Christmas Tags - Quick and Easy

Here are the tags I promised yesterday.  Very simple but so much fun.

The "Merry Christmas" swag is from White Christmas in the Holiday Catalog (135767), as is the Polar Bear in the corner.

The "JOY" swag is from Get Your Santa On (135761) as well as the little package.

The "TO: FROM:" is from Wondrous Wreath (135047)

Add some Washi Tape - All is Calm Designer Washi Tape (135844) and you've got a great little tag.  The Cherry Cobbler Washi is retired, but it was too pretty not to use!

 

 

On Friday, my "My Paper Pumpkin" arrived, so I hope to play with it today and post it for you tonight for viewing tomorrow!

Happy Saturday!

~ Donna

The Trouble With Truffles

There are SO many things wrong with Truffles...

Messy to make
Way too rich
Chocolate everywhere
Time consuming
Cocoa powder everywhere
Did I mention messy
Way off the diet
Chocolate covered fingers, clothes, spoons, bowl...

You get the idea... LOL

However, they are SO much fun to package up as gifts inside our wonderful boxes made with the Gift Box Punch Board (135863) and the Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper (135825).  I made the 4" x 4" x 1.75" box and it holds four truffles perfectly.  You could probably put in more, but four is a good fit, and honestly, they are so rich you don't want to take on too many.  Oh and you definitely need a cup of hot coffee or tea to go with them!

Here's my box all wrapped up with Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon (135839) and a tag I made earlier today.  I'll show you more of the tags tomorrow.

 
I just LOVE this ribbon.  It is so pretty and so easy to work with!

 
The recipe I used comes from the Christian Radio Station I listen to, Family Life Radio.  I just love listening to this station.  No commercials and wonderful music, DJ's and encouragement. 

Shannyn and Peter are on the morning show that's on every morning.  Shannyn shares this recipe every year and this year I decided to try it.  She warned it was messy and she wasn't kidding!!!  But I think they came out really fun and I even found little papers to put them in (like mini cup-cake papers).

Here is her recipe from the website.  Here's the link if you are interested, it's from Monday, December 15th.  Shannyn's Truffles

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (62% cacao or higher), chopped into small pieces
• 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Optional base flavorings:

• Mint leaves (1 bunch, stems removed, chopped, about 1 cup)
• Cinnamon and cardamon (1 cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom pods)
• Almond extract (1 teaspoon)

Truffle coatings

• Cocoa powder
• Finely chopped walnuts
• Finely chopped almonds

Method

1. In a small, heavy saucepan bring the heavy whipping cream to a simmer (this may take a while, be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes). If you are using one of the other recommended flavorings, stir it in with the cream (and ignore vanilla in the next step). If adding mint or other solids, after the cream simmers, remove from heat and let seep for an hour. Then strain away solids, and return the cream to a simmer and proceed with recipe.
2. Place the chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate, add the vanilla, and allow to stand for a few minutes then stir until smooth. (This chocolate base is called ganache.)
3. Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove and with a teaspoon roll out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly (as it will melt from the heat of your hands) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Roll in cocoa powder or chopped nuts and serve, or place back in the refrigerator until needed.

Thank you for looking in today.  Christmas is almost here!  I love this time of year with family and friends and enjoy sharing the Reason for the Season!

Happy Friday!

~ Donna

A Birthday Star!

Time for a birthday card for a guy friend!  I should have probably mailed this sooner with so many things being mailed this time of year, but I think it will arrive in time!  (fingers crossed)

 

This was a quick and simple card.  It actually took longer to die cut the stars than putting it together. 

 

For the stars, I used the star die from the Circle Card Thinlits (133480).  My star punch was too small and sadly I don't have the Stars Framelits (133723), but I still would have had to cut one at a time since the glimmer paper is a little thick to do 2 at a time.

 



The "happy birthday" is from Endless Wishes (137553) Photopolymer Stamps.  Did You Know... you can find all of our Photopolymer Stamps by clicking on the link at the top of my blog "Photopolymer Clear Stamps".  Since Stampin' Up! releases new sets from time to time, they aren't all available in the catalog, so be sure to check them out.

Our newest set is Snuggles and Smooches.  Valentine's Day will be here before we know it!

I added a little something extra to the envelope (even though it's hard to see the envelope with my white background - sorry!).  Also from the Endless Wishes set.  So many things to be done with that great set!

I cut the card at 11 x 4 1/4 and scored it at 5 1/2 folding at the top.  This way I could wrap the ribbon around the card.  The ends of the ribbon are covered by the star panel.  Tricky, right?  

The stars are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals as is the star panel.  Inside it says "celebrate" also with the Endless Wishes stamps.
 

