Free Card Recipe!

Hello everyone! I have been working on my website everyday trying to stock the pantry shelves and getting ready for my Grand Opening! Be sure to check out the changes I've made by visiting Thecardkitchen.com. Each month I'll spend some time in the kitchen creating a new card recipe. Card "Recipe's" will be available for purchase in the pantry section of the website. However, CK Club Members will get them for FREE. Here is the card I made for October:


Want to re-create this card? Join the CK Club and you'll recieve a list of ingredients and detailed step by step instructions with full color photos. Membership is FREE and in addition to a free card recipe every month, you'll recieve discounts and special offers available only to CK club members!

Not in the trash!

I love small cute little things. I think that's why I have so much fun making mini cards. Not only are they fun to make, but it is a great way to use up smaller bits of paper! My daughter and her friend got together to decorate their binders before school starts and when they were done they just threw the leftover paper in the trash... IN THE TRASH!!! Can you believe it? Certainly I could make good use of those bits and pieces. Certainly those scraps were large enough to punch out some shapes. Certainly they would not go to into the trash! Here is what I came up with:

A set of six 3"x3" mini birthday cards! The colors are Dusty Durango, Certainly Celery and Marigold Morning. The sentiments are from "A Little Birthday Cheer" from Stampin Up! The patterned paper is from DCWV.






I've almost got the Blog Candy ready for my first giveaway.... are you subscribed to this blog? If you are then you'll be the first to know when I post the giveaway.... it's happening this week!

Latest Card Creations

Well, it was a very productive weekend to say the least! My mom and my sister came over on Saturday for a "day of scrapbooking" but I just couldn't get in the mood to scrap so I opted for stamping instead. Here are the cards I came up with:


I made this card for my daughter's friend who LOVES owls... and who doesn't just love owls? Especially this one with his great big eyes. I tried to use scraps of paper and ribbon that I had... which turned out to go with the new Dusty Durango cardstock and ink from Stampin Up! The owl stamp is from TPC Studio.











Another cute owl card! For this one I used Melon Mambo cardstock and ink, Bermuda Bay cardstock and ink, and the "All Holidays" stamp set... All from Stampin Up! The little owls in the circles are actually puffy stickers that my daughter gave me for my birthday. (I like owls too!) I think she found them at Borders Bookstore.












I know the kids aren't even back to school yet but I just got this new Sizzix die and I couldn't wait to use it. The back ground is So Saffron from Stampin Up!
and the gingham tie on the front is just a piece of scrap fabric I had leftover from an old craft project. Isn't it cute with the bats popping out over the house?













This wedding card was very easy to make and came together quickly. The bride and groom image is a stamp from Inkadinkado. The picture doesn't show it very well, but I embossed the image with the "frost" Versamark pad and I used white organdy ribbon to "fancy it up." The cardstock colors are Whisper White, Basic Black and Mellow Moss from Stampin Up!









I think this card "ROCKS!" When I got this stamp set from Inkadinkado I knew I wanted to use the guitar with a purple color so I chose Orchid Opulence from Stampin Up! I went shopping at the mall today with my daughter and a few of her friends and it seems that neon has returned! (So the color of this card it "so totally hip!") Now, if I could only find a stamp set with leg warmers and fingerless gloves......













My friend Cathy bought this cherry blossom paper at The Paper-Source and asked me if I could come up with a card for her. She wanted me to come up with something that was versatile enough to use different greetings. This is such a simple card layout and I think it would work well with any patterned paper you may have. I used Real Red, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette and Soft Suede cardstock. The greeting is from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set, all from Stampin Up! I used a punch for the larger flowers then used foam tape to give it that 3-D effect.











This card is very similar to one that is featured in the Stampin Up! catalog. For mine I used Blue Bayou, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede and Whisper White cardstock, and the new "Extreme Elements" stamp set from Stampin Up! I didn't have the surfer stamp that they show on the card in the catalog so I used one from TPC Studio. SO many of my cards are girly... with flowers or sparkles and ribbon, I wanted to do a more Masculine card! think it turned out pretty good, what do you think?












As you can see I was a very busy bee! I'm hoping to get these listed for sale in the card shop in the next day or two. I am also working on putting together my very first BLOG CANDY giveaway! I know it will be Halloween themed but I'm still deciding on what to include. Be sure to check back soon... or better yet, sign up to get my blog updates via email, then you'll be the first to know when I'm doing a giveaway! The sign up link is in the right column!

Chocolate Covered Bacon

Well, we had a great time at the fair and YES, I did find some inspiration for a few new cards. I will post as soon as I create them! But, my reason for this post is to tell you about the special "treat" we discovered..... CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!

I know it sounds gross, but like the old saying goes... don't knock it til you try it! We stood outside the booth in disbelief, wondering if it could be some sort of joke. But the guy working the booth said it was yummy and oferred us a free sample. We figured, why not? Well, it was actually quite tasty! The bacon was extra crispy and cold. It was just like eating a refridgerated chocolate covered salty chip. Except for the fact that after you finish eating it there is a bacon after taste. Then you remember that you just ate bacon... covered in chocolate... and then you feel a little sick!!! So I didn't eat anything more than my free sample piece. Jim, on the otherhand ordered a batch for himself (and a beer to wash it all down!) I chose gelato for my treat and it was super delicious. Everyone knows women are smarter then men and here's your proof:



Here are some more fair photos:


Aidan REALLY enjoying his double chocolate gelato, notice all the napkins he needed!


An amazing cake I saw in the Youth Expo. Look at all the awards this 14 year old won!

Off to the fair!

Today after my physical therapy appointment we're off to the Ventura County Fair! I love the fair. My favorite part is checking out all the contest displays. Of course I like all the home made crafts and the cake decorating, but my absolute favorite is the table setting displays. People are so creative in their centerpieces and the place cards and how they tie it all in together. If I see any "wow" displays I'll take a picture and post it when we get back. Maybe I'll even find some inspiration for a new card! Bet you thought I was going to say my favorite part of the fair was the food, didn't you? I won't lie, I do like the food.... especially the funnel cake and cotton candy, oh yeah... and the bbq'd corn on the cob.... ahhhh the delicious tastes of summer!!!
Have a great Thursday everyone!

Hooray! No Back Surgery for now!

Well, it was music to my ears at my last Dr. visit. He said for right now I wouldn't need back surgery... that's the good news! The bad news is that I have 2 herniated discs and a small tear in one of my ligaments. So, starting Monday I will be in physical therapy 3 times a week. I am actually looking forward to it though... I read the perscription for it and guess what??? It INCLUDES theraputic massage! That means I get 12 massages this month... lucky me!

I'm also lucky because Jim is home next week! The kids were so excited when he announced that he would NOT be working in Michigan for the next week or two. It will be so nice to have him home:) Hannah already has plans for several bike rides. I have plans for him to install some towel bars in my craft room. I use them for storing/organizing my punches. They work fabulously! I'll try to post a photo of the finished wall organizers next week if we get everything installed... keep your fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend!