Holiday baking…

…is one of my very favorite things to do. I give away batches of cookies to everyone, family, friends, teachers, my mail lady, my UPS delivery guy, neighbors…just about everyone. And of course I keep a batch just for me {yum}. Here are some pics of us over the years making our fun cookies. From right to left is 2006, 2007, and then 2008 and 2009…yes, my 1 year old at the time is ever so delicately adding sprinkles to the spritz cookies in the last picture!

And silly me, I always try a new recipe. Luckily, they almost always taste good.

What’s luck got to do with it? Well, if you don’t know already, I’m just not a very good baker.

I either over bake, under bake, forget an ingredient, add too much of one…and forget about meringue. Those egg white are the bane of my existence.

But I love to bake holiday cookies. So I do.

And guess what?

People eat them. Not because they have to, but because they turn out pretty tasty.

Holiday magic at it’s best.

Here is a favorite, this is year 2 of making it. It’s gluten-free, so my best buddy can enjoy it, too!

 

(I am hopeful that you can click the picture above to go to a pdf file for the recipe…trying it for the 1st time)

Jodi over at Pleasant Home has been doing a very fun Christmas Cookie exchange. The button is on my right sidebar, or you can link up here. She’s had some awesome guest bloggers post some scrumptious recipes!

Have any favorites to share? Leave me a comment and Let me know. There is still plenty of time for more cookies!

Gift Card in a Pinch

Good afternoon!

Had to come up with a fast baby gift card today, and it was so easy! I used SU!'s new textured 3x3 note cards (So Saffron) and their Very Punny Set and it came together fast.

Stamp the image in Stazon Jet Black and color with watercolor pencils and your Aquapainter. I used generic colors as the card is for a friend who is newly pregnant and it's too early to know girl or boy. Punch out with Creative Memories' Square Maker (1-1/4") and mount with a SU! DP Almost Amethyst Square (1-1/2"). Mount a scrap of SU! DP Certainly Celery across card, add white grosgrain ribbon with sticky tape and add the image on top with a pop-up glue dot. I find these glue dots work well when there is ribbon underneath. Personalize the inside to fit the gift recipient and you are DONE!

Enjoy your day...as my friend Tina often says ~ onward!