Spicy Christmas Ornaments

What we really need right now is scratch and sniff computer screens, because these ornaments smell so good, you couldn't resist making some of your own if you could smell them through the screen.  When I was growing up, we used to make these ornaments every couple of years, and the whole house would smell like cinnamon and cloves (in other words--Christmas) the entire month of December.

These are really easy and fun to make with kids, but they do take a couple of days to complete as they have to dry overnight.  Are you ready?

Here's what you need:

• 3/4 cup applesauce (not the chunky kind)
• 1 packet unflavored gelatin
• scant 1/2 cup cinnamon
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 3 tablespoons ground cloves
• small pot
• spatula or spoon
• bowl
• plastic wrap
• rolling pin
• cookie cutters
• 1 straw
• drying rack (cooling rack)
• decorative ribbon
• paint pens
• any other decorations you want

To make the dough, you combine the applesauce and gelatin in a small pot--let stand for 3 minutes.  While that is sitting, combine the spices and corn starch in the bowl.  Heat the applesauce and gelatin over medium heat until the mixture simmers.  Add the applesauce and gelatin mixture to your spice mixture.  Stir/knead until dough forms.

Now you are ready to make ornaments!  Split the dough in half, and wrap one half in plastic wrap while you work with the other half.  Roll the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap (1/8 - 1/4 inch thick).  Cut the dough with cookie cutters.  Take your straw and poke a hole in each shape you cut (this will be for the ribbon to go through).  Lift the shapes onto the drying rack.  Let dry overnight--when we used to make these, my mom always put the rack over a heating vent, so the smell would permeate the entire house--mmmmmmm.

Once you let them dry, you can decorate.  I like to use paint pens or glitter glue.  You could use any puff paint or spray paint, but you don't want to use too much and mask the delicious aroma with paint smell.  I also sometimes string bells on for added glitz and sound effects.  These also make great personalized gift tags that will double as ornaments for the person to whom you give the gift.

Thanks for letting me share this fun craft with you today!  I would love for you to leave a comment and let me know what shapes would you use, and how would you decorate or use these differently.

Christmas in July Guest Post

Hi!  I know you are shocked that I have posted twice today.  Well let's call it inspiration from Mandy at Sugar Bee Crafts.  While Mandy was over here today, I was guest posting at Fireflies and Jellybeans for their Christmas in July (which trickled into August) series.

Head over to Fireflies and Jellybeans to learn how to make these great smelling Christmas ornaments.

Cupcake Ornaments {Guest Post from Jenn at Ruffled Sunshine}

Did anyone try making the cupcake recipe from yesterday?  Today we have Jenn from Ruffled Sunshine visiting with some of the cutest ornaments I have ever seen!  Who wouldn't love ornaments that look like cupcakes, and are all sparkly with glitter?

Hello Friends! I'm so excited to be here with you and Malory celebrating all things cupcake. My name is Jenn and I blog over at Ruffled Sunshine. I share a little bit of what I've been up to from time to time. I have a spunky little girl, Ivy that keeps me on my toes, but she is my biggest source of inspiration. Ivy is ca-razy about holidays. She is the kind of girl who watches Rudolph all year long and asks me to sing Away in a Manger to her every night before she drifts off to sleep.

We la la love cupcakes in our house. {Lemon ones are our absolute fave} But my brother is getting married next month which means I'm trying to cut back on the sweets! So Ivy and I pulled out the glitter and glue and whipped up a batch of cupcake ornaments to satisfy our cravings.

SUPPLY LIST

ball ornaments

ribbon
glitter
mod podge
cupcake wrappers
glue gun
twine, string or an ornament hook

OK I know it's August, but just head to a craft store. You would think it was October with all of the fall and Christmas decorations out already! I just know you will be able to get some ornaments to make your own batch of cupcakes.

Step one: Remove the top thingy from an ornament and set it aside. Take some ribbon and starting about a third of the way down from the top wrap and glue the ribbon, covering the bottom two thirds of the ornament. I used brown to give it a chocolate cake look.

