Homemade Vanilla

I'm about to head out on my annual girl's retreat in October.  We decided to do a 'favorite things' exchange (I do this in the summer with a group of crafting friends I've been retreating with for over a decade and we love it).  My favorite thing is probably something sweet.  I was planning on getting a favorite cupcake or cookie, but I brought cookies last year from an Austin bakery I love, so I decided to bring something sweet related-an ingredient.  

These would also make awesome gifts for Christmas.  It's not super 'cheap' to make, but it is fun.  I found a pack of 9 bottles on Amazon that even came with tags (I didn't use) and a funnel (I did).  I bought 8 oz bottles, but in doing that, they do use a lot of Vodka, which upped the price.  

I also bought some vanilla beans on Amazon.  I read the reviews really carefully to find some that were not already split (apparently some people split them and take out the 'good stuff' and then sell the rest of the bean, which impacts your vanilla).  This company also had good reviews when it came to returns (if the seal breaks while shipping, they can mold).  I split my whole beans down the middle, but left about an inch together at the end b/c you just want it to infuse your alcohol and not have too many pieces floating around.  You can strain your vanilla after a few months, but....I'll leave that to the girls that get these.    

I then did some alcohol research and I learned not to use a bottom shelf Vodka, and not to use one infused with flavors.  Tito's was one that was recommended, so I went with that.  1 liter fills 4-5 bottles, depending on how full you make them.  

I put two beans (split in two) in the bottles, poured vodka over it, and sealed the bottles.  I also made some little tags for the front and I'm going to add an instruction tag.  I read these can be used within 8 weeks, but are best after 8 months.  It also says you can continuously refill your vanilla bottles, using the same beans for years.  I guess I'll let you know this time next year!  

The vodka is already amber (a few hours later), and I'm planning to shake them up every few days until I gift them away.  I probably spent almost $10 a bottle, but the bigger bulk you buy, the cheaper your vanilla will be.  

Movie Date Gift

 I've done variations of this gift quite a bit in the past.  I love giving 'dates' to folks, especially when I attend multiple wedding showers.  I usually get a few things from the registry, but to have a little fun, at the second shower I try to bring some sort of date for the couple to enjoy.  This gift I put together last year for my Secret Sister at work who was getting married and said she enjoyed the movies.
Super easy-I got movie gift cards, a popcorn bucket from the dollar tree....

 I filled it with movie candies, popcorn, and the cards and then wrapped it up.

Homemade Gift Ideas

I'm headed to GMT with three ideas for homemade gifts.  This year-the theme is to say it with food.  Below are the links to the three projects, and the instructions/recipes etc can be found in the links. I'll also post the segment on my facebook page later.  This should be my last segment for the year, though I prerecorded one a month or so back that will run at some random time in the near future.  Never fear (,mom,) I've already got my schedule for 2015, so I'll be lugging craft ideas with me to GMT for at least another year, and I've got some ideas I'm excited about, but first.....let's get through today.  :O)

Gingerbread House Kit

Popcorn Gift Set

 Snowman Belly Pretzel Jar

Popcorn Gift Set

I'm a few gifts, and a few cups of icing away from finishing most of my Christmas gifts this year.  This set is also going to be recycled for a healthy New Year's Snack at work....
I filled mason jars with popcorn kernels.  I also added little jars of oil, and then I bought salt shakers at the dollar tree and filled them with a bunch of different seasonings.  I added some popcorn bags I also found there.  The popcorn has attached instructions-basically-pop it, add to a bag, drizzle with oil and your choice of seasoning-shake and enjoy.
Here is a free printable with the labels and instructions.
Recipes for the seasonings:
Taco Seasoning:I bought a package of taco seasoning and just added it to the jar.
Cheesy Garlic Seasoning: 5 T cheddar cheese powder, 1 T sea salt, 1 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/4 t cayenne pepper
Italian Herb Seasoning: 4 T Parmesan cheese powder, 2 T sea salt, 2 t. red pepper flakes, 1 t dried oregano, 1 t garlic powder, 1 t dry basil
Smoky Curry Seasoning:  1 T smoked paprika, 1 T curry powder, 2 T salt, 1 1/2 t cumin, 1 1/2 t cinnamon
Mexican Chocolate Seasoning:  2 T cocoa powder, 4 t powdered sugar, 1/4 t cinnamon, 1/4 t salt
Cinnamon Sugar Seasoning:  2 T white sugar, 2 T powdered sugar, 2 t cinnamon, 1/2 t salt

Glitter Mug

 I went to GMT today with things that glittered.  I shared glittered champagne, silver nutcrackers, and this diy glitter mug.  The third craft is usually my filler b/c there is nothing scarier that filling dead air, so...I had to rush this one a bit.  It's a super simple diy project though.  I originally saw one here and was fascinated by the fact that it's dishwasher safe.  I found white mugs at Walmart for 88 cents.  The only other thing you need is glitter (I really like the finer glitter), and decoupage paint and SEALER (I got the glossy seal).  I'm sure they have multiple brands, but I found some at Michael's in the Martha Stewart section and used a coupon.

