Monday, December 10, 2012

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

We've got some lip-smacking cookies and a clever little Cookie Tin Tag!
Yup - back with the YUMMY stuff again!  =)

So yesterday, I hosted my annual Holiday Brunch and Sweets Swap and boy, oh boy was it delicious, Brunch was scrumptious and the sweets - delectable!!  =)
See what I mean??  
These cookies are a Almond Joy Cookies AND Candy Cane Cookies - can you say YUMM-O?!

I love this new Candy Cane image that Shelly has over in the store.  PERFECT for this tag little sugary holiday treat tin!
On top of sharing this adorable little Christmas tag, I thought I'd share with you the Almond Joy Cookie Recipe too.

This recipe is from: Taste of Home Most Requested Recipes Cookbook 
(Taste of Home- one of my favorite places for recipes!)
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg yolk 2 tsp. almond extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 5 cups flaked coconut, divided (you can omit if you don’t like coconut) 48 milk chocolate kisses
In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg 
yolk and almond extract.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Stir in 3 cups coconut.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.
Roll into 1-inch balls and roll in remaining coconut (or roll in sugar if you omitted coconut).  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.  Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Cool on pan for 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is softened.
Remove to 
wire racks to cool completely.


For the Candy Cane Cookies I used the same recipe and just omitted the coconut and replaced the chocolate kisses with Candy Cane Kisses.  Easy Peasy!

Breaking News - Breaking News - Breaking News
This is about where I begin trolling for new cookie recipes....
We'd love to have you share your favorite cookie recipe with us - or heck, even a new cookie recipe if you'd like.
Post the recipe in the comments below OR post it on your blog and leave us the link so we can visit and try your lip-smackin' confectionary creation.

One random comment with a recipe will win a $6 Gift voucher.  We might just randomly pick another prize winner too - you never know.  =)
Hugs & Happy Days!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

On the 9th Day of Christmas

 
Today it is my turn you show you something during this fun 12 days of Christmas. I've made a tutorial for you of a book card.
You need:
- cardstock
- design paper
- scoring board
- border punch
- ribbon
For the book inside you need 4 pieces of cardstock. 2 of 24x12 cm (9.46x4.93 inch) and 2 of 24x14,5 cm (9.46x5.71 inch).

 For the card you need a piece of cardstock of 15x29,4 cm (5.91x11.58 inch).
Score at 13,7 and 15,7 cm (5.4 and 6.19 inch).

Score the 4 pieces of cardstock at every 2 cm (0.79 inch). Make a decorative edge at the end of every strip with a border punch.
 
Fold the strips like an accordion. Make sure that every fold is straight!

  
If you want you can ink the edges.
  Now comes the hard part. That is putting it together.

Stick a short strip and a long strip together. Make sure that the long strip is on top.

Glue the short side on top and then the long side.

Also glue the back side together.

 
Do this with the other 2 strips and then put the 2 parts together so you get a frame.
Front
Back

Before you put the in the card you glue the ribbon on the insides of the card.


Now you decorate the inside of the card with design paper and glue the frame in the card.


Now just decorate the bookcard and you're finished.



Today with our tutorial we are also giving you this set of "To: From" sentiments.  These sentiments will be available for download from now through December 12th.  Remember...sharing freebies is not allowed, but please do send your friends to our blog to get their freebies.
Sorry...our Freebie Event has expired

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  If you are downloading our freebie or using the tutorial please leave us a little comment.  We love hearing from you.



Hugs Miranda

Saturday, December 8, 2012

On the 8th Day of Christmas . . .

 
Shelly's Images shared a fun & yummy holiday CANDY BAR POUCH tutorial using Shelly's Images Full Colored Candy Cane digi image!

Hello everyone!  Team member (and Elf in Training), Darlene here, and anxious to share this fun & easy project with you!  It's a great item to have on hand during the holidays when unexpected visitors show up at your door and you'd like to have a little something to give them to let them know you appreciate them.  Let's get started!

 You can use either solid color cardstock for your base or designer paper ... the choice is yours!  Depends on how clean & simple ... or how fancy you want to make your pouch!  Cut your paper 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" then score along the 6 1/2" side at 3" and 6" ... leaving a 1/2" margin for your adhesive.  I suggest you use a strong adhesive like Red Line Tape or Scor-Tape.

 Simply fold along your score lines.  Add your adhesive along the 1/2 margin and a small piece at the BOTTOM inside to keep your candy bar from falling through.

 Next you'll want to punch a hole where your ribbon will slide through.  I've used a 1/2" circle (that's what I had on hand) but you can use an oval punch or an elongated slit punch ... what ever works with the size of ribbon you choose to use.

 Next comes the fun of embellishing the front of the candy pouch.  I am using a piece of scrap Christmas design paper I had in my scrap bin for my background.  This panel is cut at 6 1/2" x 2 3/4".  The QUICK & EASY part comes by using Shelly's Images Pre-Colored Candy Cane digi image which (if you hurry) you can get for FREE today through the end of our 12 Days of Christmas Party!  Check out yesterday's post for details on getting your FREE candy cane image.  My only other embellishment is the Merry Christmas sentiment which is a die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

After printing out several Candy Canes on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock, I did a little fussy cutting to have enough candy canes available for all my holiday candy pouches.  You can adjust the size of this image to suit your needs (wonderful thing about digis!!!).  Also, please take note that these measurements are for the FULL SIZE PLAIN HERSHEY BAR.
 
 Once you choose the ribbon you want to use, you will need to cut a strip about 30" long.  Push the ribbon through both holes at the top and pull up until the ends are the same length.  Next you push the Hershey Bar down into the pouch, between the ribbon, all the way to the bottom, pushing down the ribbon with the Hershey Bar.  Then tie a pretty bow at the top.  
Pull up with bow and SURPRISE!


