Christmas Coffee & Cute Cupcakes!!

Last year, I started hosting a come and go Christmas coffee for some special friends. For me, it's easier than a full fledged party at that time of year.

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Kids are welcome, some friends bring something tasty to share, I provide coffee, tea, & spiced cider plus a few yummies. We talk, and eat, and laugh.....and repeat for about 2 hours. It's a little crowded and sometimes a lot noisy, but so fun to catch up with friends I see every week and some I only see once or twice a year.

I also started the tradition of making an ornament for my attendees. Last year it was rather last minute - salt dough "teapots" painted red and decorated with a white paint pen. This year I got a little fancier, but it was even faster and easier than last year!

You just need a glue gun, mini ornaments (mine were shades of pink), mini foil cupcake liners, red berries, white paint and glitter or snow. I actually used a product called "snow paint" that has been in my stash for years! There's no tutorial - I think you can see how to do it. I'd show the blog where I first saw this, but I can't find it now!

A bounty of cupcakes in thrifted (of course!) milk glass!

Just because.....

Miss M saw this picture and wondered why I hadn't posted it yet. Yes, Christmas was a month ago tomorrow, but it's my blog, right? (She also wants me me to add that her dress was on clearance, down from $60 to a mere $5 back in the summer. Yes, my girl can spot a crazy good deal!) 

P.S. A certain little boy enjoys pockets, can you tell?

Vintage Christmas

While the celebration of the birth of a Savoir is THE reason for Christmas, there are still other elements that add to the special time of year. I just posted a comment on a friend's blog about my favorite things of Christmas. While there is much I enjoy about the season, one that tops my list would be using things handed down to me from my grandparents.  These are just a few...

Hanging the ornaments given to me by my grandparents each year until I turned 18. That little blonde girl praying...dated 1982...I was with her at a craft show when it was purchased. The icicle on the right...I inherited what was left of the set after Grandaddy died and Grandmommie moved from the ranch into town.

The Swedish candle carousel that rings when the candles are lit. My children are just as delighted as I once was. I still have the original box it came in too.

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus decorate red tapers at my house just like they did when I was child.

I also enjoy using old and/or thrifted but new-to me items. My mom picked up this cross-stitch piece - it just needed a coat of black and matching easel to showcase it. I am pleased with how the thrifted milk glass and  sprigs of red and green perk up the corner of my mantel.

 

My most favorite thing to use this Christmas season though? The hands down winner would be the 12 sets of Indian glass in a snowflake pattern. Each box bears Grandmommie's name, in her handwriting. My mom remembers these from her childhood and rescued them from my Grandmommie's garage sale probably almost 10 years ago. I am using them tomorrow when some special friends come to my home for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. Speaking of those friends...they will be here in 24 hours....better get to work! Thankfully, Miss M is healthy and back in school today.

The Best Gift Ever

My husband has been in sunny California all week for work. Before he left, I knew the kids were working on getting sick. By Monday afternoon it was clear - pink eye. Drops were prescribed and started and Miss M promptly showed a strong allergic reaction to the medication. Hoping she turns the corner soon.

Anyway, I should have been sleeping last night but instead finished up this little project that has been swimming in my head for over 1 1/2 years! I must admit, I copied the phrase from something I saw in the Dayspring catalog once and I used some clip art to help me get the bow just right on the package. Apparently, I can tie them but I can't paint one! 

Being stuck at home this week (with snow on the ground and freezing temps) has really caused me to slow down and savor the true gift of Christmas. It's a week when I would otherwise be running from here to there like so many other people. Hoping you take some time to enjoy your most precious gift as well - the gift of grace offered by Jesus Christ. Without the pink eye of course!

Christmas Catch Up - Part 2

As the coordinator of my MOPS group, I like to give my steering team a small gift at Christmas. With 12 ladies I can't afford anything too expensive. I learned about Wordle from a fellow blogger. It's a free site that constructs a "word cloud" using text you type in. For my gifts, I asked each steering member to list a few words or a phrase that either describes each leader or is something you admire about her. They had about a week to do this and then I typed in the text. I printed them out on glossy white cardstock and framed them in simple frames. They were originally unfinished so I gave them a quick coat of glossy black. This gift idea has lots of possibilities (grandparents, end of year teacher gift...) and I am sure I will be using it again. I found Wordle incredibly easy to use and enjoyed playing around with the colors, fonts, and word arrangement. Hubby helped me size them to a 5x7 - which took some work on his end. They actually print out 8x10 directly from Wordle.

Here's a shot of my finished project, tied up with ribbon left from Christmas past. I presented the gifts to my leaders at a luncheon at my home just before Christmas. We decided it was both encouraging and humbling to know how others saw us.Next up...gifts for the women who graciously care for our children during our MOPS meetings. Again...small budget but unlike the above gifts, it doesn't come out of my personal pocket. I learned about a great deal from author Richard Paul Evans on Money Saving Mom.(Check her site out....tons of free deals, coupons, and thrifty ideas in an easy to read list.)For a limited time, he was offering 20 copies of his book The Christmas Box at a cost of only $15. This fit our budget perfectly. I even ordered a box myself to give as gifts to other folks. The little silver charms you see are elastic bookmarks. If you can cut string and tie a knot, you can make these. This link will give you specific directions, but basically:

1. Cut a length of elastic beading cord to 15 inches.
2. Slid your charm to the middle of the cord.
3. Tie a knot above your charm.
4. Tie a knot to secure the ends.

