24.December, 2009.

It is Christmas Eve and I just wanted to wish a Merry Christmas to everybody! As part of my Hungarian tradition we opened up presents already. :) My family and I are having such a great time already. I am tired: a day full of cooking, cleaning, eating, opening presents, keeping the kids busy and more eating. I truly enjoy this time of the year and I adore my kids. It makes my heart warm when I look at them and see how much they adore each other. I am thankful for my husband and I love him so ... :) xo

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season,
Tunde

The Olympic Torch Relay

AWESOME! My kids and I just witnessed an amazing historic moment:

The Olympic Torch Relay coming through our town.

I will remember this date forever: 10 am ( ish ) 18 of December, 2009. Wellington Street in Aurora.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. Thanks for stopping by,

Tunde

Felicity Collection Fall Layout

Hello there!

So I promised a layout and here it is! Simple but nice, right? Let me know what you think.

What I used from CTMH: Felicity Collection Paper, Mini medley Chocolate shades collection,Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection,Tiny Tabs,Just Blooms Spring Blossom Flowers,Cocoa ink pad, Notice The Details stamp set, Felicity Collection Stamp set.

The Felicity Collection is here!!!!!

Phew, so my package almost got lost by UPS!!!!! I just could not wait to receive all the NEW SPRING 2010 CTMH products. Anyway, I am happy that I got them even if it was later than expected.

Here is a link to my website. Check out the Felicity Collection:

http://www.scrapbookinginyorkregion.myctmh.com/

The Felicity Collection is so beautiful, more beautiful in your hand than on pictures. I can not wait to make something with it! Great value too. See how you can get it FREE! Or buy as many as you want! :) I sure will have more than one. The kit also includes 2 pages of artwork made with the kit and other CTMH products.

I just LOVE the die cuts!

Be inspired with the Felicity Collection! These are great!

Snow day and some Jingle paper cheer

I am not sure if I should be happy or not. Winter finally arrived. We had wet heavy snow all morning. It is always so pretty to see huge snowflakes falling while you are inside sipping on a cup of hot coffee. But it is not pleasant when you are out trying to clear the bottom of the drive way after the snow plow comes by. Argh....I had to shovel a bit so I could get out...

Last year I was about 7 months pregnant with my son so my daughter and I did not get to enjoy the snow much. This year we are both looking forward to it, going sledding and building snowmen, making snowballs, oh what fun. I can not wait to see what Riley will think of snow ( he is 10 months in a few days ).

Here are some things I made yesterday. Enjoy!

A Christmas card for my parents and sister back home in Hungary.

What I used from CTMH: Juniper card stock, Jingle level 2 paper packet, Evergreen Stamp set, holiday Trinkets stamp set.

I hope they will like this card. I left the bottom strip empty so I can write a little note there to them.

Here is a layout of us visiting Santa. Yous should have all seen the look on my son's face when I planted him in Santa's lap. He kept looking at him with a very serious face for a long time. it was hard to get him distracted so he would look at the photographer.

What I used from CTMH: Believe Caps letters stamp set, Jingle level 2 paper packet, Mini Medley White Daisy Collection, Save the Date stamp set, Perfect Day level 2 paper packet, White Daisy stamp pad.

I made this card holder with the Jingle level 2 paper packet, Juniper ink pad, Believe Caps letters stamp set, and Noteworthy stamp set.

If you had snow where you are today enjoy it, have fun!

Thanks for stopping by.

Tunde

Wanted: Cookies!

Here are the two recipes I promised. Enjoy them!

Gingerbread People

3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup grated fresh ginger

( Decorate with icing, I just leave it plain and sprinkle it with icing sugar for a snow effect )

1. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves; set aside.In a large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until combined. Add egg , molasses, vanilla, beat until combined. Beat in ginger and as much of the flour mixture as you can. Stir in remaining flour. Cover and chill dough for 3 hours or overnight, or until easy to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface roll dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut dough using 5 inch gingerbread people cookie cutter ( you can use any shapes, I make this for Valentines, etc.. ) Arrange the cutout about 1 inch apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 5-6 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are light and brown. Transfer cookies to wire racks.

