Spin the Bottle Cutting Cafe Style and Shortbread Hearts

A quick and special treat just in time for Valentine's Day.  Just a few ingredients from your pantry will reward you with lots of hugs and kisses...guaranteed!

I wish you could bite into one of these melt in your mouth delicious little treats.  Creamy shortbread with just the slightest bit of crunch, dipped in dark chocolate...mmmmm.  Recipe at the end of this post.  You've got time...they're super easy!!

When you finish your cookie, you can play a little game of  Spin the Bottle, Cutting Cafe Style.  I didn't get to go to this kind of party as a teen (thanks, Mom!) but I've got a feeling this game from The Cutting Cafe's Fun with Valentine's Day is going to be alot more fun to play with DH. (more options! ;-D)

I used the Scalloped Circle Shaped Card as my base.  I also cut a circle using Words of Love Colored Set for the fun pink dotted circle base.  I printed the game dial on transparency.  It's not glued down so it spins as well as the dial.  Makes the game more interesting.  ;-D

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts (I doubled this successfully)
(adapted from joy of baking)

2 c. all purpose flour
1/4 t. salt
1 c. unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 t. pure vanilla extract

8 oz. melting chocolate or chocolate chips (optional)

Whisk flour with the salt.  Set aside.

In bowl of electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute).

Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).

Beat in vanilla extract.  Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.  Flatten the dough into a round shape, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (I use Silpat liners).

On a lightly floured surface roll dough into 1/4" thick circle.  Cut with desired cutters.  Place on baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.  (this helps cookies hold shape when baked)

Cool completely on wire racks.  Melt chocolate and dip cookies, if desired. (oh yes!)  Place in refrigerator after dipped for about 10 minutes to firm chocolate.

Will keep in airtight container for about a week (not in my house) or they can be frozen (frozen cookies are good, too.)

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Chrissie

Do you have a friend that no matter how long it's been since you've seen them or how far away you are, you can pick up the conversation as if you just talked yesterday?  That's how I feel about my friend, Chrissie.  We were next door neighbors for 8 wonderful years. We shared all those wonderful BFF times that come only when there is trust, respect and love between two good friends.  Times spent giggling when we got caught in a horrible downpour while training for a mini marathon...picking new puppies, one for each of us...encouraging each other during tough times...shopping, oh yes, the shopping.  Chrissie is the queen of shopping.  I'm a terrible shopper; but Chrissie...she's the best.  She knows just how long to leave a new dress in the closet before she wears it so that when her husband asks she can say, "I've had this thing forever".
 ;-D 

Her birthday is the day after Valentine's Day so when I saw this challenge at Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge #44 ( OTWC44) and the Make it Monday Go To Sentiment Challenge on Papertrey Ink, I knew immediately what I wanted to create.

Here's Kim's challenge photo:

Is this not luscious inspiraton?

Thanks so much for stopping by...I so appreciate your visits!

Supplies:

Stamps - Papertrey Ink Enjoy the Ride

                Everyday Classics

                Just the Ticket

                Up, up and away

                Simple Little Things

Ink - Pigment white, Versafine, Versamark

Accessories - Martha Stewart flowers, corner rounder

WOYWW & A Blog Award

Well, it's Wednesday and that means that Julia over at the Stamping Ground wants to peek at what's on our workdesks. (WOYWW)  I've got a DT project on the creating table so thought I show you my cutting/embossing/storage unit this week.

This is the unit from IKEA (Varde) that nearly caused my poor DH to have a nervous breakdown.  It took 3 trips back to the store to get straight boards!  I do love this unit though!  Lots of storage as those drawers are both deep from front to back as well as a nice depth from top to bottom.  Wish it always looked this neat.

I alsojust received this sweet blog award from Beth at My Serendipity.  Beth is a talented scrapbooker as well as a crafty cardmaker.  She's pretty handy with a paint brush too as you can see in this post and she's pretty handy with her Cricut as you can see from this gorgeous Vintage Window creation.

I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about myself and then pass this award on to 15 other deserving bloggers.  That will be the hard part as you are all so talented!

Here we go:

1.  I LOVE Oreos with Double Stuff   (Yes, I know they're bad for you but I only buy them once a year.)

2.  I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers who are younger than I.

3.  I have been married for 41 (!) years and I still love my guy "like new".

4.  I love to grow things, particulary herbs and vegetables.

5.  Paper crafting and baking are my most favorite things to do. 

6.  I enjoy pulling weeds.  I know, it's sick but I don't have to think while I do it and the results are instant.

7.  Dessert is my favorite meal.  ;-)

Now for some awesome creative bloggers in no particular order:

  1.  Jen Spears Designs

  2.  Sue's Stamping Stuff

  3.  Bouncyflouncyfunfunfun

  4.  Corgi Creations

  5.  Inking in Red

  6.  Isn't that Sweet?

  7.  Kreative Korner by Kelly

  8.  Lori Hariston

  9.  Lorraine's Loft

10.  Off the Wall Craftiness

11.  PinkBonBons

12.  Pocket Full of Pink

13.  SJButteflyDreams

14.  TsurutaDesigns

15.  Where M&M's Gather

How's that for eye candy!?

