4th of July

Can you believe that the year is half over? Where did the days go? Well, if I could answer that question I would be a millionaire. Anyways, Mom and I have been working on goodies for the 4th of July to share with family and friends. It has been a bit of a challenge with an 8 year-old helper (why is school out?), but I thought you might enjoy seeing all the items that have been created.

The outermost favors are little purses filled with mints. These are 4x8" strips of paper scored and folded at 3.5" and 4.5", to form a base. Then using my SU! large oval punch, I punched the handle. The purses were then filled, tied shut and decorated.

Next to the purses are matchbox favors filled with Hammonds art candy (see my post on June 23 for more information). The matchboxes are created with the SU! matchbox die and big shot. This may be my favorite big shot die as these boxes are sooooo cute and super simple to create. In addition they hold 4 small pieces of candy or two fun size candy bars, just enough for a candy fix on any occasion.

Moving inward from the matchboxes are lifesaver firecrackers, filled sour cream containers and candy rockets. The lifesaver firecrackers are rolled lifesaver rolls (hard to find). I attached a piece of string to the end of the roll to create the fuse, rolled the lifesavers in decorative paper and then attached a piece of star wire to the middle as a decorative element.

Sour cream containers are 4.25x5.5" rolled into a toilet paper tube, and then squishes at one end, filled and then squished at the other. The ends were then run through my crimper to ensure that they wouldn't split open. My sour cream containers were filled with cherry mints - the 8 year-old loves 'em.

The last item is the candy rockets. Here's an up-close picture.

The rocket is a miniature roll of mentos, I found these at my local Party America store, attached to a glittery pencil. I attached a piece of #5 perle cotton to the candy (this is the fuse) and then wrapped my decorative paper (measuring 2x3") around both the candy and the pencil ensuring that the fuse was close to the pencil. This provides the base for the rocket, then as a decorative element I added an 8" piece of star wire to the base of the rocket. Voila!

In total there are 120 goodies. I think our 4th of July celebration will be great and I certainly hope yours will be as well!

All Things Disney Scrapbook Event - Take 4

Did I mention that Disney class is right around the corner? This month we will do things a little different and I will have open scrap night Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm - 9pm. Please let me know in advance if you can come and when. In addition, I will be delivering kits tomorrow (Monday 6/29), if you would like me to drop your kit off, please email me and we can make arrangements.

Now without any further delays, here are this months pages...

Goofy

Beauty and the Beast

Dumbo

In addition, for the 4th of July I have created a special 2-page holiday spread - remember that holiday pages are $8.50 and are not included in your kits. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like the page so I can set it aside as these are limited editions and will only be available on a 1st come basis.

4th of July Holiday

Have you been a loyal follower? If so the last page of your book will also be included in this months kit. Here's the image:

Back Page

As you can see this page will end our first series scrapbook in style. It will however, not be the end to our Disney adventure. I will be spending the summer putting together Disney scrapbook series 2 (coming in August): which will include characters such as Lilo & Stitch, Captain Hook, Aladin, Mater and so many others. I receive emails ever week with your Disney requests so keep the emails coming and be sure to send yours along if you haven't yet done so.

Hoping you have many magical moments and I hope to see you real soon!

Candy Factory

Do you love sweets? Do you live in the Denver Metro area?

Candy Coal

If so, I encourage you to visit Hammonds Candy Factory. A few weeks ago Carrington and I ventured to the factory in search of red, white and blue hard candy. Hammonds didn't disappoint and I found red, white and blue ribbon candy, pillows and the always beautiful cut rock candy. You ask, what is cut rock candy? These are the art candies that you see at holidays that have pictures inside. Cut rock candy for the 4th of July has the U.S. Flag inside (see pics).

So the first of these images is the stacking process to 'create' the U.S. flag. The second image is right after the candy goes through the cutting/wrapping process and the last image is - you guessed it my dear daughter sticking her hands in the bin to 'fill' the goodie bag.

While C and I were there I noticed a recent change to the tours they offer. They offer the free delightful tour - this tour begins with a quick video and then a walk to the viewing area to 'see' what candy they are making today and ending at the sample bin. C loves the tour and it doesn't seem to matter how many times we go, she's always eager to go back. In addition to the free tour Hammonds has also added a behind the scenes (available at a cost) tour.

If you know C and I, well you can see where this is going - I'm reading about the tour and C is right there reading along. The next thing I know "Mom..." Okay, now I have to think about this. Fortunately, I had time - the behind the scenes requires booking in advance! Few, off the hook for today.



Fast forward two weeks --- this brings us to yesterday where you guessed it off to Hammonds we went. Mom, C and I were joined by great friends and together the six of us enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of Hammonds. Now I have to admit that making candy is a true art! We had our hand in making several batches of candy from the fresh off the stove and onto the cooling table to making lollies and candy canes. Regardless, my candy cane isn't quite straight; matter of fact it has bumps and dips where candy canes should be straight and my hook 'has issues', my lolly is round (this is a good thing) but it has a hole in the center almost large enough for my pinkie finger to go through (not so good). Now I know candy making is an art and not everyone is cut out for the job, but seriously a candy cane shouldn't be this hard, right? Trust me, it's not as easy as it looks.

Mom is making a candy cane

Oh and I should mention that today's candy canes were chocolate filled raspberry canes! Now I would have never picked this cane up, but after sampling the cane fresh off the line and sucking all the chocolate out of the center - there may not be anything better. Let's just say YUM!


Anyways, I have included several pics - please note that the always stylish and fashionable hair nets and aprons are required on the production floor and while I know this fashion trend hasn't quite caught on - I am sure it will and soon you too will be prancing around town dawning your own version :)

Carrington lolly making

All our wonderful creations




Note: I do not work for or in any way get paid for my views by Hammonds. However, if you would like more information on Hammonds, please visit there website at www.hammondscandies.com and be sure to let them know that I sent you!