We have a couple fun things for you today...

First off, let's have Sande share with us some Christmas tips and favorites...

 

Do you have a favorite holiday photo you can share? 

The photo on our Christmas card from last year, the main one with us all leaning on each other, that's my favorite holiday photo: 

Christmas Card

What holiday recipe do you find irresistible?

Yes, but I can't share it because it's a family secret! It's my mom's raspberry cream pie. It's a recipe that she came up with that was her signature pie recipe when she was a caterer. It is decadent and people always ask for the recipe. I will share one recipe that we always make as a holiday appetizer to combat all the sugary holiday treats. It is called "Cowboy Caviar."

In a large bowl mix together:

6 TBL red wine vinegar

1 TBL salad oil

2 TBL hot sauce

2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 tsp pepper

To this add:

1 diced avacado

1 can corn drained

1 can black eyed peas drained and rinsed

6-8 Roma tomatoes

1/4 bunch of cilantro chopped 

1/3 cup diced green onion

Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or toasted french bread

What scrapbook/crafty items are on your Christmas wishlist? 

This letterpress shadowbox and stand from 7Gypsies:

The 7gypsies Steampunk Stamps:

Can you share with us a favorite Christmas project you've created?

This framed hybrid art piece. I hang this up every year.

Christmas Tree Print

What holiday project in the gallery has caught your eye?

I really like this card that was posted a few days ago: 

Joy by Raggafran

Do you have any tips you'd like to share with members for scrapbooking the holidays?  

The holidays are crazy busy so I always leave a layout or project out on my workspace that I can work on whenever I have a few minutes. Also keep a small journal in the kitchen with a pen so that you can jot down those special things your family says or does during the holidays so you can scrap them later. 

And now, our guest Kelly Goree shares a little background behind the Advent Layout that went up for the event today:

 

"I have a confession: I used to hate to scrapbook double-page layouts.

Yep, it's true.

I couldn't ever seem to figure out how to fill up two whole pages. Paper that size just totally overwhelmed me. Then I figured out that two-page spreads were a fantastic way to document a huge event or large period of time. It was like an epiphany for me! (Can you hear the angels singing?!) I began to love the space a 24"x12" canvas gave me for all the pictures I wanted to show off but couldn't fit into a smaller frame.

One of my favorite layouts I did with this idea in mind was a blocked page that resembled a calendar and marked off in increments exactly what happened and when on a wonderful African vacation I got to take. I adored that I could fit all the wonderful memories I had of that time in one layout. I loved that page. So this got me thinking...about another thing I usually don't like to do - scrapbooking the holidays.

Let me just say in my defense that the holidays overwhelm me! There's so many different picture-taking opportunities with usually such horrible lighting conditions and such bad images that I never really wanted to document them. I know, right?! I'm bad. But then the idea struck of putting them all into one, all-encompassing layout and I was sold. I could DO that! Even more, I loved the idea of making a type of Advent Calendar all right on my layout so I set to work.

First I pulled out all my favorite photos from the month of December. I organized them by the date or event. I built a grid based on a 2 1/2" square and started laying out my pictures. The ones that didn't easily fit into a square format, I scored at the 2 1/2" mark and then hid them under their corresponding date like a special present to be opened.

I utilized small hidden magnets to keep some of my windows closed and then I kept some days completely visible and easily opened. It was so much fun playing around with this and it has been by far the favorite layout for my boys that I've ever created. They love seeing the month in review, what they were doing and opening up all the little compartments and I love that I got the holidays scrapped in one fun layout!

Merry Christmas, everyone!"

Join us tomorrow as we hear from Nichol Magourik and see a new project from Stacey Sattler!

Welcome to our Holiday Event!  

Spend the season with our designers and special guests as we'll be blogging daily with holiday tips and favorites!

Do you have a favorite holiday photo you can share?

This one is of my three children getting a little wild on Christmas Eve. I love this photo because it's the last photo of us as a family on Christmas before my eldest son passed away from cancer. I love that it captures a truly happy moment even though it's technically imperfect.

What holiday recipe do you find irresistible?

We have a tradition of my husband making Peppermint Shakes. They're really quite easy: a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream, some milk to help soften up the ice cream, and then mini candy canes. Then chop and blend until you get the consistency you want. My husband gets requests for these when family comes to visit.

What scrapbook/crafty items are on your Christmas wishlist?

I loved this:

Fiskars circle punch

And this:

7Gypsies Library Drawer

And maybe this: 

Library Drawer

Can you share with us a favorite Christmas project you've created?  Why is it a favorite?

 

I like creating simple gifts for neighbors, and I'm always eyeing the dollar spot at my local store for items I can alter. This little tin cost me about $3 with the candy, the tin, and the altered embellishments: 

Holiday Tin & Ornament

 

What holiday project in the gallery has caught your eye?  What do you love about it?

Jenniwren32 always creates the most amazing altered items, and I loved this creation of hers: 

Merry Little Christmas

Do you have any tips you'd like to share with members for scrapbooking the holidays?

Work ahead. By the time December rolls around I have to have my cards done, my shopping done, and my decorating done. Then I can just sit back and enjoy the holidays, which already tend to be a little hectic.

 

We hope you enjoyed this little holiday questionnaire!  Join us tomorrow for more projects and another guest blog post!

Thank you for playing along in our Halloween challenges!  We loved seeing what you created and how these challenges inspired you.  The challenge winners are:

Garden Girl challenges:

Door Hanger with Jen Jockisch: Create a home decor item -  keelyyowler

Home Decor & Party Set with Rebecca Trump: Create a wreath, banner or treat set -  popsiclekisses

Home Decor & Party Set with Jen Gallacher: Create an item inspired by this project - abbeyviolet

Hybrid Shadow Box with Shimelle Laine: Print and create - paperpilekitten

Mummy's Hand & Altered Mirror: Use a household item - lots2scrap

Through the Years album with Shannon Tidwell: Scrap Past Halloweens - nebnan

Halloween Paparazzi with Jen Johner - melmom98

Photographing at Night with Chelsea Parsons - brandi

SpookCraftular Challenges 1-5:

Create your own embellishment - fleur-de-lisa

Use Two Peas Halloween Digital Kits - toomanycrayons

Use Shannon's Layout as a Sketch - mjmarmo

Focus on the story - baersgarten

Use the creepy-crawly-spooky items from your stash - zgagi

Sponsor Spotlight Giveaways:

Little Yellow Bicycle - Brandonsmommy

Hambly - mizzkb00

Pink Paislee - hafrase

Jenni Bowlin - jessifarr

Maya Road - djeno

Basic Grey - hilly77

Thank you again for joining in and participating!  The prizes will be sent out shortly - please ensure the address in your Two Peas account is up to date by visiting the "My Account" > "Edit My Account" section.  See you at the next events, our online crop and Holiday Cardmaking Weekends!