Craft ideas and more from Davet Designs

Homemade Scented Halloween Playdough

2016-10-27T11:10:00.002-07:00

Move over pricey stinky playdough! I know that the store bought store says "non-toxic", but I don't know what the heck is in there. And the smell turns my stomach. DIY playdough is not only super soft and cheap to make, but is non-toxic and safe (in case you have that kid, like me, who eats everything). You can even customize the scent to your liking. Best of all, you probably already have all the ingredients right there in your own home.

You will need:

1 cup of flour {Amazon link}
1/3 cup of salt {Amazon link}
1 tsp. cream of tartar {Amazon link}
1 Tbsp coconut oil {Amazon link}
4-8 drops Young Living essential oil of choice or brand that you love and trust
1 cup water
Natural kid safe orange food coloring (or mix red and yellow) {Amazon link} (not shown)
Pint size wide mouth jar {Amazon link}
Felt, ribbon or material for stem (optional)
Sharpie marker or cut vinyl for jack-o-lantern
Halloween cookie cutter (optional) {Amazon link}

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and stir. Heat over med-high heat until the playdough thickens up a bit. This should just take a few minutes. Take off of stove and let cool. Knead in your essential oil.

This recipe will make enough to fill a 16oz jar. To decorate your jar, use a sharpie marker, some cut vinyl, etc. You could use some felt for a stem if you'd like. Super fun and easy to make. Great for all the kiddos on your list. You can also add a cute cookie cutter for them to play with the dough.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Soft Homemade Playdough Scented with Essential Oils

2015-11-19T14:51:00.000-08:00

You will need:

1 cup of flour (Amazon affiliate link)
1/3 cup of salt (Amazon affiliate link )
1 tsp. cream of tartar (Amazon affiliate link )
1 Tbsp coconut oil (Amazon affiliate link )
4-8 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil (or scent of choice). Contact me for more info on Young Living oils.
1 cup water

Instructions

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Handprint Flower Artwork or Placemat

2015-06-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

We are going to visit my mom this week for vacation. I wanted to make her something special from the boys. They love to do hand prints, so I came up with this fun idea. Probably because I'm obsessed with my new laminator right now. Expect to see many lamination post soon! I just love the saying "The best things in life aren't things", but you could use a different phrase or no phrase at all. This hand print flower can be adapted to many different ideas, like one hand print flower on the front of card.... hummm... (must make some of those soon!).

You will need:

Ink pad - I prefer a washable type {affiliate link }
Piece of paper or my FREE print out
Green marker {affiliate link }
Scotch Thermal Laminator 2 Roller System (TL901) {affiliate link }
Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches {affiliate link }

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Print out my free printable or just use a plain sheet of paper. Rub and pat the ink pad onto your child's hand until full inked. Guide his/her little hand onto the paper where you want the flower to be. Then draw the green leaves and stem with the marker. Decorate with any other decoration/wording you'd like.

Place the paper into a laminating pouch and send through the laminator. Instant placemat! Or it can be hung on the wall, etc.

Here is a free pdf download of the template with only the top sentence. You can hand write the bottom if you'd like.

10th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Homemade Cookies

2014-12-11T11:02:00.001-08:00

Homemade Christmas cookies are everyone's favorite gift. Every year my family makes a TON of different Christmas cookies, literally! They make different kinds of Christmas cookies from recipes that have been passed down for generations from my Italian relatives. Most package an assortment of different cookies and give as gifts. If you aren't into the week long baking marathon, then just whip up your favorite cookie recipe and package them up for giving. I used this recipe from my blog.

Instructions

Bake cookies and package in a cute jar and decorate!

9th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - No Bake Engery Bites

2014-12-10T14:35:00.001-08:00

No-Bake energy bites are not only fast and easy to make, but you can customize them however you'd like. The only downside is that they need to be refrigerated. I used this recipe which also gives you ideas for how and what to sub out for other items.

You will need:

1 cup Old Fashioned Oatmeal (not quick cook), I like Bob Red Mills the best: Amazon affiliate link
1/2 cup Peanut Butter or any nut butter (I like the Octonuts Creamy Cashew Butter: Amazon affiliate link)
1/3 cup Honey or Agave Nectar
2/3 cup Coconut Flakes
1/2 cup Ground Flaxseeds
1/2 cup Mini Chocolate Chips (Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips are my favorite and soy-free: Amazon affiliate link)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (I like to make my own!)
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds {optional}
Medium Cookie Scoop

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands or spoon.

Cover and put into the fridge for 30 minutes.

Once chilled, form into balls. I found it easiest to use my Medium Cookie Scoop to scoop out a scoopful and then form into a ball from there. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

8th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Homemade Granola

2014-12-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

Who know that plain oatmeal and a few other simple ingredients equals homemade granola! For some reason I just figured this out! All natural granola can be very expensive to buy. You can find a ton of recipes online for every type of granola you can think of. Or you can start with your basic granola recipe and then add any of the goodies that you'd like. You can really use any recipe you want. Homemade gifts are always well received.

You will need:

Homemade granola
jar

Instructions

Put granola in a jar and decorate!

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

7th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Homemade Caramel Sauce

2014-12-08T10:47:00.002-08:00

There are tons of caramel sauce recipes on the internet. This was my first attempt to making caramel sauce. I used this recipe. It came out wonderful and made one 8oz jar, but you could use two 4oz jars! You can really use any recipe you want. Homemade gifts are always well received.

You will need:

caramel sauce
jar

Instructions

Put sauce in a jar and decorate!

Want to know how I organize and store all my recipes on my computer and share on all my devices? I use the Cookin' software! I can import recipes from the web, add my personal ones, add pictures, print pdfs, and then view them from my iPad, iPhone, etc!

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

6th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Flavored nuts

2014-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Flavored nuts are expensive to buy, but super easy to make! You can google thousands of recipes or search my blog for recipes. Flavored nuts can be put into a jar or gift bag. Perfect for a small gift or add it to a gift basket.

You will need:

Flavored nuts
jar

Instructions

Fill jar and decorate!

Here is some links to my favorite ones:

Slow cooker Cinnamon Pecans
Chipotle and Rosemary Roasted Pecans

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

5th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Peppermint Brownie Mix

2014-12-05T07:16:00.002-08:00

For the 5th day of Christmas in a jar, we have peppermint chocolate brownies. I started with my double chocolate brownies recipe and used peppermint baking chips or crushed peppermint if you can't find the baking chips instead of the chocolate chips.

You will need:

1 Quart size jar
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour (I like King Arthur the best)
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
1/2 cup cocoa powder (This brand is my favorite)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup (approx.) Peppermint Baking Chips or Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips if you can find them.
Canning funnel - Amazon link or check your local Walmart or grocery store canning section
Ribbon, Tags, Labels, Etc. (Optional)

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Homemade brownies are the best! Make sure you make a batch for yourself while making your gift mixes!

Step 1

Using the canning funnel, layer flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, brown sugar, white sugar, then peppermint chips. Pack the layers down just a bit after each layer. You can do any order you'd like, but put the peppermint chips on the top. If you put the other ingredients on top of them, they will fall through the chips... which could be a cool effect if that is what you are trying to achieve. Play around with the batch you'll bake for yourself {wink}.

Step 2

On your tag or sticker, put these directions: "Pour the contents of the jar in a mixing bowl and whisk with one teaspoon vanilla extract, 2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil and four eggs. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes in a 9x13 inch greased baking dish. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving" Decorate the jars however you'd like. Feel free to use the free printables below or order your custom personalized stickers (or personalized digital downloads for you to print) from Davet Designs.

Free Printable Downloads:

Feel free to link to the download on your site, but please link to the original post for the download (DO NOT use the original files on your site).

Peppermint Brownie Mix Label
Peppermint Brownie Mix Instruction Label

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

4th Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Christmas Simmering Potpourri

2014-12-04T11:35:00.002-08:00

Certain smells remind me of Christmastime, and this combination of scents is one of them. While searching Christmas ideas, this blog post caught my eye. What a fun and unique gift. You can put the contents of the jar into a pot or slow cooker with some water and simmer on low. Remember to check your water often and refill as needed. You should be able to use the same pot over and over for a couple of weeks.

You will need:

1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1 orange {small (like a cutie) or regular sized}
3-4 Cinnamon Sticks
1 tablespoon Cloves
1/8 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
16oz Wide-Mouth Mason Jars or 32oz Quart wide-mouth jar
plastic bag
Sisal Twine

Instructions

Cut off a corner of a plastic (zip-loc type) bag in a semi-circle. Fill with ground nutmeg and cloves and then tie with twine. This will keep the spices from spreading all in the jar {just really for presentation purposes the little baggie looks nice}.

Place an orange in the bottom of the jar. If you are using the small "cutie" type oranges, then use the 16oz jar. If you are using a regular sized orange, you will have to use a quart wide-mouth jar. I would suggest you actually bring a jar with you to the store when picking out your oranges.

Place the cranberries then cinnamon sticks and spice bag in the jar.

Print out a pdf download of the large, medium or small tag and decorate your jar however you'd like. This would make a great hostess gift or teachers gift. I suggest purchasing the items in bulk if you plan to make a few of them.

Here are the instructions if you'd like to make your own tags:
Slice orange. Combine 3 cups of water plus jar contents in a pot or slow cooker. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer uncovered to make your house smell amazing. Add more water as needed. Can reuse over and over for a couple of weeks.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

3rd Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Chocolate Bark

2014-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like chocolate bark... or chocolate anything for that matter! Chocolate bark is one of the fastest and easiest treats to make. I have some recipes on my blog {see "chocolate bark" under my keywords - always adding new ones} or you can search the internet for tons of ideas.

You will need:

Your favorite chocolate bark {see "chocolate bark" under my keywords}
Jar

Instructions

Fill the jar with your favorite chocolate bark. Decorate jar!

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

2nd Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - Pumpkin Spice Scented Sugar Scrub

2014-12-02T09:50:00.003-08:00

Throw all your pricey body and foot scrubs away! Homemade sugar or salt scrubs are truly the best scrubs you can find. The best part is you can make them at a fraction of the price and scent them any way you like. Scrubs are perfect gifts for the friend, teacher, co-worker, etc, that needs to be pampered. This recipe comes straight from Young Living Essential oils Facebook page.

You will need:

1 3/4 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 drop Cinnamon essential oil
1 drop Clove essential oil
1 drop Ginger essential oil
1 drop Nutmeg essential oil
1/4 cup Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil
1 Tbsp. honey

Instructions

Combine sugars in a mixing bowl. Mix oils and honey together in a separate container.

Combine liquid mixture with sugars in mixing bowl and stir until it reaches desired texture, adding more oil or sugar if necessary. Transfer to mason jar or other container and enjoy!

Only use this highest quality therapeutic grade essential oils by Young Living. Contact me for ordering.

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Mistletoes Christmas artwork using kid's footprint

2014-12-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Last year I wanted to make a special personalized gift to my husband from my babies (then 19 months and 1 month old). My friend sent me a photo of a project that she had made with her kids. Super cute and super quick to make!

You will need:

Wood board, Plate, canvas {anything you'd like to decorate}
acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Paint pen(s)
Fine tip Sharpie Marker
Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer

Instructions

First paint your wood plaque (or item you are using) if you need to. I painted mine white since it was wood. You could use paper and frame it as well. I purchased my wood plaque from Michael's.

Next decide on the placement of the footprints depending on your artwork. Paint the bottom of the baby/kid's foot with green acrylic paint, then press the foot to the wood, canvas, etc. If it is only one child, then do this with each of his feet. If not, then use one footprint for each kid.

Then with the black sharpie, write the name of child next to his footprint.

Decorate the rest with paint or paint pens. For wood plaque, I'd recommend a few layers of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer. Perfect keepsake or a gift for grandparents, etc.

Here are some links that I found after the fact on Pinterest:

The Mushy Mommy Blog Discount Queens Blog Footprint Mistletoes- DIY Decorative Keepsake Plate

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

1st Day of Christmas in a Jar 2014 - 2 Ingredient Easy Chocolate Fudge

2014-12-01T07:29:00.001-08:00

Nothing says Christmastime like homemade chocolate fudge. But sometimes we don't have time for candy thermometers or burnt chocolate. With only 2 ingredients, anyone can make this super simple chocolate fudge. You can use your choice of chocolate chips or even peanut butter chips for peanut butter fudge. Great gift for someone with a sweet tooth or Christmas party.

You will need:

3 cup chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

You can use any chocolate chips that you like. I used half bittersweet and half semi-sweet chocolate chips this time. Super chocolate-y and not too sweet. Put chocolate chips and condensed milk into a microwave proof bowl. Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.

When fully melted, pour into a greased 8×8 inch pan. Let cool in the fridge and then cut into bite-sized pieces. Decorate jar with a ribbon, card, etc.

Optional: add in 3/4 cups of chopped nuts, peppermint oil, or use peanut butter chips.

