Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #69

For the firstt December Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge, Tanya has asked us to use

FANCY FOLDS

There were so many ideas flying around in my head for this challenge but then the phone rang and my neighbor asked me to make a special holiday card for a little girl and this is what I came up with using the GATE FOLD technique and the adorable SNUZZLE LOVE image which you can find/purchase HERE..

Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, red cs, green cs, the Paper Studio designer paper
Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Martha Stewart felt poinsetta, Gold Pilot marker

I am looking forward to learning more FANCY FOLDS from all of you ... so be sure to share those awesome techniques with all of us at the Wags 'n Whisker's Challenge Blog.  And, if YOU need inspiration, pop on over and check out what my team mates have created for you.

I want to thank everyone over at Wags 'n Whiskers for such a fun time!!  I will be stepping down from the team at the end of the year so this will probably be my last creation as a WnW team member.  If you're looking for a fabulous group of ladies to work with ... look no further than Wags 'n Whiskers!  THANKS LADIES ... you're wonderful and I wish you all the best in 2012 and beyond!!  BIG HUGS!!

Merry Christmas Everyone and thanks for stopping by!

HUGS,
Darlene

HOLIDAY FREEBIE

Morning Everyone!  I'm headed out the door to dentist appointment 

but before I go I wanted to remind you of the 

12 Days of Christmas 

going on over at Shelly's Images. 

Today Shelly has an AMAZING FREEBIE for you!  It's only available for ONE DAY so do hurry over and tell your friends because they'll want this one too!!  Here is a card I offered up for this fabulous freebie ... isn't she ADORABLE!!!

While you are visiting SHELLY'S IMAGES, be sure to scroll down through the other Days in our 12 Days of Christmas.  We would LOVE to see your FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT ... or how about sharing a COOKIE RECIPE ... or get in on the GUESSING GAME which has yet another fabulous prize offered on it.  And, much much more ... HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!    

OH YEA ... you can still play our "No Business Like Snow Business" Challenge too ... 

still time to PLAY and WIN!!!

Off I go ... the dentist is waiting!

Hugs,

Darlene

Vintage Christmas Creations

Today I created a few 'Vintage' styled Christmas cards that I'd like to share with you.

First are a couple of cards for the 'SPARKLE' challenge over on the Crafty Secrets forum of Splitcoast Stampers.  Sandy Redburn is our SPECIAL HOSTESS this week and I love her theme idea.  The images I've used on these two cards are actually FREE Printables available (Retro Santa) HERE ... and (Christmas Angels) HERE .

Recipe:
Papers:  Red, Green, and White cardstock, DCWV Holiday designer paper
Accessories:  Red Glitter Ribbon from Flower Factory, Gold Stickles, Red Stickles, Fiskars Swivel Craft Knife

Recipe:
Papers:  Red, White, Black cardstock, the Paper Studio Sheet Music dp, Lost & Found Christmas dp
Inks:  Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink
Accessories:  Zutter Distress-It All, Cheery-Lynn Designs B130 Colonial Lamp Post Die, Spellbinders Create-A-Flake Three dies, Stampendous Diamond Dot, Gold & Red Stickles

 * * * * *

My next creation was designed using TWO of the adorable images from the Dolly Dingle DSL Vol. 1 at Nicecrane Designs.  And you can purchase this sheet HERE.  Be sure to check out all the amazing images, papers & crafts available at Ignacio's store.  He has something new to share Each & Every WEEK!!

Aren't they just the cutest!!!

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, the Paper Studio dp

Inks:  SU soft sky (edging around ice)

Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Fiskars swivel craft knife, Red & White Liquid Applique (ball on hat & snow on the edge of the skating rink ), MS silver glitter marker, K&Co 3d sticker sentiment

Other Challenges:
ABC Christmas - Anything Christmas
Crafts and Me - Snow / Snowflakes
Creative Belli Blog - Winter / Christmas
Little Red Wagon - Vintage Christmas
I Brake for Challenges - Vintage
My Mum's Craft Shop - Traditional Christmas
Flutter By Wednesday - Things with Wings (Angels)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you're week is as FUN FILLED, CRAZY & TANGLED as mine is!!  LOL!!  Happy Day Everyone!

