A Hawaiian Snowball...

We live in Hawaii. We don't get snow here, except when it's delivered by the truckload to an aunt or uncle's house...whoopee! Andrew (my little one) and Daniella (my niece) got to play for a few hours in the snow yesterday at a friend's house. They had a ball making snowballs--well okay, Andrew much more than Daniella, LOL--and we (the adults) had a ball watching them!

Hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright!

Summer =)

Happy Advent to you!

Can you believe it's December already? I cannot. I'm definately in denial, wishing I had a few weeks ago back again so that I could properly prepare for the coming of this glorious season! One thing I got right, I made sure to have my little one's Advent Calendar ready for this day, the first of Advent! It's a little something he looks forward to each year, the opening of the little windows on the calendar countdown to Christmas! I was quite surprised to find that a few of the Belles 'n Whistles Stamps characters had actually made it onto this year's calendars! If you look closely, you'll see what I mean! Gingerbread Love, Belle's Carols, Jingle Bells and Rockin' Around...they're all on there!

Oh alright, you got me...I photoshopped them in! But darn they look as if they belonged there in the first place, don't they? LOL! ;D That's how adorable Elisabeth's designs are (as you know)!

Mini tutorial:

How-to enjoy your Chocolate Advent Calendar, Day 1

1. Hunt for and then open window number 1

2. Expose chocolate piece

3. Pop chocolate out of window to reveal the Christmas image molded onto the candy

4. Place chocolate between teeth, bite down and enjoy!

Now if you haven't joined us over at the Belles 'n Whistles blog yet for our daily Advent Giveaways, please do! We're counting down the days to Christmas and would love to have you join in! Each day starting December 1 and through Christmas, one lucky winner will be selected to receive an Advent Goody Bag made up of Prima flowers, some embellishments and an assorted mixture of Magnolia and Alota Rubber stamps! Each bag will also contain a Belles 'n Whistles rubber stamp of course...in all, a value of more than $25, each day! Christmas day will hold an extra something-special for it's lucky winner, but I'm not telling just what, not yet! But besides the great opportunities to win some goodies, we'll be showcasing some wonderful projects by the fabulous Belles 'n Whistles Design Team so do join us each day!

Here is the posting I used for the first day of Advent yesterday! I had the honor of "opening" the Advent Calendar's first day on the blog...very exciting! A week prior to that, I shared with this decorated bag below, sporting the very cute stamp, Jingle Bells on it. Yesterday I got to share the gift I had created to go along with this bag!

A few of my favorite things about Christmas are the sights and smells and sounds of the holiday! My jingley bells on the bag are a favorite Christmas sound of mine...now I share with you an easy-to-put-together gift that captures the sights and smells nicely...Lighted Potpourri!

A few supplies are all that's required: A glass jar (I chose to work with a glass block from my local craft store), some potpourri, a set of miniature lights (plug-in or battery operated, whichever you prefer) and some ribbon or other Christmassy embellishment.

Start by inserting a few of your miniature lights into the bottom of the glass jar/block.

Next, add some potpourri.

Work in layers alternating a few lights then some potpourri, a few more lights and a bit more potpourri until you've filled your glass jar or block. Take the time during this step to position lights as you'd like them to show in the jar.

Last, finish by hiding the light's wires with your ribbon or other Christmassy embellishment. Turn off the house lights and enjoy! The soft warmth of the lights will help to gently release the wonderful smell of your Christmas potpourri...I'm using a Holiday Cranberry scent, yum! Talk about lighting the way to Christmas! ;D A simple gift to make though sure to brighten someone's day (and night)!

Alright now, I want you all to go to the Belles 'n Whistles Blog to sign-up for a chance at winning one of the Advent Goody Bags! =)

Enjoy the sounds, the sights and the smells of Christmas!

Summer =)

Ho-ho-wholy Cow...Two cards!

Well it's the most I've made in as short a period of time for as long as I can remember, LOL! Two cards in two days, whew! We've kicked off the Belles 'n Whistles Christmas release with an awesome Blog Hop...wanted to share with you two of the new Elisabeth Bell stamps here--the very cute Rockin' Around and The Christmas Tree! Belle and here teddy are whisked away to fun times when upon their trusty steed! I tried to make him a little Pinto! =)

Copics, Primas, Ice Stickles and Basic Grey DP...that's about it for this one! ;D

For the Belles 'n Whistles Blog Hop, the project I created was a holiday desk-top scene. I chose to use the very sweet stamp Belle Sitting with Teddy. She's a wonderfully versatile little Belle! Here, I decided to have her sitting in front of the Christmas tree, waiting for Santa! Either she's waiting for him or she's looking at the tree, wondering why I didn't do more decorating on it for her, LOL! Okay--no, she's waiting for Santa. And we're getting an outsider's view of her and her favorite teddy through her decorated Christmas window! The tiny part of the tree you see is actually "The Christmas Tree". And once again, the wonderful Elisabeth Bell has designed some other real lovelies to go along with The Christmas Tree--you can see them all in the store!

