Reindeer Cookies in a Jar

If you read my Pancakes from the Pantry post, then you know that I like to give Christmas gifts in a jar! It's a super easy way to share treats with your friends during the holidays... especially if you don't have a lot of time to actually bake, you can still "make cookies" for someone -- plus in this case, you can get your "craft-on" as well.

I found a recipe for these cookies and changed it just a little bit to make it a fun Christmas cookie option. Here is how to make them in a jar:

Take a quart sized jar and fill the bottom with:

1 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Pat the bottom of the jar on your hand to pack the flour down into the jar.

Then pour in 1 cup of oats.

Take a wooden spoon and gently pat the oats down as well.

Pour in 3/4 cup red and green M&Ms

Pour in 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Reach in and try to pack it all down as much as possible.

Pour in 1/2 cup of brown sugar -- now pack it down REALLY tight.

Fill the top of the jar with 1/2 cup white sugar.

Screw on a lid and ring and decorate! -- Add a label that says:

"Reindeer Cookies -- To make these cookies, add 1 egg, ½ cup slightly melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix well – get in there with your hands. Form into 1” balls and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes."

Just for fun, I added Reindeer Candy Canes to my jars. Another easy project.

Ideally you want to have brown pipe-cleaners. I only had black so that's what I used! Cut 1/4 of the pipe cleaner off and discard. Then cut 1/3 of the remaining pipe cleaner. Divide in two. Take the other piece (2/3 left) and twist it around a candy cane in the "hook". Twist the other two short pieces around each side and bend them until you like how they look. Hot glue two googly eyes and a red pop-pom and you're done! Cute!

Happy Gift-Giving and Cookie-Eating!!!

Thank you, Bakerella, for the inspiration!

Pancakes from the Pantry

Looking for a gift for a teacher, neighbor, friend, co-worker or boss? Here's a great option -- Pancakes in a Jar, or as these particular ones are called, "Pancakes from the Pantry."

 

These are healthy and wholesome and delicious! And super easy for you as the gift-giver to make. You just throw everything into a big bowl and mix it up. Divide it into four pint-sized jars and label. More on that later... for now, here's the recipe:

 

What YOU need to do:

 

In a large bowl combine the mix ingredients. It yields 8 cups (or 4 batches of pancakes).

 

4 cups old-fashioned oats

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup brown sugar (not necessary to pack it)

1 cup dry milk powder

3 Tbsp baking powder

2 Tbsp ground cinnamon

5 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

 

Once you have mixed this together well, divide it into four jars as I mentioned above. Screw on the lids and rings. This is the time for you to add your own personal touches. You can cut some fabric to put under the ring or decorate with stickers or ribbons or whatever you have! Then you will need to add the instructions for the person you are giving it to.

 

To make pancakes:

Beat 2 eggs in a small bowl. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup canola oil. Add mix alternately with 1 cup water; mix well. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle on medium-low heat; turn after 2 minutes. Cook until second side is browned. Yields 10 pancakes per batch.

 

I have included a document that I used for my jars. I printed these instructions using a business card template and these to make it easy. Then I punched a hole and tied them on with a ribbon.

 

I am excited for the boys to give these to their Sunday School teachers and my oldest's 3rd grade teacher. Who will you be giving pancakes to this Christmas?

 

This Little Guy was a Favorite...

...so we'll post him again!
Last year I made these ornaments for several family members and it was a big hit! If you missed it the first time around, here it is again!!!

Be sure to check out the comments section on the first post because there were some great reader questions and suggestions.

So easy to make... got the idea from here. Modified.

Materials:

• 3 bottle caps
• ribbon
• acrylic paint
• permanent marker
• orange scrap paper
• embellishments (if desired)
• hot glue
• optional magnet dots

Paint the bottle caps with several coats of white acrylic paint. Mine took 3+. I also painted the backs of my caps because since it's an ornament, the back may be seen. I decided to ink the edges with a black stamp pad to make them stand out. Then I cut a little free-hand triangle from paper and glued it on as a nose. I used the marker to draw eyes, a mouth and buttons. I used some fluffy string/ribbon and a button to make a scarf for my snowman. Totally up to you on how you want to embellish him/her. My sister came up with the idea that this snowman could also be made into a magnet by putting magnet dots or a magnet strip on the back. Mine hangs from a ribbon loop. I also added some glitter to him to make his "snow sparkle!"

Try it! You'll like it!

A "Handmade" Christmas...

**SPOILER ALERT** -- Family members, keep in mind that if you continue to read this post your Christmas present surprises may be ruined! Read at your own risk. Fortunately this message will not self-destruct in 30 seconds...

 

This year is a "handmade" Christmas for our family! I have searched high and wide for gifts that I can make at home to give to our loved ones. All of these gifts include my children's hands in some way or another, hence my "handmade" title. It's really been fun. I won't list everything just now because I really don't want to ruin it for my family... but I will share one thing we have going on at our house today: Handprint Salt Dough Ornaments.

 

Oh my goodness. These things are SOOO easy to make!!!

 

Thanks to Olive Juice Mama, I have 4 of these very cute ornaments in the oven right now. If you visit her site you can see that with 3 ingredients, some elbow work (you have to knead the dough for quite awhile) and about 4 hours of bake time -- you will have the cutest ornaments that cost you probably like $.25 cents each to make! Sweet!!!

 

Here are mine cooking... I will update you with the final product later.

 

 

 

My daughter's hand is on three of these and the fourth is plain because my son wants to paint it himself. We will probably be making another batch tomorrow!

Send a [Real] Card

With the online world threatening to take over our lives and most of our interaction with our friends and family, push back a bit and send an actual, tangible, through-the-mail, birthday or anniversary card. 








 



You can:

•  make it simple (head to a dollar store or to the clearance aisle at your local discount store and stock up)
• or you can make it creatively complicated (make your own!)...  but I recommend just doing it!

A few years ago I decided to exchange the craziness of Christmas-time gift giving to my (many!) nieces and nephews with a handmade birthday card and enclosed gift card.  This seems to have been a popular decision all-around and it certainly takes away some of that holiday time stress. Plus, I have the benefit of thinking about some of our extended family members throughout the year and specifically on their special day!

I always send a birthday card to my brothers and sisters and their spouses and try to send anniversary cards to all my immediate family members as well. And don't forget congratulations cards to the newly graduated!

Personally, I enjoy making cards -- it is another crafty past-time that I have taken up since my children are now older and caring for their needs is less time-intensive-- but you don't have to get this complicated.  I also enjoy involving our whole family in this endeavor by letting my girls choose just the right card from the ones I've made.  Sometimes they make a card themselves, or together we design one for that special cousin or loved grandparent or auntie.

There are oodles of card-making resources online and many scrapbooking companies also sell products for making your own greeting cards.  You can also buy card-making kits at craft & hobby stores.  I personally enjoy the products sold by the scrapbooking & stamping company Close To My Heart and particularly like their cardmaking idea books found here and here.  I particularly like Wishes because it includes directions for making 20 cards at a time using minimal supplies!

Gift it a try -- I think you'll enjoy this simple way to make someone else feel especially loved and remembered.

[Here are a few cards I recently made using some scrapbooking papers scraps I had left over as well as a few embellishments, stamps, and punches.  Not complicated (if you have the supplies and good instructions!) and sorta cute!]

We chose today's post for our weekly link-up!

Please visit our She Links Up! page and check out the other places you can go for great recipes, ideas and encouragement!