To Store: Place cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container, cover. Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies then decorate.


Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 egg
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups all -purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Milk Chocolate kisses

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat until combined. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in the 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake in pre-heated oven for 10-12 mins or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Transfer to wire racks. Cool.
Makes 54.

Same storage applies to this as to the gingerbread cookies. Also, the chocolate takes a while to harden.

Merry Christmas and have fun making these cookies!
Tunde

" Paulette "

So I was out this morning doing a Christmas card class and everybody really enjoyed making the cards. I had the class make some of the cards I have already posted here so there is no new picture for today. :)

While I was out my " Mail Lady " came by to get the recipe. My MIL said she was really touched and I guess she found out her name too: Paulette - what an unusual name.
She was very surprised to receive the recipe made into a little book for her. I am glad I could make her happy and bring some Holiday Cheer for her. I hope the grand kids as well as her will enjoy the cookies.

I really have to dash :) so come back tomorrow to find the recipes on my blog.

Take care and have a great weekend!

Tunde

Recipe for my Mail Lady and Thank You Card/ Merry Christmas Card

My Mail Lady's husband passed away not long ago. I was thinking about making her a sympathy card but instead I made this little recipe book up for her. I did not want to remind her of her loss again, I wanted to cheer her up! :)

She is such a sweet lady. In the summer heat I usually offer her some cold bottled water or a freeze and in the cold winter days something hot to drink and some home made cookies around Christmas. Last week when she delivered my mail I offered her some of the peanut butter kisses I made and she really enjoyed them. She also tasted my ginger bread cookies before.

Today she came to knock on my door to ask for the recipes so she could make them for her grand kids. I asked her to step in so I can make a copy of the recipes but she said she had to go but will get it tomorrow. So a light bulb went off in my head!

I will leave her a note inside the white page I left blank. I just have to think of what to say. :)
Here is the result! :)

What I used from CTMH: Jingle Level 2 Paper kit, Crystal Blue Card Stock, Juniper and Tulip ink pads, Holiday Trinkets Stamp set, Chocolate alphabet large, Flip - Flaps. ( Yes I am in love with the Flip-Flaps ! ), Recipe Box stamp set.

Thanks for looking!

Tunde

December Constant Campaign - Holiday Heyday Online Clearance Sale

Hi,

Are you in the Christmas spirit yet??!! Come on and get some shopping done from the comfort of your home! Do not miss this amazing SALE!!!!

Get all your holiday shopping done in one spot this year with our online clearance sale! Many items are 50% off, with some discounted as much as 80% off regular retail. The selection is incredible, too!
The open customer shopping begins Wednesday, December 2, at 9 a.m. and continues through Thursday, December 17 (11:59 p.m. MT) or while product supplies last!
There are just too many items to list here! But watch for paper packets, My Acrylix® stamp sets, accessories, and more—something for everybody!
It’s a remarkable opportunity to stock up on some great products at fabulous prices.
This is a great way to get all the scrapbookers and cardmakers on your holiday gift list wonderful presents they’ll love at super prices.
With the holidays here, stock up on products to create sentimental cards, awesome invitations, great gift tags, and even wrapping paper embellishments!

Visit this link to my website to take advantage of this amazing deal!

http://www.scrapbooinginyorkregion.myctmh.com/

Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Baby cards and baby layouts

Here we go again, some baby cards. :) Enjoy them!

What I used from CTMH: dotted Jingle paper, Family Ties stamp set, Welcome Home stamp set,Hollyhock card base, Liquid glass.

This card was made using the Ms. On the Go Stamp set.
On my son's baby pics layout I used: Twitterpated B&Ts, Crystal Blue and Sweet Leaf card stock paper.B&T duos paper from the Emporium paper kit,Wonder Heartfelt Die cuts, Crystal Blue Waxy Flax.

Thank you for stopping by again!

Tunde