Teapot Tuesday - Cards for Katie

It's hard to be glib about today's post.  SCS Teapot Tuesday Destination Station this week is Bellingham, Washington.  Katie is a young mom with 3 adorable little boys.  She has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the stages, this stage is the worst.  There is a link on the Teapot post to Katie's blog.  

                                                              

Here's my card for Katie.

                                             
It's based on this teapot. 
                                      
There is a fundraiser for Katie here on Jak Heath.  You make a donation and get tons of digital stamps. 

Thought for today....having a puppy is exactly like having a new born baby.  I'm off to grab a shower while he's asleep.

Here's the big dog and the little dog so you get  an idea of the size difference.  This is the evening activity.  Big dog allows it for about 2 minutes, then she's up and outta there!

May Arts Tutorial

Thank you to EVERYONE who left kind get well wishes.  My thumb is much better.   I think I can cut paper and stamp now.

The flu symptoms are another story.  I'm still achey and the glands in my neck make me look like a chipmunk with a double chin. Puffy from ear to ear.   Hubby is feeling better so I'm guessing I am a few days behind him in the healing department.

In the meantime, I have a little tutorial for you to use up your May Arts Ribbon scraps as well as create a useful gift in a minimum amount of time.

Here's a sneak peek at the supplies you'll need:

Can you guess what it is?  Head on over to the May Arts blog to find a complete photo tutorial. 

Thanks again!!

Quick Update

I'm still here...still in the brace and coming down the flu that DH so kindly shared with me.  I will have to beg off this week and see you all next week.

WOWD- What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

Oh, how I'm missing my paper and ink.  A week off for Christmas and now this bum thumb.  Typing with one hand is an adventure as well.


My assistant kindly offered to step in for me this week.  Not sure what he's up to but here he is hard at work. He's a Havanese puppy and his name is Bentley...so named by DH because he said it will be the only Bentley he'll ever own.  ;-)

                            

My Mom is getting me a snack...come back later to see what I made for you.  I'm posting this on WOWD (What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday)today so Julia (Stamping Ground) can see how talented I am.

Love,

Bentley

A New Member of the Family

A quick note...I have torn the tendon in my l. thumb so will be absent from crafting for a few days while I RICE it.  In the meatime, I thought you might like to see what my DH got for Christmas...actually for New Year's as he's only been here a couple of days....

Is he not just too cute?

 This little boy has alot to put up with...you remember the Big Doodle? 

She thinks he's a rabbit when they're outside together.  Yep, food, fun and chasin'.  So we have to take them out one at a time until he gets a bit bigger.

Hope to see you with some crafting in a few days!

Happy New Year and Blog Candy Winner!!

Happy New Year Everyone!  We returned late from our trip north to KY and IN so have just had time to draw the blog candy winner.  Here you go!

Random Integer Generator          
Here are your random numbers:
             

20


    Timestamp: 2011-01-02 16:09:52 UTC

The winner is....

Sandy Bayles said...



I am now a follower and posted your candy on my blog...


Blog:http://lovethatexpressions.blogspot.com/


December 31, 2010 3:01 PM

Sandy, please send me your snail mail via a pm and I will get your candy right to you!  Thanks to everyone who took time to post the candy and comment. 

Clean and Simple Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!   Thought I would leave you with a few CAS Christmas cards I made to match some gifts I made for some special people in my life.  These were made in a matter of minutes using the Swirl Christmas set by Hero Arts and some inexpensive bling I had in my stash from Michael's.

I'm also proud to announce that I'm back on the team at the Cutting Cafe after a short sabbatical.  I'm so honored to join the new team and returning designers.  Regina is a talented digi creator and I love working with her digital images, boxes, and bags!

I will be back on New Year's Day late...to draw the winner of my blog candy.  I've added a few goodies to the stash so be sure to click the link to find out how you can win it.  I've added even more May Arts Ribbon!!

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all of you!!

May Arts Ribbon Gift Bags

Do you need a few extra gift bags in a hurry?  I've got a tutorial on the May Arts Blog to the rescue!  If you've got a sewing machine, some scrap ribbon and a few minutes, you can create this

or this

                                                                           or this

WOYWDW81? Minty Middles Cookies!

