Everyone loves to get kisses, and when you add some hugs with it, what a combo!

You will need:

Bottle (e.g. coffee bottles)

Or Jar (e.g. candle jar with lid)

Chocolate Kisses

Double-sided Tape

Ribbon

Decorative Paper (can be purchased at any craft store)

Here is what You do:

1. Clean the bottle
2. Spray paint cover..{you can cut out a circle from decorative paper. Use the lid for measurement, and attach  circle with tape}
3. Cut 2 strips of decorative paper { one 1/2 ” to an 1″ shorter than the other, width-wise}; attaching it to the body of the bottle with the double-sided tape.
4. Print out wording for your tag, cut it out, then punch hole at top.
5. Add ribbon to tag and tie it around the neck of the bottle… I also added ribbon around the body of the bottle for extra cuteness
6. Put kisses in the bottle, and you’re done!

{If you use a candle jar w/ lid…just fill with kisses, and add ribbon with tag.}

Wasn’t that easy?! Now go on and give someone a bottle/jar full of kisses. Mwah! Don’t forget to throw in a hug as well

February is deemed the LOVE month; so it is all about LOVE crafting.  The following is a creative way to share the LOVE to family, friends, co-workers or even a total stranger (make their day!)  It can also be a great way to share the Gospel: Use your computer to print out John 3:16 (or a verse you desire), cut, and attach it to your gift; a perfect gift tag indeed.

 Okay I saw this idea on Pinterest sometime last year, and immediately put it on my must-do-list.  So after CHRISTMAS I went to Wal-mart’s sale and got a bunch of candy canes…frugal all the way  :o)

You Will Need

Can/Jar

Candy Canes

Red /White Flowers

Rubber-band

Double-sided Tape

Ribbon

Water

White/Red Spray Paint (optional)

Instruction:

• Spray paint can (optional)
• Put about 4 strips of double-sided tape around the can or jar (this will help keep the candy canes in place)
• Attached the candy canes; putting then close together all the way around the can/jar.  Put rubber-band around canes to hold in place. Then take the ribbon and tie a bow around the canes hiding the band
• With a scissor clip the excess plastic wrap of each and of the canes to give a more neater look.  ( as you can seen in my pictures I did not, and the battery in my camera died after taking these photos, noticed the plastic after the fact.
• Add water in can/jar. Under the faucet with water running, cut the flowers stems a little shorter than the height of the can/jar.
• Add flowers, and voila!  You’re done!

  You can give it as a gift, and or use it as a table centerpiece.

Happy New Year! I know I am like 9 days behind, but better late then never I say. GOD is so great, isn’t HE! I am thoroughly  excited about 2012, and so grateful to GOD for allowing me and my family to see it.

As we embark on becoming frugally creative, I thought it was only fitting that I list some crafting essentials for those that are just getting started.   Besides the writing utensils and papers; here are some tool must-haves: a hot glue gun and glue sticks, double-sided tape and scissors. You can then add more tools as time goes on for which crafting avenue you prefer, whether its jewelry making, knitting, paper crafting, and the list goes on and on. 

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let‘s get our craft on.  CHRISTMAS is now over (but certainly not in our hearts), and winter is in full swing; Here are 3 easy do-it-yourself craft to  add some winter sparkle to your home (especially if you like me living in Florida, and not bless with seeing snow every winter)

  WINTER VASES

If you’re anything like me, you have a few empty flower vases or bottles stored somewhere in your home not being used…well now you have use for them.  You will need: vases/bottles, white spray paint, and some newspaper.  It is easy as 1. Clean vase 2. Spray and let dry 3. Place vases in a group wherever you desire.

FRAMED STICKS

This will be perfect to hang as a wall art, or on your front door (different, isn’t it?) for a unique welcome.  You will need: sticks (yay free!), frame (dollar/thrift store/garage sale), white/sliver spray paint, and hot glue gun and glue sticks.  1. Spray frame white/silver and let dry.  2. Cut sticks to fit the frame, and add glue to attach branch on the backside of the frame. You can either leave sticks its natural colour or spray it lightly with white spray paint like I did in the photo .  3. Hang it wherever,  or you can set it on your entrance table leaning it against the wall…and voila!

 WINTER BRANCHES

This DIY is a perfect addition to insert in the vases/bottles mentioned earlier.  You will need: branches, white spray paint, Epsom salt, and a spray adhesive/glue, and an old cookie sheet or large sheet of foil paper.  

First, spray branches lightly with the white paint and let dry.  Secondly, spray adhesive on branches one at a time, laying branch on cookie sheet/foil and pouring the Epsom salt over the branch. Thirdly, set branch aside to dry.  Repeat process with the remaining branches. The excess salt can be poured back into the epsom salt carton. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: When using spray paint, and, or  spray adhesive, please use in a well-ventilated area, or outside (highly recommended)

Well I know CHRISTMAS is over, and most have already taken their decorations down, but not me; I will enjoy it for a few more weeks with the addition of some wintery decor.  I refuse to go with the flow, and decided to create my own flow.  

However, I must admit that this is a great time to go and buy CHRISTMAS decor  and trinketts for next year, they are now 50-70% and climbing.  So far the only thing I’ve purchased is 15 boxes of candy cane @ .48 cents per box from Walmart; which will be use for my Valentine’s projects.  I try to always think ahead, which proves to be very frugal with my limited budget.  [Might I add that I am very excited about this project.]

So CHRISTMAS Day has come and gone, but don’t just let it be a one day celebration, let it be an all year one.   And yes is okay to take the decorations down, just keep in rememberance the reason, JESUS and what a precious gift to us HE is….SALVATION Full & Free!

So for our CHRISTMAS decor this year, I decided to go with a ‘just keeping it natural’ theme; Except for the tree and garland they are faux pine, my Sweetie is allergic to real stuff.  We did get a real tree once, about 2 years ago; Thank GOD my sister and her family were visting from the Bahamas, so I had help with the lifting and decorating.  Needless to say, no more real tree for us!

Last year we were very late on decorating, but it actually was a blessing. We were able to purchase a $290 pre-lit tree for just $60, might I add, it is 12 ft tall.  It was perfect, because our then home had high ceilings.  Unfortunately our now home ceiling isn’t as high, so I took the top part of the tree (2ft) and put it outside by the front door entrance.

Okay, back to the natural decor; Our CHRISTMAS decor is consist of pinecones, dried pine needles, and twigs, shells, starfish, acorns, burlap and other natural stuff I had around the house. The great thing about it is, that it was all free, with the exception of a can of red spray paint I purchased from Home Depot.  I am still not 100% finish decorating, but take a look at what I have done so far:

…For many it is because of all the parties that they will be attending, all the presents that they will be receiving, but for me and my family it is the Most Wonderful Time because we get to celebrate, in grand style, the Birth of our SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.  HE, and HIM alone is the real Reason for the this Season.

It is very evident that the world give ‘Santa’ all the praise, but we rejoice in the fact that before there ever was a ‘Santa’, St. Nick, Chris Kringle, or ‘Father Christmas’..There was, and still is today, JESUS.  This time of the year give us the perfect opportunity to share with someone the Love of CHRIST, because this is truly the season when LOVE came to this world.