Scrumptious Cookies!

My husband stumbled upon a SCRUMPTIOUS cookie recipe online for Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies.  Well, I made them and they were absolutely delicious!  I made the larger version of the cookie (a variation noted in the recipe) and told my husband that one cookie is a gift in itself.  So, I decided to create a little gift tag for packaging these jumbo morsels... 

Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies Recipe at simplyrecipes.com

A Few Notes:

• The recipe calls for a stand mixer.  I used a regular electric mixer and my extra large Tupperware bowl.  I followed the recipe as noted using the same mixer settings.
• I made the larger cookie version by using my Pampered Chef ice cream scoop which yielded approximately 1/4 cup sized cookies.  I baked for 7 minutes, turned, and baked an additional 8 minutes.
• The cookies were wonderful when eaten shortly after removing from the oven.  I simply microwaved a cookie for 7-10 seconds to get that same "just from the oven" taste days after they were made.

Individually Wrapped Cookies

You Will Need:

cookies

card stock of desired color (see photo for sample of white and kraft)

cookie tag printable (several versions provided)

printer

paper cutter or scissors

4" x 6" clear, cello bags

stapler

How to Make:

1.  Download and print cookie tag printable.  Make sure to select ACTUAL SIZE when printing PDF. Choose desired tag for printing, as several options are included.  Also, a blank tag is included if you would like to use it with other cookie varieties.  Print and hand-write.

2.  Cut tags by simply cutting the printed page in half vertically and horizontally.  Tags will measure 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

3. Fold tags. 

4. Place one cookie in each bag.

5. Turn over top of bag several times and affix a tag with stapler.

6.  Give cookies as little gifts!

Snowman Bottle Cap Tag Ornament

Using bottlecaps is great fun, and I love to create things with tags!  Try making a bottle cap tag ornament of your own.  The possibilities are many!  Included here are a list of materials, a bottle cap printable sheet, and step-by-step directions.  Enjoy!

You Will Need:

*bottle caps (number depending on how many you want to make)

2 2/3" x 1 3/8" - #1 strung shipping tags with reinforced hole (I used Avery brand #11004 - 100 count)

**coffee for staining tags (brew or instant)

***3D crystal lacquer (by Sakura Hobby Craft)

snowman bottle cap insert printable

1 inch circle punch

printer

laminator or clear packing tape.

black Sharpie marker (ultra fine point)

glue gun and glue

 

*I always purchase my bottle caps from Lehman's. You can find bottle caps for purchase in many places online.  You can buy them with and without the rubber seal, and the prices vary.

**My husband made a strong mixture of coffee using two scoops of coffee and about a cup of water.

***I have experimented with different clear lacquers and have found this one to be the best for my needs.  No mixing is required, it easily dispenses without bubbling, it does not have a strong smell, and it dries crystal-clear.  I purchased it directly from the Sakura Hobby Craft website.

 

How to Make:

1. Download and print snowman bottle cap insert here.

 

2. Laminate (not heavy seal) or cover inserts with clear packing tape (being careful to adhere smoothly).  I do this so that the ink will not run when the clear lacquer is applied. 

 

3. Punch out inserts.

4. Carefully press insert into bottle cap.  It is not necessary to remove the rubber seal inside the bottle cap for this application.  Press the insert gently into the bottle cap, without pressing it firmly in the center.  Pressing too firmly will create seal marks on the insert.  I simply press the insert into the bottle cap by lightly pressing in the center and around the edges with my fingernail.  See photo for finished look.

5. Fill bottle cap with clear lacquer.  Make sure to read the directions on bottle prior to using. Fill the bottle cap to the brim, as the lacquer will naturally shrink as it dries.

6. Allow clear lacquer to dry overnight.

 

7. Make coffee mixture as dark as desired. Keep in mind that the tags will appear lighter when wet and will dry darker.

 

8. Dunk tags in coffee mixture and lay on several layers of paper towels to dry.  Once I placed the tags on the paper towels, I poured a bit of the coffee mixture sporadically on the tags.  This created a primitive stained look when tags were dried.  Allow to dry completely.

 

9.  Write desired words in creative lettering using a black Sharpie marker (ultra fine point). Make sure to position a bottle cap as desired so that you can judge the size and location of your words/writing. 

 

10. Knot the ends of string together and hang. These also make great gifts!

11.  Try creating your own inserts using a desired picture/theme.  Bottle caps can be easily customized and made into ornaments, magnets, and pins.  Here are a few caps I created years ago...  These are much clearer that they appear, as the lacquer glare so easily when photographed. Note: These bottle caps were not hammered to curl the edges.  Nothing was done to the bottle cap prior to filling. I have made many bottle cap crafts over the years where I have hammered and removed the rubber seal, but that is a lesson for another day...



Paper Folding: Star/Wreath Ornament

These folded paper stars/wreaths turn out wonderful!  I had great fun last weekend making some for my grandson (for gifts) after he picked out the paper combinations.  Great to hang on the tree, tie on a gift, use as bowl fillers, etc.!

You Will Need:

two scrapbook papers of complementing design/color

paper cutter

scissors

thin jute or string for hanging

How to Make:

1. Cut scrapbook paper into 6, 2.5" x 5" pieces (3 of each design/color).

2. Fold each piece in half lengthwise, with design/color facing out (see photo).

 

3. Open each piece, flatten with design/color side face-down, and fold in each corner to "meet" the fold (see photo).

 

4.  Refold on lengthwise fold (see photo).

 

5.  Fold each piece in half with pointed tips meeting (see photo).

 

6.  Holding on the fold, snip off each tip (see photo).

 

7.  Assemble star by following each step as shown in the photos below.  Make sure to hold pieces as demonstrated.

 



8.  Cut a piece of jute, match up the ends, and feed the loop through the center of star/wreath (see photo). 

 

9.  Feed ends of jute through loop and pull taut.  Knot at the top.

 

I love making these!  Choose paper to fit your style--the combinations are many!

Vintage-Looking Mica Flake Candy Canes

These vintage-looking mica flake candy canes can be hung on the Christmas tree, used as bowl fillers, attached to an artificial or fresh evergreen wreath or garland, placed in a mason jar for decoration, etc. The possibilities are many, and they are easy to make!!

 

 You Will Need:

11mm x 12in chenille candy cane stems
(red/white and red/green stems available at Hobby Lobby)

about 1/3 cup Nestea® instant tea

Modge Podge® (matte finish)

*mica flakes

 

*I purchased my mica flakes from Country Whims.  Click here to visit this site!

How to Make:
1. Whip up a tea mixture using instant tea.  I used about a 1/3 cup Nestea® instant tea and 2 cups of warm water.  Stir together and heat on the stove until hot (hot enough to still put your finger in it—not boiling)—this takes very little time. 

 

2. Pour the mixture in a broiler pan (without the top grate) or a cookie sheet with sides. 

3. Dunk chenille stems in the mixture and swish them around until stained on all sides.

4. Ring out excess tea by squeezing the stems at the top and moving your hand downward.  Repeat several times if necessary.

5. Place chenille stems on several layers of paper towels to dry.

6. Bend stems in the shape of candy canes.  Place mica flakes in a shoe box.

7. Modge Podge® canes on both sides using a fat brush. I actually Modge Podge®d my chenille stems when they were still a bit damp. I did several at a time.

8. Drop canes in the shoebox of mica flakes and cover so they have been sprinkled with flakes on all sides. 

9. Hang on a wire or dowel rod to dry.  I simply place a dowel rod or wire across a large storage tub and let hang to dry.

10. Then hang, or affix, candy canes to holiday decorations. 

 

A bundle of candy canes makes a perfect gift.  Bundle a desired number of candy canes and tie them loosely with jute.  Then affix a vintage tag to the bundle.

 

Download and print vintage tags here!

Vintage Tag Preparation: Print tags on kraft or off-white/cream colored cardstock.  The sample was printed on kraft cardstock.  Trim along the outside edge of tag.  Punch a whole in the middle of the dot at the top of each tag.  Attach an eyelet, if desired.  I used a brushed copper looking eyelet.  Attach to candy canes with string. 

Try This!  Cut chenille and make a mini version.