Hanging Ornament Decorated Bag

Super simple gift bag made recycling a paper bag and left over gift wrap or magazine pages and glitter glue

Items used:

• Paper sack
• Scraps of gift wrap or magazine pages
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Pen or pencil
• Glitter glue
• Round object

 I used small paint bottle for the round object and drew around it on scraps of wrapping paper, cut it out, applied glue stick to the bag then stuck it on the bag at different points on the bag.

Use the glitter glue (I used silver) to make a small dot at the top of the ornament for the shank and then draw lines up to the top.  Allow to dry and it is ready for gift insertion.

Funky Reindeer Package Wrap

 

This is a version of Risque Reindeer my son came up with a few years ago (see below).  Instead of using a paper bag, I used the packaging the gift was mailed to me in, pulled off the sticker, cutout out the antlers, eyes lips and "jewel" from a magazine, used red glitter glue for the nose and silver glitter glue for the chain on the necklace and a bow I saved from last year.

    

See Risque Reindeer Gift Bag and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

YODA SNOW FLAKE

This was made using a sheet of paper, scissors and an X-Acto knife and a free downloadable/printable diagram from Anthony Herrera Designs.   There are several other Star War snow flake designs, so if  are Star Wars fan it is worth taking a look at.

It took about 15 minutes to do as the smaller areas take time as you only go through a few layers at a time, but it was easy and fun to make.   I was worried that some of the choppy areas would make it look bad, but I think it gives it more character.

For the diagram and instructions, click here.

I am linking this up to Meijo's Joy.   

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is our Christmas card for this year.  This was created using the free online software at www.picnik.com.  Click on the Holiday option and there are several free options (all of the above are the free options) although some of the cute options are premium.

Alas, gone are the days when I could dress him in a little Santa or Elf suit.  Now that he is 16, he would only agree to wear his "What Happens Under the Mistletoe Stays Under the Mistletoe" because he couldn't find his "Dear Santa, Let Me Explain..." t-shirt.  

This was taken at our local Home Depot because it was more "manly".  Herefused to have his pic taken with Santa, but if there had been a cute girl elf handy he would have been game.

"Pop Art" Hand Wreath

Use recycled items to quench your thirst for crafting your own unique, trendy wreath.

This wreath is based on the Hand Wreath I made previously, except this is much fuller and hand outlines are drawn on cardboard from 3 cases (24 packs) of Diet Coke.

Items used for this project:

• Cardboard from soda pop cases  
• Cardboard circle from frozen pizza
• Hot Glue Gun 
• Silver Acrylic Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pop tab 
• Silver Bell Ornament made from top of plastic soda bottle
• Red and Gold Fabric Paint
• Ribbon
  

Click on the hyperlinks for tutorials.

5 Minute No Sew Elf Skirt or Cape

To get more in the Christmas spirit, I decided to turn an old oversized sweatshirt into a Elf skirt, but it could also be worn as a cape.  It is based on the the 5 Minute No Sew T-Shirt to Skirt tutorial that I posted previously.  

All you need is:

• A red or green oversized sweatshirt
  
• Scissors
• 1 1/2 - 2 yds of ribbon
• Safety pin
  

On this the only difference is that I cut off the sleeves, then cut across the neckline then cut notches into the bottom (which was formerly the top of the sweatshirt).  

Use the scissors to cut a small hole in the bottom (which will now be the waistline casing) of the sweatshirt and thread the ribbon through the waistline casing and voilà, you have and elf skirt or elf cape.

Hand Wreath

This was inspired by an hand wreath my son made when he was in grade school, except I used fun foam sheets instead of construction paper to make it more durable as it is going to his Dad's house and will probably still be up come July.   Total cost was under $2.

Items used:

• Fun foam craft, construction paper, cardboard or paper
• Scissors
• Pen
  
• 9-12 inch cardboard circle (cardboard bottom of a frozen pizza)
• 1 yd. ribbon
• Decorative pick or picture
• Tab off the top of a pop can
  
• Craft glue and/or hot glue gun 
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Tape
  

Place hand flat on surface used and draw around it with a pen.  The hand used of this wreath is that of my 16 year old son whose hands at least a fingertip length longer than mine and we only needed to draw a few.  I used 1 large and 1 small sheet of craft foam.

If smaller hands are used, you may just want to draw one on cardboard and use the cardboard as a template to draw the rest of the hands.   Number of handprints needed depend on the size of the hand and how full you want the wreath to be. Cut around pen line with scissors.

After the hand prints have been cut out position them around the cardboard circle to ensure you have enough and get an idea of how you want them placed.  I wanted to see the handprints plainly, but for a fuller wreath, you can overlap the hand prints.

Paint the cardboard circle with acrylic paint (I chose gold) and allow to dry.

Put glue around the outer edges of the cardboard circle, then position the hands the way you want them on the cardboard.  If you choose to layer the hand prints, start at the top and glue each at the edge separately.

In the past have used a hand print in the center and fav picture in center of that handprint, which is cute for younger children.  On this wreath I used a decorative pick I got for .35 cents last year on clearance for a slightly more grown up look.   I stuck the bottom of the pick hear the edge of the bottom handprint and pushed in slightly, then taped in down in the back.

Tie the ribbon around the pick to make a bow.

 Add glue to the back of the pick.

Glue pop tab to top back edge of the cardboard so the wreath can be hung.  I also taped applied tape over the glue after it dried.

Eggnog Fudge

This has a wonderful flavor and very rich, but tricky - first attempt came out very sticky.

This is based on a recipe at Recipegirl:

http://www.recipegirl.com/2007/11/30/eggnog-fudge/#ixzz0Yo50VNEx

2 cups granulated sugar
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) butter or margarine
3/4 cup dairy eggnog
1 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 tsp
1 7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
1/2 tsp nutmeg and a few dashes for garnishment
1 tsp rum extract (or 1/4 tsp. for highly concentrated extract for candy)
Cake pan
Non-Stick Coating Spray
Candy Thermometer
Wooden spoon

The original recipe called for and 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan and lining the pan the aluminum foil in the pan, overlapping the edges, then coating the sides  with non-stick coating spray.  I tried this using an 8x8 in. pan and non-stick coating spray and I would recommend using a 9x12 cake pan and not lining it with aluminum as the pieces were too thick in the small pan and the aluminum foil stuck horribly to the fudge and it was a pain picking off the small pieces.

In 3-qt or larger pan add sugar, butter (or margarine) and eggnog.   Boil on medium heat until it comes to a roilling boil then continue boiling, stirring constantly for  8 to 10 minutes.  Is best to use a candy thermometer and bring to 234 degrees.  The original recipe advised to use a wooden spoon, so I did.

Stir in white chocolate chips and nutmeg until all the pieces are melted.

Add in the marshmallow creme and rum extract and mix together. 

Mix until well blended and remove from heat.  If you have ever seen the movie "Ghostbusters" it will sort of look like the thick gooey marshmallow slime that covered everything after the StaPuft Marshmallow man was destroyed.

Pour into pan and prinkle lightly with nutmeg for garnishment.  (Pic is of the first batch - it came right up to the rim and the 8x8 pan is about 3-4 inches deep)

 












I placed mine in the refrigerator until cool.  Once cool, cut into squares and store in covered container.