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.