These are a few of my favorite things.....

Hi,

I was reminiscing as I looked through my cards of 2014.  I wanted to pick 10 of my very favorite ones.  Boy was that hard.  First of all, I couldn't believe how many I'd made, and then picking favorites was like asking which of my children or grandchildren were my favorite.  So, after much thought, these are a few of my favorite cards.  I hope you enjoy my trip through 2014....

These are not in any particular order......

I liked the background I created and the foliage.  And of course, yellow is my favorite color.

I'd assembled the teapot months before I'd created this card.  One day, I just knew the teapot needed beautiful paper to rest on.  The gold doily was given to me years and years ago by the sister-in-law of the woman I made the card for.

Layering these cards was great fun.  I think they made very pretty Easter Cards.

More layering here and I wanted to make something that could be seen through.  My daughter used this card as a decoration on her tree.

I made this card for my neighbor's birthday.  She's in the local chorus, so a  music theme was perfect.

I love creating inside a window.  It's like building a doll house.  Aren't the cake dies sweet?

This was another card filled with layering.  It was hard for me to part with this card.

Adding a background over this paper and then some foliage....yup another favorite.

Ever make a card you couldn't give away?  Well, this is that card.  I used it as a decoration on my mantel.  The battery candle was a special touch.  And now for #10....

This was an easy card to make, and it is one of my favorite cards.  Remember, I said I love yellow.

Well, I've shared my favorites.  I hope you do too.  Happy New Year everyone.  I look forward to seeing what everyone creates during this New Year!

Hugs from 2014, and more hugs as we enter 2015!
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Happy New Year!

From my home to yours.....HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

I love having a handmade calendar on my desk.  In this day of computer calendars, which I must say keep me on track, I do miss having a pretty calendar on my desk.  So, I make one.  I must have been thinking pink when I created this little beauty.  I'm keeping this calendar to remind me of birthdays.  I'm using sequins to remind me.

If you want to know how I made this calendar, I have the "how to's" on the Poppystamp Blog.   I hope you'll take a minute to check it out.  If you are interested in having a pdf of the mini-calendar sheets, email me and I'll send you one. 

Until next time......Happy New Year and I wish you and yours Health, Happiness, Love. May 2015 be filled with creativity and the joy creating brings.  See you again in 2015.

Hugs From My World to Yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Merry Christmas

From Our Home to Your Home - Merry Christmas

May your day be Merry and Bright.  

Hugs,

Mary Mac

AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Peanut Brittle Recipe - As Promised.....

As promised....I made the first batch of peanut brittle today and thought I'd share....want one...go ahead!  Anyway.  While making it, I thought it might be nice to re-do the recipe using photos.  So, here you go.....

If you missed the recipe, check out my blog page for December 2nd.  Now, on to the process.....

Butter those pans....aren't mine ever so gorgeous.  These pans are as old as my oldest son.....

Put them in a warm oven.  The lowest heat on my oven is 170 degrees and it works perfectly.

Get everything ready:  The first thing, is the 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of water and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Set this aside, it will go in last.

Next measure out 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of corn syrup.  You will put this into a heavy pan and using a candy thermometer bring  the mixture to 240 degrees, stirring occasionally. 

Keep cooking, no shortcuts.  You MUST bring the temp to 240 degrees......

Honestly, this process could take 20 minutes or more.  Once you reach 240 degrees add

3 tablespoons of butter and 1 pound of peanuts.  I use Planter's cocktail peanuts, but you could use Spanish peanuts if you like.  Don't use dry roasted.  Once you add the butter and peanuts, stir CONSTANTLY.  No kidding, this will burn.  Now you will cook until the temperature reaches 300 degrees.  Again, no cheating and this takes quite a while.  Are you stirring?  By the way, if the phone rings.  Don't answer it, if you quit stirring for even 10 seconds, your mixture could burn.  Once you reach 300 degrees remove from heat and add

Remember the mixture of baking soda, water and vanilla.....add it now, stir it in and pour your mixture onto your two greased pans.  Spread the mixture as thin as you can.  I use a wooden spoon to spread.  Don't worry if it tears apart, And if it looks not so good, who cares.  You are going to break the brittle into pieces when it cools.  It's really, really hot so be careful  Not a mixture to make with small children underfoot.  Oh oh...guess what photo I didn't take.  You've got it.....sorry.  If I make another batch tomorrow I'll be sure to take a photo. 

This recipe makes about 2 pounds.  If your husband helps, you'll have to hide it to keep him out.  My two pounds is disapearing quickly.

It's easy clean up if you put your pans and utensils  into hot soapy water.   Let them sit a minute or two and everything will be all clean and ready for another batch.  I never make two batches the same day.  It too tempting to rush the second batch and remember what I said, no cheating, no rushing. 

That's it for me today, I hope you give this a try, because it's really easy and it always turns out. 

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Wishing You A Merry Christmas

I needed one more Christmas Card and I needed a quick make.  You couldn't get much quicker than this card.  Check out the how to, and the inside on the Poppystamp Blog.  I'm headed there now. The Design Team has been very busy this month.  Check out what we've all been up too.  If I don't post again before Christmas....I'm sending Wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Most Happy, Healthy New Year. 

I'm looking forward to sharing crafty moments with all of you in 2015. 

