Impeccable Taste: 5 Best Holiday Party Food and Craft Combos

November 23, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s coming on Christmas, which means your December calendar is quickly filling up with holiday party invites. It can be exhausting trying to come up with a fun new idea for every Christmas gathering. At a certain point, we all want to give in to the call of store-bought Christmas cookies in a tin we brought from home so we can pass them off as our own. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Make the social merry-go-round fun this year with these amazing and easy food and craft combos that are sure to have you at the top of everyone’s guest list. From pies to themed dresses, these are your new Christmas party go-tos.

An Old Favorite

The Christmas casserole is a key staple of any holiday potluck, and each guest has their own family recipe. Try something a little different this year with the Soupless Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole, which is guaranteed to please. This recipe is perfect for parties because you can leave portion sizes up to each partygoer. No need to meticulously cut out pieces—just let everyone scoop as much as they want! Plus, green bean dishes complement almost every other flavor, so your casserole will taste excellent with whatever other dishes guests bring. Cart your dish from your kitchen to the party in this awesome upcycled Placemat Casserole Carrier, which will keep your cooking at the perfect temperature until it’s time to eat!

An Eye on the Waistline

Everyone struggles with weight gain during the holidays. How could they not, with all those delicious desserts at the tips of their fingers? Do your loved ones a favor this Christmas with the Skinny Eggnog Pie. This scrumptious dessert cuts out some of the fat and calories without losing a bit of the taste. Fellow party guests won’t believe that this is a “lite” dessert! Keep your pie looking magazine-cover ready in the Casserole and Pie Carrier, which will protect all your hard work from being jostled or ruined in the car. Choose a Christmas fabric to give this carrier an extra holiday boost!

30 Gingerbread Men (and a Lady)

This Little Miss Gingerbread Dress is too cute for words, and will be absolutely adorable paired with some delicious gingerbread cookies! The outfit is surprisingly easy to put together, and can be made the weekend before its party debut. Even better, the Cut Out Gingerbread Cookies are dairy, egg, and gluten free! You’ll be everyone’s favorite party guest with this considerate treat.

Looks Great, Tastes Better

Be careful with the Dreamy Gingerbread Cheesecake — you might have other party guests forgetting about the spirit of Christmas to fight one another over the last piece of this mouth-watering dessert. This cheesecake is a fun twist on usual gingerbread desserts, and even gives an upgrade to regular cheesecake! A slice of this dessert is the perfect way to finish off a potluck meal. And with the 20 Minute Festive Christmas Cake Frill, your dessert can look as good as it tastes! In less than half an hour, you can whip up some bunting and a little frill to make your dish stand out from the crowd.

Cute Enough to Eat

This easy-breezy DIY Applique Onesie is just the ticket for a baby this Christmas. The applique takes no time at all to make, but will have your baby looking so cute and festive while remaining comfortable and warm. Couple that killer outfit with these tree-shaped Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies and you can bet that you’ll have the best dressed plus-one in the room.

What’s your go-to holiday potluck dish?

Cake Pops, Cookies, Candies, and More + Awesome Holiday Giveaway!

November 18, 2013 by FaveCrafts

When you’re craving just a little bite of something sweet, there’s nothing better than a delicious cake pop. These cute mini cakes on a stick have taken the baking world by storm, and people are always looking for fun and clever ways to turn these adorable cake and brownie balls into decorative characters and designs, like these Avengers Cake Pops or these super cute Angry Birds Cake Pops.

While there are several methods to creating these little cake balls, one of the easiest ways to get the perfect shape and texture to your cake pop is to use this Silicone Non-Stick Cake Pop Tray. Made specifically for creating these sweet treats, this non-stick Silicone pan allows you to bake perfectly round cake and brownie balls in no time. Simply make your cake as instructed in your recipe, pour the batter into the pan, and let your oven do the rest! And when they’re all ready to be decorated, simply turn the pan over and use the pre-installed holes to hold your cakes on a stick as they dry!

