York Peppermint Patty Fudge {3 ingredients}

Have you already made and delivered your neighbor gift?

Uh, I have not. That is right, not made or delivered. Nada.

Oops...hehehehe...

I mean, don't get me wrong, I have made plenty of sugary delights. However, none of them have been for the specific intent of giving to neighbors.

My goal is Sunday.

If you are like me and are short on time but still want to do something, what could be easier or faster than 3 ingredient York Peppermint Patty Fudge?

Not much. Putting a bow on a bag of chocolate chips maybe, which I would happily accept. Yum.

Anywho, I digress.

Back to the York Peppermint Patty Fudge.

Three ingredients is all you will need.

You simply melt 2 cups (1 package) of dark chocolate chips and 6 York peppermint patties in a microwave safe bowl. Melt for a minute. Stir. Then melt in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth.

While the chocolate is melting, break up the other peppermint patties into smaller pieces.

Stir in 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk to the melted chocolate. Fold in peppermint patty pieces.

Pour into an 8x8 lightly sprayed baking dish.

Let it set up for a few hours in a cold location...like a fridge, or in this case, my garage.

Cut up.

Eat or give away or eat AND give away.

I printed these free holiday gift tags from Paper Crave.

I taped them onto cardstock tags with washi tape.

I assembled the fudge in these window cupcake boxes, which I am kind of obsessed with.

Tied it closed with some ric rac and the gift tag.

All ready.

All done with gifts?

Well, nothing says you can't make some for yourself.

Yum.

Happy Holiday Eating!

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Project Homemade Christmas Present: Baby Doll Basket {from MADE pattern}

This might be my favorite present that I made this year. I know I said that about my Avengers Hand Puppets too. A tough race going on here with Project Handmade Christmas Present.

Seriously though, between the fact that I hardly ever get to sew for girls AND how unbelievably cute this fox flannel is, I think this project just barely beat out the Avengers.

When I first saw the pattern for this Baby Doll Basket by Dana from MADE, I kind of died and it was one of those rare times that I was immediately a little sad there are no little girls around these here parts.

I was sad that I had no reason to buy the pattern.

Then I was all like, "Wait! Uh, I have nieces and it is almost Christmas!"

Then I did a happy jig.

Then I bought the pattern.

Be prepared, there is more jig dancing to follow.

I found the fox flannel and this pink houndstooth flannel at JoAnn's. More jigging done here. Yup, right there in the store.

I was a little nervous to start the project. While I am not a sewing novice, I am HORRIBLE at following patterns. They get me all anxious and my tummy goes all wackadoo. I seriously get so worried I am going to mess everything up...my lovely fabric in particular.

Oh, I was worried for nothing. Dana makes this pattern so clean and easy to follow. The pattern is easy to print and put together. The pictures that follow along with the written instruction are crisp and amazing (as her photos always are).

In no time, I had a finished project that made me clap and giggle...and yes do another jig. Cutest little Baby Doll Basket ever.

Before I shipped it off to one of my nieces, I wanted to snap some pictures of it. Surprise, surprise.

Funny thing. I don't really have any baby dolls at my house. That made taking pictures a little difficult. Upon searching, I found my old Cabbage Patch doll. Perfect. Oh wait, she has no clothes, and I figured it would be all new levels of crazy if I sewed this doll clothes just for a photo shoot.

Then I found the only real dolls we have around here. The plastic, muscled-out, not messing around, save the world type dolls.

He was not altogether pleased with the idea of going into a froo froo bed, not matter how comfortable I told him it was.

Then this sweet puppy volunteered.

He was feeling pretty tired and was really hoping for a cozy place to sleep.

So I tucked him in all cozy. Whispered, "good night" and then snapped some pictures.

Perfect. Thanks Puppy! (Look for a past Project Handmade Christmas Present starring this puppy HERE.)

I can't say enough about how awesome this pattern was. I am SO happy I bought it. I am excited to make more. Dana has done such a great job with this pattern and it is a great price. I highly recommend going and purchasing this. No one is paying me or reimbursing me to say this. I honestly just love it and think you all should own it.

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Country Christmas Gift wrapping

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Fa La La La La, La La La La...

Uh, yeah I know I totally just combined two different Christmas songs. I am a rebel like that.

Really I am just so excited about all this gift wrapping that I am giddy beyond all normalcy and reason.

Well, I guess I should clarify, I am giddy with the results. Wrapping presents is a tad bit tedious, at least for me. Maybe some of you frolic around happily with a tubes of wrapping paper, a multitude of  gifts, and rolls of scotch tape.

However, I do my frolicking after the presents are wrapped and all pretty like under the tree.

Keeping it real moment- I do not wrap all fancy every year. Some years I am slapping paper on presents in a frenzied fashion on Christmas Eve Eve...other wise known as two days before Christmas. No extra bows. No tags. Just names written the outside of the paper. My boys love their gifts either way.

So when I do the extra frills, fabric, and lace it is just an added bonus for the year.

This year just happens to be that added bonus year.

Since I was already a little country and gingham obsessed this Christmas, I decided my gift wrap this year should just play follow the leader and tag a long.

Besides the paper, every little extra bit was gathered from my already quite hoarder-level stash.

Now if you are not a hoarder, all of these supplies are super easy to find and are cheap. A woohoo!

After grabbing some brown craft paper, red craft paper, and a fun coordinating print paper or two, I gathered a few things from the stash I mentioned.

Fabric.

Different kinds of labels.

