Monday, July 12, 2010

Basket of Berries

Nothing says 'summer' to me like a basket or bowl of fresh berries.  Strawberries that may look red in the market in the winter rarely taste very flavorful.  But right now, things are yummy!
I've been dying to use strawberries on a card for FOREVER.  Here is my first:

I created this strawberry card for several challenges:
  • Splitcoaststampers' Clean and Simple #75 - dry embossing (look at the white strips on the card; they are Martha Stewart stickers that are already embossed)
  • SCS Free For All #20 - "Show Us What You Got" - use any products you have that have not been used/opened before (my Flourishes' Strawberries set is new-to-me; so are the MS stickers)
  • Flourishes' "What's Cookin'?" - create a card that includes reference to your favorite recipe (mine is the Strawberry-Spinach Salad; recipe listed further down this post)
  • Repeat Impressions Sketch Challenge J3010 - using the sketch here:
Of course, I have turned this sketch on its side for my card.

A close-up of the dry-embossed white stickers.  Aren't they elegant?  I wish I had bought more last summer!


Since my mom is visiting with us this week from Houston, Texas, I haven't had much time for stamping.  I swear I felt like I was in withdrawal!  Today we took it easy and 'Mom-mom' played with my two girls for a while so I could stamp.  She's such an understanding mother!


Helpful Hint:
Because I didn't want to take away too much time from being with my mom, I relied upon one of my "tricks" to help me make the strawberry card.  I dug into my bag of colored images and decided upon the berries.  Sometimes I just feel like coloring, so I set aside a half hour or so and stamp a bunch of different images on white cardstock scraps.  When I get time, I use my Copic markers or Stampin' Up! water-based markers and color away.  That makes stamping sooooo much easier if you are pressed for time!


Thanks for joining me today.  I hope I get to stamp again while Mom is here, but we'll just have to see how our schedule goes. 



Happy Stamping,
Colleen


Stamps:  Flourishes' Strawberries
Ink:  Basic Black, Memento Tuxedo Black (for images that will be colored)
Paper:  Pink Pirhouette, Whisper White, Kraft, designer paper from Die Cut With a View 'Nana's Kids'
Other:  dimensionals, Big Shot, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Martha Stewart embossed stickers, Copic markers

Strawberry-Spinach Salad
Salad
12 oz. fresh spinach
1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed & hulled
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Dressing
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. sesame seeds
2 tsp. poppy seeds
1 minced shallot
2 teaspoons worcestershire
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/2 c. cider vinegar
2 c. extra virgin olive oil

For the dressing:
Combine first 7 ingredients in a blender.  Begin pureeing ingredients at a medium speed while slowly adding the olive oil in a steady stream until oil is incorporated.  Toss dressing with salad and serve immediately.

8 comments:

Emily Keaton said...

Hey, Challenge Girl!!! Just look at you go :) *That* is the way to do it. This card is just awesome! I have that Flourishes set, too, and love it. You made a stunning card with all of those different lovely aspects: your yummy recipe, those luscious embossed border stickers (cool!), and your new-to-you items. Plus, you ROCKED that RI sketch! I love how you used the cluster of berries in the corner for the circle elements. I'm so proud of you!! Go win something fun :)

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, this is beautiful! Just BEAUTIFUL! I'm not kidding, the recipe sounds delicious, too! Good luck with the challenge!

Dawn B. said...

This is so pretty.. I love your coloring. I have copied that recipe and I am going to try it.. Thanks so much for joining us at Flourishes.

Marisa said...

I want to eat some strawberries now! Darling card. Love the embossed strips.

Anonymous said...

Mmm, scrummy card Colleen! I love strawberries with cream (naughty but oh so nice). Those embossed strips are fabulous!

Julie Ranae said...

So very sweet (no pun intended : )
Am your newest follower and have now included your blog on my sidebar as one of the 'newer blogs must-sees' at Julie's Open Window. Hope it brings you lots of new friends.

Andrea Ewen said...

Hey! Congratulations on being a "newer blogger must see" definitely well deserved! This card is absolutely adorable and what a wonderful idea to pre-color images. Great time saver, especially when the card ideas are not so "forth-coming".

Vicki Dutcher said...

What a totally yummy card!! Thanks for entering the Speedy the Cat's Team Member contest. I will be letting you know if you are a winner!

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