Category: Homestead

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Wildlife Tales from My Colorado Craft Haven

Look, a mule deer. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Where Knitting Meets Critters and Gardens Host Gossip Sessions

So, picture this: Southwest Colorado, where my knitting needles and gardening trowels mingle with the locals – the wildlife! From my crafting corner, I’ve got a front-row seat to nature’s sitcom, and let me tell you, it’s both hilarious and awe inspiring.

Hummingbird High-Speed Chase

Colorado has the best hummingbirds. Squirrel spying on the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Ever tried knitting while hummingbirds zip around? It’s like a NASCAR race with wings! These speedsters inspire me to pick vibrant yarn colors, because, let’s face it, life’s too short for dull colors when hummingbirds are around.

Squirrel Shenanigans and Cheeky Chipmunks

Squirrel spying on the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Gardening with squirrels and chipmunks around is a bit like playing hide-and-seek. They eye my veggies, I try to protect ’em. It’s a constant game of “Who’s got the best tricks?” Their antics remind me to knit resilient stitches, just in case they decide to get crafty with my knitting basket.

A silly chipmunk tries to drive a Tonka Truck through my garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Deer Drama Queen

As twilight sets in, the deer emerge, looking all majestic until they nibble on my carefully tended plants! They’re the garden divas, strutting in for a snack. But hey, their elegance sometimes sneaks into my knitting patterns – subtle and graceful, just like those sneaky but graceful nibblers.

Mamma mule deer and her twin fawns looking for food. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Butterfly Makeovers

A caterpillar snacks on dill in the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

From caterpillar chaos to butterfly beauty, the garden’s got its own makeover show! It’s like witnessing a craft project in fast-forward. Their transformations nudge me to experiment with new knitting patterns – after all, change is a beautiful thing, right?

A yellow butterfly in flight to a fruit tree blossom. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.
A yellow butterfly lands on a fruit tree blossom. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Songbird Karaoke Nights

Wild Colorado Songbird observing the lettuce in my garden. Wild turkeys love to peck at the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

These songbirds make my gardening soundtrack! It’s a full-on karaoke session out there. Their tunes fuel my knitting rhythm. Who knew a knitting session could double as an open mic night for nature’s finest crooners? And what’s extra-exciting in my neck of the woods is to hear the Steller’s Jays imitate the local hawks. Sometimes I hear a hawk scream and look up to see this fellow. The little stinker does it to clear the garden of other birds that might be competing for food. They hear a hawk and flee, while the Jay feasts happily, knowing the birds of prey are not on the attack.

Steller's Jays can imitate hawks and other sounds. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.
A hawk scratches his face, taking a break. Wild turkeys love to peck at the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Wild Turkey Troublemakers

Wild turkeys love to peck at the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Now, speaking of wild birds, I often run into the most beautiful flock of wild turkeys while knitting and gardening outside. They are adorable and so fun to watch. But they do love a good garden snack, just like anyone else. Do I share? Usually. They’re too fun to run off.

Wild turkeys love to peck at the garden. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Bumbling Bees

Lets not forget the most important of the garden creatures to visit while I’m clicking my knitting needles. Both honey and bumble bees are both vital to the garden’s survival and to my knitting bliss. Listen to the sweet soft buzzing while you weave together your newest knitting project. Your mind will thank you for the tranquility.

Bumble bees pollinate snap dragons. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.
Bumble bees pollinate snap dragons. Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Don’t Forget to Look Up

Those knitting stitches do keep your eyes focused. But don’t forget to take a break and look up every now and then. Otherwise you might miss spotting some really amazing wildlife.

Don't forget to look up, or you might miss the wildlife.Colorado wildlife knitting outside with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

In Southwest Colorado, my knitting and gardening adventures unfold amidst the quirkiest cast of characters – the local wildlife! Their shenanigans and charm sneak into my crafting choices, adding a touch of nature’s comedy to my cozy craft haven.

Join Liz Chandler knitting in her Colorado mountain haven. Garden, grow, and learn to knit at purlsandpixels.com.

Knit along with me and be sure you follow me on Instagram: that’s where I share my best nature and knitting photos.

Let’s be friends! @PurlsAndPixels on Instagram.

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Starting Seedlings on New Year’s Day

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.
Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

My New Year’s Day tradition? Starting seedlings. Yes, I know it seems early, but the timing is just right if you live in a cold climate with a short growing season. Some of those stubborn, slow growing garden plants like tomatoes and peppers just don’t have time to make their yummy fruit. I can’t tell you how many sad, frozen green tomatoes I have pouted over. So, now I have a new tradition: starting seedlings on New Year’s Day. Sewing my slow-growing seeds inside on January 1st to gives them the best head-start possible.

