Merry Christmas from the Toadly Crafty Family!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Cookie Exchange: The last chapter
I must apologize for not getting this last post up quicker! I had the stomach flu from heck....it kicked my butt, my kids butts and poor Mr Toadly Crafty's too. At least we got past it before Christmas!
This is the invite I sent out..
the little paper clip is removable so that they can keep as a paper clip in their cook book.
Today was the official party or I should say parties as this year I hosted two of them. It was a lot of work, but oh so fun! And I have goodies to last a life time, unless Little G doesn't stop eating them, then they may only last through the night!
Look at all the yumminess....
Rosy Cheeks cookies.
Gee, who got a hold of my camera....Teisha!!
Third place for best packaging.
Winner of best packaging.
Second place for best packaging.
For the party favor I did the scrabble tile necklaces with gingerbread buttons. I removed the little loop on the back with a pair of pliers. I have found that if you coat the side of the scrabble tile with modge podge along with under and on top of the paper it prevents the resin from soaking underneath the paper and causing it to look stained. After the cured for a day, I drilled down through the top of the tile
I have seen lots of these necklaces down with bails, but I could not find them in my local craft store and all the ones on line were expensive. So I drilled the whole and used a post that is used on earrings. Then I made a simple loop and strung them on ribbon. Super cute, easy and inexpensive with out looking it party favor!
This is the invite I sent out..
the little paper clip is removable so that they can keep as a paper clip in their cook book.
Today was the official party or I should say parties as this year I hosted two of them. It was a lot of work, but oh so fun! And I have goodies to last a life time, unless Little G doesn't stop eating them, then they may only last through the night!
Look at all the yumminess....
Rosy Cheeks cookies.
Gee, who got a hold of my camera....Teisha!!
Third place for best packaging.
Winner of best packaging.
Second place for best packaging.
For the party favor I did the scrabble tile necklaces with gingerbread buttons. I removed the little loop on the back with a pair of pliers. I have found that if you coat the side of the scrabble tile with modge podge along with under and on top of the paper it prevents the resin from soaking underneath the paper and causing it to look stained. After the cured for a day, I drilled down through the top of the tile
I have seen lots of these necklaces down with bails, but I could not find them in my local craft store and all the ones on line were expensive. So I drilled the whole and used a post that is used on earrings. Then I made a simple loop and strung them on ribbon. Super cute, easy and inexpensive with out looking it party favor!
A quick, easy gift idea...
My activity day girls made this simple gift for their parents. I had a copy of the Family Proclamation for all of them. (Free at the distribution center) I gave each of them a piece of vellum and a dollar store frame. Then I told them each to draw a picture of their family, doing there best work.
My kids and I had experimented to see if crayons, markers or colored pencils work best. We had the most success with crayons.
This is little G's framed masterpiece. Big G did a family tree starting with Nana and Papa and working down to all the grand kids. He gave this to nana and papa for Christmas. Missy Mama drew one for her grandma with just her, grandma and grandpa. They all turned out so cute, I wanted to keep them all.
My kids and I had experimented to see if crayons, markers or colored pencils work best. We had the most success with crayons.
This is little G's framed masterpiece. Big G did a family tree starting with Nana and Papa and working down to all the grand kids. He gave this to nana and papa for Christmas. Missy Mama drew one for her grandma with just her, grandma and grandpa. They all turned out so cute, I wanted to keep them all.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....
I finally got tired of my 3 kiddos telling me and the hubby that we were the most un decorated, un holiday spirit house on the block! So this weekend I tackled the decorating. I am not talking one small box of decorations...oh no...we have 9 big boxes of Christmas decorations. I like to do it up big!! Each room in the whole house gets at least a touch of something Christmas in it! And I do the entire living room, family room and kitchen! I must admit that the tree is not quite done yet, but that is only cause half the lights are not working and lights fall into Mr Toadly Crafts area... and the poor man has been working all weekend. But he swears he will get to them tomorrow, since he finally gets a day off.
Here are the highlights.
I started with the front table.
I moved the "J" wreath featured in my last post to the mirror. Then I added my beloved garage sale finds, the apothecary jars. In one I put a silk poinsettia, in the other I put some small glass balls and in the other a strand of beads. I used a couple of Christmas books stacked up, to ad some height. The 3 pictures are off my babies. It was my tradition to take a picture of them on their first Christmas in the wrapping paper.
Then I added a small tree. I used this to display my charms from my last swap, which was a vintage Christmas charm swap. Last is a 6x6 page from a Christmas countdown, also from a swap.
Ah the nutcracker...
this is Big G's. He got him two years ago. He had studied and watched the Nutcracker ballet. He LOVED it! One day at the evil W store, he saw him on a shelf and begged to have him. At first I said no, we were tight on money, I wasn't even sure how Christmas was all going to come together at this point and it was $25 I didn't have. But asked again and the look on his sweet face, I caved! I could not say no to my sweet oldest son, who does so much to help me and rarely and I mean rarely asks for a special treat like this. Now, today, I am glad I caved. He still LOVES this and he will dig in the boxes until he finds it. He received another, smaller one, last year from Santa and I have a feeling Santa will bring him one this year too.
