Winter Holidays Archives - Page 11 of 51

Are you tired of stocking full of junk that your kids don’t need? Even when you fill them with gifts that aren’t candy, you still find the small toys and art supplies broken all over the house. This year, add a little something kids will love but is still practical like these DIY shimmery ice cream soaps.

Collage of Ice Cream Soaps with text overlay - DIY Shimmery Ice Cream Soaps

Welcome to Day 12 of the Fourth Annual 12 Days of Christmas Series!

We have teamed up with 50 plus bloggers to bring you a oodles of DIY Ideas and Recipes to make your holiday season merrier. There are 12 different posts in the series and we have spread them out over a four week period with three posts per week. Now is the time to subscribe!

GO HERE for the complete list of Dates and Topics plus a collection of most popular holiday ideas including ornaments, games, recipes and more from all 50 plus talented bloggers!

It’s Day 12 and we are ready to Hang the Stockings by the Chimney with Care!

Ice Cream Soap without Stick next to Sprinkles

I can’t believe it’s the last day of this year’s 12 Days of Christmas blog hop. This has been so much fun and absolutely inspiring. If you’ve missed any of the days, you can find a complete list of projects right here.

Since we’re getting down to the wire on Christmas I wanted to end with a super easy stocking stuffer idea. Too often, we get caught up in finding the perfect gift that we forget all about the stockings. These DIY shimmery ice creams soaps are a super quick and easy gift you can whip up in time for Christmas.

In case you don’t have all of the materials, I’ve included links to all of them on Amazon so that you can get them quickly and finish off your list before the big day.

Ice Cream Soaps with Sticks Wrapped in Cellophane

DIY Shimmery Ice Creams Soaps Materials

Step 1

First, measure out 4.5 oz. of your soap base.

I use an old cheese grater to grate my soap base so that it melts more quickly. This also makes it much easier to get the exact amount that you need.

Step 2

Next, place your 4.5 oz. of soap base into your pouring pot.

Step 3

Then measure out 2 oz. of unrefined shea butter and add it into your pouring pot as well.

Step 4

Add a half inch of water to a sauce pot and bring it to a boil.

Step 5

After your water is boiling, turn the heat down to medium and place your filled pouring pot inside.

Step 6

Next, melt your soap base and shea butter, stirring frequently.

Step 7

Once your soap and shea butter are melted, add in .1 oz of orange mica powder (or whatever color you want) and stir until combined.

Note:

If you use the set that I link to above, that’s an entire bag.

Step 8

Next, stir in 10-15 drops of orange essential oil.

Step 9 (Optional)

Place your sticks in place on your mold.

Tips:

The sticks are meant to be reused so I would omit them if you are giving these as gifts outside of your immediate family.
If you do not use the sticks, the amount of base that this makes is enough for 6 soaps instead of 3. This is because you cannot fill the molds as high without the sticks in place.

Step 10

Now, pour your melted base into your molds. Again, if not using the sticks, only fill them about halfway (just to the bottom of the stick opening).

Step 11

Add the lid to your mold to protect your soaps while they cool.

Step 12

Lastly, after your soaps have cooled completely, remove them from the molds and wrap in cellophane to gift!

You can absolutely freeze these if necessary to ensure that they come cleanly out of the molds. Let them cool about 20 minutes before freezing so that bubbles and other imperfections can settle beforehand.

Ice Cream Soaps with Sticks Wrapped in Cellophane with text overlay - DIY Shimmery Ice Cream Soap

These DIY shimmery ice cream soaps are the perfect no-junk stocking stuffers that kids will totally love. They also make fantastic classroom gifts or even party favors. Before you head to Amazon to order your supplies, it’s time to check out the other awesome stocking ideas from my friends below!

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Pink Ice Cream Soaps with text overlay - DIY Shimmery Ice Cream Soaps

Scroll down for even more Christmas Stocking Ideas you can use this holiday season!

Can you believe tomorrow is the last day of the 4th annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop? Of course, you can’t have a Christmas blog hop without sharing delicious treats and that’s what we’re doing today. Find out how to make these colorful Hello Kitty Sugar cookies with a DIY cookie cutter!

Collage of Hello Kitty Sugar Cookies with text overlay - Hello Kitty Sugar Cookie and DIY Cookie Cutter

Welcome to Day 10 of the Fourth Annual 12 Days of Christmas Series!

GO HERE for the complete list of Dates and Topics plus a collection of most popular holiday ideas including ornaments, games, recipes and more from all 50 plus talented bloggers!

It’s Day 11 and we have been in the kitchen making something sweet to share!

I absolutely love Hello Kitty (which you may have deduced from my candy tree ornament). I’m one of those nerds that actually contemplated traveling across the country to check out the themed food truck that hit California.

It’s ridiculous how cute she is and clearly I’m not the only one because of the sheer amount of Hello Kitty stuff you can find. That’s great news for you, though, because that makes the DIY cookie cutter for this a lot easier to make.

Find a book, scrapbook paper, or some other flat surface with a large Hello Kitty picture and you’re set. If you don’t have one, check your kids’ stuff.

Materials and Ingredients

Sugar Cookie Recipe (This is the one I used)
Assorted Sugar Crystals
Black Icing
Red Food Pen
Yellow M&Ms
Foil
Hello Kitty Picture
Tape

Step 1

First, find a large Hello Kitty picture. I used a fun book I received for my birthday this year.

Large Piece of Foil next to Scissors and Foil Box

Step 2

Next, cut a large piece of foil from the roll.

Folded Piece of Foil next to Hello Kitty Book

Step 3

Now fold your piece of foil accordion style so that it is roughly 1.5-2 inches thick.

Step 4

Then fold your foil strip in half long-ways.

Foil Molded Around Picture of Hello Kitty

Step 5

After you have folded your foil, loosely form around your Hello Kitty picture and tuck the overlap of foil.

Step 6

Once you’ve measured, tape the overlap to secure it in place.

Taped Foil Molded Around Hello Kitty Picture

Step 7

Finally, firmly form your cookie cutter to the Hello Kitty picture.

Step 8

After you have finished your cookie cutter, set it to the side and mix up your sugar cookie dough. I used this easy no-chill recipe from Katrina’s Kitchen.

Note:

This is also when you want to preheat your oven according to your sugar cookie recipe.

Step 9

After your dough is mixed up, roll out 1/3 of it on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 1/4 inch thick.

Step 10

Then, sprinkle sugar granules on top and gently pat into the dough.

Step 11

Now begin cutting out your sugar cookies and placing them on a parchment lined baking sheet. The recipe I used (and most sugar cookie cutout recipes) does not rise much so your can place them fairly close together on the pan.

Step 12

Once your tray is full, bake according to your sugar cookie recipe.

Tip:

If you are using the same recipe I did, your cookies will need around 10 minutes.

Baked Hello Kitty Sugar Cookie with Blue Sprinkles

Step 13

Allow your cookies to cool before moving on.

Notes:

Don’t forget to use multiple types of sprinkles. Clear sugar granules are best for the colored Hello Kitty sugar cookies because the colors show up best on them.

You need the extra sugar because these do not have the traditional icing that sugar cookies have. If you don’t add them, they won’t be very sweet.

Step 14

When you’re ready to start decorating, pull out your clear/lighter colored sugar covered cookies and use your red food pen to draw a bow on the top right of the cookies.

Step 15

Next, add black eyes to your cookies.

Step 16

Lastly, add black whiskers and use icing to attach a yellow M&M to the center of your cookies.

Tip:

You do not need to decorate all of the cookies with a face. Having the decorated ones next to the colorful ones will make it clear what they are.

Hello Kitty Sugar Cookies with text overlay - Hello Kitty Sugar Cookie and DIY Cookie Cutter

These Hello Kitty sugar cookies turned out amazingly! I definitely recommend using the same recipe I did. They are the softest sugar cookie cutouts I have ever tasted yet they still hold up to all of the decorating. Of, and did I mention they’re totally delicious? Try them for yourself today!

Scroll down for even more Sweet Treats to make this holiday season!

Do you know what truly brightens up a room during the holidays? A bright and colorful candy Christmas tree, that’s what. Finally, you can enjoy all the extra cookies and candy you want with zero waistline expansion!

Decorated White Christmas Tree in Living Room with text overlay - Bright and Colorful Candy Christmas Tree

Welcome to Day 10 of the Fourth Annual 12 Days of Christmas Series!

GO HERE for the complete list of Dates and Topics plus a collection of most popular holiday ideas including ornaments, games, recipes and more from all 50 plus talented bloggers!

It’s Day 10 and we are sharing our Christmas Tree!

When I got my first house in 2007 (at the adorable age of 21), I was super excited for Christmas. For the first time I could have a real tree and not just the little 4-foot one my mom gave me for my apartment.

Even better, the house was big enough that I decided to have 2 trees. One was a crazy tall traditional tree decked out in red and green and Nutcracker themed. That adorned the living room.

Upstairs, I decided on a smaller 6 foot candy themed tree and I LOVED it. Unfortunately, that tree was lost when I left that house and I haven’t had one since.

That’s why I am so excited to finally start enjoying a candy Christmas tree again. Admittedly, this is its debut year so it is sparse and has some growing up to do but it’s a colorful and super exciting start.

Bright and Colorful Candy Christmas Tree

Giant Lollipops on Top of White Christmas Tree

It was challenging to find a tree topper I liked. On my first candy tree, I had a giant Hello Kitty ornament that I used. Of course, that was lost with the other ornaments and also it worked for a smaller tree.

Then inspiration struck. I could totally use 2 of the window decorations I made! I secured them to the tree with twist ties and voila: A gorgeous new candy tree topper.

The Candy Ornaments

The ornaments are sparser this year than I’d like but the ones that are there pack a big personality. The cookies “Snow” ornaments is super cute and goes perfectly with the DIY Snowflake Cookie Ornaments!

The pink bows I made with leftover ribbon from the lollipops project. I love how the pink pops off of the white branches. Next year, I want to find a similar ribbon to wrap as garland on the tree.

Of course, you’ll also find the cotton candy ornaments we made this year.

Colorful Ornaments on White Christmas Tree

There are also super colorful letter ornaments on the tree for each member of the family and also a “G” for the grandparents. The kids (and papa) had a blast search for their initials on the tree.

Of course, no bright and colorful candy Christmas tree is complete without a fun Hello Kitty candy ornament! I actually think this came in a Happy Meal or something. I’ve been known to order them for myself if there’s a cool toy I want. (Yes, I have a problem and nope… I don’t care.)

Decorated White Christmas Tree in Living Room

Don’t Settle for a Tree

One thing that made me wait so long to do a candy tree again was that I wanted a white, full sized tree with colored lights. Do you have any idea how difficult that is to find?

Ultimately, I found a 7.5 ft unlit white tree and colored lights on white wires to make my own. It’s been so long since I had to put lights on by hand. You forget how much work it is.

Close Up of Candy Christmas Tree with text overlay - Bright and Colorful Candy Christmas Tree

This bright and colorful candy Christmas tree is sure to brighten up your home this season. Make sure you follow me or subscribe to the newsletter to stay up-to-date as this baby tree grows up year after year. The first year is always the trial run. You find out what you like, what works, and what you want to change. Don’t miss out on the journey!

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Scroll down for many more Christmas Tree decor ideas you can use this holiday season!