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Archive for December, 2009

Christmas Crafts

posted by cindylouh on December 4th, 2009 | children's activities, Christmas, decorations |

Looking for a easy holiday craft to do with your children?

If you find yourself needing something extra quick with no mess give these paper candy canes a try.

My son was in fourth grade when he first made these paper candy canes. He found the activity totally addicting since he brought home a dozen. I tied them to a long piece of yarn and hung them in my kitchen window. Each year they make my kitchen look so festive!

All you need is white copy paper, ruler, pencil, marker and clear tape

Cut the paper into a square. The size of your paper determines the size of your candy cane. We made our paper 8 1/2" X 8 1/2". Using a ruler make a red line about 1/8" thick down the edge of two adjacent sides of the square.

Turn the square face down and begin rolling from the corner without red lines

Keep rolling

Fasten corner with a clear piece of tape

Wrap about 3 inches of one end of the paper tube around a pencil

Unroll

Adjust top and trim off any extra paper on the top and bottom

Cute and simple!

More Candy Cane Ornaments

I remember making candy cane ornaments like these YEARS ago in Sunday school. I had a nice time reliving those memories with my daughter while making these.

We used 1 inch pom poms, tacky glue, recycled cardboard from soda and cereal boxes, a hole punch and a piece of ribbon for hanging (and for a bow on the wreath). After the shapes are cut I would punch the hole for hanging and add the ribbon for hanging before adding the pom poms. It will be more difficult later. If you would like to use the shapes we used you may download them here.

Candy Cane and Wreath Pom Pom Ornaments Template

I cut out the shapes for my daughter and we applied lots of glue. She then carefully placed each pom pom on the cardboard. When she was finished I sat a dinner plate on top for a few minutes to get the edges of the pom poms glued to the cardboard.

She was so proud when she hung them on the Christmas tree!

Still craving more candy cane ideas? How about some Candy Cane Crafts for a Crowd.

Don't forget to save some candy canes so you cane make these cupcake toppers in February.

You can find more ways to celebrate the holidays here.

Linking up with Tidy Mom

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23 Comments

Homemade Onion and Pepper Relish

posted by cindylouh on December 3rd, 2009 | edible gifts, handmade gifts, recipes |

I love Harry & David's Onion Pepper Relish mixed with cream cheese. It makes the most delicious and quick dip. I thought a little homemade jar of this would make a yummy gift that would be handy for friends to have on hand for holiday entertaining.

Onion and Pepper Relish

5 - 14.5 oz. cans chopped tomatoes (drained)

6 bell peppers (seeds and ribs removed) (I used two each of red, yellow and green)

6 cups sugar

2 Tablespoons salt

1 - 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (I used 1 1/2 tsp)

6 jalapeno peppers with seeds and ribs removed (a spoon does this easily)

3 medium onions

2 cups white vinegar

2 small boxes powered pectin (1.75 oz)

First chop all vegetables. It goes together very easily once all the chopping is done. To make this quicker I used a food processor.

Mix everything together, except the pectin, in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer about 1 hour. Add in the pectin and boil for 1 minute.

Pour relish into hot sterilized half pint jars, leaving about 1/2 inch head room. I needed 13 half pint jars.

Place lids and rings on jars. Process jars by placing them in a large pot of water. Water level should be an inch over jars. Boil for 15 minutes. Carefully remove jars from water and allow to cool. You know jars are sealed when there is no give in the lid.

I plan to attach a tag to mine that says, "For an easy dip, mix jar contents with 2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese and serve with corn chip scoopers."

Enjoy!

If you are looking for more ideas on handmade gift giving, take a moment to browse through the Handmade Gift Guide.

55 Comments

Teacher Gifts

posted by cindylouh on December 2nd, 2009 | gifts for teachers, handmade gifts |

The creative Whitney of Whisker Graphics is sharing her amazing talents with us today with some beautiful printable bookplates for teachers. These bookplates will make awesome little teacher gifts-- include a popular book store gift card to make it even better.

Teacher Bookplate Set Download - Female

Teacher Bookplate Set Download - Male

Download the bookplate, add teachers name in the editable field on the download and print on sticker paper ( or you could print on heavyweight copy paper and paint the backs with homemade sticker solution). Print out the folio on card stock, cut and fold.

Find other handmade teacher gift ideas here.

I also wanted to mention that Whitney is selling baker's twine in some unique and beautiful colors. You can check it out at Divine Twine.

15 Comments

Last Minute Printable Advent Calendar

posted by cindylouh on December 1st, 2009 | Christmas |

Wow November got away from me and here we are in December. Advent is a big part of our holiday celebrations. You can see some of our Advent Calendar ideas here, here and here. Our entire family enjoys reading Jotham's Journey and our little one loves Jesus Is Coming: 25 Daily Activities to Read, Color, Cut Out, and Assemble.

If you are looking for something really quick to use for an Advent Calendar, simply download these tags.

Advent Tags Numbers 1-3-5-7-9-11

Advent Tags Numbers 2-4-6-8-10-12

Advent Tags Numbers 13-15-17-19-21

Advent Tags Numbers 14-16-18-20-22-24

Advent Tags Number 25

If you would like to change all of the papers and make your own unique tags, Steph from The Daily Digi, made digital files for you to play with. Please use these files for personal use only. Generously included in these files are free papers and information on using the files. You might also want to check Steph's last tutorial on Digital Cupcake Wrappers for more information on using digital files. Also these new holiday papers she has included would make great cupcake wrappers for the holidays. If you would like more holiday papers please visit The Daily Digi Shop where you will find some fun holiday papers like these and these.

Digital Advent Tags Files for Photoshop users

Digital Advent Tags Files for other photo editing software users (tiff)

Assembling the Advent Calendar

Cut out the tags, glue to the front of envelopes (you could also print on sticker paper). Use a long string and mini clothes pins to clip the envelopes to the string and wah-lah you have a simple Advent Calendar. You can fill the envelopes with tiny surprises or slips of paper with activities to do with your family each day.

You could also glue the tags to the front of hang tags and write the activities on the backs or print the tags on card stock , punch a hole, add a ribbon and use as tags for wrapped boxes.

At our house we normally have a brainstorming session and the kids throw out ideas of things they would like to do throughout Advent. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Family Advent Activities Ideas

Go Ice Skating
Make Christmas cards
Go Christmas caroling or sing Christmas songs at home
Give everyone manicure & pedicures
Let each child choose a favorite dinner
Push the furniture back and dance
Watch It's a Wonderful Life or the How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Play a game
Make Christmas cookies and share with neighbors
Have a special friend for dinner
Make Christmas ornaments
Make hot chocolate and read Christmas stories
Make a Gingerbread house
Make a simple pine cone bird feeder
Have a special breakfast
String popcorn and cranberries
Play cards
Make a paper ring garland
Have a fireside meal (we use this and make grilled cheese and apple pies in the fireplace)
Cut snowflakes for the windows
Make and hang beautiful wrapping paper stars
Drive around to see neighborhood Christmas lights (put hot cocoa in to go cups and put on pjs)
Go to a holiday movie
Make a holiday craft
Roast marshmallows in the fireplace
Make gift tags and wrapping paper
Make decorative sugar cookies
Purchase gifts for a needy child
Host a Christmas party
Play in the snow, build a snowman
Go for a walk at night and look at the stars