A Yummy Recipe and Sketch Challenge

A big thank you to all the people who came to my Spook-tacular Stampin' Buffet this weekend.  I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

I had a lot of requests for the recipe for the Chicken Enchilada Dip I served this weekend.  But before I share that, I figured since this is a stamping blog and not a cooking blog, I should share a card first.  This was last week's Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge.

Colors: River Rock, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede.  Stamp Sets: Thankful Thoughts.  Punches: Oval.  Accessories: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Spice Cake Buttons, and Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding.

And now for the recipe:

Chicken Enchilada Dip
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 small can green chilis
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (I use a four cheese Mexican blend)

Blend all ingredients together and place half of recipe in a "Little Dipper" crock pot.  Heat and serve with tortilla chips.  Refill crock pot as needed.

I've never done it, but I'm guessing your could used canned chicken in this recipe.  And if you needed a lot of it all at once, you could probably put it in a larger crock pot too. Just watch it, because it will start to burn after 3 hours or so.  I did use low fat cream cheese and sour cream in it this time too.

I know someone gave me this recipe, but I can't remember who and I'm fairly certain I modified whatever recipe they gave me to the one above.  I've served it now twice at Stampin' Buffets and it has been a huge hit both times. Enjoy!

EEK!!

I have one more Halloween project to show you.  (Well, I really can't promise it's the last since Halloween is still three weeks away but it's all I already have made to show you.)

Supplies: Basic Black Craft Ink; Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot Serif Essential Alphabet, Wicked Cool Stamp Set, Stazon Black, Just Eat Cake Designer Series Paper.  Chipboard scraps and frame from unknown source.

This project was inspired by a fellow Alhambra High Alumnus and Facebook Friend, Jody Piper.  She actually put each letter in it's own frame and spelled BOO in addition to EEK.  But I knew somewhere under the stairs in the storage room I had a few of these frames which would be perfect for this type of project.

One of the things I just LOVE about having my own Big Shot is the instant access to chipboard letters.  I still have random packages of letters from before my Big Shot days and I always hated that I had to buy multiple packages so that I could spell things like "eek" and "boo".  Now I just cut out exactly what I need. Remember, if you join my team this month, you get your own Big Shot free!!

I made these all sparkly by sponging them with Basic Black Craft ink and then sprinkling Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and heat setting them. I love how chipboard turns out with this technique.  (I will admit to sprinkling them with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter the first time instead - which by the way does NOT work so don't try it at home.  I actually knew it wouldn't work, but I had some in a little unlabeled container and I thought it was embossing powder.  I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't "process" and just blew off the letters.  So learn from my mistake please.) 

I tried to find some more frames like this so I could offer it at my Halloween class this weekend, but I don't really remember where I bought them and I did a little hunting around and couldn't find anymore.

Thanks Jody for the inspiration!

Triangle Box Tutorial

I promised to post this last week but didn't have a camera to take the pictures.  Now that is resolved and I can show you step by step how to make a triangle box. 

You can use any size rectangle to make these boxes.  The longer the rectangle, the skinnier the box.  I generally use a 4-1/4" x 11 sheet of card stock so I can get two out of each sheet of card stock.

First step is to put your card stock on your Simply Scored board and score in half.  So for a 4-1/4"x11" piece of card stock, you would score it at 5-1/2".  I used a white gel pen on the score lines for this tutorial so you could really see where it is.

*SIMPLY SCORED TIP:  My eyes do not see a straight line and those little 1/8" score lines, while super handy, are very hard to keep straight for me especially when scoring at a diagonal.  To remedy this, I took a white gel pen and ran it down the score lines I use the very most: 4-1/4" and 5-1/2".

Next, you want to turn your card stock the other way and find the center point of the rectangle.  For the size I made, that would be at 2-1/8".  I just put a little notch on the paper - you can do a little indent with your score tool, or mark it with a pencil.  Again, I did it with the gel pen.  It's that little tiny mark at the top.

Now you need to run a score line from the middle notch down to that middle score line.  This is where the white lines on my score board come in really handy. 

Then turn it the other way and do the same thing.  Then repeat the last three steps on the other side.

Now you are ready to fold.  Just fold the box along all the score lines towards the center of the box. 

To close the box, just fold it up the middle line and gather the sides in together.  You will want the flaps of the front of the box on top of the flaps from the back.

To keep the box closed, take your Crop-O-Dile and punch holes through both sides as shown in the picture.

Then thread a piece of ribbon through the holes as shown in the picture. 

 Then pull it tight and tie a knot or bow.

