I Give UP. Onto Christmases Past.

What is it about this time of year? I swear I claim I do not stuff our schedule with happenings but it seems I do not have the time to continue creating anything. It's a matter of priorities. So, I'm officially giving up on the 12 Days of Ornaments. But I made it 5 days. Last year I only made it 3! Improvement! So maybe next year I'll make all my ornaments in November and save them to share.  (Of course, you know as soon as I say this, I'll be able to get in the studio every night until Christmas and create. It's Murphy's Law. We believe in that...)

So, in honor of my blatant quitting, I'm sharing a post from last year where I made ornaments. (Hopefully you won't think less of me for re-blogging, and lump me in with your feelings toward re-gifters. I mean well. *smile*) They were pretty, plus the post includes my daughter's famous Ginger Snap cookies. They are famous really. Everyone requests them. In fact, this year my father contacted her to make 6 dozen cookies for his cookie exchange at work and he would PAY HER. Being only 11, this was her first job and she knocked it out of the park! She was also paid by her grandma to make another 6 dozen, although we used the tried and true peanut butter w/Hershey's kisses recipe.

Oh! I forgot to mention I did create something recently. A card for my Secret Santa recipient. I hope he/she likes it! (the colors at the bottom are not really red/white/blue. They're more cranberry, cream and aqua. The do actually match the card.)

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Here is the post from last year:

Yes, the Christmas muse is still visiting. But she is getting tired of the same hot chocolate and homemade ginger snaps I'm serving everyday so she is eager to move on to someone else's studio. Anyone willing to invite her over for a visit? She's hogging all the ginger snaps anyway. I'm partial to my dd's homemade ginger snaps (see recipe below.) *smile*



Red Lead has the most adorable Christmas collage sheets (just search by Christmas Collage.) Especially the vintage photos of children with Santa! I'm enthralled! And this trim they carry (blue trim above) is just like that sparkly icicle stuff you throw on the branches of your tree. I've been having fun playing with it!


New Christmas Ornaments for my tree. Is it too early to put it up, at least in the studio (if I ever get it cleaned?!!!)

The Little One's Ginger Snaps


Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup cooking oil or shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1/4-1/2 cup sugar (according to your sweet tooth's preference)
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
+ 1/4 cup sugar (for rolling)


Instructions:
Throw it all in a bowl together (except the last 1/4 cup sugar) and mix with an electric mixer. Shape into balls. Roll in the remaining sugar. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, depending on your oven (ours cooks it to perfection in 8 mins.) Cool cookies on wire rack. Arm yourself with a spatula to fend off cookie hogs, and enjoy! Makes 30-50 cookies.


Let me know if you try them, I wanna tell the little one. She loves to bake and always ruins my low carb eating when she makes these. We can't resist them!