Tootsie Pop Santa/Reindeer/Ghosts

Directions:

• cardboard square (approx. 2 in x2 in)
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• felt (red and white)
• small pom pom (white)
• Sharpie
  
• wooden bead (1 in.)
• light pink acrylic paint
  
• Tootsie pops
  
• pipe cleaners (black and gold)
• glitter

1. Paint the wooden bead light pink. When it's dry, slide onto stick of Tootsie Pop.

2. Hat: Cut a triangle (1.25" wide x 1.75" high) out of red felt. For the trim, cut thin strip (approx. 2" long) out of white felt. Glue 'trim 'to 'hat' leaving a little over hang on both sides of 'hat'. Glue the pompom onto tip of hat.

Wrap the hat around bead 'head'. Put glue on ends of trim and attach to the head. Draw eyes on the head with a sharpie.

3. Beard: Cut a triangle (1.5" wide x 1.5" long) out of the white felt. Cut a "U" shape out of the top of the triangle. Fold triangle (lengthwise) and snip a small triangle out the 'beard' for his 'mouth'.

Glue to the sides of the head.

4. Belt: Cut a piece of black pipe cleaner long enough to wrap around the Tootsie pop. Cut a small piece of gold pipe cleaner and wrap it around the center of black pipe cleaner to make the belt 'buckle'. Twist the ends of the 'belt' together to secure it to the pop.

5. Arms: Cut two two "L" shaped pieces of red felt. Cut two small pieces of white felt and glue to the ends of the 'arms' to make the 'cuffs'.

Glue to the sides of the Tootsie pop.

6. Glue the Tootsie pop to the piece of cardboard and use as table decoration or place settings. Or you can attach a ribbon and make these into ornaments. Optional- Paint cardboard white and sprinkle glitter onto the wet paint! Can also cover the cardboard in festive wrapping paper.

If you don't glue any parts of the Santa to the Tootsie Pop stick, they can all be easily removed before eating.

Idea Found Here

Courtesy of ThriftyFun.com **********************************************************These are cutest with brown tootsie pops. I pick mine out of the bulk candy at Maceys (Nobody else buys the browns anyways! :) ) but you can use any color.

Directions:
To create the antlers use brown pipe cleaners. Cut a 7 inch piece for each pop. Fold it in half so it forms a "V" shape. Cut two 1.25 inch pieces of pipe cleaner for each pop and set aside. Glue the "V" shape to the base of the pop (where wrapper meets stick). Bend the pipe cleaners to follow the shape of the pop and glue them again near the top. Wrap one 1.25 inch piece to each antler, about 1 inch down from the ends.


Thread a 1/2 inch bell onto a 3 inch piece of gold pipe cleaner and wrap around the "neck" and antler base several times. (Make sure the bell is at the front)

Glue on some googley eyes (1/4 inch) and a red pom pom nose with a hot glue gun.

Optional: If you add some ribbon to the back of the head, these make cute ornaments.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of ThriftyFun.com
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I better not forget the ghost version. Did anyone NOT make these in elementary school? All you do is wrap the pops in a square of white cloth (or Kleenex), draw on a face, and tie with ribbon. These are especially cute as a decoration or centerpiece. Find a "tree-like" branch, glue it to a base (candy corn in a glass pot works well), and hang the ghosts from the branches. Or give away as favors.

Edible Snowflakes

A yummy alternative to paper snowflakes!
Recipe:
-6 flour tortillas
-melted butter or margarine
-cinnamon sugar/confectioners sugar (edible glitter may also be used)

Heat oven to 400 F. Warm tortillas in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Fold tortillas in half several times until you have a thick wedge. (Just as you would with a piece of paper). Using clean scissors cut patters into the tortilla (stay away from the "rind" or you'll cut your snowflake in half!) Unfold, lightly brush with melted butter or margarine, and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (if using confectioners sugar or glitter, sprinkle on after they come out of the oven). Bake until light brown, about 4 minutes. Serve with hot cocoa!


Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com

Doughnut Snowmen

I think these are such an adorable idea for winter. Couldn't resist.

Directions:
-mini powdered sugar donuts
-powdered sugar donut holes
-black/orange decorators gel or mini chocolate chips
-Haviland thin mint
-mini Reeses pb cups
-toothpicks

Use a toothpick to attach two donut holes, and set atop a single donut ring. Use gel or miniature chocolate chips to create face and buttons. Optional: Use pretzel sticks for arms.

To create a shorter snowman set one donut hole atop a single donut ring. Create face. Thread a peanut butter cup and Haviland mint onto a toothpick and secure into donut hole to create a hat.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com

Sailboat Sandwiches

Recipe:
-rolls, split down the middle
-cheddar cheese
-toothpicks
-tuna salad/chicken salad/sandwich filling

Hollow out each roll and fill with salad. Slice cheese into rectangles, and then cut diagonally to create triangles. Use toothpicks to secure them as "sails" to the bread.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com

Kebabs

Have you noticed that kids will eat anything off a stick? It's a fast, fun, way to get toddlers to eat. Here are some variations:

Daily
-Stack apples, bananas, and marshmallows on a skewer (optional- add peanut butter between each layer)
- Create a "sandwich on a stick" by stacking chunks of cheese, meat, and bread on a skewer
-Stack grilled chicken, and grilled vegetables for a dinner kebab

Holiday
-Create taffy kebabs for any event or holiday by using specific colors. The Neapolitan (pink/brown/white) ones are cute for a baby or bridal shower, cinnamon and mint for Christmas, orange cream, and licorice for Halloween, etc. They can double as table decor if you stick each skewer into a foam ball and use as a centerpiece.
-You can also make candy kebabs for any event using seasonal candy. Mellowcreme pumpkins and ghost mallows are especially cute for Halloween. Gumdrops and peppermint ribbon candy is great for Christmas.

I have seen everything from mini-cupcake kebabs, to S'more kebabs. Pretty much anything you can slide on a stick is fair game. Be creative!

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com

Strawberry Mice

Recipe:
-strawberries
-mini chocolate chips
-black decorators icing
-almond slivers
-red lace licorice
-toothpick
-cheese wedge

Slice a thin section off of one side of each strawberry to get them to sit flat. Use icing to secure a chocolate chip nose to the tip of each berry. Use icing to make little eyes, and secure almonds for ears. Use the toothpick to make a hole at the back of each strawberry. Slide the licorice into the hole for a tail. Serve with a wedge of cheese.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com

Carrot Patches

Can you believe those are edibles? Unless you have a garden party I can't think of a good reason to make these... but I had to post them because I thought they were darling.

Directions:

-3 oz plastic cups
-hummus
-baby carrots
-curly parsley
-terra cotta pots (optional)

Fill each cup with 3 tbsp hummus (could use a ranch or garden vegetable dip too). Use a toothpick to poke a hole in the top of each baby carrot. Place a small sprig of parsley in each hole, and "plant" the carrots in the dip. You can place each cup in a small terra cotta pot if desired.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com