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It's Thursday so that means another recipe.  I saw this one on Pinterest and my fellow Stampin' Up demonstrators were my guinnea pigs.  I wanted to make something for Autumn or Halloween.  Well, Autumn won out.  I didn't have a whole lot of time to be super creative.  It's a Pumpkin Caramel-Cream Cheese Poke Cake.  It's a long name for a wonderful dessert.  My husband even really liked it and said I could make it again.  When he says that, it must be good.  He can be rather particular about food.

                                            

Pumpkin Caramel-Cream Cheese Poke Cake

1 Spice cake mix (or you can use yellow cake mix)

1 cup Pumpkin puree, canned

1 cup water

3 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping, divided

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

2 Tablespoon milk

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 whipped topping (Cool Whip)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray, set aside.

Mix together the cake mix, pumpkin, water, eggs and oil, scraping the sides of the bowl.  Mix until smooth.  Pour batter into prepared pan,bake for 30-33 minutes.  

When the cake comes out of the oven, poke holes in the cake with the end of a wooden spoon.  Do this while the cake is still hot.  In a microwavable safe bowl, heat up a 1/2 cup of the caramel sauce for aobut 20-30 seconds, just to warm it up.  Pour the warm caramel sauce over the top of the hot cake, making sure the majority of the sauce gets into the holes.  Let the cake cool completely.

Once the cake is cool, prepare the cream cheese frosting.  Using an electric beater/mixer, cream together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk until smooth and creamy.  Gently fold in the whipped topping.  Spread the frosting over the cake, gently pressing the frosting into the holes of the cake.  Smooth out evenly.

Drizzle the top of the cake with the remaining 1/4 cup of caramel sauce.  For decorate effect, drag a toothpick through the opposite lines of the caramel sauce in the opposite direction to make a herringbone design.  Refrigerate the leftovers.

There you go.  It's an awesome recipe.  Highly suggest if you get a chance, give it a try.

Until next time...Stmapin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

  Now, I normally I consider the putzy cards outside of my stamping box.  And this was definately one of them.  When I saw this stamp set and thinlits in the holiday catalog, I immediately thought of this style of card.  It's a side-step card and really gives you the diorama look. The whole living room scene comes to life.  To me, the ones who receive a card like this should really appreciate the time spent in creating a work of art.  This is the first side-step card I created on my own.  I love it!  

The card base is actually the normal size, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2.  It's all how you cut and score.  I wish I knew how to do a diagram on the computer, but sorry, I don't.  I did post the dimensions on the gallery picture.  But this is how the card base will look when you have cut and scored both sides.  

 

Now in order to do this card, I would suggest doing things in stages:  1) stamp all the pieces.  2) watercolor  3) cut out with the Big Shot  4) adhere to the card base.  I always suggest doing the watercoloring before you cut the image out.  This is because it's easier to do the coloring on a larger piece and your fingers don't smear the ink until it dries.  

Here is another view of the card.   This view really shows the dimensions of the folds. You can put another piece of paper on the back or the inside so the lucky recipient knows who made this beauty.   

                                                                                                                        

Click on the first picture for the dimensions and directions.  The directions are very detailed.  Contact me if I left anything out.  Good Luck in making this card!

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

Tomorrow is the day.  It's the day when you can order your own Stampin' Up Blends!  They are alcohol-based markers so that when you use them, the colors blend together.  It makes shading super easy and fun.  They really give dimension to a plain image.  The markers are best when used with the Tuxedo Memento stamp pad.  Reason for this is that the Memento ink keeps a sharp image and won't bleed into the actual Blends color.

Here is a quick video about the Blends. It's only about a minute long so take a look.  If you are new to the Blends, it'll give you an idea of how they work.

                                                                                                    

Enjoy the video.  The Blends make coloring fun.  And easy.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

Have you heard what Stampin' Up is bringing back?  

                                                  

                                                           

That's right!  They have improved on the quality of these markers and so they will be back!  The demonstrators have been able to order them this month and gave them a good trial run.  All the feedback that I've seen has been very positive.  They like the quality, not dried out, and true to SU colors.  So, Stampin' Up will be selling them to everyone! And that starts Nov. 1. That's just around the corner.  

I have not had a chance to order the new Blends yet.  But, I really did like the old ones since I didn't have any issues with them.  Of course, these are on my very own wish list.  They are totally fun to color with.  The key is to sit down and just play and experiment with the colors and shading.  

Now don't also forget we have the paper sale still going on until Oct. 31.  That's buy 3 get one free.  Can you imagine how beautiful this Just Add Color DSP would look if you used the Stampin' Blends?  You would be creating a totally one-of-a-kind paper for sure.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

Tasty Thursday means it's time for another recipe.  This is one that my family loves, especially my daughter Megan.  It's homemade granola bars.  For a while she had me making them pretty much weekly.  What I like about them is that I can eat one for breakfast, and not be hungry again until lunch.  They are soft and chewy, great to break apart and nibble on.  Sometimes I add chocolate chips or mini m&m's.  Even mini marshmallows would be good.  One thing I have learned is not to skip putting in the refrigerator.  For some reason, they don't turn out as well, but you don't have to keep them in the fridge.  I store mine in a container on the counter.

No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars

4 cups quick oats

2 cups Rice Krispies

1 cup flax seed

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Line 9 x 13 pan with foil.

In large bowl, combine oats, Rice Krispies, and flax seed.  In microwavable bow combine peanut butter, honey, vanilla and brown sugar.  heat in 30 second increments until melted and smooth.  Combine well with dry ingredients.

Press into pan.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.  Remove and cut into bars.  

Enjoy them.  My family sure does!

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

Brrr.  The weather is quite chilly here in Wisconsin.  I actually had to turn the heat on for the first time today.  And I am one to hold off as long as possible.  But I do have our cat sleeping next to me and trying to keep me warm.  

This was my club thank you card this month.  I always put a card designed by me in with their orders.  They do appreciate the special treat.  And since I already had this stamp set out, I figured I just had to use this one again.  The sunflower is Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie.  I really like how bright it is.  Definately an eye-catcher. 

Don't forget the paper is also on sale until October 31! Stampin' Up doesn't do this sale often so take advantage of it.  Buy 3 get one FREE.  

My color combo isn't too much today.  Pretty tame, but that's ok sometimes.

                                                                                      

Hope you enjoyed this.  Click on the picture for the dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

The weather is cold and windy.  Gray skies all day.  Leaves falling on the wet grass. The best part?  I didn't leave my house all day long.  That's right.  Not even to get the mail.  The bills will keep until tomorrow.  My husband is traveling so I didn't even have to make dinner.  I love these days.  My time was spent in my craft room and was actually productive.  I crafted three Christmas cards.  And with using three different stamp sets.  

This sunflower card I created for my club last week.  Sunflowers always cheer people up.  Using bright colors does the same thing...makes everything more cherry.  And with our weather lately, we need all the cherry we can get.  I've seen so many variations of the flower on line, it's incredible.  I have seen a purple one.  Normally I am not a huge fan of purple, but it was gorgeous.  I should try it myself.  

I'll confess a secret about the strip of Lemon Lime Twist on the bottom.  I went to stamp the sentiment on the Whisper White and I didn't have enough room.  If the dsp would have been towards the edge more, it would have fit.  So in comes some improving since the paper was already adhered together.  Hence the strip.  I actually like how it did turn out.  This goes to show that there are no right or wrong in stamping.  Just creativity.  

                                                                  

What do you think about the color combo?  Interesting.  Did you ever think all those colors would work together?  But they do work together.   You never know what works together until you try it.  

Click on the picture for the dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

I'm so glad today is over.  It was kind of crazy at work today.  Several times I've been trying to access my iCloud on my phone.  It keeps saying my iCloud storage is almost full and I want to go in and reorganize/delete photos.  After an hour, I now have a headache and calling it quits.  I'm beginning to think it wasn't meant for me to access.  

Two weeks ago, we had a potluck at work.  I wanted to bring something "fallish" and found this on one of my boards on Pinterest.  The Fall Pumpkin Dip was actually super easy to make and very flavorful.  I was surprised that my husband liked it so much.  Typically he is not a cool whip fan, but I guess pumpkin overrules that.  Definately make this ahead of time since the flavors need to blend together.

Fall Pumpkin Dip

15 oz can  pumpkin

5 oz box instant vanilla pudding, just the powder, 

16 oz container cool whip

1/2 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/2 tablespoon Cinnamon

Mix pumpkin, pudding mix, cool whip and pumpkin spice together by hand.  Chill several hours before serving.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve with fresh apple slices, vanilla wafers or ginger snaps.

Optional:  carve a small pumpkin and serve the dip right from there.

This does make a lot so it would be great for parties or potlucks.  Or even Thanksgiving.  Give it a try.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper