Perk UP!

Sorry about being so quiet lately. It's been a long couple weeks around our house.  My husband, Terry has been home more.  This is his slow season at work. I can't wait for spring--I really hope things pick back up for him.    Evan is sick. It's nothing serious--just a cold, but he is a needy boy when he's sick.  I'm not complaining...it's nice to have him want to be in my lap snuggling.

I have been focusing more on my weight loss.  My new loss total for 2011 is  **drum roll please** -27.6.  I'm so happy!  It's coming off and I'm feeling good!  I have been participating more at Sparkpeople.com and have decided to become a co-captain for one of the teams there.  I have even noticed some of my Stampin' friends are making their way to Sparkpeople.  If you do decide to join, please look me up.  My login name is WendySue72.  :)

Now on to the good stuff....STAMPING! Krista has a new color challenge over at her Cards & Things Challenge Blog.  It's a fun one.  You should definitely play along w/ this one... 

I finally pulled out my Morning Cup set.  I fell in love w/ this set immediately.  I love hot tea on chilly mornings or a some hot chocolate w/ marshmallows.  I will miss my tea when the weather warms up.  BUT I will not miss the cold weather.   LOL

Using my AquaPainter and Classic Ink Pads I did a little watercoloring.  I must admit, I REALLY enjoy watercoloring now.  I think I'm even improving.  LOL



Impatiently Waiting for Spring...

 

I really like this picture of Evan that I took of him looking out our kitchen window. 

There is only one thing I didn't like about the picture.  The dark colors he is wearing. When I envisioned a page using this picture, I saw a soft background.  With My Digital Studio, you have several different photo options.  A couple options that I like for my photos is black & white or sepia. 

I love how with a couple clicks of the mouse and My Digital Studio you can completely change the feeling of a picture. On this page, I turned Evan's picture back to black & white so that I could make a cute springtime page without the distraction of the dark colors of his clothing.

Same picture--completely different look.

I ♥ My Digital Studio. 



Through the Eyes of a Child

I loved this picture of Evan looking out the kitchen window.  I wonder how he views the world?  I love to watch his little face as he takes in the big world outside.  I'm sure everything is beautiful in his eyes.

Brooke's Get Well Card

Happy Valentine's Day!  It is such a beautiful day in Wisconsin.  The sun is shining and it's a unseasonal 35-40 degrees outside. Riley Kate was sure that this was t-shirt weather and was really unhappy when I said she had to wear at least a hoodie to school.  Can you believe we are midway through February.  Spring is getting closer and closer.  I can't wait to take Evan out in the stroller walking w/ me.  Hopefully he will like being outside as much as I do... 

There's another new sketch challenge over at Krista's Cards & Things Challenges.

This was just what I needed to get me down in the basement stamping.  

 My friend, Lois had couple knee replacement surgery last week.  I also have a cousin in the hospital w/ some complications from a recent surgery.  I needed to make some Get Well/Speed Recovery cards for them. 

I had to use the little Greeting Card Kids girl again w/ the heart for my cousin, Brooke's Card.  This little girl reminds me of Brooke when she was little.  :) 

Here's the entire card: 

I didn't have time to dye an SU! flower so please excuse the non-SU! embellishment.  Sometimes you have to settle for what you have when you are in a pinch.  LOL

Ohhh and I just got the Sweet & Sour DSP---omgosh, it's Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red.  I love them together! I think you'll be seeing a lot of it in my blog posts.  ♥

Riley Kate's Valentine

Here's a quick little Ghirardelli holder I made for Riley Kate for Valentine's Day. 
She is all about Valentine's Day and L-O-V-E.... 

I paper pieced the little girls dress and bow.  I love her in little polka dots!

Calorie Free Blog Candy Winner!

The winner of my Calorie Free Because I Care set is:
Darlene L  djstamper2003 at yahoo dot com


Darlene's stamping tip was:
"A stamping tip from me--I have limited supplies but one of my favs is the modern label punch. I punch two, one in complimenting color, cut it in half and use it to layer at the ends. So while not a complete double layer, it does look really good."

A lot of you asked what I was doing to lose weight:

#1 http://www.sparkpeople.com/  It's a FREE weight loss community.  I lost 123# there in 2007, before I got pregnant w/ Evan.  It is such a great tool.  Look me up there if you would like www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=WendySue72

#2 If I eat it, I track it.

#3 Measure EVERYTHING even condiments!

#4 Water and lots of it.