Teapot Tuesday - Flyin' High to Kearney, Nebraska

This week's Teapot Tuesday teapot is a solid blue pot.  We were wondering what the "Mudder" could have been thinking!  We should have known she had a plan. 

This week's destination is Kearney, Nebraska. We are sending our cards to Sean, the young son of  Kathe, a friend and fellow co-worker of Judy (StampingQueenJar) who unfortunately and sadly is battling cancer. Sean is 23 years old. He has stage 3C testicular cancer. He has had initial surgery and four rounds of chemo.  Sean also has additional spots on his lungs and abdomen. 

He loves video games, model airplanes that fly, kites and Coca-Cola!  Our challenge was to make Sean cards with flying things.

If you'd like to send Sean a card, you can find his address and more information here in the Destination Station.

Supply List:

Paper - Neenah, SU

Stamps - Papertrey Ink Flying High, Scattered Showers Additions, Simple Little Things

Ink - Versamark, Copic markers, Glitter pen, SU Craft White, Papertrey Chai

Accessories - Black embossing poweder, May Arts Burlap String, button, Crystal Effects, sewing machine

May Arts/Glue Arts Blog Week and a Giveaway!

Woo, Hoo...it's time for another Blog Week with May Arts and Glue Arts and May Arts is celebrating by giving away some yummy (and I do mean YUMMY!) ribbon. 

Wanna see what you can win just for leaving a comment on the May Arts Blog?

Wait, wait...there's more!!

Can you believe it?   Head on over to the May Arts blog and leave a comment!  While you're there, check out the "sweet" Valentine projects the DT has made using Glue Arts and May Arts Ribbon.  Then head over to the Glue Arts blog....they have some cool projects and giveaways too!! 

Sweet!!

Papertrey Ink Tag Challenge

Super short post today....

Papertrey Ink has a free tag download available here.  The tags are designed by the DT and are absolutely adorable.  We are to use one of the designs and then submit it for a challenge.
.
I chose this birthday tag.  I need more masculine birthday cards and this great tag was perfect!

All supplies Papertrey Ink except for SU HodgePodge Hardware.

Cardstock - White, Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides

DP - Bitty Dots Ocean Tides

Accessories - Ribbon, hardware, sewing machine

My dear friend, Gloria's, birthday is Valentine's Day.  I couldn't resist the sweet little heart tag.  I used the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary (CCMC136) Thursday Challenge.  Entering in the Simon Says Stamp "Love is in the Air" Challenge as well.

Paper - Papertrey Ink

Tag - Papertrey free download (I printed two then cut out the hearts and popped up on dimensionals)

Stamps - Papertrey Just the Ticket

Ink - Copic markers

Accessories - May Arts crochet ribbon (361-78-01), white with red NX01, Crystal Effects, glitter, stick on pearls, dimensionals, sewing machine, Spellbinders embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by....

PaperCubed February Challenge - It's All About Love

Our sweet moderator, Kim, challenged the PaperCubed (P3) team to create some 3D Valentine projects to inspire you to get creating for the loved ones in your life...your honey, your kids...even your dog!  

I had just a tiny bit of healthy time to get my project ready so I headed to a quick purse template from PTI to get started.  A bit of glitter on some alphabet Thickers, a vellum butterfly, some sweet May Arts ribbon and of course, some M&M's to match, all put together with some Glue Arts Adhesive Squares Minis and done!

Be sure to head over to the PaperCubed blog to see what "love"lies the rest of the design team has created to inspire you!

On a sadder note, this will be our last P3 project for a little while.  Kim has had several close family members pass away in the last couple of months and needs time to grieve and care for her family.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers. 

Party Time with May Arts and WOYWW87

Once in every little girl's life (even if she's all grown up!) she deserves a party fit for a princess.   Thanks to May Arts ribbon, you can transform items from clearance and discount stores into a fairy land.  Everything on this beautiful table came from stores like Big Lots, Walmart/Sam's Club or Bed/Bath and Beyond.  Some items even came from my stash closet (read: "I never throw anything away!")

May Arts Ribbon helped us pull it all together to surprise some very worthy young ladies at Place of Hope in Florida.

