Tag: holidays

Sue’s Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

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Christmas Cookies

Every year, around the Holidays, I like to share my Sugar Cookie Recipe with you.

It’s a great recipe.  (and easy too.)

The cookies are soft, delicious and even a little bit popular in my circle of family and friends.

The recipe was given to me by my mother on my first Christmas as a new Bride.  (a long time ago)

It was carefully written down, in her own handwriting, on a piece of notebook paper which has now

turned yellow.  It is brittle, tattered, ripped, creased and stained.  (It is priceless to me.)

Enjoy!

Sue's Sugar Cookies

Sue’s Sugar Cookies

  • 1- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 c. butter or margarine
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2- 1/2 c. all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  1. Cream sugar & butter, add egg & flavoring, mix thoroughly.
  2. Sift dry ingredients together and stir in.  (I dump)
  3. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
  4. Heat oven to 375°.
  5. Divide dough in half & roll out on lightly floured pastry sheet.
  6. Roll thin, but thick enough to pick up the design with the cookie cutters.
  7. Dip cookie cutter into flour before each cutting.  Cut as many cookies from each rolling as possible.  The least amount of working with the dough gives the best cookie.
  8. Place on lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake 7 to 8 min. or until delicately golden.
  • For the Glaze I dump around a cup of powdered sugar into a bowl.  Add a dash of vanilla.    Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you want.  (hint:  not too runny)

 

A little Holiday Sparkle…

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Sue Eldred's Holiday Sparkle Frame

Thinking of adding a little Holiday Sparkle this year?

Adding a little Holiday Sparkle doesn’t get much easier than this.

Holiday Sparkle Bow 2007

Gather up a few sparkly holiday sprigs…

tie them together with a jingle bell and satin ribbon and then glue them onto

your favorite frame.  Your frame will be dressed to impress.

Holiday Sparkle Frame in the Snow

I loved the way this frame turned out, so sweet and simple. 

But let me tell you… I really struggled trying to get a good picture to show you.

Taking good pictures of clear acrylic frames is really hard.

I took over 150 pictures of this frame.  (no joke)

When it started snowing yesterday morning, I decided to try again.

It was such a beautiful snow, I didn’t even mind getting cold.

Holiday Sparkle Supplies 1808

For my Holiday Sparkle Frame I used the NEW Clear Magnetic Curved frame

that will be available from Deflecto Craft Solutions in January 2016.

I love the original curved magnetic frame* and I am so happy that they decided to

make it in a smaller size without a border.  (can’t wait to get my hands on a few more)

This new frame measures 5″ x 7″ and is perfect for a 4″ x 6″ picture or graphic.

(you can find the larger size here*)

“Tis the Season to Sparkle” comes from the 4×6 Horizontal Journaling Card Elements

from Simple Stories “Claus & Co.” collection layered on red glitter cardstock.

*Disclaimer: “This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.” This post uses Affiliate links if you choose to make a purchase, I receive a very small commission that helps maintain this site.  Thank You for your support!

Countdown to Christmas

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Hello December Christmas Countdown

I had this idea to make a Countdown to Christmas using a small wood clipboard.

I’d been thinking about it and planning it in my head for a while.

When I went to the store all I could find were bright colored acrylic ones.

I knew if I kept searching I could find a wood one…

But, I really didn’t want to go running around to more stores so I picked one up

and decided I would change my plan.

Christmas Countdown Clipboard

The more I looked at this neon clipboard, I knew I wasn’t happy.

So… I decided to improvise.

I lightly sanded both sides of the clipboard with a fine grit sanding block.

Next, I gave the clipboard a couple of coats of Red Chalky Finish Paint.

After it was completely dried, I masked off an area with removable painter’s tape

and painted the inside of the masked area with black chalkboard paint.

Christmas Countdown Close Up

 “Hello December” is from a sheet of scrapbook paper from Simple Stories “Claus & Co.” Collection.

I embellished the clipboard with a silver ribbon, jingle bell and sparkly red berries.

Christmas Countdown 2

I’m never satisfied with my own handwriting on these things…

so I added letter stickers on the bottom.  (now I’m happy!)

 

Here’s what I used:

These products available at your local craft stores or online on amazon.com*

*Disclosure:  I am a Amazon Affliate.

Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

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Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

No matter how you decorate for the Holidays…Shabby, Homespun, Country or Cute.

You can easily customize these Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments to fit your personal style.

Easy to make and sure to impress.

