Christmas Mantel 2012...

Anyone peeking through the windows at my house last week would have thought I must have come down with a serious case of cray cray. In the midst of vomiting children, sticky glasses of ginger ale on flat surfaces, cracker crumbs and Gravol bottles, I had Christmas tubs out....humming to myself and decorating away. Yes.  Christmas was going to arrive...just ahead and after the vomit...but it was going to arrive.

It sure has been fun decorating in red, white, silver and fresh greenery this year....after liberating myself from 15 years of blues & greens last year. The red is so refreshing to me.

 

 

What colours are you decorating with this year and are you trying anything new?

Stay well and warm my friends!

xo

This post is linked to these great parties:
Homestories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life, Savy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Lil Luna, Clean & Scentsible, The DIY Dreamer, Uncommon Mantel Party, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Craft-O-Maniac, Not Just A Housewife, Lil Luna, Savy Southern Decor, Southern Hospitality, Tidy Mom, Tatertots & Jello, Project Inspire, Setting For Four, Aalderberry Hill, Between Naps on the Porch, The Nester's Tour of Homes, Somewhat Simple, Craftberry Bush,

Kids Project: Easy & Fun Snowman Cookie...

 Where I live, it's winter for about 5 months of the year. Not kidding! It's not like that everywhere in Canada...I just happen to live in Canada's largest northern city.We have had a snowstorm in every month of the year...except for July! This year, we have had a full blanket of snow since the middle of October. Everything outside is freakin' frozen! We try to embrace winter with lots of fun winter activities and in my city, we are lucky enough to have over 12 outdoor rinks...in addition to indoor rinks. To celebrate winter....I created this fun snowman project as a fun activity for kids.

 

This is an easy project that can be created with a can of refrigerated cinnamon buns, so it's perfect for busy moms with crazy schedules during this holiday season. 

 

For this project you will need:
-A can of refrigerated cinnamon buns {You will need 2 buns per snowman.}
-white frosting
-pretzel sticks for arms
-candies & sprinkles for decorating the snowman to make buttons and eyes
-sour straps candy to make the scarf

Directions:

1. Use one cinnamon bun to make the bottom snowball for the snowman.

2. Take a second cinnamon bun and cut the outer ring of the bun off. Use this piece to make the head for the snowman. Let your child roll this into a ball for a head. Use the remaining piece of the bun to make the middle snowball for the snowman. Let your child assemble the snowman on a cookie sheet as shown.

 

3. Bake snowman as directed on the can of cinnamon buns. Let cool slightly.

4. Give your child the white frosting, a small spreader, pretzels, sprinkles and candies for decorating his/her snowman however they wish!

5. Eat and enjoy!

 Do you have snow in your neck of the woods? {I know without even asking that most of you don't!}



This post is linked to these great parties:
Tatertots and Jello, Under The Table & Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Homestories A to Z,
Today's Creative Blog, Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life, 33 Shades of Green,  Savy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Lil Luna, Clean & Scentsible, The DIY Dreamer, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Not Just A Housewife, Tidy Mom, Project Inspire, Somewhat Simple, The Frugal Girls,

Holiday Outdoor Decor 2012...

 Over the last week, I have finished most of my holiday decorating. Yay!

I have been tweaking things here and there, but my outdoor decor is done.

I forgot to take a picture to show you, but we have had snow~and lots of it~since the middle of October! So that means that gathering greenery myself...not so easy...everything is frozen already!

So when Superstore{ our local grocery+ store} advertised a very basic Christmas arrangement for $25, I was sold. After looking around at other stores and comparing prices, I thought it was a good deal and it fit my budget. {I don't plan to spend anything on indoor decor this year!}

But of course, when I got home, I added my own touches to make it my mine.

I added a red bow, poinsettias and some other pieces to dress it up.

 I really love having this little bistro table by the front door...it makes such an amazing disply space for whatever arrangement I have for the season.

 And the front door got this very traditional swag that I have had for several years.

I still love it and it still looks fresh.

Next week I will be sharing my indoor decor.

Have you started or finished your holiday decorating?

What was your colour scheme for this year?

