25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 14 "Snowman in the Night"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is another of my favorites in this series. Once again, since I did not have a snowman stamp, I had to rely on a digital image. This digital image is called "Frosty in Wonderland"  from StarryNightsStudioCo Etsy Shop. I printed him out on to some Neenah Solar White card stock and colored him in with copics. I decided instead of masking this time, I would just fussy cut him out along with the tree. I blended some Black Soot Distress ink along the top portion of a piece of Navy card stock and along the edges as well to create a night sky.

 I adhered the Snowman/Tree image with some foam dimensionals to a top folded card made from 110# Neenah Solar White. I added some falling snows/ stars to the sky with my white gelly roll pen and also added some glossy accents and Wink of Stella to the snowman to add a little interest to him.

Ok, so now it's confession time: In the picture here, you can see that there is not a sentiment, just like there isn't one in Kristina's card. That blank white space at the bottom, however, bothered me SO MUCH!! So, after I took the photo, I actually ended up adding a sentiment. (Phew...I feel so much better now! Haha)

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see. Have a great day everyone. Thank you for visiting with me once again; and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 15.

Challenges:

1. Creative Moments: Anything Goes/Winter
2. Fab n Funky: Christmas
3. Fresh Brewed Challenges: Anything Christmas

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 13 "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" Gift Card Holder

Hi Everyone!

Today's card is actually a cute little gift card holder with matching envelope perfect for a stocking stuffer.  I used pattered papers from Simon Says Stamp Dec 2013 card kit. The image sentiment is from that same set from Michael's that I've used quite often. I stamped it in Simon Says Stamp "Hot Lips" ink and colored in the little Santa with a few light colored copics to add some shading. I secured the gift card holder with a little bit of baker's twine.

I created the envelope using the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board and more patterned paper. Here are the two cards side by side. Thanks for visiting me and I'll see you tomorrow for day 14!

25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 12 "Shiny Blue Christmas"

Hi Everyone!

Today's card features some embossing and watercoloring. I started with a piece of Strathmore watercolor paper and embossed it with the snowflakes embossing folder. Then I adhered it to a cutting board using strips of masking tape. I tried to get some of the stickiness off of the masking tape by peeling it off my jeans a couple of times; and I made sure as well, that when I adhered my paper down with it that I had even borders all around. This is what gave me the white frame around the colored center.

Next I used a watercolor brush with Faded Jeans, Evergreen Bough, and Tumbled Glass distress inks to brush on the color. I left the paper adhered to the cutting board until it was completely dry before removing the masking tape. While that was drying I embossed the sentiment with Versamark and silver embossing powder. As you can see, I had a lot of excess powder on my card...I must not have prepped it well enough with my powder tool :( I added the silver dashed lines and then adhered the colored panel to the left side. I added some white paint dots and some sequins for a final bit of interest. 

Here are the two cards side by side for you to see, as always. Thanks for visiting with me. Have a great day; and I'll see you again tomorrow for Day 13!

Challenges:

1. Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party: Christmas

2. Crafty Cardmakers: Christmas

3. Dream Valley Challenges: True Blue (2nd Week, 2nd Entry)

4. Get Creative Challenges: Christmas

5. Stamp and Create: Christmas

My Favorite Sugar Cookies

Hi Everyone!

Click here for Printable Recipe

Today I want to share my recipe for sugar cookies that I make every year at Christmas. Now, I know there are thousands and thousands of sugar cookie recipes out there especially this time of year. I am sure many of them are delicious! This, however, is the one that works best for me. I've tweaked it and learned little things over the years to ensure I have the softest, fluffiest sugar cookies.

Tips:

1. Use Full fat, real ingredients. That means REAL butter (no margarine etc) and whole milk
2. Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature; and let them come to room temperature naturally. Don't try to microwave your butter to soften it.
3. You'll get better results if you use a stand mixer. Scrape your bowl often.
4. Chill your dough. 2 hours at least...I leave mine overnight
5. Don't over roll your dough. Try to get as many cookies from the first roll out as you can.
6. Above all else: DON'T OVER BAKE THEM!! If you wait until the cookies look done...they will be OVER done. You want to take them out at the moment you ask yourself, "are they done?" and as long as they are slightly firm to the touch in the center.

The collage below shows the various stages of mixing the dough. Starting with the top left:
Cream butter and sugar, then add the egg. It will look like a curdled mess; and that is ok. Bottom left picture shows the mixture after you've mixed the butter, sugar and egg mixture on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Finally, once you add the flour, you'll see the mixture start to come together as in the last photo on the left.

I hope you have as much fun baking these as I do. Throw on some Christmas music and get your kids involved for a fun afternoon! Enjoy!