25 Christmas Crafts - Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Well, if you have small children and don't have an Elf on the Shelf, then you are probably in the minority these days.
I don't know about you, but I generally don't do lots of really creative and elaborate things with our Elf. Our Elf's name is Elf Elf, by the way. My oldest named him when she was four. 
But, I do try to spice up the Elf happenings at least a few times during the weeks that Elf Elf is with us. Yes, it is a pain to remember to move the Elf each night. And, yes, I feel terrible when I forget to move him. But, the fact that by moving that blasted critter around each night gives my girls such joy each morning makes it totally worth it!

I totally love that Snowball the Elf has his own blog! Tons of great ideas here!

Another great idea site is here - Elf on the Shelf Ideas.

 

25 Christmas Crafts - Gift Ideas

Stumped for something neat, original, and affordable to give for gifts to your friends, neighbors, postal carrier, teachers....  here are a few ideas that may just give you the perfect gift idea that everyone will be raving about!

Funky Time has great ideas for re-packaging soaps with holiday wrappers for extra holiday cheer! Repackage some of those fancy hotel soaps you have collected during all those business trips you had to take this year. Or pick up some yummy soaps from Trader Joe's - they have a great peppermint soap! Funky Time has even provided the printable wrappers to use!

Frugalicious Me shares a vintage-inspired sewing kit that is perfect for anyone! You don't have to be a sewer to appreciate this kit - we all have to deal with little repairs and this kit will make those repaires more tolerable for sure!

 

 

 

25 Christmas Crafts - Holiday Lybations

Sometimes a great signature drink is just what you need to put the finishing touches on a great holiday party!

Celebrate shares this really festive Holiday Mimosa!

 

Single-Minded Women shares an Eggnog Martini!

 

 

Babble shares a great, family-friendly Grinch Punch!

 



Neiman-Marcus recently posted their version of a Christmas Margarita!

Join us tomorrow for some fabulous gift ideas!

 

25 Christmas Crafts - Yummies

Don't drool on your keyboard as you check out today's yummies! ;)

Money Saving Mom offers us Chocolate Peanut Butter Holiday Bark - would be great all wrapped up in parchment paper and pretty twine or ribbon! Great for teachers, neighbors - everyone you can think of!

Plain Chicken's recipe for Sausage Biscuit Bites would be perfect for Christmas morning!

  More tomorrow!

25 Christmas Crafts - More Printables

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's printables - I have a few more for you today!

Lemon Squeezy offers these cute printable gift tags:

 

If your household has an Elf on the Shelf, you will love these Elf Reports from Magnolia Creative!

 

 



Tomorrow, look for some Christmas yummies!




 

25 Christmas Crafts - Printables

We have had an insanely busy fall. So busy, in fact, that we are way behind on our 25 days of Christmas that we usually share.  So, let's try to get caught up, shall we?!

 

Let's start with all of the fabulous free printables that I have discovered this year!

 

The first set of printable tags is from one of my favorite DIY blogs, Shanty2Chic!

 

Check out these cute retro printable tags from Mom Spark.





 

 

There are 11 great free printables a My Blessed Life.

 

I just love these printable bottle labels found at Ellinee.



A terrific letter to Santa can be found at I Heart Organizing!

 

Enjoy these! More tomorrow!

 

 

Friday Funny

 

Friday Funny

 

Friday Funny

 

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Sophia was having a playdate and she and her friend asked for some chocolate milk.  Naturally, both of the two bottles of chocolate syrup I found in the refrigerator were empty. So, I decided to make my own chocolate syrup. How hard could it be?

I googled recipes and the first few recipes I found made larger quantities than I thought I would want to commit to.  I did find this one that looked a little more reasonable.

½ cup cocoa powder
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon vanilla

Mix the cocoa powder and the water in a saucepan. 

Heat and stir to dissolve the cocoa. Add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. 

I didn't have any white sugar (weird, I know!), so I substituted brown sugar. Seemed to work out okay.

Boil for 3 minutes over medium heat. Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over! 

Pay special attention to the tip to be careful and not let it boil over! It was quite a big mess to clean up!

Add the salt and the vanilla. Let cool. Pour into a clean glass jar, and store in the refrigerator. Keeps for several months, but trust me it will be gone before then. Yields two cups.

I was going to take a picture of my two taste-testers trying out their chocolate milk, but they drank it too fast! Said it was delicious! :)

 

Monster Mash Part 3 - More Halloween Fun!

My girls are so excited about Halloween approaching!  We have decided on and ordered their costumes, so I think, hopefully, crossing my fingers, that we are all set for the big day!  I won't spoil the surprise of what they decided to be, so I will share that info later, along with pictures!

Have your kids decided what they will be yet?

I love this idea for a little guy... a jetpack!

How stinkin' cute is that?! And, it doesn't look too hard to make!

Will you be having a Halloween Soiree this year? Yah, me neither. But, if I were, I would totally make these cutlery packets!  They rock - and they are a free printable! Yahoo!

And if I were having a rockin' Halloween party - I would totally channel my inner Martha and make one of these pumpkin coolers!

If you and your spouse are attending a costume party - here is a pretty funny costume idea!

It wouldn't be to difficult to make it out of felt...

One last idea to share with you today... a yummy Halloween snack - puppy chow!

 

Monster Mash Part 2 - More Great Halloween Ideas!

As I often volunteer to be a room Mom for my daughter's classrooms, I am always on the lookout for good class party games. I loved this idea - pumpkin bowling!
Just get one of those lightweight styro pumpkins from the craft store, and tape together some toilet paper rolls and make pumpkin faces on them!

How cute is this decoration? A complete tutorial is provided to help you make it!