Deck the Halls

Whew!  I'm getting in at the last minute on one of the challenges, so I'll keep this short and sweet!

Have you decorated for Christmas yet?  We usually begin Thanksgiving evening and finish the next day, but this year, I did nothing!  Hoping to get my tree up and "deck the halls" this week.  :)

This birdbrain is working hard to deck his halls! 

Challenges...
Pile It On #97 - use red and green
Christmas Card Challenge #52 - anything goes
A Snowflake Promise #10 - anything goes winter/Christmas
FTHS Free Stamp of the Month November - must use Deck the Halls birdbrain
i {heart} sketches #128 - sketch and/or favorite color (I did both... I love red!!!!)

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!

A Christmas Carol

I'm looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with family on Thursday, but we're busy preparing for Christmas... especially our play... A Christmas Carol.  My hubby is Scrooge! :)  I was so excited to find these Graphic 45's "A Christmas Carol" stamps.  I'm making cards for the families in the cast.  I've got one done!  [Need almost 20, so I'd better get busy!!]

Aren't these wonderful????

I got a really good deal for all 3 on eBay! :)  Then I found the paper discounted at Blitsy.com.  [If you don't know about Blitsy, you need to go check them out!!  Click HERE]

Enough bragging about my bargains, here's my card...

I have a love/hate relationship with my camera.  Some days, I am thrilled with how it captures the colors and shades of my card.  Then there are days like today!  I tried both natural and artificial light and neither came out very true-to-life.  ((I know!  I know!  It's not the camera, it's the operator!))

I used Graphic 45 A Christmas Carol stamps and DP (from the 8x8 pad).   I used Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A and Spellbinders Labels One and Scalloped Labels One.

Challenges...
Vintage Stamping #38 - Traditional Christmas
Christmas Card Challenge #51 - anything goes
'Tis the Season #55 - sketch "Christmas Panels"

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Curious kitties - TMS #328

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  

This week's sponsor is Sami Stamps.  I used Curious Gifts.   I made a Christmas card, obviously, but this fun stamp could be used for any occasion that you give a gift. 

My image was colored with Spectrum Noir markers and cut out with Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A. My fun DP is Crate Paper "Peppermint."  For embossing, I used CB Swiss Dots, CB Holly Ribbons, and Darice Ornament Hung.  "Merry Christmas" is a MME clear sentiment.

Here's the sketch... {...just realized I missed the stitching element on my own sketch! :-o }

  

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Big-eyed "thank you" - TMS #327

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  I've got a cute thank you card to show you today...

   

Our sponsor this week is Sherri Baldy Designs.  Her big-eyed beauties are soooo sweet and pretty and fun to color!!

My DP is MME Paris & Co.  My image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  As you can see, I turned it, but here's our wonderful sketch by Nina...

Challenges...

Simon Says Monday - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Tuesday Throwdown #271 - shopping spree (The last time I went paper shopping, I got this MME 6x6 pad that I used today. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought 2!!!)
{PIN}spirational Challenge #153 - photo (I took inspiration from the blonde little girl)

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee - glad to have her back!
Jessi
Kris
Melissa - off this week
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Today, Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the challenge over at Pile It On! The theme is "Any holiday/celebration."   My card is a Christmas card.

I love to listen to Christmas Carols, I love sing them, and I love to play them on the piano!!  I love them all including "O Little Town of Bethlehem."  Making this card, the song was going over and over in my head.  :)

My image and sentiment are from Doodle Pantry's Little Bethlehem.  It is cut with Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Labels Eighteen.  My DP is Paper Studio.

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Hubby's birthday

I've got my husband's birthday card to show you today...

My image is from Our Daily Bread Father's Day though this isn't a Father's day card... it is a birthday card even if it doesn't say "happy birthday" on the front!  My DP is 7 Gypsies "Journey."  The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and cut out with Spellbinders Labels One and Scalloped Labels One.  

Challenges...
Seize the Birthday - anything goes birthday

Crafting With Friends #10 - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #399 - birds/animals
Creative Knockouts #115 - something to say (include a sentiment)
Our Daily Bread Shining Light ODBDSLC262 - sketch

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Eat my cookin' - TMS #326

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!  I've got a fun project but I used the sketch on a goodie box rather than a card this week.  Last week, I shared my caramel corn recipe (click here if you're interested) and that would be great to use to fill this box...

In case you can't read it, the sentiment says, 
"Many people have eaten my cooking 
& gone on to lead normal lives"    
LOL

I made the sketch square to fit the top of the box.  

The box is from a file for a cookie box that I found HERE at The Project Girl's blog.  The box is made using Christmas Kraft.  The main panel on top is Kraft that is embossed with Sizzix Berry Swirls and inked with Memento Rhubarb Stalk.     My brads and ribbon are from my stash.  The image is Baked With Love from Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet... our sponsor for this week!

Here's our sketch...

Challenges...
Crafting From the Heart #85 - anything goes
Craft Your Passion #297 - anything goes
Decorate to Celebrate #112 - anything goes/3D


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches!

All Is Calm - take 2

Last week, I shared this card using All Is Calm from Doodle Pantry.  Today I've got another one, but this one is a little more "fun."   [The wonderful thing about DP images is that you get the outline plus one or more colored options!]  I used a different colored image than last time and added brads on some of the ornaments for fun.

Close-up of brads and Glossy Accents on star

This week, Doodle Pantry is sponsoring Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - a wonderful blog dedicated to collecting and distributing handmade cards to children who are inpatient at Children's Hospitals.  The theme is "Happy Holidays."

Challenges...
A Snowflake Promise #9 - anything goes winter/Christmas
Word Art Wednesday #208 -anything goes/family friendly
Fab 'n' Funky #280 - die cuts and/or punches (I used Spellbinders Petite Ovals and Scalloped Petite Ovals)

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

I miss you...

My card today is another for my daughter away at college...

I may let my son write this note and send it... he LOVES ice cream, so this would really mean a lot to her coming from him!! :)

My DP is Prima Believe.  The image and sentiment are from Doodle Pantry's Missing You.   The silver paper is cut out with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles.  The ribbon is AC.  My button is Poppystamps Stitched Buttons Die and tied with a bit of twine. 

Challenges...
Cute Card Thursday #398 - food and drink
Crafty Girls Creations #8 - anything goes
Creative Knockouts #115 - lace, twine, and/or ribbon

Thanks for stopping and have a great weekend!!!

Caramel corn!

I'm not a food blogger - that will be VERY obvious by my pics - but I was reminded by FB the other day that I was making caramel corn by this time last year.  **Why am I so slow this year??**   I shared that memory and the recipe was requested, so here it is. 

We LOVE this stuff!!  I cannot tell you how many batches we make and give away plus we have to have lots  more than we should  so much I need to go to Caramel Corn Anonymous some for ourselves.  It's SOOOOO good!

A friend gave me this recipe almost 20 yrs ago and we make it so many times throughout the fall and for Christmas.  I don't do it other times in the year because I would eat too much.  WARNING: it is addictive!!!

I truly apologize for the poor quality of my pics.  I'm not a great photographer anyway, but these were all taken with my phone, some taken one-handed while doing things so they're blurry, and some were taken by my son as I hollered, "Take it now!"  :P 
 
Caramel Corn

{Preheat oven to 225F}

6-8 qts popped corn {I use a scant 1 c unpopped kernels}
1-2 c peanuts, optional {I prefer it without peanuts but also avoid them because of friends with nut allergies}

1 c butter or margarine
2 c brown sugar
1/2 c light corn syrup
1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda

~Pop corn and place in large roasting pan.  {Add peanuts, if desired.}  Set aside.

(I pop a scant 1/2 c of kernels at a time in my Whirly Pop pan.) 

~Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in heavy sauce pan over medium heat.

~Bring to rolling boil, stirring constantly.   Once boiling, boil for 5 minutes.  {No need to stir though I do occasionally}

~Remove from heat and add vanilla and baking soda.  Stir quickly and vigorously until it foams up and turns a nice light golden color.

 

~Pour over popped corn and gently stir, stir, and stir some more until everything is coated.

~Bake at 225 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

~Spread on cookie sheets or wax paper to cool.  Break apart and store in airtight container.  ENJOY!!!

This is really blurry!  I guess I was shaking with excitement! LOL

 

Trust me... your friends will LOVE it if you make this for them!! 

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!

U mean the world 2 me - TMS #325

Happy Tuesday to you!  It's time for Tuesday Morning Sketches!!   I'll get right to it.  Here's my card for today...

And here's another card for today...

I'm submitting my snowman card to these challenges...
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - pick a previous theme (July '15 - snowman)
Holly Jolly Christmas - snowman

And still another one!! :)

Why so many?  I was working ahead on my DT cards and made the first card you see for today's challenge with All the World, a set from Deedee's Digis - our sponsor for this week.   Then I won a challenge last week that was sponsored by Deedee's Digis, so after getting my prize, I played with the new sets, too.  

Here's our sketch that I obviously had great fun playing with...

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to go check out the creations from the TMS DT...

Jenee
Jessi
Kris
Melissa
Nina

We'd love to have you play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketch!!

Mooo-ey Christmas

Happy Sunday to you!  I pray you will be in the Lord's house today and blessed by His Word!

It's November!  Can you believe that next month is Christmas??!!??  :)   I've got a fun Christmas card for you today...

Isn't this fun??  I used Doodle Pantry's Milk & Cookies colored image and sentiment.  They are cut out with Spellbinders Petite Ovals.  My DP is AC Let It Snow.  The main panel is embossed with CB Swiss Cots.  {I love all embossing, but I have to say that I really love the effect of embossing on patterned paper!!} The snowflake is Sweet 'n Sassy Small Snowflakes Dies.  I "colored" them with a Sakura gel pen so they sparkle.

Doodle Pantry's Ants in My Pants Digital Challenge 11 begins today at noon at the Doodle Pantry Blog... HERE.  The theme is always "any digi goes" and there will be one random winner.  Any digi from any company is welcome, but if you use a Doodle Pantry image, you have a chance to be the "Pantry Pick."

Challenges I'm entering...
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
613 Avenue Create #148 - anything goes w/ optional twist host/hostess thank you (I went anything goes)

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!!