Christmas Crafts - Calligraphy Cards and Reindeer Hot Chocolate

Christmas is around the corners and even though in Vancouver we have slush and ice left and not much snow, it is still Christmas time.  It is not too late to make some calligraphy cards and reindeer hot chocolate for gift giving.  

With the calligraphy holiday cards, they have one word each on the front.  LOVE, PEACE, JOY.

Supplies:  blank cards from the dollar store, calligraphy pen, and ink.  

I have taken calligraphy classes in Vancouver from Fox & Flourish, and the Westcoast Odessey of Letters conference.  

I have also found the calligraphy tutorials and practice sheets on the Postman's Knock to be helpful.  

Once you have the tools then it just takes practice and the best is to make the card with love instead of perfectionism.  After all they are handmade card and that's already ready more personalized than store bought.

Next are these cute hot chocolate reindeer.  I was lucky because my girlfriend was already making 50 of these for her family and friends and had already bought the supplies when I decided to make a few.  She kindly said we could just make them together as he didn't need 50 reindeer and since I only needed 8 reindeer, it worked out perfectly.  It was great to be a part of the factory line and learn how to make these Hot Chocolate Reindeer cones.  

Supplies:  hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, brown pipe cleaners, googly eyes, red pom poms, treat piping bags.  

There are several blogs that have the full how to for making these hot chocolate reindeer and also free printables which I should have included as not everyone actually knew what they were.  Ahh, it is the thought that counts. It's an added bonus that they look super cute!  

Reindeer Hot Chocolate Printable
Reindeer Hot Chocolate Instructions

Crafternoon: Hershey Kiss Roses

On a Sunday afternoon, I decided to turn it into crafternoon, unplug and create something new!  I found this craft idea on Pinterest and loved it because it is simple and easy to make.  You can make these for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or for your Teacher's Gifts, or Gratitude Gifts.  You do not need a lot of materials to create something that is pretty and great for those chocolate lovers on your list.  

1)  Hershey Kisses

2)  Cellophane paper - since my kisses were pink, blue, and green, I had a transparent colour for the cellophane wrap

3)  Stem leaves

4)  Stem wire

5)  Floral tape

You can do variations of this with what you have but the idea is to basically take two hershey kisses and wrap them together so they look like rose buds.  Then you use the floral tape to add the stem and wrap it down the wire.  Voila, you have yourself a Hershey Kiss Rose.  

Shopping tip:  Check out your dollar stores, or if you want to shop it all at Michaels which is what I mostly did, then don't forget the online Michaels coupons.