It is amazing to me that we are so close to Christmas. Is December the fastest month of the year or what? Like blinking my eyes....we are putting up our Christmas tree and taking it back down again. Sigh.
So for these last few days before Santa officially arrives on scene, I gathered some last minute home made gift ideas and crafts for those of us needing some last minute ideas!
Salt Dough Christmas Decorations/Gifts These make awesome last minute homemade Christmas gifts for grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, babysitters, and teachers!
All that is needed:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour. (Adding in some cinnamon will make great ginger bread men and bears!) Also, add some food coloring to make colorful dough!
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper
5. Use cookie cutters to make stars, angels, Christmas tree shapes, etc. Poke a hole with straw or a toothpick for hanging your decorations later!
6. braid three strands of dough to make wreaths (use water as a "glue" when braiding and forming dough)
Bake in oven @325 dergrees for about 1 1/2 hours. Time may vary depending on how thick the dough is, your oven, etc, so just keep an eye on them.
Then decorate away! Use paints, beads, markers, crayons, whatever your creative minds come up with!
Make Some Easy and Cheap Christmas Treats
Melt some chocolate and make some yummy inexpensive Holiday gifts from your kitchen!
Dip pretzels, dried apricots, marshmallows, strawberries and assorted cookies for delicious treats you can give in baskets or Christmas tins. Dip spoons to make a "chocolate spoon" for stirring coffee and hot chocolate with. (see below for a recipe for a cute Chocolate spoon recipe and gift idea!)
Chocolate Dipped Spoons in a Mug Gift Idea
Melt chocolate. For variety, melt some white chocolate as well. You can use metal spoons or plastic spoons for this recipe. Just dip the spoon in the chocolate, making sure to caot evenly. Let dry, then dip in the chocolate again for a thicker coating. You can coat with sprinkles, m&m pieces, crushed candy for an extra touch. Then let dry. Wrap each spoon in cellophane and tie with a red or green ribbon.
To make a cute gift, do a collection of plastic spoons with a variety of white, dark chocolate coatings, and add liqueur or extract like kahlua, mint, or coffee to the chocolate. Place all spoons, individually wrapped in cellophane, in a new mug.