Homemade Ornament

Merry Christmas! with today being Christmas eve, I wanted to show one more Christmas project. I made this ornament with leftover packaging, from a Buttons and Bling package of Bobunny product. What I did was to cut out the domed circle with deco scissors, leaving just enough to eventually glue together. Then I tore up some white cardstock to make my ground, adding on three trees I cut out with Bobunny Tis the Season. I added some gems from Bobunny's iCandy to top the trees and centers in therubon snowflakes that I also added on.
Before I glued the circle edges together, I added some large glitter flakes into the dome, and then glued it together. To finish it off, I punched a small hole in the top, adding in a small metal circle hanger, then a thin red ribbon, with a twine bow and button for decoration on my hanger.
The fun thing about this ornament, the more you shake it- the prettier it is- and my girls are still of the age to play with our tree ornaments- fortunately this is unbreakable and definately one it's ok to play with.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
kris

Believe Decor

Ok- I will admit it- I often go out to the post-Holiday sales and buy things I have no idea what to do with. And they will sit in my pile of alterables until one day a light goes on and I get an idea. Sometimes- it could take a couple years. I know I didn't buy this Believe this year- must have been last years addition to the box of alterables.
and...
I often get so sick of seeing them- I think I may just block out that I even have them.
Then, in an effort to make a project- I reach in- pull it out and go-
"now what the heck am I gonna do with this?"

then I'll calm down- grab some papers I like and play. it's not easy- and sometimes I make stuff I hate- but isn't that what happens to us all on occasion? good intentions and all- then our naughty little muse runs off to play with someone else and we are left trying to make something with no magic..

that's not what happened with this though.


First what I did was base coat my believe sign with some acrylic paint- just a quickie job covering all the bare wood. Then I had had the idea of sponging some of the white paint on like specks- really didn't want to flick it and get it all over, so I took my brush and dabbled it on. Well, my base coat wasn't quite dry and it mixed together giving this sponged look- now that I've made the mistake for you- just start it out trying to sponge it on. Let it dry, then I added some puffy paint to it- that is what makes the snow. I also sprinkled glitter all over it. when it was dry -I was going to heat gun it to make it fluffy- but liked it just the way it was- so I left it alone.

Next for the background. I took some Bobunny Winter Wonderland paper- this is already glittered- but I did add more. I fussy cut out the snowflakes and then glued the paper to the back of the letters. First I had glittered them a bit. I also fussy cut Santa from St. Nick paper and added him on there as well. I like that he already looks like he is being snowed on.
I didn't glitter all the snowflakes, just the two big ones.


to finish this off, I tied an aquamarine bow with a snowflake button and a bit of twine and added them to the bottom of the B. If you wanted to create this a bit more sturdy- cutting out chipboard to back your snowflakes will definitely make the papers stronger.
thanks for stopping in- check out the other gorgeous decor items on the Bobunny blog this month!
kris

One last cookie idea

Sooo- you're running on empty- no time or inclination to mix a cookie recipe? Create gorgeous and delicious cookies with store bought dough!
I bought a big ol' tub of sugar cookie dough. Now- I let it sit out a bit- then I hand mixed more flour into it- this is kind of a feel thing- I just kneaded the dough til it felt stiffer- probably adding about 1/2 cup flour to 2 cups dough- that's about one of those cookie log rolls you can buy in the store. Doing this - you have less spread of the dough when baking.

Now- for what I made-



I made Chocolate Surprise Cookies- they have Andees Candies inside- I also tried this with Hershey's Mint Bliss chocolates- both are DELICIOUS!! What we did was to wrap the dough pretty around the top of the candy- then tuck it underneath- so the tops were nice looking. Baked them off and added chocolate ganache to the tops- yeah yeah- we love chocolate in this house- and if I'm gonna make the ganache- I like to use it all up.

Second - I made Cherry Thumbprint Cookies- I found Cherry Preserves in the grocery store- and used small balls of dough, with a nice dent it them from our finger- then added the preserves to the middle- only about 1/4 of a teaspoon- these were nice preserves and had chunks of cherries- so I just added the cherry chunk to the middle. Then- yup- drizzled with ganache this time- yeah - went to funky town with this idea! LOL! they taste like Chocolate Covered Cherries- very very good!!

now don't forget- you can use the same dough recipe for other ideas- add in other candy- rollos or milk duds would be yummy! peanut butter cups too!
add different jelly to the cookies and make a variety of flavors.