Bits and Pieces. (PS the paper doilies are my new favorite packing bit)

All together and they make a perfectly delicious Country Christmas gift wrapping.

Now I can admire all the presents...at least until a curious little 20 month old wants to know what is the deal with all those paper tags.

Eh, and then I am still gonna admire it. Grubby toddler fingerprints on a Christmas package makes it even better.

Merry Christmas!

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Embellished Christmas Flour Sack Towels

I decided my kitchen could use a little Christmas-fying.

Since I am running out of time it had to be a quick little project. I gathered a few of my favorite supplies--flocked heat transfer vinyl and trim. Lots and lots of trim.

Add those two things to a super inexpensive flour sack towel, and you my friend have just about the cutest kitchen towel ever.

The flour sack towels are under $2 for a set of two. I purchased my favorite trims in a bright and jolly red. I used my red flocked heat transfer (which I buy from Expressions Vinyl). I downloaded the Santa and Reindeer image from Silhouette and then cut it out.

First I took out the flour sack towels and I ironed them out flat. Then I ironed them in half lengthwise and then in half again.

First I laid out the trim how I liked. I made sure to cut extra on each side in order to fold it over the front flap of the towel.

Once I sewed everything in place it was time to adhere the vinyl.

And done!

Now here is the disclaimer, these towels are not really for using. These are just for looking. Hence the stripey towel hanging with the pretty towels. That is the hand wiping towel.

I have threatened my boys with sloppy kisses and hugging them in public if they touch those towels with their cute grubby little mitts.

They have totally kept these towels pristine, and it has already been FOUR WHOLE DAYS. Woot! Woot! Pshaw only 16 more days. Totally doable.

Good job, Little Men. Thanks for indulging your mom. I love ya.

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Dear Santa Letter Writing Kit (and printable)

My kids write Santa every year. It normally goes a little something like this--

I gather some random pieces of construction paper. The kids round up all of their markers and crayons. We sit down and write out some last minute lists.

Did you catch the whole last minute part? Yeah, I am talking like, last, last minute. Like sometimes the night before. When that happens we just hope and pray that "Santa" guessed right .

This year I got the bee in my bonnet that I wanted it to be more special. I pretty much like to show up late to the party, I mean my oldest in almost 10 and this our first legit Santa Letter.

I guess it is okay if I show up late, as long as I bring this cute little printable Dear Santa Letter with me.

Once I made this set of Dear Santa stuff, I thought it would be cute to put together the printables and add a few other things to make it a cute little Dear Santa Letter Writing Kit that I could give as a little gift.

To the printables I added some washi wrapped pencils and then a roll of washi tape.

I made this Dear Santa Letter using PicMonkey's Santa Land. 

I am dying over these toy overlays. Seriously, how cute are they?!?

I made an image to go on an envelope. The fonts PicMonkey has for Santa Land are perfect for an envelope traveling to the North Pole.

All you need to put together you own Dear Santa Letter Writing Kit--

Dear Santa Letter
Dear Santa Envelope lable (*)
envelopes
pencils
washi tape

You can either put it all together as a fun little gift, or you can print it off for your own Littles. Or heck, you can do both.

My Little Men had fun writing their letters.

Little's drawing was pretty much my favorite part.

Even Oldest joined in the fun.  Is it just me or does he look like a teenage already. Ack!

I hope you enjoy this printable. Let me know what you think. Share it if you love and I will love you!

Merry Christmas.

*You will have to manipulate the label image to print off on the envelope.

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Paper Doilies Garland: Gingham and Burlap Christmas

I love gingham.

This year in my dining room I decided to embrace my love of gingham for our Christmas decorations.

Simple.
A little country.
A little rustic.

I am more than a little in love.

I had the wreath, gingham fabric, and the burlap banner just hanging around.

The red snowflakes were from an after Christmas sale. I had originally bought them to use them on my tree, but then they told me they would rather be a lovely little garland. So I listened. I am nice like that.

The last garland is made from paper doilies. Seriously, it is the easiest, cheapest, and loveliest garland ever.

I simply bought a package of 4" paper doilies.

I laid them all out. Separating them from one another is the hardest part. They rather like to cling to each other. 

Then I just fed them through my sewing machine one right after another.

So easy. It take minutes. Minutes I tell you. Then it is all ready to hang up with the other Christmas lovelies.

I am pretty much in love with it all.

I love that when I walk in my house, this is one of the first Christmas scenes I see. A little country Christmas. Kind of my favorite.

I have one more project for this room and I can't wait to show it to you.

Merry Christmas! Happy decorating!

Project Handmade Christmas Presents: Rice Hand Warmers

We are winding down. Christmas is swiftly approaching. My Little Men are excitedly counting down one candy at a time from our advent. Middle happily crosses off each day from his homemade calendar that hangs on our refrigerator.

 

My last several little handmade gifts are done. Did you notice I didn't say the big gifts are done? 

Ugh, let's change the subject...

Today for Project Handmade Christmas Presents, I made these simple rice hand warmers for the Grandpas. 

I used the oh-so-wonderful Vanessa's (you know from V&Co) tutorial found HERE.

I also thought it might be nice to make a little bag to hold the hand warmers in.

I turned a tea towel into two tiny drawstring bags. I painted their Grandpa names on the front.

Now the little hand warmers have a place to live when they aren't keeping our Grandpas hands toasty warm.

You know what they say, warm hands, warm heart.

Our Grandpas have the warmest hearts, so of course they need the warmest hands.