Card Making

I apologise for the lack of posts this week but I was not feeling well. I am much better now but this short break set me back a lot on my projects.This time of year there is always something to do and as Christmas approaches it gets busier every day.

At least the cards are done. We make our cards by hand every year with my brother.He is disabled and spends most of his time at home, but this gives him a lot to do.He is very artistic and does lovely cards.We have spent some fabulous afternoons getting busy and creative. Now I have to find some nice meaningful message for the cards and write all 40 of them. When I write my cards I always think of what people will think, feel when they read it. I can only hope that they will enjoy the words. I would love to send some of our cards to people I don't know. Once I saw this film where a small community sent christmas letters to anonymous soldiers in Afganistan. I found the idea really thoughtful especialy that they are so far from their family and home they can use all the support. Anyway if anyone has some suggestion on the topic, just drop me a comment.

Hope that it was a good week for you all. Here are some pictures of our card making.Not many days to go now so enjoy the time left till christmas.Hopefully we will be super-dooper busy in the weekend.

Christmas Cards

Quickie post today as I am supa behind! This is the first year I feel the pain to have made grandiose plans to be prepared, I hope it all will not fall through.The card making is really slow. We have to make 40 cards altogother.Luckily my brother  loves to help, and enjoys stamping and sticking bits.I just want to say a big thanks to M for the papers she got me last year!!!!! We love to use them for the cards.

I plan to make some small candy boxes for friends which we share on christmas day in the church. I have not decided as yet what I fill the boxes with. I found too many good recipes.This is one of them:

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

• 2 bags Wilton's White Candy Melts (14 oz each) or other white chocolate (I prefer Wilton's because it melts, cools, and tastes fabulously, and is easily available at Michael's in the baking section)
  
• 1/2 tsp Wilton's Pure Peppermint Oil (OIL not extract, and be sure to get the real stuff not artificial flavor - also at Michael's or baking supply/gourmet stores)
  
• 9-12 candy canes, crushed (I put them in a Ziploc and hammer them into 1/4 inch pieces)
  
• parchment paper
  
• large cookie sheet (around 11x13) with a lip

Directions:
1. Bring water to a boil in a pan, then turn to low. Put the candy in a separate metal bowl and melt the candies over the pan of boiling water. Be sure no water gets into the chocolate. Wilton's candy melts very fast, so keep an eye on it.
2. Stir in the peppermint oil.
3. Using a spatula, spread the candy on parchment paper that has been placed in a cookie sheet until it  fills the cookie sheet but do not go too thin - I maybe leave an inch or so around the edges.
4. Place crushed candy canes on top of the melted chocolate. Refrigerate until cool, then break apart with a butter knife (it will break very easily when cool). Store in an airtight container.

(recipe source:papermonkey)

Cards

I have ordered some stamps from America earlier this week. I just cannot wait for them to arrive. I got the best of the sweet House mouse stamps hope fully sometimes next week I will be very busy making cards with it to my friends.

Till then here are some cards I made this week.These are all for Easter and will be shipped out soon to our friends.I love making others happy with things that I make.This is the best joy in the whole world.