Friday, December 3, 2010

The Stockings Were Hung…

VintageChristmasStocking

Good morning, my friends!

I’ve got lots to share with you today—been having so much fun making things after my creative break over Thanksgiving!

As you all know, I LOVE everything vintage—no real surprise there!  So I was so excited when a friend of mine told me about a wonderful new company you may not have heard of yet…

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 Vintage Street Market…Tutorials, nostalgic history, decorating ideas…such a fun place to visit and shop!  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some of this stuff! 

Most of their product as sold in kits—and their products are all original vintage items—no reproductions—which means there is a limited number of kits available.

And they’re just chock-full of fun!  Here’s their Retro Christmas Kit that I used for my projects today:

Retro Christmas kit

My first project…a fun Christmas stocking…

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These are the wonderful old drugstore Christmas stockings, that would be filled with candy and inexpensive little toys…love them!

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So easy to embellish with fun finds from the Retro kit…also used a bit of sheet music from a vintage caroling book they sell, too…I even used the tag from the vintage button packaging!

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I always try to personalize my projects with a bit of my family history, as you know…This wonderful old photo from the 1950’s is my Mom…complete with pin curls covering her head!

Mom is quite an artist—always has been!  Each year, her parents would have her paint her Christmas images on the large windows in the front of their Phoenix home for all to see…

Mom the Christmas Artist

Good job, Mom!

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A close-up of the fabulous Santa sticker…I remember things like this! 

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…and then there’s this beautiful old Bakelite button…I LOVE these almost as much as my mother-of-pearl buttons!

Next, a little Christmas hanging made with other elements of the kit…

CHristmas hanging

A vintage card from the ‘50’s, along with it’s envelope served as the focal point for this easy-peasy hanging…

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I just traced the envelope on some thick red cardstock and glued them together for more stability…added some beautiful chunky red German glass glitter along the edges of the envelope and a little Gold Glimmer Mist over everything for a bit more sparkle…

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I cut out the sentiment from the inside of the card (would NEVER ordinarily do that!) and I love the way it looks here…don’t you just love those retro/vintage fonts?!

…added a little vintage Christmas me from 1963…can you see the silver aluminum tree on my grandparent’s Phoenix patio?  A warm Christmas morning so long ago…

…and my favorite part--

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They  sell packages of these wonderful old reflectors!  If you’re not familiar with these, they were first used in the 1940’s.  They would be placed on the light string at the base of the bulbs to reflect a bit more light on the Christmas tree…magical!

Okay…now for something incredibly sweet!

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CANDY CANE PUFFS

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
package white chips
1/2 cup peppermint candies, crushed

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Combine flour and salt; set aside.

Blend together butter and sugar; beat in egg and extracts. Mix into flour mixture using low speed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate for one hour.

Shape dough into walnut-size balls; place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes; cool. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler (I just did it in the microwave).

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Dip cooled cookies into melted chocolate. Roll in crushed peppermints; set on wax paper until hardened. Makes about 4 dozen.

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Oh, my!  These are just delectable little bites, I promise you—and VERY easy to make!

The recipe came from one of my very favorite places—Gooseberry Patch!  It’s in their newest Christmas book (#12)…

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…filled to the brim with loads of Christmas decorating and gift ideas…and the recipes…goodness gracious!

Okay…one more thing to share…

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…another in my collection of vintage Christmas cards.  This one seemed quite appropriate for a Christmas stocking theme…charming little tops that might have been placed in a little child’s stocking on Christmas Eve so long ago…

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This was sent in 1938…the year in-between my parents’ births (Dad in 1937, Mom in 1939)…just look at that lovely font used for the sentiment (can you tell I love beautiful fonts?!)

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And besides the fabulous old stamp…get a load of the address…”City”.  That’s it!  What a simpler, wonderful time!

Well, that’s it for me today.  I hope you’re enjoying this first part of the beautiful month of December…so much to do…isn’t it exciting?!

See you soon with something new…

Julie

 

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26 comments:

  1. Julie,
    It was so good to hear from you. I am having trouble with my computer being able to answer directly from my site so you may not have heard from me. I am going to try to get on my "regular routine" of computer friends and happy sites as soon as I can. We are still in treatment plan phase.

    Just want to thank you. The kindness of friends is what is keeping me plugging on.

    Hugs,
    Suz

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  2. OOOH! Must check out that site, AND try those YUMMY looking puffs!! You need to have your own show!!

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  3. Candy cane puffs sound and look AMAZING! Oooh I had never heard of those before. Hope you and yours are well, my blog visits have been so limited recently so I'm enjoying catching up with your lovely posts! Great to see so many Christmas goodies x

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  4. Love what you have done with you vintage kit Julie! I'm gonna have to check out that site. And those candy cane puffs look heavenly....thanks for the recipe!! Have a great day.

