Nancy's Craftin' Place

Busy about UStamp!

2012-01-17T10:17:00.002-07:00

Oh my oh my oh my . . . have been busy enjoying my granddaughters and working on the graphics for the next round of UStamp Big Shot Round Up!

Be sure to join while the price is discounted for Early Bird - this is one round you will NOT want to miss!

Neighbor Gifts

2011-12-16T23:50:00.001-07:00

This year I thought it would be nice to reach out to the people in our subdivision. I really felt we have been so blessed this year and that we should share those blessings with our neighbors so I enlisted the help of a stamper friend of mine (Ann) and we made cute cookie packaging on Wednesday and then on Thursday we made these awesome Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies!

These cookies have become my husbands fav cookie (even over oatmeal raisin!) since they are so simple to make and they have NO FLOUR to upset our digestive track! When I make them for him only I use Skippy Naturals peanut butter, but (heavy sigh) I am having a problem with stomach pain when I eat the Skippy Naturals (and Jif Natural is totally out of the question) so I have had to resort to making my own peanut butter from the grinder at Freddy’s. This is fine for me, but (again heavy sigh) those nuts MAY have been processed on equipment that also processes SOY so that means hunny can’t have them!!! What a mess, but I make them for him since it is almost impossible to find cookies for him in the store that have no gluten, soy or dairy and I CAN have the Udi’s Snickerdoodles from Stawell Health over in Twin Falls.

Here is the recipe hunny’s co-worker gave him, she is always looking out for us gluten free recipes (her son also has food allergies) so you too can make some of these YUMMY cookies for the holidays – and HEY instead of using fork tines to mark them try using our Cookie Stamp set (with the snowflake here for the winter) dipped in some C&H Superfine Baking Sugar to keep from sticking!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

(from REAL SIMPLE magazine – Holiday Baking – slightly edited by me)

2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In large mixer beat all ingredients until smooth. Shape dough into balls (by 1 tablespoon) or scoop dough out with your cookie scoop and place 2” apart on baking sheets. Mark with forks in criss-cross pattern OR using your handy dandy Stampin UP! Cookie Stamps you can gently press them down imprinting stamp image onto cookies. Bake one sheet at a time for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, allowing to cool on parchment – cookies will deflate as they cool, and your stamped image will return to look AWESOME on your special cookies!

So to make the cute packages for these fab cookies Ann & I used the Big Shot and the Scallop Circle Bigz die to cut out our package toppers. We then randomly stamped snowflake images from an old old set in tone on tone and accent colors. Ann also stamped in Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive ink on Whisper White CS 2 images from the Sweet Seasons stamp set. Those were then added with a dimensional to the folded scallop circle that I wrote along the edge on the back sides “from your neighbors @ 209 Teton”. We tore strips from our INCREDIBLE fabric (this is Candy Cane) to make hangers for these cookie bags, so that incase our neighbors are not home when hunny and I go visiting we can just hang it on the doorknob and hope the neighborhood dogs don’t find them first lol

When hunny got home from work on Thursday he looked at them and said “they need candy canes” funny man – why didn’t he say anything about that before! So today we went to town and got some candy canes and now instead of tonight taking them out, we will head out tomorrow and deliver our goodies to all our neighbors wishing them many blessings this Christmas Season!

I will also be taking some of my mini-catty’s for Thrity-One helping to promote my Virtuous Woman (from Proverbs 31) biz and hopefully get some orders for the fund raiser Thermal Tote sale (www.mythirtyone.com/nancyhorn) to help with the local food banks to stock “allergy friendly” supplies.

I am also busy working on the graphics for the next UStamp round “SCORE 2012” and hope you will be able to join me on Dec 30^th for that AWESOME event! Did you enjoy the free Blog Hop event earlier this month – wow weren’t there so many incredible holiday projects??? This upcoming event has projects that use our FABULOUS new Simply Scored scoring tool that premiered in the Holiday Mini (which ends soon so get your order in right away for any of the stamp sets you can’t live without – no guarantee which ones will turn up in the catty in July!). Next month the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration start so be on the lookout for those catty’s to post here as soon as its legal :)

If I don’t post before – please have a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior Christ the Lord, HE is the reason for the season!

Drum Roll Please . . .

2011-12-05T18:20:00.006-07:00

I was out of town all weekend and didn't get to do much more than read and post the comments - wow 40 of them! Thanks to all of you that posted and now for the time to choose the winner of the prize pack sent by Dawn! True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 40 Result: 37 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

This is the post by the winner:

April J said...

Love the choice of paper and colors. Wonderful gift set!

DECEMBER 4, 2011 10:41 AM

April Please contact me ASAP with your full snail mail addy (and email addy) so Dawn can get your prize pack sent off!

