materials

• 3 1/2-4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tarter (found with the spices on the baking isle)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons oil
• 2 cups of water
• food coloring (1-2oz. bottle for red batch)
• 1-2oz. peppermint extract

directions

1. Heat water to boiling in a medium saucepan.

2. Measure a generous 3 1/2 cups flour into a medium-large mixing bowl (one that holds at least 8 cups.) Reserve extra to add if the dough is too sticky. Mix in the salt and cream of tartar.

3. Once the water is boiling, whisk in the oil and food coloring. Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Remember that it will smell strong now, but will be diluted greatly once mixed with the flour.

4. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the water mixture in. Stir with a spoon until flour is incorporated, then turn it onto the counter or a cutting board and knead until smooth.

5. Layer each color in mason jar, pressing down gently (You don’t want to smash them together too much, so they are easy to separate and play with.)

6. Print tags below and attach with twine, yarn, or ribbon.

Here is a pdf: candy cane tag 2

Merry Christmas you guys! I wish you a quick finish on your projects and to get to bed before midnight on Saturday! Keers

Meg’s masterpiece: full of things that she didn’t really want on there. (She says as she eats them.)

Emily’s house: winner in the heavy- weight division.

Amanda’s decor was a little more spartan. She stopped decorating as soon as she realized she could eat the candy.

Mom and Dad had fun too. Check Mike’s creative roof and frosting trees. Mmmm, delicious Christmas fun.

…you know, just in case you are pining away like me.

Silhouette Cameo on Amazon

(Seriously, easy and on the cheap, ladies!)

If you want to put those kiddos to work, here is a tutorial for making paper turkey place holders.

My little princess. She is so in love with her dress. She requested “special princess hair” Um???? This is what I came up with and she was thrilled with it. I love how she gets all quiet and demure when she is happy about something like that. So cute.

Emily was equally stoked about her flamingo costume. She looked so stinkin’ cute! I wish I had taken more pics. The back was hilarious with it’s little drape of tail feathers by the bum.

…and my little candy corn witch. What can I say? This girl just kills me! Don’t you want to hug her after seeing this?

materials

clear votive candle holder (Or re-use small canning jars as we did. We loved how the rounded 1/2 pint jars looked. I think something big like a pickle jar would also be great.)
tissue paper
mod podge ( I recommend the gloss finish) thinned white glue will also work in a pinch
scissors
paint brush

directions:

1.  Lightly sketch your design onto the tissue paper if needed. Cut out the pieces, I used strips to give it a pumpkin-y feel; the girls preferred more of a mosaic technique.

3. Brush a thin coat of mod podge onto an area. It dries fairly quickly, so it is best to just coat a few inches, apply tissue, then move to the next section. It is alright if it gets a few wrinkles and uneven spots. This will give the design more character. Slick a little more mod podge over the tissue paper to adhere it to the glass.

4. Work your way around the entire exterior, covering all of the glass with a final coat to seal. If there are areas where there is a ridge or bead of mod podge, smooth out with the brush so that everything is even and flat along the glass.

Once it is completely dry, place a candle in your new holder and arrange on the table or line your spooky sidewalk with pumpkin luminaries. I recommend LCD votives – not only are they safer for little hands; but if you turned the glass upside down, you will need them as there isn’t enough O2 for a candle. Enjoy!

Emily with her petit bouffant (I think it looks like Suess hair)

Meg with la grande bouffant. It was pretty darn impressive in person.

…and Amanda sporting her daily occurring crazy hair–post nap hair. She manages to pull it off though.