This and That

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Hey There,

Well I am back from the Stampin’ Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, UT where I had such a fabulous time!  I swear if I were not already a demonstrator I would sign up this minute just to go to the next convention.

The above photo is me at the Stampin’ Up! headquarters.  (I did not try to match my clothing up with the sign, lol).   I got to take a tour and see where it all happens.  I have had many a package delivered to my home that came from this place.  🙂

The most exciting part of convention for me was awards night.  Guess what!  I made Founder’s Circle for the second time!  What an honor to be one of the top 100 Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators.

I have evil eyes in the photo, but I’m sharing it anyway, lol.

Here I am after the awards and after party.  I just didn’t want to set my Founder’s Circle bag down.   The bag isn’t the best thing that you are given for Founder’s Circle, you are treated to an all expense paid trip to St. George, UT to be pampered and to hang out with Shelli Gardner and the other top demonstrators.  I cannot wait!

Here is a link to this years theme song and video. CLICK HERE Love it! Check out Stampin’ Up!

NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE DAY!

See this beautiful, beautiful girl.  This is my Granddaughter, Hailie Jade and she turned 9 today!  Holy Mackerel.  I swear she was just born yesterday.  Where oh where does the time go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BUGGIE!  May all of your birthday wishes come true.

Since I just arrived home last night after being gone for 9 days, I’ve been getting my home and garden straightened out.   Russ does a wonderful job taking care of the zoo (parakeets, dog and chickens).  He also waters my garden and tells me that he picks the veggies every day.  But, I wonder. . . . .  today I picked some zucchini that were the size of my arm, no kidding!  LOL  I think someone forgot to pick the veggies the last few days.  Anyhow, after giving fresh veggies to the neighbors there were still more than Russ and I could eat in the next few days so I had to freeze some.

Thank goodness for the food saver.

I still have some eggplant and peppers to do something with.   Don’t you just love a vegetable garden?  I do have one problem, my freezer is almost full already this summer.  I may have to go purchase another to keep up with all that is being harvested.

Well sorry folks, no stamping today.  I have had one of those days. . . . . .  . .You know when you walk in the room to feed the dog and you spot that you need to clean the dog snarf off of the windows so you get the Windex out and clean the windows and every other surface in the house and then you go to throw the paper towels away and the trash can is full so you gather up all the trash and take it out to the garage where you then proceed to straighten out your freezer and then gather the veggies that need picked and then you clean them and put them up in the freezer and then water and weed the garden, give the chickens the weeds to peck through, inspect the chickens, straighten their coop, oh yeah! the dog still hasn’t been fed!. . .. . . . . . LOL

May your day be productive.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a project for you.

Huge Hugs and love,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops!  I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012.  I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

 

 

Shaving Cream Hummingbird – Tutorial #522

15 Comments

Hi There,

Today’s card was made using the Shaving Cream Technique.   This technique is an oldie but goodie!   It makes such wonderful backgrounds and no two are a like.   So grab that shaving cream and your re-inkers and follow the tutorial below.

Also, there are 3 sneak peek Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog products used on this card.   The holiday mini catalog will be out August 1, 2012.   Woohoo!  So write these products down because you will definitely want to add them to your list of must haves.

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project.   During the month of July, with any $50 purchase, you can get this beautiful stamp set for $5.

Want a new annual catalog shipped to you?     I will be happy to send you one.  The catalog is free, but there is a $5 shipping charge.   Note, I will only sell or ship within the United States do to Stampin’ Up! policies.  Please contact me at mzindorf@aim.com.  Payment can be sent via Paypal or check.

You can join my Stampin’ Up! team and become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator now for the great new price of $99, CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.  Contact me whether you want to start your own business or just enjoy the 20% discount on products.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . .  . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Elements of Style

Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Calypso Coral and Old Olive

Ink: Stampin’ Up! Re-inkers (Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Tangerine Tango), Stazon Jet Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dazzle Silver Marker, Framelits – Window Frames Collection, Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Lacy Brocade, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Shaving Cream, paper plate or plastic container and paper towels.

Are you getting inspiration from this blog?   One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me.   Click HERE to place an order and have your order delivered directly to your door step from Stampin’ Up!

Put shaving cream in a plastic container or on a paper plate.

Drop a few dots of re-inkers in the shaving cream.  I used Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango and Lucky Limeade.

I used the wood end of a paint brush to swirl the colors around.  Be sure not to mix to much or the colors will muddy.

Put your Whisper White card stock down into the shaving cream and press just a bit so that the paper comes in contact with the color.   Lift the card stock out.  It will look like this, YIKES!

If you want another background, but lighter in color put another piece of card stock over the first one so the shaving cream is sandwiched in between the two pieces of card stock.

Pull them apart and wipe the shaving cream off of the card stock with a paper towel.

The light piece on the far left is the piece I put on top of the 1st one.  See how much lighter it is.

