Friday, April 29, 2011

Daddy's Dreams and Personal Care Donations Collection for Tornado Survivors



Please join me tomorrow
Saturday, 04/30/2011
9 am to 4 pm
Pleasant Grove UMC - LaGrange, GA

We will be working on:
Quilts for cancer patients
Packaging cards for distribution to cancer patients and families
- and -
Collecting personal care items for donation to the
survivors of the devastating tornado outbreak Wednesday.

Items Needed For Daddy's Dreams:
Volunteers
100% cotton fabrics
100% cotton flannel fabric (print and/or solids)

Personal Care Items Needed
for Tornado Survivors:
Soaps/Body Wash
Shampoo/Conditioner
(Check your stash of free hotel leftovers!)
Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
Deoderant
Feminine Products
Shaving Cream/Disposable Razors
Wash Cloths
Work Gloves
Sunscreen/Bug Repellant Spray
Chewing Gum
Bottled Water

I have 4 young ladies coming for a sleepover Saturday night
who will help me package the donated items for easy distribution.

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demo Service Site - I Blog For Demos!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Creative Idea - Happy Mother's Day Scrapbook Page 12x12



Stamps


• Four Frames*

• Notes & Details**

• Teeny Tiny Wishes


Paper

• Marina Mist Card Stock

• Very Vanilla Card Stock

• Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper*


Ink

• Marina Mist Classic Stampin’ Pad®

• Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad

• Peach Parfait Classic Stampin’ Pad

• Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad

• Soft Suede Stampin’ Write® Marker


Accessories

• Marina Mist 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

• Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon

• Linen Thread

• Neutrals Designer Buttons

• Stampin’ Dimensionals®

• Decorative Label Punch

• Big Shot™

• Top Note Bigz Die

• Sewing machine and thread


Hope you were inspired by this great project!  Click HERE for project details and/or to order!


*A 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog Sneak Peek—get it FREE when you host a qualifying workshop!

**From the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers! 
Visit My Demo Service Site - I Blog For Demos!

Monday, April 25, 2011

2011 Goals - Share More/Spend Less: Share More Monday - Frugal Homemade Fabric Softener

In an effort to focus on spending less as 1 of my goals for 2011,
I began researching homemade laundry detergent online.
I was able to come up with a recipe that works wonderfully for me
and I shared it last Monday HERE

This week's Monday Share is
Frugal Homemade Fabric Softener!
I am sharing my recipe with you today in an
effort to show you how to remove dangerous chemicals
and toxins from your clothing (it touches you all day folks!)
and also to save money by going back to basics. 
Here is ALL that you need:


Ingredients:
Vinegar
Aluminum Foil
Lingerie Bag
Water (optional)

Directions:

STEP 1 - Fabric Softener in the Washer:
Take your vinegar and (instead of store-bought fabric softener)
pour it into your fabric softener dispenser or "Downy ball".  
Do your laundry as normal! 

NOTE:  I do not like the smell of vinegar at all, so I have been cutting
the vinegar 50/50 with 1 part vinegar and 1 part water and using it
instead of the plain vinegar.  It works just as well as
full strength without the smell during the wash cycle. 


Vinegar also doubles as a natural deodorizer.... and it is CHEAP!!
If you have a house full of sweaty "man stink" clothes during
the heat of a Georgia summer, vinegar is the perfect solution to
skunky socks and smelly shirts... TRUST ME - It works!! 


STEP 2 - Aluminum Foil in the Dryer:
Yep, you read that right!  Aluminum foil!
Simply take a few pieces of aluminum foil and wad them up. 
I cut each of mine to about the length of a cookie sheet.


Take your aluminum foil "balls" and put them into a zippered lingerie bag.
Toss it in the dryer with your clothes and forget about it!
That's it... and it WORKS!!

Now how much simpler could fabric softening be?? 
No fuss.  No muss.  No static!

Check Back Next Monday for
Homemade Frugal Dishwasher Detergent!
I will be doing a post on dishwasher detergent
next Monday, so be sure to check back! 
You will LOVE how simple it is
and it costs LITERALLY pennies per load! 

I hope you have enjoyed learning about homemade fabric softener!

Comments make me smile!
I would love to hear your thoughts! 
Leave me a Comment below!
Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demonstrator Service Site - I Blog For Demos!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Creative Idea - Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric Pincushion - Free Tutorial!


Supplies

Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric, cut into 6" square


Hot glue gun

Straight pins

Small wide-mouth canning jar and ring

Cardboard

Polyester fiberfill stuffing

Instructions

Trace the lid of the jar on the cardboard; cut out.

Place the stuffing on the cardboard and cover with the fabric.

Hot glue the edges to the underside of the cardboard.

Place the pincushion inside the canning ring.

Fill jar with buttons and place the lid on the jar.


What a SIMPLE and pretty project!
Fun project for even the most inexperienced crafter!
Great gift idea!

The Sweet Stitches Fabric and Buttons are part of
the Occasions Mini that ENDS 04/30/2011!
Click HERE to view the other Occasions Mini items
and order today before it is too late! 