My only workdesk this week has been in the kitchen and at the sewing machine.  This is one of the cookies that's always on the Christmas gift list.  There's a yummy surprise inside this one.  I triple this recipe for gift giving.  Merry Christmas to Julia and the ladies at WOYWD!!

Minty Middle Treasures

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. shortening

1/4 c. butter, softened

1/2 t. vanilla

1 egg

1 2/3 c. all purpose flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

About 2 dozen Andes mint candies, unwrapped

Almond Frosting

Sugar or candy sprinkles

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Beat sugars, shortening, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl with electric mixer on med speed.  Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

Shape about 1 T. dough around each mint.  Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.

Bake 9-10 minutes or until light brown.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool completely.  Frost and sprinkle.

Almond Frosting

1 c. powdered sugar

1 T. plus 1-2 t. milk

1/4 t. almond extract or vanilla

food color if desired

Mix all ingredients until smooth and thick enough to coat.

That's it.  Simple and oh so yummy!  Enjoy!

Grrr...blogger didn't post this again! Threw it into draft.

CAS98, Teapot Tuesday and Double Drizzle Pecan Cookies

I finished the cookie baking!!  Yahoo!!  Wednesday and Thursday will be delivery days. 

 I still have a few sewing gifts to complete but wanted to play in the CAS and Teapot Challenges this week.  I couldn't resist the inspiration piece for the CAS98 challenge this week.  I'd love to own that gorgeous apron!  I combined it with the MMTPT125 Challenge to make a card for teapotter Kris Chirhart (krischir) who is having surgery on BOTH of her wrists on  December 22nd.  If you'd like to send Kris a card to cheer her up, I know she'd love it.  I can't imagine surgery on both wrists and not being able to do anything!!

                                                     
Our teapot is a plain white pot and we were supposed to use watercolors, oils or chalks and paint a still life, portrait or abstract or whatever.  I don't draw or paint, not one bit of artistic talent in these old bones...I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler.  Soooo, I used chalk ink to stamp the Damask design...good thing the inspiration piece was an apron, 'cause I'm hiding cookies in my pockets!

Supplies:
Paper - SU Le Jardin DP, Neenah Solar white
Ink - Versamark Aloe Vera
Stamps - PTI Damask Designs
Accessories - MS punch, May Arts silk ribbon

Now these are worth getting in trouble for!   Super easy and you can squiggle to your hearts delight.  These are from Taste of Home.

Double Drizzle Pecan Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 1/4 c. chopped pecans, toasted

Carmel Drizzle
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. confectioner's sugar

Chocolate Drizzle (note: I used Ghiradelli Candy Making bar)
1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate
1 T. butter

Cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
Combine flour, b. powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll in pecans.  (I forgot this part and just stirred them in.)
Place 2" apart on cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheet then move to wire rack to cool completely.

After all cookies are cooled, bring brown sugar and heavy whipping cream to a boil.  Remove from heat and stir in confectioner's sugar.  Immediately drizzle over cookies.

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave (1-2 min.) Stir until smooth.  Drizzle over cookies.  Let stand until set.  Store in airtight container.

Enjoy!!

Ambrosia Cookies

I tried a new recipe this year and it's wonderful!!  Chock full of mouth watering yumminess!!  DH was hovering over the cooling racks. 

Don't let the ingredient list scare you.  These take only minutes to stir up and bake once you gather the goodies and they are sooooo worth it.

                                        

Ambrosia Cookies

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 c. chopped dates
1 c. golden raisins
1 c. flaked coconut
1 c. chopped pecans
1 t. grated orange rind
1 t. grated lemon rind
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract
1/2 t. orange extract
candied cherries, halved (I didn't have enough so I quartered them)

Beat buter and sugars until light fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients, stir well.  Add the flour and all remaining ingredients except cherries.  Stir well.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.  Lightly press cherry half (or quarter!) into each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Cool slightly on baking sheets, remove to wire rack to cool completely.  Cookies will firm as they cool.

Makes about 8 dozen.

Enjoy!!

Chocolate Covered......

