Crop Chocolate

Crop Chocolate
Bkrejci - Design Team Member

Friday, January 11, 2013

New Year – New Design Team Blog Hop


Welcome to Crop Chocolates Design Team Blog Hop. New Year and a lot of “NEW” for me. Never been
on a Design Team before and never been a part of a blog hop. This looks like a promising year for meJ.

We were asked to tell you five fun things you did not know about us. Well you would think that would
be a very easy task . . . being that you don’t know me, but alas, suddenly I feel like I am not that much
fun.

1. My favorite vacation spot is Disney World. My favorite breakfast is served in the castle with all of the
other princesses and although it may look a little funny, I love skipping down the brick entrance path to
Disney. I am just a big kid at heart. (They have some really great restaurants in Disney World.)

2. I love trying lots of different foods. I love vegetables, fruits, cheeses and most of all CHOCOLATE!!!!
Chocolate candy, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate cake and of course . . . . Crop Chocolate. By the way,
if you are not a regular visitor at Crop Chocolate you may be interested in knowing the ladies there host
recipe exchanges from time to time and they are so much fun.

3. I love playing board games or card games with family and friends. One of my favorite games is “Dirty
Minds”. You can really learn a lot about your older children playing that game . . . but be careful; you
could leave this game scarred for life.

4. One thing that I find that can boost my creative mojo is a glass of wine or a nice mixed drink. Drink a
little. . . cut a little. . . drink a little. . . glue a little . . . drink a little . . . well you get the picture. But don’t
get the wrong impression . . . it has been a long, long time since I over indulged.

5. I absolutely love horror films and haunted houses and trails. Every year, our family tries to pick out
a spookier haunted experience than the last year. We always have 12 days of nightmares watching
horror flicks before Halloween.

Well I don’t know if those were fun or interesting . . . but now you know me. After reading this you may
think I am 10 years old, but no worries, the gray sprinkled in my hair and the character lines in my face
give my age away (Let’s just say they don’t card me anymore).



Now on to the good stuff. Our DT doubled in size this term. So this is your introduction to everyone and
their many talents. You should have gotten here from Julie’s blog but if you just happened by you
will want to start over at Amber’s blog and follow this order:


Amber  
Mary 
Nina 
Miwa 
Becky - ME


By the time you have reached my blog, I know you have seen some fantastic work and inspiration. To
access additional inspiration visit CropChocolate.com. The DT’s theme this month is “Ice” and there
have been many great projects posted . . . and there are more to come. DT projects are shown on The
Crop and there is more inspiration in the contest area.

Don’t forget to visit Laura and Michelle.

I know you have probably already entered to win some great blog candy along the way.
I will also be giving away some fantastic blog candy so become a follower of my blog, if you
are not already, and leave a comment after you check out my project. I will be announcing the
winner of my blog candy January 20th right here. I can’t tell you what it is . . . but I can promise
it will be sweet.

The project I entered to become a member of the Design Team was a gift basket. I am going to
tell you about the gift basket I created, but because mine was centered on Christmas, I am going
to give you an idea for an all occasion gift basket you can create any time. Just check the end of
this blog.

12 Days of Christmas Gift Basket



Each year our company does a mirage of fund raisers for the benefit of the United Fund. Every
year I make a different gift basket that is auctioned. This year my gift basket doubled as a fund
raiser and an entry for the Design Team.

This was a simple process of making tags for the 12 days of Christmas which read as follows:

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you a partridge in a pear tree . . . Sorry but I couldn't find the partridge, so I am giving you some pears from the tree the partridge flew from
I covered a can of pears with decorative Christmas paper and placed this label on it.
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you two turtle doves . . . Unfortunately, I don't have any, will candy turtles and a Dove bar do?
I bought Turtles candy and a Dove candy bar and packaged them with this label.
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you three french hens . . . The French hens were not available, so, I'm giving some chicken noodle soup, compliments of the three French hens.
I covered a can of chicken noodle soup with decorative Christmas paper and placed this label on the front.
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you four colly birds. . . Black birds . .  phew, I can't do that to you.  So here is a pencil and paper to keep in touch with friends both old and new.





