Neighbor Gifts

I wanted to think of something a bit unique to give to our neighbors this year so I bought some chargers at Michael's for 99cents and put some vinyl on them to make a plate for Santas cookies. 

Of course I had to add some cookies to the plate too. Who has time to make extra cookies? A friend of mine helped, you may even know her. Betty, yeah that's her, Betty Crocker. 

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Alisha

Christmas quote in a frame

We, like so many of you no doubt, did secret Santa this year. I wanted one of the gifts to be centered around the Savior. That's why we have Christmas and though all the other things are fun the reason for the season must never be forgotten. 

I found a quote by Jeffery R. Holland that I loved and I printed it in vinyl. I then put it on a frame for our secret Santa family and of course I made one for myself too. I hope they enjoy theirs as much as I do mine. 

Christmas Stories

A year ago on Pintrrst I saw an idea where someone bought 24 Chrustmas books, wrapped them up and each night their child got to open one. For the past year I have been collecting Christmas Stories for my own children. I've search the Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, used book stores all to find the perfect Christmas books for my cuties. And I've succeeded. So for the next 24 nights we will open one present every night and read that book together as a family. I'm so excited to start this new tradition one which I hope to carry on even with our future grandchildren.

PJ the Elf

Seeing as there are so many of you new since I last posted our PJ the Elf tradition, I thought I would post about him again.

Our family has always received PJs for Christmas. Since I was a little girl. But I had never heard of PJ the Elf until my sisters introduced me to the idea when my children were little.

Now I go all out for Christmas Eve and PJ the Elf. He has special wrapping paper. A special knock and even his own special poem. I thought I would share the poem with you just in case you need one to attach to your PJs. This was written by my sisters a few years back:

You have been good so Santa has said,
Now put on your pj's and go straight to bed.
Your jammies will keep you so nice and cozy,
from the tip of your toes to your cute little nosey.
So hop into bed, dream of reindeer in flight
For Jolly ole' Santa is coming tonight!

Nothing gets a child to bed quicker than the thought that Santa is on his way.

Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree

Lately I've done so much furniture make overs that I rarely post simple crafts anymore. But I did this over the past few days and wanted to share it with you. It's really very simple to do. They are Christmas trees made from Popsicle sticks.

Here is what I did:

First I took a poster board and wrapped it into a cone shape. I glued the flap so that it stayed a come shape.

Next I cut it to the height I wanted.

I then attached four Popsicle sticks to the bottom all even so that it would stand on its own.

Next I hot glued Popsicle sticks and Popsicle wood chips (all can be found in the craft store) to the cardboard. I started at the borrow and layered them all the way around until I reached the top. This is the longest part of this craft.

Once the poster board was covered completely, I hot glued a snowflake Christmas tree ornament inside the top hole of the poster board / Christmas tree.

Finally I decided to stain mine. You could leave it Popsicle stick color but I felt I wanted it to look a little more rustic.

I've made two and they sit on the mantle with the snowman I made earlier this year too.

If you have any questions let me know. I'd be happy to answer them for you.

Christmas Gift Tags

I thought rather than buying gift tags this year I would just make some of my own. I wanted to share them with you all incase you didnt want to spend the money to buy gift tags this year, you can print these out and use them as well.

PJ The Elf - One of our family traditions

In my family we have always had a Christmas Eve tradition one which probably most people have..... Opening one gift on Christmas Eve. And it never fails that the gift is always Pajamas. One of my sisters changed the tradition with her family a few years ago and has shared the idea with each of us. Every year there is a knock at her front door now and presents are left on the doorstep. (Her mother in law lives near and can do this for her) The gifts are pajamas left by PJ the Elf. You see PJ is one of Santa's helpers. He is the one responsible for making sure all children are in their pj's and tucked up in bed before Santa gets to the houses. So he leaves PJs for all the children to get into and then go straight to bed. I love this idea because it makes it seem as though Santa is really near. Last year two of my sisters co wrote a poem to attach to the Pj's and I love it so I thought I would share it with you all!

You have been good so Santa has said,

Now put on your pj's and go straight to bed.

Your jammies will keep you so nice and cozy,

from the tip of your toes to your cute little nosey.

So hop into bed, dream of reindeer in flight

For Jolly ole' Santa is coming tonight!

