Look, look! Rubbernecker is having another fabulous sale!  If you click on the small picture like this on the right, it will take you to their site!

Tim Holtz Sizzix Collection

Just in time for all those great Christmas cards and gifts for friends and loved ones.  Through Sunday we are pleased to offer the Tim Holtz Sizzix line at 30% off the retail price.  These items are timeless and will be great additions to your card making and scrapbook belights this year and for years to come and right now you can get them at an incredibly low price.

Tim Holtz District Market

Fantastic new District Market Colletion from Tim Holtz is available through Sunday at 30% off the retail price.  Tim has created a collection that fits ino everyone's create scheme and has limitless possibilities.  If these were on your list, there is no better time than now to take advantage of this amazing design collection at special low pricing.

Sale Sale Sale

I know you love Tim Holtz products, so I wanted to let you know that Rubbernecker is having a sale on his Idealogy products this week. 30% off! Wooooohooooo! That is a great savings. Click here to get right to the Tim Holtz products.

Next week will be Tim Holtz Sizzix alterations products and the following week will be Tattered Angels products. All of these sales will be 30% off sales. You can click on the picture at the top of the right side bar to get right to the terrific products.

Here is a card I would like to share with you too. The challenge on Splitcoast was to use the negative, so that is what I did.

I just got this new background stamp from Rubbernecker It is the poem, 'Twas the night before Christmas. I love it!

I inked it with Festive Berries distress ink and stamped it onto white card stock, embossing with clear so it would stand out a bit more. The red paper is cut using a nested pine tree die I then added the silver trim as if it is trimming the tree. The red panel is popped up over the background. I added the silver domes to the corners for just a bit more shine.

I hope you like it! Thanks for looking.

Stamps: 'Twas the night  SKU 653

Accessories: Spellbinders nested pine trees, Anna Griffin Holiday Traditions paper

Thinking Happy Thoughts

For this card I used a chrysanthemum image from Rubbernecker. I inked the stamp with versamark and then rich razzleberry, stamped it onto the So Saffron square and embossed with clear ep before adding a bit of the more mustard and rich razzleberry inks with a little water. That is die cut/embossed. The card front is Rich Razzleberry. Since I didn't have chevrons, I substituted panels embossed with a zig zag pattern above and below the main panel. Not quite the same, but . . . it is what I had. I added a More Mustard panel to the center of the card with Midnight Muse punched panels added to it. The sentiment was stamped with the midnight muse ink onto the More Mustard card stock and cut/embossed with an oval. I added some Midnight Muse accents.

Thanks for looking! Have a great day!

Stamps: Rubbernecker Chrysanthemum 340-10, Happy Thoughts 565-11

Accessories: Spellbinders ovals, Parisian Accents, Decorative Labels 1, Medallion Chain EK Success punch

Celebrating 40 years!

My husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary this weekend. Sheesh, that is a long time! I can hardly  believe we are this old! The time has flown by. I made it mostly purple as that is my husband's favorite color. The 40th anniversary is ruby, so I added a few ruby rhinestones to the image panel as well.

There is lots of dimension on this card. The purple background layer has traits I love in my husband. It is computer generated, then I embossed it with Spellbinders M-bossabilities Mystic folder. I then added the Lacy Squares cut from Elegant Eggplant card stock. The Fancy Label panel is cut from glossy white card stock with the number 40 computer generated. The butterflies are stamped onto white glossy card stock and embossed with clear embossing powder before being punched out with an SU! punch. I added rhinestones and pearls to the bodies and then popped them up with foam tape, lifting the wings for more dimension.

I hope you like it! My husband did. Thanks for looking.

The date says it is Autumn but . . .

it is still over 100 degrees here in the desert. I keep watching tv and seeing fall clothing and such and keep expecting it to be cool when I step outside. It isn't. Maybe if I decorate and create fall cards it will cool down. Well, it's a thought anyway.

Here is a card I created with a fall theme. 

I stamped the image onto the Pumpkin Pie card stock. I then stamped the sentiment over it using Vintage Photo ink and then embossed with gold. It is very hard to read, but it is there. It reads "Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled and that has made all the difference". The rust card stock is cut with Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaves and popped up over the stamped leaves. I then stamped the word nature in the lower right corner and embossed it with gold. The whole thing was embossed with Spellbinders Fancy Lattice. It looks quilted and has just the warmth a card of this type needs. I then added the small leaf detail.

Stamps: Fall Trilogy Set 480

Medallion Chain

This card was created for the Color Challenge of Pacific Point, Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand. The Sahara Sand card is backed with Not Quite Navy Cardstock. I punched the black card stock with the Medallion Chain punch, backed it with the different colors and then added it to the card front. The sentiment is inked with Pacific Point and Not Quite Navy ink before stamping onto the bottom right of the card front. 

Stamps: Rubbernecker You are Fabulous 629-08

Spiders, bats and a ghostly brew

Oooooo! The eyes have it. I used googlie eyes on the spider as well as just kind of floating in the background for an eerie feel. The green panel is embossed with a Sizzix folder and then I added some sparkle with ATYou shimmer pens. The spider and webs are stamped using black ink onto the purple panel, the I added the eyes and went over the webs with an AtYou pen to glisten. The sentiment was stamped onto purple card stock and then just the three words cut out, outlined with the AtYou gel pen and glued into place.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Hang in There 1703 SO, Halloween Wish 361 SO

As long as I had these lovely colors out on my desk, I created another card. I sponged the three colors onto a piece of white card stock then cut/embossed with Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles. I then stamped over that background with the dandelion image inked with versamark and heat embossed with white. The pink pirouette card has panels of dp added to the bottom and sides. The bottom panel is punched/embossed with a Fiskar's punch. I added another piece just like the bottom panel to the inside of the card. The same image and the sentiment are stamped above it using the Primrose Petals ink. 

Stamps: Rubbernecker Wild Garden Corner 01 539-04, Wishes & Prayers 627-09
Ink and paper: Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade and dp by Kaisercraft The Lake House pack, versamark

I'm pinking of a green Christmas.

Hmmmm, what do you think of a pink and green color combo for a Christmas card. Certainly non-traditional, but I like it. What do you think?

This card is a 5” square. I inked the tree with Lucky Limeade and Primrose Petals inks before stamping onto white card stock. That was cut/embossed using Spellbinders circle die. The panel beneath it is white card stock cut/embossed using Spellbinders Moroccan Motifs die and stenciled by leaving the die in place and applying ink with a sponge dauber. I then removed it from the die and added the Lucky Limeade ink to the edges. The pink panel behind that is cut/embossed using Spellbinders Lacey Squares and then cutting the corners using Spellbinders Pop Up Wings and Petals. I used Primrose Petals on the popped up petals and stickles was added to the centers. That is mounted onto Lucky Limeade card stock (corners rounded) and then onto a rounded square of Primrose Petals card stock. A double bow of organdy ribbon was added to the bottom of the tree circle.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Christmas Tree Set 592

I created this little baby card for my niece Kelly's baby shower. She had twins several months ago, but they had to stay in the hospital a long time. Now they are home and healthy. I made the card to coordinate with the gift bag. 

 After stamping the sentiment upside down on the card front!!!! Arrrggghhhhh, I saved it by cutting and embossing the sentiment out of the card front using a Spellbinders Labels Ten die. I used my marker to just go around the edge to give it a little pop. I embossed a piece of the yellow card stock with Swiss Dots folder on the inside to back it and popped it up with foam squares. I also cut/embossed a duck and added the negative side to the inside as well to have the backside of the embossing showing through. I also used markers to color the seam binding before wetting and scrunching it. The bottom border is cut/embossed using Spellbinders Baby and backed with purple to show off the teddy bears before adhering it to the card front. I used these colors to coordinate with a gift bag. Isn't this perfect for the twins????

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Smallest Wonders 156

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall is in the air. That's hard to believe when it is nearly 100 degrees, but it sure is better than 118! lol I keep thinking that if I decorate and think fall it will happen. Well, maybe. 

