Yarn Trees

Last year after Christmas, I hit Target and bought (what was left over!) all new ornaments. Andre and I decided we wanted to veer from our traditional red/green rustic decor, and go with bright colors. Needless to say, I was super psyched to get the tree up this year to see those newbies! (Pic of tree coming soon. My camera battery died right after taking these!)

Ok, so having new tree decor allllllllllllssssssssoooooooooooooo means new mantle decor. Now, we all know time has been short for me (yada, yada, yada) It just about killed me to put the mantle on the back burner until Chatty was over. Anyhoo, I worked with what I had, and then I decided to add these yarn trees. I have been wanting to make some for a couple of years, but they just wouldn't really blend with my old mantle get up. To start off, I only made two. BUT I WANT MORE! SO! My next step will be to get a couple more that are different sizes, glue a candlestick to the bottom of one or two to give different heights, and then I can be completely content. :)

Anyway, they are easy and cheap. PERFECT.

What you need:

styrofoam trees

(I actually used the green florist kind of trees, which I hate...but are cheaper.)

yarn

candlestick (optional)

hot glue

piece of felt

- Cut two felt circles the size of the base of the trees, and hot glued them to the bottom of the trees.
-Put a little dab of glue at the bottom of a tree, stick the yarn to it.
-Start wrapping. It doesn't have to be perfect. By the top you will have covered gaps.
-When you get to the top, put another dab of glue on the tip of the styrofoam.
-attach the yarn by circling it to cover the tip and then gently press yarn into glue.
That's it.
OH! Here is where the candlestick comes in. I was going to do this, but remembered too late that I had used my last dollar store glass candlestick on something else.
- Get a glass candlestick from Dollar Store. Prime & Paint.
- Hot glue or E6000 glue candlestick to bottom of tree. BAM! You got yo self some height!

My new mantle isn't perfect. It is definitely a work in progress, but it's a start.

All the color makes me happy!

Now, I just need to add some more trees in different size and heights!

Heading down to Florida tomorrow, and I am super psyched! I hope to pop back into blog world while I am down there, but if not...

Merry Christmas!

Joy. Peace. Love.

From Paper Wings to you.
- Tracy

A Few More Presents

I made bookmarks for all the girls in my book club, The Belle Skirts, as a little Christmas gift. I shared two other ways that I made them here. After I made the previous ones, I decided it would be cool to try using some bottle caps. (I am all about re-purposing!) I used beads in some, stickers in others. I used Mod Podge dimensional to create them I plan to post a short tutorial on how I put together the bottle cap portion, and all the things you can use them for...LOVE IT! So check back with me, 'cause that will be coming up soon.
For these bookmarks, I just hot glued the over sized paper clip (4 for $1 at Dollar Tree) to the bottle cap, then cut a small circle of felt (about the size of a quarter) to hot glue over the back of the bottle cap/clip, so that you don't notice what type of bottle the cap came from. :)
Ok, so again, will be showing an actual tutorial on how to make these, but wanted to get these pics out there before Christmas was too far behind me. Plus, I think they turned out super cute! Sure hope my Belle Skirts liked them!

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011

Well. Heeeeellllllllooooooo 2011! Can you believe it? 2010 was a truly fantastic year, and was full of so many lovely moments (and crafts!) I have a sneaky suspicion that 2011 is going to be even better! I speak it!

To start the year off on the right track, I made some friends little "New Year's" happy gift. These packages contained everything, (almost) needed to make chocolate pecan muffins. My thought was that everyone is probably DONE with dessert by January 1. I mean, I know I had fallen off the wagon in the month of December, and had become quite the glutton. (Since, I have repented, and sworn off the temptation that is CHOCOLATE!) Anyway, I figured this would be a nice gift to have around in a month, or so when we all have forgotten how we gorged in December on sugar cookies, fudge, and little green and red M&M's. Like I said, this was MY figuring.
These are really sweet, no pun intended, thoughtful gifts that are inexpensive as well. Also, great for single guys...right Debo?

