ANOTHER COOKIE RECIPE

This is a really easy cookie and believe it or not it doesn't have any chocolate in it.

APPLESAUCE COOKIES

1 package 2 layer spice cake mix
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 egg

In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except raisins and beat at medium speed for 1 minute. Stir in raisins. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees

RECIPE SHARE

I just want to quickly share a recipe that is a family favorite.
CRANBERRY CHIP COOKIES
1 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup English toffee bits (this really adds to the flavor)

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and set aside. Cream butter and sugar in large bowl...add eggs and vanilla blend well. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Stir in chips, berries, nuts and toffee bits.

Drop by rounded Tablespoons 2" apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake 11 to 14 minutes at 350 degree preheated oven. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to continue cooling.

Enjoy!!!

SCS Challenge SC152

I have not done a Challenge in a very long time. I really liked this layout and decided to do it using a favorite retired set of mine Seasonal Sprays. I stamped the image in Basic Black on Watercolor paper then used the watercolor crayons to do the leaves and berries. Some cardstock is Basic Grey, the watercolor and Handsome Hunter are Stampin' Up! I added Stickles down both sides of the main image and gold embossed the Merry Christmas.

This is a card that I CASE'd from Evelyn Spikes who showed her version of the Burnished Watercolor Technique on Technique Junkies. I LOVED the card Evelyn did and decided to make one with the Stampin' Up! set Peaceful Wishes. The background here is Always Artichoke textured cardstock. I then used a piece of Chocolate Chip 5 1/4 x 2 1/2 that I ran I ran through the Cuttlebug. I then edged the chocolate with my gold leafing pen. On a piece of watercolor paper I stamped my design in Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgundy. I then used the sponges daubers to add a touch of color. This piece is also outlined in gold leafing pen. I love to add the gold cord when I can and added it at the side. I hope you enjoy

Here is a card I did this morning using the Tag Punch tutorial given on Splitcoaststampers. I have added the link below for the directions. On this card I used Bravo Burgundy, old snowflake vellum that Stampin' Up! used to sell. I have also used Wonderful Words II embossed in gold and gold brads on the corners. I have used the circle punch for the center of the snowflake and added a band of gold beads along the edge. I couldn't resist the Pearl center. I hope you enjoy.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tag_punch_star/

COMPLETED GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Here is the photo of the completed gingerbread house. It was great fun watching the different stages of getting this completed. I'm not sure how many people were involved but there were many and many hours to achieve this.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

I mentioned that we had been to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This is a buikding that was in the lobby the day we checked in and I was anxious to read that it was going to be their gingerbread house.

Over the next 7 days I took many pictures of the staff putting this together and it was a delight to watch. Tomorrow I will post a photo showing it completed and the transformation was amazing.

Feeling somewhat better

Joe and I had a trip to Florida for a business convention of his. We went to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I may try and upload a few pictures from the resort. My big problem is that I came home with a terrible cold and ended up going to the doctor last Friday. I also have a ear infection so our plans to head to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving ended. Yesterday was the first time I felt like doing anything at all and it wasn't much. I have had a terrible cough and almost no sleep since this started. I can't sleep in bed so I have been out on the recliner every night and that is getting really old. Since I am feeling a little better I might try getting back in our bed tonight. The doctor gave me three prescriptions to take and I have only been taking two of them. The one I am not taking I tried the first night and I never slept a wink and coughed even more. Cough syrup, not naming the brand, with codeine is not for me. I have been also using some old tried and true favorites - salt water for the throat and honey and lemon juice. Since we are not going away for Thanksgiving and I certainly don't feel like doing a turkey I had Joe go and order us one of those fully cooked ones for dinner. He will pick it up early Thursday morning. I am trying my best to get back to eating but there is not much that I feel like eating. Soup and oatmeal are about the only things I have been eating. I don't even drink much coffee and for me that is unusual. I don't even like to smell the coffee now.

I really did not have time to get sick. I have the house to decorate, gifts to be made and baking to start. I have decided that I am not going to bake near as much as I usually do. I have a few cookie favorites that I will do and maybe make some Cranberry Bread, Pound Cake and Fudge. I'll add a couple of favorite recipes soon.

SNOW BURST - Step it up

Okay I broke down and did a second one but added a little more to it. Think I like the first one better. Maybe I'll try for a third.

SNOW BURST

I broke down and ordered this set before the end of the mini period. Snow Burst is stamped on Shimmery cardstock in Night of Navy. The Merry Christmas is a very long retired one from Stampin' Up! that I do love. The shimmery is placed at an angle on Night of Navy cardstock with a "pearl" from the Pretties Kit in the center. I really was going for a basic easy to do card.

I just had to make one of the CD Ornaments. Peyton has his Boston Red Sox shirt on in this pic and I'm sure his dad will like it.

Here is one of the cards I worked on while on our latest trip. We spent last week at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! Wonderful place if you have young children, not the best for a conference.

I think the set Jolliest Time of the Year

is just so cute. It also uses the Snowflake from Wondrous Gift and the saying from Sincere Salutations. I used the rectangle punch on the right side and added red grosgrain ribbon. Also have glitter glue added for that finishing touch.

Simple easy to do card. I have CASE'd this from

http://rubberstampingdiva.com/

Please visit her site to see the original and you can tell I didn't change it much. Thanks Samantha!

Here is one done using the Cuttlebug. I went over it with three different colors to make a more whimsical card. Frosty has stickles spread over him . I used the Stampin' Up! Key Tag Punch for Happy Holidays which is from a retired set. Cardstock is Glorious Green and Whisper White. Red Grosgrain ribbon and dimensionals were added to the saying along with having the edge sponged.

More Christmas

Here is another card done using the Stampin' Up! sets Holy Triptych and Star Studded Season. I also used the Slit punch and Coluzzle Cutting system. Along the left edge I used a length of Sticky Strip and then added gold beads. I also have Crystal Effects on the star and gold beads there also. I can't forget I used the Key Tag Punch for Christmas Blessings. For cardstock I used Shimmery which really adds a terrific touch, Night of Navy and one of the new In Colors Soft Sky.

Christmas Card

I decided to take some time and do a couple of Christmas cards. This is a very easy card that I decided to keep simple. I used Night of Navy, Soft Sky and Shimmery Stampin' Up! card stock. I decided to edge the Shimmery with my gold leafing pen and placed gold beads on the star. Enjoy!