Trim the Tree with Handmade Holiday Ornaments...

Hello creative friends! Handmade holiday gifts are my jam – especially ornaments. It's a tradition that I share with my Grandmother which has spread to other family members too. I am also into all sorts of art & crafts, sewing and of course, I just can't resist making ALL THE THINGS! 

That being said, I am excited that my creative friend Janet invited me to be a part of a special handmade event where each day brings a new craft tutorial to follow along and make some new handmade holiday ornaments... the 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments!

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To visit all the stops for the 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments visit Janet at https://tryit-likeit.com/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments/

Here's the list of all the Ornament Makers in this bloghop:

Day 1 – Janet Trieschman: Fabric Ball Ornament
Day 2 – Donna Wirthlin: Santa Fabric Star
Day 3 – Natalie Shaw: Waterslide Decal Ornaments
** Day 4 – Susan M. Brown {sbartist}: Festive Paper House Ornament ** YOU ARE HERE
Day 5 – Michelle James: Old World Santa Ornaments
Day 6 – Julie Nyanyo: Felt and Button Stars
Day 7 – Christie Troxell: Pinecone Flowers Wood Slice
Day 8 – Gail Griffin: Bejeweled Decorative Ornament
Day 9 – Katie Adams: 3D Laser Cut Reindeer Ornament
Day 10 – Janet Trieschman: Alcohol ink Ornament
Day 11 – Terry Ricioli: Rustic Wood Slice Ornament
Day 12 – Janet Trieschman: Christmas Tree

Thanks for stopping by – I hope you enjoy creating along. Merry Christmas and Happy Making. I'd love to hear about what type of ornaments you like to make. :) Sb

BLACK MOON Masquerade... Day 5 of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

Welcome to the day FIVE of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!! Did you snag the  Haunted House TREAT from Janet yesterday? If you just arrived today, be sure to go back and see all the fun! On Wednesday was a watercolor paint-a-long with Erna, Tuesday Jane shared Glittery Glam Haunted House Cards, and Christie Smashed Halloween on Monday! 

Today I have an invitation for you... pop on over to MY INSTAGRAM acct @SassyEyedSusan – don't forget your mask!

 

Everyone is Invited!

 

 

Meet me at 9:00pm EDT – LIVE!

 

You are Cordially invited

to attend a

MASQUERADE UNDER the STARS

at Nine o’Clock EDT

on the Eve of the
BLACK MOON

• Handmade Masks Requested •

Location - on IG @SassyEyedSusan  

 

Below is a list of the creatives that are joining me for this fabulous INSTAGRAM Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl – be sure to visit each day, enjoy the fun and leave a comment that I sent you! 

 

Monday, 8/18 — @ritzy_parties Christie Troxell  

Tuesday, 8/19 — @juanitascasita Jane Rudolfo Shouse 

Wednesday, 8/20 — @ernavandyk Erna van Dyk 

Thursday, 8/21 — @tryit2likeit Janet VanLone Trieschman 

* Friday, 8/22 — @sassyeyedsusan (ME) Susan M. Brown {sbartist} 

DAY 6 -- Saturday, 8/23 @makeablecrafts Meg Daves 

 

See you tomorrow for day SIX of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl with Meg Daves!

;) Sb

Halloween TREATS for ALL... Day 4 of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

Welcome to the day Four of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!! Did you enjoy relaxing mixing watercolors painting a harvest moon scene with Erna yesterday? If you just arrived today, be sure to go back and see all the fun! On Tuesday Jane shared Glittery Glam Haunted House Cards, and Christie Smashed Halloween on Monday! 

Today Janet with Try It - Like It - Create It brings the Halloween TREATS for everyone!  Enjoy some spooky papercrafting fun with a FREEBIE to create with... an awesome layered Haunted House Diorama SVG file, just in time for Halloween paper crafting! 

Download your FREE SVG right here: 

https://tryit-likeit.com/halloween-diorama/ 

and let the crafting begin!

No tricks... pop on over to Janet's INSTAGRAM acct to see how quick and easy this lovely layered haunted house comes together! 

Enjoy a Spooktacular Sneak PEEK!

 

 

Howl at the Moon with Haunted Delight!

 

Below is a list of the creatives that are joining me for this fabulous INSTAGRAM Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl – be sure to visit each day, enjoy the fun and leave a comment that I sent you! 

 

Monday, 8/18 — @ritzy_parties Christie Troxell  

Tuesday, 8/19 — @juanitascasita Jane Rudolfo Shouse 

Wednesday, 8/20 — @ernavandyk Erna van Dyk 

Thursday, 8/21 — @tryit2likeit Janet VanLone Trieschman 

* Friday, 8/22 — @sassyeyedsusan (ME) Susan M. Brown {sbartist} 

Saturday, 8/23 @makeablecrafts Meg Daves

 

See you tomorrow for day FIVE of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl with yours truly!