How To make Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

Finished Size : 3”

Materials Used:

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Directions:

  1. Apply a strip of 1/8″ adhesive around the outside edge of the Smoothfoam wreath. This keeps the ribbon securely in place while wrapping.
  2. Wrap ribbon tightly around wreath. When you’ve wrapped the ribbon half way around wreath add the jump ring with jingle bell to ribbon so that it hangs on the bottom of the wreath and continue wrapping. When finished wrapping the ribbon, glue ribbon end onto back of wreath.
  3. Add metallic ribbon trim on top of the wreath as the ornament hanger.
  4. Glue mini bottle brush tree inside wreath.
  5. Glue a piece of burlap or scrapbook paper onto a piece of chipboard and cut into a circle that will cover the inside of the wreath and glue to the back of the wreath.
  6. Print a computer generated greeting on to a piece of cream card-stock. Cut down to size and notch out both ends to create a banner.
  7. Give the banner a quick wave using your fingers and glue onto the bottom of the wreath.
  8. Add adhesive pearls on to the wreath.
  9. Add bow on the top of the wreath to finish it off.

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How to make a Holly Jolly Flip Album…

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Holly Jolly Flip Book

I wanted to share with you today one of my favorite projects from my Holiday Workshop

last Saturday.  It is the “Holly Jolly Flip Album” using paper from Canvas Corp Brands

Farmhouse Christmas Collection and a 5″ x 7″ Black Acrylic Frame from Deflecto Craft Solutions.

It’s a fairly simple project and the ladies were able to complete the album in just a couple of hours.

Farmhouse Christmas Flip Book Front Cover7638  Farmhouse Flip Book Supplies 07392

Holly Jolly Flip Album

Here’s the complete supply list:

Directions:

  1. Mark and measure hole placement on black acrylic frame.
  2. Drill 3/8” holes into frame.
  3. Cut a 7” x 9” piece of Red & Kraft Ribbon Stripe paper and insert into frame.
  4. Album Cover: Cut the “Holly Jolly Christmas” section from the Better Not Pout Tags on Kraft. Layer it onto black cardstock, kraft corrugated paper and then another back cardstock layer.
  5. Cut a 4 3/4” x 6 3/4” piece of Red & Black Stitched Diamonds and adhere it onto a piece of 5” x 7” Red Cardstock layer. Add a 3/4” x 4 3/4” strip of Red & Kraft Ribbon Stripe. Adhere “Holly Jolly” layers onto the Red & Black Stitched Diamonds.
  6. Punch a 1 11/16” circle from the Better Not Pout Tags and glue onto the back of the Optical lens by adding craft glue along the outside edges of the lens. Add jump ring to Optical Lens.
  7. Mark and measure holes to line up with black acrylic frame on the Album Cover and punch holes. Add eyelets to holes with the Crop-a-dile.
  8. Tie a piece of gold ribbon around the front of the album cover.
  9. Cut several pieces of black 5” x 7” cardstock layers to use as the pages of the album. Decorate album pages using additional scrapbook paper layers, strips, flips, pockets, trim, cords, tickets and mini bags.
  10. Align, measure and punch holes in the top of the album pages.
  11. Add album cover and pages to the black acrylic frame using medium book rings. Add Optical lens to ring.
  12. Embellish the stand by adding gold decorative trim with Fabri-Tac glue.

Pg. #4 Farmhouse Christmas Flip Book Special Delivery Side view 07658    Pg #1 Farmhouse Christmas Flip Book Made with Love Pocket Page 7646

 

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

Christmas Ornaments from Old Kitchen Hardware

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Old Kitchen Hardware

I picked up a bag of old kitchen hardware for 50¢ at a Garage Sale.

I can’t resist a good bargain and knew I might even use them someday.

After disassembling and using them on a couple of projects,

I put the rest in a container high on the shelf for another day.

 

I ran across them again the other day and had an idea…

How would they look with cream spray paint?

I knew I was onto something and let the idea marinate in my head for a day or two.

This is what I came up with and I’m pretty happy with the results.

Shabby Chic Orn 86

For my Ornament:

  • Paint the base plate from old kitchen hardware with cream spray paint.
  • I added silver around the edge using my finger tip and paint from a  Chisel Point Pen Tip Calligraphy Paint Marker, Silver*    (affiliate link)
  • Remove the small wooden base from a small bottle brush tree.  With small pliers bend the remaining wire tip up into the tree.
  • Cut the back of the bottle brush tree to make it flat.
  • Glue tree in place with Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry.*
  • For a little extra sparkle, I rubbed clear glitter glue into the bristles of the tree.  Glue pearl beads and place directly into tree.
  • On the top of the ornament I used a piece cream twill ribbon with an inexpensive plastic star ornament on a silver jump ring.  Tied it in place with a piece of burlap twine and small cream button.
  • I added a silver jingle bell that I painted and distressed with sandpaper and tied on with a satin ribbon.
  • Place the word sticker onto a thin piece of chipboard, trim around sticker, lightly sand the edges for a distressed look and glue into place.

