Wishing For Pine Needles

Mason Jar Snow Globes.... a How-To

Every year I vow to start our Christmas gift-making in midsummer when the days are long and open.  And every year I fail to do so, this one being no exception.  But, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of December we managed to come up with a few handmades for some special folks.  Without these little gifts from the heart, Christmas would hardly be the same!

This year we tried mason jar snow globes that I saw on Pinterest.  They turned out just as darling as I had hoped and were super easy to make.....even three-year-old Hans joined in the fun!

A How-To For You

Supplies needed: mason jars (we used 8 oz. jelly jars), plastic animal and trees (we found them at Michael's in a tube), glycerin, fake snow, glitter, water, waterproof glue (we used E-6000 and it worked great!)

Step 1:  Glue the animal and tree to the lid of the mason jar and let dry OVERNIGHT!

Step 2:  Put a couple pinches of fake snow and glitter into the jar.   You can put in as much as desired, but we found that too much snow makes the finished globe look a bit cloudy.

Step 3:  Fill jar with water, about 3/4 of the way full.

Step 4:  Squirt in a couple squirts of glycerin.  We didn't measure, but my guess is that we used about 1 TBSP per jar.  Maybe a touch more.  The glycerin helps the snow and glitter spread out nicely when the snow globe is shaken.

Step 5:  Top off the jar with water, and then put on the lid which should have your glued-down figures.  Turn and adjust the lid until you get the best view of the animals through the jar.

Step 6:  Put some glue on inside of the screw cap and screw tightly onto the mason jar.

You're all done!  Turn over and shake up your newly created winter wonderland!

Handmade Gifts for Special Gals

Somehow I managed to get a little sewing time in before attending two recent showers.  So I was able to give my favorite kind of gifts....the handmade kind!  (If you've been reading for a while you may remember my sentiment regarding handmade gifts from this post...)

First, I made some easy kitchen towels for a special bride-to-be from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. 

This couple is getting married in September, so I went for some appropriate Fall-ish looking fabric.  I always use a homespun cotton when sewing kitchen towels because I find it to be slightly more absorbent.

These towels, when packaged with some new cleaning supplies make a nice little gift for a newlywed kitchen!

The next shower was for a sweet new baby boy who is the son of Rylen's beloved teacher, so I had the chance to make a set of one of my all-time favorite baby gifts to both give and receive.  It's amazing how a simple yet colorful ribbon can transform a thin cloth diaper into an adorable and useful gift...a set of fresh burp clothes!

(And, yes, sewing these burp clothes really put me in the mood to make a batch for our new little bundle who will be here soon!)

 

Happy Day to You!

 

 

Hoping your Heart Day was sugary sweet!

(And my new favorite holiday for gingerbread houses?  Why Valentine's Day, of course!)

Our Handmades

It would hardly be Christmas around here without making. 

Something! 

Anything! 

And though this December whizzed by us in record speed, we managed to find a few snippets of time to make some homemade goodies for special teachers, neighbors and friends.

 

These wreaths are fun, fast and easy to make.  In fact, they were so fast that I didn't think to take any pictures of the process for a tutorial!  But...in a nutshell...wrap fabric stips (with edges pinked) around a 12" styrofoam floral wreath.  I used 5 different fabrics, each 45"  long and about 2 1/2 " wide.  Glue the beginning and end of each fabric down before starting a new strip.  (Any craft glue will work!)  Then wrap matching ribbons, rick-rack, or whatever you choose around the covered wreath, also gluing at the beginning and end.  I used felted wool for the holly leaves and 2 buttons for the berries.  That's it! 

  

We also gifted our very favorite Christmas treat....by making panfuls and panfuls, I might add!  I have made Peppermint Bark for several years using a few different recipes.  But my very favorite as of late is delightfully easy, allowing even the youngest of my candy-makers to participate.  Enjoy!  (well, next Christmas, I suppose...:)

Peppermint Bark

1 bag milk or semisweet chocolate chips

1 bag white chocolate chips

4-5 large candy canes, crushed finely by hand

Melt chocolate chips in microwave for 3-4 minutes or until smooth.  Spread evenly over parchment paper in a 9 x 13 pan.  Freeze for 30 minutes.  Melt white chips in the microwave.  Stir in half of the crushed candy canes, and as much of the powder dust as possible. Spread evenly over frozen chocolate layer.  Sprinkly remaining crushed candy canes on top.  Freeze for 30 minutes or until solid.

Handmade Goodies

The next best thing to giving away handmade gifts is, you guessed it, receiving them!

We are blessed to have an array of talented and creative friends and were the honored recipients of several of their Christmas makings.

On Christmas Eve, we received a bag of yummy baked goods from a friend who seems to have that Midas kitchen touch.  (She also knows that we are very willing taste-testers!)  Here is an oatmeal-pecan pie that she claims was "lite" but it was so good that I don't believe her.

We also received some other delicious goodies from friends and neighbors, but they were gobbled up before I could snap pictures!

I received this dainty little thank-you card from a friend who I had no idea could paint with water colors.  Are these little birds not the sweetest???

Another highlight was a package from Iowa; created, assembled, beautifully packaged and mailed by much loved family friends.

The girls love their new tutus!  They have been the attire of choice next to pajamas since Christmas.  (That's OK, right?)

Hans got five flip wallets, each one containing a picture of an Iowa family member...so he gets to know them.  He loves them so much that each time he opens up a wallet, he gives that picture a good old smackaroo!

And last but certainly not least was something special just for ME!  (Huhhhh???)

Two lovely jars of the tastiest homemade granola ever!  I have (somewhat selfishly) savored each and every bite, hoping that the jars will somehow magically refill themselves when they are all gone.

Thanks, my friends, for sharing a little piece of your homes and hearts with us this Christmas season!