Just Give Me Stamps...

Tea Party - Verve Style!

Happy Wednesday!  Today it was my turn to post on the Verve blog for this month's Project Parade - Happiness for Hostesses!  I decided to create something that could be used by a hostess, but you could easily change up the sentiment and it would be great for a hostess!

After I made my card, I knew I wanted to bake some Biscotti and was going to whip up a batch of one of our family favorites but being the perfectionist...**sigh**....I wanted my colors all to match!  I know, I know...that's crazy, right?  Crazy or not, I went on a hunt for a lemon flavored Biscotti recipe.  The one I found turned out so well that when I wasn't looking my sweet munchkins devoured most of them!  Sooo, I whipped up some more (not letting any of them out of my sight for a second LOL!) and then packaged them up!

I used A Cup of Life and Express Yourself sets (all from Verve's latest release) to create the card and matching tag.  There are THREE chances for you to win some brand new shiny Verve stamps so head on over to the Verve blog and check it out!!  Oh, and you'll find the link to the recipe I used there!  :-)

Well, I'm going to go clean up my house a little.  My sweet friend Tosh and her family are coming to visit us tomorrow and I would not want them to see the mess that is in my kitchen right now!!  LOL!!  Seriously though, I cannot WAIT to see them and know our time together will go by too quickly!

Stamps: A Cup of Life, Express Yourself (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Choice Buttercream c.s. (Taylored Expressions), Pearlized Cream c.s., Pebbles patterned paper, Vellum c.s.
Ink: Versamark, Rich Cocoa Memento Ink, London Fog Memento Ink
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Ribbon, Copic markers, Sewing Machine, Pearls, Glassine bag, Crochet Flower (Maya Road), Antique Ivory e.p., Sizzix die

Family Traditions Recipe Book...

Happy Saturday!  I have to tell you how glad I was to see that today's Our Creative Corner challenge was to make a homemade Holiday gift!  You see, I've been "meaning" to make this little Recipe Book ever since I first saw these fantastic Recipe File Folders!  This was the perfect "push" I needed!

  

I started by covering the front and back of each of the six recipe file folders with Prism c.s..  I then added some Basic Grey's Wassail paper to the cover and decorated it with some stamped images from the Pink Paislee Tinsel Town set (and of course I added a bit of "bling"...I couldn't help myself!).  (I have only recently "discovered" Pink Paislee stamps...and I have to say I looooove them!!)  I embossed sentiments (from the Stampendous set "From the Kitchen") on the first three dividers, and hand wrote cookies, drinks, & breads on the last three.

   

Instead of adding a bunch of recipe cards before I bound my book (I used my Bind-it-all and 3/4" Brown O-Wire Bindings), I created pockets to hold 3 x 5 index cards.  This way, I can add  (or take away) from my recipe collection when ever I want to!

    

I included one of my family's favorite Holiday cookie recipes, "Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies".  (I actually baked these cookies, and filled a decorated jar with them for my first month on the Dirty Dozen - you can see them HERE if you are a Fan Club member). 

 

 

I haven't yet decided if this is a gift I will actually give away or keep for myself!!  As easy as this was, I may just keep this one and make more to give away!  LOL!

You can see more gorgeous handmade gifts over at the OCC blog...the OCC designers really out-did themselves this week!!  :-)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie

Recipe   Stamps: Tinsel Town (Pink Paislee), From the Kitchen (Stampendous)   Paper: Prism c.s., Shimmery White c.s., Basic Grey Wassail paper   Ink: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Versamark   Other: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Recipe File Folders, Designer Buttons, Sewing Machine, Stampin' Up! ribbon, Bind-it-all

Maple Buttermilk Cookies...

As promised, here is the recipe for the Maple Buttermilk Cookies I mentioned last week.  These are SO yummy (almost as good as a cupcake :-).  The cookie is mild and slightly nutty tasting... and the frosting is sweet and rich with a hint of maple.  Together, it's the perfect balance!

If you decide to try them, leave a comment on this post and tell me what you think of them!

Maple Buttermilk Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit).  Cream together 1 c. sugar and 1/2 c. shortening.  Add 3 eggs (beating well after each one) and 1 tsp. vanilla.  In a separate bowl mix together:  3 1/2 c. flour, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, and 1 tsp. salt.  Measure 3/4 c. buttermilk and add to egg mixture alternately with the flour mixture (mixing well in between).  *Do be careful not to over mix the dough at this point, as it will become tough....just mix enough to blend.  Stir in 2/3 c. chopped nuts (I use whatever I have on hand....but pecans are especially tasty in this recipe).  I use a cookie scoop (two teaspoons would also work) to drop on to a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just barely golden on the bottom.  Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet for another minute or two then transfer cookies to cooling rack.

Maple Buttercream Frosting

Melt together 1/3 c. water and 1/3 c. butter (no substitutions..because you will taste it!).  Transfer to a mixing bowl and add:  (most of these are to taste) vanilla, maple flavoring, real maple syrup, and powder sugar (keep adding powder sugar until the frosting has a almost stiff consistency).  Finally, add 1-2 Tbsp. shortening and beat well.  (The shortening will keep your frosting soft and give it a little bit of shine).

Enjoy!