This versatile Silicone pan can bake 20 cake balls at a time, so it’s perfect for creating sweet treats for weddings, parties, bridal showers, baby showers, holiday parties, or to give as gifts to family and friends. These Snickerdoodle Cake Pops would be the perfect stocking stuffer, or make these fun Golf Ball Cake Pops for your dad’s birthday. We love this easy-to-use baking pan, and we know you will, too! Best of all, we’re giving one away to one lucky winner! Scroll down for more info on how you can win this awesome Silicone Non-Stick Cake Pop Tray from Collections Etc.!

And, as a special treat, here are some of our favorite cake pop recipes to help get you started!

Adorable Cake Pops

After your cake pops are done baking and have cooled off, you’re ready for the fun part…decorating! Gather up all your decorating essentials in this adorable and festive Snowman Holiday Divided Server w/Cover from Collections Etc. Great for holding sprinkles, candy, cookies, chocolates, and more, this 6-cavity container makes decorating fun and stress-free. This container would also be fantastic for gift-giving. Fill it up with homemade candies, like the Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rock Candy or the Super Easy Chocolate Fudge. For those who love Christmas cookies, the North Pole Snowball Cookies would fit perfectly in this container, as would the delicious Holiday Holly Cookies (my favorite!).

Measuring more than 16″ long and 12″ wide, this container is large enough to hold all kinds of goodies. Are you hosting a holiday gathering at your home? Use this cute snowman container for holding nuts and candies or veggies and dip. Then when you’re all finished, simply pop on the top and store it away. This container is dishwasher safe and is a must-have presentation station for the hostess with the mostess! Want one of your own? Scroll on down to see how you can win this awesome container, just in time for the holiday season!

Need a few more baking ideas? Here are some cookies that would fit perfectly into this Snowman Server!

Christmas Cookie Recipes

The Most Delicious Giveaway Ever!

Love what you’ve seen so far? Well we’re giving away this awesome Silicone Non-Stick Cake Pop Tray AND the Snowman Holiday Divided Server w/Cover to one lucky winner! The contest runs from November 18th through December 2nd right here on the FaveCrafts blog. All you need to do to enter is to leave a comment answering the question below! Good luck to all, and happy baking!

Giveaway Rules:

Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
One comment/entry per person per blog post.
Contest closes December 2nd, 2013 at 11:59p CST.
Leave a comment on this blog post answering the question below to be entered to win.
Winner will be notified by email.

Tell us, what’s your favorite holiday memory?

Leave your answer in a comment below to be entered to win the Silicone Non-Stick Cake Pop Tray AND the Snowman Holiday Divided Server w/Cover! Contest ends December 2nd!

10 Totally Tasty Patterns of Food-Inspired Quilts

October 4, 2013 by FaveQuilts

If you’re familiar with basic quilting vocabulary, then you know I’m not talking about dessert when I say ‘jelly roll‘ or ‘layer cake’. However, if there’s one thing I’ve come to learn about deciding on a new pattern, it’s that fresh inspiration for a quilt project can come from anywhere–especially from common household places, like the kitchen.

Do cupcake patterns and other delicious designs sound yummy to you too? If so, you’ll love FaveQuilts‘ list of 10 tasty quilts inspired by everything from breakfast to dessert. From oven mitts featuring patterns to quilted table runners with sugary sweet designs, every quilter can find a pattern that they find absolutely appetizing.

Breakfast Quilt Patterns

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is why you should accessorize your morning coffee with adorable quilted decor. For example, the silly design of the Eggciting Mug Rug is the perfect pattern to protect your counter tops from hot cups. For those of you that are definitely not morning people, hanging up the Strawberry Fairy Panel Quilt on your kitchen wall is a wonderful way to pep yourself up on a dreary Monday morning. If you’re really looking for a sugary treat, check out these Breakfast-Print Oven Mitts (shown) for a useful and cheerful design that’s sure to get a smile out of any sweet tooth.

Afternoon Picnic Quilts Patterns

If you’re looking for quilted fruit and vegetable designs, you’ll find no fat quarter here! (sorry, I was dying to make that pun…)

All joking aside, patterns inspired by healthy picnic food, like the Pineapple Applique Welcome Sign and the Apple Core Throw, are cute ideas for new picnic blanket patterns. In addition, the upbeat colors and fruit applique patterns on this Farm Fresh Picnic Quilt (shown) come together to create a splendid blanket for a family picnic.

While fruit applique patterns make refreshing summer quilt patterns, the winter months always give me a craving for sweet afternoon snacks. If you also prefer a sugary snack during the cold season, you’ll love the delectable design of the Sugar Almonds Jelly Roll Quilt.

Dessert Quilt Patterns

Naturally, we’ve saved our most delicious dessert quilt patterns for last! Whether you want to make a yummy Christmas quilt pattern like the Candy Jar Quilted Table Runner or pastel-colored blanket like the Piece O’ Cake Quilt Pattern, you’re sure to get a hankering for something frosted. If you’re reading this and can barely wait to make a dessert quilt pattern, you’ll love this super fast Cupcake Mug Rug Pattern (shown) that would make a scrumptious and thoughtful handmade quilted gift.

Is your mouth watering yet? Get your sugar fix by checking out these 30 Minute Recipes: 8 Fast Dessert Recipes from Recipe Lion.

What kind of food will inspire your next quilt pattern?

13 Stylin’ Lunch Box Ideas and More to Spice Up Your School Day

September 26, 2013 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

Sure, heart-shaped sandwiches are great, but if you want the coolest lunch in school, you have to check out these food crafts for kids and DIY lunch box ideas.

AllFreeKidsCrafts has found a few fun ways to pack a little creativity along with your school lunch. Whether you want to keep it simple with a Friendly Froggy Paper Bag or really dig in, these back-to-school crafts for kids are tons of fun. Don’t forget to pack a Tie Dye School Lunch Napkin to make your sweet school lunch even cooler!

Lunch Box Ideas

No matter what’s on your menu, your lunch box should stand out from the rest. Sure, you can write your initials on any store-bought lunch box, but why settle for a boring lunch box when you can have one that’s completely customized for you? The best way to get a one-of-a-kind lunch box that fits your style is to make one at home. If you’re looking for a quick craft, the eco-chic Simple Solutions Lunch Box is perfect for you. It’s an easy lunch box idea that you can decorate any way you want, and since it’s made of a recycled plastic milk jug, your sandwich won’t get squished on the way to school. Here are a few more fun ideas:

Kids’ Food Crafts

These easy, kid-friendly meals are good for you, and they’re good for having fun! Get creative in the kitchen, and see what fun foods you can create for a healthy school lunch. Add some vegetables to your lunch with Angry Birds Bites. Then create your own level and play away. Even though you’ve been told not to play with your food, here are more school lunch ideas that are too much fun to resist:

Best Dessert Recipes

Save the best for last! These back-to-school desserts are way better than a boring old pudding cup. Your friends will be begging you to trade dessert when they see these sweet treats. After you show off your Sudoku skills with an awesome Edible Puzzle, your friends will be dying to know how they can make their own sweet treat game. Here are some other brag-worthy food crafts for kids:

What’s the most entertaining food craft you’ve ever made?

National Sewing Month 2013 Sewing Social: Easy and Sweet Sewing Patterns

September 6, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s Day Six of National Sewing Month! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.

While sewing can afford you an invaluable solitary haven, it’s still fun to sew socially. At AllFreeSewing we started thinking about what makes a sewing party great. If you’ve never been to one, it’s essentially a bunch of people getting together and sewing. The formula for throwing a hit, we found, is simple. All you need are people you love to chat with, a fun but simple sewing project, and food.

