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Sunday, October 31, 2010

All Saints Day Cookies

To be honest, this was one of the main reasons I bought an icing printer.  Saint cookies have been on my mind for years now.

If you don't have an icing printer, don't worry.  Scan the images you want, format them to fit your cookies and take your file to the grocery store bakery or local bakery supply shop to have your images printed.

These are going to kiddo's teacher.


Here's what you need to make them:
  • cookies
  • an awesome aunt who is sweet enough to scan and email you a zillion saint cards
  • frosting sheets
  • white royal icing
  • #2 or 3 tip and #16 star tip

The cookies look cute plain, but I really like the something extra a little piping adds to them.  I added the border with a #16 star tip.

Did they all turn out perfectly? Well, no.

You might recognize the guy on the left.

St. Marguerite.  When my Nana traced our family tree she found we were related to her.  Which is obvious given my saintly nature.

My favorite saint?  St. Bridget (or Brigid), for obvious reasons.  BUT, when the priest who married us gave me a copy of this prayer attributed to her, well, it sealed the deal.  It's a must read.


Here's St. Lucy...
Yes, those are her eyes on a platter. You guys, the saints are interesting!!!

Do you have a favorite saint?

Friday, October 29, 2010

Wags 'n Whiskers - Black and White challenge plus there's a change in the challenges!


Happy Friday!!! I'm super excited about our new challenge from Wags 'n Whiskers today!! Our fabulously talented Angelique has asked us to make a black and white project.  I'm so excited becuase it's something I've never tried before. I honestly didn't know if I'd be able to color an entire scene with just six different markers all in the same color family! But I did it!  What do you think? I used the adorable Sammie's Surprise along with a Magnolia background image and a Tim Holtz fence die, and I colored them all with the cool greys.  Now while I went the cutesy route, you have GOT to see the amazing creations my Diva sisters came up with!!!!  I was astounded at how gorgeous a black and white card could be!!  Do yourself a favor and go take a peek!


I also wanted to let you know that there has been a change in the way the Wags 'n Whiskers challenge is run! You are now welcome to use any stamp or digital image on your Wags 'n Whiskers challenge project! Just follow the guiedlines of the challenge and you'll have a chance to win! I can't wait to see your black and white creations this week! Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Jetstar and me are over.

I have to say, I used to be completely perplexed by the pricing of airline tickets.

How come, if I wanted to Auckland - Queenstown on the 15th of November and return on the 18th of November (just randomly selected days), it could cost me anywhere from $268 (Jetstar) return to $824 (Air New Zealand on a fully flexible fare) ?

I'm pleased to report that I now have the answer, the difference is getting there.

And I've worked this out the hard way.

This year, for one reason or another, I have spent loads of time flying. If it's for work, I'll go Air New Zealand but if I'm paying for it, I'm seduced by the lowest fare. If it's a matter of twenty dollars or so, I'll go for Air New Zealand, otherwise I'll suck it in and go for, you guessed it, Jetstar.

To be fair, generally they've always been pretty reliable - however when it's come back to bite me on the arse, it's bitten me hard.

The first time was, when my flight that should have landed at 9pm landed at 2 a.m. That was due to fog - but the worst thing about that was that my Jetstar flight was the ONLY flight that had been affected by fog.

After that flight I swore and declared Jetstar were dead to me. Stomped around trumpeting, 'Never again!', 'Fat Chance Airlines', etc etc.

However.

Due to a combination of things - time heals all wounds and I'm very shallow - less than three weeks later I found myself merrily checking in at the Jetstar counter.

However after my latest Jetstar debacle my relationship with Jetstar is OVER. Fried. Ended.

I'd done a last minute change of flight, changing it for a sparrow's fart the morning after I had originally booked . I needed to be on a shoot by 9 a.m and this flight got me in at 7.40 a.m. I checked the weather, which was going to be good, and booked away. Things were going to plan.

Arrived at the airport at 5.45 am. Things still going to plan.

Stood in queue. Read the television screen : CANCELLED.

Plan Royally Screwed.

To cut a very long story short, why did they cancel mid check in? Weather ? Mechanical issues? Earthquake? Crew been abducted by aliens ?

