{DIY} 5-Pointed Paper Snowflake Garland

I have been feeling crafty lately. Can you tell?  I had paper snowflakes on my mind today and searched around for a tutorial. Lucky for me (and you!), I came across Jessica Jones of How About Orange. Jessica is a seriously talented crafter/designer/blogger. You should stop by and check her out, here. Anyway, Jessica has a great tutorial on her blog for making a 5-Pointed Snowflake Garland. Isn't it pretty. My paper snowflakes have never turned out this beautiful before. I am hoping that her detailed tutorial will make all the difference for me this year.

Jessica made this garland using origami paper, tape, and dental floss. The second and third flakes in her garland are based on a 5-pointed star. You can download her folding directions here.

The first, fourth, and fifth flakes in the garland are based on 8 points (Fold a square in half diagonally and keep halving it until it's nearly too thick to cut, then snip out small shapes ). Here is an example of an 8-pointer. Jessica recommends ironing your snowflakes with the steam setting of your iron turned off to get them to lay nice and flat.

These snowflakes also make beautiful gift toppers, don't you think? Or, make smaller ones to hang on your tree.

Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial, Jessica. I am going to give these flakes a try and hope for the best this time around.

Easy Holiday Crafting Ideas

If you are as busy as I am during the holiday season (and I am pretty sure that you are), an easy holiday craft is a welcomed way to unwind and add a little more holiday cheer to your day. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Tiny Trees:
Turn a plain pinecone into a tabletop jewel. Place pinecones into various containers, cups, and/or bowls, sprinkle with glitter, and top with a star. It's just that easy!

{Image: Good Housekeeping}

A Hanging Window Display:
Glam an old frame up with a little paint, ribbon and some ornaments to add holiday cheer to an unsuspecting window.

{Image: Better Homes and Gardens}

A No-Fuss Kissing Ball:
Encourage seasonal smooches with this no-fuss kissing ball from Good Housekeeping. Wrap a 4-inch Styrofoam ball in a 14-inch fabric square; secure with a rubber band. Thread the end of 1 1/2 yards of ribbon down through the band, around the ball, and up through the band's other side so ribbon ends match up (knot them to hang the ball). Wrap 14 inches of ribbon around the ball's other side (crossing first ribbon, as shown); tuck ends into band. Hide band with a shimmery bow and festive sprigs.

{Image: Good Housekeeping}

Ornament Garland:
Add instant glizt to a space by hanging one of these easy-to-make Ornament Garlands. Gather unused ornaments and string together along ribbon. Once ornaments are secure, hang the garland across your mantle, around your tree, or on an empty wall.

{Image}

Snowman Cookie Kit

One of my all-time favorite cookie and sweet treat blogs, the decorated cookie, recently featured an ADORABLE Snowman Cookie Kit that I just had to share. Are these not the cutest things ever!

Meaghan created these Snowman Cookie Kits by making the individual snowman pieces and then wrapping them in cello bags and placing in a cute little box.

What a creative gift idea for the holiday and winter season. Snowman decorating would also be a fun alternative to the traditional cookie decorating for kids at a holiday party. Just make the snowman pieces ahead of time and let the kids have fun creating!

As always, Meaghan provides amazing step-by-step directions and pictures on how to create a snowman cookie kit over at her blog, the decorated cookie, here. She even includes a free link download for a snowman cookie kit label to help you complete your snowman cookie kit. Stop by the decorated cookie to check it out and tell Meaghan that I said hello!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

Our presents are wrapped, our stockings are hung. There's only one thing left 'til our work will be done....Baking Santa's cookies!

I love Christmas Eve. The kids are super excited, my Christmas "work" is complete, and we are able to relax and really enjoy this special holiday as a family. We traditionally bake Santa's cookies on Christmas Eve. Do you have any special traditions?

Picture from Martha Stewart

I hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday and that Santa is good to everyone!

Healthy Holiday Snacks

As much as I love to bake and make yummy treats for my family and friends during the holiday season, it is always so refreshing to attend a holiday celebration where sugar isn't the main attraction. Here are some festive holiday snacks that will appeal to you AND the kids and won't leave everyone feeling all "sugared- up".

Photos taken from Family Fun

1. The Wrap 'n' Stack Sandwich Tree is made from mini sandwiches and trimmed with colorful vegetables, a healthy alternative to the usual array of holiday sweets.
2. Tree-Trim Trail Mix, inspired by the traditional holiday garland, turns a medley of good-for-you ingredients into a delicious cinnamon-scented treat. Boasting fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, it's wholesome enough to please parents and tasty enough to distract kids from all those candy canes!
3. Forget the front door. These bite-size Mini Bagel Wreaths--whimsical enough to appeal to the smallest (and finickiest) guests--are meant to deck your plate. To make them, spread mini bagel halves with cream cheese (plain or tinted green with herbs or food coloring), then sprinkle on red, yellow, and green bell-pepper confetti.
4. Dress up your cheese and crackers this holiday season with a Christams Package Cheese Snack.
5. A Pine-Tree (made from a pineapple) laden with colorful fruit kabob branches would make a great edible centerpiece.
6. Holiday Cucumber Cups are the perfect accessory for your holiday spreads and dips. Using a vegetable peeler, create decorative stripes on the sides of cucumber and then slice cucumbers into 3/4 inch thick rounds. Scoop out cucumber seeds, fill with desired spread, dip, or hummus, and serve.

A {Real Simple} Gift-Wrapping Party

Who says wrapping presents has to be a late-night, solo mission? Real Simple has a plan to turn your holiday wrapping into a jolly group activity: Host a Gift-Wrapping Party!



The Party at a Glance:

How it works: You provide wrapping supplies and food. Ask each guest to bring some presents to wrap and one roll of paper so you have a variety.

Whom to invite: Three to five friends. It’s the perfect time to catch up―and escape nosy family members.

Invitation or e-mail? E-mail. Or, even better, Evite.

What to serve: Real Simple suggest Red Pepper Frittata Squares and Oven Fries With Garlic Aioli, which are satisfying and need little hands-on time. You can pull them together the night of the party.



Sounds like a lot more fun than hiding out in your closet, wrapping an endless mound of gifts into the wee hours on Christmas Eve night. Just saying...!

{Revamped} Holiday Decorations

Do you have old holiday decorations sitting in boxes, begging to come out and play? Real Simple has some great ideas on how to use your OLD holiday decorations to create a NEW look. I especially love their ideas for your unused ornaments. This lovely holiday Chandelier is made using old ornaments, ribbon, and a little time. Isn't it pretty. I think that my little girl would love it in HER room, holidays or not!



For more creative ideas, visit Real Simple, here.

{DIY} Magnetic Holiday Advent Calendar

This project is going to be at the top of my list for the holidays next year. Twig & Thistle came up with this glorious DIY Magnetic Holiday Advent Calendar.


Using just a few basic supplies, you can transform metal storage tins into a fun (and super creative) version of the traditional advent calendar.



Magnets can be arranged on the fridge or any other magnetic surface. Place in rectangular numerical order, in the shape of a tree, or arrange them randomly for added hunting fun!



Stop by Twig & Thistle for the complete DIY instructions.

Polar Express Birthday Party

I love discovering new {to me} talent in the party/blog world. It always opens another door to fresh ideas and inspiration. Shalonda of Chubby Cheeks Photography certainly has talent. Whether working behind a camera {she is a photographer} or playing party stylist, Shalonda's work offers a refreshing bit of inspiration. Her most recent work involved planning her daughter's Polar Express Birthday Party.

Amazing, right? I love ALL of the details, colors, and originality. What a lucky little girl! For more pictures and all of the details about this party, visit Chubby Cheeks Photography, here. Shalonda, I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

Fab Find: Holiday Cake Pans

This week's Fab Find comes from Williams-Sonoma. Have you seen their holiday cake pans? If you want to WOW your holiday guests without too much effort, check them out (Okay, it does require some effort and creativity to decorate the cakes once the come out of the pan but even a simple dusting of powdered sugar will result in an impressive finished product).