Not only do these make a wonderful little gift treat for friends and neighbors, but they are also an awesome stocking stuffer!  Who doesn't like a Hershey Bar???   I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial and will give it a try!  

Please be sure to come back tomorrow for another FUN DAY at the Shelly's Images 12 Days of Christmas Party!  I'll be here ... hope you will be too!

HAVE FUN!


Elf Darlene
A proud member of the Shelly’s Images DT!


Friday, December 7, 2012

On the 7th Day of Christmas....


It's FREEBIE Day!

Today we would like to give you our Candy Cane image in both the Full Color version and the basic digi version.  Please remember...sharing our freebies is not allowed.  However, feel free to send your friends in to get their own copy.  This freebie will be available from now through December 12th.  

Sorry...our Freebie Event has expired.

The image is also available with a beautiful bow.
Candy Cane - Digi Stamp Set
Candy Cane - Full Color Digi Stamp Set 

Thanks so much for visiting us for our 7th Day of Christmas here at Shelly's Images.  If you enjoyed our freebie please leave us a comment to let us know.  Be sure to check back tomorrow.  Darlene has a wonderful tutorial that you won't want to miss and it uses the bow version of this fun digi stamp.




Thursday, December 6, 2012

On the 6th Day of Christmas . . .

 

Shelly's Images had a CHALLENGE!  That's right ... today is challenge day and we're going to be very easy on you this week because we know how busy you all are but hope you'll still take a moment and share your creations with us!  Today's theme is:

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR!

And what a more fitting digi image to inspire you with today than Shelly's 'ONE LAST STOP' ...
ONE LAST STOP
This beautifully detailed digi also comes in a FULL COLORED VERSION.  This is a wonderful time saver when doing mass production holiday cards!  You'll want to be sure to it out and be sure to see the other full colored images Shelly has to offer in her store!





Here's some inspirational creations the fabulous design team has come up with this week to help spark your creativity.  We sure are looking forward to seeing your CHRISTMAS cards/projects! 
 Marianne also made this beautiful matching tag!

Darlene
(using the PRE-COLORED version)

Min

Jackie

Amanda

Priscilla

WOW! That's what I call INSPIRATION!  Well done team!!

Now it's YOUR TURN to inspire us with your Christmas cards & projects.

We can't wait to see what you create and ask that you follow these few easy rules:
1. Link directly to your blog post entry, NOT your entire blog.
2. Shelly's Images are NOT required (but we'd LOVE to see them).
3. New projects ONLY ... NO back linking.
4. Your entry must follow the theme.
5. Only FIVE entries per challenge PLEASE. Any additional entries will be deleted in an effort to keep our challenge fair for all participants.
6. Challenge entry ends at 12:00 Noon (CST) on the Wednesday before our new challenge begins.
7. Please turn word verification off at your blog if you would enjoy a comment from us.

AND ... be sure to pop back tomorrow for the 7th Day of Christmas when Shelly will have an awesome surprise for you!!!  You DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!!



HAVE FUN!


Elf Darlene
A proud member of the Shelly’s Images DT!

TTT Challenge Winners - Oh SCRAP!


We hope you are enjoying our 12 Days of Christmas event here at Shelly's Images.  Be sure to keep checking in.  We have lots more fun and many more prizes up for grabs in the coming days.  And if you haven't already, be sure to check the posts for our first 5 Days of Christmas.  We are still accepting guesses for our "Guess how many?" game.


As always we had some truly wonderful entries for our "Oh SCRAP" challenge. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!
Our "Beary" Favorite project is Moshie from Moshie's Moments
Moshie, we loved the layout of this beautiful project.  And all of the gold and distressed edges really give a classic almost vintage feel to this beautiful project.    I will be emailing you very soon with your $6 gift voucher.  Please also be sure to grab your "Beary" Favorite badge here.

We also have two more awards to round out our Top 3 for this challenge.  These awards go to Mandy from Made by Mandy and Suze from Crafty Suze!
Mandy, we loved this cute and colorful layout.  And thought it was perfect for our "Oh SCRAP Challenge".  You truly found a way to turn the scraps into something beautiful.
Suze, not only did you use an image from Shelly's Images, but I LOVE the way you showed your scraps before you started making your project.  I also loved the little tip about using the piece of paper that already had the oval cut out for the mat for your image.  Genius!  I think all of us are frugal and try to save all of our little pieces and this is the perfect use for those. 
 Mandy and Suze please be sure to grab your Top 3 badge here.

Thanks again to everyone who entered our challenge.  Your creativity always inspires us.    If you didn't win today please be sure to visit www.shellysimages.com and click "Monthly Digi Giveaway" Then just enter your name and email address to enter for our December giveaway.  Be sure to enter once each month for your chance to win.  Winners of the Monthly Digi Giveaway are announced in our Newsletter and notified by email.

Our new challenge will begin very soon.  "Christmas is in the Air" at Shelly's Images and that is the theme of our new challenge.  I can't wait to see all of the amazing Christmas projects.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

On the 5th Day of Christmas


Hi ladies,
Today is the 5th day of 12 Days of Christmas, and it's my turn to make something.
I have made a candybox with two digi's from Shelly.
The candy cane and the Christmas bear.





The picture below is showing you how to make the box.


For the lid I used a doily about 4 inches, fold it in half and stick half a doily on the back of the box.
Make two holes in the front of the box and the doily and tie a bow in it.
Now you can close your box.

On the third picture you can see the Santa Claus digi I have made.
I have made 5 digi's for you, and if you like them, you can download the digi's on my blog.


I hope you like the candy box and digi's, have fun with them.

Greetings,
 Marianne