It's Christmas in Kansas City

A pioneer Woman recipe

2009-07-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Pita Chip Crunch, by Pioneer Woman
Chocolate Pecan:
6 ounces Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips (can also use Stacy’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips)
6 ounces milk chocolate bark
1/2 cup fine chopped pecans
Line baking sheet with waxed paper.
In a small skillet, lightly toast pecans over medium low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until flavor deepens. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave.
To assemble, spread pita chips in a single layer on top of waxed paper.
Pour half the melted chocolate over the top, distributing as evenly as possible. Sprinkle half the toasted pecans over the top.
Repeat with the rest of the chocolate an the rest of the pecans. Allow to sit at room temperature to harden, or place in the freezer for ten minutes to speed the process along.
Crack apart with a fork and place on a serving platter.
Chocolate/Peanut Butter:
6 ounces Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips (can also use Stacy’s Cinnamn Sugar Pita Chips)
6 ounces white chocolate bark
2 ounces peanut butter chips (can also use milk chocolate for contrasting color)
Line baking sheet with waxed paper.
Melt white chocolate and peanut butter chips in separate bowls. Place melted peanut butter candy in a squeeze bottle or Ziploc bag (with tiny hole cut in corner.)
Spread pita chips in a single layer on top of waxed paper.
Pour melted white chocolate all over the top of the chips, spreading lightly if necessary to cover evenly. Place into the freezer for ten minutes to harden. Immediately drizzle melted peanut butter candy over the top in a pretty design. (Make sure it isn’t too hot or it will melt the white chocolate.)
Place back into the freezer once more, to harden again.
Crack apart with a fork and serve. Yummy!
VARIATIONS:

Crunchy Sesame Candy

2009-07-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

www.familyfun.com

Brown sugar and honey make these Asian candies an irresistibly sweet gift, especially when they're tucked into small, colorful boxes (sold in most craft stores) or paper jewelry boxes. RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sesame seeds (about 6 ounces)
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1. Generously coat two large sheets of waxed paper with cooking spray. In a medium skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring often, until they're fragrant and golden, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and honey. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until the sugar is melted and the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes (because melted sugar can get quite hot, this is a step best left to parents). Add the sesame seeds to the sugar and stir well with a wooden spoon.

3. Place one sheet of the waxed paper on a work surface, greased-side up. Scrape the mixture onto the paper and top it with the remaining sheet of waxed paper, greased-side down. Using a rolling pin, roll the mixture into a square about 1/4 inch thick (a great job for kids).

4. Remove the top sheet of paper and cut the candy into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. Let the candy cool completely. Break apart the pieces and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you're ready to package them. Makes about twenty-four 1-inch squares.

Snow Treasure Island Game

2009-07-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Snow Treasure Island Hunt
Hide a chest full of loot in the snow, then watch young castaways track it down clue by clue.

WHAT YOU NEED:
Cooler
Treats
Magazines (optional)
Paper
Markers
Plastic bags

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Pack a cooler full of treats and then hide the "treasure chest."

2. Create a series of clues leading to the chest. Use either pictures from magazines or create your own with markers and paper.

3. Place each clue in a plastic bag and hide it in the snow.

4. Begin the hunt by handing the players their first clue.

VARIATIONS:
For more sophisticated castaways, give them their clues in riddles or use rebuses.

TIPS:
Look around the yard for good clue hiding places and plot them on paper. Then create the picture clues for each spot and hide them in order (keep the master list just in case a clue gets lost).

From Our Sponsors

PopCorn Snowman

2009-07-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
15 cups popped popcorn
1 stick of butter or margarine
Two 10 oz. packages marshmallows
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
Pretzel sticks
Raisins
Candy corn
Mini jawbreakers
Gumdrops or red hots
Fruit leather
1. Put the popcorn in your largest mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter or margarine in a nonstick saucepan over medium-low heat. Add all the marshmallows to the pan, stirring continually with a wooden spoon until they're completely melted. Pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat evenly. As soon as the marshmallow is cool enough to touch, rub a little butter or margarine in your hands and make popcorn balls (about 1 cup of popcorn per ball).

2. Build and decorate your snowmen on sheets of waxed paper. For each one, stack three popcorn balls atop each other. Push pretzel-stick arms into the sides of the middle popcorn ball. Add raisins for eyes and a candy corn for a nose. Arrange a row of mini jawbreakers into a broad grin. For buttons on the snowman's chest, use gumdrops or red hots.

3. If your popcorn balls aren't sticky enough to hold the decorations, mix up a small batch of stiff white icing by adding water, a few drops at a time, to 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and stirring until smooth. Use this to glue the candy in place. For snowmen's scarves, cut rectangles out of fruit leather and fringe the ends. Makes 5 snowmen.

Ice Light

2009-07-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

more from family fun.com

This crystal lantern may be as cold as ice, but it's guaranteed to cast a warm, welcoming light on a winter night. CRAFT MATERIALS:
Large metal bowl
Plastic yogurt container
Cupful of small stones or coins

Time needed: Afternoon or Evening
1. Start by pouring a couple inches of water into the mixing bowl. Place it outdoors to freeze.

2. Fill the yogurt container with the stones or pennies, then center it on the ice in the bowl. Slowly pour more water into the bowl, so that it nearly reaches the rim of the smaller container, and let it freeze solid.

3. To remove the lantern from its mold, run warm water on the outside of the bowl and the ice should slip out. Next, dump out the contents of the inner container and pour in warm water to loosen it. Remove the container and place a votive candle in the opening.

Present Scramble!

2009-07-25T00:00:00.001-07:00

Present Scramble

This game requires a bit of prep but is well worth the effort. Put a small prize (such as a $10 bill) in a small box, tape it well, and gift wrap it. Put the box in a bigger box, wrap that box and put it in another, and so on, wrapping it as many times as you have the boxes and the patience for.

