1. smilingfork:

    Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

    Difficulty:
    ★★☆☆☆ (easy)

    Yield:
    70 cookies

    Ingredients:

    For dough:

    • 400 g all-purpose flour
    • 75 g butter, room temperature
    • 2 eggs
    • 140 g powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 20 g store bought gingerbread spices (or 7 cloves, 1 teaspoon of anise, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, pinch of star anise)

    For icing:

    • 1 egg yolk
    • 150 g powdered sugar
    • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • neutral oil to grease baking tray
    • 1 egg for eggwash

    Preparations:

    1. Preheat oven to 190˚C.
    2. Grease two baking trays.
    3. Put all the dry ingredients for the gingerbread cookies into larger bowl and mix them together. Add butter, eggs and honey and knead until a smooth dough forms.
    4. Sprinkle lightly your working desktop with some flour and roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5 mm. Cut out the cookies using cookie cutters of various shapes. Place them directly on the pre-greased baking trays. Bake for about 10 - 12 minutes or until the cookies begin to brown slightly.
    5. Immediately after removing cookies out from the oven, brush them with some egg-wash. Allow to cool.
    6. Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Mix together egg white, lemon juice and sugar to a slightly denser paste consistency. For icing use piping bag, plastic bag or plastic bottle. Draw the outlines first and let it dry (at least 1 hour). Dilute the icing with a little bit of a lemon juice and flood in the contours to form an even layer. Let dry completely. Once again, add some powdered sugar and decorate the white areas. You’ll create a fine relief.

  2. christmasdecorating: DIY Christmas Tree Tutorial Here

    christmasdecorating:

    DIY Christmas Tree Tutorial Here

  3. gastrogirl: jingle bell cake pops.

    gastrogirl:

    jingle bell cake pops.

  4. ps-imadethis: Between crushes, fascinations and lust-have trends, our sea of inspiration is never-ending, which brings me to my latest obsession… the color MINT!  From my manicures to my midnight snacks, I just cant get enough.  I took a cue from my go-to hue and decided to inject a happy medium (literally) into my home. A new coat of paint can transform a room and your mood, but choosing the right color can be a little nerve-racking. I dove into this DIY with my head and paint brush held high knowing that Valspar’s Love Your Color Guarantee would be my safety net.  Make your home stylish from the floor to ceiling with a freshly painted feeling! To create:  Chose three paint colors in a light, medium, and darker shade that hail from the same color family.  I chose Valspar’s Ultra Green (light), Beach Blanket (medium), and Sea Treasure (dark).    STEP 1: Trim wall with painter’s tape and use a roller to paint entire wall the lightest hue. STEP 2: Paint a bottom panel with the darkest hue. STEP 3: Mix your medium and dark shade together to create the 2nd darkest color and paint a section. Next, move up on the wall and paint the 3rd section the middle color only. STEP 4: Blend the colors together using a smaller paint brush that is DRY, until areas and lines bleed together. You may need to touch up with mixed paint as you go, as it takes on an amazing ombré effect. P.S.- A few of Erica’s favorite things:  Melissa di Menna Print, Jonathan Adler Tray,  CB2 Console Table, Satya Twena Hats,  Moroccan Rug, from my travels!

    ps-imadethis:

    Between crushes, fascinations and lust-have trends, our sea of inspiration is never-ending, which brings me to my latest obsession… the color MINT!  From my manicures to my midnight snacks, I just cant get enough.  I took a cue from my go-to hue and decided to inject a happy medium (literally) into my home. A new coat of paint can transform a room and your mood, but choosing the right color can be a little nerve-racking. I dove into this DIY with my head and paint brush held high knowing that Valspar’s Love Your Color Guarantee would be my safety net.  Make your home stylish from the floor to ceiling with a freshly painted feeling!

    To create:  Chose three paint colors in a light, medium, and darker shade that hail from the same color family.  I chose Valspar’s Ultra Green (light), Beach Blanket (medium), and Sea Treasure (dark).   

    STEP 1: Trim wall with painter’s tape and use a roller to paint entire wall the lightest hue. STEP 2: Paint a bottom panel with the darkest hue. STEP 3: Mix your medium and dark shade together to create the 2nd darkest color and paint a section. Next, move up on the wall and paint the 3rd section the middle color only. STEP 4: Blend the colors together using a smaller paint brush that is DRY, until areas and lines bleed together. You may need to touch up with mixed paint as you go, as it takes on an amazing ombré effect.

    P.S.- A few of Erica’s favorite things:  Melissa di Menna Print, Jonathan Adler Tray,  CB2 Console Table, Satya Twena Hats,  Moroccan Rug, from my travels!

  5. truebluemeandyou:

    black-laing asked you: 
    Hi! :) Can you think of any crafts that I could do with a glass snapple bottle or an arizona glass bottle? Thanks!
    Truebluemeandyou: Top Photo: You could wrap it with thread/floss/yarn/rope like the soy sauce bottle from Ghirlanda Di Popcorn blog here (first seen at heart handmade UK here). Bottom Photo: You could also spray paint them like The Hand Me Down House did here.
     
    Do any of the creative people who read my blog have a suggestion for black-laing?

    • haveyourselfanotherdream said: i painted mine with chalkboard paint. Ive also seen writing in sharpie pens then cooking to make it permanent
    • skillzmcfly said: She could mod podge cut outs onto it.

  6. How to Make Fabric-Covered Bird Houses Using Outdoor Modge Podge: I’ve been working on sprucing up my backyard and I have always wanted to try the Outdoor version of Mod Podge. I had some birdhouses in my bedroom that don’t really fit in with my decor in there now. I bought them about 10 years ago, and I thought it might be fun to do something with them in my yard

    How to Make Fabric-Covered Bird Houses Using Outdoor Modge Podge:

    I’ve been working on sprucing up my backyard and I have always wanted to try the Outdoor version of Mod Podge. I had some birdhouses in my bedroom that don’t really fit in with my decor in there now. I bought them about 10 years ago, and I thought it might be fun to do something with them in my yard

  7. pixiedustcrafts: How to make your own floating candles using a muffin pan! http://www.marthastewart.com/article/light-up-a-table-with-floating-candles?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/60-summer-decorating-ideas#slide_29

    pixiedustcrafts:

    How to make your own floating candles using a muffin pan!

    http://www.marthastewart.com/article/light-up-a-table-with-floating-candles?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/60-summer-decorating-ideas#slide_29

  8. I use fondant - rolled thin. Put a little corn starch on the rolling mat to prevent sticking but not to much or it will dry out.

    I use fondant - rolled thin. Put a little corn starch on the rolling mat to prevent sticking but not to much or it will dry out.