4 Photo Gift Ideas

Take a wooden crafts letter (we chose "M" for Mom, but her first initial would work as well) and paint the outside edges with a bright accent color; let dry. Print a variety of meaningful black-and-white photos. Cut the photos to fit the front of the letter and adhere each one carefully using a thin layer of decoupage medium.

Gather inexpensive supplies--cardstock, photos, photo corners, and ribbon--for this easy-to-make card and frame combo. Cut a sheet of cardstock in half lengthwise, and tape ends together to make one long piece. Fold every 4 inches. Attach photos with photo corners. Punch a hole in the back and thread ribbon through to wrap around the booklet.

Mom's homecoming will surely be more joyful with this fun wall hanging.

Simply paint ready-made medium-density fiberboard to your desired color. When dry, select one letter and arrange photos over it, taping together with low-tack artist's tape (available at craft stores). Carefully flip the photos and letter facedown and trace around the letter with a pencil. Remove the letter and cut photos along the traced line. Adhere the photo collage to the front of the letter with a decoupage medium. Remove low-tack tape from photos.

Start with a 14-inch pillow cover. Print 3x3-inch photos of you and Mom on iron-on ink-jet fabric sheets, cut them out, and iron them on a 12x9-inch felt sheet. Hand-stitch around the photo edges with floss. Punch holes in felt and fabric strips and attach the strips to the edges of the felt sheet with scrapbooking brads. Hand-stitch or use fabric glue to attach the embellished felt sheet to pillow cover; add felt die cuts. Finish by stuffing the pillow cover with fiberfill or a purchased pillow form and stitching the cover closed.

Source:BHG

Envelope Bunnies

Make these adorable pocket bunnies and fill with assorted goodies

What you need:

Envelopes

• Pink construction paper
•  Glue

• Colored pencil

• Pom-poms

• Bunny ear template
  
  

  STEPS 

  1. Seal the flap of an envelope, and draw bunny ears on the sealed side, as shown below. You can draw your own or use our bunny ear template.
  2. Cut along the line through both layers of the envelope.
  3. Flip the envelope over; what was the side of the envelope becomes the bottom of your treat holder.
  4. Cut pink construction paper to make eyes and insides of ears, and glue them on the front of the envelope. Use colored pencil for mouth; glue on a pom-pom nose. Fill with yummy Easter sweets.
     
     
     Source: marthastewart.com

Chocolate Zucchini Cakes

When is anything chocolate not a great gift? Do you have an abundance of  homegrown Zucchini. This recipe makes 6 snack size cakes, perfect  for gift giving 

Mother's Day Gift Idea

Mother's Day is approaching. This craft idea is great for young or old recipients

Strawberry Cake

Pretty in Pink. This strawberry cake looks to pretty to eat

Food Coloring Flowers

Use a box of food coloring to add playful punch to an array of bud vases.

Fill assorted vases or recycled jars and bottles with water tinted to match a variety of flowers.

Pretzel Birds Nest

Here's a fun way to display lovely Easter cookies. Make this festive nest out of pretzels and chocolate 

Ingredients:
1 package 2-layer-size chocolate cake mix
1 18 ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/2 cup milk
7 cups powdered sugar
Desired color pastel food coloring
1 16 ounce can chocolate frosting
5 cups pretzel sticks
Chick-shaped marshmallow candy

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2, 1-1/2-quart heatproof glass mixing bowls or round casserole dishes; set aside. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Divide batter between prepared bowls. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of each comes out clean. Cool in bowls on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from bowls. Cool completely.
Roll out cookie dough according to package directions. Cut dough with 2-1/2- to 3-inch egg-shaped cookie cutters. If desired, make diagonal cuts across some cookies so they look "hatched". Bake and cool according to package directions.

Place 1/2 cup milk in a large bowl; gradually stir in powdered sugar. If necessary, stir in additional milk until icing is a thick drizzling consistency. Remove 1/2 cup of the icing and divide between two small bowls. Tint all icing batches to desired color using food coloring. Remove 1/2 cup icing from the larger batch of icing to a small bowl; set aside. Add additional milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) to the remaining larger batch to make a thin drizzling consistency. Keep bowls covered with plastic wrap when not using.

see complete directions @BHG

Frozen Mint Ice Cream Dessert

This festive no bake dessert is perfect for any celebration

Spring Vases

Paint vases with white chalkboard paint. Attach printed letters and fill the vases with spring blooms 

Creme de Menthe Cake

Use packaged Chocolate Cake Mix, Fudge Ice Cream Topping and Peppermint Patties to make this festive cake 

1 package 2-layer-size chocolate cake mix

1/4 cup creme de menthe

1/2 cup fudge ice cream topping

1-16 ounce can vanilla frosting

1btablespoon creme de menthe

Green food coloring (optional)

Chocolate-mint candy, coarsely chopped (such as Andes mints or miniature Peppermint Patties) (optional)

Prepare cake mix according to package directions using two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, except replace 1/4 cup of the water with creme de menthe. Remove cakes from pans and cool as directed. If necessary, cut a thin slice off the top of each cake to make the tops flat.

Place ice cream topping in a small microwave-safe bowl. Micro-cook on 50% power (medium) for 30 to 40 seconds or until spreadable, stirring once. Spread ice cream topping atop bottom of one of the cake layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Combine frosting with remaining 1 tablespoon creme de menthe in a medium bowl. If using clear creme de menthe, tint frosting with a few drops of green food coloring, if desired. Frost top and sides of cake and garnish with chocolate-mint candy, if desired.

Source: BHG

Irish Centerpiece

This unique centerpiece will bring delight to your guests this ST. Patrick's Day

What you need:

18-22-gauge floral wires

Brown floral tape

About 42 new potatoes 1 inches to 2 inches in diameter

Sphagnum moss or sheet moss

Wicker or open-weave basket about 9 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep

8-inches-diameter plastic saucer to fit inside basket

Floral foam for fresh flowers

Pan-melt hotmelt adhesive

10 bells-of-Ireland

36 daisies

 1. Wrap the floral wires with brown floral tape, and cut each wire in half. Wrap a piece of wire around the middle of each of 36 potatoes, twisting the wire to secure it.

2. Soak the moss to fluff it, and blot it dry. Cover the outside of the basket with moss, and hold it in place with the potatoes. To attach the potatoes, push the wire ends through the wicker, twist them once or twice inside the basket, and flatten the ends against the basket. Work in rows around the basket from the bottom to the top.

3. Glue the floral foam into the plastic saucer, then soak the foam. Place the plastic saucer inside the wicker basket.

4. Fill in around the floral foam with additional moss, then insert the bells-of-Ireland to define the shape of the arrangement. Position the tallest stem in the center of the floral foam. Cut the remaining stems 2 inches to 3 inches shorter, and angle them toward the front, back, and sides of the arrangement as shown in the step 4 photo.

5. Cut the daisy stems to varying lengths. Insert them along the bells-of-Ireland. Rest the remaining potatoes on the moss around the top of the container.

source: BHG

Quilting Hearts

I Love You Banner

Get this Free Quilt Pattern @ Quilting.com

Be Mine Cookies

This is the perfect Valentine gift for my neighbor. But, School Teachers, Church Teachers,  or Boss would love to be the recipient of this mason jar of goodness. 

                   Visit Two More Minutes for full story

What You'll Need:

1 1/3 cups flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup M&Ms

1/2 cup coconut

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Ingredients for Baking

1/4 melted butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 egg

Layer the ingredients in the order listed in a 1 quart mason jar or add to a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 1 egg. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly brown around the eggs. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute and remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Download the printable tag with baking instructions here

4 Delicious Truffle Recipes

          Easy to make bite-size chocolate treats everyone will LOVE                                              

                                                            Chocolate Truffles

credit: Hershey's

                                        Peanut Butter Truffles

   credit:myrecipes 

                                                  Red-Velvet Truffles

credit: snackworks

                                             Chocolate-Expresso Poundcake Truffles

    credit: myrecipes

DIY Heart Shape Box

Make this easy heart shaped box, then fill with candies and home made goodies

4-ply matte board

Poster board

Glue gun

Decorative edgers

Decorative paper

Rubber cement

Candy

Fine-tipped glue applicator (optional)

Glitter (optional)

STEPS

Print out the heart template and enlarge to the desired size; you'll want two hearts, one slightly smaller than the other. Trace the two heart shapes onto 4-ply matte board; the larger heart is for the inner top of the box, the smaller is for the bottom.

Cut two 1-inch strips of poster board, enough to fit around the circumference of the two hearts. Apply glue from the glue gun a couple of inches at a time to the edges of the hearts, shaping it as you work your way around the heart to create the side of the box.

Decorate the top and bottom in the desired fashion. Cut out 2 large hearts from the poster board using decorative edgers. Affix one of the hearts to the top of the box using rubber cement, and one to the bottom.

Make a heart-shaped cutout from decorative paper and place inside. Fill with candy and top with a heart-shaped liner. You can write a message on top with a fine-tipped glue applicator and a few sprinkles of glitter.

see it at marthastewart.com

DIY Valentine Candybox

Decorate match size boxes, then fill with mints and treats

Decorate matchboxes with romantic designs, then fill with Valentine's candies

YOU'LL NEED:

• Scissors
• Red, pink and white wrapping paper in assorted solids and patterns
• Craft matchboxes (at ecrater.com)
• Glue stick
• Heart-shaped paper punches in graduated sizes (available at craft stores)
• Pinking shears
• Assorted decorative items, including red baker’s twine (at baking supply stores), small gift tags and
• small adhesive rhinestone strips (at craft stores)
• Small Valentine’s Day candies, such as heart-shaped red hots or red-pink-and-white candy corn

1. Cut wrapping paper to wrap around outside of box.

2. Apply glue to the back of wrapping paper. Adhere paper to matchbox, working from one end and pushing out any air bubbles as you go.

3. Using heart-shaped punches in different sizes, make hearts out of wrapping paper. Or cut narrow strips of wrapping paper using pinking shears and make a design by punching out a row of small hearts from strips.

4. Decorate wrapped boxes as desired, using hearts, heart strips, baker’s twine, gift tags and adhesive rhinestone strips.

See it at allyou.com

8 Pasta Pleasing Dishes

  Cheesy, easy, and delicious pasta recipes everyone will love

                                           

  Chicken Enchilada Pasta

credit BHG

                                

                              Mile-High Meatless Lasagna Pie

credit: BHG

                            Baked Sausage and Mushroom Rotini              

credit: BHG
                           

                                     Mexican Rigatoni and Cheese    

credit: BHG

                                       Turkey Manicotti

credit:BHG

                               Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses

credit: BHG

credit: allrecipes

Fun Holiday Candy Bar Wrappers

Make a  Penguin, Snowman or Reindeer candy bar wrapper for a whimsical gift that is sure to delight 

1. 1
   Print HERSHEY'S Bar Wrappers templates from www.hersheys.com, and cut them out using a pair of scissors. 
2. 2
   Wrap the label around a HERSHEY'S Chocolate Bar, making sure the front of the design is centered onto the bar. 
3. 3
   Attach the label in the back with a small piece of clear tape.
4. 4
   For the reindeer, cut a pipe clear in half and bend to create antlers. Then, slide the ends of each antler underneath the top of the bar wrapper.

Breakfast for Dinner- Yeah!

8 Delicious Breakfast Recipes that your family will love to eat for dinner. Then make pancakes for dessert!

Sausage Egg Boats

Mexican Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Enchiladas

 Individual Breakfast Pizza

Strata Bread Bake Cake

Ham, Egg and Cheese Bread Bowel                             

Ham Cups

                                                               Breakfast Pizza

Delicious Meals made in a Cupcake Tin

     Delight the family at dinner tonight. Here are 5 delicious meals served from muffin tins  

Cornbread Sloppy Joes from bettycrocker.com

Spaghetti and. Meatballs from emilybites.com

Meatloaf with Mashed Potato Frosting from tiphero.com

Mac and Cheese from foodnetwork.com/pauladean

Potato Chip Frittata from averagebetty.com

Sent from my iPad

Corkboard Christmas Card Display

Make a festive tree out of cork board to display photo's, Christmas cards or kids artwork

                  

1.You can find cork by the roll at most craft and office-supply stores. You will need one roll for this project.  Make your tree as big as you and your wall space desires.

2. Use a ruler to outline the shape of your tree.  

3. Cork by the roll easily cuts with scissors. Use the leftover cork to make a tree trunk.

4. Paint the tree. It may take two coats, let dry between coats.

5. Add a festive tree topper.

6. Hang the tree on the wall using small nails or similiar hanger.

7. Use decorative push pins for bling.