Wednesday, December 8, 2010

We Need a Little Christmas…

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Good morning, my friends!

Are you ready for Christmas?  It’s really starting to feel like it’s in the air to me…such a wonderful time of the year!

I have a few things to share with you today…first a fun Christmas project…

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A bright & cheery retro Christmas scene…I’ll find a frame later! 

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More fun from Vintage Street Market’s “Retro Christmas” kit—so much to play with!  Here, some old Christmas cutouts…the tree, an old cutout from Hallmark…the Santa, just fabulous!

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Then, a bit of  vintage  family Christmas thrown in.  Here we have my grandparents, Dow & Velda, sitting quietly on a Christmas Eve in the 1950’s…

 

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A framed reminder of the big day!

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And a wonderful starburst “flower” made from a trio of vintage light reflectors, also from Vintage Street Market—love how they sparkle!  Topped by a cut-out circle from the same background paper & a vintage button from Vintage Street Market.

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And here, a reminder for me to just be still sometimes during this wonderful yet hectic season…my dear Grandmother, LaPriel, who died when I was so very young…quietly sitting and reading through Christmas cards at her dining room table…I love this picture.

Now, a glimpse of a little decorated corner of our house…

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A snowy, retro village scene on top of our old saloon player piano…I love how the lights reflect on the “snow”!

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I just love this set of lighted houses from Target’s Christmas collection some years back…along with an assortment of mismatched trees…

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Looks peaceful, doesn’t it?

And what’s Christmas time without a platter full of soft, delicious frosted sugar cookies (complete with a sprinkling of edible glitter!)?

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Here’s a wonderfully simple & very yummy recipe to share with you…

CUTOUT SUGAR COOKIES

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

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In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.  Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until 1/4 inch thick.  Using 2 1/2 inch cookie or biscuit cutters, cut out dough.  Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.

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POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING

In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp. milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Stir in additional milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time, to make a frosting of spreading consistency.  If desired, tint with paste food coloring.

(Recipe found in Better Homes & Gardens “100 Best Cookies” magazine).

And lastly today, two more Scotty cards from my personal vintage Christmas card collection…

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This little cutie was sent out to a dear friend in 1935…

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Isn’t this one unusual?  I love that little birdie!  This  was postmarked 1933…just adorable!

Well, that’s all for me today!  I hope your all having fun with your holiday preparations, and I’ll see you soon with something new…

Julie

27 comments:

  1. The Cheerio card is adorable. Thanks also for the cookie recipe. I have been looking for a good frosting! They are so cute!

    XO,
    Jane

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  2. You are amazing! It's always such a treat to stop by your blog and see what you've been up to in my absence!! Your new background is perfect (so YOU) and I just love all your vintage cards, decorations and stories!

    Hope you're getting further ahead than I am ... LOL!! Just not enough hours in my days lately! But I'll get there!

    OH YEA ... we have about 8" of snow here in Akron ... shall I send you some?? Take care my friend!

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  3. Hi Julie, what a festive post! I love your retro Christmas collage, how fun to include personal treasures from the past... your little vignettes look so pretty, love little lighted villages! And those little vintage cards are too sweet!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  4. I love the cards and I really love the village..so peaceful and pretty and the cookies even match..wow! ;D

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  5. Everything look so good. The cookies MMmmmmmmmmm!!!

    Ashlyn

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  6. Adorable projects again my friend!!! You always hit the mark! And those cookies look yummy. I LOVE making sugar cookies ALMOST as much as I LOVE eating them. But, you know the part I hate? After the dough gets stiff & there's still more flour to work into it. Thanks for sharing. HUGS!
    Charlene

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  7. Everything looks so pretty and festive! And did I read that there is actually EDIBLE GLITTER???? You know I'll be runnin' to the store to pick some up....PRONTO! ; )

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  8. So much goodness here today Julie, and you even baked! I love edible glitter. It's expensive, but does give such a lovely finish on things! Loved your creation as well, as usual very well thought out and put together and with a bit of family history included as well. I send lots of love and hugs from frigid Britain to hopefully sunny California!! xxoo

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  9. Those cookies look SO pretty and yummy, and I LOVE the vintage scotties!

