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This Super Bowl game is boring.  Seriously, a score tied at 3 in the 4th inning?   Yawn.  If this doesn't hit a record for the lowest scoring Super Bowl, then I will be surprised.  Ok, I take that back, New England just scored.  The first touchdown of the game.  Even the commercials are disappointing.  Nothing exciting there.

 This card started back at On-Stage in November.  My Upline, Lyssa, always has little gifts for her downline teammates to attend these events.  Isn't that super nice?   I also had to appreciate all the time it had to take to make a single one, much less for all the team who was in Orlando.  Well, I thought it was too pretty to just throw away. 

Time to turn this lovely tag into a card.  I paired the tag with the Floral Romance DSP and Mossy Meadow.  

For the tag, Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Speciality DSP was used.  For this paper, you can cut out the flowers that you want to use.  It is super pretty and delicate.  Now, I'm not positive, but I think is was adhered using the Adhesive Sheets.  This is a guess because the other alternative would be to use the Fine Tip Glue and that would be super tedious.  

For the tag, the outline of the stamp is from Label Me Pretty Stamp Set and cut out with the Pretty Label Punch.  The words inside, I don't know what stamp set it came from.  

The Gold Sequin ribbon has been retired, but you can use any other ribbon that would match.  Even the Silver Sequin Ribbon would be pretty with this.

Think twice before you throw out any handmade tags.  They can be turned into beautiful cards.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 tams# 30001

Product List

 

Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143861] $17.00	Floral Romance 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [148586] $14.00	Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper [146907] $14.00	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676] $8.50	Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [147143] $7.50	Pretty Label Punch [143715] $18.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets [144106] $10.00
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Gold Sequin Trim [132983] $5.00

 

Brrr.  Baby, It's cold outside.

Hopefully the worst of this Polar Vortex is over.  It's 9:00 p.m. and still -6 degrees outside.  Better than the -26 we woke up to this morning.  Alyssa's car didn't start yesterday, but my husband was able to jump it and got it running.  He was luck enough to be able to work from home again today.  I was so jealous.  Unfortunately, my store didn't close during this weather.  Needless to say, we were not very busy.   My dad worked for the Postal Service whiile I was growing up.  NEVER had they stopped delivery do to the weather.  Well, they did for two days this week.  He would be absolutely stunned if he knew this.

So, we were in need of some comfort foods this week.  We tried a new recipe tonight, Short Rib Poutine.  Poutine is a Canadian dish with gravy and french fries.  Interesting and intriguing combination.

I've never actually cooked short ribs my entire life.  Heard about them, and that's about it.  We gave it a try. 

Overall, we would try this recipe again.  We were just disappointed in the meat.  After cooking it all day in the slow cooker, you are supposed to shred it.  Mine didn't shred at all.  I ended up cutting it into small pieces.  Now, I have no idea if was these short ribs or maybe the slow cooker should have been on a higher setting that what it said.  We decided we would try this recipe again, but consult a butcher regarding the meat.

The gravy was fabulous.  The flavor was incredible.  That was the best part of the dish.  So, here's the recipe.

Short Rib Poutine

• 1 pound well-trimmed boneless beef short ribs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-1/2 cups beef stock, divided
• 1/4 cup Sriracha chili sauce (we omitted this)
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 3 cups frozen french-fried potatoes (about 11 ounces)
• 1 cup cheese curds or 4 ounces white cheddar cheese, broken into small chunks

Directions:

• Toss short ribs with flour and pepper, shaking off excess; reserve remaining flour mixture. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown ribs on all sides. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker, reserving drippings.
• In same skillet, saute onion in drippings over medium heat until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup stock; bring to a boil, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan.
• In a small bowl, whisk reserved flour mixture, chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and remaining stock until smooth; stir into onion mixture. Pour over ribs.
• Cook, covered, on low until ribs are tender, 6-8 hours. Remove ribs; shred with two forks and keep warm. Skim fat from onion mixture; puree using an immersion blender. (Or, cool slightly and puree in a blender; return to slow cooker to heat through.)
• Cook potatoes according to package directions. Serve beef over potatoes; top with gravy and cheese.

The recipe came from Taste of Homes.  Click here for the original recipe.  

I would definately recommend trying this recipe.  The gravy ws worth it.  We all thought it would taste great served over tator tots instead of french fries.   

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

Have you been studying the new Spring Occasions Catalog?  I wish I could afford to buy just about everything.  This catalog really has some great items.

The first suite in the catalog is the All My Love Suite.  It includes two different stamp sets and coordinating framelits.  Gorgeous!

The stamp set, Forever Lovely is beautiful.  It's a photopolymer set but distinctive, so the flowers are life like.  These cards are so romantic and perfect for Valentine's Day for your loved one.  But they would also be great for weddings or anniversaries.  

