And the Winner of the Mother's Day Giiveaway is...

WE HAVE A WINNER of the Mother's Day
GIVEAWAY....First of all...thank you so much
to all who shared their favorite things about their
Mother's. The comments were all so special.
Welcome also to all the New Followers & Friends.

Now for the winning number...We used Random.org
to pick a winner and the number was...

Comment #28
Leenda said...
Link back to my blog post:
http://purpletomatoes.tumblr.com/post/548071235/
mothers-day-giveaway-on-santas-gift-shoppe-

Leenda's 3 other comments were...

Hi. I just love the bracelet and would love a chance
to win it. I am a couple of days late,(she wasn't late!)
but I'm visiting you from New Friend Friday on the Girl
Creative. Your blog is so cute.

My absolute favorite thing about my mother is how
she was willing to give up so much for my sister and
me when we were growing up. I really didn't
appreciate it at the time, but I can sure appreciate
it now!

I love Christmas! I am following your blog. Thanks
for the great ideas. :-)

CONGRATULATIONS LEENDA!
Please send me an email at
santasgiftshoppe1@hotmail.com with your
address and I will get this bracelet in the mail
for you!

So It pays to leave 4 comments!!! Leenda did & won
the Light green Bracelet.

FREE GIVEAWAY FOR MOTHER'S DAY...One-Stroke Pillow or Bracelet..Your choice of 3 items

HERE IT IS...OUR MOTHER'S DAY

FREE GIVEAWAY....I know it's been a long

time since we had a giveaway so I've given

you some of my Favorite items to choose from:

Choose from these 3 items:
#1) White...One-Stroke Pillow

#2) Burgandy...One-Stroke Pillow

#3) Light Green Bracelet

************How To Enter to Win*********

There are 7 ways to enter.....

*******************************************

***Each entry HAS TO BE a "SEPARATE"

comment or it will not be counted...I will use

Random.org to generate a winner..

1) Pick which 1 item (out of the 3 above photos)

you would choose if you won this giveaway &

LEAVE A COMMENT & your EMAIL ADDRESS

if you don't leave an email it will not be counted!

....(on bottom of todays post)

(1 chance)

2) LEAVE A "SEPARATE" COMMENT....(on the

bottom of today's post)...about 1 of your favorite

things about YOUR MOTHER...

(1 chance)

3) Become a "FOLLOWER" on my blog..

Go to the sidebar where it says "FOLLOWERS"

& click on the word "FOLLOW" and continue

with the PROMPTS & leave a "SEPARATE" comment

telling me you became a follower.

(1 chance)

4) Post about the GIVEAWAY ON YOUR BLOG..

or FACEBOOK PAGE & leave me another

"SEPARATE" comment WITH A LINK back to

your blog..(link will be verified)

(1 chance)

5) Put my blog on your blogroll

(1 chance)

6) Take my Santa's Gift Shoppe Button (Code..

on my sidebar) & put it on your blog..on your

sidebar

(1 chance)

7) Go to my "ETSY SHOP" (link is in the

upper right hand corner of this blog...under the

thumbnail photos)...& chose your "favorite item"

(by going to the sidebar on the ETSY shop site)

where is says "FAVORITES" & click on either

"Add item to Favorites" or "Add seller to Favorites"

& LEAVE A "SEPARATE COMMENT" what you

did.

(1 chance)

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!

*****This Giveaway CLOSES on

Wed. April 28th @ 6pm. (PST)

*****This giveaway is open to

the 48 contiguous united states****

SNEAK PEEK of "Santa's Gift Shoppe" (Year Round) on "ETSY"

Do you love Polka Dot?? I do...I love any
kind of aprons..but polka dot ones are a favorite.
I love the matching plates as well..What a
FUN IDEA for a Valentine's day gift or
Mother's Day surprise..
(who wouldn't feel "cuter" in the kitchen
wearing one of these!!!)

