SO THE DECORATING BEGINS

THIS ONE ALMOST TOO EASY.....THE MAILBOX

 The finished product!  Good thing this does not take long as Jack Frost was in Eagle, Idaho last night!

 

All you need for this project is a swag (this one from Hobby Lobby 22x28), indoor-outdoor pre-made ribbons and some ribbon to tie around the mailbox.

First I tied a wide grosgrain (green) ribbon around the mailbox and tied a knot (firmly).  Next I bent the swag the shape of the mailbox and using the ends of the ribbon firmly attached the swag to the mailbox.  Then (I used 3) attach the pre-made indoor/outdoor ribbons, two in the front and one in the back.  I think the mailbox looks so much more festive all dressed up for Christmas!

Source:

Ribbon, Michael's

Swag, Hobby Lobby

Pre-made indoor/outdoor bows, Walmart

 

Thanks for stopping by.

COOKIE JAR GIFT

 

If you are home crafting on this Black Friday here is a really quick and fun idea for a great Christmas gift.  Starts out life as a $4.97 cookie jar from Walmart.  This is a good size jar and holds lots of cookies!

 The first thing to do is to find your graphic, I found this snowman on Etsy. Next you will need a waterslide decal paper for inkjets. If you have not used these they can be a little tricky at first but oh so worth the effort.  Since they can be a little pricy I also printed out a stag on the same sheet and will show that in a future post.  After printing the graphic, cut out the one you want to use.  Follow the instructions on the package which will tell you to spray them (you are putting a finish on them that will allow them to be washed) up to three times, letting them dry in between coats.  After the final coat wait 30 minutes and then cut around the graphic and put in water for 30 seconds and then apply to your surface.  You might ruin one the first time but really, these are easy.  You then blot the image to get all the water and bubbles out and let it dry and then add one more coat of the the spray. Be sure and read the instructions on your decal paper as it may be a little different.

 After drying I added my favorite snowball cookies.

SNOWBALL COOKIES

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup sugar
1cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups finely chopped pecans

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup butter, sotened

1 teaspoon vanilla

Powdered sugar

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine all ingredients except powdered sugar in a large bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Place 1 inch apart onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake 18-25 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool five minutes; roll in powdered sugar while still warm and again when cool.  Messy but worth the mess, so good. 

Next I added a tag using the same graphic, gingham ribbon and a couple of mini-tassels. Ready to deliver!
Resource:
Cookie Jar, Walmart
Watershlide Decals, hobby & craft stores
Waterslide decal link:Papilio Inkjet Clear Waterslide Decal Paper 10 Sheets
Tag, cardstock
Tag Font, Mistral, sz 17
Gingham ribbon, Michael's
Mini-tassels, Fabric Store
Draw Program, Corel Draw
Corel Draw Link,CorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X6 - 3 Users
Etsy seller snowman graphic,

SSGARDEN

When all the leaves are off the boughs,
And nuts and apples gathered in,
And cornstalks waiting for the cows,
And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,
Then Mother says, "My children dear,
The fields are brown, and autumn flies;
Thanksgiving Day is very near,
And we must make thanksgiving pies!"

Unknown author 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thanks for stopping by.............

IT'S ALMOST THANKSGIVING - THE KIDS TABLE

This will probably be the last year for the kids table as alas they grow so fast.  I love doing this table.  It is a  little red card table and chairs that I purchased at Target when I had my first grandchild.  Because we live so far apart it has not seen a lot of action but I love using it whenever I can.

 

Since a candle would not be appropriate for the children I thought this little organic turkey would do just fine, as it turns out a cocktail napkin is the perfect size for a linen napkin for wee-ones.

 Their favor is a Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispies treat with chocolate and chocolate covered sunflower seeds.  Of course, they have to save the treat for dessert! Please see my post of November 18th. if  you would like the recipe. 

 

When I purchased this set it was red for Christmas and I also purchased a tablecloth and napkins.  When Easter came around I made a simple cloth and chair covers, napkins out of some Easter looking fabric and did the same for Thanksgiving.  Just measure your table account for overhang and seam allowance and it comes together very fast.  On this Thanksgiving/fall set I could not find any fabric I liked so I used flannel backed oil cloth and that is really easy.  To finish off the edges of the tablecloth I added multicolored ric-rac and the chair back are very simple.  Just make a pattern of the chair back, cut it out allowing for seam allowance and then because it is oil cloth just use pinking shears to clip the bottom.  

