Made it to the table!

I was so excited to see recently that one of my cards "made it to the table" as one of the finalists in Paper Crafts Magazine's 2013 Stamping Royalty contest. There were over 1,300 cards received for this contest, so it feels like a big accomplishment just to see my card on that table.
{This is my second year in a row making it to the table - you can see last year's post here.}

{Image from the Paper Crafts Magazine Facebook Page - I added the circle so you can spot my card easily.}

Here's a closer look at the card:

I love simple cards and this was a simple card - cardstock, stamps, ink, and Copic markers. That's it!

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you have a great day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black);
Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Shine On);
Markers: Copic (Y38, BG15, RV04, Y04);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Blog Hop {The Twinery/Imaginisce}

The Introduction:

If you are hopping along with us today: You should have come here from Jessica Fick's blog. If you did, you are in the right place! Welcome!

If you aren't already a follower, I'd love to have you follow my blog!

If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you! Please join along in the hop - you can start at The Twinery's blog.

The Project:

Although Imaginisce's Good Dog collection has a bunch of adorable dog-themed images, I wanted to take this collection out of it's box and create something a little more 'human'. 

I used various papers from the collection to create this festive birthday card:

The Twinery's Rainbow Teal Shimmer twine was a fabulous way to tie in the beautiful teal color in the Good Dog collection and I love how wrapping it around the sentiment flag just draws your eye in.

If you like The Twinery's Caribbean twine, you will love the Rainbow Teal Shimmer twine! It's the same great Caribbean color (as a solid base) and then it has shimmery rainbow metallic strands twisted throughout. Beautiful!

The Prizes:

The Twinery is giving the winner their choice of 3 spools of twine!

Imaginisce is giving the winner this prize package:

The Details:

Leave a comment on each blog along the hop.

Blog comments close on Saturday, April 27th at midnight (EST) and the winners will be announced on The Twinery's blog and the Imaginisce blog on Monday, April 29th.

Thanks for stopping by today!

This is the last stop for today, but be sure to start back again tomorrow at The Twinery's blog!

Supplies:
Twine: The Twinery (Rainbow Teal Shimmer); 
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce (Good Dog); 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Great Big Greetings);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

April Showers/Stripes {The Twinery}

I like a challenge, but I also LOVE freedom to create my way.

It's the best of both worlds with The Twinery's new challenges! 

You get a simple theme to get you started and then have the freedom to create whatever you want within that theme.

Here's the current theme:

Lately I've been on a bookmark-making kick and I just can't stop! 

For this challenge I started with a striped patterned paper and stamped the "April Showers" (which, of course, bring May flowers - so I added a flower, too!).

The Twinery's Blossom Iridescent Shimmer twine was the perfect way to top off this bookmark - I doubled up the twine and threaded it through the eyelet at the top of my bookmark, then took another doubled up length of twine and wrapped it around and tied a bow.

Be sure to visit The Twinery's blog where you can get all the challenge details and enter your project to win a fabulous prize!

Supplies:
Twine: The Twinery (Blossom Iridescent Shimmer);
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm 6x6 pad);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Rain & Flowers);
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black); 
Markers: Copic (C0, Y04, Y32, YR12, YG03, RV02);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper - 1/8" Round);

...all about HOPE {Unity Stamp Company}

I am SO excited about this new kit from Unity Stamp Company! 

It is one in a new line of the {be inspired} Sentiment Kits and I was so blessed to be able to design each of the stamps in this kit.

It is wonderful for me to work with a company that puts my designs into red rubber stamps, but it is absolute icing-and-a-cherry-on-top to work with a company who loves to give back! Unity has given in the past to various charities and when I approached Angela (the owner) about letting me create a special kit that would benefit the Lupus Foundation of America she didn't hesitate! 

This is a great jumpstart to May (which is Lupus Awareness Month) and this kit will work beautifully for any HOPE situation you need to create for. 

And...right now you can get it for only $10! 

There are 12 stamps in this kit, so that makes it cheaper than buying stamps from the dollar section at your favorite craft store! (Plus, the quality of Unity's stamps are much better than you will find in the dollar section.)

If you would like to learn more about lupus, please check out lupus.org.

If you would like to donate to the Lupus Foundation of America, you can do so here.

If you would like to purchase this kit, you can find it here.

As always, you can also find the Itty Bittys and other kits I've designed (or taken part in designing) for Unity Stamp Company HERE. {It unfortunately does not show the Kit of the Month or SMAK kits that I've been a part of.}

Thanks for stopping by today!

Spring Craft Challenge {May Arts}

Recently I had the opportunity to create for the Spring Craft Challenge from May Arts. When I saw the inspiration photo:

And the trims that were being offered:

I just knew I had to play along in this one.

I requested to work with the May Arts Teal String: 449-34, Green Leaves: 448-66, Natural Burlap: 398-4-11, and Salmon Faux Lightweight Canvas: 444-58-20 and knew right away that I wanted to do some sort of "jar" project.

I had a salad dressing jar that I washed out and saved hoping that I would find a crafty use for it, and I thought it worked well for this challenge.

