Holiday Extravaganza Sale

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Hubby and I will be heading to Virginia to spend it with our oldest son, daughter-in-law and grandson.

A Scrap page

I have blocked out my dear daughter-in-laws face for privacy reasons. I am working a an album for her and our new granddaughter. These photos were from the shower. I am very happy with the way this has turned out so far. I used my Scor-Pal to do the pleat for across the top of the page. All papers are Stampin' Up! and the Designer Paper is Banbury and it goes perfectly with the Certainly Celery and Pink Pirouette cardstock. I used the retired stamp set I'm Here for the feet and hands. I have a scond page but it is not this far along yet. I am not doing the journaling for these pages as I plan to let my daughter-in-law complete them. This page looks so much better IRL. Thanks for looking. Please just clikc on the photo for a close up view. I found out about doing the pleats from the Scor-Pal Yahoo group but unfortunately don't remember who showed this technique.

My trees

The first tree is the one in our bedroom. This is my "snowman" tree! Now there are other things on it but it is mainly snowmen - I am building up my collection. I think it is a 6 foot tree and I have one of my Nativity scenes under it.

The second tree is our main one and it is in the family room. This is a 9 foot tree and I have all different types of ornaments on this. The main two themes are Santas and White House Ornaments which I have been collecting for many years. I have yet to put the train under the tree but it will be there soon. This is what I have been busy doing. I also have a tree in my bonus room and the front middle bedroom and I'll get those photos up later. Have a great day and I hope to get back to stamping before long.

A Cookie Recipe

I promised to share some of my favorite recipes and here is the top on my list.

Cranberry Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup English Toffee bits or almond brickle chips

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, cranberries, pecans and toffee bits (dough will be stiff) Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-14 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: about 6 dozen

SNOW!!!

We had our first and hopefully last snowfall of the season yesterday morning. This is about as deep as it got. Just thought I would share it with you all.

GREAT BLOG CANDY

You really must check out this wonderful blog and the terrific Candy that Debbie is offering. Here is her link:
http://passionforcrafts.blogspot.com/

Partial Inside

I still can't get a good picture so I opened this up some so you can see what I did inside.

Season's Greetings

If you have never visited Jan Tink's blog you really must. This is my take of her latest card. Mine is a Double Accordian Gate Fold which I made using my wonderful Scor-Pal but right now I'm just showing you the front that I could scan. The pics didn't come out very good of the inside so I have to retake. All products here are Stampin' Up! I used the same colors as Jan did Brocade Blue and WW. This card has lots of glitter. Not only did I use Dazzling Diamonds I used some of Stampin' Up! Glitter Fine Cosmo on the trees. I hope to get the other pics up soon.

Quick Christmas Card

Here is a quick card I did this morning for the Challenge on Christmas Cards All Year Round Please check them out if you havent' yet.

This card is all Stampin' Up! products EXCEPT for the Class A Peal Stickers. I love the new Designer Papers and Holiday Treasures is one of my favorites. I used retired stamps on this one except for the A Very Merry Christmas which is in the hostess set Punches Three. Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds were used on the pine spray that comes from the retired set Peaceful Wishes. Several of the punches were used and direct to paper for the edges of the stamped images. I hope you like it.

SNOW BURST

I finally had a chance to make a card for the November Challenge for Christmas Cards Year Round. You had to use 2 ribbons, 2 buttons and two snowflakes. I have a lot of snowflakes stamped on this one so I'm in hopes that will work. This uses the Stampin' Up! set Snow Burst but the let it snow is from a retired set. The cardstock is Pacific Point, Whisper White and Shimmery. Buttons are from my stash and Class A Peal Stickers were placed in the centers of the snowflakes.

Another busy weekend

I spent a good portion of yesterday morning trying to get my bulbs that I had ordered in the spring into the ground. I had ordered 100 daffodils from Brent & Beckys bulbs and they arrived the other day. I must say that I got over half of them in and plan on getting the rest done later this morning after my walk. My knees were killing me last night so I don't know whether I can get them all in today or not. It has really gotten cold so they do need to be in the ground. I have to get my walk in first.

I also have to get to the Post Office today and get my tags mailed off for the swap that I'm in. Might possibly hit Archivers, just depends.

I hope to have something new up later today. It might just be another recipe though. Have a great day all.

Blogger Award

My friend Dot gave me this award, please stop over and visit her at http://doodlesandsuchbydot.blogspot.com/

Thanks Dot!!!

Now for the rules -

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

This is difficult because so many great bloggers to chose from.

1. Naomi at http://astampersparadise.blogspot.com/

2. Emily at http://stampingexpressions.blogspot.com/

3. Susan http://www.stampinsusan.com/

4. Vicki at http://www.stampedsmiles.com/

5. Sherri at http://sherrimalone.blogspot.com/

Pink Green Polka Dots & Blossoms

Those are all the item you need for a card for the latest challenge at Christmas Cards Year Round. I have them all here. Everything but the flowers is Stampin' Up! The flowers are from Close to my Heart. I did have to add stickles, you know they can't be glitterless! I used the Designer Paper Sweet Always for the background and for the Build-A-Brad in the center of the flowers. Cardstock is Certainly Celery and Pink Pirouette and the ink is Certainly Celery.