With everyone sitting in a circle, the youngest chooses a number from 1 through 6 and rolls a die, then passes the die to the next player. The first person to roll the chosen number puts on two oven mitts and tears into the present. The other players continue rolling the die. The next player who rolls the chosen number grabs the mitts and takes over the unwrapping. The person who unwraps the actual box with the prize gets to keep it.

You can even say it glows!

2009-07-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

You Could Even Say It Glows
Forget about joining in any reindeer games! With our pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey-style contest, Rudolph gets to star in his very own--the perfect party game for one foggy Christmas Eve. Those red dot stickers from the office supply store make superb reindeer noses, although Rudolph is likely to get a terrible case of the measles on his way to schnozzdom.

WHAT YOU NEED:
Pencil or marker
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Poster board
Blindfold
Red dot stickers

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Sketch a simple outline of a reindeer on construction paper, cut it out, and glue it to the poster board (or your kids can simply use a marker to draw Rudolph directly on the poster board). Remember to leave Rudolph noseless!

2. To play, hang the picture on a wall, blindfold the kids one at a time, hand each a red sticker, and let them try to restore Rudy's shiny proboscis.

Secret Snowman Game

2009-07-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

www.familyfun.com

This game involves lots of pats on the back and laughs, so it's perfect for family gatherings.

Players try to stick a paper snowman (ours is made of card stock with a loop of painter's tape to attaching it) on a person's back without her noticing. When that person realizes the snowman is on her, she has to stick it on someone else's back. Don't worry about the snowman staying on just one back for hours -- giggling kids are sure to give the person a clue before too long. Try to have the snowman visit everyone's back by the end of the day.

Towering Christmas Tree

2009-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow or white cake mix
Parchment paper or aluminum foil
12-inch wooden skewer
3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
4 1/2 tablespoons water
3 teaspoons vanilla, peppermint, or lemon extract
Food coloring in green and other shades of your choice
Candies for ornaments (we used Runts candies)
1 tube yellow decorators' icing (not gel icing)
1. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions using an electric mixer (this yields a firmer cake), then bake it in a 9- by 13-inch pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Let the cake cool completely.

2. Place the cake on a cutting board and use a long, sharp knife (parents only) to shave off the rounded top. Carefully flip over the cake and cut it into 7 squares, as shown, setting the extra aside. Cut the bottom half off each of the 2 smallest squares and set them aside with the other leftover cake pieces.

3. Stack the cake squares from largest to smallest on a serving platter, setting each one at a 45-degree angle to the one below it. Trim the skewer so that it's just slightly shorter than the cake, then stick it down through the stack to help keep the squares together.

4. To prepare the glaze, stir together the confectioners' sugar, water, and extract in a medium bowl until smooth (it should be about the consistency of honey). Set aside 1/2 cup of the mixture, then tint the remaining glaze with the green food coloring until it reaches a shade you like. (We used about 1/8 teaspoon, or about 12 drops.)

5. Pour the tinted glaze over the cake from the top, using a rubber spatula or butter knife to gently spread it over the cake as needed.

6. To make the presents, divide the remaining icing among 2 or 3 bowls and tint each with a different shade of food coloring. Cut the extra cake pieces into small squares, then set them on a wire rack with a plate or waxed paper underneath. Pour the glaze over the squares. Let the icing set for a few minutes, then use a spatula to carefully move the presents to the base of the tree.

7. Decorate the tree with candy ornaments, then use the tube of decorators' icing to add a frosting garland to the tree and frosting ribbons and bows to the gifts. To serve, remove and cut the layers one at a time. Serves 18 to 20.

Seven Snow Games

2009-07-21T00:00:00.001-07:00

more from www.familyfun.com

There's no need to get cold feet about spending a winter day outdoors. Instead, bundle up and follow your kids to the nearest drift for a snow pile of fun. Here are seven winter games to get your family started.
JUMP SNOW HURDLES
Lightly pack a bunch of basketball-size snowballs and then use them to build a course of hurdles to jump over in a round of follow the leader.

ROPE TOW
Team up for a slip-sliding variation of tug-of-war. Tamp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the midline. Then, take up positions at the ends of a long, thick rope and let the tugging and towing begin. Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins.

FLAG IN A SNOW STACK
Tie a white cloth to the end of a short stick or around the bowl of a wooden spoon. Then, give each child a chance to hide it by staking it anywhere within a predetermined set of boundaries. Keep track of how long it takes for the rest of the group to find it. Whoever hid the flag that takes the longest time to spot wins the game.

STRIKE OUT
For this pitching contest, first mound up snow to create three bases and a pitcher's mound. They should each be about 2 feet high and 20 feet apart. Next, build a tin can pyramid on each base. The challenge is to knock down the stacks in order from first to third base by throwing snowballs from the pitcher's mound. The child who succeeds with the fewest pitches wins.

HAT TRICK
Once you've built a plump, frosty snowman to stand sentry in your front yard, make a game of topping him off in style. Take turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it Frisbee style from 10 or so feet away.

GET ON A ROLL
Pair up for a contest in which the object is to finish with the biggest snowball. The contest ends when the teams can no longer roll their entries or when you run out of snow.

POWDER-PUFF FOOTBALL
All you need are two teams of three or more people to play, along with a spray bottle filled with a mix of water and food coloring to mark the playing field (a large rectangle with a centerline should suffice). The teams line up at opposite ends of the field (the North and South poles) for a kickoff. Once someone on the receiving team catches the ball, he tries to move it back across the defense's goal line by running with it or passing it to a teammate. Play stops if the person with the ball is tagged by an opponent or slides out of bounds. The teams then face off again on the spot. After four tries, or a touchdown, the ball goes to the other team. The game ends when either team gets cold.

For more winter fun,try out these seven Ice Games.