Step Two: Mod podge the uncovered part of your ornament and dump a bunch of glitter on it. I used white for this one but any color "frosting" would be cute. Glue together a couple of cupcake liners for stiffness, then glue your ornament in to the cupcake wrapper.




 Step Three: Glitter the ornament top too. {If you don't have one of those glitter trays I highly recommend it. I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $2 or something. The funnel makes all the difference.} Then put that top thingy back on.




Step Four: Tie with some bakers twine or string and hang on your tree. Or seeing as it is August and I really shouldn't be tempting you to think about things like Christmas, just think of how cute it will be when you DO get to hang it on your tree!




Step Five: Make a bunch more because it was easy, and you are kind of addicted to glitter now. I thought the patterned ribbon looked like some fancy bakers cups so I left them without the wrappers. That mini black polka dot one is my fave, imagine that. How cute are they in miniature?!

Thanks for having me Malory! It was super fun. And I'd love it if you all came visit me some time. I know we will be good friends!

Happy cupcake making!

Thanks so much Jenn!  I know some of these ornaments will be decorating my tree this Christmas.  Jenn has one of the cutest blogs out there.  Ruffled Sunshine is one of my "eye candy" blogs.  Every time Jenn posts a project, she uses the most beautiful pictures.

This swimsuit rack is so cute, and a creative use of faucet handles.

Jenn is also the wonderful person who introduced me to picnik (yes I heart picnik).

Head on over to Ruffled Sunshine and satisfy your sweet tooth with some of her "eye candy."

Cupcake Month Kick-Off!

I am so excited today!  Back in June, I shared with my followers on Facebook (if you don't already follow on facebook, you might want to start) that August would be CUPCAKE MONTH!  August in my family means birthday season--we even have two days with multiple family members' birthdays.  To celebrate all these occasions, August here on Snips & Spice is going to be filled with cupcake recipes, cupcake decorating ideas, cupcake crafts, and well basically anything cupcake related.  I have lined up a terrific guest list for this event, and I know you will be thrilled with the turnout.  It has been a crazy busy summer with few posts here, but August is going to be packed with creativity!

To get you ramped up for this event, I want to begin by reminding you of a few cupcake posts from the past 6 months.

This cupcake pincushion was a fun to make, and I use it all the time.  Get the tutorial here.

This peanut butter frosting recipe has been a huge success at work and with my husband who does not usually eat sweets (and I have to tell you, he said the cupcakes I made this last weekend are my best ever...recipe to come this month).  Get the recipe for peanut butter frosting here.

A gumpaste bow is easily made for a small version like I did for these mini cakes as a cupcake topper.  Get the tutorial here.

The first time I created my Almond Joy Cake recipe, I made cupcakes instead of a large cake.  My family gobbled them up at our family reunion, and I knew I had a hit (and could use the recipe for Barb's birthday cake).  Get the recipe here.

I posted this tutorial with 10 tips for baking beautiful, delicious cakes.  This month, I will be updating some of the tips for cupcakes (as some only apply to large cakes).

If you have never experimented with different types of food coloring, take a peek at this post for information about different types of food coloring, and what media they work with best.

This zucchini cake recipe makes delicious cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  I made them last year for my cheerleading team, and they still talk about them.  Get the recipe here.

Are you as excited as I am?  Feel free to grab a button to let everyone know you are celebrating with us, and if you are interested in posting, I have a couple days still open for guest posts (email me at snips.spice@gmail.com).

Tomorrow Christina from It's a Keeper will be here to share a delicious recipe with you.  I drooled all over the keyboard when she emailed me her post; you won't want to miss it!

Lori's Lemon Bars Recipe

I don't think words can adequately describe my love for lemon bars.  When I went to Utah in March my aunt made the most delicious lemon bars I have had in recent memory.  Adam (who you might remember doesn't like sweets) nearly ate an entire pan himself.  Of course I asked for her recipe, and it was one of the desserts we had for mother's day.