UStamp Blog Hop #2

2011-12-01T19:01:00.004-07:00

Welcome to the UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! Up On The Roof Top 2011 World Showcase Holiday Blog Hop.

If you have been following the Blog Hop from the beginning, you have just been wowed by Kris Sobolik's fabulous Shimmery Holiday Packaging, cant you just see using her packaging to wrap up some trinkets?

All Blogs are linked together so you will be able to see ALL the FABULOUS projects we have for you. My project is the gift for those who have everything - or no space for anything else!

This last summer my husband and I had our 3 fabulous granddaughters for 2 weeks and we took advantage of that time to have our portrait done with them. This gift is made for my mother-in-law who lives in a very small space and has no room for much clutter. The blank cards inside will showcase "notes" from her great-granddaughters, with their individual portraits on the back of each card. This Photo Gift Folder is perfect for the "nana" (or anybody else) who already has way too much of everything.

The note cards on the inside are blank on one side for writing a note and the other side has their individual picture on it

I made a Gatefold card to coordinate with the Photo Gift Folder using the cut out of the flocked piece from the front of the Photo Gift Folder

Using Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper made this project a great gift that can be displayed all year long

I sure hope you enjoyed my Photo Gift Folder I made especially for UStamp with Dawn and Friends!!

As a Special Thank You for stopping by my blog I am giving away BLOG CANDY!!

Please leave a comment about my project to be entered for a chance to win a great goodie bag of current Stampin' Up! products. I will randomly select a winner to be announced on Tuesday, so please check back to see if you are the lucky recipient!

AND there's MORE...LOTS MORE!!

You have the opportunity to get the downloadable PDF Tutorial for my project FREE!! It's a GIFT from UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! Woohoo!! See the blinkie below to access the FREE Blog Hop Website.

In the Spirit of the Holiday Season, you have the opportunity to get in on "Special Holiday Pricing" for the upcoming UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! SCORE!! Event. The Stampin' Up! Simply Scored Tool is HOT STUFF and SCORE!! will feature 40+ projects, all created using the Simply Scored Tool. SCORE!! is a MUST NOT MISS Event!! See the blinkie below to join and get in on the Early Bird savings.

And now for the most exciting giveaway of the season...

Everyone that joins the new and exciting upcoming event - SCORE!! - with "Special Holiday Pricing" will be entered into a Drawing to win 1 of 3 FREE Passes for an ENTIRE YEAR of UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! events!!

YES!!

You read that right!!

YOU could win a whole year of UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! events FREE!!

***Special Holiday Pricing of just $19.99 ends Dec 8th***

Winners will be announced on Friday, Dec 9th.

Click the Blinkie below to join SCORE!! with Special Holiday Pricing

and a chance to win a FREE Year of UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! events!!

Click the blinkie below and you will be taken to

THE UP ON THE ROOFTOP BLOG HOP WEBSITE!!

Of course it's ***FREE*** to join and

there you will find the tutorials for ALL the blog hop projects,

PLUS live chats, challenges and more prizes!!

You will even have an opportunity to be considered for a spot as a Guest Designer!!

Yes!! It is all FREE, so tell all your friends and

join the fun with UStamp with Dawn and Friends!!

***

AND last but certainly not least, it's time to hop on over to the next Designer's Roof Top, so please click below for NEXT BLOG, where you will find BETTY ready to share a delightful Holiday project with you.

If you would like to hop back to Kris's Roof Top, please click below.

Thanks again for stopping by and Happy Holidays to YOU!!

2011-11-29T20:48:00.003-07:00

Dec 2-4,

2011 Holiday

Up on the Rooftop

Blog Hop!!

* The FABULOUS UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! Design Team will have awesome projects for you to enjoy at their blogs!!

* Every project will include a link for a downloadable PDF tutorial.

* Every Designer will have BLOG Candy at their blogs and YOU could be a winner!!

*We will have FUN Creative Challenges where you can share your projects

*LIVE Chats with prizes

* Talent Search...would you like to be considered for a Guest Designer spot for the UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Design Team?? Get your Holiday MoJo going because details will be announced Dec 2nd.

Plus I will be offering BLOG CANDY during the Blog Hop so be sure to come back!

2011-11-21T00:34:00.002-07:00

Be sure to select me (Nancy Horn) as your demo so you can get the preferred pricing!

2 new items available at 20% off TODAY ONLY (Nov 21st)

Cookie Press Stamp Set

Simply Scored

2011-11-02T16:53:00.000-06:00

better late than . . .

2011-09-26T16:55:00.021-06:00

Time, that ever elusive measure of what we do and when we do it. Time is really running away right now, I can't believe how BUSY my October was and it still has more to come because TONIGHT we are going to the Steven Curtis Chapman Songs and Stories tour in Twin Falls - I am SO EXCITED!!!

my last 30 days in pictures . . .

