Andes Cookies

We baked these cookies today.   I must say they are so delicious and the easiest recipe we made this Christmas.  You have to try these.

http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/04/andes-mint-cookies.html?showComment=1323739192245#c8874412180426553846

Hot Chocolate Tray

I keep seeing the cutest hot chocolate parties all over the place.  Love hot chocolate, love the set ups.  Sadly we only have three in our family (four for the Holidays).  Instead of a hot chocolate table I decided to make a hot chocolate tray- for four.

I started with a spray painted mini muffin tin and added white mini cupcake liners.  I filled the tray with chocolate chips, hot chocolate stirrers, mints etc.  Added a red bow and it's ready to go festive. You could add mini marshmallows, red hots or anything else you like in your hot chocolate.  Oh drat, I forgot to buy a tube of whipped cream.  There's always next year.  Oh who am I kidding, there's always tomorrow night. ;)

stirrers were made by pushing a soft candy stick into a marshmallow and dipping in melted chocolate chips.  Let them cool over night or in the fridge and they are all set.

Star

I'm on the BHG website

My Christmas Mantel

The final group of ornaments from Cassandra's swap are from Becky. It's hard to see in the photos but each item has tons of special details. This cutie is a soldiered ornament with a pretty crystal dangle. The little girl has such a sweet face.
This ornament has a hand sculpted snowman face on a pretty wooden snowflake. Tons of lace detailing.
A gorgeous soft sculpture Christmas tree is full of flowers, buttons and all kinds of bling. This is so soft and pretty in person. Shows up so pretty against the green branches.
This swap was so much fun. Thank you Becky for all the lovely Yumness. Visit
Becky to see her full bodied snow lady. So much fun.

Ornaments from Cami

The next batch of gorgeous ornaments were made by Cami. This vintage dove wearing a crown of rhinestones is so beautiful and sparkly. Perfect for my Christmas tree.

And another dove ornament to match. This little guy is sitting in a sparkly tinsel nest on a vintage tea spoon. The word peace is spelled out on the handle.

The last ornament is trully a work of art. A tiny frozen Charlotte doll ( love love love these) sits in a pretty silver thimble. The thimble is the basket for a vintage ornament hot air balloon. This is such a creative idea and it is just adorable on my tree. Thank you so much Cami, I love every one of them.

Visit Cami here.

Swap ornaments from Robin

My next package came from Robin The ornaments were wrapped in cute snowflake bags decorated with tags and even a snowflake lollipop.


The first one I opened was a paper mache/clay snowman candy bowl.......with candy. Look at that crepe paper ruffle, I have a crazy love for crepe paper.
Next up was a cute snowman glitter bottle.Check out his magic wand. Make a wish.
The last ornament was a cute pixie on a vintage spool. I also have a mad, crazy love for vintage doll heads. Mad, crazy love.
Here they are all together waiting to go on the tree. Thank you for being a great swap partner Robin.

c

Ornament Swap

My first package from the Christmas Ornament swap arrived on Friday.We were to make three ornaments for our partners. These are from Cassandra herself (hostess of the swap). If you have read her blog you know she spares no detail in her creations. The first picture shows the ornaments wrapped in small pretty gift bags. These are so pretty and look great together. Here is a shot of the three ornaments. Please forgive the photos, the sun is nowhere to be found in this dreary weather. One was a plush owl with golden wings. One was a pretty faux Christmas cookie. The final ornament is a gorgeous. prize ribbon style rosette hanging. Pretty laces and trims galore.
Here is a close up. sigh


Give Cassandra a visit, you won't be sorry.

Inexpensive Activities for Advent

This first idea is kind of scary for me. I see it done in shop windows and then people run their fingers through it and mess it up. Well this year we aren't having anyone under 10 over so heck we are just gonna do it. I bought the stencils and the spray snow at Dollar Tree.


