Chic' n Scratch

Easy to make Gift Card Holder

        

Good morning!!

I needed a couple gift card holders real fast and this is what I came up with :)

They're super easy to make and.....I have to tell you...I made them using Kraft, Chocolate Chip & Riding Hood Red Cardstock.  I changed the colors before I showed you because I was afraid it looked like everything else I've made lately.  I'll show the other one later this week...on my video. 

Here's a peek at the inside..... 

Stamp Club is tonight....gotta run!

Have a good day :)

p.s. Today at 5pm I'll draw a winner for the Free Stamp set Deer Friends or Flight of the Butterfly.  If you purchased the Country Living Holiday Collection Kit from me...your name was entered into a drawing.  Good luck!

 

Thin Mint Cookies

Good afternoon,

What a great idea....I'll share the cookie recipe and a picture of my cookie plate.  Every year I search and search for an affordable yet beautiful Christmas plate to deliver my cookies.  Earlier years I used tins but I like that they can keep the plate and use it next year.....plus it looks prettier to see the cookies all spread out :) 

 Although this plate has just one cookie....I normally make about 6 or 7 items....you know presentation is everything!  Here's a list of the cookies I usually make....  Christmas Bells, Spritz Cookies, Dream Cookies, Pecan Tassies, Pretzels with almond bark, Cranberry Cookies & last but not least homemade fudge (fudge is secret family recipe and we always make it) sometimes I add Peppermint Bark (you know almond bark with crushed peppermint candy). 

If I use a plate...whether it's plastic or glass, I use this clear wrap and then tie it with some pretty ribbon.  You should see me going to the school with all my plates.....sometimes I wonder....do they love my cookies or think I'm a nut?  I love making them for everyone... so hopefully they like them.  If you're a baker, you know what I mean....right?  

I'll give you the Thin Mint cookie recipe and then I'll share a funny story with ya :) 

Thanks again Tracy for sharing the recipe and bringing these cookies to my Holiday Class!!

Thin Mint Cookies

*One pound Dark Chocolate (available at Bakers Rack) will make 35 cookies

*10-15 Drops of Peppermint Oil (available at Bakers Rack)

*Ritz Crackers

*Parchment or Wax Paper

*Cookie sprinkles are optional

Each Sleeve of crackers will make 35 cookies, 140 per box.

4 lbs of chocolate will dip the whole box.

Melt chocolate in microwave for 1 minute and stir, heat for 30 more seconds and stir, heat for 30 seconds and stir....continue until you can stir it well (remember only heat for 30 seconds each time....you do not want to burn it).  Stir in your peppermint oil.  Add one cracker at a time to chocolate and use a dipping fork to remove.  Tap off excess chocolate and place on parchment paper to cool.

If you want cookie sprinkles add them before the cookies cool.

Store at room temp.

Now for the rest of the story.....If you're a baker....you know that every year you have something to go wrong....or something happens.  I should probably start a book on all those stories before I forget.  I already shared the year that Fluffy jumped on the table and knocked over my Christmas Bells & ate them (and got sick). 

Now I'll share my Fudge story.....when I'm making fudge I pre-measure everything and have it ready to add to the pot when the time is right.  But....what I didn't know was ....I had left one side of a butter wrapper on.... not sure how...but I did not discover it until I went to cut the fudge....well, there was no way I could throw it away....it cost a lot to make a batch of fudge. So.......I was determined to find every single piece of the wrapper...I dug through the trash...found the wrapper ...laid it on a napkin and proceeded to piece the wrapper together as I found the pieces.  I found all the pieces ....except one :)  Lord only knows who ate that piece....it was so small I'm sure they never knew it :)))  And yes, I saved the napkin & wrapper to add to my scrapbook.....I put it a safe place (so safe that I'm not sure where it is at the moment). 

Have a great day!!

p.s. I used the Riding Hood Red/Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon on the cookie plate :)

 

 

 

Playing catch up :)

Hello,

I decided to go ahead and post without a picture.  I tried all day to fit some stamping in and I just couldn't do it.  Chase and Brooke are teens and most of the time they do their own thing....but during the holidays we like to spend some time together.  Yesterday Dave and I spent the day Christmas shopping and having lunch...should I admit we mainly bought things for ourselves?  That just cracks me up! 

Anyway....last night we went out to eat as a family.....watched a movie together.  Then today I helped Brooke do a Power Point Presentation for her Photography class. And I made some fantastic cookies ....(Tracy & Teresa, I made those Thin Mint cookies with the Ritz crackers)...yummy...I bet they don't last 24 hours in this house!!!!  

