Letters to Santa

This week I am offering a FREE printable to all of those who would like to write a letter to Santa.  I will be posting a new design everyday this week.  If you use my printable please add me as a follower, grab a button and leave a comment!  Hope you enjoy the fun different designs.

MONDAY

 

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Today is the last day of our "Santa Letter" collection, I hope you all were able to use these and maybe it helped to give you some of your own ideas for some creative Santa letters.  Send me a picture of your letters and I'll post them so we all can see how creative you all are.  I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and Santa brings you what you want. 

A big thanks also, to our favorite blog Sassy Sanctuary!

"Wall of Frame" Photo Booth

One night while playing on our blogs, my friend Krystal and I came across this adorable idea from Mostazaseed. We loved this idea and immediatly started drawing up ideas we could do this with.  We decided to test it out and make Krystals family Christmas cards this year.  Here's how it turned out!

(Go to her link to see the actual card)

So after many hours of hard work, we finally are ready to make it available to our customers!  We are renting this for work and family Christmas parties, a school dance and a few weddings.  If you would like to rent this please contact me! (info@nico-graphics.com). 

These are also available for any theme and other sizes as the frames and pictures can be easily changed.  If you like these, add us as a follower to stay posted on new designs and ideas.  Thanks for reading!!!

Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies

To get in the Christmas spirit, I made these amazing  Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies from

 the Better Homes and Gardens Cookie Exchange.

To make them a little more festive I used Pistachio's instead to bring in some green color.  They were very yummy and everyone at the office loved them! Thanks Better Homes and Gardens!!!

Photo & Recipe From Better Homes and Gardens

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1-1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/3  cup  sugar
• 2  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  cup  butter, cut up
• 1  tablespoon  red food coloring
• 3  ounces  white chocolate (with cocoa butter), coarsely chopped
• 1-1/2  teaspoons  shortening
•     Finely chopped pistachios or rainbow nonpareils (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Cover and process with on/off turns until combined. Add butter and red food coloring. Process with on/off turns until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Process until mixture just forms a ball.*

2. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough lightly until nearly smooth. Roll or pat dough to a 1/2-inch thickness. Using a floured 1-1/2-inch round cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press scraps together and reroll.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until centers are set. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.

4. In a heavy small saucepan, melt white chocolate and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip half of each cookie into melted chocolate. If desired, sprinkle with pistachios or nonpareils. Let stand on waxed paper until set. Makes about 24 cookies.

*Hand-mixing method: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter and food coloring until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling together (it will take a while for the dough to come together). Form mixture into a ball, kneading until smooth.

To Store: Place cookies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.