Hugs,
Darlene

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge

Today at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and THAT is the theme for today's challenge!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We are honored to have two sponsors for this challenge!  Some Odd Girl & Digi My World.  Please pop over to our challenge blog to read about these sponsors and also to play along!!!

I have used two of the fabulous digital images from Digi My World for my creation today. 

My background paper is from the Thomas Kinkade 'Painter of Light' Christmas Series that I purchased from Cornish Heritage Farms a long time ago.  Besides using Prismacolor markers for my coloring, I used a Marvy SNOW MARKER to give the 'snow' affect to the snowballs.

Other Challenges:
Digi My World - Winter Wonderland
Crafts and Me - Winter (Snow / Snowflakes)
Creative Belli Blog - Winter and Christmas
 Diva's by Design - Anything Goes


Now it's YOUR TURN.  Please come join in our Merry Christmas challenge fun at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges.  Hope to see you there!!

Hugs,
Darlene

Last Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge for 2011

That's right!  This will be the last Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge for 2011.  With all the hustle/bustle of the holidays upon us, Priscilla will be taking a break until the new year.  So without further ado ... here a few words from Priscilla on the subject...

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.

"YOUR CHOICE OF FOUR SKETCHES THIS TIME"

Due to me being out of town, I we will be posting two challenges together and it will last for OVER two weeks. Have fun and here are MMSC133 and MMSC134 to play with.
DEADLINE TO ENTER IS DEC 26TH

Please Note: We will resume the Midnight Madness sketch challenges with MMSC135 in 2012. Stay tuned for some changes coming in the new year! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Winners will be announced when I return. 

 

Due to me being out of town, I we will be posting two challenges together and it will last for two weeks. Have fun and here are MMSC133 and MMSC134 to play with.
Please Note: We will resume the Midnight Madness sketch challenges with MMSC135 in 2012. Stay tuned for some changes coming in the new year! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Winners will be announced when I return.

Enter one style or both for the next two week.
You are more than  welcome to enter up to 4 cards during the next couple of weeks.

Just have fun and come play with us :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our MMSC132 Gold Star Award goes to...

 11. MsPlum 

 Our Remarkables Awards this week go to...
 3. An  

 8. Barbara G. 

12. karin 

Please grab your award logos from the side bar and display them proudly :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our MMSC132 Weekly Bonus Winner is...
 18. Kathy Curry 

Here are your random numbers:18

Timestamp: 2011-12-06 04:57:23 UTC

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS RANDOMLY DRAWN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

Our MMSC133 & MMSC34 Sponsors are....

http://priscillastyles-store.blogspot.com/ 

$10 Gift Voucher redeemable for any digi images in the "priscillastyles" Store

Stop by and check out all the new images!!

 

GC redeemable for digis only

And......

 http://www.digistamps4joy.com

“Digistamps 4 Joy was born in July 2010. What began as a “brainwave” developed into a rather successful journey…  Started by Mel M, and with the help of talented artists and fellow South Africans JenLee, Margy, Sam, Laura and Mel herself, Digistamps 4 Joy was soon reaching an international audience.  Digistamps was a rather unheard of and new craft to many South Africans with most only having access to them if they had a credit card.  Mel and Jen started brainstorming and soon came up with the idea of starting an online store entirely accessible to all South Africans.  Mel having the experience in web and graphic design, and Jen being a wonderful illustrator work together as a team and produce most of the images many people around the world have come to know and love.  Among the many images, you’re sure to find something you like… from fun and whimsical to cute and funny right through to serious and beautiful. Every month a new freebie is available on the website.”

The winner will get her choice of 6 images from the store

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Here are my creations for these challenges:

 MMSC133

 

 MMSC134

The base image is by "priscillastyles".

 MMSC134

As part of the Priscillastyles DT, this is my creation using another one of Priscilla's fabulous digi designs.

 Please come join in our sketch challenge fun!  

Hope to see you there!

