Thoughts of a Grasshopper

This is my completed preview challenge card.  It combined a couple of challenges where you had to stamp a border on your card and have a wrinkled, torn piece of black cardstock.  I switched my cardstock to gray because the first challenge allowed you to stamp in black, gray and one other color for the border of the card.   This was the first time I used the doily die.  It actually worked pretty well.  I did it with a piece of vanilla cardstock and this coral piece.  It went through the coral well, but you would definitely need a shim for the vanilla. Stamps:  Vintage Vogue CS:  Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, VV Ink:  Calypso Coral, Basic Gray Misc.:  Large Paper Doily and Lots of Tags dies, dimensionals

There is this fun group that I'm a part of that runs for several months out of the year.  They (VC Rocks) just started up again a couple of weeks ago.  There are daily challenges, some of which I anticipate and get a head start on (i.e., clean up your stamp area, re-ink your pads, get adhesive, etc.)  In all the years I've been a part of the group, I never get the challenges completed.  It looks like I just may make it this year.  I say that only because I have made it a week now. Here's the deal with this card.  One challenge was to pick 3 colors, cut the cardstock in half and fold.  One has a stamped background, one a stamped border and one has a cut border.  Another challenge we had to pick 5 pieces of scrap cardstock and an embellishment for each scrap.  Saturday we had to use the cut border cardstock, with 2 of the colored scraps/embellishments we chose and make a birthday card.  Overall, I think it turned out okay.   I rea...

This is your first stop on the blog hop.  For the complete listing, you can go to the SUStars blog .  I looked as I was posting and saw the list up and a project that uses flashing.  It just so happens that I bought some recently . . . now to decide what I want to make with it. The colors in the picture are slightly off due to lighting.  It was POURING when I took the picture.  The occasional flash of lightning did nothing to enhance the picture.  I made a card and post-it note holder using an acrylic picture frame for the holder.  I was going to stamp a sentiment for the card using the framelit dies but I couldn't decide who I'm giving it to, which determines what I want it to say. Surprisingly, I didn't use any stamps, yet the list of what I used, for something so simple looking, is long. CS:  Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride Embossing Folders:  Perfect Polka Dots, Elegant Lines Punches:  5 Peta...

We had an activity at church yesterday that took the kids simply through the life of Christ.  There were 9 stops along the way, 8 of which had a handout.  Amazingly, I never took a picture of the handouts, which I am surprised by since I spent at least 30 hours on them.  We planned for 110 people between kids, teachers, presenters and a handful of parents. I wanted to make something to thank the presenters for their help in the activity because they made it a success.  I wanted more than a simple ribbon and tag but at 2 AM, you just come to grips and settle. Stamps:  Well-Scripted CS:  Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, WW, Digital Twitterpated Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Misc.: 1-3/4" and 1-1/2" circle, flower punch, pearls, Baja Breeze seam binding, linen thread, Jumbo scallop punch (sorry for not looking up exact names on punches) I saw these cute chocolate dipped Peep bunnies and pinned it on Pinterest.  At a meeting Tuesday, they decided they...

I've had a hard time with what SU offers for their digital kits and have promised myself that I would wait for them to develop their products before I got anything.  They have improved but they are still limiting and flat for my personal tastes.  With the recent free trial, I gave it a go and I think I will still have to stick with my old ways and sources for digital scrapbooking.  Perhaps it is my comfort level and not wanting to change from what I know. I was looking at some old pictures of the twins tonight that I've always thought were fun.  They laughed so much this afternoon as they played with each other.  Their laughter makes your heart happy. I used the Twitterpated Digital kit and Bella Rose papers for this page.

I'm still around.  I have my hand in several little projects that have taken some time to prepare for.  The most recent event was a Derby for our church.  Our Cub Scouts had their Pinewood Derby last weekend.  This weekend we had an open race for our church.  No rules, which means, there was a little smoke in the room. Those trophies above, I made them.  The most expensive part was the three spark plugs that cost $5.63 all together.  For under $10, we had those awards.  For another $20, we had recognition for 16 other cars/racers.  I found some awards online that I printed off and we tied up popcorn and an absorbent cloth with some raffia. There were a couple of cars that had rocket engines and as they zipped down the track, there was smoke and sparks.  It was a fun event and they may even make it an annual event. This wasn't a clear picture but the smoke is obvious.  The car to the left of the red one, was called a train. ...

It has been a while since I shared a recipe and this is a good one!  I usually make these to include on my Christmas cookie tray that we give friends.  This year I never got around to making cookie trays and planned to do something for Valentine's day.  That didn't happen either.  However, my son helped to make some because he wanted to give a tin to his girlfriend that night. Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Cookies 2-1/3C flour 1t baking powder 1/2t salt 1/2t cinnamon 1C sugar 3/4C butter, softened 2 eggs 1/2t almond extract 1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate morsels 6T raspberry jam or preserves Confectioners' sugar In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; set aside.  In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until creamy.  Beat in eggs and almond extract.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Divide dough in half.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm. Preheat oven to 350.  On a lightly floured board, ...