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Tuesday, December 19, 2017

All the Sneaky Freaky Things!

The Control Freaks are taking this opportunity to take control of your holidays and show you a little bit of what is coming your way from Stampin' Up in the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogs!! Aren't you EXCITED??!?? Can you even STAND it??? I know when I got a view of some of the lovely things coming that I could barely contain my excitement!!! Did you SEE the AMAZING things that my good friend, Dawn Olchefske made for you to see??? That woman!!! ALWAYS creative and fresh!


Soda pop ... soda pop ... soda pop!! I KNEW that these adorable little soda pop bottles would HAVE to be MINE!!! I was SOOOOOO excited when we were able to PREORDER them!!! Aaaaack!!! How can one possibly RESIST these???? Obviously, I have NO idea!!

Stamps: Bubble Over
Paper: Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories: Layering Ovals Framelits Dies, Bottles & Bubbles Framelits Dies, Silver Ribbon, Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes

I won this adorable little stamp set as part of the "Prize Patrol" at our most recent OnStage event in November. Oh. My. Goodness!!! Can you just say caaaaaYOOOOT??!?? I didn't even have to stamp a sentiment!! There are so many cute images in this set that I had to limit myself to FOUR of them!!

Stamps: Heart Happiness
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral
Accessories: 3/8" Burlap Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Next up???  ... lovely LeeAnn Greff!! Can't even COUNT how many of her creations have inspired me over the years!!

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Sunday, December 17, 2017

Monday Montage #106

Deck the halls and all that jazz!!! Can you believe we are only a WEEK away from CHRISTMAS???? WOWZA!!! Seriously not sure HOW that happened already!!! And at this point I figure I am as close to ready as I'm gonna get (except for wrapping ... and stocking stuffers!)! Lucky for me I am just finishing up with my neighbor gifts ... just in time to share them with y'all and my Monday Montage friends!!

The "cheat" about this is that it was created with my Cricut. In my favor, all the ribbon and the paper is Stampin' Up, so I guess I can claim that I am still using Stampin' Up goodies to make my neighbor goodies, right??? When you have a family tradition known as "Keebler Elf Sunday" (even though we made all the cookies on SATURDAY this year), you gotta just squeeze in the projects you can when you can!! And we honest bake about 1,000 cookies ... NOT kidding. But they are delicious, and it goes pretty quickly, so at least that part is happy!

Supplies: Circut "Very Merry Tags"
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Retired Real Red Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics Jewels




Each of these little bags contains 15 "lucky pennies". They stay soft FOREVER!!! And they are a TOTAL favorite of my family (and also of many of my friends at this point!)! Sweet side note ... I didn't even know that these were my dad's most FAVORITE cookies EVER until about two Christmases before he passed. He used to steal some of the ones that I had set aside for some friends that HE was supposed to deliver to!! I never knew that until he told me! So I made sure he had his very own batch after that!! So these cookies remind me of him and make me smile!


And before y'all ask ... here's my recipe!!! This has become an annual tradition here on my blog ... to share this recipe. The only "hint" I can give you is that you should NOT "double" this recipe ... each batch has to be it's own thing, or they won't turn out as well. Believe me, I've tried!!! And considering we have probably made about 10,000 of these cookies, I feel somewhat of an expert on the subject!

Lucky Pennies

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 C. (1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened)
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 large egg
granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough from the bowl and roll the cookies into about 1"-in-diameter balls. Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Makes about 8 dozen cookies.

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... their projects are joyful AND triumphant!!




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Friday, December 8, 2017

Fab Friday #127

I am relived to say, as I typed this, that my Christmas tree is not only UP, but it is decorated, as are my fireplace mantel, piano, and my dining room. It seemed to take me FOREVER to get into the groove to get it done. And, to be honest, I turned into a mound of mushy tears as I unpacked ornaments ... thinking of those who gave me each one ... marveling on the beautiful faces of my babies in their "first Christmas" ornaments ... and remembering all the love and joy that came with each and every one. I don't think I have EVER cried so much whilst decorating my tree!!! Not sad tears, mind you. These were tears of joy, gratitude and amazement for the very beautiful life I have been blessed with. On top of it all, I had actually finished my Fab Friday card EARLY (as in DAYS ago ... I know, I know ... don't faint!). It's lovely to be on top of things every once in a while!

This card is reminiscent of clean, sparkly winter snow ... and even though it wasn't my intention, I feel it evocative of snow sledding as a child on those great old Flexible Flyer sleds! Scary and exhilarating!!! I think I have actually caught the Spirit of the Season!

Stamps:  Snowflake Sentiments
Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Soft Sky
Accessories:  Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies, Rhinestone Basics Jewels, Corner Rounder Punch






What inspires YOU this season ... it's a Free-for-All!!






Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

More house cleaning, more shopping, more running hither and yon. All with a heart full of love and gratitude for the blessings of life that make my life as wonderful as can be!

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