Valentine's Day Cookies and Skating

I'm a fan of Valentine's Day.  Not the romantic, cliche part of it.  I don't care about the roses and going out to dinner part of it.  What I like about it is the creative part of it.  Yes, the gift receiving is nice,  (Thanks for the rolling pin, Mom!) but I enjoy decorating, making cookies and especially picking out my attire to celebrate the holiday.  

I loved making Valentine's Day cards when I was a kid.  And as I got a little older, I loved picking out my cards and candy at the store, going through them and giving the best ones to the boys I had crushes on.  I think this spirit has stuck with me which is why I don't get depressed about being single around Valentine's Day.  It has never been a romantic holiday for me; only a fun one!  

I made heart shaped sugar cookies.  My second decent batch, thank you very much!  

I used this recipe for the cookies. Courtney's sugar cookie recipe!   FYI, when using a heart shaped cookie cutter the size that I did, you'll probably only get 14 cookies instead of 18.  

I tried a new recipe for the buttercream frosting.   I got it from this blog--->American Buttercream recipe     It was really good!  

And I used my new hand mixer and it was wonderful!  Thanks again, Dad & Mary!

I also went skating with a group of friends.  Skating is another excuse for me to wear ridiculously fun makeup.  The Makeup Geek website is doing a Valentine's Day look challenge so I wanted to throw my hat in the ring with this look.  

Items used: 

EYES

Too Faced Shadow Insurance (primer)

NYX milk jumbo eye pencils (base)

Wet N Wild Spoiled Brat palette  (silver on the lid and slightly into the crease)(pink in the crease and in the lower lash line)(black in the outer V and in the upper lash line)

NYX Cherry Single Eye Shadow (blending over the black and into the pink)

NYX Pots and Pans jumbo eye pencils (under the lower lash line)

Urban Decay Zero eye liner 

NYX Mauve pink Roll On Shimmer (over the lower lid and into the crease after makeup applied)

Urban Decay Curling mascara

Scotch Tape (to help get the crisp line in the outer V)

LIPS

Palladio Bright Red lip liner (all over the lips as a base)

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Dolly Pink

I even got a new sweater, earrings, scarf, headband and rings (all on sale!) to wear.  This was the whole look: 

The skating rink was extremely busy!  It was hard to maneuver around all of those kids.  

Stacy and Aniyah

Jennifer and Miranda

Wendy, skating with Miranda

Josi's Valentine's Day look

Courtney also embraced the holiday with her festive makeup and jewelry!

Aniyah, Josi and Miranda,looking all cute!

I think everyone had a good time even though it was so packed in there.  I hope we can all do this again soon!  

~Jules 

Daisy Birthday Card

My friend Bev's birthday was yesterday.  Happy Birthday, Bev!  I made this card for her last Saturday at that scrapbooking retreat I talked about in my last blog.  

The paper is K&Company: Tim Coffey 12x12 Daisy embossed paper.  Yes, the card is textured.  I'm not typically into daisies but there was something elegant about this paper and I knew at some point I would make it into a card.  

I cut some vanilla colored card stock with straight lines and then I cut down an off white piece of card stock but used crazy scissors for the edges.  

I found the daisy sticker in a package also by K&Company (Wild Saffron Daisies Paper Flowers).  

I found the stamp at Michaels in the $1 bin.  It's by Studio G.  I love these $1 bin stamps.  They stamp surprisingly well and are just so simple.  

I got the "Blowing Birthday Wishes Your Way" stamp from Michaels in one of my birthday stamp sets.  That cute little daisy in the corner is another Michaels $1 bin special (although I think that one might have been more than a $1).  The brand is Inkadinkado in "Daisy".  

So there it is!  I hope you like it.  


~Jules

Octopus's Garden

As I mentioned on my Facebook page yesterday, Jennifer and I went to a scrapbooking event at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.  It was free and gave us a great opportunity to hang out with other scrapbookers and to use other people's tools.  I made 2 birthday cards and a two page scrapbook layout.  I am going to show you how I made one of the cards and then give you a peek at my scrapbook layout.  