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter (4 oz) softened
• dash salt
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1 C flour
• 3 T lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 1 C sugar
• 3 T flour
• Powdered sugar (for sprinkling)

Supplies

• Baker's spray
• 8x8 pan
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Mixer
• Spatula

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray pan with baker's spray.
3. Mix first four ingredients together, then press into pan.

4. Bake for 15 minutes.

5. Mix together remaining ingredients.

6. Pour over baked crust.

7. Bake another 25 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Wait until they cool completely before cutting.

Soldered Pin

You may have seen this posted at Tatertots and Jello, but for those of you who haven't here is a neat Mother's Day gift.  For Mother's Day, I wanted to create a cute pin for my sister-in-law.  She has the two cutest kids!  George (curious George) also made the cut because he goes everywhere the kids do.  I placed a cute picture on one side of each pendant, then a colorful background on the other.  There are lots of fancy alphabets and backgrounds on Etsy that you can purchase if you want something already done, or you could use drawings of your own.

To make a this soldered pendant pin, you will need the following items:

1.       Soldering iron

2.       Metal tray & sponge with water (I found the tray at the dollar store)

3.       Small clamp

4.       Solder

5.       Foiling tape

6.       Memory glass (I used 1 inch squares)

7.       Tinning flux

8.       Printout of whatever you want in your necklace (not pictured)

9.       Q-tips (not pictured)

10.    Tweezers (not pictured)

11.    Pin (not pictured)

12.    Jewelry rings (not pictured)

You should be able to find all of these at your local craft store.  Don't worry, this is actually much easier than it looks.  Are you ready?  Plu gin the soldering iron to heat, and let's go!

Cut your paper/photos to fit your glass pieces.  You want the paper slightly smaller than the glass.  Place your two images back to back and sandwich between the glass pieces. 

Cut a piece of foiling tape about 4 and 1/4 inches.  Tape around the edge of the glass.  Flatten the foil all around the edge, and wrap on each side.  You may want to use the back of a spoon, or a popsicle stick to make sure the foil is stuck down.

Rub a q-tip in the flux, and rub a thin layer of flux over all of the foil.  This is what makes the solder stick to the foil.

Unroll some solder from the coil.  Melt solder onto the tip of the iron, then rub a thin layer of solder onto the foil.  Cover the foil completely.  (If the tip of your soldering iron is not shiny, melt solder on it, then wipe on the wet sponge)

Rub a little more flux where you want to connect your ring.  Hold the ring with your tweezers, and solder to your pendant.

Now you can add your pendant to your pin.  Repeat with the rest of your pendants, then wear or give as a gift!

Some tips:

• don’t touch anything with your fingers—it’s hot!
• don’t mess too much with the solder once it’s on the pendant
• if you have any sharp bumps, file with a nail file
• if you have any gunk on your glass, clean with rubbing alcohol
• if you have black spots on your solder, rub with steel wool
• have fun with this—it’s not a perfect craft

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Every year (well the last two) for Mother's Day, I make a brunch for my mother.  One of the features is chocolate dipped strawberries.  They are so easy and quick to make you will want to make them every weekend!  In fact, they are so easy, I am not providing much of a recipe, more just general instructions.

Begin by washing the strawberries and drying them on paper towels.

You will need to make a double-boiler (see this post for instructions on how to make a double boiler).  Melt one package of chocolate chips (I use the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips) with a dollop (very technical term - hee hee) of Crisco.  Then dip the strawberries in the chocolate.

Set the strawberries on a pan lined with parchment paper.

Let cool in fridge; impress your friends (or mom).

Valentine Wreaths {Part Three}

I previously showed you how to make two other Valentine wreaths (the boa wreath, and the yarn wreath).  I saved this one for last because although it is easy, it is very time consuming.  That being said, I think this might be my favorite.

Supplies

• Scissors
• Lots of red felt (about 13 sheets)
• Low-melt glue gun and sticks
• 12 inch wire wreath frame
• Ribbon to hang (I used 7/8 inch wide white grosgrain ribbon)
• Spool of 5/8 inch red velvet ribbon

Directions

1. Make 90 felt roses.  I made them with one 2 inch diameter circle, and one 2.5 inch diameter circle each.
2. Glue ribbon to the top of the wire frame--this helps the roses stay in place while you are gluing, and fills the gap between roses.

