Fun Card Set

I've been asked to teach a group of Missionary Moms how to make cards the end of August. I've been playing with several different sets trying to figure out some fun ones for them. I LOVE this new Level 1 Hostess Set found in the Stampin Up Summer Mini Catalog.

RECIPE

Stamps:

• "It's the Thought" Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Paper:

• Various patterns from Pattern Packs (packs varied with what I had)
• Various coordinating cardstock from current and 2010 retired colors
• Whisper White cardstock for all card bases

Ink:

• StazOn Black (101406)
• Coordinating colors to sponge the large scallop (see below for specific colors)
• Stampin' Write Markers (119806)

Tools:

• Big Shot (113439)
• Scallop Circle #2 (113469)
• Paper Piercing Tool (116631)
• Mat Pack (105826)
• Circle Scissor Plus (112530)
• Glass Matt (112531)
• 1-3/4" punch 119850)
• 1-1/2" punch (not SU)
• 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Extra-Large punch

Sentiment: "it's the thought..."

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Wild Wasabi pattern paper (retired)

Tempting Turquoise card stock (102067)

Wild Wasabi card stock (108641)

Melon Mambo cardstock (115320)

Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink (100814)

Sentiment: "enjoy the journey"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Old Olive card stock (100702)

Taken with Teal pattern paper (retired)

Old Olive Classic Ink (102277)

Sentiment: "sorry i was crabby"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Tangerine Tango pattern paper (retired)

Poppy Parade card stock (119793)

Bashful Blue card stock (1105120)

Tangerine Tango card stock (111349)

Poppy Parade Classic Ink (119782)

Sentiment: "take a moment"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Real Red pattern paper (retired)

Baja Breeze card stock (111352)

Wild Wasabi card stock (108641)

Daffodil Delight card stock (119683)

Real Red card stock (102482)

Baja Breeze Classic Ink (111833)

Sentiment: "happy for you"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Pretty in Pink pattern paper (retired)

Real Red card stock (102482)

Pretty in Pink card stock (100459)

Real Red Classic Ink (103133)

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335)

Sentiment: "...a little wiser"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Not Quite Navy pattern paper (retired)

Crumb Cake card stock (120953)

Not Quite Navy card stock (101722)

Crumb Cake Classic Ink (121030)

Sentiment: "long time no see"

Summer Mini Level 1 Hostess Set (wood: 118656; clear: 120027)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

More Mustard pattern paper (retired)

Chocolate Chip card stock (102128)

More Mustard card stock (100946)

Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (100908)

All products (except those noted as "retired" are available for order through my website HERE. 

EMAIL me with questions!

Denson Family Camping Trip

Each year, Bob's family goes on a camping trip. We take turns planning, organizing, and executing the trip for everyone. It's a BIG job and one we don't look forward to doing. Guess who was in charge this year?? YEP! Bob and I!

We decided to go to the Monte Cristo campground north of Pineview Reservoir. We'd heard from friends that it's a great campground, minus the flies and mosquitoes. We scouted it out a month or so ago and decided it would be a good place for a large group, tents, trailers, and a lot of cars. The group site included a cement fire pit with benches around it, six LONG picnic tables, a grill which we could use with charcoal briquettes, water faucet, and flushy toilets! We brought up our own Camp Chiefs and dutch ovens as you needed to prepare meals.

Each family was in charge of providing a meal for the group. It worked out well and we had a lot of GREAT food! Thursday night, Dave and Joan's family made Navajo tacos. Friday breakfast, Dan and Sherrie's family made breakfast burritos with eggs, hash browns, sausage, cheese, and salsa. Lunch on Friday, Mark, Julie, John, and Angie's families brought mango chicken burritos. Dinner that night, Bob and I made sloppy joes, "trek salad" and chips. Breakfast on Saturday, Mom, Chris, and Woody brought cold cereal, muffins, and fresh fruit. Each night, a group was in charge of bringing treats for the camp fire. The first night, we had biscuits and marshmallows done in the fire. YUMMY with honey butter! Friday night, we made three dutch oven cobblers: apple, peach, and blackberry. John couldn't handle the idea of cobbler without ice cream so they went to Woodruff and bought some. FABULOUS!!

Thursday night, we set up a projector and showed a movie, Cars, on a sheet. It was really fun watching an outdoor movie.

All in all...we think it went very well and we had a lot of fun. There was a lot of relaxing done, visiting, playing cards, riding 4-wheelers/motorcycles, napping, and just plain enjoying a beautiful area (minus the mosquitoes, flies, and the incredibly rude NOISY neighbors in the next campground--who didn't stop until 12:00 the first night! Needless to say, the camp hosts had a chat with them and it was a bit better on Friday night.)

The flies and mosquitoes were bad so we set up our E-Z Up Shade and then added mesh screening to help keep the bugs out. Bob enjoyed "zapping" the bugs that made it on the inside with the battery-operated zapper. It was comfy and great for the dogs!