-Brittney Robles and Misty Kelly

The kids still get to open one gift from under the tree but now instead of it being Pj's they get slippers. I love traditions! We have loads!

Candy Cane Reindeer

Every Christmas since my 6 year old has been in school she has wanted to make and take a gift for every child in her school class. So each year we make these bad boys and she gives them out to her friends at school. They are really cute and fun for her to make. She gives them out with her Christmas Cards.

I know that you probably all know how to make them but for those of you who dont here is how I do them:

What you'll need:

Low temp hot glue gun

Ribbons or yarn for hanging

1 wrapped candy cane (this has to be wrapped around the candy, not a 'bagged' candy cane)

1 tiny pom-pom for the nose

2 little wiggle eyes (or paper eyes drawn and cut out)

Brown pipe cleaners for the antlers

How to make it:

Look at the picture above - make antlers out of pipe cleaners, wrap them around the candy cane on the curve and glue them.

Add two wiggle eyes and a pom-pom nose.

You're done!

These can be added to packages or cards or used as table center pieces.

Snowmen Handprint Ornament

found the idea here... i painted nathans hand white and pressed against the side of an ornament. painted each finger to look like a snowman and attached the following poem...

these aren't just five snowman, as anyone can see.

they're made from my handprint, which is a part of me.

now each year when you trim the tree, you'll look back and recall

christmas of 2009, when my hand was just this small.

Christmas wreath

Check out this adorable wreath. It was so easy to make. I still havnt put the finishing touches on but you get the idea. I just took a wire hanger apart and strung christmas bulbs on it then closed it back up. So easy. The wreath in the tutorial is way cuter than mine so check it out.
http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2008/12/no-wire-hangers-well-maybe-just-one.html

Rudolph Brownies

1. bake a pan of brownies

2. cut the brownies into triangles

3. use chocolate frosting to adhere the pretzel antlers and the red m & m nose on

4. then use white frosting to adhere the brown m & m eyes on

Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine

A Christmas Traditon here in the UK is Minced Pies and Mulled Wine. Traditionally Mulled Wine is Alcoholic which is why I dont drink it. See I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and one thing we dont do is drink Alcohol amongst other things. My husbands cousin though has made us a recipe of Mulled Wine which is non-alcoholic. OMWord. It is gorgeous! I asked for the recipe straight away and now cant wait to make it myself. In the meantime I thought I would share the recipe with all of you! It is so Yummy! Let me know what you think.

Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine:

Bottle of 'non alcholic' wine, red or white ( white will need less sugar added ) pour into large pan

Add twice the quantity of cold water ( ie if 2 bottles of wine, 4 equivilent of water )

3 or 4 cinnammon stick

6 or 7 cloves

2 large oranges, with the peel left on, sliced into rings and added.

Simmer for 2 or 3 hours...

Add granulated sugar 'to taste' half way thru!

Serve warm..FROM THE PAN, INTO CUPS/GLASSES. Sieve out the cloves etc.

This can be prepared before guests arrive then reheated in microwave, but you lose the' smell which is gorgeous when people come into house. May have to 'adjust' to get the timing right, ie less as it's non alcoholic, so none to 'burn off'. Keep tasting. Adding less or more sugar. Ensure sugar is FULLY dissolved. Enjoy.


CINNAMMON POWDER DOESN'T WORK!

I cant wait to make this. I am so having friends around for Minced pies and Mulled Wine!! Mmmmmm!

Wooden Baby Block Picture Ornament

i don't remember where i saw this idea, so i can't link to it. but if anyone knows, please share so i can give credit where credits due! this idea is great, easy, fast and inexpensive. you probably have the supplies sitting around your house right now! i did, and i probably have enough to make HUNDREDS of these! they're wooden baby block picture ornaments.

supplies:

mod podge

scrapbook paper

wooden baby block (i got the whole alphabet in 1 box at the dollar tree)

hammer and nail (optional, depends if you have muscles)

screw eyes (CHEAP)

wallet size picture of your baby :)

sandpaper and ribbon (not included in picture, sorry)

step 1: depending on how many sides you want to cover, you need to cut that many pieces of scrapbook paper. so trace your block onto the paper, and cut it out. also cut your childs picture to the size you want it.

like so...

step 2: using the mod podge, apply a thin layer to whatever sides you're cover and place your scrapbook paper on it. it doesn't matter if your measurements aren't exact. you'll be getting rid of the excess during the next step.

mod podge your picture on too

step 3: using sandpaper, gently sand all the corners. this will even up any larger squares of scrapbook paper

step 4: apply another layer of modge podge to all sides of the block to seal everything on

step 5: once modge podge has dried (few minutes), use a nail to make the hole where you want to put your screw eye.

step 6: pull out the nail and replace with the screw eye

step 7: string ribbon through the eye and tada... you're all done! ready to adorn the tree!

