Just For Treats

I thought this was a really fun idea....simple too! This is what I love so much about Close To My Heart. They give you exactly what you need to make the greatest handmade gifts that truly come from your heart without breaking the bank or being so difficult. I go this idea after working on an end-of-the-year gift for a much loved teacher of one of my girls. I made a recipe box filled with one family loved recipe from each of her students. Each recipe card had with it the recipe and a picture of the child it was from. She was left with a really sweet box filled with over 20 recipes that she can enjoy with her family. So with that, this is what I came up with for a possible gift for some teachers this year.

Close To My Heart has these wonderful 3x3 mini albums (currently found on Pg 94 of the Fall/Winter Idea Book). Each album comes with 8 pages protectors. I used the Kraft with Jute which is only $2.50. Each album can hold up to 16 cookie recipes. Yes, you heard me right, 16 recipes. If you are really creative you can fit more! I decided to ask each mom in one of my daughter's classes to send me 1 recipe (only stipulation is that it is an easy one) so I can add it to the book. For the holidays, the teacher will receive a Class Holiday Cookie Recipe Book. Here is the cool part: the book is the perfect size to pop in your purse (ingredients list on hand) or leave on your kitchen counter without taking up so much space. Can also be stored easily with your holiday decor so you will have it for next year. Here is one simple book I made:

Our Tree Has Arrived

Speaking of holiday traditions, one of ours in the Valentino household is to cut down our Christmas tree at Pruitts Little Farm in Round Hill, VA http://www.pruittslittlefarm.com/

We grab a saw and start our trek to the far back of the farm to find that perfect tree. The cold wind always seems to find us, but when we look up in the distance and see the Blue Ridge Mountains it doesn't bother us. While we wait for the kind farm hands to prep our tree for the ride home, we can sit by the parlor stove with some hot chocolate and candy canes. This year we kind of bailed on that part of the tradition and sat in the warm car instead. After putting up the tree, giving it lots of water, and putting on the lights and decorations, this is what we now see in our dining room. Check out my blog tomorrow to see how I add this to my premade scrapbook layout.....

Getting Cristmasized!

There is nothing that bothers me more that rushing through the holidays and looking back asking myself "what just happened?". Especially now that my girls are getting bigger-the reality sets in that they are not babies anymore. I really want to make the extra effort to enjoy the holiday season. I am jotting things down so I can journal my scrap pages later, taking pictures, and taking lots of deep breaths in between. And this holiday season, I refuse to not make time to get together with friends for some fun things....I can never be too busy or commited to forget what wonderful people I have in my life. So even though our holiday decorating has begun, it started because it reminds me to stop and smell the roses. I hope I can encourage many of you to do the same......

Last Minute Gift Tag Workshop

Hello, all. Hope you are all having fun getting ready for Thanksgiving. If any of you are traveling, be safe and enjoy being with your loved ones. As per the request of some of my scrapping peeps, I will be holding a last minute gift tag workshop. here is the info:

When: Saturday, November 27th from 3:30-5:00.

Cost: $10 per person

Cost includes all materials to complete 8 (each 6 1/4"x3 1/4") holiday gift tags.

Contact me if you are interested in joining us! valentino.danielle@yahoo.com

Holiday Photo Tips

With the holidays approaching, many of us are looking for a few helpful hints about capturing those precious moments in photos. I saw this article today and thought I'd share

scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/holidayphotos.htm

Enjoy!