So here's the scoop on the birthday card!  

I was shopping at a little gift shop in the Amana's some time ago and found a sheet of paper put out by Reminisce called "Pink Bubbly Fish".  It's double sided.

My first thought was this...

I'd like to be, under the sea...

And then I thought how great this paper would be for my niece's upcoming birthday card.  You see, I love cute paper like this.  And now that my nieces and nephews are getting older and I don't have any little girls of my own...yet, I'm running out of opportunities to use cute paper like this.  I mean, this paper doesn't exactly go with a 34 year old's lifestyle.  But it is perfect for a 3 year old and my niece Gracie is turning 3 next month!

I'm using both sides of the paper for this card.  One thing I love about two sided paper is the top of the paper that has the bar code and brand name on it typically doubles as extra design paper.  It allows you to utilize the whole sheet.  This paper was perfect for that because it created a fun and matching line to separate the "sea" from the stripes.  So I cut the "sea" side down to about 2/3 the size of the card and the stripe side was about 1/3 the size.  I made sure to use the flower part of the top of the striped paper to use as a divider between the two sides.  Then I glued them to my card.  

See how the flower line matches the color scheme yet acts as a great divider between the two patterns?  I love it!  

The next step involves the use of the Cricut Expression 2.  My friend Jennifer let me use hers.  She helped me cut out these accents.  The paper is your typical card stock you buy at Michaels.  I chose 3 different colors.  We used the Cricut Essentials Flower3 pattern for the dark pink and light pink.  The dark pink was made slightly bigger than the hot pink.  Then we used the #3 Alphabet Font 2 on the lavender paper, creating the cute "3".  

And then I layered them, using my glue.  

Next I glued the layered flower to my card, placing it on the flowered line.  I found some great stickers at Michaels from their Recollections line that seemed to match the card perfectly.  I stuck the octopus on.  I'm not sure if you can tell by the pic, but there are some sticker bubbles added too.  And then I used some Stickles in Frosted Lace all over the sea life in the top part of the card.  

  

And lastly, I used a Happy Birthday Balloon clear stamp for the sentiment inside of the card.  I'm not sure the brand on that stamp.  Sorry!  But I'm pretty sure it's from Michaels.  

I am in love with this card!  I almost don't want to give it to my niece!  But I still have some leftover scraps from the 12x12 paper so I have a feeling I'll be using this again.  

And now I'm seriously thinking about getting a Cricut.  

And here's my layout!

The pictures I scrapbooked are from a year ago.  My friend Stacy and I went bowling with her kids on a cold night.  And here is what transpired.  

 "Let's bowl, let's bowl, let's rock and roll!"  <----10 points if you know what that's from!

The cute bowling ball and pins sticker on the first page is from the beloved Jolee's brand.  The bowling ball and pins on the second page are from Karen Foster Design in "High Score".  I borrowed Jennifer's Cricut once again for the words "Strike" and "Spare".  I now wish I would have cut out the word "Split".  I'm very happy with this layout.  I will be doing another bowling page for 2012 and Jennifer and I have already come up with the layout using her Cricut.  Who knows, maybe I'll be using MY Cricut.    :giggle:  

Thanks for viewing.  I'll have another blog at the end of this week showcasing the other card I made. 

~Jules 

41st Birthday Card

My oldest brother turns 41 on January 20th.  I just sent him a birthday card which he probably won't be getting on time because I procrastinated on putting it in the mailbox.  

This will be a my first attempt at doing a step by step blog on a card I've made.  And it will probably be a half assed one at that.  My cards at this point are really pretty amateur.  This is not a put down in any way towards myself.  I am still a beginner in the card making game and I'm looking forward to learning more techniques.  

I bought this 12x12 "Crowns" paper by the brand The Paper Studio for 59 cents awhile ago.  I think this may have come from Hobby Lobby but don't quote me on that.  I cut the paper down to the size of the card and adhered it.    

Next I found some light purple card stock and cut it down to about 1/3 the size of the card.  I then took my Creative Memories tearing tool and tore a jagged edge.  I then adhered it to the card. 

I then found a lavender piece of card stock.  I cut it down just a little narrower and shorter than the light purple card stock.  This time I used the tearing tool on both ends.  I then distressed this with Distress Ink in "Worn Lipstick".  

I cut a circle in the lavender card stock.  I also distressed it like the above lavender strip.  Then I stamped the "41" with the Inkadinkado clear stamps in "Curly Q Alphabet".  I used Memories Dye Ink Pad in black.  Then I adhered the circle to the end of the lavender strip.  

Next I stamped the word "YEARS!" on the lavender strip with the same alphabet stamps and same ink.   Then I put some bling on the one side of the circle.  

And finally I used a "Happy Birthday" stamp from Rubber Stampede.  I recently bought a cupcake stamp from Michaels in the dollar bin and used the hot pink Memories Dye Ink Pad.  I used the new Distress Stickles in Milted Lavender for the frosting.  I also used regular Stickles in Cotton Candy on the frosting as well.  It doesn't show up very well in pictures.  

While this card is not terribly masculine, I chose crowns because I thought it seemed sort of manly.  I chose purple to accent because it's such a regal color.  I decided to distress with pink because my brother really likes the colors black and hot pink together.  And the bling also seemed to go well with the whole royal theme.  Certainly not the best card I've ever made.  I do much better with girly cards.  But I do like this card.  And hopefully my bro will too.  

Thanks for watching! 

~Jules 

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...Peanut Butter Blossoms

I want to end this journey with my favorite holiday treat which is the peanut butter blossom cookie.  Peanut butter cookies in general are my favorite cookie.  And then you throw in chocolate and YUMMO!


PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS
http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/5191/Peanut%20Butter%20Blossoms.aspx

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup packed light brown 
• sugar
• 
  
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• Granulated sugar

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates. 

Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. 

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each 
cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. 
About 4 dozen cookies.

FYI, I make my balls too big.  This recipe should make 48 cookies.  I made 24!  And I do that every year.  They're still delicious!  Also, I know some people prefer to use the Brach's chocolate star which is totally okay to use instead of the kiss but as a kiss lover, I don't know why anyone would want to do that.  ;p  

Summary of these 12 days

I had a lot of fun doing these recipes.  It definitely kept me focused, that's for sure.  I have learned you can never have too many measuring cups and spoons, storage tins or time!  I've also learned that I am my worst critic.  

My favorite recipe to make this year was the crock pot candy or as my friend Wendy called it "Crack Pipe Candy".    I was disappointed to hear this recipe didn't work out for some of you, with the complaint that the nuts got burnt.  The only thing I can think of is that perhaps your crock pot had a higher wattage than regular crock pots which would have cooked the ingredients instead of melting them.  Interesting fact about the crock pot.  The term "crock pot" is a licensed name that the Rival brand calls their slow cookers.  So all Crock Pots are slow cookers but not all slow cookers are Crock Pots.  Kind of like the name Kleenex.  Not all tissues are from the brand Kleenex but you sure do hear people calling all tissues that, even if they're referring to the roll of toilet paper they stole from the restroom at work.  

And I must say it felt pretty awesome to finally conquer not only peanut brittle but sugar cookies as well.  And to finally make gingerbread men since I've been putting them off for years for fear I would mess them up.  The gingerbread men still taste so good and are still super soft.  

I do think this will be the last time I make so many treats at once.  I enjoyed challenging myself but man, oh, man was that  a lot of work!   I'm looking forward to making a scrapbook of all my favorite holiday treat recipes and am happy to add some of the new ones to it to make every year.  

