Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 8

Hi All,

Here's my card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge.

So far I think I like these colors best. Though I did like week 4's colors a lot, too.

Here's the card recipe:

Cut kraft and raspberry papers and rounded edges
Stamped flourish pattern (Autumn Leaves) in VeraColor "bark" ink
I used my Cricut to cut all the flowers out in different sizes
Arranged flowers then cut foam bits and adhered them in place
Used hole punchs to punch dots for center of flowers & glued them on
Stamped "hello" (A Muse) in VeraColor "bark" ink
Added raspberry organza ribbon
Stamped dots (Stampin' Up) across the bottom in VeraColor "bark" ink
Glued all the layers down

I know the flowers might sound like a lot of work, but they really weren't. The only part that took some time was peeling the paper backing off the sticky foam bits. If I make another card like this, I'll have to think of another way to do that. If you have a suggestion, let me know. But otherwise, it didn't take a lot of time. Having the Cricut to cut all my flowers was the best thing. It's better than using a punch because you would have to have 4 different punches to get the size range I have on the card. With the Cricut, I just cut 2 sets of flowers in each size and it was really fast. If any of you are thinking about getting a Cricut, I highly recommend it. I have the original one and it's great. Since the larger Expression version has come out, I think you can get the smaller ones for about half the original price. I use it for some aspect of nearly every card I make. I was thinking of getting some vinyl to cut a cute design for my walls in the kitchen. They say you can etch glass and cut chipboard, but I have not tried that yet. Anyway, hope you like the card!

*Update: I think I can use a glue dot that has been rolled into a ball for dimension under the flowers rather than the foam bits....it seems like that would be much easier. Speaking of glue dots, I use Fiskars brand and those suckers and hard to get off the roll! Is there a better brand that comes off easier?

Well, the results are in for the fair photos. I didn't get in again.

I can't tell you how depressing it is. Someone told me that I've had a lot of success with my photos, and it's true. However, none of that makes this any easier. Like anyone else, I want to succeed at every attempt and not doing so is hard.

I'll get over it, but for now it really sucks.

Updates

Remember my stamp luck post? If not, see it here.

My stamp luck turned into stamp bad luck. I waited and waited and never got the stamp. I emailed the woman to inquire about it and she said she mailed it. She checked her log book since she mailed it from work and said it was logged and I should have got it. I waited another week and still no stamp. So it seems to be lost in the mail. Or she sent it to the wrong address and someone else has stamp luck. Anyway, she told me they finally have it back in stock and I can order one. So I did. Let's hope I get this one!

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I also posted last Thursday that I would hear about my photos and the fair last Sunday. No email. I looked and looked for information about this and nothing I found online said they were going to email us on 5/30...but I know I saw that posted when I dropped them off. *shrugs* However, last night I got email from them that accepted entries will be announced tomorrow. Then on 6/12 they will announce the winners picked from all the accepted entries. I tell you, all this waiting is torture. But like I said before, I am not even looking to win anything....I just hope one or both get accepted. *crosses fingers*

Not Your Mom's Mac and Cheese

And if it is your Mom's Mac and Cheese, you're lucky. I have no recollection of my Mom making Mac and Cheese....except if it was out of a box. This is made with all white cheeses so it also does not look like regular Mac and Cheese. When I read the recipe and saw it called for onion and garlic, I was leery. I almost left them out, but at the last minute I decided to add them in. As it turns out, they do add a nice underlying flavor but nothing that screams garlic and onions so I would not leave it out. This would be great to take to a pot luck or serve to a crowd.

Mac and Cheese

1/2 pound penne pasta
2 cups milk
(I use fat free milk)
2 cups blended asiago, mozzarella, parmesan, gruyere grated
(I use Trader Joe's Quattro Formaggio Shredded blend)
1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
2 large eggs
3 slices bread, roughly diced
(I used a rustic sourdough wheat bread)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Small, medium or large pinch of red pepper flakes (to your liking)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
salt
Ham steak, diced

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and return to pot and toss with 1/4 cup milk.

Beat 1/4 cup milk with the eggs in a bowl. Stir in 1 cup parmesan cheese and fold in the bread.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until just brown, 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, red pepper flakes, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Slowly add 3/4 cup water and 1 1/2 cups milk; bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining cheeses. Add to the pasta and toss. Add diced ham steak.

