Valentine Sweetness Cards Workshop

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Melissa Samuels · 3 Comments

Announcing another class for the month of January on my UStream Channel, and at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center. USteam shows are free to everyone, but you can purchase a kit to play along!

Valentine Sweetness Cards Workshop
Impress your Sweethearts this Valentine's Day with handmade cards! Create 4 gorgeous Valentine cards with envelopes using Pink Paislee's Sweetness Collection, Tim Holtz Alterations diecuts, and lots of beautiful rub-ons. Add-on kits are available for workshops and shows at a discount.

Friday, January 28th from 6-9pm at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center (click here)

Monday, January 31st at 9pm (EST) on my UStream Channel (click here)

This kit is packed full of sweetness!

Order your UStream kits or purchase your GACAC workshops from now until December 31st and receive a 10% discount.

The Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Dies used to make the diecuts for the kits are availble for purhcase in the shop, also:

(Click here to buy now)

Linked:

Happy Holidays from My Family to Yours!

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Melissa Samuels · 7 Comments

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and enjoyed lots of precious time with your family. We had the best Christmas this year! We had what I call a Progressive Christmas Eve (yeah, I totally made that up, but I'm going with it). We got the kids up at the crack of dawn and drove to my parent's house, where we had breakfast and opened presents. Then, we were off to my brother's house for a late lunch, and more presents. Finally, we drove to my other brother's house and had a buffet of desserts in lieu of dinner. Oh my goodness, it was soooo much fun!! Everyone got a chance to entertain, it made present opening a little less overwhelming for the kids, and it was simply a good time!

Chris had to work, so she missed all the fun. When we got home we put the kids to bed, and spent time with her. She opened her presents a few hours early. It was a perfect finish to a wonderful day.

On Christmas day we had a white Christmas. This is a rare occurrence in Virginia, which made it extra special to wake up to snow falling. I'm don't really like the cold, but if it's gonna be cold, and it's gonna be in December, you may as well have snow! I can't tell you how excited I was about the snow!

After we all marveled at the snow, it was time to open presents.

Well, after I asked Robert to light the fireplace (for the first time in 3 years), and it wouldn't light, hence the reason he's belly down on the floor…it seemed like a good idea. Then, it was time… If Lily had actually been awake, she would have been very confused about why there were presents but we weren't opening them.

Here's Chris with her Nana and Pappy. Fortunately, they were able to make it before the snow got bad.

Family Traditions

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Melissa Samuels · 1 Comment

Today, I thought I'd share with you one of our family traditions. Almost every year after Christmas dinner is done and the dishes clean-up is over, I make Creme Brulee French Toast while everyone chats. I love it because it's easy to put together, and it just goes into the refrigerator to chill out until the next day. The morning after Christmas, I pop it in the oven, usually before anyone wakes up, and within 40 minutes the house is filled with the yummy smell of baking french toast. It puffs up, all golden-brown and delicious. We all eat our breakfast, and have lots of energy for after Christmas shopping. It is definitely a family tradition I look forward to each year.

In the spirit of giving, I thought I would share my secret recipe with you!

Creme Brulee French Toast

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/3 cup pecans

1 loaf Challah bread (Montana Gold Bread Company is a great source for this if you live in Richmond, VA)

5 large free range eggs

1 1/2 cups half & half

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon Grand Marnier or Cointreau

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup, stirring until smooth. Pour mixture into a 13" x 9" baking dish, and sprinkle with pecans. Cut bread into 1" slices, and arrange in a single layer in the baking dish, squeezing them together to fit. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, half & half, vanilla, and orange liquor. Pour evenly over bread, and chill covered in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or up to a day. When ready to cook, remove from the refrigerator to come to room temperature a bit while the oven preheats to 350 degrees. Uncover and bake until puffy and golden, 35-40 minutes.

Hopefully, after Christmas I will have a picture of the finished product! I hope you try making this, because it is so delicious and easy. What family traditions do you have for the holidays?