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demonstrator Service Site I Blog For Demos!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

My Digital Studio - New Downloads Available!

Urban Garden Designer Series Paper
Relish in this oasis of twelve urban Designer Series paper patterns. You'll want to use this paper with the coordinating Roof Garden embellishments and Kindred Spirits Stamp Brush Set for a complete look. Coordinating colors include: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, and Not Quite Navy.

Roof Garden Embellishments
Bask in this garden of 29 embellishments that includes flowers, 4-3/4" border pieces, silhouette pieces, and more! Use these accents on a variety of projects--from cards of any occasion to photobook pages. Coordinates with Urban Garden Designer Series Paper and the Kindred Spirits Stamp Brush Set.

Hip and Handsome Overlays Stamp Brush Set
Overlays galore! Customize your backgrounds and other page elements with the Hip & Handsome Stamp Brush Set--use any color on these overlays for a host of versatility. Exclusive to digital, this 13-piece stamp brush set also includes a one-page 12" x 12" designer template.

Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Brush Set
Wait a minute, did you say 24 stamp brushes in one set--and it's not an alphabet set? Wow! This set includes a greeting for almost every occasion. Don't just buy it; keep it handy, cause you're going to use it a lot!

Kindred Spirits Stamp Brush Set
Sometimes it's hard to know what to say when a friend or loved one is going through a hard time. Let the Kindred Spirits Stamp Brush Set say it for you. The simple elegance of this four-piece set is just right for condolence cards, but that's not all; use the uplifting images on any type of project. Coordinates with Roof Garden Embellishments and Urban Garden Designer Series Paper.

Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Brush Set
Many times, less really is more. The simple yet elegant six-piece Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Brush Set combines beautifully with a little dash of Designer Series paper patterns and a basic embellishment to create an appealing card, tag, or scrapbook page element that makes a lasting impression.

Tres Chic Stamp Brush Set
Get your hands on the oozing inspiration of Tres Chic background stamp digital spinoff. The versatile digital version is broken into 24 words for you to use individually, or to jazz up the background image by layering multiple colors.

Friendly Words Stamp Brush Set
"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." Woodrow Wilson got it right; friends are special, and you can tell them with this 14-piece set. Enjoy his sentiment along with others that capture the meaning of friendship. The artwork is from the Friendly Words Stampin' Around wheel and is separated out for more digital versatility.

Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper
These calming, classy Designer Series paper patterns would be gorgeous on just about any project. Twelve Patterns in these colors: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, and Very Vanilla.

Puns From The Past Stamp Brush Set
If you're feeling nostalgic, or simply like a good pun, you'll love the antique images in the eight-piece Puns from the Past Stamp Brush Set. You can use them to create heritage scrapbooks, witty cards, and whatever else comes to mind.

Music Notes Stamp Brush
Design an exquisite composition to serenade your friends and family on cards and other creations with our Music Notes Stamp Brush. The music lovers in your life will especially love this! The digital imagery comes from the Music Notes Stampin' Around wheel.

Green Tea Designer Series Paper
Just like the real stuff, this Green Tea Designer Series Paper will energize your projects and create a vibrant, healthy look. Includes 12 Eastern-inspired patterns that perfectly coordinate with the Green Tea Stamp Brush Set. Coordinating colors include: Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, and Old Olive.

Green Tea Stamp Brush Set
Let your designs steep in this Eastern-inspired artwork. Exclusive to digital, the imagery in this eight-piece set is based on the beautiful Green Tea Designer Series Paper.

My Digital Studio Software
Use the same great artwork, colors, and accessory images found in our current product line to create personalized digital projects. The options are endless: create photo albums, calendars, and greeting cards using My Digital Studio. Once you've created your personalized gift or heirloom, have it printed in our high-quality print facility and delivered to your door or print it at home.

Hope you have been inspired by the latest downloads made available for My Digital Studio!  I am My Digital Studio Certified, so if you have any questions or need help, I am available! 

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demonstrator Service Site I Blog For Demos!

Monday, April 18, 2011

ANNOUNCING - I Blog For Demos - Blog Posting Service For Stampin' Up!® Demonstrators!


NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!

I am very excited to announce the launch of my new site
I Blog For Demos!
My mission with "I Blog For Demos" is simple....

To provide my fellow Stampin' Up!® demonstrators with
current, relevant, and updated blog entries
without the stress of having to do it themselves! 

Several posting options are available!
Let me do the posting to INSPIRE your readers
so that you do what is FUN in your business,
CREATING AND SHARING!

Click HERE to visit I Blog For Demos.

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

2011 Goals - Share More/Spend Less: Share More Monday - Homemade Laundry Detergent

In an effort to focus on spending less as 1 of my goals for 2011, I began researching homemade laundry detergent online.  I found recipes for liquid detergent, as well as powder detergent.  I will be honest, I don't like powder detergent (at least the store-bought kind!).  I did not, however, have any desire to make up a batch of liquid detergent in a huge bucket to sit in my laundry room.  I am trying to declutter and adding anything else to my laundry room would be a step in the wrong direction. 

After lots of research, I formulated my own recipe for powdered laundry detergent that is based on all of the research I had done online.  I am sharing my recipe with you today in an effort to show you how to remove dangerous chemicals and toxins from your clothing (it touches you all day folks!) and also to save money by going back to basics


This recipe is super simple and may remind you of the smell of your grandmother's laundry room!

Ingredients:
1 Box of Borax
1 Large Box of BAKING Soda
1 Large Box of Super WASHING Soda
1 Bar of Fels-Naphtha

Other Needs:
Container(s) for Finished Detergent
1 cup Measuring Cup
Bowl
Cheese Shredder
Food Processor (optional)

Directions:

STEP 1:
In your empty container, add 1 cup of Borax...

..... and 1 cup of Washing Soda.

I am making 4 batches at the same time...

STEP 2:
Next, get your bowl, cheese shredder,
and 1 bar of Fels-Naptha...

Shred the Fels-Naphta.
Don't leave this sitting around in the bowl unattended!  
My kids thought it was cheese.... just sayin!!

STEP 3:
Add 1 cup of Baking Soda to the Fels-Naptha shreds.

STEP 4:
Add the mix of Baking Soda and Fels-Naptha to a food
processor.  I use a tiny one I bought for cheap!

You can hand-stir the mixture, but I have well water
and wanted to be SURE that the soap dissolves completely.
This is what it looks like after it has been processed:

STEP 5:
Add your chopped mixture to the container of
Borax and Washing Soda from earlier.

STEP 6:
Secure the lid on your container and shake, mix,
and tumble the mixture around until it is completely
mixed up.  Again, I have made 4 batches at once.

STEP 7:
Wash until your heart is content!  The beauty of this recipe is that
it only requires 1 TABLESPOON of mix per regular load of laundry!!
If you have heavily soiled laundry or if you feel that your water is too
hard to wash with the 1 tablespoon then 2 tablespoons may be used.

FAQ #1 - How Much Does it Make/Cost?

I purchased my products at Walmart, but they can certainly be found
elsewhere, including grocery stores. 

Borax = $3.36
Washing Soda = $2.77
Baking Soda = $2.16
Fels-Naptha =$0.97

I was able to make 5 batches from the powders listed above. 
You then have to add in the cost of 1 bar of Fels-Naptha per batch. 
This means you end up spending only $2.63 per batch!!

FAQ #2 - How Much Savings?

I generally wash at least 1 load of laundry every day. 
Using the recommended 1 tablespoon
of homemade detergent recipe,
it lasts me approximately a month!

Considering I was spending $9.97 for store-bought detergent
and another $4.97 for fabric softener
every 2 to 3 weeks, it is a HUGE savings!

FAQ #5 - How Does It Smell?
It smells wonderful!  The powders themselves do not really
have a smell, but the Fels-Naptha has a pleasant, fresh
smell.  You can add essential oils to the wash water if you
prefer a different smell, but I do not see any need to do so.

FAQ #4 - What About Fabric Softener?
I will be doing a separate post on fabric softener
next Monday, so be sure to check back! 
You will LOVE how simple it is
and it costs LITERALLY pennies! 

I hope you have enjoyed learning about homemade laundry detergent!

Comments make me smile!
I would love to hear your thoughts! 
Leave me a Comment below!

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

Friday, April 15, 2011

2011 Goals - Organize/Share More: Going Clean and Green Under the Kitchen Sink

The organizing continues! 
Take a look at the huge box full of toxic cleaners
I cleaned out from under my kitchen sink!


I have decided to remove harmful chemicals from our home and started with the collection of items under the kitchen sink.  I removed everything toxic and replaced those items with a few simple "green" products.
Take a look at ALL that you need to clean your home to sparkling:

Baking Soda, Fels-Naptha, Washing Soda, Borax, Kosher Salt,
White Vinegar, and Shaklee are my cleaning products of choice now!

I am now making my own homemade dishwasher detergent using
only nontoxic ingredients.  I will be sharing my recipes over the next
few Mondays in a Share More Monday series, so be sure to
subscribe or become a follower
(if you are not viewing this post directly on my site,
click HERE and look at the left sidebar)
so you don't miss out!

My Shaklee basket of cleaning goodies!
Will be sharing more about these later as well!

You are NOT going to want to miss Mondays at Bella B Designs!
I am starting a series of Share More Monday posts where I
will be sharing nontoxic household recipes and products!
This Monday's post will be on Homemade Laundry Detergent!

Have a Blessed Day!!
 
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Free Workshop - All Profits Go to Relay For Life



You are invited to a Make and Take Workshop
04/18/2011 at 4:30 pm

New Mountain Hill Elementary Art Room
33 Mountain Hill Road; Fortson, GA


No artistic talent needed!
Each attendee will take home a FREE handmade card.
We will be using the gorgeous
Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper!

Workshop is FREE. 

100% of profits from Stampin' Up!® orders,
as well as any donations will go directly to
the New Mountain Hill Elementary School
Relay For Life Team!

Light Snack Provided!

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!

Have a Blessed Day!!
Katie Burke
Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator
Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!
"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
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