The Railway Cake Pan



The Gingerbread Man Cakelet Pan



The Gingerbread House Bundt Cake Pan



Have your picked your favorite yet? Visit Williams-Sonoma to find the featured cake pans as well as others.

Candy Cane Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Oh my CUPCAKE! Are these not the cutest little creations ever! I was browsing one of my absolute favorite sites for inspiration, Bakerella, when I came across this creation. These Candy Cane Christmas Tree Cupcakes would be perfect for a preschool or playgroup Christmas party. I just love them!



You can find the step-by-step instructions on how to make these Bakerella cupcakes here.
And while you are there, check out all of Bakerella's other fabulous ideas. There's lots of them!

Wrap it Up!

Don't wait until the last minute to wrap your present's this year. Here's a little creative Holiday Wrapping Inspiration to get you going.

Cupcake-Paper Carnations instructions here

Use left-over yarn and ribbon to decorate your gifts this year (photo from Martha Stewart)

Make a good "impression" with your gift-wrapping by using stamped paper to cover your gifts. Find instructions and tips here (Martha Stewart).


This Eco-Friendly Paper Gift Wrap inspirations come from Martha Stewart. Easy to find and work with, vintage and repurposed papers add pop to presents. Layer several colors and textures, or add vintage beads for a finished look.
Clockwise from top left: Vintage wallpaper; Chinese newspaper topped with colored paper; recycled map; grocery bag with Japanese beads.


Happy Wrapping!

Add More Ho,Ho, Ho to Your Holidays!

Want to add a little more Ho, Ho, Ho to your holidays this year? Santa and his crew always make the holidays more fun at our house! Whether you need Jolly party snacks, playgroup crafts, or favors for a holiday celebration, there are some great ways to incorporate St. Nick and his flying companions into your festivities this year.

Row 1: Santa Swizzle Sticks, Gingerbread Reindeer, Handprint Santa

Row 2: Red-Nosed Lollipops, Popcorn Santa, Candy Cane Reindeer

Row 3: Reindeer Gift Bag, Santa Claus Crackers, Santa Hat Sugar Cookies

A {red-nosed} Reindeer Wreath

This Red-Nosed Reindeer Wreath (now that's a mouthful!) makes me down right Jolly. Isn't it adorable! Stop by Family Fun for instructions on how to make one for your door.

Warm and Cozy, With a Twist

Everyone loves to cozy up to a warm beverage of choice during the holiday season. Whether you are serving hot chocolate, coffee, or cider, there are some easy ways to add sparkle to your traditional cold weather drinks this year.

When I think of Christmas, peppermint follows closely behind. Why not bring this nostalgic treat to your beverage cup with some Peppermint Hot Chocolate.



By skewering Mini Doughnuts onto coffee spoons, you can turn a cup of joe into a delicious and satisfying dessert (AND they look AdOrAbLe!).



This Apple-Pie Cider is sure to be a crowd-pleaser on a cold winter day. Seasoned with the same spices you would use in a pie -- cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg -- this cider will taste almost as good as a slice of the real thing. Add a cinnamon stick to each mug for stirring and if you'd like, pour in brandy for the adults.

Deck the Halls with....lots of GARLAND!

Sure, holly is nice, but Garland is FUN! Not only will a little garland add an unexpected touch to your holiday decorations this year, but it can be reused throughout the year for birthdays, showers, and any other Shindig that you have planned. Here are a few of my favorites:

This Cream Ruffled Crepe Garland by The Gilded Bee is perfect for tree trimming, gift wrapping, and decorating this holiday season.



Whether you use this Retro Tissue Fringe from Bake it Pretty to rock your doorway, trim a table runner, or edge a cake stand, it is sure to add some Pa-Zazz to your Party!



This Red and White Peppermint Stick Yo Yo Garland by Back Yard Prims will add a touch of whimsy to your tree, mantel, or doorway.



15 feet of this Christmas Garland by Tina Magee Sews will add some Fa-la-la-la to your holiday season!


Happy Decorating!