Nephew Randy holding his nephew, Kolter. Randy's been working in Alaska for the past three months and was excited to be home and LOVED taking care of Kolter! Such a cute uncle!!

Movie night on Thursday. It was too bad we had to set up early (before dark)...it was hard to see.

Relaxing for movie night. Reece thought it was easier to see the computer screen than watch it on the sheet. Mark and Randy relaxed in the recliners.

Bob and the puppies watching the movie.

Charlie LOVES Dad!! :)

LOVED hanging out with Kolter, Josh and Melissa's cute little boy. He was a fabulous baby throughout the whole trip. I think I heard him cry twice the entire time.

Nephew James and his little girl Evie. She loved playing with the puppies (even let Charlie kiss her a lot!).

John, Woody, and Steven trying to get the briquettes ready for the dutch oven cobblers. YUMMY!!

Mark, Mike, Melissa, and Dan playing one of the many games of "Hearts" while Julie watched. They taught me how to play the game...ya, basically, I sucked!!

Kolter hanging out in the "Big Boy" chair.

Angie did a great job of getting Kolter to sleep. (It looks like John was asleep too but he just blinked...)

Sitting around the fire Saturday morning, trying to stay warm. (Little did we know how HOT it would be when we got home!!)

Joan, Grandma Denson, Brook getting her hair braided by Becky, Mike, Lacey, Emily, Woody, Angie holding Kolter. (Josh, Tom, Bob, and Melissa in the back left of the picture.)

All in all, we had a GREAT time and are grateful we don't have to do it again for another six years!! :)

Summer Book #7: Change of Heart

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

After reading My Sister's Keeper and Plain Truth, I was excited to read another Jodi Picoult book. In fact, when I bought this one at Sam's Club, I also bought The Tenth Circle. The cover of Change of Heart was intriguing and, of course, like all the other books I've read this summer, I've had a hard time putting it down. Thank heavens for a camping trip and driving! :) 

I can't decide if I liked this book or not...It's got a gut-wrenching storyline that sucks you in but also is laced with a lot of religious themes that I didn't understand very well (Jewish and Catholicism), and it insinuated the death-row inmate/main character was possibly the Messiah. In true Picoult fashion, it made you consider your opinion about capital punishment, organ donation, what you would do in a crisis, as a member of a jury, etc. But...bottom-line, I really struggled with the idea that Shay Bourne could miraculously heal or perform various miracles and the parallels Picoult drew between him and the life of Christ. I thought it was too over the top and sacrilegious. 

While I enjoy her books and books that make me "think," I think I need a break from heavy reading and need something more enjoyable...

I think I'll give Goose Girl by Shannon Hale a try again. 

COME ON AUGUST 24!!!! (NOT because school's starting...because Mockingjay will be released!!)

Pages: 447

Missionary Moms Luncheon #3 favors

Our theme this time around is alligators! We've got the cutest little poem-ish thing to give each mom about being your "purse-onal best Missionary Mom." Of course, I get to make the purses!! I found this pattern by the talented Becky Roberts here and changed them to fit out theme of Florida gators! I love the faux alligator print which was a lot easier than I thought it would be...just a bit time-consuming. Glad I have until September 25 to make 40-50 of them!

Then I found this cute alligator in a retired Stampin Up set (Wild About You) that I want to use on the purse somehow...maybe a hanging on a chain from the handles, label with "Florida Missionary Moms Luncheon" on it...something. Cute huh??

I can't wait!

Summer Book #6: Plain Truth

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

I've read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult and loved it. Her style of writing grabs you from the opening pages and hooks you to the very end. The books also deal with issues that leave you thinking long after the book is finished. 

Plain Truth is very much this type of book. Dealing with the Amish culture is what intrigued me from the beginning (I love anything Amish...we've been to Jamesport, Missouri three times) and it certainly didn't disappoint me. I simply couldn't put the book down...Picoult has definitely got a talent for spinning a story that takes many twists and turns that are completely unexpected!

I also heard this book had been made into a movie for the Lifetime Channel with Mariska Hargitay playing Ellie. I downloaded it from iTunes and just watched it. Really good and true to the book. They left out quite a few details about Ellie that I liked from the book but they were "excess." Good show!!

Pages: 405

GREAT night at the "theater"

Last night, we went to see Kaysville City's performance of Seussical the Musical. I love Dr. Seuss and have many of his books (and stuffed animals) but wasn't familiar with the play. Our cute friend, Aaron Ford (who has AMAZING talent), played The Cat in the Hat/Narrator of the show. There aren't enough adjectives and interjections to express how fabulous he was! The singing, dancing, multiple parts the Cat played, etc...Aaron was FABULOUS!!

Look how stinkin' cute he is! 

PERFECT for the part!!

We LOVE you, Aaron!!!!!

July 4th Weekend fun!!

Because the 4th of July fell on a Sunday this year, Kaysville decided to do their celebrations on Saturday and Layton did theirs on Monday. Consequently, it was a fun-filled weekend!!!!!!

