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Lemon Shortbread Cookies and Yellow Gift Cones

By KariV on June 4, 2013 in Dessert, Paper Crafting, Recipes

This past weekend was my birthday. It was a big deal because it marked a new decade for me! So I wanted to do something special…something that I could share with people who have made an impact in my life.

I decided to combine two of my most favorite things: Baking and Gifting. I started by making some of these cones in a happy yellow color. The idea was to give out as many goodies as I was old.

I gifted these throughout the week; however, I delivered the majority of these little gifts ON my birthday. Some fun reactions: “You are giving me a treat on YOUR birthday? Best. Friend. Ever.” 🙂

Since I had a bunch of lemons from my mom, I decided to perfect a recipe I have been working on! These little Lemon Shortbread Cookies are buttery and citrus-y with a little bit of a crunch. Perfect!

I found that I love to add lemon juice AND zest to both the cookie and the glaze. Delicious Lemon desserts are among my very favorites and this cookie did not disappoint! They are simple to make and bake…you roll the dough and cut the chilled dough before baking. (so much easier than rolling out and using a cookie cutter!)

Then, drizzle the glaze over the top, let them “dry” for a few hours and then they are ready to wrap up!

I wrapped them up in a little glassine bag and closed them with a sticker. Then I filled as many cones as I could with cookies and Hershey’s Hugs (I love those)! I had them hanging everywhere…all over the kitchen cabinets and even some door knobs.

I think everyone loved these little cookies. I got some nice texts, notes, and cards back (thanks for the love!) And my favorite reaction: “Oh WOW! These cookies are amazing!! Need the recipe ASAP.”

I love these little shortbread cookies. My last birthday gift is to share the recipe with YOU. So here you go:

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And if you’re interested in how to make an EASY cone out of 12 x 12 paper, I’m sharing a quick tutorial here! Go ahead, make a few and see how many smiles you can inspire when you give them away filled with treats. 🙂

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“Hugs” Card for Maddy (who is fighting cancer)

By KariV on June 3, 2013 in Paper Crafting

I created this card especially for a little girl named Maddy who has cancer. She lives in Tennessee and has requested lots of good energy and smiles in the form of homemade cards! So, Maddy, this one’s for you! I mailed this out today. Hope she likes it!

I had fun choosing different colors of ink pads to compliment each other for the hearts. I sure hope Maddy likes pink because pink became the dominating color! I embossed the word “hugs” with pink embossing powder and outlined it with a thin black pen to pull it all together. Sending “hugs” to Maddy across the miles!

If you’d like to send a card of encouragement, too, get more information here.

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“You are Loved” card

By KariV on May 31, 2013 in DIY, Paper Crafting

I just learned on Wednesday that a dear friend and neighbor is moving! 🙁 I know that moving is chaotic and overwhelming sometimes and so I was inspired to make the following cards in her honor:

I am just enthralled with “Sunshine” cards (yes, it goes with the name of my blog!) and this one surprised me because it turned out in shades of blue, rather than yellow! I tinted the embossed sentiment with Distress Ink in Peacock and added some glitter to the “sunburst.” I will re-visit this idea later, because I think it looks more like a quilt or sky than a sunburst. Funny how things turn out sometimes.

(to be continued: see the next card in the next post…)

So, dear friend who is moving (you know who you are)…these are for you! Everything IS going to be alright. And you are loved.

Linking up with Simon Says Stamp challenge.

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Everything’s Going to be Alright, you’ll see

By KariV on May 31, 2013 in DIY, Paper Crafting

This one is perhaps my favorite of the two. I glittered up the clouds a bit and added a yellow ribbon. Then I used some liquid pearls in pink to add dimension on the sentiment stripe. Fun!

I love this saying. LOVE. I have my husband trained to tell me “Everything’s going to be ok!” when I ask him to tell me “something.” I know that I might worry too much, and this really calms me down. So this card is so endearing to me. 🙂 And I love the sky when it is filled with clouds. It is so peaceful. This paper with clouds is adorable!

So, dear friend who is moving (you know who you are)…these are for you! Everything IS going to be alright. And you are loved.

Linking up with Simon Says Stamp challenge.

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“Take a photo” Card Challenge

By KariV on May 27, 2013 in Paper Crafting

It’s a perfect day to send a card or two. Today I was up for the challenge from Simon Says Stamp. The theme for the challenge is: Take a Photo.

I was also a bit inspired by “Memorial Day” and the memories of loved ones. I love the idea of taking a picture and holding it in your heart…so you can always feel those good times and bring them to mind. See how I “framed” those good times in the card below?

So here’s my card:

Inside card:

I’ve been playing with a new technique that’s kind of fun: I embossed the arrows with white embossing powder and then watercolored over the top of them. The embossing resists the watercolor and the arrows remain white, but adding that color behind them makes them really pop!

I love the red glitter heart added to the frame, too. I used Stickles in Christmas red on that little heart.

Until next time, hold onto those good memories in your heart!

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