Archives for November 2012

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, and whether you’re ready or not, Christmas is right around the corner. You already see decorations around town, in storefront windows and more, so you might as well begin planning too! We suggest you begin with getting your Christmas cards ready for send-out, before the holiday sneaks up on you. Bottle Your Brand has several customizable cards, but some of our favorites are our photo cards!

Visit our photo card section on BottleYourBrand.com, and you’ll be able to upload your family photo and customize your holiday message to your loved ones. When it comes to your family photo, it’s always fun to get creative and do-it-yourself. Set up a holiday backdrop (festive fabric hung from a curtain rod), and have your own personalized photo shoot.

We’re excited to see your photos!

Here’s a sneak peek of a few featured photo card designs on our website:

We’re excited to see your photos!

For the families that usually prepare the same Thanksgiving dinner each year: This year, we would like to encourage you to share something new with your loved ones! It will add an additional element of excitement to your holiday table and if everyone’s in favor, it may even be the start of a new long-lasting Thanksgiving meal tradition in your family. Check out these special treats we couldn’t help, but share….

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup chai concentrate <– click here for a link to see Chai example
• 1 large egg
• 1 teas vanilla extract
• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teas baking soda
• 1/8 teas salt
• 1/2 teas chai spice mix <–click here for a link to the chai spice mix recipe
• 22-24 Pumpkin spice Hershey’s Kisses (found at Target in the early fall)

Preparation:

Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and cream at medium speed until fluffy, or with a hand mixer, for about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, chai concentrate, and the vanilla, mix until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as necessary. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Using your hands, roll the dough into 22 to 24 1 inch round balls. Place the dough balls on parchment paper lined baking sheets and sprinkle chai spice mix lightly over cookies.

Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes. Meanwhile, unwrap kisses.

Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately place pumpkin kisses in the center of each cookie. Don’t touch or the kisses will turn into puddles! Cool completely.

MaddyCakesMuse.com

Ingredients:
• 16 chocolate wafer cookies (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)
• 1 tube orange frosting with piping tips
• 16 small peanut butter cups

Preparation:
1. Place cookies on work surface; squeeze a dime-size dot of frosting in center of each.

2. Unwrap and invert peanut butter cups on frosting, pressing down gently.

3. Using the round piping tip, pipe a “hat-band” with frosting around peanut butter cup and a square “buckle.” Let frosting set before storing.

Planning Tip: Can be made up to 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Holiday-crafts-and-creations.com

What You Will Need:

• Clear pastry bags (12″)
• Wooden circles (about 1-1/4” diameter)
• M & M’s (yellow, red & brown)
• Double sided tape
• Twisty ties (tan)
• Raffia
• Scissors

Optional:

• Brown scrapbook paper
• Gold embossing powder and embossing ink
• Small autumn stamps

Click here for instructions on how to make this Thanksgiving Indian Corn Craft.

For the placeholder gift tag portion of this craft, consider purchasing this cute design from Bottle Your Brand!
Click here to order.