BEADZ: 2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop

Friday, November 16, 2012

2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop - Day 1

Welcome to the 2^nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays, all in one place, during our second annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day: http://cleasnap.blogspot.com

Hampton Art is giving away 3 different prizes! Be sure to leave comments and "like" us on Facebook for your chance to win one of these fantastic prizes!

Prize 1

Prize 2

Prize 3

Now for my project! I found a yummy recipe for Cinnamon Almonds and thought it would be really fun to use the Hampton Art/Graphic 45 Nutcracker stamp to make a gift box.

I stamped my image and colored him with Copics and Smooch Ink (Gold) , and then fussy cut him. I love this bubble frame from Globecraft Memories! and decided to use it for my box front.

I covered the chipboard pieces of the frame set using Authentique's Festive Collection. The edges of all of the papers were inked with Clearsnap/ Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inkz ( Mossy).

I added a decorative edge using the new Fiskars Interchangable Border Punches. My almonds are in a clear celophane bag tied up with a pretty bow and baker's twine from the Twinery. The tag was punched with the Fiskars Tag punch and decorated with the Fiskars Snowflake punch.

So here's the recipe for my project:

Hampton Art/Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet 1 - IC0204

Donna Salazar/ Clearsnap: Mix'd Media Inkz (Mossy)

Clearsnap Smooch Ink (Gold Lame)

Authentique - Festive Collection

Globecraft Memories - Little Traditional Rectangle Frame

Fiskars: Snowflake Lever Punch (medium) , Tag Lever Punch XXL, Interchangable Border Punch (Lacey Doubles)

Twinery - Baker's Twine (Maraschino)

Tombow Stamp Runner - Permanent Adhesive

WorldWin Cardstock

May Arts Ribbon

And here's the recipe for the

Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds

from the detrimentalbeauty Blog

1 1/2 C. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg White
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Cups Almonds
1/4 C. Water

In a medium sized bowl, mix together sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside. In another medium sized bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until it’s a little frothy. Add almonds. Make sure the almonds are thoroughly coated in the egg white mixture. Add cinnamon mixture to the almonds and toss until coated.
Thoroughly spray with Pam, or whatever, the stoneware of your large crock pot (mine is a 4 quart). Add the divine mixture of almonds and sugars to the crock pot and turn it to low.
Cook ( with the lid on) 3-4 hours stirring every 20 minutes (I only did 3 hours). In the last hour, add the 1/4 C. of water and stir well. This ensures a crunchy yummy coating. (*make sure after you’ve added the water that you continue to cook the nuts for another 45min to an hour.)
You have to stir really well, especially as it gets later in the cooking process.
Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread the almonds flat to cool (if you can wait that long!). The almonds will be sticky at this point, so make sure you separate them a little and have no large mounds.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop! Your next stop is Sabrina Alery from Clearsnap.

Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!