Saturday, December 4, 2010

A recipe for giving!


Okay, true confession time.
I'm a crafter. When I pull into
my local Michael's store, I think
they all start Snoopy dancing
with joy because they know I've
come up with some insane
project that will require at
least ten trips to their store and
a blown paycheck. Seriously.



On the upside of this character flaw, however, I have a bazillion ideas for cute homemade gifts (because I genuinely believe those are the best kind -- except for alcohol -- in my experience that should be bought;-).


So, here is one of my favorites, which has proven to be a huge hit with
teachers, grandparents and co-workers!
Cinnamon Scented Ornaments!

Ingredients/Materials:

1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup white school glue
(like Elmer's)
Plastic food wrap
Rolling pin
Wax paper
Cookie cutters
Straw or awl
White glue
Glitter
Ribbon to hang




The How To's:


Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl. The dough should be as thick as cookie dough. Add a bit of water if the dough is too stiff. Remove from bowl and knead. Put it back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for at least a half hour. Roll the dough between waxed paper until it's between 1/2" thick and 1/4" thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. Use a straw or an awl to punch a hole for the ribbon to hang. Place the shapes on a piece of clean wax paper. They will take 3-5 days to dry, and you will need to turn them over a couple of times a day for them to dry evenly and flat. When dry, decorate with glue and glitter and thread a piece of ribbon or yarn through the hole to hang.



This is a wreath I made for mother
in law with each of the grandkiddos
as a gingerbread boy/girl. The nice
thing about these ornaments is they
retain the lovely scent of cinnamon
for years!



Happy crafting, everyone!


Jenn

BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF
Coming January 2011
"A sublime mystery" -- says
Genre Go Round Reviews!


And speaking of gifts, Krista's newest release makes a perfect gift!
And don't miss out on her cookie contest!



Krista's Christmas
Cookie Contest

Krista Davis is celebrating the upcoming release
of her new holiday mystery, The Diva Cooks a Goose.


She's holding a delicious contest!
Send Krista your favorite cookie recipe
at Krista at KristaDavis dot com and you might win!

13 comments:

  1. You say you're a crafter, almost apologetically. Don't do that! Crafters (hobbyists, or whatever they call themselves) are a fun group of creative people. Some things fail, sure, but half of the fun is in the attempt. I love Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and don't stand in my way if I'm near a bead store. I've been known to spot them from half a mile away. I've never made cinnamon ornaments before, but I love yours in the chili pepper shape. These will go great on my little tree in my office with the Frida Kahlo ornaments and chili pepper lights. Thanks, Jenn!

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  2. Well, of course I am partial to the chili peppers, but the door is outstanding! My wife gets the coupons in the Sunday paper from Michaels... AND from the competition that they will match. So, i get dragged to the store to help perpetrate a fraud (one coupon one person).

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  3. I agree with Patti...craft and craft proud girl! I love homemade and love it when I get gifts like that. I believe that comes from the heart.

    And Grill...my son is in that fraud category with ya.

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  4. What a fantastic idea! I bet the aroma is wonderful, too! Looks like a fun thing to do with the kids and I know they'll enjoy spending time with me, doing it. Thanks so much, Jenn!

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  5. You just brought back memories, Jenn. When our girls were younger and my best friend and I were Girl Scout leaders, this was one of the first projects we had the girls do. You're right about the scent - heavenly!

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  6. Oh, I want that gingerbread man wreath! My husband and I love Michaels, too -- while my husband makes a beeline for the art supplies aisle, I head for the baking section! Love craft stores at this time of year, especially. Have a wonderful, crazy, festive, holiday-countdown weekend, Jenn!

    ~ Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  7. *Sniff* I'm wiping away a tiny tear ... Jenn, my sister from another mister! (Wait, that doesn't work, does it? Well, you know what I mean.) Love this so very much ... one of those crafts I haven't thought about in years, but such a wonderful one. Gonna make gifts for my colleagues today!

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  8. Wow, Jenn! I am so impressed. That gingerbread wreath is adorable and sentimental, too. Your mother-in-law must love it!

    ~ Krista

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  9. Pattie and Princess, I *have* to apologize because I'm not a controlled crafter, frankly, I'm a mental case. Three days before a trip abroad, I decided I needed to learn how to do a mosaic. I spent the three days I should have been packing on the back porch gluing little tiles into the shape of a Celtic cross. Thankfully, the Hub gets that it's therapy, and just nods and says, "That's lovely, darling, now did you want the red blouse or the white one in your suitcase?" LOL!
    Dave, I think you could start the coupon fraud club!
    Wendy, yes, we did establish sisterhood on the road! Someday, Hub and I must come back to TX for a visit. We'll hit a craft store and the hubs can do that music thing they do!!!
    Krista, Cleo, Elizabeth and Julie, Thanks for the kind words. You four and Avery are the best blog buds EVER! Jenn (using hub Chris's account because I'm too lazy to log in as myself)!

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  10. I love the gingerbread wreath that is adorable. Michael's is my favorite place as well. Gotta love the coupons :).

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  11. Omigosh, Jenn, this is adorable!!! I love the wreath. What a creative gal you are!! I happen to love making gingerbread and that's on my to-do list this week...for eating. :)

    ~Avery

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  12. Jenn,
    Thanks so much for reminding me of this fun craft!! As a former kindergarten teacher this was one of the most favorite ever "kid-made" presents ever made!! The moms loved them and my classroom smelled wonderful for months afterward :-) Wonder if I can get my "kids" now 20 and 16 to agree to making a few this year??
    Nanc

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  13. My grandmother would have LOVED this idea. And all of us grandkids would have been inundated with holiday ornaments and wreaths. My grandmother was the biggest crafter I ever knew. She could do everything...quilts, crochet, felt, foam (refrigerator magnet animals). She did usually manage to keep it in perspective though; as she also had a huge garden, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits, flowers, and still had time to teach us grandkids how to make stilts and walk on them. Oh, and play practical jokes on the neighbors at Halloween...with said stilts!
    But anyway - I'm going to have to try these; and I also need to do something with the overflowing stash of yarn I just got from my mother in law (new grandbaby girl - requires crochet from Nonna, don't you know)!

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