Transfer to a buttered dutch oven or large baking dish. Top with the bread mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20-30 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

Well, I thought today was National Doughnut Day because that's what someone told me last week. Turns out it's this Friday, not today. So that's kind of a bummer since I had this whole post planned about doughnuts. But you know what? I'm doing it today anyway. Happy National Doughnut Day in advance.

I'm telling you right now, this link is dangerous. Red lights and sirens going off. I saw this and it made me crave doughnuts for a week. You have been warned.

Wanna go into the doughnut making business?

Ever been to the Doughnut Plant? I must go if I am ever in NY.

Maybe you want a slightly inappropriate doughnut t-shirt or some underwear? If so, click on "shop now" after the jump. Plus, if you want to get hitched, you can look at their wedding packages.

Now a doughnut joke. And, of course, a cop is involved.

A policeman pulls a man over for speeding and asks him to get out of the car. After looking the man over he says, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been drinking?" The man gets offended at the accusation and says, "Officer, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are glazed. Have you been eating doughnuts?"

Be sure to have a doughnut on Friday :)

stuff

I find out Saturday what will happen with my photos I submitted for the fair. Kinda excited but kinda apprehensive, too. I just hope at last one of them gets in. I'm not even thinking about winning anything, I just want one of them to at least be displayed. I'm trying not to think about it very much....trying.

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Anyone watch Jon & Kate + 8?

I watch and when last season ended I wondered if there would be a new season because Jon expressed that he was ready to end the show because it was taking over their lives. Kate, on the other hand, was really starting to enjoy it. No big surprise that they didn't see eye to eye on it....they never seem to see eye to eye on things.

I honestly think the reason people watch the show, including me, is because of the Jon & Kate dynamic. I watch the show and think to myself that it really is a crazy life. On top of it, they have this dysfunctional relationship. It's well known to those who watch that Kate is a control freak, has a temper, and isn't very kind to Jon. He let's her verbally abuse him. If it were him saying the things she says, people would be outraged and call it verbal spousal abuse and tell her to get out of there. But for some reason when it is a woman doing it to a man, there is less outrage. Weird.

So he was caught with another woman. He says they are just friends, but I don't buy that.

Jon & Kate got married when he was 22 and he had no idea who he was or what he wanted in life. They had all these kids and in the midst of all that, he was growing up, too. When you are 22, you really should not get married in my opinion. She was 25, also young, but not 22. He is 32 now and has a much better idea of who he is individually. This is obvious since he didn't want to continue the show. He wanted to start living life in a way that would let him be more of himself and not just "Jon & Kate + 8".

Kate says he has changed and he isn't the same person anymore. Uh....duh! Of course he has changed. So has she! I recall videos of them before they were married and when you see her, it's like it isn't Kate. She seemed much different. So it's fair to say they have both changed. She also said that he's made his decisions....regarding the affair. It's very true, he did make the decision to do it. However, if I were him, I can't say I would not have been tempted away from her, too. The woman is not very nice. It has to be incredibly hard to live day after day with someone who scolds you publicly and talks down to you daily. I'm not condoning his actions, I'm just saying I can see how it would happen. He married her and took vows with her for better or worse, but it was a bad idea from the beginning.

They do have really adorable kids....mostly. One of them I just can't stand, but the other 7 are pretty cute. So that is one good thing that did come out of their union. I would hope they could work things out, but I do not see it happening. I think he finally has drawn the line with her. As for Kate, I think if she is able to shoulder some of responsibility for what has happened, that might help. But I can't see her doing that. It was obvious from the season premier that they can't even look at each other. Time will tell I suppose.

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Etsy

I have been thinking about opening an Etsy card store. I was thinking November, but now I am thinking October 1st. I got some Halloween stuff over the weekend. Cute stuff. Would make cute cards. But I am still on the fence about it. I don't know why I can't just jump in and go for it....that's just not something I'm good at. I have to think about things....a lot. I guess I will know in September. That's why you see all these card challenges.....I have to build up my stock and I am horrible about just sitting down and making a card for no real reason. These challenges get me going and I make about 4 cards a month from them, so that will help with having stuff to sell if/when the time comes to open my "store". Otherwise, I have a pretty good stockpile of cards to give out for a while :)

Color Inspiration Challenge #53

Here's this weeks card for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. The card was made with one of my Magenta stamps. Isn't it a cute stamp? I don't see this brand in the stores much. It's a Canadian company so maybe they just are not very well known here. I used my LePlume ink pens to color in each element. Trust me, this was a pain in the caboose. I had to do it 5 times!! Something was wrong each time....something didn't stamp well, a smudge, color bleeding...ugh. Anyway, it was good creative time spent. Did you see the inside? That little cat makes me smile! Oh, and I used a blender pen to soften the lines a bit. Hope you like it ;)

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you ~ Maya Angelou

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you ~ Maya Angelou
Originally uploaded by photo kitten.

I am, without a doubt, old school.

Technology is impressive, but it does not woo me. Don't get me wrong, I love eating my microwave popcorn while sitting in my living room with a computer in my lap and watching stuff recorded on my DVR. These things are great and life would indeed suck without them, but I just don't get all hot and bothered like some people (Greg) when new things come out. To be honest with you, I don't even know what is out there! I just don't care. I guess maybe I figure I will hear about it all in good time.

The prime example of this is my TV. I can't remember how long it's been, but we have this gigantic TV in our living room. I call it "my TV" because Greg has one in "his room". His TV is all fancy and slick. It's a Vizio and I'm pretty sure the reason he got that brand is because LaDainian Tomlinson is a spokes person for them. But back to my TV. It isn't one of those that sits on the floor and is taller than me. It's got, uh...you know...junk in the trunk. It's as big front to back as it is across the front of the screen. And I think it might be 500 pounds. Seriously. I've had to move it several times so I know. Don't ask me how big the screen is...I have no frickin' idea. It's big. HOWEVER, if you were to ask the hubs if it's big, he'd tell you it's small. The man is all about screen size. The one we had before the 500 pounder was good. I was happy with it. Probably your standard 32" or something. Worked fine. My sister has it now. Still works fine as far as I know. We gave it to her because we got the gigantic 500 pounder. But Greg would be so happy if I told him I wanted a new one....so happy. We'd be at the electronic store so fast I'd get dizzy. But chances are I won't be saying that until the 500 pounder bites the dust. And TV's can last a long time....so who knows when that will be. Course, now that I said that, I will go out to turn it on and I'll hear a pop and smoke will rise from the back of it....Murphy's Law and all. When and if that happens, I want one that will hang on the wall. like a picture. That is one thing about the 500 pounder, being gigantic and all, it takes up a lot of room. So a TV on the wall would be good. I'm just not in any rush. Oh, and when we get that, I don't think it will be "my TV" anymore. He'll be out there watching Ohio State and all his geek TV shows on it. The only normal TV shows he watches is Food Network. Oh, and the History channel....World War II stuff. Submarine shows, Russian Army, all that military stuff. He says it's interesting. And it is, but I watch one of those shows and I'm good. He can watch 10 of them. iCaramba....he's been hanging around my Dad too much. He really should be a geek computer guy for the military. That is just so him. And I bet they have a softball team. (*chuckles*)

Anyway, the TV thing is just and example of how I'm old school. And don't even get me started on the telephone.

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 7

Here is my card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge.

I've had this Laura Ashley stamp for years and I go back to it again and again. It can be used for so may occasions and the color combos are limitless. I like this one, but my favorite for this stamp is dark green and purple ~ really pretty. I also don't usually put a ribbon or embellishments on it, but for the challenge I decided I better glam it up :) I used a square of vellum to stamp the sentiment on so the raspberry color of the ink would not distort and look muddy stamped on green paper. I used raspberry embroidery floss wrapped around the top and bottom. Hope you like it!

Be a rainbow in someone's clouds

Tuesday night I crossed something else off my 101 things to do before I die list.

I saw Maya Angelou speak.

She was greeted by a standing ovation. She started out singing “When it looked like the sun wasn’t going to shine anymore, God put a rainbow in the clouds”. Rainbows in the clouds was the focus of her talk. It was moving. I'm so glad I went. It was so worth the drive. And thanks to Laura for letting me know she was touring.

If you find out she is in your area, go see her. She is wise. She is funny. She is a gift to listen to.

“It’s given to us to live but once. The noblest cause in the world is the liberation of the human mind. Know that you all have the privilege of becoming a rainbow in the clouds" ~ Maya Angelou