easy diy gift ideas

November 30, 2012

A photo of the beachy pencil gift…It can be adapted to any interest – I am working on a book lovers edition to give to my book group friends this year!

The holidays hang heavy in the air – and what a festive air it is! – and I am working on some homemade gifts. I know many others out there are also making gifts for the holidays, and sometimes it takes a little inspiration to come up with something new for those special people on your list.

For today’s Friday field trip, I am going through the pleasure in simple things ‘archives’ – posts of 2012 – and have picked out some do-it-yourself gift ideas for you! Simply click on the gift name in green to be directed to the instructions to make that particular gift.

I will share more ideas in the days ahead, but I hope this list will help you find something to make that will be perfect for someone on your list! Enjoy!

GIFTS…

A photo of chalkboard magnets – a fun gift idea that is easy enough to have the children help create!

A photo of easy to make color-dipped wooden spoons that can be created in any color.

EDIBLE GIFTS…

Easy Caramel Corn
Homemade Irish Cream (for those over 21!)
Sweet & Salty Dessert For a festive addition, try adding crushed candy canes to the top!
Homemade Pesto (with more options than just basil!)

A photo of homemade Irish Cream in decorated bottles…a great holiday gift to make!

HOLIDAY THEMED GIFTS…

A photo of an easy and inexpensive ornament you can make yourself.

FLORAL GIFTS…

Painted Glass Vase
Inexpensive Fresh Flowers Gifts great as a last-minute gift to bring to a party!

A photo of a painted glass vase that is easy to create and can be made in festive colors or metallics to give as a holiday gift.

WRAPPING IDEAS…

Paint Can Packaging
Sea Glass Gift Wrap
A photo of sea glass wrapping you can make yourself. Click on ‘sea glass gift wrap’ for instructions.

BOOK IDEAS…

My Favorite Reads Scroll down to the ‘recommended’ section to find a great book for the reader on your list.

Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. I may be a little late posting November’s book giveaway winner…I have been without internet service for a week! Hope to get up and running soon! Thanks B. for letting me use your computer today :)

3 comments

5 ways to dress up votives for the holidays

November 27, 2012

Don’t candles just scream the holidays? Now that Thanksgiving is just a fond memory of pies past, holiday decorating is in full swing and candles always play a big part. Standard votive holders are a great part of creating a seasonal ambience. Because votive holders are small and inexpensive (less than $1. each), they can be grouped in large numbers at little cost to pack some great holiday punch!

There are so many ways to transform these mild-mannered little guys into something beautiful for the season. Here, I am sharing five easy ways to transform these simple glass containers into something special for your holiday vignettes.

1. Reason for the season

Covering a votive with a favorite prayer or religious saying is a great way to pay homage to the season. Here, I simply typed up a prayer on my computer and printed it out on vellum instead of regular printer paper. After trimming it to the proper size, I attached the two ends together with a decorative sticker. A wax seal in red is another great option to attach your message in an attractive way.

2. Chalkboard fun

Adding a chalkboard sticker or painting the votive with chalkboard paint is a great way to write out a holiday word (think jingle, jolly, sparkle, joy, etc.). Or, use as place cards and/or table favors at your holiday get together by writing the guests names on the chalkboard section. I cut a rectangular shaped piece from chalkboard Contact paper – a handy items to have on hand for a multitude of uses. For something more playful, try cutting the shape into a snowman, santa’s hat, candy cane, or other seasonal shape.

3. Shells are always welcome

In my home, shells are always a part of my coastal decor – including my holiday decorations. Any natural items are always beautiful to use to decorate. Tie shells onto votives with scraps of ribbon or raffia, or use a glue gun to attach securely. I love scallop shells on the votives because the candles gives a wonderful glow through the transluscent shells when lit. Shells, sand dollars, starfish, sea glass, or even mini red and white bobbers clipped onto a Christmas ribbon – in keeping with a coastal theme – are great items to use!

