The Blu Print: December 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

12 Days of Baking–Countdown to Christmas

Santa’s Whiskers

Refrigerator or "icebox" cookies with chopped cherries and pecans, rolled in flaked coconut. Festive and easy!

Makes about 60

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-cup red candied cherries, finely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 cup flaked coconut

In a large mixer bowl beat butter till softened. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add milk and vanilla and beat well. Add flour and beat until well mixed. Stir in cherries and pecans. Shape into three 7" rolls. Roll in coconut to coat. Wrap and chill for several hours. Preheat oven to 375F. Cut into 1/4" thick slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 12 minutes or until done. Remove and cool.

Lots of yummy ingredients in these festive cookies. As we finish our countdown, I thought Santa was a perfect place to stop. So, ho,ho, ho and shop til you drop.

This our final post gives us a lot of last minute stocking stuffers that you better buy now.

Thank you for all your participation and support during our 3rd Annual Countdown to Christmas.

Now, SHOP!

KevsKrafts

Reindeer Christmas Bell Ornament Handmade From Ash Wood Rudolph Christmas Decoration

RSSDesignsInFiber

Crocheted Lace 21-Inch Doily - Red Flowers, Green, White Accent Decor

SewAmazin

Green Snowflake Santa Claus Padded Zipper Case, Gift Holder, Grab Bag

PrettyGonzo

Snowman Dangle Earrings Lampwork Glass Sterling Hooks Holiday Jewelry

CraftingMemories1

Crochet Bead Bangle Bracelet Red Green Clear Spiral Rope

bluemorningexpressions

Waterslide Decal - Christmas Santa

KatsAllThat

Red Green and Gold Holiday Beadwoven Superduo Cuff Handmade Bracelet

evezbeadz

Christmas Magic Embellished Porcelain Id Badge Reel Holder

http://www.butterfliesintheattic.com/

10 pcs Beach combed Sea Glass from the shores of Long Beach California

TheTwistedRedhead

Handmade Book Thong with Christmas Beads, Holiday Bookmark, Santa

Covergirlbeads

Lampwork Beads Transparent Sage Green Etched Sea Glass Silver 019efs

Wyverndesigns

Fairy Cottage Christmas Ornament Hand Sculpted From Polymer Clay

ShadowDogDesigns

Christmas Santa Skull Earrings Handmade Red Swarovski Sparkling Beaded

TheSingingBeader

Charming Red Jingle Bell Wirewrapped Earrings Surgical Steel Ball post

jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy

Bracelet Wrap Stack Green Beaded Fancy Jasper Gemstone metal Handmade

dianesdangles

Gold, Green, and Red Glass Acrylic Beaded Holiday Christmas Bracelet

There are many other gift ideas in our Countdown to Christmas series, so check out these other goodies:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12

More recipes and goodies:
Fruitcake cookies
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Coconut Cookies
Apple Cider Caramel Cookies
Chocolate Christmas Cookies
Snowflake Cookies
Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies
Pecan Tarts
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Angel Delights
Almond Puff Cookies
Peppermint Meltaways
Enjoy,

Julie and Blu

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Friday, December 5, 2014

Countdown to Christmas 2014 Week 12

Thank you for participating in our 3rd Annual

Countdown to Christmas

2014

It's here

It's time

Buy everything now or forever miss your chance

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code < -- Get your blog hop code here.

If anyone would like to join us on the Handmade Community Facebook page, please follow this link. I took the group over from Nikki about a month and a half ago (or so), and it is dedicated to handmade only. We are over 300 strong and working on networking. https://www.facebook.com/groups/handmadecommunity/

One more share of our ezine, and take a moment to grab more holiday recipes! Happy cooking and baking.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

12 Days of Baking–Countdown to Christmas

Peppermint Meltaways

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

FROSTING:

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar, milk, extract and, if desired, food coloring; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 3-1/2 dozen.

Lots of swirling red and white peppermints make these cookies just yummy to look at, let alone eat!

Here are more yummy things to look at, and you better snatch these up soon, or they will be like those cookies – GONE!

Nina scorner

Handmade Crochet Heart Placemats and Heart Coasters Set

specialtivity

Candy Cane Red and Pink Striped Wrapped Candy Handblown Glass Earrings

KevsKrafts

Cyber Monday Sale Christmas Bell With Candy Canes Ornament Handmade From Ash Wood

hollyknittercreations

Hand Knit Red and White Candy Canes on Parade Dish Cloth or Wash Cloth

SewAmazin

Peppermint Candy Red White Dog Scrunchie Neck Ruffle

RSSDesignsInFiber

Red Heart in White Irish Crochet Lace Trinket Doily - or Coaster - Set

PrettyGonzo

White Pearl Red Crystal Earrings Handmade Beaded Jewelry Swarovski

ResetarGlassArt

Red and White Christmas Necklace, Child on Snow Sled, Fused Art Glass

evezbeadz

Handmade Fat Jolly Old St Nick Glass Dangle Silver Plated Earrings

craftingmemories

Brick Stitch Beaded Red and White Lacy Heart Earrings

bluemorningexpressions

Necklace Red Spot White Black Dagger Bead Rubber Silver Plate Bail

Omisilver

Pink Jade and Guatemalan Ruby Jade Sterling Necklace

jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy

Earrings Handmade Bead Delicate Tierracast Angel Wings Red White Green

TheTwistedRedhead

Red and White Beaded Wristlet, ID, Key Holder, Handmade, Memory Wire

Covergirlbeads

Multi Use Leather Belt Purse Key Saddle Backpack Lampwork Bead Charm

Umeboshi

Red and White Square Handmade Post Earrings - Fused Glass

Wyverndesigns

Button Snowman Brooch Lapel Pin For The Holiday Season Wool Felt

IslandsOfTime

White Pink Art Glass Beaded Key Chain Black Pink Beads 1.25" Key Ring

KatsAllThat

Red and White Superduo Snakeskin Beadwoven Handmade Cuff Bracelet

ShadowDogDesigns

Christmas Candy Peppermint Earrings Handmade Lampwork Red White

TheSingingBeader

Whimsical Santa Face Head Earrings Lampwork Glass Gift Boxed

ElunaJewelry

Gemstone Stackable Rings, Set of Three (3) Red Blue and White Stone Rings, Fourth of July Jewelry

There are many other gift ideas in our Countdown to Christmas series, so check out these other goodies:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11

Julie and Blu

Monday, December 1, 2014

New Beads and the End of the Year

Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2014

What's New in December?

Here we are at another year closing, and many of my good intentions did not get realized. Hopefully, I have not disappointed anyone other than me and the dog, and he is fairly forgiving. However, when I look at the intentions, there were many that were probably not going to work anyway. I do spend a lot of time during my planning working on creating new designs or playing with new ideas, so when they don’t come to fruition, it is probably for the best. On the other hand, I got a lot accomplished as well.

In a mad rush to finish out the year with some sort of respectable amount of finished beads and products, I squeaked out another 20 plus beads and a couple finished watches. My pattern site grew by 300 patterns, and the site now has over 700 on it.

More Beads: I started replenishing my bead stock. I managed to get 22 new sets created. I did round, coin and tube bead styles. I went a little rose crazy!

Golden Globes: We will be participating in the gifting at the Golden Globes this year.

Everything is in my Artfire studio, my Etsy shop and my

website:

www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,

Julie & Blu

Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Watches: I finished up two watches, and I have others that are on the design board, which I hope to have finished this month.

Necklaces: I have a lot of new necklaces in the works that are simple chains. I got one parrot necklace done, and it already flew away to a new home.