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Baked Turkey Recipe - Easy, yummy, moist - best ever secret turkey recipe

2014-11-26T15:29:00.001-08:00

I told my husband I would NEVER EVER share this recipe with anyone, including him. I figure if we ever got a divorced, I wouldn't want his new wife to be able to make this for him, therefore he will have to stay with me in order to eat the best ever baked turkey. Ok, I know, I know, a little dramatic, but hey, that's me! There are thousands of recipes on the web claiming to be the best, the juiciest, easiest, etc, but this one truly is just that. The best part of this recipe is that you never have to "babysit" the turkey. You simply put it in the oven and take it out when it is done, no basting required. What's the secret? I will explain that part as I tell how to make it.

You will need:

1 Turkey (I used about a 13-14 lb. Turkey)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 chicken bouillon cubes
5-10 stalks of celery
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Short history behind how my recipe came about. Many ages ago, I decided to cook a turkey and have friends over for a dinner. Problem was, I had never cooked a turkey before. I called a friend and asked her how to cook a turkey. She spoke fast and told me very quickly how to cook the turkey. I didn't even have time to write it down. I did whatever I could remember to do to the turkey. All I remember is that the turkey took longer to cook than other people's turkey. She came over for the dinner and was wowed by my awesome turkey. Come to find out, I really didn't do much of anything the way she told me except maybe the cream of chicken part. Over the past 12 years, I've continued to make my famous turkey the same way, with perfect results every time {even the Thanksgiving I forgot to add the water}.

Wash the turkey and discard any of the bags of turkey pieces, necks and such (unless you want them for another recipe). Place the turkey in your pan. I use the disposable kind, just make sure the bottom is supported with a baking stone or cookie sheet.

Wash your celery and cut stalks in half. Place the stalks around the turkey in the pan and a few in the cavity. Sprinkle salt (I usually skip the salt) and pepper over the whole turkey.

Open your can of cream of chicken soup and dump it on top of the turkey and sort of smear it around. Fill the can with water and dump into the pan. Place 2 chicken bouillon cubes into the water.

Cover the turkey completely with aluminum foil. You can prepare this the night before and put into the refrigerate.

Here the easiest part of all. Place the turkey in the oven. Bake at 335 degrees. Don't peek! Leave it covered the whole time - no basting! About 5-1/2 hours later, your turkey is done! I know what you are thinking about now. 5-1/2 hours??? I usually cook my turkey for about 3. Won't the turkey be an overcooked mess? Here is where the "secret" comes in to play. Most turkeys are roasted, like you'd roast a chicken. When roasting, you have to keep basting, and the turkey is uncovered either all or most all of the time. With my recipe, you keep it covered the whole time which creates a sort of slow cooker type environment. That's the secret to my juicy turkey! Who knew! Now, I will say this, the turkey will not be "pretty". You know what I mean, those picture perfect magazine turkeys. The ones where the father figure gets out his nice carving set and carves the beautifully browned turkey on the elegant serving platter? Yeah, well this is what your turkey will look like:

Yep, there you go, it isn't pretty! BUT, once you taste this wonderful turkey, you won't care one bit. After you take the turkey out of the oven do a check to make sure the little red thing is popped up if there is one in there, or use your thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Using a turkey baster, move some of the juice into a pan. You can simmer the juice on the stove to make a gravy of sorts if you'd like, but after years of doing this, I realized you really won't need it. Just put a little juice when you serve and that is all that is needed. Don't try to move the turkey out of the baking pan. The turkey will literally fall apart as you touch it. Get a knife and the best you can, try to carve the turkey. Have a nice serving dish on hand and as you cut the pieces of turkey, you can arrange them nicely into that pan. I say "try" to carve, because like I said, the turkey will be falling apart. Ever cook a chicken in a slow cooker? This will be similar to that. Just sort of cut/ pull yummy juicy pieces of turkey off the bone and move to your serving dish. Pour some of the juice over the turkey in the serving dish. Arrange the celery (my favorite part) onto the serving dish as well.

It really is as simple as that. Anyone can cook a turkey. Because of the cooking method, you have some play room with the time. It is hard to overcook the turkey when following this recipe. Enjoy and comment below how your turkey came out!

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Goulash - Perfect cold weather recipe

2014-11-26T11:48:00.001-08:00

I have to say, I hate the name "Goulash". Doesn't sound appetizing, but trust me, this is yummy to the tummy good! Anyhow, years ago I came upon a recipe from a friend. Over the years I have tweaked it quite a bit to come up with this yummy dish! I cook it often and my 1 and 2 year old both eat a full plate. I serve mine over pasta, but you could eat it just plain with crackers or fresh bread.

