Friday, December 16, 2016

Last-Minute Gifts Blog Hop


Welcome to the Last Minute Gifts Blog Hop!  You should have arrived from Holli's Blog what a great name to have at this time of year!. If you are lost this is the beginning Alicia's blog.  As we approach the holiday season, I am sure we are all scrambling to find unique gift ideas. We hope as you hop along you are inspired by each bloggers ideas.

First, we would like to say a HUGE THANKS to our sponsor today.
Theresa is giving away a $20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate to one lucky winner
AND
take 10% off any order placed through her (not available on website)
by December 31th. 
Email her at scrapsbygracie@gmail.com with your order. 

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs.
That's it! It really is easy.  
Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. 

Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs).
Now on with the hop!

Now, now... if you know me or even if you don't know me and think you do, you may know think that "I" am the Ultimate Procrastinator... the Queen of Procrastination... By all means... get the words out while you can, because I don't take it personally. 

We all have so much going on (I know I do!), that it's hard to remember everything at every moment, so sometimes... someone/something slips through the cracks. NOT TODAY, FOLKS! This is how you cope with that last-minute-putting-together-little-something. I do it all.the.time.

First things first. Duh. Why do people say that anyway? Have little things around. Purchase yummy smelling candles and smallish, quality items that can always be put together in a basket-type things. 

Make lots of little "french-fry" bags, ready to go... (I made these in my Christmas-in-July post... using We R Memory Keepers; click here to find out how! using We R Memory Keepers; click here to find out how!) Add labels, insert candycanes and more tags tags are all the rage!, put it in a dollar-section little gift bucket, and voila! You've got a "last-minute" gift... to GO!
And then... if you're like some people I may know or not know... Food gifts are definitely the way to go. This is a simple (but festive-looking) delicious braid. Absolutely ANYONE can do it even my less than culinary friends!

Open up 2 cans of COLD refrigerated crescent roll dough (Pillsbury works best... and NO, I'm not paid to say that...) Separate the dough into the triangles; lay them out like the picture, overlapping them; pat the center down but if you're OCD like me, you can roll it... what the heck... it's just one more thing to wash, no biggie...). Mix together 1/3 cup powdered sugar with 8 oz. softened cream cheese. Spread down the center of your masterpiece. Scoop pie filling (this is Comstock Cherry Pie Filling) on top of the cream cheese follow the picture as a guide, folks... 
Starting at the "top," fold across the corners of the dough to the other side, until they are all folded over and it makes a faux braid. Pinch the top and bottom ends "closed." If you'd like an egg wash (to make it shiny and pretty and sparkly...), simply beat up and egg and brush it all over the pastry. Bake at 375F for approximately 22 minutes, or until golden brown all over.
Doesn't that look DE-LISH??? I honestly don't know who wouldn't want that!

FYI, if you'd like to make it a cream-cheese only (no fruit filling), increase the powdered sugar to 1/2 cup. That's all there is to it. Simply said... It's awesome! Sometimes, I have to make two... otherwise the person I was going to gift to never gets it... if you know what I mean... 

Next up is Jearise! She's always so much fun! Have a Jolly Holly-day with her!

If you get lost along the way, here is the entire lineup:
Card A Day Challenge blog ~ http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 9, 2016

Holiday Magic Blog Hop

If you are here for the Year of Card Techniques, please go HERE, or you can check out all of my hops for today (there's only two!). We'd I'd love to have you!



Welcome to the 
Holiday Magic Blog Hop
Thank you for joining us for a weekend full of the magic of the Christmas Holidays! Our talented crafters have created all sorts of projects to inspire you and bring the joy of the season into your hearts!

You should have arrived from Sandy's Blog. If you just happened upon this magical hop, Connie Can Crop is the first stop in this hop. 
This is a one day blog hop and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these amazing crafters.


We have an awesome sponsor for this month! 


One lucky winner will win a $21.00 gift certificate to shop their awesome products.
Be sure to visit them online here.
On facebook here.
And their blog here.



What do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.

You will have until 10 pm Sunday to finish the hop and leave your comments.
Winner will be announced on Wednesday 12/14/16
Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

You know... I like basic, simple things. And I happen to L-O-V-E craft paper (the look of it)! This... is what I started with. 