 
Thank you for looking in today.  This is my last day "off" from the office, so back to the grind on Friday... except it's our Office Christmas Party, so it will be a fun fun day!  Besides, I need to get back to the office to rest.  Three days at home running errands, finishing shopping and making cookies and treats (which will be done today) is wearing me out!  ha ha ha!

Have a Happy Thursday!

~ Donna

Sneak Peak at Sale-a-Bration Lotus Blossom

Sadly, it's time for more sympathy cards.  A very dear friend of my family passed away on Saturday.  She and my Mother were like sisters and her children are like my brother and sister.  I know how difficult this is for them having been through it myself already. 

She was a wonderful Godly woman who loved her children more than anything in the world and brought them up with a wonderful Christian life.  Her husband was a missionary but he passed away when we were all very young and raised her children in a loving Christian home.

Thankfully I was able to see her before she passed and I'm so very grateful I did.  I was able to spend some quiet time with her and praying for her as she slept.  Heaven truly did gain an angel.

On to the cards.  This first card was made using the Lotus Blossom Stamp Set from the 2015 Sale-a-bration catalog.  You're going to LOVE it!  So simple and beautiful at the same time.

The second card is from one of my favorite go-to sets from the Annual Catalog.  It is Love and Sympathy (w-128652  / c-122797).  I love inking the stamps with our Stampin' Write Markers and then stamping them on Whisper White.  It makes it look like a watercolor, don't you think?
 

 

Here's a closer look at the flower and stems.  Aren't they beautiful?  Just color the stamp and press it down.  So pretty!

 

Thank you for looking in today.  I appreciate it when you come in and look around and I really love it when you leave comments.  Leave a little love today!

~ Donna

Minty Fresh Santa Tutorial

The first picture here shows you all the pieces and parts you will need.  Click on the picture to make it open bigger in another window.  This is just a suggestion, I know I made changes to the original one I saw.
 

 
If you want to make more than one, you can get three out of an 8 1/2" x 11" inch paper.  Cut your paper to 6" wide - leaving the 11" side alone.  Place your paper on the Stampin' Score with the 6" edge to the top.  TIP:  rub a scrunched up piece of waxed paper (you probably have some in your kitchen drawer, yes, THAT kind of waxed paper).  This will make your score tool slide easily down the paper.
 

 

 
Now, place the paper on your Stampin' Trimmer and cut into 3 1/2" x 6" sections.  Remember, you already have it cut at 6" - makes that EASY! 
 

 
 

For a nice scalloped edge I used the Rotary Addition on my Stampin' Trimmer and used the Small Scallop blade.  (You can also just do a straight cut.)  Place your Whisper White card stock (3 1/2" x  1 3/4") and place it on  your Trimmer at 1 5/8".

 

Flip it over and line it up at 1 1/2" for the other cut.

 

 
 

 

 

 
The belt is cut from Basic Black (2 1/2" x 1") - my apologies for no picture, but I think you can get that!  :)
 

 

 

Assemble as shown:
 

 Thank you for stopping by today to see the tutorial.

~ Donna

Fresh and Minty Santa

There are a lot of Santa's running around these days and this one is no exception!  Darla Roberts shared hers and the video she got the idea from and I ran with it!  Thanks Darla!!

You'll see several varieties below, I just couldn't decide which I liked best, at first.  I definitely like the ones with the buttons and short beard best.  When I first saw the instructions, I immediately decided Santa needed a beard so that's what he ended up with.
 

Then I decided his belt buckle needed a little more bling as well and made some out of the Silver Glitter paper.

 

 
I even made a box for them to stand up in.  I'm planning to keep them in my car - since it's gum and it won't melt in the car, we're still pretty warm here in Phoenix, although I think we may slip into the 60's for our high's this week instead of the 70's and 80's!
 

I'll post a tutorial on this tomorrow so you can see how I put it all together.

Thanks for looking in today.  Have a blessed Sunday.

~ Donna

Snowman Punch Art Pattern



I thought I'd share my pattern for these cute little snowmen.

 

I start with punching the top of the hat.  After making a few and trying to punch where there wasn't any paper missing, I realized that it wouldn't matter if the "candle" punches into the cupcake bottom because it will be glued to the back of the hat brim, so punch away and save paper!

 

Here is the pattern and punches needed for making the snowman.

The scarf is simply a 3/4" x 1 1/2" strip of card stock of your choice.  The nose is just a strip of paper and then cut as shown on the markings below.  I don't mark it first, just simply cut them randomly.  No need to be perfect, it is, after all, a "carrot".

 
 

They seem to be multiplying!!!

I hope this helps you to make some of your own cute little snowmen.  So adorable!

Thanks for looking in today.  Enjoy your weekend!

~ Donna