3. Stick the roses into the frame (4 roses in each segment of the inside circle, 5 roses in each segment of the middle circle, and 6 roses in each segment of the outside circle).  Tie the ribbon through and hang.

I will be linking to these link parties.

Valentine Wreaths {Part Two}

Whew!  Going back to work mid-week took it out of me.  I already showed you how to make a boa wreath for Valentine's Day, and I will be showing how to make a felt roses wreath, but today, I am going to share how to make the yarn wreath with you.  Have you ever been to the site Knock Knocking?  I love all of her beautiful creations.  She was my inspiration when making this wreath.

Although, I am going to be honest and tell you that I struggled with this one a little.  Have I mentioned that I have a very "type-A" personality?  Well, I do.  I had a hard time trying to wrap the yarn without overlapping, but while covering the entire wreath.  It can't happen.  You have to do some double-wrapping.  The inside has less area than the outside, so unless you have yarn that magically increases in width on the outside, and decreases in width on the inside, you will have to double wrap.  If you can handle that (I almost couldn't) then you should be fine.

Supplies

• 10 inch wreath base
• Batting
• Low-melt glue gun & glue sticks
• 1 skein of yarn (I used a chunky weight to make the wrapping much quicker)
• Four colors of felt (I used white, light pink, dark pink, and red)
• Straight pins
• Ribbon (I used 5/8 inch velvet)
• Two small glass christmas balls
• Scissors

Directions

1. Plug in you hot glue gun.  Cut your batting into strips and wrap around the wreath base.  Secure with hot glue.  Then wrap and wrap and wrap the yarn until the entire base is covered.  (Remember, you will have to overlap).  Secure the ends with glue.

2. Wasn't that easy?  Now you can decorate.  The great thing about this wreath, is that all my decorations are secured to the wreath with straight pins, so I can take them off and decorate for another holiday!  I made three felt pinwheels and three felt roses.  I cut the bottom off the roses so they would be flatter to the wreath.  These were all secured to the wreath with a straight pin down the center.


3. I made ribbon leaves by cutting short strips of ribbon, folding them in half with all right sides up, and pinning them to the wreath.
4. The chain I made by cutting 3 inch strips of felt, and gluing them together.  This I also secured to the wreath with pins.
5. I did use glue to add the glass balls, but I glued them to the other decorations, so all of it can be removed easily.
6. The final step is to use the ribbon to create a loop and bow to hang the wreath.

What do you think?  Have you made any wreaths lately?  Want to share?

I will be linking this to these link parties.

Valentine Wreaths {Part One}

I am loving all the different wreaths our there in blog land.  I started the felt rose wreath a couple weeks ago, but it used 90 roses, so it took a while to finish.  Today I am going to share how to make the fastest and easiest of the three--the marabou & ribbon wreath.  One aspect about this that I really love is that I only used 3 pins to secure the entire wreath, so I can remake this for every holiday with a quick change of color.

Supplies

• 10 inch Styrofoam wreath base
• 18 feet of 7/8 inch grosgrain ribbon
• 6 ft marabou boa
• 3 straight pins
• scissors

Directions

1. Wrap the ribbon around the wreath base, covering the entire base with the ribbon.  Use a straight pin to hold the beginning in place, and when you reach that point again, remove the pin, and stick through both layers.  Cut off excess ribbon.  The pin should hold both ends of ribbon.  (Your pins should all be on the back of the wreath)


2. Pin one end of the boa to the wreath.  Wrap the boa around the wreath, leaving space between each wrap, until you reach your starting point.  I spaced mine out so the two ends met at the same part at the back of the wreath.  I like the look of the dark ribbon poking through, but you could use two boas and cover the wreath entirely.

3. Take the leftover ribbon, make a loop through the wreath, tie into a bow, and hang.

I haven't decided if I am going to add any other decoration to this one.  Thoughts?

Click here to see the felt roses wreath, and the yarn wreath.

I will be linking to these link parties.