4. It’s a wrap

Any scraps of fabric can be wrapped around or decoupaged onto the votive. I love to use burlap, because the candle glow comes through the loose weave of the fabric. I like to tie a piece of burlap with a ribbon and then glue on a small piece of linen stamped with a holiday word. (Try stamping ‘ho’ on three separate votives to group together!) These can also be utilized as place cards or menu cards.

5. Christmas icons

What item instantly makes you think of the holidays? A candy cane? There are so many icons that can be utilized to give an instant holiday feel…think red & white or ribbon candy, a jingle bell, or a holly sprig. These are all items that will give a votive an instant holiday transformation. Grab your holiday favorite, or pick up an inexpensive ornament at a discount store…maybe a red sled, an ice skate, or an angel…either tie with a pretty ribbon or raffia, or glue onto your votive to complete the look.

I happen to celebrate Christmas, but these ideas work just as well no matter what holiday you may celebrate. Incorporate your own icons and colors into your decor.

I hope you enjoyed these five easy ways to dress up your votives for the holidays…a great way to take pleasure in simple things. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Jackie

I am sharing at Craftberry Bush…check it out!

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taken for granite

November 23, 2012

This week’s Friday field trip is a visit to another gift shop. Unlike last week’s, this shop is one of my frequent destinations. Since today is “black Friday”, it seems appropriate to share a visit to my very favorite gift shopping location.

Today, we are visiting Taken for Granite in Stony Creek, CT.

A wonderful sensory experience at any time of year, the shop pulls out all the stops for the holiday season.

Our visit is during this year’s holiday open house – the first night of the weekend event. The open house is the start of the magnificent display of holiday gift items offered for sale.

What really sets a gift shop apart from the rest? To not only offer wonderful items and to present them in a lovely way – but, to provide extraordinary gift wrapping. In this area, any shop would be hard-pressed to compare to the artful wrapping provided by Taken for Granite. Each year, new wrapping designs are created that are a gift in themselves.

A photo of a package with one of the exquisite wrapping designs included when purchasing a gift at Taken for Granite – one of the reasons it makes a wonderful spot for holiday shopping.

Visiting in the evening provides an extra feeling of holiday magic since the outdoor patio and nearby shed are given a dose of decorating and lights…complete with a roaring fire.

taken for granite

You can hear many shoppers planning their holiday gift giving and decorating as they are inspired by all the beautiful displays and decorations throughout the store. Taken for Granite is as much a source of inspiration for beautiful and unique holiday decor as it is a source for wonderful gifts.

A selection of refreshments offered in the quaint outdoor shed at the Taken for Granite holiday open house.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Taken for Granite. If you live in Connecticut or plan to be visiting, try to include a trip to this lovely, coastal inspired gift shop located outside New Haven.

Thank you for visiting. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

2 comments

individual brownie mousse tortes

November 20, 2012

Don’t you think desserts look so much more elegant as single servings? I think so. That is the reason I purchased a cheesecake pan (with removable bottoms) that bakes up a dozen mini cheesecakes at a time. I was thrilled the first time I used it and created a dozen salted caramel cheesecakes. Yes, the pan was a pain to clean…especially the twelve little removable bottoms!…but, I thought so worth it! I decided recently to try out the pan again. This time, I adapted a favorite brownie torte recipe my friend Tracy gave me over (I guess I won’t say how many) years ago!

I was able to perfect a recipe after a couple tries and the results were fantastic. With the holidays upon us, it is the perfect decadent dessert to impress your guests.

The tricky part is definitely the baking time. Obviously, the baking time is reduced for a small single serving dessert when the original recipe is for a full-sized torte. In this instance, there are two layers. The bottom layer is basically a brownie and the top layer is a chocolate mousse.

First, prepare a brownie recipe – either your own or a box. I like to prepare mine from scratch, but sometimes it is so much less expensive to buy a boxed mix, it is hard to resist! The only thing I changed was to add two teaspoons of instant espresso and a few mini chocolate chips into the batter. I filled each compartment a little less than half with brownie mix. It ended up being about half the usual cooking time – a total of 18 minutes. You will have to watch carefully. The first batch I made, I filled the compartments half way and found after they cooked there was not enough space left for the mousse. This was easily corrected (but time consuming) by taking each torte out and slicing it to create a thinner bottom layer. The second batch, I knew not to put very much batter in each section. I had quite a bit of batter left, so I cooked the remainder in a muffin tin to cook and eat as brownies.

