40th Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool!

 Despite suffering from allergies or a bad cold, I managed to have fun at yet another MDS&W festival!  Fun weekend with my knitting friends and those from the dark side too (crocheters)!  The weather was gorgeous and I am now sporting a farmers tan with my arms and neck!  It was fun to see all the animals who supply us with our fiber, the many types of people who come to this event.  Love the sights and sounds!

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

For the Birds

Another Regional Swap.  This is just a "card front".  We demo's like to have ideas, and this is a great way to swap without having to make an entire card and keeps the cost down.

So here is what I came up with:

 I knew I could "step it up" with buttons etc, but didn't have enough of the same one to put it on all of them.  (so if you swap with me, you can add a button, ribbon, or whatever)

So here is what I did with one of them.  I trimmed it down and layered it onto a card made from the same blue cardstock.  I added more dots around the frame with the white gel pen, and added a button with some white bakers twine.  See how just a simple thing can change the look of a card!

 

Supplies used on the first card are:

For the Birds stamp set

Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Whisper White Cardstock

Polka Dot Parade DSP

Labels Collection Framelits

Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Old Olive Markers

Black Stazon ink, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, White Gel Pen, Snail Adhesive

 

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Happy Spring!

I admit I am a Pinterest whore.  An addict for sure!  I just can't help myself.  Just wish I had the time and the money to do everything on there that I like!

Anywhooo....I wanted to make a carrot with some extra Easter candy I bought for a 3D swap for Stampin' Up!  Baltimore Regional event.  Didn't want it to say Happy Easter though, since we are past that.  So I figured "hello" would be cute enough!  I knew I could make it like the old stand by "sour cream" treat container, but wasn't sure about the best way to do the stems etc.  In comes Pinterest!  I found this.  I didn't want to use ribbon though.  I knew I had some polka dot paper, but not enough to make many.  So instead I figured I would use an embossing folder instead.  Then I found this and decided to CASE it for the most part.  So if you are going to the Baltimore Regional, and have a 3D swap, I would love to swap with you!

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

A Sad Sad Time..........

Have been in a real funk lately.  My Dad had been sick with cancer, and passed away on March 22nd.  Two days prior to his 82nd birthday.  While Dad said he had a good life, and that he couldn't live forever, I kept hoping the end wouldn't come.  It did.  Have been trying to deal and cope with it these past few weeks and am not doing well with it.  Everyone says it will always hurt, but it gets easier.  I cry myself to sleep at night.  I say my prayers, and I talk to him, in hopes he hears me.  As a grown a$$ woman, it is now at this point in my life that I feel like a little girl again.  I didn't want to lose my Daddy.  We had a good relationship and I treasured our conversations.  Love you so much Dad!  And thank you for being you.




Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I love the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps we sell from Stampin' Up!  The shortbread sugar cookie recipe is one of the two that come with the kit.  Not sure why these flattened out so much though!  I think my oven is too hot!

Anyhooo......I made a double batch of the recipe.  

Here is what the stamp set I used comes with

Occasions Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps #127081

 And here is a step by step of how I get the image onto my cookies!

 Put the silicone stamp onto the wooden handle.

I use a small cup to support it until I am ready to put the sugar in the stamp image and then to support it when I press the dough ball into the stamp.

 I spoon a bit of sugar on and use a spatula to scrape off the excess.

 This is about the amount I leave on there.  (can't be perfect!)

 I put a ball of dough on top and just smooch down enough to make sure I am covering the image.

 I finish pressing it onto my Silpat.  

And Voila'....they come out yummy!

 

Happy Stamping & Knitting!

http://www.joanhajek.stampinup.net