Gingerbread, Tresses and Ties

This is the best recipe for gingerbread cookies that I have ever tried:

1 C. Butter                                                     1-1/2 tsp. baking soda 

1 C. Sugar                                                      1/2 tsp. salt 

1 egg                                                              1 T. ginger

1 C. Molasses                                                1 tsp. cinnamon

2 Tbls. vinegar                                               1 tsp. cloves (ground)

5 C. flour

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add egg, molasses
and vinegar.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to butter and
sugar mixture.   Mix well.

 On a greased cookie sheet, bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

We, my daughter Jessica and I, made the tresses for the gingerbread
people, ( is that politically correct?  :-) ) by using a garlic press.

I put brown food coloring in some of the cookie dough to make
the brown hair.

Wallah!! brown hair for the cookies.

Jessica cut out little ties for the gingerbread men.

Hungry onlookers kept vigil over the proceedings...

(Jessica's sons, Isaac and Eric)

Roll out on a floured surface, cut out your shapes
bake and we are ready to frost....

Just confectioners sugar, milk or cream and
your choice of food colorings. We like to
paint ours on.  And sprinkles of course...

Isaac and Eric liked this one because he looks like he is
 praising the Lord.

Doesn't she look nice with those cute bows in her hair.

They each get placed in a little snowflake celophane bag
with a sticker on the back.

 I have this cute wooden handled
winter decorated box that is perfect to keep them in.
They are ready to be passed out to my grandchildren,
 students and friends.
Enjoy!!!!!

Vintage Custom Cards

I have just finished another set of custom cards.

 These are for Leah.

 

Leah likes more of the vintage style. I enjoyed making

 them for her so much because I would tend

to like the same things sort of things.

I saw these cut out hymnal daisies on a

tutorial by Todolwyn as well as
this feather below..... I just think they
are both so sweet and delicate looking...

I used real feathers on the card below, looks kind of
swanky, don't you think....

Leah liked all of  her cards, I made her an extra one,
partly becauseI had so many ideas, partly because I took a little
 longer making them,and partly because
 she is my wonderful daughter.....

a loving wife to John, and the mother of six
 of my energetic grandchildren....

Now, this collection was for Leah, but I would love
to make you your own custom collection also........

You choose the theme and color palette, whether is would
be birds, butterflies, flowers, scriptures, children or
whatever you like.

These would make great gifts also, for a birthday or
someone you just want to say 'thank you' to...

My custom collection is listed at
my ETSY shop.

You can convo me about any details or ideas you want
for your collection.

Looking for something else to Paint?

The other day I was in my craft/painting/guest room

 trying to bring in some order...

I laid down on the carpet, for a moment to rest and looked

up at the ceiling,and marvelled....
well it's not exactly the Sistine Chapel or anything,
 but I thought it looked,

well.... charming...

Several years ago,

before my youngest daughter got married,

she asked if I would paint something on her ceiling.

So I did, it was done almost entirely with three or four

different stencils.  I went around and around

the room adding one layer at a time.

It was quite an undertaking, and I don't think I'd do it again.
In fact, I get a neck ache just thinking about it.

Overall though, I think it turned out very sweet and

when the grandchildren spend the night,
 they like looking at it.

Blingy Birds Winner!!!!

The winner of my stupendous 'Blingy Birds' Giveaway is:

Angie@KnickofTime

As soon as I get your home address, I will send them out.

You can contact me through my Etsy shop, if you like...

Thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway.

Winter Sky

The carriage travels the hard packed snow of the

country road.  The quaint scattered houses along the lane

and the heaped up sparkling snow, the broken

down country fence and the beautiful yellow winter sky.

The first time I ever witnessed a yellow sky, like this, in the winter,

in the daytime was last winter.  Until then, I had only ever seen them

 on paintings and such....

 It was quite a lovely sight to actually behold.

I love to look at the sky at the different seasons of the year.

God's handiwork....

This painting, along with my 'White Horse Inn'

painting were both from cards that I recieved long ago.

The scene was so engaging, that I had to try to paint it.

And so I did, changing many of the subtleties of the original

but still keeping with the theme.

I have printed my version of the painting onto heavy,

feather-edged cardstock cards. The cards are blank inside

and come with matching feather-edged envelopes.

As you can see from the picture, I have softened up the edges

and smattered them with a generous amount of ultra fine

crystal glitter, ya know, for that frosty look.

These cards and many other any occasion cards are

available in my ETSY  shop.

I don't know who the original artist of the painting, but

if you do, please let me know. Thanks....

Featured at Larissa Hill Designs

Heather of Larissa Hill Designs has graciously featured my etsy shop  today.  Thank you so much!!!!

http://larissahill.blogspot.com/2011/12/etsy-inspiration-giveaway-south-bay.html