DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This diy and recipes come from www.thepinkwisk.co.uk . Truly very unique and imaginative.  Great for young and old alike. Enjoy!  Father Christmas Cookie Lollies On the second day of Christmas The Pink Whisk sent to me…..Father Christmas Cookie Lollies (and if you’re not singing – why not?) You will need: 1 batch of Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Lolly sticks Sugarpaste in peach or pink, red and black (or a black icing pen) White edible ribbon (Renshaws) or white sugarpaste Royal icing Pink lustre dust for the cheeks (optional) (Equipment links at the end of the post) Make up the cookie dough as per the instructions here Sugar Cookies and roll out slightly thicker this time to about 7mm thick and chill the sheets of dough. Using circular cutters cut out the cookies using a variety of sizes – use whatever you prefer, size wise. When you have them all cut out insert a lollipop stick through the dough about half way up the cookie. Preheat ...

   This comes from www.plumadorable.com .  Enjoy making a few of these as adorable gifts for friends, family and other people close to your hear. Waterless Snow Globes  by Plum Adorable I have so many fun things to show you. I am really excited to share with you what my good friend Courtney did with my mantel. She transformed it into a Christmas wonderland. But, it will have to wait a couple of days because I am busy getting ready for this craft fair that Jess and I are doing on Saturday. For now I will show you how cute and easy these waterless snow globes are. It really does make me smile. ~Jenny

   Tis the season for Christmas trees, lights and gifts, and in the past that has also meant the season of outrageous spending. While the holidays may not be cheap, hard times sometimes call for desperate measures and drastic budget changes. Here’s a look at the hard facts and numbers of this most wonderful time of the year. (click to enlarge)

Christmas Eve in a candlelit cemetery    At  Christmastime many Finns visit cemeteries to place candles by the graves of relatives, or by monuments such as this one in memory of war veterans. Visiting the local cemetery is very much a part of many Finnish families’ Christmas rituals. Hey, it’s not as morbid as it might sound.    Although going to a graveyard might seem an unlikely activity for the festive season, the sight of hundreds of graveside candles glowing in the snow in a serene wooded cemetery can be surprisingly uplifting. Placing candles on the graves of deceased relatives at Christmastime is a deep-rooted tradition followed by non-churchgoers and members of the Orthodox faith, as well as believers from the majority Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. “As many as three-quarters of Finnish families visit a cemetery at Christmas, mostly on Christmas Eve, and we even have to make special traffic arrangements to accommodate the crowds,” say...

   This recipe come from www.bhg.com .  These look like a very neat treat to have some family members help you make and to pass a chilly afternoon making. Makes : 12 servings Serving size: 1 cupcake Start to Finish : 1 hr 30 mins Average rating 5.0 from 1 reviews                                        O Tannenbaum Cupcakes Pointy ice cream cones provide the lift in these sky-high cupcakes. A star-tip frosting tool helps create the fir effect. Ingredients 1 recipe Creamy White Frosting or two 16-ounce cans creamy white frosting or vanilla frosting 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 12 Pine Cupcakes or other 2-1/2-inch cupcakes 12 rolled sugar ice cream cones ...

   You got the first 13, in part I.  Now sit back and take in the next 12 of the Top 25 Food Gifts, Part II! Poppy Seed Thumbprints Recipe 60 Servings Prep: 15 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling 15 10 25 Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup canola oil 1 egg 1 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons poppy seeds 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves Directions In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil, egg and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Beat in poppy seeds and lemon peel. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each co...

   This diy comes from www.makinglemonadeblog.blogspot.com .  These are real simple, just add your favorite paper or fabric.  Even make them different sizes and shapes. Enjoy! What inspires you? Sometimes I find inspiration in books, in nature, and in dreams. Sometimes I find it in the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog. Today I found it while playing home preschool with my daughter. During an impromptu tree craft I was doing with my Ms. Noodle (which can be seen at the end of this post) a lightbulb went off and I realized an easy way to make some pretty little trees. These trees can be tucked along a mantel, in windows, in nooks, on end tables, as part of your holiday table... I even thought they'd make cute gift tags. They take less than 5 minutes to make, too. Oh, and they are practically free. Sweet. Somehow they manage to look vintage and modern at the same time. My favorite mix! Since our mantel area is literally under const...