Here's what you do:

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into a large bowl (a great job for kids). Carefully pour the mixture into a clear cellophane bag big enough to hold about 5 cups. Next, top the mixture with the chocolate chips followed by the pecans to create a layered look. Seal the top of the bag with clear packing tape. Then tie on a ribbon and a card with the Chocolate Pecan Muffin recipe instructions printed inside. I also added a little bottle cap magnet that I made with my friends' initial on it. (How to make those is coming soon!)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions to print and attach:

1. Heat the oven to 400° and butter the bottoms only of 12 regular-size or 6 jumbo muffin cups.

2. Pour the muffin mix into a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. In another bowl, whisk l large egg. Then blend in 1 1/2 cups of milk and 1/3 cup of vegetable oil.

3. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in the liquid mixture and stir just until smooth. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups.

4. Bake the muffins on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes for regular muffins or 20 to 25 minutes for jumbo muffins. Serve warm and enjoy!

Winter Window Displays

A couple of days before Christmas, Andre and I took the boys downtown to check out the window displays. Cash and Luc loved it, and did NOT want to stop...
The fact that there are business' downtown that take the time to decorate their windows (that cover whole city blocks!) is reason #208 out of my #1000 reasons why I love living in Chattanooga.
Hope you all are enjoying your holiday where ever you may be!

Tortilla Snowflake Dessert

Here's a sweet, light, and easy (always helps!) little after dinner treat. I made these last night for Cash and Luc since we had a lovely white Christmas; I thought a snowflake was fitting. They were yummy! Oh, and pretty! I found this in the Family Fun magazine. (Love it!!)

What you need

• 6 flour tortillas
• Canola or vegetable oil for baking or butter
  

• Confectioners' sugar
• Edible glitter or colored sugar crystals (optional)

How to make it

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Warm the tortillas (about 15 seconds) in the microwave.

2. Individually fold the tortillas in half once and then in half again, so that you end up with a shape that resembles a wedge of pie (it will be thick). Using clean scissors, cut triangle, circles, or squares out of the edges, as if you were making paper snowflakes. Unfold the tortillas.

3. Lightly brush the tops of the snowflakes with canola/ vegetable oil or butter and place them on a cookie sheet slightly apart.

4. Bake them until lightly browned and crisp (about 4 minutes). Sift confectioners' sugar on the snowflakes while warm. For an extra sparkly effect, you can sprinkle on a bit of edible glitter or color sugar crystals. Makes 6.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Nothing says "HOLIDAY" like red velvet...am I right, or am I right? :)

We had our Christmas party at church last week, and one of the delicious treats I took to share were these cupcakes.

I make this next statement with seriousness eeking out of my fingertips; these are my favorite cupcakes in the entire world. My friend, Casey, has a sister who makes fan-stinking-tastic red velvet cupcakes, and for years now I thought hers took the cake (literally). Sorry to say, Casey, but your sis is going to have to step up her game to beat off these little devils. (I mean that in the nicest way, Case. You know I love ya.)

Ladies. Gentlemen. Take this recipe. Bake. Share with the world. World will be happier. Love will spread. Life will be good.

What You Need

1 pkg. red velvet cake mix

1 pkg. JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

1 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)** The recipe calls for 4 cups, but I actually only used 3 cups. It was plenty sweet!!**

1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Make it
1. Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending dry pudding mix into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups. Cool.
2.Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Whisk in COOL WHIP. Spoon 1-1/2 cups into small freezer-weight resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small corner off bottom of bag. Insert tip of bag into top of each cupcake to pipe about 1 Tbsp. frosting into center of cupcake.
3.Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting. . Keep refrigerated.
I garnished my cupcakes with these festive and edible snow flakes that Erin had put in my birthday box of presents. You could also shave little curls of white chocolate, use sprinkles, or create (or purchase) cupcake toppers. Of course, the cupcake is mind blowing enough on it's own...it doesn't really need anything else. :)

warning: These cupcakes are like crack. Eat one and you are addicted. Andre ate five in one day. If you know Andre, you know that him eating FIVE in one day would be the equivalent of me going without crafting for a year. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it.

Enjoy.

Last Minute Printables!

