Dec 7, 2014 |
This cute and creative idea was inspired by a magazine ad I saw years ago. It’s my favorite homemade craft.
People Feeder
This versatile project can be themed around any holiday, or any decorating style.
You’ll need:
- A wood birdhouse with plastic windows
- Acrylic paints
- Glitter (optional)
- Decorative add-ons (optional)
- Small candies
- assorted paint brushes
- cleaning rag
- water in a small dish (for brush cleaning)
People Feeder Supplies
Acrylic paints dry quickly, which makes this an easy afternoon craft. Starting with the inside of the birdhouse, pour a small amount of paint on the wood then use a paintbrush to spread it around and get into the edges. If you want to add a little extra touch, sprinkle glitter over the paint while it’s still wet.
After you’ve painted the entire birdhouse inside and out, carefully lay on its side separating the base and the lid, and let it dry overnight.
Let it Dry
Carefully scrape off any dried paint from the windows. For more creative detail, glue on painted decor or tiny tokens (miniature candy canes, ribbons, tiny packages, dollhouse ornaments).
Fill with your favorite small candies then step back and watch your people flock to this fun centerpiece.
This craft costs less than $10 for all supplies, and takes about an hour to complete.
Happy Holiday Decorating!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Christmas Wreaths
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Candles in Cups
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Pine Cones on Display
Bedford Manor on a Budget: A Light Decor
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Pine Cones in a Vase
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Christmas Candies
Dec 6, 2014 |
What would the holidays be without a little sugar and spice?
This wonderful craft/gift idea was given to me by a dear client.
Christmas Candies
You’ll need:
- An airtight container
- Candies, cookies, or other sweets
- Packaging/tote bag
Although this gift may seem so simple to be personalized, the beauty is that it is extremely personal. Know a chocolate lover? Throw in some miniature candy bars. A big fan of mints? Wrapped or unwrapped, the airtight container will keep them fresh. You can package home-baked cookies, tea bags, or whatever special treats your loved ones like.
Wrap with a ribbon, and place inside a decorative tote and your gift is ready to give, even to yourself!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Five Years and a Party
Angry Christmas (or was it Awesome?)
Mar 12, 2012 |
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
I know, right?! Yummm…!
Check out that velvety rich chocolate and candy sprinkles coating those crunchy, salty rods. I made them by melting Wilton Chocolate Melts (dark chocolate, thankyouverymuch!) in my new Wilton Chocolate Pro melting pot.
Wilton Chocolate Pro Melting Pot
It’s gonna be an amazing tool in my kitchen. I feel like Willy Wonka.
It’s crazy-simple: just plug it in. Preheat for five minutes. Pour in a bag of Melts. Let melt. Stir occasionally. Look how silky it gets. The best part? No overheating. No messy spillovers. No double-boiler stove-top disasters. Just this.
Melting Chocolate
When the chocolate was ready, I took one pretzel rod at a time and dipped it into the Pot. I also used my small spoon to scoop up the melted goodness and rolled the pretzel in it. Once the pretzel was covered to my liking, I placed it on wax paper and started the next one. Each pretzel took only about 15 seconds to coat.
While the chocolate was still a little gooey, I sprinkled some candy sprinkles and even drizzled a little melted white chocolate over them. [For the white chocolate, I melted 20 Chocolate Melt chips in a small glass bowl in the microwave.]
Chocolate Drizzles
One bag of Wilton Chocolate melts took only ten minutes to melt completely, and there was enough to coat a full bag of pretzel rods with just enough left over to make one tray of molded chocolate treats.
In less than half an hour, the Chocolate Covered Pretzels were ready to eat. Delicious, filling, and oh-so-enjoyable!
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
So yet again, I can only say, “Thank you, Wilton. From the bottom of my tastebuds.”
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 21, 2012
You’re reading this on Tuesday. I’m writing this on Monday. And I’d love to wait until Tuesday to enjoy it with you, but I have to write in advance so it will post on time. Rest assured, my excitement in writing will only be amplified once these words become reality.
*Insert blissful sigh here…*
Today (your Today, Tuesday; not my today, Monday)… Today I’m getting an early (seriously early) birthday gift. Last year I bought my daughter a mighty fine camera as she aspires to study art and photography. And, as you’ve occasionally witnessed, she has a mighty fine eye for such things. And on the few opportunities I’ve had to use her camera, so do I.
I love this camera. I want this camera. I’m getting this camera. Okay, not hers. She’s keeping hers. I’m getting another one just like it. There’s a method to this madness: she is a natural photographer. I am not. Not. So, after 15 minutes of me trying to figure something out; I won’t have that urge to create an opening in the window or wall. I’ll just ask her for help. Dot’s Tutorials, at your service.
She’s looking forward to it, too. I told her that we can start going on photography expeditions together. You would think there isn’t much opportunity for that here in the desert…
But even a tumbleweed can look good if the camera is right. Dot’s also teaching me the beauty of microphotography: taking really upclose, detailed photos.
All this excites me. A new toy. A new activity on the Mommy-Daughter Date Options List. And new photos for my blog. For my company.
How. Awesome. Will. This. Be.
I can’t wait to take photos of the Coopers. Not to be a broken record, but Old Blue was around again! This time he surprised me. I took the garbage out and when I turned to go back into the house, he was sitting on the fence just watching me. It was great. I didn’t get Dot’s camera in time, but in the next few days I’ll have my own and you’ll have those photos you’ve been asking for. *Insert mutual smiley face here, right?!*
Tomorrow (my tomorrow, your today) should also bring a book I’ve long been waiting for. When I was in grade school, I always defaulted to borrowing this book from both the school and local libraries. I must have read it a hundred times over the course of four years. Since I grew up, I’ve been trying to find it again, but it’s no longer in print.
Enter Amazon. Amazing, Available, Amazon.
And tomorrow/today, I should finally once again be able to read this:
Since I had a small credit at Amazon, the book was free! And since I’ve kept up with my 2012 Reading List, I get a “freebie” read for February. I choose this one. It will take just one day. 24 wonderfully short, attention-grabbing mysteries steeped in the history of our country. And of course, it also means another Mojo Book Review. Can’t wait, can ya?
Today (my today, your yesterday) I’m trying my hand at making chocolate molds. That is, melting chocolates and pouring them into molds. I also want to make ganache and use it for truffles. I’m doing this for a variety of reasons. I have a cake decorating kit I bought last summer but have only used twice. I have melting chocolates that need melting. And I think nothing goes better on blogs than photographs of chocolate. Especially when the treats are homemade.
So starting tomorrow, er… today, I can start taking awesome photos of any and all kitchen creations.
I’m so stinkin’ excited.
Last night, or long ago and far away, I had no idea what I’d be blogging about this week. Now I have too many topics to keep track of. What a difference a day makes.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
