By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

Using twigs found on a walk and leftover scraps of felt from a holiday crafting project Spring came early in the form of this adorable wreath! Sure, the felt flowers are simple and lovely on their own, but grouped together on a homemade wreath they become très chic! Keep for yourself, or gift to a friend who needs a little Spring in their step. 

Felt Flower Wreath
makes one adorable wreath to give or keep

What you need:
9″ x 12″ basic felt sheets in assorted colors (I used a more muted palette found in the French countryside)
1 bunch of twigs (mine were various sizes and widths)
Hot glue and glue gun
Scissors
Small piece of floral wire or ribbon for hanging (optional, it can also hang over a hook just as it is)

What to do:
1. Make the Flower Center: Cut 1 felt sheet into a square. Fold the square in half and glue down. On the fold end, cut thin lines about halfway down. Start at one end and place a dot of glue. Carefully roll the felt and glue at the end. Set aside to dry.

2. Cut and Add Flower Pedals: From a sheet of felt cut 8 to 10 petal shapes. Take the flower center you made in Step 1 and glue the bottom of your petal to the bottom of the flower center. Make sure the folded end of the flower center is at the top. Continue glueing your petals around your flower center until you make it back to the first. Repeat the process a second time around.

3. Cut and Add the Flower Leaves: From another sheet of felt, cut a leaf shape that looks like a ‘+’. Next, cut out an oval shape that is a bit larger. Fold that in half and glue 1/3 of the fold. Glue the ‘+’ shape to the bottom of your flower. Glue the other shape onto the bottom of the ‘+’ shape.

4. Make the Wreath I found twigs in my backyard that are about 6 to 8 inches long and started glueing them together until they resembled a circle and had a few layers (NOTE: This doesn’t need to be a perfect circle, actually less than perfect is best!). Next I glued the bottoms of the flowers to the twigs until the wreath was covered just how you like it (I left some of the wreath exposed). To hang, twist a small piece of floral wire through one of the twigs at the top and hang onto a nail OR hook or wrap a beautiful ribbon around the top OR hang straight from the wreath onto a hook.

Check out these other homespun chic felt crafts! 
•Felt Fortune Cookies
•Tiered Felt Holiday Ornaments
•Felt Gnome Hat
•Felt Ball Garland

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

If you interested in giving candy making a try, I’d like to introduce you to this Chocolate Nut Cluster recipe. It’s a very forgiving recipe that is as delicious as it is beautiful. Bonus, it’s my father’s favorite holiday candy! The recipe makes two dozen and let me tell you 6 of these make a perfect gift, so give away 3 gifts and keep one for yourself! Happy candy making! 

Chocolate Nut Clusters
(makes 24)

What you need: 
1 pound white candy coating, chopped
6 ounces milk chocolate chips (can sub bittersweet chocolate or semisweet chocolate)
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (can sub bittersweet chocolate)
2 1/2 cups dry roasted and salted nuts (I used 1 1/2 cups cashews and 1/2 cup peanuts)
Maldon Salt (optional)
Chipotle chili powder (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

What to do:
1. Prepare Trays: Line four 1/4 baking sheet trays or two 1/2 baking sheet trays (whatever will fit into your refrigerator) with waxed paper and set aside. *note: if you don’t have enough baking sheet trays, use any flat surface that you have that will fit into your refrigerator. Plates, platters or whatever.
2. Melt Coating and Chocolate: In a pyrex bowl set over a sauce pan of simmering water (a double boiler), add the candy coating and chocolate. Heat until melted and smooth.
3. Cool Chocolate Mixture: Remove the bowl from the double boiler and allow the chocolate to cool for 5-10 minutes. This step can not be skipped. Allowing the chocolate cool for a few minutes help keep your clusters together when you scoop them out.
4. Add Nuts: Stir nuts into the slightly cooled chocolate. 5. Scoop and Set: Using a small portion scoop (about a heaping 1 tablespoon size), scoop the chocolate nut mixture onto the prepared baking sheet trays. Sprinkle the tops of each cluster with a wee bit of salt, chipotle chili powder or sprinkles if you like. Refrigerate until firm (about an hour).

Try out these other Easy Candy and Sweet Snack Recipes!
They make great gifts from the kitchen! 
•Homemade Tootsie Rolls
•Beautiful Bark
•Homemade Caramel Corn

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

Holiday wreath? Sure, ANY holiday with the right colored cupcake liners. I love this for a fun quick craft! 

Cupcake Liner Wreath
makes 1 (12-inch) wreath

What you need:
120 paper cupcake liners in whatever colors you like (I used pastels for this wreath)
1 (12-inch) styrofoam wreath form
scissors
straight pins
Ribbon to hang

What to do: 
Step 1: Prepare the cupcake liners.
Working with two liners stacked together at a time (doubling them up makes them more sturdy when pinning to the styrofoam), make a cut down one side just to the bottom and cut the bottom of the liners out (the circle part at the bottom of a cupcake!). Continue with all of the liners. You should have 60 sets and 120 colored circles (I’ll show you what to do with those later).