    Hugs,
    Robin

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  5. Julie - you have me hungry almost every day hearing about all the yummy cooking going on in your kitchen. I can't wait to try these! And your mom IS one talented lady. I used to go over to hang out with Greg and Chris but really just ended up wanting your mom to teach me things. I could have spent hours in that craft room of hers! Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

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  6. Hi Julie, I love seeing all of your beautiful creations... I sooo remember getting those little net stockings full of treats at Christmas when I was a little girl... you treasure family memories as much as I do!... your recipe for candy cane puffs sounds delish!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  7. I'm so happy you found this site...it sounds like a candy store for you. And speaking of candy...the candy cane puffs looks delicious! :-)

    XO,
    Jane

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  8. Hi Julie,

    Wow, you've been busy like me!!!! Hey, does your mom still live here in Phoenix?? I live in Gilbert...maybe we should hook up.....LOL If anything, I'd be happy to check on her if you ever need it! Those peppermint things look truly dangerous, and I'm gonna' try really, really hard not to make them......yeah right. Thanks for the recipe, thanks for sharing your creativity and thanks for the images.

    Hugs,
    Meri

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  9. You are so amazing Julie..and I love this recipe! ;D

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  10. Am loving all this vintage stuff Julie! You are a girl after my own heart! When I was a girl, we used to get one of those drugstore stockings every year for Christmas. Oh how excited we were when we were opening them! I wonder if they still make them? The recipe looks fantastic too. I am wondering now if I could get the peppermint candies! I would love to make these. They look so pretty and delicious! I am loving that everyone is getting into such a holiday mood! I am sending you lots of love and hugs on this cold December morning! Have a lovely weekend my sweet and talented friend! xxoo

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  11. Those kits look wonderful, I'm going to check them out! I remember those dimestore stockings. hows that for showing my age.LOL
    I can't imagine how anyone would get their mail with just city written on it ! Wow, it was a simpler time. Great projects Julie, Your an inspiration!

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  12. Your lovely posts always remind me of my childhood. Thank you for all the nostalgia. Happy memories. X Anne X

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  13. oh Miss Julie
    you always have such wonderful heart felt posts here. I love all your vintage treasures/projects you have shared here...and those candy cane puffs are making my mouth water at 7 am! :) thank you for always sharing so much with us! have a wonderful weekend m'dear!

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  14. Fantastic projects and that new compnay looks right up your street! I love them all but adore the stocking - just perfect! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  15. Oh Julie! What a cheery way to begin my morning! I am smiling from ear to ear with all of the vintage goodness. I always throw away vintage envelopes, not any more! What a super idea. I have this GBP book, and will definitely have to make these cookies. You make them look so extra yummy. (GBP has asked me to contact them, I'm so excited to see why!) Have a lovely December weekend! E

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  16. Julie you make the sweetest stuff! the stocking is especially sweet. I need to hop over and check that link out. I've decided I might like to collect vintage reindeer. maybe they have some there!
    have a great weekend. Mine will be very busy.. FIl passed away yesterday, Jennifers show opens tonight and plays all weekend and hopefully Bethany will have her baby!
    hugs!
    vivian

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  17. Wow...candy canes/peppermints are my favorite treat of the season and those looks SO unique and amazing! Love your blog!

    xx
    Rebekka

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  18. Julie,
    I just love everything you do! I remember old stockings filled with candy... Your santa card on it makes it extra special. Your christmas goodies look delish, I am going to print it out and make some. Thanks for all your sharing.
    Blessings and hugs~
    Gwenny

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  19. You my friend...amaze me in everyway!!!! Everytime I visit you my heart sings.... JOY JOY JOY

    Happy weekend...how can it be the weekend already?????

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  20. Oh, I Love the vintage cards! Thank you! What a neat website! Thanks for the link, I'd never heard of it before. Have a great weekend! Twyla

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  21. "Oh what fun it is to craft"...wonderful Julie!

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  22. EVERYTHING VINTAGE INDEED! And those dear mesh stockings bring me much happiness and memories. Dearest, thank you for coming and leaving a kind word. This is truly a magical time, isn't it?

    Come on over anytime and those delectable sweets look great!

    Anita

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  23. That kit looked like a treasure trove!!!!!!! LOVE it all & of course you worked MAGIC with it. The photo of your Mom in those bobby pins was a hoot (her art work amazing... I see where you get your talent)& you were adorable in that photo you used on your project. Thank you for your sweet words on my post about my favorite book & our family photo with Santa. HUGS my sweet talented friend enjoy the weekend! Charlene

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  24. Those cookies look amazing! love all the vintage cards and christmas items....Karin

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  25. Popping in to say Happy Sunday morning! I keep having visions of your beautiful candy cane puffs and think these need to be in a magazine! They are gorgeous!

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  26. (not sure if my last post went through) I wanted to tell you that I am following along with your sweet blog too! And thanks so much for your kind comment. Also btw...did you know that Diane aka Saturday Finds is my sister in California?

    Hope you have had a lovely Sunday...be back soon! :)

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