*OPTIONAL* i believe the blog i saw this on also used diamond glaze on the side of the block with the picture. it gave that side of the block a clear glass type finish. i have NEVER found diamond glaze at any craft store! they advertise the product on there websites, but everytime i go to purchase it, its never there! and i check EVERYTIME i go. but anyways, that's an option.

Hot Chocolate Cones - Thrifty Gift:)

This is from Oprah.com. Cute and Yummy!

With 15 nieces and nephews, Kellie in Houston had to come up with a great gift that's both thrifty and sweet. "Who doesn't love hot chocolate?" Kellie says. To put a twist on this classic winter treat, Kellie created her own hot chocolate mixes. Using a plastic piping bag to hold the mix, Kellie says to start with a layer of cocoa, add marshmallows, and top with chocolate chips. Tie the top with a ribbon, and voilà! "It looks like an ice cream cone," Kellie says. "It's so easy."

Santa's Website

Justis came home and told me about a website he'd heard about in school. We checked it out and have had lots of fun with it. It has games to play, pages to color, the kids can write santa a letter and even be in a story with santa. Its really cute.
www.northpole.com

Christmas Cards

Ok so I know it isnt even December yet. I also know that we haven't even got past Thanksgiving. But today I made our Christmas Cards. I tend to make them every year. It just makes them a bit more personal. Well to be honest I only give the homemade ones to Family and close friends. Everyone else get a cheap store bought one. I have had the stuff to make my cards for months. I only just got around to making them. Anyway so here is what I did:

What I used:

1 pack plain cards with envelopes

Velum Paper

Ribbon

Embossed Stickers

Computer & Printer

What I did:

I printed my message (which comes from a classical Christmas song) onto the velum paper. I then put the sticker in the middle punched holes in the card and the velum and tied them together with a piece of ribbon. So easy!! There are so many things you can do. This was just my idea and an easy idea so that it didnt take loads of time to do. Good Luck with your homemade cards!!

Christmas Gift Idea

I have been looking for something my daughter could make for family members for Christmas. My Husbands family all love to read so when I found these I thought they were perfect! I hope you like the idea too!

Bookmarks Made From Buttons!

Bookworms of all stripes will love these bright place markers. They make sweet stocking stuffers -- and they're fun and easy for kids to create. Simply cut lengths of ribbon (ours are 12 to 14 inches long, to fit a standard-size hardcover book), then attach buttons to the ends using tacky glue or a glue gun. Shown here are just a few of the decorating options: sandwiching the ribbon's ends between two buttons; stacking smaller atop larger buttons; and grouping several small buttons in a pattern.

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Every year around this time I am asked a million times to make my Pumpkin Roll. So I thought that I would post the recipe on here. I love this it is such a festive dessert. So Yummy!!

Ingredients:

• 3 Eggs
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2/3 cup Pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
• 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• .
• Filling:
• 8 ounces Cream cheese -- softened
• 4 tablespoons Butter -- or margarine
• 1 cup Powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Preparation:

in large bowl, combine eggs and sugar, beating well. Add pumpkin and lemon juice, mixing until blended.

In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Add to egg mixture, mixing well. Spread batter into greased and waxed-paper lined 10-by-15-inch jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 350 ° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool for 15 minutes. Place cake on clean tea towel sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar. Cool 10 minutes longer. From 10- inch side, roll cake up in towel. Set aside.

While cake is cooling in towel, prepare filling. Beat together cream cheese and butter; stir in powdered sugar and vanilla and blend until smooth.
Unroll cake. Evenly spread filling over cake. Roll up cake (without the towel). Wrap in plastic wrap. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Slice before serving. Keep leftover slices refrigerated. This pumpkin roll freezes well.

Sometimes when making this pumpkin roll I will sprinkle walmuts or pecans on top of it before baking the cake. It is really nice with the nuts.