Christmas Box Project

Because I love to decorate all year round, and especially at Christmas. I decided to do a planter box. The beauty of this project, is that you can do it any size, shape or style. There are NO directions with this project. Just use your imagination and let your creative juices flow.

So, this Fall I was out at my Moms. I was in the looking at her pots and planters. She asked me if I wanted it, at the time, I was not sure. Buzzing around Pinterest, this idea hit me. My Husband was out at her house, and "borrowed" the box. If she needs it back, I will be happy to return it to her.

It was just a plain color. It took a couple of coats of green spray paint, to give it the color I wanted. I also did some wisps of gold paint. I am still not sure about the gold. I wanted it to pop.

Just a lightweight planter box

As we all know, I love to spray paint. 

I so could have been a tagger. Maybe it is the defacing of property 

and getting in trouble that has stopped me..

OK, you can use any color. Something that works with 

your color scheme. Or just a favorite color

Two or three coats and some wisps of Gold. 

You see it from the street, and that is why I want some pop

Plain old greenery. 

It was stuffed into the box.

Shatterproof ornaments. 

I used curling ribbon to attach everything together

Different ribbon and decorations are what added to the colors in this box

Because of where this box was going, I added color lights

White or any color would also work.

We are using all LED lights. We feel that they are

more energy efficient. My meter is not spinning out of control.

Just a simple planter box filled with greenery and ornaments. 

I really like this on my porch

I updated my Christmas tree to match the box

Two years ago, I made the garland.
With the front door swag from last year
and everything else, my front porch is very inviting

AND this is my tree...
It is so beautiful this year.
The jewel tones look just beautiful

JOY Sign

I looked at the calendar, and had several freak outs. Where have I been???? The month is more than half over, and I have not written all month. Sorry folks... I have been baking up a storm. Sweets by Shayla, has been very busy. I am so appreciative of all the business lately, BUT my creativity has gone into cakes. I really do like designing cakes and doing something different on each cake.

My other freak outs are that my Christmas cards are not started. I finally have the paper and cards. I am using a stamp from over 10 years ago. I wanted to see what I would do differently. These cards will not be going out early this year. No way, NO how...

Another freak out, last year I made this beautiful outdoor garland. It turned out great. (Featured last December) I was given a huge amount of garland and greenery last January. I bought all the stuff  to fill it at over 75% off. Bargains galore. BUT, I never started the garland. Looked at it, thought about it, BUT never did it. OMG....

My last freak out, I wanted to make this JOY sign. I have been begging for pallet boards. I have been informed that pallets are VERY hard to take apart. They never say that on Pinterest. So my husband found some old boards and off I went.

I liked this sign, but I did not want to shaggy bottom. 

This sign was a two day project. Could be done in a day, but I never start anything early. 

Just a few pieces to start this project

Power tools. Love them. Lined up the four boards, put a backer board on the backside 

and screw them in to support the board. 

I put a backer board near the top and bottom on the backside.

If you do not have a screw gun, a hammer and nails will also work.

In a former life, I was a tagger. I love spray painting.

I went over the boards a few times, to fill in.

Then I used Gold spray paint to form whispy lines for accents

  

I laid down the stencils. You could space them anyway you want. 

Started painting with the Gold. I needed to go over it twice. 

The boards just sucked up the paint. 

I removed the stencils and filled in. 

I did not like the Gold. You would never see it from the road.

I used a dark Green over the Gold, once that was dry, I went over 

the dark Green with a Metallic Green. 

Altered the letters a bit, added slight serifs. 

This project is open to interpretation. DO WHAT YOU WANT

Finished Project.... YEAH!! One done.

Someone asked me how my Christmas shopping was going... YEAH Right....

That is another Freak out.

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

Merry almost Christmas. Today is our Christmas party at work. More pigging out.... I am going to explode. For the past two weeks there has been food at work. Just when you think you might run out of something, another vendor sends more food.

This is my Christmas tree. I just love Christmas trees.

This is a Frazier Fur that my Husband and I went out and cut down. My Husband's job is to bring it in the house and put it into the stand. The rest is mine. Last year we changed to LED cool white lights. The glow is so beautiful. There is over 800 lights on this tree. I love ornaments. Over the years, I have collected many different types of ornaments. Various colors and styles. I do not think I could have a tree with all the same color and size ornaments on it. Several years ago, I saw Peacock Feathers in the tops of trees at Marshall Fields. I hunted down Feathers and have been using them since.

This year I have decided to include my baking into some of my Christmas presents. Some of my coworkers will receive bags of Caramel Pop/Corn Puffs. I am also making mini loaves of Banana Bread for my neighbor ladies. They are also getting a few more items. I am so lucky to have wonderful neighbors. This recipe has been made before. It is absolutely heavenly. It is a moist intense flavored banana bread. It almost tastes like a Chocolate Cake with Banana undertones. And YES, another way to make banana bread. Who would have thought. Banana Bread for Christmas, yummy.

Double Chocolate Banana Bread
slightly adapted from Beckybakes.net

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter - room temp
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 riped bananas
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or butter a 9 x 5 loaf pan or 4 mini loaf pans and place on a baking sheet.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda. set aside

Using a large bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium speed for a minute until soft. Add both sugars and beat for two more minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg. Reduce speed to low on mixer and add in bananas and mix. Add the dry ingredients in three additions, mixing until they disappear. Still on low, add the buttermilk, mixing until just incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 minutes. Cover bread loosely with a foil tent to keep the top from getting to dark. Continue to bake for another 40 - 45 minutes. (total baking time is between 70 and 75 minutes. Test with a toothpick into the center for fine crumbs. Transfer pan to a rack to cool for 20 minutes. Once cooled, invent onto plate.

Rich, Dark Chocolate flavor



Such a beautiful color. It looks great on a plate and definitely taste great.



Black Cherry playing with my Christmas decorations

Wishing everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.