More cards

I've been busy making cards the past week and here are some of my creations. This one is a new stamp set I found in my stash that was not even mounted. So I had to try a couple using it. I also used my Stampamajig to line up the solid stamps over the outlines - they are not perfectly lined up but that is the 'style' for these stamps. The crimped paper is supposed to be a garden fence.

I got this set used on E-Bay and this is the first time I used it too. I really like these colors together. I left the inside blank so I can add whatever sentiment I want later.

The next two are also using a stamp set I bought used on E-Bay. DD18 even said she liked these. I like the double ribbon on this one with the staggered knots.

And this one uses other small stamps from that set. The set is called "I like your style".

I have had this set for a while but just had not used it much. I like the 'airy' feel of the designs. For these two I left them as stamped but I did others where I colored in the designs.

I like to take a colorful ribbon and coordinate with the paper colors. I look for bright ribbons in the $1 bin at Michael's when I shop there.

For this one I used the Razzleberry Lemonade double sided paper from Stampin' Up. I love the colors in the paper and tried to match up with paper I had. I need to order some of the In Colors card stock :-)

And another - this ribbon also was from the $1 bin at Michaels. I like the color combination on this one.

Card fun

The past weekend was a busy card-making time. Seven of us (myself, sister-in-law, 4 nieces and a friend of one of my nieces) are in a Stampin' Up club. My sister is a SU Demonstrator so she does the club for us. We meet 7 times throughout the year and each one of us hosts a meeting. We are each committed to spend about $20 per meeting so the host gets the minimum hostess gift. The past weekend was my turn to host.

Here is what we made at the SU Club.

This one was fun - the tree is a neat stamp set and DD19 and I decided we just had to have it :-) Actually her card turned out better because she stamped her background darker so the snow on the tree branches shows up better.

This one was fairly quick and easy. It uses a new Ornament Punch and glitter paint. I designed the tops of the ornaments myself (always trying to outdo the others :-)
This is a slide card. You pull the ribbon on the tab and .......

Ta-da! The message appears along with our signature.

And we made bookmarks. This is the one DD19 made. We are going to make more of these for friends.

Since my sister was going to be here, I also had a 5x2 party. For that each person pays $10 to cover the supplies and they make 5 cards - 2 of each. So each person goes home with 10 cards - $1 each. There were 5 guests for that plus my niece and myself. A sixth lady could not make it but paid the $10 and asked me to make the cards for her since she would be out of town. So it went over pretty well. Here are the cards we made on Friday night. For these everything was cut and scored. We did the stamping, punching and taping. One guest made one card like the example then made up her own card for the second one. It was fun!

This is the Holy Triptych set. It was a fairly simple card but looks nice. It opens up from the center....

like this.

This was our Pumpkin Patch card. This one was a lot of fun and had the most 'customization' at the party.

This one was also fairly easy - except for tying the jute in the star :-)

And this one was nice - there was a variety of the double sided paper so everyone's looked different.

This one was everyone's favorite. It is a Thanksgiving card. A couple ladies ordered the Branch Out card set. It was fun doing the multi colored leaves.

So that got me feverish to make cards - so I have been busy doing just that for the past 4 days. I think I have made about 60 cards. I will have to buy more supplies soon :-) And that has me in the mood to send cards so maybe I can keep up with all the family birthdays and anniversaries. I will have to post some of my favorites on another day - time for bed!

Menus

Well, did not post our menu last week and actually did not stick to it much anyway:-) I cooked up some big meals over the weekend and we had leftovers a couple nights. Not used to the college kids getting together on Monday evenings - don't have to cook a meal for DD18 since they always have lots of goodies to eat there.

DD18 was in a fashion show on Friday evening - so she had dress rehearsal on Thursday (she grabbed something after that and DH and I ate leftovers) and then on Friday night DH and I met a niece for dinner before the style show and DD18, niece and I went out for fast food snacks after the show.
Last evening our adult Sunday school class had a picnic in a nearby park. We had grilled brats, pork steaks and chicken breasts and everyone brought side dishes. It was great! The weather was actually cool for this time of year. We all tried to stay in the sun to keep warmer and after eating everyone was scrambling for jackets, blankets - even beach towels - to stay warm. ( It felt good to see one of the mom's pull out the knitted blanket I made for her son to use as a shawl - glad to know they are using the blanket :-)
We had a great time. I took on of my favorite standbys - Marinated Vegetable Salad - and a new 'experiment' Cherry Dessert. I took a recipe I had that used canned peaches and modified it for cherry pie filling. They must have liked it because I only brought home a small portion as leftovers.

