Taste of Summer ~ Stampers With An Attitude (Blog Hop)

It is National Scrapbooking Month, so members of our Stampers With An Attitude team created artwork with the special Taste of Summer papers and stamp set which Close To My Heart has available only during National Scrapbooking Month (May 2015).          

If you have come here from Roxybonds blog, you are on the right path!  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one, or visit each blog from the list at the end of this post.    

The bright colors and fun patterns of the Taste of Summer papers coordinate perfectly with the fruity images and 'punny' sayings in the Taste of Summer stamp set.  Using Pattern #27 in Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 as a basis, both sides of the oranges paper were used for the card, with a piece of White Shimmer Trim separating the two patterns.  Images from the stamp set were stamped using Sunset and Topiary inks and coordinate perfectly with the Taste of Summer papers.   To complete the inside of the card, some oranges from the Taste of Summer stamp set are stamped in the lower right corner. 
             

     

Now "Hop" on over to the Inspired By D blog for more fun Taste of Summer artwork.   

"Stampers With An Attitude" Blog Hop participants: 

• If You Bling It
• Heartfelt Sentiments
• CatScrapbooking
• The Creative Beehive
• Roxybonds
• Sheila's Stamping Stuff - (here)
• Inspired By D
• Misty Girl Inspirations

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Dizzy Circles

The new Dizzy Circles stamp set coordinates wonderfully with one of the patterned papers in the Hopscotch kit.  Using a sentiment from Holiday Tags completes a fun Mother's Day card for the "Mum's the Word" challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog and The Friday Mashup (FM208). Card design was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches (FMS185).  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

A Wonderful Taste of Summer

Had an opportunity to participate in CAS(E) this Sketch (CTS122) today and created this card using stamps from the You're The Bomb set and papers from the National Scrapbooking Month special Taste of Summer paper packet.  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Taste of Summer (National Scrapbooking Month)

Welcome to our Taste of Summer Blog Hop, brought to you by the same ladies who participate in the monthly Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop.  In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, Close To My Heart has created a special set of papers and a coordinating stamp set.  These Taste of Summer papers and stamps are ONLY available during May 2015.     

If you arrived here from Kathleen's Life Is LIke A Bowl of Stamps blog, you are hopping through our circle of Close To My Heart consultants sharing their projects using the Taste of Summer special products.    

When I saw the cute strawberry stamps and the "berry special" sentiment, I knew that I wanted to create something using the pretty strawberry paper in the Taste of Summer packet. To stamp the strawberries, they were inked in Hollyhock ink and then 'rolled' in Cranberry to add some color dimension to the berries.  Stamping the stem using Topiary ink added the perfect touch to complete the stamped strawberries.  The card design is from Make It From Your Heart Volume 1 Pattern 28.  Some White Shimmer Trim was scalloped and added to each side of the card, and some Pixie Extra Thick Twin adds another level of pink to the card.    

During the month of May, you can purchase the package of 12 Taste of Summer papers (2 each of 6 different designs) for only $8.95.  The coordinating Taste of Summer stamp set is $17.95.  Both Taste of Summer products will be available ONLY during May 2015.  

Please visit Krista's Crafty Corner to continue along our Blog Hop featuring the Taste of Summer papers and stamps. 

list of participants

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Best Chili Ever!

Fixed a big pot of Chili today, and this recipe makes the absolute best Chili ever!  Some of the more unusual ingredients are dark beer, strong-brewed coffee and cocoa powder. 

Ever since receiving the recipe from a friend a few years ago, it is the only Chili that I make.  Of course, I have made a few changes to the recipe to suit our taste.  

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle dark beer
• 1 cup strong strong brewed coffee
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 1 (14 ounce) can beef broth
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained
• 4 fresh Anaheim peppers, seeded and chopped

Directions:

In a large saucepan, cook ground beef, onions and garlic until the meat is well browned and the onions are tender (about 10 minutes).

Mix in all the remaining ingredients.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours.

The recipe does require a long list of ingredients, but is really easy to prepare and tastes delicious.  Makes 8-10 servings. 

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355