Home Decorating with Painted Harvest

I love it when I find more than one way to use my crafting supplies.  Don't you?  It makes me feel accomplished, in a strange kind of way.   Today I am sharing a beautiful card I created using the Painted Harvest Photopolymer stamp set. I then took that same image and turned it into a framed piece of artwork that I can give to someone special. 

Please note that this is a two step stamp set, which means the flowers and/or leaves must  be stamped using a layering technique to achieve the above look.   Also note that a Stampin' Pierce Mat may need to be used to achieve even stamping (click the link if you are not familiar with a piercing mat).  A few more tips regarding the painted harvest stamp set: 

• make sure your ink pads are well inked
• use nice, even pressure when stamping
• use the stampin' pierce mat
• keep in mind that lighter colors won't show up as deeply as dark colors
• Play around with saturation levels (i.e. stamping full strength vs stamping off) to get your desired look

Here's what I used to create the card:

• Cherry Cobbler cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• Whisper white cardstock cut at 4" x 5 1/4"
• Crushed Curry 3/8" mini chevron ribbon (item #144197)
• Painted Harvest stamp set (item #144783)
• Cherry cobbler, Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Espresso ink

Here's how I created the card:

• Fold the Cherry Cobbler card base in half and set aside
• ink the largest flower with the crushed curry ink and stamp onto the whisper white cardstock three times (see positioning above)
• ink the smaller flower using cherry cobbler ink and stamp over the crushed curry image. Remember that the second layer will not stamp perfectly onto the crushed curry. This set is designed to look and feeling like watercoloring
• stamp the centers of the flowers using espresso ink
• stamp the leaves using old olive ink
• tie a piece of crushed curry chevron ribbon around the center of the card and adhere on the back side of the card before attaching to the card base

 Since all  frames will have different sized openings (mine has a mat inside), you will need to measure the opening dimensions to get a perfect fit.  The frame I used has a mat PLUS it is a shadowbox type frame.  You can choose any style.

If you need supplies for this, or any other projects, I would love to be your demonstrator.  Please visit my store today by clicking HERE and use HOSTESS code B6VKEPA3 at checkout. 

Happy Stamping,

Debbie

Week 5 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas

Remember that cute snowman box that I shared with you last week?  Well this week I have an awesome recipe for you to fill it with this holiday season.   It's a recipe from my mother in law for coffee cake.  She originally started making this recipe while she was in the Jaycees back in the mid 1970's.    She has delighted many people with this coffee cake over the years. 

Our family uses this recipe for brunch, holidays and other special occasions.  It is a recipe that never fails, although my husband likes to joke with me that mine never tastes quite like his moms.   I think that has more to do with childhood memories than the actual coffee cake because the recipe is the same.  Either way, he never really turns down my version when I make it for him, so he must like my recipe too. 

Here's what you need to make this coffeecake:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla

For the topping:



Mix topping ingredients

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions for making the cake:

• Mix butter and sugar until fluffy
• add eggs
• add vanilla
• in a separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder and sift together

Mix all dry ingredients and sift

• Alternately add the sour cream and flour mixture (1/2 at a time) to the butter mixture
• mix well
• spray the bottom of a 9x13 cake pan with cooking spray
• add 1/2 of the cake mixture to the pan and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan
• sprinkle 1/2 of the sugared topping over the cake mixture in the pan
• spread the remainder of the cake mix on top of the sugar mixture being careful not to pull the sugar into the batter.  For this step, I create mounds of batter, as shown below, then use a butter knife to carefully spread to batter
• sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the coffee cake
• Bake at 325 for 35 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean

Add the second layer of batter in mounds.  Use a butter knife to evenly spread over the sugar mixture

Enjoy!

I hope that this recipe becomes a favorite of your family, too.  Just know that you are bound to get special requests for this after you have made it once.  Enjoy!

Don't forget to stop back tomorrow for more stamping fun and come on over to visit me on Facebook at Facebook.com/stampitwithdebbie for fun stamping ideas with step by step videos, challenges and giveaways.