#5 Move

#6 STAMP MORE and stay out of the kitchen.  ♥♥♥ this is my favorite!

#7 Join challenges

#8 Keep it natural.  I don't use any weight loss drugs or 'enhancers'.

#9 Sit down and eat.

#10 Put away all food off the counter after eating.

#11 Smaller plates.

#12 Don't keep junk food in the house!


**If you are trying to lose weight yourself, please come and visit me and tell me about your progress.  I would LOVE to hear what you are doing, how you are doing and I'm a great cheerleader if you need support.  :)

BBQ Hamburger

Today, I wanted to add a recipe for the cookbook that the kids love. BBQ at our house is always a hit. In fact over the years, I don't know if there has been a party that I have taken BBQ to that I wasn't asked for the recipe. 

My mom found this recipe when I was little, it was called BBQ for a Crowd in her recipe box, but in mine it's just Mom's BBQ.  ♥

I'm so excited.  I purchased some more digital downloads for My Digital Studio.  I got the Play Date dsp. Isn't it CUTE?!  And.... the owl punch.  OMgosh, I couldn't wait to use him.  He is so sweet!  He's just sitting there on the corner of my page looking all fancy w/ his dsp vest.  :)

Mom's BBQ
2# ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 TBSP flour
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup water
2 TBSP vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1 tsp mustard

Brown ground beef with onion and celery in a large skillet. Drain. Over a low heat, add ketchup and mustard, chili powder and salt. Stir well. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer until flavors are blended about 20-30 minutes. 

Calorie Free Giveaway

In the last week, my blog hit 60,000 hits and then this morning I weighed in and I am down 20 pounds. What a great feeling especially first thing on a Monday morning!   I have reached my first weight loss goal to lose 20# before Valentine's Day.

As most of you know by my ticker that I have a goal to lose 111 pounds in 2011. I'm plugging away and determined to get there.  I have some mini goals set through out the year.  If I stay on track and meet these goals there will be blog candy to celebrate--non fattening of course.  :) 

Today,I have a brand new clear mount Because I Care stamp set that is just itching it to be inked up.

Here's how to enter to win.  #1 Leave a comment giving me a great weight loss or stamping tip. #2 Add your email address to the comment or email it to me at Stampiepoo@gmail.com with the Subject of "Blog Candy"  #3 OPTIONAL: Become a Follower of my blog and I will put your name in twice doubling your chances to win.

A name will be randomly drawn first thing Sunday morning, February 13th and announced on Valentine's Day, February 14th.

Sale a bration FREEBIE!

Today, I made a card using a color that I have never used before.  Granted, you will have to search the card a bit to find it, but I did use it.  I had never opened my Concord Crush cardstock or ink.  If you are a Follower of my blog you know I have struggled w/ purples in the past.  Thank you, Krista for once again getting my outside my comfort zone and forcing me to use purple.  LOL

If you would like to play along with this challenge, here's the link for Krista's Cards & Things Challenge.

For my card, I used the Bear Hugs Build a Bear set.  This cute little bear is FREE during SAB.  If you go to the last page of your SAB catalog there is a whole list of goodies that you can get w/ a $50 order.

Did you find the Concord Crush?  I watercolored his rattle Concord Crush--like I said you would have to look for it.  LOL

Cupcake box tutorial

  

These little cupcake boxes are so easy to make and what a great way to let someone know that you think they are sweet. Today, I'm going to give you a step by step how to make the 'boy' cupcake box on the right.

 Supplies:


8 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Pacific Point Cardstock
4 7/8" x 4 7/8" piece of Celebrations DSP
2 7/8" x 2 7/8" piece of acetate/window sheet
Scallop Trim Border Punch, Small and Large Tag Punch
Party Hearty stamp set
Real Red Ribbon about 18"
embellishment container
snail and sticky strip
4- 1" x 3" Real Red Cardstock strips
1 scrap piece Real Red Cardstock for tag
1 scrap piece Whisper White Cardstock for tag
Real Red ink
paper cutter and bone folder
pen/pencil
scissors




 Bottom of the box:
8 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Score @ 2 3/4" on all sides

Flip over.  Clip corners, score lines  and add sticky strip/snail.

 Assemble box.

Top of Box: 4 7/8" x 4 7/8". Score each side at 7/8"

 

Turn DSP over and center embellishments container and trace around. 

Cut out. Add snail to edge of the circle and position  2 7/8" x 2 7/8" window sheet on top.

