Saturday, November 28, 2009

Just Us Girls Challenge #9

Happy BELATED Thanksgiving everyone!  Today is the 9th week for Just Us Girls and our challenge blog!  Everyone has been so supportive and LOYAL, and for that we are all GRATEFUL!  We try very hard to keep our challenges fresh, fun, EASY, and we also try very hard to faithfully leave comments for all of our participants.  I must say, that I failed miserably at commenting last week and for that I apologize sincerely.  I can't explain everything I've been working behind the scenes but trust me when I tell you it has been a LOT :O)  Plus I'm studying for a promotion test next week so I'm tied up in that regard as well.  I PROMISE to get back to my normal commenting this week!!  Especially after my test on Wednesday ;] 

So, without further adieu, check out our fun 3-D/Template challenge hosted by our sweet, Mona this week. Oh, and I noticed on the JUGS site that our very GENEROUS Mona is also putting up a nice pile of BLOG CANDY as well!  Be sure to check it out if you haven't already.

For my gift package, I chose to use Lauren Meader's PTI "FOR KEEP{sake}" template.  It was PERFECT for the "gift" I had in mind.  My "gift" is a layered chocolate chip cookie mix!  Instead of using the typical jar to hold my mix, I used a clear treat bag that you can purchase at any craft store.  It proved to be a little more difficult to layer the mix without combining ingredients (err...like the flour you see that slid down into the brown sugar), but I LOVE how it turned out with this template!  NOTE:  I increased the dimension of the box and lid by 1/2 inch.  This made the lid a little too big, but it works for my overstuffed bag of mix ;]

I used Martha Stewart holiday patterned paper on PTI Select White cs.  I punched the windows using my Curved Rectangle Nestabilities after adhering the patterned paper.  I also cut slits in each side of the top of the lid to thread my ribbon through.  I used my Cuttlebug Snowflake ef on the aqua panel on the lid and sanded the flakes to make them appear white. 

I printed my recipe on some plain MS paper and left a little room for a stamped Inkadinkado flourish and snowflakes that I embossed in white.  I used white eyelash yarn to tie the recipe to my satin ribbon with some layered snowflakes and jingle bells :O)  I adhered the aqua ribbon around the lid and tucked it into one of the sides before adhering together.

Didn't it turn out cute?  I'm giving this gift to my friend's teenage daughter who loves to bake!  Hopefully I get to test the cookies when they're made ;]  LOL  Okay, so here's the recipe for my layered mix (press each layer down firmly before adding the next layer):

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 1/2 cups flour mixed with
             1 tsp baking soda
             and 1/4 tsp salt

...and the recipe to print on the tag ;]

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Empty bag of cookie mix into large mixing bowl.  Thoroughly blend mix.
2. Add:  1 ½ sticks butter or margarine, very soft
             1 egg slightly beaten
             1 tsp vanilla
3. Mix until completely blended.
4. Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2” apart on greased baking sheets.
5. Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies and finish cooling on racks. These cookies don’t firm up until completely cooled.

**Makes 2 ½ dozen cookies


That's all I have for you today, but be sure to check out the rest of the team's inspirational projects [<--- links in my left sidebar]!  They have some AWESOME eye candy this weekend...I already peeked ;]  We sure hope you can play along!  If you do, be sure to link it using Mr. Linky on the JUGS site and use keyword JUGS9 in any online galleries.  Don't forget about Mona's blog candy, it's a great pile :O)

Have a wonderful weekend! 

20 comments:

LETTIER.COM said...

I think it is awesome that you created your own collaborative artistic blog. I've been watching it over the weeks and it is impressive. You should create some kind of workshop. 'Course I'd like to create something with the humor of someecards.com incorporated into it. =D

AKiteFlier said...

Ohhhhhh Kristin - I LOVE these layered cookie mixes - what a great idea to layer it in a bag instead of a jar. This template IS perfect for this mix with it's acetate window - I love your color combo and all the added touches - never heard of eyelash thread but I want to get some now - it's SUPER pretty. As usual, girlfriend - you hit one out of the park again :-)

Maria said...

Awesome job! LOVE the cookie mix idea!! It does make the perfect gift!

Lisa Kind said...

Love this box, Kristin! I especially like the colors...so fresh and fun! Cool idea with the embossing and sanding! Thanks for the recipe, too!

Andrea M said...

What a beautiful gift, Kristin! The layered cookie mixture is so lovely in that gorgeous box. The ocean mist and white are just beautiful together and so wintry. As always, thanks for the inspiration :) Thanks for the recipe - especially for the "culinarily" challenged such as myself :D
Good luck on the promotion test!

LeAnne said...

Yummy cookies, yummy box, yumminess all over! Such pretty colors you've used here....I think this is an awesome gift! TFS! Hope I can carve out some time to play today!

Dana Gustafson said...

Ohhhhh! Kristen! This is gorgeous! I can picture this on display in the finest of gift shops! I love the idea of using the layered cookie mix in a bag and then dressing it up in your pretty snowflake papered box. The white embossed tag complete with bells and eyelash fibers is the perfect touch. Fine work as always, girl!

GabrielleH said...

What a lovely gift bag! It is embellished so perfectly! Wow! You did an outstanding job! You JUGS girls rock!

Mona Pendleton said...

Kristin, what a BEAUTIFULLY decorated gift box! I love your big bow & how you stamped the flourishes & snowflakes on the recipe tag! Thank you for sharing the recipe & step by step instructions! This will make a great gift for my co-workers! Thank you for the inspiration :)

Sharon Wheet said...

love your selection for the 'gift' and your choice of pattern paper. Its beautiful!

Carol L said...

This is so unique and clever to put the cookie mix in a bag instead of a jar! I LOVE the box you created for it - the colors are AWESOME!! I just love that you shared the simple recipe and directions too! This is just the cutest gift ever!!

Mary J said...

Wow, that really does look you bought it from an expensive shop! One of those items that you always hope someone will buy for you! Really lovely Kristin!

dpkennedy said...

Wow, this looks fantastic! What a great project and great gift!

Lauren (mytime) said...

WOW! Is that ever stunning! Love the colors. That recipe sound delicious too. Im sure this gift was a huge hit. Love that you packaged a LAYERED mix in this template. You are genius.

Tammy Hershberger said...

Beautiful, Kristin! I LOVE the color you used on this, and what a great idea to do the cookie mix in a bag to fit in this box! It sounds yummy, too!

Anonymous said...

magnificent submit, vеrу informative. I pоndeг why the other specialists of
thiѕ sector ԁοn't realize this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers'
base already!
Also visit my web blog :: Loans for Bad Credit

Anonymous said...

Wow! Finаlly І got a blog from where I be cаpablе of reallу get useful fаcts concernіng my stuԁy аnd knowleԁgе.
Look at my page : loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

уou're in reality a good webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible. It sort of feels that you'rе doing any diѕtinctive trick.
In additiоn, The cοntents are masterpiеce.
you've done a magnificent process on this matter!

my web-site: best payday loans
My site ; best payday loans

Anonymous said...

Linκ exchange is nothing elsе hoωever іt
is οnly placing the other ρerson's blog link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do same in favor of you.

Also visit my page: Engagement Rings

Anonymous said...

Verу good write-up. Ι certainly love this ωebѕitе.
Keep іt uρ!

Stop by mу wеblog: payday loans uk

Post a Comment

Thank you for leaving a comment! It really does mean a lot to me. I will visit your blog if you have one...that's where I find most of my inspiration :O)

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.