A photo of individual brownie mousse torte.

After the brownies cooled completely, I made a mousse and filled over each brownie to the top of the compartment with the mousse. After this step, I garnished each dessert, by melting 1/2 oz. of baking chocolate and drizzling over the top of each torte. Then, the pan was put into the fridge to set.

Chocolate Mousse Recipe (for top layer)

1 & 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate
1 tsp. instant coffee or espresso powder
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup whipping cream

In a small saucepan, combine chocolate chips, 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, 1 tsp. instant coffee, 1/4 cup water and 2 Tbsp. butter. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. In small bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold warm chocolate mixture gently into whipped cream.

When you are ready to plate the desserts, carefully remove each one by pushing from the bottom carefully….if there is any sticking, you may need to loosen the outer edge with a dull knife. My pan is made of a nonstick surface and I didn’t have any trouble getting the desserts out of the pan. The bottom ring of each compartment of the pan needs to be removed by slipping a knife carefully underneath each one.

It may take a little extra work to make the torte in individual portions, but I think it is well worth the result.

I hope you will try these indivdual brownie mousse tortes for your holiday table.

Thanks for visiting. Have a blessed Thanksgiving… and, remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

3 comments

an enchanted holiday shop

November 16, 2012

The Christmas Shop at Maynard Greenhouse in Old Saybrook is the destination for this week’s Friday field trip. This trip was actually planned last summer. Last summer was when I first heard about a garden shop in Old Saybrook that transfomed into a Christmas shop each year at holiday time. It surprised me that I had not heard of the store, considering I travel to both garden shops AND Christmas shops all over Connecticut.

Intrigued, I made a note on my November 2012 calendar to make a trip to The Christmas Shop at Maynard Greenhouse. It turned out the store had not yet opened for the season on the day a friend and I scheduled our trip to the shop. Even so, the owner was gracious enough to let us in the store when we arrived…as she worked on getting it ready for the opening.

Even though the holiday display was not yet completed, it was obvious the shop was enchanting…a beautiful collection of gift items, holiday ornaments, paper and ribbon products, and even some antiques.

Of course, I particularly loved the corner where some coastal inspired ornaments were displayed!

There were so many items we really adored in the shop. Even though we were disappointed we didn’t get to see the displays in their completion, timing the trip as we did unkowingly gave us some time to share in conversation with the shop owner…it made for a very enjoyable shopping experience…

It also made it imperative that we schedule another excursion to the shop!

I hope you enjoy these photos from my visit…enough to get anyone in the holiday spirit!

A selection of enchanting holiday items on display at The Christmas Shop at Maynard Greenhouse in Old Saybrook, CT.

My favorite spot!

Hope you enjoyed today’s visit to The Christmas Shop at Maynard Greenhouse .

Thank you so much for joining me on this week’s Friday field trip. Remember to take pleasure in simple things. Have a great weekend, Jackie

5 comments

diy ornament from ikea heart

November 13, 2012

I found this three pack of glass heart ornaments at IKEA for $5.99. Boy, did that get my holiday spirit in full swing! It was tough to limit myself to one package…but, I did. My initial intent was to monogram an initial on the front…very simple, very elegant. But, I ended up changing my mind as I got going.

First off, I removed the ribbons – red and white gingham is just not my thing… I decided to use some scraps of paper I had with some (French?) writing…it seemed romantic and the perfect thing to combine with a heart. I cut the paper to the size of the heart. I then brushed Mod Podge on the right side of the paper and adhered it to the glass. When it dried, I wrote my (romantic) message on the back with a super fine permanent marker and brushed Mod Podge over it to protect it.

Next, I embellished the heart with a little key and some sparkle. There are many ways to go with decorative touches, but I thought the key went so well with the heart and the romantic theme. I used old twine to tie the key onto the ornament and used my glue gun to add a little piece of glittery twig.