Step 2: Attach the liners to the styrofoam wreath form.
Start anywhere on your wreath (this will become your “top” and be covered with ribbon when you hang it). Wrap one set of liners around the wreath and secure in the back with straight pins. You could also glue the cupcake liners with stick glue, but I find them secured better with straight pins AND you can take the pins out and reuse the wreath). Continue adding the liners (alternating colors) by overlapping the previous liners and securing in the back with straight pins. Work your way around the wreath until it is completely covered. Note: The last liner is a bit of a bear to add, but don’t worry, it will be covered up with a ribbon! 😉

Step 3: Hang your wreath!
Cut a piece of ribbon the length you need for hanging over your door or wherever you think would be fun to hang! I hung mine over the side of our mid-century liquor cart from the rum decanter!

PRO TIP: Remember all those circles you cut out? They make the BEST confetti!!!!

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

I love a fortune cookie anytime I want to send a fun message to someone. Add a little sprinkle and any message inside is instantaneously more colorful. This one is for the moms! 

Sprinkle Fortune Cookies
yields 16 cookies

What you need:
2 large egg whites
1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1⁄2 cup superfine sugar
1 1⁄4 teaspoons Almond Extract
Pinch of salt
1 jar
2-3 tablespoons Yum Yum Smile Shop Sprinkles (I used Spring Break)
16 compliments for mom, written on 16 (1⁄2-by-5-inch) strips of paper using a nontoxic pen

What To Do:
Preheat the oven to 400° F.

Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Have a standard muffin tin ready.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add the flour, superfine sugar, almond extract, 2 tablespoons water, and the salt and whisk for another 30 seconds, or until smooth. Preparing two cookies at a time on the baking sheet, measure
1 tablespoon batter and pour it onto a spot in the middle of one half of the baking sheet. Use the back of the tablespoon to spread the batter out into a super-thin, 4-inch-diameter circle. Repeat this process on the other half of the baking sheet to create a second thin cookie. At this time, sprinkle in your Yum Yum Smile Shop Sprinkles! Bake the cookies on the middle rack of the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.

Working quickly (the cookies begin to harden about 10 seconds after you remove them from the oven), use an offset spatula
to remove the cookie from the cookie sheet and lay 1 backhanded compliment down the center of the cookie. Using your fingers, fold the cookie in half and pinch the top together to form a loose semi-circle. Hold the cookie with your index fingers inserted at each open end, and slide your thumbs together along the bottom line. Press into the center of the cookie while bending the two open ends together and down to meet and form the shape of a fortune cookie.Place the shaped cookies in the muffin tin to cool (this will help the cookie keep its shape as it cools). Repeat with the other cookie. Continue until all the batter has been used!

By Libbie Summers

From fragrant candles to flowery flamingoes, I’ve got you covered with fresh ideas for Mom this Mother’s Day. And, whatever you decide to get her, please make sure you include a note that tells her how much you love her…or even better, tell her a story you remember about your youth. I do my best each year to make my mom cringe with stories. We always get a laugh…well one of us does…that’s what the candle is for. 

1. Lilac Ribbed-Knit Polo Shirt from Acne Studios
Why? Because it’s soft and sporty and slightly retro and the perfect shade of purple. 

2. Grey Silk Palazzo Pants from The J. Peterman Company
Why? Because The J. Peterman Company catalog is the only one I read from cover to cover. I’ve been a fan since college…way before Seinfeld. 

3. White Crackle Oxford from Billy Reid
Why? Because Billy Reid does shoes right. The sizing on some of his women’s clothing is still a bit off, but his shoes…he crushes every time. These are timeless and timely. 

4. Platinum Whitening Pen and Mouth Guard from intelliWHITE
Why? Because Mom’s like white teeth! It’s simple really and intelliWHITE is supposed to be the new hot whitening thing that won’t leave mom’s gums sensitive. 

5. Powder Day Sprinkles from Libbie Summers
Why? Stop it already! What Mom wouldn’t LOVE some #libbiesprinkles. Even better if you get a jar for you and a jar for her and bake her something. Check out the #libbiesprinkle recipes on my website for ideas. 

6. 2018 Basic Planner from Marjolein Delhaas
Why? Because not all Mom’s love a flowery day planner. This one is bad ass and chic and cool! 

7. Lavender & Lovage Home Candle from Jo Malone
Why? Because a Jo Malone candle is like giving Mom a gift for a week! This scent is not too flowery either, a rosemary and thyme undertone make it have an earthy vibe. 

8. Wicker Ball Basket Bag from Ulla Johnson
Why? Because wicker handbags are all the rage and the shape of this one sets it apart from the rest. 

9. Flamingo Pool Float from Urban Outfitters
Why? Stop it already! The flowery flamingo has taken over for the swan. Mom will love the beauty of it’s gawkiness! Make sure to blow it up for her and then leave her alone to float in the pool!