paper garlands are classic- christmas mantle 2013

I really can't quite believe it's Christmas time again. It seems like we just took down the tree from last year like 3 months ago.

This year I am inspired by the amazing and intricate work of various paper cut artist.

I hand cut the village and trees. I ended up buying the sleigh and reindeer because, well, I saw them and it saved me some time. I also bought the snow flakes.  Everything including the black and red paper used to create the silhouette and garlands is available at Paper Source, a.k.a. One of the Happiest Places on Earth.

halloween parfait

This Halloween idea comes via Bakedbree.com.  This is the kind of thing my kids go apes over.   Here's the recipe:

1 box of instant chocolate pudding (or homemade of course)

1 box of French vanilla pudding (or regular vanilla)

Cocoa Puffs

whipped cream

candy corn

yellow gel color

orange gel color

Halloween sprinkles

Get all of the components ready. Make the chocolate and vanilla pudding. Divide the vanilla in half. If you are using French vanilla, it is already yellow, but if you are using plain vanilla, add a few drops of yellow to it. With the other half, use the orange food coloring to make it orange.

Layer the ingredients however you like.  This is the order that I layered mine:

Cocoa Puffs

yellow pudding

whipped cream

candy corn and Cocoa Puffs

chocolate pudding

orange pudding

candy corn and Cocoa Puffs

whipped cream, sprinkles, and a few candy corn for garnish

Chill for about 30 minutes to an hour or until the puddings are set.

You can click on over to Bakedbree.com to see more photos of this recipe.

Also, I wanted to say, for the holidays, don't underestimate the flower section at Costco.  The roses there seem to take a beating, but sometimes, if you hunt, you can find some that look really good.  They also carry florist bunches that are really fun.

I recently ran across a bunch of Solanum Integrifolium (you know I had to look that one up) at Costco that almost got rid of my Costco rage.* Miniature pumpkins on a branch. Who would have thunk it?

This tag came on a gift given to me by the talented Michelle Hill of Polk-A-Dot Whimsy. 

* Costco rage is a little thing I suffer from when I shop at Costco. I become infuriated at people who stop in the middle of the isle, and stand like pigs to the slop for minutes on end, blocking traffic,  just to sample a half a cream puff or a piece of salami. Seriously? Get a life.