Christmas Cards 2012

These are my Christmas Cards for 2012.

Veggie Christmas Tree

Grocery List
- 3 large bunches Broccoli
- 2 large Broccoli flower
- 1 large Cauliflower
- 1+ Red Bell Pepper
- 1+ Yellow Bell Pepper
- 1 package cherry tomato
- 1 jar cocktail onions
- 1 bag of baby carrots

Craft List

- Styrofoam cone - 8x3" 
- small disposable veggie tray (you will need to glue the cone to the tray)
- hot glue gun & glue sticks. I use this to keep the tree/cone sturdy.
- round toothpicks
- round wooden skewers
- Linzer tart cookie cutter (for tiny star shape cutter)
- wire cutter or strong scissor (to cut skewers)

Veggie Tree Assembly

Wrap your Styrofoam Cone with food plastic wrap first. This prevents your veggies from contacting the foam directly.

STEP 1 - Hot glue your Styrofoam cone to your plastic tray (optional). This makes a stable base and makes transportation very easy.

STEP 2 - Cut your Broccoli, Cauliflower and Broccoli flower into dipping sized pieces. Sizes should vary but shouldn't be too large or too small.

STEP 3 - Attach your Broccoli and Broccoli flower to the cone with ROUND toothpicks, grouped in clusters, with larger pieces at the bottom and graduating up to the top. Don't worry if there are small holes in your design, they will be filled in later with carrots and other decorations.

When you get to the top, and toothpicks are not long enough cut skewers with a wire cutter or strong scissor to pick your veggies into place until you achieve a perfect tree shape.

STEP 4 - Cut 1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper into dipping size strips. Tuck the ends of those strips into the tree, in a spiral, starting at the top and spiraling down to the bottom. Tuck a carrot in next to them to hold them in if needed. No toothpicks needed, here.

STEP 5 - Poke carrot sticks intermittently in holes between the broccoli and broccoli flower florets. No toothpicks needed.

STEP 6 - Use FLAT toothpicks to secure cherry tomatoes and cocktail onions to the tree. Poke small side all the way through onion or tomato. Press tomato or onion into tree.

STEP 7 - Cut out stars with small lintzer tart cookie cutter from 1 Yellow pepper or piece of Cheddar or American Cheese. Save 1 large piece to hand cut 1 larger star for top, or make a paper stencil or use a larger cookie cutter if you'd like for large star.

Secure stars with toothpicks poked and secured right in broccoli pieces.

STEP 8 - Fill tray base with cauliflower.

STEP 9 - Serve with your favorite veggie dip or refrigerate until serving. If it doesn't fit in your refrigerator, I have had good luck leaving it out on the counter overnight when the house wasn't too hot. I spritz it with water and cover with saran wrap and it still looks completely fresh the next day!

Recipe courtesy Penny Hart

Rolo Snicker Doodles

Perfect Snickerdoodle recipe you will need to make for Rolo Snickerdoodles.
Makes 32 cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla with a hand mixer until creamy.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add dry ingredients to butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Shape dough into 2 inch balls.

In a small bowl, combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Press balls into cinnamon sugar and flatten slightly.

Arrange on baking sheet and baking for only 12-14 minutes. The cookies may seem undercooked, but do not bake longer. Once cooled thoroughly, they will form into a perfect consistency.

ROLO SNICKERDOODLES:

1 batch store-bought or homemade perfect snickerdoodles
32 Rolo candies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Flatten 1 tablespoon dough and wrap around Rolo candy. Roll into ball and set on cookie sheet.

Bake for 14 minutes.

 

Rolo Snickerdoodles

 Recipe Courtesy of Rachel Schultz

Christmas Glitter Ornament Earrings

Red Glitter Ornament Earrings

Silver Glitter Ornament Earrings

Thankgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Thanksgiving Card Sets

Baby Bundle Basket

Baby Bundle Basket

Baby Bundle Basket

Baby Bundle Basket

 

Baby Bundle Basket

This is my latest creation. I took a square basket and made my own basket liner without sewing! I will be posting the step by step instructions so you can also make your own basket liner without sewing! You will be amazed at how simple it can be, and it is so much fun! I also put a piping on the outside of the liner along with a home made ribbon bow. The basket includes, baby oil, baby soap, rubber duckies, baby wipes, baby comb and brush set and an Elmo Bib.The basket is available for sale.

Fiskars Fuse Sharing My Recent Card Project

I posted my Jack o lantern Halloween cards on Fiskar's Facebook page. They liked them so much they asked if they could share my project with their Fans around Halloween time.  I of course said yes and I was honored.