 

You can see here that you just make a simple envelope for the chair cover. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Resource:

Kids card table and chairs link: Children's Folding Table & Folding Chairs Furniture Set

Dishes, previous year at Pottery Barn Kids

Forks & Spoons, IKEA

Turkey, Previous year Williams Sonoma

Oil Cloth Fabric, Hobby Lobby

 

TOOLS OF THE TRADE TUESDAY

DAISY CUT MASON JAR LIDS

These little jar lids that are the standard size for canning jars (not wide mouth) are a great thing to keep around for a myriad of uses.....Potpourri, candles, drinks, etc. Only limited by your craft imagination. They will also fit standard size other jars so are great for recycling those jars we all keep.

 

Here is all you will need to make a cute jar of potpourri for a quick gift, some old (or new) potpourri, coordinating ribbon, coordinating pipe cleaner and whatever add-on you prefer, in my case I had picked up some little pine cones on a recent trip to Oregon and thought it would look cute on this jar.

 

Finished product! Did not take more than ten minutes to put this together.

 

The lids have a hole cut into the center so they can also be used for drinks.  I did one here by just inserting a cute straw, then adding a little name tag with the name of the birthday girl and the name of the friend & a cute graphic and then added a little bakers twine to attach.  

Here is a quick recipe for party punch for kids:

1 lg. can lemonade concentrate, frozen

1 lg. can frozen apple juice concentrate

1 lg. can frozen orange juice concentrate

2 liter bottles of Ginger Ale

 

Here is a little something for the adults - for a Mojito and the recipe is on the tag!

 

You can also use these for candles, especially cute with the little jars.  All I did was spray paint the lid red, add a ribbon, a votive candle and a little festive add-on and you have a cute candle. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Resource: Lids, craft and hobby stores and online

Pewter Daisy Jelly Lid for Mason Jars 12 Ct

Ribbon, Michaels

Pine cone, mother nature

Holly Berry tie-on, Hobby Lobby

Straws & Bakers Twine, Hobby Lobby

Birthday Graphic, Google graphics (it was a free graphic)

Potpourri, Home Goods

COMPANY COMING!!!

Guests are coming.........hmmmmm......need that check list!

1. Clean house (x)

2. Sweep sidewalk, water flowers & dust fall wreath(x)

3. Iron top sheet and pillowcases for guestroom(x)

4. Fresh towels and lots of washcloths for guest bath(x)

5. New bar of soap in the guest bath(x)

6. List of network passwords in guest room(x)

7. MP3 player that also will charge iPhone in guest room(x)

8. Nuts & Mints in guest room(x)

9. Bottled water in fridge(x)

10. Welcome gifts for guests(x)

11. Plenty of empty hangers in guest closet(x)

12. Snacks for guests(x)

13. Activities planned(x)

14. Menu's planned(x)

15. Cookies & wine cake made........yikes NO, have to stop blogging and

start baking.

Little framed message in our guest room that pretty much says how we feel about our guests! We live far away from a large percentage of friends and family and so appreciate the effort it takes to make a trip to another state and we appreciate their time, money spent and effort.  The ties that bind.

Thanks for stopping by!

                     

MAPLE SPICE CUPCAKES WITH WALNUT DUST & MAPLE WALNUT ICE CREAM FOR THE STEEL MAGS!

The Alzheimer's Idaho (local grass roots organization) is meeting early this month because of the holiday.  I volunteer for this wonderful organization and one of the things I do is make the dessert for the monthly support group dinner.  They love dessert and they love ice cream so I try and make them happy!

MAPLE-SPICE CUPCAKES

Easy recipe as you start with a cake mix and then add a few other ingredients.

1 Box Spice cake mix, any brand
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 cup melted, cooled butter or oil, your preference
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoon vanilla extract (I use vanilla paste)
3 eggs, room temp*
1/4 cup real maple syrup

In your mixer mix together the cake mix and the cinnamon, in a bowl mix together all the rest of the ingredients and then gradually add them to the mixer.  When mixing the dry ingredients make sure you have your mixer on low to avoid a flour storm in your kitchen! Mix until thoroughly mixed together.

Using a scoop put the mixture into 24 cupcake papers in your cupcake pans.

Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes in a 350 degree oven

*With room temperature eggs, the whites and yolks will combine easier when whisking. This means that the eggs will disperse more evenly into the batter, making for even cooking and a lighter texture (because the eggs trap air). To bring eggs to room temperature quickly, soak them in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes. Always do this when baking for a better end product.

Let the cupcakes cool on racks while you are making the yummy frosting.

