Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 31

This is the 31st week of my personal 50-week States of the Union Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 United States (in the order they attained statehood). I share tidbits of information about the state here on my blog and I create a card that is inspired by something about that state.

This week's state (the 31st one to attain statehood) is...

California

Date of Statehood: September 9, 1850

California has almost 40,000,000 residents, more than Canada and roughly 1/8 of U.S. population.

California sees over 100,000 earthquakes a year. Luckily, vast majority of them are quite feeble.

California is the only state that's hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

The state motto “Eureka” dates back to the days of the Gold Rush. The one-word state motto, an exclamation-point-less "Eureka," hearkens back to the exciting days of the Gold Rush. But the exclamation of "Eureka!" is attributed to the Greek scholar Archimedes. According to legend, he had an epiphany as he stepped into a bathtub and watched the water level rise—he realized that the volume of the displaced water was equal to the volume of the foot he'd submerged. And then he ran out of the room to tell others about his discovery... while he was completely naked.

The highest and lowest points in the continental United states are within 100 miles of one another and they are  both in California. Mount Whitney measures 14,495 feet and Bad Water in Death Valley is 282 feet below sea level.

California holds two of the top ten most populated cities in the US: Los Angeles and San Diego.

The California poppy is the official state flower. The California grizzly bear is the official state animal.

Alpine County is the 8th smallest of California's 58 counties. It has no high school, ATMs, dentists, banks, or traffic lights.

Totaling nearly three million acres, San Bernardino County in California is the largest county in the United States.

Death Valley is recognized as the hottest, driest place in the United States. It isn't uncommon for the summer temperatures to reach more than 115 degrees.

Located in Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is the largest museum of its kind in North America.

On Catalina Island in 1926, American author Zane Grey built a pueblo-style home on the hillside overlooking Avalon Bay. He spent much of his later life in Avalon. The home is now a hotel.

Castroville California is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. In 1947 a young woman named Norma Jean was crowned Castroville's first Artichoke Queen. She went on to become actress Marilyn Monroe.

Thousands of U.S. banks failed after the 1929 stock market crash—by 1933, only 11,000 were left. All of San Francisco's banks, however, survived.

Sequoia National Park contains the largest living tree. Its trunk is 102 feet in circumference.

California grows half of the United States' fruits and vegetables.

Fallbrook is known as the Avocado Capital of the World and hosts an annual Avocado Festival. More avocados are grown in the region than any other county in the nation.

More turkeys are raised in California than in any other state.

Almonds are the biggest export in California.

There are more than 300,000 tons of grapes grown in California every year.

How about these laws in California...

No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

It is against the law for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.

In Los Angeles County, it is illegal to throw a Frisbee without the permission of a lifeguard.

In the city of Los Angeles it is against the law  for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent. It is also against the law to bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time, to hunt moths under a street light, to cry on the witness stand, or to lick a toad.

In Chico California bowling on the sidewalk is illegal, as is driving a herd of cattle down a street or planting a garden in any public street.

Sandboxes may not be used as ashtrays in El Monte California.

It's against the law to annoy lizards in Fresno City Parks.

I've decided to go with this bit of California information for my card's inspiration... During the boom years in California due to the gold rush of 1849, miners used to send their laundry to Honolulu for washing and pressing, but it was deemed more feasible to send their shirts to Hawaii for servicing due to the extremely high costs in California.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Craft Lounge Spin Cycle stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Wild Wasabi CS and DP from the Recollections All Occasions Paper Pad

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Dress and Wooden Hanger Brads
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No Prob-Llama Llama

Today's blog post features two cards that I made with the Llama stamp set from Eyelet Outlet. I also used a variety of Eyelet Outlet embellishments on these cards.

Llama tell you...

Eyelet Outlet products used:

Llama Stamp Set

Llama Brads

Love Story Washi Tape

Jewel Strip

Another Birthday? No prob-llama!

Eyelet Outlet products used:

Llama Stamp Set

Candle Brads

Llama Brads

Tear Drop Bling

7 Different Washi Tapes

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Eyelet Outlet products: Llama Stamp Set, Llama Brads, Love Story Washi Tape, and Jewel Strip

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Flirty Flamingo CS and American Crafts Family Fun Paper Pad and Paper Studio Fun Llamas DP

Eyelet Outlet products: Llama Stamp Set, Candle Brads, Llama Brads, Tear Drop Bling, and 7 Different Washi Tapes

Papers: Fun Stamper Journey Hazelnut Blend and Watermelon Fusion and Recollections White CS and DP from my scrap file

Gallery Gazers CASE

You might have noticed a new list in my left side bar - Gallery Gazers. It is a blog group that I started earlier this month on SCS. The premise behind Gallery Gazers is we are bloggers who also love perusing the SCS Gallery regularly. We commit to being an encouragement to each other both in the Gallery Gazers thread on SCS and by commenting on each other's blogs. We also commit to once a month CASE a card/project we find in the SCS gallery.

Each person chooses what day of the month to post her CASE, as our blogs are busy and we might not all have a consistent day. This month, this is the day I'm posting my CASE.

I looked through the cards/projects I'd "favorited" in the SCS gallery this month and chose one created by PaperCrafty (Sheri) for my CASE. You can find her card by going HERE.

Here's my take on Sheri's card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die Set: Altenew Dear Friend stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White CS and Paper Studio Big Stripe Black/White DP

Embellishments: Kaiser Droplets

It's All About Color

I am a member of Barb's Challenge Your Stash group on SCS. We are given a theme to work with each month (the members take turns coming up with the theme) and we are to create a card based on that theme using only things we already own, hence the name Challenge Your Stash. We reveal our cards on the 28th of the month.

This month Barbara is the hostess. Barbara loves color challenges. In fact, she's part of the Color Challenge Team on SCS. She asked us to peruse the SCS Color Challenge List and choose one of the combinations when making a card.

I chose #CC587...

Bermuda Bay

Daffodil Delight

Tangerine Tango

I hope the others don't think I cheated. I used a stamp set that I haven't had a very long time (I bought it within the last month or so)... but I didn't purchase it for this challenge. I love this stamp set. The mason jar of "lemon water" is a little large, but it is impressive. And I thought it worked perfectly with the color combination.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Unity Happiness Is Homemade stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, and Tangerine Tango CS

Embellishments: Irresistible Pico Embellisher (for water droplets) and Paper Studio Enamel Dots

I Am a VSN Virtuoso

I decided to participate in my first ever Virtual Stamping Night (VSN) on SCS this month. I was going to do it live, but life changed... and I was out-of-town for much of the event. I got back in time to do the last two challenges live, and fortunately they give you a week to catch up, so I was able to complete them all. 

Cards must be completed in one hour or less. I'll post the amount of time it took me to make each one. While I'm not showing pictures of the insides of my card (since this post is going to be so full of pictures anyway), I did decorate the inside of each card... AND that is included in the time it took me to make the entire card. 

I am also only going to share the stamps I used, to conserve space, rather than giving a more detailed inventory for each card.

Fire Up the Grill 

- 35 minutes -

SU King of the Grill stamp set

Involuntary Stacation/Get Well

- 24 minutes -
Penny Black Wishing You Well stamp
Your Next Stamp Parrot-ise stamp set

Reading/Books

- 36 minute -
Unity Part of the Story stamp set (image)
Cat's Pajamas stamp set (sentiment)

Inspiration Photo

- 24 minutes -
Unity Out On a Limb stamp set

The Great Outdoors

- 31 minutes -
Whipper Snapper All Boy stamp

Doing What We Love to Do Best
- 27 minutes -
Taylored Expressions Wanda stamp set

Soap Bubble Art

- 48 minutes -
Sizzix Tim Holtz Journey stamp/die set

Holiday World

- 26 minutes -
Craft Lounge Hoppy Holidays stamp set

Scavenger Hunt

- 31 minutes -
Stamping Bella Uptown Girl Nancy Reads the Newspaper stamp
Something You'd Find in a Hotel: Newspaper
Something That Tastes Good: Cup of Coffee
Something That's Red, Yellow, or Orange

Pool Party

- 23 minutes -
Penny Black Adrift stamp

Sliding Into Your Stacation

- 50 minutes -
Art Impressions Panda Slider stamp set

Bicycle Fun

- 33 minutes -
Penny Black Easy Rider stamp

Coffee Break

- 28 minutes -
Casual Friday Coffee Talk stamp set
Stamps of Life coffee4two stamp set/die

Lemony Yellow

- 17 minutes -

Technique Tuesday Bright Idea stamp set

Staycation Passport
- 49 minutes -
Unizo Coffee & Friends stamp set
Whipper Snapper This Coffee stamp

Going to the Zoo

- 34 minutes - 

Darcie's stamps

Tank of Gas Getaway

- 27 minutes -

Cornish Heritage Farms Elvis stamp

It took me 543 minutes (just over 9 hours) to complete these 17 cards. That's an average of about 32 minutes per card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
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Sprinkles On Top!

The Hole Foods stamp set from The Project Bin creates problems for me. It makes me crave one of my favorite foods - DONUTS! 

But, it's okay, the paper kind of donuts have ZERO calories. 

I discovered the sprinkles designer paper in one of my paper pads and decided it would be perfect for paper piecing the donut tops. I love how it worked out.

Here's my calorie-free card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Hole Foods stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Blue and 110# White and SU Rose Red CS and DP from the Paper Studio Treat Yourself Paper Pad

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones

Yippee!

I love sentiments with a pun... so when I saw the Your Next Stamp Parrot-ise stamp set I knew I needed it. I am so glad I did because it is the perfect stamp set to use for the new challenge at Craftaholics R Us...

Birds

I hope you'll participate in the 

Craftaholics R Us Birds Challenge!

July 25 - 31

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Your Next Stamp Parrot-ise stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Poppy Parade CS and DP from the Authentique Micro Basics Paper Pad

Embellishments: Paper Studio Brads

Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 30

This is the 30th week of my personal 50-week States of the Union Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 United States (in the order they attained statehood). I share tidbits of information about the state here on my blog and I create a card that is inspired by something about that state.

This week's state (the 30th one to attain statehood) is...

Wisconsin

Date of Statehood: May 29, 1848

Wisconsin borders two Great Lakes: Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Although they don’t boast about it on license plates, the state also has at least as many inland lakes as Minnesota, if not more. All together, Wisconsin contains more than 11,188 square miles of water—a greater number than every other state apart from Alaska, Michigan, and Florida.

The Swiss Cheese Capitol of the World isn't in Switzerland; it's in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin is the only state to offer a Master Cheesemaker program. It takes three years to complete, and you need 10 years of cheese making experience before you can even apply as a candidate.

About 90 percent of the milk from Wisconsin cows is used to make cheese.

Thirty percent of the state’s population lives in the five-county metropolitan area around Milwaukee.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin is -55 degrees Fahrenheit in Sawyer County in 1996. (That’s without wind chill, folks.)

Wisconsin’s state symbol, the badger, doesn’t refer to the animal but instead to the 1820s lead miners who traveled for work and dug tunnels to sleep in and keep warm, much like a badger.

Known for dairy production, Wisconsin actually leads the nation in exports of cranberries, whey, ginseng root, and sweet corn.

The first kindergarten classes in the U.S. were held in Watertown in 1856 at the home of a German couple.

The first ever Flag Day was celebrated in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin in 1785.

The term “cheesehead” actually started as a term the German soldiers used to insult the Dutch during World War II. These days, the term is used in a bit more endearing way to describe cheese-lovin’ Wisconsites. The first cheesehead was worn at a Brewers game, not a Packers game, and was a couch cushion with holes burned in the foam and painted yellow.

During the summer, the population of Door County reaches ten times the number of year-round residents. (28,000 vs. 250,000)

One of Wisconsin's most famous sons is Frank Lloyd Wright. The world-renowned architect was born in the small farming town of Richland Center, and later moved to Madison. Although Wright dropped out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue employment in Chicago, he never forgot his prairie roots. Mid-career, Wright fell in love with a client's wife, Mamah Borthwick, and the two fled to Germany. Unable to return to Wright's longtime home of Oak Park, Illinois—where Borthwick's husband also lived— Wright constructed himself and his lover a new residence near his maternal grandparents' homestead in Spring Green, Wisconsin. He named the hillside estate Taliesin, and the two lived there for three years until tragedy struck. A house servant set the residence on fire; the conflagration killed seven individuals, including Borthwick and her two children. Wright rebuilt Taliesin in Borthwick's memory. Despite threats of foreclosure and yet another fire, the architect lived and worked in the home for the remainder of his life. Today, it serves as a museum dedicated to Wright's life and career.

Green Bay is known as the "Toilet Paper Capital" of the world.

In 1979, students from the University of Wisconsin–Madison stuck 1008 plastic pink flamingos in the grass in front of the dean’s office. In honor of their prank, the city council made the popular lawn ornament Madison's official bird in 2009.

Nearly 21 million gallons of ice cream are consumed by Wisconsinites each year.

The first-ever ice cream sundae was served (on a Sunday) in 1881 at Edward C. Berner's soda fountain in Two Rivers, and it only cost a nickel.

The largest wooly mammoth ever excavated was found in Kenosha, and a replica can be viewed at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

According to the Guinness World Records, Summerfest—an annual, 11-day music festival held along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Milwaukee—is the world’s largest music festival. In 2015, the event drew 772,652 people.

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, is known as the "Troll Capital of the World." A large main street called the "Trollway" is peppered with large statues of the mythical creatures, and visitors can purchase troll memorabilia in gift stores. The unusual theme was inspired by Nordic folklore, as the town was once more than 75 percent Norwegian. 

The Wisconsin Dells has the world's largest concentration of water parks all in one area: eight indoor and three outdoor, with more than 200 water slides and 16 million gallons of water. The Noah's Ark Waterpark in the Dells is the largest outdoor water park in the U.S.

Wisconsin banned the sale and use of margarine from 1895 to 1967, and while the ban was lifted, some restrictions on margarine remain today. It’s still illegal for a restaurant to serve margarine as a butter substitute unless the customer specifically requests it.

Here are some other unique laws in Wisconsin...

It's against the law not to give livestock the right of way.

Wisconsin citizens may not legally murder their enemies.

It's against the law to kiss a train in Wisconsin.

Businesses may only base their business hours on central time (which is the time zone of Wisconsin).

It's a crime to harass a seeing eye dog in Wisconsin.

According to law, Wisconsin cheese must be highly pleasing.

While all cheese making requires a license, Limburger cheese making requires a master cheese maker's license.

It is against the law to blow up a muskrat house.

Car dealerships may not legally sell cars on Sundays in Wisconsin.

It is against the law to sell dyed chicks, ducklings, and/or rabbits.

I've decided to go with this bit of Wisconsin information for my card's inspiration... Bloomer Wisconsin bills itself as the jump rope capital of the world due to its annual jump rope contest that has been going on since 1960.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Peachy Keen Recess Jump Rope Girl stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Taken with Teal CS and DP from the American Crafts Yes Please Paper Pad

Embellishments: Paper Studio Enamel Dots