Many Thanks

I have just finished up 6 months of physical therapy to tackle some head/neck/shoulder issues (which really hinder my crafting, let me tell you!) I wanted to make cards for the therapists to thank them for all of the time and effort they put into helping me. (I used the CTMH Shining Star stamp set along with SU papers and inks, and my Cuttle Bug.) I will also include gift cards and top it off with a homemade carrot cake. On the off chance that someone needs a delicious carrot cake recipe for the holidays, here it is:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Beat 4 eggs
Add:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 and 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 cups freshly shredded carrots
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup crushed pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix or beat well...put in bundt pan or angel food pan or 2 loaf pans sprayed with Pam and cook about 45 minutes to 1 hour. When it springs back with a fork it is done!
Icing:
1 stick butter
1 8 oz cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1# box confection sugar....
Beat together...will frost 2 bundt cakes or 4 loaves

Enjoy!!!

Holiday Cards

Here it is...the big unveiling of this year's holiday cards! I used the Close to My Heart Ornate Ornaments set. The CTMH set was perfect for this card as the ornaments and the hooks were separate stamps. This allowed me to add a hook to the photo of Sydney and Santa that I punched with a circle punch. The ink and paper are all Stampin' Up, of course. I will say that I was totally unimpressed with the red rhinestones. I bought a one yard roll of Recollections adhesive rhinestones from Michael's. They are just about the most frustrating crafting supply I have ever worked with, so I caution you to stay away from them. Also, here is the thank you card that I made for my thoughtful and generous lunch students who thought of me this holiday season. I used Denami Designs Sweet Christmas Chickies. Are they too adorable or what?!?!? I loaded the card up with Denami Sparklets - the shinier, the better, as far as seven year-olds are concerned! Have a blessed (and healthy!) holiday season with your loved ones!

Winter Favors

As many of you know, I am a lunch mom. Each day I supervise a class of wonderful second graders as they eat lunch, and then I take them out for recess to play. I can't believe I get paid for it. Okay, maybe on the 10 degree winter Chicago days, I do! Anyhow, I wanted to get a little winter treat (other than candy!) for my kiddos and for Sydney's first grade classmates. I found these adorable snowman eraser sticks at Oriental Trading Company. I used the snowman from Year Round Fun II, which was part of the first Stampin' Up purchase I ever made. If you ask my husband, it all went down hill from there! Stay warm out there!