Christmas

Picture Makeover for Holidays

November 30, 2017 By Debbie

I am constantly looking for ideas that provide functionality and decor options as we continue to settle into our smaller home.

I’ve wanted something to put over the buffet that had a Christmas theme but haven’t come across the print, size or dollar amount I wanted. Plus I didn’t want another picture to store. Then I got the idea of covering the existing picture that hangs in this area with holiday gift wrap to provide a blank slate. I’m pretty happy with how this project came out.

This is the picture I removed from the wall.

I used a good quality wrapping paper and blue painters tape to adhere.

My goal was to be able to use the bow and letters over each year and also not damage the picture underneath. Using a piece of jute in the corner (I glued with a bit of hot glue on each end) allowed me to tie the bow onto the jute instead of gluing the bow directly onto the paper.

I purchased 3 wood letters from Hobby Lobby and a $1.99 bottle of red chalk paint.

Two coats of red, then a clear wax and finally a dark wax layer and they were ready to be adhered.

I chose this product to adhere the letters to the paper. They worked great.

Bow and letters attached.

Why I love this idea?

The roll of wrapping paper can be used for many years to come.
The only storage will be the bow and letters.
The motif can be easily changed up,
JOY – Jesus Only You is perfect to sit above the manger scene I’ve had since childhood.
It’s easy and fast.
Can be used for other holidays
It’s frugal.

Filed Under: Christmas, Craft Ideas, Crafts, Home Tagged With: bow, chalk paint, christmas, craft, decor, diy, downsizing, frugal, holiday, jute, letters, makeover, picture, snowflakes, storage, thrifty

Noah’s Kindness Eggless Cookies – Decorator Kits

October 22, 2017 By Debbie

I decided to take the Noah’s Kindness Cookie Recipe and play.. I wanted to know the following: 1) Could I substitute an egg replacement made from ground flax seed so my daughter Tamara (the workout mama) could enjoy them; 2) Would they bake well if they were shaped in balls 3) Decorate with a cloud of buttercream frosting and different colors of sanding sugar mixed together to create the rainbow effect; 4) Create cookie decorating kits for my grandchildren

Please click here to learn about the special baby these cookies were created in honor of and access the recipe HERE

Yes – Tamara thought they were good using the 3 Tbsp of water to 1 Tbsp of ground flax seed. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes before adding into recipe where it calls for 1 egg. Keep in mind that the flax seed will create a sprinkling of color in the dough.

2). They did bake up well in the rounds and were faster than creating the log shape in the original recipe. Bake for 3-4 minutes longer.

3). This worked well. Buttercream Recipe – 1/2 cup of softened butter, 2 1/2 cups of powered sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla and a Tbsp or two of milk, your choice. Blend until desired consistency (too thin – add more sugar; too thick – add a little more milk). I use almond milk. I placed my frosting into a pastry bag with decorative tip.

4). The Cookie Kits – I was happy how these turned out. Using a plastic bowl with a lid, I placed 12 cookies in each (because you want to make sure each child is getting the same number), a small container of rainbow sprinkles with a lid (I put the combination of sugars together which works better than 7 different containers of sugar to deal with), and a small container of white yogurt chips with a lid. I had a plastic portable file cabinet that used to hold my craft paper and I almost threw it away. I’m so glad I didn’t – the bowls and frosting fit perfectly and I will use it to take over future projects for my grandchildren. I took two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper with me so that they each had a workstation on the table to catch the majority of sprinkles.

I find that baking the cookies ahead of time works well with young children’s attention span. I was so proud of them both – they didn’t eat any of the frosting or sprinkles while they were decorating which was a first.

I can see these cookie kits being used for holidays, birthday parties, delivering a meal and if you are having little people over to your house as a project for them to do so they can contribute. How cute to let them finish up the dessert to be served at a family or friend dinner. I am already dreaming up something fun we can do with these cookies for Thanksgiving.

Filed Under: Christmas, Craft Ideas, Desserts

What I’ve Read in 2016

September 26, 2016 By Debbie

When I was a child, yes, before the internet, one of my favorite things to do was a trip to the library. The best day at school was when the class was taken to the library to check out a book. During the summers my group of friends would get dressed up and go to the library. And, of course, there were those special days when the bookmobile bus would drive into the neighborhood, park on a designated street and wait for me to climb those 3 or 4 steps in to search for a book. I felt rich as I wandered the rows of books looking for my next adventure, reading about places I had never been and opening my heart and mind to the power of another’s story. Oh how grateful I am to my family and teachers who taught me how to read.

Reading causes me to slow down, to stretch myself, to be a treasure hunter and often fact find if what I’m reading is true and learn from others. Reading brings me comfort, laughter, leads me to a new idea and often is a restful place to land from my own life.

Because of recently downsizing our home, my commute to work has become an hour longer each day but you know what – it has been a blessing. Because of the internet and Audible.com, I can now download a book on my iPhone and play it through my car radio. The little girl in me is delighted for this new library that is so easily available. The commute flies by. My coworker and friend, Amy and I started listening to books on our commute years ago. It is a great way to remind us that the workday hasn’t started yet in the morning and ended in the afternoon. We have been known to sit in front of her house because we have 15 minutes left and then broke out in applause at the ending while listening to The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I am sure we were quite a sight to those outside the car.

Don’t get me wrong – I also read on Kindle; and I still treasure holding a book in my hands, turning the pages with my highlighter and pen in hand in case something catches my attention.

This year I set a goal to read 40 books, as well as my bible. I have met 3/4 of this goal and I am currently reading the kindle version of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow and listen to Among the Gods by Lynn Austin (which is the 5th in the series Chronicles of the Kings – I will be sad to finish this series). The books of 2016 are a snapshot of my year – learning about people who settled our country, the kings of the Old Testament, maneuvering the grief of a loved one, many areas of our history – Chicago World Fair and the women who stepped in to work the shipyards during WW2, downsizing a house and discovering there is a freedom in having less stuff, learning to cook more with organics and non-GMO ingredients as well as becoming very attached to a kitchen appliance I’d been scared of – the pressure cooker.

I have been wanting to document and share my reading list for sometime and with Christmas less than 3 months away, I thought this might be a resource to all my fellow readers.

The Justice by Angela Hunt

The Keeper of the Ring Series by Angela Hunt

The Last of the Mohicans by James Cooper

A Good Yarn (Book 2) by Debbie Macomber

Susannah’s Garden by Debbie Macomber

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Brides for Brothers by Debbie Macomber

A Woman’s Place by Lynn Austin

A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin

Faith of My Fathers (Chronicles of the Kings #4) by Lynn Austin

Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings #1) by Lynn Austin

Song of Redemption (Chronicles of the Kings #2) by Lynn Austin