Becca came to see the girls - her first meeting with Nikkole. She saw Ally at the car show in August, then came to see Rain and meet Nik when they stayed with us for a week while mom went to a wedding

Bought a 3-Story Dollhouse for the girls - NO they are not spoiled, just well loved!

Very well loved!

Helped Amanda look for a vintage wedding dress - gorgeous!

Without pre-planning wore the same "thrift store" skirt as Sis Suzie Savage to church

Made Ginger Crisp Applesauce - THE best for applesauce, no sugar required!!!

Took Rain to go see the windmills up close, she always says we are close to our home when she sees the windmills from her window in the car (actually we are only about 40 minutes from home at that point, but in relation to a 2 1/2 hour car ride I guess that is "close")

September card box class - forgot to take pix of them working on their cards this month to add Fall themed cards to their boxes

Friend to friend swap received from Miriam Cassell

A new do with my eyebrows waxed for the first time - I have NEVER done anything to my brows, something on me has to stay original right? My stylist Heidi Conner did them for me (tricked me into it by doing one and saying you can't stop now) probably out of pity of the caterpillars that have been growing there for 49 years!

There was a duck wandering through my back yard, told my hubby we are definitely over-watering if a duck mistakes our back yard for a pond - it was awesome though to watch him "take a bath" in the tall grass up on our hill, we finally stopped watering when mushrooms began to grow in the front yard!!!

Well - those were the highlights but by far not all of my busy month - and like I said its not done yet! November will be just as busy I am sure :) Until next time - happy stamping!

Sample for Monday's class . . .

2011-09-23T09:53:00.005-06:00

So yesterday I went to work with my hubby, he has to leave on Thursdays at 6:30 am to drive up in the mountains to work at a rural health clinic. Thursday's is Dental day at the clinic and so it's not super busy and a good day for me to go with him. It is so beautiful up there and the people are so friendly :) I just wish we didn't have to leave so early! I told him Wednesday night to pretend like it was Sunday. On Sunday we get up EARLY to leave for church by 7 a.m. since it is such a long drive. So he woke me up as he was done in the bathroom so I could go shower - it was 0530 aaaaaa!

Anyway, I always pack a bag of stuff to do, crochet, stamp, read etc. This time I took my "sample" box I purchased in August and the new doily DSP called Flirtatious with matching fabric. I watched the video on the SU website to learn the BEST way to put this box together and I tell you the box is amazing!!!

I used the enclosed templates to cut my pieces of DSP to decorate the box. Each side plus top and bottom is different!!! I have to say the jury is still out on whether I actually "like" this paper or not, it is just not my style but I wanted to use the fabric

(which I did BTW) so I will probably recover this box at some time to something more my style (like Paisley Petals???) when I get around to it but for now - TA DA!

I did use the fabric - I tore a long strip and frayed it on both sides then wrapped it around the lid. My intention is to eventually also put ribbon on top of it and put a knot or bow in the front. But it was too funny to have hubby see it and say "did you know it is ragged here" yes, hunny I did that on purpose :)

Maybe on Monday I will decorate my dividers - Have a great day and happy stamping!

Challenge x3

2011-09-20T19:40:00.015-06:00

Why kill 2 birds with one stone when you can meet 3 challenges with one card! It has been such a long time since I did a challenge card, let alone working 3 challenges into the one card - and it really worked well!

For my basic sketch I used Mojo Monday sketch 207 - yay they are back from a short vacation

For the colors I used Melon Mambo (bright pink), Basic Black and Basic Gray from the CR84FN38 color challenge. The base of the card is BB with BG cut slightly smaller and folded in half. Whisper White was used on the inside & the front to layer all the pieces on. Using discontinued DSP (sorry) from a couple different sets to get some Gray & Mambo patterns. I ran the top white piece along with the BB & BG pattern pieces through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, the Melon Mambo DSP piece was also run through the Big Shot using Perfect Polka Dots TIEF and then sanded the dots to appear as white.

For the text I used a Verve stamp (scripture - Prov 3:5) and Stampin UP! Beautiful Wings embossilit die for the butterfly accents to meet challenge 107 from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, Isaiah 40:31, wings and scripture. i also put Basic Rhinestones as accents on the butterflies and some retired MM ribbon

Scripture: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with winds like eagles. Isaiah 40:31."

Well what do you think? Did I rock all 3 challenges or what? Inside I stamped it with a retired set, that says "praying for you" I actually had this card all done and then when I was getting ready to post, I said "ooppss I forgot the wings!" so I had to dis-assemble part of it and put my butterflies on - but here is a close-up of the scripture I took before I took it apart

Sorry about the weird text in the post - if I was better at html I could probably fix it, for some reason my "links" wont work for the 3 blogs, but now some text is linked to one of my photos - AAAHHHHH!!!!

until next time - get your fingers inky and happy stamping!