You will need:

1 lb ground beef
2 (16 oz)cans light red kidney beans (I use Bush's)
2 (14.5 oz)cans diced tomatoes
1 onion chopped or sliced
1 Tablespoon garlic
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
Pasta of choice

Instructions

In a large pot, cook ground beef, garlic and onions over medium heat until the ground beef is browned. Drain any fat. Add all the rest of the ingredients, except the pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Cook 3 cups of dry pasta per instructions on box. Bowtie or spirals are my favorite for this dish. You can add more Tabasco sauce on each serving if you want it slightly "hotter".

Serve over pasta or eat plain with crackers or fresh bread.

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

How to dye clothespins with RIT dye tutorial

2014-11-25T13:43:00.001-08:00

For the past few months I've been creating busy bags and craft projects for my toddler. Many of the them require colored clothespins, which I have been tediously painting. I came across a post on Pinterest for a clothespin wreath with dyed clothespin. Genius I tell you, just genius! Off I went to purchase clothespins and RIT dye. You can purchase the clothespins off of this Amazon link, or at your local Walmart type store. I started with the red and green for a Christmas craft I'm making. Next I will make a ton of other colors for our busy bag and coloring matching projects for the kids.

You will need:

Liquid Rit dye {I used Cherry Red and Kelly Green}
Clothespins {Amazon link}
Gloves {Amazon link}
Ziploc or Glad type disposable Container
Plastic spoon
Paper towels
Wax Paper

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

First set up your dyeing station. Place a some paper towels under your containers. I use disposable containers, such as these Glad brand, because they are cheap and I can use them for my crafts and then throw away when they get old. Make sure you have extra paper towels handy in case you spill any dye, wipe it up immediately.

Put on your gloves. Pour 6 cups of hot water into one container. Add about 5-6 teaspoons of your Rit dye and stir.

Add your clothespins to the container, but don't overfill. I fit about 75 in one container, but it depends on the container you are using. Try to fit them in nicely where they are not sticking up, but they will try to float.

To keep them from floating to the top {out of the dye}, fill a plastic bag with some water and close. Place the baggie on the top of the clothespins to weigh them down. Repeat this process for each color you have. I did red and green for this project.

Depending on how long you leave your clothespins in the dye will determine how saturated with color they will turn out. After a few minutes, I took out a few red and a few green, just so I would have some light ones on hand. Then, I went ahead and just left the rest in the container overnight. They came out nice and dark.

When you are ready to take them out, set up your drying station. I had 3 cookie sheets and lined them with wax paper and then paper towels on top of the wax paper.

Put on your gloves and take the clothespins out and place them on the paper towels. After a few hours, I took them off and put them on fresh paper towels. Let them dry completely before using. Do NOT use these to hang fabrics. The dye WILL bleed onto your clothes, use them for craft purposes only.

Cookie Cutter Bird Seed Feeder Ornaments

2014-11-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for cheap eco-friendly projects for our family. Cookie cutter bird seed feeder ornaments are quick and easy to make and my 2 year old could help in almost every step. This is one of the many blog post I found. These bird seed feeders can be hung outside or hung on the Christmas tree, then hung outside after Christmas. These would be cute for small gifts, addition to other gifts or party favors.

You will need:

3/4 cup Bird Seed
1 envelope Knox Gelatin{several envelopes come in one box}
1/4 cup Water
Cookie cutters {I like this Cookie Cutter Set}
Straws {or something to poke holes in the feeders}
Regular Twine or Festive Twine
Wax paper or a Silicone Baking Mat

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Place your cookie cutters onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silicone Baking Mat or wax paper.

For my first batch, I doubled the recipe to make a little larger batch. The recipe makes 2-3 ornaments, doubling it will give you 4-6. Fill a large mixing bowl with one envelope of Knox gelatine. Boil the water and pour over the gelatine. Stir to mix well. This is where your little one can start to help, but be careful since the water will be hot. Stir until dissolved.

Pour in the bird seed and stir until completely mixed.

My little man had fun stirring, but I had to help him a bit.

Fill each cookie cutter with the mixture. My little one loved this part, even though I had to help him.

For our first batch, we filled 6 cookie cutters a little more than half full.

For our second batch, we filled 4 cookie cutters all the way to the top. Depending on how "tall" you want your bird seed feeders and how many you'd like to make, either way worked out just fine.

Using a piece of wax paper, pack down the bird seed mixture into the cookie cutters.

Cut your straws into pieces, and push one straw piece into each cookie cutter bird seed feeder. This way you will have a hole in the feeder to hang it.

Let your bird seed feeders dry overnight. I flipped mine right before we went to bed for the night.

Pop out of the cutters when they are completely dry. Using twine, hang and let the birds enjoy!

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

2014-11-22T14:27:00.005-08:00

Elderberry syrup is a staple in our home. Elderberry syrup is a natural cough syrup for those old enough to consume honey. Elderberry helps fight against viruses including the flu, and might reduce inflammation. It can help with mucus, sore throats and colds. Elderberry syrup contains large amounts of antioxidants, potassium, beta carotene, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C. Just search for elderberry syrup on the internet and you will find loads of great articles about the amazing benefits of this tasty syrup.

Making it yourself is not only super easy, but the ingredients are better than store bought. Store bought elderberry syrup usually contains junk I wouldn’t want to give to my family, like fructose, flavorings, etc. Homemade is cheaper and you get the benefits of the honey as well as the elderberries.

Take a tablespoon daily to ward off illness and a teaspoon every 2-3 hours while sick. It is yummy yummy as well.

You will need - I buy organic whenever possible:

1/2 cup Dried Elderberries {Amazon link} or Organic Elderberries {Amazon l ink}
3 cups water
1 cup raw honey - local works best {Amazon link}
1 Organic Whole Cinnamon Stick {Amazon link} or 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
5 Organic Cloves {Amazon link} or or 1/8 tsp ground clove
1/8 tsp Organic Ginger Root - Optional {Amazon link}
8 cup mixing bowl or large something similar
Large Nylon mesh strainer
Saucepan
Large wooden spoon

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Instructions

Elderberries simmering on stove

Place elderberries, water and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to about medium heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Mash berries in pot

With a spoon, mash the elderberries to release remaining juice. Do this a couple of times throughout the simmering. Some of the liquid will evaporate during the simmering, which is what you want to happen. After 30 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool for about 5 minutes or until the liquid has cooled some, but slightly warm.

Place strainer over mixing bowl filled with 1 cup honey.

Fill the mixing bowl (or bowl/ jar of choice) with 1 cup of honey. I like to use my mixing bowl so I don’t have to dirty a separate measuring cup and the strainer fits nicely on the top.

Pour into strainer over mixing bowl

Place a mesh strainer over the bowl and pour in the contents of the saucepan once the elderberry juice has cooled down but is still slightly warm.

Mash the berries with the wooden spoon to release all the juices into the bowl

Remove the strainer and stir together the honey and elderberry liquid until combined. Store in a lidded glass jar. Elderberry syrup should last for 3-5 months if stored in the fridge.

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Elderberry syrup is a natural cough syrup for those old enough to consume honey. Elderberry helps fight against viruses including the flu, and might reduce inflammation. It can help with mucus, sore throats and colds. Elderberry syrup contains large amounts of antioxidants, potassium, beta carotene, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C.

1/2 cup Dried Elderberries
3 cups water
1 cup local raw honey
5 cloves (or 1/8 tsp ground clove)
1/8 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cinnamon (or cinnamon stick)

Place elderberries, water and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered.
With a spoon, mash the elderberries to release remaining juice. Do this a couple of times throughout the simmering. Some of the liquid will evaporate during the simmering, which is what you want to happen.
After 30 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool for about 5 minutes or until the liquid has cooled some, but slightly warm.
Fill an 8 cup glass measuring bowl, medium sized bowl or large glass jar with 1 cup of honey. Place a mesh strainer over the bowl and pour in the contents of the saucepan.
Remove the strainer and stir together the honey and elderberry liquid until combined.
Store in a lidded glass jar. Elderberry syrup should last for 3-5 months if stored in the fridge.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Pecans

2014-11-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

I'm sad to report that I made these the other day, and now all but a few are gone. {insert sad face icon}. Yes, I ate pretty much all of them except for the one small jar I set aside for my Christmas gifts in a jar series. I don't even want to calculate the calories I ate, all in the name of blogging. I had to keep tasting them to report accurately to my readers, correct? Yes, they are super yummy and to die for. I will make more using almonds in a few days. These cinnamon pecans have a nice softer coating than the harder shell of the ones sold at the mall. I would assume the ones you make in the oven are harder as well, I will have to make those next week. Anyhow, they are super yummy, quick to make and perfect for giving or having around during the holidays.