This set can be used to create cards for all seasons. I’ve created beautiful spring cards with it before, and now I’ve chosen a fall theme with these colors. I stamped the leaves with Fired Brick distress ink onto vanilla card stock and then cut/embossed it with Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles matting with a navy card front. I then punched tiny flowers from Cajun Craze, Navy and Pumpkin Pie card stock and adhered them to the stamped image. I added a dot of liquid pearls to the center of each flower. The sentiment is stamped onto vanilla card stock with Chipped Sapphire ink and then cut/embossed with Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two and popped it up onto the card front.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Garden Shrub Set 560, Best Wishes Set 600

Paper: Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Navy

Ink: Chipped Sapphire, Fired Brick distress ink

Accessories: Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two, Lattice Rectangles

Life is uncertain, so I’m starting with dessert. I created my own patterned background paper by stamping a background stamp onto the chocolate chip card stock. The gumball green was used for the borders, top and bottom. I then stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment onto strips of gray card stock and created the bow. To soften it, I ran it over the edge of my table several times so it would easily bend into shape. Foam squares are under the ties to give them a little more dimension. I inked the same background stamp with the gumball green ink and stamped onto printer paper. I punched a circle of it and glued it onto a button, then added glossy glaze before adhering it to the center of the bow.  The same Happy Birthday sentiment is stamped on the inside using the Gumball Green ink.

Stamps: Happy Birthday Set LG 15636, Abstract Floral Bkgd 450

Woooo hooooo! A sale!!!!! Take a look at all the goodies on sale over at Rubbernecker by clicking HERE! Here are two cards I made this week using Rubbernecker images and sentiments. Don't you want them? hee hee hee, yep, I'm an enabler!

I stamped the image onto white card stock using Versamark ink and embossed with white embossing powder. I then sponged on the three different inks. This was cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels 8. I colored the embossed edge with a red marker. That is popped up over the twine which is wrapped around the card front. The sentiment is inked with Barn Door and stamped onto the bottom right corner.

Rubbernecker Phrase Set 626, Floral Set 3 645-03

Cats! They do have a mind of their own, don't they? lol This sentiment makes me laugh. How about you?  I stamped the cat image on the pink card stock using Black Soot distress ink and clear embossed before cutting/embossing with Spellbinders Labels Four. I inked the outer border with a black AtYou pen to pop the image before adhering to the yellow strip of designer paper. I added a double bow of narrow black ribbon. I then stamped the sentiment onto the same pink card stock and matted with black, punching just the top corners. 

Stamps: Cat Set 15621 by Rubbernecker

Hope Your Day Blooms With Special Joy!

I have lots of birthdays to remember lately. How about you? This card will surely convey my special thoughts for one of my friends. 

I used a designer paper for the circles which were adhered to the Lucky Limeade card front which is embossed with the Spellbinders folder. I then cut/embossed the flower and tag from Daffodil Delight card stock and I used chalks for the centers and the leaves on the tag. The sentiment is stamped using Lucky Limeade ink. In case you can't read it, it says, "Hope Your Day blooms with Special Joy." I used foam dots to pop up some of the petals of the larger blossom. I added just a knot of organdy ribbon to the tag.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Phrase Set 626

Fold over bookmark

Are you a crazy reader? I love reading, so this is a great little fold over bookmark created with a 2" X 11" piece of card stock, folded over. I used a deep pink card stock for the base, added black to the top and bottom, and a dazzling diamonds band with tape. I used Black Soot distress ink on my stamps for the background. I then over stamped it with the Eiffel Tower image which was inked with versamark and embossed with silver and iridescent ice powders. I added lots of different ribbons and a bit of tulle. Ahhhhh, a romantic book mark for all those romantic novels.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Moulin Rouge Set, Clowns and Crowns Set, Travel Frame all by Rubbernecker

Into every life

Such a true sentiment! Even though the rain comes (which is very welcome during this drought), life's raindrops are sometimes difficult. I sparkled these up by using dazzling diamonds glitter on them. The clouds are cut/embossed from a designer paper using dies and adhered to the blue card front. The beautiful sentiment is stamped onto the card base using Faded Jeans distress ink. The bottom panel is a designer paper cut/embossed using Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die. I added a pink ribbon to cover the seam and add a bit more cheer to the card.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Every Life 642-03

Accessories: Clouds and raindrops die seet by Sweet 'n Sassy, Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die, pink ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter.