Today I filled orders for my Chic n' Scratch Shack...ran to the post office.  Shipped out my Big Shot Club Projects.  Returned emails for at least four hours.  When I got my new computer in October....it downloaded emails and then I couldn't find them...and the ones I could find I couldn't respond to...but .....all that is fixed now and I'm going to get caught up on email before Jan. 1st!!!!

So, long story short....or not......it's almost 10pm and I'm tuckered out.  Why is it that I get more tired in the winter?  I'm normally up until midnight or 1am...but lately I've been soooo tired  (it must be the cold weather).

If all goes well...I may post something tomorrow (Sunday).  I have so many ideas....and some new stamps.... but the Holidays are here......need I say more.

Have a great night and hope I see ya tomorrow!

Tree for all Season Keychain

Good morning!!

Isn't this keychain sooo cute?  I got it in the mail yesterday from Linda....thanks Linda.... I love it!!! 

Now I need to rush to the store and buy some of those keychains...I need to make a few.  I've seen them somewhere....just need to remember where.  I love how you used one of my favorite stamp sets  "A Tree for all Seasons".  I'm sad it's retiring but I'll never depart with mine :)

Dave took the day off and we are heading out to do some Christmas shopping (will it stress you out to hear I haven't bought a single gift....yet....not to worry...I have ideas and I move fast).

Have a fantastic Friday!!

p.s. Tonight is my deadline for double points on your Customer Appreciation card.  Click here  for the details.

Scratch n' Win

Good evening ladies,

Congrats Charlene Williams!!! You won my Holiday Class Kit :)   Please send me an email with your address and I'll get that in the mail to you right away.(angie@chicstand.com)

Thanks again for all the lovely remarks....I appreciate you all! 

Goodnight :)

p.s. Tonight we had Dave's work holiday party and I'm exhausted ....my post for tomorrow will be late.

 

My favorite Retiring stamps

Good morning!!

I had just a few minutes to stamp yesterday and decided to use two of my favorite stamp sets that are retiring.   "Thanks for everything" & the "Paisley Background".  I'm really sad to see them retire......so, I decided to use them together :)  Plus I'm going to be needing some thank you cards this holiday season.  I think I may try this card is several colors. If you're not a fan of Kraft and Chocolate...maybe you'll like the Celery version (see below).

Quick reminder...Dec. 15th is the deadline for my free stamp set drawing for everyone that orders the Country Living Holiday Collection Kit.  Click here  to view the post with the details.

Thanks for all the kind remarks on my Scratch n' Win.......tune in later to see who wins :)

Have a great day!!

 

Scratch n' Win aka Blog Candy

Good morning!

Stamp Club is today & since I haven't had a chance to stamp in the past few days.... I decided to offer another Scratch n' Win aka blog candy :)

I won't make you jump through hoops this time :)  .....just leave me a comment and I'll draw one lucky winner tomorrow night at 10pm (Thursday, Dec. 11th).

The winner gets a Free Holiday Class Kit.  I had a few extra & I'm giving one away.  I'll mail your kit Priority Mail..... & email you the pictures & instructions.

Good luck!

Here's a picture of the projects you can make with the kit (food items are not included). 

p.s. update on the Recipe book....I've pretty much decided I want to make one..but I can't fit it in this month. I have a few girls that are working with me on it and once we have more details... I'll let you know.

If you haven't been to my blog in the past few days...be sure to scroll down to see the current specials and the Retired Stamp List.

Have a great day!

Retired Stamp List & Specials

Good afternoon,

Oh my gosh.....the news today has me very excited and I'm having a hard time wording it all :)  

First, let's get you the Retirement list.  Click here to view it.

Here's the specials......  10% off Retired Stamps & Free shipping on orders $70 or more & Double points for your Customer Appreciation card. 

Now for the fine details.....

*Retired Stamps are 10% off from Dec. 9th - Dec. 23rd.

*Free Shipping on all orders over $70.

*Double points on your Customer Appreciation card. Dec. 9th -Dec. 12th for online orders only.

*December special...spend $20 & get 20% off any stamp set in the Catalog Sampler.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great day!!

p.s. I feel like I'm forgetting something...if I did.... I'll udpate it on the bottom here and change the color.

**Don't forget about the drawing for the Free stamp set for December.  Window Dressing - a current level three hostess set.

Retired Stamp List

Good evening!!

Just a heads up......tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Dec. 9th) You'll be able to see the Stampin' Up! Retired Stamp List.  If you're one of my customers....make sure you check back to see the list and to see what I've got up my sleeve.  I have an appointment first thing but as soon as I get done I'll rush to my computer & get busy.  If you can't wait and want to see the list....click on my Stampin' Up! website, then click on "Shop Now" and you should be able to view it there. But, I'm not sure what time it will be available....could be midnight...mountain time...or it could be 8am...mountain time....we shall see :)

See ya tomorrow....good night!

Holiday Collection Kit Card

 Good morning!!

I thought I had shown you this card....but I couldn't find it on my blog....It's the same card I showed you on Nov. 26th....   but I changed up the colors. (Click hereto view the other one.)  Instead of using a Rhinestone Brad in the center I used a 1/4" red circle and applied crystal effects to it. 

 Have you ever made a faux brad?  All you need is a circle and Crystal Effects (page 191 in the current catalog).  Very easy and it looks great good in the center of a flower too!

See ya tomorrow!

Stamps:  Holiday Collection Kit

Ink:  Timber Brown Stazon & Close to Cocoa

Cardstock:  Kraft, Very Vanilla & Riding Hood Red

Other:  1/4 Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Pennant Big Shot die, Crystal Effects & Sponges 

 

Punch Pal Christmas

  Good morning!

I  just love the Punch Pals stamp set and I haven't used it much this year.  Although I love the snowman....my favorite is the words.  If you look at the stamp set....all the words are on one stamp...but I cut mine apart and I have five different sentiments.  They are "Let it Snow",  "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "A gift for you" & "From our house to yours".

The cardstock is Kiwi Kiss and it's my favorite size, a 4 1/4" card. I used Baja Breeze and Whisper White cardstock.  I colored the snowman with a Blender pen with Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red & Pumpkin Pie.

Sorry I didn't post yesterday...do you want to hear about the 3 hours I was on the phone with Tech support....or that they never did help me but I finally figured it out myself.  I'm just happy my email is working (after 16 hours & 100 test emails....you should have seen those subject lines...you don't want to see the last 4 or 5 :) just kidding :)

Have a great day!!

Christmas card & winner

Good morning!!

I'll make this short and sweet.....Congrats to Shari Arciaga and Teresa Kremer :)  Shari you won the original Scratch n' Win and Teresa you won the one I added last night. I'll email you both in a little while. :)

Thanks for all the wonderful recipes!!! I have to ask....if anyone does not want their recipe printed in a recipe book....let me know.  I'm going to be asking some girls to help me figure out if it's doable.  It may be more typing that I can do....but we'll see. I need more time for my brain to process :)))  There are several duplicate recipes...how would that be handled....like I said.....million questions.

Today's card is an idea I took right out of a Paper Crafts magazine.  I used all our wonderful Stampin' Up! punches to make it.  I added a small piece of ribbon on the top....after I took the picture....just imagine...small Riding Hood Red Taffeta Bow right on top.  I also used the Ski Slope Designer Paper along with the designer paper found in the Holiday Collection kit (scraps left over from the ornament paper). 

 Don't forget..... December 15th, I'm giving away a free stamp set to one lucky person....the name will be drawn from everyone that purchases a Country Living Holiday Collection Kit from me!!

Have a fantastic Friday and see ya tomorrow!!  (for all you early birds...late post again tomorrow)

Punch List:  3/4" Square, 1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle & 1 1/4" Circle

Designer Paper:  Ski Slope & Holiday Collection Kit

p.s.  Brook and I are going to see Twilight again tonight...it will be my 4th time and her third.  We're also taking Chase...he's never seen it & I think he'll like it too....plus it'll help to have him hooked on the Soundtrack too...Brook and I have been jamming for days.  For all you Twilight fans...how do you like Rob's singing? Personally I like it.....but I'm a fan of all music.  Love the song by Muse also!!! 

p.s.. I'm a little tardy on my 12 weeks of Christmas...will work on getting caught up this weekend.  Being in Tennesse for Thanksgiving really put me behind on almost everything :O

 

 

Recipe update :)

Holy Cow!!  What an amazing response to my recipe request!!  Have you all been reading these?  I'm so overwhelmed.... I'm not sure whose recipe to try first.  And my brain is thinking......should we make some kind of cookbook with all these wonderful recipes????  That would be one amazing recipe book....I just need to think it through and figure out an idea.  If you have a suggestion, send it to me.

I have 209 recipes/comments posted on here and half that much sent to me through email......I need to more time to announce the winner.  I had Holiday Class today and I've been working on club orders all evening and I'm exhausted with a captial E :)   I'll get busy first thing in the morning & get all the recipes posted and pick a number.....AND to make up for my tardiness.....I'll give away another free set....I have a few older sets to choose from and the 2nd number drawn can pick what set they'd like.

Thanks & good night!! 

p.s. you guys are wonderful and I appreciate you all!!! 

Scratch n' Win - aka Blog Candy

  Good morning!!

The next couple days are going to be super busy...& there's no better time for Scratch n' Win!!

I have my Holiday Class tomorrow among other things (like putting up my Christmas tree). in other words  I'm going to focus on my "To do List".

I will draw a winner Thursday night around 10pm.  Here's the tricky part :) To enter this drawing....I'd like for you to submit a recipe.  What's your favorite recipe you make during the holidays?  Mine would have to be my Christmas Bell cookies (or little pecan pies).

 I know...are you scratching your heads....why am I asking this?  Sorry!!  I love Christmas baking.....and every year I bake for everyone....some years I bake a whole variety of items and make the cutest cookies plates...I could show you pictures of those if you'd like :)))) And years that I'm running behind I make one cookie....usually the Christmas Bells...the recipe makes 5 dozen. Have I told you about the year that Fluffy jumped on the kitchen table and knocked 15 dozen cookies on the floor (yes, I cried..... that year everyone got fewer cookies)?

So, long story short....what baked goody do you like to give each year?  If you don't bake for the holidays....hmmm....how about posting your favorite recipe.   I can't wait to read all the recipes!!

Have a great day & Good luck!!

p.s.  If you have trouble submitting a recipe, email it to me and I'll post it for you.

Christmas Bell Cookies

2/3 cup butter (softened, non salted)

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1tsp grated orange peel

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour (all purpose)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

30 maraschino cherries, halved

Beat butter in large mixing bowl until creamy.  Add sugar and beat well.  Add egg, orange peel & vanilla. Beat until well blended.  Combine four & baking powder; gradually add butter to mixture.  Beat until well blended.  Cover & chill for 30 minutes (not much longer than that or dough will be too hard to roll out).  Shape dough into 2 rolls.  Wrap rolls with Saran Wrap and chill for 8 hours.  Cut rolls into 1/4 inch slices and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Place one cherry half on top of each cookie.  Bake @ 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.  Let cool on wire rack...store in shirt boxes between tissue paper.  Makes 5 dozen.

 

Free stamp set for December

Good morning!!

I made todays card just to show you how cute the images are in the Window Dressing stamp set....... that's the Free stamp set for December!! 

 

 How does it work?  When you place a Stampin' Up! order with me either online or in person, you are assigned a number based on when you order.  The first person to place an order is number one and it goes up from there.  It runs from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st and you can order as many times as you like....but don't forget....if you order $50 or more (before tax & shipping) you get a punch on  your Customer Appreciation card. (November punch cards & gift cards are going in the mail today.)

Thanks for stopping by....have a great day!!

Stamps:  Window Dressing (Level 3 Hostess) & Hugs & Wishes

Ink: Black Stazon, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss & Riding Hood Red

Cardstock:  Whisper White (8 1/2 x 4 1/4 - scored at 4 1/4), Riding Hood Red (Pennant Big Shot Die Scallop Circle), Baja Breeze (1 1/2 Circle Punch, Designer Paper from Country Living Holiday Collection Kit

Other:  Blender Pens, Stampin' Dimensionals, Big Shot, Pennant Die, Country Living Holiday Collection Kit

 

Deer Friends stamp set Winner!

Congrats Bradlyn Mulvey!! You won the Free stamp set for November (Deer Friends).  You placed the 19th order and your number was selected....congrats :)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

19

Timestamp: 2008-12-01 20:35:56 UTC

Tune in tomorrow for Decembers Free stamp set! 

Fun & Fast Notes Stamp Set

Good morning!!

Today's card is from our shoebox swap....thanks Jennifer for bringing this cute card!!  We used the Fun & Fast Notes stamp set with Ski Slope Designer Paper.  The colors are Old Olive & Real Red. 

Thanksgiving was great!  Spending time with daddy and my whole family was much needed....it's bittersweet.....it's good to be home but sad that I won't get to see them for several months.

Have a great day....see ya tomorrow (I may be a tad late posting).