Happy Holidays! ...homemade gingerbread playdough

Hi frosted family!! It's been a LONG time since I have said hello! Been focusing on a new chapter in my life and doing fantastic! Trying to make the decision to come back to blogging for 2015 - I definitely miss interacting with all of you! I hope everyone is doing well and the season is bringing cheer and happiness!

 I only made one homemade gift this year, but I love how they turned out so sharing with you guys!  I used a traditional playdough recipe (see below).  Mason jars, snip of fabric, made the labels on the computer, then punched a gingerbread guy out with a paper punch.  Ran the labels through my Xryon machine to make them sticky.  A few embellishments and ta-da! ...ps cooking the playdough made the house smell fantastic!!

GINGERBREAD  PLAYDOUGH

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup water

Christmas/Winter Party Inspiration

I don't know about you guys, but I don't know where the time has gone! I feel like I am working too many hours preparing for everyone being out of the office (boo!) and then all the holiday parties - I am not sure when there is time to even put the laundry away lol.

Here are a few ideas if you are still pulling together your Christmas party!

Welcome in your guests with simple trees and red letters! You can pick up wooden letters at any craft store.  Add an extra dab of Frosting by outlining the letters with mini lights - so even your night guests can appreciate! Source

After your guests come in from the cold, welcome them with a hot cocoa bar! Make sure to include fun add-ons like candy canes and marshmallows! Have "to-go" cups so your guests can enjoy on the way home too! Source

Don't buy a lot of decorations for your party... look at ways to "winterize" your current home decor! A little piece of evergreen sprayed with fake snow would be super simple, super cheap and super elegant and festive! Source

Want to be creative with your cookies but a little scared of piping?  Try adding a little "snow" edge to your cookies and instead of piping mistletoe, get the mistletoe sprinkles (like these - link) and add on! Source unknown :(









 

Winter Party - special touches

Feels so good to be blogging again!  Not sure about you guys, but we are experiencing the first snow of the year! Hoping we don't get much but it is definitely putting me in the winter spirit!

Here are a few quick ways to Frost a winter event!

I LOVE milk bottles - and this is such a fun way to use them! Little felt scarves and buttons! Source and the birch straws add that little rustic touch! (buy straws here - link)

For a nearly free decoration... go outside, grab some branches and gather some items you might have around the house - glitter, epson salts, glue and make some frosted branches! Source and tutorial 

I might just have to pull these off this year! We are having a ski lodge theme for our work winter party and these would be perfect! I think you should take away from this idea that you don't have to be fancy and frost a whole cookie... even simple touches can make it look amazing! Source  (Moose cookie cutter here - link)
















 

Christmas ideas: Coal!

It is so cold and dreary here today I swear 4pm feels like midnight! The days are flying by before Christmas and then my stepson's arrival - I can't wait to see him (he lives in TX). We have a fun week planned for him. I think I get as excited as he does to do the activities we plan!

If you have someone that has been awful naughty on your list... you should give them some coal!

Just a few ingredients will help you pull off this sugary "Coal"! Serve in a burlap bag and add a naughty tag for the perfect silly gift! Source and tutorial

If you want something with a little more substance, food coloring and rice krispy treats would be a great "Coal".  Source and tutorial

Another option would be these no cook Oreo "slabs of coal"! Source and recipe

Winter/Christmas party ideas/inspiration

Everyone ready for time off?! I know I am! So excited to have a few days off next week and then time off the following week to spend with my stepson for the Holiday! WOOT!

Here are some more last min ideas to Frost your celebration!

Every party needs a cheese tray! Simple way to display - some rosemary, cubed cheese and cherry tomatoes to create this beautiful and festive cheese tree! Source

Take ordinary light bulbs (even burned out ones heehee) and dip in glue and glitter - fill a jar or use as a table runner for a great pop of shimmer! Source

How fun are these mitten shortbreads?! And they aren't scary - just icing the tops and add 3 snowcaps - decorating anyone can pull off! Source

For a fun favor, put together a jar of twizlers marked "Twiz the Night Before Christmas"! Source


















 

Christmas/Winter party - Special touches

Whew - I am burned out today! Only few hours a sleep and decorated and ate my way through a holiday party at work... and 4 months pregnant - I am barely functioning! All holiday parties should come with nap time!!!

If you are still planning your holiday parties, here are a few ways to add a dab of Frosting...

Glue different size ornaments to styrofoam trees - adding a few embellishments like these coordinating snowflakes gives them an extra touch! Source

How fun is this idea? Serve up specialty drinks in ornaments! Festive paper straw and ribbon around the top finish them off! Source







Dollar store silcone molds can be used for so many things - jello, chocolate, crayons... but look at this yummy use! White chocolate holiday bark! Great for a bite sized party dessert, but these would make a beautiful gift, too! Source and tutorial

Green sugar rimmed glasses and red fruit - pomegranate seeds, cherries, etc - make for the perfect festive drink! Source and recipe

Winter Party Inspiration: Wreaths

I shamefully have not gotten a wreath for my door yet! Though being 4 months pregnant, I have shamefully not done a lot of things the past few months lol.

...if you are behind in the wreath getting too, here are some ideas to inspire! p.s. you can also lay a wreath down and put a serving platter in the middle - so beautiful!

How fun and beautiful is this fabric twist wreath?!  Definitely would take some effort, but for something you can reuse every year, it may be worth it! Source and tutorial

Slightly less labor intensive, cut leaf shapes out of felt and glue on to a wreath form... Source

Use scraps of craft paper to create a fun wreath! Source and tutorial

I think this one may be my favorite... a collection of ornaments and balls of yarn glued to a wreath - I love all the color and texture this one brings! Source and tutorial















 

Christmas: Santa Ideas

Though it's unseasonably warm here, 66 degrees!, the countdown to Christmas has surely begun! We are almost done our shopping for my stepson and I just have to get the rest of the stuff together for our company holiday party.  Hope your Holiday plans, no matter what you celebrate, are going well!

Here's some inspiration for Santa items...

I love all the fun things people have come up with for the small red cheese wheels... these Santas are adorable! Source and tutorial

Santa suit cake pops! How fun are these? Source

Not super crafty? Brownie bites, strawberries and icing make adorable Santa hats! Source and tutorial

Soften icecream cones covered in chocolate become Santa hats! These would be fun on cupcakes too! Source and tutorial

Winter inspiration: Candy Canes!

Back to Winter inspiration! We are trying to get our office holiday party together so candy cane and snowflakes are on my mind!

Here are some candycane ideas to incorporate into your Winter parties! 

A fun, festive and inexpensive touch would be to glue peppermint sticks to your candles! Source

Soften candy canes and curl them to make adorable cupcake toppers! ...they would even make up for box or store bought cupcakes! Source and tutorial

Use mini candy canes in marshmallows dipped in chocolate and crushed candy canes! These in cellophane bag and a bow would be cute favors, too! Source and tutorial

Don't forget about the simple touches too! Twine and a single candy cane bring you back to the days when I was in school and you always tied your holidays cards like this! Source

Winter party touches: Greenery

It might feel like Spring here today, but I am keeping the Winter planning going!

Clip pieces of greenery in planting pots, add a candle and you have a very inexpensive way to add ambiance to your event!  Source

Gather some clipping and tie around the middle to a beautiful alternative to garland! Source and tutorial

Hot glue clippings around a styrofoam ball and add a ribbon for an inexpensive touch of winter...and they'll smell great too! Source

Even small touches count! A few sprigs tucked into your candle holders are a quick, festive touch! Source and tutorial