Papercraft Star Challenge 73

For Papercraft Star this week the challenge is to use a sketch by Kim Duran of Paper Loves Glue.
I used a digital image from our sponsor The House Across The Bay called Christmas Botanicals 069.
I fussy cut two of the wreaths and glued them together to make it fuller. I put red glitter glue over the berries for a bit of sparkle then added a red bow.Finally I stamped Peaceful Wishes and the poinsettias, added more ribbon and twine. Ta da!

You have until 6am Monday to come play along in this week's challenge to win some digital downloads from our sponsor The House Across The Bay.

I'm sharing my card with The Stuff Of Success and Passionatley Artistic.

Supplies:

Digital Image Christmas Botanicals 069 from The House Across The Bay
Ripe Avocado and Stamper's Select White cardstock from Papertrey Ink
Twine from The Twinery
Red satin ribbon and glitter glue from my stash
Stamps from Stampin' Up!

Pre K

I made this scrapbook page to play along in the Helmar November Challenge "All About YOU and Helmar". I blew up a digital image from The House Across The Bay from the Blank Backgrounds set. I think the report card is just perfect for this Pre K page. I added a few rub ons from Pink Paislee and some fun little foam stickers I found at The Dollar Tree. I used a punch from Stampin' Up! to make the film strip. The twill measuring tape is so fun! I used alphabet dies from Lifestyle Crafts to cut the title "pre-k".

I hate my handwriting, but I know someday Parker will appreciate seeing it in the scrapbooks I make all about him.

Never Ending Card

Today I made a Never Ending card using Christmas Emporium from Graphic 45 and

glue runner from Helmar. There are some great videos on the Internet showing you how to make a never ending card. Basically it is a 6"x6" square card that keeps opening and opening. It's hard to describe, but you cut one 6"x6" paper in half vertically and the other horizontally. Then glue them together only on the four outer corners and start folding.

This is the front of the card.

The first fold.

The second fold.

 I used a few digital images from The House Across The Bay one the final fold.

I was so very excited to see my name listed here as one of the winners of the Graphic 45 Thank You card challenge! These are the goodies from the Christmas Emporium collection Graphic 45 sent me.

Thank you Graphic 45!

And I was totalled thrilled to see my name here as the winner of the Helmar Out Of The Box Challenge winner from October! These are the goodies Helmar sent me.

Thank You Helmar!

I'm sharing this fancy fold card with Graphic 45, Helmar, Sugar Creek Hollow, Passionately Artistic and Tatertots And Jello.

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

This recipe was shared with me by my friend Nena in November of 1995. Our families shared Thanksgiving together for a good 10 years before they were assigned another duty station. Sniffle, sniffle, Chad and I still hope that someday they will make it back here to retire. I can't imagine a Thanksgiving or a Christmas dinner without her Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake. Thank you Nena!

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

For the crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

For the filling

2 eight ounce packages cream cheese softened at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

For the topping

1 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup pecan halves

In a 9" spring form pan mix graham crackers, sugar, butter and pecans. Press mixture on bottom of pan and place in freezer until filling is ready.

In a large bowl cream cheese cream and sugar until smooth. Beat in one egg at a time. Stir in whipping cream, pumpkin, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour into chilled crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.

While cheesecake is baking prepare topping by mixing sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Refrigerate until cheesecake is finished baking. Spread topping over hot cheesecake and decorate with pecan halves. Bake for additional 10 minutes. Let stand until it cools down, then refrigerate at least 4 hours.

I know once you try this Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake it will become part of your family tradition too!

Yep, it's that good!



Banana Nut Bread

I got this recipe from my mother probably 20 years ago. It's simple and Oh So Good!

Here's the original recipe card my mother gave me. You can tell it's been well loved because it's a bit stained and no longer white. Notice my notes of baking times for cupcakes (muffins) and mini's. And yes my mother's name really is Mona Lisa.

You can bake a loaf and easily store it in the freezer for 6 months. That's if it doesn't get gobbled up right away! Two loaves will fit in a gallon ziplock bag, I like to wrap them individually in saran wrap first.

