Monthly Archive for February, 2006

Ideas Abound

Published
by
Courtney
on February 18, 2006
in Scrapping and Stamping
. 2 Comments

Want a look at the projects we did at a workshop earlier today?? I knew you did! The demos were the 6×6 page, the smile card, and the topiary card. The other two were the make-n-takes along with a jelly bean bag topper. The jelly bean bag topper is in bright springy colors and uses the bunny from Tags & More. Following the photos are the recipes for the projects.


6x6.jpg

This weekend’s hostess has two daughters, so I designed this 6×6 scrapbook page for her to use for a picture of them. It uses the Print Pattern background, Classic Alphabet, and Island Blossoms stamp sets and Pixie Pink ink. The papers are my new favorite color combo, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, and Elegant Eggplant. Embellishments include the eggplant grosgrain, a silver brad, silver cord, and a clip from the pewter Hodgepodge Hardware.

sweet.jpg

susample.jpg

I modeled this card after the card sample on page 86 of the Idea Book & Catalog…that card is pictured below mine. I simply turned the direction of the card and changed the colors and stamp sets. Colors involved are Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue. The stamp sets I used are Sweet of You and Curvy Verses. I used the Coluzzle to cut the oval and then roughed up the edges with my fingernail.

smile.jpg

Mom did this one and it shows off our new favorite way to use the Hodgepodge Hardware…so much easier than having to glue the ribbon down, etc…you just tie the ribbon through the buckle. The colors she used are Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, and Apricot Appeal. Stamps include Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Tiny Talk, and Bloomin’ Wonderful. Embellishments are pewter Hodgepodge and Turquoise grosgrain.

bfly.jpg

This is a technique that we just learned…it’s called Crayon Resist. I’d heard of it before and just hadn’t had the chance to try it out myself…I must say, I’m hooked! It looks fabulous! I wheeled the Flitting By jumbo Stampin’ Around wheel in Brilliant Blue (because my black is dry and the black reinker is on order) on glossy cardstock. The glossy cardstock is the key. Next I used a white crayon to trace the outline of the butterflies. Then I used a sponge to apply Real Red, Only Orange, and YoYo Yellow ink…blending them together at the seams. The last step is to use a paper towel (or your t-shirt if you don’t have a paper towel handy) and rub all over the glossy cardstock. This removes the ink where the crayon is and the beautiful white glossy paper shows through. This technique can be done with any stamp…you’re not limited to wheels…so have fun and see what you come up with! I also used ‘a happy hello’ from All Year Cheer I in Real Red ink, and the yellow and orange grosgrain ribbons.

hb.jpg

Sometimes it’s hard with all the flowery stuff we have to come up with a masculine card, but I think this one does the trick! It uses Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke papers and ink. The stamp sets used are the Headline Alphabet, Birthday Best, Print Pattern background, and Everyday Flexible Phrases (or EFP as we call it). The embellishments are gold cord and gold brads. This card is a different fold than a ‘normal’ card. To do it you’ll cut the 8.5×11 cardstock on the 4.25 mark (long ways) instead of the 5.5 (short ways), fold, and secure with the brads. The sentiment slips inside, and you can attach a ribbon so the recipient can easily pull the sentiment out, if you like.

Artwork © 1990-2005 Stampin’ Up!

Can’t I Buy It All?

Published
by
Courtney
on February 17, 2006
in Scrapping and Stamping
. 2 Comments

One of the dangers I’ve run into since becoming a Stampin’ Up! demo is that if I’m not careful, my “stamping time” turns into my “prepare for a party” time. Sometimes I’ll end up spending all of my spare time doing things for parties (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE to do), and find I miss the excitement and fun of stamping…the excitement I felt which caused me to sign up as a demo. Don’t get me wrong, I totally love being a demo…I’ve made some great friends and totally look forward to their upcoming parties so I can see how everyone is doing. It is nice to be able to work on my own scrapbooking and stuff…which can get pushed aside at times. That’s one of the great things about being a demo, though! I set my own schedule and can take “time-off” as needed. Anyhow, I’m getting somewhere with this….

I placed an order yesterday for supplies for an upcoming scrapbooking class I’m having…and I was like a stamper in a stamp store! This is the first time in, I’d say, at least six months that I’ve ordered stuff for myself…just because I wanted it! The things that I’ve been ordering have been for workshops, my Christmas cards, etc. There are quite a few stamp items that I’ve had on my constantly growing wish list for a long time, and I just haven’t had the chance to order them. Well I was feeling quite generous yesterday because I ordered more than I intended to, and I find that I’m feeling that excitement I used to feel as a customer. It’s that I-can’t-wait-for-UPS-to-arrive-because-I-ordered-fun-stuff-for-me excitement!

I just checked and the order is picking…woo hoo! The things in that box that are ‘just because I want them’:

Tag It personalized stamp (it says hand-stamped by Courtney)
Whimsical Alphabet Upper
Whimsical Alphabet Numbers
Celery Grosgrain Ribbon (I’m loving this color)
Bold Brights 12×12 (my stash is really low)
Paw Tracks Stampin’ Around Wheel
Noteworthy (SAB freebie)
Giant Monogram ‘C’ from the upcoming Spring Mini Catalog
(available March 1st)

I’m anxiously awaiting the Big Brown Truck’s delivery of my loot! Notice I said anxiously…not patiently…

Jello Angel Cakeness

Published
by
Courtney
on February 16, 2006
in Eats
. 0 Comments

Here comes another angel food cake recipe. This is one that Mom created and it is Dee-li-ci-ous! And low points (for my Weight Watchers gals)! This recipe uses one angel food cake. I usually get the store-bought because by the time we decide that it sounds good I’m not all about waiting 45 minutes to bake one. I did acquire a fancy shmancy angel food cake pan since my last angel food cake recipe. (Thanks, Mom!) My point is that this is one item where you will pay dearly for the convenience. Store bought angel food cakes range from $3.50 to $4.50, and when I’m buying chicken for $1.75 per package a four dollar cake is pricy.

Jello Angel Food Cakeness

1 angel food cake (store bought or homemade)
2 boxes strawberry Jello
1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
1 small container Cool Whip

Cube angel food cake and scatter in 13×9 pan. Prepare Jello according to package directions. Pour over angel food cake cubes. Sprinkle strawberry slices over top. Place in refrigerator until jello is set. “Frost” with Cool Whip.

Ways to make this Weight Watcher friendlier: Use sugar free Jello and fat free or low fat Cool Whip.

Another combo to try: Orange jello with mandarin oranges. You can also leave out the fruit and try any Jello flavor you like…mixed fruit…cherry…lemon…peach…lime…grape…the possibilites are endless!

Weight Watchers Points: 1/12th of the cake is 2.5 points. If you leave out the fruit and try a different Jello flavor, 1/12th of the cake is 2 points.

Procrastinators Unite

Published
by
Courtney
on February 15, 2006
in Musings
. 0 Comments

I went to do the weekly grocery shopping yesterday afternoon around 4 pm…gotta love it when payday equals food day! When I entered the store I immediately noticed thier huge Valentine’s displays of flowers, stuffed animals, candy, etc. I also immediately noticed that the floral section of the store was packed…with men! I did a quick count, while trying not to stare, and found six men in the tiny floral department of my grocery store. Six! I thought, “Ahh…the procrastinators are out…” They were all milling around perusing the flowers and such. And of course being that it was the total last minute on Valentine’s Day (don’t men figure out that it comes around every year on the same day?) the flowers were more overpriced than the green peppers. They were: $39.99 for a dozen roses with a stuffed teddy bear, a small pot of tulips (probably 3 bulbs) for $9.99, and a little daisy bouquet (arguably the cheapest flowers on the planet) for $7.99. Quite possibly the most outrageous was the single rose for $5.99. Now I probably shouldn’t be saying the price because my younger brother (he’s 16) did buy one for Mom…and she’s probably reading this…and he probably doesn’t want her to know how much he spent…but you’ve got to agree that $5.99 for one rose is a little steep. It’s a beautiful burnt orange color, and he did take care to find a tightly wrapped one so it would open up and last longer. Well, Mom, at least you know he cares. He spent $6 of his own money for a rose, for you, to make your Valentine’s Day special. I think everyone knows that a sixteen-year-old boy selflessly spending his own money for something for his mom is pretty darn special…especially a sixteen year old boy that thinks Valentine’s Day “sucks”.

Back to the story…I continue my grocery shopping. It was another Yellow Meat Victory for Team Courtney yesterday! I had to restrain myself the deals were so good! I found: two, one pound packages of ground chicken (I’m using them to make Chicken Florentine Meatballs…if they’re good I’ll post the recipe) for $1.35 each, a one pound package of chicken cutlets for $2.99, and four, one pound packages of chicken tenders (I’m using these to make stir fry, grilled chicken salad, and chicken broccoli casserole) for $1.97, $2.04, $2.07, and $2.21. I had to stop there. They did have pork chops and roast marked way down, too, but I feared I wouldn’t have room in the freezer for all of the goods! (If you are not familiar with Yellow Meat, I refer you to this post.)

