Archive for the ‘holiday’ Category
Making Birthday Invitations
The inspiration for this design comes from Jessica Jones at one of my all-time favorite blogs, How About Orange. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Chicago Craft Social last year – such a nice person.
Her tutorial is here. I just made it work for Abby’s birthday party invitations, both of them. One for a small gathering of school friends, and one for the family. Thanks, Jessica, for your inspiration!
Valentine’s Basket Card
I made this card several years ago for a friends on their wedding anniversary and then again for Christmas. I thought Valentine’s Day might be a nice time to resurrect it. What better to hold a little teabag, candy or gift card? It’s also a nice way to recycle crinkly paper from gift baskets, and odd pieces of cut paper and ribbon! I suggest using a padded envelope or hand deliver your creation to your friend. Here’s my simple “basket” card that I’ll take you through.
For the card, you will need:
- 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of cardstock (half of 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper and folded)
- 5-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ piece of coordinating printed paper
- 9″ – 10″ ribbon
- Miscellaneous: ruler, pencil, bone folder, gluestick or double-sided tape, hole punch
1. Fold your cardstock in half if you haven’t already. Position the card so it is fully open. You will glue (or tape) your coordinated paper to the inside top half of the card. This might look strange, but hang on.
2. Close the card and on the bottom front face (just the other side of where you glued), mark a point at 2-3/4″ (exact center) from the edge. You may also want to mark 2-3/4″ up the two sides also, but this is not necessary. It’s the height of the printed paper.
3. Take a bone folder or some blunt tool to score the paper from the bottom mid-point to the top edge of the printed paper (along the side of the card). You’ll have two right triangles that will become the “basket”.
4. Fold the triangles up and use a bone folder to crease well. Almost done!
5. Punch holes at the top of the triangles for your ribbon and tie a pretty bow.
6. Use some leftover crinkly paper and place your favorite tea to share.
You’re done, good job! For some more fun, you could rubber stamp some cute designs all over the cardstock. Don’t forget that you’ll have a small amount of writing space inside the card since the front is folded over.
Here’s an extra little tidbit. You know those paint chips you get at the hardware store when you’re thinking you’re going to actually paint that ONE room… Use your paper punch and attach to some long toothpicks with glue or tape!
Hoping to have a few more Valentine’s Day resources for you tomorrow. Enjoy!
Tags: cards, gifts, greetings, love, paper, recycled paper, tea, teacher gift, Valentine's Day
Year of the Tiger Card
Not only is next Sunday Valentine’s Day, but it is also Chinese New Year. Year of the Tiger. Roar. There seems to be a little conflict on what year it is: 4707 or 4708. Check here for an explanation.
I found some handmade paper cards in red, stamped Chinese text in VersaMark watermark ink (VERY lightly seen), a few tigers and the Chinese characters for happiness and peace. Added a little joss paper for some shine and voila – three cards in about 20 minutes (after getting everything out and cleaning up). It’s definitely more simple than what I had intended to make, but they’re enough. I’m happy I had a few uninterrupted moments to make them. They will be in the mail to a few relatives today.
Tags: cards, chinese new year, holiday, new year, paper, rubber stamping
Better Homes and Gardens Entertaining Tips from 1960s
Look at this book I found at my mom’s house. First published in 1963, then again in 1972… The ideas and recipes may be sort of timeless, but the pictures, oh, the pictures are outstanding.
And just in time for getting birthday party ideas… my daughter turns 8 in just over a month. Will she cringe when she sees some of these? (Love her haircut.)
Could the frosting on these cakes look any more “nuclear”?
These kids are decorating their own cupcakes. Love the chef hat and aprons which are all paper.
What is she wearing on her head?
Doesn’t this look mint-a-licious?
I don’t know if there are any teenagers out there who would even THINK of having a “wingding” like this. Maybe if there was a “Nancy Drew” sort of person out there in a town-that-time-forgot.
This picture below for Christmas is a little spooky to me. Dolls creep me out sometimes.
I think my parents have an indoor grill just like the one in the picture below.
Clearly, I missed the boat on having a 60s themed New Year’s party this past year. Maybe next year! I can’t get over their clothes.
But, there is Valentine’s Day coming up. I’m really tempted to try some of these throwback recipes (looks like some kind of mousse)… too bad I can’t bring “homemade” goods to my daughter’s school!
Tags: books, cooking, party, party planning
Celebrating with Fruit Cocktail Cake
A few ornaments to put away
“And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
What better way to start the new year than with family and friends? It’s a Filipino tradition to celebrate the life of a loved one on the 40th day after his or her passing. So, my dad’s youngest sister and her family hosted a memorial service and reception in honor of my aunt and uncle who recently passed away (They were my dad’s siblings. Big family, gets confusing, I know: my dad is 1 of 14). It was so heartwarming to have so many friends and extended family come out the day after the New Year; so many I haven’t seen in a long while, so many new babies. My Auntie Tess and Uncle Fred would’ve loved the party so much.
Auntie Con and Uncle Wilmer are fantastic hosts who had more than enough food to feed the 50-60 people who attended, but I like help out, so from our home we brought my husband’s signature crab dip and my fruit cocktail cake. Normally, I’d bake it in a 13×9 pan, but for Christmas, I got the “Big Top Cupcake” in our cousin gift exchange. Yeah, “As Seen on TV” bakeware!
We could not stop laughing, and yet, it’s proved to be useful. I’ve never baked with silicone molds before. It was so easy to get the cake out, and washing was a breeze. The only thing that didn’t work as well was the “insert mold”, that little bowl shape piece on the right in the picture. I placed it on the bottom mold, just like a lid and it snapped on just fine. Seemed secure, but in the middle of baking it came off as the cake rose. It wasn’t a big deal though. I just kept pushing it down when I checked on the cake. Baking time increased just a little bit, too. I was surprised when the “cupcake top” wasn’t done when the bottom part was – I just had to add a few more minutes. I didn’t get all crazy with decorating the cake. There was no time, and I had no butter left in my house. But, all is good with a little dusting of powdered sugar and a gumdrop.
Fruit Cocktail Cake with Vanilla Pudding
Cake
1 pkg. yellow or lemon cake mix (with pudding)
16 oz. can fruit cocktail including syrup
1 cup flaked coconut
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Whipped topping (optional)
Butter Glaze:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1-1/3 c. flaked coconut
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Blend cake mix, fruit cocktail, coconut, eggs and oil in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Pour into 13×9 pan. Sprinkle brown sugar (and nuts). Bake for 45 min. or until toothpick comes clean from center. Spoon glaze over warm cake, approx. 15 min. after removing from oven. Serve warm or cold with whipped topping.
Butter glaze: Heat butter, sugar and evaporated milk in a saucepan until it reaches a low boil. Cook for 2 min. Remove from heat and stir in coconut.
From our home to yours
Hunkering down with new toys
We’re having fun with family in town, visiting relatives and friends who have come home for the holidays, hosting family and friends at our home, not to mention playing with new toys (Santa brought me Copic Markers!!!) It’s been a whirlwind of activity, and so there hasn’t been too much time to write.
See my kids personalities shining through
Just a sincere thank you to our friends and family for visiting “So This is Julie” this year. It’s been fun sharing parts of our life with you. We hope you’ve had a wonderful 2009 and look forward to sharing more home, crafting, food and party ideas in 2010!
2009 highlights
Little Man’s
-learned his ABC’s and can count up to 20 fairly well by himself
-started going to “Tiny School” (once a week program)
-took a memorable plane ride to California
-was ring bearer when his aunt got married
Daughter’s
-lost her first tooth right before school started
-learned how to ride a two-wheeler, finally
-took a trip to California
-started second grade
Husband’s
-sister got married in October
-being introduced to the cheese counter at Whole Foods (we love Joanna)
-losing some weight
-getting braces for 18 months
-teaching Abby to ride her bike
Julie’s
-started this blog and has made some cyber-friends
-seeing some icons: Martha Stewart and David Foster (now I just have to meet Oprah)
-visited family in California
-started exercising…again, but actually enjoying it
-got a new bike and will be gearing up for a “century ride” in September ’10
Tags: Christmas, family, highlights, life, thanks