Banana Nut Bread

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

4 very ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 3/4 cup flour

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Blend eggs, oil and sugar together. Add in bananas. Sift together salt, baking powder, baking soda and flour. Stir in dry ingredients a little at a time. Stir in nuts (I prefer pecans, or you can use walnuts). Pour mixture into greased and floured bread pan. Bake for about 50-55 minutes.

Note: Once a banana gets too ripe for me to eat I will place it in the freezer until I have enough to make Banana Nut Bread. The bananas stay good for at least 6 months in the freezer. Once I'm ready to bake the bread I place them in the sink to thaw. You can run under water to help remove the banana peel.

I'm sharing my recipe with Sugar Creek Hollow, Passionately Artistic, The Stuff Of Success and
Tatertots And Jello.

Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

Papercraft Star Challenge 72

This weeks challenge at Papercraft Star is Anything Goes!

This lovely vintage image is from our sponsor The House Across The Bay. I just adore the images in the digital collage Garden 117. I love the rich color combination of pumpkin and cranberry.

I hope you will stop by and see the other designers fabulous creations. Plus come play along to win some downloads from The House Across The Bay! You have until 6 am Monday to play along.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Supplies:
Digital image from The House Across The Bay Garden 117
Cardstock Terracotta Tile and Scarlet Jewel from Papertrey Ink
damask embossing folder from Paper Studio
Lace from stash and Snug Hug seam binding

Gifts In A Jar

For years I have been making Gifts In A Jar to give as Christmas gifts. I've put together jars of  all sorts of recipes like my Rocky Road Brownies, Blondies, Strawberry Muffins and Chili Mac. This year I thought I would make everyone's all time favorite.

Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 sugar

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped nuts

Sift the flour, baking soda and salt. Layer the ingredients into a 1 quart mason jar. Pack the ingredients down slightly before adding another layer. Cover the jar with fabric and attach a gift tag with ribbon.

Gift Tag Instructions

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 jar Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter, egg and vanilla until blended. Add cookie jar mix and stir until well blended. Drop heaping spoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Place cookies on wire rack to cool.

Enjoy!

I made the gift tag using Happy Holidays  paper name from Graphic 45, it's part of the Christmas emporium collection. I used  Spellbinders Labels Sixteen to die cut the tag. My handwriting is terrible, so I typed the instructions and taped to the back. Isn't the mug and plate the cutest! It was given to me as a gift years ago, it's something I wish treasure forever!

I'm sharing this with Sugar Creek Hollow, Passionately Artistic, Verve  and Tatertots And Jello. 

Christmas Cookies

I just adore Gingerbread men! I think they are the cutest!

I made the bottom of the box out of 12x12 textured red cardstock.

I made the lid out of 8.5x8.5 kraft cardstock. I used a Martha Stewart Gingerbread Punch for the outside edges. I punched scallop border on red cardstock to line the inside square window.I used Scor-tape to attach a piece of clear acetate and to adhere all the edges.

The Gingerbread man stamp came from Stampin' Up! I love kraft and red together! This box can easily hold a dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies.

I'm sharing this with The Kraft Journal, Passionately Artistic and The Stuff Of Success.

Thank You

This weeks challenge at Papercraft Star is to make a Thank You card.

I had a piece of color shifting ribbon in my stash that beautifully accents the digital image Halloween from The House Across The Bay. Yes, it's from the Halloween collection! I heat embossed the thank you sentiment on another digi from Vintage Frames, punched it out, outlined the edges and popped it up with some Zapdots.

 

This is a picture that can be used for inspiration if you choose.

 You have until 6am Monday to share your Thank You Card and have a chance to win some digital downloads from our sponsor The House Across The Bay.  I'm sure you will be inspired by the other designers as well!

I'm sharing my card with Passionately Artistic and The Stuff Of Success.

Supplies:

Digital Images Halloween 173 & Vintage Frames 100 from The House Across The Bay

Thank You stamp and punch from Stampin' Up!

Brown cardstock, ink, embossing powder, zapdots and ribbon from stash