Busy Bags

Some women in my church recently got together and created a series of busy bags for our kids. I wasn't able to be with them the night that they created the projects, but I contributed a set of supplies from home. It was a great system! There were 5 of us participating, so each person made 5 of the projects and then we shared them all. My 3yo son loves his new busy bags! The ones that we did included laminated blank faces with tubs of play dough (to create silly eyes, noses, mouth, etc.) ~ color matching ~ puzzles ~ pipe cleaners with soft beads to string on them ~ velcro jumbo sticks to create shapes ~ felt cupcakes with decorations, etc. I plan to add to our collection with more activities. These are great for the car or for church because they are portable and they are QUIET activities for him to enjoy. Here is a great resource to check out with amazing ideas for creating busy bags. My plan is to make up a box for him to store these in so that he can pull out a few at a time to take with him in his Church Bag. I am also working on a Quiet Book for my kids, but that will be a long process and hopefully sometime later this year I can post about it! Enjoy these great ideas and share with us if you try them! We would love to see some pictures of the activities you create!

Bottle Cap Snowman

So easy to make... got the idea from here. Modified.

Materials:

• 3 bottle caps
• ribbon
• acrylic paint
• permanent marker
• orange scrap paper
• embellishments (if desired)
• hot glue
• optional magnet dots

Paint the bottle caps with several coats of white acrylic paint. Mine took 3+. I also painted the backs of my caps because since it's an ornament, the back may be seen. I decided to ink the edges with a black stamp pad to make them stand out. Then I cut a little free-hand triangle from paper and glued it on as a nose. I used the marker to draw eyes, a mouth and buttons. I used some fluffy string/ribbon and a button to make a scarf for my snowman. Totally up to you on how you want to embellish him/her. My sister came up with the idea that this snowman could also be made into a magnet by putting magnet dots or a magnet strip on the back. Mine hangs from a ribbon loop. I also added some glitter to him to make his "snow sparkle!"

Try it! You'll like it!

Make Pizzelle Cookies

We make pizzelle cookies at Christmas-time, without fail.  It's one of our family's many holiday traditions and it's just not optional.  I still occasionally hear from my kids about the one Christmas we didn't make them...  they aren't yet recovered from the trauma, apparently.

Have you ever had a freshly-baked pizzelle cookie?  Made right and a few-minutes-from-the-pizzelle-baker, they are quite a treat -- not too sweet, light, slightly chewy & crispy, with the mild and pleasant taste of anise.  Yum.  You will not be able to eat just one.

Of course you do need special equipment (a pizzelle maker) to make these cookies, but it will last you forever and it's a good thing to ask your mom or mother-in-law to give you for Christmas.  [This one looks pretty good.  Mine was made by this company but it doesn't look like they make them anymore.]

Here is the recipe I have used over and over without fail.  This makes about 20 cookies. You really do need the anise extract and can probably find it in a better grocery or "whole foods" type store.

You'll need:

• 1/2 c butter
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp anise extract
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 3/4  c flour

Heat the pizzelle maker.

Melt the butter (I usually do this in a glass bowl in the microwave) and let it cool slightly.  Break the eggs into a large bowl.  Add the sugar, cooled melted butter, vanilla extract and anise extract.  Beat well (I usually use an electric mixer but my girls mixed them up today by hand and it seemed to work fine).  In a separate bowl, sift the flour & baking powder together.  (Maybe you don't have to do this but I always have for this recipe so I am not stopping now.)  Add the flour & baking powder mixture to the egg & sugar mixture and beat well again, stopping to scrape the bowl if needed.

When the pizzelle maker is ready, drop the dough by scant teaspoonful, placing the spoonful of mixture slightly to back of the center of the cookie design.  (This is because when you close the lid of the maker it will smoosh the dough slightly forward.). Close the lid and bake for about 30 seconds or until just lightly browned.  You will probably have to experiment a few times to find the exact right amount of baking time for your taste and your pizzelle maker.  30 seconds always works for me.

The girls added 2 T cocoa powder to this batch.

Carefully remove the cookie from the baker with a large hard plastic "pancake turner" (or spatula or whatever you call that thing).  Put the cookie on a waiting cooling rack.  Our technique with this is to place the warm cookie on the cooling rack and once you have closed the lid on another 2 cookies and they are baking, slide the already-baked ones toward the middle of the rack, which leaves a space for the next set of 2.  Do this one more time and you'll have 3 "rows" of 2 cookies each.  As you bake the cookies, pile up the cooled ones on the end.

We like to package our cookies 20 at a time in an inexpensive plastic "bread bag" (the kind you can buy in any grocery store in the plastic baggie aisle). Place the cookies in a pile in the bottom of the bag and gather the excess plastic up around them.  Then you can tie a piece of curling ribbon around the plastic and attach a gift tag.  This makes a really great holiday gift for friends and neighbors!  [One year I bought small round Christmas-y tins at the dollar/discount store for about $1 each and used these to package up the pizzelles.  Easy to transport & pretty but they don't hold as many cookies as the bagged-up version.]

Also, pizzelle cookies freeze beautifully -- I usually make a double batch (or two) and package them up and put them in the freezer to give away later.

Here is the ingredients list again, doubled:

• 1 c butter
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 c white sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
  
• 1 tsp anise extract
• 4 tsp baking powder
  
• 3 1/2  c flour

Enjoy!

Sew an Activity Bag!

I recently decided that I wanted to try making my son a Sunday Church Bag so that he could bring quiet activities with him as he is learning to sit through an entire service (he's about to be 3 years old and is just starting to show interest in sitting with us). I found a tutorial here for a bag that was pretty much what I wanted to make so I used it to guide me through the process. It was really easy. I am especially excited about the crayon pocket that I was able to sew on the front of the bag. The bag is small enough that he can carry it himself, but it will still hold a few activities or books (including his first Bible--a Christmas gift this year!). I chose fabric that I thought he would really enjoy as well. I am excited to put this gift under the tree for him!

Holiday Treats: Pretzel Treats

One of the best treats to make this time of year with your kids are Pretzel Treats. They are really easy for little children to do. They feel like they are "cooking" ... but really they are just unwrapping chocolates and practicing their fine motor skills as they place them on the pretzels! These are so easy to make and they are great for putting together gifts for neighbors or friends. 

Materials Needed:

• Bite-sized pretzels
• Red and Green M&Ms
• Hershey Kisses



Photo Credit: Family Fun

Set the oven to its lowest setting (170 degrees) and as it heats up, unwrap the kisses and place them on top of a layer of pretzels on a cookie sheet (use parchment paper if you want--I have never done that). Bake 4-6 minutes until the kisses begin to melt. Don't let them stay in there too long. Remove from the oven and immediately place a red or green M&M into the center of the kiss, squishing it down. Cool them and place them in the fridge for awhile to set. Enjoy!!!

Crochet a Pair of Wrist Warmers (aka Fingerless Mittens)

Made with multi-colored worsted yarn

Call them wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, fingerless mittens, whatever -- these are easy to make and very practical -- perfect for Southern climates, for driving... or you could put them on over thin knit gloves for an extra layer of warmth!  I like to wear them when I am going to be getting in and out of the car and going in and out of stores and need a bit of warmth but also need to be able to use my fingers.














Here are a few places online with directions for different versions:

• Fairly basic pattern  A good place to start.
• Fingerless mittens contrasting edging  This one uses single crochet and features a blanket stitch edging.  Going to have to try this soon.
• Wrist Warmers with button accents.  More work (to add the buttons) but very cute.

The version I've been making is very simple and uses a half-double crochet stitch to create a ribbed effect.

Here are the directions to make the warmers pictured:

[Adapted slightly from The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet.  You can probably find this title in your local library or purchase it online.  I highly recommend it.]

You'll need:

• worsted weight or similar yarn (uses less than one ball or skein, approx 100 yards or less)
• Size H crochet hook
• tapestry needle (for finishing)

Instructions:

Chain 30.
Row 1: Turn and work 1 half-double crochet in third chain from hook and in each chain across.
Row 2: Chain 1 and turn.  Work 1 half-double crochet in back loops only. 
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures about 6" across (the short way).  Fasten off and leave 12" tail.

[I usually count my stitches every other row or so just to make sure that I am staying consistent.  If you start with 29 half-double crochets you want to keep doing 29 or your warmers will be kinda crooked.  But a little bit of crooked doesn't matter too much because when you sew the seam you can kinda straighten it all out a bit.]

Worsted variegated yarn, worn over knit gloves.

Fold the piece in half joining the beginning row and ending row edges. (You will be folding the piece along the longer side, if that makes sense!)  Using the tail sew a seam using mattress stitch, 4" up from the bottom and 1" down from the top, leaving approx. 2" opening for thumb.  Fasten off and weave in both ends.

NOTE:  After you get comfortable with the pattern you can adjust the size based on the yarn you are using and whether you are making these for an adult or child.  For ex. with bulkier yarn (and larger hook) you may want to do only 26 chains at the beginning.  Also for smaller hands or stretchier yarn (the bamboo for example) you may want to make it slightly less than 6" across.  Experiment and see what works for you!

Make a few of these for yourself or for gifts.  We'd love to see what you come up with!

Bamboo yarn -- soft and stretchy!

Making Homemade Ornaments

Do you have a Christmas Ornament tradition in your home? We usually get one new one for each family member every year. This year we are also adding a second ornament tradition--making ornaments for family members. I am helping my oldest son make them using his school pictures. We always get so many wallets with his photo package, it's nice to have another use for them!

I went to this store and bought:

• Clay ornaments (glazed and fired so they're nice and shiny!) -- these were on clearance and only cost me $.69 each!!!
• Ribbon Bows (with a great sticky dot on the back, making it easy for little hands to work with)
• Mod Podge (seriously like my favorite stuff in the world right now)

Then I used my fabulous Cricut to cut out some green and red Christmas wreaths. This part is a bit too difficult for my son, but now that I have put them together, he can place them on the ornament with me and glue them down around his photo. Then all he has to do is slap the ribbon bow on, tie the ornament with a string loop and hang it from the tree! I think we might use raffia to hang the ornaments with. I am going to have him write his own name and the date on the back and then seal it up with more MP.

Cute. Fun. And a nice gift for someone he loves...

Who knows, maybe you're one of the people he'll be sending one to.....

Make Pine Cone Kindlers

Pine Cone Kindlers

This is our little wood stove.

My mom has made these for Christmas gifts over the last few years and they are great!  They are helpful in both wood stoves and fireplaces -- we have found that for smaller wood stoves (ours is quite little) it works better to use smaller pine cones and a bit less wax. 
 

To make 12 kindlers, you'll need:

• 12 pine cones (approx. 2” in diameter, they should fit into a muffin tin)
• 2 lbs paraffin wax
• wax-coated candlewick
• nonstick vegetable oil spray
• double boiler
• 12 cup muffin tin
• candy thermometer, optional 

Instructions:

Cut the candlewick into twelve 6” long pieces. 

Melt the paraffin wax (it is probably easiest to do 1 lb at a time) in the top of the double boiler over boiling water. 

Spray the muffin cups lightly with vegetable oil spray. Place one end of a piece of candlewick in the bottom of each muffin cup, allowing the opposite end to hang over the side of the muffin cup.

Cool the melted wax (it should still be pourable -- about 160 degrees F,  if you want to use a candy thermometer to check it).  Place one pine cone upright in each muffin cup over the candlewick and carefully pour the melted wax into each cup, about an inch or so per cup.

Let them cool completely and you're done! 

To make a lovely gift presentation, put the kindlers in a pretty basket, add some fireplace matches and tie on a bright ribbon.  (Obviously you'll want do this at the last minute and give the gift in person -- if you are mailing the kindlers, wrap each in some tissue paper and pack them up all on their own, without matches of course.) Perfect!

Note:  you can color the kindlers if you wish by melting in a square of colored wax (available in craft stores).  My mom says she has added bits of used colored candles to the paraffin (or just used old candles as her wax instead of store-bought paraffin) and that works fine too!

Here is a short and helpful video of the process, if you're a visual learner. 
(Please note, in the video there is an extra step of first dipping the pine cones in the wax before placing them in the muffin tin.  My mom says she doesn't do this step and they work just fine!)