Berry Ornament 91

Here’s a simpler idea.  I love this one too.

I bet your going to start rummaging through that junk drawer in the garage and see what you can find.

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*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Gingerbread House Party

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Armed with cans of frosting and happy, smiling faces…

We arrived at Church for our very first Gingerbread House Party.

The kids had a blast and really got into working on their houses.

Everyone had a good time.

What a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Gingerbread House Party Collage

As you can probably tell Warren really got into his house. ⇑  (Yum)

Holiday Joy

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I love using the word “JOY” in my holiday decorating.
It’s one of my favorite words.  Who doesn’t need a little more “JOY” in their life.
The Joy Frame is a Quick and Easy Holiday Home Décor Project.

 

Supplies Needed:                                           (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. Remove the backing and glass from an old frame and spray paint it black.  My frame holds an 8 1/2 x 11 picture.
  2. Cut the scrapbook paper to size and add to frame.
  3. Paint the chipboard letters red.
  4. Stencil Snowflake design onto the red letters with cream paint.
  5. Apply a light coat of red paint over the snowflakes.
  6. Antique the letters with Vintage Photo ink and ink applicator.
  7. Glue inside of frame.
  8. Embellish frame with some greenery and a red and cream gingham bow.
Craft Confession:
My original plan was to have cream snowflakes on red letters.  After I got through with the stenciling, I thought the snowflakes looked too bright so I decided to re-paint the letters.   As soon as I put on the first thin layer of paint, I loved the tone on tone result.  Happy Accident!
This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

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Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Updated… A New Look for an Old Snowman

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Updated Sock Snowman

Last year at my Holiday Workshop we made cute little snowmen out of socks.

They were a big hit.

But… one thing, I noticed when I pulled mine out again this year,

was that they looked a little misshapen.  More like a kidney bean than a snowman.

That was because I used rice for the entire body.  (the rice settled)

My updated snowmen still uses rice in the bottom, it now has fiberfill in the top

so that it doesn’t loose its shape.

I also decided my Snowman was cold, so I re-purposed an old sock for his sweater.

For more Making More Sock Snowmen Ideas you can find them here.

Here’s What You’ll Need:                    (*affiliate Links)

Here’s how I made my Snowman:

  1. Tea dye a new white sock, crew length or bigger.  Or if you have boys you could use one of their dingy ones.  (It’s better not to use a sock with the grey toe and heel.)
  2. Cut the top of the sock off, right around the heel.  (save that for the hat.)
  3. Turn the sock inside out and attach a rubber-band tightly around the top of the sock.  Because rubber bands wear out with time, I added a good squirt of Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive* (*affiliate link) in and around the rubber band.  (I left the rubber band on)
  4. Turn the sock right side out and fill sock about 1/2 way with rice.
  5. Fill the remaining portion of the sock with Fairfield Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber*
  6. Use an additional rubber-band to close the sock.  Again, I re-enforced the rubber band with glue.
  7. Tie a piece of twine around sock to create the head.
  8. I used mini black square brads for his eyes, the tip of a bamboo skewer colored orange for his nose and a simple sewn black thread for his mouth.
  9. I used some paper craft sprays to add color to the toe of the sock.  I tied the tip with a piece of red and white twine and finished with a bow.  Roll the edge to create a cuff.  I glued my hat to the top of my snowman with Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive*(*affiliate link)
  10. Dress with Snowman with part of an old sock.  Add a couple of buttons for added detail.  A  fringed piece of fabric works great for the scarf.

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Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

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Handmade Holiday: Sew Simple Snowflake Pillow

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One of my favorite things to do during the holidays (besides eating Christmas cookies)

is to make things to decorate my home.  My snowflake pillow is a simple sewing project

that makes a warm and cozy winter accent.

You can leave this pillow out long after the holidays are over.

For my Snowflake Pillow I used:                     (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. Cut a 4″ x 12″ wavy piece from the cream felt.
  2. Add a small amount of Fabri Tac Glue on the back of the cream felt to keep it in place before sewing.  Place that piece 1/2″ up from the bottom of the grey 13″ piece of felt.
  3. Glue Snowflakes in place.  Hand sew the red buttons in the center.
  4. Machine sew around outer edges of the large cream piece.
  5. Machine sew between each of the snowflake arms.
  6. Turn felt pieces right sides together and sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance.
  7. Leave a 3″ opening at the bottom to add fiberfill.
  8. Turn pillow back around and stuff with fiberfill.
  9. Hand sew the pillow closed.

FYI…You can find die cut snowflakes in my Etsy Shop.

Thanks to the generous folks at Fairfield World for supplying the Poly-Fil.

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

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