O printables! O printables!
How I love downloading
O printables! O printables!
How I love downloading
Not only free when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O printables! O printables!
How I love downloading.....

Ok, so maybe a bit silly, but it's late....and I do love free printables! If you are still struggling to get your packages wrapped up with craftiness, try making life a wee bit easier by using these little beauties....

OrangeYouLucky

ALittleLovelyBlog

ALittleLovelyBlog
eighteen25
These should be able to get you through...

Glitter it Up!

For the past couple of months (thanks, Erin) I have been kind of obsessed with incorporating clothespins into crafts. I decided I must use them in my Christmas wrapping. I can't remember if Erin (A Bird and A Bean) put this idea in my head, or if it was just me....we tend to see to share a brain at times... Anyhoo- I saw this little idea somewhere out there in blog land, can't remember where, and thought it was just the kind of **SPARKLE** I needed for my packages.
1. Start with some regular ole clothespins. I bought mine at the Dollar Tree. 12 for a buck or something. (love it!)
2.I used Mod Podge, but I would have used a gloss coat spray if I already had some. There was no run to the store for me!
3.I bought some really pretty glitter (Not Martha's, but some other brand I can't remember...don't you all just love my short term memory?) Sprinkle with glitter, and tap a little to release excess. Allow glue to dry.

These would be great for packages year round, on party favors, or attach magnets on the back to use them on the fridge!

Chocolate Owls

I wanted to make a little something for Cash's Sunday school class, AND I was dying to use the new candy mold Andre bought as one of my birthday presents! Together it came....owls for the kids. The owls were oh so cute, and again, I just melted some yummy chocolate and poured. Presto! Done.
I tried to incorporate owls into Christmas some way, so on the note I wrote, "Guess 'hoo hoo' is coming to town? Merry Christmas!" Kind of lame and corny, but they're kids...and they probably only cared that it was chocolate. Anyway, wrapped them hoot hoots up in cellophane, tied with ribbon, and added the card...they were distributed (and received!) with joy.

Chocolate Filled Cookie Cutters

Another fun, easy, and ohhh so tasty gift idea. These are the perfect union between personable gift and delightful treat. :)

Here's what you need:

*chocolate to melt (I splurged and went for the Ghirardeli)
*chopped nuts, dired fruits, broken up bits of candy or candy cane (I just went with pecans because I had them on hand.)
*cellophane bags
*tag
*ribbon

How to do it:

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or by pulsing with heat in the microwave. Stir in the dried fruit, nuts or candy.

2. Arrange the cookie cutters on the parchment or freezer paper, making sure the sit absolutely flat against the paper so that no chocolate leaks under the edges.

3. Holding the cooking cutter in place with one hand, carefully pour the melted chocolate mixture into the center of the cookie cutter until it reaches the top rim of the cutter.

4. Continue to fill the cookie cutters until you have used up all the chocolate. Allow the candy to harden completely before peeling up from the paper.

5. Slip each filled cookie cutter into a small clear gift bag and tie at the top with a ribbon and tag. Store in a cool place.

Our First Gingerbread House

My fabulous fifth grade teammate (one of them...I have THREE!) gave Cash and Luc a gingerbread house kit. Cash and I went at it yesterday, and totally tackled this project. Cash did a great job, too. I had to put all the frosting on, but he attached all the candy to the house himself. He was really psyched about the whole thing, and is very proud of the outcome. I had never made one, myself, so I really enjoyed it, too!

Thanks "TeeCee" for a great gift. We love you!! (Isn't she just the prettiest?)

Here is Cash with the house after "phase 1" of building.

Bookmark

Here's another idea that is easy on the purse strings....(does anyone even say that anymore?) It's for all the book lovers out there who can appreciate a fun bookmark. :)
I bought these gigantic paperclips at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, and there are 4 in a package. (Score!) I had some left over flowers from an earlier adventure, so I just hot glued a flower to a paperclip. Then I attached a small circle of felt onto the back. And...done... pretty sweet, huh?
I bet you all are wondering who's going to get these???

First Snow Day

Today was our first snow day, so I got to stay home with the boys! We went outside and did a little playing in the snow...what their was of it... Good times.