A Quick & Easy 3x3

I made a quick 3x3 thank you card:

Inside



I made this 5 minute card using the Quick Accents that come with the Ice Cream Parlor designer series paper in the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  You can get this paper FREE with a $50 order now through March 31, 2011!  Hurry, it is a great offer. 

cardstock:  Whisper White
stamps:  Hodgepodge Happiness
Paper:  Quick accents from Ice Cream Parlor DSP
Accessories:  1 3/8" punch

Spring has sprung!

YAY...winter is gone!  I'm looking forward to not wearing a coat and no more snow!  Alas, it is raining this morning and let's just say I should be at work but I'm not....I'll get there.  In the meantime, I wanted to post pictures from my "Got Chocolate" class this past Saturday. 

The pictures are blurry...sorry about that...but, we had a good time.  We also enjoyed a decadent dessert:

A chocolate trifle.  I love this dessert.  It is surprising light...not in calories though...lol!  Want to make one yourself?  Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 (19.8 ounce) package fudgy brownie mix
• 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 small container heavy whipping cream (I think its the 1/2 pint size)
• 1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and cool completely. Cut into 1 inch squares.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff
3. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and half the heavy whipping cream. Mix until no streaks remain. (The heavy whipping cream reduces the sweetness of the entire dessert.  If you prefer the dessert sweeter, use whipped topping for this step instead)
4. Carefully mix the rest of the heavy whipping cream into the 16 oz container of whipped topping.  (If you prefer your dessert sweeter, omit this step). Be careful, too much mixing will make the topping watery.
5. In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the brownies, half of the pudding mixture and half of the 16 ounce container of whipped topping. Repeat layers. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top layer for garnish. Refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving (I only refrigerated it 4 hours and it was fine).

Enjoy!

Priceless!

I love new stamps from Stampin' Up!  But sometimes, you just have to go with old favorites.

This was one of the first cards I made for a workshop.  I think I CASE'd it from the old stampers showcase on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website before there was Stampin' Connection.  The cardstock, ink and ribbon have since been retired (except Whisper White).  When I came across this card, it just reminded me how versatile this stamp set called "Priceless" is:

I just got my new Summer mini catalog today and cannot wait to buy some new stuff, but let's not forget about the gems we have in the current catalog!

Kids Party!!

My friend hosted a kids party yesterday.  We made these cute projects:

I CASEd the basket from Angie Juda Kennedy's March video.  It is very cute.  6x6 Whisper White scored at 1 1/2" on all 4 sides.  Angie's video even shows you how to make the grass...Thanks Angie!  The wallet idea came from Karina Kloss.  She has a video uploaded to Stampin' Connection.  It is 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" scored @ 3 1/16", 6 1/4" and 6 1/2" (I changed  the scoring dimensions just a little).  I used the 4x6 cello bag for the inserts.  Here is a picture of the wallet open:

Very cute!  Here are a couple of pictures of the kids that a attended the party.  There were 6 kids that participated in total:

Thanks Connie for hosting the party, and thanks to all the kids who participated.  We had a really good time!



March 2011 Class Reminder!!!

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to post a reminder about class.  Also, note the change of  address:

GOT CHOCOLATE? 

STAMPIN’ UP! CLASS by Cathy Perren 

   (Stamp and paper selections may vary)

Saturday, March 19, 2011
3pm – 6pm
2394 2448 Sun Valley Circle (Clubhouse)Silver Spring, MD  20906
301-802-0682

$20.00 per person due no later than Friday, March 11, 2011

cash, check or paypal

Send Payment to: 

Cathy Perren

2448 Sun Valley Circle

          Silver Spring, MD 20906         

For more information, see my February 27, 2011 blog post.  Or, click on the "Monthly Classes" label on the right sidebar.

Hope to see you there!!

I'M A STYLISH BLOGGER!!!

OH MY, OH MY!!! I feel so honored to have been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by TWO fellow Stampin' Up! Demos!  This makes me feel so good because I get ALL my inspiration from my fellow demos.  They help me out so much when I have questions about projects or how to make this hobby a business.  To have been acknowledged by two of them in the same week is a dream for me.  THANK YOU Carrie, http://www.carriesscrapyard.blogspot.com/, and Elaine, http://www.createnstamp.blogspot.com/!!! 

This is especially encouraging for me since I just started my blog last month after agonizing for a YEAR on creating one.  I finally took the plunge and look forward to the challenge of keeping it inspirational for my fellow demos and potential customers! 

I hope you come back and visit me often.  I may not be the most creative person in the world, but I'm a really good CASEr (CASE means to Copy and Share Everything).  At least come back to see what I've CASEd...LOL!

When you receive this award you are to:
1) thank the person who gave this award and link it back to their blog
2) share 8 things about yourself
3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that you have recently discovered
4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

So, here are 8 things about me:

1)  I have been married to Kevin since August 2006.
2)  We are starting a dry cleaning business sometime this month, which according to Kevin, will be our retirement plan (I certainly hope it works out; I've got LOTS of stampin' to do...LOL!
3) We have no kids (more Stampin' money for me...LOL!)
4) I can speak spanish and french...I'm not fluent in either, but I would be able to get around town just fine.
5) I lived in Paris for two years and graduated from the American School of Paris (high school).
6) I lived in Cote d'Ivoire (West Africa) for three years after high school.
7) I currently work for the Federal Government (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
8) I currently live in Silver Spring, MD.

I am passing this award to:

1) Monica Gale, http://monicas-passions.blogspot.com/
2) Jennifer Picard, http://www.anewinkonlife.com/
3) Nancy Riley, http://stampinat6213.blogspot.com/
4) Cherie Franklin, http://www.stampcrave.blogspot.com/
5) Dawn Griffith, http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.net/
6) Angie Juda Kennedy, http://www.mychicnscratch.com/
7) Jill Hilliard, http://www.jill031070.blogspot.com/
8) Lynn Pratt, http://stampndesign.blogspot.com/