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jessica frost-ballas

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

20 Oct

I LOVE fall…no contest, it is my absolute favorite season.  I love the colors…the smells…everything!  And today was the first day that really felt like fall: cool, crisp, and just a little breezy which really put me in the mood for some baking.  First up was a pumpkin spice bread with a cinnamon sugar swirl and a cinnamon glaze.  It’s not a super sweet bread but the swirl and glaze add just enough sweetness.  It smells wonderful when it’s baking and has a nice strong pumpkin flavor.

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 4 tbs unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2-1 tbs cream or half and half

Preheat oven to 350F.  In a small bowl mix together 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon and reserve for the swirl.  In another bowl sift together flour, baking soda, salt and 1 tsp cinnamon and set aside.  Cream brown sugar and butter in stand mixer with the paddle attachment until fluffy.   Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.  Add the pumpkin, sour cream, and vanilla and mix until well blended.

Add the dry ingredients until just combined.  Don’t overmix.  Spoon half the batter into a greased 9×5 loaf pan.  The batter will be very thick.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mix over the batter being careful to cover the batter completely.  Add the remaining batter and spread evenly.  I had a little extra cinnamon sugar that I sprinkled on the top of the batter.  Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.  Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together the powdered sugar, cream, and remaining 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.  Add more cream if needed.  Drizzle over warm pumpkin bread then allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.

I have a yearly tradition of making loaded caramel apples after a trip to the local orchard.  I didn’t have a chance to make them with the honeycrisp apples I bought last month but I picked some nittanys from Marker-Miller Farm Market this weekend and they were perfect!  Over the years I’ve combined several different recipes to create my favorite:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted sweet butter (1 stick)
  • 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 8-10 tart and crisp apples, washed and dried
  • 2 cups toffee bits
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate, melted
  • 1 cup white chocolate, melted

Make sure the apples are at room temperature before starting otherwise they’ll “sweat” as they come up to temperature and the water droplets will mess with the caramel.  Before you begin prep a cookie sheet by lining it with non-stick foil or greased parchment paper.  Insert popsicle sticks into the apples being careful not to puncture all the way through the apple.

Attach a candy thermometer to the inside of a 2-quart saucepan.  Melt butter in the saucepan then add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil.  Carefully stir in sweetened condensed milk.  Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until candy thermometer reaches 248F which will take about 20 minutes.  Remove from heat then stir in vanilla.

*If you prefer a softer caramel apple, pull the caramel off the heat when it reaches 236F.  This will result in a caramel that is malleable when finished.  At 248F the finished caramel will be much stickier and harder.  It’s the ‘pull out your teeth’ kind of caramel…

Carefully dip each apple into the pot making sure the caramel covers the entire apple especially where the popsicle stick meets the apple as that will help “glue” the stick in and will also keep the apple from browning where the stick was inserted.  After dipping let the excess drip back into the pot before carefully placing it on the prepped cookie sheet.  When all the apples are dipped place the cookie sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes to help the caramel set and harden.  If you do a lot of stirring while the caramel is cooking your apples might end up with little bubble spots (like those in the photo below).  It’s not a problem, it just means you mixed a lot of air into the caramel and ended up with bubbles.

If you have any leftover caramel you can pour it in a thin layer onto a cookie sheet lined with a piece of greased parchment paper.  If you’re feeling particularly adventurous you can sprinkle the hot caramel with all sorts of things…fancy sea salt, crumbled cooked bacon, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.  Stick the cookie sheet in the fridge and let it cool and harden.  Once it’s set you can cut the caramel into smaller pieces with a greased knife and wrap the individual pieces in wax paper for caramel candy!

The caramel is ready for the next step when you touch the side of the apple and your finger doesn’t leave a fingerprint in the caramel.  When the apples are ready, melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.  Spread the melted chocolate around the apple then roll in toffee bits.  Put the apples back in the fridge until the chocolate sets (about 15 minutes).

Finally melt the while chocolate and drizzle it over the apples.  Let them set completely in the fridge (about 30 minutes).  Once the chocolate has hardened, store the apples in a ziploc bag or plastic container.  If the caramel completely covers the apple they’ll last at least a week in the fridge.  To serve (and protect your teeth) cut the apple into wedges and try not to devour the entire thing!

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Jessica About Me Photo
Hi, I'm Jess! Thanks for visiting my blog where I share my adventures in cardmaking and papercrafting! I hope I can inspire you to craft with a little sparkle!

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Jessica Frost-Ballas

jessicafrostballas

How many ways do you use distress oxide inks? 🤔 Today I’m sharing several ways to use them including heat embossing, ink blending, and more over on the @ellenhutsonllc blog! I’m also combining one of my favorite floral set sentiments with the cutest otter pair! 😉 Head over to the Ellen Hutson blog for more detail! ❤️🦦❤️ ••• LINK - https://blog.ellenhutson.com/2021/01/06/embossing-two-ways-with-distress-oxide-inks/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #ellenhutsonllc #ehambassador #essentialsbyellen #distressoxideinks #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

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Jan 6

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Instagram post 17926526323490990 How many ways do you use distress oxide inks? 🤔 Today I’m sharing several ways to use them including heat embossing, ink blending, and more over on the @ellenhutsonllc blog! I’m also combining one of my favorite floral set sentiments with the cutest otter pair! 😉 Head over to the Ellen Hutson blog for more detail! ❤️🦦❤️
•••
LINK - https://blog.ellenhutson.com/2021/01/06/embossing-two-ways-with-distress-oxide-inks/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#ellenhutsonllc #ehambassador #essentialsbyellen #distressoxideinks #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

jessicafrostballas

There’s a new release from @waffleflowercrafts and some fantastic layering stencil sets! I’m using the Heart Blooms set with distress oxide inks and a fun new sentiment set! Head to my blog for more details and hop along for a chance to win a gift card to #waffleflowercrafts!! 🌸❤️🌸 ••• LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/wf121/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #waffleflower #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb #stencil #distressoxideinks

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Jan 5

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Instagram post 17946345070411377 There’s a new release from @waffleflowercrafts and some fantastic layering stencil sets! I’m using the Heart Blooms set with distress oxide inks and a fun new sentiment set! Head to my blog for more details and hop along for a chance to win a gift card to #waffleflowercrafts!! 🌸❤️🌸
•••
LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/wf121/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#waffleflower #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb #stencil #distressoxideinks

jessicafrostballas

The new My Monthly Kit from @heroarts is now available and it’s Bee-utiful!! 🐝💛🐝 I’m sharing four cards from one watercolored background over on my blog and YT channel! Head over for more details and snag your kit before it sells out!! 💛💛💛 ••• LINK - https://shrsl.com/2ph6v (clickable link in profile) ••• #heroarts #mymonthlyhero #mijellomissiongold #hydracolour #watercolour #watercolor #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

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Jan 4

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Instagram post 17980797202329692 The new My Monthly Kit from @heroarts is now available and it’s Bee-utiful!! 🐝💛🐝 I’m sharing four cards from one watercolored background over on my blog and YT channel! Head over for more details and snag your kit before it sells out!! 💛💛💛
•••
LINK - https://shrsl.com/2ph6v (clickable link in profile)
•••
#heroarts #mymonthlyhero #mijellomissiongold #hydracolour #watercolour #watercolor #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

jessicafrostballas

We have a new Lawn Fawnatics challenge to kick off the new year and we’re creating cards for Outstanding Occasions! 🎉❤️🎉 Today I created a wedding card featuring an adorable squirrel party! 😉 Head to my blog for more details and join the challenge! 🐿🐿🐿 ••• LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/lfch92/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #lawnfawn @lawnfawn #lawnfawnatics #inkblending #copicmarkers #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

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Jan 4

369 50
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Instagram post 18184726213057099 We have a new Lawn Fawnatics challenge to kick off the new year and we’re creating cards for Outstanding Occasions! 🎉❤️🎉 Today I created a wedding card featuring an adorable squirrel party! 😉 Head to my blog for more details and join the challenge! 🐿🐿🐿
•••
LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/lfch92/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#lawnfawn @lawnfawn #lawnfawnatics #inkblending #copicmarkers #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

jessicafrostballas

🐝 Today we’re kicking off the countdown for the @heroarts January My Monthly Hero kit and it’s the perfect cheery way to welcome a new year! 🐝🌸🐝 Head to my blog for a closer look and comment for a chance to win a kit before you can buy it! 💛🐝💛 ••• LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/hacd121/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #heroarts #mymonthlyhero #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

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Jan 2

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Instagram post 17938042399439973 🐝 Today we’re kicking off the countdown for the @heroarts January My Monthly Hero kit and it’s the perfect cheery way to welcome a new year! 🐝🌸🐝 Head to my blog for a closer look and comment for a chance to win a kit before you can buy it! 💛🐝💛
•••
LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/hacd121/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#heroarts #mymonthlyhero #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

jessicafrostballas

Starting off 2021 with a clean and simple card featuring one of my very favorite companies! 🖤💛🖤 I love the new Lovely Letters alphabet set from @concordand9th and how nicely it pairs with the other alpha sets to create this card! Lovely Letters is a stand-alone alphabet set that looks like hand lettering and it’s designed so you can stamp and build whatever sentiment you want! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉 ••• LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/hny21/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #concordand9th #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb #happynewyear

