Red Snowflakes

I love this Sizzix Snowflake embosslet. The diecut comes out so detailed-- all in one step! Another quick thank you note that should be in the mailbox soon. The cardstock is SU! real read and the DP might be SU! also, but I am not sure...all my papers are mixed up after making all those stockings. I bought the glitter dot last year at Craft Warehouse.

Another quick Thank You note.

I made a couple of these cute little Thank You notes last night. I used the biggest oval Nestie and cut the blue cardstock and nested the image on the front. This little snowman stamp is one of the first stamps I bought when I started this obsession!

Stamp: Snowman Tea Party by Rubbermoon

Cardstock: SU! blue and SU! Designer paper

Ink: Black, colored with prisma's

Misc: Inkssentials white pen, ribbon from A Muse, nesties

A quick Cuttlebug thank you note!

Well, no stamping here, but I have to jump in somewhere...I made this card last night, trying to get back into the swing of things...trying to remember how to use my tools and play with some new toys. I bought these felt snowflakes and pearls a while back and decided they would look nice with the Thank You and Snowflake CB folders. Quick and easy...and now on to writing my thank you notes!

Wonderful RAK's recieved

Allison at Stampin When I Can sent this pretty RAK along with some wonderful blog candy I received from her. This card has glittery snow on the branches(hard to tell from this picture) Thanks to Allison for the blog candy.

On another note .......... If you are a stalker on Allison's blog (like I am), then you know Allison was expecting a baby towards mid to late January. She went into early labor and gave birth to a sweet Christmas present named Avery Judith. Shortly after birth, Avery developed complications (read here) and is scheduled for her second surgery in the next couple of days. Avery is stabilized at this time and has a wonderful cardiologist attending her. Please keep Avery, Allison and the rest of the family in your prayers.

I received this totally unexpected SCS Birthday RAK from Mary Anne Wood from Indiana. Thanks for the wonderful surprise Mary Anne! Inside it says "May your birthday be so special that you find yourself smiling about it long after it's over" Love the sentiment!

This sparkly creation came from Curt O'Brien and he's from Indiana too...hey, loved that state this week. All these cards arrived long after they were mailed. Because of the huge snowstorm, our town was isolated from food and mail deliveries from the big cities for at least 3 days! I don't ever recall that happening before.

I was admiring this card on his blog, Curt's World, when he originally posted it, so I was excited to get to see this beautiful sparkly number up close and personal LOL! The tree is embossed with a glittery gold and then has red shiny ornament stickers attached. It is matted on gold paper which was matted on silver again. Curt, thank you for sending this beauty to me!

Doggy Christmas

My Christmas Eye Candy-NSR

Let it snow!
Across the street from my house...you can see it's snowing in this picture!

This post is pictures of things that make me happy on Christmas! Family and Friends are always #1 in my book, but I do love the decorations and traditions that go along with it. This Christmas, because of the huge snowstorm, I didn't get to be with all my children nor did we get to the big city to see the other side of our family. They are all missed greatly. I was so looking forward to watching Cole tear a few presents open, or at least roll around in a box or wrapping paper...isn't that how it all works...lots of shopping and the babies like the boxes best LOL!?

Taibo says "I LOVE my new squeaker ball!" (my dog)

My snowbaby collection set up in my antique pie safe. Oops ran out of fake snow by the time I got to the last shelves...and none to be found in this town!

My tapping Hallmark crew!

My girls took tap dance classes for over 15 years, so we have all enjoyed these! These are driving my son crazy!

One of Erin's first homemade ornaments. It is suppose to be a Christmas tree...

One of Abby's first homemade ornaments...suppose to be a sheep...she was really little when she made this almost 25 years ago...can you believe a cotton ball can last that long LOL!

One of Matt's first homemade Christmas ornaments. The arms and legs are rubberbands and they are so old they are starting to get brittle.

What a crew here...Made by my dear friend Kim...I love homemade ornaments! These are little people made out of nylons, wire and felt. I love their eyes.

Oh the day is not complete without Christmas tunes. My current favorite is Josh Groban's Noel CD(can't find the album cover for this pic-so I substituted) Trisha Yearwood-Sweetest Gifts (I think...again I carry these things around to different rooms so I will have to round them up), Always have to have John Denver and the Muppets(this is not a soothing album hahahaha), Kenny Loggins, Colin Raye, Steve Wariner, Dan Fogelberg, HAPA(a wonderful Hawaiian album), John Berry and lots and lots of others...I so love Christmas music...mostly the kind that is calming to the nerves LOL!