 

This post is linked to these parties:
Frugal Girls, Tidy Mom, Craftberry Bush, Tatertots and Jello, Under The Table & Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Homestories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life,
Savy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Lil Luna, Clean & Scentsible, The DIY Dreamer, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Not Just A Housewife, Southern Hospitality, Tidy Mom, Project Inspire, Setting For Four, Aalderberry Hill, Between Naps on the Porch, The Nester's Tour of Homes,
Somewhat Simple,  The Frugal Girls,

4 Amazing Photo Gift ideas...

Today I thought I would share 4 photo project ideas from the Echoes of Laughter vault that would make great Christmas gifts for loved ones. Photo gifts make the best gifts to give because they remind us of what's important in life and can truly be enjoyed all year long.

1. Photo Memory Jar
This gift is so easy to make...all you need is a medium size jar, sand, a few embellishments and a photo or two.This is such a great memento of a special family trip as well. You can easily get the kids involved in this one too. {See the original post here.}

 

2. Shadow Box Project

Here is another gift idea when you want to use a group of photos. I picked up this shadow box for $14.99 from Homesense and added the photos and embellishments to the cream background.  Embellishments are very easy to find at any dollar store to add that special touch. {See the original post here.}

 

3. Photo Tray Project
This creation can take a bit more time than the previous 2 projects and takes a bit more skill if you are not a scrapbooker. This photo tray is made by 7 Gypsies and can found at Micheal's or a specialty scrapbook store. I made these trays 2 years ago as special Christmas gifts for the grandparents and I know they loved them.{See the original post here.}

4. Mini Scrapbook.
Any small tin makes a great start for a fun & unusual scrapbook. I made this little scrapbook inside a recycled altoid tin. It can fit easily into a purse for a busy Grandma and is also great for mailing away. {See the original post here.}

 

I hope you find an idea here that inspires if you are considering making something with photos!

 

Do you have any photo gifts planned for this year?

And are you making them or buying them?

Please share...I love hearing what special gifts others have planned!

This post is linked to these great parties:
Dixie n Dottie, Someday Crafts, 52 Mantels, Stone Gable, 36th Avenue,  Frugal Girls, Tidy Mom,
Craftberry Bush, Tatertots and Jello, Under The Table & Dreaming, Homestories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life, Savy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Lil Luna, Clean & Scentsible, The DIY Dreamer, It's Overflowing,  I Heart Naptime, Skip To My Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Not Just A Housewife, Tidy Mom, Project Inspire, Setting For Four, Aalderberry Hill, Between Nap on the Porch, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple,  The Frugal Girls,  Craftberry Bush,

Make Your Moments Golden...And A Chocolate Giveaway.

{This giveaway and contest is open to Canadian residents only.}

 

Hello dear readers!I am so excited to bring you another great giveaway just in time for Christmas!

And the giveaway is for this 200 gram package of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. I have loved these chocolates for years....they are one of my favourites! I don't know about you, but for me, a little piece of chocolate can turn a bad day right around! The answer is always chocolate!

 

Ferraro Rocher is hosting a special contest: Find a PIN in specially marked Ferroro Rocher 200 gram chocolates and you could instantly win over $500,000 in prizes including 1 of 10 Mercedes Benz All-New 2013 B-Class Vehicles or a Fererro Rocher Holiday Hosting gift basket. PINS can be redemmed on the the Ferrero Rochers Canada Facebook Page.

Please look for specially marked 200 gram Ferrero Rocher chocolates at your local retailer and you could win one of these fabulous prizes brought to you by Ferraro Rocher! {Here's a tip: The 200 gram box is the box of 16 wrapped chocolates in 2 layers of 8...turn the box over and it should say be marked with the Pin/Mercedes-Benz promotion in a red logo.}

Now here is a chance for you to win a 200 gram box of Ferraro Rocher chocolates. Please leave me a comment telling me who you would buy these chocolates for.  I will leave the comments open until Friday, November 30, 2012 at 6 pm MST. Then 1 random commenter will be chosen to receive a 200 gram box of Ferraro Rocher chocolates.

A Paper Bag Advent Calendar...

It's has been more than a few years since I last made an advent calendar, but when I saw these adorable itty bitty chevron bags,  I knew I just had to make something with them!

I got out my scrapbooking stash of punches, Christmas paper scraps, and other embellishments and spent some time creating this calendar.

I am so happy to be able to share it with you!

To begin, I used 2 frames that I already had from Pier 1 to hold pictures. I love these frames and I change the pictures in them from time to time. You could easily use large picture frames you have at home by stapling wire or string on the back to hold your advent calendar treat bags.I hung the two frames side by side to display the whole calendar in our hallway.

