June Swap Card

How can I just be posting the June Swap card now? Well, I'll tell you how it goes, something like this.
Step 1 - Keri and I get together to swap cards (usually we're a bit late but not terrible)
Step 2 - I take the cards home and promptly lose them somewhere in a pile
Step 3 - Locate the Swap Card
Step 4 - Take a photo of the Swap cards
Step 5 - Transfer the photos to the computer
Step 6 - Try to remember the brands used and search for an image online
Step 7 - Do a Blog Post
So you see it is rather a lengthy process but without further ADO: the June Swap card....

I'll start with me. I like using the Pure Innocence stamp sets. They are reasonably priced and seem to fit a lot of themes. One can always use a birthday card so here's mine...

The little dress is paper pieced and there is some sparkly frosting happening. This is the set used. It is called Happy Cake Day from My Favourite Things.

Keri used a Dog set from Taylored Expressions which I may just have to borrow. I believe she used Lawn Fawn Spring Fling paper...

This is the set that she used...

Keri colours her images with Prisma pencil crayons. So there you have it, another monthly card posted. Now I have 3 days to come up with a card for July.

Memories

I've been doing some cleaning and purging lately. I'll confess, I'm not really bad at having a lot of stuff around (except my office and scrapping room) but I'm pretty sentimental in a few ways. I came across these vases that held plant arrangements on our birthdays many years ago. They were given as gifts at the hospital. By my Dad? I'm not sure anymore.  My brother (1958) and myself (1959). Can you believe my Mom kept these and then myself all these years????

I cleaned them up and do you know what? I'm NOT going to get rid of them. I'm going to put them somewhere where I can see them occasionally and be reminded of a very special Mom who treasured her kids and wanted to keep these momentoes.

Oatmeal Date Sandwiches

Thin Oat Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup milk
2 cup quick oats

Cream shortening and butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Add milk and oats.
Add dry ingredients. Chill dough thoroughly. At least 2 hours or overnight.

Roll and bake at 400F for 8 to 10 min until light brown around edges. (I roll pretty thin, maybe 1/4 inch)

Date Filling
1 cup chopped dates
4 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Combine and cook over low heat until the consistency of jam. Remove from heat and cool. Assemble cookies.
* I double this for one recipe of cookies

EXTRA- These were my Dad's favourite cookies. We didn't make them as often as other types because they are labour intensive and I think that's what made them even more special. They're worth the work though.