Kristie Schmid's home made caramels...heaven!

My Christmas village. I don't get this out every year because it is so time consuming to put up and takes up a lot of space. I have to say I have enjoyed it this year, especially at night with the living room lights out! I can't wait for little Cole to see it next year...do you think he will be old enough to keep his little fingers out of the town LOL?!

and last but not least my little fairy night light that was a gift from Kristi. The little hat has a thingie on it's head full of bubbly water and glitter and it is just so cute...makes me smile!


Next year I hope to share all of these memories and more with little Cole. This is my Ali Edwards type post. She does this wonderful December mini scrap book of each day in December...maybe next year I will make one!

I wish all of you a wonderul 2009!

Christmas Project 2008-Woodworking and Papercrafting!

Stampin Up! papers.

I think some of this is Stampin Up! paper too.

Our version of the Anna Wight snowflake! I found an old tin full of wonderful buttons and we had fun matching them to each stocking! We bought the big snowflakes(Bazzil?), painted them and glittered too. Used the Martha fern punch and a Sizzix snowflake embosslet. Added an old button and Viola!

Some more Debby Mumm papers?

Debby Mumm papers?

Mainly Basic Grey paper maybe?

Jill and I made these wonderful stockings based on Anna Wights stocking here. Her stocking was quite a bit "fancier" than ours...but we make quite a few of them for family and friends and time becomes a big factor. We had such a grand time making these, although they have now become a New Years stocking as we are in the midst of a severe snow storm and the stockings got stranded...as well as many of the yummy cookies that were made. At least I know I will not go hungry. Jill and I decided this is our favorite project we have made...! Thanks so much Anna!

These stockings were a good excuse to use all my DP I have been hoarding. I closed my eyes, my heart was pounding and handed my DP holder over to Jill to start gluing away! How liberating...LOL! I still have lots of pieces, but I loved looking at all the stockings and trying to decide which one to keep for myself! They were all different too...not one that looks like the other. Jill was in charge of gluing and using that nifty little Fiskars finger cutting knife to cut around the wood once the glue dried some. What a nifty little tool!

I was the chief wood cutter and sander...ouch that is hard on the hands. I used my new scroll saw that my Mom and Dad got me for my birthday! We actually set it up in the front living room (not a cold shop this year) and sawed away. Dad had to help me learn to change blades...Jill and I sort of destructed the machine when trying to change the first blade, so Dad had to help put it all back together...a real learning experience!

We wrapped these in cellophane, put a big bow on them and will deliver some as Christmas presents or some as Happy New Years stockings...!

Projects of Christmas past! Woodcrafting

I love these little reindeer! The heads are made out of the little spoons that come with orange sherbert cups...remember those? The fence is made out of tongue depressors. I think you can see that each little reindeer is named (those are my kids!)...lots of little pieces on this...they took longer than I thought they would, but were fun to make with Jill West...I think...Jill and I have crafted almost every holiday in the last 10-15 years, but sometimes a new crafter steps in once in a while to join in the reindeer fun. I hope I keep the names straight!


Jill and I made this star up at my Dad's shop in 2001. Of course Dad and sometimes Mom get recruited to act as elves too! The center star is rusted metal.

My Dad, Mom and I made these up at his shop in 2005. The weather was storming and we had the best time. We had over a foot of snow one day when we peeked our head out the shop doors!
I think Jill got snowed out of most of this year!

This was mine and Jill's (and always Dad and Mom) project for 2007. Can you tell they are getting easier and less complicated?

We actually had our local stamp store, The Picture Patch, cut the lettering out of acetate, taped the template on the board and then carefully rolled over the letters...worked pretty slick. My Dad cut the grooves into the boards and then we painted the board black and then red(hmm that is the red on my living room wall!) and then splattered paint on it with a toothbrush. . Jill actually cut the grapevine that is hanging the sign herself! We buy up ribbon and flower pics etc after Christmas and try to incorporate whatever we get into a future projects.


This is a Troutlake Schmid Family project from 1999(yeah I remembered to date it!). They are always more detailed and larger than what I make at home. They even have their own sawmill, so they are ready to go! This is a snowman about 2+ feet tall. Lots of pieces and painting. Lots of fun with family and friends making these...Great memories too!

Close up of the bird house. I think us girls might have put the roof on this wrong (no peak)...or maybe that's how it was suppose to be!

