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Saturday, September 3, 2011

You Make My Heart Happy and Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday, sweet friends! I hope your September is already filled with tons of happy memories. :o)

Yesterday was amazing! I crafted and baked, which means my heart was happy dancing. I made a card for a few challenges (although it now appears I missed My Craft Spot), which will be going to a coworker of my sweetheart. I knew all week what I wanted to do, which is one of the reasons I love participating in challenges... one minute you don't know what to design, then the next you check a favorite challenge blog and your mind is racing with possibilities. They are such a blessing!

"You make my heart happy!"

The instant I saw the "Winged Things" challenge, I knew I wanted this butterfly to take center stage. The following day when I saw the yellow challenge, these papers were my first thought. The finishing touch came to pass when my sweet boyfriend surprised me with a bouquet of new ribbon... the very ribbon I've been longing for! Color me excited. He lives near a Hobby Lobby, so he zipped in and picked out several colors of the pretty ribbon he knew I liked. :o)

Butterfly elegance was my goal, so I wanted to make a fairly streamlined card... which doesn't come easy to me. I'm so accustomed to adding a million elements, most often of the cute variety. It was nice to revisit this side of me! ;) All three sparkly patterned papers are from the gorgeous DCWV Lemon Flower stack, which I completely love. I used the silhouette of the butterfly to ensure ample room for the paper's beauty to shine, then simply added a sprinkling of yellow rhinestones for the body and gave her a sparkly black shadow. I envision the pops of yellow to be sundrops, while the ribbon signifies being wrapped in sunshiny warmth. (Essentially a giant, fluttery hug.) I pop-dotted two of the layers, so there's a lovely amount of dimension. :o)

Challenges entered:
Fantabulous Cricut~ A splash of color (yellow)
Getting Cricky~ Winged Things

You know what also makes my heart happy? Chocolate. Cue Sweet Saturday! Ironically, my treat for you this week sort of matches this card... both are dark with pops of color. If you are enamored with rich chocolatey goodness, then we speak the same language and you really need to make these cookies. Triple Chocolate Oreo Chunk cookies, to be exact.

Oh my. I knew this was going to be delicious... four forms of chocolate in one cookie? How could it not make my heart flutter? The super dark parts you see are Oreo pieces. These are rich and chewy, an explosion of chocolate in every bite. If anything is troubling you, these surely will make it all better. I confess to eating two of these last night while I finished my card... but in between I had steamed veggies, so I think that nullifies one of them. Right? ;) Make and enjoy these drops of chocolate decadence as soon as possible. :o)

Note: This makes a *ton* of batter. Certainly not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind. If you make smaller cookies, you'll have over three dozen. I prefer huge cookies and it still made a ton. I think I know what I'll be snacking on while watching football today.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, my friends! Thank you for brightening my days. :o)

Triple Chocolate Oreo Chunk Cookies
Yield: (at least) 18 jumbo cookies

Ingredients:
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup dutch processed cocoa
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped white chocolate (or chips)
1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate (or chips)
1 cup chopped Oreos

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375ยบ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.

With a mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and sugars together until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add in the vanilla extract. Mix until blended well, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

Slowly add the flour mixture and mix just until the flour disappears. Stir in the chocolate and Oreos. Drop cookie dough by scant ¼ cups onto baking sheets.

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake~ when they start to crack and are set around the outside but still soft in the middle, they are ready to come out. They will set up on the baking sheets. Remove from the oven and let sit on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Source: Brown Eyed Baker

Key Recipe Components (for card):
 * Cricut cartridges: Elegant Edges, Florals Embellished, Gypsy Wanderings (tag)
 * Paper: Core'dinations, DCWV
 * Stamp: Scrappy Moms Stamps Quirky Quotes
 * Ribbon: Hobby Lobby
 * Miscellaneous: iRock

Photobucket

20 comments:

  1. woohoo! I get to be your first comment! ;)

    Love this amazing card, Sweets! The simplicity of it is fantastic, and you know I love dark shades with a pop of color. And those chocolatey cookies are making my mouth water already! I think I need to get me some of those.

    less than 3 love!

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  2. Great pattern mix, love this!! Thanks for playing along with us at Getting Cricky's Simply Sunday Cahllenge!
    Happy Craftin :)

    Ildi-Getting Cricky DTM
    The Craftin Mama
    www.thecraftinmama.blogspot.com
    ildij3@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. YAY, Sweet Saturday! I exercised a little longer this morning in anticipation of visiting you to see what amazing treats you had in store today :) First the GORGEOUS card...WOW, Karen, this is stunning! The butterfly is so beautiful and your layers and papers are just fabulous! I love that ribbon (your bf rocks!!) and how you wrapped it around the card! This is so elegant and beautiful and I'm so happy you linked up with our Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge!

    Triple chocolate oreo chunk cookies...this recipe may be my favorite yet! I love Oreos and mixing in so much chocolate, oh my gosh, Heaven! I am definitely going to try these!! Thank you for another fabulous Sweet Saturday, my sweet, sparkly friend! I hope you have fun plans for the holiday weekend!! :)

    Lisa
    http://indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  4. Wow! This is such a pretty card! I love the colors of the butterfly. The ribbon is awesome. It looks great with the black paper! Cute sentiment too. The cookies look amazing!!!! :)

    Karen
    craftedwithlovebykaren.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow Karen your card is stunning!!! I love the paper choice. It's gorgeous and that butterfly~WOWZERS!!! LOVE IT! Great job~
    Now onto those cookies....Oooh, I think I just gained 5 pounds looking at them. They look scrupcious! I will have to try this recipe VERY soon! Thanks for sharing and have a GREAT Labor Day wknd my friend!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  6. great card and those cookies sound so yummy. Will have to try them. TFS with us at FCCB this week.

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  7. Beautiful card. I love all the detailing. Thanks for crafting with us today at FCCB. We hope to see you again.
    Carissa
    www.happilyeverpapercrafter.blogspot.com

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  8. I love this butterfly card! The colors are wonderful and I like the bling you added. I have an award for you on my blog! Melanie
    http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com

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  9. I forgot to say thanks for the recipe! Yummo!!! Chocolate and oreos, I don't know if it can get better than this! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Guess what???

    You make MY heart happy, Sunshine!!!!!!!!
    SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

    OMJ!!! My heart is flying right now sis! A super sunshiny flutter-by AND oreo perfection both made by hand by my sweetest sis?!?! I think I have truly died and gone to heaven! Tee hee hee!

    This card represents everything I you bless my life with every single day, sis. Endless sunshine and radiant happiness. If only you knew how much I love this card...and how much you have made my heart sparkle tonight. *hugglers you madly* Did you know that you make God's heart happy too sis just by being the incredible person you are? He sees all the love you give Sunshine and He glows with pride everytime you spread His love to others through your kindness. You are his forever flutter-by messenger sis.

    And oh boy!!! *drools* I think I need a second to recover from these cookies sis. You didn't tell me they were going to be Oreo ones!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!! *eats my entire compy* TEE HEE! OMJ! Will you help me try to make these too, Sunshine? They are like my dream cookie of all time. Pure bliss!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

    *endless squishers for my Sweet Saturday hero*

    LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Karen this is a beautiful card, your BF's coworker is going to love it! As always the love you put into your creations is wonderful! These coolies look really good! My Hubby made the no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies this morning. We love those, and make them a lot! Hugs, Pam at http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  12. *sneaks back in cause I need to tell you something*

    I seriously dreamt of your cookies last night, Sunshine! WHEEEEEEE!!! It's true! I had visions of oreo pieces dancing in my head! TEE HEE HEE!

    I NEED THESE COOKIES!!! NOWWW!!! *faints*

    *steals you for the evening and brings you to my kitchen so you can show me how to make them as gorgeous as yours*

    Forever flutter-by squishers and super hugglers for my sweetest Sunshine! :) I love youuu!!!

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  13. This card is so lovely Karen! Are you are so right about those papers, they are gorgeous! It so does not look like a simple card by any means! I love all the sparkle and bling. Your sweet BF's co-worker is going to just love it. And your BF is amazing! Let's see, a Cricut, Gypsy, and now even ribbon...wow! He sure loves you! Your cookies look absolutely scrumptous! I am so glad you had a perfect craftin' and bakin' kind of day. I would say those days truly are perfect! Hugs my sweet friend :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my. Where to begin? MY heart is SUPER happy right now, just looking at your beautiful butterfly. I LOVE the colours, and your ribbon is perfect. PERFECT. Your boyfriend is kinda awesome. He gets another high five from Nita! :)

    And your cookies? Oh YUM. DOUBLE YUM. I can't believe you only ate two! ;) I love Sweet Saturday - my "must-try" recipe list gets longer each week. :)

    Hugs, Nita

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  15. Hi Karen,Your card is sooo BEAUTIFUL!I just LOVE the pretty butterfly and the shape of the card,AMAZING as always my friend!Just got back from my holiday,trying to get caught up with my comments. :)

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  16. So pretty! I love the ribbon swirling around.
    :) Janis
    Getting Cricky DTM
    http://PauseDreamEnjoy.blogspot.com

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  17. Beautiful card, the butter is so pretty and the ribbon is awesome!
    Thank you for playing with us this week
    Becka
    Getting Cricky DTM
    Creations With Becka

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  18. Hello again Karen, just had to say how divine this card is. Your bf is a sweetie for remembering let alone gifting you the ribbon. Your recipe looks amazing!
    Wow!
    You outdid yourself. Handmade with heart describes you!
    Big hugs,
    Sonia

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  19. Such a pretty card. I love the colors. You rocked this challenge. Good luck!
    Thank you for playing our Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky.
    Hugs :),
    Kathy - Getting Cricky DTM
    http://the3esblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Such a beautiful card! I love it! Thanks for plJaniceaying along with us at Getting Cricky!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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