Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!This winter break, my nieces and I did a little crafting! We painted tote bags and added a little trim and some flowers. I've been soldering like crazy the past few weeks! Here are a few charms I'm wearing on my charm necklace right now. I love making silhouettes of children. There is a GREAT digital tutorial in the newest Somerset Memories issue.

First I uploaded a "side view" photo. I took out the original background. Next I filled the photo with solid black and added a "patterned paper" background. I printed it out at 1.5 x 1.5. The opposite side of my charm is a piece of vintage wallpaper. I sandwiched the papers between two glass pieces and hand soldered the charm.

This is what I made my mom. The soldered charm is a silhouette of me as a girl.

My nieces Caroline and Rachel are showing off their own silhouette soldered charms they got from their Aunt Mendy!
Have a creative New Year!

Winter Parties

I finally got to use my "Lisa Kettell Cake Toppers" last weekend. I couldn't wait to use them! I loved meeting Lisa and visiting with her at Silver Bella! I used the toppers on my little white cupcakes with pink frosting. They really turned out yummy!! Recipe for White Cupcakes with Pink Frosting:

White Cake:
1 Box White Cake Mix
1 Large box White Chocolate Jello Instant Pudding
6 Egg Whites
1 C Sour Cream
1/2 C warm whipping cream
1/2 C Vegetable Oil
1 1/2C White Chocolate Chips (Best Quality!)

Mix all ingredients. Fold in the white chips. Batter will be really thick! Pour into cupcake pan or bundt. Cook at 350 for 40 minutes or so. Check cake with a toothpick. Let cool.

Pink Frosting:
1 Bag Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Butter
2 tbsp whipping cream
1/2 tsp Wilton Pink Icing Past (Michael's or Hobby Lobby)

Mix with a hand mixer until stiff. Frost cooled cupcakes/cake.

I digitally created the invites to the shower...

I've also been working on some holiday party items. I am giving these holiday flower corsages to my second grade team of teachers.

I bought concentrated oil (Bamboo) at Bath and Body Works, and with a cotton ball, dabbed each petal. The clips on the back of the flowers clipped right on to my digitally made holiday cards...no wrapping!

I designed the fronts and backs of my digi "postcards."

Can't wait to hand them out on Monday!

Cookie Swap!

Hurray for Jessi's Cookie Exchange! Thank you for including me in your fun party Jessi! Here I am...ready to bake!OOH BOY! How many of you LOVE those addictive peanut butter "Buckeye Balls?" You know, the balls that are peanutbutter/powdered sugar/butter and then dipped in chocolate...

Well, the newest winner of the Pillsbury Bake-Off used these PB balls inside a peanut butter cookie.

WOWSERS!!!!!!!

My family was in pure heaven after taking a bite out of these cookies.

Double-delight peanut butter cookies
INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 375° F.
In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, powdered sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until blended. Shape mixture into 24 balls.

Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Don't eat all the peanut butter balls!! Repeat with remaining dough and balls. Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture. Pat mixture completely onto balls.
On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with PAM and press into remaining peanut mixture.
Flatten each ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of glass. The trick is to make it really flat, so the center will be a "surprise."

Bake 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

Now if you are nice, you will share some with your little brother...

My brother and I in the early 1970's...

Don't eat too many!!

Silver Bella Heaven!

I had so much fun at Silver Bella. It seems like a dream...ended too quickly! It took me a while to get all of my thoughts and photos together. I wish I would have taken so many more pictures!

I collected MOO/Business cards from all over the country.

The fun A-Z Swap...I had a class with the very talented jewelry artist Kaari Meng. I made a beautiful bracelet that turned into a necklace when I finished.

Here's sweet Jessi and me! She took me under her "wing" as a newbie to Silver Bella! She's such a party girl...and tons of fun!I was in a really fun swap that Jessi hosted that included all of these talented girlies... Shopping during Vendor Night was like a dream. Here is some of my loot!That night I was able to meet the incredible Lisa. She's such a talented artist, and a doll! I bought some cupcake holders from her. I forgot to bring her book to sign...darn!
My roomies Jessie, Maija, Kim, and Joy were the BEST! Here are some of the goodies they gave me.

Another class I took was from Charlotte. I have all of her books. She has so many great craft ideas. We made darling winter hats out of felted sweaters. I know it hardly gets cold down here...but the one month it does, I'll be wearin' my cute hat!Here's my fun roomie Joy and me...wearing our creations! We worked on projects on the floor one night and she gave me so much inspiration! Love that Joy!!
Here are my two wool hats. Ok, so it's in the 70's today...they still look cute!

I took not one, but two classes with Ms Rebecca S. I hope she didn't think I was stalking her. I've admired Rebecca for YEARS!! Her style of scrapbooking took me to another world. I love her shabby and romantic creations. I can't believe I finally got to meet her! YEAH!!
Here's my good friend Lori and me! I've "known" Lori for so long, and finally got to "meet" her in person! Lori is SO talented and fun. We have a lot in common and I feel like I've known her forever!! Wish we had more time!!
Lori made me this lovely canvas hanger...I just love it!!
Look! It's the very talented Hope and Lori working at our table in Rebecca's class! I met my fellow Texas Bella Joanna at the Paper Cowgirl event last summer. She's so much fun! I'm so glad she lives close by. Can't wait to see her at PC again!Speaking of Texas Girls...here's Rita! The Texas Bellas had a big Mum Swap and Rita made mine! It turned out just gorgeous!! Thank you Rita!
Maija from CA and I hit it off right away. She was another roomie of mine! Maija kept me laughing all weekend. We wore our hats in the room...we loved them!! So glad to get to know this girl. Joanna and Maija... The main speaker at the Bella Luncheon was the amazing Jo Packham of Where Women Create, an incredible publication. She made me so proud to be a creative woman, doing what I love. What an inspirational lady!
Pam G. has been another artist I've admired for a while. I love her style!
Here's my other sweet CA roomie, Kim. Her smile is contageous!! I had so much fun with her. She had such beautiful things at vendor night. I finally got one of her craft bags!! I loved her vendor night booth.
My last class was with the famous Teresa M! Silver Bella is her "baby" and I was so happy to be able to attend this year!

I met so many fabulous ladies. I wish I could have taken photos of them all! I can't believe I don't have one of my new Texas fun friend Jana. We had a blast taking several classes together. She's an amazing photographer.

Danielle M. of the Vintage Dragonfly is another one I loved getting to know. We talked about old purchases and new ones...it was great!

I laughed and had a great time with Meleen from NY and her crafty teen daughter. They both got a kick out our Texas Homecoming Mum tradition. I think Meleen and family will start a Texas Mum trend in NY!

I met Amy , another super artsy girl, late one night after a party. We talked and laughed while doing a little crafting.

I loved visiting with these ladies during our after shopping "down time." Sure wish I had pics!

There so many more I met...loved them all!

Thanks Y'all!

Silver Bella Here I Come!

I'm off to Silver Bella!! HURRAY HURRAY!!

I found a great song to get me in the mood for lots of baubles and glitter....turn your volume up!!

Here are a few more things I've created for my sweet friends.

I'm going to wait to see if THIS girlie notices these darling girls all ready soldered and ready to wear... SURPRISE!!

This was a REALLY fun project. I had all of my roomies send me their little girl pictures. As soon as I got one I dressed her up in my own digi style. Here are the cuties!!!
I hope to put a smile on their faces! Look at these darling girlies...Maija, Kim, Jessi, and Joy!! Thank you for letting me room with you!!

I've been stuffing my case with Silver Bella essentials. I hope I have everything!