Easter Brunch Menu and Decor Ideas

Mar 25, 2016 · 2 Comments

Easter Brunch Menu and Decor Ideas: pretty spring woodland inspired Easter table and decor, and easy make-ahead Easter Brunch menu.

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This month for our #YearofFeasting we had a lovely little Spring Woodland Easter Brunch. I was inspired by all things spring, and forest, like pretty green moss, and pussy willows. Today I'm sharing ideas Easter brunch menu and decor ideas.

Woodland Spring Table

This table was so much fun to put together, with lots of sweet little details perfect for celebrating spring.

DIY Moss Table Runner

The first thing I did to prepare for to prepare for hosting Easter brunch was to work on the table. I wanted a moss runner so I went out to the forest and collected some moss. It was a little wet, and I didn't want it to mark the dining room table, so I laid it out on newspaper for a few days inside to let it dry out. By the time I set the table it was nice and dry, and I layered the moss table runner over some brown kraft paper, just in case there were any damp spots left. If you don't have a forest nearby, you can buy a moss runner at the craft store.

Forced Pussy Willows

While I was out foraging, I picked a few pussy willow branches. They weren't out yet, so I brought them into the warm house and put them in a vase of water to force them. I noticed yesterday though, after one warm day they were starting to come out outside too.

Along with pussy willows, nothing says spring to me like tulips. I picked up some and put them in simple mason jars.

Paper Mache Mushrooms

To create more of the woodland feel, we made some paper mache mushrooms.

I love the book pages for a whimsical look. All the mushrooms I made are different sizes and colours.

Along with the mushrooms, I added in some sweet little bunnies I found at the dollar store.

Cement Eggs

I also used my DIY cement Easter eggs -see how I made them here. They add such a fun rustic look.

I also added a few pretty nests, a birdie, and some sweet butterflies -with the wire poked into the moss to make them fly. 😉

I had so much fun adding in little bits here and there, imagining spring in the woods.

Placesettings

For the place settings, I started with some rustic wood chargers.

At everyone's spot a special little spring treat -chocolate coconut nest cookies, find the recipe here.

Easter Brunch Menu

Once the scene was set, it was time to think about the menu for hosting Easter Brunch.

This brunch menu is a real winner, with lots of easy make aheads, giving you time to enjoy the party too.

quiche
ham
French toast casserole
fruit tray
hot cross buns
scones
nest cookies
moss bunny cookies
chocolate mousse Easter eggs

I made an easy quiche, I like this recipe (I find the filling is enough for two). I made one broccoli cheddar, and one spinach and swiss. They're quick to make and a real crowd pleaser.

Along with the quiche we served a ham, again a simple choice, and great leftovers.

We also made French Toast Casserole. Find our French Toast Casserole recipe here. We love it and make it every year for Christmas Day. We like to serve it with a custard sauce.

We also made a fruit tray, and I picked up some hot cross buns and scones at the bakery.

For a sweet treat we had the nest cookies and we were inspired by Semi Sweet Design's moss look bunnies. I cheated with store bought gingerbread dough that we just had to roll out and decorate, and they turned out really cute, and definitely mossy looking.

For our final special treat we made chocolate mousse Easter eggs, and they were so, so good.

It was a feast indeed, and we had such a nice time connecting with some dear old friends, and lingering at the table.

With hosting Easter Brunch, life really is a party!

Easy DIY Spring Easter Diorama Ideas

Mar 24, 2016 · 2 Comments

Miniature Spring Easter Dioramas: Easy to make spring diorama in a mini tuna tin, Altoids tin, and sardine tin tutorial.

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Why is everything so much cuter when it's miniature? These spring Easter dioramas are the sweetest. I had so much fun creating these miniature scenes and they're such a fun craft idea. They look adorable as part of your Easter decor.

I think miniature doll houses are on the rise, and have to admit I'm kind of into it. Maybe it's fulfilling childhood fantasies, or maybe it's just that anything tiny is just so very, very cute. I love these little dioramas since they're fairy size. They make me think of little fairies getting ready for spring, but they're not too precious since they're made of old tins. And you know, fairies really are master up-cyclers, ;). Once you start making these, you'll be looking at every little tin you see with a whole host of new opportunities for it to become the latest version of your diorama base.

So here is how I made them, they're pretty simple to put together, just a bit of gathering up supplies…which was pretty fun in itself.

Altoids Garden Diorama

The gardening diorama is made out of an Altoids tin, which I found at Shoppers Drug Mart, good news if you're Canadian and wondering where to get one.

I found the little garden tools at Michaels, and they inspired the gardening theme of this first little diorama. You could also find them at a miniature doll house shop, it's a great place to look for craft supplies for dioramas.

The background for this one is a free printable of an antique seed package…I chose carrots because of Easter. You can play with sizing on your printer. I think I printed this one at 60% for the perfect fit in the back of the diorama.

I'm loving moss right now. It's so spring-y and perfect here behind the little hand tools.

On the other side, I printed out a Bible page for the background. Spring makes me think about seasons, and "a time to plant…" Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 is where it's found. I resized it, printed it, and then antiqued it with just a little brown paint rubbed in to make it look like it was a part of some vintage treasures.

The adorable fairy sized seed packages were found at a miniature store, and are really cute. When I came home from that little shopping trip I realized I could have probably used a free printable like this one, so here's the link for you. You can just print them, cut them out, and glue them together. There's so many free digital designs like this available now for free personal use. One of the best parts of making dioramas is making them full of little details like this.

I added in a little toy bunny, and his tiny carrot, these were a dollar store find in the toy section. I think the fairies would approve.

Mini Tuna Can Spring Nest Diorama

The little nest diorama was inspired by some tiny Easter nests at the dollar store. The nests had little yellow Easter chicks in them, I removed them and added some foam eggs I had, and a feather.

The nest is resting in a tuna tin. Not a regular size one, a mini one. Be sure to wash it in some warm soapy water to remove any lingering tuna scent. I used white glue thinned with a little warm water to glue in a background of torn old book pages as layers of paper mache. The spring banner is made with rubber stamps. It's fun to make little handmade pieces like this to include.

I found the perfect twig to hold my little nest and added it and the nest to the tin with my glue gun and some hot glue. Lastly I added a little glue to the bottom of the egg and added them one by one into the nest. This was such a fun project.

Sardine Tin Easter Egg Diorama

Lastly, and probably my favourite is the little Easter egg dying scene diorama. I was inspired by something similar I spied at the miniature store. Here is my DIY version.

I picked up the tiny cups, one plate, and the sweet little Easter basket there.

The eggs are made out of white polymer clay. I used paint on the front of the egg for some to make them to look dyed. Also, I added some paint to the cups for the dye.

A little mod podge added to the paint in the cups helps to make it a little more shiny. The penny will give you an idea of the scale. The Easter grass is regular Easter grass that I just cut to a smaller width and length. I filled the basket with the Easter grass and each finished egg. And the other eggs are waiting on the little plate for their turn in the dye. I attached them to the plate with a little hot glue on the edge of the egg.

The newspapers are a free printable from here. Look for digital items like this online and print at home, resizing with your printer to get the perfect fit. I added just a dab of the paint on some paper towel and added to the newspaper. I thought it made the scene look more real, like the Easter egg dye had spilled on the newspaper a little.

This scene all takes place in an old sardine tin. I have to confess I threw out the sardines, I just wanted the cute little tin. I used extraordinary care to leave the lid attached and curled back for a cute effect.

Easter egg Spring Diorama in a sardine tin

Displaying Your Dioramas

These are definitely my favourite little project of late. I love how tiny they are, how sweet, how detailed, and how spring like these dioramas turned out. I found such special goods at the miniature shop for creating these special little scenes.

These are so little I would place them somewhere where they'll catch your eye. I thought they looked great as a little grouping on the wall, or perhaps placed on a little shelf together, or even on the mantel. For creative entrepreneurs they might make a great item to sell at spring craft fairs or as an etsy offer for creative small businesses as made-to-order items. I hope the full details of the tutorial help you create your own Easter dioramas this spring.

With Miniature Fairy Garden Spring Dioramas, life really is a party!

More Inspiration

You might also like our Fairy Gardens in a Jar tutorial here.

How To Make A Miniature Fairy Garden In A Jar: Tutorial using polymer clay to make adorable mushrooms and a fairy house, and then arrange in a teeny, tiny glass bottle.

Also check out our Mini Hearts in a Bottle here.

You might also enjoy our Felt Mushrooms tutorial here.

DIY Felt Mushrooms: easy to sew red and white polka dot mushrooms with felt, and cork and wooden spool stems. Perfect for your spring decor.

Twig Houses

Mar 22, 2016 · 16 Comments

Twig Houses: Easy DIY with twigs, glue, and paint to make these decorative twig houses.

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This month for #12monthsofDIY our material is wood! There's probably a million great DIY's you could do with wood, but I wanted to give these sweet little twig houses a try, and love, love, love how they turned out. I first saw some on "The Block" an Australian decorating show that I might be slightly addicted to…anyway they're been on there a few times and I always thought they were really cute. So I went looking for them and found these, gorgeous, and not available here. What's a DIYer to do…have a go at them. The originals are probably made with nails, but we're keeping it simple with gold old hot glue. Here's how I made them.

Materials:

twigs
hot glue
paint

How To Make A Twig House:

First job is to find some twigs. I used dogwood because there is lots growing in the forrest behind our house, and the branches looked pretty straight.

Cut your twigs into long pieces removing most of any twigs at the side. I did choose to leave a few, and I think they look really good with just a couple pieces like that.

Now, decide on how big you want to make your first twig house and cut out two matching side pieces, two roof pieces and a shorter piece for the bottom base. Make sure the side pieces are cut on angle to create the roof slope, and then trim your roof pieces so they match up. You don't need to get your protractor or anything here. A little wonky-ness adds character. Now use some hot glue to attach all your pieces together.

Then, make a copy of this house front for the back.

Next, decide on the length of the sides, and glue them in place on one side, and then to the side. Now it's starting to look like a house.

Lastly, find a piece for the top roof piece, and then two more short ones for the sides at the top. Glue them in place and your little house structure is done.

To finish these sweet little houses off, I painted them with mineral paint. It was my first time working with this paint and it was really nice to work with; great coverage, pretty colours, no bad smell, and easy clean up. I gave my little houses two coats.

how to make a Twig House out of branches

You can make these in all different sizes, I did three, all slightly bigger than the next. They'd be perfect for some nesting dolls to live in.

Variations:

You can see here how I left a few little twigs sticking out on some of the pieces, adds a little more character.

I love how the details of the wood show through, but how the paint colours make them look a little more modern.

Remember they don't have to be perfect, a little crocket works.

I like the white and then just one pretty pinkish one. These would be great done in bright spring colours too…think yellow, turquoise, the possibilities are endless.

Twig Houses: Easy DIY with twigs, glue, and paint to make these decorative twig houses.

With pretty DIY twig houses, life really is a party.

You might also like our DIY Mason Jar Oil Lamps here.

DIY Mason Jar Oil Lamps: Simple to make and so beautiful. Perfect for a party, wedding centerpiece, or just in your home.

Also check out our DIY Pampas Grass Wreath here.

You might also like our Black Paint Dipped Brass Candlesticks here.

How To Make Cement Easter Eggs

Mar 9, 2016 · 7 Comments

How To Make Cement Easter Eggs: use some dollar store plastic Easter eggs, cooking spray, and cement for this easy and inexpensive DIY.

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I thought it would be fun to make some Cement Easter Eggs to add into my spring decor. I love how they turned out, and they're pretty easy to make too. So lately I've been loving cement, and I love it mixed with some vintage pieces for that rustic feel, that helps keep things a little edgy and not too sweet. These are a great addition to any spring decor and they're really cute for Easter too.

Easter Egg Moulds

We used regular plastic Easter eggs from the dollar store as our cement moulds. These are really inexpensive and easy to find. It can be a little hard to get the set cement out of the plastic eggs. To help with that you want to make sure you spray the inside of the mould well with some cooking spray to help it not to stick to badly.

Even with cooking spray though, some of our eggs were really tricky to get out. We ended up breaking the plastic dollar tree eggs off of them, so don't count on being able to reuse the plastic eggs again after the un-moulding.

Using plastic eggs as the moulds also results in a ridge around the the centre of the egg, where the egg closes. These rough edges aren't too hard to remove, when you first remove the egg from the mould, before the cement is set really, really hard. There are a few different ways to remove the ridge, but they all require a little patience. The easy way is to use the edge of crafting knife to chip it away. You could also try using sandpaper.

How To Make Cement Easter Eggs: See how to use plastic Easter eggs as moulds to make your own cement eggs.

Materials:

Plastic Easter Eggs
Cement Mix
Drill
Baking Spray

How To Make Cement Easter eggs:

1. Prepare Your Moulds

The first thing to do is to prepare your moulds. We used standard plastic Easter eggs. We began by drilling a large-ish hole in the top of the egg. Do this for each egg. I used an old egg carton to hold my moulds while we worked, since eggs don't have a flat bottom and won't stand up on their own.

Once the small hole is drilled, spray both sides of the inside of the egg mould with baking spray, this will make it easier to get your egg out later.

2. Mix Cement

Once your moulds are prepped the next step is to mix up your cement, making sure to stir it well so it's fully combined, and always work in a well ventilated area. You want your cement mixture to be not too dry, and not too wet of a consistency. If it's too dry add a some extra water a little bit at a time. If it's too much water it will be a goopy mess, so add some more cement mix to make it dryer.

3. Fill The Eggs

To fill your eggs start by filling each side of the mould separately, and then try to snap the bottom of the egg and the top of the top of the egg together. Working with the pointy end of the egg with the hole in the top, gently tap your full egg on a hard surface to try and get any air bubbles out of the cement mix. Now if there's any room at the top, use a plastic spoon to next pour a little more cement through the hole. I also used a lollipop stick to push some more in the small opening at the top, and tapped it down.

4. Un-Moulding

Now leave your full concrete Easter eggs to set overnight. Overnight seemed to be a good length of time. You want your cement to be set, but not set too hard yet. Once your cement is set it's time to take them out of the plastic container moulds.

This was the hardest part of the job.

A few came out easily, others were a little more tricky. Usually when you're opening these eggs, you squeeze it a little to pop it open, but when it's full of dry cement you can't squeeze it. I used a knife in the crack and pried them open. Two of the plastic egg moulds broke as I was removing them. I did get all six of mine out, and they all turned out great, it just took a little elbow grease for some. 😉

5. Sand and Smooth

Once the eggs are out of the moulds, you might want to use a little sandpaper or the edge of a knife to smooth out the bumpy surface where the egg shape clicked together. After a day of setting in the moulds the cement will still be soft enough when you take them out to scrap it smooth quite easily.

Recipe

How To Make Cement Easter Eggs

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Cook Time: 30

Additional Time: 12

Total Time: 12 30

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Equipment

Plastic Easter Eggs
Cement Mix
Drill
Baking Spray

Materials

Plastic Easter Eggs
Cement Mix
Baking Spray
Egg Carton

Instructions

Prepare the Moulds
The first thing to do is to prepare your moulds. We used standard plastic Easter eggs. We began by drilling a large-ish hole in the top of the egg. Do this for each egg. I used an old egg carton to hold my moulds while we worked, since eggs don't have a flat bottom and won't stand up on their own.
Once the small hole is drilled, spray both sides of the inside of the egg mould with baking spray, this will make it easier to get your egg out later.
Mix Cement
Once your moulds are prepped the next step is to mix up your cement, making sure to stir it well so it's fully combined, and always work in a well ventilated area. You want your cement mixture to be not too dry, and not too wet of a consistency. If it's too dry add a some extra water a little bit at a time. If it's too much water it will be a goopy mess, so add some more cement mix to make it dryer.
Fill The Eggs
To fill your eggs start by filling each side of the mould separately, and then try to snap the bottom of the egg and the top of the top of the egg together. Working with the pointy end of the egg with the hole in the top, gently tap your full egg on a hard surface to try and get any air bubbles out of the cement mix. Now if there's any room at the top, use a plastic spoon to next pour a little more cement through the hole. I also used a lollipop stick to push some more in the small opening at the top, and tapped it down.
Un-Moulding
Now leave your full concrete Easter eggs to set overnight. Overnight seemed to be a good length of time. You want your cement to be set, but not set too hard yet. Once your cement is set it's time to take them out of the plastic container moulds.
This was the hardest part of the job.
A few came out easily, others were a little more tricky. Usually when you're opening these eggs, you squeeze it a little to pop it open, but when it's full of dry cement you can't squeeze it. I used a knife in the crack and pried them open. Two of the plastic egg moulds broke as I was removing them. I did get all six of mine out, and they all turned out great, it just took a little elbow grease for some.
Sand and Smooth
Once the eggs are out of the moulds, you might want to use a little sandpaper or the edge of a knife to smooth out the bumpy surface where the egg shape clicked together. After a day of setting in the moulds the cement will still be soft enough when you take them out to scrap it smooth quite easily.

You could also paint these with some acrylic paint, or tape off a section and paint it, or apply a sealer to the cement for more of a wet look. I kind of like these ones with a rougher look with the raw cement, so i left mine as they were.

I'm loving how the Cement Easter Eggs look mixed with a little moss or in this rustic vintage metal basket. They're also really cute in a egg holder. They make a great addition to your Easter table as well. They could also be really cute in your garden for spring arranged with a garden bunny statue.

This is a pretty simple DIY project, and very inexpensive to make as well. You could look for different sizes of plastic eggs to use as your moulds and make a whole array of these cement eggs for spring.

With Cement Easter Eggs, life really is a party!

More Easter Egg Inspiration

Also check out our Nail Polish Marbled Easter Eggs here.

Nail Polished Marbled Easter Eggs: easy water marbling with nail polish is the perfect modern touch to your Easter eggs.

You might also like our Gold Leaf Easter Eggs here.

No-bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Mar 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment

No Bake Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Nest Cookies: An easy no-bake cookie, perfect for Easter, made to resemble little nests and full of Easter eggs.

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These No Bake Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Nest Cookies are an old family favourite.

I grew up on these no bake cookies. My mom called them Chocolate Drops, they're sometimes called Macaroons, or No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies, or Chocolate Coconut Macaroons. Whatever their name, they're delicious.

Easy

These cookies are so easy to make because they don't require any baking. They come together on the stove top, where the sugar mixture is heated before adding in the other ingredients. Then it's all quickly stirred together before the it starts cooling and the cookies start to set. Finally these cookies are dropped by spoonful onto some parchment paper and left to set and harden. They come together in less than 15 minutes and a good idea to make if you're looking for something easy to bake to that everyone will love.

My grandma favored these cookies during summer months when the house was hot and she didn't want to have turn on the oven to bake and make the whole house even hotter. If you're looking for some no bake treats for the same reason than this simple cookie recipe is perfect.

My mom almost always made this no bake cookie recipe on a weeknight after dinner since they're pretty quick and easy, so we could take some to school the next day for our lunch. When she didn't have anything sweet in the house, this one of her favorite easy recipes to use. I have many memories of opening up my wax paper package of these at recess for a real treat. If you're looking for an easy cookie recipe, this delicious recipe is perfect. It will only take you about 15 minutes to make a batch of these, and then another ½ hour for them to set.

Nest Cookies

I like making them in the spring and for Easter with the addition of some little Easter eggs that make them resemble the sweetest little nests. But you can make them as regular cookies too. Either way they're delicious. And any one with a sweet tooth, or a who is a chocolate lover will love these no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies..

Oats

These cookies are made with oats. There are many different oats, so which kind of oats are best for these no bake cookies? We use instant rolled oats for these cookies. Instant rolled oats are made by steaming the oats and then rolling them flat between steel rollers. This gives the oat a larger surface and therefore a quicker cooking time. Finally instant oats are then pre-cooked, dried and chopped into smaller pieces. This makes them cook in an instant, which helps these cookies to set quickly and makes them very tender. You can also use quick oats or quick-cooking oats for this recipe, they'll just be slightly chewier. I would not use large flake oats or old-fashioned oats for this recipe.

Coconut

This recipe has desiccated shredded coconut in it. The coconut adds delicious flavor and texture to the cookies. We've used sweetened coconut for this recipe, but you can also use unsweetened shredded coconut, since these cookies are already very sweet. Sometimes unsweetened is a little harder to find in the grocery store, but either will work fine in this recipe. I would not use coconut flakes for this recipe because the pieces are too large. Desiccated coconut is coconut that has been dried.

Gluten Free

If you're looking for a gluten free cookie recipe than these are perfect. None of the ingredients include gluten, including the mini eggs. Any one with a gluten free diet is free to enjoy these delicious cookies.

Do make sure to check the label for gluten free oats. While oats are naturally gluten free, in some factories they may come in contact with other grains, so do make sure to check your particular oats to make they are gluten free before using them is you're serving them to someone who suffers from celiac disease.

Troubleshooting

These cookies are very easy to make, but there are a couple common mistakes that sometimes happen. Once your mixture comes to a boil, begin timing it and let it boil for 1 minutes, no shorter and no longer.

If you don't boil the mixture long enough it can result in cookies that don't set properly and that are gooey and sticky because the sugar mixture did not get hot enough.

If on the other hand you boil your sugar mixture for too long, the cookies will not set properly either and instead become crumbly and dry.

One other factor that can effect these cookies setting properly is the humidity. If you make these cookies on a very humid day, you may need to let the sugar mixture a little extra so that they will set properly. Up to an extra minute of boiling on a very humid day should help these cookies to set.

easy no bake nest cookies for spring or easter

Store these cookies in a airtight container at room temperature.

This classic recipe is such a favorite made with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry. These are sure to become one of your favorite no bake recipes. I love the texture of the oatmeal and coconut together and the sweet chocolaty taste of this great recipe. And they just might be the easiest cookie recipe ever too.

These no bake oatmeal cookies made into little nests are the perfect addition to any spring or Easter get together. And your kids will love them, and the little Easter eggs inside of them. This sweet treat looks great on an Easter cookie board or dessert table. These are sure to become on of your favorite cookie recipes.

Recipe

No-bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Easy no-bake oatmeal and coconut cookies.

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 3

Total Time: 13

Servings:

Calories: 398kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl combine the rolled oats, cocoa, and coconut. Set aside.
Combine the sugar, shortening, milk and salt in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat and boil 1 min, no longer.
Remove from the heat and add vanilla. Then stir in the dry ingredients that you set aside earlier.
Stir well and quickly to combine everything. While the chocolate mixture is still hot, drop by tablespoon full onto parchment paper spread on a table. The mixture will be hot, so use two spoons, or a small cookie scoop. Be sure to work quickly before the mixture begins to cool and harden.
While the cookies are still hot, use the back of a spoon to create a nest indent and then press a few eggs into each. Allow to set completely and enjoy. Store in an airtight container. Makes about 3 dozen.

Nutrition

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With easy homemade No Bake Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Nest Cookies, life really is a party!

More Easter Recipe Inspiration

Want another easy Easter recipe? Check out these Chocolate Mousse Easter Eggs.

Also check out our Black Forest Cake in a Mason Jar recipe here.

You might also enjoy our No-Bake Cheesecakes in a Mason Jar here.

Lasagna

Feb 26, 2016 · 1 Comment

Easy Layered Lasagna Recipe: this is a great make-ahead, and it freezes well. Easy to put together, and sure to be a family favourite.

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My mom's been making this easy layered lasagna recipe ever since I can remember. It's simple, delicious, a crowd pleaser, and a great make ahead. Tick, tick, tick, ticking all the boxes. It's perfect for these cold days of winter when everyone is longing for hearty, delicious comfort food.

Make Ahead

It's great as a make-ahead, and favourite of hers for company, since she can make it in the morning or the day before and not have to worry once the company arrives.

This lasagna also freezes great. Just put it together, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze it un-baked. When you want to have it, pull it out of the freezer and into the oven, adjusting the cooking time to a little longer if cooking from frozen lasagna.

What's The Order For Layering Lasagna?

This classic lasagna recipe has two layers. It starts by adding a layer of savory meat sauce with vegetables to the bottom of the pan. The next layer is the pre-boiled 3-4 lasagna noodles. On top of that is grated mozzarella cheese, and the the layer of cottage cheese. Then the process repeats for the second layer with the meat and vegetable tomato sauce, and final layer of pasta and mozzarella cheese. There is no second layer of cottage cheese, and the dish is finished with the last layer of parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.

The cottage cheese is layered into the middle of the lasagna. And the top layer is a the noodles covered in mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, so that it melts and browns on top perfectly.

This is the best lasagna recipe with the perfect ratio of meat and vegetable tomato sauce to the layers of noodles and different cheeses, and the cottage cheese in the middle adds creaminess and texture to the dish.

Noodles

We like to pre-boil the noodles for this dish before layering them into the lasagna for this classic recipe. It does add another step to boil noodles, instead of using the no boil lasagna noodles for your layers of pasta. We've tried both ways and found the no boil noodles are never as tender, and tend to dry the lasagna out. It only takes about 10 minutes to pre-boil your noodles for this dish and is definitely worth the effort when you're making homemade lasagna from scratch. You can use the no boil lasagna noodles in this dish if you prefer, but we prefer to use the regular lasagna noodles and cook the pasta in boiling water first for more tender noodles.

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in a airtight container, or cover the baking dish with tightly with plastic wrap for the next day.

The smell of my Mom's easy lasagna cooking last night brought back lots of childhood memories, and anticipation of a great dinner. We love to serve this dish with a big salad and some homemade garlic bread and little sprinkle of fresh basil. Everyone always loves the corner pieces. It's perfect for the next time you have a special occasion to celebrate. We love that it's easy to put together and doesn't take a whole day to make, but is still so delicious.

Recipe

With my Mom's easy lasagna recipe, life really is a party!

More Recipe Inspiration

You might also like Gnocchi with and Italian Sausage.

Also check out our Unstuffed Zucchini recipe here.

Unstuffed Zucchini: the perfect quick and easy, one pot weeknight meal. We made cooking time quicker using zucchini zoodles.

You might also enjoy our Butter Chicken Pizza recipe here.

Butter Chicken Pizza: use frozen naan bread and jarred butter chicken sauce from the grocery store, for this quick and easy butter chicken pizza recipe.

Bunny Treat Bag With Free Pattern

Feb 24, 2016 · 10 Comments

Bunny Treat Bag: Linen Easter Bunny Drawstring Bag to sew, includes a free pattern and full tutorial on how to make it.

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Easter is coming, and so for this month's #12MonthsofDIY Fabric Challenge, I thought it might be nice to make something for spring.

These adorable Bunny Treat Bags were a quick sewing project to put together, and are perfect for your Easter celebrations.

The Linen Fabric

I made them out of some lovely linen fabric. Before I started sewing with the linen, I pre-washed it a couple of times in hot water with some white vinegar, and then I dried it in a hot dryer to soften it. This method worked great, and made the fabric lovely and soft. Also I love its rustic wrinkled look. Here's how I made the Bunny Treat Bags.

Bunny Treat Bag Materials:

Linen Fabric
White Thread
Thin Ribbon
Black Embroidery Thread
Small Black Buttons

Instructions:

Free Bunny Treat Bag Pattern

1. The free pattern for our adorable treat bags is available to subscribers in our free resource library. Just subscribe below for our instant access.

Print the free pattern and then cut it out. Then pin it to the fabric and cut out two pieces for the bag, and four pieces for the ears.

Time To Sew

2. Secondly, pin two of the cut out bunny ears together and sew with a ¼" seam allowance, leaving the bottom open, so you can turn them right-side-out. Next repeat with the other ear. Then, use a pen or chopstick to help you turn the ears right-side-out. (I used linen so there was no right side or wrong side of the fabric, if you use something else take care to sew the wrong sides together for the ears and the bag so that when you turn the seams to the inside of the pieces the good side of the fabric is showing.)

3. Next, pin the bag pieces together, and sew taking special care to not sew the top, as marked on the pattern, starting and stopping about an inch and a half from the top, on both sides. This will be where we thread the drawstring through the bag.

4. Then use an iron to press the ¼ inch seam open at the top of the bunny bags edges, and then stitch around it, on both sides of the bag.

Add the Ears

9. Now fold down the top of the bag, to create the channel for the drawstring. Pin in place. Then on one side, pin in place the ears that have been turned right-side-out already. Next, carefully sew around the seam at the top of the bag.

10. The next step is to turn the bag right-side-out. Now cut two pieces of ribbon or twine for the drawstring. Thread one through each side, and tie in a knot, using a safety pin to help you thread it through the channel.

Add the Sweetest Bunny Face

11. Lastly, use the black embroidery thread to stitch an X for the little bunnies mouth, and sew on the two black buttons for eyes for the sweet bunny face.

Another option is to sew a cute pom pom on to the back as a bunny tail.

Recipe

Make your own bunny shaped treat bag sewing project for Easter.

Bunny Treat Bag With Free Pattern

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Prep Time: 1

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 1

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Equipment

Sewing Machine
iron

Materials

Linen Fabric
White Thread
Thin Ribbon
Black Embroidery Thread
Small Black Buttons

Instructions

Print the free pattern from our free resource library, and then cut it out. Pin it to the fabric and cut out two pieces for the bag, and four pieces for the ears.
Secondly, pin two of the cut out bunny ears together and sew with a ¼" seam allowance, leaving the bottom open, so you can turn them right-side-out. Next repeat with the other ear. Then, use a pen or chopstick to help you turn the ears right-side-out. (I used linen so there was no right side or wrong side of the fabric, if you use something else take care to sew the wrong sides together for the ears and the bag so that when you turn the seams to the inside of the pieces the good side of the fabric is showing.)
Next, pin the bag pieces together, and sew taking special care to not sew the top, as marked on the pattern, starting and stopping about an inch and a half from the top, on both sides. This will be where we thread the drawstring through the bag.
Then use an iron to press the ¼ inch seam open at the top of the bunny bags edges, and then stitch around it, on both sides of the bag.
Now fold down the top of the bag, to create the channel for the drawstring. Pin in place. Then on one side, pin in place the ears that have been turned right-side-out already. Next, carefully sew around the seam at the top of the bag.
The next step is to turn the bag right-side-out. Now cut two pieces of ribbon or twine for the drawstring. Thread one through each side, and tie in a knot, using a safety pin to help you thread it through the channel.
Lastly, use the black embroidery thread to stitch an X for the little bunnies mouth, and sew on the two black buttons for eyes for the sweet bunny face. Another option is to sew a cute pom pom on to the back as a bunny tail.

Ideas on how to use your Bunny Treat Bag

I liked the rustic, soft look of the un-ironed linen, but if you wanted a more crisp look you could iron the finished bag.

Linen Easter Bunny Drawstring Treat Bag: Quick to sew, includes a free pattern and tutorial on how to make it.

I thought these would be really sweet for an Easter table filled with Easter goodies and gifts. What little girl or boy won't want to find one of these waiting for them…or grown up for that matter.

Easter Bunny Drawstring Treat Bag with free pattern

We filled ours with Easter treats, like chocolate and plastic eggs. You could add gift tags with a names to use them as place cards for the table too. They'd also be a really cute addition to any Easter basket.

These would even be cute as a little purse for a little girl, and they're just the right size.

This step-by-step tutorial makes this a easy project for anyone who can sew.

With a sweet little Linen Easter Bunny Treat Bag, life really is a party!

More Easter Inspiration

You might also like our Bunny Bait Easter Trail Mix here.

Bunny Bait Easter Trail Mix -trail mix, with some fun Easter additions like graham cracker bunnies, and Easter eggs, also a free printable Bunny Bait label.

Also check out How To Make Cement Easter Eggs here.

You might also enjoy Nail Polish Marbled Easter Eggs here.

Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup

Feb 17, 2016 · 4 Comments

Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup: this hearty soup is a real crowd pleaser with tender pasta, loads of veggies, and delicious Italian sausage. Easy and sure to become a family favourite.

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It's mid-February and snowy in our neck of the woods. It's soup season. This time of year, there's nothing better than a hot bowl of homemade soup, and this Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup is a real family favourite. I love to make a double batch of this and have it for a few days. It's so good served with some nice fresh bread on a chilly day. If you're looking for a hearty and delicious soup, this one is perfect.

This soup has a rich tomato broth base, and is filled with fresh vegetables, flavorful sausage, and tender cheese tortellini. Your whole family will love it. It's a complete meal in a bowl and pure comfort food.

Italian Sausage

We love to add italian sausage to this soup. It's so flavorful and meaty, and adds so much to this soup. We remove the casing from the sausage before frying it to create the ground sausage meat pieces.

We usually use mild Italian sausage for this soup. The sweet Italian sausage is a great kid friendly option, also great for anyone that doesn't like too much spice. This pork sausage is full of flavor. If you do like spicy foods, you can use hot Italian sausage for this recipe instead, and /or add some red pepper flakes to the soup for some more heat.

Tortellini

This soup is made with cheese-filled tortellini pasta. The cheese flavor is a wonderful addition to the soup. I usually use frozen cheese tortellini for this soup, but you can use fresh tortellini if you prefer. The fresh cheese tortellini will cook faster than the frozen, so check the instructions on the package for cooking times. If I make a very large batch of this soup, I sometimes only add half of the tortellini at the beginning. The tortellini floats to the top when it's cooked, so it's easy to serve it all on the first serving. You can then cook cheese tortellini more separately to add it the next day. If the pasta sits in the soup overnight it does sometimes become a little oversaturated with broth, and gets soggy.

Tomato Broth

The broth gets it tomato flavor from tomato paste and canned tomatoes. Use diced tomatoes so that they're well distributed in the broth. Combined with chicken stock and dry spices of salt, black pepper, garlic salt, and Italian herbs this delicious broth is full of flavor. If you're on a low sodium diet, feel free to substitute low sodium chicken broth for the regular, and leave out the salt and garlic salt in the recipe.

Vegetables

This soup is full of veggies. We've added carrots, zucchini, and corn for a great combination, along with onion and garlic for flavor. We've used frozen corn for this soup, but if you're making it in late summer and corn is in season you can add fresh corn cut off the cob.

Italian Sausage Soup and Tortellini Soup

Store any leftover Italian sausage tortellini soup in a airtight container in the refrigerator.

This soup is best the day it is cooked. Stored in the fridge, the pasta can absorb the liquid from the soup and become soggy. If you are making a large amount with leftovers, try only adding half of the pasta whey you cook it. The pasta will rise to the top and be easy to eat in the first sitting. The next day cook some tortellini separately and add it to the soup so that it isn't soggy. If you still have leftover soup, store the cooked pasta that's been drained in a separate container in the fridge and add it to the other leftover soup before reheating each portion to avoid the soggy pasta problem.

If your kids love pasta as much as mine do…and I can only make spaghetti so often…then this flavorful tortellini soup is the perfect meal for your family, and it's packed with veggies and good stuff too. It's easy enough to make even on busy weeknights and the perfect meal to look forward to after a long day. This tortellini soup recipe is sure to be a family favorite.

Recipe

With a hot bowl of homemade tortellini and Italian sausage soup on a cold winter day, life really is a party!

More Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Unstuffed Zucchini recipe here.

Also check out our Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Italian Sausage recipe here.

You might also enjoy our Easy Lasagna recipe here.

Easy Lasagna with cottage cheese: this is a great make-ahead, and it freezes well. Easy to put together, and sure to be a family favourite.

DIY Cement Heart Place Card and Photo Holders

Feb 11, 2016 · Leave a Comment

DIY Cement Heart Shaped Place Card Holders or Photo Holders: easy and inexpensive to make, perfect for your table, wedding, or Valentine's Day.

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I love the look of cement and thought it might be fun to make some little DIY Cement Heart Place Card and Photo Holders. There were simple to make and came out really well.

I used them for our Valentine's Day Romantic Night In as place card holders, and then used them with some of my favourite pics of my little Valentines as photo holders. I think they'd be really great as table number holders for a wedding too, or to hold food labels for a dessert table…the possibilities are endless.

So here's how I made them.

Materials:

Quick Drying Cement
Silicon Heart Muffin Tray
Baking Spray
Wire
Wire Cutters
Plastic Container
Something to stir with (like a paint stick)
Paint or Gold Leaf
Mod Podge

Method:

1. In a plastic disposable container (like an old ice cream container) combine your fast drying cement mix with water until you have a good consistency. Be sure to mix very thoroughly.

DIY Cement Heart Place Card and Photo Holders

2. Spray your baking tray (I picked mine up at the dollar store) with baking spray so that the cement won't stick to the mould.

3. Cut lengths of wire, and wrap one end around a wooden spoon or dowel tightly three times to create the circle that will hold the paper. Squeeze together tightly. On the other end, make a large circle so that the wire will stand up, and won't pull easily out of the cement when it is finished.

4. Fill the heart baking tray a little ways with cement, then add in the wire, and fill up some more. Use your mixing stick to press down the cement, and smooth out the top.

5. Allow to set over night.

6. Remove the cement hearts from the tray, and smooth out any rough spots on the top with a knife. Tape off a section and paint it or apply gold leaf. We did ours on a diagonal.

7. After the paint is dry or gold leaf is added, remove tape, and apply a coat of Mod Podge over the whole heart to seal it.

8. Use to display photos, or as place card holders.

More Ideas

They worked great as place card holders too.

how to make a Cement Heart Place Card holder

I really liked the rustic feel they added to our Valentine's Day table.

easy cement concrete project photo holder

I really liked the rustic feel they added to our Valentine's Day table.

We painted some with white and blush pink paint. The other two we added gold leaf to -love the bit of sparkle against the rough cement.

These were really inexpensive to make, and you could quickly and easily make a large quantity if you needed to.

I think after Valentine's Day a few will find a home on my desk as message holders.

With DIY Cement Heart Place Cards and Photo Holders, life really is a party.

More Inspiration

You might also like our post on How To Make Cement Easter Eggs here.

Also check out our Cement Star Christmas Ornaments here.

You might also like our Cement Garden Markers here.

Easy Chocolate Pavlova Recipe

Feb 10, 2016 · 1 Comment

Individual Heart Shaped Chocolate Pavlova: Easy chocolate pavlova, fill with any fruits. Perfect for Valentine's Day dessert.

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I really like pavlova. It's a meringue dessert, topped with whipped cream and berries. Crunchy on the outside, and soft and marshmallow-y on the inside. It's a nice light dessert, perfect after a big meal. I often make it for Christmas Day. Since my sweet husband loves chocolate, I decided to make a chocolate version for Valentine's Day. And since it was for heart day…I made them heart shape. You can see our Valentine's Day Romantic Night In here, for more ideas. And to make them extra special, and into a "heart of gold" I added some edible gold leaf. They were so, so yummy. And I wanted to share the recipe with you, in case you're looking for a perfect Valentine's dessert for this weekend.

Pavlova

Pavlova is a dish that originates in New Zealand or Australia, there is some debate. It is named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is a favourite in both New Zealand and Australia and often served there for special occasions, especially at Christmas. Pavlova is traditionally a white meringue dessert served with whipped cream and berries, but we're updating it with the addition of chocolate.

Meringue vs. Pavlova

Meringue and Pavlova are very similar. The difference between the two is in the texture. Meringues are baked until they are dry and crisp. Pavlova is also made from whipped egg whites, but it is dry and crips on the outside, but marshmallow like and chewy on the inside.Meringue usually takes the form of a cookie, but pavlova is a of the most gorgeous show-stopping desserts. It's perfect for the next time you're entertaining, or have a special occasion.

Chocolate

We love tradition pavlova, but thought it would be fun to create a chocolate version -and it was! If you are a chocolate lover than you will love this chocolate pavlova recipe. The chocolate flavor is coming from the addition of unsweetened cocoa powder to the meringue base of the pavlova. Then we added the traditional fresh whipped cream on top and fresh berries. We used raspberries to make a chocolate raspberry pavlova, but you can use any berries you like. Strawberries, or mixed berries would be a great choice also to go with the chocolate meringue base. If you really wanted to up the chocolate factor you could use a chocolate ganache in place of the whipped cream here. Or add some cocoa powder to your heavy whipping cream to make chocolate cream. We wanted to add a little more chocolate to our dessert so we drizzled the top with some chocolate sauce. You could also add chocolate shavings or chopped chocolate on top in milk chocolate or dark chocolate, whichever you prefer. Or drizzle the top with some melted chocolate.

Lastly we dressed this gorgeous dessert with some edible gold leaf on the top of the pavlova, just for a little extra wow factor.

Mini Pavlovas

We made our chocolate pavlovas into mini heart shapes. It's so nice to serve each person their own individual dessert. Our batch made 8 individual sized portions. If you want to make one large size pavlova, you can use this same recipe, and increase the baking time to 1 hour. You can make one large heart, or a round circle pavlova base.

Individual Heart Shaped Chocolate Pavlova for Valentine's Day

Troubleshooting Pavlova

Pavlova is a delicious dessert, but she can sometimes be a bit of a diva. There are some common problems that can arise when making a pavlova, so here are some of the things to watch out for and how to avoid some common mistakes that can occur.

Room-temperature egg whites whip best so try to remember to take your eggs out of the fridge and let them come up to room temperature before whipping for the best results.
Any egg yolk in your separated eggs can affect how well the egg whites whip. They can also be affected by not using a clean bowl. So be sure your bowl and whisk are clean and grease free, and your egg whites have no trace of yolk in them before beginning.
Add your sugar to the beaten egg whites mixture slowly, tablespoon by tablespoon. This is so that the sugar has a chance to fully dissolve and doesn't make a gritty meringue mixture. Some people like to use superfine sugar to help with this problem.
Take care not to over whip your egg whites. This can make the egg whites too dry and they can possibly curdle.
Pavlovas can crack if they are cooled too quickly. Some people like to turn off the oven when they're done baking and let them cool inside the oven with the oven door open.
Humidity can really affect your pavlova. Do not bake pavlova on a humid day. If you do you might have issues with the crispy shell being too sticky and weeping sugar even after it's baked.

Chocolate Pavlova with fresh strawberries

Storing Pavlova

Pavlova is best served the day that it is made. You can bake the meringue basses the night before and store them in an airtight container. Do not assemble the pavlovas ahead of time. Before serving add your heavy cream and fresh fruit and other garnishes. If you have leftovers of the assembled pavlovas, be sure to store them in the fridge.

I really loved our heart shaped mini chocolate pavlovas for our own little Valentine's Day celebration. But this is a great dessert for any time. Make them mini, make one large one, just make them. ;). Your family and friends will love it. And for the chocolate lover, this chocolate easy version takes classic pavlova to the next level.

Recipe

With heart shaped chocolate pavlova, life really is a party!

More Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Donut Strawberry Shortcakes here.

Also check our our Chocolate Charcuterie Board here.

Chocolate Charcuterie Snack Board: perfect for the chocolate lover, tips on building your board, and ingredient suggestions.

You might also enjoy our Black Forest Cake in a Mason Jar recipe here.

How To Make A DIY Fresh Flower Chandelier

Feb 9, 2016 · 2 Comments

DIY Flower Chandelier: Easy to make, perfect for special occasions, the fresh flowers dry beautifully too. Perfect for Valentine's Day, weddings, or showers.

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A fresh flower chandelier is the perfect way to add some beautify and romance to any space. They bring an effortless ambiance to any space. And you can make them in any colours and with lots of different flowers for any special events. Our fresh flower chandelier was one of my favourite details from our Valentine's Day Romantic Night In It's quite simple to make, and makes a swoon-worthy display. It's perfect for Valentine's Day, but would also be lovely for a bridal shower in anticipation of the big day, Mother's Day, a special birthday, or baby shower too. We did just one, but you could make lots for a stunning display and group them for a wedding chandelier on your wedding day.

I hung the pretty fresh flower chandelier over our romantic fireside table for two. And it was so beautiful with the fairy lights, and candles in the background.

Choosing Your Flowers

What could be more romantic than a shower of rose buds? I love using roses for floral display. They're readily available and come in lots of beautiful colors. Roses were the right style for a romantic dinner. For a different occasion you might want to mix your flowers or colors. Smaller blooms like baby's breath would be gorgeous for a baby shower. Wild flowers could be beautiful for a more casual display over a pretty dessert table, or for a rustic wedding style. You could also incorporate some greens for a fuller more wild look.

Choose flowers that dry well. The best part of this project is that you can let your fresh blooms dry and have it as a dried flower piece afterward. Larger flowers will have more impact, but flower bunches of smaller flowers would be beautiful too.

Timing

Since these fresh flowers are hanging without a water source, this is one of those last minute DIY projects. If you didn't have time to prep this floral chandelier right before your party you could use some floral tubes on the end of the stems of each flower and carefully set the whole piece down on a table after it was made. Right before the party, you could pop the floral tubes off of the flowers and hang the chandelier.

Can I Use Faux Flowers?

We made our floral chandelier from fresh flowers and it looked so beautiful. You can also try it with silk flowers. The better the quality of your flowers the more realistic this will look. The benefit of using faux flowers is that it will last forever, and you won't have to worry about making the floral chandelier at the last minute. Dried flowers would be a good option as well.

Choosing Your Floral Chandelier Base

I used a gold wire ring for the base of my flower chandelier. I loved the color and the size of it and it worked really well. Look for these metal rings at the craft store with the wreath making supplies or with the macrame supplies. They also come in silver. You can also use an embroidery hoop. These come in more sizes from small to very large. If you're making a really large floral chandelier you can even use a hula hoop as the base of your chandelier. Just spray paint it or wrap in in ribbon or floral tape to hide the base.

Multi-Tier Floral Chandelier

I made a simple one tier flower chandelier, but you can also make them multi-tiered. Choose base rings that gradually get smaller. Start with your largest ring as the top tier of your chandelier, and then work your way down to the smallest, staggering the hanging space between them to create the tier effect. These work great to fill a larger space with a real statement piece.

Hanging Your Flowers

I choose to use sheer ribbon to hang my blooms, and cut my flower quite short, so not much of the stem was showing. You can also leave the flowers long so that more of the stem shows. Choose a pretty piece of ribbon in a coordinating color to hang your flower or clear pieces of fishing line that will disappear in the floral arrangements. Both of these looks are really beautiful, so it's just a matter of which you prefer. We also choose to stagger the lengths of the ribbon slightly so the flowers hung at slightly different heights. You can do this, or make them all the same length for a more uniformed finished look.

Recipe

Fresh Flower Chandelier

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Equipment

scissors
garden clippers

Materials

gold ring 10 inch diameter
¼ inch wide sheer white ribbon
12-14 fresh roses

Instructions

Cut three longish equal length ribbons and space an equal distance from each other around the gold ring and tie on. Then draw the ribbons up and tie all three together in a knot, and hang at a height that will be easy to work with.
Cut the roses with short stems, about 2 inches long.
Tie the roses on varying lengths of ribbon and tie on to the ring, spacing them somewhat evenly, and ensuring the ring balances as it hangs.
Hang in your desired location, and remember that since the flowers are hanging upside down, they will dry beautifully, so you can enjoy this as dried flowers afterward.

I picked up the gold ring at the craft store, and the roses from Costco, so it was a fairly inexpensive project and had a lot of impact. It looks so pretty from underneath too.

With a DIY flower chandelier, life really is a party!

More Inspiration

You might like How To Make Giant Paper Flowers here.

How To Make Giant Paper Flowers: see how to turn regular paper into beautiful and inexpensive flowers, from large to small in a video tutorial. This diy is perfect for a wedding, shower, or home decor.

You might also enjoy our Valentine's Day Wreath Ideas here.

Valentine's Day Wreath Ideas: wood embroidery hoops, brass rings and birch, decorated with pink pom poms, tassels, greens, and velvet hearts.

Valentine's Day Romantic Night In

Feb 8, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Valentine's Day Romantic Night In: skip the expensive and crowded restaurant and enjoy a fireside romantic three-course dinner intimate night in.

Ideas for a romantic Valentine's Day date at home.

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This month for our #YearOfFeasting, where we're hosting 12 feasts in 12 months in an effort to up the fun factor around here, and be a little more intentional about making great connections with great people over great food, we kept things a little more intimate. Since connecting with each other should always be at the top of our list, our Valentine's Day feast was a romantic dinner for two in front of the fire at home.

Valentine's Day Romantic Night In: Fireside romantic three-course dinner, perfect for an intimate night in.

Fireside Dinner

I thought it would nice and cozy in these winter months to set up dinner in front of the fire. Keeping with the Scandi feel I've been loving these days, we kept things pretty neutral with just enough soft pink.

In front of the fire I set up a cozy little table for two.

To create a sweet Valentine feel, I filled some pretty lanterns with some heart fairy lights.

Flower Chandelier

Above the table, and my favourite addition for the party, was a pretty hanging flower chandelier -see the tutorial on how to make it here.

On the table, a simple linen runner, white plates, and pretty cement heart placard holders -see how I made them here.

Valentine's Day Cocktail

We started out with one of my favourite special drinks, kir royal. It's made of sparkling wine with a little cassis, black currant liqueur in it. It's sweet and fizzy and perfect for Valentine's Day, especially with the perfect arrow stir sticks.

Valentine's Day Dinner

For our starter we tried a new recipe, which is always a lot of fun. We made Delicious.net's Bang Bang Shrimp.

Our''s was a little on the mild side, so we added a little extra hot sauce for the bang bang. 😉

These were a perfect start to the evening and we really enjoyed them.

Romantic valentine s day dinner for two menu

For our main course, we made a real comfort food -Steak, Guinness, and Mushroom Pie.

To make it a little more romantic, we made them in individual heart shape dishes.

And for a yummy side a caprese inspired salad of lettuce, mini bocconcini mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, pesto, and balsamic reduction. Simple and delicious.

This main was perfect for a cold and wintry night by the fire.

Valentine's Day Dessert

And then it was time for something sweet. A cup of tea and heart shape pavlova.

This was a lovely ending to the dinner -since it's nice and light. I love pavlova with mixed berries.

For my sweetie though - real chocolate lover, chocolate pavlova -recipe here.

