The potpourri sachet is made of sheer fabric, which permits the scent to pass through the container. It is sewn in stylish fashion to complement potpourri’s natural appearance. Many sachets even have ribbons and tiny ornaments to boost potpourri’s aesthetic value. Complex as it may look, sewing the sachet is really easy. You can probably make a handful in no time with a good amount of raw materials and some sewing skills.

Two Ways to Make Potpourri

If you look at the potpourri sold at home equipment stores, you will notice that the sachets are not completely similar. More elegant sachets have defined edges while regular ones look like miniature pouches. As you can see, both styles have their own set of pros and cons.

• The Rectangular Cut - more elegant, more durable, more styles can be applied, takes longer to finish, harder to do
• The Circular Cut - easy to create, takes only a few minutes to finish, not nearly as elegant as a well-styled rectangular cut potpourri sachet

Just choose according to your sewing skills, equipment and potpourri-carrying needs. You can even try creating both, so you can see which style is truly better.

The Rectangle Cut

People who are adept at using a sewing machine can create their own potpourri sachets in minutes. With a little help from this sewing device, they can maneuver, manipulate and in the end, sew together the sachet. This method requires sewing precision, so be careful when doing the packet’s contours.

Materials Used:

• 10 1/4 -inches x 3 1/4-inches fabric (any sheer or porous item)
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon
• iron
• ironing board
• scissors
• ruler
• pencil
• sewing needle
• sewing thread
• tiny ornaments (bells, beads, etc.)
• potpourri

Procedure:

1. Select a fabric and ribbon material. Remember, the textile should be sheer, so the scent of potpourri can spread easily.
2. With the ribbon and fabric material finalized, you can purchase all the items you need. A visit to the supermarket or the department store should take care of everything.
3. Outline the sachet’s dimensions (10 1/4-inches x 3 1/4-inches) onto the fabric using a pencil. It should appear as a rectangle.
4. Cut out the outline.
5. Once done, fold the sides’ outer edges 1/4-inch back.
6. Fold the now layered outer edges, bringing them together.
7. Iron both sides on an ironing board, so the edges will stay folded during the sewing stage.
8. Run both sides through the sewing machine, stitching them shut.
9. Stitch seams on all sides to increase the sachet’s durability. The sachet should already be sewn together right after.
10. Place some potpourri inside the sachet, preferably half-filled.
11. Once done, position the tiny ornaments at the bag’s top portion.
12. Tie a ribbon near the top to close the sachet and hold the ornaments in place.

You can make the sachet larger or smaller than the size indicated in the instructions, depending on your home’s needs. Smaller sachets are easy to transport and store. Large sachets, on the other hand, look more elegant, making them home ornaments, as well as natural air fresheners.

The Circular Cut

This method, though less elegant, is much simpler than the previous one. The procedure does not require any sewing nor the use of a sewing machine. The truth is, you should have no problems finishing one within 30 minutes or less.

Materials Used:

• 1 x 1 yard fabric
• scissors
• string
• pencil
• rubberband
• ribbon
• sewing needle
• saucer
• potpourri
• tiny ornaments (beads, fake berries, etc.)

Procedure:

1. Purchase the fabric from a textile store. Make sure that the fabric you chose is porous enough for the potpourri’s fragrance to escape.
2. Lay the fabric on a flat surface. Keep the fabric straight and free from folds.
3. Once done, place the saucer on the surface face down.
4. Trace the saucer’s shape on the fabric with your pencil.
5. When the outline has been completed, cut it out with a pair of scissors. You should have a circular piece of fabric after cutting.
6. Place the potpourri at the center of the circle.
7. Wrap the potpourri with the fabric, creating a small pouch with an opening on top.
8. Tie a rubberband near the top of the sachet to seal the opening.
9. Get a fake berry or any other small ornament. Tie its tip to a piece of string.
10. When the small ornament has been secured, tie the string near the rubberband.
11. Tie the ribbon into a bow above the string and the rubberband. Make sure that the connection is secure.

This version is preferred by most people due to its relative simplicity. The rectangular cut may be more durable, but you can produce a ton of sachets using this method in just a few hours. The circular cut potpourri sachet works best during the holiday season, especially if you have lots of friends and family members.

Easy to Carry Potpourri

Potpourri, with its refreshing scent and natural design, is a swell home ornament, as well as a good item for presents. By creating sachets, you can add more dimensions to its appearance, plus you can style the pouches to match any room theme. Giving potpourri presents will also be much easier, since you can fit them almost anywhere. Clearly, making potpourri sachets is essential for potpourri lovers. Learn it and you’ll appreciate your potpourri collection even further.