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Winter Seedlings

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

I live and garden in Southwest Colorado, Zone 6A. (Find your Plant Hardiness Zone at the USDA website.) That means our typical planting season, like many of the colder Zones, is pretty short. Plants can safely be outside from June 1st through mid-September. Those three and a half months fly by, and, in my experience, sneaky September frosts often kill off your favorite flowers and veggies before they fully ripen. Tragic.

Instead of planting little seedlings outside when June comes along, I need to plant fairly large tomatoes, peppers, and perennials inside quite early. To give them time to develop, I start now! And it sure makes for a happy New Year’s Day to get your hands dirty and start watching something grow.

Gardening Inside

Since my home is fairly well lit, I do have the advantage of bright sun in my bedroom most of the day. This means that come January 1st, my bedroom doubles as a seed-starting room and plant nursery. I adore waking up to my little garden of plants every morning.

When planting my seeds, I don’t do anything too fancy. I use square white starter pots and regular potting soil (affiliate links). Make sure the soil is thoroughly saturated with water before planting your seed. When watering, be gentle and careful not to disturb the seed. Or, try watering from the bottom. Place a tray under the seed pot and keep that tray filled with water; the plant will soak the water up through the holes in the pot without disturbing delicate seedlings.

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

I do supplement their lighting with an LED grow light like this one found on Amazon. This helps prevent the plants from getting leggy (too tall) while they wait to go outside. If your home doesn’t have great lighting, you will probably want to use grow lights for all your indoor garden plants.

Replenish their water to keep your plants hydrated, and a bit of diluted fertilizer once a month after they’ve established themselves is all you’ll need to keep your indoor plants happy. Then, once summer arrives (and those nasty freezes go away), you can harden the plants off and plant them out in the garden.

Hardening Off

Acclimating your plants to the outdoor weather is even more important when they’ve spent so much time inside. Make sure you bring them outside on nice, calm days. Too much wind, cold, or heat will shrivel your sheltered plant babies. Give them just a few hours in the outdoor shade to start with. Then, slowly add time to their outdoor recess until they can handle a full day and night outside. I’ll even take the extra step of letting them sit in their garden spot while still in their pots. If they get wilt-y or start getting crispy leaf tips, they may need a different place in the garden or a bit more time in the shade before they are planted out.

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

A New Gardening Tradition for a New Year

If you’re like me and live in a very chilly part of the world, starting seedlings on New Year’s Day could be an exciting new tradition. And it might just be the ticket to a full harvest this summer.

Starting seedlings on New Year's Day. A cold climate tradition with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Happy New Year and happy gardening!



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My Knitting Garden

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Welcoming Gardening into my Knitting Haven

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Dear fellow knitting enthusiasts, welcome to an exciting new chapter in my creative journey! Today, I’m thrilled to share a budding passion that’s been quietly flourishing alongside my knitting adventures – the vibrant world of gardening. I hope you will join me in my knitting garden, so we can grow together.

A Shared Thread: Knitting and Gardening

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

For those who’ve followed my knitting escapades, you’ll understand the joy of crafting something magical out of a simple skein of yarn. Now, imagine that same sense of creation but with soil, seeds, and a garden spade. Gardening, much like knitting, is a canvas for creativity, a testament to patience, and a journey filled with growth.

A Personal Connection

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

You might wonder, “Gardening on a knitting blog?” Well, let me share a little secret – gardening has become more than just planting flowers and growing veggies. Growing food and flowers has intertwined itself with my knitting journey in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The vibrant colors of my garden have found their way into yarn choices. The rhythm of knitting often echoes the peacefulness of a garden in bloom.

Where Knitting Meets Greenery

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Picture this: knitting needles click in harmony with the rustling leaves. A newly sprouted garden bed inspires the next knitting pattern. Curious wildlife wanders by. These moments, where knitting meets nature, have become cherished encounters that I can’t wait to share with all of you.

Spinning a Yarn in the Garden

Build a knitting garden with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Gardening and knitting – two seemingly distinct worlds – have found common ground in my creative space. Just as knitting stitches come together to form a beautiful piece, so do the seeds planted in my garden. They both sprout into a colorful tapestry that resonates with the essence of my knitting projects.

What’s Next?