Don’t forget to visit my Stampin’ Up! Online store at Stamp It With Debbie’s Online store

Happy Stamping,

Debbie



12 Weeks of Christmas Week 5

Check back tomorrow for Week 5 of 12 Weeks of Christmas.  I will be sharing a special recipe that you can use during the holidays to impress your friends and family at Christmas breakfast. 

See you tomorrow,

Debbie

Another Sweet Treat for Halloween

It's another sweet treat for Halloween.  This time I am using a Hershey Candy bar.  This treat is made using plain Hershey bars, but I really do like the Hershey bars with almonds.  What is your favorite Halloween treat? 

I created this treat using the Spooky Night Designer Series Paper.  I cut each piece into a 6" x 6" square, so you can get four treats from each 12" x 12" piece of designer paper.  Attach a strip of Tear & Tape adhesive to one of the outer edges, along the whole 6" side, being sure to keep the tape as close to the edge as possible.  Remove the backing.  Place a candy bar in the center of  the square and carefully wrap the candy bar in the designer paper, keeping the side with the adhesive as the top piece.  Secure once you are happy with the 2 pieces being lined up.

I struggle with how to tell you this next step because there is just no good way to say it, except for this one way.  I was recently talking to my friend Leanne and she said "I'm punching cats".  I laughed out loud at the image, even though I know she loves cats, and would never punch them.  So, here goes...  Punch the cat (no literal cat punching here please LOL) using the cat punch.  For these treats I used a piece of black glimmer paper (retired), but you could also use basic black cardstock. The piece behind the cat was punched using the starburst punch and pumpkin pie cardstock.  I used the stamp images from the Spooky Cat Stamp Set to stamp the rat and the "trick or treat" sentiment.The sentiment was attached using dimensionals.   Attach the cat to the starburst piece.  I tied bakers twine and orange ribbon around the candy bars for an added touch, then attached the cat piece using dimensionals. 

Your treat is now ready to give to a friend, neighbor or a special trick or treater. 

If  you need supplies to create this, or any other projects,  I would love to be your demonstrator. Please visit my store HERE, and use hostess code B6VKEPA3 at checkout.

Happy Stamping,

Debbie

Spooky Halloween Treats

With Halloween just 12 days away, I wanted to share a few treat ideas with you.  As I have mentioned before, I usually have some sort of treat that I've created in my purse to share with others as I run errands throughout the day.   If you have never done this, I would highly recommend you try it sometime.    The look on people's faces is quite often priceless, to say the least.  I have to admit that it's a bit sad to me that people are so surprised that someone is actually doing something nice for them.    Even my husband has seen the difference it makes in people.  As we go through the drive through he will say "hey, do you have any treats in your purse?"   It feels good to make someone smile. 

These cute pumpkin treats were created with Dove milk chocolates, but I have also used Hershey nuggets and Hershey caramel apple bites.  If your chocolate treat is bigger or smaller, simply  adjust the size of the center piece, then add 1/4" to both sides for the score line.

For this project, I started with a piece of basic black cardstock cut at 1 3/4" x 5", scored at 1/4" on both long ends.  This score line creates a lip to hold your chocolates in place.  Place chocolates onto the sleeve and slide into a 2" x 8" cellphone bag (item #141703) If you feel like the chocolates will slide around, you can attach them using a glue dot.  For these treats there are 4 chocolates on the card sleeve. If you would like to add more or less candies, adjust the length of your sleeve (mine were cut at 5").  Tie the top of the cellophane bag with ribbon or twine, as shown.

For the tag topper, I cut a scalloped circle using the layering circle framelits (I used the third from the smallest scallop).  I cut a circle using the smallest the Stitched Shapes Framelits dies and stamped the "Eat at Your Own Risk" image from the Spooky Cat photopolymer stamp set using pumpkin pie ink and the rat using archival black ink. I attached the scallop and circle using fast fuse and then attached this piece to the front of the treat using a dimensional. 

Leave a comment below if you have or are creating treats to pass out, and if you, too, received a positive reaction from them. 

If you need supplies for this, or any other project, I would love to be your demonstrator.  Please visit my store today by clicking HERE.  Please use HOSTESS code B6VKEPA3 at checkout. 

