Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!This winter break, my nieces and I did a little crafting! We painted tote bags and added a little trim and some flowers. I've been soldering like crazy the past few weeks! Here are a few charms I'm wearing on my charm necklace right now. I love making silhouettes of children. There is a GREAT digital tutorial in the newest Somerset Memories issue.

First I uploaded a "side view" photo. I took out the original background. Next I filled the photo with solid black and added a "patterned paper" background. I printed it out at 1.5 x 1.5. The opposite side of my charm is a piece of vintage wallpaper. I sandwiched the papers between two glass pieces and hand soldered the charm.

This is what I made my mom. The soldered charm is a silhouette of me as a girl.

My nieces Caroline and Rachel are showing off their own silhouette soldered charms they got from their Aunt Mendy!
Have a creative New Year!

Winter Parties

I finally got to use my "Lisa Kettell Cake Toppers" last weekend. I couldn't wait to use them! I loved meeting Lisa and visiting with her at Silver Bella! I used the toppers on my little white cupcakes with pink frosting. They really turned out yummy!! Recipe for White Cupcakes with Pink Frosting:

White Cake:
1 Box White Cake Mix
1 Large box White Chocolate Jello Instant Pudding
6 Egg Whites
1 C Sour Cream
1/2 C warm whipping cream
1/2 C Vegetable Oil
1 1/2C White Chocolate Chips (Best Quality!)

Mix all ingredients. Fold in the white chips. Batter will be really thick! Pour into cupcake pan or bundt. Cook at 350 for 40 minutes or so. Check cake with a toothpick. Let cool.

Pink Frosting:
1 Bag Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Butter
2 tbsp whipping cream
1/2 tsp Wilton Pink Icing Past (Michael's or Hobby Lobby)

Mix with a hand mixer until stiff. Frost cooled cupcakes/cake.

I digitally created the invites to the shower...

I've also been working on some holiday party items. I am giving these holiday flower corsages to my second grade team of teachers.

I bought concentrated oil (Bamboo) at Bath and Body Works, and with a cotton ball, dabbed each petal. The clips on the back of the flowers clipped right on to my digitally made holiday cards...no wrapping!

I designed the fronts and backs of my digi "postcards."

Can't wait to hand them out on Monday!

Cookie Swap!

Hurray for Jessi's Cookie Exchange! Thank you for including me in your fun party Jessi! Here I am...ready to bake!OOH BOY! How many of you LOVE those addictive peanut butter "Buckeye Balls?" You know, the balls that are peanutbutter/powdered sugar/butter and then dipped in chocolate...

Well, the newest winner of the Pillsbury Bake-Off used these PB balls inside a peanut butter cookie.

WOWSERS!!!!!!!

My family was in pure heaven after taking a bite out of these cookies.

Double-delight peanut butter cookies
INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 375° F.
In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, powdered sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until blended. Shape mixture into 24 balls.

Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Don't eat all the peanut butter balls!! Repeat with remaining dough and balls. Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture. Pat mixture completely onto balls.
On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with PAM and press into remaining peanut mixture.
Flatten each ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of glass. The trick is to make it really flat, so the center will be a "surprise."

Bake 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

Now if you are nice, you will share some with your little brother...

My brother and I in the early 1970's...

Don't eat too many!!