{ easy lace garland } Christmas

I just put up my Christmas tree!
My little nephew

was over playing with my daughter today. He 

stopped what he was doing all of a sudden

and turned to me with wide eyes and said, 

"Auntie, there's no Christmas here!" So

I sent him and baby girl to pull the tree

out from under the bed! And boy was he right! 

Now that it's up, it just feels like Christmas! 

I am actually going to go wrap a few gifts

to throw under there when I'm done 

posting today! :)

After I got all my ornaments on, I felt like

I wanted a little more this year! I want some

more white/cream in my decorating this year. So 

I made a super easy garland to wrap around it to 

start. I plan on spending the week making 

some cute ornaments, both for my tree and

for my Etsy shop! I want to bring

more of that vintage/shabby chic feel to my

tree! 

What you'll need:

* Lace cut into 1/2 to 3/4 in strips

OK... so you can buy lace ribbon and it would

save you some cutting. I had a bunch of lace

fabric from some other projects I've done 

this year. I just cut about 8 or 9 strips. Each strip

is about 4-5 feet long.

Next, I just tied them together, end to end, until

I had one long strip. Make sure you use a square knot

so it doesn't come untied and also because the small

ends of the knots sit nicer that way (in my opinion)!

Tie it right over left and left over right!

That's it! Just wrap it around your tree! I'm
excited to add layers of muslin and burlap! 

 Our first year here in Hawaii, my sister-in-law
sent "snow". We hang the snowflakes on our
tree every year! :)

 My next project is a tree skirt! I've never had
one because I've never seen one I actually like!
But this year I found one! And I'm going to
recreate it!

{ noel blocks } Christmas

I spent my weekend crafting and cleaning! Since I'm a little

too late on thanksgiving decor, I started in on 

Christmas! This project really got me in the 

spirit! I can hardly wait to get the tree out and start

setting it up! 

What you'll need:

- Wooden blocks made from a 2X4

- Paint and paint brush

- Sandpaper or course nail file

- Coordinating paper

- Mod Podge

- Lace, ribbon, and/or jute 

I went to Home Depot a while ago and was searching through

their scrap wood pile ( because I do that in my spare time).

I notice, next to the big saw they have, some small pieces of 

2x4. These are just the ends cut off! But they were perfect

for this project! I didn't have to cut the pieces and 

I didn't have to pay for them either! They just gave them to me!

Score!

I only sanded them down a bit.

Paint your blocks.

Once they've dried, use some sand paper or a course 

nail file and rough up the edges.

I just ripped out my pieces of paper to fit each

of my blocks. You can use any type of paper! I used a

piece of newspaper, a page from a book, lace, 

paper bag, and scrapbook paper!

Now paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the back

of your paper.

Center it onto your wood block and press it down. Make

sure you get all the 'bubbles' out. 

Repeat with your other blocks. Feel free to add layers

like I did with the lace.

I used vinyl for my letters. I just cut them out with

my Cricut. You can use paper and just glue

them on if you don't have vinyl or even stamp

or write your letters.

Stick your letters to your blocks.

Now you can embellish any way you like! I added a

bow of lace and jute to my smallest block.

That's it! 

{ jute cone tree } Christmas

I'm a little bummed that I never really got around to making

much fall decor. I used to have so much cute

decor for fall and Thanksgiving. But when

 you move as far away from home as I

did, you don't get to take very

much with you! So even though I intended

on starting up a "fall decor" bin, It'll have to

wait til next year!

So... I have started Christmas!!! I love Christmas!

I'm excited to make some fun stuff!

I'm starting out small though because I want

Thanksgiving to come before I get

too crazy with Christmas! Only a few days away!

Here is a little something I threw together today

after I finally cleared my Halloween stuff

off the shelf!

What you'll need:

-  Card stock

- Elmer's glue ( or whatever kind you have)

- Hot glue

- Jute twine

Get your paper

Now roll it up into a funnel/cone.

 Leave a tiny hole in the top.

Use your Elmer's and glue

the flap shut so that your paper stays

this shape.

Now take the end of your jute and thread

it through the hole in the tip of your cone.

Pull it down through the bottom and

tie it into a knot.

Pull it tight so the knot is at the tip of your

funnel but not pulling through.

Add a small amount of hot glue onto

the tip of the funnel.

Now start wrapping your jute around, making

sure you are covering the paper.

Continue wrapping the jute around the cone

adding hot glue every few wraps.

Be sure to push the jute tight against itself so the

paper doesn't show through ( especially if you

use bright paper like me! I didn't have the right

color)!

