Feliz Navidad + Video

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I decided to continue my unconventional Christmas mini series today with a really fun mixed media card. This STUNNING new dragonfruit stamp is an absolute DREAM to color and I made a video to show you how very quickly you can create this card. 

I started with an old Gel Press print that had reds and teals in it that gave me a Christmasy vibe. I wanted the more magenta color of the dragon fruit to stand out more than the red in the background. Then I used some Daffodil paper glaze and this super duper fun new slimline stencil - this stencil will be amazing for my art journal pages. Then I used Quinacridone Pink, Serpentine and Quinacridone Deep Gold to quickly paint the fruit - with simple wet on wet watercolor doing all the work for me. You'll see the video below!

I had an absolute nightmare leading up to this post - two full days with no internet after a giant fiber cut took out Google Fiber to the whole city. You would not BELIEVE how hard some tasks are when you only have a phone - like uploading videos, pictures, etc. I ended up having to tether my laptop to my cell phone, which I discovered has HORRIBLE signal quality at my house and painfully move around large files and try to just do my normal job. And the rate at which email piles up when you aren't on top of it is a fright. I hate reading and typing things on my phone on a normal day - but having to do everything on there is for the birds. The bright side was that my annual social media blackout day - 9/11 - was the day it started, so that was easy.

But as a person whose entire job is digital, I got a few gray hairs for sure. So this stamp speaks to me - LOL.

I did a random color blocking technique with this adorable new background stamp and  my fabby alcohol fineliners (I have a coupon code in the footer) because they are the only way to color in the tiny spaces between the cords. Such a fun stamp - it's a 4x4 background, but it repeats on all four sides, so I stamped it twice to fill up my card front before coloring. The sentiment is from this set and I used the Frozen Nutcracker sequins because that mix has these little holographic sequins that look like DVDs! So cute with this image.

Next I took the new Slimline leaf stencil and the newest Paper Glaze color and did a simple mixed media card with no sentiment. The base is just a piece of paper I cleaned my brayer on while I was gel printing - when they are pretty I always save them.

Want to see the video? Check it out below, or if you don't see a video, click here to watch on YouTube.

Then come back for a cookie recipe!

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Fun, right? Well guess what? There is a giveaway too! Two $50 gift cards to Picket Fence - just comment for your chance to win! Winners will be announced next week on the PFS blog. See the links below for more inspiration!

Picket Fence Studios Blog
Lydia Fiedler
Lisa Tilson
Ceal Pritchett
Susie Moore
Michelle Lupton
Angela Bode
Sara Sherlock
Judy Rozema
Becky Roberts
Karen Reátegui
Erica A-B
Ilina Crouse
Larisa Hohman

Ready for a cookie?

I updated the classic peanut butter cornflake cookie to eliminate corn syrup and some of the sugar and oh my word is it good! Here's the recipe.

1 C Sugar

1 C Lyle's Golden Syrup

1 C Santa Ana Organic Peanut Butter (the secret weapon)

6 C. Cornflakes

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Okay - so I have had these cookies many times and they were way too sweet because people used sweetened peanut butter. The simple change to no sugar added PB is amazing!

In a large saucepan or frying pan, combine the peanut butter, sugar and syrup. Stir over medium heat constantly until it bubbles. Remove from heat and quickly stir in vanilla and cornflakes - this is a workout. Drop the mixture by tablespoons onto waxed paper and let cool for 20 minutes. 

So yummy.. 

Loveyameanitbye.

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