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Post by joblackford on Dec 13, 2023 17:27:06 GMT
We haven't talked jello molds in ages, so here's a horrifying recipe for a cranberry strawberry jello monstrosity made with Miracle Whip. Not Cool Whip, which is stabilized fake whipped cream, but Miracle Whip, the tangy mayonnaise. Served with more mayo on the side. WHY? Was this a mistake that got passed along? Judging by the look on That Midwestern Mom's face, yes. A big mistake. I laughed and laughed. Her expressions told me everything I need to know about miracle whip (although WHY are people putting mayo in jelly salads??). That was a fun watch, and reminder that my childhood carrot and pineapple in lemon jelly is not so weird. Yes. That is the biggest question. Why? Although you (I) have to remember this is not a dessert, but a side dish salad to be served with savory foods. (why?!) Miracle Whip itself isn't bad when used as mayo on foods that should have mayo on/in them. And yeah, no, your childhood jelly is not terribly weird, although, was that served as a dessert or side dish? If you really want a laugh, this ambrosia salad video with the guy from GBBO: http://instagram.com/p/CzWXaFLrJzC There was also an article about Watergate Salad (pistachio instant pudding, pineapple, mini marshmallows, Cool Whip, pecans) in the NYTimes. Also not a dessert, someone described it as being just like putting corn on your plate with your turkey and stuffing. Yuck! With any luck this link will bypass their paywall if you want to know more: Watergate Salad NYTimes
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Post by joblackford on Dec 12, 2023 22:35:55 GMT
We haven't talked jello molds in ages, so here's a horrifying recipe for a cranberry strawberry jello monstrosity made with Miracle Whip. Not Cool Whip, which is stabilized fake whipped cream, but Miracle Whip, the tangy mayonnaise. Served with more mayo on the side. WHY? Was this a mistake that got passed along? Judging by the look on That Midwestern Mom's face, yes. A big mistake. I laughed and laughed. http://instagram.com/p/C0vHukXME0v
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Post by joblackford on Dec 12, 2023 22:31:28 GMT
I did not like Haul out the Holly 1 (could not suspend my disbelief on how weird the parents were acting, is what I remember). That was my biggest issue with that movie too! It was so OTT and weird. IIRC they put away Christmas decorations after they found out their daughter was coming and they could skedaddle, like, why take down the tree you've already had up? and their "acting" was so clownish.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 12, 2023 22:26:20 GMT
Mine are all done, in envelopes, addressed, return address labels on them. Great you say? Nope the post office has not delivered that stamps I ordered last week!!! Maybe by New Year's Oh no! I've had stamps delayed quite a while once before. It's the most frustrating feeling!
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Post by joblackford on Dec 12, 2023 1:50:19 GMT
Ah sorry sleepingbooty I thought they had an option for playback at a more convenient time ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/mYSUyHtG9Jrcmm_ydVcK.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Dec 11, 2023 19:10:54 GMT
Every single time you post something from this choir, joblackford , I swear... I'm ready to hop on a plane and go to a concert myself. They sound and look amazing in every video you've posted of them over the years. Love, love, love. Big time. I adore the Elton Johnukkah pun, by the way. Maybe someone will upload that medley to YouTube eventually? Would love to see it. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) The livestream concert on Christmas Adam might be a cheaper option! Hopefully this link will take you to the right page to see all the details but it might not. The program is on this page www.seattlechoruses.org/2023/09/09/a-treemendous-holiday/ and there's a link to buy tickets at the top which includes an option for livestream tickets. It's for a good cause! and with replay options available too. But eventually they might upload the best songs to their YT channel. Santa Lost a Ho (audience replies: Oh no, where'd the other HO go?!) was also a good one.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 11, 2023 2:07:04 GMT
I think Shimelle will be happy - she's all about peach, if it's the proper shade. I'm neutral on it. I wouldn't wear it, it's not my color, but I don't mind it showing up in papercraft collections or other items. I guess it also depends on what it's paired with to avoid any 80s or 90s flashbacks.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 11, 2023 0:19:16 GMT
I really want to see the updated photos, but I can't get in. First for security I had to add the letters I could see into the box, but half of them were cut off and I couldn't see them. So then I tried the audio version and that worked. But then it was telling me my Amazon password was incorrect (it's not - I have it saved to my MacBook so I only have to do my fingerprint). Then it took my back to the start, so I gave up! ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/mYSUyHtG9Jrcmm_ydVcK.jpg) I don't think it will work with an Amazon.com.au account. The first time I click it just opens amazon's homepage but if I leave that open and click a second time I can see the photos. I'm just hitting the "explore first" not accept invitation. Maybe if you're logged into amazon in another tab first it will work? ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Looks great! Almost there. (Cute doggo btw)
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Post by joblackford on Dec 10, 2023 18:50:00 GMT
Wow, grammadee! Paper gingerbread cards and the real thing too? I have a recipe for a gingerbread loaf cake that I want to try because I don't think I'm up to doing cookies, but I'm so lazy about baking. I love your cheerful little die cuts, and your adorable snowman too.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 10, 2023 18:47:04 GMT
Thanks, linda . Me too. Ugh. In the meantime... here's a two-page spread I did of our visit to the Independence Seaport Museum. (I did ask Santa for a Canvas lamp for Christmas, so one day I'll be able to take better pictures of my pages.) ![](https://i.imgur.com/AncH86Ol.jpg) That's such a cool design! I haven't seen anything like that before. A great way to use lots of pictures while highlighting the most important ones. PS hope Santa brings you that Canvas lamp. I love mine in this dark season.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 10, 2023 18:36:43 GMT
I need all of Snow Much Fun! No pink! White base! Love the purple! There's a giveaway on their IG so I left a comment celebrating the lack of pink as my entry http://instagram.com/p/C0ppk0lxdzy
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Post by joblackford on Dec 10, 2023 15:13:37 GMT
Cool page pantsonfire . I think your plan for reinforcing the holes will work well. jeremysgirl Santa looks trustworthy so I’m guessing you’re probably on the nice list, for now at least Our annual Christmas concert by the gay men’s choir was excellent, probably the most fun lineup they’ve done in the last decade. They sang almost all of my favorite carols, the singalong was a medley of easy fun songs, and we took our rainbow bells to jingle bell rock, and they finished with the Village People’s Disco Santa/N.O.E.L again. So fun. There was a silly Elton John close-harmony Hanukkah (Elton Johnukkah) medley too.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 10, 2023 14:49:28 GMT
Oh, sad news. 😞 She was the person who made the December Daily calendars, wasn’t she?
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Post by joblackford on Dec 8, 2023 17:36:52 GMT
MichyM and lokismom You're not alone. I also struggle with the writing in cards, but for Christmas cards I print a good sized sentiment inside and then decide on the one thing I'm going to write underneath to everyone. I write it out and copy it so I can disengage my brain. Writing with a pen and not misspelling people's names is hard enough! Writing a short message is more than most people do even though it's less than what feels like I "should" do. I do the easiest ones first and I leave any that I really want to add more to until later. But by the time later comes I decide that I can send them a proper letter if I really want to add more than what I can write in the moment and just get the cards done. Momentum is everything for me. I hate starting but love finishing a task! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Dec 8, 2023 0:06:09 GMT
When he teaches her the dance, she also says something like "I only know how to waltz and tango." which are the dances they've done together in the previous movies. I haven't seen the movie this year but that little nod is SO CUTE. Hallmark is dumb and cute and I love it ![](http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r481/2peasrefugees/Smilies/roflmao.gif) Like in last year's Three Wise Men and a Baby, where the ER doctor says "you can't write these things" - that was a cameo by the movie's co-writer Kimberley Sustad. There are more here - www.imdb.com/title/tt22247482/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv
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Post by joblackford on Dec 7, 2023 22:19:04 GMT
This makes me think that there is only one teacher, Brandi. "Absolutely! Brandi will be guiding you through the creation of 8 unique card designs that are wonderfully replicable. The target is to craft 40 cards using these 8 designs, but feel free to make as many as your creative heart desires. The more, the merrier!" I see that it says its for beginners too and not seeing any card examples I'm afraid this would be not for me. I'll stick with the free YouTube videos. Yup, that's what it looks like to me. And that would explain why I haven't heard about it from the usual suspects. I'm on a few mailing lists but I unsubbed from Brandi's. It sounds like it could be a fun time for crafting along, and $10 is a good price, but I'm more of a loner.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 7, 2023 16:44:04 GMT
Just wanted to pop in and revive this thread. Given my newly unemployed status, I figured what the heck and paid the $10 for the upcoming Cardmaker's Success Challenge, billed as a four-day event where you make 40 cards (5 each of 8 designs). Having registered, it's two-hour classes in the afternoons for four days. Each class presents two projects and you're supposed to make five of each card. Improvements that I see over the previous summit events (not sure they will carry over into future summits): - The original fee grants access to the recordings in addition to the live classes.
- Classes will be on private FB rather than whatever the cluster <bleep> the summits have been on was.
- The projects and supplies/products used are all being posted ahead of time.
Issues I see or still see: - There's still a VIP upgrade that gives you access to an additional hour of virtual crafting together with the instructor and other students
- One project involves a patterned paper pack only available on Etsy; it seems like a small maker like that might have trouble with volume and shipping in time for the classes
- Even with the finished projects and supplies lists, I find it difficult to substitute items from my stash sometimes, even though it's encouraged here (except for that paper pad, of course).
I will say that the eight projects are not all holiday-themed, which is nice. At this point, I'm not sure how hard I'm going to try to participate. $10 is not that hard to just walk away from. But I did like some of the differences between how this one is being administered compared to the summits, so I thought it worth mentioning. Interesting… I haven’t seen anything about this new format. Do you have a link? Is the Etsy seller one of the teachers? That does seem like a strange choice. I hope they know they’re about to be dealing with a lot of orders. Besides that it does sound like an improvement, depending on who the teachers are. More focused. More is not always better and many of these summits are just overwhelming.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 7, 2023 2:45:29 GMT
Hey, help me out with A Merry Scottish Christmas. Lacey is at the pub or somewhere and she says to a guy she's introduced to, "have we met?" like she knows him. It was clearly someone she must know from a previous show/movie. Anyone know? It was cute. I couldn’t remember but I found the trivia on IMDB - it was apparently Will Kemp and they have been in 3 previous Hallmark movies together www.imdb.com/title/tt28237077/trivia/
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Post by joblackford on Dec 6, 2023 21:32:45 GMT
I was so proud of myself for getting my cards done so early. Sat down this afternoon to sign and address them all and wouldn’t you know it, I’m 5 cards short. Made all the cards for friends, forgot about family! I’m glad I didn’t wait another week to get these ready to mail. OOPS! lol. I think we've all been there. Hopefully you can mail out what you've done and get those last few ready to go quickly.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 6, 2023 21:31:38 GMT
Also, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task I would avoid any temptation to try to do it all at once or to "pull everything out" or any other kind of KonMari "do it once and do it right!" kind of thinking. Realistically, waiting until you have time and energy to deal with it "properly" is probably a recipe for never getting started (if you're anything like me). It's a huge task taken all together, so break it down into chunks and do what you can a little bit at a time.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 6, 2023 20:16:47 GMT
Wow, that sounds like a very overwhelming project. Just remember that anything you do moves the project forward, even if it's just looking for obvious trash in the boxes or flipping through to see what you're dealing with. It's a huge responsibility and could be a real burden if you don't keep it in perspective.
You probably can't save everything, there will be people you can't identify but maybe others can in the future (or you figure it out later once you're more familiar with all the faces), some photos might be trash and no one will come after you if you toss trash photos (blurry scenery, for example), anything you preserve and share will be appreciated by someone in your family now or in the future.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 6, 2023 0:34:09 GMT
The trimmers that don’t cut square make me crazy! And it’s really easy to blame your own skills if you are just starting out. Glad you found a trimmer that works well for you ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Dec 6, 2023 0:20:09 GMT
I got my Hanukkah and international Christmas cards in the mail yesterday and worked through the domestic Christmas cards to add a message and signature today. I decided to do 5 at a time and used my moistening paste and washi tape to close them up right away. It was satisfying to get them all the way done one by one even though batching the tasks might be more efficient. My friend gave me this and it’s been quite handy! Moistener by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 18:34:39 GMT
You guys, I LOST my DD calendar. I printed out the one that Linda had for download and was writing events in the calendar part and story ideas in the list down below and it's just gone. I've looked everywhere. I even cleaned my office! I must have recycled it. Ugh. So I printed out a new one but I'm really bummed. I won't remember what I won't remember I guess. ugh! Hopefully it's just upside in a stack or attached to the back of something and it will turn up, maybe...
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 18:33:19 GMT
Here are my pages so far. I'm trying a new format (which is 8x11 as I print all my albums as Shutterfly books) & I'm not sure how I feel about it but I'm determined to finish the album and then go back to square next year if I want to. As a reminder, my pages are 100% digital. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) What fabulous pages, and lots of happy memories documented. I like the page size and format. I struggle fitting everything in square pages sometimes, even though that's what I usually make. I guess it depends on your photo orientation and what you're used to. My pages are very minimalist but looking at these makes me want to add all the things!
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 3:00:43 GMT
So, my stressful work situation resolved this morning -- my position was eliminated. Since I was disgruntled and already interviewing, I think I'll be ok. Eight weeks of severance, so by then, the holiday lull should be resolving. And in the meantime, plenty of time for job search and Christmas crafting! Oh, wait...I finished basically all of my Christmas crafting to purge all the negative job energy. Huh. I guess I have time to Christmas shop, organize things both crafty and other, maybe actually take the time to figure out how to sell some of the crafty things I know I'm not going to use or use again. Ugh. I’m glad that you have severance and you were already looking for other work, but still… I hope you have less stress now and a chance to enjoy the holiday season. Best of luck finding a great new job.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 1:41:08 GMT
Well, I was laid off this morning, so in theory I guess I'm supposed to be in the freezer. I'm thinking maybe I'll have some time to actually sell some of the excess -- sets from event kits that I don't think I'm likely to use again, shopping mistakes from when I was a newbie and didn't necessarily yet understand my style or how to use/how I would like using various types of products. Then I could justify maybe doing some modest spending, right? The cooler if you will, instead of the freezer. But not the hot stove for me this "off-season".... Ugh, sorry to hear that... Hope you're able to make a little bit of money off those extras. It does take some time and energy so maybe this is a good opportunity. I hope so. I don't think most people succeed at freezing for long but lots of us are chilly. To answer the question, I'm not going to be a frozen pea or a boiled one! I'm not too concerned about staying under a certain budget but I do try and get things I know I'll use well and use up. I'd like to focus more on the consumables that I enjoy (paper pads and die cut packs) and less on the durables that so many crafty influencers are selling new versions of every single month (stamps, dies, tools). I have a small space and need to balance intake and outflow.
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 1:33:32 GMT
Those are wonderful bright and cheerful Christmas cards jjpeapea ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) I finished up a couple more cards following the sketch more closely. I didn't have a sentiment so I typed up a few different fonts on my computer and cut them out with dies. I like how these turned out with the busy themed paper in front and a more neutral print in the background. I have a few more I'll work on after I get my Christmas cards into the mail. I think I'll try the fun fold too. Dec share x3 by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 1:28:13 GMT
Love that color scheme Linda - very cute cards! I finished up a couple more Hanukkah cards with the Sheetload sketch. I typed my sentiment up on my computer to fit a circle die I had, tried a few different fonts out, and tried it with and without a navy halo. I used my inks to color the pink mat for the lower card. Love that CP pads come with ink suggestions - I wouldn't have known which pink to use otherwise. Dec share x3 by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Dec 5, 2023 0:59:13 GMT
I hope she enjoys this transition and all the new discoveries her daughters must be making now that Norway is their permanent home for the first time in their lives. (Did she by chance post about her dog and how he's adapting?) Wellie is doing really well, even though they didn't expect him to still be around when they moved back. He's got a warm coat and he's enjoying nature walks. The girls seem to be settling in well, school has a lot more practical and outdoor activities and no active shooter lockdown drills. The other day they posted a photo with the kids holding foot long flaming torches. I think they were welcoming Santa who came in on a Viking longboat, but it just reminded me of the differences between how people keep their kids safe in this country vs other countries. Anyway, they're still getting their house fixed up and unpacking. Not much scrapbooking yet.
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