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How To Make A Candy
Christmas Wreath
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com
I know you all probably think I have gotten my holidays confused
because it is the week before Halloween and here I am talking about
Christmas but bear with me. There is a method to my madness!
Each year on the day after Halloween, I go and buy candy that is marked
down to half price to use to make my Candy Christmas Wreaths. I am
telling you about it now so you won't miss out on the opportunity to
get candy for less to make these great gifts. If you buy it the
week after Halloween each wreath will cost about $3-$5 depending on the
candy you buy.
Since I was little we have hung a candy wreath on our door. When
someone came to visit, they could cut a piece of candy from the wreath
to take with them when they arrived or left. Kids and adults alike love
this tradition.
Some years I have tried to have mine done before Thanksgiving. That
way, when we get together on Thanksgiving Day, as a small gift, I give
each one of my grown children one to hang on their doors.
I hang mine up the day after Thanksgiving along with the rest of my
Christmas decorations. If you are going to a friend's house for
Thanksgiving, this is a great and very different hostess gift to bring.
These also make great gifts for those hard to buy for people on your
gift list or for those occasions when you have to buy for a whole
family but aren't quite sure what to get for each member. It also saves
you money because you aren't having to buy individual gifts.
Another added benefit is that you can make them early in November and
give them out by the end of the month. This means that by the first
week of December, you can have some of your gifts totally taken care
of. Oh -- no wrapping necessary either!
These wreaths are very simple to make and something the kids can easily
do. You'll find complete instructions on what to buy and how to make
them below.
Don't forget to get candy for your other Christmas recipes during the
after Halloween sales. Be creative! I was supposed to use Hershey's
candy bars in my fudge, but when my daughter found a ton of Hershey's
kisses for 50 cents a bag, I used those instead.
How to Make a Candy Wreath
1. First, buy your candy. You
need to use wrapped candy like Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers,
peppermints, bubble gum, butterscotch candies, etc. How much candy you
need depends on the size of wreath you make. Usually for a 12 to 15
inch wreath, I buy enough candy to fill a large mixing bowl to the top.
I make mine with lots of mixed candy but you can make it with all
peppermints, all green and red Jolly Ranchers, or whatever you like.
Whatever you decide, first place it all into a large mixing bowl.
2. Cut string into about 3 inch pieces.
The lengths don't have to be exact. Just make them long enough so that
they are easy to handle while you tie them around the ends of the candy
and then to the ring for the wreath. You need one string for each piece
of candy. I don't sit and count how many I need. I just cut a pile and
then make more when I need them. I wrap the string around a VHS box and
cut on both sides to get a good length.
3. Take a heavy wire clothes hanger
and form it into the size wreath you would like. Cut off the
hook part at the top.
Then slightly bend the 2 ends to form small hooks that you can hook
together to make a circle. I haven't checked lately but you might be
able to buy a metal circle in the wreath section at your craft store.
4. After you have made your ring, tie
each string to one end of a piece of candy. This is why candy
like Tootsie Rolls work so well. The little flags of paper on each end
make it easy to tie the string to them. Then tie the other end to the
wreath ring. Keep pushing the candy together as you go so you have a
nice full ring of candy.
5. When you can't squeeze one more
piece of candy onto the wreath, make or buy a large red bow to
place at the top, which will cover the section where you hooked it
together.
6. Tie one end of a ribbon or string
to a child's pair of scissors and then tie the other end to the
bottom of the wreath. This pair of scissors is for people to use to cut
their own candy.
As you can see this is an easy project for kids. I mean what kid
wouldn't love to handle mounds of candy, especially it they get to
sneak a piece every once in awhile?
Hang it on your door. Adults and children alike love cutting a piece
when they are coming or going or both!
To see a video version of this
"how-to" article, check out "How To Make a Candy Christmas Wreath" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvaRCEwZTm4
From Our Inbox:
I made the candy wreath for my front door for Christmas. I made a
little sign and hung on the bow...it read....
Friends
and Neighbors all draw near
For a bit of Christmas cheer
Take the scissors, give a snip
Then enjoy a candy nip
Thanks for the original idea of the wreath...it made a hit with the
neighbors!!
Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living
experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A
Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by
cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes
visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com. Or get the e-book version of this
article for your readers for free at http://www.livingonadime.com/ebooks/candy-wreath-freebie.htm.
Permission granted for use on
DrLaura.com.
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