;)Sb

Over the Harvest Moon... Day 3 of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

Welcome to the day THREE of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!! What did you think of Jane's Glittery Glam Haunted House Cards and how would you make Christie's Smashing Halloween Treats?! 

Today brings something a little different... and also relaxing – make a deliciously haunted painted watercolor scene with Erna at @ernavandyk. 

Go grab your paints, some paper and just one brush and visit Erna's INSTAGRAM acct to see how to paint this Glamorous Witch flying over the Harvest Moon! 

Go Batty with this Sneak PEEK!

 

Fly over to SEE ERNA Paint this Watercolor Scene!

Below is a list of the creatives that are joining me for this fabulous INSTAGRAM Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl – be sure to visit each day, enjoy the fun and leave a comment that I sent you! 

 

Monday, 8/18 — @ritzy_parties Christie Troxell  

Tuesday, 8/19 — @juanitascasita Jane Rudolfo Shouse 

Wednesday, 8/20 — @ernavandyk Erna van Dyk 

Thursday, 8/21 — @tryit2likeit Janet VanLone Trieschman 

* Friday, 8/22 — @sassyeyedsusan (ME) Susan M. Brown {sbartist} 

Saturday, 8/23 @makeablecrafts Meg Daves

 

See you tomorrow for day FOUR of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

;)Sb

Houses of Haunted Delight... Day 2 of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

Welcome to the day TWO of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!! How did you like Christie's Smashing Halloween Treats?! Ready for more... 

 

Today Jane at @JuanitasCasita shares a trio of Glittery Glam Haunted House Cards... pop over and visit  INSTAGRAM acct to see what mysterious make she has in store for you! 

Here's a Glam Sneak PEEK!

 

Houses of Haunted Delight! CLICK TO SEE MORE!

Below is a list of the creatives that are joining me for this fabulous INSTAGRAM Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl – be sure to visit each day, enjoy the fun and leave a comment that I sent you! 

 

Monday, 8/18 — @ritzy_parties Christie Troxell  

Tuesday, 8/19 — @juanitascasita Jane Rudolfo Shouse 

Wednesday, 8/20 — @ernavandyk Erna van Dyk 

Thursday, 8/21 — @tryit2likeit Janet VanLone Trieschman 

Friday, 8/22 — @sassyeyedsusan (ME) Susan M. Brown {sbartist} 

Saturday, 8/23 @makeablecrafts Meg Daves

 

See you tomorrow for day three of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

;)Sb

It's a Graveyard SMASH... Day 1 of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

Welcome to the official kick-off of FALL and all the SpO🎃Ky things! Join me and my artsy, crafty creative friends for a Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!! Each day a different creative will share something ghoulishly awesome to get you inspired for the spooky season or maybe something fabulously for Fall. My project will be revealed on Friday, August 22nd!

Below is a list of the creatives that are joining me for this fabulous INSTAGRAM Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl – be sure to visit each day, enjoy the fun and leave a comment that I sent you! 

 

Monday, 8/18 — @ritzy_parties Christie Troxell  

Tuesday, 8/19 — @juanitascasita Jane Rudolfo Shouse 

Wednesday, 8/20 — @ernavandyk Erna van Dyk 

Thursday, 8/21 — @tryit2likeit Janet VanLone Trieschman 

Friday, 8/22 — @sassyeyedsusan (ME) Susan M. Brown {sbartist} 

Saturday, 8/23 @makeablecrafts Meg Daves

 

Today Christie at @ritzy_parties kicks it off the event… be sure to visit her INSTAGRAM acct to see what spooky secret craft she has in store for you! 

 

Here's a Sweet Sneak PEEK!

 

It's a Graveyard Smash Party! CLICK TO SEE MORE! 

See you tomorrow for another installment of the Fall-o'Ween Crafty Crawl!

;)Sb

Goodbye Summer - Hello Fall-o'Ween...

Summer is relentless in SOFL... seems like it never ends and this year it's blazing hot everywhere else too! Everyone is ready for cooler things like Fall + Halloween... all things pumpkin and spice. I love it! Gimme some googlie eyes, candy corn and some spooky fun crafty goodness and I am a happy camper.

 

I'm sharing a throwback card for Flashback Friday and to give everyone a heads up for a fun event I am doing with some Artsy Pals next week...  

 

YOU DO NOT want to miss the OFFICIAL kickoff of Fall-o'Ween!

