Merry Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas - December 23rd

Have you checked out the gorgeous downloadable project instructions on the Echo Park Paper blog page?
I especially love these Holiday Trees:

Download instructions for this, as well as other super cool projects, RIGHT HERE.

Happy Last Minute Christmas Crafting!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 22nd

Hello Scrappy Bloggers
On today's 25 Days of Christmas post, I thought I'd share this great project idea I found on the We R Memory Keepers website:

A great idea for last-minute holiday decorating craft!
More downloadable project ideas can be found on the We R Memory Keepers downloads page.

Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 21st

Time for a Christmas recipe Scrappy Bloggers!

Gingerbread Men:

You will need:-

• 125g of softened (unsalted) butter
• 2/3 cup of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of golden syrup
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 1/2 cups plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup white chocolate melts
• Silver cachous, to decorate

Easy to make:-

1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add golden syrup and egg. Beat to combine.
2. Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon over butter mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir until just combined and a soft dough forms. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until smooth. Shape into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line 3 baking trays with baking paper. Roll dough between 2 sheets of baking paper until 5mm thick. Using a 6.5cm-long, 7cm-wide gingerbread man cutter, cut shapes from dough. Re-roll dough scraps and cut to make a total 30 gingerbread men. Place, 2cm apart, on prepared trays.
4. Bake 1 tray at a time for 20 to 25 minutes, or until just firm to touch. Stand on trays for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Place melts in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium-high (75%) for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or until smooth. Spoon into a small snap-lock bag. Snip off 1 corner. Pipe faces and buttons onto gingerbread men. Decorate with cachous. Set aside to set.

More wonderful Christmas recipes can be found on the TASTE website.

Happy baking!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 20th

Only five more sleeps till Christmas, Scrappy Bloggers!
Have you finished your Christmas shopping...wrapping...card and tag making...??
I seriously need to get some tags together for my 'Christmas in a Hotel Room'. So what are my chances of taking a leaf out of Tim Holtz's book and getting some amazing tags like this happening..?..

Haha - not likely from ME this year. But I love love love looking at these. Check out more of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas on Tim's blog: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmas2011.html#more


Happy card and tag making!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 19th

Isn't it funny being on holidays? You forget all about your calendar!!!

So, with apologies - hello Scrappy Bloggers, from YESTERDAY! (lol)

Every year - when I'm at home - I like to make one gingerbread house. I only ever make one because making them is such an event in itself, so every year one special person in my life gets a home-made gingerbread house for Christmas. well, not this year....it's a bit difficult making gingerbread houses in a hotel room. So this is the best I could do......

I found this gorgeous house (or should I be calling it a village!!??) outside one of the beautiful stores in Old Town, San Diego (the 'birthplace' of California). How gorgeous! Hmmm...imagining the suitcase surprise at the other end if I try to bring it home!!

Happy Holiday Baking!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 18th

I just love these gorgeous little tags with storage box from Stephanie Dagan at Crate Paper...

For full tutorial instructions check out the Crate Paper blog RIGHT HERE

Happy Christmas Crafting!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 17th

Aunty Vera has just spent a couple of days in Las Vegas. Funnily enough, no scrapbooking stores or anything papercrafty to be found!! I DID however come across some very pretty Christmas decorations in one of the hotel gift stores. So in the spirit of the 25 Days of Christmas.....

Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 16th

From Aunty Vera's last day at Disneyland - here are some magical Christmas pictures...

Am I going to have fun scrapping my many, many, MANY photos of the Disney Castle and fireworks? You bet! I may be needing some of these....

MiJeMoo Design's Fireworks paper. Perfect!

Happy Holidays Scrappy Bloggers!
Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 15th

Dreaming of a White Christmas.......

25 Days of Christmas - December 14th

So who was missing from my Disneyland Christmas Parade pictures?

Oh, of course!! It's not a Christmas Parade without SANTA!!!!!!



Happy Holidays Scrappy Bloggers!

Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 13th

Hello again Scrappy Bloggers.
Today I thought I'd share some moments from the Disneyland Christmas Parade.
There are giant Characters galore....

...classic Christmas Icons...

....some Christmas baking...

But someone's missing here....hmmm, who could it be??
I'll tell you tomorrow (lol)

Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 12th

Christmas Decorations at Disneyland...























Mickey Baubles are everywhere...

...in all sorts of colours and designs ....

I love the red and whites.....

Wondering if these will survive the suitcase...??...

Aunty Vera :)

25 Days of Christmas - December 11th

Hi again Scrappy Bloggers! I am currently on vacation....at Disneyland, California!!
So I thought I would continue my 25 Days of Christmas by showing you a few fun Christmas-ey things that I've come across over here. Like....

...Santa's Reindeer...

... and all their treats...

... for reindeer AND kids! ...

I'll show you more tomorrow ;)

Aunty Vera :)



25 Days of Christmas - December 10th

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.......when you see THESE guys hanging around...

Santa's Reindeer. Starting to look a bit busy!

Aunty Vera :)