Disney Give a Day Volunteers: Cards & Pictures for the Troops

Our family had an opportunity to participate in the Disney - Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program.  The kids school was making cooling ties to send to the troops, and by the time we signed up, that part was done, but they wanted to send a handwritten note or picture from a child with each tie that they had made, which is where we came in.  

I was excited because I am a card maker and what a perfect opportunity to spend some time doing some good.  I worked hard on the cards I made and I think they turned out cute.  Then afterward my hubby and I wrote a personalized message in each one.  I hope they bring some cheer.  

If not, I KNOW the kids pictures are sure to!  They made me laugh out loud.  My favorite one is J's picture that says "Have fun" and has a dude with a sword fighting - like war is ever fun . . . lol - it made me smile!

  

(SSD022)

Good morning and Happy Tuesday!  Every TUESDAY  is a happy one because it's sketch day at Skipping Stones Design, and it is always fun to play along with a sketch!  I just love the sketch this week!  It was easy peasy to work with!  Enjoy!  Oh, and be sure to stop by the Skipping Stones site and go see all the great cards the DT gals have created, and find out about the PMS sale going on NOW . . . finally it pays to have PMS!!!

 

Stamps:  Birthday Donuts (Skipping Stones Design)  Paper:  Polka Dot Parade - Grande & Petite (Papertrey Ink), Gemstones - Tigers Eye (Core'dinations), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)  Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko), cameo coral classic ink (Stampin' Up!)  Accessories:  Lime Green Satin ribbon (May Arts), Spring Mix vintage button collection (Papertrey Ink), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), sponge, clear embossing powder (Stampin' Up!)

Salsa Festival 2010

Salsa Festival was fun, but kind of crazy this year -- I was just not digging the layout so much . . . and I WAY preferred the way they gave out chips in your own bag in previous years.  So much more sanitary and no lines -- the lines were RIDICULOUS!!  I also think the event as a whole was too spread out and awkward. Because of this, we did not end up staying as long as we have in the past. Still, we had fun and got to taste some yummy salsas while we were there.

 I decided I would try and vote on the "Unusual" salsa entries this year, and Michael tasted and voted on mild salsas. (I think our favorites were M1 and U2)  Michael says he would like to enter a salsa sometime.  We will see  in the coming years!  

Teddy Bears Picnic

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

The school where my children attend put on an event called "Teddy Bears Picnic" and everyone was told to bring their favorite teddy bear.  There was a picnic lunch, of course, and were activities such as bear target toss, bear in the air, bear sack race, bears over and under, bearsketball, bear relay, bear bowling, and a bear obstacle course, all of which the children could do with their bears.  Parents were also invited to attend.  My kids had a blast and we all got a little bit sunburned, but it was a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Here are my two cute critters eating their lunches on our picnic blanket

 

Parachute - bear in the air activity where they all had to try and make the bear fly super high

Bear Relay - and how I finally figured out what was happening to the tops of their shoes to wreck them.

Sack Races . . . so cute to watch them all bouncing!

Target Toss

J in his teddy bear hat!  SO cute!

Down Time . . . Life is SWEET!

Life with four kids is sure busy busy!  I decided that this weekend I just needed some down time (well, besides church and soccer for the kids).  I tried not to make plans so we could just chill out, spring clean a bit, and rest!

Not sure why but I have had the most wicked sweets craving ever.  I decided to bake some stuff this weekend, cause my bananas were going bad (funny enough, I never did end up using my bananas), and I came across this recipe and remembered I wanted to try it.  Hope you are having a sweet weekend too (and if not, go try this recipe and you will be).

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

INGREDIENTS:

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut, if desired
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

DIRECTIONS

1.  Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in coconut.

2.  In ungreased, 9- or 8-inch square pan, break up half of cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture.

3.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.

(SSD020) & Blog HOP!

If you just happened upon my blog today, you’ll want to go back to the beginning at Skipping Stones Design.   You should have arrived from Michelle's blog (http://twisted-chick.blogspot.com/).  

It's that time again, time for another sketch and another hop!  I love blog hops with all my awesome Skipping Stones DT girlies as well as our Guest Sketch artist Kimberly Crawford and Guest designers Bev Rousch and Ashley Newell!  They are always so inspiring!  This time we are hoppin' because Skipping Stones is releasing the two new sets that I showed off to you last week TODAY (Whispering Wings and Birthday Donuts)!!!  

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The following promotion is good from April the 13th at 8:00 a.m. till Thursday April 22nd at midnight OR while supplies last.

Buy 4 stamp sets get Bras Volume #2 OR Bras Volume #3 for FREE

Here's how it works: Buy ANY 4 stamp sets and you will receive either Bras vol#2 OR Bras vol#3 for Free.  Due to limited supply the customer can not choose which Bras volume # they receive.   The unreleased stamp sets will be available to view on the blog until the 22nd.  Then they will be taken down.  These stamp sets will not be available for purchase for another 6 months to 18 months.

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We'd love for you to play along with the sketch. Just remember to use the keywords SSD020 if you are uploading to any online galleries or link your card at the Skipping Stones Blog.  We'll be looking soon for Guest Designers so you never know....

Your next stop on the hop is Angela Thomas (http://sparkleandbling.blogspot.com/)


(Just in case you get lost along the way . . . list of participants):


Skipping Stones Design  http://skippingstonesdesign.com/
Kimberly Crawford  http://kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com/
Erin Grotegut  http://www.inkysmiles.blogspot.com/
Kandi Phillips  http://kraftykandikrafts.blogspot.com/
Ashley Cannon Newell  http://ashleynewell.blogspot.com/
Mary Giemza  http://mycardz.wordpress.com/
Chelsea Van Wyk  http://www.scraptasticvoyage.blogspot.com/
Beverly Rousch  http://bevithia.blogspot.com/
Peggy Russell  http://beautifulgreetings.blogspot.com/
Michelle Giraud  http://twisted-chick.blogspot.com/
Amanda Sewell  http://www.inkspirations.blogspot.com/
Angela Thomas  http://sparkleandbling.blogspot.com/

Stamps:  Whispering Wings  Paper:  Lemonade (Basic Grey), Baby Blue Medium (Prism Papers), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)  Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)  Accessories:  Sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Gutermann), rhinestone stickers (Recollections - Michaels Stores Inc.), pink grosgrain (Stampin' Up!), Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger), long scalloped rectangles nestabilities(Spellbinders), cuttlebug machine (Provocraft)

Phoenix Film Festival 2010 - April 8-15th

Today we had the opportunity to go see the short film that E was in called "Copper" on the big screen at the Phoenix Film Festival (as part of the Arizona Short Film Showcase).  It was so much fun!  E was so funny to watch -- she totally loved every minute!  She felt like a movie star and told everyone we met that she was, and because we were at the Film Festival, they all reacted excitedly which was cool. She got to see Kimber, and Diane and Bivas again, and was excited about that.  Baby E was crazy out of control in the theater, so we left after E's short was finished. 

We then went and participated in some of the Kids Day Activities.  She gave out her first autograph to the girls running the Bookmans table there.  She was so proud of that moment. We kept the Film Fest guide and also our tickets so she would have them to save forever.  Maybe one day I will scrapbook them, who knows?

 

E's movie star attendee shots 

At the theater with Dad and Baby E

Making sounds in the sound booth at Kids Day

Making a funny screenplay  . . .

E's first autograph . . . she's famous now *grins*

(SSD019)

Sorry I am a little late with this post this morning . . . my excuses are 1) I had to feed a baby  2) I am on the west coast, so it is actually only 9 am here, not so early for me and 3) I had leftover pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream and maple syrup in my fridge which caused me to create an overly indulgent breakfast for myself, but darn it was good!  Anyway . . . 

Stamps:  Chick Chat (Skipping Stones Design)  Paper:  Red with Dots - (American Crafts- The Goods), Let's Pretend - Tea Party (Imaginisce), Real Red (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Intense Yellow (Prism)  Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)  Accessories:  Sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Gutermann), blue dotted organdy (Hobby Lobby), 1 1/4 circle punch (SU!), long rectangle scalloped nestabilities dies (Spellbinders), cuttlebug (Provocraft), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.)

*****

I cheated varied a little on this sketch!  The sentiment just would not fit at the bottom, so I made it work.  I had fun playing with the chickies!  I love the bright primary colors on this card, I think it would cheer anyone who was feeling sad!  Hope you are out enjoying spring and then stamping at night (when you don't pass out from sheer exhaustion like I do).  See you next week!

As always, be sure to go check out what the other SSD girls have been up to!  They truly rock!!!  Oh and I thought I would post the new release sets so you can see them in their entirety. These both go on sale next TUESDAY (the 13th) and I know you will want them both, so this is your early notice to start skipping the starbucks so you can afford them *wink*  Gotta run, baby is calling . . . 

Whispering Wings

Birthday Donuts

Hoppy Easter (for CPS)

Last week I got a fun message from my friend Tami.  She asked me if I would be interested in designing a card for the Facebook Featured Fan for Friday on the Card Positioning Systems facebook fan page (which if you aren't a member of this yet -- go over and join!)

Of course I agreed (*flattered*) and this is what I came up with for the sketch!  Hope you like him.  I adore this little bunny!  He is just too sweet and perfect for Easter!

I am not sure if you can see it really, but I glittered up his ears, cheeks and pads of his feet!  I think it really adds something in real life (darn cameras).  LOL!  Have a lovely springy day!

Stamps:  Gray Hares (Skipping Stones Design)  Paper:  Pristine: Pretty Posies (Paper Salon), Frosted Teal (Prism Papers), Pink Diamond Gemstones (Core'dinations), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah)  Ink:  Rich Cocoa Memento Ink (Tsukineko)  Accessories:  Pretty in Pink brads (Stampin' Up!), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Gutermann), Green dotted grosgrain ribbon (Michaels Stores Inc.), scalloped and plain circle nestabilities dies (Spellbinders), cuttlebug machine (Provocraft), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), frosted lace stickles (Ranger).