Each year during the month leading up to Valentine’s Day, my family loves the tradition of a candy bar buffet.  It sounds silly, but having it available makes the kids want candy less. Crazy, right?! Also, from October to March (during those chilly months), I like to have a hot cocoa bar cart set up for the kids and their friends and other guests as well. Having both of these areas adorned with cute banners is such a fun part of holidays.  I made Valentine’s Day DIY hot cocoa bar and candy bar pennant banners and wanted to offer them as free printables here on the blog as well to share with all of you. Read on below for easy instructions!

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So here’s my hot cocoa bar pennant banner.  I really had fun creating the little graphics with the whipped cream and marshmallows and darling little mug with a heart.

How fun are these pennant banners?!
(Adorable hot cocoa cups from Michael’s)

Here’s my candy buffet pennant banner. The pics don’t do it justice but the heart sucker, hard candy and pink heart chocolate graphics are just even cuter in person!

I also found this heart-embossed pink paper at Michael’s.

Supplies:
All you’ll need is white card stock, pink card stock, your printer, scissors and/or paper cutter, thin ribbon, glue or permanent scrapbook adhesive, mini hole punch, 2 1/2″ circle punch, string/twine, tape (if you want to center and keep paper on twine). Optional: Iridescent glitter, glue, and small paint brush OR Valentine print ribbon (as a top trim on banner).

Instructions:

Here’s what I did. First, print out each sheet of 2″ circles from the links below.

Please note, these designs are FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!! (Protected by copyright laws and I will have to take legal action if I see them reproduced on Etsy or CreativeMarket or anywhere else. I have tools to search he web looking for them. Yes, I have to say this because some people are dishonest. Ugh. Ok…we have that out of the way. Moving on…)

Click >>HERE<< to print Valentine’s Day Hot Cocoa Pennant Banner

Click>>HERE<< to print Valentine’s Day Candy Bar Pennant Banner

Next, use a 2 1/2″ circle punch to punch them out or a scallop is cute too. Then I used my paper cutter to make the pennant banner flags about 4″ high and 3 1/4″ wide with a 45º angle to the center from each bottom corner.  I didn’t want to go up very far. You can decide how far you want to go up. I liked going up 1/2″.

Adhere the circle to the pennant. Mini hole-punch each top corner and use twine or string of choice going down one corner and up through the opposite.  Once you have the entire thing done and centered, you can tape the back so that it stays in place.

This is optional but I like to brush the top of the banner with glue and iridescent glitter (I’ll even layer it on the hot cocoa banner to look like sparkly snow) for a fun effect.  You can also add a small ribbon trim instead and punch the holes for the twine a little lower.

Tie ribbon on each end of banner and hang it at desired location. I used mini clear 3M hooks and then attached the candy banner to my mirror and then just used tape to hang my hot cocoa banner on my bar cart. Easy peasy!

Valentine’s Day is my very favorite holiday (after Christmas). Have so much fun printing these and hanging them for your friends and family to enjoy all the sweets! Don’t forget to stock up on lots of candy and heart-shaped marshmallows! HAPPY LOVE DAY, sweet friends! Love you all and so glad you keep coming back and visiting me here!!

I’m so glad you could stop by today!  I would love it if you could subscribe at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and see everything I’m working on!  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

 xoxo,

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The post Valentine’s Day DIY Hot Cocoa Bar & Candy Bar Pennant Banners appeared first on Summer Adams.

Last year, I shared this picture on Instagram of these pretty and marshmallows.  Ever since, I have been flooded with questions  and a request to do a blog post. What better time than to do it around the holidays when you’re always adding a little more sparkle to your festivities?  So today I’m finally sharing how to make sparkly marshmallows and add them beautifully to your hot cocoa bar.

It is very simple and you just might have everything you need, at this time of year especially, to make these. But if not, it does not take much and you only need these simple ingredients.

Ingredients and supplies:

1 bag large marshmallows

1 bottle or container of white sugar crystal sparkles

1 bag white candy melts or a white chocolate (for meting)

1 glass bowl

Parchment or wax paper

One apothecary jar or container for displaying marshmallows

Instructions:

Add half to one bag of candy melts, depending on how many marshmallows you are making.   (You may also melt white chocolate on a double boiler on the stove top.)

If using candy melts, melt for one minute and microwave and then sister. Return to microwave for additional 30 seconds – 1 minute depending on amount. Stir again.  You don’t want the chocolate to be super melted and hot, like liquid. If that hot, it will melt the marshmallows instead of just coat it.

Roll each marshmallow individually and some of the candy amount, or chocolate, and then rollaround and small bowl of chunky sugar crystals.

Place on parchment paper or wax sheet to dry. Only takes a few minutes.

Aren’t they so pretty and sparkly? The camera does not do it justice but in person, they are really beautiful and look like sparkling snowballs.

After a few minutes of levitra buy us genuine trying, place and a beautiful apothecary jar and display at your hot cocoa bar.

The next step is to place this beautiful jar of sparkly white marshmallows at your Hot Cocoa Bar.  That I can’t really help you with….you’re on your own.  JUST KIDDING!

Ok, first… find a small space on your counter or a tea/bar cart to use to serve your family and guests. If you search “tea cart” on the search bar here on my blog, you’ll find all the different ways that I use my vintage tea cart.  I love this piece!

I use this vintage tea cart year round but only keep it set up with a hot cocoa bar during the holidays and cold winter months.  I love using pretty napkins and apothecary jars to fill with the ingredients and display them.

It’s been a while since I’ve tried my hand at chalk art so I figured that now was a good time.

I did have this cute little banner I made on photoshop and put together.  But still wanted to add the chalk art since the chalkboard was just hanging there ha!

I’ve had a lot of requests for this banner and to offer it as a free printable but so many people have ripped off designs and turned around and sold them on Etsy (tear) that I’m not sure I am ready to share it but if I do, you’ll be the first to know.  Make sure you’ve signed up for my email list of weekly news and sale alerts to my shoppe at the top of the page.

Check out more on my Hot Cocoa Bar HERE from last year.  I loved the Red & White theme.  It was so fun!

In that post, I included a free printable!  So don’t miss out!  Head on over to visit that one as well!

To help you create your own sparkly marshmallows and hot cocoa station, I’m including some shopping links of items below that I think would be perfect and so helpful for you!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you had fun learning how to make my sparkly marshmallows! I hope your guests are wow’d this holiday season! Oh, and they might taste great by themselves too, if you want to sneak a little treat when no one is looking (wink wink)!

The post How To Make Sparkly Marshmallows appeared first on Summer Adams.

Ok, so I saw these “Home Sweet Home Mug Toppers” (below) at Anthropologie and HAD to have them for my Hot Cocoa Bar.  However….I went to the store and they were $10 for 2!!!!  {eek!}  I love you Anthropologie but I just can’t.  I’ll spend $75 for a blouse LOL but not $10 for 2 mini gingerbread homes.  (As I type this and sarcastically say that out loud, I realize how absurd that is hahahaha.  Oh well.)
I thought I’d pull out my favorite Gingerbread recipe (below) and make my own.  Now, there was a lot of trial and error. The house was too long and wouldn’t sit right on the mug, I assembled the top before the sides were dry and strong and it fell apart, the cookie needed to cool and harden before assembling or it would break. Ya know…those kind of things.  I figured out the exact proportions that would work, measured, and then sketched them and turned them into a pdf file just for you!  Because 3 hours of trial and error needs to be for the greater good right?!  ;-p  Before figuring it out, I was all ready to march over to Anthro the next day and just spend the darn $10.  But once I learned what worked, it was easy!  Let’s do this!

BEST Gingerbread Recipe EVER
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.  Roll out dough and print out and cut out the following paper patterns for the gingerbread house template:

Mini Gingerbread Mug Hugs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cook for 6-7 minutes.  Remove and let cool completely!

