Butter Balls

It's almost time to bake Christmas cookies! Growing up, we would always make lots of cookies and put them in our mud room in tupperware, so they were always available for company, parties or just for a snack. Butter Balls are one of the cookies that my mom makes every year. They're yummy. It's a tradition I want to keep up for my own family now. So I thought to share and pass on the love:) I love the Christmas season and sharing what we have with others. I'd also think it would be neat to hear about your holiday traditions if you have a minute. And if you have a little more time, you need to go bake some of these cookies!

Butter Balls
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional, but really good)
extra powdered sugar, for dusting

Mix all ingredients together. Shape by hand into 1" balls. Bake at 350 until golden brown. Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar. (We ususally just toss them around in a plastic gallon baggie with a cup or 2 of powdered sugar).

8 x 8 Album

So, Thanksgiving is now over, although we have the second and final round tonight. But having nothing to do with thansgiving, here are two 8x8 pages I made for some swaps on SCS. My goal for this year is to do a small family album. I like this size. It moves pretty quickly.

I used stickles on the sprinkles of the cupcakes. It's a little hard to see in the picture. The photo mat is just some DP I had.

I cut out the light bulbs on my cricut, and used gold stickles to decorate the top part of them.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping!

My Neglected Scrapbook

I have realized of late that I have been neglecting my scrapbooks. I've been making so many cards and other projects, that the scrapbooks have fallen low on my list. But that's ok. I have a plan.
I've joined a few border layout swaps and 8x8 page swaps. All of which are very easy to do. So I'm hoping I can get back to my scrapbook after the first of the year and put all these wonderful layouts to use!
Basically for a border swap, you make the titles, accents, sometime photo boxes and journaling pieces, and supply your own paper to create your own layout. I hope these inspire you too!

Happy stamping!

The Best Crockpot Creamed Corn

Here is an easy side dish for Thanksgiving you can make in your Crockpot! I never liked creamed corn until I tried this recipe. I got it from a Betty Crocker cookbook last year.

Crockpot Creamed Corn
2 lbs frozen corn
12 oz cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Spread corn over bottom of a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Top with cream cheese cubes. In a small bowl, stir together remaining ingredients and pour over corn and cream cheese.

Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours.

Stir well before serving. Corn will hold on low heat up to 2 hours. Stir occasionally.

Garnish with chopped green onions, if desired.

Tag Time

I can't believe we're already 12 days into November! Thanksgiving is coming so fast, and then it will be time for Christmas! I love Christmas. I've always laughed at my mom for being a decorating nut around that time, but since having a little boy myself who is now almost 4, I find myself doing the same thing. So in honor of the impending season, here are two gift tags I made for some special gifts.This first one was made from a cricut tag (2 parts). The tree is embossed in gold, and the holly is just stamped and then accented with burgundy Stickles. It's raised with half of a pop-dot.

This second tag I really like. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the snowman has been embossed with clear embossing powder and then watercolored in for detail. I inked the snowman first with blue pigment ink and then immediately into Versamark before embossing. I also used the same cricut tag. I think it was from the Christmas Cheer cartridge.

I hope these ideas are inspiring and help you get in the Christmas mood!

Happy stamping!

Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes

I love all the new cupcake stamps coming out. These are from the only set I have that has cupcakes. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the bottom card, I first embossed the cupcakes by first inking the purple and then right into the Versamark and I used clear embossing powder. Both cards were colored in using a blender pen. On the top card I used clear sparkle Stickles on the sprinkles.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping!

Good Soup for a Cold Day

Golden Potato Chowder
Makes 6 cups
2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
2 cups chopped potatoes
Dash pepper
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups milk
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Bring broth, vegetables, chives and seasonings to boil in medium saucepan on high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 10 minutes. Do not drain. Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour. Cook 2 minutes or until bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended. Cook on medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Add cheese; cook until melted, stirring constantly. Add vegetable mixture; cook until heated through. Do not boil.