Free Printable Holiday Tags + Candy Bar Wraps

Hi sweets! This will be my last post before the Christmas holiday. I didn't want to leave without sharing a few final holiday freebies with you all.

I recently created two free printable candy bar wraps for ModCloth Blog. Update: these wraps are no longer available on their site, so I've moved everything over here for you. These wraps are perfect for adding a simple yet special touch to last minute gifts or stocking stuffers.

Supplies needed:

• Color printer (you could also have these printed at a copy shop)
• Standard copy paper
• Scissors
• Clear tape
• Candy bars (I used 3.2 oz sized bars)

Instructions for DIY/Printable Candy Bar Wraps:

• Print your candy bar wraps onto standard copy paper.
• Center the printed design on the top/middle of your candy bar and fold paper over to the back of your bar.

• Secure paper with a piece of clear tape.
• Fold opposite edge around your bar, trim any excess paper, and secure with tape.

• With the back side of your bar facing up, fold in edges as shown in the photo.
• Fold the pointed flap up and secure on the back of your bar with tape. Repeat for the other end.
• Address bars to your friends and family and give.

And finally... For my gifts this year I created these Free Printable Holiday Tags (click the link to download) in my latest favorite color palette:

BTW the pine swag tags were created using this Free Evergreen Photoshop Brush Set. I hope you will love both printables and that you'll have a holiday that is filled with joy. See you in a few days! xox Ez

A Super-Duper Free Printable Holiday Gift Tag Roundup

It's almost time guys (not that you needed me to remind you or anything)! And if you're at all like me (and more than a wee bit behind on the whole gift wrapping front) then this post is for you. I've put together a list of some of my new and past favorite free printable holiday gift tags created by a whole bunch of merry elves around blogland. Click the links below each preview image, download the love, and get wrapping. Don't forget to bookmark your favorites for next year as well (a little 'thank you' comment left on the blogs of the generous folks whose work you love always goes a long way too. Let's all keep the merry going).

• Free tags by Julia Rothman available on Design*Sponge.

• Free gift tags by Miss Pickles Press.

• Free gift tags by Blush Printables.

• Free gift tags from Eat Drink Chic (via Love, Obsess, Inspire).

• Free gift tags from Domesifluff (also available in a pink colorway).

• Free gift tags by Inside A Black Apple.

• Free gift tags by Domestifluff.

• Free gift tags by Camilla Engman (choose from three different sets).

• Free gift tags from HeySusy*.

• Free gift tags by Natascha Rosenberg.

• Free jumbo gift tags from Eat Drink Chic.

• Free gift tags by Haciendo El Indio available on Bloesem Kids.

• Free gift tags by IS•LY (via this pin on pinterest).

 

• Free gift tags from Poppytalk.

• Free gift tags from Lovely Design (found via Shim + Sons)

Psst...I'll be sharing a holiday gift tag freebie of my own with you in just a few (you know, just in case all of these options weren't enough or something - wink). xo Ez

All images were created by the individual sites credited above.

Merry Merry Holiday To You

{photo by me - Ez Pudewa}

Hello lovelies! I've a couple more posts to share today (one will be a huge free gift tag roundup that you won't want to miss) and then I'll be taking a wee break until after the Christmas holiday. I hope that the coming weekend will be filled with joyful memory making for you and your most near and dear. Merry Merry holiday to you dear bloggy friends! xo Ez

In Search of the Perfect Marshmallow + Hot Cocoa Mix Recipes

The blog community is pretty amazing (that means YOU) and I feel like I'm often marvelling at just how connected and inspiring a group of likeminded people (who have never even met in real life) can be! Isn't it amazing!

Anyhow, in addition to the awesomeness of this blog community, I am also a big Twitter fan. I have discovered so many new things through my Twitter friends, received help almost instantaneously when I've asked for it, and again it is just such a great community that I love being a part of.

In any case...all this rambling leads me to a recent tweet I sent out asking for recommendations on yummy homemade hot cocoa mix recipes, as well as the ins and outs of making your own marshmallows. The response was great and I thought it would be fun to share the results with you all here.

Thanks to these guys for helping me out: Splendidblog recommended this recipe, Tenthings recommended wrapping this up with cinnamon sticks, cwkessle and Bandersen both recommended this recipe, Theseawithin suggested the recipe found in The Joy of Cooking cookbook, Niceetc recommended this one from Daily Candy, HammocksHighTea shared her own recipe, and CarlaFelix suggested a recipe from a past issue of Real Simple. I also had help with a few marshmallow questions from: Mrsmeringue, Engineerbaker, Christeno, PepperGlenn, Melissapher, fayeandco, lisaverdi, and Splendidblog.

I ended up choosing the hot cocoa mix recipe recommended by Caitlin Holcomb because it looked simple (the video really helped), yummy, and I've secretly always wanted to make something using real vanilla beans. It was as easy as can be and the end result was ridiculously delicious (even without the addition of alcohol). Next I made up a batch of Alton Brown's Homemade Marshmallows which were as scrumptious as they sound. I don't own a stand mixer and used a hand-held mixer in its place. My adaptation worked, but was quite challenging - as the mixture thickened and expanded it began clumping up and almost ate the underside of my machine. But as they say: "All is well that ends well"...and they most certainly did (end well that is).

To make them gift-ready we measured out equal portions of cocoa mix into cellophane treat bags (purchased at our local craft store) and then divided the marshmallows up into separate bags as well. Both mix and marshmallows were then placed inside some kraft coffee bags left over from Marichelle and my Nice Package shop days, and attached a little tag with directions for making up the hot cocoa on the back.

My tags are specific to the kind of mix I made, but I've created a little printable tag for you to use on a Hot Cocoa gift of your own (there are also non-food specific versions you can use) if you'd like. Just download, print on heavy-weight paper, and hang on your gifts.

• Download Red Holiday Gift Tags

There might not be enough time left before Christmas to whip up many more batches of homemade marshmallows, but the hot cocoa mix is incredibly easy and would make a perfect last minute holiday gift or stocking stuffer. Adding store-bought marshmallows in place of homemade is still really tasty (that's what we did for my daughter's teachers), and the addition of a candy cane makes the presentation minty sweet!

{Image from Ruffled Blog}

Ruffled Blog (for example) has a simple tutorial on making up charming Hot Cocoa Favors that would suit this season perfectly. Enjoy! xo Ez

Free Holiday E-Cards from Fossil

Have you seen the sweet Free Holiday E-Cards available from the crew at Fossil? So perfect! I adore the vintage-feel of the designs and the cheery color palette. Why don't they sell cards as cute as this in stores? The fact that they are free and can be sent instantly is just icing on the candy cane-flavored cake. Check out all their designs right here (they also offer free desktop wallpapers to decorate your computer with). xo Ez