FIRM WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING 

I think of this frosting recipe as the "little black dress" of frosting because you can do so many things with the recipe and change it and it is always wonderful.  I love whipped cream frosting because it is not as sweet as typical frosting (you know, a cupcake, what is it? A delivery system for frosting, duh). But regular whipped cream frosting has to be in the fridge until ready to serve and this one does not.  You can add food color to it and make it pink and add strawberries or raspberries, put a little chocolate in it and frost a cake and add chocolate curls, buy an angel food cake and slice in half and add some raspberry jam and then frost with this frosting that you had added the raspberries to - only limited by your culinary imagination.

1 - 8oz package reduced fat (NOT fat-free) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract*
2 cups heavy cream
*for these cupcakes I substituted the almond with 1/4 teaspoon of maple extract

In your mixer with the paddle attachment whip until creamy the softened cream cheese and the sugar, then replace with the wire beater and add the rest of the ingredients and whip until the frosting holds a stiff peak, stop a couple of times and scrape down the sides a couple of times.

I put the frosting into a piping bag and piped the frosting onto the cupcakes.  I promise you this is the easiest frosting ever and you can come out with a beautiful product without not much effort.

Because it is Thanksgiving I splurged and bought a box of Mount Mandsfield pure maple sugar candy and topped each cupcake with the maple leaf candy and a dusting of walnut dust.

 

MAPLE-WALNUT ICE CREAM

I used my normal vanilla ice cream recipe and made changes as noted below.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract (I use vanilla paste)

Maple Nut: add 2T pure maple syrup & wet walnuts,that have been toasted

In your mixer mix together the milk and the sugar, then add the heavy cream the vanilla and the maple syrup.

Put into your ice cream for about 25-30 minutes until creamy then add the walnuts and let it mix for about 5 minutes and then put into containers and put in the freezer as this will be very soft and creamy and will need to be put into the freezer.

 

Wet Walnuts - For Maple Walnut Ice Cream
Makes 1 1/2 cups.

• 1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon dark maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and very coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Heat the maple syrup in a small skillet or saucepan until it just begins to come to a full boil. Stir in the walnuts and salt, and cook until the liquid comes to a full boil once more. Stir the nuts for 10 seconds, then remove them from the heat and let cool completely before using. The nuts will still be wet and sticky when cooled.

Roast Nuts 375 degrees 5-10 minutes

Cooks Note: I roasted 2 cups of walnuts and took the additional 1/2 cup and ground in the Ninja to make the walnut dust garni for the cupcakes.

Resource:

Vanilla Paste, grocery and specialty stores

Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine,Cuisinart ICE-20 Automatic 1-1/2-Quart Ice Cream Maker, White

Pure Vermont Maple Sugar Candy,http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-Lb-of-Pure-Vermont-Maple-Sugar-Candy-100-Pure-/160462735859?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255c5309f3

California Walnuts, at your local store

Turkey, Williams Sonoma

Tray, IKEA

THE BIRTHDAY LETTERS - A HEARTFELT POST

Someone very dear to me is going to be a grandmother very soon and I did this blank album to give to her.  Very simple find an album that you like and is appropriate for the sex if you know the sex and if not a generic one.  All I did was to add her monogram because I could, as I know her name, measured the photo that came with the album to make sure that my print out would be the correct size and then added a ribbon, done, ready to wrap.

The album is not the reason for the post, the reason for the album is not for photos, the album is for birthday letters from the child's grandmother.

When I first became a grandmother a little over 14 years ago, I lived in California and one son lived in Missouri and the other in Wyoming - not exactly a set-up for getting close with Grammie (that's me).  Trying to do things that are the ties that bind I wrote a letter (and put in an album) to my first grand-baby on the day he was born, telling him what his birth meant to me and welcoming him to the family.  Each year since then I have written him a letter (I just wrote number 15 as he turned 14 and with his real birthday letter that is 15).  I did not realize when I started doing this just how great this would turn out to be and not until I looked at another grandchild's album that had several letters did I realize that what these letters become is a chronicle of their lives through the eyes of Grammie and long after Grammie is gone the letters and all the love contained within will remain.

Since that first boy I have been lucky enough to have four more grandchildren, three boys and our little feisty girl (also adorable & smart like the other four).  I write letters on their birthday to each of them.  It is truly a labor of love.

Resource:
Font, Monogram KK Font, free, note, when doing the monogram whatever size you use for the first and middle name, double that for the last name initial in the middle.
Album, Hobby Lobby
Ribbon, Costco
Draw Program Link:CorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X6 - 3 Users