Showing posts with label How-to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How-to. Show all posts

Friday, December 23, 2011

Using Last Years Christmas Cards

    Every Christmas I get a pile of greetings cards from my thoughtful and loving friends and family. For many years I've tried to save them, but they collect so quickly and I always ended up having to put them in the recycling bin. It just seemed so wasteful.
    A few years ago, I got the greatest idea from my Grandmother. Instead of purchasing Gift Tags from the store, she would use the greeting cards from the year before to tag her gifts. Isn't that just the smartest idea ever? Not only are you saving money, but your reusing a product that close friends and family members took the time and care to send you.
    You can make these as simple or as fancy as you want. I kept it on the simpler side today to show you how it can be done without a bunch of scrapbooking supplies.
   
Homemade Gift Tags:


Materials:

Old Christmas Cards
Label stencil
Scissors
Hole Punch
Assorted Stamps
Assorted Ink Colors
Ribbon, optional

Directions:
1) Trace a label stencil onto the unused portion of the greeting card.


2) Cut along the line you have created.

3) Using a stamp, decorate the label to your liking.

Ink

Stamp

Color
5) Add embellishment, such as ribbon.

Add ribbon

Curl ribbon

 

Monday, December 12, 2011

Gifts from your Kitchen

    This time of year can become financially stressful on us all. There are always so many people on your Christmas list and only so much money to go around. Gifts from the kitchen are always affordable to create and welcomed by all. While I was making a batch of Gingerbread Pancakes I thought it might be a nice idea to put the dry ingredients into a Mason Jar. This way I have a nice hostess gift for any parties I might be attending, or a quick gift I already have prepared for those wonderful friends who remembered to think of me, and that I may have accidentally overlooked :/

Gingerbread Pancakes in a Jar



Materials:


1- 500ml Mason Jar
1- standard size ring
1- standard size lid
Wide mouth funnel
16 inches of hemp twine (or any string you have on hand)
1- 9"x 9" piece of holiday fabric
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
2 pieces of card stock, 2 colors matching your chosen fabric (to make the label)
adhesive of your choice
computer printer
8.5 x 11 cardstock (extra thick printer paper)

_____________________________________________________________________

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
2 tsps. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 Tbsps. brown sugar

Instructions:

1) In a mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.


2) Divide the flour mixture in half.
3) Fit the mason jar with the funnel.
4) Pour half of the flour mixture into the jar. Tap the flour down, by pounding the bottom of the jar against your counter.
5) Once the flour seems to be packed down, pour in the brown sugar.


6) Arrange the brown sugar in a neat layer using a wooden spoon.
7) Pack the brown sugar down.
8) Pour the second half of the flour mixture into the mason jar. Tap the bottom of the jar against the counter again.
9) Fit the jar with the lid and ring.

10) Place the fabric over the ring and secure with the twine.
11) Create Label. The label should read:
______________________________________________________________________________________

Ginger Bread Pancakes


Additional Ingredients Needed:
2 cups of buttermilk
2 eggs
2 Tbsps. butter, melted
2 Tbsp. molasses

Directions:
1) Pour contents of jar into a large mixing bowl.
2) In another mixing bowl combine all of the above ingredients. Whisk to combine.
3) Combine wet and dry ingredients, making sure not to overmix.
4) Heat a non-stick skillet and spray with cooking spray.
5) Pour 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan and cook until the surface starts to bubble.
6) Once bubbles begin to appear, it is time to flip.
7) Serve with warm maple syrup.


*This recipe makes 18 average sized pancakes.
________________________________________________________________________

12) From here cut the above instructions and paste them into your personal word processing software. Change the font size, type and color to suit your liking. (I chose size 9 font, Comic Sans, and went with a red and green color scheme.) Print as many as you need.


13) Using a ruler and pencil, carefully trace around the directions. Neatly cut along the pencil line you have created.

14) Glue the directions onto your second piece of card stock. Using your ruler and pencil, carefully trace around the first piece of card stock with the directions on it, leaving a 1/2 inch on all sides.
15) Carefully cut along the pencil line you have created.
16) Punch with a hole and attach to the prepared Mason Jar.

All Finished!

 *I also came across this web site with a bunch of free printable labels, to add a little something extra.

They're personalized and everything.

    And there you have it. A wonderful gift that comes from the heart and your kitchen. After all, who wouldn't be greatful to eat such a delicious breakfast...

Gingerbread Pancakes with warm maple syrup.

You may also like:
Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies in a Jar
Gingerbread Pancakes