September Class kicks off Holiday Mini

2011-09-08T01:25:00.006-06:00

Stampin‘ Card Keeper Class

Monday, September 26^th at 7:00 p.m.

Cost of this class is $12 pre-paid by Sept 16^th

or $20 thereafter (if space/supplies available)

The white paper-covered chipboard box (page 35 of the Holiday Mini) is perfect to organize all your standard-sized cards by month, theme, or holiday. We will personalize the box by covering with Designer Series Paper, Designer Fabric and embellishments. Box measures approx. 6" x 6-1/4" x 4-3/4" Cost of the class includes box and items to embellish your box (subject to DSP, fabric & accessories on hand).

To continue to make this card keeper such a great value, join me each month to make themed cards to fill your box! Cost of monthly card class is $10 pre-paid prior month in advance or $15 paid up to night of card class.

Space and supplies are limited – Don’t wait, register and pre-pay today!

Social Hour begins at 6:00 p.m. Please join me for light refreshments...including my "loaded" snack tray and seasonal non-alcohol drinks

Swap cards

2011-08-25T14:36:00.004-06:00

I got a wonderful package last night from Mr Brown! It was my pre-order for the Holiday Mini that starts in a week (woo hoo)

So I was able to finish my swaps for this round of UStamp - holiday cards! I am usually at a loss for holiday cards, I'm not a Halloween person and as far as Thanksgiving I would rather not do the "turkey" thing but just maybe a bunch of leaves etc. so that left Christmas. Choosing to worship Christ for Christmas rather than "santa" etc makes it very hard again for me to create great holiday cards . . .

I think I managed to pull off the effect of really nice cards - did 2 styles since I am in for 2 sets of the swaps of 6 each. This first one uses my fav stamp from last years Holiday mini - its an A la Carte stamp (single) called Christmas Postcard. I stamped the image in VersaMark and embossed it with Gold EP and then spot colored here and there with Stampin Write Markers in Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke or Crumb Cake. I used the suede technique for the Always Artichoke under the image, and as my husband has pointed out, I finished the story with the inside verse.

My second swap card has goodies that were in my pre-order! I have to tell you I am covered with Mica Flakes! Oh my the static in those little pieces of "snow" are incredible!!! I used the Sweet Treat cups and Sweet Snowglobe (single) stamp. To create the "twinkling" for the snow and snow globe, I mixed 50/50 of White and Iridescent Ice EP. Stamping the image in VersaMark I then used this mixture to emboss the snowglobe. When cool I punched out the center of the snowglobe and then put the rest through my Big Shot with the Northern Flurry Textured Impression Embossing Folder to add more snowflakes. Once assembled, I added touches of glimmer to the snowflakes with Dazzling Details a new product from the Holiday Mini - it is like glitter glue BUT with our FAB Dazzling Diamonds glitter! Inside I stamped in AA ink using another item from my pre-order, a stamp set called Hand Penned Holidays (LOVE it!!!) and then using Stampin Dimensionals I put the punch out in the lower corner :)

Hope you like my swap cards, it felt good to get back in my craftroom and get my fingers inky!!! Until next time - Happy Stamping!

oooo a parade!

2011-08-23T21:09:00.008-06:00

One of my favorite Disney movies is The Jungle Book (Fantasia is my ut-most favorite!) but out of the whole movie, this link shows my most favorite part of the movie, which was the first thing that came to mind when Dawn told me about this newest upcoming event! I hope you will enjoy watching this short video after you check-out the rest of this blog post :)

I am super super excited to announce that Early Bird Registration is now open for UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Paper Parade - Early Fall 2011!!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!

UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! has implemented a new FAST AND EASY way for everyone to join as a member and you no longer need to wait for Opening Day to receive and invite!!

BIG YAY on that one!!

What do you think of the new banner...I LOVE IT of course...hope you do too!!

Are YOU a Paper LOVER?? Who isn't, right??!!

Paper Parade will be focusing on showcasing Stampin' Up! Paper from the USA/Canada 2011 - 2012 Idea Book & Catalog as well as the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog!! Obviously not all papers are available in all the Stampin' Up! countries, so Designers from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand will be showcasing the Paper Designer Series Paper Stacks

This is a HUGE Challenge to cover all the papers in 40+ projects...but all the Designers are way excited and are more than up for the challenge!! Keeping in mind that the most important element is the AWESOMENESS of the project, each Designer is working MAGIC with the Stampin' Up! Papers!!

Here is the list of all the Stampin' Up! papers that the Designers will be covering...