 

Now use your imagination to decorate your triangle box and turn it into anything you dare.  I would
love to hear your ideas for what you plan to turn them into (or maybe what you already have) here in the comment section.  Thanks for stopping by!  I promise to have another fun project to show you on Friday!

October Promotions

Sorry I went MIA last week.  My much beloved camera died.  It's been coming since our Yosemite trip in July but finally gave up the ghost.  So I spent most of the week researching the latest in digital point and shoot cameras and trying to decide what to buy.  I'm horrible at making these kinds of decisions so it takes me a really, really long time to figure it out.  Happily, my husband forced me to buy one on Saturday so I can get back to my life now.

I'm back this week. And since it's the first of the month, there all all kinds of new things going on with Stampin' Up! for me to tell you about.

First, Stampin' Up's offering a special this month in honor of World Card Making Day.  Purchase any two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating Stamp Set.  The Simply Sent and Coordinating Stamp Sets are on pages 192-193 of the Idea Book and Catalog.  Each kit contains 8 coordinating cards bases, accents or embellishments, and envelopes for between $11.95 and $13.95 each.  The coordinating Stamp Sets each have 2 greetings in them and you have your choice of three different sets. They are great for making quick cards and make wonderful gifts.

Stampin' Up! is offering one of its best recruiting promotions ever this month.  Join my Stampin' Up! team this month and get a free BIG SHOT die cutting machine!!  The starter kit is already an amazing deal, containing over $345 of merchandise for only $175.  But if you include the value of the Big Shot, you get $445 worth of merchandise for only $175.  Don't want a Big Shot (GASP!!!) or already have one, choose $100 in catalog merchandise FREE!

One of the great things about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is the freedom to build your business your own way.  If you don't want to order anything but the starter kit just for the great deal, you never have to place another order again and you get to keep everything that comes in the kit (although you will want to because your first order over $150 in the first 45 days is 30% off.)   But if you want to make it a business, you can do that too.  And if you reach certain milestones in your first six month, Stampin' Up! will give you a $175 cash bonus -- making your starter kit free. Contact me today for more information.

And iIf you've never checked out the Stampin' Up Clearance Rack, now would be a GREAT time.  Stampin' Up! has just added several recently retired items to the the Clearance Rack but they are only available online (not at a workshop or class) and only available while supplies last.  Save up to 60% on ribbon, Designer Series Paper, Big Shot accessories, and much more.  You won't want to miss out on these great deals.

Now I just have to figure out how to get the pictures OFF my camera and I can post the Triangle Box tutorial I promised last week.  Stay tuned!

Hexagon Box and the winner is . . .

I know, I usually post on Mondays, but I got thrown off schedule by the giveaway so you're getting your Monday post on Tuesday.  :)

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Halloween Giveaway this weekend.  And without further adieu, the winner is: KIM LOOSLE!! :) Congratulations Kim.  Your calendar will be on it's way soon. :)

And now here is a little something for those of you that didn't win. A picture tutorial on the hexagon box.  This weekend, I showed you one turned into a pumpkin:

But at my class earlier this month, I offered the same box but in a more generic theme:

My first grader has been learning all about shapes this past month.  And not just rectangles, circles and triangles, but things I didn't learn about until I was in high school geometry: parallelograms, trapezoids and rhombuses.  I had to look some of those up because it's been a long time since Ms. Martin's class. I was actually relieved when we got back to simple shapes, like the hexagon. So it was easy for me to come up with the name for these. 

Brian Pilling showed these at convention this summer so I couldn't wait to try one for myself.   They are made with the Big Shot Milk Carton Die (and I love when I can find a new use for these dies) but I had a hard time finding a tutorial for them.  So here is mine:

1) Start out with 2 die cuts from the milk carton die:

 2) With the tab on the left, cut off the far right panel along the score line on both die cuts.

 3) Using a ruler and a stylus or bone folder, score a diagonal line down on the middle top section of the milk carton die.  That might not be very clear, but if you are familiar with the milk carton die, then you know that two of the sections already have an upside down "v" scored into them.  You are simply adding a line so that all three are pretty much the same.  The line that is already there isn't quite to the middle so it doesn't have to be exact.

 4) Fold along all of the score lines as pictured and add sticky strip to the tabs.  Adhere to box together.

5) The trickiest part is getting the box into the proper hexagon shape.  I found the easiest way to do this was to flip it over and then match up the tabs directly across from each other as shown.  Don't adhere to strongly to start with because if you put them too close together, you want to be able to go back and fix it.

 6) Then line up the next set of tabs that are across from each other like this:

 7) And finally the last set of tabs:

 

Turn your box over and decorate to your liking.  You can close the box buy punching small holes on each top section and using thread or ribbon to tie it shut.  Or if you've creased the score lines just right, you should be able to push it down and it will hold itself closed.

I hope you enjoyed this little photo tutorial.  I had a request last week to show clearer directions on the triangle box and I will be doing that later this week so be sure to check back.

Halloween Week Giveaway!

I know, you're all here for the BLOG CANDY, but before we get to that, I have a few more projects to share with you.

This is not a new project.  I offered a very similar Frankie Box at my class two years ago but I had a special request to offer it again this year.  This year, I've added a new touch: see those bolts coming out of his head, I made those with the new Stocking Builder punch to make those. 

Colors: Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White and Basic Black. Big   Stamps: Smarty Pants.  Big Shot: Top Note Die. Punches: 1-1/4", 1" and 3/4" Circles, Round Tab, Stocking Builder.  Accessories: Marker, cellophane bag, Old Olive 1/8 taffeta ribbon 

During the Holiday Mini Blog Hop, Heidi over at RunningwScissorsStamper featured a Milk Carton turned into Haunted House and I knew I wanted to make simple one that could be easily duplicated at a class.  You can't tell from this picture, but on the bottom has a tab on it so you can fill it with candy and still access it without destroying the box.

Colors: Elegant Eggplant and Basic Black.  Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits.  Big Shot: Milk Carton Die and Square Lattice Embossing folder. Punches: Scallop Edge.

And I love pumpkins.  So a Halloween Week would not be complete without a pumpkin box.  I'll have a tutorial on these next week.  At my class you will have your choice of turning it into a jack-o-lantern or just keep it a simple pumpkin with a ribbon around it.

Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Old Olive.  Big Shot: Milk Carton Die.  Punches: 3/4" circle, 1" square.  Accessories: Old Olive Scallop Dotted Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series Paper

And now, finally what you've all been waiting for:  BLOG CANDY!!!!  To be eligible for the drawing, you have to be a follower of this blog or my Facebook Page.  (If you aren't already, you can do either from the left side bar on my main blog page.)  Then leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite project that I've posted during Halloween Week.  If you refer a friend to my blog and they mention your name in the comment section, you will get a second entry into the drawing.  Comments must be posted by midnight MDT on Monday, September 26.  And what fabulous prize could you win?

A Countdown to Halloween Board!!  I will randomly draw the winner on Tuesday, September 27 and post the winner that day.  (You must have a US mailing address to win the prize).   Good luck!!

Halloween Cards

I still have two days of Halloween Projects to share with you.  If you missed any of the posts this week, you can click on them in the Blog Archive to see them all. 

Today I'm sharing a couple more Halloween Cards.  What?  You don't send cards for Halloween?  You really should.  Last year I sent a stack of them and they were very well received.  Who wouldn't want to get a fun Halloween Card?  Or how about putting one on your child's pillow or lunch bag?  See, now you're going to send Halloween Cards, right.

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, and Basic Black.  Stamps: Teeny Tiny Messages and Spooky Bingo Bits. Punches: Petite Pennants, Word Window.  Accessories: Black Brads.

I love this punch for so many different things, but especially for Candy Corn.  I know I'm not the first person to sue it for this purpose but I don't know who to credit for the original idea.  I think this card pretty much sums up my kids' expectation for Halloween: Candy, Candy, Candy, Candy!

Colors: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Stamps: Warmest of Wishes and Teeny Tiny Messages. Big Shot: Little Leaves Sizzlet.   Punches: 2-1/2" Circle, Word Window, Owl Builder Punch.  Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Markers.

I love this owl too.  He is from the Hostess Set "Warmest Wishes" in the Holiday Mini Catalog and it matches the punch perfectly so you don't have to cut it out.

I'll be posting the last three Halloween projects and some BLOG CANDY tomorrow.  You won't want to miss out on that! We'll see you then!

Halloween Triangle Boxes

Hope you aren't tired of Halloween projects yet because I have several more to share with you.  Today it's the triangle box.  These are simple boxes that can be made into so many different things.  (My regular customers will recognize it as the Santa Hats from last year's Christmas Classes).

My first idea was to turn the triangle box into Candy Corn:

Colors: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight.  Accessories: Simply Scored, Daffodil Delight Ribbon.

I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would, but you tell me what you think.  Maybe it's because I don't just love Candy Corn.  I'd much rather eat yummy caramel instead.  Then while I was searching for something else online I came along several different versions of a triangle box Witches Hat.  So this is my take on that:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White.  Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits, Wicked Cool, and It's a Wrap Holidays. Punches: Curly Label, 1" circle, and small oval. Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series Paper and Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Shimmer Paint, Brushed Silver Card Stock.

At my Spook-tacular Stampin' Buffet, you can choose to fill these hat boxes with chocolate nuggets that are decorated with the It's A Wrap Holiday stamps. Just a cute little touch.

Triangle Boxes are very easy to make.  Start with any size rectangle.  The skinner the rectangle, the taller the box.  Both of mine are 4-1/4"x11.  Then you just score in the middle on the long end.  Find the middle of the ends and then score from that point to the edge of the middle score line.  Clear as mud?  Here's a little diagram that might help.

So you score where it is orange and then fold up the box.  Punch holes in the top to tie shut.  So simple!

Come back for a look at a couple Halloween Cards tomorrow and some BLOG CANDY on Saturday!!!  You won't wan to miss that!

Spooky View-Master Card

Remember the old View-Masters?  I loved these when I was a kid.  My kids have had one but they just didn't appreciate it the way I did.  I suppose when you have a plethora of electric gadgets and gizmos that make noise and do other crazy things then the old fashioned View-Master might be a bit low tech for kids today.

Today's card pays homage to these toys.  It's called a View-Master card because you spin the dial on the side and a different image comes up in the hole.

Colors: Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie.  Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits.  Big Shot: Clear Circle Bigz Die.  Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop, 1-3/8", 1-1/4", & 1" Circles.  Accessories: Bright Collection Brads, Basic Black Dotted Scallop Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon.

When I saw this Spooky Bingo Bits Stamp set, I knew I wanted to make one of these cards with it.  Each of the 24 images are designed to fit on the Bingo Background stamp, but work perfectly for this kind of card and plenty of other projects too.  I picked two of the images, the bat and "spooky" and stamped the front of this card and then picked out four other images for the spinner.

Want to see those other images and how it works?  Check out this little video:

I just love cards with interactive features on them.   This card will be featured at my Spook-tacular Stampin' Buffet on October 7 & 8 so you can make one of your very own.  And be sure to check back tomorrow for a couple of Halloween triangle box ideas and don't miss Saturday's BLOG CANDY!!

Lolli, Lolli, Lolli Get Your Adverbs Here

I promised on Monday to show you how to make the lollies that were on my Halloween Banner.

But first, I can't be the only person around who thinks of this every time she hears the word lolli:



Good luck getting that song out of your head.

Want to make some of these lollies yourself?  Stampin' Up!'s new Simply Scored Tool makes it very simple since it has so many score lines on it.  For the size I made, I started with a 1"x12" strip of Designer Series Paper.

Place the strip your score board.  Start at 1/4" and score every half inch. (1/4", 3/4", 1-1/4", 1-3/4", 2-1/4", 2-3/4", etc, etc.)

Flip the piece of paper over and score at 1/2" and every half inch. (1/2", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2" etc. etc.)

Tip: If you are making several of these at a time, score before you cut into 1" strips.  (So for four lollies of this size, you would score a 4"x12" strip of paper and then cut it into four 1" strips.)

Next accordion fold the strips along the score lines so it looks like this:

To glue them together, you are going to want something extra sticky.  I've heard many people use a hot glue gun, but I used Mono Multipurpose Liquid Glue without any problem at all.  bring the ends together so you have something that looks like this:

Next, you want to push them down to make the medallion shape.  The easiest way I found to stabilize these was to apply a punched out circle to the back.  (Doesn't matter the size or color really since you won't see it from the front anyway.)  Simply apply adhesive to the circle and glue it to the back of the lolli.

When you flip it over you get something like this:

Notice I have a hole in the middle of mine.  That was because I wanted that lolli to be just a smidgen bigger.  You can adjust the size of you lolli by the size of the hole in the middle.

Now apply that lolli to some fun project like my Halloween Banner or something else.  You can also play around with the size of strip and the distance between scorelines to make bigger and smaller ones.  Here's a slightly bigger one on a card:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie.  Stamp Set: Grateful Greetings. Tools: Simply Scored.  Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Decorative Label, 1-3/8"& 1-3/4" circles. Accessories: Pick You Poison Designer Series Paper, Mini Silver Brads.

A reminder that we will be making the banner and the card at my Spook-tacular Stampin' Buffet on October 7 & 8 if you want to get some practice.  Hope to see you there!

Still singing, "Lolli, Lolli, Lolli? Try thinking about It's a Small World instead.

Come back tomorrow to see a "viewmaster" Halloween Card  And I promise, no more songs -- at least not tomorrow.

And Saturday, there will be BLOG CANDY so be sure to come back then too. :)