Belle Papier {pretty paper}

I just wanted to take the time this morning to wish you a very special Christmas. Amidst the  business of family and food and presents, I just wanted to sit down and think about the true meaning of Christmas, the greatest gift of all.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end Isaiah 9:6,7

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:30-33

Wishing you a very special Christmas

Eggnog Bread…Love this recipe. If you have a bread machine, this is so quick to make up and we look forward to it all year. Wish you could buy eggnog off-season! and so…I’m busy with all my Christmas preparations right now. It’s always such a crazy time of year. You may be like me and busy in the kitchen or looking for something new to try. I just put this recipe in the bread machine and thought I’d pop in and share it here with you. Enjoy! If you’re looking for some more fun holiday recipes…I shared some of my favorite holiday baking recipes here last year.

Holiday Eggnog Bread

{this recipes makes a 2 pound loaf}

3/4 cup eggnog

1/3 cup water

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter or margarine cut up

4 cups bread flour (I just used all-purpose)

3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1/2 cup mixed candied fruits and peels

Add all ingredient to the machine according to manufacturer’s directions. Select basic white bread cycle. Drizzle Cooled loaf with Eggnog Glaze…as follows…

Eggnog Glaze: In a small mixing bowl mix together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and tnough eggnog to make a glaze….drizzling consistency.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and blessed Christmas!

Just a fun little note today. I love how this card turned out. I love music and I’m sure you know by now that the Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock™ is one of my absolute favorites. Think about it. For so many of our celebrations in life, music is always a big part of them. I decided to experiment a little with this stamp and try something different. While patterned paper makes designing quick and easy, I love going back to stamping techniques again and again for their versatility and there is something so satisfying about creating your own backgrounds from scratch. It’s simply yours and very unique.

Rhinestone Note

To create my “custom patterned paper” background, I stamped my Scrapblock™ onto white cardstock with Versamark Ink. I then embossed it with clear embossing powder to form a resist. Now for the fun albeit messy part. On a protected surface, I sprayed different colors of Glimmer Mist. You can dry carefully with your heat gun to speed up the process. Wipe excess ink from embossing to make the design pop.

Quick Tip: Shake Glimmer Mist well before using to make sure the shimmer particles are not stuck to the bottom of the bottle.

Thanks for stopping by, especially in this very busy season!

Supply List:

Stamps: Aged Sheet Music Scrapblock™, Classic Essential Expressions (mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Versamark by Tsukineko, Black Stazone by Tsukineko
Paper: White simply Smooth cardstock, black, by Prism
Other: May Road Clear note, chipboard by Maya Road, rhinestones by Westim Crafts, sewing machines, Worn Lipstick Distress Crackle Paint  , Glimmer Mist

Three more days until Christmas! Yikes! I have a lot still to do. Actually, we woke up this morning to a sick daughter. It seems she has anotherStrep infection so we’re just back from the clinic instead of trying to finish up some last minute shopping. I’m not sure why but she gets sick EVERY Christmas. Poor kid. I was joking this morning that I should just book her appointment for next year now. Sorry I’m a little late posting this challenge post. Days like this happen sometimes!

While I’m scurrying around trying to get things done, I do have a challenge for you. Do you have any last minute wrapping to do? This challenge is to create some quick, fun wrap for one of those presents you are giving this year. Gift bags, wrapping paper, baskets, tags…any form of quick wrapping ideas will work.

We have lots of fun wrap ideas to share with you today. Check out these ideas!   Kim, Lesley, Kristine, Carole, Becky, Jen

Winter Vintage Gift Box

{Project removed for publication}

My project began with a simple light tan octagonal box that I picked up at a local store. (Canadian Tire if you live in Canada like me. ) To keep the project simple and quick, I stamped it first with the Distressed Grid Scrapblock on the top of the box and then with the various vintage signs from the Winter Vintage Signage Set. I also stamped the “signs” on each of the six sides and then added a little distress ink to enhance the vintage look. Some fun trim adds some color to the box and by change I found this darling piece of October Afternoon paper that coordinate perfectly to make a simple one layer tag.

Quick Tip: Layer Scrapblock™ patterns with other stamped elements to tie the design together.

Happy wrapping!

Supply List:

Stamps: Winter Vintage Signage (Rummage Bin Line) by Cornish Heritage Farms,Distressed Grid Scrapblock™ by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento Ink by Tsukinkeo, Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger, Copper Brilliance Ink by Tsukineko

Paper: October Afternoon

Other: trim by Fancy Pants Designs, ribbon by May Arts, safety pin by Creative Impressions

Need a special holiday thank you? Thanks what I designed this card for. To put in with a hostess gift for a friend. December’s Stamp of the Month is one of my favorites and a couple of stamps I’ll be using again and again. I love how beautiful this fir branch is stamped in greens, but especially in the white Stazon Ink on a Clear Card Sheet. This card may be simple with very few layers but the hand-stitching and the die cut window make it a little special.

Kindess Beautifies

To create this card, I stamped a Clear Card Sheet with the fir branch  in White Stazon on the reverse side. I then flipped it and stamped the sentiment in Black Stazon on the front. While it wouldn’t look like a difference here in the photo, in real life it adds a little dimension and makes the sentiment easier to read and stamp. The window is die cut and embossed with my Labels one Spellbinders die and then the clear sheet adhered behind. To add some color, I die cut a solid patterned paper panel for the inside and then stitched around the front of the card with red embroidery thread.

Quick Tip: Change up the red to a more neutral icy color such as blue or purple and use this design all winter long.

Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!

Supply List:

Stamps: Fir Branch SOTM by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: White & Black Stazon by Tsukineko
Paper: Kraft by Prism, patterned paper by Basic Grey
Other: snowflakes by Creative Impressions, die by Spellbinders, embroidery thread, paper piercer, clear card sheet by Cornish Heritage Farms