Craft With May

full photoshop reminded me I *need* it for actions. I got off my lazy behind and figured out how to load PW’s actions tonight and I’m loving the 70’s one.

above has a bit of added grungy help thanks to Katie Pertiet Grunge overlay. Taken this morning before the game started. Faces were not so happy during actual (bad) game.

That picture just makes me SQUEAL with delight. Love how she loves the star lollipop cookie.

sigh

Right now I need to go learn more & get better because I’m loving actions. Push 1 button and my photo gets transformed? Um, yes please!

More later, sleep now.

I whipped up a quickie “this week in photos”collage  to share using Rhonna’s (available at www.houseof3.com) Christmas border brushes…

I wish you all the very best – and I hope you get to spend quality time with friends and family as we do. I’m looking forward to making memories, spending time with loved ones, putting puzzles together, and reading books by the fire while football is watched and new toys are played with.

I hope your week is Merry & Bright –

May

Well all the holiday cookies are now baked. PHEW!! We have some for our local fire station, and the ones for J’s station were delivered yesterday to rave reviews. It is this time of year that I’m reminded of two things:

a) that I have a gift for baking. I do not mean that I’m special or better or anything conceited. It’s just, I’m good at baking and I think it’s because I LOVE baking + have spent a lot of time in kitchen + watching food network for my entire adult life. I think we should all focus on things that we are good at and/or love.

which brings me to the next realization…

b) I don’t bake as often as I like and I have a gym membership for this very reason. Irresistable treats + lame metabolism = need for burning calories!!

So I’d like to share with you my newest ideas/loves. This is the second year I’ve made ‘roll and cut’ style sugar cookies and actually found them edible. Why? There’s a secret in the photo…

Roll the cookies out using powdered sugar, NOT flour. It bakes a sweet flaky light layer onto the cookies AND you have cookies that you want to eat right out of oven. Oh, yummo.

My other thing this year has been to use a lot of those meltable candy chip thingies. (what are those called? melts?) Anyhow – instead of molding chocolates or anything I’ve been using it on my sugar cookies INSTEAD of icing that will be either rock hard or gooey & stick to other cookies/plastic of wrapping.  Some of them I do a crazy drizzle thing, then sometimes just a smooth (thin) all-over coating.

Today for the first time I used the lollipop sticks I “had” to purchase at the craft store six months ago. I put the sticks in before baking, then after when I did the candy coat it helped to seal in the stick. We’re calling them lollipop cookies (E) or magic wands (B) depending on what you prefer. I’m going to arrange them into a centerpiece I think. *LOVE* the creativity flowing this time of year!!

Speaking of creative time, The girls and I built and shared a gingerbread house. This is my favorite photo because it shows off the various styles. I’m not the mom that believes if it’s not ‘professional’ looking it’s not good. I’m the one that says “heck yes I think you should stick as much on as you can – enjoy!”

So please do – enjoy your weekend and all it has in store for you.

First off – starbucks sleeve give-away winner: Therese  (e-mail me – mflaum at comcast.net to claim!)

Now onto holiday notes. I love Elf, White Christmas, Love Actually, Christmas Story, Olive the other Reindeer, and a few others movie/show wise. I have some girlie viewings planned this week. I love making up new traditions as well as sticking to old ones. My bottom line? ENJOY.

That’s a detail shot of my mom’s sweet little tree. She has all kinds of things in it – some handmade, some old… very lovely.

I focus on not getting caught up in the frenzy, not worrying over ‘enough’ or if I’ve done everything I hoped to do. Instead I focus on the details.

Enjoy the time I spend baking for friends & family.

Love setting up new traditions and attending festive gatherings.

Adore the decorations and opportunities for quality time.

Relish all the traditions old & new that come out this special month.

I hope you can take a few moments to take deep breaths and relax, enjoy this holiday season and savor all the blessings that come your way big or small.

Oh, and I’m not even talkin’ about Christmas!!! I’ve been a busy girl and I can share a few things with you today…

 I’m a “guest star” at the JBS Inspiration Blog. I was so giddy when Doris asked if I wanted to contribute a project (uh, I mighta done 3) and I had a BLAST! Of course if you’re a regular here you know I LOVE Jenni Bowlin! (the woman + the product line + the kits)

I also finished (and had posted) a blog post about my love of not having any die cut machine. To be clear – it’s not a bash on the machines!! I know they are great for some of you. This is just reasons I’m happy being without. 🙂  {you’ll find 2 new layouts included in said post over at Scrapbook Update}

PS – I’ll be contributing over there more often. Stay tuned!

And in the “oh cool” file, a student let me know this project now class is now open!

I’ll add posting more about it to my “do ASAP” list. Until next time – enjoy every moment of this hectic time of year!!