Need to get re-focused on meals and WW points this week. Will be hard since we are having a 'Food Day' tomorrow at work - Fifth Monday. I guess I'll start on Tuesday :-)

Menu Monday

Well, DD19 is back at college and DD18 goes to orientation at the community college on Wednesday. It is strange having both in college - no dealings with teachers, etc. Spending much time in prayer for both of them :-)

Menu:
Monday - no cooking - stuffed on Cici's Pizza buffet so got off easy tonight

Tuesday - Mexican Layered Chicken
Crock Pot Corn Pudding

Wednesday - Shrimp Scampi over spaghetti
Asparagus
Applesauce

Thursday - (eating out with DD18 - fashion show fitting)

Friday - Mexican Rice Pilaf
Corn Salad

Saturday - Salmon with Orange Ginger Sauce
Baked Potato
Broccoli

Sunday - Red and Green Lasagne
Salad

Menu Monday on Tuesday :-)

Okay - so I'm a day late - but at least I am posting this week.

Monday - Spice Rubbed Chicken with Grape Tomato and Corn salsa - Freezer meal
Tortilla Chips

Tuesday - Stromboli
Salad
Women's Ice Cream social at church

Wednesday - Cheeseburgers with Grilled Onions
Slaw

Thursday - Chicken with Fettucine Dijon
Salad

Friday - Cornmeal battered Catfish
Pickled beets
Macaroni and Cheese

Saturday - Mexican Beef Salad
Tortilla Chips

Sunday - Hamburger Stroganoff
Noodles
Asparagus
Fruit Salad

Here I am again!

Seems like ages since I have posted anything - but just 15 days. Not as bad as I thought. Since the last post we have made it home safely and DD19 is engaged! We are in the midst of planning a June 26, 2010 wedding.
I guess I'll start off this week with my Monday Menu (today since I probably won't be back tomorrow). We are having guests for most of the week (my elder sister and her granddaughter) and I will be working each day because a co-worker is on vacation - so we will be trying to pack as much as possible into our evenings.

Monday- Leftovers - I received a ticket to the Cardinals' game as part of a project at work so am going with some co-workers :-)

Tuesday - Roma's Chicken Skillet (freezer meal)
Spaghetti
Green Beans

Wednesday - Pork Sausage
Potatoes and gravy
Corn
Salad

Thursday - Savory Burgers
Chips

Friday - Fish Fry on my brother's farm - a tradition when this sister visits

Saturday - Stromboli

Sunday - Sloppy Joes (hosting the College Kids from church)
Slaw
Chips
Pudding dessert
Brownies

I am been doing a modified Once a Month Cooking - more like once- a-month shopping then weekly cooking prep for the week. The best part is that if I do have to pick up produce there is a farmer's stand on the way home so I am not tempted to buy other items as I am when going through the large supermarket. It does make me think ahead because I thaw out whatever I need the night before. Of course, some nights what I planned just doesn't work out because things come up (like shopping for bridal dresses) - so I can easily rearrange or omit meals. If I omit something that I have already shopped and prepped for - I just have a meal ready for next month :-)

Way too long!

It has been way too long since I have posted. Vacation and then DD19 got engaged and we are planning a summer 2010 wedding. It has been crazy the last couple weeks.

Thought I would post a few vacation pictures.

DH and I during a round of miniature golf at the Mall of America.
DH was such a sport. He carried all our packages all day long. He did do some shoe shpping - the ones he has here are red and black checker board.
DD18 and DD19 at Lego-land. Impressive lego sculptures.
While in St Paul, we met up with an online cross-stitch buddy and her family at a fun Italian restaurant.
At the underwater adventure in the Mall of America. There is a tunnel in the bottom of the tank so you walk through and the sharks, etc can swim up over you.

From St Paul we drove to Rapid City SD. I have not downloaded the photos from that part of the trip yet. Will do so soon!