Happy New Year!

We pray that you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a very happy New Year!  We look foward to sharing recipes and crafts with you during 2012!

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Peppermint Candy Tray

Posted by Lori:

I saw this photo on a Facebook friends' page and asked to share it and the recipe with you as a final before Christmas post.  She saw this idea on a blog.  Isn't it neat? 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Unwrap peppermint candies.  Put parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Make your design and leave a little bit of space between candies.  Bake for 7-10 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack - peel off paper!  It will be glossy and not sticky!  You can only put cool or room temperature items on the candy tray.

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Acrylic Photo Frame Craft

Posted by Lori:

It always seems that on the few weeks before Christmas we have a lot more craft "recipes" than food recipes, but we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

These acrylic photo frames were my homemade gifts for my husband's side of the family this year.  They could easily be made to fit any holiday or celebration, but were especially fun to make for Christmas.  In fact, I got so carried away with making them that I have quite a few left over to give to others!

I used 5 x 7 frames, which can be vertical or horizontal.  Purchase 3D embellishments, ribbon, and background paper at a scrapbook supply store.  Cut paper to frame size and insert it into frame.  Add photo then or later.  Hot glue ribbon to frame where desired.  Be sure to leave an open space for photo to slide in.  The photo can be pushed to correct spot using a flat, thin piece of cardstock or tool that is small.  Add embellishments as desired.

Here are photos of my frames.  Photos will be inserted by those who received my homemade gifts.

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Santa Can Craft

Posted by Lori:

My daughter made one of these Santa Cans for the county fair in September.  It placed 1st, going on to the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, where it won 3rd place in the 4-H metal craft division.  She used a smaller paint can from Michael's for the craft at that time.  

Last week my daughter decided to do these craft cans for all of her girl cousins.  She needed eight cans, but this time she couldn't find the small paint cans.  She decided to buy these candy containers at Hobby Lobby.  They were a little harder to do and needed two layers of the red duck tape to cover up the painted coating on the outside of the can.

Supplies needed for one can:

1 roll red duck tape covering bottom part of can

1 roll zebra duck tape for around the middle of the can...making Santa's belt

1 piece of metallic or glittered silver (or gold) paper cut into a square then cutting a smaller square out of the middle, making a buckle

1 white (some have silver strands in them, as well) boa or white fluffy trim

Red Ribbon

Brushed silver bells

Remove lid from can and set aside. Wrap can with red duck tape, wrapping twice if needed.  Place zebra duck tape around the middle of the can, making Santa's belt.  Glue on the belt's buckle using hot glue.   Hot glue the boa/trim around the top edge of the can (remember to have lid off and not to go too close to the top edge of the can.  Place lid on can.  Make two pieces of red thin ribbon and tie to two jingle bells. Secure the bells to the can by tying them on the can's handles.  Fill with your favorite goodies or leave empty and ready to fill as a gift for someone.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts - #2

Posted by Lori:

Here are more from our family Christmas homemade gift tradition:

My mother-in-law made these cute shotgun shell Santas.

One of my sister-in-law's sews these neat t-shirt bags.  The bags are eventually going to be sold by her to help an organization called "Path of Hope Foundation".  Read the note below to see what this foundation does for young, needy girls in Central America.  When she gets her Etsy shop set up, I will have a link to it on my blog.

One of my brother-in-laws got into the homemade gift tradition this year with these nifty "survivor bracelets".  Each cord strand has 7 cords within it that can be used for many "survival" tasks.  How neat!

He even found a way to make this homemade gadget that helps him hold the cords while he is braiding the bracelets!  Look on YouTube for survival bracelet thingy :).....maybe!

One of my sister-in-laws was in Branson, so unable to participate in the homemade gift exchange, but we're looking forward to seeing what she finds for a "homemade" substitute!!

On this GRATITUESDAY, I am grateful for family.....for traditions.....and for homemade gifts made with loving hands....and for organizations such as the Path of Hope Foundation who are concerned with the needs of others.

I'm saving mine and my daughter's homemade gifts for separate posts that I'll share in the next few days.
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Homemade Christmas Gifts - #1

Posed by Lori:

Every year on my husband's side of the family, we do homemade gifts between each of the siblings.  Even some of the niece's are now getting into the "homemade" giving!  I'm posting a few of the homemade gifts today and then will do the others in my next post.

Framed burlap mat stamped with a "W".

Funny how this "homemade" ornament candle holder is packaged so neatly and has a nice little tag dangling from it!  Occasionally, one of the group opts for non-homemade gifts!  Still cute, though!

Glass ornaments with paint swirled around on the inside.  I made some of these years ago, but I really like how my niece used the larger glass balls and the ribbon to hang the ornament.  So cute!

Isn't this paper tree adorable!!???  One of my sister's-in-law saw it on Pinterest using ribbon, but she used paper.  I like the paper a lot!  It seems like it will stay "fluffier" with the paper, as long as I store it properly where it doesn't get smashed.

Remember.....I'll share the rest of the homemade gifts next time!

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Hugs Pretzels

Posted by Lori:
These look yummy!  Can't wait to try them!  I first saw these on Pinterest, then found them at the website below.

Photo and recipe from cookiesandcups.com

2 bags of Hershey’s Hugs

1 “Pounder” bag of Pretzel SnapsBig baking sheet

Waxed paper – for easy removal

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Unwrap hugs. Line baking sheet with waxed paper – if you don’t have waxed, use parchment. If you don’t have either, just use a non-stickbaking sheet. Lay one pretzel down for every Hug and top each pretzel with a Hug. Pop in the oven for 2 minutes, just until they are glossy and softish. Remove from oven and let sit for 1 more minute, to continue the softening process. **This is the only step you can make a mistake on – by laving them in the oven too long they will completely melt and run through the pretzel and all over your sheet and you won’t have a sandwich, just a mess.  Now top each hug with another pretzel pushing down gently, so it sticks together. Pop the baking sheet in the fridge for 20-30 min. to cool them off or leave them at room temperature (it will just take longer).  Store in airtight container.

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