New Dishes

Hubby got me new dishes for Christmas. 

The pattern is called Italian Countryside, made by Mikasa. 

Love the cream color and pattern of these dishes. 

Have to tell you I was scared for split second after I washed them and was putting them

away. The plates are so large I was worried the cupboard door wouldn't close, but

it just made it, but not by much! 

Hubby also ordered 8 cereal bowls to go with the set. They are on the way. 

He didn't like the salad/soup bowls with the set, and for those who know my hubby

you know why he didn't like them for cereal. 

Still working on the stamping studio and the sewing room. Hoping to get at

least the stamping studio done by today. I'm itching to stamp again. 

Happy New Years Eve! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Chocolate Covered Spoons and Rum Soaked Chocolate Cherries.

Last week I made chocolate covered spoons to give as gifts to the family. 

This one had three cinnamon dots for the holly berries and I pipped on 

white chocolate for the leaf. I should have filled the leaf in with green sugar, but

I wasn't thinking. 

I thought I was only making a few spoons but when it was all over I had

made 45 of them! 

They would have been prettier if I had used red or gold plastic spoons but I used

what I had on hand. Filled cello bags with them along with hot chocolate packets. 

The family loved them. 

Now on Christmas Eve day I was busy dipping rum soaked cherries in dark chocolate. YUM!!

They were the hit of Grandma Kate's birthday party. 

To make you need to soak one jar of stemmed maraschino cherries in 1/2 cup of rum.

Set in the fridge over night. Drain the cherries and pat them dry.  When ready to dip melt a 4oz dark 

 

chocolate bar with 1 tsp 

 

of shorting over a double boiler till melted. You can also melt this in the microwave. 

 

Dip the cherries and place on wax paper till the chocolate is set. 

I made a double batch, and they were gone in a few hours. 

I took down the tree yesterday. Hubby helped me thank goodness! 

Still cleaning and sorting the craft room, well sorting both the rooms as the 

upstairs one is becoming the sewing room again, and I have lots of projects lined 

up that I need to sew. 

I'll be working on it again today. 

Stamping trails

Karen

 

 

Emily's Card

Not my normal Mailable Monday post but I'm in between

craft rooms right now and didn't have time to stamp. 

This card was made by son John's girl friend Emily. 

This she tells me is the first card she ever made. 

What I love about it is the fact that she sketched the reindeer herself and

cut it out on designer paper. 

I told her after I get my stamping studio put back together I'd have to 

have her over and we could do some stamping as she has never stamped before. 

Sarah was over yesterday and we moved the heavy stuff (punches, big shot and dies, cardstock)

back to the downstairs craft room. So right now both rooms are in much need of cleaning. 

Lots of things to put away, and speaking of things to put away the tree is being put away

today. Busy week I don't think I'll ever catch up! 

Cleaning trails

Karen

Happy Birthday to Katie, and Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! 

Sorry for the glare on this photo. 

I made Sarah and Jason a memory ornament. 

It has the same blue rock that the wedding center pieces had in them. I 

rolled up a cropped photo and adhered it to the inside back of the glass ornament. 

The sunflower inside the ball isn't glued down so moves around. I'm

happy with it, but I haven another glass ball and I may try to make another one. 

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Skip's mom birthday. 

Lots of the family came to celebrate the day. 

He she is getting ready to blow out the candle. Grandma Katie had a good day. She

 

is 82 years young. 

Me, Sarah, John, and Skip. 

Sarah and Jason. 

I'm going to be taking a break from posting on the blog this weekend. 

So look for me back for Mailable Monday. 

We are going to the Chinese Buffet this afternoon. Just me, Skip, John, and Emily. 

Sarah and Jason are coming over in the morning to exchange gifts and visit. 

And on Sunday me and Sarah are going to do a mommy daughter day. Looking forward to that. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! 

Stamping trails

Karen

My Hutch is Full!

My hutch is just full of Christmas goodies from friends. 

Love the Santa pants! The designer paper cups holds candy,

and is layered on a doily covered paper saucer. 