Zack loves to take the dogs for rides on the 4-wheeler in the "Grandma Chair." Charlie was dying to go and then wasn't so sure. His big butt doesn't quite fit like it should. This picture was taken after they'd gone around the block. As soon as I snapped it, Charlie jumped off and ran beside Zack.

Demi, on the other hand, LOVES to ride with him! She sits there like she owns the world and has to be "encouraged" to get off!

Saturday, we went to the Kaysville Parade. We'd never been before and it was NUTS!!!!!!!!!! There were millions of people all vying for the candy. CRAZY! 

Our cute friend and wardie, Aaron Ford, is playing The Cat in the Hat in Kaysville City's play, Seussical the Musical. He's adorable and we can't wait to go see the play Tuesday night!!

Bob's younger brother, Mark's daughter, Meagan rode in the parade with a cute dance group. (She's on the top row sixth cutie from the left.) His other daughter, Brooklyn, was in the parade as well with the Davis High cheerleaders but we missed her.

Zack and Kenzi took our 4-wheeler and rode with Tanner Clinc. They threw candy, chap stick, and Frisbees. They had a GREAT time but, again, it was NUTS!!! (I felt pretty foolish running after them taking pictures. They weren't in parades when they were little kids so I guess I get to do it for them as adults.) 

After the parade, Bob and I walked around the festival for a while. There wasn't much there but it was fun to do something different and be out in the sunshine NOT working!

Saturday night, we went back to watch the fireworks. They were pretty good and were done to music. We liked that part but still thought Layton's fireworks would be better!

Sunday, we had all the kids for dinner. Maddi had found this WEIRD recipe for brownies so she fixed them for dessert. You can find the recipe here. I must say the ingredients are WEIRD but the final product is DELICIOUS!!!!!! We didn't tell anyone what was in them until they'd tasted them and found out how good they are. The pan was devoured!!

(These pictures also prove Maddi DOES know how to cook...

After dinner, we all played a new game, Wii Sports Resort. It's a riot!!! Granted you have to have additional antennas for the remotes and you need a nun-chuck for each player but it's so worth it!! We borrowed the game, antennas, and two of the nun-chucks from friends but this is definitely going on our "Wii purchase list!" 

Monday, Maddi was asked to ride the float for the Layton Valley View Stake. Her missionary/boyfriend's mom, Kate, was in charge of designing and creating it. Maddi portrayed an investigator talking with two missionaries. Zack was asked to pull the float after Kate's hubby decided he was too nervous to do it (Zack LOVES to pull long trailers so he was glad to do it. An added bonus was the sweet truck he got to drive. {smile} ) They're also going to be riding in the Ogden 24th of July Parade, possibly the Bountiful Parade on July 23 and Peach Days in Brigham City. The funny part of this is transporting the float between locations...they can't go any faster than 15 mph! So, they'll have to transport it during the night. Darin is a police officer so he'll be "escorting" Zack from city to city. So funny!!

Zack driving the truck. I tried to get him to do the "Parade Wave" but this is all I got. Darin is the passenger with Kate and her assistant on the back.

Maddi and the missionaries. (Doesn't she look thrilled to be there? We were at the end of the route so she was HOT and TIRED!!)

After the parade, Bob, Kenzi, and I went to the festival to see what they had to offer while we waited for Zack and Maddi. HOLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE!! We wandered through them and left quickly. Too many people and too hot to enjoy looking around. When we got home, we were pretty bored. We ended up going to WalMart to buy another new Wii game...WIPEOUT! We LOVE the TV show and thought the game would be fun. It's HILARIOUS!! So much like the show, complete with John, Jill, and John commentating. It's HARD though1! Definitely going to need some more practice. (One note though...after playing Wii Sports Resort with the new antenna attachments which increase the accuracy, it was HARD to play without them! We got really spoiled and also frustrated with jumping or running in a certain direction and it not responding the way we wanted.)

Monday night, we went back to watch the fireworks. OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! We have NEVER seen that many people in one place in our lives!!!!! There were tens of thousands, at least!! The fireworks were AMAZING!! However, getting out of the park and parking lots really made you question if it was worth it! The fireworks lasted until about 10:25 and by 11:05, we were still sitting locked into the parking lot. Thank heavens Zack figured out a tricky way to get out of there...he followed a bunch of people...and we got out MUCH quicker! Maddi didn't get home until about 11:45 because of traffic.

It was a GREAT weekend! We really like having the 4th of July on a Sunday...it makes for a fun-packed, long weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!!!

Charlie's visit to Busath Photographers

Mallorie's boss' wife, Liz, is obsessed with Old English Sheepdogs. She had one when she was a teenager and LOVES them!! She asked Mal to have me bring Charlie out for a visit so she could get her "Sheepie fix." These are the pictures Mal took of him; Liz had one of the professionals take some for us but I can't get them to load on my computer. As soon as we get them fixed, I'll post them too.

This is Charlie when he was about 4 months old sitting on the steps.

This is Charlie on the same steps at 2 years 4 months. He's SOOOO big!!