Crochet a Really Simple Hat

My youngest asked me recently to crochet her a hat.  She wanted something simple and warm and in a specific color.  I mentioned this to a friend of mine and she sent me these instructions -- I modified hers just a bit to make it even more simple and to look the way my daughter wanted it to look.  It took me no time at all to make and is simple enough for the very beginning crocheter (is that a word?).

[While searching around for a free pattern online I came across this website which has a lot of Really Helpful Instructions & Tips, even some Helpful Videos, on all kinda of things, crochet included.  Check out the crochet instructions, explanations, and videos here. ]  In the Instructions below I have linked to the pages on this website where you'll find relevant instructions and in some cases a Helpful Video!

Let us know if you make a hat (send us a photo!) or if you have any questions about the instructions.

This is made to fit an adult or teenager and uses up about 2/3 of the skein.  You'll have to size it down a bit for a child's head.

You'll need:

• 1 skein or ball sportweight yarn (I used Vanna's Choice "Oatmeal")
• size H crochet hook
• some kind of stitch marker (I used a small safety pin)
• scissors

Instructions:

Begin with a slip knot on your hook.  Chain 6.  Join the chains with a slip stitch to make a small loop. 

Make 10 single crochets into the center of the loop.  After the 10th one, put the safety pin (stitch marker) to the loop that's on your hook. 

Without doing a slip stitch or anything, make 2 single crochets into each of the 10 stitches you just did so that by the time you get back to your stitch marker, you will have done 20 single crochets.  Move the stitch marker to the loop that is now on your hook. 

For the next four rows, you will add 10 stitches to each row. 

Row 3: Make 1 single crochet into the first stitch, then 2 into the second.  Repeat this pattern 9 times until you are back at your stitch marker and have 30 stitches in that row.  Move the stitch marker to the loop on your hook. . 

Row 4: You're adding 10 more stitches.  Make 1 single crochet into the first stitch, 1 into the second, and 2 into the third.  Repeat that pattern 9 times until you have 40 stitches and are back at your stitch marker.  Move the stitch marker to the loop on your hook. 

Row 5:  Again, you're adding 10 more stitches.  Make 1 single crochet into each of the first three stitches.  Then, in the fourth stitch, do 2 single crochets.  Repeat the pattern 9 times, until you are back at your stitch marker and have 50 stitches.  Move the stitch marker to the loop on your hook.

Row 6: Again, adding 10 stitches.  Make 1 single crochet into each of the first 4 stitches.  Then, in the fifth stitch, do 2 single crochets.  Repeat the pattern 9 more times, until you are back at your stitch marker and have 60 stitches.  The stitch marker can now stay put. 

Row 7 and beyond:  Do one single crochet into each stitch for as many rows as it takes until you feel like the hat is the right length.  Use the stitch marker to tell you when you've made it around again.  When the hat is the length you'd like, fasten off (at the stitch marker) & weave in the yarn end. For my 13-year old's hat I did 28 rows total.

This project is small enough to carry with you -- it's nice to have something productive & fun to do while waiting in the car, at the doctor's or dentist's office, at the rink, outside of the dance studio, etc.  Plus, unlike reading a book, you can chat with other parents while crocheting!  (And sometimes it's a good conversation starter 'cause people wanna know what you're making...)

Additional notes & ideas:

The original pattern for this hat included a brim of sorts which you can add if you like by doing the following: 

Last row:  Switch to double crochet.  Double crochet 1 into the first stitch, then 5 double crochets int the second stitch.  Repeat that pattern 30 times to create a scalloped edge.   You could take this same idea and dial it down by making fewer double crochets (say 3 or 4 instead of 5) or by doing the same thing with single crochet.  Experiment and have fun with it!

You could also make this hat in several colors, even using up small amount of yarn, since it's easy enough to tuck the ends inside where no-one will see them.  Hey, what about adding a pom-pom to the top?  Other ideas? 

Enjoy creating!