Shoebox Stampers

Recipe remodel - indoor s'mores!

I have to tell you to be careful when you make this recipe!  I have pulled the ingredients together and finally, on the fifth time, I have a sample to share with you! 

 

This is the easiest recipe, and one my husband (who is the taste tester at our house) says is even better than traditional s'mores!

3 cups mini marshmallows
3 cups Golden Grahams (or similar)
6 cubes bark coating

1. Toss marshmallows and cereal together. 
2. Melt bark coating and pour over mixture.
3. Stir to coat and spoon into cupcake papers. 
Makes 18+

So of course I had to decorate, and realized that today is the last day of school before Halloween (since All Saints' Day lands on Sunday, my kids are off Friday) so made it real simple.

 

I used one of our Cello bags and added gussets (that's for another post), then placed my treat inside.  The sentiment from Teeny tiny messages, stamped in basic black, is punched out with our word window punch, then matted in pumpkin pie with our modern label punch and held on with a bit of black 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon. 

 

I slipped it into the pails I decorated a few days ago (you can see that post here) for a great spooky Halloween gift!

Now, once you've had a chance to make these Indoor s'mores, don't say I didn't warn you!  You'll be making them often, but hey, they are so easy!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Recipe remodel - cheesecake the easy way

This is one of the best and easiest recipes you've ever seen!  I call it simply Cheesecake Dip and it only has three ingredients:

1 pkg cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tub whipped topping

Mix together and serve.  I pulled out graham crackers and animal crackers, but wouldn't it be great with fruit?  Yum!  When I served it for my class this week, I used our Summer Cookout Kit with Country Living for something a little classier than usual!

 

I put the dip in one of my dessert dishes, then added a coaster and punch from the kit.  Just a tip: make sure to cut the linen thread (which comes in the kit) a lot longer than necessary otherwise there will be unnecessary frustration involved!

 

This is the card on the left (I used real red and night of navy markers to color the "Dig In" stamp)...

 

and this is the card on the right (again markers for the stamp).  If I do this again, I will probably use an alphabet stamp set for the food item so it's neater.

 

This is the set-up.  There wasn't much to it.  The boxes use the food wrappers included in the kit, and if you'd like to fold your own boxes, make sure to download the following file.  It's really easy and makes a great disposable holder. 

Download Box_Diagram

When you have tried this recipe (and I know you won't be able to resist!), let me know.  And share with me what you dipped because sharing ideas is shoe nice!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Recipe remodel - So sorry...

I had made this recipe a couple times recently and wanted to share it, then I received a call from my son's principal (wait til you hear this one!).  My son loves animals and has been asking for a pet for as long as I can remember.  My husband and I don't want the extra responsibility...hey! we have three monkeys already!...and everywhere we go, there are pets to borrow.  Our neighbors have several cats and a couple dogs, both our parents have resident dogs, so it's all good...or so we thought.  The principal calls me to tell me that the teacher went down to lunch while the kids were at recess.  She comes back to find she's missing two baby chicks.  The whole class searches for the missing baby chicks, and where do they find them???

MY SON'S BACKPACK!!!

So, we are sending a small gift to apologize.  I don't have a name for this recipe, maybe white delight?  Anyway, it's an adaptation that Linda prepared for her workshop - just the best mix of sweet and salty.  I made mine more chocolatey, only partly because I don't have a bowl big enough for Linda's recipe.  I used one bag of microwave popcorn, popped and ready to serve (make sure to remove the unpopped kernals - they will surprise your teeth!).  Melt two bricks of white bark coating and pour over popcorn in a plastic container.  Cover and shake to coat.  Very easy and so yummy!!!

Here is a look at the packaging.  What a cute bag, and so easy!  All you need is a scoring blade, a crop-a-dile, and some adhesive.

So here's how I created it - you can use different measurements, but here's mine.  I started with two 6x6 pieces of Designer Series papers (the above is Washington Apple, the tutorial is Hostess Patterns Pack).  I scored at 1-1/2 inches on three sides, then cut along the score line on the bottom to create flaps. 

Then I attached a side flap to a side flap on each piece, which created a box.  This means that each side has two layers. 

I placed adhesive on the bottom flaps and folded them in, doing a long flap, then all four end flaps, then the last long flap.  Next I tucked in the sides to fold like a paper bag.

Finally, I added the holes, punched using our crop-a-dile, to put in the handles.  Then I embellished as desired.