Hugs,

Darlene 

He's At It Again . . .

After spending much of Saturday in the kitchen making candy ... we spent MOST of Sunday in the kitchen making COOKIES.  I'm not complaining mind you ... it's a team effort to get the baking done before our party!  Mark is great at doing all the MIXING ... then I do the CLEAN UP and actual BAKING.  OH ... and he's the TASTE TESTER also!!!  LOL

 We made FOUR different kinds of cookies ... and if you want any of the recipes, just leave me a comment ... I'd be glad to share that information with you!! *EDIT*  I've had a request for the recipes so I have added them under the appropriate photos.

First were the CHOCOLATE CRINKLES . . .

 

Recipe:

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp. baking powder

4 - 1 oz squares unsweetened chocolate

1/2 tsp. salt

2 - cups flour

2 - cups sugar

4 - eggs

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

confectioners sugar

In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and butter ... let cool.

In large bowl combine chocolate mixture, 1 cup flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder and salt.  Beat at medium until well mixed.  Stir in remaining flour and nuts.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Shape 1 tsp. size mix into 1" balls, roll in confectioners sugar.  Put 2" apart on greased cookie sheet and bake 12 to 15 minutes.  ( I found 13 1/2 minutes is perfect.)

Yied:  4 dozen

Then the OATMEAL w/CHERRY CRAISINS & NUTS . . .

The recipe for these Oatmeal cookies can be found on the inside of the lid of a canister of Quaker Quick 1-Minute Oats.  That's the recipe we used and added 3/4 cup of Cherry flavored Craisins and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts.

Then of course you have to have SUGAR COOKIES . . .

This is a wonderful tasting recipe from my daughter's friend, Beth Bayda

Recipe:

SUGAR COOKIES:

4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 beaten eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda & salt.  
Cream sugar & shortening ... add eggs, milk, vanilla & almond.

Gradually add dry ingredients to shortening & egg mixture until well mixed.

Form into balls and roll out between sheets of waxed paper ... cut out your cookie cutter forms.  Bake at 350 degrees until very light brown ... about 7 minutes.  Seal and keep in cool place.

FROSTING:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 egg white (optional)
2/3 c. shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tblsp. water
1 tsp. almond extract

Combine all ingredients and beat for 5 minutes.  Can divide into small bowls and add drops of food coloring of your choice.

We also made CHOCOLATE CHIP w/NUTS ...

but I didn't bother taking a photo ... you all know what they look like and it's the recipe off the back of the Nestle' bag ...

When we were all done & cleaned up, I decided to put together a plate of goodies to take to the little girls next door.  Of course, it was raining and they weren't home but I'll be sure to get it to them when they get home from school today ... perfect for an after school treat!  Now I can also add a couple of the cute sugar cookies ... the icing wasn't set up when I put this plate together.

Hope you're having a FABULOUS DAY no matter what you might be trying to accomplish!  As for me ... NOW I need to get to that cleaning & decorating I've been talking about for 2 days!  LOL!  Have a good one!!

Hugs,

Darlene

These little gems are YUMMY!!

Last post I mentioned we were in the kitchen 'making candy' for our upcoming Holiday Get Together with neighbors!  Well ... hubby was making the chocolate fudge and was having difficulty with it coming to a 'soft ball' stage and ended up BURNING that batch ... so he started again and got the next batch right.  He also made TWO batches of peanut butter fudge.

Then I had the bright idea to make what we call Rollo Turtles.  Of course the Rollo Company has a different name for them as you will see on the wrapper photo with the recipe.  These are SO GOOD!!!  Oh My ... my mouth is watering just thinking about them!!

HERE'S WHAT YOU WILL NEED. . .

HERE'S THE RECIPE . . .

I can't wait until they cool so I can have one ... or two ... or three!!

Okay ... now I must get to some cleaning & decorating!  I just wanted to share these yummy treats with you.

I'll let you in on a secret ...  

it's so warm now in my kitchen that I decided to transfer the aluminum foil sheets of turtles back onto the backing sheets and put them out in my car to cool!  I have a Subaru Outback (station wagon) so I just opened the hatch and slide them in there ... makes a really good cooling rack!  Tee Hee!

