Good Grief Girdie's blog

computer problems..............sorry

 

 

I am having some computer problems and hope to get them solved soon............what a way to start out the new year........

 

 

Christmas Photos.........

 

 

 

 

My cousin from California was here and staying with mom.  We had Christmas Eve at Mom's house this year.  We haven't seen our cousin since 1995! So it was fun to see her again and the first time she has met Caryn!

 

 

I think she is a little tired and I have no idea the look on his face..........goof ball!

 

 

Christmas morning opening presents......this is the photo scrapbook I made for these two of their wedding/engagement/showers/receptions!

 

 

Christmas Dinner................You know the day went by so fast I didn't get very many photos!  And I am disappointed because the ones I did take won't  download?????????????? Who knows why?  Oh well we had a wonderful day and hope you all did too!  I am ready for the New Year and excited to get started on my new classes and start creating once again!

 

Enjoy the rest of your holiday and have a great weekend!  I will be back at the first of the week with some new stuff!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas to all....................

 

Merry Christmas to all and Blessings for the New Year..................!

new character construction stamp line for 2014

 

Let me just give you a little taste of the new Catherine Moore's Character Construction stamp line for 2014 ! You are going to LOVE this whimsical CIRQUE stamp set..........Get ready!!!!  More to come on these Calendars and Classes.......after the holidays!

 

Have a great monday before Christmas

the stockings are hung.................

 

Yes the stockings are fianlly hung and I am so ready for the festivities to begin.....how bout you?

I have found a little time to bake, get my Christmas menu together and set the table ahead of time!  The kids arrive tomorrow and I want everything and all the little details done so we can enjoy them and have time to play games, eat and just hang out together!

Here is the table, I changed it up with a little color from what I had used for my girls bracelet party last week.

I took out the white gladiolas and added red tulips.......the greenery was still okay to use once again and I took off all the candles except the candleabras........since we will be eating at 1:00 I didn't think we needed candles........and for the napkins I used red christmas plaid ribbon and red and green candy canes with names for the place cards tied with gold and white twine...........

 

 

 

I replaced the gold and silver chargers for red so I could use my red and white dishes.........

 

 

And for another holiday recipe I have this amazing Caramel Corn my friend Jill gave me!  So easy and really really good!

 

Caramel Corn

 

3 bags buttered microwave popcorn ( already popped)

2 sticks butter

2 cups brown sugar packed

1/2 cup Karo syrup

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

 

In saucepan melt the 2 sticks butter and brown sugar, salt and corn syrup.  Bring to a boil and let boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Take off and add the soda and vanilla.  Pour over the popped popcorn and mix well.  Bke at 250 turning every 15 minutes for a total of 45 min.  Let cool and break apart......try not to eat to much!  So easy and really delicious! 

 

Happy weekend before Christmas.............

 

 

 

holiday salsa..........

 

I found this recipe in one of my new holiday magazines.....Taste of Home Holiday 2013.....I served at my bracelet girls party last week and I gave the recipe to my friend Susan to make for me.......Let me just say this first , addiction!  You cannot keep your hands out of this I promise!

 

Holiday Salsa

 

1 pkg. fresh cranberries

1 cupsugar

6 green onions

1/2 cup cilantro chopped

1-2 seeded and chopped jalapeno peppers (or more if you like it hot)

1 pkg. cream cheese softened

assorted crackers

 

Place the cranberries and sugar in a food processor: cover and pulse until coarsely chopped.  Transfer to small bowl.  Stir in the onions, cilantro and pepper.  Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight!

To serve, place cream cheese on a serving plate.  Drain salsa and spoon over the cream cheese.  Serve with crackers.........

 

Please try this and let me know how you like it.............

 

Happy wednesday.............December 18 2013!

one stop shopping.........

 

If you have that one special person on your christmas list who has everything and you don't want to face the mall, I have a solution!  Stop by the Paper Crown for the answer!  Gift certificates not only for the creative person but Cindy also has Jewelry, gift items and of course any kind of paper art supplies you will ever see!  I am just trying to help you little elves!