Some of you advanced sewists may object to our recipe for success, but let us at least defend ourselves. You may not have any beef with our assertion that good friends make great sewing buddies (after all, who wants to sew with someone they profoundly dislike?), but you perhaps find that one should take advantage of company to tackle tricky projects. This is entirely legitimate; especially if you’re sewing for a cause or a deadline, you want to take advantage of your fellow sewists’ expertise. However, we’re strictly speaking of sewing for fun. If you’re planning a party, pick something simple to tackle.

We got to thinking about our sewing and food mishaps. One minute your ruffled linen shorts are spotless, the next they’re stained with the piece of chocolate cake you tried to eat while simultaneously threading your serger. It can be a deadly combination. We took two of the necessary elements for a successful sewing social, easy patterns and food, and created a quick list of sweet sewing patterns for you to make at your next get-together. Of course, we couldn’t resist tacking on a treat for the after-party when all of your fabric is put away. Enjoy these patterns from AllFreeSewing and others, plus brand new recipes for our sister site, TheBestDessertRecipes. Try not to get too hungry.

Easy and Sweet Sewing Patterns

1. Cupcake Wrist Cushion – We love this pattern. It’s a great sewing social project because it’s so simple and easy to make, not to mention functional. Once you and your guests have the body of your cupcakes made, get really creative and decorate them with embroidered sprinkles and candies. This project can be completed in the duration of the party, so these cupcakes will double as a party favor.

Afterwards serve Lovely Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes. Why wouldn’t you want to enjoy these angel food treats after sewing something that looks so tasty?

2. Macaroon Coin Purse Pattern – The zipper included in this pattern is perfect for the sewing party that wants a little variation. Create this easy coin purse in one sitting with sewers of all levels. This is a cookie for the rookie. Don’t be swayed by the sophisticated end product, this design can be easily accomplished by a novice.

When you’re through enjoy English Coconut Macaroons. Since your party decided to sew something totally unique, eat something with just as wild a flavor. The coconut accents that abound in this cookie put a twist on a traditional treat.

3. Ice Cream Gift Box, Card Holder and Present Topper – Learn how to sew gift wrapping like never before with this creative treat from Ever Kelly. We are wild about these delicious looking goodies. No doubt there is ample material here to fill your social hour (or hours) with sewing fun. Try these simple sewing project with your friends when the weather is particularly warm and enjoy a cool treat afterwards!

Your cool treat could be Oreo Cheesecake Ice Cream. Dish out personal portions to every guest and taste the edible translation of your sewing projects!

4. Strawberry Pincushion – Sew a naturally sweet treat with this simple sewing tutorial. These teeny pincushions can be easily tied to your favorite pair of fabric scissors for easy transportation. Totally adorable, these easy-to-make pincushions will be a total success.

Afterwards enjoy Strawberry Banana Mousse. This unassuming dessert will take your guests by storm. Plus, it’s low-fat, so if your party is in the middle of the day everyone will enjoy this guilt-free treat.

5. Felt Food Muffins – This is a purely playful project from Pieces by Polly. Consider making this fun felt food if you have some youngsters attending the party. Easy to make and fun to play with afterwards, this simple sewing project will be a healthy reminder that sewing for the sake of fun is always worth a try.

When you’re finished serve Blueberry Muffin Tops. This spin on the classic muffin is a great party treat.

And there you have it! Some options to host a great sewing social. Our compliments to TheBestDessertRecipes for providing the real counterparts to our sewn treats.

Do you snack while you sew?

Cinema Saturdays: How to Make a Robot Candy Cake

November 24, 2012 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

It seems these days that everyone has a birthday, so make yours special by serving an amazingly unique birthday cake. Don’t just buy it though; make it! It doesn’t matter how crafty you think you are or don’t think you are, anyone can make this awesome kids’ treat with the help of this wonderfully clear tutorial. If you’re having trouble thinking of other crafty treats to accompany the great cake, over at AllFreeKidsCrafts we have plenty of ideas for you!

There won’t be any malfunctions during your birthday party when you make a robot candy cake– that is, as long as you don’t press your robot’s buttons. This cake is perfect for a mixed crowd because it involves both cake and candy, which means it’s been programmed to please everyone. If you’re a little “rusty” on the trends, listen up: robots are all the rage (see below). Make your birthday party trendy and tech-savvy with an intelligent sweet.

Follow the video tutorial, and you and your kids can easily make this amazing cake. Twist Twizzlers, program M n Ms, and roll chocolate wafers into this incredibly soft, delicious cake to design the perfect robot pal (whom you’ll soon eat, so don’t get too attached). Kids and adults alike will be in awe over this adorably creative cake. Once you’ve mastered the robot candy cake and seen the extremely favorable response, perhaps you’ll be able to create a cake on your own. Follow the tips from the tutorial, and you should be a cake making master in no time!

Watch and learn the nuts and bolts of making a robot cake.

How to Make a Robot Candy Cake

Overload your party with robots with these robot crafts!

What is your favorite birthday party theme?

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth This Halloween with 12 Halloween Party Food Ideas

October 14, 2012 by AllFreeHolidayCrafts

Halloween is closer than you think, and the editors at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com want to help you make your party a success. It’s easy to go to the store and buy candy, but where’s the crafty fun in that? Instead of stocking your Halloween dessert table with the same old treats, check out our list of 12 Halloween Party Food Ideas and cook up some food that is sure to wow your guests and leave even the healthiest of eaters satisfied.

Our collection of delicious Halloween delights includes cake pops and suckers designed to look like everyone’s favorite Halloween monsters. These edible crafts are perfect for a party, as your guests will be able to eat their desserts without worrying about keeping track of any silverware. They’re also a great parting gift for guests on their way out. With handy snacks like these, everyone can enjoy all of the festivities and eat at the same time.

You want your guests to enjoy themselves with different activities at your Halloween party, but if you’re looking to bring everyone together, introduce some more filling Halloween pastries. These edible crafts come in all shapes and sizes and are inspired by popular Halloween images. The decorating techniques vary, so these pastries are not only delicious and fun to look at, but also challenging for those looking to try something different.

This list of 12 Halloween Party Food Ideas wouldn’t be complete without some healthier alternatives for the guests who are looking for a little fruit with their dessert. Projects in this category offer ideas for combining healthy food with some sweet toppings and decorating regular fruits to make sure they still fit in with the Halloween theme. With these fruity options, even those without a sweet tooth will be leaving your party on a full stomach.

Not all of your guests will be looking to fill up on big desserts, so make sure your Halloween dessert table includes some of these bite-sized treats. Our list contains edible crafts with several different looks and textures, ensuring that your guests will have plenty of flavor options to choose from. Everything from cute to creepy can be on your dessert table if you try your hand at some of these smaller party treats.

All of us here at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com want your next Halloween party to be fun for everyone, including yourself, so take a look at our 12 Halloween Party Food Ideas and prepare a real treat for your party guests. By the time you’re done with this collection, you’ll have enough edible crafts to cover your entire Halloween table.

What is your favorite sweet treat on Halloween? Whether it’s candy, chocolate, or taffy apples, we want to hear from you, so comment below.

Link Love: Watermelons for Everyone

May 31, 2012 by FaveCrafts

‘Tis the season for watermelon eating! Along with enjoying the fruit in its natural state, why not make watermelon-inspired crafts too? I noticed watermelons were popular lately on Pinterest, so I decided to round up some of the cool watermelon themed crafts I found, from crochet patterns and watermelon clothing to food that looks like watermelons and rustic watermelon home decor. Watch out for seeds!

