Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Crafty Secrets Design Team Calendar Challenge

DSC06937_edited-1

Good morning, my friends!

Brrrrrr!  It’s a chilly, rainy day here in California…I can just imagine how cold it is for the rest of you!

My goodness!  Christmas is almost here…can you believe it?!  Our houses are filled with cookies & presents, lights &  carols, family & friends…absolutely the most wonderful time of the year!

Well, it’s time again for another fun challenge at Crafty Secrets—the Design Team has been busy creating for a “Calendar” theme this month…here’s what I came up with:

DSC06953_edited-1

A Happy New Year collage—I have a frame for this, but couldn’t remove the glass (it’s a shadowbox frame), and I couldn’t get rid of the glare, so here it is in all it’s unframed glory!

DSC06937_edited-1

An adorable vintage New Year’s image from Crafty Secrets’ “Seasonal” Images & Journal Notes booklet…and the background calendar also courtesy of Crafty Secrets as a free download available on their blog…

…beautiful, isn’t it?!

DSC06939_edited-1

A banner edging using Crafty Secrets’ “Artsy Banner” stamp sets (one of my favorites!) and their “Sexy Little Numbers” stamp sets for “2011”…

DSC06983_edited-1

A rosette I made with some lovely old red velvet I had in my stash…I decided to leave it a little shabby looking…I liked it better that way…

…over everything, a VERY liberal spraying of “Iridescent Gold” Glimmer Mist…I love the overall shimmer it gives…can you see it on the rosette?

Please be sure to stop by and visit the other ladies on the Design Team—they always inspire me!

Vicki Chrisman Team Leader


Crafty Secrets
Heartwarming Vintage Blog

A little more to share with you this morning…

A wonderful calendar card from 1939—a very special year in our family---

hpqscan0001_edited-1

hpqscan0002_edited-1

(Don’t you just love the image of the June bride?!)

hpqscan0003_edited-1

hpqscan0004_edited-1

…and the small card that went along with it…

hpqscan0005_edited-1

hpqscan0006_edited-1

…isn’t that charming?

1939 was the year my wonderful mother, Karen, was born…

Karen Ann Ostlund, the wee one, 1939

…a very special year, indeed!

One more thing for you today…

DSC06988_edited-1

THE best recipe for Snickerdoodles I’ve ever tasted—and my family agrees, hands down!

SOFT SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. sugar

3 tsp. cinnamon

DSC06990_edited-1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl.

Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.

Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture.   Chill dough for just about 15 minutes in the fridge.

Meanwhile, mix 3 Tbsp. sugar and 3 tsp. cinnamon in a small bowl. 

Form balls about 1 inch in diameter and roll them in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from pan immediately…enjoy!!!

DSC06993_edited-1

These are sheer perfection!  A light, tender crispiness on the outside, and soft, tender goodness on the inside—YUM!

(Recipe courtesy of Food.com)

I hope you have a wonderful week—enjoy every moment leading up to Christmas Day!

The Smith Family with the Forsbergs, Christmas 1968

A very Merry Christmas to you all from a 1968 me…(along with my two brothers, redhead Steve, Scott in the playpen, Mom with a handful of tinsel, and Uncle Frank & Aunt Diana…ah, memories!)

 

Julie

28 comments:

  1. Julie, I don't know where to begin! I love your calendar challenge! The 1939 calendar was just precious and I so enjoyed seeing it. Thank you for the cookie recipe. I think Lindsey and I shall make them today! Have a wonderful day! Twyla

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great project and what a fun post Julie!! That calendar is SOO cute! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the calendar...so lovely!

    Hugs,Willy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your shadowbox project is so pretty Julie!
    Love all your pictures too and the Snickerdoodles look YUMMY!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A lovely post as always Julia.

    Yes it is cold here in the UK, averaging mins 15 where we are, the coldest spell we have had for years.