That's IT friends! I found a pack of 10 heart charms 50% at Hobby Lobby ($1.50) which made these little beauties ring in around $0.65 EACH! Can't hardly beat it! There are lots of charms to choose from, making this easy to personalize for any reader you know. The motorcycle one in the picture was one Miss M made for my dad.
There you have it...two economical and easy gift ideas. I also learned that LOTS of people like homemade fudge. I should know...I made and gave away 6 pounds of it last month!
Coming to a blog near you....Mr. C's thrifty Cars 3rd birthday celebration!

Christmas Catch Up - Part 1

Well, yet another trip back to Arkansas for the second funeral in a month...with a sick little boy...who shared his germs with mama....it's been a long January. This time we mourned the loss of Cupcake Daddy's paternal grandfather. Again, illness took a toll on his body and Grandpa Doug left this life on his 86th birthday. He and Grandma Dee treated my like family from day one. I will miss his silly jokes and songs but enjoy seeing that talent in both of my children. It was a life well lived.

Enough with the melancholy...Now, to catch up on a few things! I just have to share few ideas that you might want to file away and use some day. So that this post won't be SOOOO long, I will split it into two. This one will focus on decorating ideas and the next one will feature some easy gifts that you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and want to try soon for yourself.

First up...I found this super cute Christmas cupcake fabric on sale on Hobby Lobby a few weeks before Christmas. I used my super handy iron on fusible webbing and turned out these matching shirts for Miss M and myself. A little ribbon detail (the bow is removable for washing) plus some hand-stitching around the edges for added detail and this is what you get... (You can click on the picture to see the details better.) I already have plans for a Valentine shirt for Miss M.)
Remember this post, where I shared with you a blog that inspired me to make seasonal banners for the mantel? Here's another one I made...
The peppermint candle in the corner is super easy to make...take a pillar candle (mine is red) and place a thick rubber band around the middle. Then slip your candy canes under the rubber band. Finish it off with ribbon to cover the rubber band. You can also use the J shaped candy canes...putting the crook at the bottom, facing out. I told you it was too easy!

Next up...larger than life suckers! I painted a few dowels cut to various lengths white. Then I stuck the rods into styrofoam circles, wrapped the circles in cellophane and wired them closed at the bottom. I then covered the wire with ribbon. I bought a roll of mylar wrapping paper at the dollar store and covered a cashew can that I filled with sand borrowed from the kid's sandbox. I think I will change a red to green for next year...just used materials I had on hand. And I think I want ribbon other than white....again used what I had. (Ignore how groddy my porch looks...it was below freezing when I took the picture!) The little wooden peppermints were something I clipped off an ugly swag I picked up while thrifting.
Last up....the mailbox...I found the cute ribbon at the dollar tree and added it to a floral something that was 50% at Hobby Lobby...making this cost a grand total of $3!
Now, just a few random Christmas pictures...

Stop the insanity!!!
"Oh brother!" she seems to be saying....literally!Cupcake Daddy showing his GQ side in the Razorback snuggie that he received from Aunt J.

Deck the Halls (Dollar Store Style!)

Sorry it has been over two weeks since my last post. Church commitments and a trip home to Arkansas for the holiday filled me weeks! But I am back with a few samples of what else I have been up to lately. I have really been trying to reuse and re-purpose items this last year...like my grandmommie's vintage jewelry and my summer mailbox decoration. My Christmas decorations are no exception!

I have never been pleased with my dining room centerpiece and have tried several different styles. Our dining room opens to the kitchen, so it needs to be casual. Also, it is our only table upstairs and is used at every meal, with two children, so it must also be easy to move around. This only cost $4 and I am SOOO pleased! I saw the idea for a pottery barn rip-off here.

This is my creation, using my glass container from Halloween (which was purchased on sale several years ago at a discount decorating store.) I picked up 4 packs of bells, but might stop in for just one more. They also have brassy gold and a pewter-like finish but I am a traditional red/green gal.
My next little project involved two 10 inch wreaths from the Dollar Tree. I used some leftover adhesive red felt letters to spell out "peace" and "joy" on a scrap of brown lunch sack. I then added a few of those cheap apple ornaments ($2 for a dozen) that I found left in the basement from my teaching days. I used to personalize one for each student as a part of a Christmas gift from me. I did have to pick up a spool of ribbon, but it was only $1 and I have some left for other projects. The little mini-cookie cutters were a gift; I think I might tie them on with a little solid red ribbon because they don't show as well as I would like. If I get really ambitious, Miss M and I will try those applesauce/cinnamon ornaments with the cutters....that would be so cute in the kitchen and smell good too!Anyway, 3o minutes and $4 later (plus the things I already had) and I have a sweet little decoration for the kitchen windows.

I have a few other little things to show you, but it is dark and rainy here..calling for flurries....so my pictures are all turning out too dark. I will leave you with one little photo of Miss M and some children from school though....
About 70 children earned a hummer ride to Incredible Pizza on Monday. Mr C and I were able to go too! Miss M said she felt like Hannah Montana! Check back soon and I will show a simple and whimsical front door decoration.