 

I am off to start my shopping toooooooooooooooo..........I am so behind!

party fun...........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had mentioned in one of my post about the stars I made for each of the guests.........remember our class at the Paper Crown that Holly taught the lace ships.........well I decided to make these stars. Super fun and I kinda cheated.......( sorry Holly)  after sewing the first 3 or 4 I thought I better do something a little different or I would still be sewing these stars...............I used glue to adhere the lace onto the wire stars.  Each star is a little different and they were used for placecards for each guest!  I love the look and it was a little treat for them to take home.  Since the theme started out with the stars I wanted to carry it out in  my table..............

 

 

I kept it neutral this year............to start off I used for the table runner for the centerpiece torn out pages from old books........my everyday white dishes, chargers in gold and silver, textured place mats, cream colored napkins that I tied with ribbon and tucked a piece of greenery in each............

 

 

 

 

I punched out some silver and gold glitter paper stars....... I had some leftover snowflake confetti that I sprinkled all over the table..........You can see in the photos above how I stuffed paper into each of the candleabras to hold each candle............

 

 

this is with the candles lit and evening light..........on each chair I tied this ribbon ( purchased at Sam's) and tied just in a knot with a piece of glitter garland.....super simple and my kind of decorating.  I don't spend a bunch of money buying new things.............I try and use what I have and go with it.  The greenery is from last weekends party we went to and they gave each of the wives the centerpieces so I recycled the greenery........ I did buy the gladiolas for the centerpiece and the eucaluptus bells!

 

 

Before we ate we had a little sparkling cider and a delicious dip..........

 

Add a little crystal sugar to the rim of each glass with a cute little candy cane hanging from the side.....

I have a great recipe we used for the appetizer but my assistant ( Susan) has my book that the recipe came from.........I will share it with you next week.  It is one you will love and use for the holidays, I promise you.....here is a photo!

 

 

The glasses on the main table had white candy canes on each goblet.......just those simple little touches add a little festive look...........

 

Well I hope you enjoyed these photos and just look at decorating a festive table with what you have.  It does not have to always be red and green.........you can still get the same holiday look with other colors and throw in a little tradional colors here and there!

To end the night have a Coffee/tea/hot chocolate bar set up.........something always fun to serve at the end of a fun evening........some people don't like coffee so they have a choice of other warm drinks on a cold wintery holiday evening...........

 

Happy Holiday entertaining to all............

pixie fun.........

 

French Donuts and creating go hand in hand.........at least in my book they do!  I have made these many times and they are still some of my favorite little goodies! ( especially in these cute little cupcake holders my friend Jill gave me)

 

 

 

We had a fun evening creating these cute little Pixie House ornaments.........everyone put their own little twist into creating these magical little boxes! We used different Christmas Papers, Glitter, Rhinestones, Bottle Brush trees we sprayed with Glimmer Mist/chalkboard spray and painted the houses with acrylic paint.............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well girls you did it and they are so adorable!  The houses and images are from our friends at Paper Whimsy.............As you can see on the images some of the girls have blue and some are green!  When I ordered these they had both colors on each sheet so the girls had their choice!  And for those 4 gals who were not able to come because of the weather we have your kits at the store for you to pick up! We missed you!

 

I guess this is my last class for 2013!  Oh what fun we have had.......at least I have!  You girls are amazing...........The friendships made in these classes with fellow creative minds are far beyond what I thought would ever happen when I started teaching at the Paper Crown 7 years ago!   We are working on our 2014 calendar and hope to see you all in the New Year!  Wishing all of our Paper Crown friends a Merry Christmas and a Creative New Year!

 

monday morning..........and a giveaway winner!

 

Good morning to you all and hope you enjoyed your weekend.........before I announce the winner I just thought I would show you something a little fun and so affordable to decorate with..........if you have some old bottles and a few little brush bottle trees, and a little sticky tape, add the trees on top of your bottles with the tape........if the bottle opening is to big stuff a cork in it and then add the tree on top of the cork.........nestle it into some greenery and you have a fun little decoration!

 

The winner of the brown/antler bottle is Robin!  Congratulations Robin and I will get this to you this week..............Thank You to all who left comments!  I love to hear each one of your traditions!  I guess that is the last giveaway for 2013!  

 

Enjoy your week ..........hopefully you are warm and cozy!