I've selected a few color combinations of these
Cutie-Pie Aprons that we have & each
can be matched with a child's apron as well.
How cute is that???

A matching Mom/Daughter Cutie-Pie Apron
set or even a Grandma/Grand-Daughter Cutie
-Pie Apron set. We love anything that brings
family closer & making Great memories!!
I can smell the aroma of Chocolate Chip Cookies
in the oven right now....


I love these "Kiss the Cook Plates" They
go so well with the Cutie-Pie Aprons!!
Some of the Most Popular Aprons...are the
Black/White Polka dot...& the Red/White
Polka dot Cutie-Pie Combos...


This is a cute color combo.. Bubble Gum Pink/
Lime sickle Polka dot. This is the adult apron. & This is the child's "matching one"

This is the Child's Aqua/Chocolate

Polka dot Apron...

& the Child's Red/Forest Green

Popular Plaid Apron...

We also have a limited selection of Beanie Caps
with 4" detachable Flowers (2 looks for

the price of one)

& a wide selection of "Cutie-Pie" Polka dot

Bows (you could even match the Apron!!!)

& Flowers with/without headbands..

All are "interchangeable" with each other

(Fancier Flowers with lg. Rhinestones..

available but not shown in photo)

HOMEMADE THIN MINT Girl Scout COOKIES

Ohhhh...Thin Mint Cookies...Don't ya just LOVE 'EM??
Well...while I was making the SAMOAS...I thought I
should try these little babies too, & I'm glad I did..
They were such a HIT with everyone who had one
of these minty..chocolaty..crisp melt in your
mouth sensations..

I found them on Baking Bites from a number of years
back..Lucky me..They even taste better (if that can be)
after they have been in the freezer...Ok Here it is:

RECIPE
For Dough:
2 1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cornstarch
6 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. white sugar
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
1/3 c. milk (any kind)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. peppermint extract

For Chocolate Coating
10 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate
1/2 c. butter, room temperature

DIRECTIONS:
1) In a small bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch
cocoa powder, & salt.
2) In a large bowl, cream together butter & sugar.
With the mixer on low speed, add in the milk & the
extracts. Mixture will look curdled. Gradually, add
flour mixture until fully incorporated. SEE BELOW:

3) Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches in

diameter, wrap in plastic wrap & freeze for at least

1-2 hours, until dough is very firm. SEE BELOW:

4) Pre-heat oven to 375F. Slice dough into

rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick. (If they are

too thick they will not be as crisp) & place on

a parchment lined (or I used a Silpat Liner)

baking sheet. Cookies will not spread very much,

so you can put them quite close together.

***TIP***When slicing the cookie log you can dip

your knife into warm water before each cut but

make sure you don't have any residue left on the

knife from the previous cut..You want a clean cut

Maybe a cheese slicer would work??SEE BELOW:

5) Bake for 13-15 min, until cookies are firm

at the edges. Cool completely on a wire rack

before dipping in chocolate. SEE BELOW:

TO MAKE CHOCOLATE COATING:

1) Measure out 10 oz. of chocolate ( I used chocolate

chips) & a kitchen scale. SEE BELOW:

2) In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate

& butter. SEE BELOW:

3) Melt on high power in the microwave, stirring every

45 sec. until chocolate is smooth. (Watch carefully

you don't want it to scorch.) Chocolate should

have the consistency somewhere between chocolate

syrup & fudge for a thin coating. SEE BELOW:

4) Dip each cookie in melted chocolate, turn with

fork to coat, then transfer to a piece of parchment

paper (or wax paper) to set up for at least 30 min.

or until chocolate is cool & firm. I think I would

definately put them in the freezer to harden up..

but I think cold Thin Mint Cookies taste even

better coming from the freezer..SEE BELOW:

***Tip**(Reheat chcolate as needed to keep it

smooth & easy to dip cookies in)

I put a piece of wax paper over the silpat liner &

baking sheet for support under it. Before I put

them in the refrigerator to set up.

