Christmas Cards - A Holiday Project

My 2009 Holiday Card Creation

This year for my holiday card I chose to use a photo I captured during my trip to Paris this past May. While this is as close as I got to the Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre - I was really pleased that this photo was snapped inside the Pompidou Center. I opted to have the photos developed in a sepia tone to work with my holiday theme.

For those who did not receive their cards - my apologies - time management!! They're in the mail!

To all my friends and followers - may you have a blessed holiday.

Merry Christmas!

Gift Wrap - A Holiday Project

Handcrafted gift wrap and gift tag.

One of my past project goals that never came to fruition was creating my own gift wrap. I always admired those that were able to create something of their own, from the simple to the extravagant; I'm a sucker for a smartly wrapped gift, regardless of the occasion!

Gift wrap making in the process!

While this year's attempt didn't exactly match the image in my head - I am still, nonetheless, pleased with my creation! I chose to use a snowflake-shaped foam stamp with a soft blue paint - to mimic the crispness of a wintry sky. To simulate the sparkle of snowflakes, I added a dusting of finely ground crystal glitter (that sadly - I'm afraid, more ended up in the Dyson than on my wrapping paper!) For the background, I wanted something that was "rougher" in appearance to provide that contrast to the glittery snowflakes, so I chose good 'ole Kraft paper. The irregularity of the stamping added to the overall character of the gift wrap, adding that special handmade touch - something I wanted to achieve. The process was simple enough, although time-consuming; I learned lots and look forward to my next gift wrapping project!

May all your holiday shopping and gift wrapping tasks be complete!!

Happy Holidays!

Gift Tags - Revisited

Gift tags for R & L, using school photos from years past.....

Over the years, I have learned (the hard way) how important it is to have names on each wrapped gift sitting under the tree. While you may think that I inadvertently gave the wrong present to some poor soul, but no, I was on the receiving end ? from my parents! Many years ago while I was still in college and my mother was filling the job of office manager for my father?s then new accounting firm, one Christmas morn, I watched as my brother opened my new blender! We all had a good laugh, but I could tell how mortified my mother was when she realized her shorthand hieroglyphics did not serve her so well that particular Christmas.

So, as the abiding daughter, I have tried over the years to ensure that each smartly wrapped gift has some type of obvious gift tag. Of course, I need to make a project out of this task as the store-bought peel and stick gift tags will just not do this year, especially claiming to achieve three holiday projects!

I wanted the gift tag to serve more than one purpose, so I crafted a chipboard ornament that will serve gift tag duty! I used a chipboard kit, but embellished to my heart?s content. The picture above illustrates the ?ornament? in a tree ? but, ultimately, the tag will find its way to the present! I will also post photos with my next project ? I can?t give away all my projects in one post!

Holiday Cookie Baking

Anise Cookies - always a crowd favorite!

My family has had a holiday tradition of baking cookies for as long as I can remember. My memories began with my grandmother who always had a platter of cookies at every family gathering, regardless of the occasion or holiday. The flavors varied from the adult palette of fruit and nut to the child friendly chocolate and candy filled confections!

While my grandmother has passed on to the cookie clouds in heaven, my mother and I continue the tradition of baking holiday cookies each and every year. While the hope is to satisfy every one's tastebuds, we know that there is still one more batch to make, one more kind to test; inevitably a few batches of cookies go unbaked (our waistlines thank us!)

One of the most requested holiday cookies that I continually receive is a recipe that my grandmother created to match the flavor of a childhood cookie my grandfather enjoyed. My grandfather remembered an iced cookie with an anisette flavoring that his mother made when he was just a child, unfortunately an early death prevented my great-grandmother from passing along the recipe to future generations. My grandmother adapted the refrigerator cookie dough recipe from the Betty Crocker's Cooky Book (provided below) and topped each cookie with an anise-flavored icing. My grandmother always colored the icing bright pink, duplicating my grandfather's childhood memory, but I prefer a dark periwinkle colored icing to serve as a wintry backdrop for white snowflake candy toppings.

May you enjoy the confections of the holidays and create your own family tradition!

Happy Holidays!

Caramel Refrigerator Cookies

1/2 C. Butter

1 C. Brown Sugar (Packed)

1 Egg

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1-3/4 C. Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla thoroughly. Stir in flour and baking soda. Form dough in roll, 2-1/2" across. Wrap in wax paper. Chill until firm.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut dough in 1/8"TH slices. Place slices a little apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.

Adapted from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book, 1963 Edition

After cookies have cooled, I make a simple frosting with butter, cream/milk, confectioner's sugar and anise flavoring. While there are no exact measurements - I make sufficient amounts to top each cookie with a smattering of icing and top with some type of holiday candy topping.

Enjoy!