Check out what the stamp set, framelits and the DSP.  Love it!  

Product List

 

Forever Lovely Photopolymer Stamp Set [148624] $21.00

Lovely Flowers Edgelits Dies [148526] $32.00

Forever Lovely Photopolymer Bundle [150580] $47.50

All My Love 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148576] $11.00

 

The second part of the suite is the Meant To Be Clear Stamp Set and Be Mine Stitched Framelits.  We all love the stitched framlelits.  Awesome!  Look at these samples.  Put all these products together and you get some beautiful results. 

Product List

 

Meant To Be Cling Stamp Set [148626] $24.00

Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies [148527] $35.00

Meant To Be Cling Bundle [150587] $53.00

Stampin' Up! has done a video previewing all these products.  It's only 5 minutes and shows the products in detail.  If you have a chance, please check it out.  https://youtu.be/iTOVUoYmkIA

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

 

 We are starting to get the bitter cold weather.  Some schools around here are already closed for Tuesday AND Wednesday.  Even the universities are closing.  That is never heard of.  There's nothing we can do but to hunker down and deal with it.  It's been such a mild winter so far, but this is a little extreme.  We are breaking record lows this week.  Not a good time to visit Wisconsin.

I made this card several weeks ago.  With the three different rectangles and the coordinating mattes, it was a little tedious, but not too bad.  At least there was no fussy cutting!

The two colors are Lemon Lime Twist and Night of Navy.  I am really liking this two colors together lately.

On the cake swirls and flower, I stamped the image and immediately colored them with the Blender Pen.  The ink was wet enough to smear a little bit.  If you can't do this, use the blender pen with the ink pad.  For the word "Cake" let the Night of Navy dry a few minutes before you color with the Lemon Lime Twist and blender pen.  Otherwise the two colors could blend together and get an icky color.  (Like my technical word?)

The sentiment is adhere with dimensionals.  The other two pieces are just adhered like normal.

Don't forget the rhinestone in the middle of the flower!  A little bit of bling won't hurt anyone.

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

tams# 29726

Product List

 

Amazing Life Photopolymer Stamp Set [148750] $21.00	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867] $8.50	Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245] $8.50	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $9.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [147145] $7.50	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $7.50	Blender Pens [102845] $12.00	Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [147158] $30.00
2017-2019 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [144033] $15.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

 

Are we ready for some snow?  We are supposed to get maybe up to 10 inches by tomorrow.  Yikes.  So far, it hasn't started, but it will.  On top of that, it's supposed to be light and fluffy snow.  That's great for shovelling, but not for wind and blowing.  Would normally be a great day to stay home.  I'm hoping my husband will work from home.  He came home Friday prepared, just in case.  Me, on the other hand, work in town.  Sometimes that's not great because they will expect me to make it in, but not others from the surrounding towns.  Maybe my husband can drive me.  Hmmm.  Let's give that some thought.

I've been playing with the Humming Along bundle.  Not the typical stamp set I graduate towards, but it's good to get out of my box.

Funny how the proportions of othe cardstock came to play.  I was going through my stash and found this piece of  Whisper White.  I also had this piece of Gingham Gala already cut.  So, I started playing with the two.  Look how perfect the ends of the Gingham Gala match the Whisper White.  This was such a coincidence. Couldn't have planned it better.  This isn't the first time, scraps have determined the cardstock sizes I use.  I always dig through my scraps first.   

Since I don't own all the Stampin' Blends, I had to go another route.  Ink pads and Blender Pens.  You can play with them just like the Stampin' Blends.  I would use more color in certain areas, then spread it out so it is lighter on the outsides.  Stamp an image on scrap Whisper White and practice.  To be safe, use Memento Tuxedo Black.  It won't blend with the blender pens.   

Here is the break down of colors I used:

Balmy Blue- head and part of body

Highland Heather  - wings and above tail feathers

Granny Apple Green - between the Highland Heather parts

Smoky Slate - Tail feathers

Daffodil Delight - very light on the beak

 

 

I have no idea what to call the piece the sentiment is stamped on.  Think I'm just going to call it a decorative framelit.   One piece of  ribbon was threaded through the ends fo the decorative framelit.  The easiest way to use ribbon.  No bows required.

For the leaf, I stamped in Granny Apple Green and immediately colored with my blender pen.  When the ink is still wet, it will blend just a little.  It was perfect in this case, because I didn't want the leaf too dark.  If it doesn't work this way for you, color it the normal way with your blender pen and ink pad.

I just checked outside and it still hasn't started to snow. If it's going to come, then bring it on.  We are ready.