You will need:

1 cup Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg White
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 Cups Pecan Halves
1/4 cup Water

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the egg white and vanilla until it is frothy. Add pecans to the bowl and stir until the pecans are coated thoroughly.

If you are not using a non-stick slow cooker, you might want to spray your slow cooker with a non-stick spray. Add the pecan mixture and the sugar mixture to the slow cooker and stir until the cinnamon sugar mixture is coated well on the pecans. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.

During the last hour, add the water and stir.

Spread pecans onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silicone Baking Mat or parchment paper. Spread them out the best you can and let them cool.

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Homemade Spiced Cranberry Chutney

2014-11-12T09:11:00.001-08:00

After having my youngest last fall, a friend brought over the most amazing meal ever! Salmon, broccoli, jasmine rice, roasted pecans {homemade} and this jar of something. Since the meal was so amazing, I figured, whatever was in that jar must be as well. We topped our crackers with the red jelly like stuff and began to eat. And eat. And eat. One empty jar later, I messaged her for the recipe. My obsession with Cranberry Chutney began. I make about 1-2 DOZEN 8oz jars at a time. I like to top my pancakes, crackers, or just about anything with this wonderful tasty treat! Everyone that taste this delicious homemade spiced cranberry chutney usually ends up "stealing" a jar or two (or more) from my stash.

You will need:

1 bag (12 oz) fresh or frozen cranberries (defrosted)
1 cup sugar (more or less depending on taste)
3/4 cup of water
1 large apple peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground clove

Instructions

In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil on high for about a minute, then lower temperature between medium and medium-high.

Simmer for about 10 minutes and stir often. Towards the end of the time, I sort of gently smash any berries that are still whole against the side of the pot. They don't need to be totally smashed, I just sort of "pop" any whole ones.

Laddle your cranberry chutney into glass jars. You can freeze them, but I like to can them. I'm not going to give instructions for canning {that is a whole different ball game}, but this recipe is perfect for canning. These are great to have on hand throughout the year or to give as gifts. Or bring to your favorite party host as a hostess gift, especially around the holidays.

This recipe makes 3 8oz jars and a little more depending. I like to double the recipe in each batch, and will get a full 6-7 8oz jars. I would not make more than 2 batches of this at one time. Jellies, preserves, chutney, etc. are best in smaller batches.

Here is a free pdf download of the recipe.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

DIY Quick & Easy Felt Board

2014-11-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm obsessed with everything felt at the moment! My 2.5 year old is just at that age where felt matching games and such are a blast. Felt boards can be pricey. For just a few bucks you can make your own. I spent about $12 to make this one. When making your own, you can choose your own size and felt color. My little one is loving all the super cool things I've starting make him to use on his felt board.

You will need:

22x28 inch Canvas {or desired size}
white felt {about 4 inches larger than your canvas}
Scissors
Glue Gun

Instructions

I purchased 1 yard of white felt from my local fabric store {or you can use this Amazon link}. Purchasing felt by the yard is much cheaper and you don't get the fold marks in the felt. This will give you way enough felt to cover the board and have tons left over for felt crafts. Cut a piece that is about 2 inches larger than your canvas on all sides. Simply lay your canvas face down onto the felt and cut around. No need for exact measurements. Since your canvas will be covered, you can purchase the cheapest canvas you can find.

After you cut the felt, simply glue the edges down to the back of your canvas. Now you have a lightweight felt board for all your felt projects. Check out the "felt" label to more felt projects on my blog.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Homemade Fruit Leather Snacks

2014-11-06T11:47:00.002-08:00

I'm always looking for new and healthy snacks for my whole family. In recent months, I've been working on replicating unhealthy (but often fun) snacks and make them into homemade healthy treats. I would never eat or give my family packaged fruit roll-ups/ fruit by the foot. If you read the ingredients, fruit is hardly even in them! Trying not to reinvent the wheel, I searched the internet and came upon this recipe. I made some modifications since the first batch was way to thin. It made some cool fruit crackers, but that wasn't going to fly ;). Here is what I came up with that worked out perfectly!

You will need:

4 cups mixed berries (I used 2 cups strawberries & 1 cup each of blueberries & blackberries)
1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice or water (I used water)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest {optional}
1 tablespoon honey (or more depending on your taste)

Instructions

Chop up the strawberries. You can leave the other berries whole. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes on medium-high heat.