The wall of the house (DP) is from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper pad, the window frame and portion of a front door was stamped using an Alota Rubber Stamp called Screen Door. The window is a piece of acetate, the curtain--a portion of a paper napkin. The half-wreath on the door and the lighted bough above the window are Canadian pine stems from the local craft store. And the lights are battery-operated minis which I've carefully made to look as though they are part of the bough.

And yes! Belle's lights actually do light! (She was surprised to see this herself, even on the balls of her tree, LOL!)

A side view...

The only thing missing is a holiday greeting...I haven't yet decided whether to add that now or wait and turn this into a little count-down-to-Christmas calendar, with some calendar numbers in the upper corner.

Now I also baked cookies for the hop, so I'll share the recipe with you here as well....the cookies Belle decided she wanted to leave for Santa are called Chocolate Krinkles. We baked a bunch up, just to be sure they were delicious enough....they were! So we'll be sure to bake another batch on Christmas Eve again since we've eaten all of these, LOL!

Chocolate Krinkles
2-3/4 C all purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
2-3/4 tsp baking powder
1-1/8 C shortening or butter
2-3/4 C sugar
1 C Cocoa powder
6 eggs
1 Tb pure vanilla extract
1 C powdered sugar

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside. In another bowl, cream together shortening, sugar and cocoa. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add vanilla and beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mix and mix until combined. Chill dough at least 2 hours in the refridgerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop dough by tablespoons into the powdered sugar and roll to coat well. Bake on greased cookie sheets for 10-12 minutes. Let stand on cookies sheet for a minute before loosening them to cool on wire racks.

Yields about 4 dozen.

Other outstandingly wonderful Christmas creations can be found on the Belles 'n Whistles DT blogs here...

1 - Rosette
2 - Lynda
3 - Kathrin
4- Jacque
5 - Iris
6 - Anki
7 - Jodi
8 - Lilian

Christmas is coming....time to start Rockin'!

Summer =)

Belles 'n Whistles Fall Release Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Belles ‘n Whistles Fall Release Blog Hop….whooo hooo! There's a new set of yummies coming to the store tomorrow, September 19th, so I’m glad that you’ve joined us! If you've landed here from our Belles 'n Whistles blog, under the direction of Anki, our wonderful "Mistress of Ceremonies", great...continue on! If you've accidentally stumbled here on your own, take a moment go to our Belles 'n Whistles blog to start the hop off right--you'll be glad you did! ;D You will want to be sure to visit each of the DT members blogs during your hop and leave comments while you are there…the end result will have you back at our Belles ‘n Whistles blog for a chance at winning a complete set of the new Elisabeth Bell beauties you are about to view!

Now this is no ordinary blog hop—oh no! This is a yummy one, full of delectable treats for your eyes as well as your taste buds (should you choose to indulge with us later, LOL!)! You’ll soon see what I mean!

There’s something about Fall that gets me excited! Perhaps it’s the cooler morning and evening hours—cool enough for long-pant pajamas and socks, yummy soup dinners or hot chocolate with whipped cream for dessert, mmmm! Perhaps it’s the anticipation of all of the yummy holidays soon to come! In any case, Fall is a wonderful season! So wonderful, it got me motivated to participate myself in this scrumptious Fall blog-hop release, LOL!

I’ve chosen to showcase the new stamp called, “Mmm! Yes Please!”. “How absolutely adorable!”, is what I thought when I first laid eyes upon them in Elisabeth’s gallery! This pair is truly a favorite of mine! ;D And what an appropriate scene for fall…a nice toasty pie, fresh-from-the-oven, shared with a loved one! Mmm, yes please! I’ve colored them in using Copics and have accented here and there with my favorite embellishment—Diamond Ice Stickles!

