Thursday, December 12, 2013

2013 ABS Ornament Blog Hop

Well hello! Welcome to the fourth annual (my third) Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop! A great big thank you to the lovely Heather Powers of Humblebeads, Art Bead Scene and Earrings Everyday for hosting this fun hop! I love, love, love collecting and making Christmas ornaments - thus, Artfully Ornamental.

Nearly every ornament on my tree is handcrafted either by me or by an artisan who I bought the ornament directly from. I love that! I have sent two boxes of ornaments away with two of my children, now that they've established their own homes. I have the ornaments of my other two still on my tree. It's fast becoming too full! Next year, I think I may buy - I can't believe I'm going to say this - a tall, narrow artificial tree (the hubster and I have only ever had a real tree) to put in another room with one of my ornament groupings on it. Not sure yet which grouping - ocean themed, trees, angels - there are other collections but those 3 are the largest, will go on the tree. We'll see!

The ornament I created for this hop has been on my mind for over a year. I just had to figure out the mechanics of it, and find the time to create it! I present: Walking In A Winter Wonderland

This is a sweet little snowboy snow globe! I also painted snowflakes on a red resin bead attached to the ornament hanger.The sweetest part of this ornament for me is that it's interactive - it works like a snow globe! I am so, so happy with how this ornament came out!
See the glitter at the bottom of the globe? See how it's in a drift on the right side of the ornament in the picture above this one, and how it's in a drift on the left in the photo above? Squeeee!!
See!?! The glitter moves!!

I also painted a snowflake on the back (which I'll be removing and repainting, it's a bit too scrunched together - easy fix though). Sigh...
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your hopping today and are enjoying a cup of hot cocoa while you hop (click here for links)!
As a treat for you, I'm sharing a recipe I've made for years: Hot Fudge Sauce! It's a recipe my friend Julie shared with me. Last Christmas I gifted small containers of it to my co-workers, they loved it (I used the small snack sized Glad containers)! My family is disappointed when it's not in the fridge. I always double it (or more.....), but this is the standard recipe (and yes, I made a double batch last night - yum):
Hot Fudge Sauce
1 1/2 squares unsweetened chocolate (I use Ghirardelli 60% cacao)
1/4 cup unsalted butter (I use Land 'o Lakes)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghirardelli)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light cream
1 teaspoon vanilla (use good quality real vanilla, not artificial)

Melt the butter and chocolate in a medium sauce pan over low heat. In a bowl, mix cocoa powder, sugar & salt (I whisk them together, it breaks up the cocoa powder). Remove pan from heat and add cocoa mixture to the pan, mix well. I add the powdered mixture to the pan in either 1/2 or 1/3 increments, stirring 'til blended - this will be thick. Add the light cream slowly and stir 'til smooth and blended. Again, I add the light cream in either 1/2 or 1/3 increments. I've found this is the best way to easily incorporate it into the thicker mixture. Return the pan to heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Stir to mix. Pour into your container(s). Cool, then refrigerate and keep refrigerated; it thickens as it cools. I portion out a couple of spoonfuls and zap it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to pour over my ice cream. Enjoy!!


20 comments:

  1. This is fabulous, just fabulous! Love the snow globe affect of the glitter!

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  2. Just lovely , how creative you are. FYI - I can still see the 'A' word no matter how small you make it…..what about a large tree branch sprayed silver in a big old pot instead, you could use that as a framework for you Art decorations….Now, let me print off that Fudge recipe :-)

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  3. Very cute. How about a tutorial on the snow globe effect? Inquiring minds want to know.

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  4. What a wonderful ornament! Yours is the first snowman I have seen and the idea for a snowglobe is so unique! The "interactive" aspect is so appealing! I've been wanting to try some interactive pieces myself but have not found the time. You have motivated me to get busy.............after the holiday hoopla! LOL Beautiful work!

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  5. Wow! Kudos on the ornament design- that is great and I'll bet folks would love to have one of their own!

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  6. This little fella is so adorable, Lori... a brilliant design you may be rightly proud to display!

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  7. OMG - that's soooo cute! You have to show a picture of your tree next year - I need more to look at .... :0)

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  8. Fabulous! Your ornament is really creative and unique. Is it glass? I would like to know how you created it.

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  9. Oh this is just amazing Lori!!! What a fantastic and clever ornament. When I was growing up there was a store in our town that was filled with Christmas trees all year round and each tree was decorated in a different theme. Under the trees where bushel baskets filled with the ornaments on the tree. That place was a slice of heaven! So two trees doesn't seem over the top!!!

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  10. I cannot tell you how much I love this. My daughter loves snow globes and I am just amazed at how you pulled this off .. and it works just like a snow globe .. squeee! I am so enamored by it. :)

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  11. Oh, stupendous job. I love it when something simmers on my back burner until I figure out how to make it. Clearly your back burner is a wonderful gift to the world.

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  12. Oh my goodness- how absolutely adorable! Love it- the moving glitter is brilliant :) Christie

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  13. Finally I see the snowman =) love your piece...

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  14. That's amazing. I love how it actually works like a snow globe! Wonderful idea :)

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  15. HOW COOL. I love how the glitter moves! :)

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  16. Such a charming decoration and beautifully made love the glitter!

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  17. As if the totally cute snowglobe were not enough, the fact that it moves and makes the snow drift move....ahhhhhhh totally AMAZING!!

    And the fudge sauce, I am going to make it today and surprise my kids! I bet they'll love it! I wonder if I could add a bit of peppermint extract to make it mint fudge sauce...hmmmm going to experiment!

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Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I certainly appreciate your kind words!