2011 Bodacious Calendars!!!

I have finally finished my 1st calendar templates!!! They are a little different when uploading your photo because I taught myself how to make the templates, but I assure you that they work! The size is 8.5X11 and they were done in PhotoShop Elements. If you are interested in them and you don't have Elements or you just don't know how to use templates, just email me at michellestancil@bellsouth.net.

Here are a few examples:

And here are the 12 templates you will get.

This set is $10.00 or $15.00 if I upload your pictures for you (just email me).

I also have just the Bodacious Elements set for $5.00.

I do not have a pay pal button on the site yet, so when you email me, I will send you an invoice. Once you've paid I will email you the PSE files (unless I'm doing the calendar for you).

Please be patient through Christmas. I want you to have your calendar before the new year, but I don't want to miss out on my family festivities.

And the first person to order a calendar will get it FREE!!!!

A present from me to you.

P.S. I'll be working on a vintage, and retro calendar templates, but they will not be ready until after the new year.

WINNER WINNER!!!

Yeah! Jennifer Mitten!! You are the winner of 25 Random stamps!!! Email Jimmi @ jimmi.mayo@gmail.com and let her know you won!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments you left and the well wishes for my boys. They are all feeling much better.

I'll leave you with a card...

Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps used:
Girl of the Moment

FWF Friday!

I know. I'm a little early this week, but as luck would have it, the stomach bug has come to visit. I'm trying to catch quick cat naps in between tending to my sick fellas. I hope they are as attentive when it's my turn.

I have been so excited to share this week's project with you! I got the idea from Emilie Ahern

This is for a very special teacher who has taken extra time with the boys. I can't wait for the boys to give it to her!

And last, but certainly not least is a layout I did. I am WAY behind on Christmas layouts!

Don't forget to look on every blog today for the blinkie.;)

(a name will be drawn tomorrow and they will win 25 random stamps from Unity!!)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Stamps used:

Just My Type, A Little Bit of Sunshine, Learning Year by Year Store kit

Unity Grainy Bark Chocolate Tutorial

Disclaimer: I have never really done a cooking tutorial, so I hope this makes sense. Also, you should be forewarned that I had NO idea the grainy background stamp lines were so close. I had to improvise, but I think you'll get the idea.

First, stamp the image on the backside of a piece of wax paper. Then grease an 8X8 glass pan and put the wax paper inside. I place a paper towel underneath the plate so I can see my stamped image better.

Melt white chocolate and put in a plastic bag with the smallest tip you have. I used #2, but it still needed to be smaller. This is my tip for filling my bag. I place it in a cup so I can use both hands with ease.

Pipe along your design. Again,I had to improvise here, however, the Dream Tree worked like a dream! LOL!

Fill with your favorite fudge or chocolate bar recipe and cool.

Viola!

I'd love feedback on this so if you try it please tell me how it turned out.

Share pictures! :)

Thanks!

Mini Peppermint Meringue Cups with Ganache

Timothy LOVES these! He almost ate them ALL! :)

This recipe is from the Dec. issue of Martha Stewart.

(side note: My kids love that me and Martha have the same initials. And, yes, I am on a first name basis with Martha. Hehe!)

To give these cups their festive design, paint lines of red gel paste food coloring up the inside of an empty pastry bag before adding the meringue.

Meringue Cups

Vegetable oil cooking spray

3 Large egg whites, room temp

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. pure peppermint extract

Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Trace 16 circles onto 2 pieces of parchment paper using 1 3/4 inch cookie cutter. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray and top each with a sheet of parchment, traced side down (duh!)

Heat egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl of a mixer set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to the touch. (about 3 min.) Transfer bowl to mixer. Whisk on medium high speed until stiff peaks form. Beat in peppermint extract.

Paint 3 stripes of red food coloring up the inside of pastry bag and add egg white mixture. Pipe coils to fill each traced circle. Pipe up sides to create cups.

Bake until cups are crisp but not browned and lift off parchment easily, about 1 hour 30 min.

GANACHE

6 oz. bittersweet chocolate

1 cup heavy cream

Transfer chocolate to a heat-proof bowl. Bring cream to a gentle simmer in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Pour over chocolate, and let stand for 3 min. Stir until smooth. Loosely cover and refrigerate until firm. (1-1 1/2 hours)

Stir ganache, and transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch open star tip. Pipe ganache into the center of each meringue cup.

Garnish with candy cane.

Enjoy!

Christmas With Flair, Part Duex!

First off you have to check out the coffee mugs my boys made for their Grandma's. Aren't they cute!!