Cardstock

In Colors (10)

Brights Collection

Subtles Collection

Regals Collection

Neutrals Collection

Basics

White Vellum

Glimmer Paper

Waffle Paper

Watercolor Paper

Specialty Designer Series Paper

Designer Series Paper

Paper Stacks

Simply Scrappin'

Since our focus this round is PAPER and not just the upcoming Holiday Season, we have a VAST VARIETY of FANTASTIC Projects!!

Come join us and take advantage of the Early Bird Savings!! ONLY $19.99

Click the blinkie below to start the payment/signup process.... it's E*A*S*Y*!!

The Paper Parade website is OPEN NOW,

so you will not need to wait for an invite on Opening Day!!

Remember, with the implementation of the new payment process allows YOU to enter the website as soon as you make your payment!! Woohoo!!

Hope you join us...I will "see" you over at the Parade Parade Website!!

I will again be Swap Skipper so plan now to join in the swapping fun and get your cards ready using some sort of (you got it) Paper Parade!!!

So busy . . .

2011-08-09T20:25:00.012-06:00

Oh my I have just been super super busy these last few weeks and really just wanted to catch you up on the happenings of my life lately . . . I went to convention in SLC, Utah as a Flat Stamper with Twila Davis - I am told we had a BLAST!!! (BTW that is me and Twila in the center with other UStamp Flat Stampers on either sides of us) someday I will get there for real!

Canning Cherries - yay they finally came on and with a bang! We did 18lbs on Sunday when we got home from church (hunny washed and pulled stems while I did the rest) all in pints! Since it is one of his favorite canned fruits I thought it would be best to can them in pints as a "single-serve" jar rather than him turning a QUART into the single-serve jar I know he can do. We can all our fruit in just water - no sugar no added juice - I have been known even to forget the vit-c or fruit fresh since we try to do it natural, but boy do those peaches look nasty w/o that fruit fresh!

Today we ran down to Wal-Mart and got another 36 lbs of cherries, personally I thought these were better than the ones we got on Saturday, but Gary said he thought the other ones were better. Anyway, at 98cents a pound we just couldn't pass up the chance to do up some more! When we ran out of pints I began using quarts and I tell you that man's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree in Times Square! It was so cute when hunny counted all the jars of cherries in the pantry from Sunday and what we did today plus the case and some left over from last year he says "we can have a jar a day and not run out for almost 5 months!" dream on!

I was even multi-tasking today and making bread while the last 3 batches of cherries were on. I got a new mixer in June and I have not liked it at all. It has 12 speeds it says, and you would think that with that many speeds it would be enough to whip oil into mayo - but no, and I even bought a stand mixer so I could free up my hands to make the mayo! Alas, hunny says I get what I pay for, and I guess I did . . . with the dough hooks though it makes FABULOUS gluten free, casien free, soy free bread!!! So now our local natural store is ordering in Soy-Free Vegannaise for me :)

Saturday before the produce came in we went to the Farmers Market over in Twin Falls and got some fabulous goat cheese from Sweetwater Farms. They are a local farm in the Magic Valley and just the cutest couple, very young, with a itty bitty baby and lots of goats. This cheese was so wonderful we had to have some - in Huckleberry! OH MY GOSH spread on warm, fresh from the oven bread, it was like we had died and gone to heaven!!!

Course I would be remiss if I didn't talk about all the Digital Diva things I have been doing for the next round of UStamp to start this Friday (12th). Although I am sworn to secrecy, of all the INCREDIBLE projects I am seeing, I can tell you that it would be a SHAME to miss even a single day of them . . .

PLUS I have already gotten a head start on my swaps for this UStamp round - have you? I have learned a few lessons from some incredible stampers (Crafty Helen are you reading this?) on how to "finish the story" and so my cards are now complete! Hunny says I have finally succeeded to stamp with the Big Girls - woo hoo!!! My goal is to enter each swap group, I think I will not do a one to one swap this round if at all I can wiggle out, that way I can focus on enough of the same cards for everyone to have one!!! Sorry these pix are blurry - I was trying to get shots of the details - glitter and embossing and really didn't do these cards justice with these pix!

Last weekend my son sent me a bunch of pix he took of the girls with his new droid (maybe android?) phone and WOW is the clarity incredible!!! Stampin UP! is having a new contest for the MDS and so I am thinking of working with the photos to create a project with MDS and enter it in . . . $400 in free downloads is being given away in prizes!!! check out the website mydigitalstudio.net for details on September 1st!

Aren't they just beautiful granddaughters??? Well that covers most of my time - in a nut-shell! Until next time - get your fingers inky and Happy Stamping!

Birthday wishes to me!

2011-07-15T13:41:00.007-06:00

I am so remiss to post these FABULOUS birthday cards I received . . . I have no excuse other than I have been really tired (ha ha still in recovery mode from the girls here) and just not much in the mood to hang out on the computer after doing my UStamp duties :)

I do feel a deep need to get organized and crafting again - SOON - but I tend to spend more time "organizing" my space than actually making anything productive in it.

