How to Make an Ice Lantern

Courtesy of Marian Parsons

Happy Holidays Friends,

Use winter's frosty temps to your advantage when decorating your home's outdoors for the holidays. These ice lanterns are pretty, festive and just require water, plastic containers and a chill in the air.

Materials Needed:

• water
• medium to large plastic containers
• plastic cups
• evergreen sprigs and/or winter berries (optional)
• tea lights/pillar candles
• lighter

Pour Water into Containers

Fill a small plastic cup with water and put inside a larger plastic container. Fill large plastic container with water. As an option, add evergreen sprigs and/or berries to water to add some color and texture. Carefully put inside a freezer (or outside if temperatures are below freezing.) Allow it to freeze for several hours or overnight. Tip: The size and shape of the lanterns are only limited by the containers you find. Try making two huge ones to flank a front door by using 5 gallon buckets and large pillar candles.

Unmold Lanterns

Run warm water over outside of large plastic container to unmold lantern. The ice may crack, but the cracks look beautiful against the candlelight. Set outside and insert tea light candle or pillar candle that will fit inside ice lantern. (Never leave candles unattended.)

Light up your ice...

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Edible Ornaments: Make Monogrammed Shortbread Christmas Cookies

Courtesy of Heather Baird
Photography by Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Happy Holidays Friends,

These personalized shortbread ornaments can double as holiday place cards or Christmas party favors. Simple letter stencils can be found at most any craft store. Plan ahead because the royal icing on these cookies needs to dry for at least four hours or overnight.

Ingredients for Cookies

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Ingredients for Royal Icing

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 3 tablespoons meringue powder
• 1/2 cup warm water, plus more for thinning to soft peak or flood consistency
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon, orange or almond extract
• green gel food color
• gold luster dust

Yield: About 15 cookies

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment paper.

Sift flour and salt into a bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer or in a medium bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter on medium low speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until smooth, about two minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, gently stirring just until incorporated. Flatten the dough out into a disk shape and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.



Roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface (Image 1). Cut out ornament shapes with a lightly floured cookie cutter (Image 2), and place on the prepared baking sheets. Use a small metal tip to remove the center of each ornament's top ring (Image 3). Refrigerate for 15 minutes so the cookie dough will firm and cookies will maintain their shape when baked. Bake cut-outs for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool thoroughly on wire racks before icing.



Make the Royal Icing: In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with a whisk attachment, stir the confectioner's sugar and meringue powder on low speed until combined. Add the water and beat on medium high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add flavoring and beat on low until combined; divide in half and tint one portion of icing with the green gel food color. Bring to flood consistency by adding additional drops of water. Use the icing immediately or drape a damp tea towel over the mixing bowl or bowls to prevent the icing from drying out.



Place a small #2 round piping tip into the bottom of a small piping bag; snip off plastic on the end of the piping bag. Fill piping bag 3/4 full with the green icing and seal open end with a rubber band. Fill another piping bag with a #2 piping end add the white royal icing to the bag.

Pipe a line of green icing around the outside of the cookie, and let stand for 1 minute (Image 1). Using more of the green icing, flood inside the circle until the cookie is covered and the icing is smooth. Tip: Use a toothpick or skewer to remove bubbles (Image 2). Let stand about four hours or overnight.



When the icing is firm, lay a letter stencil in center of iced area (Image 1) and pipe a small amount of white icing on top of the stencil’s open area. Use a small offset spatula to spread the icing over the letter in a thin layer (Image 2). Carefully lift stencil straight up, and let design stand for at least two hours to dry. To complete the ornament's design, pipe a double bead of white icing around the outer edge of the cookies (Image 3). Allow to dry until firm, about 2 hours.



Combine gold luster dust with a few drops of clear extract in a small condiment cup. Use an artist's brush to cover the hanger portion of the ornament with the mixture. Let stand until dry, 5-10 minutes.



