Involve your kids this year..............................

My mom saved everything I made as a kid. Every year at Christmas our tree was decorated with tons of ornaments from pre-school and elementary school. Personally, I thought it was the most beautiful tree in the world. We started baking the day after Thanksgiving. I remember coming home after school before break to the smell of goodies baking and the sound of Bing Crosby. This year I want to get my kids involved with many aspects of Christmas-from baking to making cards. I want to give them a more hands-on experience. There are so many fabulous things you can create with your kids during this time of year. And of course, the messier, the better! Here are just a few of the things we are going to try this year-

Wreath Christmas Card

What You Need
white card stock cut to 5 ½” x 8 ½”
leaf and berry stamps
green and red stamp pads
glue dot adhesive
12” of ¼” red ribbon
What You Do
Fold white cardstock in half.
Stamp leaf images randomly in a circular pattern on white card stock. By stamping two or three times before re-inking, you get increasingly lighter shades of the ink color, which creates depth and shading.
Stamp berries on wreath.
Loosely loop ribbon to make bow. Mount at top of wreath with glue dot.

Fingerprint Reindeer Family Holiday Card

What You Need
white card stock cut to 5 ½” x 8 ½”
brown and red stamp pads
red and brown markers
“Season's Greetings” stamp
What You Do
Fold cardstock in half.
Stamp fingerprints in center of card front.
Draw antlers and eyes with brown marker and nose with red marker.
Stamp greeting in red.

Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornament

What you'll need:
1 jumbo craft stick
5 regular craft sticks
Green and brown craft paint
12” yarn or ribbon
1 gold glittery chenille stem
½ silver glittery chenille stem
25-30 colored sequins
Paintbrush
Scissors
White craft glue

How to make it:
Cut one of the regular craft sticks in half. Put aside.
Cut half an inch off of each end of two of the regular craft sticks, discard cut ends.
Paint the jumbo craft stick brown.
Paint the uncut craft sticks (2), the half craft stick pieces (2), and the trimmed craft sticks (2) the color green. Allow all craft sticks to dry.
Glue the green craft sticks horizontally onto the brown craft stick (trunk), starting with the longest sticks at the bottom and working your way upward. Try to space them out evenly. Allow the glue to dry.
Bend silver chenille stem into the shape of a star. Trim excess if needed.
Cut the gold chenille stem into four pieces, each one smaller than the other (4.5”, 3.5”, 2.5”, 1.5”).
Curve each of the gold chenille stems and glue them onto the tree as garland. Start at the bottom, gluing the longest piece in place. Next, move up and glue the second longest piece, and so on.
Glue the silver chenille star to the top of the tree.
Use the white craft glue bottle tip to dot on glue in various spots on the green craft sticks. Place sequins onto the glue dots and set aside to dry.
Turn the ornament over and glue a looped piece of yarn onto the back for the hanger.

Toffee Candy

Ingredients:

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Cookie Layer:
½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
Toffee:
½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup brown sugar
Chocolate:
½ cup chocolate chips
Cooking Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Toast pecan pieces on jelly roll pan 12 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
In large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium until smooth. Add sugar. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg yolk until combined.
Add flour and salt. Beat until combined, scraping down side of bowl occasionally.
Between two sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap with a rolling pin roll the dough to a 12-inch-by-9-inch rectangle. Transfer dough to a cookie sheet
Bake 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove cookie sheet to cooling rack and let cool completely.
In a medium pot bring brown sugar and butter to a boil. Boil, stirring occasionally 5 minutes. Immediately spread over cooled cookie.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over toffee. Put back in oven 5 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Spread melted chocolate chips over the toffee and immediately sprinkle nuts.
Put in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Break candy into desired size pieces.
Substitution(s)
Any toasted nut can be sprinkled on top of the chocolate layer.
Storage Tips
Ready In:
1 hour 20 minutes

Enjoy creating this year!!