Happy Day my Friends!!

Dar

Favorite Christmas Decoration

This is Day 3 at the 12 Days of Christmas at Shelly's Images and we are showing off our favorite Christmas decoration.  I have SEVERAL, but I think my FAVORITE is this OLD SPINNER that used to hang on our tree at home when I was a little girl.  We had those 'bubble lights' too, but they are long gone!!  I have TWO of these ornaments but only this one still spins.

What is your favorite holiday decoration?  

Won't you please come join in our fun. 

I'd LOVE to see what you have to share!

We're having a neighborhood Get Together here on the 11th so Mark & I are beginning the preparations.  He is in the kitchen making chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge & nut brittle.  As for me, I should be cleaning & decorating ... ssshhh, don't tell him on playing on the computer!!  LOL

Happy Day Everyone!

Hope to see you at Shelly's ... something Fun & New each day!!

Hugs,

Darlene

Joan's Gardens Challenge

Have you checked out the 12 Days of Christmas SALES at Joan's Gardens???  NO ... Wow ... you need to rush right over and see what she has left.  She's 'cleaning' the shop and has some AMAZING bargains for you!!

AND

She's also having a challenge this week!

We are to make a TAG and the theme is ANYTHING GOES!

I thought I'd like to do a Vintage Christmas Tag and while checking out the challenge, I was inspired by Joan's use of the Tim Holtz Tag Die and realized I had that exact die ... so I also used it for my BASE.  Here are the other steps I took to quickly create my tag.

1.  Covered tag using a scrap of holiday dp.

2.  Sponged around the edges with TH Tea Dye Distress Ink. 

3.  Bordered the edge using a Gold Pilot Marker

4.  Cut out the Tim Holtz 'Lamp Post' die using a scrap piece of black cardstock. 

5.  Cut out the Holly & Berries using scraps of cardstock.

6.   Added red Stickles to the berries & a scrap piece of gold Metallic cs behind the lantern.

7.  A piece of thin red satin ribbon was tied on for the hanger.

The 'lens flare' and snowflakes were computer generated to give that 'added touch' of holiday joy!!  LOL!

I hope you'll pop over and check out the sale and Joan's Gardens and join in the challenge fun too!!  Before I go I'd like to mention the 12 Days of Christmas FUN going on over at Shelly's Images.  Something NEW is happening each day Dec. 1st - 12th with games & prizes to share!!

Other challenges I'm entering this tag in are:

Bling It On - Christmas

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Goes

Scrappin' Chics Challenge - Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Make a TAG

PaperCrafting Journey - Anything Goes

Willow Sketchie Challenge - Anything Goes

Cooking It Up with Katie - Anything Goes

THANKS for stopping by!  Hope you are having a wonderful day!!!

Hugs,

Darlene

Shelly's Image Challenge

WOW!  

Can you believe it is DECEMBER 1st ... 

let the CHRISTMAS COUNT DOWN begin!!

But first, let's have some fun with the ladies at Shelly's Images!!  There will be FUN & GAMES going on at Shelly's Images all through the month of December.  Beginning with our 12 Days of Christmas ... you won't want to miss it!  Be sure to pop over any day Dec. 1 - 12th to join in the fun!!

We also  have a challenge for you today (which will run for TWO WEEKS) . . . and that challenge is:

"Ain't No Business like 
SNOW Business"

and our FEATURED IMAGE (available at a reduce price TODAY ONLY)  is the "SNOW LADY SET"... seen here:

What fun to create with this set!  You'll definitely want this set for your holiday cards!  Be sure to pop over to Shelly's Store and check out all her latest images for the holiday (and there's some fabulous freebies coming up tomorrow too ... you won't want to miss it ... so remember to stop back!)

Here's a close up of the sparkle on the snowflakes ...

 I hope you'll come visit us at Shelly's Images and join in the holiday fun!!
Would you like a sneek peek at tomorrow's freebie???
  Here ya go . . .