This first card received came from a fellow stamper (and fb friend) Kristen that I have swapped with several times. I am so amazed that she paid attention to my birth-date on fb and sent me this FABULOUS card - ok seriously Kristen it DOES make me want to have cupcakes!!! It also makes me want to play around with my cupcake set that I won at Boise Regional this last spring, I just can't seem to make anything "cute" with it . . . Thank you so much for this special card - you ROCK!!!

My second card was from my upline Judy. She always makes such beautiful and elegant cards for me for my birthday and holidays. She is such a wonderful friend for the last 8+ years now. This card is no different - it uses the new Wisteria Wonder color which is going to be a FAV of mine since afterall it is a purple and that is my FAV color in the whole wide world - all shades of it!

I received my friend to friend swap from the UStamp Blog Hop this week also - oh my - Kim did a great job of making me a set of coasters using the Love & Care hostess set along with Strength & Hope the special Breast Cancer fundraiser set that SU released this spring and into the summer mini.

If you would like to get any supplies to create any of these cards & gifts please contact me and I will take care of your needs - until next time - Happy Stamping!

A New Hat

2011-06-22T13:13:00.005-06:00

I now have a new hat to add to my collection - Digital Diva! So I have been the Swap Skipper for the last few UStamp events and last week Dawn called and asked me if I would consider the Digital Diva job. That means I would take the fabulous graphics created by Michelle Laycock and add the color chips or photos or text and make them ready for Dawn to add to the website for the current event. My first event I am working on right now is "I ♥ the Holidays!!" which starts August 12th. Show your support and join us for UStamp with Dawn & friends I ♥ the Holidays!! 2011.

Learning to use MDS

2011-06-16T15:28:00.002-06:00

Here is a page I created all on my own (not much to it really) with My Digital Studio (MDS) and some great pix I took on Sunday evening when we got home from a long church day. The girls were so good for the 2+ hour drive home and now we have them for a couple weeks while our DIL goes out on the truck with our son . . .

I hope you like it and watch for more things like this as I get more familiar with the program, plus my recipe pages! The blog hop is still live so if you think you have missed out on all the fun, you are wrong! Go ahead and click the links in my Blog Hop post and have a blast!

Free Pass Winner

2011-06-13T11:06:00.003-06:00

Using my True Number Generator on my blog I entered the numbers 1 thru 44 for all the comments on this Blog Hop project and the winner is: 18

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 18

Jess Doyle from New Castle in NSW, Australia is the winner!!! Contact me soon as possible Jess so I can get your info for Dawn and your free pass to I ♥ the Holidays!! 2011

UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! World Showcase Blog Hop

2011-06-10T10:00:00.006-06:00

Welcome to the UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! World Showcase Blog Hop.

If you have been following the Blog Hop from the beginning, you have just been wowed by Betty's Summer Ensemble. Wasn't that awesome how to make “shells” from DSP???

If you are just joining the Blog Hop, no problem as you can start at any point. All the Designer's Blogs are linked together so you will be able to see ALL the super projects we have for you.

For my project I chose to make something that I have wanted to make for a long long time! Have you ever gone off and forgot your phone (oh heaven forbid but I have!) or left it on the charger to “run a quick errand” and then needed to contact someone on a borrowed phone? Lets see what is my sons’ number this month? Speed dial --- oh wait! this isn’t my phone!!!

I made this handy little FDN (frequently dialed numbers) Case to keep in my purse, bag or car so that in those sad sad instances when I do go off without my phone I will have the emergency numbers I need (at least I know my hubby’s number by heart!)

As a Special Thank You for stopping by my blog I am giving away BLOG CANDY!! Please leave a comment about my project and you will be entered for a chance to win a FREE PASS to the next UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! session - I ♥ the Holidays!! I will randomly select a winner to be announced on Monday, so please check back to see if you are the lucky recipient. If you have already joined I ♥ the Holidays!! for the Special Party Pricing and you are selected as the winner, you will get a FREE Pass to the NEXT event after I ♥ the Holidays!! which will launch in the Fall.

You can only win one free pass from this event so please if you are chosen on a blog other than mine, be sure to let me know so we can choose another winner on another blog :)

AND now for the really cool part!! You will NOT want to miss out in THIS!!

By clicking this really cute blinkie...yeah...go ahead and click it!!...

you will be taken to

THE WORLD SHOWCASE BLOG HOP WEBSITE!!

Of course it's ***FREE*** to join and there you will find the tutorials for all the blog hop projects,

PLUS live chats, challenges and more prizes!!

You will even have an opportunity to be considered for a spot as a Guest Designer!!