                               

Anyone want to hazard a guess what this is? 

I didn't make it  - my DH did!!  He took the car for an oil change today and said he saw this on the travel channel while he was waiting.  He talked about it all morning and I mean ALL morning.  Thankfully, I had everything he needed...only 2 ingredients. 

Are you ready?.............................

It's Chocolate Covered...............

BACON

and it's delicious...I could have eaten it all...by myself, all for me...alone, no sharing, mine! 

 He decided to take it to the kids on Christmas...humpf...unless I eat it first!

Here Come the Christmas Cookies!!

The cookie baking is well underway!   Here's a new recipe I tried this year and  it has only 4 ingredients.  My DH loved them so much I had to hide them so there would be some for the cookie trays....:-D

  This recipe came from Fine Cooking.  Super Yummy!

Peppermint Meringue Kisses

1 c. confectioner's sugar

Whites from 2 large eggs

1/8 t. pure peppermint extract

1/3 c. finely chopped peppermint hard candies 

(A good way to work out your stress!  Just put the peppermints in a doubled zip type freezer bag, grab a meat mallet and pound away.  You want very small pieces.)

Heat the oven to 175 degrees.  Line 1 large cookie sheet with parchment (do not use a non-stick liner).  Sift the confectioner's sugar twice to remove all lumps and divide into two fairly equal portions.

Put the egg whites in a medium bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer on med. speed until foamy.  Increase the speed to medium high and beat until the whites hold soft peaks.  Continue beating while gradually adding one portion of the confectioner's sugar.  Beat until firm, glossy peaks form.  Add the peppermint extract and mix briefly.  Sift the remaining confectioner's sugar over the meringue and gently fold in until blended.

Scoop the meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.  Pipe swirled kissed (about 1-1/2 inches wide and 2 inches high) about 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheet.  Sprinkle the finely chopped peppermint candies over the kisses.

Bake until dry and crisp, about 3 hours.  Turn the oven off and let the meringues cool in the oven for 1 hour.  Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Enjoy...more cookies on the way!



Happy Birthday Cupcake!

My MIL and SIL share a birthday this month.  My MIL gave us a scare a few months ago but Wednesday, she turned 98 yrs. old!  We decided to send them each their own birthday cake.  I love this sweet Penny Black image...I just colored it with Copics,then glittered up the cupcake and flame.

I visited a new cupcake bakery near our city a few weeks ago and purchased a "cupcake in a jar".  It was very expensive and pretty awful.  Soooo, I decided to make my own.  I made these yummy Coconut Cupcakes, removed the paper, cut them in two horizontally, added frosting and sprinkles and then dressed them up for a party:

They got packed securely into a shipping box along with a birthday card.  They were a hit! 

My hubby loved these so much, I made some Red Velvet Cupcakes too.  I froze them right in the jars all ready for decorating for the next birthday.  They will stay fresh in the jar for about 7 days without freezing but freezing them first assures even longer freshness.

Alphabet Challenge Blog - G is for Glitter
Order of the Opus Gluei - If you made it we will come (especially if it's food!)
PaperPlay Challenges #50 - Anything but a Card
YNS Challenges #32 - Let's Party!


Supplies:
Stamps - Penny Black
Ink - Memorex, Copic markers
Paper - Neenah, SU
Accessories:  Spellbinders dies, Glitter, May Arts ribbon FB19, WD46, MR66, paper doily

May Arts Ribbon Giveaway

                                 

May Arts is giving away all that gorgeous ribbon!  What do you have to do?  Just vote for your favorite "Show us your Plaid" project.  That's it!!  Hurry...the winner will be chosen on Friday.

Back to the cookies!

CAS Teapot Tuesday - Ode to Shoes

Thanks to everyone for all the good luck wishes for the craft show this past weekend...it was a lovely success.  It did take me a day to recover and inventory what was left...now it's on to the cookies!

First though...I have a combo card.  This one combines the CAS97 (Sketch by Biggan) and the MMTPT124 Teapot Challenge.    Our Teapot cards this week go to a sweet almost 16 yr. old girl named Abby who has a rare cancer in her lower back.  Abby must undergo a full year of chemo.  We want to flood her with good wishes to help keep her spirits up.  You can read Abby's full story here.