Off I go.  Today is baking day and I'd best get my apron on and get busy. 
Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Poppystamps and Memory Box Blog Hop

Memory Box and PoppyStamps are having a joint blog hop.  There are prizes, to find out how to win hop on over to the Poppystamps Blog page for all the information.  This blog hop begins today and ends on December 4th.  You have until the 10th of December to enter.  Good luck everyone!

If you came to my blog page from

Memory Box
or
PoppyStamps

You are traveling in the right direction.....

Now on to a bit about my place card..... 

I like to have handmade place cards for guests. This year, for Christmas I am making place cards that can be used later as a decoration. Let me first give you the dimensions of the frame, which by the way is exactly the same as the one I use for my mini-calendars. Cut a piece of card stock to 4 x 12 inches. Score at 4 inches, 8 inches, 9 3/4 inches and 11 1/2 inches. Fold and glue to form the frame.

 Now on to decorating..... I die cut the Mod Snowflake Background on glitter card stock.

 I then ran a piece of white card stock through my Xyron machine. You could also use spray glue.

The size of white card stock I used was about 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches.  Now glue the Mod Snowflake Background (#1034) to your piece of glued white cardstock. You might be asking what white card stock?  I only see red. Well, after you glue your Mod Snowflake to the white card stock, you will have sticky everywhere the die did not make contact with the card stock. As you can see, I chose red glitter to cover all the sticky openings. Trim your glittered piece to 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 and glue this piece to your frame and decorate.

I chose the Snow Flocked Tree die (#1096) and added chunky glitter. I die cut the Vintage Merry Christmas (# 1105) on a thick glitter cardstock. And it released beautifully. Note: All machines cut differently. Sometimes you will need a shim, even if your cardstock is thick. My little deer is from Memory Box. It is one of my most cherished dies. It's called Leaping Deer (No 98390). I will write the name of each guest my little deer. I added ribbon, a bit of bling and a bell. This place card is complete. I'm sure you will find many different ways to decorate your place card. If you create one, please email me to let me know. I'd love to see what you've created.

I'm going to share my top secret peanut brittle recipe....so don't tell a soul!  Promise!  I've been making this every Christmas for probably (yikes, more years than I want to remember...) I'm guessing at least 30 years and probably more.  

There are two hints and these hints will make your peanut brittle perfect, every time!  First:  Don't cheat on the heat.  You MUST cook the mixture to 240 degrees prior to adding the peanuts and the butter.  And then you MUST continue cooking until you've reached 300 degrees.  Second:  Spread your candy mixture so that it is as thin as you can get it.  If you follow these two rules you'll have PERCECT  peanut brittle. (Sorry there is no photo.  I haven't made any yet this year.  It's on my schedule for mid-December.  I'll try to remember to post a photo soon.)

Have all the ingredients and tools ready before you begin.....

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound salted peanuts

Butter:  2 cookie sheets and put them into a warm oven.
In a small bowl combine:  baking soda, 1 teaspoon water and vanilla.  Set this aside
In a heavy sauce pan combine:  sugar,  1 cup of water, and corn syrup.

Cook the sugar, water and corn syrup until the temperature reaches 240 degrees.  Stir occasionally
Stir in the butter and peanuts and continue cooking until the temperature reaches 300 degrees.  Stir continually.  This mixture will easily burn if you don't stir. 

Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda mixture.  Your heated mixture will bubble up, don't be afraid it's supposed to.

Immediately pour onto the two cookie sheets and spread to a thin layer.  I use the back of a spoon to do this.  This is where an extra set of hands are very helpful.  I spread to about 1/4 inch.  Cool and break candy into pieces.

Never double this recipe or any candy recipe.

If you are following the hop in order, your next stop is a visit to

Sherry Eckblad  

And here is  the list of everyone hopping along today......

Memory Box
Poppystamps

Mary McMillan   -You Are Here

Sherry Eckblad 

Sue McRae  

BibianaMartinez-Ziegler 

Pam Simpson 

EvgeniaPetzer 

Sherry Hester 

While you are hopping, how about checking out:

 Birch Press Designs

Birch Press Design has gorgeous unique gifts for all the ladies on your list.  Check out the recipe cards.  They are the perfect gift for club exchanges, stocking stuffers and just to have on hand for those unexpected guests.  I absolutely love the aprons.  They are so pretty.  They remind me of women in the 1940's, which is the era of my favorite movies. 

For a chance to win, don't forget to comment on the Poppystamps and the Memory Box Blog pages.  Winners will be posted on December 15th.  Good luck to evreyone. 

Off I go to see what everyone has created.  Have a most special week. 

Having A Blue, Blue Christmas

Not that kind of blue....this kind of blue.....

It's time for another Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  Can you believe this is the last one before the jolly old man shows up at your house.  Well, that is if you've been very, very good!

Of course there will be a fabulous prize for one lucky person....certainly worth taking a few minutes to play along.  Want to know what the prize might be?

 

When I said lucky I meant very lucky.  The winner can choose either 2 of Marianne's gorgeous dies or 1 die and one stamp....you get to choose!  So enter.... you know you want to.....

As always, I had to finish the inside (I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't!)  and this is  what the inside looks like.....I was thinking of one of my nephews when I created this inside.  When he was little, he was a real active kid and I'm sure his letters to Santa had  lots to explain.....

A quick post,  I'm putting the finishing touches on my Christmas cards and moving on to making candy.

If I don't see you before Christmas, have a most wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

Hugs from me to you,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy