A fun handcrafted gift tag

 

 I made a fun little tag after Christmas.  We had some gifts to give our friends but didn't get to see them before Christmas due to illness.  I had wanted to make this tag as not only a part of the gift wrapping but also as a little keepsake they could hang somewhere in their house.

The idea for this tag came from one of the large format Gooseberry Patch Christmas books --  Book 11.  Apparently, I have not reviewed this book, but I need to.  For those interested in owning a copy, Thriftbooks has a like-new, hardcover copy here for $5.99.

I found this tag idea in a chapter titled "Greetings & Gift Wrap" and the specific name of the project is "Greenery Package" on page 67.  I opted not to do the greenery/pine cone trimmed package because I wanted to use this tag on a gift bag.  But the gift wrapping idea is fabulous and I will use it another time.

The directions for the tag aren't very detailed.  They say: "Use decorative edged scissors to cut out a black & white photocopy of a favorite wintry photo.  Tie broken sticks together with rusty wire to make a frame.  Wire it to the photocopy.  Use adhesive foam dots to adhere a vintage tag to the frame and the photocopy to the package."

I snagged the photo of our friends off her blog, and changed it to black & white.  I didn't wire the frame to the photocopy, but hot-glued it. I didn't use the vintage tag suggested and, since I was using it for a hanging tag, just added a nice metallic hanging loop. 

Our friends were surprised and delighted with this special tag! I'm thinking that I will post about this again for Christmas in July.  Summer would be a great time to gather the necessary sticks for the project.

And here's the actual 2025 cookie list!

 

 I'm sure no one is holding their breath for this list, but I do know there are some folks who are interested in trying some new-to-them cookie recipes on Rudolph Day, so here we go with what we actually baked this year.

Chocolate Mint Crisps

Whipped Shortbread

Raspberry Almond Thumbprints

Chocolate Spritz (updated version here)

 

Blond Brownies

Cookie Dough Brownies

Lemon Shortbread Thumbprints

Lemon Spritz

 Eggnog Log Cookies

Sacher Torte Cookies (updated version here)

Chocolate-Filled Gingerbread Thumbprints

Gingerbread Coffeecake Cookies

Secret Spice Cookies

 

 Chocolate Orange Cookies

Christmas Tree Spritz

 Christmas No-bake Cookies

Maple Thumbprint Cookies

 Peppermint Mocha Cookies

The latter two were new this year, but they both earned a permanent spot in our cookie repertoire! I do intend to write a post about each of them eventually.

So that is our actual list for Christmas 2025.  Many of these were made in double or even triple batches.  Such a sweet tradition for us!

The actual 2025 candy list

 

So now here is the actual candy list from 2025.  I had seven kinds of candy on the tentative list, all of which I have made in years past.

We actually made only four kinds of candy:

Heavenly Delight (chocolate peanut butter fudge, pictured at top of post)

Salted Caramel Fudge

Special Holiday Fudge

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Slice Candy

However, we did make multiple batches of each kind of fudge -- and I think we made 3 or 4 batches of the Heavenly Delight, which is a huge favorite with many people.

That's the actual candy list, complete with links!

The actual kitchen gift list

 

 Regular readers know that in addition to the tentative lists I post before Christmas, I also like to post again after the holiday to share what I actually made for kitchen gifts, cookies, and candy.  So here is my update on the kitchen gifts list.

Recall, this was the tentative list:

So here is what I actually made, with recipe links for those who are interested:

Eggnog Log Cookies
Sacher Torte Cookies (updated version here)
Special Holiday Fudge
Chocolate Mint Crisps
Christmas Granola
Little Apricot Cakes
Barbecue Spiced Pecans

That last one wasn't on my list but I found it in an old magazine and it seemed meant to be.

I also tried out Pecan Pie Bark, but that isn't on my actual list because I didn't make it as a gift, just took some to a game night at church.  I think I would give it as a gift another year, though, as it was delicious.

And so that is 2025's actual kitchen gift list!

It's been fun!

 Yes, it's been a fun month indeed here in my Christmas kitchen!   The collage of grandkids baking cookies in years gone by is a page from my Christmas cookie cookbook and is a great reminder of how much fun can be had in a Christmas kitchen.

I hope to post here much more often in the coming year.  We will see!

Christmas plates from the thrift store

 

We love finding Christmas plates at the thrift store!  Sometimes they are collectibles; other times just inexpensive plastic plates to use in giving away cookies.  Last year I ended up buying a whole new set of Christmas dishes there, after being sure my daughter would be willing to take my other set.

 I recently bought three Christmas plates -- two decorative and one for actual use.  The one at top is a collectible, from Avon in the 1980s, I think.  We just loved the scene.

I bought this plate with the sweet deer back in the fall.  It coordinates with two trays 

 

and some other plates that I have, the Better Homes & Gardens ones from Walmart.  But I hadn't seen this small plate with the deer and I love it.

And then there is this one:

This is such a nostalgic scene!  This is a collectible plate too and not meant for food use, so I am displaying it.  The poem may be a bit dated -- "Never a Christmas morning, Never the old year ends -- But someone thinks of someone -- Old days, old times, old friends" -- but I actually never tire of it.  It's true, so true.  Sometime during the Christmas season, we are bound to look back and remember old days, old times, and old friends -- and, though a few tears may be shed, we can also thank God profusely that we have these dear memories.  I love this scene with the couple making their way toward a cabin in the woods.

Such good deals!  I think the deer plate was $1.50 and the other two were $4 each.  The loveliness they bring to our home is priceless.

Two vintage Christmas cards with a skating theme

 

Below are two very fun vintage Christmas cards. (The one at top is newer and just for fun; this was a card sent us by our younger daughter in the very early 2000s.)

I love the little poem.

My warmest memories of winters past:
A snowman, hot chocolate, and skating fast.

At first glance, these vintage cards below appear as if they might have come out of the same box.    But that guess would be wrong, believe it or not.

 

Both are essentially the same size; I would say both are from the 1950s.  Both feature crowds of people of varying ages and abilities skating on a small pond.  

The topmost pond seems to be in the midst of a village, for there are house close by and even lamps or street lights.  There's a little fire on the shore at the pond's edge.

The pond pictured on the bottom card seems like it's more out in the country.  There are houses and even a church steeple, but they are distant.  There's a mountain in the background.

One of these cards is from the famed Brownie line, by Rust Craft.

The other has only a number and "Made in USA" on the back.

But I think the two cards are equally charming.  I have listed one in my Etsy shop and will list the other soon, probably this week.

Hope you've enjoyed seeing these sweet cards!  We're in the midst of an ice storm up here today, so one could skate pretty much anywhere.  No pond needed!  Mr. T and I have no intention of going out.