Some more of the Christmas collection..
This photo looks a little blurry, but I just wanted to show what I've been up to :)
I'm finally making these sweet, adorable scrabble tile pendants and I'm having so much fun! I am busy as Buddy the Elf in my little workshop making these in time for holiday gift giving.
I've got so many ideas floating around in my head! I'll be adding these to my Etsy shop this week as well as my facebook page. I'll be making Colts, Twilight , Alice in Wonderland, lots of storybook characters and the most fun (I think) is I'll be making little house charms from my wood and scrabble tiles. CUTE!
If you have not heard of this yet, I'm hoping to help spread the word about this fantastic website and the wonderful idea this great man has. In the midst of all of the bad news we have been bombarded with lately, this is just so inspiring to me and I'm sure to many, many others.
"Lift our Nation’s spirit and help someone you know. Send a note of thanks or encouragement today. Write HOPE on the back of every envelope you mail. Let’s create 300 million messages of possibility and lift our Nation. "
Make Hope Happen
It’s easy to take part in the HOPE IS IN THE CARDS campaign.
- Send a card of thanks or encouragement.
Write and mail a real card, today. Send it to a friend, a family member, or anyone who might need a little lift in their life.
You can buy a card from any card shop or retailer in America. You can also view a list of retailers who support the Hope Is In The Cards campaign.
- Make your own card or buy one online.
- Write or stamp HOPE on the back of every envelope you mail.
- Participate in a HOPE event.
- For other ways to spread HOPE, check out our Friends of Hope.
New in my "Do Good" series
I'm offering this brilliant blue ornament holiday card as a FREE download on my blog as my way of spreading some holiday cheer!
Please leave a comment and let me know how you might use these cards to spread your own holiday cheer this year.
Thanks so much and have a sweet day!
xo,
Laura
This beautiful and inspirational poem written by Mother Teresa has inspired me to create a series of prints lovingly titled,
Do Good Anyway."
"In the Final Analysis"
by Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...
forgive them anyway
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...
be kind anyway
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
succeed anyway
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you...
be honest and frank anyway
What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...
be happy anyway
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...
do good anyway
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...
give the world the best you have anyway
You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway
What's halloween without some cute little ghosts? I haven't decided if I want them to be translucent or if they should be white????
Flaming Popcorn Balls
Popcorn balls are classic Halloween fare, but the slender chocolate flames that envelop these are hardly traditional. Rich caramel bolstered with honey coats the popcorn and holds the spheres together. After popcorn balls are formed, melted chocolate is generously spooned over them so that it drips down the sides. Once the chocolate cools and hardens, the popcorn balls are flipped over. Grab your own before the party begins; the combination of chocolate, caramel, and crunch will make these treats a disappearing act.
Flaming Popcorn Balls Recipe
Makes 20 to 30
40 cups popped popcorn (2 cups kernels)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), cut into pieces
1/2 cup honey
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 fourteen-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
5 ounces marshmallows (about 20 large)
30 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1. Set popcorn aside in a bowl. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray; set aside. Combine butter, honey, and sugar in a 4-quart saucepot over medium heat; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon. When mixture begins to boil, stop stirring, and cook until dark amber around sides of pan, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in milk. Add marshmallows; stir until melted.
2. Pour caramel over popcorn; mix with wooden spoon to coat. When cool enough to handle, after about 3 minutes, spray hands with cooking spray; shape mixture into 3-inch balls. Place on baking sheets to cool for 15 minutes.
3. Using a small spoon, drip chocolate over popcorn balls and down sides. When chocolate has cooled, store popcorn balls in a plastic container. These may be made 2 to 3 days in advance.
recipe from
Martha Stewart
Best Ever Popcorn Balls
5 quarts popped popcorn
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine
2 teaspoons cold water
2 5/8 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup marshmallows
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
Grease hands with vegetable shortening and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls.
Makes 20 popcorn balls
Here's a sneak peak at some of the new designs in the works. I've been through so many changes in my life this year and one of the hi-lights is definitely this time of year.
I have moved to a new home/new town, and said good-bye to my oldest daughter who moved to Florida recently to explore a new and brighter life for herself. As much as I miss having all 3 of my little goblins to dress up for halloween, I'm having fun getting out all of my decorations collected from the years and of course, making new designs for this oh so fun holiday!
Look for more to come...
xo,
Laura
