Christmas Card Inspiration: Hot Cocoa

Thanksgiving is over so I can start talking about Christmas now right??

I love Christmas.  I love decorating, making cookies, listening to music, and doing those cool fun neighborhood activities like cookie swaps and Christmas parties.  

Thanks to the internet, it's possible to include all my cookie friends from around the world into traditions now.  I love it!  So now on my list of favorite things about Christmas, are cookie link ups and challenges.  :)

First this year, is Haniela, who asked me if I would participate in her Christmas Card Cookie Project.  Uh DUH! Of course I want to!  So I went to my favorite  card store (Papyrus) and went a hunting for inspiration.  :)

I found this little beauty:

It seems like an odd choice for me, because it's not frilly, or girly, or elaborate....but I liked it.  And it struck a few ideas with me.  

First of all, looking at the Christmas schedule, and the whole preparing for baby thing at the same time, I was saddened to realize that I would not have time to make a gingerbread house this year, AGAIN!  But looking at this card, I realized that I could still use candy on something!  

There's candy canes on the white mug and Sixlets on the red mug and the snowflakes.  I got my gingerbread fix in with my little hot cocoa flavored men and women (did I mention the cookies are hot cocoa flavored?  I'll post a recipe sometime if anyone is interested)

Anyway, a little simple for my tastes but I really liked making them!  Simple is good.  :)  It feels more traditional in some way.  Good old fashioned Christmas cookies, or at least one of my versions of them for the year. :)  

Check out all the beautiful creations that my cookie friends brought to Haniela's party this year!

1.Stephanie, Ellie' s Bites Decorated Cookies
2. Anne, Flour Box Bakery
3. Georganne, LilaLoa
4. Lorraine, Lorraine's Cookies
5. Kim, The Partiologist
6. Pam, Cookie Crazie
7.Cathy, Cathy's Cookies
8. Mariëlle, De Koekenbakkers
9.  Nadia, My Little Bakery
10. Liz, Arty Mc Goo
11. Callye, Sweet Sugarbelle
12. Marlyn, Montreal Confections
13. Lisa, The Bearfoot Baker
14. Meaghan, The Decorated Cookie
15. Paula, Vanilla Bean Baker
16. Miriam & Estíbaliz, Message in a Cookie
17. Ali, Ali Bee's Bakeshop
18. Myriam, Chapix Cookies
19. Jennifer, Not Your Momma's Cookie

20. Jill, Funky Cookie Studio
21. Maryann, Cookie Artisan
22. Hani, Haniela's


Go check them out and spread some early Christmas cheer!  

sorry one more pic....love this snowflake

Christmas is on the way!!!  SQUUEEEEEE!!!!  :)