For Auld Lang Syne

Did you know that "for auld lang syne" translates into "for the sake of old times?" I didn't until I heard it on tv the other day...anyway, I know most blogs do their top 10 of the year, but since I only did 1/2 a years worth of blogging, I'm gonna do my top 5! :) These are the top 5 highlights of my year--crafting and otherwise!

1. Getting my dream job--I get to work with children who have special needs and I was blessed at the beginning of 2010 to get the job! It is such a rewarding experience to know that each day I can make a difference!



2. My grandfather's funeral--probably most of you wouldn't think of this as a highlight, but it gave me the chance to see family members I haven't seen in years. I am grateful for my grandfather's example of love and kindness and for his sense of humor that has effected my life--I love corny humor because of him and my father! (Thank goodness for my husband--he has the same sense of humor and I don't know what he'd do if I didn't think he was funny!)


3. Starting my blog!!!! I was reluctant to do so because I had felt in the past that if would be a waste of time if I didn't have a TON of followers. Lucky for me, I don't care so much about that anymore! It's nice to have followers, but it's more nice to have an outlet for my thoughts and crafting ideas! Blogging really has been a cathartic experience for me this year!


4. Gaining confidence in my crafting abilities-- I have always been a little afraid of things that seem "hard." So, this year I pushed myself to learn new things, like this cute T-slider card and also learning about CAS style! I am so grateful for those who are willing to share their ideas and for the technology that makes learning new things so easy! We are so blessed!!!


5. Getting a new addition to the family!!!-- My puppy, Hundie, is the sweetest thing to happen to our family this year! She is such a comforting presence and has helped me feel loved and needed while my husband has worked full time and gone to night school. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for sending her our way!!!

So there you have it! Only one crafty one, but a rewarding year! I am looking forward to the possibilities 2011 brings! First on the list...Valentines! Stay tuned for more details...happy crafting and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Yummy New Year Snacks!

Okay, nobody commented on my last post, so I'm movin' on! I've found myself becoming more domestic this break...mainly because I have the time to. I love quick and easy snacks and since it's almost New Years, I thought I would share some quick and easy snacks that are sure to please hungry guests! I hope you try them and like them! Sorry no pics, but we already ate the evidence... :) Happy crafting!


Yummy Crackers
12-14 oz. oyster crackers
2 t. garlic powder
3 t. ranch powder
1/3 c. oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix gently until all crackers are covered. Spread onto foil lined pan. Let set for at least an hour, stirring every so often. Enjoy!

Homemade Cocoa
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. cocoa powder
1/4 t. salt
3 c. water
9 c. milk (can use powdered milk)
1 can evaporated milk
2 t. vanilla

Mix sugar, salt and cocoa in saucepan. Add water. Boil for 2 min. stirring constantly. Place all ingredients in crock pot. Heat on LOW 4-5 hours or HIGH 2-3 hours.

Snowballs
Vanilla ice cream
Coconut
Hot Fudge

Let ice cream soften just a bit. Form into balls. Roll in coconut. Place in freezer until ready to serve. Serve topped with hot fudge. Mix it up: use different ice cream flavors!

Quick Caramel Corn
12 c. popped popcorn
6 T. margarine or butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
6 large marshmallows (approx. 2 c. marshmallow--can use small ones or creme)

Combine margarine and brown sugar in microwave safe dish. Microwave on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add marshmallow and stir until melted. Pour over popped corn and toss to evenly coat. Shape into balls or spread onto waxed paper until cool and dry. Peanuts can be added also. This recipe doesn't get hard and stick to your teeth!!!

My FIRST EVER Holiday Meal at MY HOUSE!!!

My dining room wall--we don't have a fireplace, so this shelf is our "stocking shelf". :D

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

So, we live near both sets of parents. Which is awesome. Because you get lots of free food. BUT I never get to have a big holiday meal at our house. :( Until now!!! This year my family went on vacation for Christmas and so I got to invite the in laws and some close friends that really could be called family to dinner on Christmas Eve! Of course, I had to make sure my table was festive. This is what I came up with:

Full view of the tables

Single Place Setting

Place Cards--there were 9 of us, so I rotated the patterns. :)

Centerpiece--the flash made the colors weird...but this is the centerpiece I use every year from November through January...it may need a face lift for next year.

And here's the menu:
*King Food
Green Salad with croutons and dressing
Rolls
Pumpernickel bread
*Baked Apple Pudding
*Oreo Truffles
*Molasses Cookies
*Puppy Chow

I also had oranges on the menu, but totally spaced them. Oops! Here's the question, which starred recipes do you want? Because I don't want to post all of them, but I will post some of them! Comment and tell me your top 3 starred foods and I'll post 3 total recipes as soon as anyone comments...happy cooking and decorating and Happy Holidays!

NOEL

Here is my most recent home decor piece--I love it! I painted the letters with just one coat of paint to keep a rustic feel to them. Then I tied my ribbons around them and added my custom elements made from 2 stamped poinsettias (one red and one green), a dimensional and either a pearl or a green rhinestone brad.


I finished them by spraying the whole thing with gold glimmer mist (which you cannot see in the picture). I think they turned out WAY cute! And here it is on display...



What do YOU think? Merry Christmas!!!

MY Version of the Christmas Box :)

Here is a fun project. Take a photo cube. Decorate it. Gift it. It's that easy!

Above are some photo cubes that I made as gifts this year. The top pics are of the sides of the one that I made for the girls I work with at church. Their cubes were religious--as you can tell. The second set of pictures below is of a cube that I made for some women I work with at church. Their cube was a holiday cube that had 6 different holidays, one on each side. That way they can use it as decor in their home all year long...at least I hope they will. :)



These ones are inexpensive because I found the photo cubes in the dollar section of Target ( I LOVE THAT PLACE) and just used supplies I already had. These truly are a gift that keeps on giving because they are used all year long! Feel free to share your ideas, too! I hope that you take the chance to make a quick and easy cube today! :) Happy crafting and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Meaningful Gifts

Crafts are my passion. I love to give homemade gifts because they show how much you care. We have a sweet lady (Miss Connie) who comes and visits our classroom at least once a month and is our adopted class grandma. I wanted to do something special for her this time of year from the kids to show her how much she means to us. She's already received a quilt and I couldn't give her a scrapbook because of confidentiality, so I decided to make her a hand wreath! It's pictured above. So quick and easy and she LOVES it. I know that it will be a gift that keeps on giving because it shows how much she is loved. I hope that during this season of our Saviour's birth that you will take the time to give meaningful gifts. Merry Christmas and happy crafting!

Ornamentation

I love Christmas! I also really love Christmas crafts. Usually I am the one that is making them, but this year I received a WAY CUTE ornament as a gift from a teacher at the school I work for. It is so cute and so creative, so I had to share it along with instructions on how to make it! If you get really brave, my brother and I thought it would be cool to make a really big one for a wall hanging! It would smell SOOOOOO good! Hope you take a chance to make one! Merry Christmas and HAPPY CRAFTING!

Cinnamon Tree Ornament

Supplies:
Cinnamon sticks
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Craft wire

Instructions:
*Cut cinnamon to size
*Cut 3-5 different sizes of ribbon and tie them onto the cinnamon from top to bottom (smallest to largest).
*Cut 3 small pieces of thin ribbon and glue ribbon pieces on for star.
*Attach wire to top.
*Gift it or use it!

Check out more Christmas crafts at http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

Very Merry Workshop Projects

I love Christmastime! And I love crafting--as you all know! The pictures above are of the three projects we will be making at my Very Merry Workshop this weekend. I want to share the instructions on how to make the ornament. They are really wonderful to make as a gift and they can be personalized with whatever patterned paper you want. Hope you can make one soon! Happy crafting!!!

Double Ball Ornament

Supplies:

*1 sheet of 12"x12" DOUBLE SIDED patterned paper
*Small hole punch
*Hat pin with cap
*Beads
*Ribbon
*Silver elastic cording

Instructions:

1. Cut 10 pieces of 4" x .75" paper.
2. Cut 10 pieces of 3" x .75" paper.
3. Group the same sizes of paper together and punch a hole about 1/4" from the end.
4. Place the bigger pieces on the hat pin alternating the pattern that is face up. Take the BOTTOM piece and loop it over through the hat pin. Repeat this until all 10 pieces form the top ball.
5. Do the same thing with the smaller pieces.
6. Add beads and cap the hat pin.
7. Add ribbon and elastic cording.
8. Gift it or use it!!!

Patterns & Placement

I love to use patterned paper in my projects. It's really versatile and can be used in so many ways! I also like that if you make more than one of a certain card, they each turn out differently because the pattern is always different! This sometimes means you have to place embellishments in different places as well. The two cards above are made with the same supplies, but they are totally different because of the placement of embellishments and the patterns. Which do you like best?

I hope you find some way to use patterned paper in your next project! Happy stamping!

It's the MOST WONDERFUL Time of the Year!

Yeah!!! December!!! Christmas!!! I love to make homemade Christmas cards to give out to close family and friends!!! Here are a few from the past--sorry the pictures aren't very good. I hope to be able to post more current photos soon--especially since I have Christmas Card Group next Saturday! Take some time today to create a card for someone you love! Happy stamping and Merry Christmas!