Watch The Video

How to Make Potpourri : How to Make Potpourri Sachets

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How to Make Potpourri : How to Display Potpourri

What You Should Know

A cat’s food preference and nutritional requirements have certain standards that should be met when preparing cat food. Your kitty will either ignore what you prepared or get sick of eating it if you don’t base your homemade cat food on these facts:

• Cats have a high requirement for protein, even higher than dogs’. Their meals should obviously be protein-based.
• Properly prepared homemade cat food is better than anything found on the market. Commercial cat food usually fails to meet the nutritional standards of felines. In addition, these items are pretty expensive, so you’re better off creating meals rather than purchasing them.
• Cats love eating fresh meat. Preserved or aged ones fall behind in the taste department, but a hungry feline will have no second thoughts eating them as well.
• Cats will eat almost any type of food, as long as it bears a scent that they truly adore. For instance, rice that smells like sardines will be devoured in an instant.
• Salmon oil, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, kelp/dulse, organic organ meat, and psyllium are essential elements in a cat’s diet. You can center your cat food’s ingredients on these items.
• Cooked meat is healthier for your cat.
• Food products like raw eggs, pork, onions may cause ailments to your cat, especially when eaten in large amounts.
• A cat’s food preference may vary from another feline’s. When making cat food, think about the products that felines generally like. Fish and poultry are favorites, including their scents, which are important factors.

After reading this list, you can probably already guess your cat food’s components. You can create different sets of feline meals based on these requirements, so your cats will have variety in the things they eat.

The Balanced Cat Meal

This recipe is the most complex to create, but it is also the most nutritious for your cat. The meat will provide much needed protein, while salmon oil fills in the fat content in a cat’s diet. All the other ingredients complete the dish that is considered “The Balanced Diet for Cats.” Make this meal your first choice if you have the time and patience to prepare it.

Materials Used:

• whole chicken
• 400 g chicken heart
• 200 g chicken liver
• 2 cups water
• 4000g salmon oil
• 4 tsp psyllium
• 800 IU vitamin E
• 200 mg vitamin B complex
• 4 capsules gland supplement
• grinder
• mixing bowls
• jar (with lid) for storage
• knife
• spoon

Procedure:

1. Go to a grocery and purchase the poultry and organ meat. Head to a health store for the rest of the ingredients.
2. Use the knife to sever the meat from the bones. Get the thinner bones and place them in a bowl.
3. Cut the meat into small cubes then set them in another bowl. Place the organ meat in that bowl as well.
4. Store both bowls for now in the freezer.
5. Get another bowl. Pour two cups of water inside.
6. Add the rest of the ingredients one-by-one, with the psyllium being last. Stir the mixture thoroughly every time you add an item.
7. When the mixture is ready, set the two bowls in the refrigerator.
8. Place the bones and organ meat in the grinder. Grind the components until they are reduced to tiny bits.
9. Place the ground bones and organ meat in a bowl.
10. Add the meat and the mixture to the mix. Stir the bowl’s contents.
11. When your cat food is ready, you can serve it to your pets or store it in a glass jar.
12. Refrigerate the glass jar when not feeding your cat.

You can interchange the chicken with other poultry items like turkey and rabbit. Just select according to your pet’s preferences, number and appetites. After about half an hour, throw away the leftovers. The raw meat might attract germs and bacteria if it stays for too long in your cat’s feeding bowl.

Beef Liver Cat Food

Beef liver contains a balance of protein and enzymes that are beneficial for your cat’s health. Cats also love the organ’s distinct taste, which makes this meal a good alternative to “The Balanced Cat Meal.” All of the ingredients are abundant, so buying them won’t be a problem.

Materials Used:

• 1/4 lb beef liver
• 1 tsp corn oil
• 1/4 cup water
• bread bits
• knife
• spoon
• pan
• jar
• grinder

Procedure:

1. Pour the corn oil in a pan then switch on your oven.
2. When the oil is heated, place the beef liver in the pan. Cook it until it is a bit fried.
3. Add water and the bread bits to the pan, then stir.
4. After frying, place the pan’s contents in a grinder.
5. Grind the ingredients until a slightly liquefied substance is formed.
6. Place a good amount of cat food in your pets’ feeding bowl.
7. Store the remaining cat food in a jar. Refrigerate it when not feeding your cat.

This meal is simple to prepare. You can probably create it in about half an hour. Switch the beef liver cat food with the previous dish from time to time, so your cat will not refuse eating other meals.

