Still here

Sorry it's been nearly two months since my last update. A car accident and kidney surgery have really gotten in the way of my stamping time! More stampin' project updates coming soon, I promise!

Another design for my November SAS. I love this card, and will very likely use this design for my personal holiday cards!

Stamps: Season of Joy
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Real Red
Ink: White Craft, Certainly Celery
Accessories: R.Red, C. Celery markers, 1/4" R.Red ribbon, ticket corner punch
Non SU!: Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and slider die

Cheerful Wishes

This is one of the designs I have planned for my November Stamp-A-Stack. I don't see this stamp set used very much, but I think it's cute.

Stamps: Wishing You Cheer
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Accessories: Irridescent Ice EP, 1" Circle punch, tag corner punch, N.Navy marker, 1/4" Brocade Blue ribbon (retired)
Non-SU!: Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder and snowflake die.

Craft Fair Swap

These are set to go out in Monday's mail for a craft fair ideas swap (there are three more). It's another version of my gratitude journal, this time with Daisy D's Vintage Paisley paper and SU!'s In the Spotlight hostess set. Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie, and Very Vanilla cardstock, Stampin' Write markers, Really Rust ink around the Barely Banana, Versamark on the tab, 1/4" square punch and round tab punch.

An inkpad holder for $6?

Yep, that's how much this thing cost me. Of course it required some careful measuring and a bit of effort, but two sheets of foam core are all I had to buy. And I still have half a sheet left over. It honestly took me three times longer to put together instructions and pattern pieces to share than to actually make the thing. (Can you tell I'm still working on completing my color collections? I'm about to order the rest of the Bold Brights. Then the Soft Subtles for Christmas!)

***PLEASE do not even consider using these instructions to build inkpad holders for sale! I clearly ask, both in the PDF file and below, that you not use my FREE instructions for monetary gain. I chose to make these instructions freely available for personal use only. Please do not abuse my gift. ***

You can download a PDF instruction file here. This file is COPYRIGHTED, so please do not distribute it! Please only use these instructions for your personal, non-commercial use. Do not use it for ANY commercial gain. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO EMAIL IT TO YOU.

Check out Jamie's holder made with my tutorial!
And here's Tiffany's modified version for her ribbon!
And here's Annie's holder!
Check out Kimberly's holder, and her modifications!

Additional views:

True Friend Gratitude Journal

I've been playing around with ideas for the craft fair swap I'm in. This is one of those mini-composition books (Walmart, 77¢). I figured they'd make wonderful little gratitude journals.

Stamps: True Friend
Paper: Cat Stripes from Déjà Views, Old Olive, Almost Amethyst, Really Rust
Ink: Versamark, Basic Brown (inking edges of paper)
Other: SU! markers, generic glass beads and head pins, ¼" square punch, round tab punch

Retired SU! Stamps for sale!

I'm cleaning off my stamp shelves, deciding what I want to keep and unmount, and what I can do without. Here's the first batch of 'To Go' sets. Prices do not include shipping. (Figure about $5 for Priority mail within the US, and I can fit two, possibly three sets into one envelope).

Birthday Best -- Largest three blocks are 2.25 x 1.25 inches. $6.00


Olive You -- All blocks are 2.25 x 2 inches. Words are mounted separately on the ends of the blocks. $8.00


Painted Posies -- SOLD

Send A Celebration -- SOLD

Blush Doodles

Okay, so it took about 20 minutes to get something ready to post. This is a card I did last week. I've been in a stamping slump for a while, so this card, while very simple, still took me several hours to make. Couldn't decide what colors I wanted to use with the Blush Blossom flower. Couldn't decide whether I wanted to add ribbon or not...

All supplies from Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Doodle This
Paper: Blush Blossom, Blue Bayou, Whisper White, Soft Sky
Ink: Versamark, Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Old Olive
Markers: Blush Blossom & Pretty in Pink on flower, Old Olive
Other: Clear embossing powder, silver brads

Blackbean and Corn Chili

This is totally unrelated to stamping, but since I don't have other stuff ready to post yet, I thought I'd share a recipe I recently sent to a friend.

This is made in one pan, so cleanup is easy. You can make it as bold as you like. My kiddos like it spicy. I frequently make a double batch and freeze half in single-serving containers (easy lunches for DH and me). Best of all, if you use low-salt versions, it's really healthful. Low fat, low cal, high protein.

STACEY'S BLACKBEAN AND CORN CHILI

INGREDIENTS
1 lb lean ground turkey or beef
1 envelope burrito, taco, or chili seasoning (this is where you determine the heat factor)
15-oz can blackbeans
15-oz can whole-kernel corn
15-oz can diced tomatoes (the kind with seasoning or chilis are great, but not necessary)

DIRECTIONS
In a deep nonstick pan (I use my dutch oven), brown the ground meat. If you use lean meat, you won't have much fat, so pouring it off is unnecessary. Add envelope of seasoning and stir. Dump in corn, beans, and tomatoes (all UNDRAINED--just open and dump) and stir thoroughly. Heat through. Add additional cayenne, chili powder, garlic and/or onion salt to taste.