Sweet Stamp Shop Release

Hey everyone, it's me Danni...I know, I know it has been awhile. Time has just escaped me. I have been so busy with working kids, running around, and errands...pretty much everyday stuff. BUT I did manange to get in some fun girl time with my friend Nicole. If you don't know who she is yet, she is the owner of Sweet Stamp Shop. I am also her Design Team Coordinator and yesterday was the brand new September Release. I made up a couple cards with the new stamp sets and a little table setting that you could use just as table decoration or as party favors, or whatever really.

Here is what I made with each set:

 This is using the Easily Distracted stamp set

This is using the Super Mom set

This is using the Made By #2

What do you guys think?? Loving them??? Well if you go HERE to the Sweet Stamp Shop you can pick up a coupon to get a discount on the new stamp sets and if you go HERE I have me blog post release of all the other projects I did with the stamp sets...AND...I am giving them away so make sure to stop by to have a chance at winning :)

So glad I could say hi to all of my mon ami createry friends today, I sure do miss all of you  :)

Happy Crafting!
xoxo
Danni

Some of this and some of that!

Well not much has been going on here!!! I have been so busy with, well, nothing imparticular. But, I have had time to whip up a card and do a little shopping lol I found some great scores and once they are hung I will take pics to show ya guys.

I had gotten this 8x8 paper pack "Uncharted Waters" by Glitz AND have been waiting to use it on something, so I decided to make a card with it.

Here it is:

I also stamped in the very bottom corner the arrows and Awesome sentiment from Sweet Stamp Shop! I just love the new Starts Here stamp set that was just released. I also accented with some Twine from SRM and little enamel dots from My Minds Eye. Also my boss picked me up this anchor from the recent Trade Show she went to in Las Vegas, which I believed is from Glitz as well.

Here is the stamp set I used, CUTE huh??

Starts Here

 

 

 

Well everyone happy hump day and crafting day,
xoxo
Danni

Strawberry Margarita Jell-o Shots

So my sister in law and I were invited to a "Pinterest Party" a couple weeks ago and it was a blast. It was a first for us but we (a group of us girls) are going to try and make it a monthly thing, it was that much fun. So if you have never heard about it (like me) I will explain. I know you all will be wanting to do this.

Ok so Pinterst party:
There is one person who host the party, and it rotates each party. The host invites a group of friends, lets say for this example 4 friends. Each of those four friends invites one friend to come with. This party is not just about crafting and food but about making new friends and bonds! The host will pick out a craft/project today...found on pinterest...and gets supplies for all the people coming to the party. Each person that comes to the party brings a food dish found on pinterest and a recipe card to pass out to everyone that came.

So I brought a hummus bean dip RECIPE HERE (which was so flavorful) and some parmesan potato wedges RECIPE HERE (which were fantastic) But my sister in law brought the show stopper,
Strawberry Margarita Jell-o Shots!
Oh my my these were soooooooo goooodddd!!!!!

I posted some pics to follow along but HERE is the full recipe found on pinterest.

PLEASE NOTE: The directions say to mix jell-o according to box...that is not correct. You mix it according to her measurements she gives in the ingredient list.

AND...one last final step that I didn't get a picture of is right before you are ready to serve you can roll the rim of strawberry in a sugar lime zest mixture!


Have any of you guys done a pinterest party before??? They are so much fun and I am so looking forward to next months party.

Happy Wednesday and will see you back next week.

xoxo
Danni

DIY Tank Top

Hey hey hey everyone!!!! I have a fun and very SUMMERY DIY tank top tutorial. Super easy and doesn't involve any sewing.

What you will need:

• Old T-Shirt
• Scissors
• Flat cutting surface

Here are step by step  picture instructions.

Alrighty there you have it. SO now I have finally decided that I just have to have that tye dye kit I saw at Michaels the other day. I didn't have a purpose for it then BUT I do now and am so excited!!!!

Well off to do fun things (errands lol) have a wonderful day everyone!!!

xoxo
Danni

Pick Me Ups

Hey guys,

Happy Wednesday :) Boy time sure does fly by but I am back with a little pick me up. You know that little something that just helps you get thru the last part of your day, or that little something that curbs your craving??? Well, I decided to make up whole batch of frozen chocolate dipped banana chunks.

It has been so hot here lately that it was also a way to have a cool and refreshing treat. I have such a big sweet tooth but sometimes I really only want a little nibble of something just to give my craving a break from, well, craving lol. Do you ever get that??? They are super easy to make and you might have even done it before. BUT, what I love to use is the Ghirardelli Cacao Chips. Not only is it amazingly delicious but it is also a little "healthier" for you than regular chocolate, and not that we are trying to be healthy about our treats, that's kinda taking the fun away! Want to know all about cacao vs cocoa, check it out HERE on Recipe Rehab. They have a great post on the difference of chocolate.

Frozen Chocolate Dipped Banana Chunks

 

 

 

 

 

 

(it's been so warm my treats started sweating like crazy)

Ingredients:

1 Bag of Ghirardelli Cacao Chips 

1 Bunch of Bananas


Directions:
Using a cookie sheet cover with wax paper.
Slice desired amount of bananas into chunks. In a small bowl melt chocolate according to directions on the back of the package. (HINT: it is easier to melt small portions at a time and work in batches so the chocolate doesn't harden and become difficult to work with) Using tooth picks, stick a banana and then dip in chocolate. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat until you have achieved your desired amount. Place in freezer until slightly frozen. You can then take it out of the freezer and pop them into zip lock freezer bags for enjoyment whenever you feel like it.

