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Wishing all of our wonderful blog friends a very {SWEET} and Magical Christmas!

Kisses from all of us at WhipperBerry!

Heather, Emily, Jamie, Whitney, Kristin, Katie, Erin & Christene

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be a creative guest on Ucreate!!!!!  Yes, I know, big deal, right? Right!

I decided to stick with my M.O. and do a paper tutorial. I’m always trying to push the boundaries of paper and test its limits. I love fabric snowmen, but as you may know, I don’t sew! So the challenge became how to make a faux-fabric snowman out of paper. Ta da! I’m sharing these now because they will be cute to display all winter long.

Faux-Fabric Paper Snowman Tutorial

Supply list:

• Heavyweight white paper* in large sheets
• Water and spray bottle
• Rubber bands
• Hot glue gun
• Packing paper or white newsprint

Optional accessories—such as:

• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
• Burlap, ribbon, or fabric
• Buttons or brooches
• Wood pieces
• Embossing powder and heat gun

*I used 180 gsm handmade paper, in 22”x30” sheets, made out of cotton, silk, and agro waste (such as sugarcane waste, bark fibers, or jute waste), from Under the Sun—but any heavyweight, fibrous paper will do.

Instructions:

Cut a circle from the white paper approx. 20 in. diameter (for larger snowmen; 15 in. for smaller ones.)

Roll sheets of packing paper towards the center until you have a balled circle.  Secure with hot glue.

   

Add layers until you have formed a ball, approx.  5 – 6 in. diameter (3 – 4 in. for smaller snowmen).

     

Now comes the fun part! Take your white paper circle and run it under your tap. Yes, you read me correctly. Get that paper wet! Wet the top and bottom thoroughly.

This is when you need to work quickly, because as soon as your paper gets wet the clock is ticking to get it into position before it tears, pills, or just becomes unworkable. Set your packing-paper ball in the center of the wet paper and start gathering the paper up to the top. If the paper is too stiff, spray it with a spray bottle.  If you work it too much, it will look like crumpled paper, and we are going for more of a gathered fabric look, so be quick!

   

Once you have it gathered at the top, and it looks the way you want it to, secure the top tightly with a rubber band.

   

Now, cut another paper circle out of your heavy white paper approx. 12 in. diameter (for larger snowmen; 9 in. for smaller ones).  Cut a small circle (approx. 1 inch) out of the center of the paper.  Cut the hole to fit snuggly over the top of the gathered paper ball.  Cut it smaller at first, gradually increasing the size as needed, so as not to become too big.

Once the hole fits snuggly over the secure rubber band, push the paper down as far as it will go. Use a pair of sharp scissors to snip the rubber band without cutting the paper. Remove the rubber band carefully. This should cause the wet paper to expand and hold the new circle in place.

   

Roll and twist another piece of newsprint or packing paper, and wind it around the paper sticking out of the hole.  Secure it with hot glue. Try to shape an even form ball of about 2.5 – 3 in. diameter.

   

Using your spray bottle, wet the white paper circle that is now secured underneath the ball.  Wet both sides, and start gathering it at the top the way you did the bottom ball. Again, remember to work quickly. When completely gathered on the top, secure it with a rubber band.

   

This is the basic snowman—now use your imagination to make it your own! I sprayed mine at this point with marshmallow glimmer mist so it would have a shimmered frosty look.

 

I made a top hat for the dad, a wide-brim church hat for the mom, and a cute beret-like snow-hat for the daughter.

  

For the daughter’s beret, I made it much the same way I did the head. I cut a circle out of paper approx. 4.5 in., and cut a hole in the middle to fit over the gathered paper. after removing the rubber band, I wet the paper and gathered and twisted it in the center while laying it flat like a beret. I added a wool ball to the top that Heather made using Whitney’s tutorial.  For the top hat and wide brim hat, I cut a circle the size I wanted for the brim, and then cut the hole in the center. After making sure the fit was right, I sprayed the brim with silver sugar glimmer mist, and then coated it with embossing powder and set it with my heat tool. I then put it in place atop the head, and cut the rubber band. I then built the rest of the hat right on the head.

 

Embellish your snowmen with accessories of your choice. I used burlap, fibers, and buttons (as well as a cute little scarf crocheted out of yarn by Heather).

   

 

For the dad’s sign, I used Woodsies from Michael’s—and I sanded and inked the edges. I printed the words on my computer, and tore the edges before gluing it onto the sign.

I dabbed Snow-Tex on the top of the sign, and on the hats, to look like melting snow. I rolled paper for their noses, and used little black embellishments for their coal eyes. Have fun, and decorate them to match your style and décor!

Display these all winter long. I’m not taking my little family down until Valentine’s Day!

Yes you heard me right…Hot Chocolate on a Stick!!  This is the cutest idea of the season and I just had to share.  I was inspired by Make and Takes via Pen & Paperflowers, thanks ladies!!

First, make the Chocolate Ganache Blocks… {Click on the image to see the recipe}

Next, make the homemade Rustic Marshmallows… {Click on image to see recipe.}

Then you assemble.  Place a ganache block on the bottom, a marshmallow on top, then skewer with a stick. 

Embellish the stick with Divine Twine or ribbon…

Try to resist eating them all, and package them up to give to your friends and neighbors…

I’ll make it even easier…here is a free printable tag for your tasty little gifts {click on image to print tags}

When you are finished…heat up some milk, pour it in a mug, and give your little treat a try…yum!

And the best part about this treat? It can be given and enjoyed all winter long, not just during the holidays! It would be a fun thing to serve at any New Year’s party!

 

 

 

Gingerbread Pecan Biscotti with Peppermint White Chocolate Drizzle

One thing you need to know about me is I’m a dunker. I need a glass of milk with me at all times when having any type of cookie or chocolate. I’ve even been known to pour milk over my cake (you’ve got to try it!). So biscotti is right up my alley, but this time I thought I would make a biscotti that says “Christmas”.

What’s better than the aromatic smell of gingerbread baking? So I searched until I found a recipe for gingerbread biscotti that had great reviews, and I think I found one. This particular recipe isn’t overly sweet or heavy; it’s light and crunchy like a good biscotti should be. And the peppermint white chocolate drizzled over it makes it the perfect little Italian treat.

Gingerbread Pecan Biscotti (adapted from food.com)

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I grated whole nutmeg for added flavor)
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In your mixer, combine the egg and egg whites, brown sugar, molasses and vanilla until smooth.
Stir the egg mixture into dry ingredients just until moistened; fold in pecans; cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 
Divide dough in half; shape each half into a ball; on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray, or parchment paper; roll each ball into a 14-inch x 1 1/2-inch rectangle.

 

Bake at 325 for 24 to 28 minutes or until firm to touch; remove from the oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees.
Cool for five minutes then transfer to cutting board. Cut diagonally with a serrated knife into 1/2-inch slices; place cut side down on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray; bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Peppermint White Chocolate

6 oz. Baker’s White Chocolate
1/4 teaspoon Peppermint extract

Place chocolate in microwave safe container, and add peppermint extract. Microwave according to directions and heat in small increments, stirring each time until fully melted. Making sure your biscotti is completely cooled, line up and drizzle chocolate over them with a  spoon.

Let the chocolate cool and harden, and place in an air safe container. Or if you’re like me, pour yourself a glass of ice cold milk and enjoy! Also great with any of your favorite hot beverages like cocoa.