As we embark on this gardening-knitting journey together, expect to see the garden growing onto my knitting blog pages more often. From planting tips that complement yarn choices, to stories where garden motifs find their way into our knitting patterns, a whole new chapter is waiting to be unraveled. I may also tell you a little about my chickens, too.

Build a knitting garden (with chickens!) with Liz Chandler @ PurlsAndPixels.

So, my dear knitting companions, prepare to see a hint of green among my yarn stash. Gardening has strolled into my knitting haven, and I couldn’t be more excited to knit this new story with all of you.

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Holiday Pattern Roundup

Liz Chandler's Holiday Craft DIY Roundup with knitting patterns, crochet patterns, and easy DIY gifts and decorations at PurlsAndPixels.

Holiday DIY Craft Roundup

Knitting, Crochet, and Craft Patterns from Liz @PurlsAndPixels
Santa Hats and Gloves in all sizes knitting pattern from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels

With the holiday quickly approaching, I thought it might be helpful to round up all of my holiday-themed knitting and crochet patterns in one place. From knit mitten ornaments to garlands to potholders, my patterns and guides can help you add some handmade items to your holiday season.

Tiny Knit Mitten Ornaments

Mitten Holiday Ornament Free Knitting Pattern from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

These adorable knit mittens are perfect on the Christmas tree. Or try making a bunch of them and stringing them on a decorative garland to create a fun holiday decor accent. They are perfect to use up some of that scrap yarn that gets collected over the year. Since they are so small, these little knit mittens can be whipped up in no time. Find the pattern here.

Peppermint Twist Garland

Easy DIY pepermint twist garland crochet pattern from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you’re looking for a unique garland to add to your tree, string down the banister of your stairs, or drape along your mantle, this handmade craft is just for you. Chaining red and white yarn together creates an adorable peppermint effect. Since making this garland is so simple, you can let your kids give it a try for a fun family holiday activity. Find the pattern here.

Cherry Candy Cane Potholder

Easy cherry candy cane pot holder knitting pattern a quick holiday knitting project from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

This oversize potholder looks adorable as a holiday-themed accent. Place flowers, a poinsettia, or little statutes on it for a festive look. Made with very thick yarn, doubled up, this pot holder can be knitted quite quickly. Using the recommended yarn color, you’ll find it resembles the adorable (and tasty!) cherry candy canes you find at Christmastime. You could even try making a cherry candy cane centerpiece to display on top of your potholder. Get a simple vase or jar and simply fill it with cherry candy canes, and voila, you’ll have an adorably crafty holiday decor accent in no time! Find the pattern here.

Learn to Knit Gift Set

Quick DIY gift set - learn to knit gift basket - guide from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

This DIY gift basket is a very thoughtful gift for a friend or family member who has always wanted to learn to knit. My tips and suggestions tell you exactly what they’ll need to start learning to knit right away. Fill a beautiful box or bag with yarn, needles, scissors, and a downloadable gift card that leads them to my online guide to get started knitting. Your knitter-to-be will be overjoyed! Find the guide to make it here.

Santa’s Gift Tags

Free printable "from Santa" gift tags from PurlsAndPixels

Keep the Christmas spirit going with little gift tags from Santa himself. Make sure all of the tags that are on Santa’s presents look like they came from the same place; Santa’s work shop. Using the same adorable gift tags every year is a fun way to keep Santa’s gifts consistent. A downloadable word document lets you edit the gift-tags can be altered to display your little one’s name. Find the pattern here.

Cookies as Gifts – Shipping Tips

Cookies before being given as gifts by PurlsAndPixels

As well as decorating with handmade crafts, you may want to send a little homemade love to friends and family who can’t be with you over the holiday season. I love to ship Christmas cookies to my far-away relatives. Check out my shipping tips to help make sure the cookies arrive in good shape. Nobody likes getting a big box of crumbs! Find my tips here.

Santa Hat and Gloves

Santa Hat knitting pattern from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels

Knit your own Santa Hats and Gloves for the whole family with my easy knitting pattern. You will all look adorable on Christmas Day!

Liz Chandler's Holiday Craft DIY Roundup with knitting patterns, crochet patterns, and easy DIY gifts and decorations at PurlsAndPixels.
More Holiday Craft Ideas

I love to collect handmade holiday ideas. Check out my DIY Gift Ideas Pinterest Board and my Crafty Holiday Pinterest Board for year-round holiday craft ideas.

Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Crafting!

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How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.
How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Whether you have unraveled a project or just have some leftover yarn, by now you probably have some scraps that are in need of organization. Winding yarn into neat balls keeps your strings from becoming a hopeless tangled mess. While there are many ways to coil yarn for storage, center-pull yarn balls are the most versatile; they allow you to work directly from either end of the string.

