Why - Hello Good Friend....

I just love this new stamp set in the Idea Book and Catalog....I wish I had more time to play with it....one thing that I used here were the new Cordoury Buttons. They aren't just for pants anymore! (and for those who know me well - I wear cords about 3 or 4 times a week! I LOVE cords! I hope they don't go out of style anytime soon...) Back to buttons - these things are great! There are 3 different sizes in the pack, some have a brad back, and some have actual button holes. And I'm pretty sure there are more colors to come! :) If you want to get your hands on some of these wonderful buttons - contact me.

Recipe:

Stamps: A Good Friend

Ink: Pacific Blue, Choc. Chip, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Old Olive, Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Cord Buttons, Flower Fusion, Chit Chat Rub Ons

Wild About You, Too!!!

The winner of my 10 birthday cards goes to Sarah!

Sarah said...
Great Cake :)Make a triffle with the cake pieces..In a bowl layer the cake, pudding, cool whip, heath/choc. chips etc- and keep on layering. YUM
February 18, 2009 8:51 AM

Send me an email with your address and I will put those cards in the mail to you!

Thanks for your great comments everyone!

Wild about Birthday Cake!

My son Will turned 3 on Sunday the 15th, and even tho he continued to tell me that he wanted a Spiderman cake over and over and OVER! I went my own direction. He really doesn't know who Spiderman is, doesn't have any Spiderman stuff, has never seen Spiderman, I just didn't think Spiderman was quite right. And, well, I had this thought in my head of what I wanted to do for his cake, and I knew it was a little more "age appropriate"! Here is my creation...


I baked one white (well, really I baked two) cake and one chocolate cake, put them side by side, and frosted them. I used the Wilton gel coloring - as it doesn't thin down your frosting. Well, to get the green really green, I used almost the entire container of coloring! And lots and lots of stirring. Okay - I know you are wondering about the 2 white cakes...let me tell you. FOLLOW the DIRECTIONS that come on the box! It says to let your cake cool for 10 minutes prior to removing from the pan. Yeah - they mean that, and it's written there for a reason! If you go to flip your cake over before it's time - you end up with lots of smaller cakes with jagged edges. In other words - an unfrostable cake that can not be put back together, a lot of cus words, and a frantic call to your mother in law to see if she has an extra cake mix on hand. Until I come up with something to do with those cake parts, they are in the freezer, just awaiting their purpose. The next two cakes I baked were allowed to cool the appropriate amount of time, and flipped out of the pan without a cus word to be said!
Okay - onto my cake creation...my fences are pretzel sticks stuck together with frosting and allowed to dry until they are REALLY stuck. Again - patience is the key. They will fall apart if handled before they are ready. I stamped my animals, cut them out and they stood up in the frosting perfectly. I'm sure they saw what happened to that first cake, and thought they needed to be on their best behavior! I think they stood up well, partially because I had frosted the cake and let it set out overnight to let the frosting dry.

And here's the birthday boy - slightly embarassed by everyone singing to him. (Sorry I forgot to take the red-eye out.)

He really liked the alligators which he sometimes referred to as dragons. He wanted to make them swim in the pond. And sometimes he just wanted to make them fly and then land in the cake - and that is why there are several bushes in the cake - to cover up where the "dragons" had landed. He loved his cake, and never again mentioned a Spiderman cake. Maybe the alligator ate Spiderman???

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I will pick a random person on February 25th from the comments to receive a package of 10 Birthday Cards from me!

Blow out the Birthday Cards!!!

It's time for that Birthday Card Class that I promised you! And here is a peek at the cards that you'll be making! 3 of each card for a total of 12 - PLUS - a gift bag AND a gift card holder! How cool is that??? Details are after the sneek peek pics...

Always in need of a Birthday Card? Can’t find just the right one? You need to attend my Birthday Blowout Class! I’ll show you how quick, fun and easy it is to make your own cards. Give your family and friends cards that have extra meaning.

When: Friday, March 6th; 5:30pm – 7:30pm – or - Saturday March 7th; 9am – Noon
Where: Denison Municipal Utilities Building

Option 1: Make 12 cards, one gift bag, and a gift card holder, all materials included, pre-cut and scored; fee is $25
Option 2: Make 12 cards, one gift bag, one gift card holder; fee includes the Party Hearty Stamp Set ($26.95), ½ pack of Washington Apple Designer Series Paper, plus all materials included, pre-cut and scored.; fee is $40
Option 3: Same as Option 2, only as a Class to Go! All items will be cut and shipped to you on March 9th.

Deadline to sign up is February 25th!!! Sign up before all of the spots are filled!