It's TIME to make Christmas CARDS!!!!

Remember MISTI? She's my new best friend. She makes all those off-centered or imperfect cards that I used to make look like...
THIS!!!!
And then I had to drag out CB... She hasn't played in a while (Cuttlebug, people... Not an actual person!!!)
And I cranked through over 30 times! Let's get real... I lost count...
I thought the edges needed a little deco... So I cropped them with one of my Crop-A-Dile Corner Chompers. (This one is "photo.") Obviously, I did the same with the craft cards, too...
And Santa came a little early and brought me these Spectrum Noire Sparkle Markers (I call my UPS driver Santa... even though "I" pay for it... YES! I ordered them off HSN...) They still came BEFORE Christmas and in time for my Christmas Cards!
Aren't they so pretty? (I used clear. Actually I had my friend pretty them up while I worked a swim meet... I think she had fun!)
So pretty! Simple, too! I love the look!




And there you have it! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
 Up next is Alicia, who has something magical for you, as well!

Here's our line up in case you get lost:

Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
Janet- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Shannon H- http://shannonhdesigns.blogspot.com/
Angela- mermaidsnmonograms.blogspot.com
Christi- https://tranquility1905.blogspot.com/
Sue- http://suek86401.blogspot.com/
Holli- sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
Ashley-  http://marinewifesscrappinlife.blogspot.com
Diana- http://daisylovecreations.blogspot.com
Kim- http://katydidcards.com
Veronica- http://vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com
Amanda- salnclts76.blogspot.com
Miranda- http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/
Sandy-  http://simplycraftycreationsbysandys.blogspot.com/
Lisa- http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com
Alicia- http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
Sharon- http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
Jearise- http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/
Sarah-  http://sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com/

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!

And don't forget to check out the this month's challenge!!

Connie Can Crop Challenge #53
due 11:59 P.M. Saturday, December 31st
Pacific Time

A Year of Card Techniques - (December - Metallic)

If you intended to get to the Holiday Magic Blog Hop, you can check out our latest technique, or just click here to move on (but you're always welcome back!).
Welcome to... 
Can you believe it's month twelve of a Year of Card Techniques?

Here are the links in case you missed a month:
January HERE            February HERE            March HERE            April HERE           
May HERE                 June HERE                   July HERE                August HERE
September HERE       October HERE              November HERE

Be sure you've hopped and commented on each month for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Stampin Up or Blitsy.com. (Winner's Choice)

This last month of the year, we are focusing all our attention on metallics, whether it's foil, embossing powder, inks or cardstock, anything metallic and since it's December we just had to make it holiday too.


Now on with the projects.
Now... don't go getting excited. I didn't get far with this. My water spilled all over my table, getting my Scor Tape and this really cool (and kind of expensive... to me) foil wet. Lesson. Put your beverage, whatever it may be AWAY from your workspace or maybe drink wine while you work. I believe I may never have put that darned glass down, had it been wine...
But, all is well. My daughter needed a birthday card. The little girl (not so little... she's almost 12!) has her birthday 3 days away from Christmas! So... I started with these items. (Thank you, Anna Griffin kits!!!)
I love that these Anna Griffin things (from HSN) no... this isn't an advertisement!!!! have almost everything you need! This silver element made the perfect banner for the card.
There always something to play with, whether it's the positioning or not enough of something...
This one's not enough of something. READ: SOMETHING'S MISSING!!!!
And so... with the added Baker's Twine, I believe it's good! Super Duper simple! and easier than all getouts, since I still haven't plugged in my machines upon my return (omg... it was back in the beginning of LAST month!!! I have to get moving and get stuff unpacked!!!) from the Scrapbook Expo (where I got the original foil I was going to use...!

And that's that! Ok... so it's not quite Christmas, but... I forgot it was supposed to be I figured you all might be inundated with everything Christmas and thought I'd throw this in the mix!

Please be sure to come back and visit us next year, where we have a whole 'nother Year of Card Techniques for us you to learn! And with that being said... here is the final lineup of the year (for the Year of Card Techniques, of course! because we all know I can't shut up...):
Lisa (You are HERE!)
Kim (Up Next...)