If you continue to use the shaving cream with additional pieces of card stock the colors will mix more and more (like the ones on the far right).

Cut the card stock using the big shot machine and the NEW FRAMLITS WINDOW FRAMES COLLECTION die cut.  Also cut the next size up using Lucky Limeade card stock.

 

Stamped the humming bird and the flourish using Stazon Jet Black ink.

 

Used the NEW STAMPIN’ DAZZLE Silver marker around the edge of the two die cuts.

Used the NEW LACY BROCADE Embossing Folder on a 4.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Added a 5.5″ square Lucky Limeade card base and a 4 3/8″ square Calypso Coral panel.

Added some Whisper White Organza Ribbon and popped the die cuts up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.5″ square.

I’m a little late posting today.  I was busy in the kitchen putting up some mashed potatoes.

 

When I find bags of potatoes on sale really cheap, I cannot resist buying them in order to freeze mashed potatoes.  All you have to do is peel, boil and make your regular mashed potato recipe and then freeze either in quart bags or food saver bags.  I can’t live without my food saver.

If you didn’t know, I love to make at least 4 of something that I am cooking.  That way we get to freeze 3.

I got 8 batches of mashed potatoes out of 10 lbs of potatoes with only a little more time than it would have took me to make one batch.  Great side to be able to pull out of the freezer and quickly heat.

Also, when you make your own dishes to freeze you know just what went into them.  No preservatives!!!

Well I’m going to be on the road for over a week.  I’m heading to Lawrence, Kansas tomorrow to teach this weekend and then I’m off to Stampin’ Up’s convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.   Hang tight and check out some of my past tutorials while I’m gone.  Better yet, how about making some cards using the tutorials.   Either way, thank you for hanging out with me here on my blog.   I hope you find yourself inspired.

Until my next post. . . . . .  .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops!  I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012.  I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

 

 

 

Embossed Ornaments – Tutorial #519

10 Comments

Hey There,

Are you stuck in the United States heat wave?   We are expecting temps to reach 105 degrees for the next couple of days here.  Now, I know that isn’t extremely hot for some of you in the USA, but it’s unusual here in Ohio in June.

I’m just trying to keep cool by thinking of Christmas.  So hence, the Christmas card project today.   Besides, I now have 2 Christmas cards done for this year, lol.

I think I have lost my mind.  I’ve been running the oven kicking out some Blueberry Zucchini Bread.   I’ll give the recipe for those of you who are interested at the end of this post.   It’s yummy!  Already, my garden is producing more veggies than Russ and I can eat, so I’m trying to do some baking and canning to stay ahead of the game.  This Blueberry Zucchini Bread is super moist and freezes well.

Here are a few Stampin’ Up Reminders before I start the project.

Check out what’s new at Stampin’ Up!  The brand new Annual Catalog has been released.   CLICK HERE TO LOOK AT THE CATALOG ONLINE. I got my order in and I’m ecstatic about the new products and, of course, the new stamps!    CLICK HERE TO PLACE AN ORDER. Contact me at mzindorf@aim.com or 937-344-1312 with product questions.

Want a new annual catalog shipped to you?     I will be happy to send you one.  The catalog is free, but there is a $5 shipping charge.   Note, I will only sell or ship within the United States do to Stampin’ Up! policies.  Please contact me at mzindorf@aim.com.  Payment can be sent via Paypal or check.

You can join my Stampin’ Up! team and become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator now for the great new price of $99, CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.  Contact me whether you want to start your own business or just enjoy the 20% discount on products.

Want to purchase one of my original cards or some Stampin’ Up! retired sets CLICK HERE. I’ll be updating the sales page all this week.  So check back daily.

Now on with today’s tutorial. . . . .  . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Merry & Type and Snow Swirled

Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler and Baja Breeze

Ink: Stampin’ Up! Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler and Gold

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Sponge Daubers, Versamark Pad, Versamarker, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Stampin Dimensionals, Framelits – Apothecary Accents, Big Shot Machine, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Stampin’ Markers – Pink Pirouette and Cherry Cobbler, Prismacolor Gold Marker.

Are you getting inspiration from this blog?   One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me.   Click HERE to place an order and have your order delivered directly to your door step from Stampin’ Up!

 

Gotta love these new Framelits from Stampin’ Up!  This set is the Apothecary Accents (item number 127003).  I used the large one on the right.

Die cut it using Whisper White card stock and the Big Shot Machine.

You won’t be able to tell what I stamp here until I start putting in the background color.   Take my word for it, lol.

Stamped Snowflakes at the top of the card stock using Versamark.   Embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

 

Stamped the Ornaments using Gold ink.  Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

 

Colored the images in entirely using a Pink Pirouette marker.  Added Shading by adding Cherry Cobbler marker to the outside of the area and then blended it using the Pink Pirouette marker.   I left it light in the middle of the ornaments to give it a rounded look.

