Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Poppystamps and Memory Box Blog Hop


Memory Box and PoppyStamps are having a joint blog hop.  There are prizes, to find out how to win hop on over to the Poppystamps Blog page for all the information.  This blog hop begins today and ends on December 4th.  You have until the 10th of December to enter.  Good luck everyone!

If you came to my blog page from
You are traveling in the right direction.....

Now on to a bit about my place card..... 

I like to have handmade place cards for guests. This year, for Christmas I am making place cards that can be used later as a decoration. Let me first give you the dimensions of the frame, which by the way is exactly the same as the one I use for my mini-calendars. Cut a piece of card stock to 4 x 12 inches. Score at 4 inches, 8 inches, 9 3/4 inches and 11 1/2 inches. Fold and glue to form the frame.

 Now on to decorating..... I die cut the Mod Snowflake Background on glitter card stock.


 I then ran a piece of white card stock through my Xyron machine. You could also use spray glue.


The size of white card stock I used was about 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches.  Now glue the Mod Snowflake Background (#1034) to your piece of glued white cardstock. You might be asking what white card stock?  I only see red. Well, after you glue your Mod Snowflake to the white card stock, you will have sticky everywhere the die did not make contact with the card stock. As you can see, I chose red glitter to cover all the sticky openings. Trim your glittered piece to 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 and glue this piece to your frame and decorate.

I chose the Snow Flocked Tree die (#1096) and added chunky glitter. I die cut the Vintage Merry Christmas (# 1105) on a thick glitter cardstock. And it released beautifully. Note: All machines cut differently. Sometimes you will need a shim, even if your cardstock is thick. My little deer is from Memory Box. It is one of my most cherished dies. It's called Leaping Deer (No 98390). I will write the name of each guest my little deer. I added ribbon, a bit of bling and a bell. This place card is complete. I'm sure you will find many different ways to decorate your place card. If you create one, please email me to let me know. I'd love to see what you've created.

I'm going to share my top secret peanut brittle recipe....so don't tell a soul!  Promise!  I've been making this every Christmas for probably (yikes, more years than I want to remember...) I'm guessing at least 30 years and probably more.  

There are two hints and these hints will make your peanut brittle perfect, every time!  First:  Don't cheat on the heat.  You MUST cook the mixture to 240 degrees prior to adding the peanuts and the butter.  And then you MUST continue cooking until you've reached 300 degrees.  Second:  Spread your candy mixture so that it is as thin as you can get it.  If you follow these two rules you'll have PERCECT  peanut brittle. (Sorry there is no photo.  I haven't made any yet this year.  It's on my schedule for mid-December.  I'll try to remember to post a photo soon.)

Have all the ingredients and tools ready before you begin.....

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound salted peanuts

Butter:  2 cookie sheets and put them into a warm oven.
In a small bowl combine:  baking soda, 1 teaspoon water and vanilla.  Set this aside
In a heavy sauce pan combine:  sugar,  1 cup of water, and corn syrup.

Cook the sugar, water and corn syrup until the temperature reaches 240 degrees.  Stir occasionally
Stir in the butter and peanuts and continue cooking until the temperature reaches 300 degrees.  Stir continually.  This mixture will easily burn if you don't stir. 

Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda mixture.  Your heated mixture will bubble up, don't be afraid it's supposed to.

Immediately pour onto the two cookie sheets and spread to a thin layer.  I use the back of a spoon to do this.  This is where an extra set of hands are very helpful.  I spread to about 1/4 inch.  Cool and break candy into pieces.

Never double this recipe or any candy recipe.

If you are following the hop in order, your next stop is a visit to

And here is  the list of everyone hopping along today......



Sue McRae  


While you are hopping, how about checking out:



Birch Press Design has gorgeous unique gifts for all the ladies on your list.  Check out the recipe cards.  They are the perfect gift for club exchanges, stocking stuffers and just to have on hand for those unexpected guests.  I absolutely love the aprons.  They are so pretty.  They remind me of women in the 1940's, which is the era of my favorite movies. 

For a chance to win, don't forget to comment on the Poppystamps and the Memory Box Blog pages.  Winners will be posted on December 15th.  Good luck to evreyone. 

Off I go to see what everyone has created.  Have a most special week. 

60 comments:

  1. Lovely card.

    My mum loved peanut Brittle.

    Hope you have a nice day. Sue

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  2. Super card Mary and thanks for the PB recipe xxx

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  3. Fantastic place card!! Love all the glitz!! Thanks for the brittle recipe!!

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  4. So cute! I love your beautifull card! Thanks for your recipe, I will try it !

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  5. Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the recipe too :)

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  6. This is so pretty! I love the background die that you used. And the tent card is a great idea.
    Hugs,
    Antonella :-)

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  7. Oh my----- BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Absolutely beautiful! What a festive table you will have!

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  9. What a talent for beautiful creations! Your card for today is so festive! So cheerful and classy! I love your style!

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  10. love the background - will have to add it to my wish list...

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  11. Love your tent card, great idea. Yes, I was wondering "what white"....funny.

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  12. Love the background die, who wouldn't love receiving that card, perfect for framing, too.

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  13. I like place cards as well and this is a great fancy idea. Love it!!

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  14. now you have me thinking about place cards for Christmas

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  15. Stunner of a Christmas card! Love the background die cut. Thanks for sharing the yummy recipe too!

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  16. Oh Mary, your card is just beautiful! Thank you so much for the PB recipe. Can't wait to try it!

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  17. Hi Mary -love the hop idea - beautiful place mat - love all of my Poppystamp and Memory box dies - thanks for the Peanut Brittle recipe! Have a nice day

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  18. Great card with that wonderful snowflake die! TFS your PB recipe too :)

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  19. Hi Mary.........Adorable is your card x

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  20. I love the sparkle! your card is adorable!

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  21. Beautiful and intricate die. love it and your design. Hugs, AntoinetteT

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  22. What a festive place card Mary and your brittle sounds yummy!

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  23. Hi Mary, beautiful place card design and loving all your sparkle..pam

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  24. Yum....awesome dies and card; Double Yum...for the recipe! SaWheet!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Beautiful card. I love the red background and how the tree just pops right out!

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  26. This is the most beautiful place card I have ever seen - outstanding!! Your recipe for peanut brittle sounds terrific.

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  27. What a gorgeous card and yummy recipe! I love glitter and the gorgeous dies you used! I am doing the blog hop - thank you!

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  28. This is a beautiful place card and a lovely gift for the guest to take home.

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  29. what a beautiful card!!! and a bonus on what looks like a delicious recipe!! Thanks!!

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  30. Thanks for sharing such a fun "old fashioned" but new again idea. Your directions are so easy to understand. Can't wait to attempt the peanut brittle!

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  31. This is my fav MB deer as well. Love the Mod Snowflake background, and it sure did shine beautifully against this glittered red. Adding the leaping deer & pretty tree as more embellishments really created such a stunning placement. Your guests will be wowed. TFS the peanut brittle recipe too. Hugs

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  32. So pretty Mary (as always!) I love the sparkle and shine and all the pretty dies you put together to create this scene!

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  33. Like ideas of how to use a card twice.

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  34. Hi Mary, your card is stunning! Sparklies are definitely your forte! :) Great idea to put the dies together.
    Yvonne

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  35. Great card everything about it is perfect, thanks for sharing.

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  36. A gorgeous card and a yummy recipe! Thank you!

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  37. Beautiful card! I also love the recipe. Thank you for your talent.

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  38. Cute place cards might pass on the recipe though the last time I made brittle I screwed it up so bad it never solidified. In fact it slid off the cookie sheet in the freezer I tried everything to get it hard lol

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  39. I love the bright colors that you've used! What a pretty idea!

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  40. preciosa tu creacion !! i love it!!

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  41. Oh how I wish I could try your brittle recipe...but I guess I'll have to make it! Thanks for the recipe and the card is fabulous.

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  42. Gorgeous placecard, that you made here. Such a great idea for the christmas parties.

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  43. Absolutely, glittery gorgeous placecard. Thank you for the recipe and the tips. I wish someone had told me before not to double candy recipes - I have had some spectacular fails.

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  44. Your place card is beautiful - what a great idea to use glitter to "catch" to the background of the card.

    Thanks also for sharing your Peanut Brittle recipe. I'm tempted...

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  45. Mary, it's gorgeous! I love that glitter paper! Thanks for sharing your recipe ...I won't tell a sole!

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  46. Just beautiful. Puts me into the Christmas Spirit. Thanks.

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  47. Lovely card, thanks for sharing your recipe.

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  48. Your card is extraordinary, Mary! I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit more often. I read your comment at Di's about Bernie and I just wanted to let you know I love you, too! And I see I picked an excellent time to tell you that because I also love peanut brittle! THANK YOU!! Hugs, Darnell

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  49. Mary, just read your comment at the Playground re: Our Bernie. I echo your comments. You said things just so beautifully, and I wanted to say I feel the same way! Life gets busy and we lose touch. I hope I can do better in 2015! I treasure my Playground buddies. Hugs

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  50. GREAY AND BEAUTIFUL IDEA MARY!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

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  51. Beautiful card!! Love it and all the details!!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  52. Adorable card. Love all the glitter

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  53. Great place card! And how nice of you to include your peanut brittle recipe, Mary. Thank you!

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  54. wonderful card...thank you for the recipe...always looking for a new holiday favorite!

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Thank you for spending time visiting my blog. And thank you even more for your comments. I LOVE reading each and every one of them. Happy creating!