Hot Cocoa is a popular gift for giving and always a treat to receive at Christmas time. My kids will be giving these treats to their friends for Christmas. Here are a few ideas to make store bought hot cocoa mix and marshmallows special to give as gifts.
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I discovered these Kraft Jet-Puffed Stacker Mallows a few years ago at Target. These flat marshmallows are perfect to be made into fun shapes using mini cookie cutters.
Mini plastic bags come in many sizes and the large clear bag has a sticky tape closure that seals it like an envelope. The Swiss Miss cocoa mix is the favorite with our kids (2 1/2 to 3 Tablespoons per bag). Each gift package contained two servings of hot cocoa, instructions, two candy canes and enough marshmallows to share.
have fun !
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• dip cookie cutter in powdered sugar to keep marshmallows from sticking to it• string cut-out marshmallows together as a garland or turn them into gift tags •
It’s the start of the advent calendar time! This advent calendar is just as lovely today as it was when The White Company featured it in the 2010 Christmas season. Beyond being a”pretty” display at Christmas time, how, what and why was this tradition started? My lovely friend Sherry recently explained it on her website, Kains on the Creek. Please go and check it out {here}.
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Every year my kids have looked forward to counting down to Christmas day since their little fingers could grab an ornament and hang it on the Christmas tree. Hannah, my oldest at 15 and Grace at 12 are still enjoying their advent calendars. Over the years the sign of wear and tear has become obvious and a little more care and patching up are needed. I’m still in search of one more for my son. The last time I saw the Christmas tree advent calendar was on Ebay and the bidding price was over $300! I will wait and hope to find it somewhere else for a lower price (thinking … $10 – $20). I don’t think my son is all that concerned about it as I am. He’s quite content with his “three” Lego advent calendars. Having traditions, family time and discovering the meanings to Christmas traditions with our kids are precious. Thank you Sherry for your insight into the history about the advent calendar.
Here is Hannah’s well used and loved Advent calendar
Twine is a simple string and quite versatile. I always have some on hand for projects year round. Here are a few ideas and uses for twine in neutral / natural colors.
Need a little inspiration, a nudge to start a project or just a moment to refresh your thoughts? Every now and then, we all get stuck in that situation and need some help to get going again. I want to share with you a website that I love to go to and be inspired. Leslie Shewring, at A Creative Mint has put together beautiful photos, craft projects, inspiration boards, and color schemes to encourage the “can do spirit” in us.
A little history about Leslie Shewring and A Creative mint
Below are excerpts from interviews that Leslie have done over the years. (Click continue below each section to read it in-depth)
Tell us a little about yourself
Leslie: I grew up on the idyllic Vancouver Island in British Columbia. My mother is an artist and avid gardener so our family home was always a laboratory for creative ventures. At any given time we were doing art projects like painting ceramics on the dining room table and having flowers pressing in books on the kitchen table. My mother and father had an eclectic group of friends, which also influenced more critical and creative ideas.
While working on my interior design degree in Northern California I decided I wanted to go further and study architecture. Even though I did not practice architecture, it was incredible design training. Immediately after finishing grad school I had the opportunity to team up with a manufacturing and distributing company. In collaboration with them I developed, designed and did packaging direction for lots of products sold in many of the major retailers in North America. However, the products were very masculine and utilitarian. I would not call much of what I designed through those years feminine or pretty in the least! I guess I am now trying to get back to what I love which is more female, color, and pattern driven. In the last three years I have only done a few projects and my main focus has been my two little children. continue >
Why did you decide to start a blog, and what’s the story behind the name?
Leslie: I decided to start a blog because I was inspired by reading other blogs. I thought what could I add to this amazing, creative conversation that is going on right now. As well, I wanted to start doing something creative and I thought a blog would be a good way to commit to that journey for myself. The name was decided over a weekend as I was in a rush to start producing something! Once I get started on something I want it done yesterday… continue >
Describe the kind of creative work you do.
Leslie: I do photography and styling work these days. However, I am trained as an architect and used to do product design for many years!
Briefly describe your creative path that led you to the kind of work you are currently doing. (Early influences, former jobs, former versions or iteration of your work)
Leslie: I love photographing flowers and color stories. These interests came from growing up in my mother’s garden and being around visual arts at a very early age.
What are your creative goals for the future?
Leslie: To be a creative role model to my children. continue >
Thank you Leslie, for sharing your works, photos, and creativities with all of us. It was a joy to put this together and get to know you a little more.
