Merry Christmas

I'm retiring my paint brushes and my blog until after the first of the year so that I can spend more time with family. I wish each and everyone of you a blessed Christmas!

Christmas Tour

Here are a few more pictures of our kitchen decorated for Christmas:

Below is my baking station which includes my basket of cookie cutters, cook books, glass canisters of baking ingredients, and containers of sprinkles for cookies and candy. My mother and I have made so many batches of cookies and candy that my back is killing me.

Cute snowmen.....

Berry wreaths.....

You can check out my christmas decorations from years past here and here.

I have to get back to making out cards before it's too late to send them!

Christmas Giveaway Winner

I'm so glad you could stop by today. Come on in, take off your boots, and warm yourself by the fire.

Today I'm drawing the name for our "giveaway". This is a highly technical process and might take a moment.......drum roll please........The winner is Lavender Dreamer!

Congratulations!

Just follow the wonderful scents coming from the kitchen where I'll dip you up a plate full of spaghetti. Do you remember I mentioned that I was getting a new stove? Well here it is and I love it! Recently I painted my kitchen a pale yellow and took down the old pot rack that was above the stove. I know that a lot of you love pot racks, but I was tired of having to clean the rack and the pots all the time. They got dirty just from hanging above whatever I was cooking. I had this long narrow cabinet and painted it white and placed it above the stove instead. It's great for spices.

Help yourself to some peanut butter fudge.



Can you smell that sauce simmering?

I can't decide what to display on this shelf when Christmas is over, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

My little Aldi's candy cane trees....

Merry Christmas!!

Giveaway and New Cupcake Paintings

Today I'm typing my post from the local library because our internet service is out due to weather. We called the local cable company and they told us we were on the schedule for the 15th. Needless to say we told them we both needed the internet for our businesses and they would have to reschedule that for an earlier time. They are going to try. Ha! We are one of only eleven people in town without service. Just my luck! I realize that people are without heat, food, a home....so my problem is minor in comparison. Forgive my complaining.

Anyway, I had so much to post that I made a little trip so that I could get this out to you.

I've been busy painting away and have the following available on eBay:

"Gingerbread Christmas Cupcake"

I can't put a link on this one because it doesn't start until tonight. You can always click on the link in the righthand column for my eBay store.
A little gingerbread cottage and two snow laden evergreen trees are tucked into creamy white frosting on a delicious gingerbread cupcake. A red and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Next we have:

"Gumdrop Christmas Cupcake"
The background for this little painting is an antiqued recipe from an old cookbook that I decoupaged onto the front of the canvas. Three little sparkly gumdrops are placed in the cream cheese frosting on top. The cupcake liner is red and green plaid and colorful Christmas lights wind around the border. Touches of glitter are applied to the gumdrops and the frosting and may not show up in this photo. A black and white checked grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

and...

"Red Velvet Cupcake"
A cute little snowman, Crystal, is decked out in her red velvet jacket. She is perched on top of a red velvet cupcake inside a beautiful snowglobe. A black and white checked grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Now.....for my giveaway. This is for all of you cupcake lovers out there. I'm giving away a 2010 Cupcake Calendar and.....a print of my Eggnog Cupcake. This is a print not a painting. The original is already sold.

Just leave a comment on this post to enter. For a second entry, post about my giveaway on your blog and return to this post to let me know. Make sure your post links back to this post. Don't forget to leave me an email with your comment if you don't have a blog. I will email the winner. This giveaway ends on December the 15th.

Good Luck!

Peppermint Stick Christmas Cupcake Painting

I listed this Peppermint Stick Christmas Cupcake painting on eBay last night. I like it next to my Cherry Cupcake painting and that's where it will stay until it's sold. I also found the cutest little peppermint Christmas trees at Aldis for .99 cents. Haven't decided how I'm going to use them, but I couldn't pass them up.

The background for this little painting is a recipe from an old cookbook that I decoupaged onto the front of the canvas. A peppermint stick in placed in the fluffy pink frosting. Tiny peppermint pieces are sprinkled on top of this deep dark chocolate cupcake. A red and white dotted wrapper is accented with a "Peppermint" tag and a tiny black and white checked ribbon is glued to the candy cane. A black and white checked grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas.
Now you really have to admit that these are really cute trees. I went back to Aldis today and bought 5 more. I've still got my Christmas decorating to do when I get caught up with my painting. Also, my kitchen stove played out and I'm so excited to be getting my new one next week. Nothing like getting a new appliance for Christmas!

How's your decorating coming?

....or are you simply taking a break and simplifying this year?

Eggnog Christmas Cupcake Painting Changed

After finishing this painting and listing it on eBay, I just wasn't satisfied with the end result. I switched out the ribbon and tied a bow at the top and then took off the little bow that was attached to the knob of the cloche. Cutting two slits with an exacto knife on each side of the knob and inserting a black ribbon with a little bell attached, I was finally satisfied. I'm now feeling pretty happy with the results until I realize I don't have my camera so that I can put new photos on my auction listing. Changes can only be made to an auction as long as no one has placed a bid.

"Eggnog Christmas Cupcake"

My camera is broke and I've been using my hubbie's since he has the same kind and I know how to use it. However, he had taken his to work. I sat here with my stomach in knots hoping I wouldn't get any bids until I got the auction revised. It wouldn't have been a problem except for the fact that I had made two cuts in the canvas already. I do believe that's the first time I was hoping no one would place a bid. Everything turned out fine after he arrived home and I got the new photos taken.

I hope you like the changes I made to this little painting!

Eggnog Christmas Cupcake Painting

I had so much fun painting this little "Eggnog Cupcake" yesterday. Let me know in my comments if you have any Christmas cupcake suggestions. I love it when my readers give me ideas. I'm starting another one today and should have it finished soon. Click here to check out the eBay auction for this painting.

Santa's tiny elves whipped up this whimsical cupcake creation. They flavored it with eggnog and piled white fluffy frosting on top. Deciding that it needed something extra, they climbed the side of this cute black and white cake stand and placed a little Christmas tree into the top decked with red ornaments. This magical creation is tucked under a glass cloche where snow gently falls like a snow globe. A tiny black and white checked ribbon is glued below the knob on the cloche and a black and white grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas. Touches of glitter are applied to the frosting and the Christmas tree.

I found the cutest blog today called "Annie's Eats" and she has a recipe for Eggnog Cupcakes. Go and check it out because she has some great recipes to share.

Print Giveaway Winner

I will be putting this print in my Etsy and Ebay stores today. The links are in the right sidebar.

I want to thank everyone who entered my giveaway and left such sweet comments. The winner of my giveaway is Ruth Welter. Thanks everyone and keep checking back for another giveaway this week. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!