 

Heated the ornaments quickly to set the marker.

Colored over the ornaments (stay inside of the gold embossed image) using a Versamarker.   Embossed the entire image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Now all the images are covered with embossing powder and will resist the background colors I will be putting on next.

Sponged Baja Breeze ink on the inside of the card stock and at the top.

Sponged Island Indigo ink around the edges of the card stock, leaving the middle of the card stock light.

Sponged Midnight Muse at the top of the card stock.

Softly wiped the embossed images off with a paper towel.

Cut a 4.75″ x 6.25″ panel of Cherry Cobbler.   Stamped a snowflake all over the card stock using Cherry Cobbler ink.

Added a 5″ x 6.5″ Baja Breeze Panel, 3″ x 5″ Cherry Cobbler Panel and a 3.25″ x 5.25″ Baja Breeze Panel.

Edged all of the panels with a Prismacolor Gold Marker.   To edge the card stock, put the marker tip 1/2 on the card stock and 1/2 on your scrap paper as you pull the marker along the edge.

Assembled the card adding a 10″ x 6.5″ Whisper White card base folded in half and a Baja Breeze seam binding double bow.

The main image panel and the 2 panels below it are popped up using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Now about that Blueberry Zucchini Bread. ………….

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups white sugar
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pint fresh blueberries

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans.
  3. Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

This recipe is from allrecipes.com.

May you have sunny days and cool breezes.

My heart and thoughts are with those of you that are in the flood areas of Florida or the fire areas of Colorado.  Please be safe.

Until my next post. . . . . .  .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops!  I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012.  I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

 

Strawberry Jam Time

9 Comments

 

Hey There,

This post has nothing to do with stamping, but does have to do with another passion of mine, preserving food.   Whether freezing, dehydrating or canning, it’s very comforting to me.

Reminder regarding ordering from the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalog on June 1, 2012.   Ordering will be down until 12:00 noon Mountain Time while they switch over to the new catalog products.   After that we can order all those new products!!!!!   There are so many sets I cannot wait to get my hands on.

So in the mean time. . . . .

As you can tell I’ve been jamming, lol.  Strawberry jam that is.

I have made a few batches now.  My little strawberry patch, which is full of June barring strawberry plants has been a bit confused by the very mild and warm Spring we have been having.  So my June barriers gave me wonderful strawberries in May instead.

This is my little strawberry patch.  Nothing fancy, but it works for us.

We get a good bunch of berries every day.  Yummy!

So, with Russ and I picking berries everyday we needed to do something with them.   I did freeze a couple of batches of clean strawberries.  That’s the easiest thing to do to preserve them.  All you need to do is wash and hull them.  Put them on a cookie sheet lined with freezer paper so they don’t touch each other.  Put the cookie sheet in your freezer until the berries are frozen solid and then put the berries in a freezer bag, squeeze the air out and continue freezing the berries for up to 6 months.   Great to throw in those smoothies.

My favorite thing to do with strawberries is make jam.  I’ll walk you through my process.

Ingredients:

8 cups strawberries, hulled and halved if large

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup bottled lemon juice

Okay, here we go. . . . .

Clean and hull your berries.  Cut them up into a bowl, add the sugar and stir it in.   Cover and refrigerate the berries over night to coax out the wonderful berry juice.

 

Boil your jars and lids to sterilize them.

Put the berry/sugar mixture in a non-reactive deep pan.   Bring to a boil, stirring and crushing the berries.  Stir in the lemon juice.  Continue to cook, stirring frequently until the jam reaches the desired gel point, about 25 minutes.  Remove the pan from the heat and then let it rest for 5 minutes.    Skim the foam off of the top of the jam and then fill your jars, leaving 1/2″ head room.   Put your lids on.

 

Process using the boiling water method for 10 minutes with the lid on.  Turn the heat off and remove the lid and let the jars set in the canner for another 5 minutes.

Remove the jars from the water and let set for 24 hours.  Check seals, label and store.   Yummy!

I used my cricut machine and cut these cute little strawberry tags and used them as my labels.  Punched a hole in the strawberry and ran twine through and around the lid to attach them to my jars.

Gotta love Spring time and Strawberry Jam.   This is good on ice cream too!

Until my next post. . . . .  . . .

Hugs,

Get ready for Brayer and Direct to Paper Workshops!  I am coming to the following locations, click the location name for more information.

Sand Lake, Michigan (just North of Grand Rapids)

Lawrence, Kansas

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

West Bend, Wisconsin

Purcellville, Virginia

Orange, Massachusetts

Scottsdale, Arizona

Sacramento, California

Staley, North Carolina

St. Petersburg, Florida

Newburge, Indiana

I hope you can make it to one of my workshops in 2012.  I have decided not to travel after this year, so be sure to catch one this year!

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net