I love to get a real poinsettia every year for the house. But I always feel so guilty about spending the money on something that dies. I was not planning on getting one this year, thinking I could put that money towards stocking stuffers or something instead. But then Mr Toadly Crafty came home from work with this!(Mr Toadly Crafty works at Lowes)
You have to know he never buys me flowers! And never anything like this!! It is big, it is gorgeous! When I tried to say he shouldn't have, he said he knew I wanted one, that I was not going to buy one and he knew I would miss it...plus it was on sale for a really great price! lol! Got love the man!!
Apologizes, for the ramble post..just a few fun stories behind some of the decor, but I really should not post when I am feeling so nostalgic!!
Here are the highlights.
I started with the front table.
I moved the "J" wreath featured in my last post to the mirror. Then I added my beloved garage sale finds, the apothecary jars. In one I put a silk poinsettia, in the other I put some small glass balls and in the other a strand of beads. I used a couple of Christmas books stacked up, to ad some height. The 3 pictures are off my babies. It was my tradition to take a picture of them on their first Christmas in the wrapping paper.
Then I added a small tree. I used this to display my charms from my last swap, which was a vintage Christmas charm swap. Last is a 6x6 page from a Christmas countdown, also from a swap.
Ah the nutcracker...
this is Big G's. He got him two years ago. He had studied and watched the Nutcracker ballet. He LOVED it! One day at the evil W store, he saw him on a shelf and begged to have him. At first I said no, we were tight on money, I wasn't even sure how Christmas was all going to come together at this point and it was $25 I didn't have. But asked again and the look on his sweet face, I caved! I could not say no to my sweet oldest son, who does so much to help me and rarely and I mean rarely asks for a special treat like this. Now, today, I am glad I caved. He still LOVES this and he will dig in the boxes until he finds it. He received another, smaller one, last year from Santa and I have a feeling Santa will bring him one this year too.
I love to get a real poinsettia every year for the house. But I always feel so guilty about spending the money on something that dies. I was not planning on getting one this year, thinking I could put that money towards stocking stuffers or something instead. But then Mr Toadly Crafty came home from work with this!(Mr Toadly Crafty works at Lowes)
You have to know he never buys me flowers! And never anything like this!! It is big, it is gorgeous! When I tried to say he shouldn't have, he said he knew I wanted one, that I was not going to buy one and he knew I would miss it...plus it was on sale for a really great price! lol! Got love the man!!
Apologizes, for the ramble post..just a few fun stories behind some of the decor, but I really should not post when I am feeling so nostalgic!!
Not your ordinary Christmas Wreath
I know that the monogram is a huge trend right now. And I have seen a few monogram wreaths out there in blogger land. But I was so inspired by this one (scroll down some)at Rosy Cheeks cute blogs. And maybe that is because I have seen this one in person, every Sunday when I go to her house for dinner (Rosy Cheeks is my mom!)
At first I tried to tell her it would be really easy to turn that "T" into a "J", that didn't work. So then I asked my dad if I could have it, and he said "Sure!" But mom caught me trying to take it off her door.
So I gave up and made my own!
I used a piece of cardboard to make the J. Then I bought the garland from Jo Ann's with my 50% off coupon. I just wrapped it around it, pulling as much of the strands to the front as I could. I had seen the beautiful poinsettias at Jo Ann's also, all glittery and sparkle. But they were to much. So imagine my delight and excitement when I saw them on sale for 60% off at the day after Thanksgiving sale. I HAD to buy them, they were so cheap!
Here is a close up of the flower part.
I originally had it on my front door, but it kept getting blown around. Plus I always have a fresh pine wreath on the door and I can't break the tradition, so it has found a spot in on my front entry mirror.
On a nother note, this was asuper productive weekend! I got activity day invites made, Cookie Exchange invites made and made the scrabble tiles for the party favor...I will be featuring the cookie invite and scrabble tiles in an upcoming post...so stay tuned!
At first I tried to tell her it would be really easy to turn that "T" into a "J", that didn't work. So then I asked my dad if I could have it, and he said "Sure!" But mom caught me trying to take it off her door.
So I gave up and made my own!
I used a piece of cardboard to make the J. Then I bought the garland from Jo Ann's with my 50% off coupon. I just wrapped it around it, pulling as much of the strands to the front as I could. I had seen the beautiful poinsettias at Jo Ann's also, all glittery and sparkle. But they were to much. So imagine my delight and excitement when I saw them on sale for 60% off at the day after Thanksgiving sale. I HAD to buy them, they were so cheap!
Here is a close up of the flower part.
I originally had it on my front door, but it kept getting blown around. Plus I always have a fresh pine wreath on the door and I can't break the tradition, so it has found a spot in on my front entry mirror.
On a nother note, this was asuper productive weekend! I got activity day invites made, Cookie Exchange invites made and made the scrabble tiles for the party favor...I will be featuring the cookie invite and scrabble tiles in an upcoming post...so stay tuned!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Holiday Yummies: Bacon Wrapped Chestnuts
2 cans of whole chestnuts
1 package of bacon
toothpicks
1 C of ketchup
1/4 c brown sugar
Tabasco sauce, to taste
Cut the bacon in to thirds. Wrap one chestnut in one slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick and place in a 9x13 pan. Continue until all the chestnuts are gone.
Mix the ketchup, brown sugar and Tabasco sauce in a small bowl. Drizzle over the bacon wraps. Sometimes I double the sauce if I feel they don't have enough. Bake at 400 degrees until bacon is cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Transfer to a pretty serving tray. You will be surprised how quickly these disappear!
1 package of bacon
toothpicks
1 C of ketchup
1/4 c brown sugar
Tabasco sauce, to taste
Cut the bacon in to thirds. Wrap one chestnut in one slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick and place in a 9x13 pan. Continue until all the chestnuts are gone.
Mix the ketchup, brown sugar and Tabasco sauce in a small bowl. Drizzle over the bacon wraps. Sometimes I double the sauce if I feel they don't have enough. Bake at 400 degrees until bacon is cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Transfer to a pretty serving tray. You will be surprised how quickly these disappear!
Cookie Exchange: Part 2
On the To Do:
* Plan a menu
* Start planning party favors.
I unusually keep the menu to savory appetizers. I figure everyone just spent a lot of time making 10 dozen Sweet's I am sure the sampled them and are probably sick of sweet stuff.
This years menu will more than likely consist of Bacon Wrap Chestnuts, (A yummy recipe that is a tradition in my family)Stuffed mushrooms and probably a fruit dip. I know that leans to the sweet side but at least it is healthy.
I have seen other hostesses who have everyone bring an extra dozen of the goodies so that everyone can sample them at the party. Others have a contest for the best tasting so after everyone samples each goodie they vote secret ballot style.
I always ponder too long on the drinks. I know I don't serve anything sweet, but we all do nibble on some of the goodies. So I need milk, no cookie is complete without milk! For religious reasons, I don't serve alcohol or coffee, but have seen these suggested on other sites. I usually opt for hot chocolate, egg nog and Pepsi. The last one is for my mo, Rosy Cheeks cause if she does not have her Pepsi, watch out! (Love you, mom!)
So I have also been pondering the party favors. This is something I added just a few years ago. Last year I had cute red serving spoons and tongs tied up with a cute ribbon. This year, I am leaning towards Scrabble tile pendants with a cute ginger bread man (cause of the whole theme) on them. I was also thinking about homemade bath fizzies in a cute paper crafted box. The third possibility is a tea towel apron. Not sure which one yet. I think I may try a sample of each one over the weekend to get an idea of which I like best.
The other thing on the To Do list this weekend is finish up the invites and get them mailed out.
Up coming post
* Decor
* Party favors and prizes
* Plan a menu
* Start planning party favors.
I unusually keep the menu to savory appetizers. I figure everyone just spent a lot of time making 10 dozen Sweet's I am sure the sampled them and are probably sick of sweet stuff.
This years menu will more than likely consist of Bacon Wrap Chestnuts, (A yummy recipe that is a tradition in my family)Stuffed mushrooms and probably a fruit dip. I know that leans to the sweet side but at least it is healthy.
I have seen other hostesses who have everyone bring an extra dozen of the goodies so that everyone can sample them at the party. Others have a contest for the best tasting so after everyone samples each goodie they vote secret ballot style.
I always ponder too long on the drinks. I know I don't serve anything sweet, but we all do nibble on some of the goodies. So I need milk, no cookie is complete without milk! For religious reasons, I don't serve alcohol or coffee, but have seen these suggested on other sites. I usually opt for hot chocolate, egg nog and Pepsi. The last one is for my mo, Rosy Cheeks cause if she does not have her Pepsi, watch out! (Love you, mom!)
So I have also been pondering the party favors. This is something I added just a few years ago. Last year I had cute red serving spoons and tongs tied up with a cute ribbon. This year, I am leaning towards Scrabble tile pendants with a cute ginger bread man (cause of the whole theme) on them. I was also thinking about homemade bath fizzies in a cute paper crafted box. The third possibility is a tea towel apron. Not sure which one yet. I think I may try a sample of each one over the weekend to get an idea of which I like best.
The other thing on the To Do list this weekend is finish up the invites and get them mailed out.
Up coming post
* Decor
* Party favors and prizes
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