Snow Day Party

2009-07-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

from family fun.com

Every winter, classes are cancelled at least once due to bad weather. Next time, other moms in the neighborhood and I plan on gathering our kids together for a play day. Do you have any suggestions for spending the afternoon?
A surplus of snow might put a halt on traveling, but it doesn't have to keep you from having some fun. Celebrate an afternoon off from school or a wintry weekend with an informal Snow Appreciation Day. Whether you're seeking fun for indoors or out, small or larger groups, the following ideas will help keep kids in a flurry of activity.

Snow itself can supply plenty of impromptu fun, so bundle up and head outdoors. Kids can toss snowballs at a target--or each other--jump snowdrifts, band together to construct the Ultimate Snow Fort, raise up a kingdom of ice castles, or treat the birds on the block to a host of Birdseed Snow Angels. For more organized sport, round up players for some snow games.

If the weather outside proves to be too frightful, or kids just need a warm-up break, an indoor craft or two can provide easy entertainment. Invite kids to sculpt a family of Soapy Snowmen, paint a Picture Window, assemble a Foam Wonderland, or create Patchwork Art pictures to take home.

After an afternoon out in the chilly air, heat things up with steaming mugs of hot chocolate, big bowls of homemade soup, and fruits and veggies dipped in fondue. Kids can also fashion their own Marshmallow Snowman for dessert.

Elf Entrance

2009-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Entrance

Four holiday decorations from FamilyFun
previous 5 of 5 As many people know, now and then Santa enlists the help of elves to make an extra-large delivery. It is not widely known, though, that elves hate getting their cute little outfits dirty swooshing down chimneys. And, unfortunately, doorknobs are just too darn high for them to reach--until now. Follow our directions, and, in a twinkle of St. Nick's eye, you and your kids can provide elves with an alternate means of access to your house or apartment.

MATERIALS
14- by 26-inch piece of sturdy cardboard or Fome-Cor
Gift wrap
Tape
Scissors
6- by 6-inch piece of cardboard
24 bumpy green pipe cleaners
1-inch-wide yellow ribbon (about 21 inches long)
Small bell
Tacky glue
Juice bottle cap
Cork
Paper fastener
7- by 10-inch piece of cardboard
Dark green washcloth or 12- by 12-inch piece of kitchen towel
Small cloth poinsettia flower (optional)
3- by 7-inch card stock or poster board
Marker
Fun-Tak (reusable adhesive)
Button (optional)
16-inch piece of string (optional)

1. Cover the 14- by 26-inch cardboard with gift wrap, and tape it down in back.

2. Cut a wreath shape out of the 6- by 6-inch square of cardboard. Wrap pipe cleaners, saving one for the hanger, tightly around it to form a wreath.

3. Attach the ribbon by threading it through one of the pipe cleaners at the bottom of the wreath. Thread the bell onto the ribbon, knot the ribbon and then tie the ribbon into a bow.

4. Make the doorknob by gluing the small plastic cap to the bottom of the cork. Glue the cork to the right side of the door.

5. Create a "nail" out of a paper fastener by pushing it through the door at the point where you want to hang the wreath. Secure by opening the fastener wings against the back of the door. Make a loop out of a small piece of pipe cleaner and attach it to the back of the wreath. Hang the wreath on the fastener.

6. To make the doormat, cover the 7- by 10-inch cardboard with a washcloth or part of a towel and glue or tape the ends down in back. We also glued a small cloth flower in one corner for decoration.

7. With the card stock and marker, make an Elves Only sign to hang above door. (Careful with the spelling. If it reads, "Elvis," we cannot guarantee the results.)

8. Attach the door to the wall and the mat to the floor with removable Fun-Tak. We also used Fun-Tak to stick a button to the wall above the door. Then we taped a string to the back of the sign and hung it up on the button. If you prefer, simply Fun-Tak the sign to the wall.

Candy Cane Entrance

2009-07-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

This is going to be the start of my week of crafts and recipes etc from familyfun.com My kids and other family members love this site! Check it out www.familyfun.com!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Large craft stick (ours was 4 ½ inches long)
Acrylic paint: white, green and red
Craft knife
Permanent marker
Glue
Small green felt holly leaves
Red mini pom-pom berries
White glitter
5-inch piece of ribbon

Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours
1. Coat a large craft stick (ours was 4 ½ inches long) with white acrylic paint and another with green paint. Let them dry, then add stripes of red paint to the white stick.

2. Use a craft knife to cut a 3-inch section from the green stick, notching each end to create an arrow shape, as shown. Write "North Pole" on the sign in permanent marker, then glue the sign to the red-and-white craft stick.

3. Next, glue on small green felt holly leaves and red mini pom-pom berries. If you like, add dabs of white paint, then sprinkle on white glitter for snow.

4. Finally, glue both ends of a 5-inch piece of ribbon to the back of the signpost for a hanger and let the glue dry.

Fringed Stockings

2009-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fringed-stockings?backto=true

Brimming with gifts on Christmas morning, beautifully decorated handmade stockings are a delight to wake up to. Make these cozy holiday stockings out of fringed scarves.

Print, enlarge, and cut out the template. Then fold a 9-inch-wide (or wider) scarf in half widthwise, and align top of template with bottom of fringe. Pin, and cut through both scarf layers, leaving fringe intact. Pin pieces together, wrong sides facing; stitch around stocking from notch (below cuff) to notch, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Cut notches at heel, toe, and ankle so that seams lie smooth. Turn stocking wrong side out, and stitch from notch below cuff to edge of cuff on both sides. Press cuff seams open, and fold cuff over.

Sweater Stocking

2009-07-17T00:00:00.002-07:00

From martha stewart living

Sweaters with unusual pockets, collars, or buttons make excellent stockings, and making a stocking from a patterned sweater creates the illusion that you knit it yourself.

1. Place basic-stocking template* on sweater, positioning it so that buttons are centered, pockets do not fall into seams, and collars are incorporated by laying template flush with shoulders of sweater.

2. Pin template through front and back of sweater. Cut out both layers (we elongated the toe for the stockings shown at left). Pin the stocking pieces together, right sides facing.

3. Leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance, stitch around the stocking; leave the top open. Remove pins.

4. So that the curves lie smoothly, cut notches about 1/8 inch from the edge at the ankle, toe, and heel.

5. To make the cuff, stitch the short sides of the cuff fabric together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Slip the cuff over the stocking with all the seams facing out. Align cuff seam with seam on heel side of stocking, and stitch the top edges of the cuff and stocking together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

6. Turn the stocking right side out. Hand-stitch a 1/2-inch hem around the rim of the cuff. Fold the cuff down so that the seams connecting the stocking and the cuff are completely covered. Press if necessary.

For the pocket stocking in the photo, a contrasting toe and cuff were made from wool felt. For the cardigan stockings, no cuff is needed. Simply adjust the stocking template to accommodate sweater's neck plus a 1/4-inch seam allowance on each side.

We offer the template in a portable document format, or PDF, in order to make the details clear and printable. To view and print the file, you need a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader, which most browsers already include. If you have trouble downloading the file, or if you'd like to upgrade to Acrobat Reader 4.0, you can obtain the software for free from Adobe's website.

You;ve been Elfed a tradition to start with your neighboorhood

2009-07-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

My kids and I have never done the you've been booed or the you've been elf tradtion but I think we are in a good neighboorhood this year where we can start it. Here are some You've been elf poems I have found on the web.

Santa’s little helper has come to town,
To leave these goodies you have found.
If you wish to have the best season of all
You must help this "Elf" with his call.

First, post this Elf where it can be seen
And leave it there till Christmas Eve.
Then other visiting Elves will pass on their way.
Be sure to participate, it will bring joy to your day.

Second, make two treats,
Two Elves, and
Two notes like this.

Just one day, is all you’ve got
So go ahead and give it a shot.

Leave the treats where they Elf has not gone
By the light of the moon, deliver to their home.

Hide behind a bush, a car even a tree
The surprise & joy on their face you are sure to see.

Now you've been blessed with yuletide cheer.
You’ll feel it throughout the New Year.

Alas another Christmas Tradition is sure to have begun.
Thanks for sharing in this Christmas fun.

And last but not least, enjoy the season.
For all of the right reasons.

Happy Holidays!

~Cindy P., Sun Prairie, WI
http://www.cafetraditions.com/You-Have-Been-Elfed-P39C0.aspx

You've Been Claused

Place this poem with treats in a basket

A quick and clever neighbor thought you needed some cheer.
So they've dropped off this basket of treats, rang your doorbell and flew like Santa's reindeer. Please place this jolly old elf on your front door for all to spy, that you have "just been claused" by this merry little guy. Then fix a few goodies in the basket given to you, ring someone's bell, leave the basket and make them cheerful too!!

A Jingling Poem
By Host Bee
A Jingling Poem!

Christmastime is drawing near,

So here’s a fun way to share some cheer!

“You’ve Been Jingled” is the latest sensation

To get a merry start on your holiday celebration!

Choose two families to receive some joy,

Make each a gift of little treats or toys!

The “jingling” will spread from home to home

As each family passes on this jingling poem!

What to Do:

Now that you’ve been jingled, enjoy your treat!
Hang your “I’ve Been Jingled” sign on a door or window where it can be seen!
In the next few days, make two copies of this page with the poem and instructions, create two “I’ve Been Jingled” signs, and assemble two treat bags.
Secretly deliver your treats, to two families who have not yet been “jingled,” then watch to see how far this festive, new tradition travels in your town!

Pop Down To Christmas Day 15

2009-07-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

POP-DOWN TO CHRISTMAS
Inspired by an idea from the Hales family of South Jordan, Utah, this bubble packaging countdown calendar offers a daily burst of fun, so you'll probably have to make one for each family member.

To make a Christmas countdown calendar, cut a tree shape with 24 bubbles from bubble packaging (as shown), use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach it to a piece of paper, then decorate circular stickers with markers and adhere them to each bubble. Have your kids squeeze a bubble to start each day of December with a bang!

Happy Elf Magic Cookies

2009-07-14T00:00:00.001-07:00

http://www.landolakes.com/holiday/Happy-Elf-Cookies-demonstration.cfm

we had fun making these last year!

Magic Elf Boot Stocking Day 14

2009-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Scissors
2 pieces of light green fleece, each 24 by 20 inches
3 pieces of dark green felt, each 24 by 20 inches
Long sewing pins
Large-eye sewing needle
Dark green embroidery floss
Red jingle bells, 4 medium and 1 large
Clear tape
9 inches of red twist cord
Fiberfill

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours
1. The Basic Stocking: Click here to download the elf boot stocking pattern.

2. Cut 1 boot shape from each piece of the light green fleece

3. Cut a decorative shape from 1 piece of the dark green felt for the front of the stocking and 1 stocking shape from each of the remaining 2 pieces of the felt.

4. Place a light green boot on top of a dark green boot, pin the decorative shape on top, and use the floss to whipstitch (see page 131) around the inner edge of decorative shape through both boots.

5. Pin together all 4 boots with the dark green boots on the inside.

6. Using the floss, whipstitch around the edges, sewing the boots together. Leave the top edges unsewn.

7. At the top, sew together the front 2 edges, then the back 2.

8. Fold down the top to make a cuff.

9. The trimmings: Use the floss to sew the medium red bells to the decorative shape and the large red bell to the toe tip.

10. Tape the ends of the cord to keep them from fraying, then sew the cord to the stocking for hanging.

11. Stuff the curly toe of the boot with fiberfill to keep it from flopping over when the stocking is empty.

Tips:
A Stitch for All Stockings
Thread your needle with a length of floss and knot one end. Begin sewing by pushing the needle up through the underside of the fabric and then out the top. Loop the needle back under the fabric and repeat the stitch.

Fairy ornaments Day 13

2009-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

directions and picture courtesy of http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/crafts/fairy-ornaments.shtml

Miscellaneous
Acrylic paint: pink, red and black
Bead, large round red
Brush, small
Chenille stem
Christmas ball ornament, 1” and 3”
Cup or bowl, shallow
Micro beads, silver
Needle and thread
Plastic bead, large green flower shape
Seed beads
Silk flower, large white daisy
Silk ivy, small

Instructions

For best results, please read all instructions before beginning project. Refer to photo for color and design placement.

1. Remove hangers from ornaments.
2. Paint a circle of pink acrylic paint on the small ball and let dry. Mix a small amount of red into the pink to make cheek color and add to face.
3. Add a red mouth and black eyes.
4. Pour micro beads into shallow cup.
5. Squeeze a small dot of adhesive onto large ball and dip into micro beads. As the beads adhere to the glue, press with finger to flatten and re-dip to fill in. Repeat this process one dot at a time, covering the bottom half of the ball with dots. Let dry.
6. Add a hanger with the chenille stem by making a loop and gluing across top and around neck of ornament. Glue in place and let dry.
7. Pull apart the daisy and discard any plastic parts. Use two layers of the largest daisy petals and cut a hole large enough to fit over the neck of the ornament. Glue into place. Let dry. Glue ivy leaves under petals.
8. Use the small petals from the center of the flower to make hair, turning one upside down on top of head, and then two right side up. Hold in place until glue is set. Add green flower bead and red round bead to the center of the top petals. Let dry.
9. Glue head in place and let dry.
10. String seed beads onto thread about 1-1/2” and wrap around neck and glue in place.

Roadkill Christmas

2009-07-12T00:00:00.001-07:00

Beaded christmas snowflake ornament Day 12

2009-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Beaded Cyrstal Snowflake"

Submitted by Lori Knowles

Items needed:

18mm acrylic crystal starflake beads (Some call it a paddle wheel bead)
8mm acrylic crystal faceted round beads
8mm dark ruby acrylic faceted round beads

Tinsel Stems (pipe cleaners) in "Iridescent"

You will need a pair of wire cutters, because after stringing the beads, you will need to cut the excess tinsel stem off.

First, cut two tinsel stems in half. You will only be using 3 pieces, however, you can save the 4th piece for the next snowflake you make. Twist all three pieces of tinsel stem (pipe cleaners) together. Pinch in the middle with needle nose pliers. I bought my tinsel stem at Wal-Mart, in the craft section.

I would suggest using the iridescent color, because it gives the acrylic beads a real "sparkle" when the Christmas lights hit the ornament. I've experimented with gold and silver tinsel stem and found it just doesn't do the trick.

String beads in the following order on each stem:

8 mm round crystal
11 mm crystal tri bead
8 mm round colored bead
18 mm starflake
11 mm crystal tri bead
18 mm starflake crystal
8 mm round colored bead

Then, cut off excess tinsel stem at the end and add a dab of Aileen's clear gel tacky glue to the last part and cap off with the last bead.

Glue an 18mm crystal starflake in the center on both sides with a generous blob of Aileen's clear gel tacky glue. Do one side at a time and allow to dry overnight for each side.

I used white carpet thread tied on the top for a hanger. The thread slips in between the beads, so it's not seen. You can also use beading thread in gold or silver.

I purchased my beads at a craft store online but you can also easily find these beads at Michael's and Wal-Mart.

Dried Gord Christmas ornaments Day 11

2009-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

instructions and picture courstey of http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments/driedgourds.htm submitted by Lynn Brand

Dried Gourds - Snow Trio"

Submitted by Lynn Brand

These ornaments are made from dried gourds. You can buy gourds online or sometimes from a local farm where they sell pumpkins and squash in the fall. They come in different shapes and sizes. The red ornament is made from a "wartie" gourd since it is covered with bumps. You can dry them yourself which takes a few months or purchase them already dried. There are excellent websites and books available for more information.

Instructions:
I painted the outsides with acrylic craft paints. Then I painted on snowflakes in various sizes. I purchased some cheap Christmas ornaments at the local dollar store and only kept the top part--the piece with which you would hang the ornament from. I drilled two small holes near the top of the gourd and ran a piece of light weight wire through the holes and through the ornament hanger top and twisted the wire ends together. This holds the hanger top to the top of the gourd. A few drops of rubber cement or super glue makes sure the top does not wiggle around. I then added a ribbon bow. Finally, a coat of clear acrylic spray and they are ready to hang.

These instructions may sound complicated but are really very simple and the results, I think, are very pretty and unique.

These ornaments are also very light and won't break if you drop them. Enjoy.

Political Correct Night Before Christmas

2009-07-10T00:00:00.001-07:00

Angel Ornament Day 10

2009-07-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Beautiful Angel Ornament"

Submitted by Melissa Auxier
Howell, Michigan

My Aunt made three of these angels for me many years ago and they have always been my favorite ornaments. I made some revisions and created some of my own for this Christmas for gifts.

