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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are having my family over for the holiday today. I have been slowly collecting placemats, chasers, glasses etc for a nice table setting. I think it turned out even more beautiful than I had it in my head!
Everything is from Pier 1. I really love that place. Jefferson designed the name cards. He picked out a turkey that looks really worried.
I hope you all have a wonder day.
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Just one more day and it is officially Christmas Season!
During the holidays I like to keep a list of the gifts I am thinking about getting others. I keep it with me as I shop. I also like to have it on me so when I hear someone say "Ooooo, I love ______", I can write it down before I forget.
My list not only helps me not forget anyone, but it helps me not buy for the same person more than once. Some people are just easier to buy for than others. I made my list this year and I thought I'd share it with all of you. Click the image below to get a pdf!
It will print on a full 8.5x11 paper, but you can cut it down the middle if you just need a small list. Make sure to use a pencil, so you can erase if you need to! The little wreaths next to the names are your "check box" for when you have purchased or made the gift. I used the same kit for this that I used to make the Advent.
I was having so much fun making this list, that I thought I should make a "to do" list, and a "shopping list". Tis the season for list making! It's also the season of giving, so click the image below for a pdf of these as well.
Happy Holidays everyone. Let the shopping begin!
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I loved Advents when I was a kid and I love them now. I am a list maker. I enjoy either adding to a list or being able to cross things off a list. Advents are just a cute list with treats, how could I not love them? The last few years we have been doing a count down to Christmas with wrapped books. I made a post about it here. I thought I'd add a more traditional advent this year.
Here is what you need to make your own:
24 "favor tins". (I found them in Hobby Lobby's Party Section)
1 craft circle punch
24 magnets (can get at the craft store)
Adhesive (I used glue dots)
Advent Images (You could also just use scrapbook paper and write numbers on them)
First you need to download the advent images. Click here. In order to print them to the size I needed, I opened them in a word document and from there I could adjust the size of the circles using the ruler on the top as a guide. I printed my circles 2 inches because I had a 1 3/4 inch circle punch.
You need a hole punch like the one above. Mine is 1 3/4 inch. After I printed the images on cardstock, I used the hole punch to punch out the images.
The inside of the tins are 2 inches. Using my cricket, I cut out some 2 inch circles. If you have a 2 inch circle punch, you would print your images 2.25 inches and then skip the second circle step.
The 1 3/4 inch circles fit perfectly in the clear centers of the tins.
Flip the advent number and place it inside the tin top.
I used three glue dots on the backs of my 2 inch circles. The middle dot will attach the smaller circle to it and the other two will help keep it in place.
Insert the 2 inch circle face up and press down to adhere. (If you use a 2 inch punch, just put two glue dots on the outer edge so they don't show through the clear part of the tin)
One down, 23 to go!
Next you need to add a magnet to your tin. If you are going to put candy in the tins, I would recommend using a strong magnet like the sliver one above. They also sell them in black. The magnet strips are not strong enough to hold the tin with candy inside. You could put lighter things in them like stickers and the strips would hold.
The magnet will attach itself to the tin, but when you try and place the tin on another metal surface, sometime it moves around, so I used a glue dot to help it stay in place on the tin.
Now fill them up! In addition to treats, I am planning on putting Christmas stickers or small toys in others. It would also be fun to plan a holiday activity and have a note in the advent telling the kids what the activity will be. That way its not just candy every day.
I had this framed magnet board in my basement. It is what inspired me to make the advent. If you don't have a magnet board, you can get them at a craft store, or you can use the tins on your fridge. You could also glue a thumb tack to the back and use them on a cork board, or use that ticky tacky stuff and put them on the wall. You could use a large frame and glue the tins to the glass. You could even hide them around your house and have your kids hunt for the right number each day.
Can you believe it's almost time to start the Christmas count down? I think time goes by faster and faster each year.
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I was asked to make another batch of cupcakes for a party this week. I had recently gone to a baby shower thrown by Rachel at A Little Cuppa Tea. She had cupcakes with a ganache under the frosting. I thought I'd give that a try instead of my glaze I've done in the past.
The corn syrup is not necessary, but it gives the ganache a nice shine even when it has set. If you are going to eat them right away, or if you are using the ganache inside something, I would leave it out. But for a party, it really helps the cupcakes look fresh, even when they've been sitting out for a little bit.
The cupcakes are: chocolate cake, ganache, vanilla buttercream, pink sprinkles, sugar crystals and a pink malt ball on top.
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Last month my mom and I made some Christmas aprons. Using the fabric scraps left over, I made matching hand towels for our kitchens. How adorable is that fabric? It goes perfect with my Christmas gingerbread theme. They turned out so cute that I thought I'd make some for everyday.
I also made a tutorial so you can make some too!
Click Here for the hand towel tutorial.
Click Here for other sewing tutorials
Click Here for other gift ideas!
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During the fall, Einstein Bagels has a pumpkin cream cheese schmear. I like it almost as much as their honey almond. I thought I would try to make it at home.
The difference in the sugar just depends on how sweet you want it. I did a full 3/4 cup sugar. Jefferson want's to eat it with a spoon.
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