Origami Candy Cane

Okay, enough fattening treats for a while. Thanks for visiting another day of We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. Today, I'll teach you a really easy (and addicting) craft. I make these with the kids at work and they love it.

Origami Candy Cane

You'll need:

• 1 piece of 8 1/2" x 11" white paper (like copy paper)
• A red marker
• A piece of tape (preferably double stick but whatever)

Color one short side and one long side of the paper red (about 1/4").

Now, flip over your paper. And start to roll up the corner that does not have the red lines.

Roll towards the corner where the red lines meet.

When you are done rolling, tape down the corner (under my thumb).

Then, take either end of your tube and roll around your finger 3-4 times.

Take it off your finger. Straighten it until it looks like a candy cane.  This would be great on a tree or on top of a gift.

Thanks for stopping by today. :) Leave a comment so I know you came by.

Candy Cane Cookies and White Hot Chocolate

Welcome to the 4th post in We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. Today, I bring you two treats and a couple of fun red and white thrifted finds.

Candy Cane Puffs

I adapted the recipe from the Gooseberry Patch cookbook entitled, "Jolly Holidays."  

You will need:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla (and peppermint extract if you have it)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 oz. white chocolate

1/2 cups crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and extract(s.) Mix in flour and salt using low speed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. 

Shape dough into walnut-size balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Melt white chocolate ; dip cookies into melted chocolate. Roll in crushed candy canes; set on wax or parchment paper to harden.

White Hot Chocolate

This is a great Better Homes and Garden recipe.

You'll need:

3 cups half-and-half

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 stick of cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

optional-whipping cream

Combine 1/4 cup of the half-and-half, white chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan; whisk over low heat until white chocolate is melted. Remove cinnamon stick.

Add remaining half-and-half. Whisk until heated through. Turn off heat and stir in vanilla and almond extract. Serve warm in mugs and top with whipping cream if desired.

I bought the cute red and white plate and mug at my favorite thrift store-The Assistance League Thrift Store in Huntington Beach. You might actually see me if you go. I volunteer there a couple times a month. All proceeds go to local philanthropic projects.

Thank you for visiting today. You may want to visit my other red and white posts from this week.

Check out the Curtain to Cute Apron Transformation and three candy cane treats using only three ingredients and the Homemade Gift Guide.

Three Easy Candy Cane Treats

Welcome to day three of We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. Today I will show you how to make three yummy treats using only 3 ingredients. Hello quick gift idea.

The three ingredients you will need to make all three treats are:

• Candy canes (I used regular size but small would work too)
• Pretzel Rods
• White melting chocolate (it goes by many names)

J.O.Y Candy Cane Letters

Inspired by the L.O.V.E. letters on the Make and Take blog, the J.O.Y. letters add a festive Christmas touch.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Break and arrange 4 1/2 candy canes like the picture.

Bake for 5-7 minutes. The candy will flatten slightly and the broken pieces will meld together. Remove from pan when cool.That's it!

Red and White Candy

This is a variation of my pink candy recipe. To make Red and White candy you will need:

• a half a bag of white chocolate melting chips, melted according to package directions
• 2 crushed candy canes

Spread the melted white chocolate in an even, thin layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the melted chocolate while it is still warm.  Allow time for candy to cool before lifting it off of parchment paper and breaking it into pieces.

 

Dipped Pretzels

You will need:

• 1/2 bag of white chocolate chips
• 2 candy canes, crushed into fine pieces
• 1 bag of Pretzel Rods

Sprinkle the candy cane pieces on top half of parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Dip whole or halved pretzel rods into melted white chocolate. If you use halved rods, dip the broken end into the chocolate.

Roll the dipped rod into the crushed candy canes and allow time to cool on the cookie sheet.

They look great displayed in an ice cream glass along with peppermint taffy and red and white kisses.

There you have it, three easy red and white treats using only three ingredients. Save yourself time and melt the whole bag of chocolate chips at once. And, crush the candy canes for the Red and White Candy and Dipped Pretzels at once.

If you missed the previous Red and White Week posts, check out the Curtain to Cute Apron Transformation and the Homemade Gift Guide. 

Come back tomorrow for more red and white fun. I have more edible treats, an origami creation and some fun thrifted finds to share this week.

Handmade Red and White Gifts

Welcome to day two of We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. I love giving handmade gifts whether they have been created by me or another talented crafter. I found some really fun red and white things to share from Etsy Shops. Let's support our small business artists.

1. Red and White Cupcake Stand from Burlap and Blue (Love it)

2. Queen of Hearts Matroyshka Doll by Mikasita (OMG, this seller in Mexico has the cutest stuffed dolls ever!)

3. Red Velvet Cake Truffles by LolliDreams (YUM!)

4. Candy Cane Booties by Sweets Handmade Gifts (so darling)

5. Felted Tray by Gretchen's Creations (she has some really amazing things in her shop)

6. Hand Painted Joy Letters by Daffidolls  (I love the stockings she makes from recycled sweaters)

7. Believe Banner by Studio 1621 (check her great jewelry too)

8. Peppermint Twist Earings by Molly the Pirate's Bit 'O Shine (she's having a sale right now)

9. Red Turquoise Necklace by Rachelle D (Love her necklaces.)

Thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow I'll have some edible treats to share. And, don't be shy about sending me links to fun red and white things that you find in cyberspace.

Curtain to Cute Apron Transformation

This week, We Grow By Our Dreams is celebrating Red and White Week. All week I'll be featuring crafts, food and other fun stuff as a tribute to the red and white color combo. To kick off the week I have a quick, inexpensive and easy sewing project for you to make for yourself or to give as a gift. Introducing. . . .

The Curtain Apron

You'll need:

1  Curtain panel with rod pocket

1  17" piece of 1/2" elastic

Safety pin

2  36"x 4" strips of fabric for ties

pins, scissors and sewing machine

First, choose a really cute curtain. I bought mine at an estate sale. Usually these panels come in a set but this beauty was a loner. I love the ruffle and the embroidered flowers. You may have a kitchen curtain you'd like to retire or you may find a great one at a garage sale or on clearance somewhere.

Second, find a cute coordinating fabric for your straps. I had some red and white check fabric in my stash. Cut the fabric into two 1 yard by 4 inch strips.

Third, fold over your strips lengthwise (right sides together) and sew the open sides 1/4" from the edge.

Now, flip each tie inside out and tuck one end in 1/2 inch inside and sew shut. Leave the other end unfinished.

Next, with a safety pin on one end of elastic piece, thread through top pocket of curtain, gathering as you go.

Finish by sewing the elastic piece and the unfinished edge of each tie to the inside of each end of the rod pocket. It helps to pin in place.

There you go, the Curtain Apron. If you try it, please leave a comment with your link and any suggestions you may have to improve it.

Please play along. If you have something red and white to share, please leave a comment below. It could be something on your blog or a find from another website. Share the red and white love.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Red and White Week Preview

I LOVE red and white together, especially for Christmas. So, I'm dedicating a week of my blog to the fabulously festive color combo. I have fun food, thrifting, crafts and other delights to share with you.  

I would also like to extend an invitation to you to play along. If you have any red and white things to share, please post a link in the comments section so we can share the red and white love.

To get your red and white juices flowing, I made a little collage of some red and white pictures from the past.

Thank you for visiting and I'm not kidding, please share your post link so we can all oooh and awww. :)