Hi everyone! It’s Autumn here, from It’s Always Autumn, where I share tips and tutorials on photography, crafting, sewing, and baking, as well as free printables. Last week I shared instructions to make cookie mix treat bags with 12 different printable toppers, and today I’m sharing five pages of printable gift tags perfect for adding to the tasty treats you’ll be giving away this season.
I’m excited to be here at U-Create today to share one of my favorite holiday treats to make, eat, and gift: chocolate covered caramel pretzel bites….

You might think you already know all you need to about chocolate caramel pretzels. After all, pretzel rods dipped in white or chocolate almond bark are fairly common, as are the pretzels with the rolo and m&m pressed on top. But these chocolate covered caramel pretzel bites are in a league all their own. They’re simple to make but taste absolutely decadent. They don’t stick around long.

The main reason these chocolate caramel pretzel bites taste so much better than the other versions is that the proportions are perfect. First, using small pretzels instead of pretzel rods give you a much better salty outside to boring inside pretzel proportion. Sandwiching caramel inside two pretzels and dunking the entire thing in chocolate evenly distributes the caramel and chocolate so every bite is delicious. And finally, that chocolate dunk really maximizes the amount of chocolate on each and every bite, leaving you with a delicious, perfectly proportioned treat. (Plus they’re little, which is always fun.)
And they package up perfectly! Look how pretty 5 of them are in a sweet little handmade box:

Want to make your own box?
Click here for a post with free printable templates for four different treat boxes you can construct out of paper or cardstock!
You can make about 36 of these treats in under 1/2 an hour, and they package up nicely at 5 or 6 to a box, meaning you’ll end up with 6 tasty gifts, each one costing less than $1.50. Not bad!

Let’s talk chocolate before we get started. Most candy recipes like this call for almond bark because it melts beautifully and dries shiny and pretty. The only problem is that it’s not actually chocolate – it’s more like flavored shortening – and although it kind of sorta tastes like chocolate, there’s just no substitute for the real deal. The very best taste will come from dipping chocolate (or even the chocolate chips made by Guittard, which produces dipping chocolate). The only problem is dipping chocolate’s a little temperamental and unless it’s kept at the perfect temperature at all time it often dries with grey streaks, which doesn’t change the flavor but certainly doesn’t look very good.

So I compromise a bit and use Hershey’s milk chocolate chips. The flavor is still very good (way better than almond bark) AND the chips dry without grey streaks. You have to be careful not to heat chocolate chips too fast or they will sieze up and go crumbly, and even once melted it will be a little thicker than almond bark would, but those are easy things to deal with (and who doesn’t mind a little thicker layer of chocolate?).
Now that we have that out of the way, here’s what you do:

Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Bites

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Author: Autumn - It's Always Autumn

Recipe type: Snacks

Ingredients

• Small pretzel twists (you’ll use less than ⅓ of a bag
• Caramels (again, you’ll have lots left over)
• 1 bag (or 2 cups) MILK Chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Place wax paper on a large cookie sheet and lay out 36 pretzels.
2. Unwrap 18 caramels and cut each one in half.
3. Top each pretzel with a caramel half and place in a 250 degree oven for 5 minutes or so, until caramel is soft to the touch.
4. Remove from oven and top each pretzel with another pretzel, GENTLY squeezing in the middle of each pretzel to sandwich the caramel. If you break a pretzel, don’t worry, just grab a new one and be a little more gentle.
5. Melt your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until just melted. (I keep a handful of chips out while I melt the rest, then stir them in at the end – this helps ensure the chocolate won’t go grey when it dries).
6. Grab a pretzel sandwich and dunk it completely in the chocolate, then hold it between two fingers and shake to remove excess chocolate.
7. Place on another cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Use your finger to gently swirl the chocolate on top of the pretzel bite to make sure it looks pretty and no pretzel is peeking through.
8. Repeat with remaining pretzels and allow to set up completely at room temperature.

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If you’d like, melt some white chips and tint green with a little food coloring. Put the melted chocolate in a ziplock bag and snip a tiny piece off one corner, then pipe the white chocolate out in a Christmas tree design (white snowflakes would look really cute as well).
Let everything dry, then package them up and give away to six of your favorite people! Luckily for me, my six favorite people all live with me, so we didn’t actually give any away – we just ate the entire batch. I guess I’ll be forced to make some more…

The post Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Bites appeared first on U Create.

Simply print out, attach to your favorite lip balm, and you have an instant Christmas gift for just about anybody on your list!

I’ve created “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holiday” versions to choose from!

BALM Printables – Merry Christmas

BALM Printables – Happy Holidays

The post You’re the BALM – Christmas Printables appeared first on U Create.

I wanted to create a printable using my favorite lip balm ever and creating these “You’re the BALM” printables!

You could use this tag for any lip balm of course!

I made two styles: a teacher version and a “Thank You” version to use any time of year for a simple, fun gift anybody would enjoy!