The bottle covers fit perfectly in with my wine themed kitchen. 

Thanks to all my wonderful friends for remember me this Christmas! 

I'm truly blessed. 

I will be posting photos of more gifts this week.

Happy Christmas Eve to all.

We will be spending this night with the family and celebrating not only Christmas

Eve but my mom-in-law's birthday. Happy Birthday Katie! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Candy Sled, and Stemware Decor

Isn't this a cute little sled made from candy?

My friend Lisa sent it to me last week. It was in a cello

bag but I took it out for the picture. 

This little collection of stemware came from Sarah's wedding. 

We had thought to use these at table decorations and put sunflowers under

the glass, but we decided not to as the kids were using sunflowers from there yard and

we needed vases. So I got this collection and put ornaments under the stemware and

added some pine cones. Makes a nice display. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Dough Boy Ornaments

My mom loved the Pillsbury Dough Boy figure. 

She collected the ornaments the company put out every year. 

The collection is mine now and I hang them on my kitchen hutch as well as the 

tree. 

I wanted to share some of them today. 

He's making a list...and checking it twice oops wrong plump guy! 

Look mom I'm dancing! 

Surprise! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 134

I love monochromatic cards.

Needed to start making my Christmas gift thank you cards. 

I used Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, and Pool Party inks. 

The greeting from Flurry of Wishes was done with the Bermuda Bay marker and

I omitted everything past "of". Thank you greeting is from an upcoming SAB set. 

I also used Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. The edges of the white base was inked 

with Pool Party. 

I'm going to be busy this week making more cookies and finishing up some 

Christmas gifts for the family. Can't believe that Christmas is just a few days away! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Cards from Connie

I received a sweet little box from my friend Connie on Friday. 

Well actually I received three boxes on Friday. 

I have wonderful friends!!!

Connie made all the Christmas cards. 

All were made with the Festival of Trees stamp set and matching punch. 

She also made this adorable painted snowman on burlap frame art. 

He is just so happy! 

He fits right in with my little cluster of snowmen. 

Thanks Connie! I'll be posting other gifts from friends though out the week.

Sorry about the blog hop that I posted on Friday. There were suppose to be others in the

hop I guess I was the only one that had time to post. 

Stamping trails

Karen

VC Rocks Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome to the VC Rocks Holiday Blog Hop. 

I used Home for Christmas designer paper to make this

cute little drawer/box. 

The top flap opens up to reveal the greeting. 

I lined the drawer with the same green cardstock as the reindeer is layered on. The

drawer pull is just a piece of jute twine. 

I love this stamp set that is in the upcoming occasions catalog.

Its called Going Global. I had to use it for a Christmas card to my hubby. 

Plus I thought the stars would be perfect to use on an Etch-a-Sketch card. 

My last project is just plain silly! I used September's Paper Pumpkin and turned

the little brown fringed bag into a reindeer. 

Not my idea as I saw another person post one, but I added antlers by using 

the wing from the bird die (retired). 

Don't forget to check out the other fun holiday projects by visiting 

the VC Rocks Blog. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Baking with the Kids

We had an awesome baking day on Sunday. 

John and Emily got right in there and made all the sugar cookies. 

The hair is up and we are baking! 

Tray of sugar cookies before they go in the oven. 

John laughing at one of the cookies he made. 

Cookies frosted and decorated. 

Sarah working on a batch. 

Melinda stopped over and jumped right in to help with the baking. 

She's working on blossom cookies. YUM!

Using the piping bag.

Finished pan. These are cranberry blondies. 

Of course while we were baking the boys were watching the football game. 

It was a great day! The weather was warm for this time of the year, and the 

Cleveland Browns won! 

We made 5 batches of cookies. So we got a lot done and had a wonderful time

baking together. Looking forward to doing it again next year. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday 133

This is one of the sets that SU is offering for SAB 2016.

The plane, and clouds is from Sky is the Limit. 

The background under the plane is also a new set Timeless Textures, and

the greeting is from Jingle all the Way. 

