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Today I finally made it down to my stamp room.  I haven't spent much time there this past week.  So I was excited but at the same time undermotivated.  Couldn't find much inspiration.  

So I thought, what should I work on?  What do I have coming up?  

In April I'll be doing some swaps.  I thought I could get a start on those, but didn't really feel like designing a card.  The only thing I knew was that I wanted to use the Fruit Basket stamp set.  This is what I spent time doing.  Making fruit.

I didn't count how many of each I made, but there is quite a few.  All the strips of paper is scraps that I couldn't bring myself to throw away.  Now I know it was for a reason.  By stamping on the strips the correct way, I could go down the row and punch them all out.  It's probably over a whole sheet of Whisper White that I saved.  

The fruit is kind of putzy, but in the mood that I was in today, it was perfect.  I accomplished something, just not the finished product.  But when I do get to the card, I got a huge head start!  And of course, I'll post it.  

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I was sad to see my daughter go back to college, but she'll be back in 3 weeks.  She always texts me so I know she got there safely.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

Happy Saturday everyone!  This is the first Saturday that I haven't worked in over a month!  Yippee skippee.  My excitement is short lived unfortunately since I am scheduled for next Saturday.  BooHoo.  Tomorrow my daughter goes back to LaCrosse for college.  I'll be sad to see her go, but she will be home in 3 weeks for some work some volunteer hours for her job.  I'll take what I can get.  My other daughter is not leaving until end of February.  That's because she's doing a semester in Germany!  I'm excited but nervous at the same time.  Guess it's the mom thing in me.  

Stampin'Up made a Facebook post about this favor box.  It's totally adorable. It was actually created by Connie Collins, part of the Artisian Design Team.  The whole team does amazing work.  

 I really like the Framelits used, but I just could not afford it right now.  Real bummer.  They would be so fun to play with.  Never thought the wood-grain in Bermuda Bay would look as good as it does.  I need to get me some of that ribbon too.  

Love the banner under the big heart.  Go and see how they did it.  Sometimes we don't think about the easiests things and when we see it, it's a "duh" moment.  

Click on the picture and it will bring you to the Facebook post.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

This is a recipe that my husband doesn't care for, but my girls do.  So, when is the best time to make them?  When he is travelling for work!  Everyone is happy then.

I also plan ahead when I make these.  A key ingedient is pork roast.  Sounds like an awful lot of work to make a pork roast for a sandwich.  I make a pork roast for dinner one night, then several days later, use the leftovers for the sandwich.  Great way to use up those leftovers!

If you can't find the Cuban bread, substitute for another loaf bread or even rolls.  I've done ciabatta rolls and those are pretty good.  Definately avoid a heavy roll or bread.  You can totally personalize each sandwich too.  Adjust any ingredient to your preference.  

Unfortunately, I don't have a sandwich press or a panini press.  I improvise and press a heavy pot over the sandwich while cooking.  Mine aren't as flat as the picture, but it gets the job done.  I do suppose something like a George Foreman grill would work too.

Grilled Cuban Sandwiches

1 loaf Cuban bread sliced lengthwise, or individual rolls works too.

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

3 Tablespoon yellow mustard, or to taste

1 1/2 pounds boiled ham, sliced

1 1/2 pounds roasted pork, sliced

1 pound Swiss cheese, sliced

1 cup dill pickle-chips or to taste.

Spread the butter on one saide of the bread and a thin layer of mustard on the other.  Place 1-2 layers of ham, pork, cheese, and finally, pickles on the buttered bread and top with the mustard side of the bread.

Butter the outside of the bread or rolls.   Place on a hot fry pan and press the sandwich down with the press or some other weight.  Leave for a few minutes, flip over and repeat.   Remove from heat, cut in half.  Enjoy while it's still hot.

I found the recipe on http://www.seriouseats.com.  I altered the recipe because I don't have the sandwich press but if you are interested in that part, here is the link.   

Now that I posted this recipe, I'm hungry for one.  My husband is travelling in a few weeks, so I may have to make this.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

Are you looking for a change in your life?  Come join the Stampin' Up team.  There are plenty of people who are just hobbyests.  That is people who join as a demonstrator just so they can receive the discounts and benefits.  If you aren't comfortable creating a club, or a blog, that's ok.  It's your business and you run it how you want to.  Even as a hobbyest you still have access to Stampin' Up! online resources and incredible Facebook groups.  They are full of inspiration.

Right now you can join for only $99!  You get to choose $125 in product of your choice but pay only $99 AND get free shipping!  Plus...you can pick out any TWO stamp sets for FREE.  It doesn't get any better than this.  

I'd be happy to chat with you or answer any questions you may have.  My journey so far has been great and I'm still just getting started.  Let's do this together!

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

Doesn't this card make you hungry?  I typically do not do the fruit stamp sets, but this one called out to me for some reason.  Giving you fair warning...the fruit are small and a little putzy.  But oh so adorable.  

One thing I like about the stamp set, is that the stamp is slightly larger than the punch.  This makes it easier to line up and not having to worry about the white space around the image. I would totally recommend just taking the time and stamping a bunch of all the fruit. Stamp more than you will need.   It's so much easier to have extras then to have restamp the fruit.  My extra fruit pieces are stored in a tiny ziploc bag and with the stamps.  Keeps everything simple.

There are a ton of colors going on in this card.  Here is what I used for the fruit:

• Strawberry - Real Red and Garden Green
• Watermelon - Watermelon Wonder and Pear Pizzazz
• Pineapple - Crushed Curry and Wild Wasabi
• Pear - Pear Pizzazz and Soft Suede

Very typical I know.   For the basket, the outline is Soft Suede and used Crumb Cake Stampn' Blends for the inside.  They don't leave the lines like normal markers do.

The patterned paper is from the Tutti Frutti DSP.  The pack of paper is 6x6 and has very vibrant colors.  I wanted paper that had color and some design but nothing overwhelming.  When looking at the pack, these were exactly what I wanted.  Based off the base cardstock, this is the color scheme for the card.

                                                                         

I'll share my other cards that I used this stamp set on at a later date.  It's been addictive playing with these.  

Click on the card picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

There are times when we need an easy go-to card.  This could be the one.  It's simple, but you still get the two sides of the dsp for dimension and the texture of the ribbon.  

Now, I used dimensionals on the folded corners so they would stay down, but that's your choice.  Dimensionals are necessary for the punch to go over the burlap ribbon.  

The only thing you have to be careful of is when you cut the slit on the right hand side.  On one piece, I cut the slit and noticed, my paper was upside down.  Bummer.  Definately wouldn't look good having the flowers upside down.  

This is going to be a short post tonight.  I'll have another one tomorrow.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

That's what it's been like for me today.  Had coffee with my friends, and a quick trip to the grocery store.  My husband wants to redo his bathroom so we went to Menard's to look at vanities, lighting and the such just to get ideas.  I found a  light fixture that I absolutely love for my stamp room.  It has 3 Edison bulbs and I am worried they won't give enough light that I need.  Otherwise, I spend the rest of the day hanging around in my stamp room.  Everyone needs a lazy day every once in a while.  I only work tomorrow morning, so I guess my afternoon will be doing the housework I put off today.  Sigh.  

Monday I had my demonstrator meeting and these are the make 'n takes we did.  For the butterfly, we used the Stampin' Blends.  Boy, those are nice.  They blended very well and really made the butterfly come to life.  I finally purchased a few and can't wait to use them.  I've only dabbled with them a little.  

The Waterfront card is gorgeous.  It looks like a watercolor picture.  Just needs a frame around it.

The panda bears are just adorable.  I really am regretting not getting them.  They are on the Whisper White Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes.  The size is really fun to play with.  With all the cards I see online, I may break down before SAB ends to get them.  

It's a short post tonight.  Tomorrow I'll share a card I made using the Fruit Basket stamp set.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

I personally think Happy Wishes is one of the best stamp sets in the SAB catalog.  So many ways this set can be used.

Do you hate wasting paper?  I sure do.  When designing a card, the first place I go to is the scrap pieces.  Seriously, it is.  I think it's a cheap thrill being able to design a card around scraps.  This card is case in point.  If you have followed my prefious blog posts, you may recognize the oval cardstock "you are the best" is stamped on.  Recognize it?

                                                                Does this card look familar?  The oval is cut from my Waterfront card.  I was looking at the oval and trying to come up with a card to use it on. Everything was based around it. It's a great way to have less waste.  We pay for the cardstock, so why throw it away if you can use it.  

Need to bring out the embossed design on the cardstock?  Sometimes the details don't show up as much as we would like.  By lightly sponging with the ink pads, it brings out the embossing design.  It's a super easy technique but really brings the embossing detail to life.  

Hope you enjoyed my little tips.  Don't overlook the small details.  Sometimes they are the best part of the card.

Click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper