Make Your Own Edible Christmas Gift

Make your own holiday gifts with kids: and no, it's not too early to get organized. Inside these cutely decorated packages are frozen cookie dough rolls. Who doesn't like cookie dough? The idea behind this gift is... the recipient can eat the gift as is (cookie dough) or can bake it when they feel like having fresh baked cookies! Between our neighbors, friends and our kids' teachers and church leaders - we have a lot of gifts to give! The perfect time to start thinking about homemade Christmas gifts is now!  Decide on what you would like to make and don't wait to long to purchase the supplies. These frozen cookie dough rolls can last a couple of months in the freezer (as long as they are well wrapped with the proper freezer paper).

In our family, homemade gift giving is a FAMILY project - EVERYONE helps make it and deliver it! Even little kids (and hubby) can help with this project. Start early and do baby steps so it isn't too overwhelming. We gave around 50 homemade gifts last year - so it can get crazy.

Instructions to make cookie dough rolls:

Step 1: Gather all your supplies ribbon, freezer paper and decorative paper. Cut all ribbon and paper to the sizes needed. Perfect to do ahead of of time: ).

Step 2: Make your favorite cookie dough recipe. Here's my recipe -

YUMMY Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe:

2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon hot water
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, and chocolate chips.

This recipe makes about 48 servings. Sorry, I can't remember how many cookie dough rolls this recipe makes.

Step 3: Place cookie dough on plastic wrap and weigh on kitchen scale. We used 1 lb of cookie dough per gift. My daughter Tayler weighing the cookie dough.

Step 4: Shape cookie dough into rolls and wrap tightly with plastic wrap or wax paper. You are now ready to wrap with freezer paper.

Step 5: Wrap the cookie dough in freezer paper. We then placed a piece of colorful wrapping paper around the middle section and taped in place. The bows were made ahead of time and tied tightly on each end of the roll.

Step 6: Tag for cookie dough should read: Keep frozen until ready to use. Let soften enough to slice. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 10-14 minutes in the preheated oven on ungreased pan. Do not over bake.

Step 7: Freeze! Yes, we froze the cookie dough rolls as decorated.

Trust me - I've learned over the years don't wait til the last minute to make homemade gifts. Also, do it in steps - one day cut out all the paper, another day make all the ribbon bows, etc. Check out my post where I show you how to make ribbon bows. Making homemade Christmas gifts with kids takes a little planning and organization, but it's worth it in the end. ENJOY!

REPOST:

                                                     
Blinkie Red Velvet Wire Ribbon 2 1/2" #40 25 Yards        3 Pack Christmas Shoelace Ribbon


                                                  
Reynolds Freezer Paper                             Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels, (Pack of 12)

DIY Headboard For Kids and Teens

A great look for a teen room - album record covers made into a headboard.

Frame your little artists artwork and use as their headboard.

I've blogged about a similar look using A-Z letters for a wall treatment. What a fun idea for a headboard.

Hollow doors (without the doorknob hole) stacked side by side and hung vertically. A couple coats of gloss black paint finishes the stunning look.

Large canvas painted with colorful stripes. The large canvas was hung as the headboard. The last four images from BHG.com

Using Shutters in Kids' Rooms

Repurposing shutters into a headboard is very clever - made by Whitney from Shanty 2 Chic. Image found here at DIY Show Off. More ideas on using shutters in kids' rooms...

Blue framed shutters with a metal insert.

Make a shelf out of a shutter. Great idea for a vintage, beach themed room.

 Use a shutter as a book rack or magazine rack.

Fabric inserted into the shutter frame. Image from here.

 Repurposed shutter idea.

Ribbon Accents

Ribbons, ribbons galore!

Ribbons are a fantastic way to style up a special event, and can make use of all those ribbons you might have collected over the years from gift wrapping.

Dessert displays have never been so gorgeous with ribbons forming magnificent backdrops such as this one above created by JL Designs for a bridal shower. The long lengths of lace and satin in peach and blush tones add texture and height to the display, and help set the mood for a truly girly event.



For a simpler, but just as gorgeous version.... using a little less ribbon, go for a cute Ribbon Garland like this one from Details Details. String it above the dessert display, across a room or outdoors in the trees. After the event your child will delight in having it hang in their bedroom!.



Another fun use for all those ribbons is a Ribbon Mobile like this one by Martha Stewart, hang it over the party table or dessert table for a burst of colour. I can see this working using ribbons in different shades of blues and greens for an 'under the sea' theme.

So keep your eyes peeled for discounted ribbons and start collecting...they will surely come in handy one day whether its for gift wrapping or party decorations.

Sarah Thompson, of Style Me Gorgeous, is a featured contributor

Organizing Kids Spaces

Organization is a learned behavior - so start young. Of course, some people are born with the gift of organization and some have to really work at it. Make it easier for your kids by having a place for everything. A personalized photo basket for each family member helps keep clutter at bay. Each family members photo is clipped to the basket. 

Wood shelves and wood buckets with labels are my kind of kids storage!

Organization is key to kids wanting to create art. Attaching the roll of art paper to the side wall is brilliant. The roll of paper is out of the way until someone has the desire to make some art.

S&S Worldwide Paper Roll Holder/Cutter

Clever idea - design and make a bench to fit over large plastic storage containers.

Pocket organizers for the closet.

Pamela says, "Opaque fabric across the glass on the bi-fold doors conceals occasional closet clutter."

Terrific organized art center for kids. 

 

ClosetMaid 898300 15-Cube Laminate Shoe Organizer, White


Household Essentials 01812 Six-Shelf Canvas Sweater Organizer



Fabric Folding Nursery Baskets [Set of 2] Color: Blue Gingham


Children's Deluxe Book Rack