Angela's Christmas Candy

This candy has been a tradition in my home since high school - although I can't take any credit for it. My high school BFF and her mom would make this at the holidays - and I fell in love with it. Now it's not Christmas without it!

And the BEST part? It is sooooo easy to make! Maybe that's what I like best about it? : )

Angela's Christmas Candy

Ingredients:
1 1lb bag peppermint (red and green)
1 2lb bag white chocolate


First, melt your chocolate. I start with about half the bag in a double broiler and add more as the chocolate melts.


Yum, getting melty...


Once it's melted and smooth, add in your peppermint. I never add the entire bag - I think it's TOO peppermint-y - but it's entirely up to you.


Stir it in well. (And no, my hands are not that manly, that is hubby doing the stirring - what a nice guy!)


Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

Spread, then tap the cookie sheet on the counter to smooth out the top of the candy.




Freeze for about 15 minutes.

When it's solid, bring it out of the freezer and begin destruction! I used the end of my rolling pin to smash. This could be a stress relief exercise?



Then all that's left to do is enjoy the chocolate-y peppermint-y goodness! YUM!



PS) You can get the peppermint and chocolate from any good candy making/baking store. I get mine from "The Candy Lady" in Kalamazoo, MI.

PPS) Angela - if you're reading - feel free to chime in with any other tidbits about this treat!

Christmas Cards 2009

I can check one thing off my list! I finished my Christmas cards! Of course there's still the Christmas letter to write, and the actual signing of the cards that needs to happen... but I feel good about getting the most time-intensive part of the process complete. Waahoo!

I made a set of five designs:


They're all variations on this card that I came up with and showed you a couple of weeks ago:


The only major change to the original design was that I embossed the trees...





I made 55 cards in all. Thank goodness for my tabletop paper cutter!


Oh, and special thanks to my little crafting assistant... she provided lots of morale support along the ways...


Have you been working on YOUR Christmas cards? Head over to my "Holiday Projects" album on my Facebook Fan Page and upload your pictures! I'd love to see!

Stampin' Up! Products Used: Merry Moments Designer Series Paper, 5/8 Grosgrain Ribbon in Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Cardstock and Ink in Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Clear Emboss Powder & Heat Tool, Season of Joy Stamp Set.

Does anyone elses dining room table look like THIS?!

YIKES! It's like my craft room overflowed and exploded in the dining room! I have so many projects going on at once I don't know where to start!

Luckily we're (finally!) decorating the tree this evening so all of these ornaments will be out of the way...

And see these?

Oh, those are just the 55 Christmas cards I cut and prepped last night. I still have to cut ribbon, stamp and emboss them, and adhere everything together! Not to mention the actual writing of the cards... aaaaaaah!

I feel like I've got a touch of the Christmas crazy in me right now... anyone feel the same way?!

December Cupkins

December is already upon us and it's time for another Cupkins collaboration between Meg of Mega•Crafty and I. This months theme is Christmas. You know how much I love the holidays - so this month's Cupkins was extra fun for me!

Unfortunately, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for many of us - myself included - so I wanted to make sure this month's cupcake was quick and easy to put together!

Before we get started... here's the MOST important part of this recipe...

Do NOT, under any circumstances, leave your cupcakes unattended on the counter. Or this could happen to YOU!



It's true. Bella snatched not one, not two, but NINE cupcakes off the counter and devoured them - wrappers and all. Just look at her - she's cowering because she KNOWS she did something bad! Boy it's a good thing she's cute!!!

Anyway... back to business...

Quick & Easy Candy Cane Cupcakes

For the cupcakes, use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe - or if you're short on time - try the box mix recipe I used in October.

For the frosting, use Saucy's no fail buttercream:

1 cup butter, and 1 cup crisco combined. Add 4 cups powdered sugar (gradually) then finish with 1 tsp vanilla and 2 tbsp whipping cream.

BUT! Substitute 2 tsp mint extract for the vanilla. Yum!

Color half the frosting pink and leave the other half white.

Spoon into your piping bag with a 1M tip - alternating colors. When you pipe - you'll get a neat swirled effect.


Garnish with some of those mini candy canes you always buy during the holidays because you feel like you should - but never actually use...

... and ENJOY! Happy Holidays!

Now scoot over to Meg's to check out her Eggnog Muffins - complete with dark rum - mmmm!

Holiday Invitations 2

School is over for the semester and I am just thrilled! I took last night and this morning to finish up the invitations for our Holiday party that we're hosting in a couple of weeks.

It's pretty low key - we ask everyone to bring a dish to pass and a beverage to share, and we also ask them to bring an item to be donated. Last year we did toys for Toys for Tots, this year we're doing pet-related items for local animal rescue organizations.

I'm really pleased with the way these turned out! The cards open up and I printed all of the party information on the computer and adhered it to the inside.


Products used: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive and Very Vanilla Cardstock, Merry Moments Stamp Set, Real Red Grosgrain Polka Dot Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Ink, Sanded Background Stamp.