EASY CHRISTMAS DIY – CENTERPIECE AND COCKTAILS!!!

Twenty-one more sleeps until Christmas morning!!! So with that, I am feeling festive and this year I didn’t let ‘do it yourself’ projects intimidate me. I usually talk myself out of doing these kinds of things, but today I’m sharing with you my easy, festive, and QUICK do-it-yourself creations and cocktails. First up, this snow covered pillar holder!

What you’ll need:

• tall glass pillar holder or sconce
• pillar candle of your choice
• epsom salt
• mod podge
• sponge or brush for mod podge application
• faux pine branch with berries and pine cones
• string of mini lights (optional)

Method:

Take your sponge or brush and coat the outside of the pillar holder with a thick layer of mod podge, going up with the mod podge as high as you’d like the ‘snow’ to go. Take a bowl full of epsom salt and dip the holder into the bowl using your hands to coat the mod podge with the salt. Set aside and let dry 20-30 minutes.

Fill the pillar holder with epsom salt up to just below the ‘snow’ line. Take your pillar candle and set it inside of the glass holder on top of the salt. Give it a nice little push to center it and secure it. Then take your pine branch and pluck off the bits you like- the berries, the cones- and simply stick them into the salt surrounding the candle. For some extra flare, take miniature lights and layer them up and around the candle. Now your festive snow-filled candle holder is complete!

Now for this DIY gift! A merry-lil-mason-jar, filled with candy OR your favorite hot cocoa recipe mix!

What you’ll need:

• mason jar with a lid
• candy of your choice (or your favorite hot cocoa mix)
• epsom salt
• mod podge
• brush or sponge for application
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• festive string or burlap

Method:

Paint the mod podge three quarters of the way up the mason jar so that some of the candy shows through the glass once you’ve completed this project. Place the jar into the bowl of salt and begin applying a thick layer of salt around the jar, on top of the mod podge, using your hands. Set aside and let that sit 20-30 minutes.

Now we’re ready to decorate! Fill your mason jar with your favorite holiday candy or layer it up with your favorite hot cocoa mix. Pluck off some berries and pine stems and hot glue them into a bundle with a dollop of hot glue so that the bundle stays in place. Then wrap your string around the bundle so that it stays in place while hanging from the lid, and tie the string it all the way around the jar. Secure the knot with a pretty  bow just under the lip where the lid goes and tadaaaa!

Holiday cocktail time!!! Today we’re making three holiday inspired cocktails, a peppermint kiss, a GRAND spiked eggnog, and a Ferrero Rocher chocolate bliss cocktail!!!

For the Peppermint Kiss Cocktail you’ll need:

• martini glass
• shaker
• ice
• white chocolate liqueur
• peppermint schnapps
• vanilla flavored vodka
• peppermint candies

Method:

Take the peppermint candies, place them into in a plastic bag and crush them into tiny bits for the rim of your martini glass. Dip the rim of your glass into a liqueur and dip the glass into the crushed bits of peppermint, set it aside.

In the shaker add your ice, equal parts of the vanilla vodka and white chocolate liqueur- which is about 1/4 cup each. Add in 1 table spoon peppermint schnapps, and shake it all up! Pour the drink into your fancy cup, sprinkle in some more peppermint chips, and you’re done!

The GRAND Spiked Egg Nog!

What you’ll need:

• fancy wine glass
• egg nog
• Grand Marnier

Method:

This one’s an easy one so don’t blink! Simply fill the glass half way with your favorite egg nog, and spike it up with 1/4 cup of your favorite cognac,  I’m using grand mariner. Give the mixture a soft stir with a spoon or straw. Since both liquids are pretty thick I didn’t want to shake this in a shaker, so a little swirl with a spoon or straw and you’re set! Enjoy!

And the very BEST for last, the Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bliss Cocktail!

What you’ll need:

• low ball glass
• a hazelnut liqueur (I’m using Frangelico)
• cookie butter ice cream (or chocolate)
• Ferrero Rocher chocolate candies

Method:

This cocktail is also super simple and it’s SUPER decadent! totally worth the five seconds it takes to make! Simply fill half of the glass up with the Frangelico then drop in a generous spoonful of ice cream! Top that baby off with some Ferrero Rocher candies and then ENJOY because this drink is worth every single guilty sip!!!

I hope you try making these drinks yourself and please TAG me on Instagram and Twitter when you do! Don’t be afraid of these DIY projects either, give them a go and let me know how it goes!!! The tutorial of each of these is up on my channel now so go show it some love!

Let me know what your holiday plans are and if you’re going to get adventurous in DIY this season!!!