Congratulations to the Blog Hope Winner!

I understand it was very lucky weekend for BLUCACA!! Congratulations for being my winner on the

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CRAFTS BLOG HOP! Please send me your email address, so I can send your prize package your way. (Rumor has it she won another prize this week, too! WooHoo!!)  Thanks to all of you who participated, and it is a pleasure to have so many new visitors and followers!  I look forward to getting to know you! 

Washington DC Mormon Temple dressed in amazing Christmas lights.

I am happy to announce that I am home from my travels, and will be back on my UStream Channel on Tuesday night.  I am working on some final gift ideas, Christmas Thank You projects, and a Bless You Box for the GUYS!!  As always, there will be a surprise or two, including a Christmas morning recipe.  Looking forward to seeing you at 8:00 eastern time on Tuesday evening!!

Happy crafting ~

Day 12 of our 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Blog Hop

Well, we did it!!  It's like waiting for Santa to come, and the time is finally here!  Today is Jen's project, her Poinsettia Ball, and then tonight we will be drawing the names of the prize winners of all of you who have been our wonderful followers and commenters throughout the blog hop.  We appreciate you being with us, and hope you have enjoyed the projects.  Wanda, Jen and I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and hope your holidays will be joyous ones with family and friends, wherever you are. 

Happy crafting ~

Day 11 of our 12 Days of Christmas Craft Blog Hop

Today is Wanda's final project, and she has chosen a Gift Card Holder as her gorgeous card.  Please HOP over to Wanda's Whimiscal Wonders for the specifics on this Christmas Beauty!  And this is your last chance to enter your comments for her Cricut Cartridge prize!!!  Good luck :) 

See you tomorrow at Jen's Upcycled Scrapbooking for her Poinsettia Ball!
Happy crafting ~

Day 10 of our 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

My project for today's edition of the Blog Hop is a Custom Canvas.

These are 8 x 10 canvas frames, with printed designs Mod-Podged onto them.

Here are the steps for creating your own:

Cut tissue paper exactly 8.5 inches wide, and about 13 inches long.  Fold the ends over a piece of regular copy paper and tape securely.  This will allow the paper to travel through your printer.

Choose your 8 x 10 artwork, and place it into a word document.  Print it onto the tissue paper.

Cut around the edges, leaving the 8 x 10 final image.

Use Mod Podge, and a sponge brush, and a framed canvas.

Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on the canvas.

Carefully place the tissue over the canvas.  It is important to start square, and lay it down evenly, because it will become wet tissue!

PAT (do not rub) the tissue into the Mod Podge to see the canvas texture. 

 It will dry very sturdy, but it is very fragile while it is wet. 

Add embellishments and hang or set it on an easle. 

This is a perfect project for seasonal designs, family pictures, and subway art!

I hope you have enjoyed these projects, as well as the others from the blog hop so far.

Please be sure to leave us some comments so you can be in the drawings for the four prizes that will be given away on Dec. 17th.

My prize package will include the

Wise Men Still Seek Him canvas shown above

25 yards of assorted Ribbon

3 rolls of ATG tape!

Day 9 of our 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Blog Hop

Family Trees are typically done with a bare trunk, and some wooden branches, but Jen at Upcycled Scrapbooking has a very unique take on this theme to share with you today! 

Create something totally fun and unique this holiday season! Hop over to find out all about it!  Be sure to leave us some comments, and follow the other tasks on Rafflecopter, and you will have lots of chances to win our prize packages at the end of the blog hop!

I'll be back tomorrow with my final project for the hop!  See you then!

Happy Crafting ~

Day 8 of our Christmas Craft Blog Hop

Things are 'hopping' right along with our Christmas Craft Blog Hop!!  We hope you are enjoying the projects we are bringing you, and that you are in the drawings for our prize packages, too!

Today is Wanda's day to share a warm Christms gift idea with you.  She is going to light up your life with custom designed Candles!  Hop on over to Wanda's Whimsical Wonders to find out all about it!  See you tomorrow at Jen's Upcycled Scrapbooking!
Happy Crafting ~

Day 7 of our Christmas Craft Blog Hop

I hope you are having a great time following our 12 days of Christmas Crafts blog hop.  I know there are many blogs to follow, and we hope you are getting inspiration that helps with your holidays!

Today I want to share my favorite mini album.  It is quick to make, but looks like a beautiful designer piece that took hours!  It is just right for small photos, journaling, gift cards and other delights!

Begin with a double sided 12x12 sheet of cardstock.  Score at 2, 6, and 10.  Rotate and score at 3, 6, and 9.  On the side with the 2 and 10, Cut the 6 inch  line up to the last score cross line.  Now it's time to fold!
 Fold up the two 2 inch sides, creating pockets.

 Fold the solid end up.  Now create a mountain fold with the next section, and a valley fold with the last section.

 The last fold will be to fold along the remaining part of the 6 inch line, folding the book in half.

 Add dimensional adhesive to adhere the top part of the pages together, causing the book to have a uniform spine, as the pockets make it thicker at the bottom. 

Use a thin line of liquid glue to adhere the pockets closed on pages 1, 4, all of the separation between 4 and 5, then the pockets on 5 and 8.

 Add another piece cut 1 1/2 x 4, scored at 5/8 and 7/8 to make a cover for the binding.  Glue only the front and back panels.  That's all there is to it!  Now create beautiful 2 1/4 inch wide tags and folders to place in the pockets.  The pocket is also the perfect size to hold a gift card! 