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 tams# 29666

Product List

 

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Humming Along Cling Stamp Set [148758] $20.00	Hummingbird Framelits Dies [148538] $27.00	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Blender Pens [102845] $12.00	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105] $7.50	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad [147103] $7.50	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $7.50
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [147113] $7.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $7.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack [149623] $0.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

 

I was so close in not having to leave the house today.  If my dog didn't have a grooming appointment that is made 6 weeks out, I would have been more than content to stay inside. We are in the middle of a deep freeze.  It was supposed to be a high of 1 degree.  And next week it's supposed to get worse.  Welcome to Winter in Wisconsin.  

I made this card for my club Thank you, and also a swap.  I got the Flowering Desert Photopolymer Stamp Set and immediately put it to use. 

Who knew that green and purple actually look good together?  I never would have paired them together until several years ago.  Now, I love them.

The cactus is Granny Apple Green.  It's the first time I'm using this color!  My stamp pad was very juicy.  I opted to stamp off before stamping on this piece of Whisper White.  Otherwise, my cactus lines were kind of blurry.  Check your pad.  You may not have to do this step.

Most of the purple is Highland Heather, the lighter of the two purples.  I did stamp one of the cactus flowers in Gorgeous Grape.  Gave them a little more dimension.  More would be good too.  

The ribbon is polka dot and I had to think twice about adding it.  My dilema was mixing squares and circles.  Obviously, in the end I liked it because you see it on the card.  Another option would be, if you were lucky to order the organza ribbon from SAB before it sold out.  There is a spool of Highland Heather.

Yes, the organza ribbon is on backorder so it is currently unavailable, and I'm not sure if it will be available again.  I knew it would be popular, but who knew it would sell out that quickly!  I was lucky to get a pack. If there are any updates, I'll keep you posted.

Bundle up if you are going outside! 

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

tams# 29573

Product List

 

Flowering Desert Photopolymer Stamp Set [148700] $16.00	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146986] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $7.50
Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad [147103] $7.50	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099] $7.50	Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon [146912] $7.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

 

It's winter in Wisconsin.  Yippee.  Schools around here were all closed today.  In fact, most schools announced the closings last night.  I am between cities that received 7-8 inches of snow.  That's enough in 24 hours.  And of course, I couldn't get the snowblower running today.  Thank goodness my neighbor was outside and came to help.  With one pull, he had it started.  That one pull saved me about 2 hours worth of shovelling.  

The schools were closed, but retail really doesn't close.  I live too close to call in because of the weather.  Naturally, it wasn't busy at all this morning.  The day just seemed to go on forever.  And then again after work, I had to shovel the snow that fell after I did the driveway this morning.  Needless to say, I'm just done.  My husband chose a great week to travel for work. 

 

This is another treat from a coffee friend.  The tree is the pie framelit we carried a few years ago.  Love how she turned in on the side and decorated it. The snow flake is perfect for today.  

She used one of my favorate DSP packs, Festive Farmhouse!  Do you recognize it?  I did use it quite a bit this Christmas.  What I didn't get was this stamp set.  It wasn't my typical style, even though the house it so cute.  I'm sure, somewhere there are tons of houses that match this exact stamp.  

That's all I have for tonight.  It's almost 10 and time for bed.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

We didn't get a White Christmas, but we are getting the white stuff right now.  It has been snowing since around noon today and by the time it is supposed to be done by tomorrow afternoon, we are predicted to get 7-10 inches of snow.  Looking from the inside of the house, the outside does look beautiful.  Very peaceful.  That is until I think about tomorrow morning.  Snowblowing and shovelling.  Thank goodness Alyssa is here to help me out.  My husband escaped to Texas for work today.  Lucky him.  He gave me a crash course on how to start the snowblower.  Here's hoping that it starts!

My club order came in today and I couldn't wait to use this set!  It's Hello Cupcake from SAB.  So...it was FREE!!

I had my eye on this set since I saw the catalog.  Cupcakes are just happy food and make every one smile.  In otherwords, I couldn't resist this one.

The patterned paper is leftover from the Festive Farmhouse DSP.  I adore this woodgrain because of the light textures.  It's so easy to work with.  You can also find similar patterns in the Wood Texture 6x6 DSP pack. 

Gray and White are so popular in home decor, I wanted to incorporate it into my card.  I added the soft pop of color by using Petal Pink.   

I am also in love with the Rectangle Stitched Framelits.  In my defense, I only used two on this card.  For the Petal Pink, it was the 4th rectangle from the middle.  The measurements are 2 1/8 x 3 1/2.  For the sentiment, it was the rectangle on the packet that was by itself.

The only thing this stamp set is missing is a punch.  At least it wasn't too hard to fussy cut.  For the frosting, I colored it with clear Wink of Stella and adhered it with dimensionals.    The sentiment is also popped up with dimensionals.  The Share What You Love Artisian Pearls just add a touch of fun.  Gotta have that.

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 tams# 29476

Product List