Contact Me! Jen Arkfeld

More Stamp Club Items

This month my Stamp Club group focused on the Wax Resist Technique. We had a ton of fun, and these are some of the creations we made:


This card uses the Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp Set (which I LOVE!!) and the brand new Texturz Plates from Stampin' Up! Aren't they just the coolest thing ever. Run you cardstock thru the Big Shot and presto! all embossed for you. And I really love the fact that you get 6 different textures for a very reasonable price. The other thing, these texture plates are quite a bit larger than your embossing folders from Cuttlebug. You can cover more area that way!

Here is the front of a gift bag that we made - isn't it just adorable??? I love the colors, the modern feel of the designer paper (Urban Oasis) and the added texture in this ( with the tearing and curling of the edge of the gray paper). It feels so fashion forward to me???? Photo #2 is a better one to drool over! :)

You know, you too could make projects just like this every month. Ask me how you can become a Stamp Club member. Some of the gals at one of my club meetings commented this month that she really needed the stamp time for herself. Another gal commented that Oprah is saying that you need to put yourself back in the picture - make time for you. And that is exactly what Stamp Club is all about. The gals get together every month - and it's their time. We have a lot of fun, and the great thing is that most of these gals didn't all know each other before we got started - it's a wonderful way to make new friends.... So put yourself back on your calendar - call me, we'll get you in the Club!!!

Here's a challenge for those that are in my Stamp Club - post a comment in this thread and tell us why YOU enjoy Stamp Club so much! There just might be something in it for you if you do!!!! :)

Kristina Werner Challenge #40!

This challenge proved to be - well, a challenge! First off, I knew what I wanted to do, then realized that I don't own More Mustard ink....so improvise - I must, I must! Then I realized that I don't have Taken w/ Teal ink either! UGH! So.... improvise some more....

Here's what I came up with...believe it or not, NO RIBBON!!! That has to be a first. But, I did use some of the new Supernova Glitter from Stampin' Up! I love it!!!!

I don't quite understand what's up with my camera these days - the color is off. I need to find a fix for that (more natural light!). Anyway - this is as good as it gets for now.
Recipe:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs

Paper: So Saffron, Taken w/ Teal, Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive, Versamark, Summer Sun

Stamp Club Sneak Peak....

Here's a card that my Stamp Club members will be making this month. We are focusing on the Wax Resist Technique - I think I got the hang of it, and came up with this card...whatcha think???

I was in a fog for a while while trying to come up with a layout, colors, etc....but you know - as soon as you pull out that Designer Paper - the light turns on, and things just seem to work! I love this new Parisan Breeze Specialty DSP!!! It's Special alright - textured, cover weight - it is GREAT to work with...I see more Specialty DSP in my future!

Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Ink: Baha Breeze, Black Stazon

Paper: Baha Breeze, Choc. Chip, Parisian Breeze DSP

Accessories: Pixie Pink Ribbon

CASE'd Myself

Alright - I really liked that layout that I did with the Best Wishes and More set, and I really like the colors that are in the new Urban Oasis DSP...sooooo, I thought I would re-invent the wheel, and use my layout and Urban Oasis colors....I wasn't sure I was going to like this, with the black flower and all....but you know what? I think it's really pretty darn boo-t-ful! (if I do say so myself) And now that I've created something I feel better about my husband being a slacker today....now we're off to a party!

Recipe:

Stamps: Best Wishes and More

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Baha Breeze, Stazon Black

Paper, Kiwi Kiss, Baha Breeze, Kraft and Very Vanilla

Accessories: Button Bouquet, Old Olive Striped ribbon, Perfect Day rub-on (thinking of you)

Happy Super Bowl Sunday...if you are MALE!

I swear - I like football just as much as the next person, but I'm pretty sure this is just another "holiday' with MALE benefits. While I was slaving away, cooking the appetizers for the party we will be attending, my husband does nothing but watch the 24 hours of pregame. When is the "holiday" that women are doted upon??? Please let me know. Many of you may answer Mothers' Day - but nope, not at my house. I have been a mother for 3 years (almost) now, and have never received a single Mother's Day gift, and I'm pretty sure that I've spent the afternoon cooking my own meals. In fact last Mother's Day....oh, never mind, it was so bad, I don't even want to go there. This is about the Super Bowl and MALE oriented holidays....anyone else ever think about this before....let's take Christmas for example....the women to the shopping, gift wrapping, prepping, get the kids oh-so-adorable outfits, get THEM ready, pick out what your husband will wear, make the food, etc. etc. And what do the men do???? Sit around and watch football - or just hang out waiting for the meal, and gift opening....I'm pretty sure it's a conspiracy. So, someone Puh-lease! Come up with a "Kick your feet up Women, this is your day" day.

I'm off to create something.....