DIY Cupcake topper

1. You will need: tape, adhesive of your choice, sucker stick, ribbon, and any paper shapes that you want to use. I used a scalloped punch, a smaller circle punch, and a number “1″ punch.
2. Using adhesive, I stuck the “1″ onto the small circle and then I stuck those onto the scalloped circle.
3. With a small piece of tape I taped the sucker stick to the back of the scalloped circle.
4. Then I tied a ribbon on the bottom. Easy Peasy. Now go find a cupcake.
 

DIY Recycled Crayon

1. You will need: letter molds, old crayons with the wrappers peeled off, a baking sheet.
2. Break the crayons into small pieces and fit them into the letter mold. Use more crayons than you think, they melt down.
3. With the molds on the baking sheet, put them into a 350º preheated oven for 15 minutes. After the crayons are melted take them out of the oven and let them sit for a minute. Put the molds into the freezer for 15-30 minutes so the crayon letters will harden faster.
4. When the letters are hardened, pop them out carefully. This isn’t as easy as it looks (sometimes the letters break). If a letter breaks you can just remelt that letter in the mold in the oven, refreeze, and try popping it out again.
5. There you go.
6. Bag them up, tie with a cute ribbon, and add an upcycled notebook.


This is a great and inexpensive gift to kids and teacher as well. Enjoy it. Xoxo

DIY Party Face Painting

Do you want to include some face painting in you little one birthday party? Well you dont have to be a professional or hire one.  Use a rubber stamp and some non-toxic ink to stamp a picture onto the face or arm of party guests. Then it’s just like paint-by-numbers–paint in the picture using face paints.

DIY Paper Pompom

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/kids-party-decorations#slide_9

You can go to Martha Stewart website for the tutorial. Its extremely easy to put together and I always make them for my own gatherings. Xoxo

Classic Cocoa Mix

Layer the ingredients for homemade cocoa in a jar, add a ribbon and a tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift. This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container."

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Preparation

• Layer sugar, cocoa powder, powdered milk, salt, chocolate chips, and marshmallows.

Makes 1 quart or 12 serving hot cocoa.

Homemade Bath Salt

What You Need

2 cups Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
Large bowl
Lavender-scented oil
2-x-4-inch scrap of white cotton fabric
Food coloring
Cookie sheet
Apothecary jar
Ribbon
Baby spoon

How to Make It

1. In a large bowl mix 2 cups Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda. Dab a few drops of lavender-scented oil onto a 2-x-4-inch scrap of white cotton fabric and stir through mixture. Repeat with drops of food coloring. Continue mixing scented oil and food coloring until desired scent and color is achieved. If desired, make two colors of salts to layer in a purchased apothecary jar (available in thrift shops).
2. Spread salts mixture onto a cookie sheet for several hours, stirring several times. Wash and dry the jar. Spoon salts mixture into jar.
3. Tie a baby spoon onto jar with ribbon.
4. To use, dissolve several teaspoons of salts in bathwater.

Cookie mix in a jar

Cookie mix in a jar is a great gift for any occasion!!!

Here are the recipe I use for all of my cookie mix.

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chip; m&m etc
1/2 cup brown sugar

• Another recipe I use

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions : Empty contents of jar into a large bowl. In separated bowl add 1 slightly beaten egg

1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.

To make your own. First layer ingredients and pack each level real thight or else it wont fit. If you decide to add pecans pack it last just in case they wont fit. I rather sacrifice nuts then chocolate.

To finish off decorate the lid with a piece of fabric and a ribbon.

You can change the color of the chocolate to give as a gift for Christmas, Halloween, Baby Shower, etc. Get them from your store when they are on sale right after the holiday.