A One-Layer Get Well

My friend Meredith (aka Crafty Math Chick on SCS) sent me a package at Christmas filled with a wonderful assortment of papercrafting goodies. One of the items she included was a beautiful (and quite large) Stampin' Up! rubber stamp (retired, I believe) called Stipple Gardenia. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for a one-layer card and couldn't wait to try it out. Here's what I came up with:
Meredith is now recuperating from some major surgery, so I thought this would make a perfect get-well card for her. I think she will enjoy seeing something that I made with one of her gifts! I also made a second identical card, which will go to my elderly aunt who is still recovering from hip surgery following a tumble she took right after Christmas.

Challenges I incorporated into the making of this card:

• Challenge Up Your Life: Clean and Simple
• Cute Card Thursday: Monochromatic
• Stamp Something: Just stamp something (anything goes)
• Wee Memories: Use any ribbon (I chose some of my fabby baker's twine to tie into a bow)

In addition to having a fabulous time making cards today, I am just tickled pink by a new recipe for black bean soup that I tried a few days ago. It's very similar to Panera Bread's black bean soup, and I'm just loving that it heats up so well for my lunches! There's nothing like a bowl of hot soup to warm up your insides on a frigid winter day. And I'm finding that the flavor is getting better over time as the flavors meld together. Yum!!

On Saturday evening, my "book group" (more on why that's in quotes HERE) got together for a swap party, based on the most excellent ideas outlined in a swap party article in Better Homes and Gardens Jan. 2010 issue. We did this last year, too, and both swap parties were a huge success!! The basic idea is that everyone brings some items in good condition that they no longer have need for (clothing, books, toys, craft items, baskets, games, cookware, jewelry, CDs, movies, or whatever) and then everyone has the chance to "shop" among the amassed treasures. (The BH&G article explains how it all works.) We have appetizers, drinks, deserts, and some friendly competition over a few of the more hotly contested items. I brought home some wonderful rectangular baskets (perfect for organizing my stamping supplies), two necklaces, three pairs of earrings, an only-worn-once pair of Nike sneakers for my daughter (just the right size!), and a digital alarm clock that we really needed for my son's bedroom. It was so much fun! I unloaded a bunch of stuff that we can't use any more and came home with some stuff that we can really use--without spending a penny!

I also discovered my new favorite appetizer: Archer Farms Feta & Roasted Red Pepper Dip. This stuff ROCKS!! (Archer Farms is a Target brand.) One of my friends brought this delectable dip, served with Carr's Table Water Crackers, to the swap party, and I just couldn't keep away from it. Yum-MEE!! At the end of the evening, she sent the leftover dip home with me, and I have been enjoying it with crackers along with my warmed up black bean soup for lunch. I will be sad when both run out . . . but in the meantime, together these are my little slice of bliss.

Thanks for joining me today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin' Up Stipple Gardenia
Paper: snowstorm CS
Ink: Palette water lily green
Accessories: CM corner rounder punch, baker's twine