Studio Calico Christmas Party (photo heavy)

Our Studio Calico Christmas party was very low-key, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun. We prepared by doing a cookie exchange. I made some ginger-molasses cookies, a recipe from some family friends in New Mexico.

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil

Mix those 2 ingredients, then add:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses

In a separate bowl combine:

• 4 cups flour
• 4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp ginger

Gradually combine with first mixture, then spoon out and roll in extra sugar. Bake at 325 for 5-7 min.

Even if you don't think you like ginger cookies, trust me, these are more like molasses cookies and you'll love them :)

This guy was on hand to make sure they turned out correctly. He's always in the kitchen when I'm working in there even though I almost never give him anything to eat. It's funny how two dogs of the same breed can be so different because Addy has never been interested in kitchen happenings preferring rather to play frisbee or lay in front of the fire. Jett on the other hand, won't miss an opportunity to lend a paw in the kitchen.

After making my cookies, I packaged them like this:





Supplies: Treat Bags (Target); Silver Maya Mist (Maya Road); Stamps (Studio Calico & Catslife Press); Ink (StazOn & Stampin' Up!); Ribbon (American Crafts); Patterned Paper (October Afternoon)

To get the circle design, I punched 3 circles using my MEGA Uchida Circle Punch and laid the bag flat, added the 3 circles, then sprayed the mist and removed the circles. I loved how it turned out and the silver looks great on both the white and red bags (see below). Since the treat bags came packaged with 4 of each color, I used the same supplies on the red bag (these weren't packaged for the cookie exchange which is why there's no recipe attached). The circle is the A side to the same piece of OA patterned paper and the only different supplies are the American Crafts White Pen to color in the letters and the ribbon (which is also by AC).
In exchange for my cookies I got Mint Chocolate Cookies shaped like candy canes (by Lorie), White Chocolate Dipped Pretzels (by Scarlet), Raspberry Shortbread cookies (by Hannah), and Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (by Cara). All were delicious and I'm so happy I now have new recipes to make!

For our dinner, I made TexMex squash casserole, which turned out well, carrot casserole, and 2 pork tenderloins. The rest of our meal, everyone brought a side item, so we ate like royalty. Then, after dinner, we went straight to presents. I had made these for our 4 employees which included a token of our appreciation for their work in 2008.
Supplies: Buttons (Basic Grey & Autum Leaves); Patterned Paper (October Afternoon & Sassafras-border); Sticker border (Making Memories); Stamp (Studio Calico); Ink (Stampin' Up!)

To make these, I cut 4 strips of kraft cardstock to 3.75x7.75"
Then, I stamped the Airmail Envelope stamp on one end and folded it into a trifold and stamped again on the other end.
Next, I adhered the scalloped border under the flap (I added another piece of Kraft CS on the inside to cover the B side of the scallop). The buttons were glued together with ZipDry and the envelope was held closed by a square of double-sided tape.

The following pictures are the rest of our gift-opening extravaganza.
Me and Nadiya
Mom and Dad came by to join in on the fun for a little while (and eat)
Carter playing with one of his gifts
Me and Natalee - She was obsess with a little Cinderella doll that Cara had bought for Nadiya. Thankfully, Nadiya was too obsessed with the Fancy Nancy outfit I had gotten her to notice and become possessive over the doll :)
complete with leg warmers...
Stephen and Hannah

Carter opening a dinosaur book from Noah.
Natalee handing out presents.

To conclude the night, we played rock band. I apologize for the quality of these images. They are completely unedited and a flash was needed, so we look even more like ghosts than we already did :)

It was Cara and Jonathan's first time to play Rock band and both did remarkably well. Their nephew, Caden, came along for the fun and rocked out with us (he's holding an extra guitar). Rich (Lorie's hubby) is on drums in the top left and Stephen (our designer) is on drums in the bottom right...a very serious drummer I might add.
Cara and I rotated playing guitar. Like I said, it was her first time to play, so there I was, instructing her on my fine skills :)

Our lead singer was Greg for most of the night, since he knows all the songs. Hannah, Stephen's wife, was on drums. She plays the harp in real life and is very good (even plays for weddings if you're in the KY or TN area). Doesn't she look like a happy drummer? Scarlet made up our fan club for most of the evening. We tried so hard to twist her arm to join the band, but I suppose we didn't sound good enough for her to join. Then, Jonathan, with a big yawn....

That about sums up our evening. We had so much fun with these great friends who have helped us so much with Studio Calico over this past year. We are truly grateful to each one of them for helping so much.