Warm Cocoa Wishes

Happy Thursday, everyone -- and Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the US! I have a quick sample to show you today, and then I'm off to spend time with my family! :)

Today's preview is of the new Cookie Crumbs set called Warm Cocoa Wishes. Diane's stamps are always so cute, and I especially love her snowmen and winter images! I used the mug from the set to make this tag for some homemade cocoa. One of the gifts I like to make during the holidays is homemade drink mixes. They're perfect for friends, neighbors, teachers, and bus drivers! :)

To make the tag, I paper pieced and cut out the mug, then I popped it up on dimensionals. I applied some Frosted Lace stickles to the whipped cream. I rounded the top corners of the tag, but they're hidden by the ribbon.

I'm taking the day off tomorrow so I can spend time with family, but I'll be back on Saturday! Thank you so much for taking time to stop by today! :)

Have a great day!
Christina

Stamps: Warm Cocoa Wishes (Cookie Crumbs Stamps) Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko) Cardstock: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla (SU!) Paper: Holly Jolly Mini Deck (Cosmo Cricket) Other: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots embossing folder (Provo Craft), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Pure Poppy ribbon, Pure Poppy button, twine (Papertrey Ink), Tab Punch, Corner Rounder (SU!), Icicle Stickles (Ranger), Copics, silver brads, silver eyelet

ATS Previews, Day Two

Happy Wednesday! Today's All That Scraps preview is of the set Otis and Milo Winter Wishes by HR Designs. I thought this Imaginisce Polar Expressions paper was perfect with the image! I colored with Copics and applied Icicle Stickles to the snowflakes and ground line. The button and twine are backed by a Heidi Swapp ghost snowflake.

You can see more samples of this set on the ATS Blog, and you can also check out the blogs of my ATS teammates (on my sidebar). All the new stamps will be released Monday, November 30 at 9:00 am Eastern.

Well, Thanksgiving is tomorrow! I will have another preview to share, so stop by if you get a chance! That's all for now!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Christina

ATS December Preview

Hello! It's that time of the month again -- time for previews, that is! Today is the first day of previews at All That Scraps. This is Holly Starshine -- one of two new Sweet November fairy stamps being released this month. The sentiment is from AmyR's Winter Sentiments. I colored with Copics and added some Stickles to her top and wings. The paper is BasicGrey Figgy.

This month's ATS stamps are being released at a special date and time, so you have enough time to ink them up before Christmas! The release is November 30 at 9:00 am Eastern. The Design Team will have a special Blog Hop on November 29th! You can find more information and samples on the ATS Blog.

I'll have another preview for you tomorrow -- thanks so much for coming by today!

Have a great day!
Christina

Sunday Supper: Kentucky Pie

Hi there! Happy Sunday to you! For the next several weeks, I'll be sharing some recipes that are perfect for the holidays!

This recipe is for one of my favorite pies, Kentucky Pie or Derby Pie. Since I'm a Kentucky girl, I thought I'd share it with you! Pumpkin pies, move over -- make room for this one on your Thanksgiving table!

Kentucky Pie (from Paula Deen's Holiday Baking magazine)
1/2 (15-oz) package refrigerated pie crusts
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. On a lightly floured surface, unroll piecrust. Roll pastry into a 12-inch circle. Press piecrust into a 9-inch pie plate, crimping edges if desired. In a large bowl, combine sugars and flour. Add corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, and bourbon, whisking until smooth. Stir in chocolate morsels and pecans. Pour mixture into prepared piecrust. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until center of pie is set. Let cool for 1 hour before slicing. Serve with ice cream and chocolate sauce, if desired.


This weekend I've been working on samples for the upcoming ATS and MFT releases -- I can't wait to show them to you! We're having some gorgeous fall weather here -- sunny and temps near 60. It's going to be difficult to force myself to stamp today! I hope you have a great day planned -- thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Christina

For the Birthday Girl

Hello there! TGIF! Tomorrow is my niece's birthday, and I couldn't resist the chance to use this adorable Pure Innocence cutie on her card! I colored with Copics and paper pieced her dress. I love how it turned out -- bright and fun, just like my niece! :)

I'm going to keep this short -- I'm subbing again today! I hope you have a great day planned! Thanks so much for visiting!

Have a fantastic Friday! :)
Christina

Stamps: Pure Innocence: My Balloon (MFT) Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko) Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss (SU!), Pure Poppy (PTI), Perfect Paper Panels (MFT) Paper: Lime Rickey paper pad (BasicGrey) Other: Copics, ribbon, button, twine, dimensionals, sewing machine

MFT VIP is back!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Back by popular demand... MFT VIP! Yes, you can get your hands on the newest Who's That Girl? plus lots of other goodies -- two weeks early, and for TODAY only!

The MFT VIP Package includes:

Maid for Who’s That Girl? The upcoming Who’s That Girl? set - $15.95

Princess Ribbon Nest - $9.95 (Contains 5 yards each of 5/8” Princess Sheer Ribbon in 5 gorgeous colors. Silver, Crème, White, Black and, of course, Princess Pink!)