We had such a nice afternoon of cooking. While our stew cooked away we watched Breakfast At Tiffany's -a classic. I was surprised to find out my sweetie had never watched it. I'll be singing "Moon River" for days. It really was a perfectly romantic night. It was fun to do something special for one another. We had fun talking and planning our menu together, and spending time with each other in the kitchen.

With a cozy romantic dinner at home together with your Valentine, life really is a party!

Book Page DIY Heart Garland

Feb 4, 2016 · 1 Comment

Book Page DIY Heart Garland: How to make a DIY watercolour book page heart garland with an old book and a sewing machine that's easy and inexpensive to make.

Book page heart garland sewn together with a sewing machine.

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This sweet book page DIY heart garland is a quick and easy project to make, and perfect for Valentine's Day.

I love how simple and neutral it is, with just a touch of watercolour pink. I've used it as part of my Valentine's Day decorations. It would be lovely in a little girl's room anytime of year. I also think it could be very sweet as decor for bridal showers, or baby showers. We've made ours pink, but you can change the color to suit your decor or the occasion. How fun would this be in soft pink and blue for a gender reveal?

You might also like our paper 3D Origami Hearts.

Paper

I used some old books from the thrift store for this project. Some people hate to cut up an old book, but actually so many old books end up in landfill that this is really a great upcycle project. I love how the book page paper looks for this project, but you could also use any other kind of paper. Scrapbook paper would be a great choice, and is available in so many beautiful colors and textures. You could also try using sheet music or old vintage maps for another really beautiful look and a great idea. You could even try cutting your hearts out of paint chips. This could help you create a beautiful ombre effect in any color for your Valentine's day garland.

Cutting Out Your Hearts

I used a large heart hole punch to cut out my paper hearts. It's a great time saver, and every heart comes out exactly the same size. The heart shape punches come in different sizes you can find them for making small, medium or larger hearts. I just used one and kept all my hearts the same size, but you could mix the sizes if you prefer. I found this was the quickest and easiest way to cut the hearts out for our simple paper heart garland. You'll find lots of different options in Cricut Design Space for different shapes of hearts.

You could also use a cutting machine to cut our your hearts. A silhouette cameo or a Cricut machine are a great option if you have one. With one of these machines you might even make a fancier heart with a scalloped edge.

You can also cut out your hearts by hand. You might want to use a pattern on piece of cardboard to make the all matching sizes. You could also try using pinking shears to make a decorate edge of the hearts.

Painting With Watercolours

I wanted to add a little soft pink to my hearts so I used some watercolours on the finished heart garland and painted individual hearts. One trick is that you must paint each side of the heart, or the paper will curl up as it dries. I love the watercolour effect, and the variations in the pink, it also allows you to still see the book page writing through it, creating a cool effect. You could of course do this in any color or series of colors. We choose pink for Valentines day but red could be a good choice too if you prefer. You could also create a really fun project by painting the hearts rainbow colors.

Sewing Machine

You may not have none that you can sew paper. Treat the paper just like you would regular fabric. No great sewing skills required. You just need to know how to sew a straight line with sewing machine to make this fun craft. Use regular thread. The sewing creates a really cool effect on the paper. We used white thread for this project, but you could also choose pink, or red, or even metallic thread for a really interesting look as well.

If you don't have a sewing machine, you can of course just glue and string to make this simple heart garland. If you're gluing your hearts on to a piece of string, or baker's twine, put your craft glue or hot glue near the top of the heart, and glue another heart onto the back. You could also punch small holes into the hearts and string them on to your string, or piece of twine or narrow ribbon. This will create a different look but also be really pretty if you don't have a sewing machine.

Recipe

Book Page DIY Heart Garland

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 30

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Equipment

paint brush
Sewing Machine

Materials

old book
heart punch
watercolors
thread

Instructions

To get started, you need to cut out some hearts from and old thrift store book. I used a craft punch, which was super fast, but you could just cut them out by hand too.
Once the hearts are all cut out, add some watercolour to just a few. I like pink for Valentine's Day, but you could do red, or any colour to fit your decor, or wedding, or nursery colour. When one side is dry, be sure to flip the heart over and do the other side. Painting both sides of the hearts will help keep them from curling up, and also make the garland pretty from both sides.
Next, once the paint is dry it's time to stitch the hearts into a garland. Just feed the paper hearts through your sewing machine just like you would with regular fabric. To create the spaces just run the machine for a second between feeding the hearts in to create the gap. Try and your gaps as even as possible.

YouTube Video

In case you've never sewn paper with your sewing machine, I thought a video might help, so watch below to see how really easy it is.

This garland really is the perfect pretty, inexpensive decoration for heart day. It's really easy to make and will be a great Valentine's Day decoration to use year after year.

With a book page DIY heart garland, life really is a party!

More Valentine's Day Inspiration

Love this idea, check out our DIY Origami Hearts too.

3D Origami Hearts -create your own origami hearts out of old book pages. Perfect for Valentine's Day decor, wedding decor, or a baby nursery.

You might also like our Yarn Hearts here.

Also check out our Nail Polish Marble Hearts here.

Nail Polish Marble Hearts Valentine's Day Craft: use nail polish to water marble wooden hearts for Valentine's Day in any colour combination you like!

Slow Cooker Russian Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Jan 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Slow Cooker Russian Beef Stroganoff Recipe -easy, perfect for a busy weeknight, made with all fresh ingredients (no canned soups), and delicious.

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I love a good slow cooker recipe, especially on a busy week night when we're all in a rush around here. We get home from after school gymnastic practise right at dinner time every Wednesday night, and walking in to this all ready in the slow cooker is great. This slow cooker Russian Beef Stroganoff is a real favourite. My kids love it, and I do too. It's delicious and super easy, a I know anyone who loves who loves a creamy beef dish will love this recipe.

What is beef stroganoff?

Beef stroganoff is a Russian dish originally created by the French chef of the Stroganov family. Count stroganoff was know to be a food contasour. At the time the beef stroganoff was created in the late 19th century, French cuisine was very popular among the Russian upper classes in the Russian empire and this dish is a marriage of French and Russian influence.

The original recipe contains beef, onion and mushroom in a rich creamy sauce made with mustard as influenced by the French and sour cream as influenced by the Russians. The authentic Russian beef stroganoff recipe appeared in a popular Russian cookbook in 1871, and has been made by Russian cooks ever since.

Slow Cooker

We've created a version of classic beef stroganoff that cooks all day in the slow cooker. This traditional beef stroganoff recipe is easy to put together in the morning. It cooks for hours on a low heat and smells amazing when you return home to it. We add the sour cream at the end and then serve this delicious tender beef dish full of beef pieces, and flavorful mushrooms on a bed of white rice, or egg noodles.

Beef

You can make this dish with any cut of beef. We usually use a rump steak. You can also use beef tenderloin, or sirloin steak. A more tender best quality cut of beef gives the most tender results, but a less tender cut of beef benefits from cooking for many hours in our slow cooker version of the recipe and can stretch your budget for beef recipes, especially for big groups.

Some People also like to use ground beef and make meatballs, but the classic dish uses strips of beef. The beef is typically cut into long strips for this dish. An interesting fact is that it was originally a quick dish typically made with steak that was sliced into long thin slices for quick cooking. Our version is made in the slow cooker and cooked many hours, but still uses the traditional stips of beef from the original recipe.

Dijon Mustard

Not every recipe you find includes mustard in the stroganoff sauce, and it's often left out of the United States version of the recipe. This is a part of the traditional recipe and one of the essential ingredients for Russian beef stroganoff. It brings a tanginess and richness to the dish, and shows the French influence by the original French chef and creator of the dish. You can use dijon mustard or grainy dijon mustard for the classic Russian dish. We like the grainy dijon for flavor and texture.

how to make Beef Stroganoff in a slow cooker

If you have any leftovers store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. This recipe reheats beautifully the next day.

Serving Suggestions

We love to have our beef stroganoff on buttered noodles, and this is the traditional way of eating the dish. You can also enjoy your classic beef stroganoff recipe served over a bed of rice, rice pilaf, or even mashed potatoes or french fries. This dish is usually served over a starch that can soak up all the rich gravy.

It's also often accompanied with a green salad, or vegetables. The slow cooker stroganoff dish is very rich, and often accompanied by something lighter. We like to serve it with steamed green beans. It also is great with roasted carrots, or steamed broccoli.

How do you keep the sour cream from curdling?

If you add your sour cream to the very hot beef stroganoff it can sometimes curdle on you. The key to adding the sour cream to the dish without if curdling is to make sure the beef mixture isn't too hot when you add in the sour cream. Our recipe advices turning the slow cooker off and letting the slower cooker sit for at least 10 minutes before adding the sour cream to help prevent it from curdling. Another tip is to temper the sour cream. Start by adding some of the hot liquid into the sour cream and stirring it together, before adding it all back into the stroganoff.

Why does the sour cream curdle sometimes? When the sour cream comes right out of the fridge and then into the hot stroganoff liquid it can shock the proteins in the sour cream. This shock can cause the sour cream proteins to clump together creating the curdled effect in your sour cream sauce. Although it doesn't look pleasant, if this happens to you, the dish is still completely safe to eat and won't make you sick.

Crowd Favorite

You will definitely want to add this easy slower cooker stroganoff recipe to your repertoire. It's made with all fresh ingredients. There are no canned soups in this one. It's quick to put together for a busy weeknight, and the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights.

But this isn't just a good weeknight dish. If feel special enough to serve to company, or to make for a Sunday super. It's always well received by guests, and often they ask for the recipe. I love serving a slow cooker recipe when I'm entertaining. It gives me time to work on other details for the dinner party like setting a beautiful table or making a special dessert. When guests arrive just prepare your noodles, rice or potatoes and your main course is done and ready to serve. This gives you the chance to spend more time with your guests. And clean up is easy too, since there is just one slow cooker insert to wash up from this dish.

This dish is also a good option to bring to a potluck dinner. Bring a side dish to serve it with and watch it disappear from the buffet table every time.

Recipe

With this Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe, life really is a party!

More Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Butter Chicken Pizza recipe here.

Also check out our Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup recipe here.

You might also enjoy our Unstuffed Zucchini recipe here.

3D Origami Hearts

Jan 25, 2016 · 26 Comments

Make these 3D Origami Hearts out of any paper, like white paper, coloured paper, or old book pages. Perfect for Valentine's Day decor, wedding decor, a baby nursery, or for gifting to your sweetheart.

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What We Love About This Craft

All you need is some paper for this craft -which makes it really inexpensive.
The fact that they're 3D makes them extra special.
They're really easy to make, once you get the hang of it.
They make the cutest decor, especially for Valentine's Day.

What's better than a bowl full of hearts for Valentine's Day? Nothing. I love adding cute neutral Valentine's Day decor to my home to celebrate the season of love. These yarn hearts and Book Page Heart Garland are more favourites.

These 3D Origami Hearts are super easy to make. Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. These small trinkets of folded paper are often given as origami gifts. You may have seen origami cranes in the past, but you can also make a 3D puffy heart out of paper too.

An easy origami heart is the perfect lovely heart project to give to your Valentine this year, use for decor, or incorporate into your party decor. You might also like our 20 At Home Valentine's Day Ideas.

Materials:

For this project, I made lots and lots of the 3D Origami Hearts out of

Paper: I used white paper, brown kraft paper, and old book pages for my hearts, but you can use any paper you like, as long as it's not too thick.
Watercolours: Some of the book pages were painted with pink watercolours before I folded them, for a little bit of pretty colour.

A 3D origami heart made with a book page that has been water colored pink.

Variations:

You can make your hearts as big or small as you like.

Cute origami paper would be a really good choice too. If you're making this for decor, use any color paper or scrapbook paper that matches your home or party.

A wooden bowl full of paper 3d origami hearts, and a gold arrow.

Top Tip:

You could use any square piece of paper for this project, as long as it's not too thick, since thicker paper can be difficult to fold precisely. Card stock is not the best choice for this craft.

A 3d origami heart made from an old book page.

Origami Heart Instructions:

1. To begin our origami heart tutorial, we must start with a square paper. If you have a rectangle, fold one corner down to meet the opposite side, then cut off the bottom to leave a triangle. Next, unfold the paper to reveal a square.

You can make a paper origami heart in any size, but to begin with I wouldn't make it too small or too big. Our paper here is about 4 inches square.

The first step is to fold the paper in half and create a center crease in it, then unfold it.

Folding paper to make a 3D origami heart.

2. Next, turn the sheet of paper so that it is open with the fold crease line running vertically. Fold up the bottom of the paper about ¼ of an inch. Then use that new folded edge as the new bottom of the paper, and fold the paper in half horizontally.

3. Making sure the open part of the fold is at the top, fold the top right corner to the bottom edge, bottom corner, to form a triangle on one side.

4. Do the same on the other left side with the top left corner folded down to the bottom edge to form a matching triangle on the other side. The whole paper now looks a bit like the roof of a house.

Folding book page paper into a 3D orgaimi heart.

5. Working with the top layer of paper, take the bottom middle corner of the triangle on the right side and fold it so that the edge lines up with the top triangle edge. Do the same on the other side, creasing hard. Then unfold both of those folds leaving the crease marks.

6. Starting with the lower left tip of the paper, fold it to meet up with the crease line you just created, on the middle edge. Do the same with the other side.

Folding a 3D orgami heart out of an old book page.

7. Next, open up the open edge of the triangle you just created on top, and tuck the piece of paper from underneath into it. Crease it hard. Do the same on the other side.

How to fold a square peice of paper into a 3D origami heart.

8. Then fold in the edges of the top four corners just slightly to make the whole shape more heart shaped.

9. Lastly you're going to blow some air with your mouth into the bottom point of the heart to inflate it, while using your finger to gently push down the centre and form the heart shape.

Step by step folding an 3D orgami heart out of paper, how to inflate it.

The edge of a large wooden dough bowl filled with paper hearts in white, brown and soft pink.

How To Make A 3D Origami Heart Video

Origami is one of those things that is easier to explain in video tutorials than in writing.

With a bowl full of hearts for Valentine's Day, life really is a party!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use any kind of paper for my origami heart?

You can use any paper for this craft, like regular copy paper, scrapbook paper, origami paper, brown kraft paper, or old book pages. We don't recommend using card stock for this craft as it's too stiff and thick, which makes it hard to work with.

Are 3D origami hearts a good craft to make with kids?

The folds are a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, these 3D origami hearts aren't too hard to make. Most 7 -12 year olds should be able to make these.

What can you use these 3D origami hearts for?

We used ours as Valentine's decor in a large bowl. They'd also be cute for a wedding shower or baby shower as decor. They're also cute for gift giving, especially around Valentine's day.

What do I need to make a 3D origami heart?

All you need is one square of paper to make a 3D origami heart.

More Valentine's Day Inspiration

If you try these 3D Origami Hearts or any other ideas on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

3D Origami Heart

Easy 3D puffy heart made from paper.

5 from 1 vote

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Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Cost: $ .25

Equipment

1 Pair of Scissors

Materials

1 piece paper any color or pattern

Instructions

To begin our origami heart tutorial, we must start with a square paper. If you have a retangle, fold one corner down to meet the opposite side, then cut off the bottom to leave a triangle. Next, unfold the paper to reveal a square.
The first step is to fold the paper in half and create a center crease in it, then unfold it.
Next, turn the sheet of paper so that it is open with the fold crease line running vertically. Fold up the bottom of the paper about ¼ of an inch. Then use that new folded edge as the new bottom of the paper, and fold the paper in half horizontally.
Making sure the open part of the fold is at the top, fold the top right corner to the bottom edge, bottom corner, to form a triangle on one side.
Do the same on the other left side with the top left corner folded down to the bottom edge to form a matching triangle on the other side. The whole paper now looks a bit like the roof of a house.
Working with the top layer of paper, take the bottom middle corner of the triangle on the right side and fold so that the edge lines up with the top triangle edge. Do the same on the other side, creasing hard. Then unfold both of those folds leaving the crease marks.
Starting with the lower left tip of the paper, fold it to meet up with the crease line you just created, on the middle edge. Do the same with the other side.
Next, open up the open edge of the triangle you just created on top, and tuck the piece of paper from underneath into it. Crease it hard. Do the same on the other side.
Then fold in the edges of the top four corners just slightly to make the whole shape more heart shaped.
Lastly you're going to blow some air with your mouth into the bottom point of the heart to inflate it, while using your finger to gently push down the centre and form the heart shape.

Notes

You can make a paper origami heart in any size, but to begin with I wouldn't make it too small or too big. Our paper here is about 4 inches square.

Top Top: You could use any square piece of paper for this project, as long as it's not too thick, since thicker paper can be difficult to fold precisely. Card stock is not the best choice for this craft.

Mason Jar Oil Lamps

Jan 20, 2016 · 32 Comments

Make these easy and beautiful DIY Mason Jar Oil Lamps. They're simple to make and perfect for a party, wedding centrepiece, or just in your home as decor.

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Why You'll Love This Craft

They're simple and inexpensive to make.
The finished oil lamps make a beautful centerpiece or home decor.
The oil lamps are made from easy to find materials, including any size mason jars.

During the dark days of winer, I thought a little light filled project would add some warmth and brightness. These Mason Jar Oil Lamps are pretty simple to put together, and are really, really pretty. They make a lovely gift for someone. These mason jar oil candles are also perfect for a romantic atmosphere or dinner date setting. They're also perfect for outdoor use.

You might like our Toy Felt Cookies, Ribbon Wall Hanging, or How To Paint A Buffalo Check Feature Wall.

Mason Jar Oil Lamp Materials:

Materials to make DIY mason jar oil lamps, including lamp oil, wick, and mason jars.

3 Different Small Mason Jars With Lids: You can use any size or make of mason jar for this craft, just make sure you have a lid that fits. We used 3 different sizes for interest.
Paraffin Lamp Oil: We found ours at the hardware store.
Cotton Lamp Wick: These are usually found with the camping supplies, or in the candle making section of the craft store.
Nipples ⅛": Look for the nipples in the lighting supplies section of the hardware store.
Couplings ⅛": Look for the couplings also in the lighting supplies section of the hardware store.
Washers ⅛"

Variation

You could use coloured lamp oil in your mason jar, to give the project some color.

Choosing Your Lamp Oil

There are different options when it comes to choosing the type of lamp oil to use in your mason jar oil lamp burner. We went paraffin lamp oil as it's a clean burning oil. It's also quite easy to find at any hardware store.

If you were using these lamps in an outdoor space and wanted to keep the bugs away with a scented flame you could also use citronella oil in them.

You can also alter the smell of your oil by adding drops of essential oil, such as lavender essential oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, or any of your favourite essential oils.

Can You Use Olive Oil In A Mason Jar Oil Lamp?

Olive oil and vegetable oil has been used for thousands of years as a lamp fuel. Cooking oils are easily available and burn very cleanly.

The problem with using it here is that the olive oil is thicker than lamp oil and doesn't absorb up the wick as well. A floating wick works better with vegetable or olive oil because it floats on the surface and doesn't have to travel up the wick. Olive oil isn't flammable like lamp oil, so that the wick can float on the surface.

It might be fun to experiment with different designs to try modify our design to work with a floating wick.

Safety Note:

Never leave a mason jar oil lamp unattended. Keep away from children, pets, and flammable materials.

Instructions:

Step 1: The first step in making your mason jar oil lamp is to drill a hole in the canning jar lid.

I found it a little tricky to get it in the center of the lid, and found drilling a small pilot hole first, and then the larger ⅛" one worked best. It still isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be, so don't worry.

Once you've done your first jar lid, repeat this process for the rest of the lamps you're making.

Step 2: Next, you thread the nipple through the hole, so it's about half way through each side, and then add the washer and screw the coupling onto the top of the lid.

Step 3: Cut a piece of the cotton wick with enough length of wick so that it is a little longer than the depth of your jar and thread it through the mason jar lid.

Fill up your mason jar with lamp oil.

The remaining length of the wick will rest on the bottom of the jar, and you can pull it up as necessary. Save your remaining lamp wicks that you've cut off to use as extra wicks in the future.

Step 4: Now, screw on the lid on to the top of the jar, with just a little wick at the top.

Give the wick a bit of time to soak up the oil before lighting it for the first time.

Expert Tip: If the wick is too long, it will cause the lamp to smoke, in which case you can trim it shorter, or push it down to make it shorter.

I think they'd be really lovely as wedding centrepieces, and I think I'll use mine for an upcoming party.

These should help me get through some of the long nights of winter a little more easily, with their warm cozy light.

With DIY Mason Jar Oil Lamps, life really is a party!

More Craft Inspiration

Frequently Asked Questions

Are mason jar oil lamps safe indoors?

Yes. Remember to never leave a mason jar oil lamp unattended. Keep away from children, pets, and flammable materials.

Why is my mason jar oil lamp smoking?

Your wick is too long. Extinguish your lamp, and trim the wick shorter or pull it down to adjust it before relighting.

How do you extinguish a mason jar oil lamp?

Blow out the flame, or use a candle snuffer to extinguish your mason jar oil lamp.

How long will a mason jar oil lamp burn?

How long a mason jar oil lamp burns depends on several factors. We recommend using paraffin lamp oil, which burns most effectively. Your burn time will depend on your type of oil, size of the mason jar, the thickness of the wick, and length of the wick. In general, 1 cup of lamp oil should burn between 3-12 hours.

If you try our tutorial on How To Make to Make A Mason Jar Oil Lamp or any other ideas on the blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Mason Jar OIl Lamps

Make beautiful and inexpensive mason jar oil lamps with simple materials.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Cost: $15

Equipment

Drill with ⅛" Drill Bit
scissors

Materials

3 Mason Jars
Paraffin Lamp Oil
Cotton Lamp Wick
3 ⅛ " Nipples
3 ⅛" Couplings
3 ⅛" Washers

Instructions

The first step in making your beautiful mason jar oil lamp is to drill a hole in the canning jar lid. I found it a little tricky to get it in the center of the lid, and found drilling a small hole first, and then the larger ?" one worked best. It still isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be, so don't worry. Once you've done your first jar lid, repeat this process for the rest of the lamps you're making.
Next, you thread the nipple through the hole, so it's about half way through each side, and then add the washer and screw the coupling onto the top of the lid.
Cut a piece of the cotton wick with enough length of wick so that it is a little longer than the depth of your jar and thread it through the mason jar lid. Fill up your mason jar with lamp oil. The remaining length of the wick will rest on the bottom of the jar, and you can pull it up as necessary. Save your remaining lamp wicks that you've cut off to use as extra wicks in the future.
Now, screw on the lid on to the top of the jar, with just a little wick at the top. If the wick is too long, it will cause the lamp to smoke, in which case you can trim it shorter, or push it down to make it shorter. Give the wick a bit of time to soak up the oil before lighting it for the first time.

Notes

We like using Paraffin Lamp Oil because it's clean burning and easy to find in any hardware store

Safety Note: Never leave a mason jar oil lamp unattended. Keep away from children, pets, and flammable materials.

How To Throw A Toast Dinner Party And Toast Topper Ideas

Jan 8, 2016 · 3 Comments

Toast Party Inspiration: lots of ideas for an all-toast dinner party, including savoury and sweet, and the free printable invitation.

How to throw a toast party with menu ideas.

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I recently realized that I love toast. Good bread, fresh butter, and I'm pretty much in heaven. I'm one of those firm believers that life without carbs won't be worth living. After a stint with Weight Watchers bread last year -because we keep trying, I had some amazing ciabatta toast and realized that toast is one of the best things in life. It inspired the idea for a whole dinner party of toast. Savory toast toppers to start, and then finishing with sweet toast. Imagine everyone sat around the table, taking turns with the toasters, and topping fresh hot toast with the best toppings ever!

This is the perfect party for a good time with good friends, with great toast! Invite your best friends, your old friends, your close friends, or your new friends. This is the kind of menu where everyone linquers around the table. It takes a minute to make the toast, and it tends to go in rounds, and everyone shares their favourite toppings and ideas for different combinations. This is one of my favourite kind of dinner parties. It's a little bit quirky, and so much fun!

Want more party inspiration? Check our soup party here, and our circus themed dinner party here.

Toast Party Inspiration

Here's an inspiration board to get us all in the mood.

1. Since I only own one toaster, I just asked my friends to bring their own…and a toaster oven is a good addition too, if you or one of your peeps has one. My plan was to set up the dining room table with toasters and ingredients down the centre (might need a power bar). Since good toast is hot toast, we'll do a make-your-own kind of a party. Picture a fondue party, but better.

2,3,4. We'll had your classic toast toppers plus a whole lot more. So, honey, jam, butter, peanut butter, etc.

5. Really good bread is essential, this is a Cranberry Raisin Focaccia, yum. It's a good idea to have some savoury and some sweet -for dessert. I asked all the guests to bring their own favourite loaf. Make sure to have bread boards and bread knives on hand.

6. This bruschetta bar from What's Gaby Cooking has my mouth watering, and has some great ideas for the savoury. Imagine starting the party out with savoury toast, and this picture is inspiring some of my toppings -think cheeses (soft and firm), roasted red peppers, tomatoes, pesto, tapenade, garlic mushrooms and avocado. And then throw in some thinly sliced flank steak, or some hot poached eggs.

7. This is my recipe for classic tomato bruschetta , sure to make an appearance at the toast party.

8. Once we move into the sweets, Nutella will certainly be included, and perhaps a cookie butter?

9. Another great addition would be some flavoured butters. I'm thinking garlic butter and maybe these recipes from A Beautiful Mess that include honey cinnamon butter -so pretty in the mason jars.

Free Printable Toast Party Invitations

I designed this sweet little toast invite with a watercolour image I painted, that you can access in our Free Resource Library. Subscribe below for free and instant access. Send to all your toast loving friends for your own little toast get-together.

Or use just the toast image download in an email, Facebook message, or design your own evite at evite.com. They include a design your own option, where you can insert this image.

How To Host A Toast Party

We invited 4 other couples, for a no-kids party for a total of 10, which was a nice size.

We asked all the guests to bring along their toaster and their favourite kind of bread. The whole menu for the party was toast -think fondue party but better.

We set up the toasters and all the amazing toppings down the centre of the dining room table, and everyone helped themselves and ate and ate toast, toast, and more toast. This is the kind of party where you lose track of how many slices you've had -and that's a good thing!

Table Setting

I wanted to keep the table setting pretty simple.

I decided it would be cute and practical to use mini cutting boards as plates. This worked out really well, since lots of the breads that people brought weren't sliced and this meant we could all slice our own.

I used simple brown kraft paper on the table as a cloth, and picked up a few tulips.

Don't Blow A Fuse

We ended up having 4 toasters, once the guests brought theirs, and I spaced them out down the centre of the table. We had grabbed a few extension cords, but hadn't thought too much about the amount of power that toasters use.

On our first round of toast we blew the fuse. It was a simple fix. We switched the fuse, and then re-routed the extension cords to different rooms, so they were all then able to work on different fuses.

No biggie, but a heads up for you to have some longer extensions cords on hand if you're doing a toast party. Since we were all seated around the table there was no tripping hazards -just undo them when your done so nobody trips over the cords.

We also picked up a toaster oven -since we didn't have one. It isn't really necessary, but it was a nice addition. My husband loves toaster ovens. I kind of don't get it. He came with one when we got married, but when it died, I wasn't too keen on replacing it. I mean we have a toaster, and we have an oven....you know.

Anyway when I dreamed up the toast party, he thought this was his big chance to secure a replacement toaster oven. And since I love to make him happy, I sent him to Walmart with a $30 budget.

The toaster oven gives you the option of melting the cheese on the toast, which a few of our guests really loved. We set it up on this little cart, which we pulled over to the table and it worked out really well.

Setting Up The Toast Toppings

Before the party, I set up all the sweet toast toppings on this great stand. We had a ton of options for people to choose from, and the table was very full of toasters, bread, and savoury toppings. This tray helped keep the sweet options out of the way until the end, when most people switched to sweet for dessert.

House Recommendations

On the table, I also included a menu of House Recommendations. I didn't want my guests to feel overwhelmed by all the options, so this gave people a great place to start. After a few rounds and chatting about what was really good, lots of our group of friends ventured out to make their own creations, but the menu worked really well for getting us all started, and giving everyone a good idea of the savoury ingredients we were offering. Since most people have never been to a toast party, giving them some ideas for the perfect toast, but people at ease, and got them started. Once people tried different options, they started swapping ideas for the best toasts, and came up with a wide range of fun different types of toast topper combinations.

You can download the free printable menu in our Free Resource Library. Subscribe below for instant access to use for your own party.

The toast was certainly the highlight of the evening. I have to say I had a wonderful time at the party, since all I had to do was put everything on the table and then everyone just helped themselves. This is such a great option for a special event. Once all the toast toppers are cooked, the host can relax and enjoy the party with everyone else, instead of being stuck in the kitchen. It's such a great way to entertain.

My very fav. was the mushroom -with boursin cheese and mushrooms. I sautéed the mushrooms ahead of time in some oil with garlic, salt and pepper, a little worchestire sauce, and some dried thyme. Right before we ate I just re-heated them.

Probably the most popular toast topping of the night was the steak. People loved it, and tried it in many different combinations. This is my favourite easy recipe, you will love it.

Recipe

Marinated Flank Steak

Flavourful meat marinate for flank steak.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Additional Time: 2

Total Time: 2 10

Servings:

Calories: 264kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Instructions

In a large ziplock bag combine all the ingredients for the marinate and then add in the steak -taking care to squeeze out all the air when you seal the bag.
Marinate for at least 2 hours, or even overnight. (Or make ahead and freeze in the marinade, and then thaw before cooking).
To cook, remove the steak from the marinade and grill to desired doneness.
To serve, slice steak thinly, across the grain.

Nutrition

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Savoury Toast Toppings

In addition to cooking the steak when our guests arrived, we also made a batch of scrambled eggs and fried up some bacon. I cut the bacon slices into thirds before we fried it, which made it a nice size for the toast. It doesn't take too much time to cook up the last minute hot toppings once your guests arrive. You get your hard work out of the way, and then for the rest of the dinner, the guests make their own toast, and you get to join in the fun.

Here's a list of all the savoury toppings we put out for our guests: (We may have gone a little bit overboard, but I'd rather wow them, and the leftovers were all things we will use up anyway). I didn't bother putting things from jars into pretty bowls since we needed the labels to see what things were anyway. I just put them out in their own jars, and this definitely made things easier to prep and clean-up after).

Cheddar Cheese
Irish Cheddar
Goat's Cheese
Boursin Cheese
Steak slices
Bacon
Shaved Ham
Scrambled Eggs
Bruschetta Topping
Sauteed Mushrooms
Roasted Red Peppers
Sliced Tomatoes
Roasted Tomatoes
Fresh Basil Leaves
Lettuce
Avocado Slices
Olive Tapenade
Truffle Aioli
Mayo
Ketchup
Mustard Dijon, Pineapple Mustard, Honey Mustard
Red Onion Chutney
Pesto
Red Pepper Jelly
Hot Sauce
Balsamic Reduction
Butter
Garlic Butter

Sweet Toast Toppings

The sweet options, which were on the tiered tray, were:

Peanut Butter
Almond Butter
Nutella
Cookie Butter
Honey
Maple Syrup
Bananas
Raspberries
Strawberries
Cinnamon Sugar
Flaked Coconut
Sliced Almonds
Ricotta Cheese
Cream Cheese
Homemade Apple Butter -see my recipe here
Assorted Jams

I didn't make a menu of sweet suggestions because I thought they were more straightforward.

We made the apple butter in the slow cooker that day, and it smelt great. I think because it was homemade and everyone could smell it as they arrived, that it was a really popular choice.

I did find that my guests didn't use all the sweet options. Perhaps because they were full from all the rounds of savoury toast? Maybe they did need a few sweet toast topping suggestions?

The Most Fun Party Ever

I highly, highly recommend this party idea. It was so much fun. A little bit unusual and quirky with a touch of humor…my guests didn't know exactly what to expect, but the toast was so well received by all, in fact they all seemed to have a ball, and so did I. I've hosted a lot of parties in my day, and I have to say that I don't always have a great time (always good, but not always great since sometimes you're so busy as the host). This time I did have a great time. It's the kind of party that you get the great opportunity to be a guest at too, which is really the best kind of party. I can't think of a better way to enjoy an evening around the table with friends.

With gourmet toast shared with great friends, life really is a party!

More Toast Inspiration

You might also like our Easy Bailey's French Toast Recipe here.

Also check out Easy Overnight French Toast recipe here.

You might also like our Chicken Salad Toast Cups here.

Chicken Salad Toast Cups: use store bought rotisserie chicken and regular old white bread to make these easy and delicious tea sandwiches.

Best Homemade Jam Jam Cookie Recipe

Dec 22, 2015 · 12 Comments

Jam Jams: this old fashioned sandwich cookie recipe is an old family favourite, tried and true, and so delicious.

Jam Jam cookie recipe, with cookies laying on a marble serving tray.

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These jam jam cookies are an old-fashioned cookie recipe. It has a soft, slightly chewy, mild tasting cookie filled with delicious jam. These cookies are more crisp when you first make them, and then they soften up and take on some delicious flavor of the jam after they're sandwiched together. They're the most delicious sandwich cookie that you will love.

Growing up I had a cookie Grandma. She loved cookies, and it felt like she always had some fresh baked cookies in the cookie jar when we visited. especially at Christmas time.

Jam Jams: Grandma's Raspberry Jam Sandwich Cookies

Jam Jams An Old Family Favourite

Jam jams were a family favourite, a tried and true recipe. We called them Jam Jams, they're a Jam Sandwich Cookies, similar to Linzer Cookies, they might be called a Jammy Dodger or strawberry jam cookies. Totally delicious, whatever name you use. You can use any jam you like. They're sometimes made with a delicious strawberry jam, but raspberry is my personal favorite.

When my mom was a little girl, she said my Grandma made a double batch of these cookies every other week, and alternated them with another family favourite, brown sugar cookies. These cookies are easy to make, use basic ingredients that they always had on hand, and are so delicious. My Grandma won't have thought of these as Christmas cookies. These won't have been special enough for Christmas, these were just a work a day kind of a cookie -especially on the farm where people put in long days in the fields and barns, and these were the kind of cookies that would appear after a big lunch, before people headed back out to work and needed sweet treats.

Grandma's Raspberry Jam Jams Sandwich Cookies

Christmas Cookies

But since we don't live on a farm, nor make cookies every week, it seems right that Jam Jams should make an appearance at Christmas, especially since I've made them with a Christmasy star in the middle and dressed them up with a sprinkling of icing sugar, which she never did, but I'm sure she would approve of.

And they're perfect to make at Christmas now, since we never seem to make them anymore, and they are such a happy familiar taste, that bring back lots of childhood memories for me.

My Grandma probably made these hundreds of times…my mom as well, and I feel like I've been making them myself since I was a kid…I'm sure I've eaten them hundreds of times. They are certainly a tried and true recipe. I highly recommend. They are perfect with a cup of tea, really any time of the year.

jam jam cookies with star centre cutouts and sprinkled with powdered sugar

Jam Filling

For the jam filling in these cookies, you could fill them with any kind of jam. Raspberry jam is my favourite, but I've had them often with strawberry too. My youngest daughter thought they might be nice with Nutella…she's probably right. You could also use apricot jam if you like. Really any of your favourite jams would probably work really well. The cookie is quite a mild tasting one, so any fruit jam should pair with it well. Try it with any of your favorite jams. If you have homemade jam it's a great choice, but any store-bought jam will also work great.

Recipe

Jam Jams

Tender cookies sandwiched with raspberry jam.

4.50 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 35

Servings:

Calories: 104kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Instructions

Cream together sugar and butter in the large bowl of a stand mixer.
Add the egg, corn syrup, and vanilla and combine until fully mixed.
In another large mixing bowl combine the baking soda and flour, and whisk to remove any lumps. Gradually the dry ingredients add to the wet ingredients in the mixer until fully combined and a soft dough forms.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill dough in refrigerator.
To make the cookies, roll out the dough on a floured surface with a rolling pin, to about ⅛ inch thick, and cut a solid circle bottom piece and top piece with a hole in the middle.
Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees, until golden brown, about 5 min. depending on the size of your cookie cutter.
Let cool completely on a wire rack, then sprinkle the top piece with powdered sugar, and spread the bottom with about 1 teaspoon of jam and sandwich together.
Makes about 2 ½ dozen sandwich cookies. Store in an airtight container. (Recipe can be easily doubled.)

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

Jam Jams: Grandma's Raspberry Jam Sandwich Cookie recipe, easy to make, perfect for the holidays.

With home made Jam Jams, life really is a party.

You might also like these Toblerone Shortbread Cookies with Browned Flour.

Toblerone Shortbread with Browned Flour -The "Famous Phipps Shortbread" with roasted flour, and Toblerone chocolate bar chunks.

Check out our Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies recipe.

You might also like our Sugar Cookie Recipe here.

Sugar Cookies: Grandma's tested and true recipe will become your go-to recipe for soft and tender cut out sugar cookies you can decorate with icing.

DIY Christmas Wall Art

Dec 18, 2015 · Leave a Comment

DIY Christmas Wall Art: a great tutorial, and with free printables to create your own inexpensive wood Christmas wall art signs.

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This is a really inexpensive little Christmas project that turned out really great. If you're looking for some DIY Christmas wall art I think you'll love it. These little pictures are great for around the house, and would also be a really sweet gift.

It all started one day in the dollar store…as these things often do. I noticed they had some small wooden canvases, and thought they'd be perfect for a little Christmas art project.

The method I used is really, really easy. It does have a few steps, but none of them are difficult. I promise. And the result is really pretty great.

DIY Christmas Wall Art Materials:

Three Wood Canvases
Craft Paint -I used white, grey, and silver
Carbon Paper
Wood Stain
Sand Paper
Permanent Black Marker
Silver Leaf
Silver Leaf Adhesive
Fine Paint Brushes

How To Make DIY Christmas Wall Art:

1. Prepping Your Canvases

The first step is the background colour on the wooden canvases. I started off by using some wood stain on one canvas. I had a wood stain wipe, so I used it. It was super easy to use, but regular stain would work great to.

The other two canvases were painted; one solid grey and the other with a bit of a white washed finish -using very little paint, and wiping if off slightly. Let those dry completely.

2. Choosing Your Christmas Art and Phrases

Meanwhile, decide on an image or text for your art piece. I found a deer head image on-line, and created the text -you can download the free printables I designed "Merry and Bright" and "God Jul" -which means Merry Christmas in Swedish. Use your printer settings to make sure it's printed the perfect size for your wooden canvases.

using carbon paper to transfer an image to a canvas

3. Transferring Your Image

Use the carbon paper to transfer the image to your wooden canvas. You can find the carbon paper at an office supply store. To use it place a piece between the canvas and the printed image you want to use, then go over the lines with a sharp pencil, which will leave the outline on your wood canvas.

4. Painting Your Canvas

Using a paint brush, fill in the image, or go over the text. Don't worry about getting it perfect, we are going to give this a rustic look so we'll be able to go over any non-perfect spots with a little sandpaper later. The deer head image needed two coats for me to get good coverage. For the "God Jul" one, I used a permanent marker instead of paint. This worked great for the finer font. Use any combo of marker, paint or one or the other you like.

5. Adding Silver Leaf

For the "bright" I used some silver leaf. I painted it first with silver paint and let it dry. Then I painted the silver leaf adhesive over the top, being very careful to stay in the lines. After it sat about 10 min. (or according to your package instructions) I put the silver leaf over top, and pressed it down firmly, going over it a few times with my fingers and a dry paper towel. Then, once it was all stuck, I gently rubbed away the excess, and the silver leaf remained where the adhesive was.

6. Sanding For A Rustic Look

Finally, after the paint is all dry, you can go over the canvases with a fine sandpaper, creating a slightly rustic distressed look, especially on the edges and corners. Don't sand your silver leaf, just work around it. Then, hang and enjoy.

Such an easy project, a few steps involved but really not hard to do. Since I already had everything but the canvases, this project cost me just $3 per wood canvas. If you didn't want to invest in the silver leaf, you could try a gold paint pen, or just a metallic paint.

I'm loving how the finished product looks with my Scandi inspired Christmas decor this year.

These would make a really lovely Christmas gift too.

With these easy DIY Christmas Wall Art pieces, life really is a party!

More Inspiration

You might also like our Mini Macrame Ornaments here.

Mini Macrame Christmas Ornaments: Easy DIY Macrame Ornament tutorial, perfect for the beginner. No macrame experience required.

Also check out our Christmas Art Work here.

Printable Christmas Art -large and inexpensive printable engineer prints and a DIY wood hanger makes the perfect Chrsitmas Art Work on a budget.

You might also enjoy our Modern Boho Christmas Wreath here.

How To Make Scented Bleached Pinecones

Dec 16, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Scented Bleached Pinecones -use simple household bleach to whiten and brighten natural pinecones, and then add any scent to them you like.

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Scented Bleached Pinecones are the perfect way to create lighter coloured pinecones for decor and add beautiful scent to a room. They're easy and fun to make too.

Sometimes the simple little DIY's are the sweetest, and this little project fits in that category.

A pinecone, all on it's own is beautiful. But, add some paint, or group various kinds together, or bleach some and the simple beauty it has all on its own is magnified. Natural elements are a such a great addition to any home decor.

Here's how to make your own Scented Bleached Pinecones

Materials:

Pinecones
Bleach
Large Bucket
Something to use as a Weight (I used a cutting board and some rocks)
Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
Essential Oil
Ziplock Bag

The first thing you'll need for this craft project is some pinecones. Look for pine trees, and you will usually find some pine cones on the ground nearby. Pinecones drop from trees in the fall, so that's the best time to look for them.

To Make Scented Bleached Pinecones:

Place your pinecones in a large plastic container or bucket, and then fill with enough bleach mixture to cover the pinecones. I did about 1:1 ratio with one part bleach to one part water. Using equal parts of bleach and water worked well for us, but you can go all the way up to 2 parts bleach to 1 part water, or somewhere in-between

Put something over your pinecones to weigh them down and hold them in the bleach water solution, since they float. I used a cutting a board with a few rocks on top, you could place bricks on top as well.

Let sit, outside or in the garage if you're able because of the bleach smell you'll want to do this in a well-ventilated area. Leave the pinecones in the beach solution for about 24 hours. After one full day in the bleach solution, don't worry if the pinecones still look kind of dark and are closed up. The pinecones naturally close up when they are in water. Once they're removed from the bleach bath and they dry, the pinecones will open back up and as they dry they'll look lighter.

The next day, drain the pinecones and rinse them with water a couple of times to remove all the bleach.

Next place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer for the drying process. To dry out the pinecones place the baking sheet in a 200 degree oven for a few hours until the pinecones are open again and they look dry.

Lastly, place pine cones in a ziplock bag and add some essential oil -any scent you like we used apple pie. Seal the bag and let them sit a few days or up to a week. When you open them up all the bleach smell will be gone, and they will smell like your oil.

This step is optional, but it makes such a nice addition. You can use any essential oil scent that you like, and refresh it years later if the scent wears off.

Recipe

Scented Bleached Pinecones

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 15

Additional Time: 1 2

Total Time: 1 2 15

Servings: pinecones

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Materials

24 Pinecones
Bleach
Large Bucket
Something to use as a Weight
Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
Essential Oil
Ziplock Bag

Instructions

Place your pinecones in a large bucket, and then fill with enough bleach mixture to cover the pinecones. Use between a 1:1 ratio with one part bleach to one part water, all the way up to 2 parts bleach to 1 part water, or somewhere in-between.
Put something over your pinecones to weigh them down and hold them in the bleach water solution, since they float, like a cutting a board with a few rocks on top.
Let sit, outside or in the garage, you want it to be in a well ventilated area. Leave the pinecones in the beach solution for about 24 hours. After one full day in the bleach solution, don't worry if the pinecones still look kind of dark and are closed up. The pinecones naturally close up when they are in water. Once they're removed from the bleach bath and they dry, the pinecones will open back up and as they dry they'll look lighter.
The next day, drain the pinecones and rinse them with water a couple of times to remove all the bleach.
Next place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer for the drying process. To dry out the pinecones place the baking sheet in a 200 degree oven for a few hours until the pinecones are open again and they look dry.
Lastly, place pine cones in a ziplock bag and add some essential oil -any scent you like we used apple pie. Seal the bag and let them sit a few days or up to a week. When you open them up all the bleach smell will be gone, and they will smell like your oil.

How To Use Your Bleached Pinecones

I've used the pinecones all over the house, and grouped them with different varieties, shapes and sizes, and even a few painted ones. I love all the texture of the dry pine cones. They're perfect for Christmas and adding to your Christmas decor. Add them to your Christmas trees, use floral wire to add a bunch of pine cones to wreaths, or even hot glue them to presents as an easy way to make a gift topper.

They'll also perfect for fall and winter decor. And, they smell so nice and sweet from the essential oil

scented Bleached Pinecones used in Christmas decor

I added some little screw in eye hooks to some and used them as ornaments.

I really love how they turned out.

So simple and so pretty.

How to make your own scented bleached pinecones

With Scented Bleached Pinecones, life really is a party.

More Inspiration

Top 10 Family Christmas Movies

Dec 15, 2015 · 2 Comments

Top 10 Best Family Christmas Movies: The best holiday movies that the whole family will love. Perfect to enjoy a family movie night this Christmas.

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I love a good movie, and especially around the holidays. When it's a little colder outside, and all warm and cozy inside, I love nothing better than a great holiday movie with my family. My girls are 8 and 11, and this is our list of best family Christmas movies. Some love one more than others, but overall there are some really good choices here, sure to get you in the holiday spirit. We tend to be a Friday night in, homemade pizza and a movie kind of family, especially through the winter months, so just picture me curled up with my littles after a long week, enjoying one of these.

10. The Santa Clause

Top 10 Family Christmas Movies: The best holiday movies that the whole family will love. Perfecct to enjoy a family movie night this Christmas.

It's a good one, classic Christmas theme of overworked man who doesn't spend enough time with his family discovering the true meaning of Christmas -well practically becoming Christmas. And, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. The Santa Clause 2 and 3 are fun too.

9.Home Alone

What child doesn't like to see a kid outsmart an adult? It's funny, cute, and again has that true meaning of Christmas message, in this case being with family. I also really liked Home Alone 2 -the change of setting helped make it not just feel like a repeat of the first one. I think most kids will really like both.

8. Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

We love the Grinch around here…in fact my darling husband may or may not get teased often about being the Grinch/Scrooge/Oscar the grouch at times, so this one is a real favourite around here, lol. The animated one is great too, a real classic, but this is one of those cases where the newer one with real people is just as good

7. A Charlie Brown Christmas

If your kids are into the new Peanuts movie, here's a chance to show them the version you watched when you were a kid. Love the old Charlie Brown tree, and his search for the true meaning of Christmas, which leads to the manger scene. It's so sweet, and profound at the same time, love it.

6. Curious George A Very Monkey Christmas

You might not know this one. I have one little who loves Curious George, and lets face it he is one smart monkey. Your going to find yourself singing "Christmas Monkey, Christmas Monkey, everyone loves a Christmas Monkey"…you've been warned…I can't believe that hasn't become a classic carol…yet. 😉

5. Booky and the Secret Santa

This is such a sweet little Christmas movie, set in my home city of Toronto. If you were an Anne of Green Gables fan you might love this too, since it has Megan Follows in it, but this one is set during the Depression. Lovely story about a financially struggling family and how they get through the holidays.

4. It's a Wonderful Life

They don't come more classic than this one. This might be my personal fav. on the list, but it is in black and white and an old, old movie for the littles. It might not top their list…yet, but they'll hopefully still enjoy it.

3. Little Women

Who doesn't love a story set in "the olden days", especially at Christmas. You might not think of this one as a Christmas movie, but there are several lovely Christmas scenes in the movie.

2. The Muppet's Christmas Carol

Okay again a holiday must see. Love the Muppets, love the humour, and love the classic story of A Christmas Carol. This movie has it all.

1. Elf

This probably won't be number one on my own personal list, but my kids LOVE this movie, and I do like it too. It's funny, and sweet, and quotable…."Smiling is my favourite." We watch this movie every year while we trim the family tree, and we all look forward to it.

A couple honourable mentions to add to the list, One Magic Christmas. I haven't actually watched this one with my girls yet, but it's on my list for this year. I can remember watching it as a kid with my Dad, and I remember really enjoying it, and him too. And one I also really like, and my kids liked it too, Christmas with the Kranks. It's funny and sweet, and again has that classic true meaning of Christmas message, in this case family.

Am I missing any great ones?

With a great list of the best family Christmas movies, life really is a party!

You might also like this post, 20 Non-Cartoon Family Movies That Parents Will Actually Enjoy Too:

Also check out our Christmas Movie Night here.

You might also like our Ho Ho Ho Hot Chocolate Bar here.

Ho Ho Ho Hot Chocolate Bar: set up the perfect Christmas hot chocolate bar with our printable package that includes labels, poster, bunting, and more.

DIY Wood Ball Christmas Ornaments

Dec 14, 2015 · 3 Comments

Make stunning wood ball ornaments in just 20 minutes with craft store supplies and paint. These Scandinavian-inspired decorations cost about $1 each, won't shatter like glass, and look beautiful on any Christmas tree.

Easy DIY wooden ball Christmas ornaments, with a candy cane.

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A Quick Look At This Craft

📋 Craft: DIY Wood Ball Ornaments
⏲️ Ready In: 20 minutes
✂️ Difficulty: Easy
💰 Budget: Under $15 (makes 12-15 ornaments)
🎨 Style: Scandinavian, Minimalist, Natural
💭 Top Tip: Use washi tape instead of masking tape for cleaner lines and easier removal with no sticky residue!

