JanDee Crafts

Looking for an affordable darling last minute gift idea?  Check this out! This is 2 votive candles put together to make one giant pill.  I got 2 boxes of 6 votives each for $1.00!! So this puppy cost me all of $.33 cents! I just touched the bottom of each candle to a warmed pan lined in foil just barely enough to begin to melt and then held the 2 together until it had cooled and stuck. Seem a little too cheap? Get nicer candles.  Like a good Yankee Candle or use bigger candles even. I just tossed it in a organza bag and attached a cute little poem...  Here is the poem I used to go with....Super Cute!!! When you have a giant headache Only a giant pill will do To ease your mounting tensions Make you feel better through and through So if you're burning your candle at both ends (that's a terrible pun, its true) Unwrap this 'pill' light half, sit down, Relax-and take some time for you!

Isn't this the cutest!?! I made it using this tute  from A Heart For Home for homemade paper bows using magazines and just used ribbon instead.  I ended up using way more than the 9 strips it called for but I love how it turned out! Besides, one of my greatest gifts looks terrific all wrapped up in a bow!

I have had this poem in my files since 2005 and still use it to give as gifts today! It goes wonderfully attached to a bag of M&M Candies!  Everyone loves it! I am not the original writer of this poem but have no idea who is.  If you know PLEASE let me know I will immediately give credit where credit is due! Enjoy! M & M Christmas Poem As you hold these candies in your hand And turn them, you will see The 'M' becomes a 'W', An 'E', and then a '3'. They tell the Christmas Story-- I'm sure it's one you know. It took place in a stable A long, long time ago. The 'E' is for the East, Where the star shone so bright. The 'M' is for the Manger, where the Baby Jesus slept at night. The '3' is for the Wise men, Bearing gifts, with which they came. 'W' is for Worship, Hallelujah! Praise His Name! So as you eat these candies Or share them with a friend, Remember the meaning of Christmas: It'

I love love love things that make my house smell well.....yummy! These recipes are wonderful for just that! I love to just throw the ingredients into a small saucepan on the stove and let them just barely simmer.  (not to be left unattended) This also makes a great neighbor gift! Just deliver the ingredients to a friend with the instructions in a cute embellished  bag and TA DA! Cheap, yet wonderful gift!! (plus makes a great humidifier too!) My Favorite Potpourri Recipe 1 lemon cut in fourths 1 apple cut in fourths 1 orange cut in fourths 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks Water to cover Place in a pan and simmer. Holiday Potpourri 1 Orange 1 Lemon 1 Bay Leaf 1 Cinnamon Stick 1/4 Cup Whole Cloves 1. Cut orange and lemon into pieces. 2. Put all ingredients in a sauce pan and cover with water. 3. Simmer on stove, and add additional water during the day, when needed. Holiday Spice 2 c. water 1/2 c. sugar 1 c. pineapple juice 1 c. orange juice 1 lemon, sliced 4 cinnamon sticks 1 Tbs. whole cloves

I found this most wonderful recipe for Caramel Apple Dip at The Sweet Life and HAD to try it! She mentioned in the post that you could probably put it in some hot apple cider and make a version of Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider.  Yep! That was for me! I did try it! and it was good! Here is the caramel dip recipe...  1 bag of caramel bits or caramel squares {unwrapped} 11-14oz. 1 can sweetened condensed milk {fat free works just great} Combine the caramel bits and milk in a microwave proof bowl or measuring cup and heat a little at a time in the microwave. I start with 1 minute and then 30 second intervals, stirring between each time. You want to just melt the caramel bits. It took me about 2 minutes total, but if you use the caramel squares it might take a little longer. When it’s cool, store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. SO..... I did took the next step she suggested and put about 3 heaping spoonfuls into a cup of steaming hot apple cider and I was in Heaven!! Yum-O! Try

These are my version of the great tutorial found here at The Sweet Life.  Again go check out this easy to make tutorial! I love how mine turned out! Thank you Sweet Life! They are going to look super cute on my piano!!   Now for my goals this week to get start getting organized for the Holidays.... 1. Find a date when the kids and I can rug doctor the carpets 2. Find a time the family is all available to a photo shoot (and decide what clothes we are wearing) 3. Figure out what we will be giving all those on our gift giving shopping list 4. Decide if I am making any gifts this year and if I am get crackin!! 5. Make our Christmas card list 6. Make our neighbor gift list 7. Decide once and for all what we are giving as our neighbor gift 8. Schedule a manny for mom and the girlie's in Dec (I am hoping this become a tradition!!!) 9. Clean Gabby and Sarah's room with concentration of thinning down the toys 10. Get Halloween costumes decided and started 11. Plan my month of daily holi

I love to give a "Blue Plate Special" as a bridal shower gift or wedding gift (Christmas gift would be great too) along with this awesome poem! Its a great way for a family to celebrate that someone or something special and makes for a great tradition! Sometimes I will include an entire place setting and sometimes just the plate.  The vinyl is made from a high grade quality outdoor vinyl designed to be permanent and can be thrown in the dishwasher etc (but I would still recommend hand washing just to be on the safe side)   Here is the best part of the whole deal...The poem..(please if you use the poem give credit where credit is due!! Thanks!) “Blue Plate Special” Here’s a blue plate special For the Hill family It’s to help build a tradition Of family unity. It’s made for those special occasions When you want to celebrate. And a very special person Gets to use this special plate. It’s for birthday’s and baptisms, Ordination and the like. It honors someone with go

Here is a preview of my plans for this years Black Friday.....I want to give my kids a little gift to start the Christmas holiday off on the evening of black Friday.  This year I want to make them Christmas pillowcases. (yes I will make tutorial if you would like one! Comment and let me know) This poem will be included with the cases. Magical Christmas Pillowcases December 1st starts a magical time With all sorts of colors, ribbons and rhymes. Sugarplum fairies will dance in your head, If you put this special pillowcase on your bed. The reason is special as you will soon see, It’s that it has been dusted with “Christmas Fantasy”, Visions of candy canes, Santa and treasures Will fill each dream with sweetness and pleasures. When the time comes for it to be washed Do it quickly so no magic is lost! (this would also make a great gift for friends and family. Kids and adults alike and it is very inexpensive to put together. )

I include a little bag with some green buffalo glitter in the Santa Sack containing all the PJ's with this poem attached for the kids to sprinkle around outside on Christmas Eve. (you could also use green colored sugar if you are concerned about the glitter outside) MAGIC GRINCH DUST!! Don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas. You must be on your guard. Before retiring on Christmas Eve, Sprinkle this dust out on your yard. The Grinch will see your magic dust, And know you've taken great care, To protect your home and family, And keep Christmas joy in the air. Loves to all! Emily

One of my favorite things to do is read with my kids! SO.... Starting Dec 1st we have a story a night until Christmas Eve when we read the first Christmas from the scriptures.  I found an awesome site that has the stories ready to print! You must go check out The Idea Door HERE!   This would also make a great gift to give families too!!   Another way I have used this tradition is I have gathered 24 Christmas story books and wrapped them and put them in a basket under the tree.  The kids love unwrapping one every night. It almost seems to calm them to get to unwrap something. What do you think?  loves to all!! Emily

So, I know that a lot of us have the tradition of new PJ's opened on Christmas Eve.  I so love this tradition and do it every year but I always had one problem...which ones are the PJs? I'd try marking them but they would still get mixed in and I would spend a good amount of time under the tree (with antsy kids I might add) searching and sorting trying to find my marked presents until I had this idea! I made up a "Santa Sack" that I put all the PJ's in. Its looks darn cute under the tree too!  Then Christmas Eve I just grab the sack and let the kids get their packages from it.  Simple, easy fix!! What do you do to keep the PJ's separate and easy to find?? Comment! I'd love to hear!!

One of my most favorite ideas is An Elf Kit!!  I found this cute box at Hobby lobby and painted it up. (Don't look too close, some obvious touch ups are needed) Then into the box is added all the things our family needs for Christmas morning like a screwdriver for the battery hatches that are screwed shut, a box cutter, and wire snips, trash bags for wrapping paper, batteries etc.  Once it has what we need it goes under the tree with the rest of the presents waiting for its time to shine Christmas Morning.  Here are some suggestions of things you could put inside it and also a poem I wrote if it is being used as a gift.  loves to all!! Emily Scissors Screwdriver Batteries Film, Camera Paper and Pen Trash Bags Tape Light bulbs Ornament hooks Pen tags Box opener Camera batteries Memory cards or film Batteries & tapes for camcorder Disposable camera Fuses Wire cutters Screw driver A Folder to put cards, receipts, tags, instructions in all one place An Elf Kit