I love this creative idea from Christian. These ornaments would make great gifts for family and friends!  They would also be a fun project for a classroom.  Most teachers now receive a set of pictures of each child in their class from the company that comes to take school pictures. They usually receive multiple individual shots of each child—the perfect size for this project.

For more clever ideas visit Christian at Who Would Have Thought It, you’ll find ideas for kid and grown-up crafts!

Christian writes——————————-

You know how Halley’s Comet comes around about once every 75 years or so? That is about how often I have an original idea, one of my very own that I didn’t kipe from someone else. Don’t you feel fortunate? You, yes, you get to witness this rare and beautiful event!

Okay, okay…I really believe that I came up with this one on my own…but I am afraid to google it and find out..break it to me gently if it isn’t true, better yet, just let me be blissfully ignorant!

These ornaments will adorn my tree this year. And they were so very easy to make!
You need:
Modge Podge
Diamond Glaze
Alphabet blocks
Decorative Paper
Pictures
Scissors
Straight pin
Eyelet hooks
ribbon
Modge podge your paper and picture to the block. Let it dry.
Screw in the eyelet hook. I also attached my ribbon in this step, but save it until they are all done, otherwise you might drip gooey stuff on and have to cut a new piece.

Apply the Diamond Glaze. If there are little bubbles you can work them out with a straight pin, or just pop them with your fingernail. The glaze looks foggy until it dries.

Let it dry.

Admire your handiwork!

**edited to say**
You can find diamond glaze at Joann.com, or several other online craft stores. I was hard pressed to find it in any store in Spokane or Kennewick. Also, there is something called Ailene’s paper glaze that you can get at Michael’s. It is similar, but I have never used it.

Cindy here……. Diamond Glaze is also hard to find in my area!  I would like to know if anyone has tried the Ailene’s paper glaze?

Thanks Christian for sharing such an awesome idea!

Our finger puppets are ready to go and I have printed off some coloring pages and put a few crayons in monogrammed felt pockets.

Here are the coloring pages we printed

The Mayflower Coloring Page

Pilgrim Coloring Page

Indians Coloring Page

Turkey Cartoon Coloring Page

Turkey Coloring Page

Pilgrim Hat Coloring Page

and really the best, just plain blank paper!

For the adults we will give some of these conversation starters a go!

Dinner Table Conversation Starters

Topics and Questions for Starting Conversation

50 Unique Questions You Haven’t Already Asked Your Date

I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Cindy

This is the moistest best tasting pumpkin bread! It also makes great muffins ( so good that one special family named me the Muffin Lady ).

The Best Pumpkin Bread!

3 1/2 Cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
4 eggs
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 Cup oil (I know not healthy–sorry)
3/4 Cup water

Stir flour, baking soda, salt , cinnamon and sugar together. Add oil, eggs, water and pumpkin. Bake at 350 degrees 35-45 minutes (will depend on size of bread pans or muffin size) or until tests done. (This recipe filled six of the bake and give loaf pans from King Arthur)

I am making this bread for some friends and I am using the coolest loaf pans from King Arthur Flour. They have so many amazing pans for baking and giving.

King Arthur will generously give one lucky reader a $25.00 gift card to use at their online store. You will love shopping through all of their great baking supplies and mixes.  The whole grain blueberry muffins are delicious!

Oh my goodness the chocolate cake is decadent and so good. It would make a simple but elegant desert for a party.

All of their mixes would make for fun and appreciated gifts.

I think I will use their star or tree shaped pans filled with cinnamon rolls for some Christmas gifts for friends to make a busy holiday morning less stressful.

Leave a comment on this post  by Sunday at midnight and I will randomly choose one reader to win a $25.00 gift card from King Arthur Four!

Happy Baking

We love sugar cookies especially in holiday shapes. These were simple to decorate with frosting and some store bought candy eyes purchased at the cake and candy supply store.

This is one of our favorite sugar cookie recipes given to us by a dear dear family friend! They are almost as sweet and wonderful as she is!

We used store bought frosting in the tub today, but oh they are so much better with the homemade frosting. This sugar cookie recipe makes a ton of dough and it freezes beautifully.

Margaret’s Sugar Cookies

2 Cups Margarine or Butter (I use butter)
3 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
8 T cold milk + 2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups flour

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Mix salt into flour. Add flour alternately with milk into batter. Divide dough and form into flat disks. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour. I usually chill overnight. This dough freezes beautifully. Roll dough out ¼ inch thick and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes. I bake until edges are slightly golden.

These sugar cookies are best with this delicious frosting.

Frosting
2/3 Cups Butter
½ Cup Milk
2 lbs. Powder Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat with electric mixer until smooth.

This is the sugar cookie recipe I used to make the Scarecrow Cookies.

I found this cool coffin box ,that would make a great party favor, at Free Digital Scrapbooking.

Coffin Box Download

It was really simple to put together!  I used mini clothes pins to hold the tabs while the glue-stick dried and a brown Sharpie marker covered any white lines from where I scored the card-stock. Actually these are quick enough that they would make family dinner time fun! My kids would love one sitting at their plate.