I hope you enjoy making these great little albums!

Day 6 of our Christmas Crafts Blog Hop

We hope you are having a great time with the projects that we are sharing with you!  Today Jen has a fun project to warm our hearts, even if it is cold outside!  Check out her darling Snowman projects at
UpcycledScrapbooking!  Be sure to leave comments, and other tasks on RaffleCopter so you can be in the running for our prize packages to be given away on Dec. 17th!!

I'll be back tomorrow with my favorite Mini Album for easy gift giving!

Happy crafting ~

Day 5 of our 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Blog Hop

Today is Wanda's Day to share a Christmas Craft with you!    Her project is creating some Personalized Gifts, that even the guys will appreciate!  I hope you will
HOP over there are check out Wanda's Whimiscal Wonders, and leave us some comments this week, as well as the other tasks on Rafflecopter, putting you in the drawings for our Christmas Prizes!

Christmas Mug, with etched design!

 We'll see you tomorrow with a project from Jen at UpcycledScrapbooking!
Happy Crafting ~

Day 4 of our 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

Welcome to today's edition of our Christmas Craft Blog Hop!

It is my pleasure to bring you my very own recipe for

Mrs. Claus' Cookies, a package, and a tutorial on making your own embossing plates!

This pillow box is cut from the Easter Cartridge on my Cricut, using my Gypsy to remove the cut out image, but there are several cartridges that have Pillow Box cuts.  This one is 7 x 9 inches, and has a custom cut embossed image on the top.  Aren't they pretty?!

To make the Embossing Plate, cut two layers of thin chipboard with your Cricut.  This pattern is from the Martha Stewart Cake Cartridge, cut at "Fit To Length" 8 inches.  Glue the chipboard to a piece of acrylic packaging, and carefully glue the second piece of chipboard directly on top of the first. 

Your "sandwich" for embossing with a Cuttlebug will be an A Plate; B Plate; pillow box, or other paper, with the embossing plate under the paper, or inside the box; soft rubber mat; and B Plate. The soft rubber mat causes the paper to press against the chipboard, without having an embossing folder.  You can use the black mat that comes with Sizzix, red plumbers rubber, or fun foam.

Mrs. Claus' Cookies 

These cookies are delicious, and make a lot of yummy goodness! 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together the following dry ingredients:

1 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Cups Flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

Add in:

1 Cup Crisco

2 Eggs

Stir in:

2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

3/4 Cup White Raisins

1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips

1/2 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

1/4 Cup Coconut

The mixture will be dry.  However, when you roll it into a ball, it will "melt" the Crisco, and hold together nicely.  Roll into balls the size of walnuts.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 12 - 13 minutes.

Enjoy!

Day 3 of our Christmas Craft Blog Hop

I hope you have been enjoying the first couple of days of our Christmas crafts, and are ready to be introduced to Jen at Upcycled Scrapbooking.  Her project for today is called

 12 Day Advent Envelopes Calendar

Your Blog hostesses are:

Betty Bee - http://www.bettybrett.blogspot.com/

Day# 1, 4, 7 & 10

Wanda's Whimsical Wonders - http://wandaswhimsicalwonders.blogspot.com/

Day# 2, 5, 8 & 11

Upcycled Scrapbooking (aka Buggababymomma) - http://www.upcycledscrapbooking.blogspot.com/ Days # 3, 6, 9 & 12

We will be rotating days between us, so you won't want to miss ANY of the great projects and giveaways we have for you!!
I will be back tomorrow with a YUMMY project for you!

*12 Day of Christmas Blog Hop Info*

ONE PROJECT PER DAY, ONE PRIZE/GIVEAWAY PER HOST at the END of the HOP

The HOP is from December 5th - 16th. Over the next 12 days, we will feature holiday projects and will have step-by-step instructions. There may be a kit or tutorial available for purchase to make it easier to make the project.

**PLEASE DON'T FORGET!!!**
Check back everyday to see what we have for you, and play along to get lots of chances to win the prizes we have for you!
Happy Holiday crafting!

Welcome to our 12 Days of Christmas Craft Projects

Blog Hop!

Today is Day # 2 
We will be enjoying Wanda's 12 Days of Christmas Icicles

Hop over and find out all about it!

Your Hostesses are:
Betty Bee - http://www.bettybrett.blogspot.com/
Day# 1, 4, 7 & 10

Wanda's Whimsical Wonders - http://wandaswhimsicalwonders.blogspot.com/
Day# 2, 5, 8 & 11

Upcycled Scrapbooking (aka Buggababymomma) - http://www.upcycledscrapbooking.blogspot.com/
Day# 3, 6, 9 & 12


We will be rotating days between us, so you won't want to miss ANY of the great projects and giveaways we have for you!!

*12 Day of Christmas Blog Hop Info*

ONE PROJECT PER DAY, ONE PRIZE/GIVEAWAY PER HOST at the END of the HOP
The HOP is from December 5th - 16th. Over the next 12 days, we will feature holiday projects and will have step-by-step instructions. There may be a kit or tutorial available for purchase to make it easier to make the project.

This is just one of the wonderful Prizes you could win!

**PLEASE DON'T FORGET!!!**

You must leave a valid e-mail address so we can contact you if you are one of the winners!**