Abby is a girly girl.  She loves all things every 16 yr. old adores...clothes, shoes, dance and music.  I know she would be thrilled to get a card from you.

 

Cindy said we could get extra points (cookies!) if we finished the sentence on the teapot which begins, "Shoes were always....."  I'm all about extra cookies, so here's mine:

                                                          "Shoes were always calling me.

                                                          I had to own each pair I'd see.

           Spiked pink heels and silver flats,

        Tall black boots and satin spats,

           Shoes with patent leather shine...

            Alas, only memories now are mine

    Shoes were always calling me,

     But bunions now are all I see."

Don't forget the PaperCubed challenge this month.  There's a gift certificate to "I heart paper" up for grabs.  And don't forget my blog candy at the link above.  You've got until Jan. 1 at midnight to enter.

Supplies:

Paper - Bazzill textured

Stamps - Impression Obsession (love this shoe!)

Ink - Versamark Chalk ink

Accessories - Spellbinders circle die, Dotted Swiss EB folder, EP, dimensionals, glue dots, stick on pearls, acrylic heart

May Arts Ribbon Garland - Tutorial

Do you remember making paper chains as a child?  I know I do!  I've come up with a grown up version for you to make.  All the details can be found over at the May Arts Blog.  There's a complete tutorial waiting for you...presents, don't you just love presents?  Speaking of presents...did you know that May Arts give away ribbon on their blog and Facebook page because they LOVE their customers?  Have you won yet?

Foodie Friday, Blog Candy and Bows

I don't know about you but I need longer days!  So much to do and so little time.  This week's Foodie Friday recipe is perfect for the blustery cold busy day we had today.  Simple, fast and packed with flavor no one will believe how little time it takes for so much yummy goodness.  Add a simple Caesar salad and you've got an elegant meal in less than an hour.

Sausage Minestra

1 lb. link Italian sausage, skin removed and cut into 1 inch pieces (I use a mixture of sweet and hot)

2 c. onion, diced

1 T. garlic, minced

2 t. dried Italian seasoning

1/2 t. kosher salt

1/2 c. dry white wine

6 c. chicken broth

2 c. tomatoes, seeded and diced or you can used canned diced tomatoes

1/2 c. dry orzo pasta or other small pasta shape

3 c. fresh spinach, chopped

4 T. olive oil, divided

Parmesan cheese

croutons

For the croutons:

Toss the croutons with 2 T. olive oil.  Heat oil in a skillet over med. heat.  Toast croutons until crisp.  Set aside.

Saute the sausage in 2 T. olive oil over med. high heat until browned.  Add the onion, garlic and seasonings; cook 3-4 minutes or until the onion is soft.

Deglaze the pan with the wine and reduce until almost evaporated.  Add broth, tomatoes and orzo.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer about 10 minutes or until pasta is cooked.

Stir in spinach until wilted.  Serve with croutons and Parmesan cheese. 

(Serve the rest of that wine, add some candlelight and you've got dinner to rival that fancy Italian restaurant down the street) ;-)

Now for the bows...The CAS challenge on SCS this week is bows...I needed a fast card for the project I did earlier this week. 

Our color theme was pink/silver/green.  I chose silver mirror card from Marco's Paper, a glossy pink cs I got on clearance at Big Lots and the Spellbinder's ornament die.  A hot pink bow, a little pink bling and done.

And now the Blog Candy......

 3 Making Memories Mat Stacks containing 48 sheets each

4 pkg. of Bazzill Basics and Accents bling

Hero Arts Watercolor flower stamp set

Glassine bags

Manila Tags

Elegant paper doilies

Swivel mini album

Copic marker

brads and an assortment of yummy May Arts ribbon (not shown) I will add a yard of every ribbon and a few more from my Etsy shop

I will draw a winner on New Year's Day.  All you need to do to win is place a picture of the blog candy on your blog with a link back to this post, then leave me a comment to let me know you did.    That's it!

  Thanks so much for your visits...we blog because we love to know what you think.

 Merry Christmas,