There's actually TWO FREEBIE on Friday ... be sure to come back!!!

See you there!
Hugs,
Darlene

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #132

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"

Enter one style or both this week.

Just have fun and come play with us :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our MMSC131 Gold Star Award goes to...
 5. Sarah T 

 Our Remarkables Awards this week go to...
 3. Gro Tjeltveit  

 19. riliska  

 20. mocca22  

 23. Hlora 

Please grab your award logos from the side bar and display them proudly :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our MMSC131 Weekly Bonus Winner is...
 29. Nancy Williams 

Here are your random numbers:29

Timestamp: 2011-11-29 03:58:50 UTC

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our MMSC132 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..

House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge is a site filled with wonderful projects and techniques using House-Mouse & Friends Stamps that include House-Mouse, Happy Hoppers, and Gruffies Images!.  We are not affiliated with HMD. We are just a super enthusiastic group of Stampers who LOVE creating with these Stamps.  We post a NEW challenge every other week on Mondays. We offer great prizes to those who enter projects into our challenges using these stamps. So come visit us to join the FUN and get inspired by the beautiful samples from the TALENTED Design Team here: http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/

One lucky winner will these brand NEW House-Mouse & Friends Stamps!!!!

Thank you for your sponsorship America. It is so cool to see a challenge that has such a warm, giving and family feeling to it. Be sure to stop by and check out there challenges each week. The are wonderful group of crafters :) Now to our players... break out those House Mouse stamps, dust them off and show us your lovely creations. All images are welcome, but we would love to see these cute  images flood our inlinkz this week!! Have fun with whatever you create for our challenge!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much fun is this House Mouse image named
"Feathered Friends"!
With the beginning of winter upon us, don't forget to
FEED YOUR FEATHERED FRIENDS!

I have two creations to share with you today!  As a member of Priscilla's DT I'd also like to share this creation made using the "priscillastyles" image "Christmas Stocking".

Closer View showing Sparkle & Liquid Applique Fur
(Remember to click on any image to enlarge)

Now it's YOUR turn!  We'd love to see what you create using these fun sketches.
Be sure to pop over to the MMSC Blog for more inspiration from my team mates!

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Darlene

Holidays with Family ...

... it doesn't get much better than that!!  

 

(Back row:  L-R ... Carolyn, Morgan, Frank, Jonathan

Sitting:Ken, Mom, ME, Mark)

I haven't gotten much done in my crafting ... but I sure have enjoyed hubby being home and spending time with my family over the Thanksgiving Day weekend!!  Here's a few photos to share with you ...

The Franjko's in the kitchen  (where all the food is) LOL!

Morgan asked for a LITTLE bit of whipped cream on her pie!!

Never let Frank be in charge of the whipped cream!  LOL!

FOUR GENERATIONS

(L-R)  Morgan, Carolyn, Mom & Me

My TWO FAVORITE LADIES!!!

My grandkids are growing up so fast!

(L-R)  Jonathan, CJ (Morgan's boyfriend), Morgan

Morgan's FAVORITE socks

Mark & I took advantage of the beautiful weather we had here in Ohio over the weekend and got the outside of our home decorated for the Christmas holiday season.  It averaged around 60 degrees and it was so nice to be able to do this without coats & gloves.  I even cut my grass one last time and have now rearranged my equipment by putting the riding mower away and have the snow blower out and ready for when the WHITE STUFF shows up.  I am really proud to show you a couple photos of the outside of our home ... with the new landscaping & shutters ... the decorations look even better than before!!

 (CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

Today it's been raining so it was a good day to start on the inside.  We got the tree up & decorated and I even got the mantle MOSTLY done.  I have a couple other pieces I'd like to add once I dig them out!  LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope your Thanksgiving gathering was as blessed as ours!

Mark has to go back to work tomorrow & I'll be playing catch up in the crafting cave but I'm looking forward to going out to dinner tomorrow night.  We celebrate our ANNIVERSARY tomorrow and I pray we have many, many more together!  Mark is truly MY BEST FRIEND and I love him dearly!!

See you later!

BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL!!\

Darlene