Christmas Pudding Sauce

 One of my fondest memories from childhood is stirring the pudding sauce in the double boiler on Christmas day. Grandma used to bring the pudding and steam it in a pudding steamer that I still had. Most of us just ate a spoonful of pudding so we could pile on this delicious sauce. My recipe (in my Mom's handwriting that I still use is starting to get a bit faded so I thought I would put it on the blog. I always forget to take a photo at Christmas dinner so I only have a couple of preparation photos....

Christmas Pudding Sauce

 3 egg yolks

1 cup fruit sugar (very fine) 

1/2 cup butter (melted) 

Beat eggs until thick, gradually add sugar. Add

melted butter slowly and heat in a double boiler over warm water.

Stirring continuously for about 10 minutes.

Cool. Add a pinch of salt and 1 cup of whipping cream (before whipping).

Fold into butter mixture and chill. 

 

 

January Swap Card

 Well, Keri and I are going to have another crack at getting through an entire year swapping one card every month. We make one for ourselves and one to swap. 

I kicked things off with a Christmas card. Yes, in January. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm always too busy to sit down and make cards and I've always wanted to use this stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I even tried some stenciling with Distress Ink Oxide. One card at least will be ready to mail out this year.

Keri used a stamp set that she has had for awhile also. Oh Deer by Neat and Tangled. (She's organized and has her stamps labelled and sorted.) Not me, I'm afraid.

It's nice to keep the challenge going. At least I attempt some crafting time each month. Wish up luck for a 12 month streak!

Annual Card Swap and Christmas Gathering

We recently had our annual get together and Card Swap. I'm not sure how long we have been doing this but I think its reached a point where we can call it a "tradition".  Thanks Lisa, for hosting us all again. It's so nice to see everyone and as always, it's super interesting to see what everyone comes up with. There is no theme so there always ends up being quite a variety. You start to see everyone's personal style emerge after a few seasons.

Up first...

Lisa used up the buttons in her stash and our favourite background grunge stamp from Stampin Up to create a birthday card.

I have never seen a spinner card up close before, so it was really neat to get this card from Nicole. You wind it up before you put it in the envelope and it spins when the person opens the card. The little polar bear has a front and a back. Super cute.

It's always fun to hear the process that people go through. Liz was going to try her hand at some water colouring but ran into some difficulty and in the interest of time, went with a watercolour paper. Great to have a thank you card on hand.

And then there is the shaker card from Corrina. These are so much work, I don't think I've EVER made one and Corrina made 9! The photo doesn't capture the glamour. The ornament is a dark red foil and the sequins are a pretty mix of Christmas colours.

I love, love, love coffee cards. Something about this theme and Keri did not disappoint. She wanted to use up some washi tape and those donuts and sprinkles are to die for.

Stay tuned for the remainder of the cards. Somebody(Lindor) wants her walk.

Pre- Christmas Card Swap

I'm finally getting around to posting the cards from our last Card swap which (gasp!) took place before Christmas. Always interesting to see the variety of themes and styles. Here's the first 4...

Yay for Paper Smooches, isn't he adorable?

So much work went into this card. You can't really see it but the bulbs are covered with vellum which the sentiment is heat embossed onto. Lots of work went into this one.

This card is right up my alley. My style exactly. Clean and crisp.

This is why we card makers never throw out any scraps. What a clever use of the leftovers. So that's the first 4. My exposure is bit off. They are so bright and cheerful in person.

Christmas Cactus

I received this beauty around Christmas time and it bloomed right on schedule. I've never been able to keep them going in this house due to poor window exposure but I'm happy to say that this time I got it right. As long as you don't move them, I think they are happy. Just look at the delicate pink blooms. Aren't they lovely just in time for spring?

Christmas Cards

It's a bit late but I still wanted to post the cards that I made for Kismutt Rescue. I made 7 different cards and I couldn't make them too elaborate as they had to be mailed and also cost effective. All in all, I was able to drop off over 100 cards, about 45 Christmas.

MFT Pure Innocence Stamp

Taylored Expressions Stamp

Whippersnapper Stamp

Whippersnapper Stamp

Mo Manning?

Recollections/Micheals

Whippersnapper Stamps

Stamp of the Month Challenge

Well, I DID IT! I accomplished one of my 15 in 15 goals and I completed the From the Heart Stamps - Stamp of the Month challenge for 12 consecutive months earning 12 free digis along the way. It was a really good way to push myself, I would never have completed these cards without the challenge. I'm a little late with my last card (he's a little Christmasy) but oh so cute!

I tried a couple different techniques. I did plaid lines with my Copics and I was able to use my new stitched circles which I have wanted for so long and just treated myself to. Didn't get around to a sentiment but my card is ready to send next year which is a good thing as I didn't get many out THIS year.
And I blogged TWICE in one day....

Will I do it again in 2016? Stay tuned.

Christmas is coming!

Nice to have a few days before Christmas to get together with family and friends and enjoy some of the decorations and traditions.
First up is decorating the sugar cookies. It was a little rushed but AMac did a great job. He is getting much more detailed every year...

I love having the beautiful arrangements outside and inside. I was lucky to get a Christmas Cactus from my special girls, I think they are so interesting and this one was so unique; a very pale pink, almost transluscent and it bloomed just in time for Christmas vacation.

I bought a couple of these arrangements at Costco for an Auction and they were so nice, I went back and got another one for myself.

I love putting out my stained glass Nativity. One of these years, I will finish it off and make a Creche to really complete the set. Too many crafts, too little time.

I love putting out my special pieces. This year, I decorated my tree with vintage ornaments from my childhood. I really like the look and now I'm sorry I got rid of some of the old decorations.

Show Me Thursday

Sassy Cheryl has been extending her Show Me Thursday Challenge to two weeks and therefore we can show off what we have been up to a couple times. I don't know what's with all the attention to Christmas in July, I guess it means that we're halfway there, but it got me thinking about working on a couple cards. I love the look of Kraft cardstock with everything. I started with a basecard and envelope in Kraft and went from there. Love my Poinsettia die!

I also was able to use my Cricut again, I believe I used the Art Philosophy cartridge for the snowflake.  The temperature has dropped about 10 degrees Celsius overnight so maybe Christmas is closer then I think.

Christmas in July

Nice to have a little more free time. I was able to create a card for another challenge. This week's Challenge 187 at Kraftin' Kimmie is Christmas in July. SO here is my first Christmas card of the year. Of course, featuring an adorable Lulu rubber stamp by Cheryl Alger.
Hope you like it and can see her "sparkles"....

Homemade Snowman Christmas Card

With all the scrappers and cardmakers that I know, I only got one homemade Christmas card from my friend, Corrina.  I'm just as guilty as I did not send out a single, homemade card MYSELF!

I really liked this card. I am a fan of holly cut-outs and I loved the technique she used to glitter up the snowman. It comes on a sheet of peelable outlines, then she stuck it on a glue sheet, sprinkled with Glamour Dust and coloured with Copics. When I use this product, it always looks juvenile but I may have to try it again when I see how well hers turned out.

Christmas Arrangements

Well, the hustle and bustle is winding down, but I'm still enjoying the Christmas break and the tree and all the lovely decorations. The dogs are enjoying the snow and I'm happy that now I only have to deal with puddles and not mud.

I was lucky to receive this gorgeous fresh arrangement in Santa's sleigh from a dear friend for a combo birthday/Christmas gift. I forgot to take a photo for TWO weeks and look how well preserved it was. I love fresh flowers and was happy that I was able to enjoy this display for so long.

I can show you this outdoor cone arrangement now since it is happily hanging at my sister-in-laws house. I bought her this cone shaped arrangement from the same gentleman that does my urn arrangement. I loved the container and I hope she does too.

I think that was the last time the sun shone here is Southern Ontario.

I was also able to take in a container that I had purchased a couple years ago and have it refreshed at the same place.

These arrangements last well into the spring. Well worth the investment!

Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

Sugar Cookie Bars

If you're in a hurry and don't like to roll out sugar cookies, this is the way to go. It's fast and it makes a huge amount so you won't mind sharing. The texture is a little more cake-like and you can ice with as much icing as you like. I think next time I make them, I will add a bit of nutmeg as I like that flavour in my cookies.

Sugar Cookie Bars
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

Frosting: Your favourite buttercream or store bought(shudder)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla and mix well. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and add to wet mixture and mix until just combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (13 x 18). Bake at 375F for 10 -15 minutes, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won't look done so do the toothpick test)
I think I may have left mine in a hair too long. They will set up a bit while they cool.
Yummy!

Nuts and Bolts

It wouldn't be Christmas without a large roasting pan full of Nuts and Bolts. This recipe came from a neighbour of ours when I was growing up. It's pretty traditional but what I like about it is that it does not leave an aftertaste of garlic and onion. If you like yours a little more seasoned, add more of both.

1 box Shreddies
1 box Cheerios
1 bag of pretzels
2 cups of salted peanuts
1 tsp. onion salt
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/2 cup oil
1 cup butter

Melt butter, add oil and Worchestershire.
Combine onion and garlic salt.
Put in roast pan and pour liquid over gradually. Sprinkle combined salt mixture over cereals.
Bake at 325F for 1 hour stirring every 15 minute. (This may vary depending on your oven. Make sure the cereal is toasted but not burnt)
*In the last 15 minutes, add pretzels and peanuts.

WARNING: This mixture is addictive.