Now to go along with the yummy stamp image is a yummy treat for you to try, Quick and Easy Apple Dumplings! Here is the recipe I use:

INGREDIENTS
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
2 (10 ounce) cans of refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew

DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Cut each apple into 8 wedges, peel and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in a triangle of crescent roll dough. Pinch dough to seal around the apple and place the dumplings in your baking dish. In a small saucepan, melt butter and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Spoon this mixture over the apple dumplings then pour the Mountain Dew over them. Bake these for 35 to 45 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

The dumplings finish baking in a wading-pool of delicious syrup--their bottoms are soft and theirs tops nice and crisp. The syrup can be spooned onto the scoop of vanilla ice cream that really ought to accompany these treats…mmm, mmmm! I like to remove the dumplings from the pan and serve them right away. =)

Before I sign-off, guess who's comment was randomly chosen from all of the wonderful suggestions regarding how this new release should be done (Belles 'n Whistles blog post, September 8)......the lucky winner of one new Fall image stamp of her choice is.......Alex!

Alex said... I LOVE blog hops! I really enjoy seeing what people create with the stamps. I think it shows them off so nicely and often I find I love ones when used that didn't grab me as much just seeing the image. Blog hop -please!!! :)September 10, 2009 2:02 AM So Alex, please contact me with your information and chosen stamp design! Congratulations! =)

Well now my posting here is done, yet we've only just begun! You'll need to hop over next to Iris' scrumptious blog to see what goodies lie in store for you there! Don't forget to leave your comments at each blog and to check out the Belles 'n Whistles store September 19th for the new stamps!!

Summer =)

Happy Birthday to you...(I'm singing)

happy birthday TO you, happy BIRTHday dear Rosette, HAPPY birthday TO YOU!!!

Woweee! Three special friends birthdays, all in the same month! And they are all such wonderful people!

Dearest Rosette, may your day be filled with peace, with joy and with happiness and may He bless you, today and always, with everything that makes your vibrant spirit sing, your cheerful heart rejoice, and your birthday absolutely beautiful!

With much love and aloha Rosette!

Summer =)

How to Summer, Part II

Go to the Beach! A friend of ours asked us to come along with he and his family to the Sandbar over in Kane'ohe bay today...what a treat! We jumped on his boat and headed for a quick drive out across the bay to the infamous Sandbar, where the tide is low enough here to expose a nice loooong bar of sand. People take their boats out to the bar, anchor and set-up for a day at the beach with tents, barbeques, beach chairs and more!

A little more sunscreen on my arms and legs would've been really nice! By the day's end, my legs were as red as a lobster (or so it seems, LOL!) after sitting out on the beach chair in the sun all day.
The best way to cool down after a loong day out in the sun?

Ice cream, of course!

Though not just any ice cream, oh no! 2 scoops Baskin Robbin's: Cherries Jubilee and World-Class Chocolate (on the bottom)...yum, YUM! =) Nothing could be finer after a long day in the sun, LOL!

Hau'oli la hanau 'ia 'oe...

hau'oli la hanau 'IA 'oe, hau'oli LA hanau 'ia Jodi, HAU'OLI LA hanau 'IA 'oe! Well! How's that? Two good friends and DT member's birthdays, one right after the other! That means I am TWO cards behind now...yikes!!

Dearest Jodi, I hope you had a wonderful, stupendous day today (despite your having been at work until 3...you should've taken the day off or called in sick, LOL!)! I know you already got a fabulous gift from Bryan...have fun learning how to use it! Hope you went out and had a yummy dinner somewhere, followed by cake and ice cream too, mmmmmm! A very happy birthday to you with many, many more to come Jodi!!

Hugs to you!
Summer =)

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday TO you...

Happy BIRTHday dear Peta,

HAPPY BIRTHday TOOOOO YOU!!!

Today my dear friend (and DT member) Peta is celebrating her *!COUGH!*27th *!AHEM!* birthday, right Peta? I may be wrong...it may be her 26th! As usual, I am late with a card and gift. SNIFF. I'm late with the card because I need to make one. I haven't MADE a card in months! SNIFF, SNIFF. I'm late with the gift because I am late with the card that I have not yet made, because I haven't made a card in months. SNIFF, SNIFF, HONK.

Dearest Peta, my birthday wish for you is that you have a joyful, wonderful today (with many more today's like it to come!), surrounded no doubt by the love of your family and the love of your friends, both there and here at Roses on Paper. I hope you enjoy your special day to the maximum, that your birthday wishes come true, and that you'll eat lots of cake and ice cream for me too--chocolate please! Your card & gift will be on their way, soon as I make a card!

Biggest hugs to you Peta!
Summer =)

How to Summer, Part I

Enjoy the Day!

The colors of the rainbow are a beautiful sight, especially when adorned by the wonderful keiki (children) and hula dancers, whose graceful sways and waving arms tell the stories of old Hawai'i. This fun summer photo was taken during Keiki Day at the Bishop Museum in late May. My niece Daniella is haumana (a student) of Kumu Mapuana Desilva, Halau Mohala Ilima. The day was as beautiful as a rainbow with many hawaiian arts, crafts, foods and wonderful entertainment! A great way to spend a summer day!

Keep cool!

Slip-n-slide

How to:

• Plastic...you need a nice long piece of it!
• Water...the more, the better!
• A good running start...just don't fall before you hit the plastic, LOL!
• A nice dive...grace is not always possible
• Enjoy the ride!
  
  

I actually DID get to stamp!

A quick post because this is old news, but news nontheless...I actually DID get to stamp several weeks ago! My sister-in-law got married and I was asked to create the bridal shower invitations in colors that matched those of her wedding.
The shower was a Tea, held at one of our local Tea spots, Tea at 1024....

I stamped and I stamped, and stamped, and stamped...then I colored, and colored until my fingers wanted to fall off! Ice Stickles and Dew Drops and some 26 invitations later, I thought I'd had my fill of stamping for the rest of the year, LOL!
(Invites created using an image from the Greeting Farm's, Cup of Stuff set)...

Summer =)

Okay, and the winner is...

Congratulations to

Sonja of Stempelfan!

You were the random winner of my

Roses on Paper Blog Candy!!

Contact me with your address so that I can get your candy out to you!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and thank you most of all for visiting Elisabeth's blog to read the wonderful news for yourselves! It truly is exciting...more wonderful stamps will be coming our way in the very near future!

And the winner....

has been chosen! I will be posting who the lucky winner of the blog candy is a little later today...thanks for hanging in there everyone!

SWEET Somethings! (Blog Candy?!)

WELL! I haven't been around here for literally MONTHS, so I thought that I'd better make this first post of 11 weeks or so a very SWEET one, LOL!

SWEET SOMETHING number One:

Mmmm, mmmmm.....Malasadas!

Yesterday was Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It's a tradition here in Portuguese households in Hawaii to celebrate the coming of the Lenten season with a feast for dinner followed by Malasadas for dessert, hence the name "Fat Tuesday"! What is a Malasada you ask? Well, they are simply scrumptious bites of heaven! Deep fried balls of dough are tossed in a sugar coating when they are through......mmm, mmmmm! So last night was our annual Malasada frying, with the kids helping to toss them in the sugar. Did I mention, mmmm, mmmmm?!!

SWEET SOMETHING number Two:

My Little Sweetheart!

I've recently become a "Soccer mom" on Saturdays and a Flag Football mom on Sundays...my 5-yr old sweetheart is having sooo much fun, and we're having soo much fun watching him too! He's a "natural" when it comes to sports of all kinds and a real go-getter too!

SWEET SOMETHING number THREE:

Some really SWEET news!!

Perhaps you haven't heard, so I'll let you know right now...I am extremely fortunate and blessed to have the most wonderful opportunity to work this year with the most talented, most personable, gorgeous stamp artist out there today! Creator of the much loved Sugar Nellies' Sweet Art Ebony(Honey & Pip) rubber stamps, also the Guardian Angel and Willow & Oakley collections of Whiff of Joy, the amazing artist, Elisabeth Bell, will be illustrating a new line of rubber stamps, exclusive to Roses on Paper! Through her beautiful, "serendipitous" works, Elisabeth Bell's new line for Roses on Paper will surely tug at the heart strings, evoking memories of past and present, and thoughts of future dreams perhaps! Truly I am thankful to her and I welcome Elisabeth to the Roses on Paper Design Team with the widest of open arms!

And now SWEET SOMETHING number FOUR:

Some SWEET BLOG CANDY!

To celebrate my big news AS WELL AS year number 2 for Roses on Paper (Happy Birthday ROP!), I have some Blog Candy to give away! Now I want everyone to participate, Blog or no Blog, so this will be simple...leave a comment to this post (you do not have to have a blog to leave a comment), then go to Elisabeth's blog for more information about the exciting stamp news (2/9) and leave a comment on her post as well! The winner will be randomly selected on the eve of Wednesday, March 4th.

This SWEET blog candy includes: Basic Grey's new Porcelain 6 x 6 paper pad & matching Glazed Brads, a Memento Tuxedo Black Dew Drop Ink pad, Star Dust & Lime Green Ice Stickles, Lily Pad Dew Drops, Dress-up Tilda with Shoes and Jeans outfit by Magnolia Rubber Stamps and an assortment of Prima Hydrangeas, all of these available in my Roses on Paper store!

So what are you waiting for? Post your comments so that I can enter you in the drawing! = )