Felt Cone Christmas Trees

Last week I got together with some of my girlfriends and had a fun craft night. We decided to get some styrofoam cones and transform them into Christmas trees using various fabrics, ribbon, beads, etc. This is what I created:

What You Need:

• Styrofoam trees in various sizes
• Felt
• Ribbon
• Glue

How To Make It:

• Cut felt strips - one straight edged and the others with the bottom edge scalloped - enough to cover tree.
• Glue straight strip to bottom first, then layer over with the scalloped edge felt strips until you reach the top.
• Cut a circle of felt and glue to top of cone.
• Decorate using felt flowers, ribbon rosettes, beads, etc.

These trees turned out really cute and were super simple to make!

Happy Holidays!

-Blythe

Places I'm Partying:


www.thenymelrosefamily.com

http://www.createcraftlove.com/2012/12/keep-calm-and-link-up-20.html

Cheerios Christmas Trees

When I was a little girl, I remember my Mom making these super cute Cheerios Christmas Tree treats for me to take into school and share with my class. Now I am the Mom and I knew these would be a big hit in my son's Kindergarten class this holiday season.

Cheerios Christmas Trees

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of Cheerios (can use regular or honey nut)
• 4 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows
• 6 T Salted Butter
• Green Food Coloring
• Gumdrops
• Cooking Oil Spray

Directions:

• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, until fully melted and smooth.
• Add green food coloring until desired shade is reached.
• Place Cheerios cereal in a bowl and add the marshmallow mixture, stirring until all the cereal is thoroughly coated.
• Place a sheet of parchment or wax paper on a cookie sheet.
• Spray your hands with the cooking oil and take a handful of the Cheerios mixture and form into a Christmas tree shape. Be sure to press it firmly together so the tree doesn't collapse.
• When you are finished forming each tree, set it on the cookie sheet.
• Once all of your trees are formed, slice your gumdrops and just stick the little circles on the trees as ornaments.
• Place the trees in the refrigerator to set for about an hour, then take them out and cover them up until they are ready to be served!

Enjoy!

-Blythe


http://cherishedbliss.com/2012/12/a-crafty-christmas-link-party.html

www.thenymelrosefamily.com

Baby Shower Favors

My neighbor was hosting a baby shower for her daughter, who also happens to be a friend of mine, and asked me to help with the favors. She had the idea of making some cute little bracelets with a cross to show how they've been "blessed" with a baby boy. Here's what we came up with...

We packaged them in little blue organza bags with a small "Thank You" mint (made by Wilton and purchased at Michael's). I used my Cricut to cut tags out of some baby blue card stock and wrote "We've been blessed with a boy. Thanks for sharing our joy!".

And here is the bracelet on a fabulous model, which may or may not be me....

I purchased the crosses from a fellow Etsy shop and the chains and jump rings from Michaels. This was a very inexpensive, yet meaningful gift to make for the guests.

-Blythe

Places I'm Partying:

Thankful Turkey

I was invited to a neighbor's house last week when she was hosting a Bingo night. There were to be 10 rounds, each with a different theme (i.e. T is for Turkey...make a T on your Bingo card), so I offered to make a cute little decoration incorporating each game. The turkey turned out so cute that I thought it would be a great Thanksgiving craft to do with the family, either to play Bingo too, or to just write down the things you are thankful for on the turkey's "feathers", or maybe clues for a Scavenger Hunt.

What You Need:

• Styrofoam balls - one bigger for body, one smaller for head
• Brown Ribbon
• Push Pins
• Orange Pipe Cleaners
• Googly Eyes
• Cardstock - Orange, Red Yellow
• Hot Glue

How To Make It:

• Wrap styrofoam balls with brown ribbon and secure with push pins.

• Hot glue head onto body.
• Shape orange pipe cleaners into legs and hot glue to bottom of body.

• Cut a small piece of orange card stock and roll into beak shape. Glue or tape to secure shape. Glue beak onto turkey's face.
• Glue on goggly eyes.
• Glue on either a small piece of red ribbon or red card stock just underneath beak for the little waddle (is that what it's called????).
• Cut 10 feather shapes out of the red, orange and yellow card stock.
• Write on each feather - things you are thankful for, scavenger hunt clues, bingo games, etc - use your imagination!
• Secure each feather with a push pin.
• You may need to add a few push pins to the bottom of the turkey's body to stabilize the ball and keep it from rolling over.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

-Blythe

Places I'm Partying:

The Best White Chicken Chili

Now that some (slightly) cooler weather has finally hit here in the South, I have been in the mood for soup or chili. My friend, Kari, of Thought of You Fabric Accessories, has a great recipe for White Chicken Chili that is too good not to share with you! I've tried several white chicken chili recipes, and this is by far the best one yet! I made it today and had a great Sunday of watching football, eating chili, and playing with the kids in the back yard! 

Kari's White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

• 4 Chicken Breasts
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 2 Medium Onions, Chopped
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• Two 4oz. Cans Chopped Mild Green Chilis
• 2 Tsp Ground Cumin
• 1.5 Tsp Dried Oregano, Crumbled
• 1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
• Three 16 oz Cans White Beans
• 5 Cups Chicken Broth
• 3 Cups Monterey Jack Cheese, Shredded
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Sour Cream, Jalapeño Peppers (optional)

Directions:

• Boil chicken breasts and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken from pot, let it cool and shred. 
• Heat oil in large pot over medium/high heat. Add onions and sauté about 10 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, chilis, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Saute 2 minutes.
• Add undrained cans of beans and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
• Add chicken, reduce heat and simmer about 15- 20 minutes.
• Add cheese, stirring until it melts.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and jalapeño slices, if desired. 

On a side note, Kari was one of the generous donors to Desperate Craftwives' Auction benefiting CTF. Be sure to check out her shop, Thought of You Fabric Accessories, and remember it when you start your holiday shopping.

Places I'm Partying:

www.cherishedbliss.com