Easy-Homemade-Recipes
Everything From Household Products to Kitchen Staples

Welcome to Easy Homemade Recipes

Sign up for our email list to get exclusive tips 

Aftershave Splash Recipe

Birthday Bouquet

A mini-garden of candy-coated, chocolate-dipped marshmallows blooms from a colorful flowerpot.

Double-Dipped Marshmallow Sticks

Present the gift in the pot, as shown, but advise the recipient to wrap any uneaten sticks in airtight containers to store.

What You Need:

	Grow these decorative marshmallows for a sweet birthday gift or party favor.

• Foam ball
• Colorful flowerpot
• Thick white crafts glue
• Candy sprinkles
• Shredded paper

To Present This Gift:

1. Gently press the foam ball into the flowerpot. Glue candy sprinkles on the outside of the flowerpot. Let the glue dry.

2. Fill the top of the flowerpot with shredded paper. Push the ends of the marshmallow sticks into the foam ball to secure upright.

Also try this... Use small colored marshmallows instead of shredded paper to cover the foam ball after the sticks are inserted. (Make sure that the recipient knows that the colored marshmallows are for decorative purposes and not to be eaten.)

 

Birthday Cookie Bags
Whimsical is the word for these colorful cookies tucked into a pretty bag with playfully oversize handles.

Polka-Dot Drops

Why save all the rich butter cookies for Christmas? Dressed in the right colors, these classics befit any season!

What You Need:

Polka-dot cookies in decorative bags make a perfect spring gift. Scissors Paper or vellum gift bag Paint markers Crafting foam Paper punch 4 brad fasteners Tissue paper, waxed paper, or parchment paper

 

Instructions:

1. Cut the original handle and cardboard top off the gift bag. Decorate the remaining bag with paint markers as desired. 2. Fold the crafting foam in half and cut out a decorative handle. Punch two holes on either side of the top of the bag; punch corresponding pairs of holes into the foam handles. Thread a brad fastener through the prepunched foam handle and then into the prepunched bag. Repeat the process for the other side of the bag. 3. Line bag with tissue paper, waxed paper, or parchment paper.

• Decorating

   

  When the cookies are completely cool, you can begin decorating. Use different colors of icing, sprinkles, and sparkling sugars, or see our Decorating Cookies article for tips. For best results, allow the decorated cookies to dry overnight before wrapping.

  Finishing Touches

  
  Wrap each cookie with cellophane bags or plastic wrap tie them shut. Don't skimp on the ribbon! Gently push the cookie sticks into the foam to create the "bouquet." Cookies in the center should be tallest, so push the outer circle cookies down lower so they can all be seen. Don't crowd the pot.

• Make a bouquet for a large mug, filled with cookies that match the mug's design (i.e., teddy bear-shaped cookies in a teddy bear mug)
   
• Fill a sand pail with a shovel tied onto the handle with ribbon. Cookies can be in the shapes of beach balls, suns, starfish and other sea creatures.
   
• Make assorted farm animal cookies displayed in an aluminum milk pail
   
• Fill a watering can with cookies in the shapes of assorted flowers, rectangular seed packets, birds, butterflies, and the sun
   
• Display a teapot filled with shortbread biscuits or cookies in the shapes of flowers, teacups and spoons.
   
• Use a mixing bowl or quart-size measuring cup for cookies decorated to look like rolling pins, spatulas, frying pans, kitchen timers, fruits or vegetables.
   
• Fill a cookie jar with a bouquet of cookies shaped like cookies!

 

Try This:

If you don't have crafting foam, sandwich lightweight cardboard between felt for the handles.

If you like my free recipes and would like to contribute, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.