My Crazy Stamp Obsession!

Bella's Favorite Stamper for May!

I know, I haven't posted in forever!! My dad was here for a visit and time just ran away from me.  I will have some photos to share of our visit.  He hasn't been to Texas since Dustin graduated in '05 so the visit was long overdue!

Now on to stamping stuff.  Congratulations to Christy S. for being the Bella's Favorite Stamper for May!

To find more details on the challenge, click ((here)) to visit the challenge thread on SCS.

I was inspired by this card in Christy's gallery.  I changed the followng: the colors, the Bella stamp, added ribbon and a bella donut, omitted the saying at the top and the flower embellishment.

 www.stampingbella.com

Stamps: Stamping Bella's Lilly Loveaboo

Paper: Certainly celery, whisper white, Patterns Pack II DP

Ink: assorted copics

Accessories: scallop punch, celery ribbon, Bella donut embellishment

Thanks for looking!

Meatloaf Recipe

I thought I would post three days in a row LOL!!! - this time with a meatloaf recipe.  I made this tonight for dinner.

2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cups finely crushed saltine crackers
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
Dash of pepper
1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add milk, saltines, onion. salt, sage and pepper. Add beef and mix well. Shape into a 8-1/2 in x 4-1/2 in. loaf in an ungreased shallow baking pan. Combine remaining ingredients; spread 3/4 cup over meatloaf. Bake at 350 for 60-65 minutes or until no pink remains. Drain. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining sauce. Yield 6-8 servings

I always serve it with this potato dish.

4 large washed unpeeled baking potatoes
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Thinly slice the potatoes and place in a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. In a small saucepan, heat butter, onion, salt, thyme and pepper until the butter is melted. Drizzle over potatoes. Cover and bake at 425 for 45 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with cheese. Baked, uncovered, 15 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted. Yield 6-8 servings.

I got it out of a Taste of Home cookbook.  I used to subscribe to the magazine for years!  The internet makes it too easy to find recipes now, so I gave up the subscription.  If you make it, let me know what you think!

On a roll.....

Wow!  Can you believe it!  Two posts in one weekend!  I got a chance to play the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS today.  I used the following card in Judy's gallery for inspiration.  You can see it {here}.  I loved the layout and it was a good opportunity to use a Bella Badge that I just got on my last Stamping Bella order.  I used the Twinkle Toe

Huggabugg stamp from Stamping Bella.  Isn't she adorable?  Paper is all from Stampin' Up:  Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Petals and Paisleys DP.  The ribbon is also SU.

I used a Bella Badge and a couple of Bella dots for the antenna.

I colored her with copics and added stickles to her wings.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  I haven't done much - need to get busy and clean house!  I love the time change and am happy about more daylight hours.  I just hate driving to work in the dark!  Oh well, I would rather it be light outside longer.  Have a great week!

March Bella's Favorite Stamper

Hi everyone!  Hope you had a great week.  If you haven't seen Em's new stamps, head over to www.stampingbella.com to check them out.  Look for the KETTO collection - they are adorable!!!  Shhhhh...don't tell my husband, but I bought darn near the whole collection!

I made the following card for the March Bella's Favorite Stamper Challenge on SCS.  Dawn (Dawnbarghorn on SCS) was selected and she has lots of great Bella cards in her SCS gallery to be inspired by!

Supplies used: 

All stamps by www.stampingbella.com.

Paper: SU delicate dots DP, certainly celery.
Ink: Brilliance graphite black, SU Bashful blue, So Saffron, Certainly celery, Sahara Sand
Accessories: SU's bashful blue ribbon, nestabilities, white Bella bonbons and sparkly stuff for the wings

Check out Jamie's, Hope's, and Sparkle's blogs for more challenge cards!

Thanks for looking - please play along when you can!

Raining Bellas Swap

I stamp today so that I could get my swap cards in the mail for Janet's "It's Raining Bellas" swap.  I really like this swap because 1) you only have to make 4 cards once a month and 2) when it's your turn to get rained on, you should receive 20 cards from other Bella sistahs!!  I used the Stamping Bella stamp called lil artist.  I made each card just a little different so I didn't get bored making them (that is the whole reason I don't join more swaps).