If you want a larger bag (this one measures 3 inches by 1-1/2 inches by 4-1/2 inches tall), you can simply use a larger square and adjust your scoring lines.  If you have a gift to go inside that is rather heavy, add a piece of cardboard (like a cereal box or the board that comes in our Designer Series packages) for more stability.  There are so many things you can do with this one!

What I need from you now is what you think - are there enough pictures?  Are there any missed steps or anemic descriptions?  Do you think my son should be grounded forever???  Leave a comment and let me know!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Recipe remodel - Happy Valentine's Day!

It has finally made it, and while it seemed to rush here, I have been so busy with preparations that it also felt like it took forever!  I had one more thing to share with you - my favorite recipe for any romantic holiday (or Christmas, Thanksgiving, really whenever!).  I received it from a gal who worked with me at US Bank in Overland, MO some ten years ago.  It's one of my very favorites!  And to make it easy to add it to your favorite recipes, at the end of this post I've included a pdf file at you can download, save and print.

If you plan to give the whole pie, then you can easily create this paper bow - the tutorial can be found here.  I would suggest using one large brad for the whole thing, rather than a brad for each layer.  And I also add four more of the 5 inch strips to make the bow a little fuller.  It is a very easy decoration and fast too - you might find reasons to make more!  I used our Raspberry tart Designer series paper, and simply attached with a glue dot.

And, after having been to the store five times in the last two days, I finally remembered and found the mini graham cracker crusts, which is perfect for giving individual servings.  And when you make it as a pie, you will have a bit extra that is perfect for these (I actually filled a pie crust and three mini crusts when I made this last.  So I wrapped the little pie with plastic wrap, and tied it with riding hood red striped ribbon.  I punched the large tag from chocolate chip and the small tag from whisper white.  I stamped the heart from Polka dot punches (a Sale-a-bration set) with versamark and embossed with whisper white embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment from All holidays and punched with the heart to heart punch.  The large heart is raised up with dimensionals.

Download Cappuccino pie

What's your favorite recipe to create for romantic evenings or getaways?  I love easy recipes, but sometimes, a bit more effort is called for in appreciation for all that's done. 

Wish shoe stampin' fun (and lots of love)!

Rebecca

Recipe remodel!

This is one of my favorite recipes for year-round chocolate satisfaction!  And there are very few ingredients, most of which are staples, that it's easy to throw together at the last minute. 

It only requires 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 cups quick-cooking oats, 1 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup peanut butter. 

Melt the butter in a saucepan then add the brown sugar and vanilla - mix well.  Add the oats and cook over heat for a few minutes.  Divide this mixture in half, placing one part in a greased 9x9 pan.  Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish and add the peanut butter - heat to make stirring easier.  After mixed well, pour the chocolate pb on top the oats, then crumble the remaining oat mixture on top.  Refrigerate for a couple hours and serve.  Yum!

I needed a large-ish box in which to put the goodie, so I used the tutorial from splitcoaststampers.com to create this one that will fit a 2 1/2 inch square.  It's so easy - just a bit of scoring and adhering, with some stamping (of course!) and it's done!  I used the new Botanical blooms and certainly celery twill ribbon available during Sale-a-bration paired with regal rose and our wide oval punch. 

What occasions do you give homemade goodies?  And what do you make?  Share a recipe and you could be featured here!

Wish shoe stampin' (and bakin') fun!

Rebecca

On the twelfth day of Christmas...Recipe remodel

I made fudge!  This is the easiest fudge I've ever made!  This just uses two ingredients - baking chips (chococolate, peanut butter, caramel, white  chocolate) and icing (vanilla, german chocolate, chocolate fudge) and voila!  You have fudge!  First, melt the chips in a microwave safe dish, then stir until smooth.  Add the icing and heat for 30 seconds, then stir until smooth.  Pour into an 8x8 dish lined with aluminum foil and refrigerate.  Yum!  I have tried chocolate chips and chocolate fudge icing, and peanut butter chips and chocolate icing, and they are both amazing!

Then, to make it nice to give away, I cleaned out the icing tub and decorated it using our Ski Slope Designer Series paper and riding hood red cardstock.  I wrapped it in baja breeze striped ribbon and added the Cute and curly holiday sentiment, stamped in versamark on brushed silver cardstock and embossed with sterling silver embossing powder.  I used a lot of sticky strip to hold it all together!

To finish it off, I used the Big shot to cut a scallop from our Scallop die #2 in riding hood red and added a couple felt flurries on top, secured with a silver brad.  Easy and fun - I can't wait to give it away!

