Holiday | Darling Doodles

Green (and green) Decorating

By Brie @Darling Doodles | March 4, 2013 - 4:30 am | Holiday, St. Patricks

This post is full of all things green, and it happens to be green as well. Green meaning Eco-friendly. Because it is yet another post about recycling your bottles into decor and this idea comes courtesy of my mom. She was sick with the flu (who hasn’t been sick this winter! seriously!) and my sweet dad brought her a case of Schweppes ginger ale for her stomach. As she was drinking she happened to notice that the green glass bottles were also a cute shape and would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Free decoration? Score!

It really is as simple as putting some cute flowers in the bottles and tying some ribbon around them. Colored glass can be so expensive at some stores and for the price of a pack of ginger ale you have 6 adorable vases.

The flowers were made using felt and scrapbook paper and for a great tutorial on how to make the felt flowers check out Make & Do Girl. The paper ones were made using the same method as the Valentine’s Day canvas. They are just hearts cut out in decreasing sizes and inked around the edges.

So even though you had to get sick with the flu to get the inspiration, thanks Mom!

This is just another reminder to keep your eyes open and look at what you already have around you.

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Mug & Candy Valentine

By Brie @Darling Doodles | January 25, 2013 - 4:30 am | gift ideas, Holiday, Valentines

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If you’ve got some dame or fella that you think is mighty spiffy then these here Valentine’s will be the cat’s meow, see? Tell them you like their filthy mug and they’ll be carrying a torch for you too, see? (It’s late right now and my brain is half asleep. I have no apologies.)

I found these cute mugs at the Dollar Tree and filled them up with some Baby Ruths. I know these are silly, but honestly…if you can’t be cheesy and goofy on Valentine’s Day, when can you?! I just want to talk like a gangster from the 1920′s whenever I see this tag. Much to my husband’s delight.

I also made some tags that can be used with any candy, so you can take your pick. Of course, hugs and kisses are always a good choice for this little gift.

Download the PDF

With A Cherry On Top

By Brie @Darling Doodles | January 23, 2013 - 4:30 am | gift ideas, Holiday, Valentines

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I’m stuck. Completely stuck. I have been sitting at my computer for the last hour trying to think of something cute and funny to say to introduce these gift tags. But I’ve got nothing! Seriously, I’ve written and erased half a dozen different paragraphs. The only thing coming to mind is “Hey, I made these cherry gift tags. They’re cute and you can download them. Enjoy.” Do you think J.K. Rowling ever wanted to just sit down and write, “Harry said some spells. And then he won.” ? Probably not. That’s the reason she’s a billionaire and I’m sharing cherry gift tags. :)

Anyway, they are cute. And they can be used with lots of different things. Like chocolate covered cherries. Yum!

Or for a really quick and inexpensive valentine they can go on some cherry chapstick.

How about cherry soda? If your Valentine’s favorite brand has a cherry flavor then this is perfect!

And of course you can combine all your cherry themed items into one gift basket that is cute, fun, and one your Valentine is sure to love!

Download the PDF

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Love is in the Air

By Brie @Darling Doodles | January 14, 2013 - 4:30 am | Holiday, Valentines

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It feels like I was just putting together a January shelf a couple of weeks ago. Oh yeah, that’s because I was. I loved the shelf, but I decided to replace it a little earlier than I had originally planned. It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, right? Right?

So anyway… Valentine’s day. I put together this shelf idea and when Sam came home the first thing he asked was, “Where are the red hearts?” Apparently, you can’t have Valentine’s Day without red hearts in his book. But I wanted to skip the cheesy, plastic red and pink hearts and over the top-in your face decor. Instead it is a simple shelf in mostly black and whites.

A little pennant banner made from scrapbook paper and baker’s twine hangs above it all.

And accessories like a candle wrapped in polka dot ribbon and a vase filled with daisies and red roses adds just a little bit of sweetness.

Underneath the shelf I put some black and white pictures from our engagement shoot so many years ago. They make me smile. That man makes me smile.

So what do you think? Do you agree with Sam and think that the shelf is sorely lacking in red hearts or does this also say lovey-dovey Valentine’s Day?

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Wishing you a “Sparkling” New Year

By Brie @Darling Doodles | December 26, 2012 - 4:30 am | Holiday, New Years

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Did everyone have a very Merry Christmas? I sure hope so! Our Christmas was wonderful spent with Sam’s family and we are enjoying our little vacation with them. I hope your week is going just as lovely.

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Can you believe that in just a few days time we will be ringing in 2013? Time to say goodbye to 2012 and celebrate the good times to come. These bottle toppers are a fun thing to add to a gift you are taking to a New Year’s Eve party, or an added little decoration for a party held at your own house. Or run a bottle over to your neighbor or friend just to let them know you’re thinking of them.

So grab your favorite sparkling cider or whatever bubbly drink you’re going to use to ring in the new year and let’s celebrate!

These are really easy to make. Just print out the PDF, cut out the topper and cut out the circle in the middle. Fold along the line and place over the bottle.

Download the PDF.

Holiday Wassail

By Brie @Darling Doodles | December 21, 2012 - 4:30 am | Christmas, Holiday, recipes

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A couple of weeks ago our church had a Christmas Wreath Party for all the women in our church and their friends and neighbors. It was a fun evening with a gorgeous musical program, yummy treats, beautiful decorations, and lots and lots of wreath making! This was the 49th Wreath Party and it was a pretty big deal so I was really nervous when I was assigned to make the Wassail. Our local congregation is all about their traditions and having Wassail is one of the favorites for some of them. And I had never even tasted Wassail, let alone made it! Thank goodness I was given a recipe that they have used for years and thank goodness it was fairly easy.

Fun fact: Wassail (pronounces Woss ail) means “be well or be whole” and is usually toasted to everyone’s good health.

To make this warm, sweet drink you need 1 gallon of apple cider, 1 quart of orange juice, 1 large 46 oz can of pineapple juice, 1 cup sugar, 6-10 whole cloves, and 2-3 cinnamon sticks. Mix all the ingredients in a large pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Do not boil.

Before serving strain out the cloves.

Download Printable Recipe

For our activity I had to make 150 servings and I also had to keep it warm over a long period of time so I made mine in crock-pots. I placed several crock-pots on the table and “cooked” the drink for 2 hours. It was warm and yummy and worked with the large quantities I needed.

Here’s a few snippets from the big night. The smell of the fresh boughs was to die for. This was my first time making a real wreath and while I need some practice it was fun. I can’t wait to see what they pull together for the 50th next year!