Transfer mixture to a blender and blend into smooth. The mixture will be hot, so be careful!

Spread mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silicone Baking Mat {make your life easier} or parchment paper.

Spread evenly, but don't worry about it reaching all the sides of the pan or being even.

Bake in the oven for about 6-8 hours on 150 degrees. At some point, about 2/3 of my fruit leather was done. I simply tore off that part and let the rest bake for about an hour longer. The mixture is fairly thick when spread out, so it is hard to spread it out perfectly even.

If using the Silicone Baking Mat, peel the fruit leather off the mat and transfer to a piece of parchment paper if you'd like. Then cut the fruit into strips and roll up. I didn't bother with the parchment paper and simple tore into strips, rolled up and placed into a container. I haven't had any problems with them that way.

Feel free to experiment with different combos and maybe some different seasonings added in as well. Should last for about a month stored.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Dark Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Dried Cherries

2014-11-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

Nothing is better than dark chocolate, except maybe dark chocolate with nuts and fruit. Chocolate bark is one of the easiest no-bake treats to make. Except for the cooling time in the refrigerator, these only take about 10-15 minutes to whip up. Enjoy!

You will need:

1 12-Ounce Bag Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
3/4 cup shelled Pistachios {Roasted & Salted}
3/4 cup Dried Cherries

Instructions

Place chocolate chips into a Silicone Mixing Bowlor any microwavable bowl. Words of wisdom: invest in kitchen tools that will make your life easier!!!! I prefer my Pampered Chef silicone mixing bowl {because I'm a Pampered Chef snob - there I said it!}, but any Silicone Mixing Bowl like this Silicone Mixing Bowl will do. Silicone mixing bowls are microwaveable, easy to handle and you can touch them while hot without using gloves. Microwave your chocolate on high for one minute.

Stir the chocolate with your silicone spoon. Again, keep it simple and easy! I like my Pampered Chef mix and scrape, but this Silicone Spoon would do just as well. Put back into the microwave for 10-20 seconds then stir again. Do this until the chocolate is all the way melted.

At some point when my chocolate starts to stick to the spoon, I just keep it in the bowl and microwave it just like that. Just make sure you are using a silicone spoon that is microwave safe! Not all are since the handles are sometimes made of plastic or something else.

To chop up the pistachio nuts, I place mine on a cutting board and give them 3-5 "chops" with a Hand Chopper .

When the chocolate is completely melted, stir in about 2/3 of your pistachios and 2/3 of your dried cherries.

Spread mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with a Silicone Baking Mat {again, make your life easier} or parchment paper. Don't worry about making it even around the edges since you are going to break it up anyway.

Spread the rest of your pistachios and dried cherries on top. Carefully push down into the chocolate.

Place in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes to cool.

Here comes the fun part. Break the bark into desired size pieces. It can't get any easier than that!

This easy no bake treat can be made with a million different combinations of chocolates (I prefer dark, my husband prefers white) and toppings. Feel free to add any kind of spices to the melted chocolate mix as well for a unique taste.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!

Halloween Felt Flower Wreath

2014-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Need a quick and easy, yet classic style Halloween wreath? It took me TWO years to make this wreath! Not because it is hard or time consuming. I made the burlap wrapped wreath, but didn't know where to go from there. After sitting on my shelf for 2 whole years, it finally came to me! I decided to make felt flowers in black and grey for a classic look.

You will need:

12-Inch Straw Wreath or 14-Inch Straw Wreath
Orange burlap cut into strips or 4-Inch by 10-Yard rollorange burlap
scissors
Hot glue gun
Black felt and Gray felt sheets

Instructions

Cut your orange burlap into 4 inch strips, or make your life a whole lot easier and purchase the pre-cut 4-Inch burlap strips. Wrap the strips around the wreath and hot glue ends. I made all the ends on the backside so it wouldn't show.

Next I made a bunch of different kinds and different sizes of felt flowers. Felt flowers are SUPER easy and quick to make. You can search "felt flowers" on the internet for tons of tutorials on how to make them. I also cut some leaves out of the felt as well. Using stick pins, I pinned the flowers where I wanted them to be on the wreath. Once I got all the flowers where I thought they looked the best, I glued each one (and the leaves) into place. Make sure you remove the stick pins as you go.

You're done! You really can't go wrong with this one. Just move the flowers around to your liking.

Using the affiliate links in this blog to make purchases helps support my site. Thank you in advance!