This is also a little something from Dollar Tree. A Christmas trivia game. It has questions easy enough for the little ones. I may even add a few of my own. I think after we are finished we'll pass it on to another family.
This last idea came from michael's for $4.99. A decorate yourself gingerbread cookie garland. We make a gingerbread house each year (yes from a kit, I'm not crazy) and this looks like a new spin on that idea.

We Did It

Acorn Bites

I shouldn't ever read blogs this close to a Holiday. Cuz then I get ideas. Ideas I HAVE to try.
I saw these:
acorn bites and the race was on. I HAD to try them. Nevermind that I have tons of cooking and cleaning to do for Thanksgiving: I WANT ACORN BITES. NOW.
I rushed all over town and finally found the brownie pop pan and we are, as I type this, making these darling guys.

Sneak Peek

Here is a peek for my partners in Cassandra's ornament swap.

Sweet N Shabby

I just received the prettiest package in the mail yesterday. I bought two ornaments from Amy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyShabbyBungalow. These are so well made and look wonderful nestled into a pine branch. Nope, I don't have my tree up yet but the day after Thanksgiving: watch out--I'm rolling out the Christmas goods.

Take a look at Amy's shop, she has a whole line of shabby Christmas I know you're gonna love.

Whoooooooooopie!

Well it's no surprise that whoopie pies are the in thing right now. I see them all over the place and so does my daughter. She always wants to make them and I always whine about how much work they are. Then we usually buy ice cream.


Well she foiled my lazy ice cream buying ways. She found a mix at the grocery store. Easy as pie (see what I did there--easy as pie and it's a mix for pie? I know)

Well we made them and they weren't very hard. They even looked cute as can be. And they were all dressed for Halloween. For about 5 seconds til we gobbled them.

Get Yer Haunt On

Just a few days left to get yer haunt on so I decided to show a few shots around here. I have a crappy camera so try to look beyond the cheap photography.
So this first shot is my dining room, the skeletons rule here.


And finally my mantel. lot of stuff happening there.
I hope everyone has a fantastic Halloween, I know I'm planning to.

A Sweet Christening

If you've ever peeked in my etsy shop you know I love love love making cupcake toppers. Here is a christening that uses a few of my designs:




more here

Kid's Bat Craft

Quick craft to brighten your home.
You will need several colors of crepe paper, black construction paper, tape. Draw or trace a bat image onto black paper and cut out. I used one I had but you can find bat templates on line.
Cut strips of crepe paper to the length you like, then cut them in half to make thinners strips. Tape strips on back of bat. Punch holes for eyes (wiggle eyes would be cute).

Hang. You're done. Very easy and non messy for those "I'm bored" Saturdays. Using edging scissors will give it an interesting look too. We made a ton of these over the weekend but the kids took them home before I could get pics. These would be a great craft at a Halloween party. Yea!

Matchbox Swap

Here are some things I sent Amy for the swap.

Match Box Swap

Here are the spooky things I received from Amy of Ruby Moon Art . The pictures are in mixed up order due to my blogging ability deficit.

A tiny decorated matchbox with a scrabble tile necklace. My daughter has been eyeing it so I have to watch out. Pretty trims

Pretty sculpture with a witch's broom and hat.

Gorgeous spoon assemblage with fluffy crepe paper. I adore crepe paper and this baby has FOUR layers. AND vintage buttons. AND glitter. Need I go on?

Here is the decorated matchbox that reads hocus pocus in a metallic like finish.

More spooky trims and tiny sculpted pieces. I'm thinking about adding a doll head to the boot. I love those things.

And my very favorite item is this tag banner. Made with sheet music and layers of pretty lace. I t is hanging in my dining room looking so vintage and sweet.

Thank you Amy for being an awesome swap partner. I soooo love Halloween and you made it even better.
AMY check out her blog here

I just checked out her photos on flickr--they are much better than mine so stop on over

SWAP

Spool Obsession

I recently purchased some vintage spools. I love those babies and have been crafting away with them.

I have more and I'm not afraid to use them.