Hi, We Are THAT Family readers!!! I am so tickled to be here today. I’m even more tickled that I live NEXT DOOR to Kristen (how lucky is THAT) and that she invited me to guest post today.

Cookies are the ultimate DIY gift! Who doesn’t love a cookie? They make perfect gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends and family.

I’m going to share with you a simple and fun decorated Christmas cookie idea.

First, you’ll need a Christmas light cookie cutter (check craft stores, kitchen stores and even the grocery store) and cookie dough. Here is the recipe I use, but I won’t tell if you buy it from Pillsbury.

Once your cookies are cooled, make up a batch of royal icing and tint in the colors you’d like. (I used AmeriColor Gel Paste food colorings in egg yellow, super red, leaf green and regal purple.)

Now the fun begins:

• With a #4 icing tip, use a zig-zig motion to make the light bulb base in yellow (AmeriColor Egg Yellow).



• Using a #2 tip, outline the bulb shape in color of your choice.
• Thin the bulb color icings with water, a little at a time and stirring, until they reach the consistency of thick syrup. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest several minutes.
• One color at a time, stir gently to break up large air bubbles that have risen to the surface. Transfer icing to a squeeze bottle.


{I work about 3 cookies at a time when filling.}

• Fill (or flood) in the outlined area. Use a toothpick to guide into edges and fully cover.
• Let dry at least one hour.



• Again with the #2 tips, add a little curved line for detail on the bulb.

Stop here, they are perfectly cute OR the next day….

…mix a little meringue powder with water and paint it (with a child’s paintbrush) on the line detail and shake on sanding sugar (turn upside down to remove excess)….

…OR, coat the entire bulb with the meringue powder/water mixture and shake on sanding sugar.

I have a new love. 

Wouldn’t these make great teacher gifts? So easy and inexpensive!

Here’s a slideshow showing how to make them: 

Check out Kimba’s for more great ideas!

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Some other gift ideas I love:

Gift jars-cute idea!

Paper flowers-Last-minute, inexpensive

Handmade bundle of cards=love it!

Cupcake Bath Bombs- this is on my Christmas wish list!

This is such an easy idea and I think it makes a unique (expensive-looking) gift!

You can create this gift on any scale, a small piece of art for a desk or a large piece of art for your friend’s empty mantel. It’s up to you!

Here’s what you need: a blank canvas and a vinyl decal (large canvas for large decal, small canvas for small decal)

In the pictures below, I used an 18×24. Every week our local paper has 40-50% off coupons for Hobby Lobby and Michaels Arts & Crafts and I clip them just in case. I also found the vinyl decal at Marshalls. Etsy has a huge selection and many craft store are now carrying them.

This is the one I found:

But I love this small chandelier decal for a small canvas (only $3.50!) or this one in white ($6) with a black painted canvas. Be creative!

I removed the decal and decided not to use the chain. I placed it face down on the canvas and followed the instructions which are to lightly rub the decal with a credit card.

So simple!!

And it makes a stunning piece of art to give.

Or keep.

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Some other handmade gift ideas I love:

Cake-in-a-Cup Yum!

Mason jar Pin Cushion -adorable!

Matchbook Notepads-cute stocking stuffer idea

DIY holiday gift ideas-Living Locurto has a whole slew of great projects!

I know. I’m losing it. Someone, please commit me.

To padded -chalkboard walls.

I can’t help myself. I love chalkboard paint!

I found this ugly tray for $1 at a garage sale (there was a price tag on the back for $19.99! I pity the poor soul who paid that much!)

Since I already had some half-used cans of spray paint and chalkboard paint, I’m pretty sure this is the cheapest DIY project I’ve ever done.

And they say money can’t buy happiness. P’shaw.

I primed the tray and after it dried, I spray painted it with a Satin Ivory:

Already looks better, huh?

I used a sponge brush and applied several coats of chalkboard paint.

So easy.

And now if could just have the message on the board come true!

When repurposing an item for a chalkboard:

• Look at the shape of the item.
• Don’t let the material scare you away. You can paint over old art, metal, mirrors, plastic, anything!
• Prime first.
• Use a sponge brush to apply chalkboard paint
• Be brave and have fun! You can NEVER have too many chalkboards!

I stumbled upon a package of chalkboard wallpaper at a discount store for $5 a package: 

I’ve been wanting to try this out and I had the perfect spot for it: the inside doors to my craft cabinet. (Yes, I know it’s a mess, it’s on my to do list!)

Before: 

After:

Seriously, I applied this stuff in two minutes flat! I think it’s great and it was a lot easier than paint, but not as cheap.

Visit Thrifty Decor Chick for more!

And then, I added the words (and the small dinner plate above):

I love it above my pantry door!

My kids love gathering seashells from the beach.

We have a small collection of shells and they are scattered around the house.

I saw this idea years ago in a magazine and I’ve always wanted to try it.

But let me tell y’all, even though I managed to finish this project, it was doomed from the beginning.

I found a wooden tray at Goodwill when we arrived at Family Camp a day early. It was perfect for this project.

It also looks perfect on the dresser in the cabin, because that’s where I accidentally left it.

I found another, not nearly as charming, but cheap at Hobby Lobby’s half price aisle.

I used the remainder of a can of Satin Ivory Indoor Paint I had in the garage to give it a crisp look.

My kids helped me arrange all of our small seashells. We even dropped in some sand to make it look realistic.

Once we got it the way we wanted it, I sent them away because it was time to mix the chemicals. {Disclaimer: If your blog is title We are THAT family, don’t use chemicals. Ever.}

I found this clear pour-on high gloss hardening epoxy at the craft store. It is not cheap, even with a coupon I spent $10. But we’re talking about priceless memories here, so I justified it.

There are very specific instructions for mixing and remixing the two chemicals. I poured the mixture on top of the shells and sand. It takes hours to dry and it makes a hard, clear, plastic-like surface over the shells.

I put the tray on top of my refrigerator to keep little hands away.

That seemed like an absolutely perfect solution. And it would have been if the epoxy hadn’t leaked thru the half-price tray onto the top of my fridge, creating a very permanent fixture.

I’m not even kidding.

It took my hubby a terrible amount of time with a hammer and chisel to remove it. The top of the fridge was left with a couple of scratches that will tell a funny story. Some day.

He is a good man.

But amazingly, the tray ended up unscathed in it’s epic battle.

I whitewashed a little blue paint on the edges of the tray to make the seashells pop and it turned out pretty cute.

It’s a nice reminder of a great summer.

P.S. Taking a little poll if you have a minute…

I found three unpainted wooden plates on the clearance aisle of Hobby Lobby earlier this summer for around $2 each. (I can’t remember the original price, but I know I saved a pretty penny). 

Red. 

And suddenly the sun was shining brighter.

I used my can of chalkboard paint that keeps on giving (seriously, I’ve had the quart for 3 years!) and painted the inside of the plates.

I bought plate hangers from WalMart for $1-ish each.

I decided to hang them in my kitchen above the window sink.  I wrote the three letters that are very close to my heart: E-A-T

And I love them!

My friend at The Eck Life suggested I put “J-O-Y” on them during the holidays!

What other three letter words would work?

Check out Kimba’s for more DIY projects!

Look what I found at a garage sale:

for one dollar!

The checkered game table had some pathetic feet though.

I can relate.

My hubby popped them off easily. While we were trying to decide what to do with my newest find, I remembered a little ottoman I had in storage. 

 

I removed the pleather cover and decided it would be perfect as a game table in it’s next life.

With a couple of screws, my hubby attached the game top to the top of the ottoman. 

We picked up some wooden circles at a local craft store for a couple of dollars. My daughter painted them black and red.

Guess who has been having non-stop checker tournaments?

(My hubby has destroyed all our checker-winning hopes. He’s brutal).