Cookies in a Jar!

Maybe Everyone makes something in a jar for MOPS, but its because its fun, they are good and everyone loves them... so here is a delicious recipe I pulled from allrecipes.com and re-named :) Instead of attaching tags, I printed labels with a cute Christmas border to put on the jars, its fairly simple, looks good and is easy to slap on the jar at the end :)

Ingredients:
5/8 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions: Layer the ingredients in a 1-quart or 1 liter jar, in the order listed.
Attach a tag or label with the following instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until fluffy. Add the entire jar of ingredients, and mix together by hand until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets, or remove to cool on wire racks. Enjoy!

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/cranberry-hootycreek-cookies-in-a-jar-109105#ixzz1f8OncG8O

Christmasy Decor Blocks

I am quite excited about our next MOPS craft... I am asking the gals to bring 1 3/4" photos for this one... between 7 and 12 photos- lots of opportunity to show off the kids here :) Its a modge-podge craft and very easy! First you need 4 blocks that are 2", a brush for the modge podge, modge podge, and photos (I am also providing Christmasy scrapbook paper for those who forget pics) and a diagram of what letters go where- this helps avoid spelling mistakes. The Words I have come up with are: Joy, Love, Hope, Noel, Give, Born, Wish and Star. And the gals can choose to do as many or as few of the words as they like. If you use all of them there is room for 7 photos or scrapbook papers... if they want more photos they can go with few words.

Once all the important decisions are made I recommend laying out the photos as letters alongside the blocks they want them on so they don't get confused mid-way through. Then its a simple matter of pasting the photos on, then laying modge podge over top. Make sure you let one side dry fairly thoroughly so that each block has a side to rest on while the rest is drying.

And as a special time saving gift to someone who likes the idea.... the letters I used! I printed them from picasa using the 8x10 option. hopefully they will print well for you :) Enjoy, and happy crafting!

Oh! and if the duplicate letter are confusing- I simply offered them as options so that they would all be a little different, I realize that not everyone share my taste and try to offer ways to make small changes when possible :)