Why You'll Love These Wood Ball Ornaments

Practically indestructible unlike glass ornaments that shatter.
Budget-friendly at about $1 per ornament or less.
Quick to make in just 20 minutes for a batch.
Kid and pet safe for worry-free decorating.
Timeless Scandinavian style that never goes out of fashion.
Fully customizable colors to match any decor scheme.
Perfect for gifting as handmade presents

Hunting for the perfect minimalist ornaments that won't break the bank or shatter on the floor? These DIY wood ball ornaments are the answer. With simple craft store supplies, a bit of paint, and about 20 minutes, you can create beautiful Scandinavian-inspired ornaments that look expensive but cost just a few dollars to make.

Unlike glass ornaments that require careful handling and storage, wooden balls are practically indestructible. They're perfect for homes with kids, pets, or anyone who wants beautiful decor without the stress. The natural wood grain shows through the paint, creating that warm, organic look that defines Scandinavian Christmas style. Plus, you can customize the colors to match any decor scheme, from traditional red and green to modern metallics or soft neutrals.

If you love minimalist Christmas crafts, you might also enjoy our Mini Macrame Christmas Ornaments with their simple boho style, our DIY Velvet Acorns for natural decor, or our Little House Christmas Wreath for more Scandinavian inspiration.

Wooden Ball Christmas Ornaments: simple DIY to turn craft store wooden balls into Christmas tree ornaments.

Materials

wood craft balls and eye screws to make ornaments

This project uses basic craft supplies you can find at any craft store. The beauty is in the simplicity.

Wooden Balls -Unfinished wooden craft balls in your chosen size. We recommend 2-inch diameter balls for a classic look that's not too heavy for tree branches. Find these at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Amazon. For variety, mix 2-inch and 3-inch sizes. A bag of 12-15 balls typically costs $8-12.
Screw Eye Hooks -Small screw eye hooks (size #216 works well) to attach hanging string. One pack contains enough for dozens of ornaments. About $3-4 per pack.
Masking Tape or Washi Tape -For taping off sections before painting. Washi tape removes more cleanly and leaves no residue, but masking tape works fine too. If using masking tape, remove it while paint is still slightly tacky to prevent peeling.
Acrylic Craft Paint -Choose colors that match your decor. White creates classic Scandinavian style. Metallics like gold or copper add subtle shine. Any acrylic craft paint works beautifully. One bottle paints many ornaments. About $1-2 per color.
Paint Brush -A small to medium brush for applying paint. Foam brushes work well for smooth coverage.
Hanging String -Gold twine, ribbon, yarn, or thin rope for hanging. Choose something that complements your paint colors. About $2-3 per spool.

Optional But Helpful

Wood Stain -For staining balls before or instead of painting
Pencil or Small Dowel -For leverage when installing eye hooks

Where to Buy

Craft Stores: Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn carry unfinished wooden balls in the wood crafts section.
Online: Amazon has multi-packs at good prices. Etsy sellers offer various sizes.
Budget Tip: Buy in bulk or use 40-60% off coupons at craft stores to save even more.

painted wood ball ornament hanging on a Christmas tree

Size Guide

1-inch balls -Delicate, lightweight, great for filling in gaps in the Christmas tree
2-inch balls -Perfect standard size, most versatile
3-inch balls -Statement pieces, use sparingly as they're heavier
4-inch balls -Very large, only for sturdy branches or mantel display

For most trees, stick with 2-inch balls or a mix of 2-inch and 3-inch for variety without excessive weight.

How To Make Wood Ball Ornaments:

These simple steps create professional-looking ornaments. The technique is forgiving and perfect for beginners.

Step 1: Install Eye Hooks

Start by screwing the eye hooks into the top of each wooden ball. Push the pointed end into the wood while turning clockwise. You'll need some finger strength to get it started. Once it catches, keep turning until the eye hook is secure and flush with the ball.

Pro tip: If you're having trouble, stick a pencil or small paintbrush handle through the eye hook loop and use it as a lever to turn more easily. For very hard wood, you can create a tiny pilot hole with a small nail or a drill first, but this usually isn't necessary.

Install eye hooks in all your balls before moving to the next step. This assembly-line approach saves time.

Step 2: Tape Your Design

For plain natural wood ornaments, skip this step and go straight to adding hanging string.

For painted ornaments, use masking tape or washi tape to tape off the section you want to paint. We taped off about one-third to one-half of each ball with a straight line across for clean, modern look. Press the tape down firmly so paint doesn't seep underneath.

You can create different looks by taping at various angles or taping off multiple sections. Experiment with diagonal lines or geometric patterns.

Step 3: Paint and Dry

Apply paint to the exposed section. You'll likely need two coats for full coverage. Let the first coat dry completely (about 20-30 minutes) before applying the second.

Drying method: We rested out balls paint side up in the rolls of washi tape, you can also use small drinking glasses, or hang them from the eye hooks to dry.

Remove the tape once the paint is dry to the touch but not completely cured (about 30 minutes after final coat). This prevents the paint from peeling off with the tape. Peel slowly at a low angle for the cleanest edge.

Step 4: Add Hanging String

Cut a 6 to 8-inch piece of hanging string, ribbon, or yarn. Thread it through the eye hook and tie the ends together in a knot to create a loop. Trim any excess string.

Your ornaments are ready to hang! Display them on your tree, use them in garlands, or package them as gifts.

Expert Tips for Best Results

Eye Hook Installation -The wood may feel hard initially. Apply steady pressure while turning, and don't worry if it takes some effort. Once it catches the wood grain, it will screw in more easily.
Tape Choice Matters -Washi tape creates the cleanest lines because it removes easily without residue. If using masking tape, choose painter's tape quality and remove it while paint is slightly tacky.
Paint Application -Thin coats work better than one thick coat. Let each coat dry fully before adding the next. Two thin coats give more even coverage than one thick layer.
Weight Considerations -If making very large ornaments (3-inch or bigger), use them sparingly and hang them on stronger interior branches rather than delicate outer ones. A mix of sizes creates the most visual interest.

wood Christmas ornament hanging in Christmas tree

Design Ideas and Variations

The basic technique opens up endless creative possibilities. Here are ideas to make these ornaments your own.

Paint Variations

Classic Scandinavian -White paint on natural wood (what we made)
Metallic Glamour -Gold, copper, or silver paint for subtle shine
Bold Colors -Traditional red or green, or modern navy and blush
Multiple Colors -Paint different sections in coordinating colors, or stripes
Ombre Effect -Gradually fade from painted to natural wood
Angled Lines -Tape diagonally instead of straight across

Natural Options

Plain Wood -Leave balls completely natural with just eye hooks and string
Stained Only -Apply wood stain for richer color while showing grain
Half-Stained, Half-Painted -Combine stain and paint for contrast

Beyond Paint

Wood Burning -Add designs with a wood burning tool
Vinyl Decals -Apply cut vinyl designs or monograms
Glitter Dipped -Dip painted section in glitter while wet
Script -Hand-letter with paint pen once base paint dries

Wood Bead Alternative

Can't find solid wooden balls? Use large wooden beads instead. Thread ribbon or yarn through the bead hole and add a tassel, smaller beads, or felt balls on the bottom end. This creates a different hanging ornament style that's just as beautiful. The hole becomes a design feature rather than something to hide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size wooden balls should I use?

Two-inch diameter balls are the most versatile size. They're substantial enough to make an impact but not so heavy they weigh down branches. Mix in some 3-inch balls for variety if desired, but avoid going larger than 3 inches for tree ornaments.

Are wooden ball ornaments too heavy for my tree?

Two-inch wooden balls weigh about the same as standard glass ornaments and work fine on most trees. Hang them on interior branches rather than delicate outer tips. If you're concerned, stick with 2-inch or smaller sizes.

Where can I buy unfinished wooden balls?

Michaels, and Hobby Lobby carry them in the wood crafts section. Amazon sells multi-packs. Etsy has various sizes and quantities. Look for "unfinished wooden balls" or "wood craft balls."

What type of paint works best?

Regular acrylic craft paint works beautifully. Any brand from the craft store will do. You don't need special wood paint. Two thin coats give better coverage than one thick coat.

How do I prevent paint from bleeding under the tape?

Press your tape down very firmly, especially at the edges. Paint thin coats rather than thick ones. Remove the tape while paint is still slightly tacky (about 30 minutes after final coat) rather than waiting until it's completely dry.

What if the eye hook won't screw in?

Apply firm, steady pressure while turning. Use a pencil through the loop as a lever for better grip. If the wood is very hard, tap a small nail into the spot first to create a pilot hole, or use a drill, then screw in the eye hook.

If you make these wood ball ornaments or any other craft on my blog, please let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

More DIY Christmas Ideas

Recipe

Wooden Ball Christmas Ornaments

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Materials

Wooden Balls
Eye Hooks
Washi Tape or Masking Tape
Paint Brush
White Paint
Gold String Ribbon, or Yarn

Instructions

Start by screwing the eye hooks into the top of the wooden balls.
For the plain ones, just attach a string and your ready to hang them.
For the painted ones, use masking tape to tape off the section you want painted.
Apply the paint, you might need to do two coats to really cover it.
Remove the tape once the paint is dry and add the string for hanging.

Notes

Eye Hook Installation - The wood may feel hard initially. Apply steady pressure while turning, and don't worry if it takes some effort. Once it catches the wood grain, it will screw in more easily.

Tape Choice Matters - Washi tape creates the cleanest lines because it removes easily without residue. If using masking tape, choose painter's tape quality and remove it while paint is slightly tacky.

Paint Application - Thin coats work better than one thick coat. Let each coat dry fully before adding the next. Two thin coats give more even coverage than one thick layer.

Weight Considerations - If making very large ornaments (3-inch or bigger), use them sparingly and hang them on stronger interior branches rather than delicate outer ones. A mix of sizes creates the most visual interest.

Christmas Sugar Cubes

Dec 9, 2015 · 1 Comment

Christmas Sugar Cubes: easy, quick, and oh so sweet Christmas. Make Christmas Sugar Cubes from regular sugar cubes, and edible markers.

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Some Christmas projects are hard, and expensive, and time consuming…and some are easy. This one is easy...and quick, and inexpensive too. It would even be a fun one to do with the kids.

All you need are some sugar cubes -find them at the grocery store with the sugar, and some edible ink food markers -find them at a craft store.

white sugar cubes
edible food markers

The food markers work just like a normal marker, but are safe to eat.

Christmas Sugar Cubes for a Christmas tea party

All you do to make the Christmas Sugar Cubes, is colour a pretty Christmas design on one side of your sugar cube with the edible markers. Try to stick to fairly simple designs. I had good luck with stars, wreaths, holly and berries, little Christmas trees, hearts, and snowflakes. The words are a little trickier, just try to think of short words. I did joy, love, and Noel.

Do a few practise ones, and if they don't turn out try another side…and then throw them in your coffee or tea. 🙂 Great excuse to enjoy a cup as you work.

I think these would be the perfect addition to a Christmas tea party.

Or, wrap them up in a little cello bag and add to a hostess gift -how great with a bag of good coffee? I think I'll get my girls to make some after school, and we'll add them to the Breakfast in Bed Baskets we're making for their teachers this year.

With easy and oh so sweet Christmas Sugar Cubes, life really is a party!

You might also like our Nutcracker Christmas Tea Party here.

Also check out our Christmas Tablescape here.

Thrift Store Christmas Table and Thrift Store Tips: beautiful Christmas table put together with thrift store finds, and 9 tips for thrifting.

You might also enjoy our Printable Christmas Advent Calendar Activities here.

Printable Christmas Advent Calendar Activities: with over 60 different activities to choose from pick 24 and make some special memories with your family this Christmas.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Home Tour

Dec 7, 2015 · 7 Comments

Rustic Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Home Tour 2015: Simple, rustic, white, and Scandi inspired Christmas decor.

Merry Christmas! I'm so excited to invite you in to have a peek at our Scandinavian inspired Christmas Home Tour. Grab a cup of tea and come in, you are most welcome.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas front porch

Front Door

Outside we've gone with a rustic natural Scandinavian inspired look, in keeping with our theme this year. Find out how to make the Little House Wreath here.

It's been so fun to put this years Christmas decorations together. I've been inspired this year by all things Scandinavian, and tried to bring that airy, white, rustic, kind of minimalist feel into our home for Christmas. It's so relaxing and easy to live with.

Rustic Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Home Tour

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Dining Room

The hardest part about trying to do a Scandi influenced look this year was knowing when to stop -but the simplicity is certainly part of it's charm.

We've incorporated lots of white, sheep skin, antlers and candles, candles and more candles. We're celebrating the light in these dark and short days. And we've tried to bring the outdoors in, with lots of greenery, pinecones, and birch.

Our little console table has a pretty black metal tree, with a few simple ornaments on it.

Lots of pretty pinecones this year -including these bleached ones -find the whole tutorial to make your own bleached pinecones here.

Rustic Scandinavian Inspired Christmas decor

And, lots of fresh pine, gathered on afternoon walks in the woods behind our house -lots of fun exploring for me.

Bar Cart

Our little bar cart is set up for Christmas visitors.

I had fun incorporating some tissue balls this year…and a few disco balls. Love the contrast of the rustic and simple with the sparkle of the mirrored balls.

And I've also had fun incorporating some pretty geometrics -to keep things up to date.

Buffet

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Home Tour

The wall hanging is a simple birch branch and wire lights. I made a few wool tassels for it.

I made a simple little Advent candle wreath, with more fresh pine.

My wooden dough bowl -a fun find at a fall antique show, is dressed up for it's first Christmas with us, and has definitely become a new favourite.

Dining Room Table

The dining room table has a pretty rustic 100 year old plank as it's centrepiece. You can see it all set for Christmas dinner here, I removed the cloth and dishes and left the runner for a casual everyday look over the holidays.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Living Room

The dining room leads into the living room. I've dressed the stairs with a simple fresh pine garland. And this year, for the first time since I was a kid, we have a real tree.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Tree

I think I'd forgot how perfectly imperfect a real tree is.

Going for that Scandi feel, I've tried hard not to over do it on the tree. No garland this year, in a simple galvanized pail, and surrounded by some sheep skins.

The decorations are white glass balls, pretty pinecones, some woodsy mushrooms, and rustic wooden balls. On the top, a simple geometric star, I made out of some straws, wire, and gold paint.

I also picked up these pretty gold arrows, in the scrapbook embellishment section of the craft store and turned them into Christmas decorations.

My favourite on the tree are these pretty metal geometric ornaments -a garland from Target that I took apart and used as individual ornaments.

Christmas Mantel

I love the simple Christmas mantel too.

Sometimes simple is best.

What could be nicer than curling up by the fire on a cold winter's night, under the glow of the Christmas tree? Nothing.

Especially with some Christmas cookies and a family board game.

Over on the couch, a collection of pillows and a good book await.

Scandinavian inspired Christmas living room

This pretty tray has become a bit of a favourite too. I love lighting the candles in the evening. I picked up the candles as a little birthday gift to myself last month, and I'm loving them.

Advent Calendar

Across the room is the pretty little paper village Advent calendar I made for my girls.

They are enjoying finding a little joke and Christmas riddle each day.

Above the table, a new little project; some simple wooden Christmas art -see the tutorial to make your own here.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas art work

"God Jul" is Merry Christmas is Swedish.

Kitchen

And last but not least, our sunny little kitchen.

A simple reminder on the chalk board to "Have yourself a Merry little Christmas" -written by my youngest daughter.

And on the table, a collection of some pretty plants -because it's so nice to have something green and living this time of year, and the paper whites smell so pretty when I come down in the morning.

The view out the kitchen widow is to the forest behind our house, and the birch trees that look so beautiful this time of year.

Thanks so much for coming by, and having a peek at my Scandi inspired simple Christmas tour.

I truly hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas, celebrating the light that's come into our darkness.

With the house all ready to receive our friends and family over the holidays and full of Scandinavian inspired Christmas decor, life really is a party!

You might also like our Scandinavian Christmas Home Decor Tour 2018 -Party I here.

Christmas Home Tour 2018 -Black and White Scandinavian design with a little boho. Lots of natural elements, cozy texture and Christmas twinkle lights.

Also check out our Scandinavian Christmas Decor Home Tour 2018 -Part II here.

Scandinavian Christmas Decor Home Tour 2018 -Part II: Rustic Scandi design, lots of white and natural elements with some vintage Xmas pieces.

You might also enjoy our Scandinavian Christmas Home Tour 2016 here.

Scandinavian Christmas Home Tour: Woodland Rustic Scandinavian Christmas decorations with lots of nature and forest inspired decor.

Christmas Granola Recipe

Dec 4, 2015 · 2 Comments

Christmas granola is the ultimate homemade holiday gift with big chunky clusters, festive flavors, and endless variations. Make cranberry and mixed fruit granola or chocolate chip coconut granola for gift giving, brunch entertaining, or Christmas morning breakfast that everyone will love.

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A Quick Look At This Recipe

📋 Recipe: Christmas Granola
⏲️ Ready In: 1 hour 45 minutes (15 minutes prep, 90 minutes baking)
👪 Servings: 16 servings
🔪 Difficulty: Easy
💭 Top Tip: Don't over-stir during baking or you'll break up all the chunky clusters. Stir gently to keep big pieces intact!

Why You'll Love This Christmas Granola

Perfect chunky clusters: The oat flour technique creates satisfying crunchy clusters that hold together beautifully.
Three festive variations: Choose from gingerbread spice, cranberry fruit and nut, or chocolate coconut versions.
Easy holiday gift: Package in mason jars or cellophane bags for impressive homemade hosting gifts.
Budget friendly ingredients: Uses pantry staples to create gourmet results.
Make ahead friendly: Stores for weeks, perfect for holiday planning.

I developed and tested this Christmas granola recipe back in 2013, and have made it every Christmas since-easily 50+ batches over the years. My family requests it every fall, friends specifically ask for jars as gifts, and it's never failed me. The secret to perfect clusters is minimal stirring and my unique oat flour technique that helps everything bind together beautifully. You can customize it with cranberries and dried fruit for a traditional holiday flavor, or go festive with chocolate chips and coconut for something special.

I love using this recipe as part of a yogurt and granola parfait breakfast board.

If you love easy breakfast recipes for the holidays, you might also enjoy these jelly donut pancakes, easy food processor scones, easy overnight French toast casserole, or pumpkin waffles for Christmas brunch entertaining.

Ingredients for Holiday Granola

Quick rolled oats: Half gets ground into oat flour to create binding power for chunky clusters. The other half stays whole for texture. Substitue ¼ with large flake oats for even more texture.
Raw nuts: Choose any combination totaling 3 cups. I use almonds, walnuts, and pecans, but pistachios, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds work great too.
Brown sugar and butter: Creates the sweet coating that helps form clusters and adds rich flavor. We love using butter rather than oil, as it adds a rich buttery taste to the granola.
Warm spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg bring cozy holiday flavor to the base recipe.
Dried fruit and chocolate: Add after baking so they stay soft and don't get too crunchy. Cranberries, figs, raisins, coconut, and chocolate chips all work beautifully.

Three Festive Flavor Variations

Gingerbread Granola

For a real gingerbread flavor, increase the cinnamon to 1½ teaspoons, add ¾ teaspoon ground ginger, and a pinch of cloves to the base recipe. The warm spices make your kitchen smell like Christmas while baking.

Chocolate and Coconut Granola

After the granola cools completely, add chocolate chips and coconut flakes. Try white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips based on your preference. This version is always a huge hit.

Cranberry Granola

Add dried cranberries along with other dried fruit like chopped dried figs, raisins, and more flaked coconut after baking. You can use any winter dried fruit combination you prefer.

Expert Tips for Chunky Clusters

The key to great chunky granola with clusters is to not over-stir during baking. After the first 30 minutes, stir the granola so the top and edges don't burn.

On that initial first stir, keep some big chunks intact. You'll stir the mixture four more times during the 90 minute baking time, but always stir gently to preserve those satisfying clusters.

The oat flour technique is the other secret. Grinding half the oats creates a binding agent that helps form clusters without adding extra ingredients. This is what makes the difference between loose granola and the chunky kind everyone loves.

How To Make Christmas Granola

Step 1: To start with, put 8 oz. of the rolled oats in a food processor and grind into oat flour.

Step 2: Combine in a large bowl the oat flour, quick oats, nuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir.

Step 3: In a small pan combine sugar, butter, and water and heat over a medium heat until it boils, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla.

Step 4: Pour the melted butter wet ingredients mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir to fully combine. Let it sit 10 min.

Step 5: Pour granola mixture onto a large cookie sheet in an even layer, and cook in a 300 degree oven for 25 to 30 min. Stir the mixture and keep cooking for a total of 1 ½ hours, until crunchy and dry, making sure to stir every 15 min. so the edges don't burn. Be careful not to over stir, you want to have some chunky clusters of granola.

Step 6: When it's finished cooking, let it cool completely, and then add in the dried fruit, and chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container, like a glass jar.

homemade chocolate chip and coconut granola

Packaging Christmas Granola Gifts

When to Make for Gifting: Bake up to 3 weeks ahead and store in airtight containers. I always make mine the first week of December, then package 3-5 days before giving to ensure peak freshness. For December 25th gifts, I package December 20-22. This timing means the granola is still perfectly crunchy and fragrant when your recipients open their jars.

Mason jar presentation: Fill clean mason jars with granola, breaking any large clusters to fit if needed. Tie festive ribbons around the neck and attach handmade tags. Recipients can reuse the jars after enjoying the granola.

Cellophane bags: Package granola in clear cellophane gift bags tied with festive ribbons for simple presentation. Add cute gift tags for a personal touch.

Recipe card addition: Include a printed recipe card with your gift so friends can make their own batch later.

Hosting gift idea: Bring a jar when attending holiday parties instead of flowers or wine. Food gifts show thoughtfulness and are always appreciated.

This approach to homemade gift giving means you can make one big batch and have plenty for multiple gifts plus extra to keep for yourself. It's the kind of easy entertaining that feels special without adding holiday stress.

Along with our Christmas granola, I made up a batch of my husbands famous pancakes - find the recipe here.

I love this kind of easy entertaining, this holiday granola perfect for a no-fuss Christmas get-together.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this granola with yogurt, honey or maple syrup, and fresh fruit for an easy Christmas brunch. It's also delicious with smooth cottage cheese or simply with milk as cereal. Try it as an ice cream topping for a festive dessert, or enjoy it by the handful as a snack.

For a complete Christmas brunch spread, pair it with small batch pancakes or Baileys French toast.

Yogurt and granola breakfast board with yogurt, fresh fruit, and dried fruit.

With homemade Christmas granola for giving or enjoying yourself, life really is a party!

More Breakfast Inspiration

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store Christmas granola?

Store completely cooled granola in an airtight container like a glass jar. It will keep fresh for up to 3 weeks at room temperature.

Can I make this granola ahead of time?

Yes! This granola is perfect for making ahead. Bake it up to 3 weeks before you need it and store in airtight containers until ready to gift or serve.

Why is my granola not chunky?

There are two keys to getting the perfect chunks. First, make sure you let the granola sit for 10 minutes before spreading it onto the baking sheet to bake. The liquids will absorb into the oat flour and bind it all together to form the chunks in the first place. And secondly, don't over-stir. Stir gently and keep large chunks intact.

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Yes. I've made this with quick oats, instant oats, and rolled oats, and it always turns out fine. Use what you have.

What other dried fruits work in this granola recipe?

Try raisins, chopped dates, dried apricots, dried cherries, or any dried fruit that you like. Just be sure to add them after baking so they stay soft, not crunchy.

How do I package this as a gift?

Fill mason jars or cellophane bags with cooled granola. Tie with festive ribbons and add handmade tags. One batch fills approximately 4 pint-sized mason jars.

Can I make this granola gluten free?

Yes, use certified gluten free oats to make this recipe gluten free.

If you try this Christmas Granola or any other ideas on my blog, leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

About the Recipe Developer

I'm Dannyelle, a trained celebrant and former teacher who's been creating memorable celebrations for 15+ years. I developed and tested this Christmas granola recipe back in 2013, and have made it every Christmas since-easily 50+ batches over the years! My family requests it, friends ask for jars, and it's never failed. My work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens and Country Living for party styling and seasonal entertaining. More about Life is a Party →

Rustic Snowy Christmas Tablescape

Dec 1, 2015 · 3 Comments

Rustic Snowy Chrismtas Tablescape: with faux snow, fresh greens, and winter berries and personalized DIY snow globe place cards.

My project for Merry Mag is a pretty Rustic Snowy Christmas Tablescape, perfect for Christmas.

I'm so excited to be contributing to Merry Mag this year! It's an inspiring collection of holiday recipes, decor, crafts, and diy's to get you excited about Christmas. Follow along on social media with #MerryMag Special thanks to Melissa at The Sweet Escape for putting this all together, such a special project to be a part of.

Scandinavian Inspired Christmas

I'm going for a Scandinavian inspired look this Christmas so I piled lots of soft sheep skins and pillows on the chairs. I wanted to keep things feeling light and bright, so the white tablecloth worked well as the foundation for the table.

Rustic Snowy Centre Piece

I wanted to create a layered effect so on top of the tablecloth, I added faux snow, and then this amazing old piece of hundred year old hemlock. salvaged from an old barn.

On top of the plank table runner, I laid some boughs of white pine, and a few sprigs of pretty fresh snowberries.

I used some pretty gold candle holders, since Christmas is the season to celebrate the light. The patterned glasses are some vintage juice glasses turned into votives.

I love the mix of the traditional gold, and vintage pieces, with the more modern geometrics.

Rustic Christmas Place Settings

I set the table with simple white plates, and pretty gold cutlery. The dot napkins and glasses add to the feel of snow.

DIY Snow Globe Place Cards

My favourite detail of the table is the pretty little snow globe inspired place markers. I started with some rustic wood coasters. I added some more faux snow, and a little Christmas tree to each one, a few also got a sweet little plastic deer from the craft store.

On top of each little scene I placed a mini cloche -from a set of cupcake holders that I had.

Each little "snow globe" was turned into a place marker, by adding each guest's name, and a few pretty snowflakes. I used a Crayola Window Writer marker in white to add the detail, and it washed off easily afterward with soap and water.

The names are so subtle and pretty -and you could customize this idea to any message, and any colour scheme, since the markers come in a whole range of colours.

I love how simple and pretty the table turned out, great for Christmas, or as just a winter table. Perfect for a cozy night in enjoying the warmth of good food, good drink, and good friends or for a Christmas celebration.

With a Rustic Snowy Christmas Tablescape like this, life really is a party!

Be sure to check out lots more amazing holiday ideas at Merry Mag!

More Inspiration

You might also like our Winter Tablescape here.

Also check out our Rustic Christmas Table here.

You might also enjoy Black and White Christmas Table here.

Christmas Gift Wrapping Party

Nov 30, 2015 · 1 Comment

Christmas Gift Wrapping Party: Easy ideas for personalized party decorations, dessert table, and gift wrapping ideas.

Over the weekend I had a little Christmas Gift Wrapping Party with some girl friends, and I’m excited to share all the details with you, and hopefully inspire you as we head into a busy season of entertaining. This party is a great excuse to get together, and practical too, since we all have some gift wrapping to do in the next month.

Gift Wrapping Party DIY Decor

Let’s start with the pretty dessert table I set up for my guests to enjoy throughout the party. I used the lots of washi tape to create fun and easy party decorations. My favourite little project was the sweet little deer treat jars.

Materials:

Super Glue
Mason Jars
Mini Plastic Deer (or other animals)
Gold Spray Paint
Gold Glitter Tape

To Make the Jar:

I started out with the mason jars, and super glue. I used some cute little plastic deer from the craft store, and glued them to the lids.
Once the glue was dry, I spray painted the lids and deer with gold paint.
When the paint was dry I cut a piece of gold tape to size, and wrapped it around the edge for the perfect finishing touch.

For the party, I filled the jars with chocolate covered almonds, a real favourite around here. They were such an adorable addition to the dessert table, and everyone loved them. They’d also be perfect for gift giving over the holidays, filled with any sweet treat.

Merry Christmas Bunting

I wanted to add a Merry Christmas bunting to the background of the dessert table, and made the “Merry” bunting by using a paper punch to make the large circles, and a hole punch for the top. The gold is a piece of tape, that I added to the cardboard and trimmed to shape. It looked great with the lights; perfect little bit of sparkle for the holidays.

Paper Chains

I thought it’d be fun to add some old fashioned paper chains to the table too. I used some thin brown cardboard (from the inside of some wrapping paper) to create the strips, and then used the washi tape to secure them. I love the contrast of the simple brown paper and the glitz of the glitter tapes.

Washi Tape Bunting

I also made some bunting with the washi tape, by folding it over string and cutting the edges into a “V” shape. Simple and so, so pretty.

Water Bottles and Straws

I wanted to give my guests a few drink options at the party. I picked up some mini water bottles, and decorated some straws with tape, the washi tape are easy to write on with a marker -so I added a little “cheers” here.

Hot Chocolate Bar

I also set up a fun hot chocolate bar.

I made some hot chocolate and served it in a thermos.

I loved the detail of the decorated spoons.

I added in lots of flavoured marshmallows: chocolate, peppermint, mini vanilla, chocolate peppermint, and gingerbread, along with some chocolate santa sprinkles, whip cream and chocolate candy canes.

Food Labels

In addition to drinks, I offered some easy treats, and made simple labels with some cardstock and more washi tape.

Cupcake Picks

I wanted to serve a few simple sweet treats for my guests. I started with cupcakes, because nothing could be sweeter than cupcakes, especially with these adorable cupcake pics.

A few vanilla, a few chocolate.

Gift Wrapping Party Dessert Table

I also picked up some donuts, and set them up on a pretty milk glass cake plate, along with another cute mini bunting.

I included some yummy popcorn, and some of my Cashew Coconut Brittle -get the recipe here.

Gift Wrapping Ideas

Once everyone had a treat…or two, it was time for some Christmas wrapping crafting.

I set up a table with lots of little gift wrapping projects on it.

Decorating Gift Bags

There were gift bags to decorate. I liked keeping it simple with a stripe or two of pretty washi tape. The perfect sparkle, and so many pretty colours and patterns to choose from.

Gift Tags

I also made some gift tags out of cardboard, and we decorated those with more washi tape, and added some rubber stamp decorations.

Gift Tag Clips

Before the party, I painted some regular clothes pins with gold spray paint, and we added strips of washi tape to the side, perfect for clipping a gift tag, or ornament to a gift bag or package.

My last fun idea, was to add washi tape to a simple paper clip, and write a festive message. Then we used the clips to attach gift tags to bags.

So many simple ideas, that are easy to do, and add so much fun and sparkle to holiday wrapping.

I had so much fun putting this little party together. It was full of simple ideas that really created a special, personalized party. I love that you could create the party decorations in any colour to match your holiday decor, and it was an inexpensive way to add big impact.

With a fun Christmas gift wrapping party, life really is a party.

More Inspiration

You might also enjoy our Christmas Fondue Party here.

Also check out our Merry and Bright Christmas Party here.

You might also enjoy our Christmas Dessert Party here.

Little House Advent Calendar

Nov 25, 2015 · 2 Comments

DIY House Advent Calendar: A pattern for 3 sizes of paper houses, and printable number labels to make your own advent calendar village.

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I always like to do a little advent calendar for my girls. This years house advent calendar might just be my favourite ever.

December mornings they're excited to get downstairs after they're dressed and beds are made, to open their advent calendar before breakfast. My mom usually makes sure they each have a traditional chocolate advent calendar, and I've used all kinds of different advent calendar ideas with them over the past couple of years. There have been Advent activity calendars with printable activity cards to do each day, lego, or play mobile to open, and candles to burn to a certain point. We loved doing a Children's Story Book Advent Calendar too. This year, since they're getting a little older I went with these sweet little houses for our Christmas countdown.

I think advent calendars are such a fun way to celebrate the holiday season. These little houses are made of paper. They're a simple way to make a little Christmas village. They look so cute, and filled with a little surprise or fun activity they're sure to be lots of fun and a hit with kids of all ages.

Materials:

white paper
old book pages
printed patterns
printed numbers
scissors
glue

How To Make The House Advent Calendar

Free Printable Template

You can find the free printables to make your own house advent calendar in our Free Resource Library. Subscribe below for free instant access.

To make the fun advent calendar with little houses, start by printing out our free template for the houses from the Free Resource Library.

Use the free printable template to trace out 24 houses on to your paper. We used regular copy paper, and also some old book pages. Use a book from the thrift store for your book pages. You could also use scrapbook paper, or brown kraft paper too. The printable advent calendar village has three different sizes; small houses, medium houses, and slightly larger houses.

Cut them out with a pair of scissors, and fold and glue them together. I used a glue stick to glue them together. You could also use hot glue, or double-sided tape.

Next, print the free printable advent calendar numbers from the Free Resource Library, and cut them out and glue them to the houses. One of the easiest ways to cut out the numbers is to use a large circle hole punch, if you have one that is the right size.

And lastly, fill your little houses with small items for each day, starting on December 1st.

I sat one night and watched a Christmas movie on tv while I snipped, folded and glued, in-between cups of tea. In the morning the girls were all ohs and ahs when they saw their own little Christmas advent village.

Setting Up Your Christmas Village

I set the houses up on our little side table, and added some cute wooden Christmas trees, and a sprinkling of snow. These little additions are so much fun. Mini bottle brush trees would work well too. You could also add some fairy Christmas lights.

DIY house advent calendar Christmas village

What To Put Inside

Treats

Of course my girls wanted to know what was inside.

Is it candy?

Or is it mini toys or treasures?

Is it activities?

All of the above would be great choices. Any small treats and small gifts would be great. The houses are quite small, so look for small treats like a mini candy cane or very small toys, small Christmas decorations, or Christmas stickers would be a great thing to put inside. A traditional chocolate would be a great idea also.

Other Ideas For Advent Calendar Fillers

But this year I filled our Christmas calendar with jokes and Christmas picture puzzles. It should make for a fun start to the day. I found some online, printed them up and then rolled them and held them together with a little gold washi tape, or you could tie them with a little baker's twine.

Other ideas are to add different bible verses for each day, or a series of readings from the Christmas story.

Another great option is to add a different random act of kindness for each day of the month of December. Each day you have a different act to perform for a stranger by the end of the day.

Another great way to fill the countdown calendar is with different Christmas activities to do each day. I think this idea is especially nice for younger kids. Each day you do different fun activities right up to Christmas day. I love this Christmas tradition because I think it helps kids realize that there's a lot more to the Christmas season than just Santa and gifts on Christmas morning. It helps focus on advent activities for the whole family to do together, and shifts the focus from just material items to family togetherness in a fun and wonderful way. I know doing an activity a day can seem a little overwhelming to parents, but I always suggest filling the fun Christmas activity calendar with really simple and easy activities that aren't too overwhelming. If you need ideas, check out our printable advent activity cards with lots of great ideas.

I love how this little DIY advent calendar turned out. It looks so, so pretty in the living room. It's a delightful way to count down our way to the big day.

With a pretty little house advent calendar like this, life really is a party.

You might also like our Printable Christmas Advent Calendar Activities here.

More Advent Ideas

Also check out our Children's Story Book Advent Calendar here.

Cashew Coconut Brittle

Nov 23, 2015 · 14 Comments

Cashew Coconut Brittle is the most delicious brittle recipe. This combination is so good. It makes the perfect homemade gift. You could substitute any other nut or nut combination. And, this recipe is quick, you can prepare it in about 15 minutes.

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What I Love About This Recipe

The classic brittle crunch and sweetness is so delicious.
The combination of cashew and coconut is a bit unexpected and it's so good!
If you love sweet and salty, just sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top of the brittle before it sets.
It makes the perfect homemade gift that everyone loves and asks for again and again.
It keeps for weeks.
It's quick to make, it only takes about 15 minutes, plus set time.

I've made homemade brittle with peanuts many times, and it's very good. But this combo, of coconut and cashews is AMAZING, worth the effort, and should secure the praise and admiration of your friends and family. (Oversell? Well, let's just say this coconut cashew brittle really is good then.)

Homemade Candy for Gift Giving

I love making homemade candy for gift giving. This Butternut Crunch Toffee Recipe is one of my old standbys, that everyone loves. You might also like our Homemade Sponge Toffee. And another absolute favorite is our Homemade Caramel Apples, with the best caramel coating. Also try our Coconut Ice, and our Chocolate Walnut Fudge.

Ingredients

Cashew cocnut brittle ingredinets in bowls on a table.

The star of the show for this cashew coconut brittle is of course, the cashews and the coconut. I just love the cashew flavors with the intense coconut flavor.

Cashews: You can use roasted or raw cashews in this recipe, whichever is your preference. Pieces or whole cashews are fine. I used unsalted cashews, but if you only have salted cashews, just omit the salt later in the recipe. That sweet salty combo is pretty great.
Coconut: This recipe is made with unsweetened flakes. Feel free to use sweetened coconut if that's what you have, and flaked or shredded coconut can be used interchangeably here.
Corn Syrup: Using corn syrup in brittle helps guard against the sugar crystallizing and creating a grainy brittle. Corn syrup helps create a smooth and never grainy coconut cashew brittle texture.
Salt: Add a pinch of salt to the brittle mixture to help balance out the sweet. Love the salty and sweet combo? Try using salted cashews or add a sprinkle of sea salt over the warm coconut cashew brittle.

Expert Tip

Make sure to pre-measure the cashews and coconut, and have your vanilla and baking soda nearby. When the brittle reaches the right temperature you will want to quickly add the last ingredients.

Substitutions

You can substitute any nuts for the cashews and coconut. You want the total to equal 2 ½ cups. You may use salted cashews in place of unsalted cashews, just remove the salt from the recipe.

Variations

Try using some other nuts and combinations for different flavor variations. Feel free to play around or even go with the classic peanuts. It's as simple as swapping out the 2 ½ cups total (I did 1 ¼ cashews and 1 ¼ coconut here) with any nut of your choice.

Use all cashews and no coconut for cashew brittle.

Use peanuts for peanut brittle

Try using almonds, or any other nut or combination of nuts equaling 2 ½ cups total.

Equipment

You will need a candy thermometer for this recipe. Attach it to the side of pan, making sure that it doesn't rest on the bottom of the pan so that it's an accurate reading.

Also, use a pastry brush dipped in cold water to brush down the sides of the pan to help prevent recrystallization during the cooking process of the brittle.

tin of brittle for Christmas gift giving

Storage

Store your finished brittle at room temperature in an airtight container. It lasts up to a month.

It's perfect for gift giving a small tin or wrapped in a cellophane bag.

How To Make Cashew Coconut Brittle

Cashew brittle ingredents in a white pan.

Step 1: Spray a 9 x 13 baking tray with cooking spray, and set aside. In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.

Cashew coconut brittle ingredients boiling in a pan.

Step 2: Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

Adding coconut and cashews to homemade brittle mixture during cooking.

Step 3: Cook, swirling occasionally, until the mixture reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, brushing the sides of the pan down with a pastry brush dipped in a cup of water, occasionally to prevent re-crystallization. When the temperature reaches 238 degrees, mix in the coconut and cashews, and stir frequently to combine cashews and coconut and to prevent the nuts from burning, cooking until the mixture turns to a golden amber colour.

Step 4: Add the vanilla and baking soda to the mixture and stir to combine, it may foam up slightly.

Spreading homemade brittle in a pan to set.

Step 5: Quickly spread onto the baking sheet, using a spatula sprayed with cooking oil to smooth it.

Homemade brittle recipe in a glass baking dish.

Step 6: Let the brittle cool completely, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why put baking soda in brittle?

The baking soda reacts and creates carbon dioxide. This aerates the caramel making it less dense and helping to create the characteristic brittle snap of the candy, and guarding against it being soft and chewy.

Why is my brittle grainy?

Your sugar may have recrystallized, causing a grainy texture. to help prevent this use a pastry brush dipped in cold water and brush down the sides of the pan several times as it cooks to help prevent this problem.

Why didn't my brittle set?

If your brittle didn't set you may not have cooked it long enough. Be sure that it reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer before removing it from the heat.

More Homemade Candy Recipes

If you tried this Cashew Coconut Brittle Recipe or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Cashew Coconut Brittle

Sweet, brittle candy with cashews and coconut.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Candy, Desserts

Cuisine: American

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 162kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups sugar
▢ ½ cup light corn syrup
▢ ¾ cup cold water
▢ pinch of salt
▢ 1 ¼ cup cashews
▢ 1 ¼ coconut or replace the cashews and coconut for 2 ½ cups total of another nut or combination of nuts
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla
▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
▢ cooking oil spray

Instructions

Spray a 9 x 13 baking tray with cooking spray, and set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.
Bring to a boil over a med.-high heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
Cook, swirling occasionally, until the mixture reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, brushing the sides of the pan down with a pastry brush dipped in a cup of water, occasionally to prevent re-crystallization.
When the temperature reaches 238 degrees, mix in the coconut and cashews, and stir frequently to combine cashews and coconut and to prevent the nuts from burning, cooking until the mixture turns to a golden amber colour.
Add the vanilla and baking soda to the mixture and stir to combine, it may foam up slightly.
Quickly spread onto the baking sheet, using a spatula sprayed with cooking oil to smooth it.
Let the brittle cool completely, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.

Video

Notes

Make sure to pre-measure the cashews and coconut, and have your vanilla and baking soda nearby. When the brittle reaches the right temperature you will want to quickly add the last ingredients.

Store in an airtight container.

Optional: love the combination of sweet and salty? Before the brittle sets in the baking dish, while it's still warm, sprinkle the top with a little flaky sea salt.

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

DIY Breakfast Gift Basket with Homemade Pancake Mix

Nov 16, 2015 · 28 Comments

Looking for a thoughtful homemade gift? This breakfast gift basket includes everything for a perfect morning meal, including homemade pancake mix, maple syrup, pastries, and coffee. Perfect for teacher gifts, hostess gifts, or holiday giving!

Breakfast gift basket filled with coffee beans, homemde pancake mix, pastries and more.

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A Quick Look At This Gift

📋 Gift: DIY Breakfast Gift Basket
⏲️ Assembly Time: 15 minutes (plus pancake mix prep)
🎁 Perfect For: Teachers, hostesses, neighbors, new parents
💰 Budget: $25-40 depending on items chosen
💭 Top Tip: Include real maple syrup and package your homemade pancake mix in a vintage mason jar for an extra special touch!

Why You'll Love This Breakfast Gift Basket

Thoughtful and personal with homemade pancake mix recipe included.
Perfect for any occasion from holidays to thank you gifts.
Budget-friendly at $25-40 depending on items you choose.
Mostly non-perishable so it can be assembled ahead of time.
Actually useful giving practical breakfast items people will enjoy.

This breakfast gift basket is the perfect thoughtful gift for the holidays and beyond. A bottle of wine is nice, flowers are sweet, but I really love giving something practical yet special and more personal. Everyone would love a gorgeous breakfast basket like this one. This basket makes a great teacher gift or hostess gift during the holidays.

I love writing on the card for dinner party hosts: "You made dinner, so I took care of breakfast." It's the perfect hostess gift. But really any breakfast lover would appreciate this basket full of gourmet treats. These beautiful goodies turn a lazy Sunday into a glorious morning.

If you're looking for more gift ideas, you might also enjoy our Small Batch Pancakes For Two Recipe, Holiday Hostess Wine and Cheese Gift Basket, or Printable Christmas Gift Card Holders.

What to Put in a Breakfast Gift Basket

The key to a great breakfast gift basket is including a mix of homemade and store-bought items. Here's what we included in our basket:

Essential Items

Homemade pancake mix (recipe below) in a vintage mason jar
Real maple syrup (not pancake syrup, the real stuff!)
Gourmet coffee (we used Starbucks Holiday Blend)
Fresh pastries from a local bakery
Pretty basket or container to hold everything

Optional Add-Ins

Butter or whipped cream (if delivering locally)
Scented candle for ambiance
Cloth napkins in holiday colors
Fresh berries (if gifting immediately)
Flavored syrups or preserves
Hot chocolate mix
Tea bags for non-coffee drinkers

Choosing Your Basket Items

The Pancake Mix

My favorite part of this basket is the homemade pancake mix with real maple syrup. You could substitute with store-bought pancake mix or waffle mix, but homemade is special. As a Canadian, we had to include real maple syrup for that classic combination. You could also add flavored syrups or strawberry preserves.

I grew up on store-bought pancake mix. Then my husband started making pancakes from scratch, and they're amazing. These are worth the tiny bit of effort. Once you've tried these, you'll never go back. We used a vintage mason jar to package our pancake mix, but any pretty jar, canister, or clear cellophane bag works well.

For chocolate lovers, include dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips. Add them right into the dry pancake mix or pop a bag into the basket.

The Pastries

Breakfast pastries are one of life's greatest pleasures. It's like permission to start your day with dessert! We went to our local bakery and picked up a few fruit-filled pastries. You'll want to give these in a timely manner so they're still fresh for the recipients.

Best pastry options:

Homemade banana bread wrapped in parchment
Danish or almond croissants
Scones or muffins
Cinnamon rolls
Chocolate croissants for chocolate lovers
Chocolate chip muffins

Looking for a non-perishable option? You could include a baking mix for muffins or scones.

The Coffee

We couldn't make a breakfast basket without coffee. Any coffee lover would never start the day without a cup or two. We added holiday blend for a nod to the season.

Other great options include tea, or hot chocolate mix (see our homemade hot chocolate mix recipe).

A beautiful set of porcelain coffee mugs makes a great addition too.

The Basket

We found a pretty wire basket as our base. A wicker basket works beautifully too. You might also turn your basket into a bed tray gift using a bamboo bed tray with fold-out legs. Pile your gifts on top and wrap the whole thing in cellophane for a perfect breakfast in bed gift tray.

Our wire basket is lined with pretty cloth napkins, with all the treats piled in. It's nice to include a variety of colors. Classic red and green work perfectly for holidays. We used fresh greenery and berries on the front, tied with baker's twine for a festive seasonal look.

How to Assemble Your Breakfast Gift Basket

Step 1: Make the Pancake Mix

Combine the dry ingredients from the recipe below. Package in a pretty mason jar or container. Attach the free printable with instructions for the wet ingredients.

Step 2: Choose Your Container

Select a sturdy basket, mixing bowl, or bed tray that's big enough to fit all your items. Line the bottom with tissue paper, crinkle paper, or cloth napkins.

Step 3: Arrange Your Items

Start with the tallest items in the back (coffee bags, syrup bottles).
Place medium items in the middle (pancake mix jar, pastry boxes).
Position smaller items in front (candles, small jars).
Fill gaps with tissue paper or shredded paper to keep everything secure.

Step 4: Add Finishing Touches

Tie a ribbon or baker's twine around the handle. Add fresh greenery, berries, or a small ornament for seasonal flair. Attach a gift tag with your personal message.

Step 5: Wrap for Gifting

If transporting, wrap the entire basket in clear cellophane and tie at the top with a big bow. This keeps everything secure and looks polished.

Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe

This homemade pancake mix is simple to make and seriously delicious. The pancakes turn out fluffy and light every time.

For Gift Giving

Combine the dry ingredients, put them in a pretty container, and attach our free printable with the wet ingredient instructions. The printable is available in our Free Resource Library. Subscribe below for instant access. Check your email for the password. Don't see it? It might have gone to your junk folder by mistake, so check there too.

To Make the Pancakes

If you're making these for yourself, combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Stir dry and wet together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan until golden brown, flipping once little bubbles appear.

Creative Breakfast Gift Basket Ideas

Theme Variations

New Parent Basket: Focus on grab-and-go items: granola bars, instant oatmeal packets, protein bars, travel mug, and coffee. New parents will appreciate quick breakfast options during sleepless nights.
Brunch Basket: Include champagne or sparkling juice, fresh berries, croissants, jam, and mimosa mix for a special brunch celebration.
Coffee Lover Basket: Feature multiple coffee varieties, flavored syrups, biscotti, coffee mug, and a small french press or pour-over setup.
Family Breakfast Basket: Include kid-friendly items like chocolate chip pancake mix, fruit, juice boxes, cereal, and family-sized portions.
Healthy Breakfast Basket: Focus on nutritious options: homemade granola, steel-cut oats, honey, fresh fruit, green tea, and Greek yogurt (if delivering locally).
College/University Student Care Package: Send exam survival essentials: instant oatmeal packets, coffee or energy drinks, granola bars, pop-tarts, easy mug muffin mix, and a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.

Seasonal Adaptations

Christmas Morning Basket: Red and green colors, peppermint hot chocolate mix, gingerbread pancake mix, holiday blend coffee, candy cane stirrers.
Easter Basket: Spring colors, lemon pastries, berry preserves, herbal tea, fresh flowers.
Mother's Day or Father's Day: Personalize with their favorite coffee, special pastries, and a handwritten note about lazy Sunday mornings.
Teacher Appreciation: Include an apple-themed item, school colors, and a note thanking them for all they do.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Breakfast Gift Basket

Use real maple syrup. The authentic stuff makes a huge difference. Skip the imitation pancake syrup and invest in real maple syrup for a truly special gift.
Package homemade items beautifully. Use mason jars, tie with twine or ribbon, and place the pastries in a clear celophane bag.
Mix homemade and gourmet store-bought. You don't need to make everything. Combine your homemade pancake mix with high-quality purchased items for the best of both worlds.
Consider shelf life. Most items in our basket are non-perishable, so you can assemble it ahead of time. Only add fresh pastries or berries if gifting immediately. Change these for non-perishable items if you need to.
Think about your recipient. Does the teacher prefer tea over coffee? Is your neighbor gluten-free? Personalize based on what you know they'll love.
Don't overfill. A thoughtfully curated selection looks more elegant than a crammed basket. Quality over quantity.
Include the recipe card. If you're giving homemade pancake mix, be sure to include our free printable with the wet ingredients needed and instructions.

Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips

Hit the dollar store for baskets, tissue paper, and basic items. Many dollar stores carry surprisingly nice containers.
Shop sales and clearance. Stock up on coffee, syrup, and packaged goods when they're on sale. Store for future gift giving.
Buy in bulk for multiple baskets. If you're making several baskets, buy pancake mix ingredients, coffee, and other staples in larger quantities.
Use what you have. That pretty bowl or basket in your cupboard makes a great container. Repurpose what you own.
Make your own mixes. Pancake mix, hot chocolate mix, and granola are all easy to make at much lower cost than gourmet versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put in a breakfast gift basket?

The essentials include a main breakfast item (pancake mix, granola, or muffins), a beverage (coffee or tea), toppings (syrup, jam, or honey), and something sweet (pastries or treats). Add personal touches based on what you know the recipient loves.

How much does it cost to make a breakfast gift basket?

A basic breakfast gift basket costs $20-40 depending on items chosen. You can keep costs down by making items like pancake mix, granola, or baked goods yourself. Buying ingredients on sale and shopping dollar stores for the basket and filler helps too.

Can I make a breakfast basket ahead of time?

Yes! Most items in a breakfast gift basket are shelf-stable. You can assemble it weeks ahead if using non-perishable items like coffee, syrup, and packaged mixes. Only add fresh pastries or berries on the day you're giving it, or skip these items and add more non-perishable items instead like dried fruit, and muffin or scone baking mix.

What container should I use for a breakfast basket?

Wire baskets, wicker baskets, mixing bowls, bed trays, or even a decorative crate all work beautifully. Choose something the recipient can reuse. A mixing bowl with a pouring spout is perfect for someone who'll actually use it to make the pancakes! We love the vintage look and used a vintage wire basket.

How do I package a breakfast gift basket for transport?

Wrap the entire assembled basket in clear cellophane, gather at the top, and tie with a large ribbon or bow. This keeps items secure during transport and looks polished. Add a gift tag to the outside. Or keep it just tucked in the basket for a simpler look, like we did.

Can I include refrigerated items in my breakfast gift basket?

If you're delivering locally and the recipient can refrigerate immediately, yes! Items like butter, cream cheese, bacon, fresh berries, and yogurt make great additions. Just note on the card that items need refrigeration.

What's the best way to present homemade pancake mix?

Package the dry pancake mix in a mason jar, clear container, or cellophane bag tied with ribbon. Be sure to attach the free printable tag with wet ingredients and instructions listed.

How long does homemade pancake mix last?

Stored in an airtight container, homemade pancake mix keeps for 2-3 months at room temperature. You could Include a "use by" date on your gift tag so recipients know it's fresh.

Can I make this basket gluten-free or vegan?

Absolutely! Use gluten-free pancake mix, include dairy-free milk and butter alternatives, and choose pastries from a gluten-free bakery. Many items like coffee, syrup, and jam are naturally allergen-friendly.

More Thoughtful Gift Ideas

If you create this breakfast gift basket or any other ideas from my blog, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I'd love to hear who you gifted it to! Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Homemade Pancakes

Fluffy and light homemade pancakes with this simple to make pancake mix.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 122kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
▢ 3 tablespoons sugar
▢ 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
▢ ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups milk optional: substitute buttermilk for regular milk
▢ 2 eggs
▢ 3 tablespoon melted butter
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Whisk all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, and then pour into a pretty container for gift giving, and be sure to attach the rest of the ingredients and instructions with our free printable.
If you're making them for yourself, combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Stir dry and wet together until just combined, be careful not to over mix. Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan until golden brown -flipping sides once little bubbles begin to appear. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

How To Dry Herbs

Nov 12, 2015 · Leave a Comment

How To Dry Herbs -easy hanging method anyone can do at home. Enjoy garden herbs year round by drying them to use in the winter.

If you've ever wonder how to dry herbs, it's easier than you might think. And it's the perfect way to preserve them and enjoy them all winter long.

This fall has been so nice, and so warm (she said with fingers crossed not wanting to jinx anything) that last week there was still time to clip a few herbs from my garden.

I ran out of dried sage a little while ago, and realized I had better pick some and hang it up to dry for my sage and onion stuffing on Christmas day.

It's very simple to dry your own herbs.

Collect Your Herbs and Tie In Bundles

Just clip some herbs from your garden, and tie in small bundles. While I was getting the sage, I thought I may as well dry a little thyme and oregano too, since winter is coming.

Hang To Dry

Once you've tied your bundles, just find somewhere to hang them. It will take a few weeks for them to dry out.

How Do You Know When They're Dry

You'll be able to tell when the herbs are dry by touching them -they won't be flexible anymore.

Storing Dried Herbs

Store your dried herbs in an airtight container and enjoy them in your cooking all winter.

With dried herbs from your garden this winter, life really is a party.

You might also like our Tin Can Herb Garden here.

Getting the Garden Ready For Winter and A Tin Can Herb Garden: dig up some herbs at the end of the garden season and bring them in to enjoy indoors.

Also check out our Teacup Fairy Village Garden here.

Teacup Fairy Village Gardens -use teacups and teapots to create these whimsical miniature fairy gardens with polymer clay houses and mushrooms.

You might also enjoy How To Make A Fairy Garden House here.

Homemade Sponge Toffee Candy Recipe

Nov 9, 2015 · 23 Comments

Homemade Sponge Candy Recipe: How to make sponge toffee, including some failed attempts and all the tricks to make it a success. The perfect gift to make for friends and family.

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I thought I'd share a homemade sponge candy recipe, because if your peeps are anything like mine the homemade gift they really want is something super yummy they can eat. Sponge toffee goes by lots of different names. It's sometimes called honeycomb toffee, hokey pokey, puff candy, buffalo sponge candy, seafoam candy, cinder toffee, or angel food candy. Most of the names come from the unique texture of the candy. It's a crunchy toffee but also an airy candy, because the toffee is full of bubbles. It's sticky and crunchy but also has an airy texture. This delicious candy is made from simple ingredients and is the perfect treat for gift giving. Serve it as is, add a sprinkle of fleur de sel, or dip it in melted chocolate and package it in a beautiful bag or tin as a gift.

My First Attempt At Sponge Candy

I've never made a sponge candy recipe before, but broke out my trusty candy thermometer and decided to give it a try for the first time. As with any candy recipe, the directions are really specific. It's science after all, so no "a little bit of this, a little bit of that" it's more like a controlled chemistry experiment.

It was all going so well. I made the candy after much research and followed all "the rules": 300 degrees, no stirring after the sugar is dissolved, add in the baking soda but don't over stir. I tasted a tiny little bit I'd put aside as a tester and thought it was perfect.

The candy takes a couple of hours to set, so after it was finally ready I tried a little of the edge, it was so, so good. Sweet, crispy, lots of bubbles -exactly what we were going for.

So, since the candy was for this blog post and I needed to get a photo in for the collage I set about dipping it in chocolate, setting up a picture, and working away. As I worked away, I just might have nibbled away. And as I nibbled the burnt taste of caramelized sugar gone too far became more and more pronounced. I burnt it.

But, hey it was my first attempt. Try, try again.

Sponge Candy Attempt Number Two -Practise Makes Perfect

I had to run some errands so when I got home that night I attempted another batch. This time I was super careful about the sugar -because it's tricky to get it to 300 degrees (hard crack stage) without burning the sugar first. And you have to get it up to 300 so that the toffee will set properly and be crispy. The second time I turned the heat down a little and watched it like a hawk. I even calibrated my thermometer. I couldn't recommend a recipe to you on the blog that didn't work, so I had to figure this thing out.

Second batch and the mixture was still mostly clear by the time it got to 300, and tuned a little amber with the addition of the baking soda, just like my research told me it should and definitely not burnt this time.

But…you knew there was a but coming, it didn't foam up like the first batch.

Sponge Candy Attempt Number Three -Third Time's A Charm

So, the next day when I got home that night I attempted batch number three. It came out pretty much the same as the first batch. Nice big bubbles and burnt.

I had the ingredients to do one more batch, so it was back to try, try again.

Sponge Candy Attempt Number Four -Last But Not Least

Batch number four I again cooked at a much lower heat, and again succeeded in not burning it, but again not as big of bubbles.

Here's a side by side comparison, with the over done, slightly burnt batch on the left, and the better one on the right.

two stacks of sponge candy, one slightly over cooked

What Am I Doing? The Doubting Stage

After attempt number four I was starting to doubt myself. In fact I was thinking that after one full bottle of corn syrup and a bag of sugar that I should really be writing to you to save your time, and effort and invest the money for my four batches into a few Crunchie chocolate bars from the store -and if necessary rough them up a little, break them into pieces, tuck them into a cello bag with some ribbon and try to pass them off as your own to your friends and family.

But...

Friends Taste Test

I brought my attempts over to some friends and they loved it -batches two and four that is. They all really, really liked it, and declared it a win rather than a fail. So you see it only takes one bottle of corn syrup, one bag of white sugar, and eight hours to make a lovely Christmas treat for your loved ones -haha.

close up of a pice of sponge candy dipped in chocolate

What I Learned About Making Sponge Candy

Seriously though, just turn down to a medium heat after the sugar is dissolved and you'll be fine -perhaps there's a life lesson here for someone like me who's always in a hurry, got a speeding ticket recently, and only cooks on high most of the time. Patience is a virtue.

sponge candy stacked up in a pink tea cup

a vintage white scale with a stack of sponge candy on it, and a pink tea cup in front with more toffee in it

More Options

This homemade candy is delicious on its own, but you can also dip it into melted chocolate, if you're a chocolate lover. We dipped some of ours into milk chocolate, but semi sweet chocolate or dark chocolate are also a great choice. Once the candy is set and you break it into bite-sized pieces, just dip them into the melted chocolate and let it set on parchment paper.

If you're a big fan of the salty sweet candy combination, and love salted caramel, you can also add some sea salt to your sponge toffee. When your making it, after you have it in your baking pan, but before it sets, sprinkle the toffee with a little sea salt on top.

We made our sponge toffee for gift giving, and broke it into bite sized pieces, but it's also a great ice cream topping. Break it up into quite small pieces and sprinkle over top of ice cream, for a great chewy, crunchy addition.

Recipe

Sponge Candy

Crunchy sweet and delicious homemade sponge candy.

4.75 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Candy, Desserts

Cuisine: American

Cook Time: 20

Additional Time: 2

Total Time: 2 20

Servings:

Calories: 146kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

▢ 2 ½ cups white sugar
▢ ⅓ cup water
▢ ⅔ cup white corn syrup it's important to use white
▢ 4 teaspoon baking soda make sure it's fresh
▢ Optional -melted chocolate for dipping

Instructions

Measure and sift the baking soda into a small bowl and set aside. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking oil, and set aside.
Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in a very large saucepan. (When you add the baking soda at the end, the mixture will increase in volume and be very, very hot so a large pan is essential to keep it from overflowing.)
Cook over a high heat, and use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves fully.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and stop stirring the mixture. Occasionally brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to keep the mixture from crystallizing. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, and cook until it just reaches 300 degrees F or hard crack stage. Be careful not to burn the sugar, if it starts to turn amber coloured at all, turn the heat down.
When it comes to 300 degrees F, remove it from the heat and stir in the baking soda until just combined. Be careful not to over stir and deflate the mixture. The candy will have a chemical reaction, and foam up creating wonderful bubbles. Pour the hot candy into the prepared baking dish -taking care as it's very, very hot. Do not smooth it out, or push down the mixture with the spoon as it will deflate it and push all the air bubbles out.
Let set for about two hours at room temperature, until the candy cools and is hard. Remove from the baking dish, and use a sharp knife to break the candy into large pieces.
Optional -dip the candy into melted dark chocolate or milk chocolate.
Be sure to store the candy in a sealed airtight container, it should last for several days to a week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Sodium: 288mg | Sugar: 38g

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

With a homemade old fashioned sponge candy recipe, life really is a party!

More DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

You might also enjoy our Butter Crunch Toffee recipe here.

Also check out our Homemade Caramel Apples here.

Caramel Apple Recipe: Easy, homemade Caramel Apples, perfect for Christmas gift giving, or anytime of year. Add your favourite toppings.

You might also like our Homemade Caramel Corn here.

DIY Birch Wreath

Nov 3, 2015 · 30 Comments

Looking for a beautiful and unique holiday wreath? This DIY Birch Wreath combines fresh greens, rustic birch logs, and a cozy little house accent for the perfect Christmas decoration. The square shape sets it apart from traditional round wreaths, and it's easy to make using simple materials like coat hangers, branches, and wire. Whether you hang it on your front door, over a mantel, or use it as part of a Scandinavian-inspired Christmas theme, this birch wreath adds natural texture and festive charm. In this tutorial, I'll show you step by step how to make your own birch wreath so you can create a holiday piece that looks stunning and costs very little.

DIY birch wreath made with fresh greens and birch logs.

Why You'll Love This Craft

It's beautiful and the perfect holiday wreath for your door.
The square shape and birch logs add interest and texture.
The fresh greens smell and look beautiful.
Most of the items we forged for making it very inexpensive to make.

"I made it. Gathered natural elements. It turned out very nice." -Garry via Pinterest

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It's November, and already time to start thinking about Christmas! This birch wreath is the perfect touch to your door this Christmas.

This year I'm planning on going for a white Christmas look at my house, which got me thinking how pretty some birch branches would be. I also knew I wanted to use some traditional Christmas greens. So, off to the woods I went with my little pruning shears.

Nothing gets you into the Christmas spirit like the smell of fresh cut pine…and there may or may not have been a little, tiny bit of Christmas music involved, but I promise I wasn't into the Christmas cheer yet. 😉

You might also like our Gingerbread Salt Dough Recipe, Easy DIY Star Garland, DIY Christmas Diorama, and Mini Macrame Christmas Ornaments.

Birch Wreath Materials

Full list of materials in How-To Instructions below.

Wire Coat Hanger for Wreath Form: We bent two wire hangers into our wreath base. These are inexpensive. You could use a wire wreath frame instead.
Mixed Fresh Greens: We used some pine, cedar, and fir branches for our wreath. Any combination of fresh greens will work.
Birch Pieces: Look for birch pieces that have nice white bark. You don't want them to be too big around. We cut ours to length. If you don't have access to birch, look for it at crafts stores, or anywhere that sells fresh Christmas decorations.
Small Wooden Stars: We found these at the craft store.
Old Book Pages: We upcycled an old book and used a book page to add some interest and texture to your wood stars.
Glitter: Since it's Christmas, we added a little glitter to our stars. You can omit this if you prefer.
Little House Lantern: This metal house is perfect for an outdoor wreath, since it won't be affected by water. The little windows are perfect for letting the light out.
Battery Powdered Tea Light with Remote: The little candle lights up the house. The remote makes it easier to turn off and on, you could also use a strand of fairy lights inside instead.

Variations

Faux Greens: If you want your wreath to be everlasting you can use faux greens instead. Look for them at the craft store.
Ribbon: We love the simple Scandinavian style of this wreath, but you can add a holdiay bow if you prefer.
Pinecones: You can also add some decorative pinecones to the wreath.
Different Branches: If you don't have access to birch, you can use any wood branches for this wreath.

HowTo Make A Birch Wreath

1. Creating the Wire Wreath Base

I wanted to make this simple wreath out of inexpensive things around the house so I used a few coat hangers for the base. Using pliers helped to un-twist them, and then form them into a rectangle shape. I used two to make the form a little sturdier.

2. Add Fresh Greens

To put the greens on to the wire form, just cut little pieces, and create small mixed little bundles of three or so pieces. I used a combination of pine, fir, and cedar, but whatever you can find will work. Next, take your little bundle, and use thin wire to attach it to the wreath. Just lay your greens on the wire wreath form where you want them, and wind the wire around the bundle and the form to secure it. Then, create another bundle of greens, and over lap it over the previous bundle, and wrap with the wire again working your way all the way around the wreath. Easy peasy. Although…a little prickly so you might want to wear some gloves for this part.

Expert Tip: For longer life, mist your wreath every few days.

Once you've worked all the way around the wreath secure your wire, and the base is done.

3. Add The Birch Logs

The next layer is the birch logs. I had some, and just used a hand saw to cut them to length. I attached the birch to the wreath with some more thin wire. For the top birch piece, I used white wire so it would blend in.

4. Add The Metal House

The next step is decorating. I think I'm developing a thing for little tiny houses. Remember my little house village from last year? Well they'll be making a reappearance this year…along with some friends. When I saw this little white metal house at the craft store months ago, I thought it would look so sweet in a wreath with little battery operated light inside.

I kind of love how it turned out.

5. Add The Stars

I wanted to keep it simple, but couldn't help myself from adding one more sweet little detail, some stars. I used some wooden stars and added some book page paper to the front, and then added a little glitter. You know since it's Christmas and I'm now officially allowed to glitter everything.

wood stars decorated with book pages and glitter

To attached the stars to the wreath, I just hot glued some little wires to the back and wired them into the wreath.

I'm loving this simple, rustic Christmas wreath, and the little house is so sweet lit up at night with a battery operated tea light.

With a birch wreath like this one, life really is a party!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you get the birch to make this birch wreath?

If you don't have access to birch logs, purchase them at the craft store, or anywhere that sells fresh items for Christmas decorating.

What is the best way to attach birch logs to a wreath?

Because birch logs can be heavy, choose small ones for wreath making. Attach them to the wreath using white wire.

Where can you buy birch branches for crafts?

Look for birch branches or small birch logs at craft supply stores or hardware stores during the holidays.

More Christmas Inspiration

If you try this Birch Wreath or any other ideas on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

DIY Birch Wreath Tutorial

DIY square birch wreath, with fresh greens, decorated with a small house and stars for the holidays.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 30

Servings: wreath

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Cost: $10

Equipment

scissors
Wire Cutters
Glue Gun and Glue
Small Hand Saw

Materials

2 Wire Coat Hanger
Mixed Fresh Greens
Black Spool Wire
4 Birch Logs
Small Wooden Stars
Old Book Page
Mod Podge
Glitter
Small Metal House
White Wire
Battery-Powered Tea Light With Remote

Instructions

Using pliers open the two wire coat hangers, and bend into a square base for the wreath.
Next, add the greens to the wire base. Begin by cutting little pieces of greens, and creatin small mixed bundles of three or so pieces. Then, take your little bundle, and use the spool wire to attach it to the wreath. Just lay your greens on the wire wreath form where you want them, and wind the wire around the bundle and the form to secure it. Then, create another bundle of greens, and over lap it over the previous bundle, and wrap with the wire again working your way all the way around the wreath, without cutting the wire in-between. When your finished filling in the wreath, cut the wire and secure it at the back.
The next layer is the birch logs. If they aren't the right length, use a hand saw to cut them to length. Attach the birch to the wreath using white wire.
Next, use some more white wire to attach the house with the light inside to the bottom right of the wreath.
Trace the wood stars onto the book page paper, and cut them out. Then use mod podge to add the paper to the stars. You can also add some glitter. After they dry, use hot glue to attach a wire to the back of each star, and then use the wire to attach the stars to the wreath in a grouping.

Notes

We found our birch pieces and fresh greens in the forest, but you could also purchase them.

The small metal house and wood stars are from the craft store.

This wreath should last well outside where it's cool. Inside the greens will dry out fairly quickly. If you wanted it to last longer, you could use faux greens instead of real ones.

How To Host A Pie Party

Nov 2, 2015 · 6 Comments

The Pie Party: pies, pie pops, pie fruit dip, pie toppings and beautiful decor make the perfect outdoor fall pie party for family and friends.

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I'm so excited to share with you this fun Pie Party, that I put together for my family and friends. It's the perfect idea for the holidays. I love to entertain, and homemade pies or store bought pies are the perfect dessert to create a fun pie buffet.

Want more party inspiration? Check our soup party here.

We set up our pie buffet for a fall Thanksgiving pie party. This is a great idea for the holidays. It would also be a really fun birthday party idea. Any pie lover would really enjoy this idea.

We stuck with sweet dessert pies and made a dessert buffet. You could also include a some savoury main course pies like meat pies to make entire meal from the pie bar. Beef pies, chicken pot pie, and pattie style pies would be delicious options. This would be a great idea as a supper club event. It would also be so much fun for celebrating pi day.

Backyard Pie Buffet

We set up our pie party outside on our back patio, to take advantage of the last of the colourful fall leaves. It was a beautiful day and perfect for enjoying outside with a slice of pie and warm drink. We started out with setting up our beautiful table. Our colour scheme was inspired by fall colors. We used gold, brown and copper. As a tablecloth for our pie buffet I used a cozy plaid blanket.

Bunting

Before the party I made an easy bunting that said "PIE", and some tissue paper tassels, out of plaid, copper, and gold tissue paper. We hung them up behind the table for some easy decor.

They looked so pretty in the breeze.

After that I set up the rest of the table. For a rustic look we used wood cake stands, and wood slice pieces to create different levels on our buffet table. Be sure to have knife and pie servers available so guests can help themselves. Some people may want big slices of their favorites or small slices to try a variety of pies. Since our party was in the fall we also decorated the table with various pumpkins of different sizes to add some different heights to our display. Flowers would be a great option too.

I used some disposable plates for our pie, pretty matching napkins, and wooden cutlery so there would be no dishes after the party. A sweet pumpkin made the perfect paper weight to ensure our napkins didn't blow away.

We decorated some of your pies with some cute paper bunting. The bunting is made out of string and some scrapbook paper. I used wooden skewers to put them into the pies and they look so fun and festive.

Pie Time

The main attraction was, of course, the pie!

The Pie Party: pies, pie pops, pie fruit dip, pie toppings and beautiful decor make the perfect outdoor fall pie party for family and friends.

We served a lot of different kinds of pie including:

pumpkin pecan streusel pie
razzleberry mixed berry pie
cherry pie
apple pie
Dutch apple pie

Other ideas of different types pies to include sweet potato pie, peanut butter pie, lemon meringue pie, chocolate pie, or berry pies like strawberry rhubarb pie, blueberry pie, or raspberry pie. It's nice to include some seasonal options, depending on the time of year it is. Along with different pies, it can also be nice to offer some mini pies or tarts. Make tarts in muffins tins, or try making mini hand pies as another option.

I served store bought pies, some of which were bake at home ones. You could also bake your own homemade pies, or do a combination. You can also look for pies at your favorite bakery. Another great idea is to have potluck for your pie party. Ask all your guests to bring their favorite pie, or plan out specific pies for each person. This can be a lot of fun, and sometimes gets your friends baking their own pies and trying new things.

It would be hard to choose a favorite pie out all these yummy options.

But…if I had to choose, my favorite kind of pie is always cherry.

Pie Topping Buffet

A fun addition to the pies was a little pie topping buffet.

Guests could add chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, nuts, sprinkles, and whipped cream to their pie in whatever combination their heart desired. This was a big hit with everyone and fun way to take classic pie to the next level. Vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream would be a great addition too.

Apple Pie Cheesecake Fruit Dip

I also thought it would be nice to include some fresh fruit for the party, and came up with a fun apple pie cheesecake fruit dip. I love fun ideas like this to add a new spin to an old favorite.

Recipe

Apple Pie Cheesecake Dip

Fruit dip made from apple pie and cream cheese.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 212kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

▢ ¼ apple pie
▢ 8 oz container cream cheese softened
▢ ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
▢ 2 sliced apples

Instructions

Combine the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in a mixer until smooth and fully combined.
Use ¼ of an apple pie, and chop into large pieces, then add to the cheese cake dip and stir to combine.
Serve dip in a bowl, with sliced apples for dipping. Tip: Best served right away, while the pie crust bites are still crispy.

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

This recipe was easy and delicious -and a great way to get the kids to eat some extra fruit.

Pie Pops

Next I also wanted to combine two pies for some delicious pie pops to add to our pie table. These are a really fun twist on traditional pie. I began with some store-bought pies. I used a Pecan Pie and a Pumpkin Pie to make my Pumpkin Pecan Pie Pops.

We used the push pop as a cookie cutter to cut a circle of pumpkin pie for the bottom and pecan pie for the top. Then, I layered the pies in the push pop, using whip cream in the middle, and as a topping.

The little flag to decorate the top is made from some washi tape and a toothpick. The Pumpkin Pecan Pie Pops were delicious, easy and a real hit with the kids. The combination of pumpkin, pecans, and whip cream was perfection. These were such a great addition to our pie bar.

Drinks

Next we served our guests warm apple cider to drink, perfect for a crisp fall day. It stayed nice and warm in a large thermos and was really wonderful for an outside party. It was nice to have a warm drink that kids and adults would all enjoy.

It's also a great idea to include some water bottles. Tea and coffee would be a great choice too.

outdoor party drinks thermos with hot apple cider

Take Home Pies

We had so much fun eating pie, and pie, and more pie! We didn't want the fun to end. So, lastly we sent all the families home with their very own pie. Send them with a whole pie like we did, or let them choose a few slices of pie from the leftovers and give everyone bakery boxes to bring them home in.

