CHRISTMAS CONES!

Every now and then I go into the past!. THis originally came from my former DIY blog. Love these cones. easy to make and easy on the budget! From Rob's DIY Blog November 28, 2008: DIY Christmas Cones
I watch Ms. Oprah every now and then- My mom usually has it on. I saw how to make these hot chocolate cones- a perfect gift for children, co-workers or keep on hand as an emergency gift for unexpected guests who pop in- Easy to make, the hard part is finding the piping bags (I went to Michael's and found them, I would think JoAnn Crafts would have them as well or any gourmet shop)Anyway here are the instructions for making Hot Chocolate Cones And when done you can put them in an inexpensive mug for next to nothing if you want, and fill the mug with hersheys kisses!

Christmas Tree Alternatives 2013

It's time for my annual list of Christmas Tree Alternatives. Not that I have anything against fresh cut trees. But there have to be alternatives for those who don't like fresh cut trees, those who are adainst cutting down a tree for decoration, and even those who are allergic (myself included- I touch evergreens and break out in a rash so no gin martini's for me!). It really doesn't matter what a tree is made of, it's the memories and the ornaments that make it a Christmas Tree!

My Friend Mellow, and her family made this wonderful Copper Tree, that should last a lifetime.

I have seen Branch trees used for Halloween and Easter... Never thought of them for Christmas!

Here's one for the Gardeners: Use a Tomato Trellis as a tree!

 

How about a tree made from Pallets???

 

 Or maybe string?

One of my favorites- the Driftwood tree

OR JUST USE WHAT YOU HAVE LYING AROUND THE HOUSE!!!

DIY Wrapping

I like to wrap gifts, but chances are if you get a gift from me there will be an element of garbage on it, just to make it look good. That's right- I said garbage!
I make bows (using Jessica's "How about Orange" Tutorial) This year I forewent the used Frito bags and just went with newspaper. The "ribbon" is also from the same batch of newspaper.
NEWSPAPER-

DUCT TAPE-

Now that there are so many different patterns to Duct tape, why wouldn't one find a use for it for wrapping. I wrapped my cousins' boys (whom I lovingly refer to as Huey, Louie and Dewey) with duct tape as the ribbon and a bow made from same said duct tape!
GIFT BAGS-

Sometimes it just calls for a gift bag. I bought these plain Kraft paper bags at Staples, and just apply a stamp to them and  a bow!
PHOTO TAGS-

This year I found these cool photo frame gift tags at the Dollar Tree, so I perused my family's facebook pages for pics and printed them out in Black and white! There are some really good old pics in there!

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREES Part Deux

Some more alternative christmas trees for you...
How about RENT A TREE?You pay $30-35 for a living Christmas tree, plud a small deposit, and the tree is planted after the holidays! Sounds like a win -win to me!

Plus some friends of mine whom are temporarily living outside the US, made this alternative-

My friends Kat, Michael and Graham's "Light tree"

Some folks make paper trees:

A Kid's paper tree

Kayla Aimee's Rolled Paper Centerpiece tree

And finally, RecycleArt's Natural driftwood tree

REBLOG- Kitchen Christmas Wreath

Another Reblog, this time from 12/12/2009, 3 years ago to the day: I got inspired by the late great Ready Made to make a wreath for my kitchen made of a wreath form,a kitchen towel, some yarn, scouring pads and upholstery nails

A wreath for the Kitchen? Why not- a dish towel for a ribbon, holly leaves cut from scouring pads So inspired was I to make this wreath form the Dec/Jan Issue of Ready Made Magazine- I kinda like what I came up with! My berries are actually upholstery nails, and instead of string I wrap heavy yarn around my wreath form.

REBLOG: Homemade Vanilla For Gifts

Rebloged from November 26, 2010- I explore my craft yet chef side and make some home made vanilla for Christmas, as well as homemade vanilla sugar! 

 

I got 7 bottles of home made vanilla out of a 5th of bourbon! I got my small bottles today. So scratch 6 gifts off my list (Yes I have 7 bottles... you think I ain't keeping one?). I am giving these, along with a quart jar of vanilla sugar for gifts this year. Thanks so much to Abbie for this gift idea from her blog

Of course, as always I party with the best:

Some DIY Tree Ornaments

I found some items to turn into ornaments for my tree! Starting with this coffee scented candle in a cup and saucer I found at Dollar Tree, it was small enough to become an ornament!

It originally came in this plastic case with a brown ribbon around it... I took it out, took the candle out (I used a knife and scraped it out) hot glued the saucer to the cup and now have the neat little latte on the tree! I also reused the ribbon to make a hanger for it!

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Then I discovered the little picture frames...One was for a small 2 X 3 inch picture and the other also fit a 2 X 3 was intended as place cards for a wedding, I turned them into photo ornaments by simply placing some small adhesive metallic bows on them. Then I removed the frame back, (the one with the little hinged thingy that lets the frame stand up, cut a new one out of some cardboard.

and drill a small hole in the side for putting a hanging ribbon (or in my case, a pipe cleaner) through.
Then put the pic in, the cardboard I cut, and hot glued it to secure everything.

DIY Gift- Chalkboard Mug

Need a quick DIY gift to give? How about a Chalkboard mug?

1-take a plain white mug- You can build  Green points by buying one at a thrift store or just take one out of the cupboard!

2- wrap with painters' tape, leaving a white square

3- Next take a can of Chalkboard Spray Paint, and slowly spray paint the white square, it may take multiple coats.

4- Let dry overnight. Remove the tape
5- Then "season" the chalkboard- (Run chalk over it using the broadside of a chalkstick.
And there you go- A mug or cup you can change the message on!

Sled Cookies

I saw these on Pininterest, and knew I had to copy it. So easy, two mini candy canes, glued together with a dab of frosting, a mini Milky Way, split in two; a Teddy Graham cracker stuck between both pieces of Milky Way, and glued onto the Candy Canes. Then let dry overnight.

More fabulous cookies and such

At Farmer's Daughter!

From Candle Wreath to Door Wreath

My Wreath

Mom's Wreath

I found some "Candle Wreaths" at Trader Joe's. Not liking to put a flame surrounded by highly flammable pine needles, but liking the size of the wreath, I took them home and made two wreaths - one for me and one for Mom. (I like the smaller size because it fits in the window in my front door, Mom likes it because it doesn't hide her apartment numbers). Anyway I added bows found at Dollar Tree. Two Wreaths for less than the price of one!

Another Alternative Christmas Tree

 was perusing the internet, as I do, and I found this unique Christmas tree made of Driftwood on instructables, made and constructed by mcorbin. And I for one like it. Maybe time to take the dogs down to Seahurst Park for a walk on the beach and collect some driftwood!

JAR GIFTS

Good things come in jars. Or so I am told. I have been finding interesting things to give in jars, besides cookie mixes.
One spot I have found is Tip Junkie... 37 Recipes How To Make Gifts In Jars

Sewing Kit in a Jar from Tip Junkie

Over at Instructables, crea8tor shows how to make Sunshine In Jar

Instructable's Sun In a Jar

Those looking for something natural to give can give The Flower Girl's Garden in a Mason Jar