Happy Stamping,

Debbie

Stamping with old and new friends

I recently had the opportunity to spend the day with a few friends to talk about our Stampin Up! businesses.  We shared ideas, made cards, had lunch and shared tips to help each other be more successful.   Some of these friends I had not met before, some I have known for some time.   There was no competition between the six of us, even though we are all doing virtually the same thing, just in different places.  We spent the day creating and sharing, and it was so much fun.

One of the things we did at our gathering was a shoe box swap, where everyone brings a card sample, along with items for every attendee to create that card.  The card above was provided by my friend, Frances Wagner. Isn't it beautiful?   The technique is called an eclipse card.   I had seen this type of card before, but I had no idea how it was made.   This particular card uses the Night in Bethlehem stamp set, along with the Large Letters Framelits.  I think the stamping on this card is very simple, yet the technique makes a very bold statement.   As soon as I returned home from our day of stamping, I had to order the large letters to try my hand at designing my own eclipse card.  Stay tuned. 

I am looking very forward to our next meeting, where we can once again stamp as friends and share tips to make ourselves, and each other, more successful in our businesses.  It is my hope that you, too, have friends that you can create with because stamping with friends is always more fun than stamping alone. 

Happy Stamping,

Debbie

Snowman Shaker Pizza Box

Welcome to Week 4 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas.  Today I am featuring snowmen and pizza.  What could be better?  This adorable snowman is sure to melt the hearts of whoever you give this treat box to, filled with goodies, of course. 

Did you know that there are officially 68 days left until Christmas???? That's just over 2 months.  And you know that as soon as Halloween gets here, in just 15 days, time is going to fly by with the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving meal planning, black friday shopping, card sending, tree decorating, gift wrapping, baking and everything else that the holidays bring.   That's why we need to start planning for the holidays now.  So today I am sharing a fun treat holder pizza box that you can fill with candies, fudge or other holiday treats for friends, neighbors or co workers.  

And here he is, cute as can be. 

 

What I used to create this project:

• Seasonal Chums clear mount bundle (item #146077)
• mini pizza boxes (item #144645)
• dazzling diamonds stampin glitter (item #133751)
• Layering squares (item #141708)
• window sheets (item # 142314)
• pool party cardstock
• real red 1/8" solid ribbon (item #144631)
• foam adhesive strips (item #141825)
• markers, ink pads and blender pens in pool party, cherry cobbler, old olive and pumpkin pie

 

Here's how I created the project:

• Select the largest scalloped square and the 2nd largest square framelit.  Layer them onto a piece of pool party cardstock on your bigshot to cut a smaller square inside of a bigger square. (see below)  This will create the frame for the shaker card. Save the square that is cut from the center
• Cut a piece of window sheet to 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" and adhere to the frame using fast fuse or tear n tape



• Assemble the pizza box
• Attach the small pool party square to the center of the outer lid of the pizza box
• Using markers or blender pens, color the snowman.  You will only need to use the front part of the snowman, so carefully cut the back part off and discard. Attach the snowman, using dimensionals, to the center of the pool party square



 

• Lay the frame onto its front side and attach the foam adhesive strips to the outer edge where the window sheet is also adhered.  Make sure that the window sheet and the foam strips are securely attached or the glitter will fall out of the shaker card.  DO NOT remove adhesive backing at this time.

• Make a small pile (as shown above) of dazzling diamonds stampin' glitter on top of the snowman. 
• carefully remove the adhesive backing from all four sides of the frame
• Lay the frame on top of the pool party square, adhesive side down,  making sure that the square is centered inside of the frame and being careful not to scatter the glitter. 
• Make sure that this piece is secured on all four sides so that the glitter does not fall out of the shaker card
• Tie a bow using the real red 1/8" ribbon and attach using a glue dot

 

If you need supplies to create this, or any other project, click here for my online store Stamp It with Debbie.  I would love to be your demonstrator.  Please use hostess code B6VKEPA3 at checkout. 

 

 

I hope you will stop back tomorrow for more stamping fun.

 

Happy Stamping,

 

Debbie