Valentine Inspiration & Giveaway!

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching! It's time to start thinking of some gifts and goodies that you can make for your sweethearts! Homemade baked goods and handmade gifts are a great way to tell that special someone how much they mean to you! When you take a look at your supplies, both in your pantry and your scrappy stash, chances are you have just about everything you need to make a fantastic gift that looks like you spent both a lot of time and money creating!

I'd like to share my favorite Valentine's Day cookie recipe, Dried Cranberry Shortbread Hearts. The chewy tartness of the cranberries balances the buttery, sugary, crumbly shortbread perfectly. Try adding some orange zest for a burst of refreshing citrus, or substitute the dried cranberries with dried cherries or mini chocolate chips. Any way you make them, these little cookies are sure to be a hit!

Once you decide on that perfect recipe, you may want to include a handmade card or other paper craft to give your gift an even more personalized touch. Try one, or all, of these FREE downloads!

From the Scrapbook & Cards Today Blog: Lollipop Labels & Chocolate Wrappers.

From the Marks Paper Company Blog: The Beary Cutest Valentine Card.

From the Simply Handmade Blog: Sweet Girl Valentines.

From the Elle's Studio Blog: Valentine Recipe and Tag Set.

I have a special present for one lucky Creative Cookbooker! For the chance to win this flirty apron, leave a comment under this post by Saturday, February 13th, detailing your favorite Valentine gift to give or receive. The lucky winner will be announced on February 14th, Valentine's Day!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Whether you are cheering for the Colts or the Saints during tomorrow's big game, most everyone has one thing in common, special game day dishes. If you are searching for some last minute recipe ideas, look no further!

For the Colts fans:

Blue Cheese and Caramelized Shallot Dip

Cheesecake-Marbled Brownies

For the Saints fans:

Crab and Celery Remoulade

Pecan Pralines

Don't forget to take a picture of our game day dishes. There is still one week left to submit your layouts for the Tailgating Challenge. When you complete your layout, please upload to the gallery so we can see your work! Happy scrapping!

February Guest Chef!!

Please welcome Creative Cookbooking's first ever guest Chef! Her name is Marti Cobb and she is not only a fabulous designer but she can cook too!! Please welcome her and enjoy her inspiring work as she joins us for a month of challenges, recipes and tutorials.

Marti has been scrapbooking for 13 years. She is a happy wife, and mother to 4 amazing kids. She is excited to be a part of this wonderful scrapping community and is looking forward to finally getting all of her family's favorite recipes compiled into an album.



Please join us on the message board as we welcome Marti!!!

Debbie

Tailgating Challenge!

Super Bowl 2010 is right around the corner! Kickoff time is 6:30 ET on February 7, 2010. Gridiron gourmets, grab your cameras and get some pics of the food and fun! Your challenge this week is to scrap your tailgating party, whether it's at the stadium or at your home.

We don't go to games, but we certainly watch our fair share of football on the big screen TV! And for the big games, we eat in a big way! Here is a layout of some grilled goodies from our last football game!



When you complete the challenge, upload to the gallery so we can see! Happy scrapping!

Kids in the Kitchen RAK winner!!!

We had a lot of fabulous entries, but alas, there can only be one winner. PaisleyPetals wins with this layout! Aren't her girls aprons (and girls!) adorable? :-)



Congratulations Karen! Please email me your snail mail addy to Mi4Angels@aol.com and I will have your RAK in the mail this week!

Be on the lookout for a new challenge this week!

Also, don't forget about the design team call going on through Feb. 15th. Join us on the forum for some fun and chit chat, we'd love to get to know you! :-)

Kristie's Star Tutorial!

This star is so gorgeous! Everybody wants to try this! Kristie is an extremely talented designer and Creative Cookbooking is so lucky to have her on our team!



Kristie has some really great tutorials on her blog. If you want to make one of these stars for your kitchen just go to her blog and check out this tutorial!



We have a new challenge coming up next week so be sure to check that out! Also will have our first Guest Designer for our blog!! Can't wait for you to meet her!!

If you want to complete some of our past challenges, come to the message board and check them out! Make sure you upload to the blog so we can ooohhh and aaahhh over it!! Who knows you may be randomly picked to be featured on our blog!!

Hope your having a fabulous week!

Debbie

Chef Spotlight

This week the spotlight is on our chef Kristie. She has created this super sweet Clothespin for Cookbookin and it's sucha cute project I couldn't help but show you all!! This project is at CHA as week speak. It's made with the new Gooseberry Patch papers. The details are on Kristie's blog.




She has also created a super sweet tutorial for you so that you can make one of your own. Be sure to stop by and leave her some love!

She'll have another great project for you tomorrow!!

Debbie