I love this wiggly little snowman. The hat and mittens are cut out of Balsa wood...extremely light, so when you touch them, they just wiggly all over the place (that's what they are suppose to do). Jill and I made these and my daughter Erin hunted down the prototype for us! We are alway shopping craft bazaars etc for something that we can make ourselves! We made this in 2004.

Another Schmid Family project from 2002. Sister Kristie, neice's Kristin and Melissa and myself made these...I know because we wrote on the back! Whew...I love all the dangly lights on this snowman!

Jill West and I made this rustic box in 2006. We gave away these boxes full of Christmas cookies and breads with a candle or special gifty tucked in here and there. This is white washed cedar boards my Dad cut for us. Jill cut the tree branch handles off of her land and we wrapped a long berry pic around it. I now display special Christmas books or magazines in it.



That is it right now for Christmas past(shoot-I just remembered a few more that are around the house...darn it) and now on to Christmas present...I have a few things to finish up tonight and then I will work on that post! We already have plans for Christmas future...and it may be papercrafting!

Hope you have enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me! I am still missing some years in here somewhere, but I did post a few projects from before already! Thanks for stopping by!

Past Christmas projects-Sewing

This was the most time consuming project I ever made...boy was I glad to be done with this!

Back in the days when I still sewed alot, I made 15 of these...I appliqued until the wee hours of the night for weeks, but it is still my very favorite project I have ever made! It is so pretty in real life! The fabrics are beautiful! This is a wall hanging about 18" x 24".

Detail of old St Nick

I actually didn't make this little elf, my friend in Alaska, Linda Branson did. But we made each other one for Christmas as our present to ourselves....so yes, I did make one just like this. He usually doesn't sit in my kitchen, but for lighting purposes he had to pose in here. His place of honor is on an old antique piano stool in my living room!

Here he is holding all the candy canes!

The cookies are done!

Finally the cookies are all done and ready to give away...this is a platter that goes to Grandma's house! There are a few in there that didn't get posted...and looky, my reindeer lost his eyes...will have to work on that hehe!

Gwamma's Reindeer Cookies

Aren't these the cutest darn cookies? I am practicing making "Gwamma" cookies for next year. Because of the huge snow storm, I didn't get to spend holiday time with little Cole, but next year he will know what Reindeer are all about and really appreciate this fun cookie! I truly am done baking, and have not posted all the goodies I have made...I guess I will catch back up in 2009!

The "unfun" part of making these cookies was cutting up little pretzels to make the antlers...I had pretzel pieces flying all over my kitchen...I am still finding them LOL!...and those darn little choc chips melted faster in my hand than on the cookie...you have to work fast to give these guys eyes!(as you can tell...they all have wonky brown eyes ha!)

I saved this recipe out of the 2007 December issue of Ladies Home Journal and boy was I determined to make them this year...by golly I had to keep track of that dang magazine for a year! It is basically a peanut butter blossum cookie all decorated up. I don't have time to type out the recipe today, so if anyone needs it asap, please email and I will try to find time to type it up.



I have been stalling in posting my annual wood project because some of the people I give too are going to read this post, but it is time. I will post it tonight! See you then.

I call this KitchenAid Fudge!

This is an easy chocolate fudge recipe, as long as you have a KitchenAid mixer! I personally wouldn't want to stand and mix on high speed for 10 minutes with a hand held mixer!

Chocolate Fudge

3 cups of semisweet chocolate chips (1 1/2 bags of chips)
2 cups chopped nuts
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 pound butter or margarine (preferably room temp)(1/2 pound=2 cubes)
4 1/2 cups sugar
1 12oz can of evaporated milk(NOT sweet milk)
salt


Combine sugar, milk and a dash of salt into a large saucepan, Boil over medium heat for 14 minutes, timing after mixture comes to a full boil.(the boiling point is very low...about 2 or  3 on my stove on a scale of 1-8) Stir occasionally. While syrup is cooking, place butter, choc chips and a dash of salt in mixer bowl.

After syrup is cooked, slowly pour over the chocolate butter mixture in bowl and blend at low speed first, then beat at medium speed for 10 minutes, then add vanilla and nuts.  Pour the fudge into a lightly buttered 9 x 13 pan  that is lined with parchment paper.  If you let the parchment paper stand up on the side edges, you can pull on the parchment paper and just lift the fudge out of the dish and on to a cutting board after it has set up. Pretty slick!  Chill until firm. Makes 4 pounds. (that's a lot of fudge!)

Tips: Easier to cut when room temperature. I run a sharp knife under hot water to heat it, wipe dry and cut a line through the fudge and then repeat. This gives nice cut edges to your pieces.

