Make simple, easy, and quick sausage cheese balls appetizer

You can quickly make these quick sausage cheese balls for Christmas and New Year’s parties and get-togethers.  This recipe has been around for years and there are a vast amount of variations. I, however, like to make mine simple and easy.  They are so delicious, and there are never any leftovers!  Guess it’s a southern hospitality thing.

Sausage cheese balls are a holiday tradition in my house.  In fact my family wouldn’t dream of ringing in the New Year without them. 

You can make them ahead of time and put them in the fridge and just warm them up when company arrives.  They are even great for a breakfast treat when everyone is tired from staying up till after midnight.

Sausage cheese balls

Roll of hot sausage uncooked (The cheaper kind works the best)

10 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups buttermilk baking mix

¼ cup water

Aluminum foil (non stick or sprayed with cooking spray)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix sausage, cheese, biscuit mix and water until blended.  Shape into 1 ½” balls.   Place on a pan covered with non-stick aluminum foil.

Then bake for about 15 minutes or until light browned.  Turn them to the other side and bake for another 10 minutes till done.  Serve warm.

Refrigerate any leftovers and rewarm in a 325-degree oven or microwave.

Use extra Christmas cards make an awesome 3-D gift bags

Aren’t these 3-D gift bags adorable?  Each year I order my Christmas cards from an online retailer.  In the months leading up to the holiday they send packs of sample cards.  They are not usable since they are just the cover of the cards and have writing on the back but I just can’t throw them out!  So I use the images on the front of the cards to make cool 3-D gift bags! 

All you need are some double-sided sticky dots and two card images that are the same.  You won’t be able to stop making these little bags and it’s a great craft for kids to do as well.  Plus you are upcycling something and putting it to good use!

Materials:

Two Christmas card fronts with duplicate images

Glue stick

Gift bag

Small pointed scissors

Glue raised double sided sticky dots

Instructions:

1.     Choose an image from the cards that you like.  The images must be exactly the same for the 3-D effect to work.  Carefully cut around your images.  (You may use several images if you desire you just need two of each)

2.     Use a glue stick to apply glue to the back of one of the images and attach it to the gift bag. 

3.     Next, apply the double-sided sticky dots onto the back of the second image.  This will raise your image to give it a 3-D look.

4.     Now align your second image exactly on top of the first image, remove the backing paper from the dots and attach to the second image.  You bag now has a 3-D appearance.  You may attach other smaller images around the first on if you choose to create scenes. 

5.     Fill the bag with small gifts, candies.  This makes a great gift for teachers, mailmen, and many others.

Quickly make adorable ornaments from laser cut wood

Laser cut wood shapes are available for pennies at the craft stores.  There are ornaments and frames of all shapes and sizes.  And the best part is that they are so inexpensive!

The scrollwork is so elegant and lends itself to quickly make adorable ornaments.  Mom or dad can spray paint the shapes and kids will love to add the beads to them. The resulting ornaments are stylish and classy.  And the memories of creating them as a family will be a lasting treasure.

Materials:

Laser cut wood shape ornaments

Spray paint in gold and silver

Silver, gold, and pearl beads

Tacky craft glue

Tweezers (optional)

Paper or foam plates to work on

Silver or gold cord for hanging

For the snowflake:

Bag of sparkle snow

Instructions:

1.     Spray each ornament in gold or silver and let dry.  Turn over and spray the other side.  Let dry completely.  Work in a well-ventilated area or outside.

2.     Add dots of tacky glue to the shape and attach the silver, gold, or pearl beads as desired.  You can be creative.  Run a ring of beads around the ornament; add to the corners or in the middle.  The sky is the limit.  When you have added the amount of beads you choose let the ornament dry.  You may if you desire turn to the back and add more beads as you did before.

3.     Cut a length of gold or silver cord and attach to the top for hanging on the tree or in a window.

For the snowflake:

1.     Cover the entire silver spray painted ornament with tacky glue.  Work on a paper plate.

2.     Sprinkle the sparkle snow on top and press with your fingers to make sure it adheres.  Let dry.  Add a hanging cord to the top.  You may add a second coat of sparkle snow after the first one is dry if you want a fluffier snowflake.

This is the easiest way to make amazing glittery ornament hooks

Wouldn’t you love some glittery ornament hooks to hang your ornaments this year?

I have a simple tree with mini lights sitting in my foyer and I love to decorate it for every season.  This year I ran out of ornament hooks, sitting at my desk my eyes settled on some paper clips and a light bulb went off.  In minutes I had a bunch of glittery ornament hooks that sparkled and looked like icicles.

You can easily bend the paper clips in simple or even more intricate shapes so you can get as creative as you like.  And kids will love making the hooks and then hanging them on the tree. 

Materials:

Paper clips

Silver or gold glitter

Thin tacky or school glue

Paper plates

Tweezers

Needle nosed pliers (optional)

Instructions:

1.     Bend paper clips as shown. (See photo) You can use needle nosed pliers for intricate shapes or simply shape them with the hands.

2.     Work with three separate paper plates. Add a generous amount of glue on one plate.  Apply an amount of glitter on the second plate. Finally use the third plate for letting the glittery ornament hooks dry.

3.     Now use the tweezers to drop the paper clips in the glue and quickly transfer them to the plate with the glitter, making sure you cover the entire clip with glitter.  Then use the tweezers to transfer the hooks to the third plate.  Let dry.

4.     When the glittery ornament hooks are dry, use them to hang the ornaments.  You can make a bunch in no time and for practically nothing.  You won’t ever run out of ornament hooks again!