Pine Cone Door Decor

The wreath I usually put on the door at Christmas time was lookin' pretty scary, so I made this for free!

 I stole some pine cones from my parents' yard, glittered them up with snow-looking glitter, hot glued them to various lengths of ribbon, then added a bow.  Such an easy alternative to a traditional wreath!

Cute Christmas Cookies (recipes and tutorial)

     

 I spent a day in my pajamas making these Christmas cookies, and I love how they turned out!  A while back, I tried making flow icing cookies and they looked o.k., but tasted not so great.  I used a different recipe this time , and they were delicious!  The flow icing technique is time consuming, but really fun!

 First, make the cookies using this recipe: http://www.kitchengifts.com/nofailsugarcookies.html

You don't need to refrigerate the dough for hours like it says, because you can use this cool trick...

 Roll out a circle of dough 1/4 in. thick between two sheets of wax paper and refrigerate for about 10-15 min.  Cut out cookies and bake.  I kept rotating new discs of dough to and from the fridge, and it went swimmingly.  This recipe is great because the cookies turn out smooth and flat for decorating.

Now the fun part!  I modified a recipe I found online to work a little better than the original.  Here it is...

Royal Icing

4 TBSP meringue powder

1 cup water (not quite filled to the top)

1 lb. powdered sugar

2 tsp. light corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine meringue powder and water.  Sift in powdered sugar and mix until combined.  Add extract and corn syrup and mix on high for about 5 min.  It is ready when a stiff peak forms when lifting the beater out of the icing.  Color with gel food coloring if desired.  Put in squeeze bottle or pastry bag and use for outlining cookies.  The outline acts as a dam for the thinner icing you will use to "flood" the cookie. For filling in or flooding cookies, thin the icing with water a TBSP. at a time until it's the consistency of syrup.  A good test is to drizzle some from a spoon into the bowl of icing and it should  disappear in about 3 seconds.  Flood cookies and use a toothpick to help spread the icing. 

You can add decoration with another color of thinned flood icing.  If you decorate while the base color is still wet, you will get a smooth, flat finish like these.  If you prefer raised pattern, wait a few hours for the base to dry, then apply the details with the second color.  

Let the iced cookies dry overnight, or for several hours.  Once dry, they can be stacked without messing up the design.  This makes them easy to transport to parties, etc.  

Now EAT one or some because they are sooooooooooooooooooo yummy!

Christmas Goodies

I have been saving Crew's formula cans for the last couple months in hopes to find a clever way to use them. Then while looking for cute goody packaging ideas I saw the idea of using the formula cans for our Christmas goodies this year. I just wrapped a 4" thick strip of wrapping paper around them and cut a circle for the lid (to cover the Enfamil label). They were just the right size, and I was able to cram a lot of stuff into the cans. I made matching bows out of coordinating wrapping paper using this tutorial I found on Pinterest.
For the goodies, I kept it relatively simple. I dipped some Oreos in white chocolate and put Landon to work making our version of "bulls eyes"(snap pretzel + Rolo + peanut butter m&m). The "hardest" thing I did was make this toffee. I was surprised at how simple it was to make, and it turned out SO SO SO good! I threw in some Butterfinger Bells (for the kids, since I do not believe in sharing Ghirardelli with children) and topped it off with a few Lindor Balls. We had a blast looking at Christmas lights while passing out the cans to our friends and neighbors.

Landon has 4 teachers this year... So since I didn't have enough cans, I decided to make some of the cute paper gift boxes I've seen on Pinterest.

I used this tutorial and can't stop making these! I even made some mini ones for part of my YW lesson last Sunday. I used 12x12 cardstock and filled the teacher boxes with toffee. I made the labels on Picnik.com and cut strips of scrapbook paper to "tie" the box closed.

More Christmas Decor

I made one more little tree and covered  it with little red rosettes. I just took strips of tissue paper, twisted them up, and wrapped them into roses of various sizes.

They're hanging out on my bookshelf along with this free printable and some branches that I covered in glitter which remind me of something from the Labyrinth. And obviously they're prettier in real life.

Jacob's noticed that I've got a thing for covering stuff in glitter lately. We saw some tiny pinecones on our way home from church and he said, "Those are cute. You should cover those in glitter."
I probably will, even though I think he was mocking me.

Christmas Stockings

I decided this was the year to make our family's Christmas stockings. After perusing Pinterest I came up with a perfect combo of all the styles I loved. This is the Tutorial I used for the shape and overall construction of the stockings. For the tops I used this for the pleating inspiration. I pleated a long wide piece of fabric into a strip the size of the stocking top.(WARNING: Pleating is hard!!! If anyone knows a trick please let me know!) I wanted them personalized and decided to cross stitch some buttons (using a button covering kit) instead of spending a fortune on pre-made ones. I let Landon pick out which pictures to use, although I may remove them and just use the letter button with a plain white button. I can't decide.
For my stocking I wanted something more girly so I came up with a bow top I've seen done on some throw pillows.I love how they turned out, and hope they last a while... or until I get sick of them and decide it's time for a change. Now I just need a fireplace...

Advent Calendar

This advent calendar is an attempt to help my family focus on Christ during the Christmas season.  Each day, we turn over a number (starting at 24), and read the scripture that goes along with the picture on the back.

By Christmas Eve, the whole tree is covered with pictures from the life of Christ.

To make this, print the pictures you want to use. I made them wallet size, then cut them out. Print each scripture reference as well. Go here to get the pictures with corresponding scriptures.   

Here is the list of the scriptures and pictures I used, with the day listed first:

24 Luke 1:26–38 annunciation

23 Luke 2:1–5 Joseph and Mary travel

22 Luke 2:1–16 Jesus’ birth

21 Luke 2:8–20 shepherds

20 Luke 2:22–39 Simeon

19 Luke 2:40, 51–52; Jesus with Mary

18 Luke 2:41–52 boy Jesus in temple

17 2 Ne. 31:4–13 baptism

16 John 4:3–30, 39–42 Samaritan woman

15 Matt. 4:18–22 calling apostles

14 Matt. 5–7 sermon on the mount

13 Matt. 8:23–27 calming the storm

12 Mark 5:22–24, 35–43 Jairus’ daughter

11 John 5:1–9 healing the sick

10 Matt. 14:22–33 walking on water

9 Mark 10:13–16 children

8 Mark 11:1–11 triumphal entry

7 Matt. 26:17–30 last supper

6 John 13:4–15 washing feet

5 Matt. 26:36–45; Luke 22:39–46; Alma 7:11–13 gethsemane

4 Luke 23:33–46; crucifixion

3 John 19:38–42 burial

2 John 20:10–18, Luke 24:33–43 resurrection

1 Rev. 3:20 Jesus at the door

Buy some wooden rectangles like these I found at Hobby Lobby (4/99cents).

Paint with colors of your choosing (I did half red and half gold).

Sand the edges so they are smooth and a little distressed.

Paint numbers 1-24, using a stencil.

Be sure you look at the picture that will go on the back so you paint the number the right direction (horizontal or vertical, depending on the picture).

My wooden rectangles had pre-drilled holes, so I just threaded string through for a hanger.

You can also hot glue a hanger on if you don't have holes.

Spread mod podge on the back of each ornament.

Position the picture on the wood and smooth out air bubbles.  Spread mod podge over entire picture. 

 Add scripture reference, and mod podge over that as well.  It will dry clear.

Hang number side up on a small Christmas tree (mine is 3 feet).

Turn one over each night and study the Savior's life through the month of December.

Is it too early to start the Christmas crafts?!

Too bad. Today's topic: Wreaths! Here is some inspiration I've collected for pretty Christmas wreaths...

The poinsettia ribbon wreath, because it just wouldn't be Christmas without a little Martha!


Everybody loves pom poms!


ok, I can't remember where I found this one, but it looks easy enough to copy..


This one's made out of cupcake liners. Genius!


Ok more Martha, but it's so pretty


And start collecting old ornaments from D.I. now if you want to make one of these babies

So if you find any other good ideas or make one of these, you better post it! I'm still trying to decide which is my fave.