(In the article below, I have linked to items on Amazon.com, so you can see examples of the equipment I reference. Please know all links to Amazon are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through them, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Now, on to the important information.)

Center-Pull Yarn

Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Each ball of yarn is made of one long strand with two ends. There are a number of ways to coil the yarn so that it does not tangle. Some yarn is pre-wound into center pull balls or skeins (tube-shaped balls) by the manufacturer. When you see a string coming from the center of the ball or skein, you can probably work directly from either end.

Working from the center of a ball is often more convenient. When you work with the end on the outside of the ball, the yarn will likely roll and flop around. Yarn bowls and containers can help keep your yarn from escaping. But center-pull balls can be even more effective at reducing the movement of your ball of yarn. Pulling from outside of the ball forces it to roll. But when you pull from the center, the yarn uncoils without turning the ball.

Many yarn-makers, however, wind their yarn into “hanks” instead of center-pull balls or skeins. To make a hank, the manufacturer makes one large circle of yarn then twists it together for storage and shipping. Hanks are incredibly difficult to work from directly, so to use yarn that comes in a hank, you will need to wind it into a ball.

Winding frogged yarn, scrap yarn, and hanks of yarn into center-pull balls keeps yarn neat, organized, and ready to use.

Machines like “yarn swifts” and “yarn winders” are available to assist you in turning yarn into a usable form. A yarn swift holds the yarn from a hank in place while you wind your ball. Then, you can use a yarn winder to turn that yarn into a “cake” which is much like a center pull ball. Or, instead of investing in fancy machines, you can use just your hands and wind hanks, leftovers, and frogged yarn into center-pull balls.

Video Guide: How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

Written Guide: How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

Below I’ll show you how to wind a center pull yarn ball step-by-step. I am winding the ball from a larger center-pull skein so that I can knit two items at once from the same yarn. I also wind partially used skeins into new balls for tidier storage.

Step 1: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 1:

Drape the yarn end between your left pointer finger and thumb, laying it across your palm.

Step 2: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 2:

Clasp the end of the yarn with your left ring and pinkie fingers, then, with your right hand, pick up the other end of the yarn just above your left pointer finger. With the strand in your right hand, begin to wrap the yarn over the top of your left pointer finger.

Step 3: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 3:

Bring the yarn down between your pointer and middle fingers, then between your thumb and pointer finger, forming a loop around your left pointer finger.  

Step 4: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 4:

Wrap the yarn around your left thumb in a counterclockwise motion.  

Step 5: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 5:

Wind the yarn up between your left thumb and pointer finger to form a figure-eight (8) shape.

Step 6: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 6:

Continue wrapping the yarn around your pointer finger and thumb in figure eight shapes (as in steps two thru five).

Step 7: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 7:

When you have wrapped the yarn around your fingers in figure eights at least 20 times, you can stop and move to the next step. To make a larger ball of yarn, wrap more figure eights; when the yarn wraps reach your left thumb knuckle, move to step eight.  

Step 8: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 8:

With your right thumb and pointer finger, pinch all the strands at the center of the figure-eight shape (just between your left thumb and pointer finger).

Step 9: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 9:

While continuing to pinch the center of the yarn figure-eight with your right hand, gently remove your left hand from the yarn loops.

Step 10: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 10:

Continue to pinch the center of the figure-eight with your right hand.

Step 11: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 11:

With your left hand, fold the two loops of the figure eight up, toward each other, pinching them together over your right thumb.

Step 12: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 12:

While continuing to pinch the loops with your left hand, gently remove your right thumb. Pick up the yarn strand you have been winding with your right hand.  

Step 13: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 13:

Gently wind the strand in your right hand around the yarn you have pinched in your left hand. Be sure you do not wrap the tail end of the yarn into the ball, or you will lose your center-pull. Also, try not to wind too tightly; this can make yarn lose its stretch.

Step 14: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 14:

Continue winding your yarn around until you have formed a ball in your desired size. Always ensure you do not wrap the center-pull end into the ball. When you are finished wrapping, clip the yarn with scissors (if necessary). Carefully tuck the end that you held with your right hand into the ball to secure it in place.

Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you’ve been following my lessons, you now have enough information to knit all of the washcloths and face scrubbies in my Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection. Happy knitting!

How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Up Next

Next up, a lesson about gauge. Learn what gauge means in knitting and you to check your gauge to make sure your knits end up the right size.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

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Shipping Cookie Gifts

Cookies before being given as gifts by PurlsAndPixels

Shipping Cookie Gifts

How to ship cookies for gifts and care packages, tutorial from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

How to ship cookies for gifts and care packages

This year the holiday budget was a little tight, so I decided to make everyone cookie baskets for Christmas.

Christmas cookie gifts. How to wrap cookies for gifts, tutorial from PurlsAndPixels.For our nearby friends and family I picked up some round, decorative plastic boxes. I used cupcake papers and aluminum foil to separate the different types of cookies and arrange them nicely.

Packing up bundles of pretty cookies to give as a gift is not too difficult to do when your friends and family are local, but much of my family lives over 2000 miles away. It took a bit of creative packaging, but I was successful at shipping cookie gifts cross-country. Let me show you how I did it so you can ship your on cookie gifts for holidays and care packages.

Choosing the right cookies

Choose your favorite cookies for this project, because almost* any cookie will do. Give a big batch of your favorite kind of cookie, or make an assortment and let them try a variety of your homemade baked goods.

*If you plan to ship your cookies in the mail, choose cookies that are on the denser and thicker side. Treats that are especially thin or fragile can be tasty, but probably wont make it thru the mail. The cookies pictured held up well in shipping.

For my gift baskets this year, I made gingerbread cookies, snowball cookies, chocolate chip cookies, fudge, and peanut brittle. I’ve pinned all of the recipes for my favorite treats here, so check out and follow my cookie, candy, and crafty eats boards for ideas on home-cooked gifts.

Packaging materials

How to wrap cookies for gifts and care packages, tutorial from Liz @PurlsAndPixelsIf you are mailing your cookies, you are going to need a few supplies. You’ll need:

Carefully wrap between 6 and 12 of each type of cookie in cellophane. Next, wrap that bundle of cookies again, this time loosely with in aluminum foil. Gently mold the foil around the cookies to make a block and keep the cookies from sliding around inside the bundle. Place this double-wrapped cookie bundle in a Ziploc bag. Repeat this process with the rest of the cookies that you want to ship. Place them in the shipping box, filling any empty spaces in the box with cellophane or other packing filler to make sure the cookie bundles don’t slide around in the box. I added a gift wrapped pair of handmade mittens to the box, as well. Tape up the box and you’re ready to get a shipping label and mail your cookies.

Shipping cookie giftsHow to ship cookie gift packages.

I used USPS three day priority shipping to save a few dollars, but it would probably be even better to use one day shipping.

After packing up all the cookies and treats in the box, I taped it shut and wrote FRAGILE in large capital letters with a big red marker on two sides of the box.

I shipped one package in a USPS flat rate box, and another in a standard brown shipping box. Both were successful, so use what you have available.

How they arrived

After shipping these cookies over 2000 miles from Virginia to Colorado, I expected to loose a few cookies to breakage along the way. Trucks and airplanes are bouncy, so I thought at least a few would be lost. Lucky for me, all of the cookies this year arrived in good shape. I know using the aluminum foil as a protective cushion for shipping the cookies really helped. But, I think a major part of the success of this gift project was because I was lucky with my postal carrier for USPS. The boxes had been treated very carefully. I hope your postal worker is as kind and careful as ours.

Cookies before being given as gifts by PurlsAndPixels

Did you try it? Let me know how your luck was with shipping cookie gifts. What kind of cookies did you send in your gift or care package? Did they get there in good shape? Let me know in the comments below.

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Love DIY Christmas and holiday projects? Find more handmade holiday craft ideas at my Holiday Pattern Roundup Post.

You can also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

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Printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas, a Free DIY project

Free printable "from Santa" gift tags from PurlsAndPixels

Printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas

A Free DIY project from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Free printable "from Santa" gift tags from PurlsAndPixels It turns out that Santa doesn’t always remember to put tags on the presents he brings. Printable "from Santa" gift tags from PurlsAndPixelsI needed some gift tags for my presents this year, so I made up this sheet of printable “from Santa” gift tags for Christmas. If you need some gift tags for your little one’s presents, you are welcome to use mine. Below is a link to my Word document file of printable “from Santa” gift tags. Download it, add your child’s name, print, and cut out for a quick and free DIY project.

Download little “from Santa” gift tags, free from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

How to add your child’s name

With the little “from Santa” gift tags file open in Microsoft Word, open the find and replace tool.

Type “Name” in the “Find what” field. Type your child’s name in the “Replace with” field.

Click “Replace all.”

How to use the replace tool in Microsoft Word to change names on gift tags

Print your From Santa Gift Tags

Free customizable printable gift tags from Liz @PurlsAndPixelsPrint on the best quality setting your printer allows. Try printing on different kinds of paper to mix up the look. If you use basic white printer paper, try cutting out a slightly larger square of colored paper or gift wrap and place it behind the label. These labels look so festive and bright.

Or, print on a natural brown colored craft paper made for printers, like I did, to get a more rustic on to your Santa Gift tags.

Cut Out your Christmas Gift Labels

These labels are smaller and will print so that you can cut them into 1.25 inch squares. Try using a paper cutter or a square paper punch to help make sure the labels come out perfectly square. Attach the labels to your gifts with a small bit of tape, and you are all done!

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Love DIY Christmas and holiday projects? Find more handmade holiday craft ideas at my Holiday Pattern Roundup Post.

Free printable "from Santa" gift tags for Christmas from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you like these printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas, I’d love hear about it. Comment below or share your photos with Liz @PurlsAndPixels on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

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Mickey’s Birthday Cake, Inspired by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake as seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, how to DIY guide by Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Mickey’s Birthday Cake

A Do-It-Yourself Guide from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

When my little one turned 2, he was completely obsessed with Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Club House. So, of course, I decided to throw him a Mickey themed birthday party. The most important part of the party was his mickey cake. Mickey Mouse has a birthday in one of the episodes, and his cake is a yellow and red Mickey head. I tried to mimic this cake, and here is how I did it.
Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake as seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

How to Make Mickey’s Birthday Cake

Pans

First things first, you will need three round cake pans to make Mickey’s Birthday Cake. One should be 8 inches and two should be 4 inches. I used two sets of these pans for my cake:

Wilton Perfect Performance Round Cake Pan Set

This will be a two layer cake. The 8 inch pan will make Mickey’s face, and the 4 inch pans will be his ears.

Recipe

I used my all time favorite chocolate cake recipe for this cake. It comes from Hershey Kitchens and you can get the full recipe and see other people’s reviews of it here. I love this chocolate cake because it is extremely moist and fluffy. It has the consistency of a box mix cake, but the flavor of homemade. Love it!

If you already have a favorite cake recipe, use it. This Mickey cake is all about the cake’s shape, so as long as your recipe can be baked into round layer cake pans, you can use any flavor or recipe you desire.

You’ll need to make a double batch of cake. So, either double your cake recipe, or make the cake twice. I made the cake twice, since my mixer just won’t hold two batches worth of ingredients. And, since my oven isn’t enormous, I was worried all the cakes wouldn’t fit at the same time.

How to Make the Mickey Cake ShapeMickey's Birthday Cake as seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, how to DIY guide by Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Make sure your grease your cake pans well before you start. I used Pam Olive Oil cooking spray.

For the first set of cakes, divide your batter between one 8-inch cake pan and two 4-inch cake pans. Put a little more than half of the cake batter into the 8-inch pan, and divide the rest between the two 4-inch pans. Don’t overfill the pans or you’ll have spillage during baking.

Bake as directed in the cake recipe you are following.

While these three cakes are cooling on wire racks, repeat this process. So, make another batch of cake and divide it among an 8-inch pan and two 4 inch pans. Bake and cool these cakes as well.

Once your cakes are cool, you can stack them and decorate.

Decorating Mickey’s Birthday Cake

Stack the cakes

First, frost one of the 8-inch cakes with a filling or frosting of your choice. I used chocolate frosting, but this is where you can get creative with flavor.

Carefully stack the second 8-inch cake on top of the first.

Place two of the 4 inch cakes so they make Mickey’s ears. Frost them with your filling frosting, then stack the other 4 inch cakes on top. You should now have a two layer cake that looks like mickey.

Frost your cake

You’ll need two batches of vanilla frosting – or two cans if you use store bought like I did. Dye one can of the frosting with a generous amount of yellow food coloring. I used Lemon Yellow from the Wilton icing color set.

Dye the other can of frosting red, and put it into a piping bag with an “open star” style tip.

Frost the cake yellow, as smoothly as you can. Then pipe red along the top outside of the Mickey shape, then around the bottom of the cake.

All done! Hip Hip Hooray!

How to make Mickey's Birthday Cake from Disney JuniorMickey Mouse Clubhouse, guide from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Did you try making a Mickey’s birthday cake for your little one? Let me know how it turned out. Comment below or share pictures with #PurlsAndPixels on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Discover more fun ideas on the DIY page.