I covered the jar with a piece of the Natural Burlap then wrapped the Teal String around a few times and tied it in a bow. I then added roses that I made from the Salmon Faux Lightweight Canvas (love that stuff!) and added in leaves cut from the Green Leaves trim. I wrapped the rim of the lid with the Salmon Faux Lightweight Canvas to finish it off.

I love how these trims work together so well and add a very spring-y pop to a (formerly) plain salad dressing bottle!

Please head over to the May Arts blog and let them know what you think of my project - I'd really appreciate it!

Supplies:
Ribbons/Trim: May Arts (Teal String: 449-34, Green Leaves: 448-66, Natural Burlap: 398-4-11, Salmon Faux Lightweight Canvas: 444-58-20); 
Other: (Jar);
Tools: Fiskars (Scissors); 

Natural Twine {The Twinery}

Today over on The Twinery's blog we are showcasing the new solid Natural twine.
This twine has SO many possibilities! It is gorgeous plain, but it is also fun to break out those mists and create your own fabulous colored twine.

I wanted to create a project inspired by the beautiful 'au naturel' color of the twine. I've been doing a lot of reading lately, so I thought it would be a great time to create a bookmark:

I love the monochromatic look and think it turned out beautifully!

But, of course, I couldn't just stop there...I had to do a little misting:

My daughter (who is all about color and loves to read) loves this version. 

Any way you use it, the new solid Natural twine adds a fabulous touch to your project!

Supplies:
Twine: The Twinery (Natural); 
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream); 
Flower: Prima Marketing (Parisa Aspen White Flower);
Mist: Studio Calico (Mint Julep, Bluegrass);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors);

New Stamps! {Unity Stamp Company}

There are some new Itty Bitty stamps that were just released from Unity Stamp Company - and on sale for $3.89! (And a few of them are my designs!)

Save The Date: $3.89

{Stamp measures approximately 1.5″ x 2″}

COUNTRYside Blooms: $3.89

{Flowers in vase measures approximately 2.25″ x 2.75″}

Wanna CHILL: $3.89

{Ice Cubes measure approximately 1.5″ x 2.5″ and “WANNA Chill out?” sentiment measures approximately 1″ x 1.25″}

If you know Unity Stamp Company then you know they can't resist giving some great deals - and here is another kit and a background stamp, both marked at a GREAT price:

Tail Feather: $10.00

Quatrefoil Background: $4.99

{Quatrefoil Background stamp measures approximately 5.25″ x 2.5″}

All those great deals PLUS you get a free stamp for every $8 you spend!
Go.
Shop.

Book Review :: Signs, Wonders, and a Baptist Preacher by Chad Norris

Signs, Wonders and a Baptist Preacher: How Jesus Flipped My World Upside Down by Chad Norris

I recently finished reading  Signs, Wonders, and a Baptist Preacher by Chad Norris, and I can tell you that this book has definitely made me think. The author knows that the subject can be "weird" and says throughout the book things like: "If you want to chuck this book into the trash, I understand."

If you get through the back cover description of the book without running away, I think this book is worth your time to read. If you didn't, well...then reading this review probably won't help you much.

The book is very easy to read - it probably took me 3-4 nights of easy reading to read it cover-to-cover. The content, on the other hand, was not always so easy to read. I have to admit that some of the things that the author introduces in the book were new to me...some VERY new, and honestly I am still not sure what I think about it all.

The thing I DO know about it is that it made me think. It has helped me to pray and live my life with more faith - even in the "weird" things. It has helped me to see even more that I need to lean more on God to take care of things rather than counting on myself.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through Chosen Books. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Recipe :: Lentil-loaf (Vegetarian Meatloaf)

This is a wonderful meatless "meat"loaf recipe (I call it lentil-loaf).

Lentil-loaf: 

{Started with this recipe and adjusted.}

Makes 2-4 servings

Total time: approximately 1½ hours

Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup lentils
1 small onion, finely diced (or to taste)
1 cup oats (quick-cooking)
3/4 cup grated cheese (cheddar, swiss, jack or american)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup BBQ sauce (I also think substituting with 1/2 cup applesauce would be tasty, but I haven't tried it yet)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parsley

Directions:
1. Boil water in a saucepan.
2. Add lentils and simmer covered  approximately 30 minutes (or until lentils are soft and most of the water has evaporated).
3. Drain and add to mixing bowl. Partially mash lentils and allow to cool slightly.
4. Mix in remaining ingredients.
5. Spoon into loaf pan that has been well-greased and smooth top with the back of a spoon.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes (or until loaf is cooked through). Add topping during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. (Recipe for topping below.)
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan to release.

Topping: (if desired, but it is great without it)
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or try balsamic vinegar)
2-4 tablespoons brown sugar (to taste)
1/2 cup ketchup

Alternate topping: Mix some brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce to taste.

Alternate ideas:
Try adding other things to the main mixture, such as: chopped celery, grated carrots, mushrooms, bread crumbs, rice, etc.
Use the main mixture to do stuffed cabbage or "meat"balls.
Make it vegan by using vegan cheese and substituting 2 tbsp ground flax (flaxmeal) and 3 tbsp water for the egg.

Enjoy!