Christmas Cookies

Each year I like to make cookie trays as gifts.  Now, I must admit, these trays have gotten fewer and fewer as the years have gone on, but I still love to bake cookies at Christmas time.  Even if it's only for my family to enjoy.

My grandson is allergic to eggs, so I had to find an egg free recipe this year.  I then worked on it and got it to where I wanted it.  Here are the results.

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These are really good!!!  I am not sharing this recipe!  But, I found the original egg free sugar cookie recipe on Pinterest.  

The icing I used to decorate them is not egg free, but this batch was going to my husband's office.  So there was no chance of my grandson eating them.  

I took a royal icing recipe I found online and thinned it out a bit.  

Here is the results of my attempt at cookie decorating.  

I have a lot of work to do!  But it was fun and the trays look great!

More Christmas Fun

Here we go!  These are some more quick things to make to add some fun to the holidays.

 

Bayberry candles are an Irish tradition.  They are to be burned on Christmas eve all the way down without being blown out.  I also understand the Italians do this.  I am guessing it is something they both brought over from Europe.  I get some Bayberry candle votive candles and put them in little bags with the legend of the bayberry candle tied on them.  Here is the legend:

 "A bayberry candle burned to the socket, brings health to the home and wealth to the pocket."

This is another use for the craft foam.  Just cut out some holly leaves from it.  Hot glue two candy canes to form a heart.  Hot glue the holly leaves on them and add some red beads or balls for the berries.  I then looped some curling ribbon on them to hang them.  Good project for older kids to make for their friends.  

 

Make frosted Christmas balls from Dollar store Christmas balls.  Just get some spray glue and Epsom salts.  Epsom salts are also a Dollar store item.  Spray them with the spray glue and dip them in the Epsom salts.  Then let them dry.  This gives a really cool frosted effect.  

This one is a little bit more difficult.  But is is not out of reach.  Here is a video to show you how to make the bow: Bow Making 101 Everything here was purchased at Dollar Tree.  So it cost a total of $5 to make.  

Last Minute Christmas Crafts

Here are a few last minute Christmas gifts to make.

First, my all time favorite and huge hit.

No Sew Fleece Wrap:

Use 1 1/2 yards of fleece.  Fold in half lenghtwise.  Place a pin halfway up.  Cut along the fold up to the pin on one side.  Cut 2 inch long fringes on the short ends.  and that's it!  Here's how it looks and wraps.

Next is a cute scarf with a cell phone pocket!  This is also from fleece.  Just make some fringe on the ends and sew a simple pocket on the ends.

Now let's decorate the tree!  Using a simple clear glass ball, some Epsom salts, red beads or balls and green craft foam, you can make this cute "Holly in the Snow" Ornament.  Just funnel in some Epsom salts then cut the leaves out of craft foam and add in some red beads or balls.  

Back tomorrow with a few more! 

What To Do With The Cards

I have always liked to display my Christmas cards as part of my decorations.  I use to hang them on my TV armoir, but that interfered with the picture.  Take a look:

So I found this new way to display them on Pinterest.  Looping a 2 inch wide ribbon around your kitchen cabinets and then stapling the the overlapped ends together.  After that, just staple the cards to the ribbons. 

Here is how it turned out:

The ribbons look festive even before the cards are added and then the cards add some fun of their own!