Tag Swap

These are just two of the tags I did for a swap I signed up for. Almost no stamping involved except for the verse. These are actually cocktail napkins and I am pleased with the way they turned out. I hope the ladies who get them like them. The sayings are from Stampin' Up! and the Brown fiber is Stampin' Up! along with the cute clips. On the snowman those fibers are from my very large stash. Do you think they will like them???

FIRECRACKER DESIGNS BY PAMELA

Isn't this just the cutest snowman! This set is called Love Never Melts from FireCracker Designs by Pamela. I did this card for a sketch challenge but did tweek the sketch a bit. Along with the stamp set I used Night of Navy, Real Red and Shimmery cardstock from Stampin' Up! I used the snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder and then smeared White Craft ink over and embossing powder. I used the scallop punch for the nifty verse and smeared white craft along the edges for more "snow" tied Red striped grosgrain ribbon at the top of the panel. The snowmans hat has Chunky Glitter from Stampin' Up! along the brim and I used a red rhinestone at the tip of his cap which is hard to see.

Home Crafted Ornaments

This is one view of a small tree I have put up in my craft room to hold the ornaments that I am making for the holidays. These 3 snowflakes at the fron are made using the Big Shot from Stampin' Up! The ornament at the top is a Chipboard left over from last year. I painted it with Gold Metallic paint and the small snowflake with silver. A close up of this was posted earlier.

Holiday Recipe

I said I was going to share some of my favorite recipes. This one is not cookies but it is the first thing I make for Christmas and then freeze it. I have been making this for many years. My mother used to make this every Christmas - she found it in one of our local newspapers in the 1950's. I don't know the actual date. It was from Mamie Eisenhower (sp)

Mamie's Fudge

Butter a 9 x 13 roasting pan and set aside

Have 12 ounces of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips and 12 ounces of German Chocolate broken into small pieces in a large bowl. Set aside

4 1/2 cups granulated Sugar
1 large can condensed milk
1 pat butter ***
Pinch of Salt
16 ounces of Marshmallow Creme

Bring the above 5 ingredients to a boil in a very large saucepan. Boil for 6 minutes stirring continuously. Pour syrup mixture into bowl with Chocolate and stir well until all the chocolate is melted. You may add nuts if you wish. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

This is not a cheap candy but it really makes a lot. Stores well in the freezer and make a great gift.

Now I need to get the rest of my ingredients so I can get it made. Hope you give it a try.

*** I've been asked about this and I just usually cut about the amount I would use to butter toast, don't ever measure it.

Holiday Gift Tags

Here are a couple of the gift tags that I have been making. These use the initials of a couple of our grandchildren and will go on packages for them. After that they can be hung on their Christmas Trees as ornaments. These chipboard pieces has Stampin' Up! Holiday Treasures Designer Paper on both sides. The back has the contrasting paper. The stars are painted with Gold Metallic Paint then adhered to the base. I also used Crystal Effects along the edges of the stars then sprinkled with Gold Glitter. The Alphas are little wooden pieces that I have had around, painted with red acrylic paint then a coat of Crystal Effects and a generous portion of Dazzling Diamonds. I have these Holly Pieces that I added on each one and fibers from my stash . Hope you like them.

Tree Ornaments

I pulled out one of the small Christmas trees from the attic so I could hang up some of my newly made ornaments for this year. This is very small and I just have them there until I get out my big tree. Theses are actually going to be gifts for family members but I wanted to show you all. On here I have my Felt Flurries I made from Stampin' Up!, I have my snowment made from directions I got from my friend Beth, I have only one microscope slide ornament so far and two Snowflake Chipboard Ornaments. These are pieces I got last year but didn't get around to doing until now.

The Large chipboard flake was painted with Silver Metallic paint and the small was painted with gold. I then double pop dotted the gold onto the silver. I used Crystal Effects on the gold one then sprinkled with gold glitter. I edged the Silver one with Crystal effects and added Chuncky Silver Glitter from Stampin' Up! I want to make some more of these. Easy and quick. I hope you like them.

Busy, busy, busy

I have been painting this weekend, not crafts but one of our bathrooms. I think it took more time taking things down, taping and prepping that the actual painting. I wish I could say that I really like the color I picked but I don't. It looked good on the chip but I don't like it on the walls. I just have to get used to it because it won't get painted again for a couple of years. I need to get our master bath painted next so I can start decorating for Christmas and doing som of my baking. I promised earlier that I would share some cookie recipes and that will probably start next week. I'll decide which day and post once or twice a week with a new cookie.

I do have some holiday crafts I'm working on and I hope to get that up later today. It needs to dry right now.