Moving towards Christmas

Here's my take on the kraft wrapping. I used tissue paper and an adhesive strip to make the ruffle.

Yesterday, I finished the last of my cookie baking for gifts. These are Peanut Cookies (great-Aunt Peg's recipe) on the plate, and you can see Mocha Truffles cooling in the background.

Peanut Cookies

1 ¼ c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

½ tsp. salt

½ lb. soft  butter (2 sticks)

¾ c. crunchy peanut butter

2 eggs

½ tsp. baking soda

2 c. flour

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. salted cocktail peanuts

Mix sugar, salt, butter & peanut butter together. Beat eggs into mixture until light & fluffy. Sift flour & baking soda together. Gradually blend into sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips & peanuts. Drop from spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 min. in 350 oven until light brown. Cool on rack.

Our mini tree

And one last cookie recipe from the other side of the family. Grandma Louis's Molasses Krinkles.

Molasses Krinkles

(or Fork Cookies)

¾ c. vegetable shortening

1 c. brown sugar, packed

1 egg

4 Tbsp. molasses

Sift together:

2 ¼ c. flour

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. cloves

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

Cream shortening & sugar, then add egg & molasses. Sift dry ingredients together in separate bowl. Add gradually to wet ingredients . Chill for an hour. On ungreased cookie sheets: shape into balls, dip in granulated sugar, cross with fork. Bake 12-15 min. in 350 oven.

8 Techniques for Gift Wrapping with Kraft

Today on Cosmo Cricket's Blog! Love, love these ideas! I have some beige/natural colored tissue paper I could definitely use to make some coordinating ruffles.

8 Techniques for Gift Wrapping with Kraft

p.s. a Gluber Strip is apparently a very large adhesive strip offered through Cosmo Cricket.

Braided Scarf with The Scrap Shoppe

 Good morning everybody ~ I've had a Christmas kinda weekend, baking cookies & making cards. It was cool and rainy, so a great way to spend the day.

 This link is to an excellent braided scarf tutorial from Michelle at The Scrap Shoppe. I used this to make some quick gifts last year. It's easy to follow, and if you're a crafter, you probably have everything you need on hand. I get compliments whenever I wear mine!

Braided Scarf with The Scrap Shoppe

Quick holiday gift to make

Rustic wrap label for gift soap

Here's a quick, easy to throw together last minute holiday gift!

What you need:

1) Scented bar soap (I'm using Mom's request of lavender)
2) Kraft paper strips  (I actually used postal roll package paper)
3) A longer, narrow stamp with a repeating pattern
4) Coordinating ink
5) Stickles to embellish

What to do:

1) Cut Kraft paper strips to fit your soap, allowing for overlapping ends. My strips were about 2.25 x 6 inches. Test wrap one and trim down if necessary. Once you have your size set, cut out your remaining strips.
2) Ink up your stamp and apply to Kraft paper strips. My stamp was long enough that 1 impression covered the entire strip, so it went very quickly.
3) When the ink has dried, wrap the label around the soap, using adhesive to secure the overlapping edge.
4) Embellish with stickles
5) When labels are totally dried, finish with a bit of raffia and/or ribbon, set in a basket or box with a cute tag and your gift is ready to go!


My stamped detail with  Tim Holtz Dusty Concord distress ink, Starry Night and Frosty Lace stickle accents.