I hope the sistahs like them!  All paper is from Stampin' Up! (Cutie Pie DP, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red). 

I used Riding Hood Red ribbon on all the cards and also stamped "You Color My World" inside or outside of the card.  This stamp is also from Stamping Bella.

I colored the lil artist image with copics.

Thanks for looking!  Have a good week!

SCS Featured Stamper Challenge

I had a chance today to participate in the SCS FS106 Featured Stamper Challenge.  Today's challenge was to Case Julie Lacey.  I can't get enough of SU's designer paper Raspberry Tart, so the following card in Julie's gallery caught my eye.  Here is what I came up with:

I used one of my new Stamping Bella stamps called Juggleabella.  Isn't she adorable??

All paper is from SU:  Raspberry Tart DP, whisper white, pretty in pink, rose red and kiwi kiss.

I used heart brads that I bought from Stamping Bella also.

I colored her with copics and used Stampin' Up! ribbon also.

Thanks for looking and I just might post more today!  Got a lot of birthdays coming up and I need to get stampin'!

Have you checked out Overstock.com lately?

I saw a Inkadinkado fairy stamp on Shannan's blog that I had to have!  I did a google search and found it on Overstock.com which led me to a lot of crafty things!  The big news is that the prices are good (they price match also) and shipping is only $1!  Looking for Nestabilities?  $19.99 per die set.  So go check out www.overstock.com, you might find something you can't live without.

Happy 5th Birthday Lexi-Lou!

How time flies!  It seems like only yesterday you were born!  This picture was taken in February 2006.  I just love this picture because you can really see the color of her gorgeous hair! She is a sweetie!  I wished I lived near my sister and her family so that I could see them more often.  

Bella's Favorite Stamper for February

Congratulations to Lori (aka Pinky66 on SCS) for being selected as Bella's Favorite Stamper for February!

I was inspired by this card in Lori's gallery.  I'm a little late in doing Valentine cards, so I thought I would take this opportunity to make one.  I plan on sending this (like Monday, LOL!) to one of my sweet nieces.

All stamps are from Stamping Bella.  Check out the website; Em posted some gorgeous new stamps today!  And free shipping!

I used all SU paper:  Raspberry tart, rose red, pretty in pink and whisper white. 

Accessories included:  SU's eyelet border punch, pretty in pink ribbon and dimensionals.  I colored the image with copics.

Thanks for looking and check on the challenge gallery when you get a chance.  Lots of beautiful eye candy will be uploaded in the next few days!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  I hope to crank out some more valentines.  I have three nieces and one nephew who will be expecting a card from their Aunt Laur-Laur.  Check out Hope's, jamie's and Sparkle's blogs!

Da Bella Love Fest!

Has it been over a week since I posted last?  Where does time fly!  I stamped for Da Bella Love Fest over at the Stamping Bella's Member Forum on SCS.  Here are the cards I made.  The 1st challenge was to make a Valentine's Day Card to send to your BFF using your favorite Bella stamp.  Well a huggabugg is just what I needed!  Here is my card for challenge #1.

  Stamps:  Lovey Huggabugg from Stamping Bella
Paper:  All SU - Taken with Teal, Regal Rose, Loves Me DP
Ink:  Brilliance Black, assorted copics
Accessories:  nestabilities, clear button, turqouise ribbon

The 2nd challenge was alot of fun.  Jamie challenged us to create a card inspired by a love song.  I picked "Every little thing she does is magic" by the Police since I had the perfect saying by Verve.

I really liked how this one came out!  My 1st thought was to use Butch and Mimi for a Captain and Tenille song, "Love will keep us together" but then I remembered the cool Verve stamp I have.

Stamps:  Stamping Bella, Verve
Paper:  All SU: chocolate chip, groovy guava, sky blue, Afternoon Tea DP
Ink:  Brilliance black and assortec copics
Accessories:  scallop punch, sky blue ribbon, pop dots