I am always looking for a good masculine stamp set and the Stampin’ Up By The Dock bundle fits the bill! It is a great stamp set bundled with coordinating dies to use for cutting out stamped shapes.
By The Dock
Country Road
I think that I fell in love with this Country Road Cling-Mount stamp set by Stampin’ Up the first time that I saw it, and I’m very pleased with the way that this card turned out. I like the color combinations of the blues and browns. I’m thinking that the Seaside Spray cardstock is one of my new favorites!
Bells Are Ringing!
Christmas is just around the corner! If you are looking for a fun, versatile stamp set and die cut bundle, Stampin Up’s Bells Are Ringing bundle is one that I recommend. It’s great for Christmas cards, but I think the bells will also work beautifully for wedding cards. Here are a couple of Christmas cards that I made using the set.
This card uses Whisper White and Night of Navy cardstock, Copper Foil sheets, and Vellum. I also used the Subtle 3D embossing folder, Stitched Rectangle dies, Very Vanilla/Copper 1/2” Classic Weave ribbon, and Happiness Blooms enamel dots.
This card uses Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler cardstock, and Silver Glimmer paper. I also used the Rectangle Stitched dies, the Subtle 3D embossing folder, and pearls colored with a Smokey Slate Stampin’ Blends.
Please visit me here for all your Stampin’ Up stamping needs! Happy Stamping!
Oyster Shell vs. Chicken Grit
I often read comments from people indicating some confusion in understanding the difference between chicken grit and oyster shell. Oyster shell and grit are two different products that accomplish two different things, and they are NOT interchangeable. Let’s take a look at the two products and their purposes.
Letting Your Animals Help With Fall Clean Up
Fall is a great time of the year for animals. Everyone’s garden is nearing the end and it’s also time for yard clean up before the winter sets in. I don’t let anything go to waste as I do garden clean up and prepare for the inevitable cold and snow. My animals help me with clean up, and feeding all the excess garden produce and yard trimmings helps to cut some food costs. As I pull plants out of the garden, those that are edible go to the animals. I pick the last of the grapes for the chickens, and the goats get a few delicious meals of gourmet grape leaves. The goats and rabbits love the green bean plants and the chickens enjoy the tomatoes. Had your fill of cucumbers? Goats, chickens ducks, cows, horses and rabbits all enjoy a juicy cucumber. Bruised apples from the tree make great treats and the chickens love it when they find a worm in their apple! You don’t really need to worry too much about your animals eating apple seeds. While it is true that apple seeds contain cyanide, the seed has to be crushed or chewed to release the poison. Chickens swallow the seeds whole, so no problem there and your larger animals would need to consume quite a few apples to be affected by the cyanide. Your animals will feel lucky if your pumpkin patch was a success. Pumpkins are a pretty hardy crop and will store well until the bitter cold of winter. I often hit up the local pumpkin patch after Halloween and take home a truck load of pumpkins that I dole out over the next month to all of the animals for their eating pleasure.
Halloween Cards
Halloween is just around the corner! Stampin’ Up has some of the cutest Halloween stamp sets in their latest 2019 Holiday Catalog. Here are a couple of cards that I created for some stamp classes using the Boo To You and Spooktacular Bash stamp sets.
Halloween Treat Idea
It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the leaves are changing colors and there is a cool crispness in the air. That means that Halloween is just around the corner. I actually saw this idea in the Stampin’ Up 2019 Holiday Catalog and thought that it was adorable, so I copied it and gave it my own twist! I made these as giveaways for a card class.
Animal Hierarchy or The Pecking Order
It seems like there is a pecking order or hierarchy in all walks of life and it has existed in history for all time. There is a hierarchy in family units, towns, countries, cultures, and religious organizations. There are people who make good leaders, who love a challenge and aren’t afraid of failure. They are willing to take on the responsibility for protecting others and helping to provide direction for life improvements. Those at the top of the human pecking order are generally elected or appointed because of previous good works and integrity. However, history has shown us the there have been successors who achieved their ranking position on the battlefields. It appears that social groups need pecking orders.
but the only way this is accomplished is by establishing a pecking order.
Chicken Card
I love creating chickens, fences and pumpkins! So what can be better than a card that contains all three! Stampin’ Up has so many wonderful and fun products and they come out with new stuff several times a year… in fact their 2019 Holiday Catalog just premiered September 1st. If you are looking for some fresh ideas for for fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, be sure to take a look at this catalog (https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/category/100010/holiday-catalog). It is also fun to combine some of the old with some of the new. In this cute Chicken Thanksgiving card I have done just that. I used a couple of retired products along with some current and new products to create this fun card.
Feeding Senior Chickens
I was at the feed store the other day and noticed a new addition to the supply of scratch feeds, laying pellets, and chick starters. There was a daily feed that has been formulated especially for Senior Hens! I guess that is because chickens are being kept more and more as pets these days and our hens are living longer…maybe even well passed the age of egg laying! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this at all. Sometimes our hens become as cherished as the family dog or horse. After all, they have probably served us well through several years of good egg laying, entertainment and maybe even companionship. But just like people and other animals, dietary needs change as a chicken ages.
