Saturday, November 26, 2011

{ easy lace garland } Christmas

I just put up my Christmas tree!
My little nephew
was over playing with my daughter today. He 
stopped what he was doing all of a sudden
and turned to me with wide eyes and said, 
"Auntie, there's no Christmas here!" So
I sent him and baby girl to pull the tree
out from under the bed! And boy was he right! 
Now that it's up, it just feels like Christmas! 
I am actually going to go wrap a few gifts
to throw under there when I'm done 
posting today! :)

After I got all my ornaments on, I felt like
I wanted a little more this year! I want some
more white/cream in my decorating this year. So 
I made a super easy garland to wrap around it to 
start. I plan on spending the week making 
some cute ornaments, both for my tree and
for my Etsy shop! I want to bring
more of that vintage/shabby chic feel to my
tree! 

What you'll need:

* Lace cut into 1/2 to 3/4 in strips

OK... so you can buy lace ribbon and it would
save you some cutting. I had a bunch of lace
fabric from some other projects I've done 
this year. I just cut about 8 or 9 strips. Each strip
is about 4-5 feet long.

Next, I just tied them together, end to end, until
I had one long strip. Make sure you use a square knot
so it doesn't come untied and also because the small
ends of the knots sit nicer that way (in my opinion)!
Tie it right over left and left over right!

That's it! Just wrap it around your tree! I'm
excited to add layers of muslin and burlap! 

 Our first year here in Hawaii, my sister-in-law
sent "snow". We hang the snowflakes on our
tree every year! :)

 My next project is a tree skirt! I've never had
one because I've never seen one I actually like!
But this year I found one! And I'm going to
recreate it!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

{ noel blocks } Christmas

I spent my weekend crafting and cleaning! Since I'm a little
too late on thanksgiving decor, I started in on 
Christmas! This project really got me in the 
spirit! I can hardly wait to get the tree out and start
setting it up! 

What you'll need:

- Wooden blocks made from a 2X4
- Paint and paint brush
- Sandpaper or course nail file
- Coordinating paper
- Mod Podge
- Lace, ribbon, and/or jute 

I went to Home Depot a while ago and was searching through
their scrap wood pile ( because I do that in my spare time).
I notice, next to the big saw they have, some small pieces of 
2x4. These are just the ends cut off! But they were perfect
for this project! I didn't have to cut the pieces and 
I didn't have to pay for them either! They just gave them to me!
Score!
I only sanded them down a bit.

Paint your blocks.

Once they've dried, use some sand paper or a course 
nail file and rough up the edges.

I just ripped out my pieces of paper to fit each
of my blocks. You can use any type of paper! I used a
piece of newspaper, a page from a book, lace, 
paper bag, and scrapbook paper!

Now paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the back
of your paper.

Center it onto your wood block and press it down. Make
sure you get all the 'bubbles' out. 

Repeat with your other blocks. Feel free to add layers
like I did with the lace.

I used vinyl for my letters. I just cut them out with
my Cricut. You can use paper and just glue
them on if you don't have vinyl or even stamp
or write your letters.

Stick your letters to your blocks.

Now you can embellish any way you like! I added a
bow of lace and jute to my smallest block.

That's it! 



Monday, November 21, 2011

{ jute cone tree } Christmas

I'm a little bummed that I never really got around to making
much fall decor. I used to have so much cute
decor for fall and Thanksgiving. But when
 you move as far away from home as I
did, you don't get to take very
much with you! So even though I intended
on starting up a "fall decor" bin, It'll have to
wait til next year!

So... I have started Christmas!!! I love Christmas!
I'm excited to make some fun stuff!
I'm starting out small though because I want
Thanksgiving to come before I get
too crazy with Christmas! Only a few days away!


Here is a little something I threw together today
after I finally cleared my Halloween stuff
off the shelf!

What you'll need:

-  Card stock
- Elmer's glue ( or whatever kind you have)
- Hot glue
- Jute twine

Get your paper



Now roll it up into a funnel/cone.



 Leave a tiny hole in the top.



Use your Elmer's and glue
the flap shut so that your paper stays
this shape.


Now take the end of your jute and thread
it through the hole in the tip of your cone.



Pull it down through the bottom and
tie it into a knot.


Pull it tight so the knot is at the tip of your
funnel but not pulling through.

Add a small amount of hot glue onto
the tip of the funnel.

Now start wrapping your jute around, making
sure you are covering the paper.


Continue wrapping the jute around the cone
adding hot glue every few wraps.



Be sure to push the jute tight against itself so the
paper doesn't show through ( especially if you
use bright paper like me! I didn't have the right
color)!



When you get to the bottom, cut the jute off leaving
about a 1 inch tail.

Cut the excess paper off to make it flat and able
to stand.

Now add hot glue to the inside and attach your
tail there.

That's it!
 
Add them to your decor!



Friday, November 18, 2011

{ fabulous eggnog } recipe

So, when I make something, I usually have a pretty
clear view of what I'm trying make ( usually)!
Take eggnog for example...I am looking for a very
specific flavor and texture. Well, I found it!
I was searching the web and making eggnog like crazy!
Last night I tried an Eggnog recipe
that will be  put into my recipe book for good!
I won't be looking for any more recipes because
this, my friends, is fabulous!
Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 whole cloves
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp each of bourbon and rum or brandy,
  •                                                or to taste (optional)


    Directions:
    Start out by beating the egg yolk  well. Then slowly add
    the sugar to the eggs and beat until it's fluffy.

    In a saucepan, combine milk, cinnamon ( I added a lot
    more than a pinch.. mmmm), and cloves.
    I didn't have cloves and I wasn't about to drive to
    the store just for that, so I didn't put them in!
    My eggnog still turned out incredible!
    Slowly heat on medium until mixture is steaming
    hot. Do not let it boil!

    Temper the eggs.
     This part is pretty important so pay attention! lol
    You are going to slowly pour half of the hot milk
    into  your eggs! While you pour, you need to
    constantly be whisking so that you don't heat
    the eggs too quickly! You don't want to scramble
    them!

    Now add the egg mixture back into the pot.
    Continue heating, stirring constantly, over medium
    heat until mixture begins to thicken and
    coats the backside of a spoon.

    Remove from heat and add cream. Mix well.
    Strain eggnog to remove cloves. Let it cool for
    one hour and then add the vanilla,
    nutmeg, and rum (again, the rum is optional!
    Just don't put it in if you don't want it!)


    Chill and serve.


    Yield: 1 quart
    Thank you to Elise for her post at Simply Recipes!

    Wednesday, November 16, 2011

    { whipped eggnog } recipe

    I love the holidays! And for so many reasons! I love
    that families seem so much closer, that people seem to show
    more compassion toward each other and that there
    is so much tasty food to be cooked! :)
    One of my favorite tasty items is eggnog! Oh how
    I wish it was available all year at the grocery store!
    But, since it isn't, I've decided to give making this 
    delicious beverage a try! Yes, I'm a first timer in
     eggnog making! And I'm sure I'll try a lot
    of recipes just because that's what I like to do!
    Here's my first!


    A creamy, fluffy, thick, whipped version of eggnog! And since I
    prefer drinking my eggnog mixed with milk, this thick
    recipe is perfect!

    I chose to try this one because I had all but one ingredient
    already on hand! So it cost me less to make it! Hope you
    try it! Hope you enjoy it!

    Ingredients:
    • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
    • 1/3 c. white sugar
    • salt to taste
    • 2 1/2 c. milk
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
    • 1 c. heavy whipping cream
    • 2 tbsp. confectioners sugar
    • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
    • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
    • 1/2 c. rum (optional)
    • 2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
    Alright!

    Directions:

    Start by combining egg, white sugar, and salt ( just a sprinkle)
    in a medium saucepan.

    Gradually stir in milk.

    Stirring constantly, cook for 10-15 minutes
    on medium heat; until mixture just coats a metal spoon.
    ( Please stir constantly! If you
    don't, you will most likely end up with very sweet
    and fluffy scrambled eggs! I'm serious! Stirring is pretty
    important in this step! Keep the liquid moving!)


    Remove saucepan from heat. Add 1 tsp. vanilla; stir.


    Place the saucepan in a sink of cold water just long enough
    to cool the custard.

    Now cover and put it in the fridge until chilled.
    ( put an empty bowl in the freezer while you're here.
    You'll need it later!)



    In a chilled bowl (the one that was in the freezer), combine
    heavy whipping cream, confectioners sugar, nutmeg and
    1/2 tsp. vanilla.

    Beat until stiff peaks form. It should take about 5 min
    to get the right consistency here ( unless your electric
    mixer isn't broken, like mine). It will be just like whipped cream.
     If you think you have it, just dip the tip of your
    mixer in and if  the whipped cream stands up you're done.


    Stir in rum and yellow food coloring at this point. I didn't
    use either of these options in mine! You can
    add milk instead of rum . It will
    thin the eggnog a little!


    Fold the whipped cream mixture into the chilled custard.
    (basically, you're just gently stirring!)

    Poor into a serving bowl or pitcher! Sprinkle with
    nutmeg and cinnamon!



    With a little homemade whipped cream on top! :)
    Happiness in a cup!



    If, by chance, you end up with little scrambled egg pieces
    in your eggnog, you can just strain them out after you
    remove your custard from the heat!
     If it'stoo fluffy for you, just add milk until it's right! :)
    And don't forget to mix it well before drinking!

    Yield:   about 4 cups