They are the perfect treats for after dinner, especially if you have children. Plus there is no guilt in these treats since it is fruit and "healthy" chocolate, right?!?!!? :)

Well have a wonderful Wednesday and will see you all back next week!

xoxo
Danni

Challenges...

Hey everyone....hope you are all enjoying your Wednesday. It's been quiet the busy week for me. I have had lots of errands to take care of and so have been out and about, but I did find the time to make a new friend and catch up with old ones.

One thing that we crafty girls like to do is card challenges. We played along with a few of them.

Check it out...

For this card I played along with CAS(E) This Sketch and for the first time Fusion Card Challenge. I am loving how Fusion Card Challenge works too. (You can either use the sketch or the color combo or both).

I bought some new bright colored pens from Michael's the other day and loved how perfectly they went with the color scheme of the the Fusion Challenge and then decided to pair it with CAS(E) This sketch. 

Next up I again used the Fusion Card challenge but decided to go with both color scheme and sketch. I really loved the yellow flower and wanted to really accent that color.

And finally for my third card ;) I added in Retro Sketches but still kept the Fusion color scheme...and well I actually think I hit their sketch as well...in a way! I am seeing do you????  :)....yep they may be my new fave challenge blog!

For all the card sentiments I used Sweet Stamp Shop stamps.

Alpha Tabs

Baby Love

Today Was

Wheely Like You

 Hope you enjoyed checking out my challenge cards and hoping to see your cards in future challenges maybe! Do you have a favorite challenge to play along with??? Would love to know. I am always a fan of new challenges!

Father's Day Hike

Welcome back everyone and Happy Wednesday! I wanted to give you guys a garden update...We harvested our first two cucumbers today and they were sooooooo delicious. Look at that one it is HUGE and so straight, like a grocery store :) I also harvested the last of my lettuce and will have to do a do over on most of it.Those dang green caterpillars destroyed pretty much all of it!!! But we were still able to get a salad from it and had a little to share!

 I hope everyone enjoyed their Father's Day! I know we did here. We went on a family hike up Cowles Mountain and one of my favorite views in SD! Normally when we go we will take the main entrance, but being the adventure-some sort we took one of the back ways...well really it is just less crowded and peaceful)

 Both the boys are out of school now and we are ready to start our summer vacation. How about you guys?

See you all next Wed.
 xoxo
Danni

PS- I am on the Sweet Stamp Shop's Design Team (YAY!) and there is a NEW release out today. I wonder if you can spot any of my creations???

The End Tables

I have been MIA as I have been finishing up the  last couple weeks of work. We closed our doors on Memorial Day and then spent a week of cleaning up and cleaning out. Boy oh boy. Only two melt downs AND when we locked up for the last time yesterday I actually didn't even cry, had the biggest lump in my throat but no tears :) !!!! I am excited for the new adventures ahead and what is in store for all of us.

Well enough of that it is my time to get caught up and catch up everyone else on what's been happening in my life.

I finally finished my end tables and am so in LOVE with them. I am on the fence about sanding down the tops so I will need every ones input on what they think.


You remember this is what the tops looked like and the base was the same color except smooth.

This is what they turned out like:

I ended up deciding on papering the base instead of spray painting it. I just felt that they needed something more. So I knew World Market sold large sheets of really nice patterned wrapping paper and they fit perfectly on the bottom. With a little spray adhesive and a huge sticky mess later I had finished and was so thrilled with how they turned out.

So what do you guys think??? Sand the teal tops to give more a vintage worn look or keep it more on the polished sleek look???

Til next week,
xoxo
Danni

Gimme Some Lentils, Please!!!

Well after all that hot weather we had, soup was far from my mind, but now that it has cooled down some I decided it was time use up some of the lentil mix sitting in my fridge. So, I first "googled" and searched images of lentil soups, when I found a picture I thought looked appetizing I then looked to see how complicated the recipe was. (I wasn't feeling fancy, so I didn't want anything too complicated lol) I finally landed upon not only a delicious looking picture but an interesting twist that none of the other recipes said to do, BLEND! That was it, I was in. So the mission began...Actually Make Lentil Soup.

For the original recipe "Hearty Vegetarian Lentil Soup" from Simply Scratch's Blog click HERE.

I did make it my own and used this recipe only as a guide, I also made a double batch and omitted the tomatoes.

Check it out:

 Here are pretty much all the ingredients I used. NOTE: for the vegetable broth I use Better than Bouillon vegetable base, IT is simply the best! They make vegetable, chicken, and beef base.

Dice those bad boys up.

Heat up some olive oil and add veggies and let them "sweat"

While veggies are sweating rinse lentils.

I like to mix all my seasonings together in a bowl first and then toss them into my cooking. I changed up some of the seasonings adding ginger, curry, and garlic powder (I didn't have any fresh ginger )

I cooked it as directed and then I made up some extra lentils to blend and add into the full soup. 

We bought some french bread for dipping and a couple sprigs of rosemary from the garden for garnish! It turned out soooo good and both kids eat it too :)

Til Next week

xoxoxo

Danni