I purchased an Address book and packaged it with this label.
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you five golden rings, but will some golden pineapple rings suffice?
I covered a can of pineapple rings with decorative Christmas paper and put the label on the can.
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you  six geese a laying . . .You don't really want messy geese all over the house do you?  How about some of the eggs they left behind?
I used white chocolate candy melts (barely heated them in the microwave) and placed a yellow M&M in the middle, resembling fried eggs.  I then packaged these and use the above label.
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you seven swans a swimming . . . all of the swans have flown south for the winter, but they left this ugly duckling behind.
I packaged a yellow rubber duck and used the label.
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you eight maids a milking . . . the maids were all milking, milk foaming like suds.  And then they all vanished just leaving "Milk Duds".
I wrapped a pack of Milk Duds in decorative Christmas paper and used the label on the front.



ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you nine ladies dancing . . . here are some canes used by the ladies to help them walk home after they were out dancing all night.
I used nine candy canes tied with a red ribbon and used the above tag.
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you ten Lords-a-leapin' . . .After the Lords get done leapin; this is what they use to massage their sore muscles
I packaged some foot soak and lotion and used the following tag..
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you eleven pipers piping . . . here's a pipe of your own, have fun and don't blow the day.
I used a toy horn with the tag.
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS your true love gave to you twelve drummers drumming . . . no drummers, we though you could use some quiet time, so here is a special treat we drummed up for you, so relax and enjoy.
I bought a can of Hot Chocolate mix and wrapped it in paper and gold cord to make it look like a drum and placed the tag on the front.



I used some crinkled paper in the bottom of a basket, filled the basket with the above items and tied the basket in a decorative Christmas bow.  Totally ready to give as a gift that will amuse the recipient.

All of the paper was Christmas paper purchased from Crop Chocolate and most of it was from EP Dots and Stripes.

Now for the instructions for a Gift Basket for any time of  the year.  Below is a recipe for Mexican Bean Soup.  Simply purchase the ingredients, decorate the cans and make covers for the packaged items.  Place them in a basket with a pretty recipe card that tells the recipient how to assemble the soup.


Mexican Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS

1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans
1 can (15 oz.) navy beans
1 can (15 oz.) corn
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) Ro-tel or tomatoes with green chilis added
1 packet taco seasoning
1⁄2 packet dry ranch salad dressing
1⁄2 c. water

DIRECTIONS Place all ingredients in
slow cooker; stir together. Note: Do not
drain canned items, include the liquid in
the soup. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Serve with grated cheese, sour cream,
and tortilla chips.

43 comments:

  1. Great fun facts, Becky! I haven't been to Disney World since I was in college. Maybe the DT should meet there for some inspiration?!? You bring the wine, I'll bring the chocolate. Looking forward to getting to know you better this term.

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  2. This is going to be a fun term!!! Looking forward to it!

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  3. What a great idea for a gift basket...some of your tags were pretty funny, and I was wondering how you would incorporate the items from the song into your basket...you're so clever...lol!! It's gonna be a great term, looking forward to working with you!

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  4. What a beautiful gift basket!!! Have a great term!

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  5. Awesome gift basket! I love horror flicks too!

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  6. Very cool idea. I think we could have fun together -- I love horror movies and scary haunted houses, Disneyland and card/board games. It was great getting to know you.

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  7. I *LOVE* those gift basket ideas, especially the Christmas one. What a hoot!

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  8. What a great job! I love putting gift baskets together.It's my favourite gift giving idea!

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  9. Such great ideas. Thanks!

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  10. Love your projects! I must say, I also love your personality...I had to giggle a bit reading your 'fun facts'! You must be one fun parent! Thanks so much for sharing your projects and for the laugh! =D PS - I'm totally jealous you've been to Disney World, I grew up going to Disneyland (my grandpa drove the #3 train and I got to go up front a few times when I was really young before he retired) but hubby and I are so looking forward to when we're done having kids and they're all old enough to remember the trip so we can plan that big vacation!!!

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  11. That is a fantastic gift basket idea! I love it!

    Also.....you play 'Dirty Minds' with your kids?????? Are you crazy???? I would need a LOT of booze to get me through that.... ;)

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    1. They are older now . . . and like I said I could be scarred. LOL

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  12. I loved your gift basket idea! What a fun Christmas gift! Congrats on being on the CCDT! I look forward to more of your projects! :0)

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  13. I love that gift basket! It's cute and funny! :-) I'm going to have to try that soup recipe, it sounds yummy, and I'm always looking for new things to try in my crock pot! It was great to meet you, Becky, and I look forward to seeing more projects from you!

