Christmas Cookies

This year I had a chance to make lots of cookies.  Here is our all time favorite called cream wafers.  They are a sandwich cookie frosted with pink and green frosting.

 These are rolled, cut, dipped in sugar, and baked in the oven.  You can get the recipe here.  My cookies are the original version from Betty Crocker's Cookie Cookbook that a friend gave to me back in the 1970's.

 Here is another recipe I did.  This one was new.  I love to make snowflake cookies but this recipe is out of this world delicious.  I kid you not.  The dough is rolled and cut with varying shapes of cutters I have in my collection.

 Some were frosted with Royal Icing in plain white and some tinted ever so slightly with blue Royal Icing that was thinned enough to spread.

 The decorations were piped on the snowflakes and some glitter sugar was sprinkled on them to make them festive.  The recipe used is here.  I will definitely be making these again next year.  They were light and not to sweet and so pretty.  I also made Hershey's Dark Chocolate Chip, Pecan Tassies,and Betty Crocker's Almond Thumbprint Cookies.  Last but not least I made Baklava which I make every year for the Holiday.  This year I thought my baking was the best ever.  Feel free to try these awesome recipes.  I highly recommend them.

Double Criss Cross Pocket Card

 Greetings friends and bloggers.  Today I have a double criss cross card to share with you using the awesome CottageCutz dies.  I think my go to die this year is the Filigree Deer.  This is the third card I made with the deer this year.  I just love the shape of the deer.  I also used the Classic Holiday Tags to fill my pockets in this card.  The pockets on this card were decorated with a Martha Stewart Punch and Recollection Ribbon.  The sentiment is a Recollection sticker and I decorated the tags with stickers and trimmed them with gold stickles.  I used the tutorial here to create this card.  It was fast, fun, and easy.  Below are the CottageCutz dies I used.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas with your family and wish you all the very best in the New Year. 

Serendipity Snowman & Wreath

Oh don't you just love snowmen.  Here is one today from Serendipity called Snowman & Wreath.  They have some of the sweetest snowmen stamps that I indulged in this fall.  I used Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Square, Sizzix Snowflake on the Edge die, and Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch in two sizes.  The glittered buttons are Recollection and so is the White Christmas Sentiment.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I am going to be baking up some Christmas cookies and fill the house with delightful aromas!

Put a Little Song in Your Heart

Greetings friends and bloggers.  Today I have a sweet snowman to share with you.  I got this a year ago in September at a CK Convention down in Jacksonville.  It was in a $1 bin with no name-but I think it is an Uptown Stamp.  Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle frame the snowman along with Martha Stewart punched snowflakes that have been painted with glue and glittered.  The banner is also a Martha Stewart Punch and the corners are a CheeryLynn die.  Stickles were applied to the snowman so he sparkles as well.  I am still making Christmas cards....I will be late getting one out for sure.  I had such great intentions this year but most of my plans fell through.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I will be back again soon with another creation!

CottageCutz Merry Moose-mas

 

Don't you just love Christmas Lights.  I remember when I was younger my parents would take us to the city to view the Christmas lights.  They would be strung from light pole to light pole over the streets and it was so beautiful.  When I decided to use the Moose for my card I couldn't help but want to string these Recollection sticker lights around my card to coordinate with the lights that decorate the Moose antlers.   The Moose has been popped up on an embossed Spellbinders die cut.  A couple of Recollection flowers, green glitter leaves, and a Recollection sentiment and this card is ready to "light" up someone for Christmas.  Fast, Fun, and Fantastic.  It doesn't get any easier than that.  Here is the die I used.

Isn't he just cute.  You can get yours here.   He was so much fun to die cut and put together.  A little Brush Corduroy distress ink and he was good to go.  I loved assembling the lights on the antlers-that was fun.  Thanks for stopping by today to see my creations.  Merry Moose-mas!

Christmas for a Hunter

Greetings friends.  Today I wanted to share a card with you that I made for  my boss for Christmas.  He's a hunter so I went with a forest theme with deer.  The deer are from CottageCutz called Filigree Deer.  I did not put their little jackets on them as I wanted this to be more on the basis of a hunting theme with an outdoor feel.  I painted the deer with glue and sprinkled brown glitter on  them to make them festive.  The trees are Tim Holtz Sizzix Pine Trees and they were crimped. (Marisa your crimping always inspires me)!  The row of trees border at the top was sent to me from my friend Benzi and looks just perfect on this card.  The tree stamp for the background is Rubber Stampede called Pine tree and I just sponged some clouds.  The snowflake sentiment is from Recollection.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate it.  I will have lots to share this week as I have been busy in the craft room putting the finishing touches on my projects.  See you soon!

Sensational Silver

 So how do you feel about Silver?  You know, I used to be strickly a "Gold" girl and I turned my nose up at Silver.  But, as of late I am coming around about Silver.  If you want a nice icy cold crisp feel-then silver is color.  Gold give a warm rich regal feel pair with colors of your choice.

