Blue Cheese and Cranberry Pull Apart Appetizer

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Randall's 

Are you ready for the holiday festivities? I know when this time of year rolls around I am always looking for easy appetizers and desserts for on-the-go entertaining and last minute social engagements. Easy to me means a few ingredients, a couple of shortcuts, and can be made quickly with minimal prep. Well, this Blue Cheese Cranberry Pull Apart appetizer fits all of those requirements!

Teenage Boy Gift In A Jar

Buying Christmas gifts for my teenage boy is hard work! He has aged out of toys...well sort of, now he wants those very expensive electronic toys! LOL! It takes some thought to find smaller, affordable gifts that make him happy and make me happy. Of course, if I was going for "mom happy" there would be a vegetable-of-the-day club membership, a book, deodorant, and new socks, but you can imagine how well that would go over! Well, I think this year, I have collected a few affordable and necessary, "teenager-approved" items all nicely packaged in a Mason Jar!

Homemade GIVE THANKS Banner

While my mind has already jumped ahead to Christmas....I took a moment to come back to November and create a quick and simple GIVE THANKS Banner for Thanksgiving...or if I would have planned better it could have been for the entire Fall season.

The banner is pretty darn easy. You need to be able to paint, cut and glue. You can do that, right?

Now since Thanksgiving is right around the corner...let's get crafting!

Supplies

• 2 1/2 yards Jute Webbing, cut into 7" lengths. It comes in black and red. I used black for this project.
• I chose to use black. This is available online and at fabric stores, usually in the upholstery section. I purchased this at Hobby Lobby.

• Paint.
• I used American Multi-Surface Satin in Paprika (DecoArt)

• Pouncer.
• This works better than a brush for stenciling. If you don't have a pouncer, a foam brush would be my next choice.

• Lettering.
• I used American Simple Script Stencil. I use this stencil ALL THE TIME!

• 3 yards basic twine.

• Scissors
• Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun 

Make It!

• Cover your work surface...On occasion the paint will bleed through the burlap.

• Cut the Jute Webbing into 7" lengths. 
• You need 11 pieces.
• I like to notch my banners. At the center mark up about 1". Then cut from each side up to the 1" mark. OR mark up 1", fold the rectangle in half and cut while doubled.

• Stencil. 
• Place some paint on a paper plate and then pouncer the pouncer into the paint. Use part of the plate to tap off excess paint.
• About 1/2" up from the notch on the bottom of the banner piece, place the bottom of your stencil (centered horizontally).
• If you are not experienced with stencils, take the time to tape the stencil down to keep it from moving.
• I just hold mine with one hand.
• Carefully pounce the pouncer loaded with paint all over the stencil.
• Carefully remove the stencil.
• Wipe the stencil clean to ensure the paint does not smear onto your other banner pieces.

• Cut a length of twine 3 yards long.
• Lay it across the table.
• Turn on the hot glue gun to heat up.

• Lay the letters out in order. Place a blank banner piece between GIVE and THANKS
• Fold over the top edge of each banner piece about 1/2" to 3/4" 
• Place a line of hot glue in the fold and up the sides and across the edge.
• Place the twine in the glue in the fold and then fold over the top to sandwich the twine between the layers.
• YOU NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY SO THE GLUE DOES NOT DRY.
• Repeat until you are finished.
• I work with my letters upside down.

Now, just decide where you want to hang it, make a loop on each end of the twine and decorate!

Do You decorate for Thanksgiving?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Homemade Wood Scrap Photo Ornaments

I am really not obsessed with Christmas ornaments...well, maybe I am. A couple of weeks ago I made those A-dorable Rustic Wood Christmas Ornaments and now I seriously cannot stop thinking of ornament ideas...and what's better than incorporating photos of your kids, pets, family and close friends into homemade Christmas ornaments?!!!

M&M Oatmeal Cornflake Cookies

I live in a house full of cookie monsters. I love baking cookies, but seriously cannot keep them in the house...gobble, gobble, gobble! These M&M Oatmeal Cornflake Cookies have that same problem - vanishing - stolen by the cookie monsters! They are sweet and crunchy with a hint of chocolatey goodness!