Yes!! It is all FREE, so tell all your friends and join the fun with UStamp with Dawn and Friends!!

AND last but certainly not least, please hop on over to NEXT BLOG where you will find Kris with a fabulous wedding/anniversary gift idea to share with you.

If you missed Betty's awesome project, you can hop on over by clicking here

It's almost here!!!

2011-06-07T13:48:00.007-06:00

The first ever Blog Hop for UStamp with Dawn and Friends!!! Make sure you hop on over and get your free .pdf of all the wonderful projects the designers have for you PLUS every blog will have a drawing for blog candy with prizes provided by Dawn herself! And now for a sneak peek of my latest projects . . . June class project - "Make your own Designer Paper" we will make 4 cards plus portfolio on Monday, June 13th These cards use the new Flower Fest stamp set and have multiple layers and embellishments to totally WOW the person receiving your cards! This is just a sample of 2 of the cards I made And look at the inside of these cards - I didn't forget to "finish the story"! Have a great day and don't forget to stop by from Friday the 10th thru Monday the 13th for a chance to win a really awesome prize!!!

Why I've been MIA

2011-05-18T13:23:00.004-06:00

So I have been working on another project and have been really awful about posting - especially now that I am using a different web browser so I can actually post!

If you have been following my blog (or read past posts) for any amount of time you have probably heard me mention being gluten free

. My husband is even more sensitive than I am over gluten plus he is also intolerant to casein and soy! So you can imagine what my cooking must be like going from being called "Nancy Ray" with fabulous smells and dishes I can't pronounce but just know they taste phenomenal to the total label reader - is this gluten free, dairy (casein) free and soy free?

I personally have a bitter time because MOST of my favorite spices and seasonings use Soy-Lecithin as an anti-caking agent - welcome to my la

bel reading world looking for the hidden soy! Did you know almost everything you buy at a regular grocery store (I'm not talking in the specialty isles, just the regular every day stuff) has soy in one form or another? I so enjoy using spices to flavor my now gf/df/sf food and yet I am dumbfounded at what to do - and on a "regular person" budget.

How is it that a household of 2 (the kids are gone and the grandkids are less frequently here now) with special dietary needs can spend over $200 a WEEK to eat a balanced diet of meat, fresh fruit and veggies - HOW? Because people ar

e making big bucks hand over fist on us families that require special food (diet) to survive and thrive!!! I totally understand how and why my MIL didn't bother to take care to make sure my husband was fed a restricted diet as a child - imagine how expensive it was 40 years ago and much harder to find the special foods too! At a couple points in his upbringing they ate nothing but potatoes and mac & cheese (not Kraft either!) with an occasional can of tuna tossed in for protein!

Before we started playing around with my diet (at the advice of my chiropractor) I was really suffering - first we cut out the milk. I went to Soymilk - my husband said ok, and he went along for the ride. A month later I was no different and he was AWFUL! Dr Chad said ok, lets try cutting out the gluten. I said sure no problem - what is gluten in anyway? Oh My Gosh what a lesson I learned. Again hunny said ok, no reason to make two meals since its just mostly us anyway. I kept burritos and micro pizza in the freezer for the kids/grandkids and occasionally for hunny too as I embarked on a GF life!

I have to say, it has been a journey! After 4 months of our new lifestyle (switching to Rice milk from the Soy milk for cost and less fat) my MIL made mention to me that it must really be helping Gary (hunny) since he is allergic to those things. I said WHAT? and then she proceeded to tell me at 4 years of age he had blood work done and it showed he was allergic to (get this) Milk, Soy, Wheat and Sage! They got him shots for the Sage allergy but all they could do for the others was diet changes, so they did nothing! Hunny began to do awesome on this new lifestyle, he lost weight, slept better, let alone should I mention his GI tract began to appreciate the care it was given and didn't erupt as violently as it had in all the years we had been together!

Hunny warmly embraced this new lifestyle - me I went kicking and screaming the whole way! Give up chocolate because of the Soy-Lecithin in it - NEVER - but that is what I did, so Betty Crocker GF mixes are now out, as is the GF Bisquick. AAAAHHH but there are other choices! You can buy chocolate chips for about $4 a 10oz bag and make cookies yourself from flour that costs $20 for 5lb bag and if you are lucky(!!!) they don't come out as ice cream topping all crumbly and dry! Enough of the rambling - I should just get to the point . . .

I am working on a e-cookbook using MDS (My Digital Studio) with all my favorite and flavorful recipes re-worked to be gf/df/sf and that is why I have not spent much time on my blog or even much in my craft room lately. Although MDS is a Stampin' UP! product it is just not really something I can post on here - or maybe I can! Maybe I can kill 2 birds with one stone! while kicking around the idea of another blog to tout my GF lifestyle and my new e-cookbook maybe I can just periodically post a page for you to see the layout (scrapbook style pages with a recipe and pix if available) and how I am working on this.

