Paper Candy

I joined the Super Sassy Swappers swap group for this month and it was to make "Paper Candy." For those of you who are not familiar with the term paper candy it is just the embellishments and do dads that you put on your scrapbook page as decorations.

I signed up for two spots on this swap and we had to make 6 items. Here is what I did:

This one is a birthday paper candy

I don't think that you can see this but I stamped the word "Party" in each of

the circles to be used as a title. I also put glitter on the cupcake too. It really

sparkles in person.

This one is Valentine/Love paper candy

I used a lot of foam tape with these I wanted there to be a lot of dimension

to these items. I also used glitter on the LOVE word but you can't really

see it on my photo.

I can't wait to get this swap back and to see all the great things the girls came up with. You will have to check back and see what I do with these and to see how my pages turn out!

Play Time

I have been wanting to work with the April stamp of the month for a while now and I finally got to play! Here's what I came up with.

This is a tent card and I used the Creative Basic paper packet, the ribbon that comes in the Creative Basic packet and colored pencils to color in the flowers and leaves. I paper pieced the flower pot.

This is another tent card and I used the Creative Basic paper packet along with the ribbon that comes in the paper packet, Twilight cardstock and I also used a Stampin' Up! border punch.

This card started out to be a tent card but I turned it on it side. I used the Veranda paper packet, Chocolate cardstock and Creme Brulee cardstock. The ribbon is the same ribbon that I used on the previous two cards. I used the water brush to color in the flowers, leaves and flower pot. For the center of the flowers I used some adhesive backed pearls.

I hope you enjoy these cards as much as I do. They will make great additions to my birthday card stash! Is your birthday coming up? If so, watch your mail box you just might get on of these!

Northwest Flooding

I was on my way to my dad's house to clean and do laundry last weekend and I thought I'd stop and see just how bad the flooding was.

My dad lives across the river in Chaska but since the flooding the two ways that are the most convenient to cross the river were flooded so I have to drive quite a distance to get there. Usually it takes me about 10-15 minutes to get there normally, now it takes me 30-40 minutes.

This time I took my camera so that you could see what we are dealing with!

This is a little road that goes to a farmer's field that gets flooded out every year. I thought it was really cool to be able to see first had how much the water had receded. The water was up the to road that I turned off of which was about 50 feet back.

Here's the first sign telling you that the road ahead is closed.

I parked my car in a park and ride area and started walking towards the barricades.

I am walking down the middle of the highway and let me tell you it is the weirdest feeling ever! A month ago you would have gotten hit trying to cross this road as it is a very busy road!

Here is the road that I normally travel on to get over the river and you can see that the water is not on the road anymore. You can get a visual at how much the water has gone down now we just have to wait for them to make sure that it is safe to travel on again and then they will re-open the road!!! I can't wait!!!

I sure wish I would have done that while the water was really high it would have been interesting to see just how much of the road was covered.

Note to self: get a smaller camera so that you have it with you at all times!! Problem would be solved! LOL

Have a great day!

Easter Celebration

We celebrated Easter on Saturday this year since my nephew's girl friend Tara and I work in the restaurant business it's really hard to get the holidays off, so many times we celebrate before or after the actual holiday. My family is pretty used to this since I have been in this business since I was 14 years old so this is nothing new.

We were really blessed with some really nice weather so that we could be outside. Here's my niece Gina and her man Ben playing bad mitten and even the cats were getting involved.

Since Pepper was getting into the game, Elix thought that he should be a part of it too!

This is my sister in law Wendy
Here's my dad

Here's my niece Gina and her man Ben.

This is my nephew Erick and his girl Tara. Don't they make the cutest couple?
I think so!

Wow did I say we celebrated Easter or was it Thanksgiving? My brother's tummy
was full so what else is there to do but sleep! I didn't take a picture of my dad but he was

doing the same thing! I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!!!

It was a wonderful Easter and we have such a good time when we all can get together.

There is one person missing have you guessed who yet? If you guessed Dave you are correct. He also works in the restaurant business he is a banquet chef at the Edina Country Club and he had to work until 9:00 then he had to come home, try to sleep fast and get up and be to work at 4:00 am! I sure do feel sorry for him that is no fun having to work back to back like that but Easter is their busiest holiday at the club.

I love it when Dave works at the club on holidays because he always thinks of me and brings me home some of the nicest flowers! Here's what he brought home for me for Easter

Aren't they beautiful?

I hope your Easter was great and that the Easter Bunny brought you some really good treats!

Happy Easter!

I am sending Peter Cotton tail your way with tons of colored eggs and wonderful goodies to fill your Easter basket with! I hope you have a great Easter and remember don't eat all the chocolate bunny at one time, save a little for later!

Raspberry Cheese Spread

I was surfing all of my blogs in search of a great new recipe to take to work on Monday to celebrate a few birthdays that were at the end of march and I came across this. It is WONDERFUL!!! I know, I know, you are going to read the ingredients and say "Who would ever put raspberry jelly with a cheese mixture?" Well do not knock this until you try it! Everyone at work loved this recipe so give it a try it is very easy and very elegant looking!

If you do not like raspberry this would be awesome with pepper jelly too!

Raspberry Cheese Spread

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3 green onions, finely chopped

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves

In small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until blended. Beat in cheeses and onions. Stir in pecans. Spread into a plastic wrap-lined 9 round dish. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Invert onto a serving plate; spread with preserves. Serve with crackers.

Note: The 1/4 cup of raspberry preserves is a little skimpy......I'd go ahead and add a good 1/2 cup or more to ensure that each little scooplet gets some raspberry goodness. ;)

I found this at Michelle Wooderson's blog and she notes that this comes from Taste of Home. If you would like to check out her blog just click here. She is very talented and I have made several of her recipes and they are all wonderful!

April Fools!

It's April Fools Day and how many times are you gonna get fooled? I try and try every year not to get fooled but alas, I always do! It will be fun to see what people come up with today!!

Well here's something that I don't fool around with and that is the April Stamp Of The Month!!! It is called Flower pot and what a great set for making thank you cards! Here is some art work made with this set!

Here is some great art made using this set:

You can get this set at full price $25 or you can get it at a discount with a qualifying purchase. If you spend $25 you will get it at 25% off, if you spend $50 you will get this at 50% off, if you spend $75 you will get it at 75% off and if you spend $100 you will get it for free! What a great deal!!!

I will be placing an order on April 23rd so if there is anything you want, need or just have to have, let me know and I will add it to my order!

Have a great day and remember to fool someone today!