Thread ornament hangers with thin ribbon (Image 1). Present at place settings or package in clear cellophane bags for gifting (Image 2).



Happy decorating and Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

15 Vintage Holiday Gift Ideas

Courtesy of Marian Parsons

Happy Holidays Friends,

Skip the mall this year, and give creative gifts with a little history and time-worn charm. Fill vintage containers with thoughtful suprises for useful gifts where the wrap is part of the present.

Sugar Jars! What's more fitting than to fill a vintage sugar jar with sweets? Fill a small jar with classic holiday candy for a simple gift. You can find a great deal on jars with missing lids, ones that are orphaned from a set or those with small chips or cracks.

Wooden Crates

Be on the lookout for vintage wooden crates with original paint or unique typography when flea market season is in full swing. Fill crates with shredded paper and seasonal fruit, such as citrus and pomegranate. The crate can become functional storage afterward.

Canning Jars

Vintage canning jars can be picked up at flea markets or antique stores for just a few dollars, and they make great containers for small, simple gifts. Fill a jar halfway with Epsom salt to represent snow, and drop a pretty ornament inside.

Bread Board

Vintage wooden bread boards have become more popular over the past few years, but can still be found for a bargain. Pair a wooden board with some homemade bread or an artisan loaf from a bakery. Wrap the loaf in brown paper and tie it with some butcher twine, greenery and a tag.

Teacups

Teacups can be found by the dozen at yard sales and thrift stores. Pick them up to give as small gifts to those who enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Tuck some favorite flavors or blends inside the cup, tied in a bundle with twine or pretty ribbon.

Wooden Totes and Caddies

Use a vintage wooden tote or caddy to hold a collection of smaller gifts. Wrap the small gifts in coordinating paper, and tuck each into a cubby, making a fun display that can be used for organizing once the gifts are unwrapped.

Silver Champagne or Ice Bucket

Silver-plate pieces can generally be found for around $20, especially at yard sales. Pick up an ice bucket or champagne chiller, fill with a bottle of bubbly and tie on a bow to create the perfect hostess gift that can be enjoyed at holiday parties for years to come.

Casserole Dishes

Pretty ironstone china casserole dishes or soup tureens are great presents on their own, but are better when filled with monogrammed linen napkins, silver napkin rings and some flatware. A collection like this makes a thoughtful gift for a newlywed or someone who loves to entertain.

Buckets

Vintage buckets can be found in all shapes, sizes, materials and colors. This metal dry-goods bucket makes a great holder for a live rosemary plant to give to the chef or gardener in your life. Buckets can also be filled with miniature Christmas trees or winter flowers like paperwhites. Include tips on caring for the plant on the back of the gift tag.

Trinket Box

Why give a gift in a disposable paper box when a vintage wooden trinket box can often be found for less at thrift stores? Fill it with desk accessories, decks of cards, makeup or accessories. No wrapping is necessary for this gift — simply tie on a pretty ribbon.

Metal Tins

Vintage tins are plentiful and can often be found for less than $1. They make a perfect container for homemade cookies and holiday sweets. Nestle the sweets in vintage linen napkins or brown paper.

Hardback Books

Gift cards have become a popular holiday gift option, especially for those on your list who are difficult to shop for. Instead of purchasing a gift-card case, tuck them into a small, vintage book. It's even better if the book relates to something the recipient enjoys. Books also make a great holder for cash gifts.

Chamber Pots

Thankfully, these pieces that were once necessities have become antiquated due to indoor plumbing. They now make a quirky, tongue-in-cheek holder for homemade soaps and other items that make nice holiday gifts.

Wire File Baskets

Give the aspiring author or poet in your life pretty notebooks or stationery showcased in a vintage wire file basket. These multifunctional pieces would also be great for gifting cookbooks, tea towels and craft supplies.

Bundt Pans and Molds

Assemble spices, tea towels, wooden spoons and other kitchen essentials in a copper Bundt pan or pudding mold. Look for pieces that are clean and rust free, so they can still be practical as well as pretty.

