Wishing you...

... A Happy and safe 4th of July!

Sketch time

It's July, and the new sketches are up at My Sketch World.
Here's my take on this month's card sketch.

I usually shy away from bright colors like this, but I stepped out of my comfort zone a little this time. These "Lime Rickey" papers from Basic Grey were fun to play with.
I found the fuzzy brads from Making Memories, and made a place for them here too.
Remember, that Design Team call is still going on there - you have until July 10th to apply. Check it out!

This one I did just for fun. This time with Basic Grey's Marrakech collection.
One last card today, I was planning to submit this one, but I'm not very happy with how it turned out.

These papers are Making Memories and Imaginisce.
Thanks for looking!

Hope you have a safe and festive Fourth of July!
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Excuses and a Recipe

Just want you to know, I'm not slacking off here.
I have been busily creating this week, but I can't post anything yet...
(I'll explain later)
So, while you wait, I'll share a recipe I've been promising to post on my personal blog. It's for my new favorite snack - "Muddy Buddies".
My daughter made this for me one night. I was skeptical when she started - chocolate cereal? Ick. But she had me taste one, and I couldn't leave the stuff alone. She had to stop me so there would be enough to make the recipe! LOL

Anyway, it's one of those Chex Mix things - make it when there's lots of people around, or you'll scarf it all down yourself - it's addicting!

Chex® Muddy Buddies®

Ingredients
9 cups Chocolate Chex® cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preparation Directions
1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

(use the link in the title to go to the website for more details, nutritional information, etc.)

How Now?

I had some fun with this card for a challenge over at Scrapbook Doodles.
I love black & white (as I've mentioned before), and the cow theme just happened to work for this one.
The papers are DCWV, and the ribbons are KI Memories. The die cut border is Bazzill. Brad and tag frame, Making Memories.
I used a sketch from Page Maps this time.
Thanks for checking it out!
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Design Team Call

The place that I've been designing for (My Sketch World) is having a design team call.
If you love sketches, and making cards or layouts, this is the place for you!

Check here: My Sketch World for all the details!

Father's Day

I just finished making my second trade for my Stampinup card swap.
I chose one that I could use for Father's day. It's pretty simple, but do men usually like fussy things?
...Mine don't seem to.

Anyway, my hubby loves the mountains, and wildlife, so I had him in mind for this one.
He is an awesome dad. That was one of the reasons I chose him - I loved watching him interact with his little sisters, and knew that he would be a kind and loving parent.
Something that was very important to me...


(Everything here is Stampinup)

My dad is no longer with us, but I want to take a minute to pay tribute, if I may.

My dad was one of the last of the real live Arizona cowboys.
He loved horses, and he loved the outdoors.
(photo taken about age 18)

He also valued education, and later in life, worked for the local steel plant, doing studies on it's effects on the area's livestock.
He raised quarter horses during my growing up years, and prided himself on the quality of his line of animals.

He wrote this poem many years ago - just a sample of his love for the critters:
(Click on the poem to read it more clearly)

Dad was also known to rodeo a little bit. I remember when I was in grade school, going with the family to watch him participate in the calf roping segment of a small local rodeo.
He would have been in his 50's, and hadn't done anything like this for years.
He broke his foot dismounting from his horse, but still managed to win!
He was awesome.

Miss you dad, and Happy Father's Day!
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Let's Try this Again...

I've found another way to post photos, (take that you stupid computer!) ...So, until it finds another way to foil my plans, we'll give it another go.

I've been a little busy while I've been away, so I have a few things to share:
First of all is Lucy's sketch for May - sorry, this is a really awful photo, it doesn't do it justice at all, I took it in a hurry before I left for vacation.
Anyway...

This is the card I made for mothers day this year. I'm running out of mothers - it's very sad. I've used this design on several other things, but I love it - it always turns out nice. (And how about these BG Wisteria papers? Yummy!)

I made this little album for my hubby for our anniversary - it's been a difficult year, and we both needed to be reminded of why we are still together.
(Sorry, no journaling yet - that's just between the 2 of us...)

open album

This one is for my next stamp club exchange - this next meeting will be our last, so I've got to get caught up...

...And last, just a little birthday card I made this month - I always keep my eyes open for anything with cherries, because my daughter in law loves them...

Just one more little thing to share today - I just found this awesome blog giveaway with lots of summer goodies. Check it out: Blog Giveaway

Whew! That's it for today.
Hope you're having a lovely Summer!