Watermelon Punch

School is out, summer is here and there's nothing else that screams "summertime" to me quite like a fresh piece of watermelon!

Watermelon reminds me of picnics, BBQ, fireworks, ball games in the park, kids in bathing suits....ahhhhh summertime...

Here's a little something you can whip up for your summer parties and festivities....a little watermelon treat box with a surprise inside! 

These would be cute at table settings, as birthday treats (really you can't go wrong with watermelon!)

This uses a few products from Stampin' Up! and assembles very quickly.  You'll need:

• Top Note die for the BigShot
• Scallop circle punch for the watermelon seeds (cut off each scallop)
• Punch an oval out of the top to make 'handles' for your treat box
• cardstock of your watermelon choice! (we have so many delicious cardstock colours to choose from)

For the middle you have options!  You can:

• Use a small cut off gift bag
• Use a mini lunch or food bag
• make a gift bag from an envelope
• use the box number 2 die for the BigShot
• or make your own small box....

 I like options.  Options are always good. 

Now, for you papercrafty teachers out there...wouldn't this be a GREAT hostess gift with a little stamp and an inkspot?  Indeed!

The Hoop-la (and my absence explained)

This is not paper crafty, but I beg you to not turn away...

I have been creating...

In the garage (of all places!)

Beautiful things...amazing things.... I posted this today on Twitter and Facebook.....

Do you know what it is?  Here's another....

You can really shaker yer booty to the pirates above....(hahaha, pirates...booty...get it?)

If I zoom out, you can SURELY tell what I'm up to now....

Hoops!  'Hula' hoops (but not your toy store hoop).  No siree! These are handmade hoops made to work for Everybody and Every Body! These are Cirque-ular Hoops (squee! That's me!).  

What's the hoop-la about these hoops? 

What you buy in a toy store is a toy.  It weighs a few ounces, it isn't sturdy, and it's slippery...and if you've tried one it likely fell to the ground a million times.  My handmade hoops are built for adults (and kids), for real life and have these perks:

• They weigh 1-3 lbs (not that you can tell) and when they spin around your body it is easier to keep the 'swing' or 'flow' of the hoop moving.  Less drops! Great workout.
• They all have a layer of grippy tape that helps keep the hoop at the spot on your body you are choosing to hoop at (chest, waist, hips, legs)
• Custom sizes from 38" - 52" (and more).  Variety!!
• Bigger is better (and hard to find..until now!) 
• Let's face it, when you are five, you can spin a cheerio around your body with great success. 
• As an adult we take up more space within a hoop, therefore it is harder to spin a small hoop around our bodies.  If you are carrying any extra weight (I am plus-sized) or are bigger of frame, or are an absolute beginner...YOU NEED A BIGGER HOOP! 
• Bigger hoops spin a little slower and easier around your body.  You will be able to practise your movement and flow and ease into success!  Eg.  Think about spinning something around your finger (zip zip zip) try spinning it around your wrist, it slows down and you have to work harder to get it to go the same speed as around your finger, right?
• Custom taping is available, so you get a hoop that you love.
• Service packages available:
• re-taping (if you need a change)
• re-sizing (if you want your hoop cut down a size)

Why do I hoop?

Well, it's a pretty amazing (and personal story) but I'll lay it out there for you in short form.

As I mentioned, I'm plus-sized (very much so).  I have weight related issues that could eventually be compromising to my health and over the last year I've been working hard to make better lifestyle choices.  Lose weight.  Eat healthy.  Exercise.  

These are not easy.  I mean, I really struggle!!

I've lost some weight, I'm eating healthier...exercise has always been a challenge.  I have hip pain and lets face it...being as heavy as I am, I cannot do many activities with ease.  If the hip gets hurt, I'm down for a few days...this does not help me! 

From stage right...enters hooping...totally by accident....

