Summer for all 4 of the boyz starts when the bell rings this afternoon!
I've been storing sh-tuff away for the past 3 months like a squirrel... for the summer months to get us all by sharing the same space 24/7.
LOTS of fun things tucked away. ;O)
This year we're focusing on Home and Health so despite what I'm sure will be *muuuuch* complaining the boyz will be helping with the renos and redos.
Largely it's for their benefit, they'll be gaining the entire basement as their domain.
The end of the year brings the task of Teacher's Gifts around.We try to provide a wee something for everyone that works at the younger boyz tiny school (teachers, aids, custodial, office...etc.). The boyz can be a bit of a handful and each and every teacher has had dealings with them through the year, if not daily.
Nobel Peace Prizes all 'round, unfortunately, is not an option. ;O)
This year it had to be quick and made/assembled in a day because I didn't know what I'd be up to handling after my surgery. I'm very glad it got done before! Those were some pretty strong drugs given after. Sarah go zzzzzz....
It all started with a fantastic Micheal's Markdown. I was out on a coffee & shopping date with the lovely Katharine and she spotted it: 50 Pack of DIY Wedding Favor Boxes marked down from $30 to $7.50, because someone dropped the box and smashed the corner.
We split and each took home 25, just enough for us each to use on our own. Perfect!
I found a square cookie cutter in my urm, um... rather vast collection (yes, I have an addiction!) of Cookie Cutters. They fit perfectly in the wee boxes once baked and together. I made LOTS because I wanted to make sure the ones in the boxes were pretty. Leftover baking doesn't tend to last long in this house, extra tends to be 'self clearing'. ;O)
Recipe at the Bottom!
The Cookies fit 3 to a box quite nicely. I did put a dab of tape on to keep the boxes shut, they weren't overfilled but I had no desire to keep holding the boxed closed JIC while adding the ribbons and tags. Git 'er Done! There were beautiful silver ribbons from the kit I stayed with, putting the 'Thank-You' tags aside for another project and made our own.
I used my favorite photo of the Boyz taken by the Super Talented Robert Allard, back in March at the Steampunk Fashion Shoot.
You can see more of the pictures
HERE on his site and the whole shoot
HERE on Flickr.
The Tags were quick and simple, printed on regular paper and cut out with scissors. I can't get to my super-cutter that's still walled up in the Studio due to our reno chaos. I did managed to get my Crop-o-dile, it was near the door thank God, for making the holes.
I taped the ribbons on the bottom in the center, again easier than fumbling and I wanted these done ASAP. Then thread the tags through and tied them off in a pretty bow.
I love, love, love the shiny, shimmery silver coupled with the brass, copper and dark in the photo.
25 made in total:
4 went with the oldest boy and 21 with the youngers.
The Main Teachers also got plants.
Ivy was perfect, being in the same family with Roses they THRIVE on coffee and coffee grounds and it's also pretty hard to kill...
Made sure the teachers knew about feeding them coffee when they got the gifts.
Garden Center plants in IKEA Pots, bit of Stampin' Up! Organza Ribbon and the names written on smaller (Staples) manila tags.
Simple and Easy.
8 of these:
4 Main Teachers, 2 French Teachers, 1 Principal
and the 3 Specialists that work with the younger 2 boyz.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread.
Quick, 4 ingredient and DO NOT ask for a calorie count!!!
I tripled for the Gifts.
Original:
2 cups Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
(I like the really raw stuff)
4 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Additive, if desired:
Chocolate Chips (I only use the Presidents Choice Decadent Chips)
or
1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup Skor bits is deeeevine.
At Christmas I make them 'Virgin', just topping with a light sprinkle of Colored Sugar before baking.
Cream Butter & Sugar.
Blend in Flour.
Then add Additive of choice.
Roll and Slice with Cookie Cutters.
Bake: 350 degrees F
Time: 15-20 minutes
bit longer of you like 'em crispier.
