Stamp Camp Fun & Food Recipes

Well, first I should apologize for being so absent from the blogging world. I really have been stamping...tried submitting stuff to a magazine (no results, probably have to get used to that one), getting ready for my Stamp Camp, and making the gifts for my stamp camp attendees. I plan to show you the gifts I made for the girls that came over, but I haven't had a chance to take any pictures yet. Plus I am working on figuring out a blog candy thing (by the way, I haven't forgotten about my promised blog candy that I have for one lucky customer of mine...that will be out this week, I promise!) and one of those gifts might be one of the things as part of the candy. So please stay tuned this week for my upcoming blog candy announcement and how to participate!!!

Anyway, along with the fabulous projects (shown below) that the girls did at my Stamp Camp on Saturday, they seem to think that I made some fabulous food as well! I think just about everyone asked for the recipes...so instead of trying to write it out 6 times, I told them that I would post them here. I have a picture of the Caramel Apple Salad, but it doesn't look very appetizing....but believe me it is!!! My husband and I can't get enough of this stuff! The Broccoli Ham Ring is a nice lunch meal for guests...it looks like it took a lot of time, but it is oh so easy. So enjoy!

Caramel Apple Salad

Ingredients: 4-6 Snickers Candy Bars (frozen), 2-6 Granny Smith apples, chopped, 1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip, 1 (3.5 oz) package of dry instant vanilla pudding

1) Smash frozen candy bars in wrappers with a hammer

2) Mix all ingredients together.

Serves 6 - 8 people

Note: For those at the stamp camp, I used 6 candy bars and 6 apples

Broccoli Ham Ring

Ingredients: 2 tubes (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough, 1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded swiss cheese, 1/4 lb fully cooked diced ham (about 1/2 cup), 2-1/4 cups chopped fresh broccoli, 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard, 1 tsp lemon juice

1) Unroll crescent roll dough and place triangles on a 12" pizza pan (or pizza stone like I use), forming a ring with the pointed ends facing the outer edge of the pan and wider ends overlapping.
2) Lightly press wide ends together.
3) Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon over wide ends of rolls.

4) Fold points over filling and tuck under wide ends (filling will be visible)
5) Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Serves 6-8

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And here are the up-close pictures of the Stamp Camp projects...got any questions, just leave me a comment and I will let you know! I am missing pictures of the nugget box, so I will have to add that pic later.

Celebrate Suspension Card

Dotted Autumn Faux Linen Card

Scratch n' Sniff Halloween Card (smells like cinnamon)

5-Point Folded Star Ornament

Chipboard Ornament

Weekend Sketch Challenge #19 (and #18)

Well I actually completed one of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges over the weekend! I know, I am kind of impressed myself! I didn't do anything too crazy with the card. I did cheat a little though....after seeing one of Beate's examples, I stole the idea for the ribbon and the hodgepodge hardware (hope that is o.k. Beate!). For some reason the pictures that I took today don't look the greatest...actually as I typed that I realized what it was. When I saved the picture after putting my name on it, I have it on compressing the file a lot...blah! Oh well, no time right now to fix. Updated: I reposted the picture...so mch better! Anyway, only "special" thing done here was masking of the flowers as I stamped the bouquet of them. Oh and I used my scissors to distress the edges of the Elegant Eggplant cardstock.

The Engineering Details

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Word by Word, Canvas

Inks: Ruby Red, Really Rust, Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive

Cardstock: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Naturals Ivory

Accessories: Apricot Appeal Grosgrain ribbon, Hodgepdoge Hardware - Pewter, Hemp Twine, dimensionals

I did this for last weekend's sketch challenge (#18), but I just finished it this morning! Oh well, better late than never? Obviously it is for a wonderful little boy turning 3! Again I made a mistake in compressing the file too much, so the picture is sucky...sorry about that! Updated: I reposted this one as well...ahhh, much better! Not sure you can tell from the picture, but the sections of the truck are popped up....makes the truck stand out a bit. I actually used an eraser to "stamp" the blue polka dots on the background. My finishing touches are sewing around the edges and adding a little sparkle to the #3.