This card would be perfect for a guy who maybe doesn't want a fancy 

Christmas card, and also perfect for Mailable Monday. 

Had a blast yesterday baking cookies with the kids. 

Be posting photos tomorrow. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Botanical Blooms

Was playing yesterday afternoon with a few things

that will be in the Spring Occasions mini catalog. 

The stamp set is called Botanical Blooms and has a 

matching framelit set, and designer paper. Gotta love that! 

I cut the longer leaf strip at the bottom of a white base card. 

I added a Mossy Meadow panel to the back of the cut piece

so the green would show though the leaves. 

Here is a side view. The leaf framlit cut the bottom part away so

with the green panel on the inside front of the card I was able to

adhere it back. 

Today is cookie making day! The girls will be over at 1 o'clock. 

Of course we are having strange weather as it is suppose to be in the 70's today. 

WOW!!!!!!

I may have to turn off the heater and open up the windows if the kitchen gets to hot. 

Cookie baking trails

Karen

Kitty, and Not Feeling Well

I haven't been feeling well the past two days. 

Tummy bothering me, and a headache. 

At first I thought it might have been the 1/2 of a hot dog I

ate with homemade chili, but since I have the headache, and tummy still

hurting on the second day I think I may have picked up a bug. 

The photo is of Cherokee that Skip took. She is always eying my table and

wanting to get on it, but she knows she is not allowed. Doesn't stop 

her from trying. 

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow and feeling better. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Elegant Black Snowflakes

These snowflakes look so elegant in black. 

I used winter wonderland designer vellum over a white layer. 

Stamp set Flurry of Wishes. 

Seems like my cookie baking party is growning. 

Sarah called me yesterday to let me know her best friend Melinda is also coming over. 

Should be a fun time for all of us baking all those cookies! 

I told Sarah she may need to bring me more butter and eggs. 

Melinda is bringing over a bottle of wine. 

Hmmm....never baked cookies and drank wine at the same time should be fun! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Designer Paper Home for Christmas Card

I enjoy making quick cards using designer paper as the focal point.

Only stamping done on this card was the greeting that came from Holiday Home (SU retired)

stamp set. 

Designer paper is called Home for Christmas. 

I added just a bit of Venetian crochet trim across the top. Almost

makes it look like a window. 

I did some light housework yesterday. Since I have family coming over on 

Sunday to bake cookies. Also spent some time writing out the Christmas cards. 

They are finished and are going in the mail today. YAY! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 132

I used Happy Scenes for today's card. 

Trees inked with Always Artichoke. 

Greeting was inked with Cherry Cobbler. 

Only accent is a narrow strip of dazzling diamond glitter ribbon. 

After stamping the trees I lifted the stamp and moved it slightly to the

right and stamped again. I got a very nice second generation image. 

I will be busy today finished up the Christmas cards and mailing out packages. 

We went to the grocery store yesterday afternoon. Got all the stuff needed for

this weekends cookie baking. Skip kept saying you are buying a lot of butter, and

don't we have flour at home....I just replied....cookies! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Flower Pot Sucker Cover

I had so much fun making these little candy favors. 

The bottom is a flower pot shape that holds a dum-dum sucker...

and speaking of dum-dums

I found these at the store the other day. Limited Edition Holiday pops. 

Haven't tried them all but the gingerbread one is awesome! 

Here is a side view showing the sucker. 

I used Reason for the Season stamp set along with the matching punch to create the flower. 

I did add a mellow moss card stock strip to cover the sucker stick to make it look

more like a flower coming out of a plant pot. 

Very happy with the final product. Just in case you 

want to make one I found the pattern and directions for the flower pot on Sarah's Ink Spot

Very simple to make. 

Me and hubby went to the mall yesterday afternoon. Got lunch in the food court then

just enjoyed walking around the mall. Yes you heard right I enjoyed walking around

the mall. The knee is getting much better and I'm finding I can walk longer, but 

I'm still using the cane, and taking breaks when I need to. 

We stopped at the pet store and I was playing with the cutest little kittens. I just

wanted to take them all home with me. 

Stamping trails

Karen