A photo of my completed ornament crafted from an IKEA glass heart ornament.

Lastly, I tied on my own piece of ribbon to replace the gingham. I have plenty of various ribbons, but I really liked the look of the seam binding…it is actually white seam binding that I had coffee stained to look less white and more ‘antiquey’. That’s it!

For the second heart, I also decided to use paper with script writing. For the third, I used an old book page that I first rubber stamped with a crown.

There are so many ways to adorn these beautiful (and affordable!) glass hearts, and making ornaments is a great way to use scraps of paper and ribbon you may have left over from other projects. Nostalgic black and white photographs would also work really well. Wouldn’t these ornaments also make great shower or wedding favors? Or, to give as a great ‘first home’ or ‘first holiday together’ ornament?

This is just one of the many ways to use this item…and there are many more great items for holiday gift creations at IKEA. I have a few more IKEA projects in mind. If you live near an IKEA, I suggest a trip…it will definitely spark some creative ideas! I hope you enjoyed this ornament diy. This is my first official ornament creation for 2012!

Thanks so much for visiting! Take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

3 comments

counting our blessings

November 9, 2012

Today’s Friday field trip is my first social gathering outside my house since Sandy hit. I was invited to have lunch at a friend’s house with a group of women. Of course, our conversation started by discussing the horific week we had been through…our coastal state being hit hard…many still suffering from loss of homes and; even life. So heartbreaking. We all felt truly lucky knowing that a loss of power and water and some fallen trees was a small inconvenience compared with what so many of our friends and family had endured. What we soon discovered, was that we were all able to tell of wonderful accounts of people we knew coming together to help each other since the storm hit…amazing accounts…everyone finding a way to help in their own way during a time of disaster.

It was hard to believe we were able to enjoy such a calm, relaxing afternoon after the week of turmoil caused by Hurricane Sandy. The afternoon turned into a time of reflection on how to help those we know…and a time to reflect on how thankful we all are for the blessings in our life. So, as we sat enjoying each other’s company and our surroundings, we also realized that this time of tragedy put a sharp focus on what is important in life. It gives us a strong reason to go forward in the best way we can. Being together on this afternoon was the perfect way to spend the day…

And, the perfect time to remember to take pleasure in simple things. Sincere prayers to all affected by Sandy.

If you would like to help with Sandy Relief and your way to help is through a monetary donation, consider texting a $10. donation to the Red Cross…it’s easy to do!

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

3 comments

3 quick tips for organizing holiday wrapping

November 6, 2012

Can you believe it is already November? November for me signals getting my holiday plans in order. I start making and buying holiday gifts as early as June, and when November approaches I like to think I am pretty well organized. One thing I take stock in as soon as November hits is my holiday wrapping. Traditionally, I like to wrap everything on Thanksgiving weekend – so that means when November rolls around I need to have all my wrapping necessities in order! Working full time makes being organized, particularly around the holidays, a must! While everyone else is shopping the day after Thanksgiving, I am enjoying my wrapping (I love wrapping gifts!)

Then I can spend the height of the holiday season soaking in the season and working on handcrafted items and decorations instead of stressing!

I thought I would share with you the three organizing tips I find most important to prepare for holiday gift wrapping. They have worked so well for me.

The first thing I do is organize my ribbons. I like to use a hanger to keep all the ribbons in order and I organize by color families. I always use natural tones in my wrapping. It makes it much easier if you limit yourself to a color family…that way, you can buy pretty ribbons you may see any time during the year, knowing they will play into your theme. I have been collecting coastal themed ornaments my whole life and I always decorate with whites and natural tones. Each year I may pick an accent color – like turquoise, burgandy, or lime green – and add some accents, just to change things up a little. Brown kraft paper is always a staple for me as are brown kraft handled gift bags that may be painted or decorated in some way, and assorted shells and natural items.

The second thing I do is to put any package tie-ons, gift cards, shells, etc. into a hanging shoe holder with clear pockets. This makes it really easy to see what I have that I can use or what I may need to pick up. Having everything laid out in front of me makes it so much easier when I start my wrapping.