 Supplies:
Frames to hold the bags with wire or string to hold the bags {You could also just use string hung on a wall to hold the paper bags.}
25  paper bags
25 mini clothes pins
scrapbook embellishments & adhesive {I used tape runner}
Numbers 1-25,  print out or stickers { I used the numbers from this free printable.}

Directions:

• Decorate the 25 paper bags with scrapbook embellishments and numbers however you like!You could also give some bags to the kids to help you decorate. It's a great family project.
• Hang bangs from a string or wire when done.
• Enjoy!

And what can you put in the bags?  Hersheys kisses, small candies or gum.Since my kids are older, I inserted slips of paper with questions on them for us to have a fun conversation at dinner.Some of the questions are:If you could give $10,000 to any charity for Christmas, which charity would you choose and why? What is the best Christmas surprise you've had so far?

I am busy working Christmas crafts and decorating this week, so I have lots of fun things to share soon.

What are you working on this week? Anything Christmas related? Please do tell!

{Thank you so much for Greenmunch for providing with the chevron paper bags to create my calendar. Please go check out their full line of beautiful party supplies!}




This post is linked to these great parties: Home Stories A to Z, Cozy Little House, Savy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, Lil Luna, Uncommon, The DIY Dreamer, Dixie N Dottie, Someday Crafts, 52 Mantels, Stone Gable, 36th Avenue, Frugal Girls, Tidy Mom, Craftberry Bush, Tatertots and Jello, Under The Table & Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Today's Creative Blog,  Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Skip To My Lou, Not Just A Housewife, Project Inspire, Setting For Four, Aalderberry Hill, Between Naps on the Porch, Somewhat Simple,
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Christmas Cookie Week:Easy & Delish Confetti Squares...

Whew! It's the last day of "Christmas Cookie Week 2012" and my waistline sure is happy!

All of these yummy treats around are hard to resist!

This last recipe is a favourite everywhere I think...I see them on Christmas cookie trays sold at stores all the time...but they are so easy to make at home!

And really, this recipe is nothing special or unique, but it just reminds us that good things can also be easy!

And with just 4 ingredients & 10 minutes...you really can't go wrong!

It's perfect for a busy time of year...like Christmas.

 Confetti Squares

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 300 gram bag of butterscotch chips
1 bag fruit flavoured mini marshmallows

Directions:

1.Grease a 9x13 pan. In a large pot, melt butter, peanut butter and butterscotch chips on low heat. Stir with a spatula until mixture is smooth. Watch carefully because this is so easy to burn if you turn your back for a second.

2. Remove pot from stove and let mixture cool slightly. {You don't want the mixture too hot because it will melt the marshmallows.}

3. Mix marshomallows into peanut butter mixture. Pour into greased pan. Place in fridge to until squares are firm. Cut into squares with a sharp knife. Store in fridge.

You can serve these in cupcake liners to make them look dressed up for the party.

Thank you so much for joining me for "Christmas Cookie Week" here at Echoes of Laughter!  Please make sure you visit my friend Grace over at Sense & Sensibility to see what cookie she is serving up today!

And guess what else? The folks at Canada's Style At Home magazine contacted me today and asked me to share this news with  you! Style at Home is hosting a Cookie Swap and contest!   Here are the details:

How to enter: Send an original family cookie recipe and photo to cookieswap@styleathome.com

*No family recipe? No worries! You can use one on styleathome.com :) Be sure to include which one it is in your email

Contest dates: Nov. 21, 2012 to Dec. 14, 2012

Prize: KitchenAId 5-Quart Series Stand Mixer

Entries: Recipes will be published on styleathome.com (http://www.styleathome.com/food-and-entertaining/holiday-cookie-swap-recipes) starting Dec 1st, 2012

 

All the contest rules and details are outlined here: http://www.styleathome.com/cookieswap.

 

 

This post is linked to these great parties:
Tatertots & Jello, Six Sisters Stuff, It's Overflowing, I Heart Naptime, Positively Splendid, Under The Table & Dreaming, Home Stories A to Z, Cozy Little House,  Savy Southern Style,
Gingersnap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, Lil Luna, Uncommon, The DIY Dreamer, 52 Mantels,
Stone Gable, 36th Avenue, Frugal Girls, Tidy Mom, Craftberry Bush, Poofy Cheeks, Today's Creative Blog, Chef in Training, Inside Bru Crew Life, 33 Shades of Green, I Heart Naptime, Not Just A Housewife, Project Inspire, Craft-O-Maniac, Aalderberry Hill, Between Naps on the Porch, Somewhat Simple,