Thanks for dropping by today. Have creative weekend and I look forward to seeing you Monday and I'll tell you more about it!
:) Sb

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Bloghop RECAP -- Links to ALL RECIPES

 

SPECIAL THANKS to Janet at Try It Like It Create It for hosting this fabulously sweet bloghop! It was so fun and was just what I needed to get infused with all the feelz of the holiday spirit. We all have our 'standards' that we make every season... this fun event has given me a whole new myriad of cookies to add to the recipe box.

THANK YOU and many big virtual hugs go out to each baker for giving of you time and participation in sharing these HOLIDAY SWEET TREATS!

If you missed out on any of the days... here's a list of all the blogs linked to each days recipes. So you can refer back at your leisure. I can't wait to try them ALL! I am totally addicted to macarons from the local French Bakery – this is the recipe I will try first... so I can have a whole platter JUST FOR ME!!

 

WHICH RECIPE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

All the recipes in the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies 2024 Bloghop:
December 1 – Birds of a Feather: Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
December 2 – Tales of Belle: Danish Pebernødder Cookies
December 3 – Jenron Designs: Movie Night Toffee Pretzel & Popcorn Cookies
December 4 – Sum of their Stores: Chocolate Orange Porridge Oat Cookies
December 5 – Esme Salon: Easy and Fun French Macarons Recipe!
December 6 – Our Hopeful Home: Belgian Butter Waffle Caramel Sandwich Cookies
December 7 – Purple Hues and Me: Christmas Light Bulb Cookies
December 8 – Rose Bakes: M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies
December 9 – sbartist : painting in the dark: {yours truly} Sugar Balls
December 10 – Get Inspired by Faith: No-Bake Candycane Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
December 11 – Jupiter Hadley: Chewy Lemon Cookies
December 12 – Save Money Fever: Piped Butter Cookies

I'd love to hear what you are baking for the season.
I'm having fun baking batches of sugar balls with the different nuts that I have on hand in the pantry! :) Sb

Baking Tasty Ornamental Treats... 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Bloghop

Welcome to my blog and to the Ninth Day of the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Bloghop!

 

My name is Susan and I am thrilled that my dear creative friend Janet invited me to be a part of this special baking bloghop. I love to bake, art, craft, sew and make ALL THE THINGS (like my handmade Scoutie Elf claiming today's bake).

I'm sharing one of my favorite family Christmas Cookie recipes – Sugar Balls. Colored in glistening sugars - these bite sized treats look like ornaments! I don't know how long this recipe has been passed down in my family, I just have a cherished handwritten recipe on an index card from my grandmother (along with about a dozen others). These hand-written cards are cherished and bring back so many childhood memories each year when the holidays roll around.

These cookies are colorful, quick and easy to make and don't require eggs or dairy. Grab some extra tiny hands to help and lets get baking!

SUGAR BALLS

Cream thoroughly —
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sifted, confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

Stir in 1 tablespoon water

Add in 2 cups sifted flour & mix well

Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or your choice)

Shape dough into 1" balls & roll some in red sugar, some in green

Bake 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet at 300° for 20 minutes or until firm to touch.

Cool thoroughly before removing from pan

Yield - 4 dozen

This is a super easy recipe and requires little prep work. Gather ingredients and follow along...

Feel free to use your choice of nuts. For the red & green versions, I used chopped pecans. For the second batch (lime green and purple), I tried pistachios. I had to toast these first as they were raw & unsalted.

Creme confectioners sugar with butter, then combine vanilla and water.

Next add sifted flour.

Combine flour into creamed sugar mixture thoroughly.

Completed dough before adding nuts. Feel free to try with whatever nuts you prefer. I used pecans here and also tried pistachios because I happened to have some for use in crusting fish. After you make the basic dough, feel free to select your favorite nuts and colored sugar.

Mix nuts into dough. I'm added chopped toasted pistachios here.

Combine thoroughly to ensure even nut distribution. This dough can be made ahead of time and chilled.

Since I don't have any extra hands to help, I find it helpful to divide dough and roll into long 1" rolls then slice about 1" segments that easily roll into balls. The 1 inch size makes the perfect one bite cookie.

Roll some in green sugar.

Roll some in red sugar.

I also tried some rolled in this lovely vintage sugar I scored at my local "Fresh Market". I was surprised that the thicker grain of sugar held up in baking and didn't melt all over the pan.

Bake at 300º for 20 minutes or firm to touch. They keep shape very nicely. Be sure to let them cool completely before removing from pan or the cookies might crumble when you pick them up. When cooled, the sugar makes a nice crispy shell for the nutty goodness inside.