 For this card I used just white and silver.   The silver paper is Recollection and you can get it at Michael's.  The Merry Christmas is an ornament I picked up at the Dollar Tree in a package of 6 for a dollar.  They had Gold too!!!  You may just see a card in Gold...lol  I made the snowflake Stick pins by removing the head from the pins I have and apply two glittered snowflakes with the pin sandwiched in the middle.  They were glittered with Martha Stewart glitter and a Recollection rhinestone applied in the center.

 I used a bunch of Spellbinders die and also the Memory Box Frostyville Snow Border which you can see peeking out from under those sugared Martha Stewart Snowflakes.  There is also so very cool silver rhinestone mesh at the border at the bottom.  I got that at the CKC in Jacksonville in September.  That stuff is so pretty.

 Thank you so much for stopping by today and letting me share my Christmas Creation with you.  See you real soon,

Christmas in Paris

Bonjour!  Joyeux Noel.  It's Christmas in Paris at Chocolate Crafts and Bears, Oh My today.  Let me treat you to my version of the Eiffel Tower decorated for the holiday season.   You don't have to travel to France to enjoy it's beauty.

 Aaaah, so you thought it was just a card huh?  No I made these Eiffel Tower Christmas tree ornaments.  Let me tell you how much fun they were to make.  Gosh they are so cute.  I got the template for free at Paper Toys.  So grab your Eiffle Towers and give it a try!

 For the card I used Spellbinders Floral Oval, Large Oval, and Layered Poinsettia dies.  The snowflakes are Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge.  They have been painted with glue and sprinkled with Martha Stewart Glitter.  The Poinsettia were cut on white card stock and sponged with Studio G ink in two different colors of pink.

 The Pointsettia have also had crystal stickles applied for sparkle and a recollection rhinestone for the center.  The image was colored with Copic markers.  The flourish is from Cheery Lynn and the crystals are from Michael's. 

 A total of 5 ornaments were created.  The Eiffel Towers were printed out on White Card Stock and assembled.  Once assembled, I painted them with glitter glue and applied crystal glitter on them in a heavy coat.  If you do this don't be worried that you won't see the print.  Once it dries it dries clear and it becomes really sparkly and pretty. 

 I decorated the towers with the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia, Cheery Lynn Flourishes,  Wired Crystal Sprays from Michael's, and white floral berrys from the "Dollar Tree" that have had crystal stickles applied to them as well as the Poinsettia.

Thank you so much for stopping by today to view my project.  This is going out in the mail this week to a special friend.   It was a blast to created and I enjoyed it so much.  See you soon!
Here are some Challenges I found to enter:
Cheery Lynn Designs - Tis the Season (I used the mini Fanciful Flourish)
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Merry Christmas
Lollipop Crafts - Happy Holidays
Love to Create - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge  -  Christmas
Christmas Card Challenge  -  Die Cuts
Dream Valley Challenges:  Christmas
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - To Die For
Pile It On - Embellishments
Robyn's Fetish - Christmas Cards
The Hybridchick- Holiday Card

CottageCutz Holiday Cardinal

 

Christmas is fast approaching.  Wasn't it just Thanksgiving....yikes.  Today I have a card made with the beautiful Holiday Cardinal from CottageCutz.  This die is gorgeous. 

 

This card used Spellbinders Floral Oval, Large Oval, and Holly Motif Corners.  Martha Stewart Holly punch around the page and branch punch.  The plain oval die cut was embossed as well as all the white background.

 The berries on the background of the CottageCutz die were cut on red metallic paper.  The flowers are recollection and were sent to me by my friend Pam.  Thank you Pam!   The leaves are the "Greenery" die from CottageCut.

 Below you will find a picture of the dies I used.  I have to make another one of these cards as I always send a Cardinal to my Brother-In-Law and his family.  Thanks for visiting today.  I really appreciate it.

CottageCutz Sleigh Bells Ring

 Sleigh Bells Ring are you listening.  In the lane snow is glistening.  A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight.  Walking in a winter wonderland.  Today is a CottageCutz card made with the beautiful Holiday Sleigh die.

 Isn't this sleigh gorgeous.  I couldn't help but to die cut and just paint it with glue and glitter this with red glitter.  That's all you need to do to make this card "Glisten".  Just a quick tip:  when glittering images be sure to use card stock in the same color family as the glitter.  That way you will not have any unwanted paper color showing through your glitter and it gives it a nice even tone.

 I used Spellbinders Decorative Labels One to showcase my focal point.  The Martha Stewart Skyland Snowflake punched piece was sewn to the top.  The green glitter branch is from Michaels.  The Recollection Happy Holiday sentiment is also from Michaels.  Here is the die I used, you can find it here.

Thank you for stopping by today.  It's really appreciated.  Have a Happy Crafting day.  Hope your Holiday festivities are progressing well and that you are filled with Holiday Spirit!

Hunting in the South Georgia Wilderness

This is the view from my husband's perch in a tree stand while hunting in the Georgia wilderness this morning.  I think it is just beautiful out there.  Along with this picture he sent me a sound clip of a hawk that flew over his head.  It was so beautiful to hear that hawk's calling in the silence of the woods.    My husband is going to build a hunting condo and when it is finished I plan to go with him hunting.  What a view I will have!  Disclaimer:  No deer will be harmed while I am in the tree stand.  I do not have the heart to shoot an animal.  It just is not in me.

CottageCutz Blog Hop

  

 Hello everyone and Welcome to The CottageCutz Blog Hop for November. We will have lots to share with you today using the Darling Cottage Cutz dies, so be sure to grab your favorite drink ,and enjoy the hop.  The Design Team is sure to delight you with some awesome creations made with the fabulous CottageCutz Dies.   You should have arrived here from The CottageCutz Blog.

 For my project today I am using the beautiful Filigree Reindeer die.  I cut two of the standing reindeer from white cardstock, painted them with glitter glue, and sprinkled white glitter on the reindeer.  I cut tow of the Filigree pieces from purple cardstock, painted with glitter glue, and sprinkled purple glitter on top.

 The reindeer have been layered on Spellbinders Label Twenty Seven.  Just a hint, the purple glitter piece in-between these these layers was created by tracing the top die piece on the back of the glitter paper and cut out with scissors.  I distressed with Rangers Concord Grape

 The background was created using a cuttlebug folder and distressing with the same Concord Grape distress ink.  The border is Spellbinders at the bottom, the Snowflakes are Martha Stewart.  The Purple floral piece is from Michaels.   Here is the CottageCutz die I used.

Thank you for joining us today.  I really appreciate it so very much.  Your next stop is the lovely and talented Janice's Blog .  Be sure to leave comments on all designers blog and The CottageCutz blog to be entered to WIN a prize!  Winners will be announced December 2 on the CottageCutz Blog.

Traveling Tea Party Jack Russell for George

 

Yay!  I was able to participate in the traveling tea party at Splitcoast Stampers again this week.  A little late but I am there.  Our cards are going to George in PA this week.  George loves Jack Russell Terriers and had to find homes for some of his dogs as George is facing a difficult road ahead in his cancer fight.  If you would like to read the story you can here.

 

Found this clip art on the internet and popped the image up three times on this Spellbinders Die cut.  The flourish and corners are Cheery Lynn and the lace border is Martha Stewart.  Used some buttons for the little flowers with white button centers. Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I appreciate it so very much!

Altered Pumpkin and Pumpkin Easel Card

 Thanksgiving is tomorrow so I thought it would be appropriate to show my last fall creation for this season.  Can I be flamboyant and say it's a doozey too....lol   My creative endeavors are taking me to want to "alter" things and make them either different or better than they were.   

 So I started out with this wire pumpkin it measure about 10" x 10"..  It is orange and copper with a fine glitter glow to it.  It has a wire tendril and a couple of metal leaves.    I made the sunflowers with the Spellbinders Sunflower die.  They were distress inked with Rangers Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, and Tea Dyed inks.  The centers of the flowers are micro beads from Martha Stewart and the flowers are glittered with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Twinkle Toes.

 The white puffy berries are from a sprig I picked up at the dollar store.  This puffy berry really intrigued me as I was thinking I would use them for "snowballs", but I find they are so pretty I wanted to use them on this.  I stickled them for my glittered glam!

 The orange butterflies are a die from CottageCutz.  I cut them and painted them with glitter glue and sprinkled with orange Recollection glitter then attached to the pumpkin.  The "Fall" banner is from a spellbinder die with Cuttlebug alphabet die.  I distressed and stickled the edges.  I got out my jewelry making supplies and hooked the sign together with jump rings and then attached it to the pumpkin with more jump rings.

 This little pumpkin easel card was made to compliment the pumpkin.  I found this embossing folder that made the design that kinda looks like the wire mesh in the wired pumpkin.  I made more sunflowers and tried to make it look as close as possible to the big pumpkin.

 This is right now winging it's way across country and going to someone special who did me a wonderful favor.  I know she is going to be surprised!  I really love it and can't wait for it to arrive.  Let me take this opportunity to wish you all in the USA a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I count you all as my many blessings and am thankful for your friendship.  See you again real soon!

CottageCutz Fall Vine With Bird

Greetings Friends!  This week will be a nice short week at work for us as we prepare for Thanksgiving.  I don't know about you but I feel like "Black Friday" is taking away from Thanksgiving.  At this time of year I like to reflect upon the thing I am Thankful for and enjoy a Turkey dinner with my family and not plan an all out mad dash to the stores by 4 p.m.  Geez!!!!

My card is made with the Fall Vine with Bird Die.  What you don't think this looks like a fall card.  Well, you are right.  I want to show you that this die could be used for Christmas.  Isn't it cute.

I used Recollection Glittered paper.  Now I do want to mention  that when you do cut with that type of thicker paper to use your Grand Calibur machine to cut this out.  You get a nice even pressure on your die which makes this cut out nicely.  I used my Martha Stewart craft knife to press the die out.  Easy peasy.

So whether you use this for a Fall card or a Christmas card you are sure to enjoy the beautiful creation you can make with it. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I really appreciate it.  I have one more fall project to share this week you won't want to miss.  Have a great day!