I check out ($73 for 2 weeks worth of groceries…made my Valentine’s Day), and head to the car. On the way out I cast another glance towards the floral department where I spot seven different men doing thier last minute Valentine’s Day shopping. Now I’m a fan of procrastination…I do it often…but I couldn’t help but smile as I thought to myself that these men, they totally won the procrastination award for February 14th, 2006!

Good Wife?

Published
by
Courtney
on February 14, 2006
in Musings
. 0 Comments

In honor of Valentine’s Day I wanted to post these tidbits of how to be a ‘good wife’ that I found a while back. It’s taken from a Home Economics high school text book in the year 1954. I’m sure we can all use a refresher (or a first time lesson) in how to be a good wife. We all want to make doubly sure we’re good wives on Valentine’s Day, don’t we? The commentary that is in red text is my attempt to bring these tips up-to-date and into the 21st Century…some of them are just plain funny…I hope you have as good of a laugh as I did. Keep in mind that the black text was written in all seriousness for that 1954 text book:

1) Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. (Hamburger Helper, anyone?) This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Sounds resonable enough…of course this doesn’t account for the fact that we both work…at the same place…the same hours…there’s no ‘have dinner ready’ at our house, we ride together for pete’s sake. I’m not even going to start about the whole ‘concerned about his needs’ malarky…

2) Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, (makeup?!) put a ribbon in your hair (I wonder if a ponytail counts?!) and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. (Read: his secretary) Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

3) Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. They’re his children, too! He can wash their faces when he gets home.

4) Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. (How does he think I’m going to get my “work” done if all of these appliances are off?!) Try to encourage the children to be quiet. (Good luck with THAT one!) Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home. Glad he’s home so he can watch his kids so I can go stamp…

5) Some don’ts: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints. Don’t complain if he is late for dinner. (He can microwave the leftovers…IF I save him any food…) Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. (Umm…I don’t ever see him offering to take off my shoes…of course that’s because I’d die laughing if he did…) Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

6) Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first. Let him talk first…ha….that’s a good one…

7) Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. (Simply go without his lame butt.) Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax. I’m sure it’s much more relaxing for him if I’m out of the house…yet another reason to go out without him…

8) The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. How about him just being happy with the fact that your home is the place where he eats, gets clean clothes, and spends time with his precious wife (and children where applicable)? Who needs peace and order? It’s overrated anyhow…

Here’s Hoping

Published
by
Courtney
on February 13, 2006
in Musings
. 0 Comments

Today I was asked two questions, by my wonderful (and usually prepared) husband regarding Valentine’s Day. When he asked them I immediately said, “that’s totally going on my blog“. They were:

1) What exactly do you want for Valentine’s Day?

2) I think I’m going to have to buy you a card (ack…the horror) because I won’t have time to make one. Can’t you just make one and I’ll sign it?

Here’s hoping that he was joking. Here’s hoping that your significant other is prepared for the “holiday” tomorrow. Extra bonus points for them if they stamp your card!

Truthfully though he wouldn’t have to get me anything…okay maybe a little something…but the fact that he does the laundry every week and the dishes every day is enough of a year-round Valentine’s Day gift for me! Oh yeah, and the fact that he’s told me “I don’t mind cleaning up kid-puke“…I’ve stored that one away for when we have children because THAT is priceless!

Regarding the store bought card thing. Those of you that are card makers, do you find yourself cringing at the prices on store bought cards? I do! Especially at family birthday parties where the couple buys a card, then they let their kid pick out a card, too. All I can think is, “Wow. They wasted $7 on two cards. Do you know how much it would cost for them to make two cards?”

Back to the original topic…I know one thing he’s getting me is a personalized “Hand Stamped by Courtney” stamp…which I’ve been wanting…so I guess a store bought card would be okay (said in my most un-it’s-okay voice). No pressure, honey!

Confidential to Wig Man

Published
by
Courtney
on February 12, 2006
in Confidential
. 0 Comments

Note to the suave guy I saw wearing a wig: It’s obvious. Really obvious. I like the fact that you went all out and got the full wig instead of just a hair piece, but please don’t walk around as if no one has noticed that you have fake hair. I was in a car and I could tell. In fact, it was my mom who noticed…and she was on the other side of the car. How could I resist looking when she said “wow, check out that guy’s rug”? I couldn’t. I also replied to her, “It’s covering the whole room, not just a section of the room…I think it qualifies as carpet, not a rug.” It’s too dark for your age, and it’s too perfectly placed. Perhaps bald would be the better way for you to go. Wear a hat so you don’t get cold. Believe me, hats look better than rugs. Have you seen Donald Trump lately? Case closed.