Dec 5 | Easy DIY, Holiday Crafts, Holidays, Homemade Christmas Gifts
I thought you guys would like to see what my mom made for a few of her girlfriends for Christmas this year! They’re Holiday Simmering Packages! They’ll make any home smell wonderful, just like Christmas! (They’re not meant for drinking, but for simmering on the stove.) I think I’m even going to make up a few for my girlfriends!
For her recipe, my mom used her dehydrator to dry the oranges, lemons and apples, but you could also dry them in your oven or just use fresh peels!
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3
Cinnamon Sticks
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1-2
dry orange slices
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1-2
dry lemon slices
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1-2
dry apple slices
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2
tsp.
whole cloves
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1/4
tsp.
ground cloves
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2
tsp.
whole spice
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1/2
tsp.
ground nutmeg
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1-2
crushed bay leaves
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2
tsp.
dried mandarin orange peel
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Place all the ingredients in a plastic bag.
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Put a label on the bag with these instructions:
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Place ingredients in a pot of water and simmer, adding more water as needed! Makes your house smell wonderful!
Dec 3 | Easy DIY, Holiday Recipes, Holidays
I have got the cutest holiday project for you today! It’s so simple too! I think they’d make a good project to do with kids. Maybe as a craft at a holiday party? Or maybe wrap them up to add a cute touch to a hot chocolate gift? Regardless of what you do with them, they’re awesome because they involve chocolate and peppermint! 🙂
Here’s how to make simple Candy Cane Reindeer:
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Line a cutting board or cookie sheet with wax paper.
- Heat chocolate candy chips by microwaving for 30 seconds stirring and repeating until melted.
- Take 2 candy canes and dip the bottoms (straight parts) in chocolate and shake off excess.
- Place together on wax paper so hooks of each go off in opposite directions.
- Place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss on the chocolate covered canes.
- Repeat for remaining canes.
- Using a toothpick, take a dab or melted chocolate and glue the red candy on top of the kiss as the nose.
- Using a toothpick, take a dab or melted chocolate and glue on the eyes.
- Take the white chocolate chip and place on wax paper and heat in microwave for 15 seconds.
- Take another toothpick and paint a white mouth on each reindeer.
Aren’t they cute? Are you going to give these Candy Cane Reindeer a try?
Related holiday recipes:
Nov 20 | Easy DIY
If you’ve got someone on your list who would love an apron, you should check out the huge list of apron patterns I have available on Simply Frugal! You’ll find free patterns for full aprons, half aprons and even kid sized aprons!
Nov 19 | Easy DIY, Holiday Crafts, Holidays, Homemade Christmas Gifts
These simple to make Hot Chocolate Ornaments are the perfect addition to any gift! Add one along with a mug and some extra hot chocolate. Or tie one to a gift bag. Or maybe you could add it to the tree at a party for the hostess to find at some point. The options are endless really.
Just as the gifting options are endless with these ornaments, there are also many ways to put these together.
This is what I used to make these particular hot chocolate ornaments:
- A pack of hot chocolate
- mini marshmallows
- candy cane (crushed)
- plastic ornament (a pack of four from Walmart)
Here’s how to make the ornaments:
- Start with a clean ornament, take the top off, then fill each ingredient into the ornament using a funnel.
- Add the hot chocolate mix, then the crushed candy cane, then the mini marshmallows.
- Put the top back on.
- Create a little label with instructions, then add it to the ornament.
- Make sure to deliver these standing upright, unless you want everything to be mixed up!
Here’s are some other items you could add to each ornament:
- sprinkles
- chocolate chips (or white chocolate, mint chips, peanut butter chips)
- different flavoured hot chocolate packs (rolo, mint, etc.)
- mini rolos
- Skor bits
I hope you enjoy making these Hot Chocolate Ornaments!
Nov 16 | Easy DIY, Holiday Crafts, Holidays, Homemade Christmas Gifts
After a hectic day, there is nothing as soothing as a long soak in the bath tub. Adding bath salts not only adds to the relaxing nature of baths by making the water smell delicious but by providing healing and soothing aspects to your skin!
Why not try this simple recipe for homemade bath salts to give away to the bath takers on your gift list! I’m sure they’ll love it!
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2
cups
Epsom Salts
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1
cup
Baking Soda
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2-3
drops Essential Oils
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Add the Epsom salts and baking soda to a bowl.
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Stir to combine.
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Add essential oils.
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Let the bath salts dry overnight before adding to your jars.
If you want more than one scent, separate the salts into more than one bowl before adding the oils.
For my particular bath salts, I made one jar lavender scent and the other peppermint. The decorative jars I picked up at a local dollar store. As for the tags, I made them using a couple of paper punches my mom and I have in our craft supplies.
Oct 14 | Easy DIY
If you enjoy wine, chances are you have a handful of wine corks stashed somewhere. There are so many creative uses for wine corks that you can try, so if you aren’t saving them, now is the time to start. Take a look below at 7 creative uses for wine corks that will have you looking at them in a whole new light. Who knew that wine corks could be so fun? Here is how you can get started!
Garden markers
Poke a wine cork onto the end of a dowel rod or even an old fork. Write the name of the planting on the cork with marker. Then, press the rod or fork into the ground. It makes the perfect garden or plant marker so you never get confused again.
While you are in the garden, you can even start seedlings inside of larger wine corks. Just carve out the inside, add some dirt, and add your seedling. This is especially great for succulent starts.
Mini boats
Make a small triangle out of scrap paper. Tape it or glue it to a toothpick. Then, poke the toothpick into the wine cork. Place the cork in water and watch the mini boat float. Kids will love this simple and hands on activity. If you wish, you can even use craft paint to paint your boats.
Place card holders
Make your next dinner party fun with wine cork place card holders. All you need to do is take a knife and make a slit at the end of the cork. Then, slide a card with the guest’s name into the slit. It should stand up nicely, letting each guest know where to sit.
Pin cushion
Decorate your wine cork with some craft paint. Then, poke pins and needles directly into it. The cork will hold them in place nicely, and you don’t need to worry about lost sewing supplies anymore.
Fridge magnets
Hot glue a piece of magnet (found at local craft stores) to the wine cork. Then, just place it on your fridge. It is such a cute way to hold memos and photos in place.
Mini stamps
Take a knife and carve a shape into the end of the wine cork. Press the cork onto a stamp pad and then onto paper. Your design will be imprinted onto the paper. This is a fun craft for kids or even for ladies’ night!
Cork board
Glue dozens of corks side by side and in rows to create a cork board. Add a ribbon to the back for hanging and you have a quick and easy memo station.
Who knew wine corks could be so much fun? Give these creative ways to use wine corks a try and you will never throw them away again.
