Do It Over Designers - Recycling Your Throw-aways!

Today I am sharing a few quick and easy ways to recycle our typical throw-aways to create packaging for birthdays gifts, holiday gifts or last minute hostess gifts.

The first idea is to take a pizza/cookie box....

....and cover it with gift wrap...

...and attach a card, ornament or label on top:

So, what can you put inside?  

How about a chocolate pizza  (recipe HERE).....

...or cookies (try this delish recipe HERE) or candy (recipe HERE)

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I still enjoy magazines.  I know we can see most of the ideas, recipes and stories online, but there is something about flipping through the magazines, dog-earing pages that have something that caught my eye, and ripping out recipes!

I try to pass magazines on to someone else, but I have found a way to use the covers!

So, I created a few tote bags!

  

Sometimes I need just a small reusable bag when I run into a store and this is the perfect size:

These also make unique gift bags!

They are simple to make and all you need is 5 magazine covers, a grommet tool and grommets, ribbon or cording and a sewing machine!

What can you put inside?  Make-up, t-shirt, jewelry or any "fashionable" gift!

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My last idea is to use a large tin can and a wooden ornament that you can find at the craft store.  You can paint your own, or buy one already painted.  Spray paint a can and glue the ornament on the front:

These can be filled with cookies, sox, candy, jewelry....the ideas are endless!

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Visit these other creative designers to see what they have created:

Ann - The Apple Street Cottage

Anita - Unique Creations by Anita

Allyson - Southern Sunflowers

Chas - Chas’ Crazy Creations

Cindy - Cloches & Lavender

Donna - Modern on Monticello

Gail - Purple Hues & Me

Kathleen - Our Hopeful Home

Kim - Exquisitely Unremarkable

Naush - DoodleBuddies

*Patti - Pandora’s Box

Sara - Birdz of a Feather

Tania - Little Vintage Cottage

Thanks for stopping by!

Add a little more flavor to your cocoa ...and how to assemble a Cocoa Station

It's so easy to set up a Cocoa Station and to make it special, you can make a few white chocolate spoons...let me show you how!

These Sweet Spoons are very easy to make!

All you need is some chocolate buttons to melt, a few sturdy plastic spoons, and some cinnamon candies, crushed peppermints or sprinkles!

Simply dip the spoons into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with the candies, then lay the spoons on waxed paper.

I wrapped each in "pretzel bags" (I cut them a bit shorter).

All you have to do is stir one into a cup of hot cocoa for added flavor!

To set up a Cocoa Station, all you need is a tray, or area in your kitchen to gather your mugs and supplies needed to prepare a cup of cocoa.  I chose a round tray and 4 mugs:

I bought marshmallows at Trader Joe's (they are the best!!) and put them in a jar and placed some peppermint sticks in a glass:

A bowl of cocoa packets and a jar of peppermints are also on hand:

My handmade spoons are also in a large apothecary jar:

So I can just grab a mug and enjoy a cup of cocoa whenever I catch a chill and add some more flavor if I am in the mood!

If you want to make your own Cocoa mix, here's an easy recipe:

ENJOY!

There's a little bit of irony in this sign for 2020!

Red Pepper Jelly....

This fall I made a few more jars of Red Pepper Jelly.....

and tonight I spread some on roast pork and it was delish...

....for the recipe, go here

A few craft ideas to make....

Cinnamon Stick Santas

Framed Snowman

Snowman Gift Bag

Weave a pillow from ribbons

Snowman Candy Bars

Santa Gift Bag

Snowman Tin Can

Make a tassel

Hope you found something to inspire you to be creative this season!

A Pretty Charlotte Cake...what a nice gift!

A few month ago I was gifted a Charlotte Cake Pan, by Nordicware, and just got around to baking a cake!  The pan replicates a Ladyfinger Cake, or Sponge Fingers Cake!

Linda, from Life and Linda, made this beautiful cake:

CHERRY CHARLOTTE CAKE

• 
  

  
• 4 eggs, room temperature
•  2/3 cup sugar
•  2/3 cup flour
•  1/2 tsp baking powder
•  syrup and topping:
•  8 oz. frozen cherries
•  1/2 cup sugar
•  1/2 cup whipping cream
•  fruit for topping

Directions

Preheat oven at 350° F. Prepare pan with baking spray. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs on high for one minute. Then, gradually add sugar and continue beating for 6-8 minutes or until light and fluffy. In separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Sift half of flour into beaten eggs and fold in. Sift in second half and fold in completely. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes clean. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes and invert onto a cooling rack.

While cake is baking, prepare syrup. In a small saucepan on medium- high heat, combine cherries with juice and sugar. Boil for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly and set aside. Drain out fruit and discard pulp. Refrigerate syrup to cool completely.

When ready to serve, fit electric mixer with whisk and pour whipping cream in bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of completely cooled cherry syrup. Mix on high until soft peaks form, approximately 1-2 minutes. Pour the remaining cherry syrup into center of Charlotte Cake and top with flavored whipped cream and fruit.

Deb, from Mountain Breaths made this pretty cake:

Sponge Cake

4 eggs, room temperature

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare pan with baking spray. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs on high for one minute. Then, gradually add sugar and continue beating for 6-8 minutes until eggs are light and fluffy. In separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Sift half of flour into beaten eggs and fold in. Stir in second half and fold in completely. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes clean. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes and invert onto a cooling rack. 

So, How did I make my cake?

First of all, I used a cherry cake mix and I piped pre-made frosting on top!!!

And I added a few candy canes to 'doll it up a bit' ....

....and added a sweet little bow:

I don't know why it took me so long to use this pan.

I imagine I will be using it quite often!

French Fries....

One of my oldest (and favorite) kitchen gadgets is a french fry cutter.  I use it every now and then to make "baked" fries in the oven.  

I cut the potatoes and drop them directly into a plastic bag.  I drizzle some Extra Virgin Olive Oil over them and shake up the bag.  This time I tossed in salt and pepper, a roasted vegetable seasoning and some parmesan cheese.  Other seasonings I have used have been onion and garlic powders, spicy seasonings, all purpose seasoning and truffle powder - almost anything goes!

I bake them on parchment paper at 400' for about 45 minutes!

I don't think we have ever bought frozen french fries because these are so delicious!!