Punch borders on your 1" x 3" Real Red strips of cardstock.

 Using snail add borders. Turn dsp over cut score lines, clip corners and assemble box top.


Add ribbon and tag.

Coaster Calendar Tutorial

I received a lot of nice comments about the coaster calendars that we made at my January Hostess Club. Instead of replying individually to requests for the tutorial, I thought I would post it here for everyone to use. :) 

I bought my coasters and calendars through an online bulk buy group.  If you are interested in joining contact Karen Sullivan (kasully@verizon.net).  I will also provide other sources for these supplies below.

Supplies:

2- 4" x 4" chipboard coasters (http://bonniesbest.com/chipboard.htm or http://www.stamponthis.com/)

Calendar (http://www.stamponthis.com/)

4 pieces of coordinating Designer Series Paper 4 1/8" x 4 1/8"

1 piece cardstock 2 1/2" x 3 1/4"

adhesive (snail or sticky strip)

4 Jumbo Eyelets

Crop a dile

Sanding block

Scissors

Ribbon

Dimensionals

Apply adhesive to the very edges of your coaster and add DSP to both sides of your coasters.  

 

Using your scissors, trim the excess DSP from the edges and corners. 

Sand the edges of your coaster.

Using the 3/16" hole punch on your crop a dile, punch holes through both coasters at once for your jumbo eyelets. This insures that they line up when assembled.

Separate the coasters and add jumbo eyelets to each coaster.

Adhere calendar to cardstock.  Add dimensionals to the back of the cardstock and attach to the front of your coaster.

Tie coasters together w/ the ribbon of your choice.

Viola!  Finished....



Do You Know What Time It Is?

It's Sale-a-bration time!  This time of the year is the best time to be a Stampin' Up! customer.  For EVERY $50 order you put in you get something for FREE!  Oh no you didn't!  Oh yes, I did.... I said FREE!!
AND a $300 order also earns you an extra item... now is the time to get EVERYTHING on your Wish List.

This year's SAB catalog not only includes stamp sets in clear or wood mount, but there is also My Digital Studio content (all the SAB products included on it), ribbon and buttons, Designer Series Paper & Die Cuts plus a whole page of sets from the Idea Book & Catalogs that are included in this promotion. 

Click here or on the picture below and check out the brochure online. 



You can shop w/ me online by clicking on the shopping cart on the left or you can email or call me with your order. 

Happy Sale-a-bration!

Blizzard 2011

Ahhhh... Wisconsin weather.  You have to love it.  We woke up this morning to lots of snow.  It's BEAUTIFUL!  I was hoping that my husband, Terry wouldn't plow right away, but then...  I found out that my Stampin' Up! order was due to arrive today.  LOL  "Honey, go plow the driveway. Hurry!"  Stamps change everything...  :)

Here's my MDS page of 'The Big One'.  It's the Blizzard of 2011.

Recipe: Grandma's Chops & Potatoes

Outside the wind is howling, the snow is blowing and school is already cancelled for tomorrow.  Is it strange that I am not at all upset by the snow or the blowing?  I actually enjoy nights like this and can't wait to look outside when the sun comes up in the morning.  The best thing about country living--the scenery is so amazing.  We live off the beaten path (yep, that's a nice way to say the boonies).  There will be no tracks and everything will have a beautiful  layer of white and some amazing drafts for my husband, Terry to enjoy.  He is a snowmobiler. He loves this weather too.  

 Tonight, the house is chilly because there is nothing stopping the wind from pounding against the house.  It's an extra quilt kind of night.

Speaking of quilts, I just make another cookbook page for the kids' cookbook.  I couldn't resist making a quilt background w/ my new dsp download.  This dsp is part of the Springtime Vintage download.  There is matching dsp and fabric in the Occasions mini. 

Doesn't it just say Grandma? It reminds me so much of the kids' Grandma Hawkinson. She does a little quilting and loves all things that are blue and flowery. :)

Here's the recipe:
Grandma Hawkinson's Baked Pork Chops
6 pork chops
6 TBSP ketchup
6 TBSP brown sugar
6 TBSP lemon juice
1 large onion, sliced
5 baking potatoes, peeled and diced

Place pork chops in the bottom of an oven safe baking dish or 13 x 9 pan.
Add 1 TBSP of ketchup, brown sugar and lemon juice to each chop.
Scatter the onions over top. Add potatoes.

Cover w/ aluminum foil. 
Bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours. 
The pork chops will be tender.  YUM!