CRAZY BUSY JULY part 4

Today's post will come to you while I am away in Salt Lake City to celebrate Stampin' Up's 25th Anniversary Convention.  It's like a family reunion on a very huge scale.  I am writing this several days in advance, so I have no details to share yet, but I do know (as Ed Sullivan used to say)  it's going to be a "really big show"! (Am I the only one who actually remembers Ed Sullivan?)

back to the July saga:
Sunday afternoon, Lou and I finally pulled out our June Paper Pumpkin boxes.  (Since we were notified that the July shipment is on its way, we thought it would be good to get this one done.)  We are so glad that we did.

Except for a little adhesive, we had all the supplies we needed in the boxes to make this cute, cute cute window card:

We could have made 3 more just like it, but decided to use some other stamps (En Francais, Elementary Elegance (retired) and  Happy Day ), we have on hand to change up the design to make:

Liking the way the tiny images from Elementary Elegance fit right into the punched out hexagon windows,  we chose the crown and greeting this time along with a stamp from Hearts Aflutter.

For our fourth card, we used Stippled Plaid, Bloomin' Marvelous, and Moving Forward (all retired) to create this card:

Small changes can make a big impact.  We are delighted with the results and think these 4 cards, packaged together, would make a great gift for someone.

To find our more about My Paper Pumpkin, visit the website HERE.  If you decide to subscribe (no long term commitment, you can cancel at any time), please be sure to choose me as your demonstrator.

Laundry is done.  Now to finish up my packing and get some sleep before the start of 2 days of travel.
Hopefully, though I am so technologically challenged, I will be able to share some same day pictures from convention.  If not, I know there will be plenty to share with you when I get back home.

Until the next time, happy stampin'!
Trish

CRAZY BUSY JULY part 3

As you read this, I am on my way to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up's 25th Annual Convention.  Traveling with others always makes the going better, and lovely it is to be sharing the drive with 3 other amazing women and fellow demonstrators:  Eloise, Mary Lou and Joyce.  We can hardly wait to get to SLC and see what they have in store for us and about 6000 other demos) as we celebrate this Silver Anniversary.  More on that another time.

Now back to our continuing story:
Reunion over, family heading home, it was now time to get some dental repair done (replacing a sensitive cracked filling) and then turn my attention to "Cheaper than Therapy", my monthly hostess club.  The next meeting was Friday July 12.  This month's theme was Punch Power, using punches to create 3 distinct card fronts.  Here are the cards I prepared for the ladies to do:

Decorative Label, Scallop Oval, Postage Stamp and 1" Square punches were used to create this card in Early Espresso and Pistachio Pudding card stock, using the Postage Due stamp set.

Next, 3/4", 1", 1-1/4" and Cupcake Builder punches were used to fashion this fun monochromatic flower arrangement.  Isn't that a cute greeting?  Love the fonts found in the "Four You" stamp set.

 Then on to this quick-and-easy card perfect for all sorts of occasions.  Adding a bit of Designer Series Paper (here Polka Dot Parade) to line the envelope takes a simple card to simply charming.

The details are a bit hard to see in my picture, but that blue rectangle is actually a mini-"envelope" created using our Hexagon punch  and finished off with on of our new Candy Dots.
The card was finished using a stamp from "Sassy Salutations".


 To get these and all Stampin' Up's wonderful products, be sure to visit my website by clicking here HERE.

Still puzzled on how I made the little envelope embellishment on the card above? Call me to arrange a class so I can teach you just how easy it is to make your own special touches to your cards, scrapbook pages and more.

I need to get packing so I am ready to leave for Convention bright and early in the morning.
 Thanks for checking out my blog.

Trish

CRAZY BUSY JULY part 2

There are so many things to do here in Omaha in the summer.  With out-of-town family visiting, we wanted to do it all, but time (and energy) prevented.  Among our choices were:

watching fireworks

Waiting, waiting, waiting.......

horse trail rides, romping in Activity Center, and the family picnic at Mahoney State Park

Tons of food and family to enjoy!

swimming in the hotel pool, a visit for our granddaughters to the Henry Doorly Zoo (simply the best!) and taking in Despicable Me 2 (what a fun movie!)
 worship and Sunday School
walking to Council Bluffs and back across the Missouri River via the John Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, (HOT!)
a trip to the batting cages for some of our grandsons, a tour of the Strategic Air & Space Museum (includes a very thought provoking Holocaust exhibit)

and lots of time just chillin' at home and playing yard and board games.

Texas Hold'em

 Everybody gets in the game.

All too soon we had to say good-bye to Tom, Patrick, and John and their wonderful families.

More tomorrow.
Trish

 

CRAZY BUSY JULY

July has already been such a busy month!  From the 4th to the 9th, we had family in from Texas, Colorado, Ohio, and Nebraska ( more local) to celebrate a Family Reunion as well as Independence Day.  I hate being tied to the kitchen when we should be visiting with our loved ones, so the days prior found us cooking up a storm.

Some of our "satisfied customers"

A real favorite was our pulled pork.  YUM! and so easy. 

Trish's Pulled Pork for a crowd
8-12 lb pork shoulder roast (I use boneless, but bone-in adds more flavor)
2 tbs oil
salt & pepper
electric roaster, Dutch oven or oven roasting pan

Cut roast into 2 or 3 pieces.
Generously season meat on all sides.
Brown in heated oil on all sides.
Put on a rack in roaster.
Bake covered at 325 degrees 2-1/2 hours.
Turn off oven (or electric roaster), do NOT open,  and let sit for another 30 minutes.
Remove meat from roaster to carving platter or tray and let sit until cool enough to handle.
Using 2 forks, shred meat.
Discard fat and bone.  Return meat to pan.  Rewarm as needed.
Serve on Kaiser rolls or hard rolls, slathered with your BBQ sauce (my current favorite is Rufus Teague's Honey Sweet.

Tons of pictures were taken at the Reunion. (my scrapbook is calling me to hurry up and get them printed!)

Happy eating and may all of your family gatherings be joyous ones!
Trish

HOMEMADE INSECTIDE

If you are a stamper or one who scrapbooks, you are already into do-it-yourself projects.
Here's a recipe that can save you money and is safer all-around than chemicals to control those pests that invade your green space.
 
DIY July: For those with a green thumb, here’s a homemade insecticide. Combine 25 drops of peppermint and sweet orange essential oils with 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid soap, and dissolve in 32 ounces of water. Use with a spray bottle.
Happy summer, Everyone!

Trish