I hope you enjoyed this series.  I'm really excited about getting my kitchen back and making delicious dinners again and perhaps sharing a recipe or two with you.  I have a few crafty projects coming up as well.  See you then!  

Happy Holidays, 

Jules  

P.S.  My dad and his wife got me a new hand mixer for Christmas.  Yay!  And it looks like I'll be getting that Urban Decay Naked2 palette for Christmas after all thanks to Miss Anastasia Beaverhausen!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...Iced Sugar Cookies

Today I managed to scratch one thing off of my bucket list.  I've finally made a decent batch of sugar cookies!  I'm so happy and feel so accomplished.


I've always messed up sugar cookies.  I overcook them or I burn them.  I never seem to get them right.  Even when I buy the Pillsbury already made dough.  I just sucked at it.  My friend Courtney makes really good sugar cookies so I asked if she would give me her recipe.  And she did.


Courtney's Sugar Cookies 

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar 

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla 

2 cups all purpose flour

Beat butter and shortening on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder and a dash of salt.  Beat til combined, scraping the bowl.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.  Divide the dough in half  Cover and chill for 3 hours or until easy to handle.  

On a slightly floured surface, roll half at a time to 1/8 inch thick.  Cut out with cookie cutters.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees  for 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned.  Cool on rack.   Makes approximately 18 cookies.  

ICING:  

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp milk

1 tbsp  light corn syrup

1/4 tsp almond extract

assorted food coloring 

In a small bowl stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth.  You may need to stir in more milk to get smooth.  Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy.  If the icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.  

Divide into separate bowls and add food coloring to each desired intensity.  Dip cookies or paint them with a brush.  

I was so pleased to have finally made one decent batch of sugar cookies.  These cookies are not as soft as I'd like them to be but only because I rolled them on the thin side.  That's the great thing about sugar cookies.  If you're a fan of the thin, crispy cookie you can roll them on the thin side.  If you like them soft you can roll them to 1/2 inch thick. Now that I know this, I'll be sure to do the 1/2 inch cookies. 

And by the way, I still don't have a hand mixer so this was all stirred the old fashion way.  And boy, can my wrist tell it!  Seriously, I need to get a new hand mixer.  

TIP: You may want to leave the dough out for a bit before rolling.  The dough will be really firm once you take it out of the fridge.  

Stars tend to cut on the thin side, especially at the points.  Keep that in mind if you're wanting really soft cookies.  

Tomorrow:  Peanut Butter Blossoms  (my favorite!)

Thanks, 
Jules 

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...Salted Nut Roll Bars

I couldn't find my recipe card for this tonight.  I looked through all of recipe books and other various places it could be but couldn't find it anywhere so I had to use Google to help me find another one.

I make these every year, especially since my sister in law Jill loves them.  They taste pretty much like the Salted Nut Roll candy bar you buy at the store.

SALTED NUT ROLL BARS http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1610,152165-244202,00.html

1 1/2 (16 oz.) jars dry roasted peanuts 1 (12 oz.) pkg. peanut butter chips 1 (10 1/2 oz.) pkg. mini marshmallows 3 tbsp. butter 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk Melt butter and chips. Add sweetened condensed milk. Cook for 2 minutes. Put in 1/2 of marshmallows. Let them melt, then add other half. Grease pan, cover bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan with half of the peanuts. Add cooked mixture; spread. Then add rest of peanuts.

You can substitute the peanut butter chips for peanut butter, which is what I did tonight.  I don't recommend it.  The peanut butter chips melt more smoothly  which will make your recipe easier.  I only did it because I forgot the peanut butter chips the last time I went to the store and I was too lazy to go back.

I have never tried this before but I don't see why you couldn't put some sort of chocolate over the top of it to make it taste like a Payday candy bar.  I bet that would be delicious.

Tomorrow I will be attempting frosted sugar cookies.  Wish me luck because I will surely need it.

Thanks,
Jules