Instructions:

Supplies:

5 x 7 block of wood from Wal-mart craft section
Crochet thread size 3 or 5 (3 works the best)
1 1/2 inch size ribbon for wings
string of beads
white floral tape
glue gun
1/8 inch ribbon to coordinate with wings
1 inch wooden balls for head

First you will wrap crochet thread around the block of wood using the 7" side. Wrap 150 times. Carefully slip the crochet thread off the wood. Cut a piece of crochet thread about 10 inches long and tie where the crochet thread was wound, this will form the top of the head. Use the rest of the string as a hanger, by tying it together. Insert the wooden ball between the crochet thread at one end. I use a comb to make it look nice, then cut a piece of string about 10 inches long. Tie this underneath the ball, thus enclosing it in crochet thread. I usually tie it once in the front and then twice in the back.
Next wrap crochet thread around the 5" side of the wood, wrap around 50 times, these will be your arms. Carefully take it off the wood. Cut 2 pieces of crochet thread about 4 inches long, tie them around both ends of the wound crochet thread, making hands. Slide the hands through the body, make them even on both sides. Cut a piece of crochet thread about 10 inches, tie it under the arms, forming the body. Glue the hands together in the center front. Next, cut the bottom, so that you have a nice even dress, so to speak. Next I form a heart and halo by wrapping wire around a string of beads and form both of them and wrapping with the floral tape before gluing them both on. Lastly, cut a length of ribbon for the wings, I think I did approximately 10-12 inches. Tie it in a bow and glue onto the back of the angel.

You can personalize by using different color crochet threads and different color ribbons

How to make paper snowflakes Day 9

2009-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Redneck Night before christmas

2009-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

White Trash Party Day 8

2009-07-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.adultpartyideas.com/html/trailor_park_parties_16.html

Last June we hosted our first annual White Trash Bash and it was possibly the best party we've had yet! The invitations were of a hillbilly with Bubba teeth standing in front of a junk yard and announced Aren't you lucky! Yur invited!" It went on to suggest costume ideas such as mullets novelty tee shirts frosted jeans and tacky accessories. Best dressed were promised a prize. I put camo sheets on two picnic tables and a centerpiece of mini Christmas trees. I stuck a rusty mailbox in the flower bed and stuffed it with hunting magazines and mail stamped PAST DUE. We hung Christmas lights all over and prepared a fire pit for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. We had a keg that we labeled MOONSHINE and stacked the refreshment table with moon pies HoHo's and Ding Dongs. We cooked Spam on the grill (everyone loved it- even those who never tried it before!!)My guest bath was decorated with a tacky ruffled seat cover tasteless pictures and a beer logo hand towel. I provided udder cream and Polident as well as hand soap on the vanity.We put out old tires for extra seating and covered the chaise swing with an old quilt. WE had canned squirt cheese and crackers pork rinds and Fritos. We played a variety of down home style music and karaoke. THe guests were incredible! Everyone came in their best white trash attire! THe winner was a friend who stuffed her bottom with a pillow wore a giant house dress blacked her eye hung a cigarette from her lips donned hair rollers rolled down nylons and house slippers. She was the BEST! Every time she'd dance her bottom would rotate wildly and got everyone laughing! WE made a sign on the computer that said White Trash County Police Department then a row of numbers like 0007864435 and made everyone hold it up in front of them and took mug shots. We also took an awesome group photo. They turned out great!We played Beer bats-(you take 2 whiffle ball bats cut off the bottom of handle fill with cup of beer. 2 teams- 2 people each . Opposite team members chug beer then place bat on ground spin around on it to count of ten and team mate then throws empty beer can like a baseball and drinker must hit it. Then they trade places. First team finished wins!) Prizes were duck tape six packs boxed wine Nerds and rubber chickens! Also played ping pong and horse shoes. The party lasted till 2am and friends are still talking about it after all these months! "

Craft Day 7-Tampon Silver Bells

2009-07-07T00:00:00.001-07:00

Ring in the holidays with these easy-to-make tampon bells.

Materials

Non-applicator super-plus tampons (o.b.)
Mod Podge craft glaze or Elmer’s Glue
Silver spray paint
Hot glue gun
Instructions
Moisten tampons so they expand. Cut off and remover “membrane” around the tampon

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Cut off strings and reserve. Working at the base, push center of tampon up slightly and pull bottom edges to flair out into a bell shape:

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When thoroughly dry, brush with Mod Podge or 3 parts Elmer’s Glue mixed with 1 part water. Let dry.

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Spray with silver paint. Use glue gun to reattach strings at top.

Trailer Park Christmas Day 7

2009-07-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.adultpartyideas.com/html/trailor_park_parties_14.html

Trailer Trash & Tacky Party Invitations were designed to look like the cover of the Enquirer. My husband and I dressed Trashy on the cover. The headlines spoke of Elvis sightings, Tammy Fae Baker, "Leopard Prints - Not Just for Church Anymore" etc. We served a cheese and spam ball, squeeze cheese and Ritz crackers, green Jell-O mold, slim jims, pork rinds, tuna casserole, white castle hamburgers, generic beer etc. We used styrofoam carry-out trays to eat on, take-out fork & knife packages for utensils, salt & pepper packages, napkins from various fast-food restaurants, and Budweiser Huggies to hold drinks in. For decor we had a cable-spool table with ugly plastic tablecloths, tall prayer and lottery candles bought at the supermarket, tents decorated with Christmas lights, garland, blow-up beer cans, beer posters on the wall, pictures of Anna Nicole Smith, Kid Rock, Jerry Springier, Tammy Faye, and Velvet Elvis posters. I decorated our bathroom with 50 mug shots of famous people that I downloaded and printed out. Fake flowers and trashy magazines were on the tables. Fake tattoos were available in the bathroom as well as Lee Press-on Nails and cheap hairspray. Music was cheesy 80's rock to Lynard Skynard, etc. Games were Male and Female arm-wrestling , deep-throat Twinkie contest, and White Trash trivia. Prizes were WWF wrestling t-shirts, chia pets, cheesy car air fresheners, fuzzy dice, and fly-swatters. The hit of the party were the party favors. I made a "Mug Shot" poster on my wall to simulate getting arrested and everyone held a mug-shot "Somerset County Police Department" sign with their arrest date and serial number then they posed for a mug-shot. I then printed out the pics on my computer and framed them in a Dollar-Store American flag picture frame to take home that night. Everyone created a new name for themselves from Jeff Gilooly to Tommy Lee and Pam Anderson. Everyone dressed appropriately for the occasion. Fun was had by all!!!

Recycled Card Holder

2009-07-06T00:00:00.002-07:00

Microwave Peanut Brittle Trailer Park

2009-07-06T00:00:00.001-07:00

Okay i love love Joleen Baker....Such a funny character....

How to Make Redneck Christmas Ornaments Day 6

2009-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Make redneck Christmas garland. String the pull tabs of aluminum cans to make the Christmas garland. You can also attach the metal twist-off lids of beer bottles to tape. Make sure the black electrical tape shows through.

Step 2Create redneck Christmas balls. Empty contains of chewing tobacco can be hung on the Christmas tree. Poke the hook through the cardboard and place on your Christmas tree. You can always “ball up” old newspapers, aluminum foil or electrical tape to put on your Christmas tree. Remember empty cigarette packs can also be hung on the Christmas tree for a redneck flair.

Step 3Make redneck Christmas ribbon. Tear, don’t cut, old flannel shirts into strips. Add to your Christmas tree and Christmas presents.

Step 4Create redneck tinsel. Tear aluminum foil into thin strips and toss on the Christmas tree. Make sure these strips are different lengths and widths.

Step 5Assemble a redneck Christmas wreath. Add your redneck ornaments or you traditional Christmas ornaments to an old toilet seat. Attach with electrical tape, making sure the black tape can be seen.

Joleen SugarBaker Peanut Butter Fudge Day 5

2009-07-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

Craft Day 5 Tampon Angel ornaments

2009-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

You’ll find instructions all over the Web for this classic tampon decoration, but we think ours is the best and easiest.

Materials

Playtex tampons (or similar brand like Rely or Always)
Paint
Hot glue gun
Gold metallic chenille pipe cleaners
Doll hair (you can just chop some off an old Barbie)
X-Acto knife
Scissors
Cardboard
Glitter glue
Instructions

Dampen tampon just enough so it unfolds, then let dry. Cut the top off the applicator to make the head. Paint face on head, then string back onto inverted tampon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glue head onto tampon, then glue doll hair onto head. Twist section of gold pipe cleaner into halo, then wrap around neck. Glue down if necessary. Cut out cardboard wings and decorate with glitter glue. Glue onto angel’s back.

Dreaming of a white trash christmas video Day 4

2009-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Coco Cardmom Cereal Cookies Day 4

2009-07-04T00:00:00.001-07:00

Dryer Sheet Wreath Craft Day 4

2009-07-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Larry the cable guy Christmas Carols Day 3

2009-07-03T00:00:00.004-07:00

Potato Chocolate Chip Cookes

2009-07-03T00:00:00.003-07:00

I really Like a Merry Trailer Park Christmas and am glad to share it with you all!

Redneck Christmas Video Day 2

2009-07-02T00:00:00.003-07:00

Tampon Christmas Lights- Craft Day 2

2009-07-02T00:00:00.002-07:00

These festive tampon “lights” will brighten up your tree, or add a cheery touch to a window or doorway.

Materials

Non-applicator tampons like o.b. (smaller is better)
Day-glo acrylic paints
Spray on acrylic sealant
Green fabric paint
Green florist’s wire
Wire coat hanger (for drying rack)
Scissors
Instructions

Bend coat hanger into drying rack. Spray tampons with acrylic sealant so paint won’t soak in and expand them. When dry, paint them and hang on wire hanger drying rack.

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Paint base of tampon and string with green fabric paint, and hang to dry.

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Cut florist’s wire to appropriate length and tie tampons onto the wire. Space evenly. Twist wire once or twice around wire to secure in place. Cut off remaining strings and put another coat of fabric paint over the knots to seal.

Pioneer Womans Christmas Cookie Recipe.. Yummy!

2009-07-02T00:00:00.001-07:00

From http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/ be sure to check out her other recipes

Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Christmas Cookies From Childhood and Beyond
2/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange or lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
4 teaspoons milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream shortening, sugar, orange peel, and vanilla thoroughly. Add in egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the milk and mix.
Sift dry ingredients together, then blend into cream mixture. Divide dough in half (thirds if you double the recipe), slightly flatten between two sheets of waxed paper, then refrigerate for one hour (or freeze for 20 minutes.)
Roll out dough on lightly floured surface and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to lightly greased cookie sheet and paint cookies with soft brushes with egg yolk glaze:
Egg Yolk Glaze
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
2 to 3 drops food coloring
Bake at 375-degrees for approximately 6 minutes. Do not allow to become brown.
Remove cookies from oven, remove cookies to wire rack to cool. Then, using a pastry bag or Ziploc, pipe with white icing to decorate.
White Decorative Icing
1 2-pound bag powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons egg white (optional)
*Mix together, ensuring the icing is much thicker than Pioneer Woman’s icing was that day. Icing should be thick and somewhat retain its shape.

Christmas Trash Candy Recipe

2009-07-01T00:00:00.002-07:00

Christmas Trash
Recipe #49184 | 15 min | 15 min prep | add private note
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By: CalicoCandy
Dec 18, 2002

The best Christmas snack you'll ever try---everyone starts asking for it weeks before Thanksgiving. A friend gave me the recipe, and she had found it in a magazine, "Southern Living Lady", I think.
2 -3 qts. (change servings and units)

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Ingredients
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups honey nut Cheerios toasted oat cereal
2 cups small pretzels
2 cups salted peanuts
1 (12 ounce) bag holiday M&M's plain chocolate candies (red & green)
1 (12 ounce) bag holiday M&M's peanut chocolate candies
2 (12 ounce) bags white chocolate chips
Directions
1Mix all ingredients but the white chocolate morsels in a large bowl.
2Melt white chocolate morsels according to directions on the package.
3Pour melted white chocolate over the cereal mixture and toss well to coat.
4Spread on waxed paper and let sit until the white chocolate hardens.
5Store in an airtight container.