Have a wonderful day!
kris

Christmas Baking is fun!

Today I'm sharing two chocolate recipes- both delish- and pretty easy to make. My Chocolate Chip Heath Cookies, and Chocolate Ganache Cups. The girls and I baked last night- and I decided to pretty up the Choc. Cups with holly berry sprinkles- well- needless to say- with two girls, they voted that the Heath cookies also needed dressing up- so these are a little over the top with decorations! But everyone says they are delicious- so I guess that's all that matters!
Chocolate Chip Heath Cookies- I used my every day Chocolate Chip recipe- and added heath bits to it.

I will say this- for the best unburned looking bottoms- get some parchment paper to line your baking pans with- they sell it right in the store by the waxed paper- and don't throw it away every time you pull cookies out of the oven! keep using it until you are done baking for the day!!


Chocolate Chip Heath Cookies-
1 cup stick margerine
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
cream sugars and butter together in mixer until light and fluffy.
add
2 eggs and a 1tsp ( you can add up to 2 tsp of vanilla- I love it!) and mix into creamed mixture.
add 3 to 4 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking soda. combine well- I add enough flour for a thicker dough. The thinner it is- the more it spreads out.
Add lots of chocolate chips- I'd say at least a full 12 oz bag- I buy the giant bags at BJ's- so I can't say for sure how much I add. Also add one full bag of Heath Bits.
drop by walnut sized chunks onto parchment paper lined sheetpans.
bake at 350 degrees for about 10-13 minutes- lightly browned.
for drizzle- see below for Ganache Cups recipe.

Chocolate Ganache Cups-
I made my own cream cheese dough- but you can substitute in packaged sugar cookie dough here!!
Cream Cheese Dough-
2 1/2 sticks butter
1 8oz block cream cheese- cream these together well
add in 2 cups all purpose flour and 1 cup confectioners sugar.
( now I'm giving exact amounts- but I made another dough and was unhappy with it- so I threw in stuff til I was happy, this made a very sticky dough- but the cookie was tasty.)
spray nonstick mini muffin pans with Pam- then place spoonfuls of dough into each cup.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 13 minutes. Let cool

Chocolate Ganache-
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream- ( you can also use whole milk if you have it and not heavy cream)
place in microwave and heat until chocolate is melted-stopping and stirring so you don't burn the chocolate. Top each Cookie Cup with a generous teaspoon of Ganache- or dip tops into Ganache and allow to cool on wire rack.
I had extra of this left over- reheated it gently and used it to drizzle over my Chocolate Chip Heath Cookies- yum!


and one more thing for today- I haven't shared my CardPatterns card from the weekend yet!
We did one more card with our Chris Franco sponsorship snowmen. I used Bobunny dot cardstock, some CI scalloped patterned paper, colored in my snowmen with colored pencils. added a pretty ribbon and button with twine. I also added a CI scallop spot and a Scenic Route birthday ticket. All the popping up was with scraps of chipboard!
Thanks for coming by today! off to see if I have enough flour and sugar to make some more cookies- have a wonderful weekend!
kris

Cookies!

Yum! are you a baker? do you like making treats? I have been a baker for a very long time, I just love making delicious sweets and treats for others to enjoy. Homemade is definitely better tasting and fresher. This year, I have decided to try some new recipes, yes, my old standby Jumbo Chocolate Chips will be on my list, but I'm hoping through trial and error to find some new delish additions to my nice list!!
Now- I know- who has tons of time to do this- really- it's not a whole lot of extra work to do it my way. What I do is- make a double batch, then bake off a single dozen, if they taste and bake properly- I line a few sheet pans with baking parchment- add my drops of cookie dough- then flash freeze them for a couple hours. When they are nice and cold, I add them to gallon freezer ziploc bags with their name, and baking temps. Then whenever we are ready for some fresh warm cookies- I pull out the bags, throw the frozen cookie bites on some sheets and within 15 minutes we can be eating cookies fresh from the oven!!
Monday evening I tried two new recipes- one chocolate- a must have in our house- and one not chocolate. I made Soft Molasses Sugar Cookies, and Mocha Crackle Cookies.



Soft Molasses Sugar Cookies
1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/4 cup molasses, 1 egg- combine in mixing bowl and mix well.
add 2 cups all purpose flour, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Add ti sugar mixture and mix well. Chill for up to 4 hours in refrigerator. Shape into 1 inch balls. Add a few pinches of pumpkin pie spice to additional sugar, roll balls into sugar, then place onto baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees about 7 minutes. The tops crackle and make a beautiful cookie! ( I added the pie spice to the sugar- you can leave it out- they taste sort of like ginger snaps to me)

Mocha Crackle Cookies
1/2 cup butter, 5 squares unsweetened chocolate, 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules. Heat in microwave safe bowl until all chocolate pieces are melted- this smells devine!!

In mixer - add 4 eggs, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar- creaming together. Next add chocolate mixture to this and mix well. this smells like heaven!!! omg!!
you'll also need some confectioners sugar for rolling cookies in

To chocolate egg mix- add 2 cups plus 3 tblsp all purpose flour, 2 tsp. baking powder - mix this gradually in, allowing each addition to combine before adding more. ( so it doesn't puff all over your kitchen!!)
Place in fridge for several hours and all to firm up. Shape mixture into walnut sized balls- then roll in confectioners sugar. Place on baking sheet about 2 inch apart and bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.
These cookies are soo rich and fudgy- you need some milk with these definitely- or coffee. I would say the mocha flavor is very light- you could add more if you wanted it to be a stronger flavor.

hope you enjoy my recipes - they are from a Taste of Home magazine.
have a great day!
kris

More Christmas Decor

Want to make your own Christmas decor- just look for unique packaging! My hubby bought me some of those Ferraro Rocher Chocolate balls- the ones that they are showing a lot of commercials for at this time of year. Well- honestly- I don't really care for them- although I adore Nutella!! I think it's the crispy part that I don't like so much. BUT I LOVED this awesome bell container! I first took off the tag, and just cleared all the stickers and stuff off of it. I bought some cute little silver glitter balls- from the dollar store!! and filled it up with them. Then I glued it shut-then trimmed it with some Bobunny lime dot ribbon.
For the top- I added some beautiful berry picks from the craft store- seriously- I've gotten like 4 great projects done and only spent about 3 dollars on them.
I also glittered some plastic leafy pieces- pulled them off another pick- and added glue then some very gold glitter and let them dry. I added a thicker Bobunny dot ribbon, with three loops, and added two K&CO chipboard pieces to either side of the bow- this side is a bird in nest- the backside is a snowflake in blue and gold.


remember- click on the pic for a larger view- I know these blog pics are kinda small.
Thanks for coming over today! Hope you've been inspired to create some of your own decor!

kris

Couldn't stay away today!

I just have the best news! I got my copy of the new PaperCrafts book- A Card a Day last night! WOW- so many wonderful cards in there- I have 5 cards in it myself- and feel like I'm among scrapping royalty with all the wonderful ladies who have their cards in there as well. So excited to see it out.

I typically don't talk a lot about where you can find my projects. I've been being published for over 8 years now, with hundreds of publishings under my scrapbelt- and it's still thrilling, but dont' want to see bragadocious! - is that even a word? LOL!

I also wanted to show off this adorable little giftie bag that I made lickety split the other day. I simply took a brown lunch bag- and cut off the top with some zigzag scissors- makes it less lunch baggie, then I punched two holes to thread my raffia through. I added a button with twine to the front of it - you can tie it in the back to make it easier to open. I also added Bobunny paper, with a bit of brown cardstock. Then a large circle with more Bobunny ( tis the season papers) and glued it to the back of the K&Co circle chip- you can make this an ornament with a different saying on it! wouldn't that be a nice touch to the gift. I added a few little berries, and a ribbon bow. Easy peasy- and quick for a last minute gift bag. You could add cookies, jewelry, a gift card- etc.. to this bag!

Thanks for dropping by!
kris