cards.  So of course one of the first ones I chose in my Summer Mini Pre-Order was a new one called Elements of Style.  Now I can't show you the actual stamp set yet, as it is not available to the public until May 1st, but I can show you my first attempt at making a card with it!

The main stamp from this set is a beautiful spray of flowers, and I thought about watercoloring it, but in the end I decided to make the flowers a "suggestion" in the background and showcase the gorgeous bird!  This set will also coordinate very nicely with Vintage Vogue (117690 wood, 118598 clear) currently available in the Occasions Mini catalog until the end of April (and will be available in the new Idea Book & Catalog 2010-2011).  So I will probably be making projects combining them in future posts.

What do you think?  Do you think my Stamp Club will want to do this card?  Or do you think they want to get o out the chalks and watercolor?

Tastefully Tuesday - Blue Ribbon Blueberry Bars

Today's Tastefully Tuesday Feature is Blue Ribbon Blueberry Bars!  These were featured at my Stamp Club this weekend and were very well received! 

Your family will award you first prize for these delightfully moist and chewy dessert bars - loaded with blueberries, oats and white chips! Just add butter and an egg. Excellent for lunch boxes, picnics and casual summertime meals on the patio. 0g trans fat per serving.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 egg
• ½ cup (1 stick) melted butter

16 oz. box (1 lb.) 453g

Remember these are only available for a limited time, so stock up while you can!  Just click on the Tastefully Simple logo to the right to place your order!

New Color Announcement from Stampin' Up!

Yesterday Stampin' Up! announced a Color Renovation - their first in about five years!  Here's the new lineup...

And here's what's going away...

All this is taking place as of July 1, 2010 with the new catalog.  In addition, the In Colors that have been announced this year will be around for TWO years, and next year another five will be added, and they will be around for TWO years, etc. etc.  I'm happy about this one!

I'm glad to see this - some of the retiring colors were ones I never used.  Some of the others I'll miss, but there are others coming back from previous years that I am glad to see again!  There are more things coming but this is big enough, so I'll just let that sit and simmer with everyone for now!

Tastefully Tuesday - Sun Dried Tomato Veggie Dip Mix!

Happy Belated Easter, and Happy Spring too!  Along with warmer temperatures comes the tendency for some lighter fare - and Tastefully Simple's Sun Dried Tomato Veggie Dip Mix (723300) fits the bill perfectly!

With the fresh flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, onion and parsley, this dip delivers a whole lot of flavor. Excellent with crisp veggies, but you'll love it on crackers or spread on sandwiches, wraps and burgers, too. Just add mayonnaise and sour cream.

Ingredients Needed:

• ¼ cup mayonnaise**
  **Real mayonnaise only.
• ¾ cup sour cream***
  ***Light may be used.
•  

I brought some of this to the family Easter dinner in a really cute dip bowl that I found in a shop in downtown Naperville where the spreading knives are bunny ears (tee hee!)  Of course did I take a picture?  No!  Sorry about that... anyway, this dip was perfect for a veggie tray, which in our house is basically a "pepper tray" because if I just buy one at the store Nora will eat the 4 or 5 peppers in a heartbeat!  I've learned to make my own tray where it is basically peppers with one or two other veggies thrown in (LOL)!  Anyway, this stuff is great!  Tasted good on the one or two crackers I spread it on as well!

The best part about Tastefully Simple's dips is that you can make them low-fat if you add lower fat ingredients!  The instructions do say to use REAL mayonnaise, but they just mean "NO MIRACLE WHIP!"  That stuff has way too many added things like vinegar and such.  I use low-fat or fat-free mayo all the time and it works fine.

Anyway, give this stuff a try - my Stamp Club will this weekend, along with another new item that I'll reveal at next week's "Tastefully Tuesday!"