Princess Pearl Collection - $15.95 (Beautiful Swarovski Pearls in 3mm White, 4mm White, 4mm Creme and 4mm Jet Black, packaged in my Adornments case. Approx 75-80 total per package.)

Please note your VIP Perks include:

VIP perk #1: You get our newest WTG? set in your hot little hands one week before anyone else even sees it!

VIP perk #2: Should you wish to purchase the One-Click Collection within the first 48 hours of the release, you may switch out your VIP WTG? set with any other set on the site by mentioning your selection in the comments section of that order.

VIP perk #3: A special offer just for YOU!


Several of my MFT Sisters have samples to show you -- so start at Kim's Blog to see all the goodness! :)

Thanks for the visit -- see you tomorrow!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Christina

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Tuesday! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week! Here's a Turkey Day card I made for my sister-in-law, who is hosting all of us for Thanksgiving dinner. The image and sentiment are from the Fall cling mounted set by American Art Stamp. I colored with Copics and sponged around the image with SU! So Saffron ink. I did some distressing and machine stitching, too.

I wanted to let you know that American Art Stamp is having a "Happy Happy 2009 Holiday" sale right now! Everything is 30% off -- just in time for holiday shopping! :)

Well, that's all for today! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit!

Have a great day!
Christina

Stamps: Fall cling mounted set (AAS) Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), So Saffron (SU!) Cardstock: Kraft, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Cream Perfect Paper Panels (MFT) Paper: Early Bird: Sunrise (Cosmo Cricket) Other: Copics, Cutter Kit, felt flowers (SU!), lace, button, twine, sponge, dimensionals, sewing machine

A Flurry of Texture!

Happy Monday, everyone! Yesterday was the 15th of the month, and that always means a new Dirty Dozen Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. If you aren't a SCS Fan Club Member, you are missing out on SO much eye candy and inspiration! Anyway, I was beyond thrilled to find out that my MFT Sister, Melody Rupple, is one of the two newest Dirty Dozen members! Woohoo, Melody!! The Fan Club can play along with the DD themes each month, and I couldn't resist this month's theme -- texture! This is my favorite time of year to add texture to my cards!

I used Flurry of Love, one of the new Pure Innocence sets from My Favorite Things, to create this card. *The PI sets have been SO popular, so this set is currently sold out, but it WILL be back in stock soon!*

Here are the ways I added texture to my card:
Cuttlebug snowflake background
Fun Flock (Lily White) on the trim of the hat, coat and boots
Stickles (Frosted Lace) on the snowflakes
Flower Soft (Polar White) on the ground
SU! Felt snowflakes
SU! Felt ribbon
Machine stitching


I also used MFT Adornments crystals and my snowflakes border punch. As you can see, I had a lot of fun adding all of the elements and creating some touchable texture! :)

Well, today is Anna's 8th birthday! I can't believe it! We're taking her out tonight, and we're celebrating with her grandparents on Wednesday. I have some gifts to wrap and a card to finish, so I'd better get busy! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Have a great day!
Christina

Sunday Supper: Baked Ravioli

Happy Sunday! Today's recipe is super easy and has just three ingredients -- and you can use frozen ravioli!

Baked Ravioli
Jumbo cheese-filled ravioli (refrigerated or frozen), about 30 pieces
26-oz jar pasta sauce
4 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375. Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place 15 ravioli over the sauce. Top with another layer of sauce and sprinkle with half the cheese. Pat down and repeat layers. Cover loosely with aluminum foil, sealing edges firmly. Bake 1 hour (1 hour 15 minutes if frozen), until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with salad and bread. Enjoy! :)

Have a great day -- don't forget to spend some time around the supper table!

Christina

Blog Award!

Happy Saturday, everyone! Last week my sweet friend Tracy Clemente gave me this blog award. Thanks so much, Tracy! :) The rules are to answer the questions with just one word, and to pass the award on to five people.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? short

3. Your mother? kind

4. Your father? generous

5. Your favorite food? Mexican

6. Your dream last night? none

7. Your favorite drink? coffee

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in? kitchen

10. Your hobby? stamping

11. Your fear? failure

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where were you last night? mother-daughter

14. Something you aren't? tall

15. Muffins? pumpkin

16. Wish list item? landscaping

17. Where did you grow up? Kentucky

18. Last thing you did? breakfast

19. What are you wearing? jeans

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pets? gerbil

22. Friends? valuable

23. Your life? Crazy

24. Your mood? melancholy

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? Tahoe

27. Something you're not wearing? watch

28. Your favorite store? Gap

29. Your favorite color? brown

30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday

31. Last time you cried? today

32. Your best friend? Chris
33. One place that I go to over and over? Starbucks

34. Facebook? yes

35. Favorite place to eat? Panera

I can't choose just five people, so all of you are welcome to play! :)

Have a great day!

Christina