 Tape off the bottom portion of your mug (including the handle) with painters tape.  Brush on decoupage glue and then sprinkle it.  After it dries, go back and paint over your glitter with more decoupage glue (about 24 hours later).  I actually did this several times (and waited a day between each painting-if you have the luxory of time, do that)-this is the process that makes the glitter adhere so your mug can be washed.  If you can wait 10+ days before you wash it, that's even better

Peel off your tape, fill your mug, go. make friends happy

Hostess Gift Ideas

 I'm headed to Good Morning, Texas today some hostess gift ideas for the holidays.  I'll post the link later to facebook, but in the meantime....here are the how to's...some links to free printables, and grammatically incorrect sentences to house all the info.
First up (actually last in the line up) is this Cranberry Salsa.  My friend Jennifer brought it to a pot luck two years ago and was generous enough to share the recipe.  In Texas, I say....always say it with Salsa....and what says holidays better than Cranberries?  Here is a link to the free tag if you are interested in added them to your jars.  For the recipe:

Cranberry Salsa

PRINT HERE

Mix 12 oz of fresh cranberries (chopped in a food processor to smaller chunks), 1 c. roughly chopped cilantro, juice from two limes, 3 green onions (chopped), 1 c. sugar, 2 cloves of (chopped) garlic, 2 jalapenos (take out the seeds if you don't like it too hot). Mix and serve with tortilla chips. Chill and let it sit for a few hours/overnight to really let the flavors marinate.   It's also great over a block of cream cheese with crackers.  Makes about 3 cups of salsa.

 Another easy gift idea is flavored olive oils.  ALL you have to do is buy some regular olive oil and add herbs.  The key is to make sure your herbs are completely dry.  I bought some rosemary and let it sit out for a few days.  I then funneled some olive oil in a jar (1.50 from Hobby Lobby) and slipped in the dried rosemary.  The key is that you don't want fresh/wet herbs or your oil will need to be refrigerated and discarded within  weeks.  It can spoil with fresh herbs.  The longer your herbs 'live' in the jar, the stronger the oils are.  If you added lemon peels or garlic you might want to pull them out after a few weeks.  Rosemary is my personal favorite.  I use it to toss potatoes/chicken/bread etc.  This would be a cute 'set' to give as well-experiment with several flavors.

 I learned this trick for making caramel a few years ago from a friend named Marie.  She taught me that you can take a can of sweetened condensed milk (about 1.20) and put it in a pan (leave the can completed closed up, it will cook in the can) and boil it for 3 hours.  I just check it every 30 minutes or so and add more water.  After three hours.  Pull the can out and place it in the fridge for 4 hours.  You can add nuts and then serve it with apples....or just a spoon.  It's magic...and much cheaper than the 3+ dollar bag of caramels and 3+ mini carton of heavy cream.  Here's  link to the tag for this as well.  This would be cute to give with a basket of apples.

Last up, wine.  A little different idea for delivering the wine-find a seasonal tea towel and wrap it around the bottled.  Add a ribbon, I used a few pins to hold it closed in the back, but....little waste in this gift-it's a two part gift-tea towel and wine....you've covered a future holiday as well with this gift!!

Banana Oat Bread in a Jar

 My friend Nicole and I went shopping awhile back, and I noticed her gravitating towards some of the mixes to try out....I too am a fan of the dried mixes at craft stores.  When her birthday rolled around, I decided to try my hand at a mix for her (found this on theyummylife)....so....without further ado....here's a gift in a jar idea...a fun one for holidays!

Banana Oat Bread In a Jar

PRINT HERE

Ingredients:  1/2 c. flour, 1 T. plus 1 teas. dry buttermilk powder, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/2 c. whole wheat flour, 1/2 c. oa bran, 3/4 c. old fashioned rolled oats, 3/4 c. chopped walnuts (divided-1/2 c.  goes in the mix 1/4 cup for the top)

Instructions: In a 1 quart mason jar add the following ingredients in this order:

Layer 1:  Whisk together white flour, buttermilk powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon

Layer 2:  Brown sugar

Layer 3: Whole wheat flour

Layer 4:  Oat Bran

Layer 5: Rolled oats

Layer 6 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Layer 7 1/4 cup walnuts wrapped in plastic

Gift Tag Instructions:

1.   Pour mix in large bowl; stir with fork, breaking up any clumps.
2  In a bowl mix 2 eggs, 1/3 c. water, 2 T. oil, ½ c. applesauce, 1 t.
vanilla, 1½ c. mashed ripe banana (3-4 bananas).
3.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
4.  Pour int a loaf pan coated with spray.  Sprinkle nuts on top.
5.  Bake at 350 50-60 minutes.  Cool for 20 minutes before removing the bread from the pan.

Personalized Clothes Pins

 I've made clothes pins in a plethora of assorted colors and styles...these are by far the easiest, and a great, super quick gift idea.  You can grab a pack of 36 pins at the dollar store, and I've found the small stamps for a dollar, and the ink pads are 2 dollars on sale (you can also color the bottom of stamps with markers).

 I stamped a bunch of fun little sayings onto the pins and pinned them to a card (saw this on pantinawhite).  For 15 cents....a little gift for a teacher or friend in my life.  It definitely fell within my budget and what a fun way to clip together papers/hang papers or even top gift packages.

Making Your List Christmas Gift Idea

I love having creative friends.  When I get adorable gifts-I get to blog about them.  It's a win win.  I know, it's July.  But still....Christmas is just 5 months away...so....if you are like me-I'm already thinking/shopping/trying to come up with knew things to give the people I give to year after year.  Here's one I enjoyed getting.  Amber found this cute bag with my initial and stored some fun things to 'check off my list' in order to have a relaxing holiday...all of which were enjoyed and used-tea, chocolates, candles, and fuzzy socks.  Cute and fun, and functional.

Book Themed Gifts and Parties

My very favorite gift to give for little ones are those that are oriented around a book.  I often pick a favorite book and then put together a gift set.  I started a pinterest board here.  Or you can click on the label 'book' below and these projects will pull up.  Some of my favorites include Fancy Nancy and all her fanciness, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and one year I recorded all my relatives reading a story and put them on a dvd and sent the book and the dvd to Blythe so she could have the book read to her from her different family members....even though she lives a few too many thousands of miles away.  I also love giving books instead of guest books at showers.  I even helped host several showers in the past completed revolving around bedtime stories.

I'm working on another birthday gift this year (May) that I'm really digging), and I'll be posting a bunch of Christmas gift book ideas I put together this past year in the fall.    I'm a reading teacher....so anything I can do to get kids excited about reading...I'm in.  I heart a good picture book!

DIY Make Up Remover for Just Pennies

 Someone told me about this via a google site and I had to try it out.  I used the recipe I found on nomadic's site, and she found it via pinterest-but I didn't see the source to the link on the site. I was skeptical.  I pay 9 bucks for a little bottle of Make Up Remover how is it possible to make your own for just pennies?  Uhh.....now I'm made about all those nine dollars over all these years.  Granted....I don't wear a lot of make up....so I'm only a little mad, but in case you are in the same boat-here is a super cheap/easy recipe for your own make up remover...that works!!!
I bought these little dollar containers of tear free baby shampoo and baby oil, and I used a little container to store my finished product.

Mix 1 1/2 T of tear free baby shampoo and 1/8 t. baby oil with 1 c. of water.  Store, shake, use.  Repeat.

Song Lyric Calendar

 Last year my friend Kelly made this calendar for me.  She found a song lyric for every month, and then attached a cute little icon.  Pretty stinking cute, right?  
She attached the magnet to the pack of a clip for me to hang on my fridge.  

 She gave me several copies, and I pinned one on my photo shutter as well, next to wear I usually hang out on my computer figuring out my schedule for the rest of my life.  I loved it, and had to share....in case you need to stay organized, make a New Year's Eve favor, or just want to look in awe at the cuteness and creativeness that is Kelly.

Santa 'Staches

 I know I'm late to the mustache party....but I'm now jumping on board.  I've had this chocolate mold for awhile....before 'staches were cool...well, as cool as they are now.  I saw some chocolate Santa Beards and Mustaches on sale at a craft store I frequent.  Then I saw these on Amy's blog and thought...OK-I'm jumping on board.  Super simple...I used some straws (I bought my red ones via Amazon and the green ones from Oriental Trading for two different events).  I cut the straws in half, then melted and filled the molds with white chocolate.

 I found this little Santa Belly button in the dollar spot at Target and put some foam in the bottom and some bamboo skewers which I slipped my straws on to hold them in place.  I made a tag you can download for free here.  I'm going to add some cellophane wrap and then giving this away for one of my Christmas gifts this year.

Gingerbread Men Cinnamon Soap

 Last Christmas I had a whole list of things I was going to make each person for Christmas.....right up until I found this little silicon Gingerbread man tray at Hobby Lobby.  I stumbled across soap using this same pan on Etsy and all those other ideas went out the window....where they sat until this year.  BUT.....last year was the year of cinnamon soaps.  I grabbed some soap squares at the craft stores as well. 

 I used dye (also found in the same section, though you can use regular food dye.  I've never had any problems with this dying my hands, but if you want to be double triple sure, use the dye found in the soap section).  I also used a cinnamon scent.  Again, I used about 1/8 of a teaspoon per 6 men (about 9 of the squares of soaps melted).  I just used cinnamon flavoring from the kitchen supply spice section, but they also sell scents in the soap aisle of craft stores. 

 I followed the instructions to melt down the soap and added the scent and coloring and then poured it into the molds.  It only takes about ten minutes to harden.  I like using the silicon, as opposed to metal because it is much easier to pop out and keep it's form. 

 I bought a little tray at the dollar store to give to one of my friends with a herd of grand kiddos.  I thought this would be fun for them when they come to visit their Grandmother at Christmas. 

 I also packaged these (wrapped in Saran with a little dot on the back with what they were) with mints for the administrative assistants at work. 

 ...and a few more individual for coworkers. 

...and now, I'm off to make all those things I was going to make last year until I became a one-woman- gingerbread-man-cinnamon-soap-factory-making machine....