Before and After: Chicken Pesto Pizza Card

This is Before and After, as in the Wheel of Fortune game where the word in the middle is shared by the word or phrase before and after, but it's two separate things. So this post is not about a Chicken Pesto Pizza Card, but rather, a chicken pesto pizza and a pizza card. Just check it out.

Kahla and I were stuck *all alone* (ok, her cute two-year-old daughter was with us, too) without our chef-husbands about two weeks ago. Really. Stuck. They do most of the cooking. And they're super fabulous at it. And they like to cook. They don't use recipes, and it's creative. All. The. Time.

We didn't really want to drive back into Rochester to go out, so look what we came up with! We were super proud of ourselves...a little whole wheat pizza dough (from a mix, not even just a frozen dough hunk), garlic scape pesto (homemade by Kahla and respective husband), shredded mozzarella, grilled chicken and fresh tomato (probably from a farmer's market; Kahla brought it). Look!

This photo alone makes me think I could be a food blogger. I'd just make this pizza every day, and photograph it like this, every day. Would you keep reading? Hmmm... Could I get endorsements?

Well, regardless, it was tasty. Tase-tee. Mmm. Tune in later this week, and I'll show you the barbecue version I made with my respective husband the next night. There was half the dough left. I *had* to have pizza two days in a row.

OK, now onto the "After" part of this game show: the pizza card!

I received a swap (cards Stampin' Up! demonstrators make to trade with each other at events, so we can have lots of samples and ideas without having to do them all ourselves) at Convention in July in Salt Lake City that used the new Pennant Builder punch to make a pizza slice! It was so creative. So, here's my take on it, using another new product, the Stampin' Up! stripes embossing folder. A demonstration at Convention showed us how to make gingham with the folder!


To make the gingham, use your ink pad to ink up the Stripes embossing folder and run it through the Big Shot. Carefully remove the paper, ink up the folder again, and put the same paper back in, turned 90 degrees. Run it through again. Voila! Gingham!

Let me know if you have any questions about this one! I love it.

Thanks for stopping!
Julie

Storms and Stamping

High winds and big rain today in southeast Minnesota. This is what I spent my afternoon doing instead of stamping. This is our backyard, already half-way cleaned up, after a big storm rushed through at 10:30 a.m.

It was mostly just big branches and a couple tree tops, but it sure made a big mess. Throughout our little town, there were trees in streets and the obligatory large branch through a parked car's window.

But, never fear. I have a card to share! This is one I love that I made back in April. The ribbon is retired (5/8" grosgrain), but you can get a similar effect with the 5/8" satin ribbon in white. It might look even more elegant!


If you're wondering about the shimmery background...it's Stampin' Up! Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz with a couple drops of Bashful Blue classic ink re-inker added! This is a way to get colored Smooch Spritz in 50 colors!

Well, I need to make a card for tomorrow...so off I go! I'll post that one later...don't want to spoil the surprise for the recipient.

Thanks for stopping,
Julie

Delicate Doilies peek-a-boo!

The weather is crazy here in southeast Minnesota! It's only 11 a.m. and we're fast-approaching 100* F with thick humidity. I'm an old farm girl...can't resist talking about the weather!

So, to keep cool, why don't you stay inside and stamp? I just returned from Stampin' Up!'s annual convention in Salt Lake City, UT, and I've got tons of ideas to share. Watch for them here in the coming days, and if you'd like to see more, get in touch to set up your own private class with some friends!

Here's a card I prepared with new products from the 2011 Idea Book and Catalog, which was release July 1. I love the peek-a-book quality. Check out the photo and scroll down to get the details!
Card stock: So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Delicate Doilies (new in the 2011 Idea Book and Catalog)
Stamp Set: Curly Cute (from the Summer Mini Catalog)
Tools: Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2 die, Doily Triple Layer Punch
Embellishments: Stampin' Dimensionals and a button from the Sale-a-bration pack, but you can substitute one from the Bold Brights button pack

To get the peek-a-boo effect, take the piece of So Saffron card stock and place it over Scallop Circles #2 die so you get all of the small circle and some of the larger one. Run it through the Big Shot, and you will have the "windows" in the card stock. Layer this piece over the Delicate Doilies designer paper, and voila! you have a peek-a-book layered look.

Give this quick project a try today...and stay cool!

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie

A Good Egg

I just love the name of this stamp set, "A Good Egg." I borrowed it from Heidi, and I kept saying, "I have to get A Good Egg from Heidi." My other friend looked at me and said, "Don't you have good eggs at home?" OK, so maybe it's only funny to me, but I think it's hilarious.

Here's a "treat sleeve" you can make up quick for a simple Easter gift. It's a half-sheet of Stampin' Up! card stock in Pretty in Pink (cut the 5.5" x 8.5" way), scored and folded at 4" and 8" (leaves a 1/2" tab that you use to adhere it together). The edge is trimmed with the eyelet border punch. A small piece of the Designer Series Paper stack in the subtles patterns is adhered to that, and then "A Good Egg" is used to stamp the chick, which is colored with Stampin' Write markers in Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie. A bit of ribbon and a cello bag slid inside finish it off. You can stick some candies inside. Yum!


We made this as the make-n-take at Tonya's workshop, where she had several friends over to learn about paper crafts, make a project and enjoy some treats that she so generously provided. If you'd like to host a workshop and earn free stamps (or paper or punches or buttons or...), just let me know!

Happy Easter, and thanks for reading!
Julie

Circles and Cupcakes

I know it's been a month since I've checked in here...with snow, melting, more snow, more melting, a 75 degree day in April (in Minnesota!)...I guess I just got confused by the weather? Well, it's as good of an excuse as any, which mostly means I have none.

Here are two of the other cards we made at Intro to Stamping card class back in March. Circle Circus stamp set is used in the one of the left with some fun spring colors. The Create a Cupcake stamp set and the Build a Cupcake punch are used in the one on the right. I like this one because it's not all pink and cupcakey...just something a little different.


The cupcake set and punch are available in the Occasions Mini Catalog, which is available through the end of this month. See the link to the right to check out the whole catalog.

Thanks for reading!
Julie

Upcoming "Intro to Stamping" class

The snow is flying here...again. This is headed to be the longest winter ever, I'm pretty sure. And it's at the point where snowmobiling season is over because the trails are rough, icy and melty, so the snow can really just go now. I'm ready for spring!

Here are two of the five cards we'll be making at my upcoming "Intro to Stamping" class on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at my home. They have a nice, spring-y look to them, don't you think?

This one is a simple outline stamp, colored in with Stampin' Up! markers and adorned with a single, shiny rhinestone. Clean and simple--you don't need a roomful of supplies to get started with card making!


This one is a CASE (copy and share everything!) from my upline Heidi. I love a cherry motif! We'll color right on the stamp with markers to get the green stem and the red cherry, all in one step. A great technique for getting more out of your markers!

Details of the class: $10 for 5 cards, each featuring a different "getting started" technique. If you're an experienced stamper, please join us! It's always great to get a refresher or pick up a new design idea. To sign up for the class, just e-mail me! Can't wait to see you here.

I'm headed off to a workshop this afternoon--love them! I have some cute projects to show from that, too...maybe tomorrow. Stay tuned. And with daylight savings tonight, we've got to be about ready to turn the corner into better weather, right? At least we'll get more daylight!

Thanks for reading,
Julie

Circus, Anyone?

Doesn't life just feel like a circus sometimes? I can't say it happens to me often, as I only have to try to keep track of myself and my husband (no kids, no pets), but every so often, things just seem to go a little crazy.

Maybe that's why I was drawn to the Stampin' Up! set, Circle Circus, recently for a couple different cards. The first was "commissioned" (ooh, doesn't that make me sound like a fancy artist?) by a coworker. It was for some special teenagers in her life, so I went for a trendy combo of colors, and well, just went a little crazy.


I used Marina Mist card stock for the card base, then layers of Early Espresso and Pumpkin Pie (scrumptious, almost). The green accents are Old Olive, and the Classic Ink colors are all coordinating with the paper.

The next one was just to say hello to a special little guy and his parents. I thought primary colors were cute for a little boy, so I dug into Pacific Point, Real Red and Daffodil Delight card stock. Again, the ink is all coordinating, and the ribbon is Real Red 1/4" grosgrain. The cute border is the Scallop Edge Border punch.


It's still Sale-A-Bration time at Stampin' Up!, which means for every $50 order, you get to choose a free, exclusive stamp set! Sale-A-Bration lasts through March 31, so you've got time to host a workshop or place an order. Contact me to learn more!

Have a great Sunday night!
Julie