The Engineering Details

Stamps: By Land, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Quirky Numbers (Retired)

Inks: Basic Black, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Yoyo Yellow

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black, Whisper White

Acceories: Brilliant Blue Eyelet, dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Sewing Machine, Icicle Stickles, Eraser

Weekend Sketch Challenge #17

Here is another of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges. She did a circle again...which I tend not to do well with. But I think I managed this time better than last time.
I combined this sketch challenge with a technique challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. The technique challenge was to do a double resist or basically combined Emboss Resist and Versamark Resist.

Emboss Resist: stamp with versamark on glossy paper and emboss with clear embossing powder. When you apply the ink with a sponge or brayer, the embossed images with resist the ink. I always rub a tissue over top to get any ink left on the embossed images.

Versamark Resist: stamp with versamark on glossy paper. Then using a sponge or brayer, apply ink to the paper. The versamarked images will resist the ink and leave a faint image. This technique has also been called 'ghosting'.

To combine the two techniques, you stamp the images you want to clear emboss and emboss. Then stamp the images you want to be 'softer' in versamark before you brayer on any ink! Then brayer on the ink. You have to do the clear embossed images FIRST. If you try to do the other images first (the ones for versamark resist), when you sprinkle on the embossing powder for the emboss resist images, your embossing powder will stick to ALL the images.

Oh I guess I got a hat trick on this one...this also falls in line for the Color Challenge on splitcoaststampers as well!

Anyway, since Priceless is one of my new favorites, I used it. I embossed the heart image with Rose Red ink (cheater way...yup, again...don't have the color craft ink...what a surprise!) on Glossy white cardstock. Then I versamarked the Swirly pattern and brayered Sahara Sand over top. I then added the Old Olive circles. I cut around the Pretty in Pink Circle freehand, along with the strip of Pretty in Pink. I knew I wanted something on the base Sahara Sand cardstock, so I stamped the swirly after stamping off first....made it more faded and subtle. The rest of the card is pretty self-explanatory, but if there are any questions, let me know!

The Engineering Details

Stamps: Priceless, Sincere Salutations

Inks: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Rose Red, Versamark

Paper: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Brayer, Paper Piercer, Crystal Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge, Old Olive Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile (to set the eyelets...oh so silently!), Scissors

A Frenzy of a Fall Promotion

Stampin' Up! has just announced a great promotion to celebrate the coming of Fall! Spend $30 in regular priced merchandise and qualify to purchase one of each of the six promotional stamp sets at 30 percent off! The sets that you can get discounted are:

105355 - pg. 26 - Bitty Boos Too - $12.57
109284 - pg. 29 - Haunting Halloween - $13.27
107383 - pg. 30 - Thoroughly Thankful - $16.07
109373 - pg. 108 - Autumn Fest - $16.77
109421 - pg. 91 - Elementary Essentials - $19.57
110366 - pg. 17 (Winter Mini) - Stem Silhouettes - $22.37

So don't miss out on this chance to get some great sets at a discount!!! Contact me with your order!

A Get Well Sketch Challenge

I did this one a few days ago and didn't get a chance to share it. This is from a sketch challenge at i{heart}2stamp. Jen del Muro has a great blog with lots of great samples and ideas. She also features a guest designer once a month.

Anyway, back to the challenge. Jen posted a card sketch on her blog....not sure how often she does it, but they are usually pretty good. If you would like to see the sketch this card was based on, click here.

I turned the sketch on its side mainly because my truck image didn't fit the other way. I needed a get well card for my husband's Uncle, so I knew I wanted to use the little saying on the card. I used ink from my ink pads and a blender pen to color in the truck. Since I didn't use a waterproof ink for the truck, I tried to stay away from the edges, hence the odd coloring I did. Although I think I kinda like it! Putting the saying on there didn't quite go as well as I had hoped. The extra vanilla piece on the side was added to cover up my first attempt! In the end it turned out pretty good...not my best, but I'm happy.

The Engineering Details

Stamps: Loads of Love

Ink: Garden Green, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip (classic inks and markers)

Paper: Garden Green, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Chocolate grosgrain ribbon (this size retired...so sad), Hodgepodge Hardware - Pewter, sponge, ticket corner punch, Crop-A-Dile (to put the embossed brads in the two corners...did you notice them?)