Vinyl Wall Tree

Done using Cricut and Shilouette vinyl. I cut the leaves on my Cricut machine at various sizes, 1 inch to 3 inches. I used the Walk in My Garden cartridge. For the trunk and branches we just free form cut them. Still need to finish adding some more leaves, but I would say it's about 90% done in the picture.

White Chocolate covered Cherries

Saw this on a blog somewhere....can't remember. But I saved the picture.
So cute and easy.

just dip clean, dry cherries into melted white chocolate. Let cool. Make face with chocolate chips melted in a zip lock bag, snip a tiny piece off the corner and pipe choc. to make eyes,mouth. Use a little of the white melted chocolate mixed with food coloring to make the noses. You could do this in a bag or even just with a toothpick dabbed into it (since you won't need to do as many dots).

Cream Cheese Penguins

Aren't these SO cute~

find the recipe here
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cream-cheese-penguins/

Bird treats

Found this on the Betty Crocker website

Source: bettycrocker.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Take a ice cram cone and break off the tip.
Use a pipe cleaner or twine to hang. Either bend the pipe cleaner into a little
"ball" on one end and insert through hole. Or make a large knot on one end of the twine...
Spread peanut butter on the outside of the cone, roll in a mixture of bird seed and cereal.... hang outside for our feathered friends!

White Chili

This is one of our favorite meals around our house when it's cold outside.
It is SUCH an easy recipe with very few ingredients...so that makes it even better.
This is NOT diet food, but it is a complete meal~

OK~ here's the ingredients, but you have to know it's one of those recipes where there isn't a set measurement...just the amounts that work for me.
My rule is about 1 can of beans to 1 chicken breast...use what works for you.

about 1/2 cup chopped onion
4 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped or shredded
4 cans great northern beans
1/2--1/4 bottle of salsa....I use medium hot
about 2 cups water
jalapeno jack cheese~shredded about 1 - 1 1/2 cups
cumin
sour cream to top

In a large pot saute your onion until it is soft and translucent.
Add your chicken, beans, salsa and water. Throw in a good sprinkle of cumin.
Let it simmer for a while, about 30-40 minutes.
It will thicken a bit.
Then mix in the cheese...add more or less to your liking.
This will make it really thick and adds more flavor.
Serve with a dolop of sour cream on top and tortilla chips on the side.
Makes for great leftovers too!

Looks like the "Snow is falling" --

Easy....you'll need white sticky cirles and dental floss. Attach the sticky circles (or dots) randomly along the length of some dental floss. When you have the length you want, snip it off and attach to the top of your window with tape or another sticky dot. When there is a slight breeze(even the air flow from your heater) they should move and create an illusion of snow outside.

found on CraftyStylish.com

Recycled Phone Book Pencil Holder

find the tutorial here-
http://www.chicaandjo.com/2009/02/24/recycle-phone-book-into-pen-organizer/

snowflake "curtain"

saw this on Pinterest~
put your kids (or yourself) to work cutting some snowflakes....

Peanut Heart Wreath

Things you need:
Bag of shell on, unsalted peanuts
Coat hanger
Needle Nose Pliers
Things to do:
1. Open up your hanger and straighten it out as much as possible. Clip off the hook end and the corresponding twist at the other end.
2. At the center of the remaining piece of wire, create a loop by crossing the wires over.

3. Using your hands, ease the sections on either side of the loop into the tops of a heart.

4. Clip the ends to make sure they are even and bend the final ½ inch up to make a hook.
5. Unbend the hook on one side and thread the peanuts onto the wire, working the wire through at the center indent of each peanut. Turn each peanut as you thread it on to nestle tightly against the previous one.

6. Once you have filled on side, bend the hook back up to hold them in place.
7. Repeat with the other side.
8. Slip one hook into the other to lock the two sides together and create the heart
9. Thread the piece of ribbon through the loop and tie off for hanging.

