Ann's Entitled Life

Easy Lighted Ribbon Christmas Tree

October 10, 2017 By Ann Leave a Comment

This 15-minute craft is simple to make, and highly customizable. This Easy Lighted Ribbon Christmas Tree will dress up your Christmas table, light up your mantel, or just smile as you walk by them. Only you will know how quick and easy these little trees are to put together.

Easy Lighted Ribbon Christmas Tree

Notes:

• The bigger the ribbon, the easier this craft is to do.
• Try and use wired ribbon as it makes the process much simpler.

• This small tree is not wired ribbon. It is a different look. Do not tack down the ribbon is using non-wired ribbon as it will have a ribbon-candy effect.
• If unwired ribbon is used, you will need to tack down the lights in place to keep the ribbon-candy look.
• Make sure you stagger your lights, so they are not lined up one on top of the other. You might want to consider crisscrossing layers (X-ing) of lights.

• The small tree used 2½ – 3 yards of 5/8″ ribbon.
• The large tree used 2½ – 3 yards of 1½” ribbon.

Easy Lighted Ribbon Christmas Tree Materials:

• Paper-Mache Open Bottom Cone (used in this craft was (1) 10.5″ cone and (2) 7″ cones)
• Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Wired Ribbon
• Battery Operated Lighted (20ct used on tall cone, 10ct used on small cone)

Easy Lighted Ribbon Christmas Tree Directions:

• Glue the top of the ribbon to the top of the tree. If you can’t make it work across the tippy-top, no worries, you can cover that area with a light.
• Begin to wrap the tree.

• Fold and glue any ribbon that does not lay flat.
• Tip: make certain the wire lays flat, and it does not flip over. Do not fight the ribbon. Allow the ribbon to dictate how the wrapping will flow.
• When you finish, glue the bottom of the ribbon in place.

• Go back and tack down any ribbon you may have missed the while wrapping. You do not have to make it all lay flat, and it does not have to all be uniform. You just do not want the ribbon sticking out randomly.

• Turn on your lights. Make certain they work.
• Insert the end of the light at the top of the tree.
• Start wrapping the lights – make sure you stagger the lights (you may have to crimp the light-wire).
• Hot glue the end of the wire in place.

• Hide the light switch under the bottom of the tree.

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Holiday posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• For more Craft posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!

Filed Under: Christmas, Christmas, Crafts, Holidays

Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash Recipe

October 9, 2017 By Ann 1 Comment

Spice up your butternut squash with this delicious, easy to make cranberry and butternut squash recipe. A nice autumn side dish that perfect for pairing with pork, turkey or chicken. This would be a great recipe for Thanksgiving, or for a family dinner.

Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash Mise en Place:

• Pot
• 3 Bowls
• Masher
• Measuring Cup
• Spatula or Spoon
• Measuring Spoons

Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash Recipe
By Ann
Spice up your butternut squash with this delicious, easy to make cranberry and butternut squash recipe. A nice autumn side dish that perfect for pairing with pork, turkey or chicken.

Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook time:20 minutes
Total Time:40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Butternut Squash (sliced very thin or diced)
• 1 cup Dried Sweetened Cranberries
• Hot Water
• 3 TBSP Butter
• ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Sage Powder
• 1/8 tsp Dried Chili Flakes
• ¼ tsp Nutmeg

Directions:

• Put the cranberries into a bowl with hot water to soften. Set aside.
• Slice butternut squash very thin (or dice).
• Place the butternut squash into a pot filled with enough water to cover the squash, and cook until tender. Drain.
• In a small bowl, mix the spices in with the butter. Combine well to incorporate.
• Drain the cranberries and the butternut squash.
• Place the cranberries into a bowl with the squash.
• Mash the mixture together. Some cranberries may mash, some may not, this is good as it provides texture to the dish.
• Add the spiced butter mixture and stir to melt into the squash until its all combined and smooth.

Makes 4 servings Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash

• To print the Spiced Cranberry Butternut Squash recipe click here.

• Disclosure the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Recipes on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!

Filed Under: Recipes, Side Dishes

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey DIY Craft

October 5, 2017 By Ann Leave a Comment

This is a simple to make 15 minute craft for Thanksgiving. Adults and older children will love this adorable little turkey, perfect for tabletop or mantel decor. If you are looking for a simple Thanksgiving craft idea, this easy Thanksgiving turkey DIY craft is it!

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey DIY Craft

• When my niece suggested this one, I was like “eh,” but it is cute. I think it is more kid-ish, so keep that in mind. It would be GREAT for a children’s table centerpiece.

• Because of the hot glue gun, I suggest this craft can be made by older children under adult supervision (and you may want to man the glue gun and then have your child hold the pieces together). Goop might work (although I have not done it), but it will have a longer drying time.

• The pumpkin purchased had folds. This worked great as it hid the ends of the turkey feathers in the pumpkin-body. Keep that in mind when selecting your artificial pumpkin for the turkey’s body.

If you would like to make more Thanksgiving Day Crafts, you might enjoy these:

• Thanksgiving Turkey Jar Craft – Make your own adorable Turkey jar craft. This easy step by step tutorial will show you how to easily make a turkey out of a condiment jar that is perfect for a centerpiece, mantel decor or table decorations this Thanksgiving!

• Turkey Wine Glass DIY – Make your own adorable Turkey Wine Glass, or make three for a set!

• Easy Thanksgiving Wreath DIY – Make this simple yet pretty and easy Thanksgiving Wreath DIY for the holidays. In under an hour you can have festive Thanksgiving decor!

• Dollar Store Craft: Lighted Thanksgiving Centerpiece – you will not believe how easy it is to make a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece with items purchased at a dollar store!

• Floral Horn of Plenty DIY – one of my favorite crafts on this blog, it is simply gorgeous!

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey DIY Craft Materials:

• 2 Googly Eyes (these are large shown)
• 1 Pinecone (this is a large one)
• 1 small artificial Pumpkin
• 2 Orange Pipe Cleaners
• 1 Red Pipe Cleaner
• Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• 12 Turkey Feathers

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey DIY Craft Directions:

• Form a beak using two orange pipe cleaners.

• Form a waddle using a red pipe cleaner.

• Hot glue the beak to the end of a large (medium could work too) pinecone.
• Hot glue the waddle to the underside of the pinecone.
• Position, and then hot glue two large googly eyes at the top of the pinecone. Hot glue in place.

• Hot glue the pinecone-head to the pumpkin-body. Hold until dry (this take a LOT of hot glue).

• Position 12 turkey feathers in place on the back of the artificial pumpkin. Stagger for 2-3 rows so the plumage will look more “natural.” If you can hide the ends of the feathers inside the faux pumpkin, do so.
• Hot glue the feathers in place.