Contributed by Charlotte J. Crockett

TEACUP Candles

GREAT for teacups that may have a small chip on the outside, as the decoration can cover the chip.

What you’ll need:

Teacup
Candle Wax
White Birthday candle
Trims- ribbon, beads, buttons, pearls on string [etc]
Thick white craft glue

Pour hot water into the teacups to warm them.

To melt the wax, set a coffee can in a pan of water on the stove or hot plate. Break up the wax and place it in the coffee can. Let the wax melt and remove it from the heat.

Pour the water out of the teacups and dry thoroughly. Carefully pour the hot wax into the cups and let them set until a soft covering appears on the top of the wax- about 2-3 minutes. Push a birthday candle into the wax and steady it until it stands up straight.

Glue trimming to the cup and saucer as desired. Let your imagination flow! And HAVE FUN! :o )

Scented Mug Mats
(make these add a dollar store mug for a buck and you have a nice Christmas gift for someone)

1 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon dried crushed rosemary

Take 2 square pieces of fabric and sew 3 edges together. Unfold the fabric so that the seems are facing inwards. Fill with spices then sew the final edge of fabric closed. This should be enough to make 4 mug mats.

Rudy Reindeer

Make this adorable Christmas Reindeer with the abundance of clay pots available during this season. This beginners project should take 2 hours or less, not including drying time. http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=20177&categoryid=

Homemade Jelly Jar Scents

4 ounce glass jelly jar
4 ounces M&P glycerin soap base
soap scent
soap color
small circle of tulle in coordinating color
thin ribbon in coordinating color
glue

Place cut up soap base in jar. Place jar in a pot of hot water (water should just be barely simmering). Melt soap, gently stirring occasionally. Add color and fragrance, mixing in gently. Allow to cool and harden completely.

Glue a circle of tulle over rim of jar (this will help keep out dust and such). Trim with ribbon if desired. Put on lid and ring. To use, remove lid and ring.

MINIATURE BIRD BATH

What You’ll Need:

* 3″ or 4″ terra cotta pot with saucer
* Assorted colors of craft paint for the base
* Blue craft paint for the birdbath ‘bowl’
* Brushes
* Kitchen sponge cut into about 1″ squares
* Small decorative birds, tiny satin roses or other mini flowers and moss.
* Hot glue gun and PLENTY of glue sticks.

Base coat the pots and saucers a color of choice, let dry. Then sponge paint (a little or a lot) over that. Once dry, turn the pot UPSIDE DOWN. Then glue the bottom of the saucer to the pots bottom side [which is now actually it's "top"]– (does that make sense?) so you have a birdbath.
Paint the inside of the saucer blue and let dry. Now squeeze a lot of hot glue into the saucer — about a good half inch but no more than that. Let set. This will give you the ‘water effect.’
Glue the moss around the bottom of the birdbath, fix on some flowers. Glue the bird to the rim of the birdbath, or glue him in the “water.”

Homemade Potpourri Gel Jars

4 small jars.
2 cups water
4 packages of Knox Gelatin
40 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Heat 1 cup of water in microwave. Stir in the gelatin until it dissolves. Add the remaining 1 cup of water. Place 10 drops of essential oil in each jar then fill with gel mixture. Refrigerate aprox. 2 hours. Place the lid back on & decorate. Great gift giving idea.

Gift/Recipe: Homemade Cocoa

glass jar with a lid
ribbon
recipe tag
1/4 cup Nestle Cocoa
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered milk

Mix the cocoa, sugar and powdered milk together. Place into jar and seal with lid. Make a tag that says, “To make a cup of cocoa, place 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix in a mug and add 8 ounces of hot water.” Use the ribbon to tie the tag to the jar.

Brownies in a Jar

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup HERSHEY’S Dutch Processed Cocoa
1 cup REESE’S Peanut Butter Chips or HERSHEY’S Premier White Chips
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup HERSHEY’S MINI CHIPS Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Directions:

Bestow these ready-to-mix brownies on a friend who appreciates freshly baked sweets but never takes the time to mix up a batch from scratch.

1. Layer the ingredients in a clean 1-quart glass canister or jar in the following order (from bottom to top): sugar, cocoa, peanut butter chips, flour, baking powder, salt and small chocolate chips. Tap jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next one.

2. Cover jar and attach baking directions (see below). Makes 1 gift jar.

Baking Directions: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8×8x2-inch baking pan. Combine 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted and cooled butter and 2 slightly beaten eggs in a large bowl. Gently stir in jar contents. Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes. Cool in pan. Cut into bars. Makes 16 bars.

As excerpted from Hershey’s Celebrates each Season. prep time: 10 minutes

Free Hershey Kisses Crafts Create Angels, Birdhouses, Christmas Trees, Rose Bouquets and more using Hershey Kisses!
http://www.hersheys.com/kisses/crafts/

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