Top Posts/Projects for 2016

Christmas is only a couple days away, and for the next week, I'll be quiet here so I can enjoy some downtime with my family.  But, after the first of the year, there will be a new Occasions catalog, and SALE-A-BRATION!  If you do not have a demonstrator already, and would like to receive these catalogs, send me a message with your address, and I'll get some in the mail to you!

As the year is winding down, I thought it would be fun to review some of the most talked about, pinned, and FUN posts I've made this year.  Not all of these come from my blog.  I occasionally post exclusive content to my Instagram or Facebook pages, so be sure to check those social media links in the top right corner of my site and follow me.

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#1 - The response to this project blew me away.  There was no question in my mind that this would have to be in the number one spot.  This Hot Air Balloon was my gift packaging for my Stampin' Up! team's Christmas party this year.  It was a ton of fun to put together and see the responses to.  I later went on to create a smaller version for a tutorial .

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#2 - Again, this project was originally created for a team event last March.  I was asked multiple times at the event and afterwords if I had a tutorial.  In June of this year, I finally shared the video tutorial, and had a huge response. This was how to use your rubber stamps on cookies to create an edible impression.  

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#3 - Moving over to my Instagram for this item,  I had posted a card that was based on a tutorial by Jennifer McGuire (PS.  If you have not seen her video about the Joy and Kindness of Sharing, please go watch it.  As a cardmaker, I find it incredibly inspirational, and when I'm in a rut or have "lost my mojo", that video can help pull me out of the funk).  This card did well on Instagram, but was repinned quite a bit once it was on Pinterest.     

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#4 - On to my Facebook page, where I posted a little tip about Stampin' Glitter and Stampin' Emboss Powder.  This is a fairly recent post, however, it is continuing to have a surprisingly huge response on both Facebook and Pinterest.  I guess us crafters just REALLY like our sparkly items!  

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#5 - Combining a couple of cards here, but each use similar techniques and were about equally well received.   The Star of Wonder card used a lot of pink tones ink blended together to create the starry ombre background.  The Shine and Shimmer Snowflake card, used paler blue and gray to give a frosty and foggy look to the ink blended panel.  

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#6 - There are so many more projects that I could share here, however, I think the final one has to be this Floral Boutique Folio.  This was a fun project to create, and even more fun to give away to a friend. 

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So, that's my top 6 (7-ish) projects/posts from the past year.  Was your favorite missing from the list?  Share what you think should be on the list in the comments!  

As I said before, I will be quiet here until after the New Year.  I will leave you with this fun video from Stampin' Up!  

Have a safe, happy, and magical holiday season.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

Treat Trays (Photo Heavy)

I mentioned that this week was the week I do my Christmas "trays".  This was my 10th year doing these trays, and over time, they have kind of evolved into this elaborate gift.  I get really stressed out during the week, trying to get them done, but I absolutely love making them.  And my favorite part happened today - DELIVERY DAY!  I love seeing the expressions as people get their trays.  Even the grizzled guys my husband work with get excited to see me show up with their treats.

I took a bunch of photos along the way and wanted to share.  These were taken with my cell phone, and usually while I was stirring, or balancing a pot or something in my other hand, so please forgive the quality.

I did my grocery shopping last weekend.  Let me tell you, this cartload gets a few comments as you're pushing it through the store!  I had several people look inside and they say they wanted to come home with me.  

I made a small batch of divinity last week.  I don't make a ton of this candy.  It's not my favorite, and there are a lot of people who don't care for it.  But I have a couple of people who love it, and I make it just for them.

I also baked all my sugar cookies last week.   And I made a LOT of cookies.

I chose to make a simple shape and then elaborate with my icing. I sketched out my design in a couple different styles before picking what I wanted to recreate on the cookies

I don't have a huge kitchen, so it gets completely taken over during this process.

No, those aren't potatoes on those cookies!

So many cookies!

But I was happy with how they turned out!

I also made fudge.  A lot of the recipes I use are from my grandmother and great-grandmother.

Tree break!  In all of the work involved, I try to remember to take a few breaks here and there to just appreciate the season.

And, back to work.  I dipped nearly 200 cake balls this year.   I'm not great and dipping chocolate, as the only time I really do it is at Christmas.  Something to work on over 2017 to be in better practice next Christmas.

I made a bunch of smores logs.  These are one of my favorite candy, so I always make an extra batch and freeze it when I'm working on these.

I got a little violent when crushing graham crackers and crushed my rolling pin.  Oops.

That right there = YUMMY!

I made batch after batch of toffee. This recipe was actually a mistake many years ago, where I misread and ingredient in my great grandma's butterscotch recipe.  It makes great toffee though, once it's topped with chocolate and nuts!

 Packaging time.  I usually use a tray or plate for packaging, but this year decided to go with bakery boxes.  I'm super happy with the switch as I think the presentation was much nicer this way.

Loaded up and ready for tags and bows.  

I made super simple tags for the boxes, and tied big bows on with wire edged ribbon  Loved my Yummy Little Christmas stamp set for treat packaging this year.  This is a set I'm definitely keeping for future use.

Inside the boxes:

The top layer had a wrapped smores log, and a packet of toffee, under that were sugar cookies, cake balls in 3 flavors, fudge, and fudge nut bars.

 This is certainly a labor of love, and I love doing it for the people that we care about and appreciate so much.   It makes for very long days (about 19 hours most days - for the number of batches I'm working on in a small kitchen), but is worth it.

And, yes, I took a very looooong nap after delivering trays this morning!  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

Yummy Little Christmas

Taking a really SUPER QUICK break from my Christmas baking, to share this cute little tag with you.

Aaaaaand back to icing cookies!  Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

PS.  Stampin' Up! is cleaning out their warehouse!  Some items are retiring, and some are just on AMAZING deals right now!  Be sure to check this out  - Up to 60% off - but items are limited, so get your order in now!  Click "Shop Now" and then click on "Year-End Closeouts" in the menu on the left. 

Supplies: 

Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	This Christmas Designer Series Specialty Paper	Yummy Little Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Tip Top Taupe 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Mini Striped Ribbon	Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine	Christmas Trinkets Embellishments	Holly Berry Builder Punch	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
Banner Triple Punch	Project Life Corner Punch	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies	Versamark Pad	Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder
Pink Heat Embossing Gun | Hobby Lobby | 506345	Clear Block D	Bone Folder	Embossing Buddy	Stampin' Dimensionals
Scotch CAT 085 Advanced Tape Glider,Cure Pink	JVCC ATG-7502 ATG Tape [Acid Neutral]	Stampin' Trimmer	Stampin' Mist	Stampin' Scrub

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