Shabby Chic Configurations Worskhop

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Melissa Samuels · 1 Comment

Hi Everyone! Today, I'm featuring another workshop that I will be teaching on my UStream channel in January! The show is free for everyone, but you have the option of buying the kit in my shop so you can play along. The kit contains the materials for the project and written instructions.

Shabby Chic Configurations
Create a work of art using Tim Holtz Configurations, shabby chic style! It's filled with little trinket boxes that are decorated with flowers, hardware, pebbles, and pearls. We'll break out the Mod Podge, and have a girls' night crafting!

**Monday, January 24th 9pm (EST) on my UStream Channel ONLY (click here to buy now)

Kit Contains:
Tim Holtz Configurations 8 3/4" x 10 3/4," Tim Hotlz Foundations (4 pcs.), 8 tacks (for foundations), Pack Prima Flowers (6 pcs.), 7 Gypsies Clock Faces (2 pcs.), Pack of Pearl Flourish, Knob (varies by kit), Knocker, Library Label, Metal Key, Memory Frame (Chrome), Chipboard Shapes (5 pcs.), Pack Butterfly Pebbles (8 pcs.), Pleated Ribbon-Cream, Sheer Ribbon, 4 Sheets of 12×12 Prima Flights of Fancy Paper.

Order your kit from now until December 31st and receive a 10% discount.

Don't forget to check out yesterday's post about my winter mini album I'll be teaching in January on UStream, and at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center.

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And…

My friend Christy came over today, and brought her beautiful tags with her. They were so pretty, I thought I'd share them with you. If you're wrapping Christmas gifts, maybe Christy will inspire you to make a personalized tag for it.

Linked:

January Workshop and Winner of CPS Gifts

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Melissa Samuels · 3 Comments

This week on the blog I will be featuring classes that I will be teaching at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, and on my UStream channel in January 2011. UStream shows are free for everyone. However, you have the option of purchasing the kit that contains the materials and written instructions, so you can play along. Shows are recorded (barring technical difficulties).

"With Love" Winter Mini Album Workshop
My winter themed mini album has raw canvas covers that measure 6" x 7," and has 8 thick linen textured art board pages. The papers used are Fancy Pants' Traditions, which are done in shades of blue, golden yellow, and deep red. Learn to use Glimmer Mist in ways you may not have thought of before. A perfect album for all those winter or Christmas photos.

**Friday, January 14th from 6-9pm at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center (click here)

**Monday, January 17th at 9pm (EST) on my UStream Channel (click here)

Vistit my store to purchase your workshop or pre-order your Ustream kits. View the description of the lising for a list of what the kit contains, and the supply list. UStream kits will be shipping around December 31st.

Enjoy a 10% discount on workshops and UStream show kits until December 31st.

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And….

I know you guys have been waiting patiently for the annoucement of the winner of the Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts magazine. (click here to view the contest post)

Thanks so much to everyone who left a comment and played along. Don't forget, if you didn't win this time, there's always a chance next month!

And, the winner is….

I'm always looking for gift ideas From more involved and expensive to just little things. I participate in freecycle community – where stuff is given away for free and I like to give little something when I pick up things I need from others. I'd love to win this magazine! Thanks!

Posted by: Ksenia | Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 09:17 PM

Congratulations Ksenia! Email me at melissa@melissasamuels.net to claim your prize, and I'll get your magazine in the mail asap!

Linked:

Scor-tape 1/4" 202 $4.99	Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool with Foam IBT23616 $4.99	Ranger Glossy Accents 2 oz. GAC17042 $5.99	We R Memory Keepers – Crop-A-Dile – Eyelet and Snap Punch Tool 70907-7 $29.99
Ranger Inkssentials Non-stick Craft Sheet (Mat) 15" x 18" NSC20677 $17.99	Tattered Angels Misting Mat 2' x 3' (Extra Large) TAT09MMXL $54.99	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad-Vintage Photo TIM19527 $4.99

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