We are all getting in the Christmas Spirit. Crafts are flying and glitter is in EVERYTHING!!! LOL! I love it. This weekend we are glittering some snowflake ornaments and I can not WAIT to show you the teacher gifts!!!

Alas, but for now there's only a card.

Oh yeah. Emily, my grainy background is in and I am working on a tutorial for the chocolate. It's going a bit slow because one of the twins got SERIOUSLY sick this week. He has to miss his VERY FIRST basketball game and he is CRUSHED! He should be back in school next week so I should have it up next week. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

More Christmas Ideas!

I made calendars for Christmas one year and the Grandparents loved them, but it was an overwhelming task for me! Yet, every year they ask, "where's my calendar?" So this year I did calendars just on a smaller scale.

I thought they would fit perfectly beside the computer or on the shelf of a book case. And the best part was they were fun, not stressful!!

I found the frames at Michael's and got the calendars from Designer Digitals. All paper and embellishments were from my stock pile. (A little of everything!)

Happy crafting!

Christmas With Flair!

I am READY for Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't finished my shopping, I haven't finished my Christmas cards, and I have TONS of baking to do!! But I'm ready for the Spirit to fill me with His joy. To know that through all this madness of life He is still with me and He is the reason for me. (if you can't tell... it's been a long and very hard week for my hunny and me). So making this card put a smile on my face and I hope it does yours too!

Prince Of Peace is absolutely one of my FAVORITE stamps!!!! If the artist is reading this or if you know who drew this one, please let me know! :) This was the first Unity stamp I ever bought. LOVE IT!!!

Next is a creation of mine. Now don't laugh too hard because this was my first run. I will keep practicing until it is perfected! ;)

This is CHOCOLATE!!!!

Isn't it WILD!!! I'm waiting for the arrival of my grainy background stamp. When I get it, I will be making Chocolate bark (Thank you Martha Stewart!) as Christmas gifts! I'm so excited! I will absolutely share the final project, but I thought the practice run came out pretty good... and it's almost gone!!! LOL!

Have a great weekend!!!


Unity Stamps: Dream Tree

Christmas Time!

I LOVE crafting at Christmas time! Every year I do ornaments for all the grandparents. This year our ornaments look like this...

Lots more coming, but for now... sleep.

I'm nursing a cold that is really kicking my butt!

YUMMO!!!

It is that time of year again. You know, when you bake all those yummy treats and put on 10-20 pounds!!! LOL! My first request was for a pumpkin roll for Thanksgiving. One of our family faves! I make 2 just for my house! This was the first one (they got better as I practiced).

Pumpkin Roll

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup pumpkin (canned solid pack)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup flour

Grease cookie sheet and line it with wax paper then grease the wax paper. Combine all ingredients together and spread evenly over the wax paper. Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans if desired. (I don't) Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Take out of oven and sprinkle with powered sugar on the top. roll up in a dish towel and let it cool completely in the refrigerator for one hour.

1 8 oz. pack cream cheese

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 cup powered sugar

Remove the pumpkin roll from the refrigerator and roll it back out.

After combining all ingredients for the filling spread the filling evenly over the pumpkin roll. Roll the pumpkin roll back up and refrigerate it for at least one hour.

Enjoy!

FWF Friday! Circus Style!

This was one of the BEST trips we've ever made! It was spur of the moment and the boys had never been before... I went in school, but I guess they don't do that anymore. Anyway, I add color to the stamps using rub-ons. I think it's just the right touch. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Birthday, Birthday, and MORE FWF Birthday!

It's official... My twins are 11!!! I can't believe how fast it's going!

I put A LOT of thought into their birthday party this year and I think they really enjoyed it (at least I hope so).

Here's the CAKE...

The decorations. I made this candy steamer using an idea on the Martha Stewart show. It was glittery and fun.

The theme was skater dude, guitar,and bikes with lots of color. It's hard decorating for a bunch of boys.

Thankfully I got my girlie style on when doing this card for our neighbor.!

I used another stamp for the inside sentiment.

That's all for today!

Have a GREAT weekend!

I've been published!

I'm the type of person that feels everything should be leading to something. I often approach my crafting with that mindset, so I REALLY wanted to see a project and my name in print! It FINALLY happened with the July issue of Cards!

So fun!!! :)

Post-Halloween Friends With Flair

I had planned on posting this last Friday, but with the twins birthday party, I never had time to so I hope you enjoy a little late halloween layout! :)

My favorite pictures from last halloween's traditional carving of the pumpkin!

Love this pumpkin! And that ribbon stamp really! Really I love all Unity! he!he!


Hope you have a wonderful weekend and find some time to stamp!!!