Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Welcome Spring, A Splash of Aqua for Play Date Cafe' #18...and Glittered Pastel Butter Cookies

Good evening, everyone!

Hope it's been a great day for all of you! It's been a very interesting one here in California....blustery wind & rain all night and into the morning...then this afternoon...sunshine and beauty all around! I'm not going to complain!!!

I have a few things to share with you tonight...first, a little Springtime card for this week's Crafty Secrets' challenge over at Splitcoast. Our host this week is the lovely Marcy, and she challenged us to "Coax Spring Along" in our cards this week...here's my attempt to do so:



I love this sweet little image--this is from Crafty Secrets' "Seasonal" Images & Journal Notes booklet--it certainly says Spring to me!  Can't you just feel the fresh, warm breeze gently blowing her dolly's clothes on the line...aaaahhhhhh, Spring!


I didn't get too fussy with this one...some buttery yellow vintage-style lace, Dazzling Diamonds for a little sparkle, a vintage button is just about it!  I printed up my own sentiment on the computer using one of my favorite vintage fonts--"Apricot".

This is the 18th Play Date Cafe' Challenge this week--my, how time flies!  We sure hope you're enjoying these fun color challenges!  This one is a bit different...Black & White with a splash of Aqua/Turquoise--love it!




  Here's my vintage take on the challenge:



This gorgeous image comes from a beautiful site I found recently,  Shabby Chic Pappirskatter.  Fabulous stuff!  Thanks, Heidi!  I loved the black & white gingham paper with this...a bit of gorgeous aqua lace, some black organza ribbon, paper roses...


...Martha Stewart's "White Gold" fine glitter to frame the little sweetie, a sprinkling of Dazzling Diamonds on her flowers, just for a bit of sparkle, and that's it!

Hope you feel inspired to play along with us this week...head on over to The Play Date Cafe' for more information and to link up your card--can't wait to see what you come up with!

And last, but certainly not least...something sweet...springtime colors you can just *pop* in your mouth!  (If you can pop it in you mouth in just one bite, there's not as many calories, right?!) 





Pastel Butter Cookies

2 sticks butter--no margarine!
6 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
2 cups flour

Confectioner's sugar for dusting
Edible glitter...(everyone's got edible glitter just sitting there handy in their pantry, right?!)
Food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Cream the butter until light & fluffy.  Add the granulated sugar, almond extract and blend well.  Add the flour and mix until smooth and well blended.

I then separated the dough into different bowls and colored each a different pastel color with the food coloring...

Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet.  These won't spread, but don't place them TOO close together!  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Let cool slightly on cooling rack, then roll in powdered sugar (into which I added the edible glitter!).  Cool, admire, then devour!  Enjoy!!!



Well, that's it for me tonight--hope you enjoyed a little taste of spring....I can't wait!  I'll be back soon with something new, but until then...

Sweet Dreams!


25 comments:

  1. All of these creations are beautiful Julie! The sweet treats are not on my diet I am sure! :) The cards are pure eye candy so they are allowed! I think aqua is a happy - cheerful color too :)

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  2. Lovely cards Julie, your black, white and turquoise on is just beautiful!

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  3. Julie, both your cards are beautiful. Lovely colours, lovely style ... :)

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  4. Julie, your cards are just darling and perfectly embellished! Those pastel cookies are on order for this weekend; we could do with a bit of perking up around here, and those seem just the ticket! Thank you!

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  5. Hello my friend!! How funny ... I think we are visiting each others blogs at the same time!! Your name just popped up that I have a comment from you .. as I'm typing this!! What do they say about "great minds"! LOL!
    Anyways ... your cards for both challenges are wonderful! Love the little one hanging clothes on the line (I miss doing that actually ... not allowed where I live). And the card for the Play Date Cafe challenge is awesome! I'm so glad you popped over and checked out this site ... I just knew you'd love it ... just OUR style!!!
    Have a great day ... enjoy that sunshine (you are so lucky!) ... we are expecting ANOTHER snow storm ... 12" or more ... YIKES!!

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  6. OH I forgot!!! The cookies look so yummy ... I think I'm gaining weight just looking at them! So pretty too!

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  7. Mmmmm, yummy!! Your cards are gorgeous - love both of your color combinations!

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  8. Very pretty cards Julie, and the pretty cookies look so yummy!

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  9. NUM!! Your cookies look delicious and both your cards are amazing!! Your Crafty Secrets card is just as beautiful as your PDCC card :)
    It always makes my heart sing to see some beautiful vintage :)

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  10. Beautiful cards Julie! Love both of them!

    Have a wonderful day!
    Hugs Hanne

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  11. actually I do have some edible glitter, lol! I've never used it, though. When I do I'll blog it!

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  12. Oh, those cookies are divine! Your cards - darling! ~ Angela

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  13. Thanks for the treats, art wise and tummy wise!!!
    Love your girl for playdate!!!
    Thanks for coming by!

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  14. What a yummy post :)! They're both gorgeous cards, love the gingham paper with the aqua colours :)

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  15. Hi Julie

    Just been having a catch up on your recent posts (I've been a bad blogger this week)and see Spring really is with you now.

    It is still so cold here in the UK and everthing is very late this year, even the snowdrops are only just peeping their heads through.

    More beautiful makes Julie and those cookies look devine.

    B x

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  16. Enjoyed your aqua design, so sweet. Don't you love that Martha Stewart glitter?!? Thanks for entering my giveaway and hope to hear from you again! M.

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  17. Oh Julie, so much goodness here today! I just adore both of your cards, but that first one reminds me so much of when I was a little girl and washed my doll clothes. I had a tiny toy wash basin and line and everything. I used to love to "do the Laundry!" Wish I still did! Thanks so much for all your sweet thoughts for me. I do so appreciate them so very much. We are getting things sorted as best we can. Love and hugs! xxoo

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  18. Julie please yes keep coaxing spring along! come on sunshine! Adorable card and would you mind if I cased your Challenge vintage piece? I LOVE it so!!!!! and your cookies well yumyum!
    Thanks for your touch of spring post, I'm hopeful now. LOL

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  19. Your cards are perfectly beautiful....love the vintage!! Thanks for sharing your cookie recipe. I have copied it for later....they are so cute colored pastel like that. Reminds me of the sand tarts I make.

    Thanks or your visit, comment, and joining me in my blogging venture. I forward to seeing more of your creations.
    For the love of vintage,
    Cora :)

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  20. Oh, I love that little girl hanging clothes on the line! Thank you for that wonderful cookie recipe! I Love butter cookies and this is much easier than my recipe. Twyla

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  21. All of your creations are beautiful! I just love all your vintage photos I could look at them all day...
    Great picture of the rainbow!
    I think I'll try those cookies this afternoon they look yummy!
    Have a good weekend!

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  22. Hi Julie,

    What a great post. Oh My those cookies look scrumptious. I love your beautiful aqua creations too.

    Happy Pink Saturday,

    Cathy

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  23. Cute cookies and just spotted your lovely pressed glass pink cake stand!

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  24. those cookies would be perfect for a spring tea or easter!
    blessings,
    aimee

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