Angry Birds Watermelon from Little Food Junction
Crochet Watermelon Hat from Pass the Cereal
Watermelon Sugar Cookie Truffles from Cookies & Cups
Paper Plate Watermelons from Eberhart’s Explorers
Scrap Wood Watermelon from How Does She?
Watermelon Tuxedo Tank from Ruffled Sunshine
Crochet Watermelon Hot Pads from Art Threads
Watermelon Slices Soap from Riverlea Soap
Watermelon Skirt from Sun Scholars

Foolish Food: How to Trick Them With Treats

March 30, 2012 by FaveCrafts

As the target of one too many April Fool’s pranks, I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the “holiday.” However, I do think a little bit of harmless fun is okay, and I think I’ve discovered one of the best ways to trick your friends and family without hurting anyone. What’s that, you ask? Fool them with food!

I’ve been seeing tons of tutorials for crafts that look like food lately, and to take that trend one step further, it seems a lot of people have been making food that looks like other food. By that I mean cake that looks like pizza, Tootsie Rolls that look like hamburgers, mashed potatoes that look like ice cream, rice krispie treats that look like Hershey Kisses, cupcakes that look like corn on the cob, and a bunch of treats where you think you’re biting into one thing but suddenly taste something completely different. Fun, huh?

Here are some easy-to-make foods “in disguise” that will be so much fun to whip up for April Fool’s Day:

Think this fried egg looks yummy? Think again! This seemingly-delicious breakfast item is actually more of a dessert. It’s made from vanilla yogurt and canned peaches! Clever, no?

It’s hard to stop your mouth from watering when you see an entire Kentucky Fried Chicken meal laid out before you. But what if that meal wasn’t really the crispy chicken, buttery corn and baked beans you were expecting? The “faux meal” pictured is actually created from a bunch of different sweets, from Twinkies and jelly beans to rice krispie treats and pretzel sticks! You’d never guess it just by looking, which is what makes this a recipe for success when it comes to an April Fool’s Day food fake out!

This is what you would call the opposite of a sweet surprise. These frosted “cupcakes” may look like dessert perfection, but really they’re filled with a meat loaf center and a mashed potato frosting on top. Imagine your friend’s reaction when they find out the cupcake you gave them is more savory than sweet!

These Faux French Fries are the perfect trick for the fast food lover in your life. Just set this basket of fries in front of your unsuspecting “victim” and watch their face as they discover their favorite finger food snack is actually frozen pound cake!

This last one isn’t even made of food, but it sure looks like it! If you’re pretty sure your intended target won’t fall for your prank, this is a good one to try (so they don’t get harmed!). These Cupcake Bath Bombs may look delicious, but they’re actually made out of soap! Leave one of these tasty-looking treats out on your kitchen counter and see if your target takes the bait. It’s pretty hard to resist this tempting cupcake, so he or she may just end up with a mouth full of soap!

Now even though these food pranks are all in good fun, you might want to have a plan of action in case the person you fooled is looking to get you back. After all, the last thing you’d want is to end up with a mouthful of meatloaf cupcake!

Who are YOU planning to prank this April Fool’s Day? What are you planning to do?

This Week on EcoHeidi TV – Crafting with Food

June 5, 2011 by Tiffany

EcoHeidi Borchers loves to recycle all sorts of stuff into cool crafts! On Monday June 6th, join in the live craft chat and watch FaveCrafts.com featured designers EcoHeidi and her special guest Candace Jedrowicz work their creative magic to transform macaroni into art boxes, Tootsie Rolls into a cheeseburger and bread into alphabet letters. We think you’ll agree that it’s fun to create with food!

It’s easy to watch EcoHeidi TV right from your computer. It airs Monday June 6, 2011 9am Pacific/10am Mountain, 11 am Central, noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and find the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday!

Click here to sign up for the Cool2Craft FaveCrafts newsletter for easy links to the projects featured on this episode of EcoHeidi TV.

Watch live streaming video from cool2craft at livestream.com