When you get to the bottom, cut the jute off leaving

about a 1 inch tail.

Cut the excess paper off to make it flat and able

to stand.

Now add hot glue to the inside and attach your

tail there.

That's it!

 

Add them to your decor!

{ fabulous eggnog } recipe

So, when I make something, I usually have a pretty

clear view of what I'm trying make ( usually)!

Take eggnog for example...I am looking for a very

specific flavor and texture. Well, I found it!

I was searching the web and making eggnog like crazy!

Last night I tried an Eggnog recipe

that will be  put into my recipe book for good!

I won't be looking for any more recipes because

this, my friends, is fabulous!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups milk

2 whole cloves

Pinch of cinnamon

1 cup cream

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Tbsp each of bourbon and rum or brandy,

                                               or to taste (optional)

Directions:
Start out by beating the egg yolk  well. Then slowly add
the sugar to the eggs and beat until it's fluffy.

In a saucepan, combine milk, cinnamon ( I added a lot
more than a pinch.. mmmm), and cloves.
I didn't have cloves and I wasn't about to drive to
the store just for that, so I didn't put them in!
My eggnog still turned out incredible!
Slowly heat on medium until mixture is steaming
hot. Do not let it boil!

Temper the eggs.
 This part is pretty important so pay attention! lol
You are going to slowly pour half of the hot milk
into  your eggs! While you pour, you need to
constantly be whisking so that you don't heat
the eggs too quickly! You don't want to scramble
them!

Now add the egg mixture back into the pot.
Continue heating, stirring constantly, over medium
heat until mixture begins to thicken and
coats the backside of a spoon.

Remove from heat and add cream. Mix well.
Strain eggnog to remove cloves. Let it cool for
one hour and then add the vanilla,
nutmeg, and rum (again, the rum is optional!
Just don't put it in if you don't want it!)

Chill and serve.

Yield: 1 quart

Thank you to Elise for her post at Simply Recipes!

{ whipped eggnog } recipe

I love the holidays! And for so many reasons! I love

that families seem so much closer, that people seem to show

more compassion toward each other and that there

is so much tasty food to be cooked! :)

One of my favorite tasty items is eggnog! Oh how

I wish it was available all year at the grocery store!

But, since it isn't, I've decided to give making this 

delicious beverage a try! Yes, I'm a first timer in

 eggnog making! And I'm sure I'll try a lot

of recipes just because that's what I like to do!

Here's my first!

A creamy, fluffy, thick, whipped version of eggnog! And since I

prefer drinking my eggnog mixed with milk, this thick

recipe is perfect!

I chose to try this one because I had all but one ingredient

already on hand! So it cost me less to make it! Hope you

try it! Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 c. white sugar
• salt to taste
• 2 1/2 c. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. confectioners sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 c. rum (optional)
• 2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

Alright!

Directions:

Start by combining egg, white sugar, and salt ( just a sprinkle)

in a medium saucepan.

Gradually stir in milk.

Stirring constantly, cook for 10-15 minutes

on medium heat; until mixture just coats a metal spoon.

( Please stir constantly! If you

don't, you will most likely end up with very sweet

and fluffy scrambled eggs! I'm serious! Stirring is pretty

important in this step! Keep the liquid moving!)

Remove saucepan from heat. Add 1 tsp. vanilla; stir.

Place the saucepan in a sink of cold water just long enough

to cool the custard.

Now cover and put it in the fridge until chilled.

( put an empty bowl in the freezer while you're here.

You'll need it later!)

In a chilled bowl (the one that was in the freezer), combine

heavy whipping cream, confectioners sugar, nutmeg and

1/2 tsp. vanilla.

Beat until stiff peaks form. It should take about 5 min

to get the right consistency here ( unless your electric

mixer isn't broken, like mine). It will be just like whipped cream.

 If you think you have it, just dip the tip of your

mixer in and if  the whipped cream stands up you're done.

Stir in rum and yellow food coloring at this point. I didn't

use either of these options in mine! You can

add milk instead of rum . It will

thin the eggnog a little!

Fold the whipped cream mixture into the chilled custard.

(basically, you're just gently stirring!)

Poor into a serving bowl or pitcher! Sprinkle with

nutmeg and cinnamon!

With a little homemade whipped cream on top! :)

Happiness in a cup!

If, by chance, you end up with little scrambled egg pieces

in your eggnog, you can just strain them out after you

remove your custard from the heat!

 If it'stoo fluffy for you, just add milk until it's right! :)

And don't forget to mix it well before drinking!

Yield:   about 4 cups