The third, and definitely the most important organizing tip for me for holiday wrapping, is to color-code the gifts for my family. I pick a color scheme for each person and wrap all their corresponding gifts appropriately. Even little items inside the Christmas stockings are wrapped in the appropriate color scheme. This makes things so easy. Items can be wrapped the second they are purchased (to prevent snooping!) and there is never any question as to who the package belongs to. When it comes time to put the gifts by our tree, I simply group them by the wrapping and add some last minute embellishments…each person has their own decor! You can choose a favorite color, school colors, etc. This system really works great. Because I have been using this system for so many years, I usually pick the color or theme for each family member the year before when I find an inspirational wrapping item I really love on an after-holiday sale rack.

I hope you enjoyed these three quick and easy ways to get your holiday gift wrapping items organized.

Let the wrapping begin!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

4 comments

the magic gardens

November 2, 2012

“Art should not be segregated in museums; it needs to live free among us.”

– Isaiah Zagar (creator of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens)

This Friday field trip is a glimpse into a really unique mosiac environment. The Magic Gardens in Philadelphia’s South Street neighborhood includes a fully tiled indoor space and a massive outdoor mosiac sculpture garden that spans half a block. I would like to share my first trip to The Magic Gardens with you.

A photo from The Magic Gardens in Philadelphia.

The artist, Isaiah Zagar, spent fourteen years excavating tunnels and grottos, sculpting multi-layered walls, and mosaicking the 3,000-square-foot space.

The gardens are really one of those things that need to be experienced to be fully enjoyed. So, I urge you to check it out if you find yourself visiting Philadelphia. I hope some of the phtos here will give you a sense of what a unique spot Isaiah Zagar has provided for the South Street community as well as all who visit.

I plan on making repeated visits to the gardens – it is not even possible for one’s senses to absorb everything in one visit!

A photo from Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Hope you enjoyed sharing some of my trip to Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Thank you for visiting my blog. My prayers to those that suffered loss during the storm, Jackie

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tony danza giveaway & october winner

November 1, 2012

Congratulations to Tracy R., winner of the October book giveaway…a very special one! Tracy has won signed copies of Life Lessons From the Chocolate Factory…10 Rich, Satisfying Nuggets to Nibble On for her ENTIRE book group in addition to a conference call from author Christopher Holl!! Thank you so much, Christopher, for providing such a generous giveaway! Hopefully, Tracy will provide us with some photos and news from her book group session!!

For November, the giveaway is a book written by a celebrity…a multi-talented celebrity. His name is Tony Danza!

I got the chance to meet Tony recently when he appeared in Connecticut at an R.J. Julia’s bookstore event in Madison. (I enjoyed talking with him about two favorite cities – comparing NYC and Philly.) And, this month’s giveaway is a signed copy of his first book I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High. If it sounds a little familiar, it may be because the subject was the topic of an A&E reality series called TEACH. Tony experienced the life of a first-year teacher – teaching tenth-grade English at Northeast High – Philadelphia’s largest high school. His students didn’t care about his celebrity…heck, they weren’t even born when Who’s the Boss aired; never mind Taxi! And, even though A&E cancelled the show after six episodes, Tony completed his year as teacher – a career he had aspired to long before he started acting.

The book is an insightful account you will truly enjoy. Be sure to enter to win often – before the end of November. Details for entering are here.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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pleasure in simple things

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archives

my friends & favs

easy diy gift ideas

GIFTS…

EDIBLE GIFTS…

HOLIDAY THEMED GIFTS…

FLORAL GIFTS…

WRAPPING IDEAS…

BOOK IDEAS…

5 ways to dress up votives for the holidays

1. Reason for the season

2. Chalkboard fun

3. Shells are always welcome

4. It’s a wrap

5. Christmas icons

taken for granite

individual brownie mousse tortes

an enchanted holiday shop

diy ornament from ikea heart

counting our blessings

3 quick tips for organizing holiday wrapping

the magic gardens

tony danza giveaway & october winner