Free Pie Printables

We wrapped up our pies with a little kraft paper and this fun printable. We also made matching labels for our pies. Find the free printables in our Free Resource Library. Subscribers receive free instant access. Subscribe below for access.

We really had a great time together, and our friends loved the take-home pies, so the sweet treats could continue. This might be the first of many more pie parties.

With a pie buffet to share with friends and family, life really is a party.

More Inspiration

You might also like our Father's Day Pie Party here.

Also check our our easy banana cream pie recipe here.

You might also like our Strawberry Pie with Fresh Strawberries and Cream Cheese.

Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns

Oct 27, 2015 · 5 Comments

These real Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns are the cutest things Halloween has ever seen! We had so much fun carving your pumpkins into fairy houses, and creating a whole pumpkin fairy house villiage. And our favorite part was seeing the warm glowing light through the windows at night -the trick or treaters loved them too!

DIY Fairy pumpkin house village lit up with candles at night.

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Why We Love These

They are so cute!
They're quite easy to make, and since you're probuably making a jack-o-lantern anyway, why not make it a pumpkin fairy house?
The little fairy garden accessories are the perfect size and so fun to add.
One is adorable but a whole village is our idea of perfection.

Halloween is coming very soon, and this year I have the cutest idea for you, or any fairy loving children you might live with -Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns.

We love a good fairy garden around here. You might like our How To Make A Fairy Garden post here, How To Make A Fairy Garden House, or our Teacup Fairy Garden. And our Fall Fairy Garden would match perfectly with these pumpkin fairy houses.

These pumpkin fairy houses really could not be any sweeter. And, I think I've seen a few fairies fluttering in and out of them tonight too, so they're a hit all round. If you're a fan of fairy gardens, then you will love putting together a fairy house pumpkin.

Supplies

Pumpkins: We started out with an assortment of pumpkins; some big pumpkins, some small pumpkins, some orange pumpkins, some white pumpkins, some in-between. We used real pumpkins to make our little houses.

Twigs: Small twigs work best that are easy to snap to the perfect size.

Cloves: We found whole cloves made perfect door handles.

Fairy Garden Accessories: We had fun with some fairy sized accessories creating a little miniature world for the fairies. We found the sweetest mini straw bales at the craft store. We also found little brooms, and even a fairy sized bike. Look for cute little accessories to use in the dollhouse or fairy garden section of your craft store, or on-line.

Polymer Clay: We made fairy sized pumpkins out of polymer clay, so the fairies could have a tiny faux pumpkin outside their door too.

Battery Powered Tea Lights: These pumpkin fairy houses are so cute lit up at night. You can just imagine a fairy family in there together.

Dried Flower, Moss, and Leaves: You can add some beautiful details to your pumpkin fairy houses by gluing on dried flowers, moss and leaves as decorations.

Variation

You can use faux craft pumpkins for this project. The benefit of this is that the pumpkin fairy houses will be everlasting, and you can enjoy them year after year. The disadvantage of using faux is that you can't find as much variation in shape, color, and size as real ones.

Pumpkin Fairy House Carving

1. Start by cutting the bottoms off of your pumpkins, and scooping out all the guts and seeds. Cutting the bottom off rather than the top makes it a little less noticable on your finished pumpkin fairy house -but either way works.

You can also snap off the pumpkin's stem and stack some pumpkins one on top of the other for a cool effect.

2. Carve your doors, windows, and steps.

We carved lots of different windows, some were had large windows, square windows, curved window frames, and one had a circular window. We also added in window sills, and dormers, an arched doorway, and stairs -in every combination we could think of for adorable pumpkin fairy houses.

3. Add details like window frames and doorknobs.

We used some little twigs to make our window frames. Just snap some sticks to size and poke some small holes inside of the pumpkin window.

We also used some little cloves as fairy door knobs on some of the front doors. Little twigs pushed into the pumpkin door work as a doorhandle too.

Any natural materials are a great addition, like pine cones, or acorn caps, dried flowes and leaves and moss. Use hot glue to attach them when needed.

Another time when I made these, I added lots of dried moss, flowers, and leaves with hot glue and it was so pretty, so I've included a few of the pictues as inspiration.

4. Add your fiishing details, like little fences, ladders, pumpkins, and accessories from the craftstore.

To make the polymer clay pumpkins shape them out of orange, white, and brown clay and bake in the oven, according to the instructions on the package.

For the ladders, we used small twigs and hot glue to make them.

5. When they're all finished be sure to add a battery powered tea light (remote control ones are even easier to operate) and light them up.

Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns for Halloween

We had a ball coming up with all these fun ideas. This is a great project for the whole family to do together.

We had fun setting up the little village. I used a cute little outdoor chair and a bale of hay to give our adorable little fairy house collection some height. This was great to because it was at a great height for little trick-or-treaters to see and admire all the fun details, or to welcome guests to a Halloween party.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make these out of faux pumpkins so they last?

Yes. You won't find different shapes and sizes quite as easily, but you can find some varation. And then you can use them year after year.

How far in advance can you make these?

Carved pumpkins will last 3-4 days outside, depending on the weather. Then they'll start to break down, wrinkle, and eventually rot. If you want to them to last, you can make them out of faux pumpkins.

Where did you get the little ladders and pumpkins?

We made them. Use small sticks and hot glue to make the ladders the perfect height for your doors. The pumpkins are homemade also out of polymer clay baked in the oven according to to the package directions.

More Halloween Inspiration

If you try these Pumpkin Fairy House or use any other idea on the blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns

Carve a real pumpkin into a pumpkin fairy house jack-o-lantern for Halloween.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings: Pumpkin Fairy House Jack-O-Lanterns

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Cost: $15

Equipment

serrated knife for carving
hot glue gun

Materials

pumpkin
twigs
cloves
hot glue
fairy accessories
battery powdered tea light

Instructions

Start by cutting out the bottom of your pumpkin and scooping out the pumpkin seed and guts.
Add a combination of windows, window sills, doors, and steps to your pumpkin.
Add details like twig window frames, and clove door knobs.
Create ladders with twigs and hot glue.
Add accessories like paths to the front door, miniature pumpkins, miniature hay bales, bicycle, ladders, and fences.
Turn on the battery powered tea light and put it into the finished fairy pumpkin house and enjoy.

Video

Notes

Optional: You can also decorate your pumpkin fairy house with dried flowers, leaves, and moss. Use hot glue to attach it.

Mini Apple Crisp In A Jar

Oct 21, 2015 · 2 Comments

Get ready for the cutest fall dessert ever! These mini apple crisps in a mason jar are perfectly portioned, super easy to make, and ideal for dinner parties or cozy family nights. And they only take about 15 to put together.

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A Quick Look At This Recipe

📋 Recipe: Mini Apple Crisp in a Mason Jar
⏲️ Ready In: 35 min.
👪 Servings: 10
🔪 Difficulty: Easy
💭 Top Tip: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or custard sauce.

Why You'll Love This Mini Apple Crisp Recipe

Perfect individual portions. Each jar gets exactly the right amount of apples and topping. Your guests will love having their own personal dessert, and you'll love not having to serve and portion at the table.
Simple pantry ingredients. No fancy stuff needed here. Just apples, butter, oats, brown sugar, and basic spices you probably already have.
Foolproof texture every time. The apples get perfectly tender and the topping stays crispy and golden.
Make ahead friendly. Assemble these earlier in the day and pop them in the oven when you're ready. They also reheat beautifully.
Flexible baking options. Use mason jars for the cute factor, ramekins for safety, or make one big crisp in a baking dish. The recipe works perfectly all three ways.
Ready in 35 minutes. Just 15 minutes of hands-on time, then let the oven do its thing while you finish dinner.

I've been making my mom's apple crisp recipe since I was seven years old, but turning it into mini apple crisp in a mason jar was a total game-changer. Suddenly, this simple dessert went from everyday treat to dinner party-worthy presentation. This recipe makes 10 adorable individual servings that look absolutely charming and make entertaining so much easier. No scooping, no serving, ready to serve when you are.

These mini desserts pack all the cozy fall flavors you love. Tender tart apples and a buttery sweet oat crumble come together in perfectly portioned jars. They're ready in 35 minutes, use basic pantry ingredients, and you can make them in mason jars, ramekins, or even a regular baking dish if that's what you have on hand.

Looking for fall recipes? You might also like our Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats, Caramel Apple Trifle, Caramel Apple Fondue, or Pink Candy Apples.

Apple crisp always one of my favorite things as a kid. When I was in grade two, I had to bake a snack for an after school girls club. Running short on time, I had to come home from school for lunch the day I needed it and quickly make it. My mom had carefully pre-measured all the ingredients out for me, and prepared all the apples already for me when I got there. All I had to do was mix together the pre-measured crisp ingredients and put it together.

That night after the club meeting, she asked me how the apple crisp turned out. I replied "it was so good Mom, way better than when you make it." She's reminded me of it just about every time we've had apple crisp since. What can I say Mom, I've always been a great cook. 😉

Crisp vs. Crumble

You might hear these terms used interchangeably, but there is actually a difference. Both are baked fruit desserts with a streusel-type topping, but a crisp contains oats in the topping and a crumble does not. Since this recipe uses quick oats, it's technically a crisp. Now you know!

Ingredients

Apples: I love using MacIntosh apples because they're my favorite cooking apple. They hold their shape nicely while still getting tender and have the perfect sweet-tart balance. Other great options include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Cortland, or Gala. You can even mix varieties for more complex flavor. Avoid an eating variety like Red Delicious.
Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work great. You can substitute regular white sugar in a pinch, but you'll lose some of that rich caramel taste.
Oats: I use quick oats in this recipe, but you can use old fashioned, or even instant if that's what you have on hand.
Butter: Use real butter, not margarine. The butter needs to be soft enough to mix easily but not melted. Leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes before you start.
Spices: Cinnamon is a must, and nutmeg adds warmth. These two spices pair perfectly with apples.
Salt: Just a little salt helps balence out the sweet.

Mason Jars, Ramakins, or Baking Dish

Mason jars look adorable and make serving super easy. We've used them many times without issues. However, mason jar manufacturers don't officially recommend baking in their jars since the glass isn't designed for oven use. There is a small risk of breakage.

Ramekins are the safest option. They're the same size as 4 oz mason jars and they're specifically made for baking. If you're nervous about using mason jars in the oven, grab a set of ramekins instead. They work perfectly and you can still get that cute individual serving presentation.

One large baking dish works too. If you don't want to fuss with individual servings, you can make this as one big apple crisp. Put all the apples in an 8x8 inch baking dish, top with all the crumble mixture, and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Easy!

A note about safety: If you do use mason jars, always place them on a baking sheet, don't preheat the jars, and let them cool gradually after baking. Never put cold jars into a hot oven or hot jars onto a cold surface.

How To Make Mini Apple Crisps in a Mason Jar

Dry ingredients for apple crisp topping in a mixing bowl beside some apples.

Step 1: In a mixing bowl combine brown sugar, flour, quick oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, and stir to mix well.

Apple crisp topping in a mixing bowl, before adding it to the apples.

Step 2: Add in the butter and use a pastry cutter, or your fingers to combine with the dry ingredients until the butter is well incorporated and the mixture turns into coarse crumbs. Set aside.

Apples peeled and slice for apple crisp.

Step 3: To prepare the apple, wash, peel and slice them, then sprinkle with the lemon juice.

Sliced apples divided into mini mason jars to make individual apple crisps.

Step 4: Divide the apple slices between the 10 mini mason jars (4 oz), and top with the crumble topping.

Mini apple crisps made in a mason jar with apple slices covered in crisp topping before baking.

Step 5: Place the jars on a baking sheet to bake, at 350 for about 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown, and the apples are soft. Use a sharp knife poked through through the dessert into the apples to test. Or make one large apple crisp by placing all the apples in the bottom of a 8 x 8 baking dish, and top the apple mixture with the crisp topping and bake at 350 for about 30 min.

Expert Tip

Don't skip the lemon juice. It prevents browning, adds brightness, and tartness, and helps balance all the sweetness. Fresh lemon juice works best, but bottled is fine.

Serving Ideas

I love to serve this mason jar apple crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cold ice cream melting into the warm apples is absolutely perfect.

Other delicious toppings include freshly whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, salted caramel ice cream, or my very favorite warm custard sauce. Custard sauce is a traditional British way to serve this dessert and we love it. You can even sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top for extra crunch.

Serve at room temperature if you prefer. They're still delicious when they've cooled completely.

Perfect for entertaining because they're already portioned. Just set them out on a dessert table or place one at each seat. Your guests will love how cute they are, and you'll love not having to serve and plate dessert after cooking and serving a whole dinner.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Freezing

To make ahead: Assemble the apple crisps in their jars up to 4 hours before baking. Cover each jar with plastic wrap or their lid, and keep them in the fridge until you're ready to bake.

Storing leftovers: Let the jars cool completely, then pop the lids on and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. The topping will soften a bit in the fridge, but they'll still taste great.

Reheating: Remove the lid and microwave individual jars for 30 to 45 seconds, or place them back in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through. The oven method will crisp the topping back up nicely.

Freezing: You can freeze baked apple crisps for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely, and then cover with their lids. Thaw and then reheat in the oven. I don't recommend freezing unbaked apple crisps because the apples release too much liquid as they thaw.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size mason jars do I need?

You can also use 8 oz jars for larger servings (you'll get about 5 servings instead of 10), just increase the baking time by about 5 minutes, and check the apples for doneness with the tip of a sharp knife. They should be soft and tender when the crisp is fully baked.

Can I use canned apple pie filling in my apple crisp?

You can, if you're short on time. Keep in mind though that the pie filling will be sweeter. We don't add any sugar to the apples, and their tartness helps balence the sweet topping. With pie filling you may want to reduce the sugar in the crisp topping.

Do I have to peel the apples for my apple crisp?

Yes, I recommend peeling the apples. The texture of the apple layer is meant to be soft, and the peels will not break down and become soft the way the apples do.

Can I make this with other fruits?

Yes! Try pears, peaches, or berries, or a combination.. You might need to adjust the sugar depending on how sweet your fruit is. Mixed berry crisp is especially delicious.

What's the best way to reheat these?

The oven is best for maintaining that crispy topping. Reheat at 350°F for about 10 minutes. The microwave works great too, about 30 - 60 seconds

More Apple Dessert Recipe Inspiration

If you try these Mini Apple Crisps in a Mason Jar or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Mini Apple Crisp in a Mason Jar

Mini apple crisp with a sweet buttery topping.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 35

Servings:

Calories: 257kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Instructions

In a mixing bowl combine brown sugar, flour, quick oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, and stir to mix well.
Add in the butter and use a pastry cutter, or your fingers to combine with the dry ingredients until the butter is well incorporated and the mixture turns into coarse crumbs. Set aside.
To prepare the apple, wash, peel and slice them, then sprinkle with the lemon juice.
Divide the apple slices between the 10 mini mason jars (4 oz), and top with the crumble topping.
Place the jars on a baking sheet to bake, at 350 for about 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Or make one large apple crisp by placing all the apples in the bottom of a 8 x 8 baking dish, and top the apple mixture with the crisp topping and bake at 350 for about 30 min.

Video

Nutrition

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Easy Pumpkin Spice Waffle Recipe

Oct 13, 2015 · 4 Comments

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Waffles -easy recipe for pumpkin waffles, perfect morning treat, and easy to freeze extras for a quick weekday breakfast later.

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If you love all things pumpkin and pumpkin spice favor, then you will love these homemade pumpkin spice waffles. They're full of all your favorite fall spices and flavors and perfect for pumpkin season. Serve these fresh waffles with maple syrup, toasted pecans, and whipped cream the next time you want a great way to start your day.

We've been making these pumpkin waffles for years, and they've become a family favourite during the fall season. I say we, but actually my husband is the one who usually makes breakfast on the weekends. This pumpkin waffle recipe is so yummy that he usually makes a double batch of them. If you love all things pumpkin and the warm species of pumpkin spice, then you'll love them too.

These are the perfect fall treat, easy to make, and the taste of pumpkin that every autumn should include. If you didn't have a waffle maker, you could make these into pumpkin pancakes instead.

Pumpkin Spice

We choose to add individual spices to this recipe instead of using pumpkin pie spice which is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves. This recipe calls for the warm spices of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. They give all the flavor of traditional pumpkin spice and are perfect for these fall waffles.

Pumpkin Puree

Not only are these easy pumpkin waffles full of pumpkin spice, they also have real pumpkin in them. Look for pumpkin purée in the baking aisle of your grocery store. Be carefully not to pick up the pumpkin pie filling, which usually looks very similar and is in the same section. Canned pumpkin pie filling contains sugar and pumpkin pie spice, and other ingredients. This recipe calls for pure pumpkin puree. The real pumpkin adds so much fall flavor to this dish.

Pumpkin Waffle Toppings

We love to serve these fluffy pumpkin waffles with our favorite toppings of toasted pecans, whip cream, and maple syrup. You may be tempted to skip the pecans, but they do really add so much to the dish. And also be sure to toast them, It makes them more crisp and enhances the nutty flavor. It only takes a few minutes to do in a dry frying pan. Just be sure to watch the pan carefully and flip them as soon as you see them turning golden brown. They can burn very quickly. Definitely stay with the pan while they're cooking and don't walk away from it.

We love real maple syrup on pancakes, but you can use whatever syrup you prefer. And the whipped cream is a really delicious addition, even if it's not homemade.

If you're a chocolate lover, you can add some chocolate chips to your waffle batter and have chocolate chip pumpkin spice waffles. And for double chocolate add a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top.

Waffle Iron

We used a regular waffle iron to make these waffles. When most waffle irons are first plugged in they need a few minutes to preheat. After the waffle iron is preheated and ready to go there is often a green light that comes on. Some waffle irons have a light that indicated when the waffle is finished cooking. Other waffle have the light come on when the waffle iron comes back up to temperature, and has nothing to do with if the waffle is cooked yet. If you're waffle iron doesn't have a light so show when it's done, you can use a timer, or look for signs like no more steam coming out of the waffle maker, and crisp waffle edges to know if your waffle is done cooking.

Store any leftover waffles in an airtight container in your refrigerator. You can also freeze any extra waffles.

We sometimes make extra. The extras get individually frozen on a cookie sheet. Lay the cooked waffles out in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and set in the freezer. As soon as they are frozen remove the tray and place the individual waffles in a ziplock bag in the freezer. These are great for breakfasts on a busy school day morning.

Just take one out of the freezer and warm it up in the toaster or toaster oven. How to make your Monday morning a little bit better.

Recipe

With these yummy pumpkin spice waffles to enjoy on a cool fall morning, life really is a party.

More Pumpkin Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Pumpkin Bread Pudding recipe here.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding: this recipe is easy and delicious, perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Also check out our Pumpkin Cream Puff recipe here.

You might also enjoy our Caramel Pumpkin Butter recipe here.

Caramel Pumpkin Butter: This easy recipe is only 3 ingredients, and you can make it one pan. Perfect for fall, try it on toast, or on s'mores.

Rustic and Neutral Thanksgiving Table

Oct 8, 2015 · 8 Comments

Rustic Thanksgiving Table Setting: Beautiful Thanksgiving table decorated with wildflowers, little mini animals, tree stumps and white pumpkins.

Rustic and neutral Thanksgiving table ideas.

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This weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada, and it's time to think about a beautiful table. This year I went with a rustic neutral Thanksgiving table setting, and I really love how it turned out.

It was super easy, and inexpensive to put together, since I shopped the house, and went foraging for the vines and flowers. I hope it inspires you.

Layered Table Runners

I started out with some simple white table runners that I had picked up on clearance at Ikea ages ago, and tucked away. When I took them out of the packaging and unrolled them, I got a disappointing surprise. My plain white runners had a pattern all the way down the middle. Boo. In my excitement I hadn't looked carefully at them. I hummed and hawed for a while, and came up with the solution to layer burlap over them to cover up the pattern down the middle.

It actually worked really well, and in the end I liked the layered effect it helped create.

Rustic Thanksgiving Place Settings

On top of the runners, I layered the wood slice chargers that my brother-in-law cut for me last year. They aren't perfect…there's a few cracks in them, and the bark is coming off of some, but I think it all just adds character.

This year I used simple white plates (which makes clean up easy since they can go in the dishwasher), and layered on the "give thanks" plates I made a few years ago. You can find the tutorial on how easy they are to make here.

Place Cards

On each plate I made a little placard out some brown paper cut into a leaf and the sweetest little squirrels.

The squirrels were a fun craft store find a few months ago that I tucked away for Thanksgiving. And the squirrels inspired the other animals.

Animals

Did you spot them?

They're nestled is different spots down the centre of the table.

The animals are tucked into a grouping of pumpkins and, pretty tarnished silver julep cups filled with wildflowers, and some wild grapevine willed with grape clusters.

Wild Flowers

The vines and flowers were gathered on a morning walk -pretty white fall asters, and the last of the Queen Anne's Lace.

And last but not least, white pumpkins -lots of them, in all different shapes and sizes.

What could be prettier than a row of big white pumpkins.

With a pretty and easy rustic Thanksgiving table setting like this one, life really is a party.

You might also like our Neutral Thanksgiving Table here.

Also check out our Rustic Thanksgiving Table here.

Rustic Thanksgiving Table: set with diy wood chargers, candles, bittersweet, pumpkins, vintage pieces, and a pinecone garland.

You might also enjoy Black and White Farmhouse Thanksgiving Table here.

Black and White Modern Farmhouse Thanksgiving Table: White pumpkins, black cutlery, and DIY macrame napkins rings make the perfect Thanksgiving table.

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough

Oct 6, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough: Great recipe for pumpkin pie scented play dough. Lots of ideas for a fun fall sensory centre for children.

The other day little Miss Maddie and I came up with a fall activity that is so much fun I had to share. I can’t remember why but we decided it was time to make some play dough, and one thing led to another and we had the wonderful idea to make it into pumpkin spice play dough by adding in some orange food colouring and some spices.

It turned out great, and smells just like fall to me.

Recipe

fall play dough children's sensory centre

Of course new play dough meant we needed to dig out some fall cookie cutters, and then we needed pie plates, and then we started to think of other fun things we could add to the fun.

We got a little carried away, to both of our delight. It was so much fun coming up with fun things to add to our play dough for fall.

We added mini popsicle sticks, some foil fall leafs from the dollar store, cookie cutters, buttons, fall cupcake picks, fall coloured pompoms, fall coloured craft feathers, some star anise and whole cloves, large and small cupcake liners, cinnamon sticks, silk sun flowers, and silk leaves. The possibilities really are endless…and so is the fun.

mini popsicle sticks
foil fall leaf confetti
cookie cutters
buttons
fall cupcake picks
pompoms
feathers
star anise
whole cloves
large and small cupcake linners
cinnamon sticks
silk flowers
silk leaves

A real favourite was playing with the real whole spices. The star anise make such a pretty patterns in the play dough, and the cloves and cinnamon sticks are perfect stems, or eyes, or just about anything really.

It was so much fun that we even made a set for a friend. I think it would be the perfect sweet gift for any littles in your life this weekend, since it’s Thanksgiving here in Canada.

With homemade pumpkin spice play dough, life really is a party!

You might also like our Kid's Thanksgiving Table here.

Also check out our Cricut Halloween Trick or Treat Bag here.

You might also enjoy our How To Make A Fall Fairy Garden here.

Fall Home Decorating Ideas

Oct 1, 2015 · 6 Comments

Fall Home Decorating Ideas: tour our home all decorated for fall and full of ideas for easy DIY fall decor you will love.

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I'm really happy to share a little Fall Home Tour with you today. I've been working away adding lots of pumpkins and natural elements, candles and cozy throws to give you lots of fall home decorating ideas. So grab a coffee and come in and have a peek.

Just inside the front door this year, I've added a few cozy touches like this pretty throw -a great garage sale find this summer. I've also strung lots of wooden beads and added them here and there for some pretty texture.

Dining Room

Our main floor is very open concept, the first room is the dining room.

I think my very favourite fall decoration this year is this new wooden dough bowl filled with faux pumpkins. The bowl was my big purchase at a recent antique fair, and the pumpkins are from the dollar store, painted in soft grey, beige and cream with craft paints.

Fall Gallery Wall

I've put up another fun fall gallery wall in the dining room.

I found this great arrow garland at the craft store one day, and love how it looks hanging in the deer antlers.

Another fav. addition is this gold wreath. I made it with the directions from Vintage Revival, it was quite easy and quick to put together. It's made of cocktail straws and wire, after it was all put together I spray painted it gold. What would a home tour be without a little spray paint, lol.

Fall Bar Cart

Looking back towards the door is my little bar cart, all set up for fall.

I made a little "Cheers" message with some fun cork letters. I love the little leaf patterned paper straws for fall, mixed in with some pretty gold ones, and lots of beautiful vintage glasses.

And on the other side of the dining room , is the console table.

The little message on the type writer: "Dear Fall, I missed you. Welcome back." I think fall truly is my favourite season of the year. Sunshiny days, not too hot, pretty leaves, cool nights, and pumpkin pie.