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  14. Congrats love your project what a great idea I look forward to following you and your projects

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  15. What a great gift basket! Am a follower.

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  16. I am now a follower!! All I can say is WOWOWOWOW!! Love your 5 facts! I live i Florida, about an hour from The Land of Mouse!! It is also my favorite place to visit! Next time you come, let me know! :p
    LOVE LOVE the basket!! What a great project!! *soup recipe has been duly noted!!!*

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  17. Love the idea of that gift basket! I'm filing that one away for next year!

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  18. What a great idea Becky! This is so cute!

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  19. I love the can that you made look like a drum, too stinkin cute. And that recipe looks delish. Going to try it, hopefully DD will eat!

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  20. This is great I am going to have to try this for Christmas next year I love it !!!

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  21. Wow, what a fun Christmas present / gift basket to get! Love it. Looking forward to the next 6 months with you on the CC-DT!!

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  22. BRILLIANT !! I am crazy about this gift basket. Those tags with the corresponding gifts are brilliant.I bet the recipient LOVED it !!

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  23. Wow, I love the 12 days... May need this next year for a volunteer project. Thanks for the ideas. I'm a follower now.

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  24. What a wonderful gift idea! gwsharkcpa

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  25. Awesome basket, great facts!! Congrats on the DT!! I'm a follower!

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  26. Great job on the basket idea! I'm also a believer of the value of wine while crafting with friends! Good luck on the design team ;)

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  27. A) that soup sounds yummy! B) love your gift basket that is too clever (although I swear the song says that day 4 is calling birds, not sure what those are). C) I also am very adventurous with my food choices D) love drinking and crafting, although you really have to pace yourself if you don't want a craft fail! and E) Never playing Dirty Minds with my kids when they grow up! Lalalalala...I don't want to know!

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    1. You know Caryn when I was deciding exactly how to make this basket I did some research to find out what calling birds were. As it turns out most people agree that these are singing birds. But in the alternative others said the song originally used the term colly birds, which is an English name for black birds. I used the old version just to be quirky. Actually the soup is very good and it makes a really cute gift basket. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Have a nice craft

      ing evening and a glass of wine for me:)

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  29. I love your 12 days of Christmas congrats on making it to 50

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  30. COOL!! loved the fun facts and the gift basket was fabulous...loved the eggs idea!!

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  31. Hi Becky, love the fun facts, always keep the kid inside of you! I love cheese and crackers, and of course chocolate! Love the basket, this was just so clever! The soup sounds delicious too, I am really a soup eater so I think I may just have to try this. Looking forward to this term on the DT.

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  32. Love your basket, and the instructions for a non-Christmas version. Also enjoyed reading your fun facts. (I, too, am a chocolate lover - mostly dark chocolate for me!)

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  33. Really enjoyed your post! Very clever gift basket! I'm sure the receipient LOVED it! I am a new follower!

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  34. What an awesome 12 days of Christmas basket! That soup sounds really good to me, but I would probably need to add some kind of meat in order for dh to eat it-he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I am a follower of your blog now. You're up to 62 now :) Congrats on making the DT!

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  35. look at all of your new followers! super exciting!! :) so glad to have you!!

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  36. You had me laughing the entire post, Becky!!!! I LOVED Disney world, at least what I remember (I was a kid when we went)!! I've never played Dirty Minds, but I can just imagine how that went with your kids! LMBO I love your projects (especially your cards), and this basket is just brilliant!!! Congrats on the DT, and thanks for the recipe!! :D

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  37. The basket is an awesome idea! I might do it for the kiddies next Christmas

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  38. Hi Becky, love your basket idea and I used to WORK at Disney World!!! mostly in the hotels for about 8 years. I still have Eeyore and Mickey stuff all over my house, I am going back this summer for a convention and to get my pixie dust fix! Congrats on the DT!

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  39. Hi Becky!! I'm making the rounds late, but am loving what I'm seeing! and I REALLY Love that there are so many of us who like games! :D

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