Nope, nope, nope and possibly.

Crewing issues.

Crewing issues ?

How come you discover, half way through your check in that you have crewing issues?

At least the time when my flight departed five hours later than it had been originally scheduled, they texted me four hours earlier to tell me about it.

Anyway, I screamed around to Air New Zealand and got myself on the next flight, which got me to work 15 minutes late. Air New Zealand saved the day.

But you know what the irony is? All the money I have saved by flying Jetstar this year I blew on that Air New Zealand flight.

When I went to write this blog I did a Google search to find out other people's Jetstar stories and my search didn't just reveal stories - but an entire site dedicated to disgruntled Jetstar passengers titled, unsurprisingly Don't Fly Jetstar. It makes for an entertaining wee read.

Currently Jetstar's tag line is 'Low fares, good times.'

I have a new one for them. 'Jetstar:fly with us if you don't need to get there'.

Anyone else been Jetstarred?

Halloween cookies so easy, it's scary


{Are you scared, yet?!?}

OK....these have to be the simplest cookies EVER!  You need 3 things:

Outline and fill the cookies with black royal icing.   While the icing is wet, sprinkle on the Disco Dust.

THAT'S IT!!!

Disco Dust is like bling for cookies.  I can't even describe how sparkly and pretty it is.  It captures the light like nothing I've ever seen.  I hope these pictures do it justice:

I bought my Disco Dust from Amazon and if you are using Swagbucks, it's a great way to try it for free.  Sweet Baking Supply also sells it and has it in a huge variety of colors!  (I used the one called "Rainbow.")

And since it's almost Halloween, let me share with you the SCARY thing about Disco Dust....it gets EVERYWHERE!!!  If you have a toddler, I'd definitely keep it out of reach.  I made these cookies a few days ago and and still seeing sparkles on my table, my floor, my FACE.  You've been warned! ;)

OOPS! Winners from the Now You're Cooking blog hop!!!!

Please scroll down for my Delightful Challenges post!!!

Thanks so much to Bobbie for reminding me to get my winners posted for the Magnolia-licious Now You're Cooking blog hop!!!  Check below for some important info for you helping me! So here we go....

Winner of the recipe card is.....

#71 Chris !!!
Chris said...


I gained three pounds just reading the recipe! This card is just fabulous, Sharon! I love the warmth you've given it. It's beautiful! Someone is going to be a very lucky girl - I hope it is me as I would be so honored to have this work of art! I'd probably frame it and hang it in my kitchen!

XO,
Chris

And the winner of the blog candy is....

#68 Marlene !!!
Marlene said...


What an adorable little recipe card!! Please feel free to send it to me...along with some chocolate chip cookies. Thank you. heehee

 
Ok ladies, please send me your addresses so I can get your goodies out to you! And a huge thanks to everyone!!  Bobbie, since you were gracious enough to remind me, but didn't win, send me your address and I'll get a little something out to you especially from me!  Have a fabulous day! Hugs!

Delightful Challenges - Round and Round along with a new mini-release


Hello friends! We've almost made it to the weekend! Is everyone ready for all little ones this weekend? Chris wants to be a ghost, and Bennie is a frog this year. LOL! I can't wait to see them all dressed up. So do you get all dressed up for Halloween?  

With it being Thursday, it's time for a new challenge from Delightful Challenges, and this week it's "round and round".  I used this adorable image called Gingerbread Cookie from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. Isn't she too cute??!!  The image is colored with Copic markers. I also used glossy accents on the icing. For my "round and round", I used the loops MS punch around the page set.


Cardstock is Bazzill, PP is from Nitwits, and the only other thing I added was a couple bows made from May Arts silk ribbon that's always available over at Stamp and Create!!  Please be sure and visit Delightful Challenges to see the rest of the DT creations, then we'd love it if you would join us in the challenge. 

Also, Wendy has a brand new mini release of stamp set called "A Child is Born". Please be sure and check out all the fabulous creations made with this set!


Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Hairy-Legged Spider Cookies : a guest post at TidyMom

While my girlfriend Cheryl of TidyMom is on a trip to Napa, I'm guest posting over on her blog.

{Although, if she were a real friend, she would have taken me along.}

Want to learn how to make these FUN and EASY hairy-legged spider cookies?  Hop on over to TidyMom...I'll show you how.

{PS...while you're there, you might want to tell Cheryl that if she's not going to take her Texas friend along, she better at least drink a glass of wine for her!} ;)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Papertake Weekly - Sparkly and Bright!


Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! It's time for a new Papertake Weekly challenge, and this week the challenge is Sparkly and Bright to celebrate the upcoming Bonfire Night! So anything glittery, shiny, or sparkly goes here!  We're being sponsored by the fabulous Simon Says Stamp this week.

 For my card today, I chose to use some adorable new stamps from the Magnolia-licious and the autumn collection. I used #367 Circus Tilda, #433 Carousel horse#13 Tilda's Doily Doohickey die,   #3 Tilda lace Doohickey die, and the Autumn Collection Paper Pack.  

Please visit Papertake Weekly to see the gorgeous sparkly and bright creations from my DT sisters, then grab your paper, glue, and glitter and join us in the challenge for a chance to win a prize from Simon Says Stamp! Thanks for stopping by to see me today and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Another question.

Is this photo for real or has someone photoshopped man-arms on to Madonna?

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Posie Cakes . . . cookies for a sip and see

I had a request for my "signature cookie" this month.  The funny thing is, I didn't know I HAD a signature cookie, but I knew exactly which cookies she was referring to.  The pink cookies in my header, on my blog button, my twitter avatar....I must really like that cookie! ;)

And because those original cookies were for my girlfriend Terri, it makes me happy to call them my "signature."

This version of the cookie was for a sip and see for a baby girl.
 
I love sip and sees!  Sip and Sees are like baby showers given AFTER the baby is born. There's ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over the baby, presents in pink or blue, lots of food....and oh, yeah...maybe the new mommy can have a mimosa! ;)

To make the cookies, you'll need:
First, outline the cookies with royal icing using a #3 tip.  Let the outline dry 20 minutes or more.

Reserve some of the pink royal icing used for outlining and thin the rest with water for flooding.  Adding just a bit of water at a time, stir the water into the icing until it is the consistency of thick syrup or glue. Cover with a damp towel and let sit several minutes.

Stir the icing gently with a rubber spatula to pop and air bubbles that have risen to the surface.  Transfer to squeeze bottles.

Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the outline in the contrasting pink thinned icing.  Use a toothpick to spread into edges and corners.

Come back over the 6-8 cookies just flooded and drop on dots of the contrasting color.

Let the cookies sit for more than an hour since the detail flowers are large.  You don't wanted dented icing! :)

If you have made your royal icing the day you are decorating, add just a few drops of water to the outline consistency icing.  This will help prevent stiff peaks on your flowers.  If the icing was made the day before, it loses some of it's stiffness in the fridge. 

With a #7 tip, add large dots for the flowers.

With #1 tips, add swirly detail to the center of the flowers.

With the green icing and a #1 tip, add leaves.

Let dry overnight.

Voila! 

So, if these pink posie cookies are my "signature" cookies....what's YOUR signature dish? 

Friday, October 22, 2010

Wags 'n Whiskers - Merry and Bright


Happy Friday!! WOOHOO! It's time for a new challenge from Wags 'n Whiskers, and this week it's from the awesomely talented Debs! The challenge is "Merry and Bright" (Christmas). I chose to use the beautiful stamp called Snuzzle Love. She's colored with Copic markers and then cut out with Nestabilities. The poinsettia is from a Spellbinders die.



Cardstock is Bazzill,  and DP is Nitwit Collections. Of course I used some May Arts silk ribbon for the bow (altered the color to match the green paper with my Copics), and  I also machine stitched around all the panels. The tag was cut using my Cricut Expression and the Tags, Bags, Boxes, and more cartridge.  Please be sure to stop by the Wags 'n Whiskers challenge blog to play along with the challenge, and please visit all my amazing Diva sisters to see their fabulous creations!