    In case I am not back before, I wish you and yourfamily a wonderful and peaceful Chrismts.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh My Goodness Julie your Calender is Wonderful!
    What a Wonderful Piece! I Love your Velvet Rose too!!They would make Wonderful Gifts too!
    Thank You for Sharing your Snicker-doodle Recipe!
    Happy Monday!
    Hugs
    Jill

    ReplyDelete
  7. So much goodness here today Julie! I love, love, LOVE your calendar shadow box! You are just such a talented lady, you really are. It's such a beautiful piece. Love the old calendar card as well, and the Christmas photo and my dear...snickerdoodles as well!! Always love my visits with you. Sending freezing hugs, kisses and love from a frozen United Kingdom!! It's like Siberia here, no kidding!! XXOO

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the calendar! Great job! Snickerdoodles! I make them every spring because if I make them more often than that - everyone yells at me because they are so good we all eat them! (hehehe).
    I can't believe it is so close to Christmas. I got my last gift this morning and now I am DONE! Let the rain continue - speaking of which - we got 4 1/2 inches here yesterday and it is coming down in bucketloads right now. That's a lot of rain!
    Stay safe and warm.
    Hugs! Karen

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Julie, you calender is wonderful, it's so pretty! Thanks for the snickerdoodles recipe, they look so yummy!!!
    Merry Christmas~~ Daphne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Julie, after my friend's cookie festival today, I won't need cookies for a while but will save the Snickerdoodle recipe for a later date. My 12 year old loves them after having some made by his 5th grade teacher.

    Love that calendar card from 1939 and the photo of your mom as a baby is just precious. The calendar idea would be a great new year's gift item.

    Wishing you and years a week of peace and joy. Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sending oodles of Christmas JOY today my friend....we are just hanging around nursing my daughter back to health who had gum surgery today...Dairy Queen milkshakes make everything better.

    Your cookies look amazing...one of my favs. xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love visiting your blog Julie! Beautiful post as always!
    Merry Christmas to you and your family from me! The beautiful dolls that your mother made are here in my livingroom. They are beautiful!
    Big Hug Hanne

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the retro Christmas pic! Very pretty design challenge - swooning over the rosette and graphics! My family thanks you for sharing the snickerdoodle recipe - yum!
    Merry Christmas ~ Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nothing better than warm snicker doodles & cold milk. The calendar is darling & I know what you mean about the glare on the glass. Maddening. And that baby photo is sooooooooo precious. Hope you & yours have a wonderful Christmas. HUGS!
    Charlene

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jule,
    The calendar shadowbox is outstanding! You did such a beautiful job. I love the old calendar and the darling picture of your mother. That curl at the top of her head is adorable!
    Have a lovely Christmas and much thanks for all the job you bring to my days!
    Suz

    ReplyDelete
  16. Julie, I absolutely adore calendars! This is the perfect post to share! I must make a calendar project for the New Year. I'm giggling at your wonderful Christmas photo. Did we all have the same wall to wall draperies? I think so! What a sweet memory! Cookie baking begins for me tomorrow. Your Snickerdoodles look yummy! E

    ReplyDelete
  17. Julie,
    A beautiful 2011 calendar and love the banner stamp and sexy numbers :) The red velvet rose looks so elegant and the tattered edges add so much vintage flair! Your snickerdoodles look so GOOD!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are one crafty expert! Yes, the calendar is indeed cute as can be!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dear Julia,
    Love the calender nad your rose is wonderfull, dear, as is everything you create.
    Thanks for inspirering and letting us into your memmories.
    I wish you and your family a merry and happy christmas, dear.
    Hugs,Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your calendar project is amazing, Julie! So many wonderful details! And, those cookies, I'm definitely making those for after-brunch, gift-opening, nibbling-on-cookies, and sipping-tea Christmas celebration! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Julie,
    The calendar project is precious---and I love the rose--wow!!!! It looks fantastic on it. And the desert looks amazing!!!

    Everyone says it's raining so hard in California...I don't know how anyone can go shopping--or to work. It sounds awful...I sure hope the rain stops and that it warms up!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family! You have been such a happy part of my 2010!
    XO
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  22. I really like how you used the calendar as a background for the New Year's image.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I Love both those calenders, great project you created Julie! and who dosent adore vintage!
    Sounds like your Christmas is in full swing! Enjoy all your festivities!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do love old calendars. Cute vintage photos of your family. Love snickerdoodles. I'll be giving this recipe a try for sure. Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Julie, Your calender turned out very pretty! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I've never eaten snickerdoodles yet. For now I'm done with baking cookies but I'll keep it in mind for next time :-).
    MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!
    xoxo,
    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hello Julie,
    I love that picture of you and your family! Precious memories. Your calender card is darling.
    Blessings!
    Gwenny

    ReplyDelete
  27. A beautiful calendar and your mother was such a cute baby!
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a wonderful post, love the calender and now I really am craving a snickerdoodle

    ReplyDelete