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  10. I have a request... could you box up some of your energy and send it to me?? Throw in a bit of your creative juices as well. I love all that you do.
    One of my passions that I am admitting to finally is a love for Christmas villages. I love yours! Good ol' Tar-jay!! I am selling my Putz village in my booth this year.. or might.. since no one has been willing to purchase it yet. That's okay with me. If it does not sell, then it will come home with me and I will display it here.
    Those cookies look so yummy. I haven't started any real baking yet, but I have been cooking. I have two functions here at my home next week.
    Have a great day. And sit and read your Christmas cards. There is a message in that dear picture of yours.
    Hugs to a dear friend,
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  11. I want that kind of a Christmas, but I have too much work, not enough time to relax, and only 2 Christmas cards.

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  12. Your project is so vintag-ey fabulous!!! I so love it!!!

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  13. Another lovely project, Julie. That cute little card in the last picture is too sweet!!
    Have a wonderful Advent season and a happy Wednesday xxxx

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  14. Between the cards, the cookies and the old-fashioned cardboard light-up village, I was transported back to my childhood, when Christmas really was magical..thanks for that sentimental journey...

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  15. Looks so pretty Julie! And the cookies ~ I must make a batch for Christmas Day! They will look perfect under my little tree dressed in pink and aqua!

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  16. your home looks beautiful, julie. i have those same little houses from target. grouped together they make a perfect little 'night light'.

    the recipe for sugar cookies looks delicious, too.

    merry, merry.
    xo
    ~molly

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  17. Hello Julie,
    I love your old family pictures. You have inspired me to go through my picture boxes and see what I can find.
    Blessings~
    Gwenny

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  18. Julie, that was so
    sweet, from beginning
    to end! I often think
    that the first half of
    the 20th century would
    have been a great fit
    for me....I love the
    simple charms of that
    era. It amazes me how
    you are able to capture
    the spirit of all the
    eras that you showcase
    in your pics with your
    creative card making.
    Such a talent!
    Merry Wednesday, Julie!
    xx Suzanne

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  19. '''....right this very minute, candles in the window, carols at the spinet..." I was walking around the kitchen singing that song the other night! I love your post! The decorations are gorgeous, the cards just beautiful, and the cookies look delicious!!! I wanted to make cookies for my post too, but I'm on a low carb diet so I couldn't bake them..lol

    I hope you're having a beautiful holiday time!!!
    XO
    Cindy

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  20. Julie,
    Your house and your cookies are looking wonderful.You also have the most incredible collection on cards! I love the Scottie ones!

    Thanks again for your huge kindness!

    Hugs,
    Suz

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  21. I love your collage and your snow village! And that picture of your grandmother reading Christmas cards is wonderful! I am planning to make sugar cookies next week and am always on the hunt for a good recipe so thank you! Your look delicious!

    Kat :)

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  22. Julie,
    I so love coming to visit! You are so blessed with the photos you have of your family doing the most basic things....but they are all such trasures! Who would have thought to take a photo of her just relaxing like that? Usually photos from that era were all "staged" so they would be good ones with camera and film being so expensive for families! I have that scrapbook paper! And it has given me some ideas...and I am headed over to that shop! :) Sandy

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  23. Your little village is sooo adorable..and that icing melts my heart and sings out to my sweet tooth {teeth}.....Christmas is coming way to fast for me....I wish it would slow itself down a wee bit. xoxoxo Happy Friday.

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  24. Hi Julie! I love your sweet little Christmas village, and your retro Christmas scene is sooo adorable! Thank you for this yummy cookie recipe...they sound delicious and look so beautiful in your photos! xoxo Paulette

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  25. Dearest Julie!

    Oh how I love your Christmas scenes! I'm making those Christmas cookies...yep I am...me and Miss M! Of course...all of us will be eating them and thinking of you!

    Thank you for your visits and your kind comments!

    xo

    Sandy

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  26. I just love your retro Christmas layout - such wonderful pictures of merry memories!

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  27. Love those scottie dog cards and your retro picture. I can't wait to start baking cookies too. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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