DIY Penguin Christmas Ornaments

DIY Penguin Christmas Ornaments

Contrary to popular belief, people appreciate the most those gifts that were handmade, instead of stuff purchase from a store. They suggest the fact that the one who awards them found the recipient so important that he or she decided to take a hands-on approach. Time is the most valuable thing a person could spend, so these heartfelt gifts are usually more valuable than expensive ones. The same applies to Christmas ornaments and the fact is that even something as unassuming as a plastic bottle can serve as a starting point in the creative process.

Enjoy!

Pillow Gift Box

Pillow Gift Box

You Will Need:

• Paper towel
• Scissors
• Decorative ribbon or cord
• Coloured paper
• Glue

YOUR TOILET PAPER ROLLS WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS:

Christmas tree decorations

Christmas tree decorations

You Will Need:

• Scissors
• Glue
• Paint
• Paper roll
• Graphite pencil
• Ruler
• Felt
• Pearl

Christmas tree decorations

Help: Felt flower

Enjoy!

HOMEMADE CARAMELS

HOMEMADE CARAMELS

So let’s talk caramels!  Homemade, perfectly soft and chewy caramels are my weakness!

My family usually reserves them for our special treat at Christmas time.
And the best part about them….you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry! 

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
2. 4 cups sugar
3. 2 cups light karo syrup
4. 2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk
5. 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

Generously butter a jelly roll pan (or a 9x13'' pan if you prefer thicker caramels).
Add 2 sticks butter, sugar, and karo syrup to a large heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Stir over medium heat until mixture begins to boil, about 5-10 minutes.

Gradually add the evaporated milk, pouring it in slowly so that the mixture maintains a constant boil.

Stir the mixture regularly, scraping the sides until it reaches a firm ball stage (about 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer). This part takes patience--it could take about an hour to get to the firm ball stage--but it's sooo worth it! (Also, I don't always trust or rely on a candy thermometer either--I like to test it the old fashioned way. Drop a spoonful of hot caramel sauce into a cup of ice water and mold it with your fingers into a ball. When ready it will feel firm and pliable, but still slightly sticky.) Once you reach 240 degrees F / the firm ball stage, remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Pour caramels into a buttered pan. Refrigerate until ready cooled and hardened. (Best if you refrigerate them overnight, or for several hours. They will be easy to cut and wrap) The caramel will seem hard in the fridge after they're set, but they should be soft at room temperature. Cut caramel into small pieces and, if desired, wrap like a tootsie roll in wax paper.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This is a classic banana bread – moist and full of chocolate chips! This recipe is one of my family's favorites that I make on a sometimes weekly basis.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 bananas, mashed (1 cup mashed banana)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preparation

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F .
2. Grease and flour a 8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan (or use baking spray, such as Baker's Joy brand).
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix in the oil, bananas and eggs. Stir in the chocolate chips (do not overmix!) and pour into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60-80 minutes. Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool completely, right side up.

Decoration

Decoration

Ingredients:

• Felt
• scissors
• thread, needle
• graphite pencil
• template

Template:

Enjoy

Felt Santa

Felt Santa

Ingredients:

• Felt (white, red)
• Scissors
• Needle, Thread
• Template

Template:

Template

Autumn Leaf Garland

                                                       Autumn Leaf Garland 

Leaves Pattern : 

Leaves Pattern

2.) Print the file, then cut out the leaves.

3.) Trace Leaf shapes onto felt. I chose felt in 4 different colors. I used a white pencil to trace the leaves onto the dark felt colors.

4.) Cut leaf shapes out of your felt.

5.) Using and embroidery floss, stitch the leaf veins onto each leaf. I used a gold colored floss which I thought was a little thick, so I pulled 3 strands out of the floss to make it easier to stitch. You can save time by using a gold glitter glue or fabric paint to make the leaf veins instead.

6.) Decide how you want to place your leaves.

7) Stitch leaves to a rick rack or ribbon.

8) Hang your new Thanksgiving garland and enjoy!

Toilet Paper Roll Wall Flower

Toilet Paper Roll Wall Flower

Here  are the things you may need:

• Toilet Paper Rolls
• Glue
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil

Step 1:

Collect as many toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls you can get your grubby little hands on.

Step 2: 

Flatten the rolls so you can cut them into 1-inch circles (petals). There is no need to measure exactly! I cut the roll in half and then cut each half in half again, until I reached my desired size.

Step 3:

Continue to cut rolls until you have reached your desired amount. It’s ok if they are not all cut perfectly even. The different sized rolls and different length cuts will add dimension to your piece.

Step 4:

Start building your flower with a basic 5-point star formation. (You don’t have to start from this point you can make whatever shape you like.)

 Step 5:

 Start glueing the petals together. I used a hot glue gun, but you could use any type of glue you prefer.

http://loveoffamilyandhome.net

Enjoy!

Eggnog Cookies

Eggnog Cookies

INGREDIENTS

Eggnog Cookies

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ cup eggnog
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2¼ cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Eggnog Frosting
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 4 to 5 Tablespoons eggnog
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease cookie sheet and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugars until fluffy.
4. Add egg yolks, eggnog and vanilla, continue beating until creamy.
5. Add flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Beat on medium until well combined.
6. Roll into one inch balls and place two inches apart on cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Eggnog Frosting

1. Cream butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat until combined. Add eggnog, nutmeg and cinnamon. Beat for 3 minutes until smooth. Frost cooled cookies and sprinkle nutmeg over the frosting in desired.

Recipe type: Cookies, Dessert

Serves: 32-36

These cookies. As in, CRAZY GOOD! :)

Felt Bird

Felt Bird

You Will Need:

• Felt sheets in your choice of colours
• Buttons
• Needle and cotton thread
• Hot glue
• Ribbon
• Cord
• Scissors
•  template

Template:

1.Using the template, cut out two bird shapes from a piece of felt. Cut out a contrasting colour ‘wing’ and stick to one of the bird pieces.

2.Thread a piece of cord onto a flower button and tie a bow.

3.Stitch the flower button to the wing and a star button ‘eye’ on the birds’ head.

4.Cut a small length of ribbon, fold in half and stitch to the back of the bird to make the ‘legs’.

5.Then stick the two bird pieces together.

 Finish:

Enjoy!

Easy Nail Art Designs

Leopard print Tutorial

Easy Nail Art Designs