For the pistachio batch, I tried some other fun colored sugar I have in the pantry – lime green and purple.

 

Batch number two in the oven!



After baking. the purple sugar didn't change color or brown when baked – these are so pretty!



I gently sliced one in half just so you can see the inside. These lovelies are meant to be enjoyed in one bite.



The bottom of cookie (at top) has a bit of the colors melted together.



When cooled the cookies are ready to enjoy! I have placed each cookie in a decorative mini muffin liner ready to serve on a platter or pack into gift tins. These certainly are a treat any time of year.

 

Shhhhhh! The pistachio batch is staying with me! I'm looking forward to trying other combinations – leave me a comment with your suggestions!

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To visit all the stops on the hop visit Janet at https://tryit-likeit.com/12-days-of-cookies



Here's the list of all the recipes in this bloghop:
December 1 – Birds of a Feather: Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
December 2 – Tales of Belle: Danish Pebernødder Cookies
December 3 – Jenron Designs: Movie Night Toffee Pretzel & Popcorn Cookies
December 4 – Sum of their Stores: Chocolate Orange Porridge Oat Cookies
December 5 – Esme Salon: Easy and Fun French Macarons Recipe!
December 6 – Our Hopeful Home: Belgian Butter Waffle Caramel Sandwich Cookies
December 7 – Purple Hues and Me: Christmas Light Bulb Cookies
December 8 – Rose Bakes: M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies
December 9 – sbartist : painting in the dark: {you are here} Sugar Balls
December 10 – Get Inspired by Faith: No-Bake Candycane Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
December 11 – Jupiter Hadley: Chewy Lemon Cookies
December 12 – Save Money Fever: Piped Butter Cookies

Thanks for stopping by – I hope you enjoy this recipe. Merry Christmas and Happy Baking :) Sb

Let your #Cre8time Fly... Gina K. Designs and Designer Crafts Connection Bloghop

Greetings everyone! Today I am joining the creatives with the Designer Crafts Connection in getting inky for a new bloghop featuring projects made with Gina K. Designs stamps and die-cut ephemera.

Gina K. Designs carries the highest quality stamps, ink, cardstock, dies, stencils and more! Everything coordinates beautifully so you can start creating right away... inspiring with great ideas for paper crafting success!

I love to customize a plain composition book and collage with lovely papers, stamps and ephemera. I was provided with these beautiful Gina K. Designs ephemera watercolor floral die-cuts and butterfly "Never Lose Hope" stamps which are perfect to decorate a new inspiration journal.

Supplies: Blank composition book; scissors, glue stick, black Staz-On ink; misc patterned paper and ledger paper; vellum paper; coordinating lace and ribbon; paintbrush; Ranger Old Paper Distress Oxide; double sided adhesive tape; Gina K. Designs butterfly "Never Lose Hope" stamps and ephemera watercolor floral die cuts.

Using Staz-On black ink, stamp many butterflies onto vellum and ledger paper.

Look at all the flowery goodness here in the ephemera watercolor floral die-cut package!

Before gluing down floral pieces, I quickly antiqued with Ranger Old Paper Distress Oxide applied with a brush.

With just a quick brushing of ink, the die cut pieces look aged with bright colors and whites toned down.

Covering a journal is really straightforward. Trace around the cover onto the back of a patterned paper which is a nice cream with some sparkle detail (pretty sure this was leftover from something Christmas themed). I cut on the traced line and apply a liberal slathering of glue stick to the cover, then press paper onto the cover. Easy-peasy!

Fussy cut out all of the butterflies. I enjoy cutting out a pile of hand-stamped images.

Now I'm ready to grab the glue stick and apply things to the prepared journal.

The combination of the black ink on ledger paper with the antiqued florals give a shabby-chic feel.

I slightly overlap floral pieces and leaves to create depth.

I finish the edge of journal with a piece of lace layered with a tri-color ribbon adhered with double-sided adhesive. This ties everything together to complete my journal redux.

Shabby-Chic Journal takes flight!

With just a few supplies, I have transformed a plain composition book to something that looks like those sold at the bookstore.

The sparkle detail on the paper adds a bit of bling to the neutral colors.

I love the neutral colors with just a pop of color in the florals. This journal is ready to be filled with creative ideas and inspiration from my daily travels.

CLICK HERE to jump over to the Designer Crafts Connection blog to view more projects using Gina K. Designs Bloghop.

For more info on Gina K. Designs Products, project inspiration and to purchase visit Gina K. Designs website HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting! What would create with Gina K. Designs? Sb :)

** This is a sponsored post. Gina K. Designs, LLC provided products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.