Profits Donated to Adoption Efforts...help two Ethiopian children come home!

My brother Jason and his wife are trying desperately to raise the funds to bring home their two Ethiopian children they want to adopt.  The fees are astronomical.  To read their story, please go to http://www.theshadrickslove.com/.  In an effort to help them, I am trying to achieve a sales goal of $10500 so that I can contribute over $2000 to their final costs need.
Would you consider helping them by making a purchase in the next few weeks (before June 30, 2010)?  If only 1050 people make a minimum purchase of $10 each, I can meet this goal for them.  What does your heart tell you to do?
If you wanted to do a little more, you could host a book party and submit an order of $150 or more on my website. If you did that, then you'd receive a hostess set and free shopping dollars as well!!  That's what we call a win-win situation!!
Please consider one of the two opportunities and help me raise the funds.  100% of my profits from all sales from now until June 30, 2010 will go towards their fundraising efforts.  If you prefer to donate directly, please visit their website.  If you want to make a purchase that will contribute, go to mine at http://www.kellyrose.stampinup.net/
May God Bless You Richly!
Kelly

Father's Day Card

Looking for a Father's Day card idea...here's a simple one, but the texture adds a wow factor.  I simple can't get enough of using the Textured impressions embossing folders from Stampin' Up!.  The embossed image is so crisp and I think it adds so much to a card without going overboard.

The colors of ink and paper used were Kraft, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla. 
Tools used were the Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Embossing folder (Summer Mini 2010), Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Paper Snips, Earth Element Brads, and Stampin Dimensionals.
Paper sizes are: Card--4 1/4 x 11", Textured piece--4 x 5 1/4", Soft Suede strip is 1" x 4", Not Quite Navy strip is 1/4" x 4". 
Stamp the Father's Day image twice on Very Vanilla cardstock, once in Not Quite Navy, once in Soft Suede.  Cut out the Soft Suede "Father" portion and use snail adhesive to glue over the Not Quite Navy image.  Assemble card as shown.  Use stampin dimensionals to adhere the Happy Father's Day image.
Please let me know if you have any questions and I'd love to receive your comments on my blog!!
Thanks for looking,
Kelly

Stampin Up Occasions Mini Catalog...saying farewell

Saying goodbye to the current mini catalog...sniff, sniff...

But here's the GOOD news!!

You can receive 15% off any order from the current mini catalog this week until April 30.  Call or e-mail me with your order.  Online orders will not reflect any discount..sorry.

You can view it online by going to my website http://www.kellyrose.stampinup.net/.
Or you can download it to your computer by clicking on the picture of the catalog over there on the right hand column.  Smile.

Thanks for stopping by!
Kelly

The garden has been started!!

Those who know me well, know that I love to read and follow directions.  The seed packets for onions, carrots, peas and radishes all say to plant as soon as the ground has been worked.  So yesterday, about 2 weeks AFTER the ground was able to be worked, we planted all of those goodies.  Some of the locals here have warned us not to plant yet...we're taking our chances, knowing that we may have a late frost and risk losing everything we just planted.  But the seed packet said we should plant as soon as the ground can be worked!!! 
We have also followed the directions for starting our tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage inside 4-6 weeks before planting. We got a little Jiffy starter kit from Walmart ($6).  We almost ordered a nice $25 one from Gurney's.  I'm so glad I happened upon that one in Wally world.  So here's what we have so far...

We're paying close attention to companion planting this year.  As soon as I figure out how to add a table to my posting, I'll put the companion planting chart up. Smile.
Thanks for stopping by!
Kelly

Bread recipe for beginners

This is a great recipe for beginning bread makers like myself.  It's from an old cook book from my grandmother called Sesqui-Samplings, 150 Years of Cooking in Indianapolis.  Once you've mastered this, you can start to add whole wheat a little at a time until you get a feel for how the whole wheat changes the dough.  I am just a beginner myself.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups water (110-115 degrees) ( I just let my tap water (well water) get really hot.  I have no idea what the temperature is)
1 package active dry yeast
3 cups flour (I use organic unbleached all purpose)
2 Tbs. sugar (organic cane juice)
2 tsp. salt (kosher)
2 Tbs. shortening (I use Crisco)

Dissolve the yeast in water in mixer bowl with a little bit of sugar (feeds the yeast) until the yeast is dissolved and bubbly. Add salt, sugar and half of flour. Blend. Add shortening and beat 2 minutes at medium speed or 300 strokes by hand.  Scrape sides of bowl frequently.  Add remaining flour and blend with spoon until smooth (that's the original recipe...I just used the paddle on my mixer). The dough should be REALLY soft, not even close to stiff. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk (about 30 minutes).  Beat bater about 25 strokes (again, I use my paddle attachment).  Place in greased loaf pan and cover.  Let rise until dough reaches top of pan.  Bake in a 375-degree preheated ovwen for about 35 minutes or until brown.  When done, loaf should sound hollow when tapped with finger.  Remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool.  Brush top of loaf with butter if you desire a soft crust.  Cool before slicing.
When you've mastered this with white flour, start substituting whole wheat 1/2 cup at a time.  I still am only up to about 1/2 and 1/2.
Happy bread making!!
Kelly

My favorite slow cooker corn chowder

This is my favorite slow cooker soup recipe.  Super easy!  Just be careful to not over cook as the milk will start to separate.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups milk
1 can cream style corn
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups frozen corn (canned will work as well)
1 cup frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (that's the easy way, fresh work just as well)
1 cup cubed cooked ham
1 chopped onion
2 TBS butter
Herbs such as parsley or chives for garnish (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste.  Add pepper only at the end as it can get bitter when cooked for a long time.
Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hrs.  I've tried this on high, but it turns out better if you use low and again, do not over cook.  When the onions are tender, the soup is done.
Enjoy!
Kelly

Casing Shelli scrapbook page

This is a photo of my parents at my wedding.  It was REALLY hot that day!!  I think the tall tales have the temperature up to 304 that day.
Anyway, I didn't get to go to leadership this year, but got to see the photos that my friend took of one of Shelli Gardner's scrapbook pages and this is my take on it...

I love the vintage distressed look and of cours, all the pink!!  It actually went together quicker than I expected.  The flowers were made out of blush blossom and pretty in pink cardstock and the Flower Layers with Leaf die for the Big Shot (a must have), and circle punches.  each pieces was crumpled and sponged with the same color of ink.  The punched circles were distressed around the edges using the distressing tool.  The background paper was made by rolling the Very Vintage wheel in chocolate chip on very vanilla cardstock (8 1/2 x 8 1/2), then sponging on pretty in pink and blush blossom ink all over the page.  The photo is 4 x4 and the photo mat is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. 

Thanks for taking a peek and if I didn't add enough details here for you, please let me know if you have any questions!

Happy Stamping,

Kelly