Supplies:

• EOS Lip Balm
• Bakers Twine or String
• Clear Party Favor Bags
• White Cardstock for printing
• Printable tags below 

The post Free Printables: You’re the BALM appeared first on U Create.

It happens to all of us.

Here are a few stressful situations that come to mind…

• moving to a new state or country
• taking an important exam
• starting a new job
• a sleepless mother with a newborn
• someone struggling with an illness
• just having a really bad day

This is a simple way to put a smile on someone’s face!

Supplies

• Chocolate
• White Card Stock
• Clear Party Bags
• Bakers Twine
• Bubble Wrap {I already had this in my office}

I rolled up about 12 inches of bubble wrap and tied it with the twine…

Printed off this “stress relief” tags (a variety of colors to pick from)…

 {CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD}

…added these delicious chocolates to the clear bags…

…and packaged it all up!

Ready to brighten someone’s day!!

The post Simple Stress Relief Gift Idea appeared first on U Create.

So simple. Bake your bread of choice in the mini loaf pans (make sure to grease and flour).

Let pans cool. Wrap with cellophane and tie on the free printable tags! I printed them using white cardstock.

FREE PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS TAGS

These tags would be great on any of your Christmas gifts this holiday season!

Oh, and if you are looking for a delicious bread recipe make sure to check out my Egg Nog Bread and Icing Recipe!

Egg Nog Bread and Icing Recipe

The post Free Printable Christmas Tags appeared first on U Create.

15 Creative Ways to Say Thank You

1. Flowers make a thoughtful and simple gift. Grab these tags and some ribbon and you’re set!

Thanks a Bunch Thank You Gift by Simple Kierste

2. Grab those cute striped straws, a bottle of Simply Lemonade, and print out this “You’re Simply the Best” printable at I Heart Naptime.
3. Grab a small jar, print out this free printable, and brighten someone’s day with special Hugs and Kisses! Thank You Candy Jars by U Create

5. Thank guests for coming to a party or event with these brown paper sewn circles with a little surprise inside. by Make It and Love It.

6. Do you have a thank you gift in mind and just need a beautiful tag? Melissa from The Polkadot Chair created this just for us! 
Free Printable THANK YOU gift tags by The Polkadot Chair

7. You can never go wrong with a pretty Thank You card! How cute are these Free Printable Thank You Cards from One She Two She?

8. Maybe you make a rockin’ awesome jam. What a delicious idea! Printable at Simply Kierste.

9. Fill a baggie with a fun treat and hang it on the door using this fun idea and printable by Chickabug for How Does She.

10. Want to thank somebody who sent you a gift? Take a photo using or holding the gift. Email the photo or send it in a greeting card.

11. Email a favorite “Thank You” song.

12. Write a message thanking your guests at an event or create a DIY chalkboard as a gift and deliver it with a thank you message on it. Would be fun to include some chalk markers, too!

13. Everyone loves cupcakes right?
Grab a brown box, embellish it, and put the “thank you” on the inside of the box {love this}! via Elizabeth Anne Designs

14. Give a gift card to their favorite place to shop! Amazon Gift Card Holder Printables at Paper Trail Designs.
15. Let’s end with a cute lib balm gift idea! I created these little tags to thank anyone for just about anything! You’re the Balm Thank You Tags by U Create

The post Creative Ways to Say THANK YOU appeared first on U Create.

This first idea is an ornament I came up with that lets us reflect on the whole year. You, your family, or whomever you are giving this ornament to can reflect and write their favorite memories….an ornament you can go back to and remember the year you’ve had.

YEAR OF MEMORIES ORNAMENT TUTORIAL

Supplies: plastic ornament, stickers, ribbon, and free printable list.

Directions: 1. Personalize your ornament with the stickers however you’d like. 2. Write your memories on the list (or give the list with the ornament as a gift. 3. Roll up your memories and place inside ornament.  4. Attach ribbon for hanging.

Year of Memories List Ornament Printable

Next up is something Merry and “BRIGHT”.

PLAID CHRISTMAS CANDLE PRINTABLE WRAPPERS

Supplies: candle (I used the Ashland candles from Michaels and they were only $5 each — keep in mind you can use all sorts of candles), ribbon, tape, and free printable candle wrappers below.

Directions: 1. Print and cut the printable wrappers. 2. Tape and secure around the candles. 3. Decorate with a bow and you have a wonderful gift!

Christmas Candle Wrappers Download

Holidays Candle Wrappers Download

Let’s end with a recipe that is a hit at our home and with our friends!

This is my “go-to” popcorn recipe I’ve been using for years and this Christmas version is a hit!

Follow the recipe below and package in these cute little ramekin dishes (that were only $1 a piece at Michaels by the way)!!

