That's what it's all about

No, I'm not gonna do the hokey pokey, but I AM gonna tell you who won the scraplift challenge over at Split Coast Stampers... As you know, my DT & I were guest Diva Designers there during the past week and after posting our pages to their gallery, the gals were invited to scraplift them in the hopes of winning this month's Couture Collection. It was a super close race, I tell ya but the tie-breaker vote came in early this morning. I wasn't too sure which way it would go but we finally have a winner and that title goes to... Scrapbookmonster (AKA Kim) and here's her page


I love the wacky circles on this page and let's face it, everyone knows I love buttons. Congratulations Kim, great page and a big fat thank you to all the talented artists who participated in the challenge. Remember if you want to win your own Couture Collection, just play along with our weekly challenges (even if you don't have a Couture Collection) and upload your page to our Flickr Group, making sure to include the challenge # in the title of your photo! Winners are chosen once a month at the end of the month and announced right here on the blog. Hope to see more of the amazing artwork we've been seeing so far. Happy Thursday!

February's Couture Collection - Love Blossoms

This month's Couture Collection is sure to please even the most discerning scrapper! You will receive five sheets of double-sided printed paper by Scribble Scrabble, two sheets each of Bazzill cardstock in Fawn, Kisses, and Walnut, as well you will receive one sheet of the Stitch-z Scallop cardstock also in Kisses and a sheet of scalloped edged eyelet in Chablis. There's a few Heidi Swapp goodies- the super cute crown mini-mask and wings rub-ons in gold. You'll also get American Crafts Thickers alphabet stickers in dark brown and a gold metallic felt-tipped pen which makes journaling on dark cardstock a breeze. Bo-Bunny Bella Journee Bare Naked chipboard shapes are a perfect complement to this awesome collection and to make things really interesting, there is a 6x12" piece of red measuring tape printed vintage fabric. Also you'll get three pearl-headed hatpins, 2 lengths of ribbon ; cream rickrack and red gingham- one yard each, one vintage cigar band, one grey vintage admission ticket, one teeny tiny functioning thermometer and one spanish vocabulary flash card (english on one side, spanish on the back). These bits & pieces leave the door wide open for creativity to flow.

With each Couture collection, you'll receive a printed 4x6 version of each sketch for that month which stores perfectly in a photo album or recipe box. Your Couture Collection will be shipped via Priority Post ($14.00 for Canada & USA) which includes a tracking number and insurance, just in case the Postal System is in a bad mood! :) This shipping charge is already included in the price listed on the sidebar. Overseas orders, please email me with your address so I can calculate shipping charges based on your location. Supplies are limited so be sure to order your Couture Collection right away! You won't be disappointed.

something to consider

Those of you who know me personally know that I'm very quiet about my political perspective but that I'm also a very fair person who feels a responsibility for my actions in a very global sense. I'm the person who speaks up when others won't and while I am not American nor am I a voter in the USA, I think this Youtube music video speaks of a message that transcends political, religious or social differences and it points out something that we've forgotten...we are all people and each and every one of us has the right to believe that WE CAN! I hope you enjoy the positive message in today's post.

We have a winner!

The news you've all been waiting for... the winner of January's Couture Collection is EDLEEN! Edleen posted the link to her page a few weeks ago and when I followed the link to her page, I loved it immediately! Here's the winning page. Edleen, please email me with your mailing info so I can ship you your Couture Collection! Congratulations!
And here are the rest of the gorgeous pages submitted this month...we loved them all, truly!!

Soup-er YUM!

We were innocently shopping at Walmart the other day and while standing in line, Ray spotted a great magazine boasting 350+ soup recipes & tips; Taste of Home Heartwarming Soups...so naturally, we bought it. I leafed through it on the 20 minute drive home and found several recipes that I wanted to make right away! This one required a quick trip to the grocery store because I was fresh outta green chilies but once all my ingredients were laid out on the counter, I was ready to get cookin'. This recipe didn't take very long to make, although I do recommend having your roasted red peppers made & chilling long before you put the potatoes on to boil (unless yours come from a can).

Ranchero Potato Soup

2 medium onions, chopped
2 tbsp. veg. oil
2 roasted red peppers, skinned & chopped
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground coriander
3 cups diced Yukon Gold potatoes (leave skins on thin-skinned spuds, peel other varieties)
3 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp minced fresh cliantro
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup cream cheese

Method

* In a large saucepan, saute onions in oil until tender. Stir in the roasted peppers, chilies, cumin, salt & coriander. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes and broth; bring to a boil.
*reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in cilantro & lemon juice. Cool slightly. In a blender, process the cream cheese and half of the soup until smooth. Return all to pan and heat through.

Yield: 6 servings

I hope you like this soup as much as I did. It was super delish!!