Wildflower window

The light blue panel is stamped with the wildflower image inked with Chipped Sapphire distress ink. I then added the white window and embossed the whole thing with Textile Texture. I added a ribbon just below the panel. The navy behind the sentiment oval is cut/embossed with Spellbinders Iron Motif. The sentiment is just part of a stamp which I inked with a marker to just get the word prayers.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Wishes and Prayers 627-09, floral #1 608-01

Roses, roses, roses

For this card I used a designer paper by Kaiser Craft from the Lake House pad. It was added to a base piece of card stock and embossed with Spellbinders Mystic M-bossabilities. That was added to the Bravo Burgundy card front. The flora die is cut from So Saffron card stock. I then cut the flowers from the same dp and added them, except for the one which is Bravo Burgundy. I then added a touch of tulle for softness and the sentiment which is on vellum. 

Stamps: Thinking of you 565-10 

Thanks for looking. Please come back soon!

I'm back!

I've been gone - almost 3 weeks! I had a great vacation, actually unplugging pretty much the whole time. It was awesome! I went to Pennsylvania - a little town called Lewistown. There were a couple of field trips on the weekends. One was to Palmyra, NY to visit some dear friends there, and then down to Painted Post, NY to visit other friends. It was good to see them after all these years. The next weekend we went to Baltimore to visit a niece and her family. While there we went to Costas Inn for crab. Let me just say - that was the best crab ever! OH YUM! And for dessert the very best Creme Brulee I have ever had too! If you are ever in the area, you must go! Then one day I drove to Hershey's chocolate world to have lunch with another dear friend, Carmen on my birthday. It had been too long since I'd seen her.

So, after all that, I am home again, home again jiggety jig. I got to stamp a few things the past couple of days, so wanted to share them with you.

Isn't this pretty? I did a new to me technique called Water Stamping. It created this beautiful background. First I inked my card stock with Peacock Feathers and Shaded Lilac distress inks, then stamped with the moistened with water stamp Victorian Damask Panel. I then ironed to dry and flatten it. I then punched the edge and mounted onto the purple card stock. The rose image is inked with the Peacock Feathers ink and clear embossed. The sentiment is inked with Shaded Lilac ink and clear embossed. I added just a touch of this great big ribbon. 

Stamps: Rubbernecker: Amazing Grace 582-18, Single Leaf Rose 531-01, Victorian Damask Panel 498

The swirl/flourish image from Rubbernecker was inked with Peacock Feathers ink and stamped onto the white card stock. I then inked the same stamp with Chipped Sapphire and stamped just a bit off. I added the flower jewels to both the ribbon and the image. The sentiment is inked with Chipped Sapphire.

Stamps: Rubbernecker Home is where 582-09, Flourish 30-10

 For this one I used The Dazzling Diamond Dust tutorial on SCS and the CAS 183 challenge which is a sketch. The card front is embossed with the Spellbinders Flora M-Bossabilities folder. I then added the green strip on which I used a Fiskar border punch and a darker green grosgrain ribbon. The image panel is stamped with Rubbernecker's Petunias using Black Soot ink and colored with Copic markers. I then cut/embossed it with Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles, left it in the die while I inked it with Versamark ink and then added Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat embossed. That image is popped up with foam squares.

Stamps: Rubbernecker: Petunias 537-09

Thanks for stopping by! Please come back any time. I'll try to be sharing more often now that I am back! Have a great day!

Flowers are the music of life.  The small rose image is stamped in the three different colors. These flowers count as the dessert, a summer garden - right? The purple card front is embossed with Spellbinders Flora folder. The white layer is cut/embossed using Spellbinders Fleur de Lis rectangles. I added a narrow purple panel, stamped with the leaf border to back the sentiment oval. I colored a white ribbon with the peacock feathers ink and tied a triple bow. 

Stamps:   Rubbernecker: Music of Life 642-11, Leaf Border Set 631, Hearts rose small 803 SO 

I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Hop Day 4 - Hot & Spicy

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19 Hot & Spicy Featured July 20

For this one, I stamped the same image onto three different color card stocks and colored in the chili with Copic Markers. I then stamped the word HOT over the top of them using Black Soot distress ink and clear embossed so it would really stand out!

See those tiny little chili peppers on the twine? Aren't they too cute? I stamped the chili image onto shrink plastic using black Staz On ink and colored with Sharpies before shrinking them with my heat gun. It is so fun to be able to make your own embellishments. The picture on the right is the inside of the card.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on July 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday July 20, 2012.

Blog Hop Day 3 - Garden Art

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

    July Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Asian Delights Featured July 17
Wild & Free Featured July 18
Garden Art Featured July 19
Hot & Spicy Featured July 20

This fun little card features the cute little toadstools and the toad! I stamped the toad image onto yellow card stock and colored with Copic markers before cutting him out. I then added Glossy Accents to him. The toadstool image was stamped onto white, colored with Copic markers and then cut/embossed using Spellbinders dies. I added the Hello sentiment to the lower right hand corner, stamping in green ink. The bee image is on the designer paper I used. I added the green ribbon which has a little copper in it as well.

What a cute little gnome! I stamped him onto white card stock and colored with Distress markers before cutting/embossing with Spellbinders oval dies. I stamped the butterflies from the set onto white card stock and colored them with Copic markers before cutting and mounting them onto the card front. I used a bit of foam mounting tape behind the wings to hold them up just a big. The brick red panel is embossed using the Spellbinders Flora M-bossabilities folder. The vine is cut with another die and added behind for a bit more dimension and interest.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on July 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday July 20, 2012.

Blog Hop Day 2 - Wild & Free

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

                       July Blog Hop! 






This month's New Stamp Set Releases are




Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 20








For this card, I stamped the wildlife images onto this linen textured paper which gives them such a great look. It is a one layer card, so I added the red brads in the four corners to give it a little more oomph!



This card uses a bit of designer paper as the base for the great wild life stamps. I then added a small sentiment panel which was stamped with the sentiment from the set, cut/embossed using a Spellbinders die and then I added the animal print over the top using Versmark ink and clear embossing. I backed a jumbo eyelet with a brown card stock circle and tied some brown ribbon through it, adding a bit of copper cording around the ribbon.
Please
 hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp 
sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each 
day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the 
blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be 
announced on June 23, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go 
back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the 
more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count 
twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday July 20, 2012. 

. 

Blog Hop Day 1 - Asian Delights

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

                       July Blog Hop! 






This month's New Stamp Set Releases are






Such a simple card, and so easy to mail. I stamped the word images onto the red card stock using Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold. The Geisha girl image is stamped using Black Soot distress ink and clear embossed. The red card front is matted with black. I then stamped the sentiment onto black and heat embossed using the gold powder and then backed it with red. I used gold and red cording behind the sentiment panel with just a simple knot for more interest.






Aren't these blossoms just gorgeous? Yes! I stamped the same image twice onto the white panel which is cut/embossed with Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle die. I colored in the images with Distress markers before mounting the panel onto the coral colored card stock. The top of the coral layer is embossed with a Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder. I added the beautiful trim (also from MFP) to the top of the image panel.
Asian Delights Featured July 17

Wild & Free Featured July 18

Garden Art Featured July 19

Hot & Spicy Featured July 20


Please
 hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp 
sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each 
day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the 
blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be 
announced on June 23, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go 
back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the 
more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count 
twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday July 20, 2012. 

. 

Sewing for Babies - help needed!

An arsonist burned down a church that held the supplies used by Sewing for Babies, a wonderful charitable organization that makes clothing, quilts, blankets and hats for preemie babies, many of which do not survive. Click here to see my sweet sister-in law, Elizabeth talk about it on our local news.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1719833361001 or here is a link to their website:  http://www.sewingforbabies.com/default.htm

 Would you like to help them get back on their feet so they can continue this wonderful work? I will be collecting donations at my home if you are local and would like to help.

finished projects!

· 24” square flannel blanket. One layer, serge or crochet around the edges.

· 18” or 22” crocheted square blanket.  Small gauge so little fingers & toes stay put.

· Crocheted baby caps, smallest loom size or finished size should fit an orange.

· Quilt top.  6” squares of cotton fabric. Sewn together in 6x7 rows. (42 squares, finished size approximately 36x42)

Sneak Peek

I made two cards today using a new stamp set being released next week by Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company.

Aren't these blossoms gorgeous? Okay, that is a rhetorical question. They are gorgeous. I stamped them onto white card stock using a raspberry colored ink and then water colored lightly. They were cut using Spellbinders oval as is the kraft layer. Both of those were embossed with Spellbinders Mystic M-bossabilities folder. The pink layer is embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. I then added raspberry and white organdy ribbons.

This card is so clean and simple. I used Spellbinders Pennants dies to cut the designer paper (The Lake House by Kaiser Craft) and then mounted that onto the black lacy pennant. I stamped the women onto white card stock, colored the flowers on the image with a distress marker and adhered them over the pennant. As a finishing touch I added the black beauty image to the top right corner. 

Thanks for stopping by! Please come again soon for more sneak peeks and next week is the blog hop! You won't want to miss it.

A card and a giveaway!

Here is a clean and simple card for you. Only one layer and a bit o' ribbon. The bottom edge of the card is punched with the Martha Stewart double arch punch and a piece of coral card stock added to the inside to peek through. The square was inked with Ripe Persimmon ink, stamped off and a coral marker used to add the diagonal stripes. The foliage image and sentiment were inked with Walnut Stain and stamped off before stamping. I dyed the seam binding with the Walnut stain ink before tying around the card and knotting.  I hope you like it. 

Stamps: Rubbernecker Sound of Laughter 642-08, Floral Square Set 632

Webster's Pages is doing a give away. Beautiful Christmas papers!

How to Murder Your Mother-in-Law

Our book club book this month was "How to Murder Your Mother-in-Law". My darling granddaughter Ashley came over and helped me make Thumbprint cookies for the refreshments.

 I thought they were a fitting treat for a mystery! And look how pretty they are!

Ashley told me they are the best cookies she ever ate! Oh yum! They really are good. Here is the recipe, in case you want to make them for your family!

Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients

·        1 cup butter, softened

·        1/2 cup packed brown sugar

·        2 eggs

·        1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·        2 cups all-purpose flour

·        1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

·        2/3 cup any flavor fruit jam or preserves (I used Apricot and Strawberry Blackberry)

·        1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

2.    Separate eggs, reserving egg whites.

3.    Cream butter, brown sugar, and egg yolks.

4.    Add vanilla, flour and salt, mixing well.

5.    Shape dough into balls about the size of walnuts. Roll in egg white, then walnuts. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes.

6.    Remove cookies from oven. With thumb, dent each cookie. Put jelly or preserves in each thumbprint. Bake for another 12-15 minutes.

Silly Shells

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        June Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Welcome Poppies Featured June 19
I'm In Stitches Featured June 20
Island Life Featured June 21
Silly Shells Featured June 22
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on June 23, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday June 22, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Thrifty Stamper
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Tammylee
Janis L.
Mark's Finest

Island Life

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        June Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Welcome Poppies Featured June 19
I'm In Stitches Featured June 20
Island Life Featured June 21
Silly Shells Featured June 22
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on June 23, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday June 22, 2012.


Here are two cards I created using the stamp set Island Life. Another one of my cards is featured on the Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's blog today. Be sure to pop over and look at that one too.

This card features just a sentiment from the set.

On this card, I combined an image from the Island Life set and a sentiment from Silly Shells. The sentiment is stamped onto twill tape and attached to the card front with brads.

Now hop along this route, and be sure to leave some love along the way.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Thrifty Stamper
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Tammylee
Janis L.
Mark's Finest