CHRISTMAS POPCORN RECIPE

Christmas Popcorn

 

Print

Author: Kari

Recipe type: Holiday

Ingredients

• 2 Popped Bags of Microwave Popcorn (I used Kirkland from Costco)
• 1 Bag of White Candy Melts
• mini m&m's (I used one half a bag)
• candy cane sprinkles

Instructions

1. Melt the candy melts by microwaving them 1 minute, stir, microwave another minute, keep doing this until smooth.
2. Pour over the popped popcorn in a large bowl and mix together.
3. Lay flat on wax paper and cookie sheet.
4. Sprinkle m&m's and crushed candy cane.
5. Let set for 10 minutes and you are ready to package your yummy popcorn however you'd like!

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I hope you were inspired by these super, simple gifts for this holiday season!!

POST BY:

The post Last Minute DIY Gifts appeared first on U Create.

My skin gets really dry – maybe it’s because I live out west or maybe I am just prone to dry skin. My favorite solution? Body butter. For years I’ve been buying it at high-end beauty stores and it can be a pretty penny.

I decided to try an “at-home” version (which I was leery about because I’m extremely picky as to what I put on my skin) and after some trial and error came up with this coconut oil recipe that works wonders!  It’s not thick, and I love how airy and soft.

You can spice it up with your favorite scent and they make wonderful gifts for friends and family! Oh and get this…only 3 ingredients. Yep!

Ingredient #1:

1 cup of organic coconut oil

I’ve only used the Nutiva brand, but I’m sure you’ll have success if you use a high-quality, organic brand. Make sure it smells like coconut when you remove the lid. The cheaper versions tend to have no scent.

Ingredient #2:

1 cup of shea butter (organic)

I used white organic shea butter. NOTE: Sometimes it might look like an ivory color, but when you buy this organic and unfiltered that is a natural result – no worries!

Ingredient #3: 

one capful of desired essential oil

I like to add one capful of oil because I enjoy a light scent, however, if you like a stronger smell add two capfuls instead of one.
The best thing is you can use your favorite scent.

NOTE: change up the scent for holidays like using peppermint for Christmas or lavender for Mother’s Day, etc.

Directions:

1. put the oil and the butter into a medium saucepan (it will be in solid form)
2. Stir until completely melted together.
3. Place in a bowl and refrigerate for three hours or until it comes to a soft, solid consistency.
4. With your mixer, whip in your essential oil until you get a whipped cream consistency.
5. Place in a cute container or jar.

They make wonderful gifts, too!!

The post How to Make Coconut Oil Body Butter appeared first on U Create.

Create a DIY Heart Photo Collage any size you’d like. Grab a large canvas, a mini canvas, or any fun surface and use this tutorial to customize it!

SUPPLIES:

• lots of favorite photos
• canvas
• self-adhesive photo paper ( or plain photo paper if you don’t mind glueing)
• scissors
• printer (we love the PIXMA iP8720 Crafting Printer)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Begin by gathering your photos and making them into a collage. There are many free programs out there (I like to use Pic Monkey). Go to PicMonkey, design a collage, upload your pics and you can change them to black/white, sepia, leave them in full color — be creative!

Next,  you’re going to print the photos. I just printed them out on a reg sized sheet of adhesive photo paper and the size ended up being about 2 1/2 inches per photo.

Cut out the photos and arrange them onto your canvas in a heart shape.

When you feel comfortable with the shape, simply adhere to the canvas.

Now you have a beautiful display of precious photos to add to your home decor or to give as a gift to someone special!

POST BY:

The post DIY Heart Photo Collage appeared first on U Create.

Hi U-Create fans and friends! We are Mallory & Savannah from the DIY/Home Decor blog, Classy Clutter.Thanks for having us today! We are so excited to share with you this super easy and super cute DIY Baker’s Gift Idea. These bamboo utensils came from my local grocery store for about $2.99 + a box of $2 cake mix. We used paints and embellishments we had on hand to create this cute gift for under $5! Let’s get crafting!

Supplies:

• 2 Bamboo Serving Utensils (similar here)
• Acrylic Craft Paint
• Sponge paint brush
• Painter’s Tape
• Hole punch (not pictured)
• Box of cake, brownie or cookie mix
• Gift Wrap, Trims or other embellishments

Instructions:

First, use your painter’s tape to tape a straight line about 3/4 of the way up on the handle of your serving utensils. Use your craft paint (We used cream on this step.) and paint below the tape line. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Use a hole punch to create a confetti, polka dot look on the painter’s tape. This creates a stencil to paint your dots. Apply your painter’s tape stencil firmly to your painted utensil.

Using another color of craft paint (we used gold!) and paint over the stencil with an up and down dabbing motion as to prevent bleeding. When your paint is mostly dry, remove the tape stencil to reveal your cute polka dots!

Using some fun trims, gift wrap, fabric, etc. embellish your box of cake mix and tie the utensils to the box.

This makes the perfect hostess gift for your next Christmas party or Christmas Dinner! You could change out your embellishments for birthdays, showers, etc.

Don’t forget to check out some of our other holiday projects on our blog in case you missed them!

Merry & Bright Holiday Party | Mason Jar Snow Globe | Gold Glittered Jars

The post DIY Baker’s Gift Idea appeared first on U Create.