Stamp set: Cute and curly  Paper: Ski slope designer series paper, riding hood red  Ink: Versamark  Accessories: Felt flurries, Big shot, scallop #2 die, silver brad, baja breeze striped ribbon, silver embossing powder  Other: Icing tub

Wouldn't you just love some of this?  It's so easy you can make some, I promise!  If you try another configuration, share it with me! 

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Rebecca

Totally bananas!

I kept looking at my browning bananas thinking I needed to make something with them!  So I went online and found this recipe for banana cinnamon muffins.  They are just FABULOUS!  There's a cinnamon/sugar coating on top that just finishes it perfectly, and it doesn't require "strange" ingredients (my favorite kind of recipe). 

And this is what I did with them!  I was thinking along the lines of flowers (I guess it was a little warmer that day!) and so created a "clay pot" with really rust cardstock cut 6x6, then scored on each side at 2 inches.  I cut flaps and adhered them to the sides.  I added the scallop simply by using the scallop punch along a strip of Jersey Designer Series paper and attaching.  Then I used my favorite die cut flowers along with a rhinestone brad to put on top with a glue dot. 

 

I gave these to my children's teachers again!  They are going to wonder whether I am trying to buy grades for my kids, but, really, I'm not!  I hope they enjoy the muffins as much as my kids did. 

 

What do you think? Easy, peasy, right?

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Rebecca

This is why I stamp!

For my holiday card class, I wanted to make something with pumpkin.  I have this boxed mix from Tastefully Simple called Nana's Apple Cake (Tina Sturm in Lincoln County, MO takes care of me - you can  email her for a catalog or to place an order). It calls for apple chunks, but also suggests replacing pumpkin for that with a cream cheese frosting.  While I was at the grocery store, I saw the cutest idea - a cake decorated as a pumpkin (though it was square, which was weird...the Frankenstein was MUCH cuter!).  So I pulled out my glass pie dish and prepared and baked the cake.  I took it out of the oven, not letting it cool much since my class was in about two hours, and iced it with tinted cream cheese frosting.  My daughter created the green, which was spooned into a sandwich and piped out one end to create the leaves and vines.  I used chocolate icing to create the face, which I evidently did lop-sided! 

So, sometimes people ask why I stamp.  This is why!  Happy Halloween!!!

Wish shoe stampin' (and bakin') fun!

Rebecca

The best Bon-bons ever!

This is one of the best recipes for desserts that people just love!  My friend, Sheri, who has 12 kids (yes, twelve!), gave it to me when we were sharing recipes one day.  I generally make them for July 4th, and whenever someone asks (my dad says they sure helped him feel better after back surgery!).  There are only three ingredients (my favorite kind of recipe!).  All you need is a package of chocolate sandwich cookies, a package of cream cheese, and a package of bark coating. 

First you pulverize the cookies with a blender or food processor.  Then mix in the cream cheese.  You can refrigerate the mix to make it easier to form into balls - I use a teaspoon measuring spoon.  Melt the bark coating in a dish and drop the balls in the melted chocolate to coat.  Put them on a lined cookie sheet (parchment paper or wax paper) and refrigerate. 

This recipe makes about 70 bon bons.  It is a great activity to do with kids - mine just love this and look forward to when they can "test" the finished product.  And if you have leftover bark coating, have some pretzels or peanuts available to use the rest of the chocolate.  These go over almost as well as the bon bons!

I have been wanting to make this recipe using the blond sandwich cookies or the ones filled with peanut butter!  Or what about the Girl scout cookies, do-si-dos!  Wouldn't that be simply wonderful!  If you try this, let me know what you think, and if possible, stop by and share one! 

Wish shoe stampin' (and cookin') fun!

Rebecca

The story in the pretzel candy

Have you noticed there's a story behind most every recipe you have?  The recipe I want to share this month came from an article in Creating Keepsakes, though it wasn't the focus of the article.  It was actually in a recipe scrapbook!  During class, Michelle and her mom, Sheila, let me know these are called bellybuttons, and they love to make them with red and green M&M's for Christmas. It's so simple too!  Just three  ingredients: pretzels, Hershey's hugs, and M&M's.  That's it!  You simply heat your oven to 200 degrees.  On a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper, you lay out your pretzels, unwrap your hugs, then place one on each pretzel.  Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven and carefully place an M&M (or two!) on each hug.  Allow to cool (they are great cold) and enjoy!  My kids love to help, and they are fast and easy to make! 

When you make them, leave a comment and let me know what you think.  And if you change it any, share that too!

Happy stampin'!

Rebecca