Mackerel Delight

Fish is a normal part of a cat’s diet, though some species and fish-related conditions may be adverse to kitty’s health. Mackerel comes as a safe and delectable option. Its fresh taste makes it a hit on both the dinner table and pet feeding bowl. It happens to be a key ingredient of a dish well-loved by most cats.

Materials Used:

• 1 small mackarel
• 1 tsp corn oil
• 1/4 cup water
• knife
• spoon
• pan
• jar
• grinder

Procedure:

1. Pour the corn oil in a pan then turn on your oven.
2. When the oil has been heated, set the mackerel in the pan. Fry it to a golden crisp.
3. After frying, wait for the pan to cool, then add the water. Stir the pan thoroughly.
4. Use your fingers to cut the fish into small pieces. With your knife, remove the meat stuck to the bones.
5. Place the fish meat and the corn oil solution in the grinder.
6. Grind the mixture until the fish and the solution blend.
7. Serve a portion to your pets and then store the rest of the cat food in a jar.
8. Place the jar in the refrigerator when not in use.

Cats naturally love fish, which makes this dish a popular creation for pet owners. To make the dish more filling, you can add a generous amount of rice. It will give the meal better texture while your pet will benefit from the added carbohydrates. Just make sure that you spread some fish/corn oil on the rice, or else your cat will only eat the mackerel.

The Meal Rotation

Cats may be picky eaters, but once they settle on a particular dish, they will refuse eating other stuff. That’s normally okay, but if you decide to bring your cat to a different place with limited supplies, he may starve. You should rotate its meals occasionally, so you will have more choices for feeding your cat. Learn how to prepare these three feline dishes and you will never have to buy another pricey can of cat food ever again.

Watch The Video

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Snowflake Options

There are different types of makeshift snowflakes, and you can incorporate the pop can ring in all of them. The soda can component’s light weight and small size make it a welcome addition to even the weakest form of ornamental snowflakes. Its silver, sometimes glittering, color is somewhat similar to the appearance of actual snowflakes. With the ring readily available, here are three of your best options.

• Paper Pop Can Ring Snowflake
• Thread Pop Can Ring Snowflake
• Fishing Line Pop Can Ring Snowflake

The different base materials for the snowflakes have distinct properties. If you want a minimalistic yet stylish item, the fishing line pop can ring snowflake comes as a good choice. Its thread-based counterpart, on the other hand, suits homes with grand designs. The paper pop can ring snowflake is a balance between the two, though its durability is questionable.

Paper Pop Can Ring Snowflake

The paper pop can ring snowflake, when it comes to appearance, is the closest among the three to the actual snowflake. Its color is an exact match, while the contours capture a snowflake’s simplistic elegance.

When incorporating the pop can ring, a sturdy type of paper should be used. The ring may be light, but normal paper, especially when you plan to implement intricate patterns, will have trouble carrying the soda can component. Art paper is a good choice, given its durability.

Materials Used:

• art paper
• scissors
• 6 - 12 pop can rings
• pencil
• sewing needle
• thread
• hole punch (smallest size)
• string

Procedure:

1. Fold the art paper’s top side, creating a triangle in the process. Unflap the triangle then do the same with the opposite side.
2. Crease the excess portion up.
3. Cut off the excess part, which leaves you with a square piece.
4. Fold one of the top sides to form a triangle.
5. Crease the top side down, forming a halved triangle.
6. Fold the paper in half, so you’ll arrive at a stylish triangular shape.
7. Cut the folded side to create a real triangle.
8. Once done, draw patterns on the triangle using your pencil. Don’t make them too sheer, too small and too close to each other, so you can fit the pop can rings.
9. Cut out the patterns carefully.
10. Unfold the snowflake and check the pattern. (Your snowflake must have six identical sides.)
11. Find thick portions of the design for each side.
12. Cut out portions of the patterns, then fit the pop can rings in.
13. Sew the rings to the patterns. Make sure that they are stitched tightly.
14. If the snowflake holds up, punch a hole at the flake’s top portion.
15. Slide a string through the hole. Tie its ends together.
16. Hang the snowflake on a visible corner.

The paper pop can ring snowflake can be made into a 3D figure. Just repeat the process for a separate piece of paper, which will eventually become the ornament’s opposite side. The two sides must be completely identical to achieve the 3D effect. To join the two sides, simply punch a hole at the top portions of both sheets and slide a piece of string through both holes. Tie the string’s ends, then tape or glue together both pieces.

Thread Pop Can Ring Snowflake

Thread is sturdy and and is often used to create elegant pieces. A thread-based makeshift snowflake is no exception. The snowflake appears as a pricey embroidered item that blends even with the grandest home themes. Remarkably, the materials shouldn’t cost more than five bucks, making it a cost-effective creation. This snowflake version should be your choice if you’re adept at sewing.

Materials Used:

• thread/yarn
• 8 - 16 pop can rings
• sewing needle/knitting needles/cross stitch needle
• internet connection
• pencil
• thumbtack (optional)
• string (optional)
• tiny ornaments (optional)

Procedure:

1. Go online on and find a nice snowflake pattern, with a guide, on the Internet. Key in on Google or Yahoo! the terms “snowflake sewing patterns.” The search engine will direct you to hundreds of websites that offer free patterns.
2. Check some of the sites and select a pattern. Eight-sided thread-based snowflakes look good. The guide should be complete with an image and pattern coordinates. If you’re lucky, you might even find one with a worded procedure.
3. Print the guide.
4. Mark portions on the pattern where you will insert the pop can rings. Make sure that the rings are exactly on the same spot for each side.
5. Follow the instructions provided by the guide’s image and coordinates. Stitch carefully because a slight error will wreck the entire pattern.
6. Sew the pop can rings into the snowflake. Do additional stitches, if necessary. Remember, the rings must be secure, since they carry the design for each of the snowflake’s sides.
7. When you have sewn your creation, you have the option of hanging your creation using a thumbtack or a piece of string. Sew additional ornaments if you find the pattern too plain.

Ideally, white thread or yarn should be used, but if your room’s design calls for something else, feel free to play with the colors. You can even interchange red and green thread, and paint the pop can rings, so your creation will bear the official Christmas color combination. Place your creation in your living room or near your Christmas tree for a complete Christmas theme.

Fishing Line Pop Can Ring Snowflake

The fishing line pop can ring snowflake is the humblest among the three creations. Its design is not nearly as grand as the thread or the paper-based snowflake, but it is the hands down choice of minimalists. Its simplicity makes it easy to match with room themes. It can even be placed in positions where the other two snowflakes types won’t fit. If you’re looking for versatility, the fishing line pop can ring snowflake is your obvious choice.

Creating the fishing line pop can ring is similar to doing its thread-based counterpart. You have to follow a sewing pattern guide, but switch the thread with a fishing line. Plot the points where you can insert the rings. Once done, stitch the piece together, including the pop can rings. Make sure their connections are secure within the pattern. Hang the snowflake via thumbtacks or a string and a hook.

Creative and Practical

Who would have thought that a seemingly useless item such as a pop can ring can be used to create an intricate masterpiece? By using the soda can component, a standard makeshift snowflake suddenly looks more striking. It also adds novelty and boosts the ornament’s aesthetic value. You should try your hand at making the handmade decoration. Its sheer beauty will certainly bring out the Christmas spirit in you and everyone else that sees it.

Watch The Video

How To Make A Snowflake

Making SnowFlakes

How To Make An Awesome Paper Snowflake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp peppermint oil
• powdered sugar
• food color

Materials Used:

• cookie sheet
• candy thermometer
• plastic wrap
• mixing bowl
• pan
• oven
• ribbon
• bow
• string

Procedure:

1. Place some powdered sugar on a cookie sheet.
2. Set the oven at medium heat then place the corn syrup, sugar and water in a pan. Stir and cook the mixture until it reaches the soft-crack stage. Use the candy thermometer to check.
3. Add the food coloring and the peppermint oil. Stir the mixture thoroughly, so the peppermint and the food coloring are well distributed.
4. Set the mixture on a cookie sheet.
5. When the mixture has cooled down for a bit, mold it to the shape of a Christmas wreath.
6. Place the candy cane wreath on the cookie sheet with the powdered sugar until it hardens.
7. When the wreath is formed, wrap it in a plastic wrap.
8. Tie the ribbon around the wreath then attach the bow at the top portion.
9. Affix the string at the of the wreath then hang it on your door or wall.

This luscious snack cum Christmas ornament is pretty elegant, given its colors and overall appearance. If you make enough candy cane wreaths, you won’t need to by candy canes at all!

More than Your Average Christmas Wreath

Edible versions of the Christmas wreath are the perfect creations for the Christmas season. They can be used as decorations, components of a Christmas dinner, or even gifts for your family and friends. With all these features rolled into one item, why settle for a normal Christmas wreath? Merry Christmas!

Watch The Video

Christmas Crafts : How To Make Christmas Candy Wreaths

Christmas Crafts : How To Make A Giant Holiday Wreath

Christmas Crafts : How To Make A Christmas Card Wreath

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup citric acid
• 2 tbsp white Kaolin clay
• 1 tbsp grape seed oil
• 2 tsp poly sorbate 80
• Vitamin E oil
• 1 tsp fragrance oil
• 1/4 tsp borax powder
• 1/4 tsp gel colorant
• 12 spritzers of alcohol
• Round plastic mold

How You’ll Do It:

Step 1

Mix in the baking soda, citric acid, and Kaolin clay in a bowl.

Step 2

Put the grape seed oil, a little bit of Vitamin E oil and poly sorbate 80 in a cup. Add one quarter of the gel colorant into the mix.

Step 3

Add a quarter teaspoon of borax to the oil mix.

Step 4

For the fragrance oil, one teaspoon is enough. Add the fragrance oil to the mix.

Step 5

Mix the oil mixture together well. Pour it right into the bowl of baking soda, citric acid, and Kaolin clay.

Step 6

Mix the mixture quickly in a circular motion.

Step 7

Squirt the mixture with alcohol. Give it three squirts, then mix well. Do it four times for a total of 12 squirts.

Step 8

The texture should become like damp sand once you’re done.

Step 9

To mold the fizzies, use two-part plastic craft molds. Pack each side very tightly and firmly. If you’re doing themes for your fizzies, put the designs on the molds first before packing the powder to the mold. The important part is to overpack the mold and place the other half on top. Don’t twist; just push-slide, and then squeeze, removing the excess along the edge.

Step 10

To remove the mold, give it a slight pinch and then remove.

Step 11

Let the ball dry for around 24 to 48 hours.

If you have extra fizz, but it’s not enough to make another bath bomb, add it in a plastic of Dead Sea salt and mix thoroughly. They will make for some good fizzing salts.

Watch The Video

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What you’ll need:

Oil Phase

• 3 oz. cocoa butter
• 2 oz. jojoba oil
• 1 oz. fractionated coconut oil
• 1.5 oz. Emulsifying Wax NF

Water Phase

• 16 oz. water
• 1 tbsp. glycerine
• 1 tsp. Cosmocil CQ
• Mixer or blender
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Funnel

How You’ll Do It:

Step 1

For the oil phase, measure and prepare the oils, cocoa butter, and emulsifying wax. Weigh each ingredient and put in a sterile measuring cup or beaker.

Step 2

Chop your cocoa butter into smaller pieces to help facilitate easier meltdown.

Step 3

Place the cocoa butter pieces in a microwaveable bowl and measure in the emulsifying wax.

Step 4

Measure in your liquid oils.

Step 5

Place in a microwave oven at about 50 to 80% power to avoid overheating and burning the ingredients. heat for about one minute, then check and stir.

Step 6

For the water phase, measure and mix using the blender for about 30 seconds. If you’re using preservatives, add them.

Step 7

With the blender on low, add the oil phase to the water phase slowly; just let it trickle in. Once they’re all mixed together, continue to mix for another two minutes. You will know it’s right when the mixture is off-white to white with a little foamy top. Mixture consistency should be thin.

Step 8

If you’re using scenting materials, add them.

Step 9

Add your colorants if you’re using them. It is recommended that you mix the colorants with glycerine.

Step 10

To package your lotion, just pour it into a squeezable plastic bottle or a wide-mouthed plastic jar.

Step 11

Allow the lotion to come to room temperature about an hour before using. It will thicken upon standing.

The thickness of the lotion will vary depending on whether you use an alcohol or Cosmocil preserve. Now, you don’t have to spend tons of money on commercial skin lotions anymore; just make your own!

Watch The Video

Lotion Making 101: How To Make Lotion

What you’ll need:

• Square piece of paper

How You’ll Do It:

Step 1

With one of the pointed side of the paper pointing at you, start folding it in a kite shape.

Step 2

Fold the paper lengthwise by the middle.

Step 3

You should now have a triangle-shaped paper. The longest point will be the swan’s head. Open it up and then reverse-fold it down.

Step 4

Open the head up by the sides and then fold along the crease on both sides.

Step 5

Reverse-fold the head back up again.

Step 6

Fold the tail down by opening the body part and folding the other end in. Close it off.

Step 7

Fold the tail right back up again. Fold the wings as far up as it can go as well.

Step 8

Bend the straight point to make the head.

You now have a nice swan to display or play with. Put it on a little stream and watch it float.

Watch The Video

Folding Origami Paper Crafts : How To Make An Origami Swan

The Graham Cracker Alternative

Many people make their own gingerbread house creations today. These delightful treats serve as yummy desserts and dainty and delectable centerpieces. Of course, you can’t make a life-size one, and crafting one from gingerbread is very difficult. You have to cut out patterns, bake the gingerbread and make it sturdy enough to stand on its own. To make the task easier, many people use a more versatile material for their gingerbread house structure: graham crackers.

Graham cracker gingerbread houses are very popular especially when served during special occasions and holidays like Halloween, Easter and Christmas. Compared to gingerbread ones, they’re sturdier, easier to decorate and they last for a longer time. Edible houses made from graham crackers are also just as lovely and pleasant-looking.

Making a graham cracker gingerbread house might sound tedious, but it’s actually very easy. You don’t have to be a wicked witch to make one of these delightful treats.

Your Yummy House’s Base

Before you start glueing and sticking your graham crackers to each other, there’s one important factor you should take care of: the base. Just like a cake needs a cake board and a pie needs a pie tin, you must prepare a sturdy and steady base where your graham house will stand. A strong base is very crucial to the whole structure since it holds the house up. Remember that even if the crackers are lighter than bread, they will have icing, candies and other additional sweets on them, adding a lot of weight. If you’re not careful in choosing your base, the whole house will collapse.

Most people use regular pie tins turned upside down for their gingerbread house, but these can be small, and aren’t very stable most of the time. If you want to produce a better gingerbread house base, here’s how:

Materials Used:

• 2 cake boards (You can get these from a cake decorating store)
• adhesive tape
• Foiled paper or aluminum foil

Procedure:

1. Get the two cake boards and place them against each other. They must be flat and of the same size so they’ll fit perfectly.
2. Get four pieces of adhesive tape and secure the cake board edges.
3. Get enough foiled paper or aluminum to cover one surface of the cake board. Make sure it’s wrapped tight around the board, then secure it with adhesive tape.

Base Alternatives

If you’re planning to use the graham cracker gingerbread house for a festive and more elegant setting, you can use a decorative platter for your base. It’s more presentable, although it might be more slippery than the cake board. You can also use a flat piece of wood from your garage. Just make sure you cover it with food-safe paper.

Shaping Your Graham Creation

Now that you’ve got your base, you can now proceed on structuring your yummy home. You have to set aside the frosting and candies, though, because you first need to make the house’s outline. You can do this through numerous ways. Here are a couple of tactics you can try.

The Milk Carton Method

If you’re pressed for time or if you’re not very crafty, this tactic is more recommended. You won’t need to cut crackers for gables, and putting the house together is a lot easier. Here’s how:

Materials Used:

• Graham crackers
• empty half-gallon milk carton
• Adhesive tape
• Scissors
• Homemade or store-bought frosting
• Frosting bag/sandwich bag

Procedure:

1. Decide first on how tall you want your gingerbread house to be. Measure the height down from the milk carton’s top, then cut off the excess on the bottom part.
2. Secure the top of the milk carton by taping it close.
3. Stick the milk carton to the base using adhesive tape. Make sure it’s secured properly, otherwise your structure will fall to pieces.
4. Attach graham crackers to the sides of the carton, as the walls of the house, using the frosting as glue. Afterwards, attach two more graham crackers on the slopes of the “roof”– the milk carton top.

You now have the most basic graham cracker gingerbread house. You can proceed on decorating it. Make sure to hide parts of the carton that still show, so your creation will look absolutely dashing.

The All-Graham Method

If you’re crafty and patient enough, this gingerbread house tactic might be better for you. There’s no need to use a carton, but you’ll need a careful hand when propping and glueing the structure together. Here’s how to create this treat.

Materials Used:

• Frosting
• Frosting bag / sandwich bag
• Graham crackers
• Serrated knife

Procedure:

1. Prepare your icing by placing it inside the frosting bag. If you don’t have one, you can use an ordinary sandwich plastic bag. Spoon the mixture inside the bag, squeeze, then cut 1/4 inch off one corner of the bag. You now have a makeshift icing tube.
2. Ready your gingerbread “house pieces”, or the graham crackers. Get six whole, unseparated, uncracked and unbroken crackers. Four of them will be for the two long sides of the house and the roof. The two remaining crackers will be for the end gable pieces.
3. Take the two crackers for the gables, and cut them with a serrated knife, using a gentle sawing motion. To measure how much you’re going to cut off, use the short end of one cracker and measure the angled line from the center of the long part, to the cracker’s center line.
4. Do the same for the other gable cracker.
5. Squeeze a bead of icing along the gable end’s square edges. Place this bottom part firmly onto the base.
6. Squeeze another bead of icing down the two short sides of a cracker, and along the bottom edge. Don’t put the bead on the short edge; place it on the flat, slightly in from the edge, portion. This will allow your side wall cracker to overlap the gable end cracker slightly at the corner, making it more stable.
7. Position the long edge of the wall cracker perpendicularly to the base edge of the end gable cracker.
8. Stick the side edge of the end gable cracker to the icing bead on the wall cracker’s flat side. This will let the walls hold each other up.
9. Position the other gable the same way you did with the first.
10. Add the crackers for the roof, the same way you added the wall crackers, but this time, pipe the icing on the flat of the roof, and not on the edges. Stick the roof’s flat to the top edges of the walls and gable ends.
11. Let the frosting set for 15 to 20 minutes before moving or touching the house again. Decorating it immediately might only make it collapse.

Decorating The House

Now comes the fun part, which is decorating your graham cracker creation to make it eye-pleasing and yummy-looking. You can use various materials for this, such as candies , lollipops, raisins, marshmallows, nuts, shredded coconut, licorice and chocolate. You just need to be creative and imaginative, so you’ll come up with a fantastic design. Here are several tips when decorating your gingerbread house.

• You need plenty of icing and frosting when decorating, because these will serve as your glue. Make sure your icing’s consistency is just right, too. Icing that’s too thick will be hard to squeeze out, and one that’s too thin will make the candies slide off the crackers.
• Decorate according to the season and occasion. For example, if it’s Christmas, use plenty of red and green, and get a Santa candy or Snowman candy to stand beside the house. If it’s Halloween, buy small plastic bats and ghoulie candies for decoration. For Easter, plenty of Easter eggs will do.
• Get bits of graham cracker to add as features for the house. You can make miniature doors, chimneys, and even a small fence.
• Use a different-colored frosting for the house’s piping.
• Don’t waste the “yard” around the house. Decorate your gingerbread house base with edible items too. Licorice ropes will make good fences, upside down ice cream cones can be trees, while lollipops are great as lamp posts. Sprinkle shredded coconut or powdered sugar all over, to look like snow.
• Be imaginative. Create shingles, doorknobs and window shutters with the candies. Use a Lifesaver candy and put it on the front door, to look like a Christmas wreath.
• If you want your creation to be just for decoration, you can spray a sealant to preserve it. Of course, this means you can’t eat it anymore.

No matter what special occasion you’re celebrating, a gingerbread house is always a welcome treat everyone will love. Make this delightful creation, and you’re sure to please kiddies and adults at your celebration. If everything goes well, everyone will be as mesmerized as Hansel and Gretel when they first saw the magnificent and delicious gingerbread house in front of them!

Here’s a video that shows how to make a graham cracker gingerbread house:

Can You Catch The Gingerbread Men?

Gingerbread men are made from gingerbread, a sweet pastry with predominant flavors of raw sugar and ginger. Gingerbread can be created into various forms, such as thin or chewy cookies and flavorful cakes, but among all these treats, nothing is more popular than gingerbread men. These cookies even inspired a fairy tale, The Gingerbread Man, that tells the story of a naughty runaway gingerbread man who met his demise between the teeth of a clever fox.

Gingerbread men are formed in the shape of a stylized human, with stubby feet and hands, but no fingers. Their faces are either made from candies and icing or are indented in the dough. They can also have other decorations like shirt cuffs, hair, shirt buttons and shoes. All these things make them a sweet and adorable treat for children and adults everywhere.

With the holidays coming, you must remember to whip up a yummy and tangy batch of gingerbread men to delight the kiddies. It’s easy to make these treats. Here’s how.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• One teaspoon of ground ginger
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of molasses
• Frosting, icing, sprinkles and other candies for decoration

What You’ll Need:

• Whisk or mixer (either a hand or electric type will do)
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie cutter
• Parchment paper
• Plastic wrap
• Rolling pin
• Wooden spoon
• Cookie sheet

Procedure:

1. Get the dry ingredients, including the flour, nutmeg, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Mix them together in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
2. Get the vanilla, butter, water, sugar and molasses. Mix them separately in a large bowl, using the whisk. If the butter is not soft enough to mix by hand, use an electric whisk.
3. Combine the two mixtures in a larger bowl, adding small amounts of the flour mix to the wet ingredients. Using a wooden spoon, mix them together slowly, until they turn into a soft dough. Don’t use the electric whisk when doing this though, or the flour might splatter out of the bowl.
4. Prepare the dough and divide it in half, covering the sections in Saran wrap or plastic wrap. Put these both in the refrigerator for at least two hours or until they become firm and hard.
5. Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit or 190° Celsius.
6. Now, you’re going to shape the gingerbread men. Using your rolling pi, flour your cutting board or counter top lightly before rolling out the dough. Make sure the dough is either 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch thick. Get your cookie cutters, then cut out the man shapes, placing them on your baking sheet. Recycle the leftover dough by rolling it out again and cutting more gingerbread men out.
7. Let the cookies bake for nine to 12 minutes, or until they’re lightly browned. Take them out from the oven, leave them on the baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer them to the cooling rack. Don’t try to remove them from the sheet immediately, or some pieces might become severed.
8. Once partially cooled, you can decorate your gingerbread men.

Decorating Your Men

Anyone would agree that the best part of making gingerbread men, or any type of cookie, is decorating and personalizing them. It’s exciting to use your imagination to create various designs on your homemade cookies. They’ll be so adorable, everyone will have a hard time gobbling them up!

Frosting and sprinkles are great when decorating gingerbread men, but you can also use royal icing. Use it to outline the cookies or coat it thinly all over the surface for a crunchy finish.

Here’s a simple recipe for your own homemade royal icing.

Ingredients:

• Four cups of confectioners’ sugar
• Three egg whites
• One teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
• Lemon, peppermint or vanilla extract (optional)

Things You’ll Need:

• Electric mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Plastic bag or pastry bag

Procedure:

1. Whip the cream of tartar and the egg whites in the mixing bowl until foamy.
2. Sprinkle the sugar gradually, then add the lemon juice and extract. Continue whipping.
3. Keep beating the mixture for five to seven minutes on high speed, until it creates stiff, glossy peaks.
4. Transfer to a pastry bag, and use to draw on the gingerbread men.

Other Decorating Tips

Aside from royal icing, frosting and sprinkles, you can use various items to decorate your gingerbread men. For example, raisins or black candy can be used for the eyes or buttons, while red licorice can be the lips. You can be very particular with details, and add in designs like dimples and jewelry on the sweet biscuits. Here are a few more decorating tactics you can try.

• To attach candies to your cookies, dab some royal icing or drop a bit of corn syrup on the cookie first, so they’ll hold in place.
• Dust powdered sugar over the cookies, for a sweeter taste and cuter look.
• Use a small paintbrush or a toothpick to paint details on the treats.
• Let your kids join in the fun by allowing them to help decorate the gingerbread men. You’ll be surprised at the great designs they’ll come up with.

Here’s a video with more tips and ideas:

Sweet Fun With Gingerbread Men

Nobody can deny the fun gingerbread men bring to holidays. Whether you’re cooking them or gobbling them up, these sweet treats are definitely worth having. So what are you waiting for? Get the kitchen ready for some gingerbread men action!

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp green food coloring
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp powdered ginger
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup molasses
• red round candies

Materials Used:

• mixing bowls
• mixer
• pan
• oven
• wax paper
• rolling pin
• plastic
• red and green ribbons

Procedure:

1. Place the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, black pepper, powdered ginger and the nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Mix the bowl’s contents until they blend together.
2. Place the butter in a separate mixing bowl.
3. Run the mixer on the butter until it liquefies.
4. Add the sugar, molasses, food coloring and the egg. Run the mixer on the mixture until it becomes fluffy.
5. Slowly add the first mixture while continuing to mix the bowl.
6. Once done, refrigerate the bowl for a couple of hours.
7. After refrigerating, retrieve the bowl and place the dough on wax paper.
8. Use the rolling pin to flatten dough.
9. Mold and shape the dough to form the wreath. Carve impressions similar to an evergreen wreath using a knife or stick.
10. Position the red candies on the wreath stylishly.
11. Set the oven to medium heat. Bake the wreath until it’s crispy.
12. After baking, remove the wreath from the oven and wrap it in plastic.
13. Twist the red and green ribbons around the wreath to make it look stylish. You can then set it in a visible spot or hang it.

If you find the wreath too brittle, just wrap it with another layer of plastic. The added layer will preserve its shape and consistency. Just make sure that your kids won’t play with it before your serve it during Christmas dinner.

If you have any dough left over, you can use it to make gingerbread men. Here’s a video demonstration: