Christmas in July

How is it possible to be so far behind on my albums?

Isn't that the question we always ask ourselves?  I think if I ever am truly caught up I won't know what to do with myself.

I spent a huge hunk of time a few weeks ago trying to organize all of my digital pictures.  Again, I am sure that many of you find yourself in the same sea of digital pictures that I have.  I am a pretty organized person, but haven't ever found a way that really keeps the pictures organized and easy to find.  And of course the other worry is backing them up so a big computer crash won't result in losing all the precious photos I have taken.  Augh!  

After spending time organizing pictures and albums I realized that my daughter Taylor's albums were only done to the beginning of her 1st grade year.  YIKES!  She is beginning her Freshman year of High School in the Fall and if I want to have her albums to show at her Graduation Open House I probably better get a move on. 

Here is one page I recently finished.  This page uses the "Christmas Garland" digi stamp from Shelly's Images.  I colored the digi with Copic colors and then added some Copic Opaque White for highlights. I also used Pearl Ex Sunset Gold for more sparkle on the gold areas.  I added tiny pearls to the middle ornament.  Since the bottom pearl shape of the middle ornament is kind of a tear drop shape I added liquid pearls to fill in that shape.  It worked great!  Then I covered the ornaments with Glossy Accents.  I wish the pictures captured just how pretty it turned out.  A nice result is that the glossy accents kind of pulled away from the Copic Opaque White.  Which really added an interesting detail.  I did some fussy cutting around the digi and popped it up on the page.  I really love how it turned out.  Not a difficult scrapbook page, but very pretty.

The new challenge is starting today over at Shelly's Images Blog.  Please stop by to see the other "Christmas in July" projects from the Design Team. 

One down....

...and lots to go.  I'm talking about Christmas cards of course :)  I would like to say that I have a good head start on my cards for this Christmas, but that would be a fib.  At least I do have a prototype done.  Which is sometimes the hardest part.  

This year I decided to try a squash fold card.  This style card is generally made in either a 5 x 5 or 6 x 6 inch format.  Keep in mind the square cards are more expensive to send.  :(  For my cards this year I am using the newest Shelly's Images digi stamp called "One Last Stop".  I used the Shelly's Images stamp called "Pine" for the inside of my card.

A view of the open card

I will have a tutorial for making the squash card and more details on coloring this amazing image.  

Christmas in May?

Ok...so it did feel a little odd to be making a Christmas card in May.  It is hard to even think about Christmas when we are enjoying such nice weather outside.  But, as I said yesterday, I have been working on a set of cards for a friend and wanted to send her cards for many different occasions.  

And, I will admit that I am addicted to these partial front cards.  They really turn out so pretty, and they are super easy and fast.  If you didn't see the tutorial at the Shelly's Images Blog you can find it here.

Card Measurements - Found in the Tutorial (I made the A7 size)
Santa Digi Stamp from Shelly's Images

Patterned Papers from my stash

Bazzill Papers - Crimson and Aspen

Ribbon and sequins from my stash

Gold Stickles, Liquid Pearl for Santa's beard, Crystal Accents and glitter for the "snow" on Santa's hat, and Crystal Accents for the lenses in Santa's Glasses.

Copic Colors used:

Skin-E000, E51, E21, touch of R30 for cheeks

Reds-R29, R27, R24, R14

Gray for Beard-C3, C0

Blue for eyes-B91

Yellow for bell-YR12, Y21

It really isn't too early to start making some Christmas cards for your stash.  I HOPE to get a very early start this year.  ;)

First batch of Christmas Cookies - 2011

I spent the day yesterday watching Christmas movies and making Christmas gifts and Christmas cookies.

And the first batch of Christmas cookies this year were the White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread cookies that I found on Pinterest.  I really love the flavor of shortbread but hadn't ever tried making any.  And these turned out just delicious and they are beautiful too.

I will share the recipe which was actually pinned from Better Homes and Gardens.  The green bold text are my notes and recommendations.

White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

Makes: 60 servingsYield: 60 cookies

Prep: 40 minsBake: 325°F 10 minsper batchStand: 30 mins

ingredients

• 1/2
  cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
• 2 1/2
  cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2
  cup sugar
• 1
  cup cold butter
• 12
  ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter, finely chopped
• 1/2
  teaspoon almond extract
• 2
  drops red food coloring (optional)
• 2 teaspoons shortening

•    White nonpareils and/or red edible glitter (optional)

directions

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well.

2.In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. (use a good quality white chocolate here.  Or use white chocolate chips if you don't want to spend the time chopping chocolate.  I like the texture and consistency of the chopped chocolate.)  Stir in almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball. (A kitchen aid or other mixer with a dough hook makes this step much easier.  If mixing by hand just don't give up.  It takes a little time and effort.)

3.Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. (I used a small cookie scoop.  A must have in my kitchen for uniform shaped cookies.)  Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds. (if the edges of your cookies "crack" a little, just press and smooth a bit with your fingers.  Since these are shortbread cookies the size and shape of your cookies won't change much during baking.)

4.Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

5.In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. (I used white chocolate almond bark for this step and didn't use any shortening.)Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 60. (I got more like 40 cookies when I baked this recipe.  My cookies may have been a little larger than the recipe recommends.)

from the test kitchen

Storage Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Our Advent Calendar

Today is December 1st so it is time to get the Advent Calendar ready.  My children always enjoyed our Advent Calendar tradition.  And I have to say that I enjoy it too.  Now that our youngest is 13 I am dreading the day that she says she is "too old" for that kid stuff.  At that point I guess I will have to torture my husband with the Advent Calendar tradition.  :)

 I made this advent calendar a few years ago.  The base of the calendar is a metal cookie sheet (the bottom of the cookie sheet is decorated) and the tins are Martha Stewart party favor tins which I got on clearance.  The original idea was to put magnets on the back of each tin to attach it to the calendar.  But I had too many decorative layers of paper so the magnets weren't strong enough.  The inside of each tin lid is decorated with a circle of cardstock and a number cut from my Cricut.  The decorations and the title are also cut from the Cricut. Each tin is hot glued to the patterned paper square behind it.  I also used patterned paper to decorate the top and bottom inside area of the handles. 

 The inside of each tin is decorated with patterned paper that matches the paper used on the square under the tin.  The numbers in the lid represent the numbers left until Christmas.  And the numbers inside of the tin represent the actual date on the calendar.  This just makes it easier for the kids to see if they have opened the correct number of tins.

I put candy in some of the tins and little slips of paper describing where other special treats are hidden.  The kids always love opening the lid to find a special note.  The slip of paper that I am showing here tells Taylor to go to the large freezer to find her frozen treat.  (shhh....it is peppermint ice cream)  The kids take a lid off each day and then store the lids in a bowl until Christmas.  

The tins only hold one piece of candy, but you can have the candy for other children in a different location to give everyone when the tins are opened.  

I hope you enjoyed reading about our Advent Calendar and maybe even got some ideas for your family.