Here's a little sneak peek...for a closer look and a tutorial on how to do make this elegant yet super easy napkin fold, head over to the May Arts blog for all the details.  Valentine's Day is coming...isn't there someone in your life that would love a little surprise party?  :-D

After you're finished taking in all the details on the May Arts blog, head on over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see what's going on all over the stamping world on this What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday 87!!

Here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on now....can't share any details yet!

Clean and Simple Monday meets Teapot Tuesday

This little puppy is cramping my stamping style.  He's adorable except when he chewed two perfectly good cards and their envelopes, pulled out 3 rolls of ribbon and trailed them all over my room.  I forgot, I forgot...How did I ever get talked into another ball of fluffy, sweet puppy?  I guess puppy kisses make up for alot.

I've missed the CAS challenges...they stretch me and make me think which at my advanced age is quite a feat!  This week's challenge is Rock and Roll as in music although you can interpret it any way you choose.  I've had this "Rock Star" set from Inkadinkadoo in my stash....perfect to send to Places of Hope. 

The guitar and sentiment are heat embossed.  The guitar is cut out and popped on dimensionals. 

Supplies:
Paper - PTI. Making Memories Sabrina
Stamps - Inkadinkadoo Rock Star
Ink - Versamark
Accessories - Black EP, dimensionals

Now for Teapot Tuesday.  Our destination this week is Cindy Mothermark's niece, Shari, who is facing 20 weeks of cancer chemo.  You can see the challenge teapot here.

                                      
My cherries are still wet (crystal effects) so I will trim them a bit better before mailing...I was determined to get it posted on time this week!  The cherries are popped on dimensionals so I can trim a tiny bit.  I made the cherry blossom using various punches.  

If you have time to send Shari a card, I know she'd appreciate it.

Thanks for hanging in while I try to get back in gear.  Don't forget the ribbon giveaway! 

Supplies:
Paper - Neenah, Bazzill, PTI
Stamps - Tart and Tangy (SU)
Ink - SU markers
Accessories -  punches, dimensionals, EK Success border punch, fine line pen

It's Foodie Friday Valentine

It's Foodie Friday and it's not too early to start planning for sweet treats for our Valentines. 

Why choose between sweet candy and yummy cake when you can both in one bite?  I tried these easy treats from Bakerella using a heart shaped cookie cutter instead of rolling them into balls and my DH has declared them delish.  I used white Ghiradelli melting chocolate.   These are very sweet but oh so good.  You can find the recipe on the Bakerella site.  They do take a bit of time but the results are worth it.  I found that chilling the cake/frosting shapes made dipping much easier.

I decided to package up a few of these...they keep awesomely well.  I love to surprise my sweet hubby by putting a treat in his car on Valentine's Day for him to find on the way to work.  The Cutting Cafe made this little wrap up super easy.  I printed the paper on SU Pretty in Pink using the Cutting Cafe's Words of Love Printable Stamp set.  After printing the paper I cut out this easy treat wrapper using the Cutting Cafe's Heart Goodie Bag Holder template.

I was able to fit 5 of those delicious little cake hearts into my goodie bag.  Sweet hubby will be so happy.  Lots of sparkly red glitter on the cut out heart highlights the treats inside.  I used the leftover Words of Love printed paper to make this simple card:

A bit of May Arts ribbon trim, some bling and a stamped sentiment that I had leftover from last year and done!

If you're a regular follower either through a feed or email, don't forget to go here to guess how much lucious May Arts ribbon is in the pile.  Just follow the instructions on the linked post. 

Poor DH is heading to the dr. tomorrow.  He's coming down with the sore throat and cough again!  It's been a full month and he thought we were both getting better.  The coughing is worse at night.  We pray that all of you in that freezing cold and snow stay well.

WOYWW - May Arts Ribbons!!

What's on my workdesk for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW) over at Julia's Stamping Ground?  Ribbons...lots and lots of May Arts Ribbon!

Guess what?  I'm giving it to one of my loyal followers for hanging with me during my illness.  You don't have to have a blog, you just have to be a current follower either through a feed or email.   Let's make it fun and say the person who guesses how many yards of ribbon is in this pile wins it! 

I'll pick the winner on February 14th - Valentine's Day.  Just leave me a comment with your guess. 

Teapot Tuesday - Double Blessings Babies

Thank you to all of you who have hung in with me while I recuperate from this nasty bug and try to adjust to having a new puppy while juggling the older one who still thinks she's a puppy. 

This week's Teapot Tuesday challenge is a sweet one.  Two little blessings, Sydney and Austin to SCS Grandmama Kokirose.  A big Congratulations to all!! 

Does anything in the world smell better or feel softer than new born babies.  All pink and warm and beautiful.
See the link to find the inspiration teapots.  Adorable lamps with pom-poms on the lampshades.

Here's my interpretation:

Stay tuned because I have some candy for the followers and email readers who have hung in there.  See you tomorrow.  I appreciate you!!

Supplies:
Stamps - LOTV
Ink - Memento, Copic markers
Paper - SU, Imaginesce
Accessories - sewing machine, pom-pom trim, buttoms, paper doily, dimensionals

May Arts Ribbon Blossom Tutorial and a Foodie Friday Rerun

I'm still not quite up to par enough to get in the kitchen and bake...coughing, coughing...ugh....so Foodie Friday, version 2011, will resume next week.

In the meantime, if  you need some ideas for using up those May Arts Ribbon scraps, you can head over to the May Arts Blog for my tutorial on Ribbon Blossoms .

                                       

While you're there, be sure to sign up for the May Arts blue Scrap Can Giveaway.  Leave a comment on the May Arts Scrap Can post and you could win the contents of the scrap can.  I hear it's fabulous!

For you foodies out there, here's a rerun of my all time favorite Quick Italian Cream Cake

                                              

Something this good, deserves a curtain call!

The Cutting Cafe - Valentines' Day and a Giveaway & WOYWW85

Ah, grade school...the time for recess (I miss it!) chasing boys on the playground, (only if they chased you first, of course!) and young love but ONLY on Valentine's Day (the rest of the time boys had cooties)!

Valentine's were simple affairs with maybe a bit of glitter.  If you did find one with glitter, well that one went to a VERY special person...maybe it was a special boy but it could have been your BFF.

The Cutting Cafe is having a monthly inspiration challenge featuring Valentine projects made by the team.  I chose the adorable cards made by team member Stephanie Serrano as my inspiration.  She made the cutest cards using the adorable Animal and Bug Love Set.  I decided to make my cards just the ones in grade school.  Flat and blank on the backside for a "TO" and "FROM". :-)  I made a few glittery and sparkly for that special person or two as well.

Hurry, hurry....The Cutting Cafe is having a giveaway and she's picking a winner TODAY so hurry over and comment to win!

Here's the set in progress for WOYWD 85.  Head on over to Julia's and see what else is on the workdesks this week!

CAS Monday and Teapot Tuesday

Well, I'm still not caught up from my bout with the flu.  Still coughing.  Goodness, guess it will stop when it stops. 

I managed to do a couple of quick cards for the SCS challenges this evening.  The Mojo is lagging and keeping two puppies from squabbling is like having two kids all over again.  Little Bentley is no push over and I have to watch that he doesn't take Chloe's toys.  Chloe is a lady and won't argue...unless it's a rawhide,that is! 

The first card is for the CAS102 challenge to CASE this adorable card by cindybstampin.

Since we just celebrated our 42nd anniversary and Valentine's Day is coming up; I kept Cindy's basic design but cleaned it up even more.

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah

Stamps - SU Full of Life

Accessories - May Arts ribbon, dimensional sticker, Glimmer pen

This week's Teapot Tuesday challenge features dogs.  Our destination is Miami, Florida where police officer, Alex, is recovering from knee surgery.

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah, DP from my stash

Stamps - Judith It's a Dog's Life

Ink - SU Chocolate Chip, Copic markers

Assessories - sewing machine, dimensional stickers

Thanks so much all the kind comments and for hanging in there with me.  Lord willing, I'll be back normal posting now.

The Cutting Cafe - Animals and Love Bugs

 Thanks to everyone for the get well wishes...getting better.  I think a few more days and I hope to sound  and look like myself again.  I must say that whatever this bug was, it wasn't as fun or cute like this one:

                                  
This cute little snail mail greeter is from The Cutting Cafe's new Love Bug and Animals Set (45 images and sentiments!).  Perfect for classroom Valentine's!  Be sure to check out the samples on The Cutting Cafe site.

This card is going to Abby Fast.  Abby is 15 years old and facing an entire year of chemotherapy.  You can check out her Caring Bridge site here.  There is a small group from SCS who have committed to sending Abby one card a month.  If you'd like to participate, you can check out the link for Abby's address here on SCS.

To make this card, I printed out the cute little animals and the snail mail frame from the Love Bug and Animals set.  I colored, glittered and stickled the snail, then cut him out.and popped him on dimensionals.  I cut out the center of the frame using Spellbinders rectangle die.  Mounted DP from Making Memories on the back of the frame, then attached to black cardstock.  The sentiment comes on the frame!  How cool is that?  A little ribbon blossom  made witht fabulous May Arts Ribbon scraps balances everything out.

Supply List:
Stamps - The Cutting Cafe
Paper - Neenah, SU, Making Memories
Ink - Copics
Accessories - May Arts Ribbon, Stickles, Glitz shimmer paint, Spellbinders Rectangle die, dimensionals, Glue Arts ribbon glue