Royal Icing (this is like glue):
1 pound powdered sugar, sifted
2 large egg whites, or substitute 4 teaspoons packaged egg whites and 1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract

Once cookies are completely cool, assemble sides and front of house and “glue” with icing.  let dry for an hour before attaching roof and candy.  Use glitter sugar, crushed candy canes…stuff that adds a pretty touch but is lightweight.  Remember, these are little so you are NOT going to be adding heavier candies to it.  Let dry for another 1-3 hours before adding to your mug.  Soooooo delicious and cute!

Wouldn’t this be a cute idea with some hot cocoa packets and mugs for your friends, family, or neighbors this holiday season??

Also, make sure to go back and visit my post on my HOT COCOA BAR for the free printable you see above in the frame.

AND!!!  If you are not wanting to measure and cut, here are some shopping links below that include the mini gingerbread house cutter.

Have fun and enjoy!!

{Sharing some photos below of the process….}

The post Mini Gingerbread House Mug Huggers appeared first on Summer Adams.

Every winter, we looooove some herbal tea and hot cocoa.  Since I already have my Tea Station set up year round, I knew I needed to at least have a Hot Cocoa Bar set up throughout the winter so that my family and friends have access to it whenever they feel like a cup of hot cocoa!

Can you believe I found ALL 17 of these adorable candy cane bow mugs at Goodwill for $6 after a few discounts?!!!  I squealed so loud that half of the store looked over to see what the big deal was and then my daughter, Brooklyn, and I loaded them all up into my cart as fast as possible.  Confession: one lady might have even said, “Oh wow!  What a fun find!  Are you really gonna buy them all up?”  Ummmmm…YES!  Sorry, nice lady.  But I’m a gal who likes to entertain and I would’ve bought all 50 if they had been there haha!  I promise I’m not greedy haha!

But seriously….I loooove a hot cocoa bar and here are things you MUST have to have a good one:
•Area designated for this (if you don’t have room in your home, it can even be on a tray in the center of your table or on an open kitchen shelf).  I love my vintage tea cart I found back in Waco, TX when we lived there.
•A theme!  Pick a theme and decorate around it to make it more attractive.
•Cute mugs!!  While most of my Christmas decor is all whites and silvers and golds, when I found these mugs I just KNEW I needed a cute red and white Hot Cocoa Bar!
•Your favorite packets for a quick cup OR your own homemade recipe in an apothecary jar, or some jar of sorts, that can be added to boiling milk or water.  I like having an assortment.  Just makes it more fun
•Sugar!  Some people just like a little more sugar than others so have some extra on hand.
•Peppermint sticks or crushed peppermint!
•MARSHMALLOWS & WHIPPED CREAM!!!  This is the most important!  And these days you can find them in peppermint and even chocolate or pumpkin spice flavors in most grocery stores so you can really add some variety!
•Little cookies or wafers (not pictured but I bought some after the pic was taken ha!)
•Spoons to stir (or peppermints sticks can do that as well)
•Napkins!  I like cute napkins to give that fun accent and pop of color.
•Cute accents!  It could be sprays of pine, bows
•Last but not least…Sign/Banner!!  I have both. I made my cute banner across the top and guess what???  I even made the cute “Baby It’s Cold Outside!  Warm up here!” sign as a FREE DOWNLOAD to share with all of you!!!! (personal use only please!  Copyright protected)  Right click and save!

(Peppermint Bark-flavored hot chocolate from Williams-Sonoma.  White frame from IKEA. Apothecary jars from Home Goods)

I’m so pleased with how it turned out!  Get out there and make one of your own!  Your kids or hubby will especially love it when they come in from the cold!  And you will too, after a day of holiday shopping!

Here are the items above (or similar) I’m linking for your shopping convenience!

Don’t forget to pin and share on Pinterest if you love this idea! (Hover over any picture and click on “pin”.) I’d love it if you subscribed to my email at the top of the page and even followed me on Instagram and Facebook to see all I’m doing!

Happiest Holidays! Stay warm!!!

The post My Hot Cocoa Bar appeared first on Summer Adams.