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Monday, December 5, 2011

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Good morning everyone!  Before today's post, the winner of the Christmas Joyous Home Journal is Laura!  Laura, send us an email at ripe4harvest@msn.com and we will send you your download.  Congratulations!

And for the 4th Day of Christmas, we are making candy...

Peanut Butter Cups

I made several dozen of these last Christmas for a fellowship at someone's house, but didn't try one myself before we brought them. By the time I saw the tin during the fellowship, the tin was empty! I use chocolate candy coating in this recipe, which much more inexpensive than actual chocolate, but I might make them again with a real dark chocolate! Either way, they are delicious and so easy to make, the children will enjoy taking over for you (without an argument I'm sure).

The peanut butter cups can be made in batches, and you do need a mini-muffin pan to hold the candy cups while you fill them. As soon as one batch is finished (chilling the layers in the freezer makes this very fast), you can start another. You can find the pretty colored foil candy cup papers wherever you can find cake decorating supplies.
~ This recipe make about 8 dozen peanut butter cups ~

First, you must make the peanut butter filling. Combine in a bowl with a mixer:
1 cup very finely ground graham crackers
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (you can use smooth if you prefer, we like crunchy!)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. half & half
~ 1 2lb. package chocolate candy coating for the chocolate layer

Mix well until a stiff "batter" forms. This will get thicker as it sits for a few minutes.

Prepare your pans while the filling sits for a few minutes. Line each cup in the pan with one candy paper.

For the chocolate, you only need one 2lb. package of chocolate candy coating. Candy coating is available in the baking section in the grocery store. Break the candy coating up into chunks and melt in the microwave, or over low heat (be careful, it will burn very easily).  Melt the coating completely and stir to make sure it is smooth and there are no lumps.

In the bottom of each cup, gently spoon a heaping 1 tsp. of the candy coating. Spread it evenly around the bottom. After you have filled each cup, place the pan in the freezer for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate is completely firm.

After the chocolate is firm, they are ready for the peanut butter filling!  Pinch off a small piece of the filling (big enough to form about a 1/2" ball) and use your finger to gently spread the filling over the chocolate. Fill all of the cups!

This layer does not need to be chilled. Top each cup with an additional tsp. (or a little more!) of melted chocolate. Use the spoon to create a little curl or design on the top of each cup. Chill again until firm.

Your peanut butter cups are finished! Complete the rest of the peanut butter cups with the remaining chocolate and filling.

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Giveaway Details!

We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is our Crab-apple Hill Embroidery Pattern, Gardener's Angel~Hope!


and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Seasons At Home Magazine Spring 2009
On sale for $5.00 - Regular price $10.00



Have a wonderful day everyone!

~Theresa and Jessica

Saturday, December 3, 2011

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

Before our lovely project... the winner of yesterday's giveaway for the Beeginner Learning Cross Stitch Kit ~ Bee Kind is Lily of the Valley! Please email us and send your address! Congratulations!

(Please note this post will be up until Monday - no post for Sundays! All entries can continue through that time, sale is good until Monday also!)



Girl's Simple Bonnet

This bonnet can be used as a nightcap, but with ties and such use caution. A simple play bonnet for your little lady is a better idea! A quick and lovely gift!

15" x 36" cotton fabric - I used white for a simpler look, but pretty calicos work too!
1 yd. 1/2" Ribbon
1 yd. 1/4" Ribbon
Matching Cotton Thread

Tips: When beginning to sew a line, make sure to back up the stitch to lock it in place. You don't want stitches unraveling!

If you have a 1/4" presser foot, this helps to stitch close to the hemline for your top stitching.


1. Hem and press each short side of the fabric 1/4", hem again 1/4".


2. Top stitch both sides in cotton thread, very close to the edge.


3. Turn and press one long side 1/4", then press and hem another 2 1/4". Top stitch in cotton thread. Measure 3/4" from the stitched hem and sew a straight line to make a casing. This is for the 1/2" ribbon.




5. Turn and press the other long side 1/4", then hem 3/4". Top stitch in cotton thread. This is the casing for the 1/4" ribbon.


Here's what we have now:
You can see the extra line on the wide hemmed side for the casing.



6. Attach a safety pin onto the end of the 1/2" ribbon and insert through the 3/4" casing on the 2 1/4" hemmed side. Pull snug to make the front ruffle for the bonnet, leave even amounts of ribbon on each side for the tie. For a larger girl, make less ruffle and leave a longer amount of ribbon.


7. Repeat inserting casing on the other long side and tie a bow snug to making a little circle for the back of the bonnet.


Put it on the little girl and adjust ribbon. To make these comfy, it helps to have them put their head back while you tie the ribbon. Done! Very simple and fun for them play in!

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Giveaway Details!

We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is our Christmas 2011 Joyous Home Journal!



and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Seasons At Home Magazine Holiday 2008!
On sale for $5.00 - Regular price $10.00



Friday, December 2, 2011

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

Before our daily post, the winner of yesterday's giveaway is Kim- fulltimer! Send me an email with your mailing address at: swtjes@msn.com.

~ As a note to everyone entering the giveaways, the giveaway for each day ends on the new post on the following day and the winner is announced. So, today's giveaway ends tomorrow on the new post! See what today's giveaway is at the bottom... we love these!

Easy Invitations or Cards


These invitations are pretty and easy to make. This is definitely for a beginner that wants to browse the scrapbooking isle!

You'll need:
Assorted Adhesive Christmas Chipboard - Kandcompany.com- We found ours at JoAnns
1 Pack of Adhesive Borders - Kandcompany.com
Christmas Scrapbook Paper - Background
Solid Colored Canvas Paper - To print invite on
Solid Tag Board - For Punched Corner background
1 Corner Punch - Optional, but pretty!
Paper Cutter - Optional but helps keep things straight, or use a ruler and scissors


Adhesive chipboard, borders and Christmas scrapbook paper
Cut the background 5" x 7". Cut the middle tag board 4" x 6". Go through the borders and pick which ones you'll use for the card.

Using your corner punch, punch the corners of the tag board.

Glue the tag board to the background Christmas paper.


Print out your text and invite on the canvas paper. Use something like Word and fit 4 to a page. CAREFUL! Print the out on plain copier paper first. Canvas paper is about .69 a sheet. It's not a cheap mistake if you mess up!


Glue the invite to the tag board. Now be creative and add your borders, chipboard and anything else. These came out so pretty, and looking like we spent a lot more time on them than we did! We are making them for our Christmas cards this year. You can add anything to the canvas paper, such as a picture or a pretty manger scene. Enjoy!

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Giveaway Details!

We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is the Beeginner Learning Cross Stitch Kit, Bee Kind!

and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Baby's First Foods
On sale for $7.50 - Regular price $15.00

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