A homemade Christmas gift

This is an idea that can actually be used at any time of the year, but I'm using it as an idea for Christmas. It makes a great gift for neighbors, teachers, you name it. So here it is:

This is a box with homemade fudge squares wrapped in a red fabric. Who wouldn't like to get a beautiful and delicious gift like this? Below you will find the recipe for this easy and delicious microwave, yes you read it right, microwave fudge. You will also get the tip on the wrapping. Enjoy
Fudge Recipe

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Line 8x8 inch (20cm  x 20cm) pan with wax paper and set aside.
In large microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla.  Pour fudge mixture into pan. Refrigerate until firm. Do not keep in the refrigerator for too long.                           

 Cut the fudge in squares and wrap them individually in tin foil

 

 

Place them in a box ( I wrapped a box that I already had with white paper because, as you know, I recycle a lot) with some shredded red or green paper in the bottom (basket filling), or use shredded newspapers for a more vintage look, but in this case you'll have to use the same style for the wrapping.

Wrap the box with a see through red,  green or gold fabric. You don't have a piece of fabric like that? No problem. You can use tissue paper and clear decorated cellophane as shown below

Make a beautiful bow and a tag. I used a silver bow because the pieces of fudge were wrapped in silver foil. I'll be posting ideas for Christmas gift tags and how to make them soon.

Variations for the fudge 

For sweeter fudge use 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips and 1 cup milk chocolate chips.
For chocolate walnut fudge add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts after vanilla.
For peppermint fudge add 1/2 tsp peppermint flavoring (not oil) after vanilla. Press 6 crushed peppermint candy on top of fudge before refrigerating.
For peanut butter fudge use 4 cups peanut butter chips

I hope you'll have fun making this recipe, and those who enjoy it will pass it along.
Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderfully blessed weekend.

Vanias Reed  

Crochet Christmas tree and three ways to use it.

I love Christmas. The fact that God's Son came to this world as a little baby, and had to depend on His creation (Mary) to be fed, bathed, changed... really blows my mind. He humbled Himself to that point and didn't stop there, He went all the way to the cross. The wooden cross. That horrible thing cut out of a tree. Trees symbolize life, yet that one was used for death. But neither the cross nor the tomb held Jesus. He defeated death, and He is ALIVE and ready to forgive us for choosing to do the wrong things that put Him on that cross. What an AMAZING LOVE!!!! So thinking about all that, I thought of the Christmas tree. We use one every year because it reminds us of the life Christ brought to us through 3 things: His birth, His death and His resurrection. No wonder Jesus, as a baby, got 3 precious gifts. Here is a crochet Christmas tree that can be used in 3 different ways.

1. It can be used as a refrigerator magnet during the Christmas season. Just glue a magnet on the back like shown below.

 2. It can be used to decorate a gift wrapping, and still be a magnet. Just pin it to the bow.

   3. It can also be used on a card

Supplies used for the tree
Paddy Green and Wood Brown yarn (Red Heart Super Saver)
Plated beads (sewed to the tree)
Adhesive star (you can use a fabric one, if you prefer)
2 1/4 in piece of magnet from roll
Spray adhesive
Hook  size F - 3.75mm

 Tree Pattern

Begin with the green yarn

Row 1: ch 13, ch one to go up and sc in each st. ch 1 and turn

Row2: sc in the next 12 st, leave the last sc undone, ch 1 and turn

Row 3: sc in 11 st, leave the last sc undone, ch 1 and turn (repeat the process through the next 9 rows. Fasten off and weave the end.

Trunk

Count the st at the bottom of the tree. Use the 4 st in the middle.

Join the brown yarn in the beginning of the 4st with 2ch

Row 1: sc in 4 st (the smaller side of the brown yarn should be held behind the st, so the 4 sc will hide it), ch 1 and turn

Row 2: sc in 4st. fasten off and weave end in. 

Supplies used for the card
Paper: Dark red and white (the Paper Studios)


Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine (Sizzix), Ornament frame embossing folder (Darice), green metallic gel pen.
Stamp: Merry Christmas (Stampabillities)
Ink: Grass green marker (Recollections)

I want to make several of these little trees as refrigerator magnets, put them in a tulle bag and add a handmade tag that tells about what the tree represents. How about you? How are you going to use your crochet tree? 

Thank you for checking out my blog. May the love of God bring joy and peace to your heart.

Vanias Reed     

Baby Shower Card with Crochet

I realized that I enjoy crochet as much as I enjoy making cards. To be able to create a new stitch or to see the smile on somebody's face when they get a cute baby set for their infants is priceless. So here is another card on which I used a crochet embellishment. Enjoy.

 Supplies Used
Paper: Dark brown, light green (the Paper Studios), light beige with polka dots, stripped (Recollections)
Tools: Spray adhesive
Embellishments: Sweet Baby sticker, white ribbon, light green gemstones and crochet baby carriage. 

Baby Carriage

Carriage

Large circle made in 3 rows.

Wheels

2 small circles made in 2 rows, plus one row in white color

Sew a little white ribbon in the middle of carriage.

You can find the complete pattern to buy here

I really hope you enjoy crocheting and making cards as much as I do, so you can use one to embellish the other.

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you.

Vanías Reed   

Get Well Card with crochet

Today I wasn't feeling so well and had to rest. But my brain doesn't want to rest, so I made two cards and a couple of other crochet items.  I'm posting one of the cards which is another card with a crochet embellishment.

Supplies Used
Paper: Light blue, black and white cardstock (The Paper Studios)
Tools: Computer and printer, cutting/embossing machine (Sizzix) and embossing folder (Clouds by Darice)
Embellishments: crochet cloud, blue and clear gemstones

Crochet Cloud Pattern

Ch 7 and sc from 6th ch to the end

sc 5 in the same stich

1 sc in each st until reaching the 6h ch

sc 4 in the same st

Dc up to the first of the 5 last sc

dc 2 in each of the 5 st

dc until reaching the 4 sc in the same st

dc 2 in each of the 4 st

sl st 2

dc 4 in the same st

sk one st

dc 4 in the same st

sk one st

sc 4 in the same st

sc 3 in the next st

sl st on the whole piece

Tie the end and weave yarn.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderfully blessed week.

Vanias Reed