Christmas is quickly upon us.  Are you still looking for a something to give those hard to shop for people on your list?  I consider one of the hardest age groups to shop for teen girls.  I wanted to share an easy and fun craft you can do with your kids that would thrill any girl this Christmas {even your own}. This picture frame bulletin board makes the perfect gift for a child to decorate their room. It would be an especially fun adult/child DIY project to make for a sibling or a friend!  You are never to young to start fixing up, remaking and giving handmade gifts!

This project starts with an old picture frame. We found ours at our local Goodwill store. You will also need a can of spray paint, beautiful fabric (mine is from Waverly), a ceiling tile cut to fit the picture frame, staple gun, glue gun, thumb tacks and a covered button kit.

Remove the picture from the frame and give the frame a couple coats of spray paint. Allow paint to dry between layers.

While the paint is drying make custom thumb tacks by covering buttons in a coordinating fabric (again from Waverly). Following package directions to cover buttons. Be sure to remove the shank from the back of the button before placing into the plastic piece.

Use hot glue or  an extra strong adhesive like E600 to fasten  a washer on the back and then  a  thumb tack. The washer will help raise the tack up so it is even with the edges of the button.

Cut the ceiling tile to fit inside the picture frame. Cut fabric big enough to wrap around the ceiling tile.

Starting with the corners staple the fabric around the ceiling tile.

Staple fabric all the way around. Staple on one side, then move to the opposite side.

Place fabric covered tile into the frame. Secure with duct tape or nails.

A perfect way to make an extra special bulletin board!

If you love Waverly as much as I do, you may want to pop over to the Waverly Facebook page  and enter to win one of the two $100 giftcards they are giving away right now.

Check out the other amazing blogger’s participating in this event.

Full disclosure: Waverly provided the fabric  for my use with this project along with compensation for the additional supplies I chose to use in the completion of  the project.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Fit a pastry bag (12″ or 18″) with a 1/2″ large open star pastry tip. With a small paint brush paint stripes on the inside of the bag with a gel food coloring paste.

Ingredients

3 large egg whites (room temperature)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (peppermint oil will not work)
dash of salt
3/4 cup sugar
parchment paper

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In metal mixing bowl beat egg whites, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter, a dash of salt and 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract to soft peaks. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating until very stiff peaks form.

Fill pastry bag with meringue and pipe one inch stars onto the parchment paper.

Bake for 90 minutes, but do not let them brown. Allow to cool completely. Meringues will be crunchy. Store in an air tight container. The meringues should keep for a couple of weeks.

If you are looking for more homemade gift ideas, from edible gifts to sewn gifts you might enjoy browsing my Handmade Gift Guide!

How easy is this?  Family Chic has such a fun alternative to a bow!  These would be great in holiday colors.

Check out Sweet Baking supply for a fantastic assortment of the cutest cupcake papers you have ever seen!

If you are looking for a few more homemade gift ideas, from edible gifts to sewn gifts you might enjoy browsing my Handmade Gift Guide! You still have time to whip up something extra special.

WOW!  Aren’t these luminaries beautiful?  They are made with water balloons as the form!  Follow the tutorial on Candletech.com and make a few for yourself or for an extra special gift.

Evie S. has a super simple tutorial on how to make these fab paper-clip earrings!  Any girl would love to find these in her Christmas stocking!

33 Shades of Green has designed a wine bottle sleeve that you have to see!  Wouldn’t you love to give this to your favorite holiday party hostess?

f you need more inspiration take a look at my handmade gift guide below….

First you need curling ribbon, some pretty ribbon to make a bow, a small pair of scissors, an 8″ or 9″ embroidery hoop, spray paint or colored electricians tape and 3 lbs of hard candy.

You can also use the part of embroidery hoop with the metal closure– just tape over the metal part to secure it together and make sure you place it at the bottom when hanging.

Did I mention loads of candy

First paint or cover your hoop with colored electricians tape (makes it a little prettier as the candy is removed).  Begin by tying about a 2 yard piece of curling ribbon to the hoop and then covering the knot with tape.

Place a piece of candy on the hoop and tightly wrap the curling ribbon around the hoop catching the tail of the candy wrapper

Continue wrapping the candy to the hoop.  If the curling ribbon runs short tie off the ribbon to the hoop and tie on another piece and begin again.  Wrap the candy as close together as you can so you have a full wreath.

When finished wrapping all of the candy, tie on a pair of scissors for cutting off the candy.

Tie on a loop of ribbon for hanging and add a bow!

Sweet!

I use my friend Di’s recipe.  It is easy and so delicious!

Di’s Caramel Corn

½ Cup butter (1 stick)
1 Cup light brown sugar
¼ Cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 quarts (12 cups) popped corn

In heavy saucepan on medium to medium-high heat melt butter then add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring mixture to a boil stirring constantly.  Once mixture boils stop stirring and boil for 5 minutes (Do not stir).  Remove from heat and carefully stir in vanilla and baking soda.  Pour mixture over popped corn. Gently stir to coat popcorn.  Place popcorn into a large roaster or rimmed baking sheet and bake at 225° F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool and enjoy!

Two batches of this recipe filled my three containers from Wal-Mart perfectly.