Christmas Paper Pom Poms

My sis-in-law sent me a Christmas card in the form of a paper pom pom last year, made with vintage wrapping papers. It was perfect to hang on the tree. So this year I decided to make some myself, and use them to decorate wrapped gifts. I created a simple PDF, and I'm trying something new by sharing it. You can download for free here. You could also use these for individual tags for addressing gifts, or print onto sticker paper, creating labels, and use instead of tape.

Here is what some of the pom poms look like that I did. You can go for a full look, using all 12 designs, like this:

Or make them with less circles, for a simpler look.

Using all 12 makes a nice full complete circle, but I think using less to top a gift makes more sense - you can see the designs better.
 
So...you'll need some:
*card stock, size A4 or 8.5" x 11"
*scissors / circle punch
*hole punch
*ribbon or string
*glue / double sided tape (optional)

1. Print the PDF (which is formatted for size A4, but easily scaled to 8.5" x 11" in your printer settings), and either cut out by hand, or use a circle punch. I'm not lucky enough to have all the cool scrapbooking gadgets, so I cut by hand. The circles are about 57mm or 2-1/4" diameter.

2. Fold each circle in half, right sides together.

3. For gift toppers, hole punch a hole just above the fold line in the center of the circle. You don't want to cut the crease, or the ribbon will not thread through the circles.

4. Optional: (You don't have to do this, but it makes a nice sturdy pom pom.) Glue the wrong sides together with the other circles. I used mod podge applied with a paintbrush, since it's nice and thick, and won't make your paper warp like other glues. You could use double sided tape too.

5. Thread your ribbon through the hole punches, and tie onto your gift.

Options:
To make a hanging decoration, be sure to glue or tape the circles together, and also sandwich some string in between the paper circles. There is also no need to punch holes in the paper circles.

Here is another tutorial with downloads, and ideas for gift wrapping.

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Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Squares

This recipe is divine. I didn't think it could be this good. I kind of shy away from cheesecakes, as they are always quite rich, and I don't always feel like something so heavy. This was exactly that, but was worth it! I got it from another Women's Weekly cookbook, this one called Easy Baking. I modified very little, except the cookie base. And this photo shows about the neatest I was able to cut the squares. Very thick and sticky...



Cheesecake
1 package of cookies (about 24).
 (I used 1 pkg of Arnott's choc ripple cookies, but you can use plain choc chip too, or something else entirely...like those chocolate waffer cookies too. I think an Oreo cookie or crumb crust would be so good with this as well. You could separate the cookies, and add the oreo icing to the cheesecake mixture, or layer cookies as-is, if you don't have Oreo crumbs like Australia).
1/2 cup cream
250g white chocolate
500g cream cheese, softened (2- 7 oz. blocks)
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
Chocolate Ganache
200g dark, or semi-sweet chocolate
1/3 cup cream

1. Preheat oven to 150°C /  and grease a 20cm x 30cm rectangle pan. Line the base and sides with baking paper (not wax paper) and place cookies in a single layer inside of pan.
2. Melt white chocolate with cream in a double boiler until the mixture is smooth. Cool.
3. Beat cream cheese & sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Add cooled white chocolate mixture and beat well.
4. Poor cream cheese over cookie base, and bake for 35-45 minutes. Cool with oven door slightly ajar. Refrigerate a few hours, or overnight, once cooled.
5. Make chocolate ganache for topping by melting the chocolate with the cream in a double boiler, or carefully over low heat, stirring constantly. Cool 10 minutes, and spread over cheesecake. Refrigerate until completely cooled.
6. Cut into bars, and enjoy!

This isn't on my 'Christmas squares' list, but I think a topping of crushed candy cane, or a mint chocolate ganache would be perfect to add that little bit more to the recipe.

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Lemon Bars

Another on my Christmas squares/bars list.

Lemon Bars (Betty Crocker)
1 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c butter softened
1/4 c icing sugar
Mix first 3 ingredients, and press into a 8x8 or 9x9 pan, building up 1/2 inch edge. Bake crust for 20 min @ 350.

1 c granulated sugar
2 tsp grated lemon peel, if desired (but strongly recommended! I love lemon!)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer at high speed for 3 mins, or until light and fluffy (mine never really got light and fluffy, but it still worked out). Pour over hot crust.
Bake 25-30 mins or until no indentation remains when lightly touched in centre. Cool in pan. Dust with icing sugar. Cut into bars.

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Vintage Sale

Last weekend I went with my sister-in-law to a little market she created with some friends. They've been collecting vintage clothes for a few years in the hopes of re-selling them at a later stage. She asked me to come along, and suggested I try selling cupcakes. I happily agreed, and after many long and stressful weeks with my normal job, I was able to do a trial run, and come up with some interesting flavours to sell. The week before, I ended up not having any work (the nature of my job, when it rains it pours, but then there are really dry spells in between), so I dug out the sewing machine and finished off some projects I had going, and started a few new ones to bring along too. It was a busy week, but it was so nice to be spending time creating things. I finished off a stash I had for making aprons, and also baby bibs. I also made some mini journal / scrapbooks too. Too bad having fun didn't translate into money for me though. I didn't sell a single item besides cupcakes, and only sold about 15 of those. So, for me, the markets were bust, but I think I know where I went wrong - I'm not much of a sales person it seems. We might be doing them again in a month, so I'll get my game on then (I tell myself).  And make a sign. No one really noticed me sitting behind my cupcake stand. Anyhow, here is what we came up with:

I made and finished off a bunch of aprons:

I made a bunch of new baby bibs from a classic vintage pattern:

 

I made a bunch of journals too, with stickers, and labels, and lots of different kinds of paper & envelopes.

Here is a page by page example, with repeat pages left out. There are over 70 pages of new and recycled, and some hand made papers to use for journaling, scrapbooking, or notes:

And then I made a heap of cupcakes (mocha, chocolate, vanilla, cotton candy/ fairly floss, key lime, strawberry & cinnamon roll), which were packaged in take-out containers:

Here are some shots from the markets:

Laura made some gorgeous hair combs & headbands too:

The girls had racks of clothes and shoes, there was so much stuff!

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Butter Tart Squares

These squares are fabulous!! I got this recipe from a lovely blog called Intimate Weddings.


Finally, a truly Canadian recipe I can make with ingredients solely from Australia. Most of my favorite Canadian recipes are not possible if you live in another country. Except, I did see an Australian version of a Nanaimo Bar published in a magazine a few weeks ago, which I will need to try one of these days and do a little comparison. But for these lovely squares, there are no Graham crumbs, Crisco shortening or Rogers Golden Syrup needed! ...There is a great radio clip about Butter Tarts on the site too. Click here.

I am all for raisins too! What about you? Not in anything else, though.

This is the second or third recipe on my short list for Christmas goodies to give out this year.

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Toffee Bars

I can't believe I have never posted this recipe before (even on my old blog, which I've had since 2005). Love this one. It's a great alternative to choc chip cookies every. But I think I like it more than cookies, so I try not to make it too often. Here is the recipe. I've tried adding toppings, like score bits or nuts, but I like it plain the best. I am thinking this year, instead of the cookie baskets I gave out to friends for Christmas last year, I am going to make a selection of squares and bars to give out instead. This one will be on the menu...as well as another recipe I was finally able to try a few weeks ago...stay tuned...

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Halloween Costume

This post was meant for last year. This is how organized I am...against my best intentions, I never post holiday posts on time!! So, I saved it for this year. And look at the date! Almost missed it!

I had this grand fun idea to be a bearded lady for Halloween. I have some fish net stockings, a cute black dress, 3" peep-toe sling backs, hot rollers for a 40's look, and some flowers for my hair. I was going to be as vintage glam and girly as possible, black eyes, bright red lips, perfect fake nails, everything...except...I would have a beard, like an old circus freak! So, I went to work on my beard...

Tie random length yarn onto some clear stretchy jewelry stringy-elasticy-rubbery stuff, and make loops to hook over your ears. I tied the pieces on with this simple knot. Create the ear loops by using those little crimping beads, if you have them. I did this because I have a ton of jewelry supplies, and also it makes the beard attachments as invisible as possible. But you could also use elastic, and tie it around your head. I went a little further, and used a toothpick and separated all the yarn strands for a more realistic look, if that's even possible.

After all my careful crafting, I came to the sad realization that my bearded lady circus freak idea was hinging on my being able to be very girly (except for the beard) to get the feel I was going for. The problem is that I cannot (could not, at the time) wear high-heeled shoes yet. I am still having problems with my heel, and therefore my 40's style sling backs are not going to agree with my physical condition of my foot. I thought I could just go barefoot, but I can't pull off the look I need without shoes!

So...now I am going as a burly Canadian. The very opposite, except for the beard. No gorgeous hot roller hair-do, but instead a pony tail under a hunting camo trucker hat. No gorgeous fish nets hooked onto a garder belt, but old ratty blue jeans instead. No black peep-toe sling backs, but instead my running shoes I have to wear to physio. And of course no make-up, no nail polish, no black dress, but instead a flannel and some dirt on my face. Oh well. Maybe next year I can be a circus freak.... (and it being next year already, I am too busy to have Halloween! I am so sad :( Plus Aussies don't really get into it either. Maybe NEXT year I'll be a bearded lady...I still wear the beard every so often, I LOVE it).

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