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Jan 1

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Instagram post 17856831182398826 Starting off 2021 with a clean and simple card featuring one of my very favorite companies! 🖤💛🖤 I love the new Lovely Letters alphabet set from @concordand9th and how nicely it pairs with the other alpha sets to create this card! Lovely Letters is a stand-alone alphabet set that looks like hand lettering and it’s designed so you can stamp and build whatever sentiment you want! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉
•••
LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/hny21/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#concordand9th #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb #happynewyear

jessicafrostballas

🎆 HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE! 🎆 Today I’m sharing a look back at my favorite cards from each month of 2020 and hosting a $50 crafty giveaway over on my blog! I am honored and thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with so many of my favorite crafty companies this year! These companies are the heart and soul of this industry and I love to support them! ❤️❤️❤️ Swipe for a closer look as well as a look at my favorite cards from 2015-2019! 😳 It is really fun for me to look back and see my growth as an artist and cardmaker (and it shows me that there’s always room to keep growing)!! 😉 I hope you have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and I’ll see you in 2021! ❤️❤️❤️ ••• LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/mfc2020/ (clickable link in profile) ••• #allthesparklejfb #inkblending #alcoholink #distressoxideinks #copicmarkers #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas

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Dec 31

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Instagram post 17866448675260868 🎆 HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE! 🎆  Today I’m sharing a look back at my favorite cards from each month of 2020 and hosting a $50 crafty giveaway over on my blog!  I am honored and thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with so many of my favorite crafty companies this year!  These companies are the heart and soul of this industry and I love to support them! ❤️❤️❤️ Swipe for a closer look as well as a look at my favorite cards from 2015-2019! 😳 It is really fun for me to look back and see my growth as an artist and cardmaker (and it shows me that there’s always room to keep growing)!! 😉 I hope you have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and I’ll see you in 2021! ❤️❤️❤️
•••
LINK - https://www.allthesparkle.com/mfc2020/ (clickable link in profile)
•••
#allthesparklejfb #inkblending #alcoholink #distressoxideinks #copicmarkers #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas

jessicafrostballas

Today I’m sharing a card over on the @heroarts blog for the newest Stay Crafty with Hero challenge! We’re challenging you to create a card using a creative team member’s card as inspiration for your card! If you swipe you can see the beautiful card @thecardgrotto created that I used as inspiration for my card! ✨🌌✨ I hope you’ll play along with the challenge! 💙💛💙 ••• LINK - https://heroarts.com/blogs/hero-arts-blog/galaxy-focal-point-inspired-by-michelle-short (clickable link in profile) ••• #heroarts #staycraftywithhero #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

View on Instagram

Dec 30

415 15
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Instagram post 17915304478546934 Today I’m sharing a card over on the @heroarts blog for the newest Stay Crafty with Hero challenge! We’re challenging you to create a card using a creative team member’s card as inspiration for your card!  If you swipe you can see the beautiful card @thecardgrotto created that I used as inspiration for my card! ✨🌌✨ I hope you’ll play along with the challenge! 💙💛💙
•••
LINK - https://heroarts.com/blogs/hero-arts-blog/galaxy-focal-point-inspired-by-michelle-short (clickable link in profile)
•••
#heroarts #staycraftywithhero #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas #allthesparklejfb

jessicafrostballas

So earlier today I posted the most liked alcohol ink work from 2020 and here are the cards you liked the most this year! ❤️ There are definitely some surprises in there 😂 but it’s fun to see what you liked best! It appears that ink-blending is popular! 😉❤️😘 ••• #allthesparklejfb #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas

View on Instagram

Dec 30

883 52
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 17855338049408350 So earlier today I posted the most liked alcohol ink work from 2020 and here are the cards you liked the most this year! ❤️ There are definitely some surprises in there 😂 but it’s fun to see what you liked best! It appears that ink-blending is popular! 😉❤️😘
•••
#allthesparklejfb #cardmaker #cardmaking #cardmakersofinstagram #papercrafting #papercrafts #diycards #handmadecards #cardinspiration #cardideas #cardmakingideas
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I design for several companies because I truly love their products! Anything I recommend on my blog is something that I genuinely love and regularly use. I do not get paid for product reviews and I will never recommend a product that I do not like or would not use.

I am affiliated with several of my favorite crafty companies which means I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you!!) when you click on one of my links and make a purchase through the store.

You can find my full disclosure as well as a list of the companies I am affiliated with HERE. Thank you so much for supporting me!

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