Do you see what I see?

Inspiration is everywhere you just have to have an open eye!

These containers were calling me to transform them and give new life to them. That I did!

Pop Tarts box = Santa

Ronzoni box = Rudolph

Panko bread crumbs = Frosty


See if you can recycle and re purpose a container to be something other than what it currently is. Get creative!


I made a card to match the Santa box. I happened to have belt ribbon-how cool is that?!
These are all the goodie bags I made up with clear lollipop bags and paper scraps as the toppers.
These are inside Santa and Frosty. Can you see the rock candy? When was the last time you had that?
Stuff them in and close the lid to hide the goodies until Christmas.
Rudolph got a pretzel bag stuffed with spice drops due to the length of the box. More goodies is always a good thing!
A closer look at Frosty. I used the Cuttlebug to emboss his nose so it wasn't flat. I tied on Bloomers as his scarf but that was just for pictures! I'll replace it with a felt scarf and save this for my layouts : )
The gold buckle is from K&Co glittered boxed set of alphas. It was a frame but now it's a buckle!



Rudolph got the treatment! I used core 'dinations paper on him and sanded the flowers to show up better. His eyes are punched with the SU oval punch (3/4 x 1 1/2)-white and the black circle on top is CM-3/4 inch. His nose was an adhesive circle (came in sheets) I bought long ago. The antlers were cut out using the Cricut-Christmas Cheer cart.


Hope this gets you thinking "out of the box!!!!"

Have a great weekend : )

Not a Creature was stirring....Eek, a mouse!!

Christmas Eve Mice

These little creatures are so cute and not that time consuming to make at all.

Ingredients:
1-Double Stuff Oreos
2-Marachino Cherries with stems on
3-Hershey Kisses-Dark or Milk Chocolate
4-Sliced Almonds or peanuts (for the ears)
5-Gel writers in green and red for holly leaf + berries or Icing tubes ( which is what I used for the holly leaf).
6-Mini red candy-for eyes
7-Chocolate Candy melted- I used Nestle mini milk chocolate morsels because that is what I had on hand.

Directions
First make sure you dry the cherry off really well with a clean paper towel. The juice from the first cherry made the chocolate run right off. Oops!
Dip a cherry(stem on) in melted chocolate. Place it on the white side of the Oreo.
hint: try to place the cherry close to the edge so the tail is hanging off the cookie.
Smear a little melted chocolate on the back side of the hershey kiss and attach to cherry.
Add ears with a drop more of chocolate. Carefully place red candy eyes on face.
I glued mine on with a bit of green icing. You could use chocolate so it blends in better ; )
Draw a holly leaf with green icing tube and add another red candy piece to center to make your holly berry!

Hope you enjoyed this sweet treat and please share pics with me if you decide to make them : )

And to all a good night!

Jenn

Candies,Lolipops and Truffles

Snowmen Lollipops and Snowmen Candy chunks

The kids made these snowman lolipops and candy shapes. I helped them with the microwaving part but they decorated them with the squeeze bottles and chose their own colors.

I was trying my hand at details. I really don't enjoy painting inside the molds much : ) I hate to admit it but it's true. Too fussy for me. I'm a detailed person but this is not my preference. They came out cute but solid chocolate is much faster and they taste the same.

Santa and Rudolph Lollipops

Cookie Dough Truffles

I will take my time to get these right though! You will be so happy you tried this recipe. It's like eating a chocolate covered chocolate chip cookie-oooh yeah!
The three candies you see at the top of the plate are a little different. They are made with candy molds. First, I poured a little chocolate in the mold, then I inserted a piece of candy (like a whopper) in each mold. Lastly, I covered it with more milk chocolate and placed them in the freezer for 5 minutes to firm up. Oh my goodness me oh my !

Milk and Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Thins
These are so yummy. Drizzled white chocolate on top then rolled in crushed candy canes make these a perfect minty,salty,sweet combo in your mouth: ) Various toppings I used are nonpareils, and hazelnuts.

Chocolate covered Oreos
Half or whole dipped oreos makes a nice sweet treat in combination to the minty filling of the holiday oreos, now found on store shelves. White chocolate drizzled across the tops looks fun and festive along with red,white and green mini nonpareils.
Each bite is just as crunchy as the first!

Homemade sweets such as candies and cookies make perfect gifts for those special people in your life. It doesn't take much time to prepare these simple treats, which leaves you time to make custom packaging. Personalization vs generic packaging is always so much nicer, isn't it?
I know I love it when I get something that looks like it was chosen for me instead of off the shelf and convenient. Adding monogram tags or a hand made card to go with it shows it was meant just for them.

Don't forget to make a few extra sweet treats for yourself :)

For your convenience I have added the Cookie Dough Truffles recipe below
Cookie Dough Truffles
Yield: 5 dozen
1/2 cup butter,softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 pounds dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into 1 inch balls;place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating;stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating;allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm,about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candy. Store in refrigerator.

My Fur Babies

Meet Hershey and Truffles Can you tell I love chocolate?! Lol!

Hershey is a highly energetic, lovable 1 year old Schnoodle (Poodle / Schnauzer mix).

Here is Super Doggie!!!

I love her eyes so much. My daughter and I had fun experimenting with all the bows!
We had fun, not so sure Hershey did! She tolerated it well ; ) She's a pretty girl.
Hershey,Thea and Truffles
I don't keep her hair cut like a typical schnauzer just personal preference. I like clean cut paws and face : )
Truffles here is supposedly a Bishon Frise. Our vet said she's a Maltese. Go figure. Maybe she is a mix. The only way to be certain is to do genetic testing and we figured either way we aren't going to give her back so why bother. She's her to stay. Regardless of her breed she is the sweetest little girl ever. I love her temperament. She loves to kiss and cuddle. When we brought her home she was only 4+ lbs. She fit in all Thea's doll clothes! Oh what fun we had : )
Hershey- sitting pretty and oh so well behaved ; ) I wish I could show you how she does her ballerina dance. She is on her tippy toes and goes around and around in circles for a treat! talented little schnoodle we have here!