Gift Card Tree for Teacher

Another take of the Gift Card Tree I did HERE and same song, second verse of the Gift Card Wreath I did HERE.

New to the Gift Card Wreath/Tree?

It is a really simple way for Room Moms to coordinate a group Christmas gift for the teacher that she will definitely enjoy and use!

As a room mom, we always send out a principal approved letter/email to all of the parents in the class.  It asks for them to communicate with the Room Mom if they are sending a card, are sending money for the Room Mom to buy the card or if they are doing something else.  There is no pressure to participate.  The key is to set a deadline early enough that if you need to go pick up a few extra cards and/or send reminders, you have enough time.  Sometimes, if there are not many cards, I'll purchase cards of smaller amounts to fill up the tree.

The trees were personalized with the teachers' favorite colors/themes and their initials.

The card stock initials are from the Paper Studio that I simply decorated with scrap paper, glitter and ribbons.

A variety of cards from the teacher's "favorites" list make this gift a real no brainer!

Merry Christmas to all of the teachers out there!

Smiles!!!

Apricot Strudel

This is one of my favorite recipes.  When my mom made it for the first time YEARS ago, I was thinking, why apricots?  I don't like apricots.   Well, I guess I do like apricots or at least apricots in strudel!  This makes enough to share with a neighbor or two.

Apricot Strudel

1 cup butter

8 oz cream cheese

2 cups flour

18 oz jar apricot preserves

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream the butter, cream cheese and flour.  (I use my food processor for this and keep the butter and cream cheese cold.)  Form into ball and chill.  Divide dough into four parts.  Roll each part into a rectangle.  Mix apricot preserves, coconut and pecans together.  Spread on dough.  Roll up like a jellyroll.  Put on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Score the top of the strudels with a sharp knife.  Bake 35 - 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool.  Enjoy!

What do you think of apricots?

Smiles!!!

Tuesday To Do #139

Happy Tuesday To Do Party Time!!!

I'm so happy to have some time off to get a few thing on my To Do List done!

Lucky for me, I have all of you that share your talents to keep my To Do List VERY long!!

Let's see what made the LIST this week:

 

Adorable Carnival Birthday Party by The Life of Jennifer Dawn

 

Titi Crafty's Embellished Shoes are the cutest!!

 

This is just ONE of the MANY FREEBIES and IDEAS shared by Second Chance to Dream

 

Pineapple Cornbread...who knew?!?  Gotta give this recipe from Lori's Culinary Creations a try!!

Beautiful Place Cards from Fancy That Notion

 

If you were a List Maker this week, feel free to grab a List Maker button...

just click on the buttons tab.

Now, let's get started with this week's Tuesday To Do Party!

 Before you link up your newest posts, please take a moment to do the following: 

1.  Like The Blackberry Vine on Facebook.

2.  Follow The Blackberry Vine...Google or RSS.

 

3.  If you're on Twitter and/or Instagram, follow me there, too!!

4.  Link back to the party (a sidebar or separate tab is A-OK with me!)

After you link up, stop by a few of the posts and say HI!

Again, thank you for stopping by and linking up!!

 

 



 

 

 

A Beautiful Day to Take Some Photos...

Well, maybe not a beautiful day...but we still got a few pretty good shots.

It's about 31 degrees and sleeting today.  Why not go outside and try to shoot a few shots for this year's Christmas card?!?  It was really the only time my friends had so we made it work. Everyone was a trooper!!  A typical session would take about an hour 1/2 and generate close to 1000 images.  We could only bear the elements for about 35 minutes which means we got about a third of the usual number of images. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're in the Frisco area and would like some photos for YOUR Christmas cards, give me a shout.  I'm working on building up a portfolio and am only charging an hourly fee for the shots & a DVD.  You can print what you would like.  If you would like some touch-ups, etc, that will be an additional fee.  Hope to hear from you!!

 

Smiles!!!

 

 



Instagram...Me?!?

Well, I'm trying out the whole Instagram thing...yes, I know...welcome to the 21st century, Jami!

I tried it out on a photo of our dining table.  Have I shown you these plates before?  My sweet friend and neighbor gave the top plates to me...am I lucky or what??!?!  They're Botanical Fall Fruit appetizer plates from William Sonoma and they're just lovely on top of my Woodland Spode. Both plates are beautiful on top of my Johnson Brother Sovereign Chop Plates which were mostly purchased by The Enabler.  The brown wicker chargers from William Sonoma finish the simple place setting.  Oh!  I nearly forgot about the silver ware.  The brown handled pieces were again gifts from The Enabler.  The cream handled pieces were Ebay finds some time ago.  The napkins need ironing so they'll have to wait.

Are you on Instagram?

Would love to have a few friends join me!!!

Smiles!

Clark the Elf - Revisted

We're getting ready to welcome our friend, Clark the Elf, back to our house.  Thought it would be a good time to revisit some of his past adventures...

Roasting Marshmallows

Building Fun

Doodling on Pictures

Drinking Hot Chocolate

Racing Cars

Reading Christmas Cards

The Reason for the Season

Playing Games

Sharing the Christmas Story

Wrapping the Christmas Tree

Playing with the DS

 Snow Ball Fight

Hanging on the Hutch



Tuesday To Do #138

It's that time of the week again!

I'm go glad you chose to stop by!

Let's check out this week's List Makers:

 

Every year I think I'll try this...thanks to Meeha Meeha for the great tutorial!

 

Orange Green Tea Scrub recipe by The Daily Simple

 

The Life of a Craft Crazed Mom shared this gorgeous Burlap Holiday Wreath

 

If you were a List Maker this week, feel free to grab a List Maker button...

just click on the buttons tab.

Now, let's get started with this week's Tuesday To Do Party!

 Before you link up your newest posts, please take a moment to do the following: 

1.  Like The Blackberry Vine on Facebook.

2.  Follow The Blackberry Vine...Google or RSS.

3.  Link back to the party (a sidebar or separate tab is A-OK with me!)

After you link up, stop by a few of the posts and say HI!

Again, thank you for stopping by and linking up!!

SMILES!!!!

 

 

 

Tuesday To Do #137

Welcome to the 137th Tuesday To Do Party!!

 

Let's check out this week's List Makers:

 

Clever Dresser to Desk Transformation by Saving for Six

 

You know I love maps and these redos from Craft Dictator are no exception!

 

If you haven't made Pretzel Rolls yet, why don't you give this recipe from Recipes, Food & Cooking a try?

 

If you were a List Maker this week, feel free to grab a List Maker button...

just click on the buttons tab.

Now, let's get started with this week's Tuesday To Do Party!

 Before you link up your newest posts, please take a moment to do the following: 

1.  Like The Blackberry Vine on Facebook.

2.  Follow The Blackberry Vine...Google or RSS.

3.  Link back to the party (a sidebar or separate tab is A-OK with me!)

After you link up, stop by a few of the posts and say HI!

Again, thank you for stopping by and linking up!!

SMILES!!!!

 

 

 



Tuesday To Do #136

Happy Tuesday To Do Y'all!

It's a gray, rainy day here in our part of Texas...love it!

Perfect for curling up with the laptop and browsing around all of these great blogs!

Let's see who is a List Maker this week:

 



Cute Turkey Cupcakes by Made From Pinterest

 

 

Knock-It Off Crafts shares a quick Halloween Centerpiece

 

 

Love this Spider Themed Halloween Party by Vixen Made

 

If you were a List Maker this week, feel free to grab a List Maker button...

just click on the buttons tab.
Now, let's get started with this week's Tuesday To Do Party!

 Before you link up your newest posts, please take a moment to do the following: 

1.  Like The Blackberry Vine on Facebook.

2.  Follow The Blackberry Vine...Google or RSS.

3.  Link back to the party (a sidebar or separate tab is A-OK with me!)

After you link up, stop by a few of the posts and say HI!

Again, thank you for stopping by and linking up!!

SMILES!!!!