Ribbon Trees

 

A fun, easy holiday project - you can give as a gift or like me keep for yourself!

I don't recall where I saw the idea I think it was one of Michael's workshops or it could have been in a magazine anyway - I can't claim it as my craftiness!

 Materials:

ribbon

scissors

hot glue gun

cone shaped styrofoam or I found these cardboard ones at Michael's (less mess)

 cut ribbon in approx. 2" strips

fold over and put a little hot glue at one of the ends to hold the loop

put a dot of hot glue at the base of your cone and start attaching the ribbon loops and work your way up

My Aunt Celia's Caramels

Every Christmas my Aunt Celia would make these homemade caramels so in honor of her I made them this year and to share with some of my very dear friends!

 Caramels

2 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. light corn syrup

1 c. milk

1 c. heavy whipping cream

1 c. butter or margarine

4 t. vanilla

Combine all the ingredients into a large sauce pan.  Cook slowly (low to medium heat), stir constantly (wooden or silicone spatula) until 248 degrees on a candy thermometer.  Pour into a buttered 9x13 glass dish.  Cool completely.  When firm turn onto board, cut into small squares and wrap individually in wax paper.

*Be prepared to stir for atleast 30-40 minutes*

DELICIOUS!!

Sugared Pecans

Oh how I love to bake and cook and the weather and season are just right for being in the kitchen.  I hope to post more about what is coming out of my kitchen this holiday season.  What are your favorite sweet treats?

Sugared Pecans

For 2 lbs. Pecans
Combine 3 egg whites and 3 teaspoons of water...beat with mixer until frothy
Combine 2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1.5 teaspoons salt....stir until well blended.
Put pecans in egg white mix and stir until moist.
Put moist pecans in sugar mix and stir until well coated.
Spread on buttered shallow cookie sheets and bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes until dry at 225 degrees. Remove from pan and let cool.

Felt Christmas Pillow

 

I've had an extra throw pillow for about a year with no cover on it so I wanted to splash a little Christmas here and there and this is what I came up with.

Materials:

1 - 20x20" pillow

6 - 9x12" felt pieces (.25/each), cut into 2, 3 and 4 inch strips

1 - 30x30" piece of felt (used for the back - $2.99)

tread

sewing machine

Sewed the strips together to make to panels for the front - no real pattern just as long as they measure 24".  Sewed the two panels together, cut down the solid piece of felt for the back and sewed it so there was a raw edge and then snipped the edge to make the fray around it.  Pretty easy and I am happy with it.