Enjoy your vintage shopping spree...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Candy Christmas Tree in a Snow Globe

Courtesy of Heather Baird

Happy Holidays Friends,

Looking for a unique homemade gift idea? Well, look no further! This sweet surprise is a Christmas decoration they can display, then devour.

Materials Needed

• 1 package (2 cups) white chocolate peanut butter cups
• 2 mini white chocolate peanut butter cups
• 1 bite-size white chocolate peanut butter cup
• 12 ounces white candy coating
• 1 wide-mouth 16 ounce canning jar with lid
• 1 cream-filled sandwich cookie
• 2-4 tablespoons white nonpareils
• baker’s twine or holiday ribbon
• piping bag or zip-top bag
• your choice of holiday-themed sprinkles such as stars, candy canes and metallic dragees

Yield: 1 Gift

Prep Tree Materials
Carefully remove the peanut butter cups from their paper liner and set aside. Heat white candy coating in the microwave at 100 percent until melted (about 30 seconds) and transfer it to a disposable piping bag (or zip-top bag) with the tip snipped.



Assemble Tree
Begin building the chocolate tree with one mini peanut butter cup turned upside down (Image 1). Pipe melted candy on top and add a large peanut butter cup turned upside down. Pipe melted candy on top and add the second large peanut butter cup on top turned upside down. Pipe melted candy on the center of the peanut butter cup and add a mini peanut butter cup turned upside down. Finally, pipe melted candy on top of the mini cup and add the bite-size cup on top turned upside down (Image 2). Let the assembled tree stand until completely set, about 10 minutes.



Decorate Tree
Before decorating the tree, re-heat white candy coating if needed in the microwave. Use melted candy to attach sprinkles and dragees to the tree (Images 1 and 2). Let tree stand until the candy is set, about 10 minutes.



Begin Assembling Snow Globe
Use melted candy to attach a cream-filled sandwich cookie to the lid of the canning jar (Image 1). Cover the cookie with melted white candy coating (Image 2). Place the tree in the center of the cookie and let stand until dry, about 5 minutes (Image 3).



Complete Snow Globe
Pour white nonpareils into the jar (Image 1). Lay the jar on its side and carefully insert the candy tree (Image 2); screw the lid closed and turn the jar upside down. Gently shake the jar for snow globe effect. Tie colorful baker’s twine or holiday ribbon around the bottom of the jar and add gift tags if desired (Image 3).



Peanut butter cups and cookies come together in this charming Christmas treat and great for that specail Holiday gift for friends and family...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Courtesy of Heather Baird

Happy Holidays Friends,

Make classic sugar cookies in your favorite holiday shapes with just six basic ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix butter and sugar together until just incorporated.
2. Add egg and vanilla extract. Mix again on low speed, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl intermittently as needed.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Add to butter and egg mixture. Mix on low speed until a dough is formed and there are no longer any streaks of butter in the mixing bowl.
4. The dough will clump around the paddle attachment while being mixed. If your mixture does not come together and is crumbly, add ice-cold water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough clumps.
5. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of wax paper and top with a second sheet (Image 1). Roll dough into an oblong disc between the papers with a rolling pin (Image 2).
   
   
   
   
7. Transfer dough — wax paper and all — to a large cookie sheet. Wrap dough tightly onto cookie sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
8. Remove top sheet of wax paper and roll dough a little thinner. It should not be sticky. You may dust the surface lightly with flour if it is sticky, but not too much.
9. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness.
10. Cut out desired shapes from dough (Images 1, 2) and transfer to prepared baking sheet. After rolling out the dough cut out desired shapes and transfer to prepared baking sheet.
    
    
    
    
11. Refrigerate cutouts for 30 minutes. This will help cookies maintain a crisp shape during baking.
12. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
13. Bake cookies for 15 to 20 minutes.
14. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

Happy Holiday Baking...

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Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne