Advent Calendars

I saw these in a magazine last year and decided I was going to make some for this year.  I bought the fabric and it really turned out nicely...except I have four children, but only had enough fabric to make three.

I stamped these with the numbers for each day.  I hung them with care (which was quite the ordeal because we couldn't get the Command hooks to work so we just put nails in the wall, argggghhh).

I had to figure out what to do for my son.  I am a hoarder of jeans...I have finished a picnic quilt, and I have many more to do so jeans are aplenty at my house.  My oldest daughter had a brilliant idea.  I actually had a ton of old jeans from my son when he was little, so we cut out 25 pockets and here's what we came up with.

They are all of his back pockets!!!

We glittered up some tags and stamped them.  We may throw in a couple of red ribbons to jazz it up a little more, but it really turned out fun.  I hope this gives you some ideas for next year.  What kind of advent calendar do you use?  I've seen tons of different ones on pinterest...be creative!!!!!
Blessings!!!!!!!!

Gingerbread Creations!!!

It's that time of year where we are entrenched in cookie dough and Christmas goodies.  I have finally found a great gingerbread recipe that holds up well and tastes great.  On this search, I have also encountered some fantastic cookie cutters that make life even more joyful around here!

I have searched high and low for this certain set of cookie cutters.  My name is Ginger; my nickname is Ginja the Ninja (hello, best nickname EVER!, hahahaha).  Anyways, there are these cookie cutters I have spied online, but I'm too cheap to pay for shipping, so I have been biding my time, waiting to find these little gems and BOOM, I was walking through Target one day and they were magically there.  I cried out in the store, "No way!" and bought a set on the spot.  May I introduce my Ginga the Ninjabread men cookies!!

Aren't they adorable????  But wait, there's more gingerbread madness.  Walking through said Target, I spied another cookie cutter next to my ninjas that had my creative cogs moving...hmmmm, what could I do with these.  Let me show you...

They are called "gingerdead men" which didn't seem very festive to me for Christmas (more for Halloween) so I figured a way to make these little guys funny.  Enter a handcrafted outlet and voila, I entitle it, "What happens to naughty gingerbread men."  I entered this picture in a contest on a blog I follow (Frills in the Hills) and I won a $95 Puremelt chocolate kit!  I couldn't believe it!  I don't win anything!  But this is how we do funny and festive at my house!!!

This last gingerbread configuration is one I have been doing for years.  I have a stoneware mold from Pampered Chef that I bought 14 years ago.  It's a train...you can do gingerbread in it, chocolate, regular cookie mix.  It's been a staple around here for a long time.

I hope you are having a wonderful time with your creations out of cookie dough!  I am sending you gingerbread dreams!!!!  The recipe follows if you're interested. Blessings to you and your family!

Here's the recipe I used:

3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger (this is mild; if you like it spicy, add 1 TBSP)
1 3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
6 TBSP unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 tsp vanilla

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.  Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until it's well blended. Add your molasses and vanilla until well blended.  Gradually stir in dry ingredients until all is blended and smooth.  Divide the dough in half and wrap in plastic.  You can leave at room temp. for two hours, or do as I do and put it in the fridge for at least an hour.  Roll out your dough using two sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper. Flour your cookie cutters and cut out your shapes.  I bake my cookies on a cookie sheet with parchment for 7 - 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Note: I actually mix my ingredients in my food processor.  It's fast and easy.  Just don't overwork it!