You are finished...Yeah... Now you can watch

the compliments start coming & keep coming..

they are that good!!!

ONE-STROKE Hand-Painted PILLOWS

I Love these Pillows.. Funny how an accident
can turn into a blessing or possibly "New Item"
in a Boutique Shoppe...That's what happened
here.

I was making Table Runners into something
a bit more "Vintage" by painting a rose on each
end of the runner..(they were for my Christmas
Boutique....Santa's Gift Shoppe) I have in my
home each yr.

I finished a number of them, put them away &
when I brought them out (for the boutique) I
realized one of them had some paint on it in the
center which shouldn't have been there...
because of that problem..I took the
runner..cut it, & made an "Envelope Pillow"
out of it. When Life Hands you Lemons..Make
Lemonade....isn't that how the saying goes???

BELOW are 3 different colors with & without
embellishments (lace, ribbon, etc.) Which one do
you like the BEST?????

This would make a Great Mother's Day Gift!!!
(May 9th) They will be available in my "Etsy
Shoppe" in about a week....

These are the supplies needed for creating

this Envelope Pillow...

1 Table Runner

1 pkg. stuffing (probably will use 1/2)

Needle/Thread/Scissors

Directions:

1) Lay runner out on table & cut off tassels (unless

you want them to remain on the pillow)
2) You would probably want to iron the creases

out of it at this point before starting to put it

together..SEE BELOW:

3) Paint a one-stroke rose w/leaves on each end

of runner (you can stop there & have a wonderful

Hand Painted One-Stroke Rose Table Runner)
.

**To Learn How to do One-Stroke Painting....

click HERE

Donna Dewberry...The creator of it...has videos,

books, magazines..all of great help in teaching you

how to do it.

(Painting on fabric is somewhat harder

than on paper) Make sure it is thoroughly

dry before making the "Envelope Pillow"

4) To make Pillow:

Cut runner in 1/2. Lay out on table & sew up

a 1/4" seam on the side (opposite from rose)

Turn the seam one more time to finish edge.

(Right hand side of the photo BELOW:)

5) Turn side that was just sewn ( The Bottom

of the pillow) & turn it up to where the triangle

of the top will fold down & over..like an envelope..
6) Sew both sides (one at a time) to make the

Envelope Pouch..Make sure you sew it ON THE

OUTSIDE OF THE PILLOW...SEE BELOW:

7) Flip the triangle over to create the finished

look of the Envelope Pillow.. Stuff pouch & pin

flap of envelope to pouch to make "Pillow".

Hand sew closed & embellish with ribbon, lace,

whatever you like. You can use Fabric Tack for

the embellishments or continue to hand sew

embellishments to secure. Spot Clean..

Beautifully done..your finished.....

Fast/Easy Chocolate or (White Chocolate) Bunny or Egg Lollipops for EASTER!

EASTER is Coming!!!! I love Easter with
the birth of all the new flowers & beauty all around..
& Spring is so tranquil..I feel like I've taken
myself into a field of flowers or commercial or
something...I love the Rebirth of everything..&
especially the Spiritual aspect of Easter.

Easter also brings back so many fond memories
of new white or Black Patent Leather shoes, a little
matching purse, bow in our hair & oh yes...Let's
not forget that White hat with pink ribbon..we have
many photos my dad took to keep that very
memorable.

Does that sound like anybody elses childhood Easter
Sunday??? Going to church, Finding our Easter
Baskets, Ham Dinner with all the extras??? Sound
familiar??? Getting hungry for mom's cooking??

Our family still does all that but little girls/boys
do grow up all too fast..I have to admit I love for
my grown kids to come home to find Mr. Easter
Bunny has indeed come & left not as much candy
but maybe earrings, or book or some surprise in
Easter Baskets for them.

I love the family ties & gatherings...even if both
of my parents are gone..I still try to keep the
traditions alive & well.

Anyway..Sorry about that..I got distracted with
fond memories..Back to the chocolate bunnies...
I had promised my husband that I would have 35
Chocolate bunnies for his students in his class the
last day of school before Easter Vacation. I had
been gone with responsibilities all day..I started
the lollipops around 11:30pm. They really are very
Fast/Easy to do & turn out really cute & fun..

What do you think??? Leave a comment & tell me..
I'd love to know your opinion..

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
For Basket
1 basket
1 piece of oasis foam
thin gage florist type wire or tape
wire cutters
1 pkg. of iridescent grass
a couple (2 or 3) of colors of curling ribbon
scissors

For Chocolate/White Chocolate Lollipops
1 candy mold (I used bunnies, eggs, & tulip mold)
1 Bag of candy melts (a bag will usually do I think
around 25-35 maybe more depending on the size
of each mold)
1 bag of (50)lollipop sticks (Walmart or Michaels)
1bag of (50) lollipop bags (Walmart or Michaels)
aluminum foil
med. microwave-safe bowl
teaspoon to stir & put melted candy into molds
Oh..Another thing..I used what I had on hand.
This is how I did the Basket..

DIRECTIONS FOR BASKET:
1) Found basket I could use..Found some old
already used (but recyclable) Oasis Floral Foam.
Took some wire (thin gage florist type..Walmart or
Michaels have) & made it so the wire secured the
foam, cut it with wire cutters & twisted until tight.
It's hard to see but that's what I did. You could
secure it tightly with florist tape (I didn't have any)
& wrap it through the holes of the basket.
SEE BELOW:

2) Arrange irridescent easter grass on top & sides

of foam (I didn't even need to secure it. It worked

out just fine. The lollipops will keep it pretty much

in place. (I cut off old ribbon with wire cutters)

This is how I did the lollipops
.

DIRECTIONS FOR LOLLIPOPS:

1) Gather supplies together..SEE BELOW:

2) Pour 1/2 bag of candy melts into microwave-

safe bowl. Microwave on full power for 45 sec.

(My microwave is 1100 watts & this works fine

for me..you may have to fine tune your own time

& your wattage maybe different than mine..just

keep checking it & stirring it & it should be fine)
Keep stirring & checking very 15-20sec. (if it's on

high) until melted. You might feel safer having it

on 50% power & checking every 30sec. or so. Do

the same with rest of candy melts (depending on

how many you need)

SEE BELOW:

3) Take a clean candy mold & with a teaspoon

fill each bunny, tulip, (whatever) with chocolate

or white chocolate (not overflowing)

4) Lay lollipop stick (inside slot provided in mold

going into the melted candy) & twist til stick is

covered with melted chocolate. You would be wise

to add a dollop of chocolate on top of that place where

you twisted the stick to make sure it is secure &

it will stay in much better. After it cools & hardens..

it will be very secure.SEE BELOW:

5) Place in refigerator or freezer for a short time

(try 10-15 min.) & keep checking them until they

"harden." Then take out of freezer or refrigerator

(I like the freezer best because it's way faster)

& turn them over & "pop" them out on to a piece

of foil. Believe it or not they do not need anything

like Pam or spray or anything to help them pop out.

I have used these again & again & have never had

any problem with them not popping out of their

molds.The detail is amazingly clear on them.

SEE BELOW:

6) I like to put mine in one of the lollipop bags

(they are the perfect size) & tie some curling ribbon

around the stick to secure bag in place.

SEE BELOW:

7) Curl ribbon with scissors edge & your thumb.
(Careful not to hurt yourself)SEE BELOW:

8) Stick each one in the oasis in the basket &

look at them...They look like a little bunch of

bunnies in an egg field or bunny & egg patch..

(like Linus'...pumkin patch in Charlie Brown)

SEE BELOW:

AREN'T THEY CUTE????? Have fun & let me

know how they turned out for you...Enjoy..