I was randomly searching the Internet for 'fun fitness' or something and completely stumbled upon a video of someone hooping.  I'm not talking just at the waist.  It was crazy...over the head, under the leg, around the body..up down...around.  I was mesmerized.  I said 'what on earth is this'....and then I found another video, this one completely opposite of the first.  THIS video was calm, flowing, dance like, graceful and almost meditative. 

I was in awe that a HOOP could provide athletic exercise as well as calm relaxing movement.

I needed this in my life!  I showed my husband (who is a brilliant handyman and creator of things)  and he said he could make me one.  and...HE DID.  

It's been great.  I can do this exercise.  I can go fast and really work my core and my legs/hips/thighs.  I can go slow. I can exercise my arms with the hoop, I can use the hoop to stretch....and it doesn't matter what size I am because this hoop is built for my body, and I can make it do what I need it to do.  I love being in charge!

Guess what? I rarely have hip pain anymore!  Yesterday was the first day in about six weeks, but I had neglected my hooping routine for three days. Mhm! 

I've also lost about an inch on each thigh (yay!)

So...I've told you things you may find interesting, or maybe you didn't want to know! heh heh.  Maybe you're in the same boat and understand my frustrations and my celebrations?  Please leave me a comment!  I'd love to hear from you all.

And...if you've made it all the way to the end of this post, please be a friend and come say hello on our facebook page.  There are some great people there and I do post pictures and some videos.  I would love to meet you. Click the link: Cirque-ular Hoops.

Hugs!

D.

  

Do It Yourself (DIY) Postcard

If you're a follower on the Prairie Paperie page on Facebook you may remember when I showed you this digital design that I made using My Digital Studio (and I promised to show you what it looked like made into a real postcard that you can mail!)

In the next photograph you can see that I've printed the graphic out on GLOSSY 4x6" photo paper on my home printer. (hurrah for the home printer!). 

Note: in my settings I always choose vivid colour in the printer controls.

When you flip over to the back side of the glossy photo paper you have a GREAT canvas for stamping.  The paper on the reverse side is matte and has a bit of a grain to it, so Classic Inks will adhere very nicely to this surface....

To get the visual layout of a 'real' postcard I drew a line down the center of the card with a Stampin' Write marker and a small ruler.

Tip:  Use lighter colour inks when working on the back of the postcard, because the photo paper is thinner than cardstock and you do not want it to bleed through to the front.

I used my Winter Post stamp set to stamp the "Post Card" image in Sahara Sand Classic Ink.

For the 'post marked' image in the right hand corner I used a Stampin' Write marker, in Sahara Sand,  and inked up everything but the middle of the circle (which had a Christmas sentiment inside)...this technique is called 'omitting'.  I huffed on the stamp to remoisten the ink and stamped it onto the cardstock.

Next I inked up a small heart stamp from Holiday Blitz and the XOXOXO stamped it within the circular part of the postmark image. To finish it off, I watercoloured the heart with a blender pen and a pink watercolour wonder crayon.

My Digital Studio software, and all stamping products mentioned are guaranteed available through my Stampin' Up! store through June 30, 2010. You can go to the store by clicking HERE.  

What happens after June 30...our new catalogue is released with some brand new stamp sets and colours!

I hope you enjoyed your tutorial on how to make a DIY Postcard! 


Just think of the possibilities you have with your camera, My Digital Studio, your laptop/computer and your home printer!


~Dreena~

Cupcakes and Inspiration

Wow, the Chocolate Orange challenge REALLY went off with a bang!

I love when my visitors link back to my blog and leave me comments, and I love trying to visit each and every one of you and reading about your creative process.

I love chocolate. I love orange.

Check out this bad boy... CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPPY CAKE! YES! SQUEEE!!!

THIS, is WHAT I'm talking 'bout folks...look at all that fluffy whippy icing. *glarrrgle drool*


So I just had to do this little featurette because I'm pleased as punch that someone took my colour challenge and translated it into cooking.

Just feeling a little self-love and a little (okay a lot) of love for the cupcake.

Please go visit Yellow Pineapple HERE and enjoy, like I did. Thank YOU.