FREE GIVEAWAY...12x12 Italian Stone w/Vinyl Lettering

It's FREE GIVEAWAY time again!!!! We had a
BLAST last time, so... let's do it again...

I LOVE the saying on this Italian Stone...
Having someone to love is Family,
Having someplace to go is Home,
Having both is a Blessing.

(Great idea to accent your home decor
or gifts for Christmas, Birthday,Anniversary,
House Warming or Party Host.)

This Giveaway is in honor of
Thanksgiving- the holiday that often gets
lost between Halloween & Christmas.
Hopefully, it be a time for Reflection &
Gratitude of Families & Country..

*Please note: This Giveaway is open to residents
in the 48 Contiguous United States (due to S/H cost)

*******How to Enter *******
There are 3 ways to enter with MANY
(up to 15) chances to win:

1) 2 chances to win...
"POST" on your blog about the Giveaway &
the 12x12 Italian Stone w/Vinyl Lettering...
Leave me a Comment with a link..
***(Link will be verified)***


2) 3 extra chances to win...
Become a "FOLLOWER" on my blog..
Go to the sidebar where it says
"FOLLOWERS" & click on the word
"FOLLOW" continue with the
PROMPTS...That's all there is to it...

(If you're already a Follower &
are interested in the Giveaway,
you'll receive 3 chances.)

Exclusively for Followers!!
Can you keep a secret???
The next Free Giveaway
is for "FOLLOWERS ONLY"
so...HURRY and become a
Follower TODAY!

3) 10 more chances to win... Of your family & friends, who do you think would like to join us & "share the magic" at Santa's Gift Shoppe Boutique?
For EACH contact (Name, Address, & Zip Code) you email me (@santasgiftshoppe@gmail.com)
you'll receive 1 more chance per contact-limit 10.

*And those of you who don't live locally, but would like to share this with family & friends, send me their Email Address to receive 1 more chance per contact - limit 10.

**Remember: Please leave contact information (email,address, etc.) if you are the Winner...

***This Giveaway will Close @ 12 midnight on Nov. 7, 2009...

***The WINNER will be announced on Nov. 10, 2009) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS WITHIN 24 hrs. of this date to determine if you are a winner. If you are the winner, email me your Name & Address to receive your gift.... GOOD LUCK.....

Halloween Crafts/Recipes @ Santa's Gift Shoppe Year Round

Here are some craft ideas/recipes to get us
Crafters inspired for this fun holiday.
My Mom's "HOOT OWL COOKIE RECIPE"
below is something you/your kids will have
to try...My kids loved them when they were
little & now that they are adults..they make
them.

The photo (above) is of Halloween decorations
for a party @ my wonderful friends Christine's
house. She had graciously invited some women
from Relief Society (from our church) over
for a Special Halloween Party...She is
so creative & really out does herself. (To bad
for me she lives far away...in another state)

Here is the table with decorations & some of
the Goodies. There are my mom's "Hoot-Owl"
Cookies (from when I was a kid) , Witch Finger
Bread sticks, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
Cookies, Also (not shown are Bony Bread-
sticks) RECIPES ARE SHOWN BELOW:

Close-up of my mom's "Hoot-Owl Cookies"

RECIPE
1 pkg. chocolate chips (6oz.)
1 sm. can of whole cashews (or buy in bulk
just what you need about 24+extra since they
can be pricey)
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat oven @ 350F. Mix butter, br. sugar,
egg & vanilla in bowl. Mix flour, baking soda/
powder & salt in another bowl. Add dry
ingredients to wet ingredients. Remove 2/3
of dough. Melt 1/2 c. chocolate chips (& few
drops of oil..canola) in microwave in 30 sec.
increments. Add melted chocolate to remaining
dough & mix well. Divide white dough in half.
Roll into rectangle (abt. 9"x4") Roll 1/2 of
chocolate dough into a long rope abt. 9" long &
place on top of rectangle. Roll white dough a-
round chocolate dough. Pinch ends so choco-
late dough is hidden. Repeat with remaining
white/chocolate dough. Wrap in foil. Refri-
gerate overnight. Slice rolled dough in 1/4"
pieces. For each "Owl" place two slices to-
gether, pinch outer edges for ears. Add one
chocolate chip for each eye & cashew for beak.
Bake 9-11 min. (depending on oven)

"Witch Finger Breadsticks" (picture above)
RECIPE
1 pkg. thawed Bridgford "dinner rolls"
1/4 c. melted butter
parmesan cheese
garlic salt
egg yolks
food coloring
sm. paintbrush

Directions:
Roll each roll into a finger-sized rope. Using
knife, cut one end of rope in "V" shape for
finger nail & cut lines for "knuckles." Lay
flat on cookie sheet & pinch on either side
of knuckle. Brush with melted butter (not
fingernail) Sprinkle with parmesan cheese
& garlic salt..avoiding nail. Create "nail polish"
by combining egg yolk with food coloring.
Paint "nail." Bake @ 350F. for 10-15 min.


This is a picture of "Bony Bread Sticks." found
at BHG website. Make sure you make these
different size bones.

RECIPE
1 pkg. refrigerated (Pillbury type) bread
sticks
For Sweet: cinnamon/sugar
For Savory: garlic salt/parmesan cheese
Directions:
Unroll bread sticks. Knot each end of
breadstick & bake. Serve warm. You could
also include a "dip" tinted with red for a
dramatic effect. Or, sprinkle with a savory or
sweet seasoning.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Above)
RECIPE
1 box of spice cake mix
1 reg. size can of pumpkin (or 1/2 lg. size)
1 bag chocolate chips (6oz.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all
ingredients together. Using cookie scoop
or spoon drop dough on to greased cookie
sheet. Bake 10 min. (depending on oven)
Cool & enjoy!

These are "blood-shot eyesballs" from "Martha".
She does Halloween like no other!! I've heard
her say it's one of her favorite Holidays. I have

Materials needed:
2 plastic softball size balls (for 1 pair)
1 old pair of beige nylons (or knee-hi nylons)
blue tissue paper (or whatever color you want
for the iris)
black construction paper (for pupil)
1 piece white paper (for highlights)
scissors, hole punch, glue, red marker

Directions:
Cut out large iris circle from colored tissue
paper. Glue one on each of the balls. (You
may want to add two layers of tissue so it's
not transparent) Cut smaller circle from
black paper. Glue on top of iris. Punch 2
holes from white paper (for highlights)
Glue in place. Draw wiggly "blood-shot" lines
on white all stemming from iris. Place each
ball in the foot of each nylon. Cut if needed &
tie @ top of nylons together to prevent eyes
from falling out. Drape on porch or wherever.

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
BE SAFE!!!

"Thank You" for sharing your "Christmas Memories" on our 1st GIVEAWAY

This is what we gave away....... A "Cutie-Pie"

3 piece Mother/Daughter apron set w/Bow....

We will post the WINNER on Monday Oct. 12, 2009.

We had sooooo much FUN, we are going to do it

again in November....next month.....so keep

checking back to see when.....I've already decided

to GIVEAWAY a 12x12 Italian Stone w/Vinyl

Lettering on it.....

*********( *This particular GIVEAWAY

will be open to USA residents ONLY)********

I WISH to extend a HEARTFELT "Thank You"

to ALL who shared their "Favorite Christmas

Memory" with us....They were all wonderful to

read and inspiring in many cases...(some new

traditions to put into our Christmas' in the

future.)

Thought I would show you one of my "helpers."

She was a BIG help as you can see....

This is our cat "ELLIE"... She is a fun,

investigative, & "makes me laugh" kind

of Kitty....We adore her...She really likes to

get "Up Close & Personal"... I think the

PINK attracted her attention....or maybe

it was all those polka-dots...

A SPECIAL Thanks goes out to my Friend

"Sharlene" and her precious daughter "ELLA"

for being such GREAT Models for the aprons...