Make Mine Vanilla!

I love that Paula Deen!!! My daughter is addicted to the Food Network, and I love it too. Ms. Paula made homemade vanilla extract once, and I thought that would be the perfect Christmas gift for family, friends, co-workers, teachers, and neighbors...24 to be exact. After all, I don't know anyone who doesn't use or like vanilla. I was shocked to learn that the pure stuff is 100% alcohol. I didn't even realize that it is made with alcohol. When I looked at the grocery store the best I could find was 60% alcohol. No wonder people always bring vanilla home from Mexico...they make the good and pure stuff!

I ordered Madagascar vanilla beans and bottles from Amazon for a very good price. After sterilizing the bottles I split 5 beans in half length wise, removed the tips and bottoms, and place them in the bottle. Then vodka (you can use rum too) was added to completely fill the bottle. You give it a good shake everyday and in about 4 to 6 weeks (6 to be safe) you have vanilla extract. You can fill the bottle with more vodka when it is about half full and keep making more a couple of times as well. When you have finished the vanilla up, you can remove the beans, dry them off, and place them into your sugar jar where they continue to give off their lovely flavor. It really is the gift that keeps on giving...for a while at least.

All White ATC

Hello All and Happy Holidays! Before I begin my post subject, I would just like to tell you that last night I was scrolling through the Simon Says Stamp and Show's blog, and caught my name. I read through and realized that 13 days ago I won one of the top three blinkies for my Diva Christmas Tree! I was in shock, this being my first to win a challenge, especially when there are sooooo many other projects that are far superior to my piddly tree. I have my blinkie proudly displayed though. Wow! Thank you to all the SSSandS team. I really am deeply honored!

This month at the All Things Tim Yahoo Group, the theme for the Monthly ATC Swap was an All White ATC Christmas style. I was concerned. I have never done anything all one color...you know me! I had to email Sandy, the coordinator, and ask if a touch of silver was okay to accent with. She said yes...phew! I decided to make it into an ornament after I found some paper mache rectangle ornaments just a little bigger than an atc, for only $.50...what a bargain!

I die cut white cardstock and dotted ribbon with TH ATC die.

I attached the ribbon to the ATC with Glossy Accents.

I die cut mini reindeer from white cardstock and painted them with TH White Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint. When dried, I heat embossed them with UTEE, and added wire ribbon around their necks.

I die cut mini trees using white glitter paper and painted them with TH Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.

I painted the paper mache ornaments with TH White Picket Fence Distress Stain. Then I attached snowflake Tissue Tape to the sides and repainted with the stain.

I painted TH Christmas Sentiment Muse Tokens with Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber in Snow Cap, then heat embossed them with UTEE. I also painted TH Memo Pins with the paint.

I slipped embossed paper with "North Pole" and an arrow into the memo pin, attached a star above the tree, added German foil lace, and a beaded snowflake to the ATC. I attached the ATC to the ornament, added a bow and token, and used Stickles to trim it out.

Supplies:
Vagabond Material Used- TH Alterations ATC & Corners and Snowflakes Texture Fade, Movers & Shapers Mini Pine Tree & Holly Set, and Mini Reindeer & 25 Set
Paper Used- Paper Mache Ornament; white cardstock from my stash; The Paper Studio Glittered Christmas Cardstock Pack; Celebrate It Wide Ribbon (white tulle with dots); 32 Degrees North Dresden Foil Lace in white; TH Tissue Tape in Tidings (snowflakes)
Coloration Used- TH Distress Stain in White Picket Fence; TH Distress Crackle Paint in White Picket Fence and Rock Candy; Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in Snow Cap; TH Distress Stickles in Clear Rock Candy; Ranger Stickles in Silver
Embellishments Used- TH Idea-ology Muse Tokens Christmas and Memo Pins; Mark Richards Metals Silver Star; beaded snowflake (can't find packaging); white wire ribbon from my stash