(courtesy of Factory Direct Craft Supply)

Snowman Cupcakes

Aren't these the cutest!
Vanilla cupcakes, vanilla frosting, coconut(snow), fondant snowman, sweet-tart ear muffs, faces,etc. decorated with a food coloring pen~ love em'

Crochet Snowman Hat

Although I don't crochet, I thought I would include it for those who do. It's kinda cute, don't you think?

http://crochet.about.com/od/hats/a/baby-hat-with-snowman-earflaps.htm

Mini snowman cross stitch pattern

Snowman soap

You'll need some regular white bar soap for this~

Grate the soap using a cheese grater*. When grating, lay a piece of wax paper or foil on your work surface.
Place grated soap into a bowl. Idea: use a disposable bowl for easy cleanup.
Add a small amount of water and mix with a spoon or popsicle stick. The soap will start to stick back together.
Take the soap out of the bowl and separate it into three sections. Roll each section into a ball and stack the balls to form a snowman. The balls should be slightly different sizes with the largest ball on the bottom and the smallest ball on top. If necessary, rub a little water on the soap where you are joining the pieces. This will help it stick.
Make sure you flatten the bottom ball so your snowman can stand without falling over.
Using a tooth pick, take a little paste food coloring out of the jar or squeeze a few drops of liquid food coloring out onto a paper plate, old plastic lid etc. or use washable paint. Paint a face and buttons on your snowman using a thin paint brush (liner brush).

Optional: Tie a small strip of fabric around your snowman's neck as a scarf. Be sure to remove the scarf if you decide to wash with your snowman.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the grated soap when you add the water if you want an object that is colored.

*Adult supervision is recommended when using a cheese grater.

Ribbon Storage-easy project

Just slide some thin dowels through the hole on one end, through the ribbon spools and then through a hole on the other end. Feed end of ribbons through holes on the sides. SO easy!

Recycled Christmas Cards

Check out some of the cute ideas for recycling your Christmas cards at Martha Stewart's site...

http://www.marthastewart.com/276934/recycled-christmas-card-crafts/@center/307034/christmas-workshop#/272401

melted snowman cookies

Source: crazydomestic.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

sugar cookie, icing and a marshmallow~ SO EASY

Snowmen

While we're on the subject of snowmen.... This is a craft I did with my kids when they were younger. They are fairly easy, younger ones may need a little more help with building.
You'll need styrofoam balls in two different sizes. Paper mache pulp, white glue( back to my tacky glue), toothpicks, some of your kids old socks (great use for those single ones that have lost their mate), misc. buttons, white,black and orange paint, and some little sticks.

Use 2-3 toothpicks and some tacky glue to connect a smaller styrofoam ball to the top of the larger one. Let them sit for a little bit, maybe 15 minutes. Mix the paper mache pulp according to the directions on the package. Smear it all over the snowmen. Ooop, almost forgot the nose...break a toothpick in half and insert it where you want your nose to be, usually about the center. Use the paper mache to build up the nose too. Let dry overnight. The next day paint it all white, add orange to the nose, black dots for the eyes and mouth. When the paint has dried you can glue buttons on the front, add scraps of material for a scarf or shawl. For the hats...cut off the toe of the sock, use a piece of thread or a strip of the sock and gather the top, leaving about and inch or so~snip the top into little strips, roll up the bottom edge and put it on your snowman. Last but not least, stick the little sticks into each side to make the arms. My kids still love to see these when I bring them out at Christmas.

Snowman (or women) ornaments

OK, I know Christmas is over~but I just had to share these before I put them away.
They are a cute, easy ornament idea...great for gifts.
You'll need frosted ornaments, tinsel pipe cleaners and sparkly pom poms. Some adhesive, either a good white glue ( I like Aileen's Tacky glue)or a hot glue gun.
And puff paint in black and orange. Slightly bend the pipe cleaner into an arch, glue each end down on the sides of the ornament. Next, add pom pom on each side and glue again.(If you are using the tacky glue you might want to do this as 2 separate steps and hold them down for a few minutes to get them to set.) Make dots with the black paint for the eyes and mouth, then a squiggly narrow triangle for the nose. Let dry over night. TOO CUTE!

Ribbon Storage

Source: thefrugalgirls.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Ornament Storage

Use egg cartons to store your ornaments, you could us a little left over tissue paper in the bottom of each section if needed. Great way to re-use those egg cartons.

Ceiling storage for wrapping paper

Use wire to hang your wrapping paper. A few eye hooks and some picture hanging wire will do the trick. This would be great in a closet.

Happy New Year~ Welcome 2012! New Years usually brings resolutions, if getting organized is on your list you might like some of the ideas I've gathered here.
I know that's one of my major problems, especially when it comes to my closets.