Crafts

Name: Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 25 cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup {2 sticks} unsalted butter, softened; ½ cup powdered sugar, plus ¼ cup more for dusting; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; ⅛ tsp table salt; 2 cups all purpose flour; ½ cup of Ball® Fresh Preserving Mixed Berry Jam

Homemade Snowball Bath Bomb

16 · Nov 27, 2017 · 1 Comment

In a pinch and need a nice, simple and budget friendly Holiday gift for friends, neighbors, teachers and the list can go on and on. These bath bombs are a fabulous simple way to show your friends a little Holiday love this time of year. With the free printable gift tag, you can’t go wrong with this fun little gift.

When it comes to neighbors, co-workers, teachers and friends, I always want to give them a little something around Christmas to show them how valued they are in my life. I however, don’t want to inundate them with all kinds of sugary treats all of the time. (Don’t get me wrong, I am no stranger to the classic goodie gift plate.) Sometimes it’s nice to receive something that isn’t sweet during the Holidays. With this easy to make Holiday de-stresser, it may quickly become their favorite Christmas goodie this year. All you need are a few simple ingredients…

Snowball Bath Bomb Ingredients

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup epsom salt
1/2 cup corn starch
4 tsp. water
8 tsp. coconut oil
2 tsp. peppermint essential oil
spray bottle
3 fillable plastic Christmas ornaments 70 mm
3 fillable plastic Christmas ornaments80 mm
black medium oil-based Sharpie
3/8 inch black grosgrain ribbon
white card stock paper
hole punch
scissors
printable gift tag via WhipperBerry

Snowball Bath Bomb Instructions

This is one of those projects that is super fun to get the kiddos involved so, gather everyone around the mixer and let them dump away. Here is a quick little video that I put together to show how easy it is to make these little bath time gems.

Snowball Bath Bombs via WhipperBerry from Heather Thoming on Vimeo.

Use the 70 mm plastic ornament to mold the bath bomb.
Keep spraying until your dry ingredients start to fee like nice wet sand.
Turn the mixer on low and spray the liquid ingredients into the bowl. The reason for the spray bottle is so that you add the liquid as slowly as possible. You don’t want to activate your ingredients until you or your friend is in their nice hot bath.
Add the liquid ingredients to the spray bottle and shake to mix.
It’s helpful to have a stand mixer for this project but, in a pinch, a whisk will do. Add all of the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl.
Using the oil-based sharpie, draw little crosses or “x” all over the ornaments.

The following day, place your snowball bath bomb into the 80 mm fillable plastic ornament. It’s funny, they kind of expand a bit when they dry. That’s why you need the larger ornament to use as your gift box.
Leave in the mold for 5 minutes. Then remove the bath bomb from the mold and let dry overnight.
Let the black paint dry, it only takes a few minutes.
Print the free printable gift tag from WhipperBerry and cut out the circle.
Using a hole punch punch a whole to the side of the snowflake on the tag.
Then tie the tag on the ornament and you’re finished!

Check out the back…

Aren’t they cute! And… They are soooo nice in a hot bath sipping some peppermint hot chocolate. I may need to make a few batches to keep on hand for myself.

Here is a quick image that you can pin so you don’t forget the recipe.

Zipper Pouch a Perfect Holiday Hostess Gift Cut with the Cricut Maker

121 · Nov 22, 2017 · 8 Comments

I am a HUGE fan of thoughtful handmade gifts! I try as much as possible to create something special to give friends and family during the holiday season. This year I have become a little obsessed with stylish little zipper pouches. They are so handy for keeping those little odds and ends organized and really… They’re so darn cute! I’ve even created a design of my own it’s called the WhipperBerry Zipper Pouch and it’s the perfect Holiday Hostess Gift!

+ This post is brought to you by Cricut +

Not too long ago, I made a cute little pencil pouch using the pattern created by Anna from Noodlehead. I LOVED the pattern so much… I was a total nerd and decided that I wanted to convert Anna’s PDF pattern to a SVG file so that I could cut my fabric on my Cricut Maker. It took a little trial and error, but I managed to make it work. I imported my newly created SVG file to the Cricut Design Space and again, with a little more fiddling around, I managed to make it work. I was THRILLED! I love Anna’s pencil pouch and I’ve now sewn a few different variations trying to improve my sewing skills. I love this little pouch but, I’ve been wanting to make one that is larger and will hold things other than just pens and pencils. I decided to modify Anna’s pattern a bit and make a larger zipper pouch to give as holiday hostess gifts this year.

Why Sew with the Cricut Maker

This is a BOLD move for me! I’ve embraced all kinds of creative gift ideas, but I’ve never sewn for my friends and family. I’ve always thought it was too hard, too troublesome, too time consuming. This cute, stylish and heartfelt gift is quite frankly one that I would LOVE to receive. So, why not make several? I’ve always shied away from sewing because I could never cut the pattern just right. Something would ALWAYS be off… Not anymore!!! I’ve been cutting fabric for sewing projects now for a few months and man am I hooked. Knowing that you are starting off with good bones makes the sewing so much more enjoyable. Reasons why I love cutting fabric with the Cricut Maker…

Precision cuts – you’ll always start with good bones.
Less waste – you’ll use far less fabric by using a precision cutting tool.
Empowerment – the Cricut Maker is bring sewing to the masses, no more excuses, you CAN do this.
More intricate designs – have you always kept things really simple? With the Cricut Maker, you can get as fancy as you want.

Here’s a quick little video on how I cut my fabric for the zipper pouch

The WhipperBerry Zipper Pouch Material List

10″ zipper
14″ x 28″ of cotton fabric for lining + I used Cotton + Steel black and white Checkers for the lining and the accent fabric
16″ x 18″ main print cotton linen canvas – I used Cotton + Steel Tapestry Midnight Canvas
8″ x 12″ accent fabric
1/2 yard Fusible Ultra Lightweight Interfacing
thread that compliments your fabric
download the SVG cutting files

Instructions

First thing to do it to visit my post on How to Import and Use a SVG File in Cricut Design Space. I have a full video Tutorial on how to cut this exact pattern and it will really help the cutting go super smooth. Before I start cutting though, I fuse my interfacing onto the lining of my pouch. If you are using a lighter fabric for either one of the exterior pieces, you’ll want to fuse that fabric as well. Make sure to do this step BEFORE you cut your fabric. Pro Tip • If you don’t have enough interfacing to cover your entire piece of fabric, don’t worry. Keep your interfacing scraps and piece it together. No biggie!

Piece the Outside

Start by sewing the outside together by placing the main print and accent fabric right sides together and sew using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam to one side and topstitch. Then repeat with the other side of the exterior of the pouch.

How to Prepare the Zipper

Before you attach your zipper, you need to prepare both ends of the zipper by folding it over towards the back side and placing a few stitches to hold it in place. Repeat on all four ends of the zipper.

Attach the Zipper

With exterior panel right side up, center zipper right side facing down (zipper pull at left) along top edge then pin in place. Place one lining piece, right side down on top of the exterior piece again pin into place. Using your zipper foot, sew along top edge using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Open like a book and press exterior panel away from zipper. Topstitch along zipper using an 1/8″ seam allowance. Make sure NOT to top stitch both layers together. Position outside panel and lining panel wrong side on together and press away from zipper. Repeat the same steps to attach the other side of the bag with the remaining exterior panel and lining panel to the other side of the zipper. This time placing zipper pull at right. Keep and eye on your top seems and make sure they match up. Then press both sides again.

Finish the Zipper Pouch

Open zipper halfway. This is an important step. Position exterior panels right side together and lining pieces right side together and pin along sides and bottom. Be sure that you place pins on either side at the intersections of where the lining meets the exterior on each side of the pouch and where the seem of the exterior meet. Sew along the bottom and sides of the pouch using a 1/4″ seam allowance. You will need to leave a 4 inch opening in the lining so that you’ll be able to turn your pouch. Make sure to not stitch together the corner cut outs. Speaking of corner cut outs… Check out the precision of how the fabric lines up. That’s solely possible because of the Cricut Maker. You can sew with confidence knowing that your fabric will line-up easily because of the perfect cuts. Ok, back to work… Reach inside your bag and shimmy the zipper open all the way. Box your corners by pinching the corners together and line-up the seam and pin. Repeat on the remaining 3 corners. Sew straight across with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat with the remaining 3 sides. You’re so close to the finish line! All you need to do is turn out your pouch so that it is right side out. That’s where the 4 inch opening comes in handy. Pull it through that opening just as if you were turning a sock right side out. Are you just swimming with PRIDE now!!! Take a minute to make sure everything is settled in all the right places. Push the lining corners into the right spot. You may want to use the eraser side of a pencil or a chopstick to push those into place. You may want to even press your pouch again if it needs it. That’s it, you now have a beautiful, stylish large pouch that you made yourself. It has your fingerprints all over it. You chose your favorite fabric and it screams your style! Now, you can profile all of your friends and figure out what their perfect little somethings zipper pouch would look like. Then, whip one up for them to take as a hostess gift, holiday gift, friend gift, it’s Tuesday gift… Basically, it’s a great creative gift that ANYONE can make with a little help from the Cricut Maker & a sewing machine. You could even personalize it with some Cricut Iron-on Lite and the Cricut Easy Press. That would be really cool. What to win some amazing Cricut goodies for yourself? Enter below for a chance to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway If you’re looking to make a shorter pencil pouch, visit Noodlehead for that pattern and directions.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

How to Import and Use a SVG File in Cricut Design Space

55 · Nov 21, 2017 · 2 Comments

I LOVE to create my own designs for all kinds of things like signs, printables, special gifts and now, thanks to the Cricut Maker… Sewing projects! The issue that I ran into at the beginning was figuring out how to effectively use my own SVG files in Cricut Design Space. If you’re like me, and would like to either use either your own designs or other designs that you purchase from Etsy or other sites, this video tutorial is for you! You could use a Silhouette or a Cricut. If you’re unsure of which is better you can read my review of Cricut vs Silhouette here.

Whether you are a sign maker, a paper crafter or you love to work with fabric, chances are you’ve wanted to either create your own SVG files or download files that you’ve purchased and use them with your Cricut Projects. The Cricut Design Space is pretty robust but there are times when you need a little more in the design area. For example, create curved text and such for a project. I stumbled across a way to covert PDF sewing patterns into SVG files to use with my Cricut Maker. Don’t worry, I’ll have a tutorial for that soon. Today, I want to focus on how to import and use that SVG file into Cricut Design Space and use it effectively. I’ve been working on this for a bit so I’ve managed to come-up with some great tips and tricks to help speed-up your work flow in order to cut down on possibly technology frustration.

Video Tutorial on How to Import and Use Your SVG Files in Cricut Design Space

Take a few minutes to sit and watch this video. I promise it will make your time in the Cricut Design Space much easier!

Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies

15 · Nov 12, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Is there anything better than the smell of cookies baking in the oven? One of my favorites is my Mixed Berry Jam and Butter cookies. The butter cookie literally melts in your mouth and then the jam follows with a burst of berry flavor… Oh my, it’s soooo good!! What makes these cookies extra special is the homemade mixed berry jam. It’s a must for sure, no cutting corners here. Come and learn how to make this beautiful jam along with my scrumptious mixed berry jam and butter cookies.

+ This post is brought to you by Newell Brands, makers of Ball® Fresh Preserving Products +

A few months ago, some of you may remember, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the Ball® Canning headquarters at Newell Brands in Indiana. I learned all kinds of fun stuff about how to preserve all of those scrumptious summer treats that we love like peaches & berries so that we can enjoy them all year long.

I had a hands-on lesson that we filmed on how to make my favorite mixed berry jam that I am using for the cookies. I’ve come home and made more jam and my family LOVES it! They love it so much on toast, peanut butter & jam sandwiches, even on top of vanilla yogurt. I thought I would make some of our favorite butter cookies and add some of the jam to make a Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookie. I would call it a thumbprint cookie but, I actually didn’t use my thumb… But more on that in a bit.

Mixed Berry Jam Recipe

First off, you need to make your jam. For that you can head over to the Ball® Fresh Preserving site so that you can follow there step-by-step directions. You know, it’s really important to follow a tested and proven recipe when it comes to preserving food. It would be horrible to make your family sick by using untested recipes that create opportunities for bacteria to grow in your preserved food.

Ball® Jars in the Pantry

I have found that it’s really quite handy to use Ball® jars for canning and preserving food and also use them to store dry goods in my pantry. Check it out…

I always keep some Ball® Jars on hand, so when I do have a fresh batch of berries, peaches, beets, you name it, I can easily preserve a batch and have it ready in no time. I especially like to keep some of the BALL® REGULAR MOUTH HALF-PINT 8 OZ. GLASS MASON JARS in the pantry so I’m ready when I have fruit or veggies ready to can. If you have to stop and run to the store to grab your Ball® Jars, thats makes the process even longer. I also use the BALL® SUPER WIDE MOUTH GALLON 128 OZ. COMMEMORATIVE GLASS JAR to store my flour, sugar and other dry goods that I use often and the BALL® WIDE MOUTH HALF-GALLON 64 OZ. GLASS MASON JARS for other dry goods that I use while cooking. LOVE THEM!!

Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies Recipe

Now that you’ve made your mixed berry jam, we can get started on this SIMPLE recipe! I love that it is easy to whip-up and doesn’t have too many ingredients. Here’s a quick video to show you how to make them.

Butter and Jam Cookies from WhipperBerry from Heather Thoming on Vimeo.

Isn’t that fun? I made these quickly with my daughter and the whole family almost died with delight. The cookies totally melt in your mouth and then the sweet tanginess of the jam really makes them extra special. You’ll notice a few things that may be a little different that your normal thumbprint cookie. We didn’t use our thumbs, nor did we refrigerate the dough before we baked them. I tend to like a more uniform cookie, so we use a cookie scoop and then a 1/2 a teaspoon measuring spoon to make the “thumbprints” in the cookie. Again, more for uniformity than anything. Here’s the recipe…

Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies

Prep 15 mins

Cook 20 mins

Total 35 mins

Author WhipperBerry

Yield 25 cookies

These melt in your mouth delights are perfect for after school or for sharing with neighbors. The homemade Mixed Berry Jam from Ball® Fresh Preserving is really the star of the show!

Ingredients

1 cup {2 sticks} unsalted butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar, plus ¼ cup more for dusting
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
⅛ tsp table salt
2 cups all purpose flour
½ cup of Ball® Fresh Preserving Mixed Berry Jam

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°F with rack on middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on high speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy and light, 2-3 minutes. This is where the magic happens, make sure to take the time to beat the butter and sugar until it's nice and fluffy.
Add vanilla and salt, scraping down bowl as needed. Switch to low and slowly mix in flour, just until combined. Dough should be somewhat sticky.
Using a large cookie scoop, scoop dough on to a parchment-lined baking sheets. Take a 1/2 teaspoon dip it in a bowl of flour and press down the center of each ball, making a deep well in the middle.
Fill cookie centers generously with Mixed Berry Jam. I use the the same 1/2 teaspoon that use to make the wells in the cookie to add the jam
Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. Let cool 5 min. on baking sheet, then gently transfer to finish cooling on wire rack.
When cookies are completely cooled, dust with confectioners' sugar. Cookies can be kept in airtight container at room temp for a few days.

Pro Tips

This cookie dough is less sweet than others, making space for the very sweet mixed berry jam and the generous dusting of powdered sugar at the end.
These cookies are not intended too brown much, as they're more of a shortbread color so keep and eye on them.

Disclosure + I am a paid partner for Newell Brands, makers of Ball® Fresh Preserving Products. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Snowball Bath Bomb Printable Gift Tag

45 · Nov 10, 2017 · 1 Comment

Hey guys! The Holidays are right around the corner and now’s the time to start preparing. I had a friend tell me today, “the Christmas season starts the minute Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is half-time.” I’m not one to run right past Thanksgiving but, I kind of get where he’s coming from. As busy as things get, it’s a great idea to start workin on those fun neighbor, office, teacher and friend gifts. Now, if you’re planning on baking, you’ll have to wait until the last minute to make your treats. With these Snowball Bath Bombs, you can still pull out the mixer and not have to scramble at the last minute to put your sweet treats together. These could be wrapped up in July if you’re really that prepared!

Check out this video to see how easy they are to make…

Snowball Bath Bombs via WhipperBerry from Heather Thoming on Vimeo.

For the full recipe you’ll need to visit I Heart Nap Time to get all of the details on how to make the snowball bath bombs BUT… You can download the free printable HERE.

This tag is double sided. All you need to do is print the front then flip your paper over and print the polka dots on the back side.

Make sure to run over to I Heart Naptime to get all of the instructions on how to make this gem of a little gift. You can also pin the image below to help you remember what you’re going to make for your friends and neighbors this year. Happy gifting!

Crafts

Snowball Bath Bomb Ingredients

Snowball Bath Bomb Instructions

Here is a quick image that you can pin so you don’t forget the recipe.

Why Sew with the Cricut Maker

Here’s a quick little video on how I cut my fabric for the zipper pouch

The WhipperBerry Zipper Pouch Material List

Instructions

Piece the Outside

How to Prepare the Zipper

Attach the Zipper

Finish the Zipper Pouch

Video Tutorial on How to Import and Use Your SVG Files in Cricut Design Space

Mixed Berry Jam Recipe

Ball® Jars in the Pantry

Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies Recipe

Mixed Berry Jam and Butter Cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

Pro Tips

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