Key Lime Cupcakes

I made some Key Lime Cupcakes at my Stamp Classes this month, and many wanted the recipe. I have been using many of Laurie's recipes from her blog, Stamping Up North. You can find many YUMMY recipes on her blog. (PLUS they're cute "scrapbooky style"!)

NOTE: This is a picture of the what the cupcakes kind of look like, I found it on the internet. (Mine weren't quite as pretty as this one!!) I didn't put green foodcoloring in mine, but I think it looks even more summery this way! Also my frosting wasn't quite as thick as this. I just had to add a picture, though, to make it look like a more interesting blog entry. LOL

Anyhow, here is the recipe to these REFRESHING summer -

Key Lime Cupcakes

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 1/4 C. water

3 eggs

1/3 C. vegetable oil

2 T. lime juice

Mix and bake 350 degrees for 20 mn. Cool completely before frosting. Makes 24 cupcakes.

Key Lime Buttercream Frosting

1/2 C. crisco

1 t. vanilla

2 T. milk

1 T. lime zest

1/2 C. butter (softened)

4 C. powdered sugar

1 T. lime juice

Cream shortening and butter with mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and mix well. Add 1 C. powdered sugar at a time. Beat on medium speed. Icing will appear dry, then add milk until light and fluffy. Stir in lime juice and zest. Makes 3 C.

June Girl's Day/Night Out Projects

Here are the cards we did at my Girl's Day/Night Out classes this month.



I saw this card made by Tilly on SCS HERE and loved the concept! The gals at my class said it was like making things for a Barbie house. LOL This is for an anniversary or wedding.




Recipe:
Stamp Set: All Holidays, Hugs and Wishes
Paper: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Metallic Silver (non SU)
Ink: Sage Shadow, Basic Black
Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Cuttlebug folder, Silver Brads

I didn't put a hard FOLD in the "towels" so it had a 3-D look to it. The towel dimensions are 1 1/4" x 3 1/2" and then folded over.





This card is a total CASE of "Londonblue's" card on SCS found HERE. I just swapped out the ribbon. I love what she did with the scalloped oval in vellum!



Recipe:
Stamp Set: Oval All
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Vellum (lighter weight but I would recommend the heavier weight because many of them ripped through in a few spots)
Ink: Apricot Appeal
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Manhatten Flower Textured Impressions Die, Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punches





I really like the sketch that Karen Giron hosted a couple weeks ago. You can read more about her sketch challenge HERE. This is a picture of the sketch, along with my version of it.

I am down to the SCRAPS of the Designer Paper that is retiring, so I had to do 2 versions of this card because I ran out of paper!

Sad to see this set go, I'm "wild about" this stamp set!


Recipe:
Stamp Set: Wild About You
Paper: Ruby Red, Whisper White, So Saffron, Sweet Slumber Specialty DP
Ink: Ruby Red, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories: Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon, 1 1/4" Square Punch, "Bling" Jewel (non SU)


Recipe:
Stamp Set: Wild About You
Paper: Regal Rose, Sweet Always DP, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Accessories: 5/8" Grosgrain Chocolate Chip Ribbon, 1 1/4" Square Punch, "Bling" Jewel (non SU)




Here's my tribute to the 4th of July coming up! Saw a cute "Uncle Sam" made out of punches on SCS last year, found HERE.

Recipe:
Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Blush Blossom, More Mustard
Ink: Basic Black Journal Pen
Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle/1 1/4" Circle/1/4" Circle/Small Star/Word Window/1 3/8" Square Punches, Cuttlebug Folder, Chalk (Cheeks), Dimensionals (on Star)

It's hard to see in the picture, but the red white and blue pieces that form the background have the Cuttlebug impressions in it. They are horizontal stripes.

In Colors for New Catty!

Here are the new "In Colors" for the 2009-2010 Catalog! I just wanted to give you a sneak peek!! Aren't they beautiful?

June Stamp Club Projects

Here are the Stamp Club projects for June!

The watercoloring technique is really popular right now. I first saw this on Patty Bennett's blog. She has an amazing video tutorial that can be found HERE. I love how each flower comes out so different than the next!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral
Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Craft White Ink
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, Regal Rose/Cameo Coral/Barely Banana Reinkers, Aqua Painter, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon



This card is a Tri-Shutter Card. There are many of these on Splitcoast. I'm not sure who originated the pattern, but I found a great tutorial for this card on The Craftiblog, which can be found HERE. Another fun card to use up those small scraps of DP!


Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Only Ovals, Priceless
Ink: Craft White, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Paper: Kraft 12x12, Parisian Breeze DP, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Accessories: Flower Daisies #2 Die Cut, Big Shot Machine, Scallop Oval, Build a Brad (Antique Brass), 1/4” Punch

12x12 cardstock is cut to 5 1/2 x 12. Score on the long side at 2", 4", 8", and 10".

Make a cut with an exacto knife 1 1/2” from the edge starting at the 2” scoreline and ending at the 10” scoreline. Do this on both sides.

Add decorative paper!!

The last project was showcasing the way to sponge a background. I first saw this card on Chat's blog, which can be found HERE. (Warning, you're going to fall in love with Chat's blog!) All you do for the landscape is tear a scratch piece of paper and sponge close the edge. Then take a 2nd color, and move the piece of paper up a bit and at an angle, and sponge another layer. Then switch back to the original color and move the paper again.

Recipe:

Stamp Set: Branch Out, Very Versatile

Paper: Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Sponge

Big Shot STARTER KIT ONLY through June 30th!

The new catalog debut is around the corner! The Big Shot has been a HIT this year!! Did you know in the new catalog, the Big Shot is NOT available as a STARTER KIT? That means June is the LAST month you can get all the bells and whistles with the BIG SHOT. (EXTRA product is thrown in if you purchase the Big Shot as a kit.) If you don't have a die cutting machine, this is the best deal around to get you started!

The Big Shot Starter Kit retails for $195.95. You can order this on my website today! Just click on this link HERE. If you order this, you automatically qualify for hostess benefits, which means EXTRA FREE PRODUCTS! You will earn a Level 1 Hostess set PLUS an extra $15 in free products! If you bump your sales to at least $250, you will qualify for $45 in free products!!! ($25 for your sales total PLUS an extra $20 for the June Summer Fun Hostess Promotion!!!) AND I will throw in a brand new catalog that will be arriving in a few weeks!

You must order by June 30th to take advantage of this sweet deal.

Here is a list of everything that comes with the Big Shot Starter Kit. (Item # 116314)

• Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
• Multipurpose Platform
• Standard Cutting Pads
• Stampin' Up! Exclusive Scallop Envelope Bigz Die
• Stampin' Up! Exclusive Top Note Bigz Die
• Stampin' Up! Exclusive Sizzix Birds & Blooms Four Pack
• Stampin' Up! Exclusive Decorative Strip Billboard
• Decorative Strip Cutting Pads
• Decorative Strip Extended Spacer Platform

NOTE: The Big Shot will still be available in the new catalog, just not as a starter kit.

Wedding Bells!

Look what I got in the mail!! A wedding invitation that my future daughter in law, my daughter, and I made over EASTER! We had so much fun making these. They were simple to make and have kind of a "pottery barn" feel to them, which is TOTALLY their style! I am so BLESSED to gain such a beautiful (inside AND out) future daughter in law as Shannon!!!

Let the countdown begin! (The big day is July 26th).

Last Chance Changes

The following stamp sets have been removed from the Last Chance stamp list and will be available for purchase from the dormant list during the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog sales period.

114494 Forever

114492 Beautiful Baby

114486 Birthday Wish

114490 Glad Friends

114498 Flowers in Silhouette

114496 Celebrations

114488 Fun Flowers

114032 Acurelas Maravillosas

Also, the following items were added to the Last Chance accessories list and are available for purchase while supplies last.

116209 Note of Thanks

116210 Birthdays Count