Redneck Coat Hanger Christmas tree craft one

2009-07-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

"Redneck Christmas Tree"

Submitted by Brenda Williams

This was a fun, cheap and easy decoration to make. You could make several to hang along a fence or other large area. By using the plastic hangers and plastic Christmas balls they are weather proof.
Supplies:

Green plastic coat hangers (I used 13 - use as many as needed to make the size you want)

Twist ties or floral wire

Christmas ornaments (I used gold balls because I already had them)

Ribbon

If you really want to make it flashy use lights too

Directions:

Just tie the coat hangers together to make tree shape. Add decorations of choice.

12 days of redneck christmas day 1

2009-07-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Christmas tree oh christmas tree

2008-11-15T14:13:00.001-08:00

The cats they love your branches. I have three cats. Sunny and Stormy are almost 7 years old. Stormy is my calico thats in the picture. Every time I try to fix the tree from there umm cat mischief I'll call it she'll jump in front of it as if to say but I like it this way! Luckily Stormys kitten Eclipse who is almost five months has not yet tried to climb it. She just plays with the ornaments or tries to anyway...

Copy Cat Starbucks Salted Caramel hot chocolate recipe

2008-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

I had this the other day and it is very good. thought I would share the recipe.I found this on line it is not mine.....

2/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
3 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (the best you can afford)
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar crystals
1/4 cup whipped cream
2 tablespoons caramel syrup, divided (recipe at the bottom of that page)
Bring the milk and cream to a simmer. Keep it just under a boil and stir in the chocolate until melted completely.

Add one tablespoon of the caramel syrup to a warm mug and swish it to coat the inside of the mug.

Carefully pour in the chocolate. Top with whipped cream, add a drizzle of caramel, a sprinkle of the salt and a dusting of the turbinado crystals.

Enjoy the fact that while Starbucks *may* stop making this delicacy you never have to!

pictures of christmas ornaments

2008-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Someone wanted to see pictures of my purple tree from last year and I actually didn't take any good ones.... So I thought I would start by showing off my purple ornaments. This year I added two new colors- lime green and teal I honestly bought most of the teal/lime ones at dollar tree and plan on going back to get more tommorow.They have the word ornaments- like target has. I am trying to decide what color lights to use- I am torn between all clear- or mulit.

I dedecorated the christmas tree today

2008-10-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Thats right. I took down all the decorations from the tree from last year- we took it straight down to the basement decorated and all last year after christmas- and I decieded if the stuff was still on it- I wound't be able to redecorate it and there wasn't any fun in that. I was worried this christmas was going to suck for the kids- when I realized we have had hard times before and they have made it through they may not have gotten a lot but they made a lot of memories and thats what counts so I feel a lot better these days about things.

Christmas is Coming and I'm

2008-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

So Not ready!I was thinking I would have a job and money to buy stuff and now once again I'm without a job and worried my kids are not going to have christmas so I'm trying to ram sack my brain to come up with low budget christmas gifts on top of birthday gifts. Hopefully I find another job soon but its very doubtfull.

I'm dreaming of a....

2008-10-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

purple christmas. I bet you thought I was going to say white right?Wrong. My daughter who is almost six, loves the color purple. It was her nana's favorite color as well. So last year I bought all purple ornaments for the trees. I was at dollar tree last night and was looking for halloween stuff and gasp! They had loads of christmas stuff out and happend to have tons of purple ornamnets. I will be going back there to get some new stuff for the tree this year with my next paycheck. I am also going to make new stockings and am thinking about making elf boot ones. Can elfs have purple boots?I don't see why not!

A few of my favorite things

2008-09-06T12:38:00.001-07:00

it's christmas time in kansas city... things I have to do during the christmas season in KC.

(1)See the Plaza Lights. In high school my high school boyfriend and I would go see them turned on every thanksgiving night. When we were flying home from Mesa Arizona during the holiday season we alawys knew we were home when we could see the plaza lights.

(2)Crown Center: my grandma started taking me to crown center during christmas when i was a young girl. it's become a tradition. We know go together, and take my two children. They Love it!

(3)Ag Hall of Fame: SOmething my grandma started with my children. They go to a old fashioned farm village decorated for christmas ride the train, see santa, get their pictures taken, eat cookies, make crafts have TONS of christmas fun!

Christmas Memories

2008-08-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Christmas time at my house was always magical. I lived with my grandparents out in a big house in the country and grandma alawys went crazy decorating for christmas. They never did outside lights but the inside was always nice. We had a three story house and we had garland going all the way up from the basement stairway to the thirdfloor. My great grandma made everyone's stockings herself, and every year we are at christmas we get a bell sewed on the stocking. Some years we would not be in Kansas, we would go vist my grandma's parents in mesa arizona. My great grandma was a baker and she baked a lot during the holidays, the house always smelled so good. My grandparents would hide notes from santa sending me on a scavenger hunt to find gifts. I always loved this idea. I often played Mary in the church christmas pagent. Now the I have kids, I want to make christmas magical for them. One of things I started last year was the magic Elf, tradition and we had two elves, Snowflake and Yellow Snow come stay with us through thanksgiving to christmas eve. They didn't get in a lot of mischief but they played hide and seek a lot and left litte presents for my kids and went on christmas outings with us. My children's birthdays are right before the holidays and I wish to make the holidays about christmas, their birthdays about birthdays......oh the simple things in life.

My first Rudolph day is tommorow!

2008-08-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what I am going to do but am excited. I have a few ideas. I watched the movie The Family Man today and listend to some holiday music to get me in the mood. I know I will be applying for jobs tommorow so wish me luck!Dollar tree has some really cute red and gold ornaments out right now and I might try to go pick some up for the tree this year. My husband will look at my like I am crazy but hey I love the holiday season.I might try making the cookie sheet advent calender if I can find cheap supplies.I really love the holiday season I wish the feeling can last all year for me and hopefully this year is a lot better than last year was for me and my family.