I am still stamping as much as possible. I have a card class we were supposed to do this month, but I can't believe it is already almost the 20th and the end is coming faster so it may just have to be in June! I am the Swap Skipper for Dawn Rapsas and the UStamp with Dawn & Friends sessions. We have a fun blog hop coming soon - I am working on a fantastic project for you to enjoy for FREE! This fabulous event with Dawn will have you hopping from blog to blog of all the designers (both past and present) and getting FREE projects from each of us along with chances for prizes and so much more!

I HATE Upgrades!!!

2011-04-26T18:46:00.003-06:00

I have been locked out of most of my computer functions due to system upgrades - I am so tired of all these upgrades! It took me more than 2 weeks to get signed back into blogger - let alone I am not so sure I can still publish anything - AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH

Accordian Book from UStamp

2011-04-26T18:45:00.001-06:00

Look at this GREAT project I just finished for my step-mom for mother's day and since she will be here to visit the week after I can't wait to give it to her in person!

I used the NEW Paisley Petals DSP that is available right now as a Sneak Peak. When you order $20 but don't wait too long as this offer expires in a few days. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this paper and cant wait for it to come out in the new catty in July!!!

My stamp gals worked on this project last night - I would have posted the class info ahead of time on line, but alas, I upgraded my browser and it took me until NOW (2 weeks later) to figure out how to get back into my blog . . . NOTE: apparently I need to use Mozilla in order for my blogger to work - my upgrade to IE9 is what has "killed" my access to most everything. So glad the upgrade in Mozilla only killed some non-essential things (like downloads and messed up screens)

Swaps, Swaps and More Swaps!

2011-04-02T18:16:00.010-06:00

I've got to tell you if you are not part of UStamp with Dawn & Friends you are missing out!

I have been lucky enough this last round (and the upcoming round) to be included in the Designer Only Swap Around the World, now that I am Swap Skipper while taking a break from designing. This is the card I received from Rebecca Ingalls-Fleet aka Scrappywonder in the Designer Only Swap. Love is cut with the Big Shot and has Baja Breeze glass glitter on it.

As Swap Skipper I get to SEE, Touch and hold all the great swaps as they come to my house to be swapped out and returned. BUT as a Member of UStamp I also get to JOIN any and all swaps too!

So I joined the Friend to Friend swap - which was a 1 to 1 swap with someone else on UStamp. We were to make a card with matching small 3D item/gift. My swap friend was Sharon Herman from Ohio and this is what she sent me - I am still speechless at the beauty of it! This desk frame has a fabulous tone on tone 3D image from the Nature Walk stamp set and then on the front is a decorated note pad! How cool huh? I will strangle the first person to use the note pad!!!

This is what I sent to Sharon - (the card above and this mini folder with 4 love note size cards using the Springtime Vintage DSP that is also in the Occasions Mini (that ends on April 30th so if you want this paper you better act fast!)

Thanks Sharon for sending me pix of what I sent you - still can't believe I forgot to shoot them before I sent them!

I also, before I became the Swap Skipper, managed an un-hosted swap with other UStampers and these fabulously breathtaking cards came from Helen Williams of Timaru, New Zealand.

Helen's cards are incredible - and she puts just as much effort to the inside as she does the outside!

Seriously though, the Early Bird special for the next UStamp (Classes, Clubs and Camps) ends soon so if you LOVE what you see and what to be PART of it - hop on over and tell Dawn I sent you!

March Stamp class

2011-03-31T12:04:00.002-06:00

What a wonderful week it has been so far! Ally came home with us on Sunday when we dropped Rain and Nikkole off and it has been lots of fun to do things with her :)

Monday night was a great turnout to stamp class - given the current economy I am now going to switch back to just one night rather than 2 consecutive nights. It seems silly to keep things out another day for just one or two stampers who might come. Used to be Monday was the "quiet girls" night and Tuesday had all the rowdy people. Attrition happens to everyone and when people have to move away for jobs it is sad, but you lose some stampers.

This month we made this cute box and 6 cards to go with it. Al joined us Monday night to make a box and card. Too funny that her card is a birthday card to herself - she will be 6 in 3 1/2 weeks. so when her dad (my oldest son) and I talked Tuesday morning he asked if she could also make a birthday card for her mom and sister - Rain's 4th birthday is 2 days before Ally and their mom's 24th birthday is 3 days after Al's. So by noon Ally had made 2 more birthday cards to add to her box.

Next month we will be creating a fab birthday/mother's day gift plus a stack of cupcake cards to celebrate all occasions - so until next posting which will be after I get the Swaps sorted for UStamp I will show you mine :) happy stamping!