November 2009
ETA: Tip #2 Resist the temptation to scrape the sides of the pan while this is boiling. It seems to turn out better for me.

I see lots of people googling this recipe. I would love to know what you think of it! I have made it many times it is soooooo good.

ETA 12-13-2009

Make sure when you make this, that you add your boiled sugar mixture slowly while the mixer is on low- this will  allow the choc chips time to adjust to the heat. I tried this with Peanut Butter chips this weekend like a reader suggested...Very good but much sweeter that the chocolate. I would suggest only using one tsp of vanilla or maybe none at all!

ETA: 12-9-2010
Making fudge today...in a hurry and needed to get some to my Dad this afternoon, so I let my fudge set a few minutes in the refrigerator, took it out while still soft (don't be so impatient Sue!) and cut it up. Oh so much easier. Have not taken it out of the dish yet, but if this works and looks like nice pieces, I will be so happy.......

ETA-To Dad making fudge for his kids-I use the paddle attachment on my kitchen aide. 

No Bake Chocolate Yummies

Chocolate Yummies

Chocolate Yummies

1- 12oz pkg of semi sweet choc chips
2/3 cups margarine
1 large jar of marshmallow creme(or at least 32 large marshmallows-I use the creme)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flaked or shredded coconut
4 cups rolled oats(either quick cooking or old fashioned type work...I use the quick brand)

Melt choc chips, margarine, and marshmallows over a low heat until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, coconut and oats. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. If you refrigerate, they will set up faster.

Tips: I used a #30 scoop to form these cookies. I like gooey, chewy cookies so it wouldn't hurt to add a few more marshmallows if you do too! This recipe can easily be cut in half also.

Wonderful cards and RAK's received

A thank you card from my hometown friend and coworker Barb Nesta. The DP on this card is nicely textured if you can't tell by this picture!

A birthday RAK from Michelle at SCS. What a surprise! I don't know Michelle, so this was a sweet surprise and I will have to find her over at SCS...I think she moderates the RAK group???

A Christmas RAK from my American Idol buddy Kathy Palmer back in Texas! What will this season bring Kathay????????

A Christmas RAK from my stamping friend Julia. The ribbon and paper on this card is lucious! Thank you for the wonderful surprise Julia!

A house mouse Christmas RAK from one of my most long standing cyber stamping friends, Eileen Emswiler. Thanks Eileen, I have the darling circle ornament you sent last year on my tree!

A SU birthday RAK from my chief partner in stamping crime Charla!

I got all these cards in the last couple of weeks and wanted to share with you all! I am playing with my new portable light box that I received from my sweetie as a birthday gift. Wow, that thing sure helps with the lighting. My sweetie was so proud of the fact that this gift shows "he listens" to me when I talk...................ummmm......... no comment........

I hope to post my completed annual Christmas project on Monday, (after I give out a few of them) It was inspired /cased from Ana Wight andI can't wait to show you!

Cinnamon Polar Bears

What they are suppose to look like!

This polar bear got caught in our snow storm!

Oops, I didn't schedule this one correctly...no recipe typed up yet...oh well-- maybe after work today! Sorry. These are such cute kids cookies and they have a nice cinnamon flavor. Watch for the recipe...coming soon!

ETA:

Here it is!

Cinnamon Polar Bears

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter or margarine-softened

1 egg

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

powdered sugar

1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips

red cinnamon candies

Beat sugar and butter/margarine until fluffy. Add in egg and beat well. Add flour and cinnamon. Blend well. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour for easier handling ( I think overnight would have been better)

Heat oven to 350° (to get the degree symbol press ALT 0176...just a tip there).

Shape each cookie into a 1 inch ball. (I used my #60 scoop, which makes a slightly larger ball I think). Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet (I use my silpat baking sheet) Flatten slightly. (Not too much here...I just used the bottom of a flat glass to flatten...it doesn't take much) Shape some dough into 3 (1/4 inch) balls. Place 2 balls above and touching larger ball for ears and 1 ball on top of cookie to resemble snout. Flatten slightly. (just a wee bit here)

Bake 350° for 11-15 minutes (I baked mine 10 minutes) or until firm to the touch. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Lightly sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar. Press 2 chocolate chips into each cookie for eyes and 1 cinnamon candy for nose. (Important to do this while cookie is still hot or the candy won't stick )

This recipe says it makes 48, but count on about 24 or so. I made a double batch.