"You Rock" Workshop

WOW. Life has quickly passed me by. I am so behind on posting the last couple of workshop projects. So sorry. Hopefully I can get them posted this week.

Thanks so much for your patience. Here is last months layouts. If you didn't finish hopefully you can look at the samples here and get them finished. Let me know if I can help you in anyway.

Have fun finding the perfect photos for these layouts. They are so universal that you can use almost any photos on these layouts.

Don't forget all those photos you have of your kids listening to there ipods. Perfect layouts for those photos

To complete these layouts I used the folloiwng supplies. Click on links below to view and order supplies.

X7122B You Rock Level 2 paper Pack

X7122C You Rock Stickease

Z1277 Outdoor Denim Mini-Medley

Z1272 Rockin-Top Coats

Z1263 Bitty Brads

Z281 White Hemp

Z2140 Outdoor Denim Ink

Z2150 Sunflower Ink

Z2123 Gold Rush Ink

Got Accessories?

Got Accessories? I do hope so because it's all about the accessories. So all I have done here is take this layout that we did at the expo last weekend (see original layout in the previous post)and change up the accessories just a little.I used the following accessories. metal brads, Dimensional Elements-Boarders, Creme Brulee ink and sponge daubers. I love dimensional Elements because you can cover them with background and texture paper, paint them with reinker or sponge them. Here I have sponged them. Take your sponge daubers and pick up the ink from the ink pad and in a circular motion sponge the ink color onto the dimensional elements. Keep sponging until you get the color you desire. This technique can be a test of your patience, but is also good therapy if you are angry with someone. Sponge away!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once the dimensional elements are colored I added them to the layout with glue dots, added the brads ohhh did I mention LOTS OF BRADS (those with the most brads wins-hahah) and of course ribbon. If you need a closer look remember to click on the above image to enlarge. Have fun with your dimensional elements. We carry a variety of dimensional elements that will fit any project you have.

If I can help you in anyway just let me know.

Expo Create and Take Projects

Here are the create and take projects we did at the expo this last weekend. They are very simple and if you recreate them you might want to add some more accessories and bling. We have to keep things very simple at the expo in order for everything to run smoothly.


This first kit is "Caboodle". The card sketches were taken from Wishes, and the layout from Cherish.


This is just a great kit for all your Sping needs. You can use it for Easter, Spring or Baby things that you need to create. It's a perfect kit for just about anything. Don't forget the must have stamp set we used with this kit. D1415 Springtime

Next up is the "Veranda" kit. With these cards and layout we used a couple of stamp sets. C1397 Smiles and D1416 State of Mind.

Ohhh the great possibilities this kit has. I love it for just about anything. The kit looks great with sepia photo. You can use this kit for Mothers Day, anything Spring or just about any occasion. It's so universal.

OK are you ready for some real fun? This kit is great for all those boy layouts you need to do. The kit is "You Rock". It's a very universal kit in the fact you can use it for just about any occasion, but of course it works great for those wild and crazy boys we all have. This is the perfect kit to scrapbook or make cards and tell those boys what a superstar they are.

Scrappy Weekend

It was an exhausting weekend, but well worth it. Thanks to my downline and create and take helpers for making this last weekend a success at Scrapbook USA.

Also thanks to all of you that stopped by our booth. It was great to meet all of you. We had a blast. Today I am unpacking my boxes and as soon as I find the create and take projects I will post them here. So check back often

I will also be posting lots of other artwork this week. Thanks for your patience and have a wonderful week.

Big Project is FINISHED!!!!!

YIPPEE. I have my computer back so now I can tell you all about my big project I have been involved with. There is a first time for everything right???????? Well I decided to take on a big project that I had never done before. Since Alyssa was a captain this year it's the duty of the captain mom's to come up with the end of the year coaches gifts that are presented at the banquet.

So don't ask where this came from, but I decided I wanted to do something very unique, but very personal for the coaches which have done so much for my girls over the years. So out of the clear blue I decided to make them each a quilt. Not only make a quilt but it has to be a SWIMMING QUILT!!!!! WAIT I don't quilt. Well I love a challenge and I love to learn new things so I decided I was going to do this. I do have a wonderful embroidery machine so I decided to do some embroidery work on the blocks (that was the easy part for me).

I set off to the store to find myself some fabric and a pattern. The biggest challenge was that I only had two weeks to get two quilts done. So as I was at the store feeling very overwhelmed and wondering where I should start I hear this voice from clear across the store. "OHHH my gosh is that Lynette Kankamp in a fabric store". I turned around and it was my good friend and neighbor Juli that I had completely forgot is a wonderful quilter. So Juli reassured me that I can get this done. She said to call her when I have my fabric. Honestly without Juli I don't think I could have done this. When I had problems or questions I turned to Juli for guidance. I am sure she was so sick of me by the end. HAAHAHA

Well, anyway I found out that the banquet was postponed by a week so I had an extra week to get this project done. I was very proud of the way it turned out. My son Brandon kept saying to me "Mom, I hope you don't mess this up" Thanks Brandon but "why would I mess this up" and he just kept saying to me "well you are not really a quilter" HAHAH well I got the last laugh because he loved the finished product. In fact he said to me "Mom, do you think you would be willing to make me one like that only with a football theme" OHHH my gosh that was a priceless moment.

Well in addition to that my girls both said they want a swimming one just like the coaches quilt and then Lauren said to me that since I was making one for everyone else in the family she wants a quilt to. WOW didn't know I was going to be opening up a can of worms.

Well, anyway this is the back of the quilt. It looks just like water don't you think?

Here is Alyssa presenting the quilts to the Coaches. I hope they love them, but most of all it was made from my heart and I appreciate the countless hours they have dedicated to both my girls over the many years. Andee you are our HERO and I hope you know that you are a second mom to Rachael and Alyssa.

Here are just a few details of the quilt. This block I had to put on the quilt because it's a little cheer Alyssa does behind the block before she swims. B.H.S. Yes

Thanks so much for taking a peek.

My Baby is So Sick!!!!

Hey guys I am still around. I have had a big project on my plate for the last 2-3 weeks. The project is finished and turned out awesome (if I have to say so myself). I plan to post and share it here, but my dear baby has crashed and is very sick. Yes my baby is my desktop computer. I do everything from that baby. It has all my photos on it and my entire life. So once I get him back from the computer doc/hospital I have lots to post including my big project that I did.

Thanks for your patience especially those waiting for me to post the workshop projects.

You've Got Mail

I made this cute little mailbox for my college daughter for Valentines Day. The inside contains some yummy chocolates of course and a gift card. The mailboxes can be found at craft stores or on orientialtrading.com. I decorated the mailbox with Topstitich level 2 paper pack, Colonial White mini medleys, Topstitch stickease, ribbon, sparkles and Dimensional Elements-Hearts.

Front of mailbox

Side view of mailbox

Tri-Shutter Valentine

Ready for a fun and unique Valentine? This tri-shutter card is always a hit. It's very easy to make and tons of fun. Click on Tri-Shutter TUTORIAL to download my detailed instructions on how to make this fun card.

I used the following supplies for the card that can be orderd on my website by clicking the following links.

Paper: X7107B That's Amore
Stamps: D1254 Soul Mate
Inks: Chocolate, Hollyhock
Accessories: Sparkles, Chocolate ribbon rounds, Dimensional Element-Hearts

Region Champs

Well last week was full of tons of excitement, but also lots of emotions. Since Alyssa is a Senior this was our last Region meet. We have State this weekend. I know I will be a basket case as I watch her swim her final meet.

Alyssa is going to follow in her sisters footsteps and decline swimming at the college level. She feels that it's time to move on with her life and focus on other things besides the bottom of the pool. I totally agree and support her, but Ohhh my gosh I just love watching them compete. After all I have been doing this since my girls were 6 and 8 years old. So this next weekend as I watch her take her final swim will be one of the saddest moments in my life.

Anyway here are just 2-3 of the thousands of photos I took at the region meet. The first photo I really love. I love her beautiful form. Alyssa is the swimmer at the top. It's a bit of an optical illusion. It looks like she is jumping over the top of her teammate, but she is actually in the lane next to her. This in the 200 free which Alyssa won the event and placed 1st in the region.

Of course this is every parents dream. To watch your child be so successful and in the end be so happy. Alyssa is accepting the girls trophy. Bingham girls team and boys team won the regional meet. It was one of the best moments ever, and a great way for Alyssa to finish out the season.

Alyssa was interviewed by a local newspaper. Click HERE to view the article. We were very excited. You see, the sport of swimming just does not get the newspaper coverage that other traditional sports get. So it's always a great moment to read something about swimming in the paper. However, the reporter did change things just a little and tried to get Alyssa to talk trash about other teams and the boys team, but he just could not get it out of her. I guess the reported didn't realize that swimmers are a tight knit group and they are best friends with each other HAHA. We were very proud of her.

What's on The Menu Tonight?

I love my crockpot. It is the greatest thing ever invented, especially for busy people. So anytime I can find crockpot meals that the family loves I jump for joy.

I was talking to a friend today and telling her I was making "Hawaiian Haystacks" for dinner. She had never heard of Hawaiian Haystack. OHHH my gosh I told her that we have them at least once a week.

I love it when the kids come home and say "mom whats for dinner" when I reply with Hawaiian Haystacks the usual response is "OHH SWEET"

This meal is so easy, very nutritious and each person can customized there own haystack. So have fun and play around with different toppings. There is no right or wrong to this recipe. Actually there is not a set recipe that I use, but this is how I do it.

Place three to four boneless, skinless chicken breast in the crockpot and cook all day on low (or just a few hours on high) while you go about your day. Make sure the breasts are covered with water.

SAUCE:
1) When the chicken breasts are done take them out of the crockpot and dice them into small chunks and set aside.
2) Pour 2 cans of cream of chicken soup in a large saucepan. Add enough of the broth from the chicken to make the soup as thin as you would like. I usually add 3-4 cups of the broth. It all depends how thick you want your sauce. We like it fairly thick.
3) Add spices. I seriously just open my spice cabinet and add any spices that pop out at me. I usually add some garlic powder, seasoned salt, chicken bouillon, parsley, curry just to name a few. Just season to taste and heat
4) When sauce is warm, add the chopped chicken to the sauce and keep warm until ready to serve.

RICE:
1) Make some rice according to package directions. I use white rice, but just use your favorite rice.

TOPPINGS:
This is a list of topping suggestions, but you can use as many or as few toppings as you want. Have fun and experiment with different toppings.

Cheese (this is a must)
Chopped Celery
Pineapple Chunks
Mandarin Oranges (if you are feeling really fruity)
Cashews
Diced Tomatoes
Diced onions
Peas
Chow Main Noodles (I use LaChoy)
Soy Sauce

HAYSTACK ASSEMBLY:
Load plate with rice, pile some chicken mixture on top of the rice. Add the different toppings that you want on top of the chicken mixture. I then usually add just a little more chicken mix on top of the entire haystack to melt the cheese. YUMMY. I hope you enjoy as much as we do. If you have questions or topping suggestions let me know.