Christmas Crafts

I was planning to have hats knitted, mittens crocheted, and outfits sewed into seasonal gifts.

Unfortunately I'm almost out of time so now I'm thinking of making some homemade goodies this weekend and packaging them for goodie gifts.

How 'bout you? Have you completed all your projects for the holidays? This one sorta snuck up on me.

So I'll be cooking, baking and trying to finish up some projects quickly this weekend. And, then I'll post all about them next week.

But come back tomorrow to see my Holiday Tour of Homes.

The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

We went to an afternoon showing of the new Hobbit movie.

It was action packed and the graphics of Smaug were great. I thought it was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

My son wasn't so impressed. He didn't like the way the movie made Smaug look stupid and how the dwarfs were able to fool him so easily.  He said Smaug is a brilliant, ancient, dragon and they made him look foolish.

So, Jake was disappointed in the movie. But I enjoyed it.

So there you go - two opposing viewpoints from the same family.

If you go see it, let me know what you think.

Homemade Flannel Shirt

I always have trouble finding the colors, fabric and designs I want to wear...call me picky. Really it comes from when I was a kid and Mom and Dad couldn't afford to buy my Barbie dolls clothes. I had to start making them myself...either that or my dolls would have been naked and hanging around with Ken like that...I couldn't bear to hear what my brothers would have called Barbie...so I made clothes for them myself (without any patterns). I had to learn to crochet and sew from left over fabrics and yarn that Grandma didn't want to use.

I guess that's why I still do it today.

I wanted a flannel shirt for the holidays but all the ones I could find were cowboy'ish - not the look I was going for. So I walked up and down the aisles at the fabric store, just touching the bolts and feeling for that one special material. And when I found it - it wasn't on sale - but I only needed a little piece - if I made a tank top. So, that's what I did.

I just pulled out an old tank top and used it for my pattern.

There was only one problem - I forgot that flannel doesn't stretch. So after I sewed the tank top together, I realized I had to pull out my handy-dandy seam ripper and tear the seams out and insert some stretchy fabric.

It wasn't hard to do. All I had to do was cut two evenly sized pieces (to be the same on either side) and then I pinned them in place and started sewing.

I even had a little left over material to make a head band...yeah, I'm dorky like that.

So this holiday outfit cost me about $7.00 - not bad for an evening out.

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

It was my turn to bring a dessert to book club and my family had just recently seen Frozen...so with the help of a little pinspiration, this is what I came up with.

First I made some chocolate cupcakes and then I cut off the tops - you know muffin tops don't look so good when you're trying to decorate.

Then I frosted the cakes with a white whipped frosting using a tip and a pastry bag.

Then I started building my snowman's face using marshmallows, red chocolate chips (that looked more orange to me - and I thought made a perfect carrot nose)

I used sprinkles for the eyes (I tried chocolate chips - but they were too big - see the face in back with the too large eyes.)

To get them to stick inside the marshmallow, I used a bamboo shish-kabob skewer to pierce the location first.

Then I set them on top of the cupcakes.

And I added green button sprinkles and a chocolate chip for a hat. The arms were black licorice.

They were super simple to make and my husband really liked the ones that looked like they were melting.

So Frosty-the-Snowman Cupcakes.

Think Outside the Box

It's that time of year, when we search for boxes to stash gifts inside and we want them to look pretty or different so we wrap them in bows and tie ribbons around them but we can also simply make the boxes pretty to begin with. This is how I did it.

I bought a book that has all sorts of special boxes and instructions inside.

Then I press out the pre-designed box and start to put it together.

I made a few of them tonight.

So when you're wrapping your presents, don't simply think of wrapping paper and ribbons or bows. Think outside the box... :D

EZ-Smeazy Holiday Drinks

Sparkling Christmas Punch - thanks to Pottery Barn

Bottle sparkling apple cider
Equal parts champagne and cranberry juice
frozen raspberries

Hot Toddy

6 oz hot water 1 1/2 oz whiskey or bourbon
1 tsp of cloves
1/2 tsp. of honey
1 cinnamon stick for stirring

It's Dangerous Out There Take This With You

So what do you give the guy who has everything? How bought a hand made mug?

All it takes is a personalized design and some glass etching paste.

A nice heavy mug can be bought inexpensively and then it can be turned into a very personal gift.

Adding Link's Sword from the Legend of Zelda, is the perfect way to personalize a mug for a gamer.