Quick Christmas Gifts
Family Faces Match-UpNow you may just recognize many of these quick gifts from the past–but a good thing bares repeating–right? So, in the hopes of offering a few fun, fast ideas to help your holidays have a cozy, handmade feel–I’m dusting off a few favorites.
Personal History Prompt Jar
Covered Clipboards
Soma Cube Puzzle
Hope this helps with your Christmas lists my friends. Let me know… :}
Happy holiday crafting!!
Turkey Cookie Pops
Ok, now seriously–how adorable is this guy? I mean, I just want to kiss him…
and then, of course, I want to gobble him up…
along with his entire sweet little family.
I first saw this fellow on Pinterest, but no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find any directions to make him. So, being the sturdy mountain folk that we are–we came up with our own way. Oh yeah…we shall not be thwarted.
Here’s all you need:
~Golden Oreos
~Nutter Butter Bites
~Gummy Raspberries
~Candy Corn- you can find them in the bulk candy section
~Sucker sticks
Directions:
Unscrew two Oreos and gently press the two icing sides together to make your own “double stuff” cookie. Set the unfrosted cookie halves off to the side to eat later…or now. Either way.
Carefully poke the tips of 5 or 6 candy corn pieces into the frosting–around the edge for the tail feathers.
Next, with a smidge of icing–glue on Nutter Butter bite onto the Oreo for the head.
Break off a tip of another candy corn and “glue” it on for the beak.
With scissors, cut the sides of the gummy raspberry into little waddles. Aren’t they just perfect? Glue them along the top and side of beak. Add icing eyes.
~If you’re like me, this is the hardest part. I swear, I can ruin the cutest project on the face of the earth by trying to make the eyes. THIS time, I let Lyndi make a whole sheet of icing eyeballs so that I have a two year supply.
Holding the cookie carefully together, slide a sucker stick into the middle frosting–and tie a cute little bow around it.
These would make pretty little place markers for the Thanksgiving table–or a lovely little welcome prize for your holiday guests–don’t you think?
:}
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
— Marcel Proust
Halloween Scrap Banner
I looked around this morning and found a few spots that needed a little last minute Halloween sprucing up. It’s not too late!
Oh, the other rooms were ready for the day but that one wall in my room was just a bit too…hmmmm…boring. Yes, that’s the word.
Not acceptable!!
There were just enough scraps from Lily and Beckham’s Halloween bags to toss together a pretty little banner and believe me—it was incredibly simple.
All you do is:
Cut Halloween scrap fabric into strips about 1 inch by 7 to 9 inches. The length wasn’t perfect science–just approximate measurements were fine.
Loop each strip around a piece of cord, rope or in my case–clothes line. I used about 4 feet of it.
Carefully pull the two ends of the fabric behind the rope and through the loop…
then gently tighten it like a tiny little neck tie. Ohhhh…sooo….cute!
Keep adding the knotted strips until you have the length of banner you need.
And POOF!
Previously boring wall–cured!
:} Oh, and the sweet “Happy Halloween” banner with the spooky skulls? Why, it’s from my clever little daughter’s blog–Prairie Grass Patterns.
How’s that? Two cute things for the price of one! Oh, wait…they’re both free. Bonus.
Happy Halloween my friends!
Halloween Candy Garland
Now, if you’re an old timer to Gracious Rain you may be sayin’ “Whoa, Nellie–you already made this sweet, little garland a couple of years back!”
And I would say back to you–”That’s right…sort of.”
First of all, the last candy garland got eaten by “woodland creatures” so a new one was in order. This time, it’s much easier to make. Seriously, took about 20 minutes start to finish.
Just a simple crochet chain stitch and every 10 stitches I wrapped the loop around one end of the taffy, pulled it tight and kept right on going. Cinchy.
However, if you have a house with little people in it, like we do, you’ll have to either hang it up high or just be ready to have it nibbled on by the critters.
This time–I’ll take my chances with the outdoor squirrels.
:}
Button Bauble Bracelet
If you happen to be an unabashed button freak–like me–then, you, my darling, are about to be very happy. Perhaps even squealing with delight will be in order. Wanna play with all those buttons–you know you have a stash–and have a pretty little bracelet when you’re finished?
I thought so.
First, choose your color pallet. Mine will be pinks, purples and black…because I barely know any other colors exist. Ask my kids. :}
I’m using a few newer buttons and a ton of vintage ones because they are gorgeous and they’ve been cooped up long enough. It’s time they went out on the town.
All you need for this lovely project is:
A piece of 1/4 inch elastic–the size of your wrist + 3/4 inches
Some thread– I used embroidery floss because it was the perfect color and, well, I liked it.
Buttons–a little pile of them
First sew your elastic together–
by machine or by hand…either way.
Now the fun part–start sewing on those buttons. Any order. Stacked or alone. Be sure to let them overlap just the tiniest bit so that the elastic stays hidden when you wear it.
Knot each button separately so that if you ever have to replace one–it will be easy. Keep going around the elastic until the last button meets the first.
Now then, don’t you just have the most adorable bracelet on earth? And just imagine the possibilities–a new bracelet for every outfit…quick and easy Christmas presents…thank you gifts…kids party favors…you get the picture.
And the best part is–quite likely, you didn’t spend one thin dime.
Wait–I think I hear squealing.
And rightly so.
535
Grab our button!
Follow Us!