More Baseball Lollipops

I made some more baseball lollipops. I made these out of Toostie Pops. We do love baseball at our house!

I had to experiment a little - but I was able to finally work it out!

You will need very few supplies - I used a 4" x 5" piece of white wrapping paper, the Toostie Pop, scotch tape and a red Sharpie pen.

Place the white wrapping paper over the lollipop and twist the bottom of the white paper tightly around the lollipop stick. Then take the tape and twist the tape tightly around the wrapping paper. Using the red Sharpie, mark the baseball stitches.

I tried to tie the bottom of the wrapping paper area with a red ribbon - but I could not get the red ribbon to stay - it kept sliding off (it was so frustrating). I just felt like the above lollipops were a little blah.

So I figured out a new plan - I made little red bows and attached them with a little dab of hot glue. I just felt like these lollipops really needed a little ribbon!

Let me know if you make either of the baseball lollipop ideas.

Baseball Lollipops

I made some baseball lollipops for the big Championship game tomorrow! These are so super easy to make!

First you need to find some flat lollipops.

I found these fun "flat" lollipops at the party store.

Then I punched some big round white card stock circles. And used a red pen to make the baseball lines.

I used this large 2 1/2" punch - but if you don't have a punch you could use a round glass or cookie cutter to trace a template and cut them out by hand. I think this punch was about $15 and I used a 40% off coupon to purchase it. I can use it to make basketballs, tennis balls etc.

Once you have punched or cut the circles and added the red baseball stitching - you just adhere the baseballs to the lollipops with double stick tape.

This is what the back of the lollipops look like!

And this is what the front of the lollipops look like! It would be super cute to write the kids names and numbers in the middle of each lollipop. But I must get ready for our Memorial Day BBQ.

Happy Memorial Day

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day! Remember you can use any of the Memorial Day ideas for the 4th of July!

In the next few weeks I will be posting baseball, end of of school, graduation and Father's day ideas. I also am planning some fun summer decorating ideas. As always everything will be simple and easy.

Thank you for reading my blog - if you have friends who also need some simple and easy ideas - please refer them to my blog!

Hershey Bars For Memorial Day

I wrapped large and small Hershey Bars in blue and white gingham scrapbook paper. You might be able to find some red and white wrapping paper left over from Christmas - check your wrapping paper and scrapbook paper stash before you run to the store.

I made the big Hershey Bars for Christian's baseball team - they are having practice on Memorial Day! To wrap the big Hershey bars you need to cut 6" x 6' squares. I always leave a little brown showing on the sides.

Once I wrapped the Hershey Bar - I found some star ribbon and taped that around the Hershey Bar.

I also made some little Hershey Bars to bring into to Christian's classroom. His teacher wants to to bring the treats in around noon. I might still be playing my tennis match. My Hubby might have to bring them in - he hates carrying my baskets  why?- So I will have to put the treats in a bag. Oh well....they still taste the same. Wait - I think I will tell him "Real Men Carry Baskets!"

This would be a fun idea for a Memorial Day BBQ  dessert or party favor. Everyone loves Hershey Bars!

Oreo's with Red Roses

Today I dipped some Oreo's in light blue chocolate. Then I added a little red frosting rose. I was trying to make my Oreo's look special for Memorial Day.

I had bought red frosting roses for a Valentine project - Opps! I forgot to use them for my Valentine cupcakes.

I love how these look! So look in your cupboard for items that you bought for previous holidays and see how you can use them for upcoming holidays.

Marshmallow Pops For Memorial Day

Yesterday I made some Memorial Day Marshmallow Pops to bring to Christian's class on Friday.

First melt some red chocolate disks.

Then place the lollipop sticks into the marshmallows and put them on parchment paper.

After you dip the marshmallow in the chocolate - hold it over the sprinkle bowl and use a spoon to apply the sprinkles. If you try to roll the marshmallow in the sprinkles it will create a giant mess.

I always place the marshmallows into a block of styrofoam to dry. I usually clean up while the marshmallows are drying. Then I lay out the plastic bags and ribbon.

Once the marshmallows are completely dry - you can package them into little bags and tie them with ribbon.

This is a super easy project!

Picnic I Brought To the Ball Field

Christian has been playing two to three baseball games a week. It is really gross to eat snack bar food two to three times a week. So I always try to pack a healthy picnic dinner to bring to the ball field.

While I was trying to pack the picnic - my husband took the picnic basket and skipped around the house. He thought he was super funny.  Needless to say I did not think he was funny at all. However I must admit his Yogi Bear imitation is spot on! Apparently he was Yogi Bear and I was Boo Boo and he was stealing a Pic-a-nic basket.

I put some jars of pasta salad into the picnic basket.

So after I packed the jars of pasta salad, I added some bags of potato chips and mini candy bars (both from Trader Joe's).

Then I made turkey sandwiches. I made these sandwiches on a fresh baguette. First I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Then I wrap them in parchment paper and tie with some kitchen twine.

I forgot to tell you what I used to decorate the top of the pasta jars - cupcake liners! So the next time you go to the ball field - instead of bringing takeout - pack a picnic.  Oh and don't forget the drinks and napkins.

Pasta Salad in a Jar

I made some pasta salad and put it into individual jars. I used yellow ribbon because I was bringing the pasta salad for lunch after the tennis match.

This is a really easy project and a great presentation.  Once you tie the ribbon around your jar - you can wedge a plastic fork (or a real fork) into the ribbon.

Oops! In my awesome photo (not!) I cut off the top of the fork - but you get the idea!

Once I get the pasta salad in the jars, tie the ribbon and wedge the fork.... I put the jars in a large shallow basket. Oh and I forgot to tell you - I punched a white 2" circle to lightly tape on the top of the jar.

I was going to write on the circle - the name of my tennis club and the words welcome to the club we were hosting. However, Father Time is not my friend and I had to get to my son's baseball game! I was too tired to write tags when I got home!

Pasta Salad recipe:

1 Box of Barilla tricolor pasta (boil according to directions)
6 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 Tablespoons of canola oil
2 Tablespoons of pesto
2 Tablespoons of capers
1/2 Tablespoon of salt
1 Tablespoon of pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup finely chopped chives
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 cup of diced mozzarella
1 cucumber, finely diced
3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely sliced
1/3 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1/3 cup fresh spinach leafs, finely chopped

While the pasta is boiling - I whisk the olive oil, canola oil, pesto, salt and pepper. Then I add the capers, and start washing and chopping the veggies and adding them to a huge bowl. Once I drain the pasta and I add it to the bowl of dressing and veggies - I take a few bites to make sure that the pasta has enough dressing. I know that many people use a prepared Italian salad dressing and that is perfectly fine.

My pasta salad is always very flavorful because of all the vegetables. But if I feel it needs a little extra dressing I might add a few tablespoons of Italian dressing.

Now you need to wait until the pasta salad has cooled for about 10 minutes before you start putting it into your sterilized jars. Then put the tops on! Tie a ribbon around your jar. Wedge your fork in the ribbon. And if you have the energy punch a circle an write on it "Happy Birthday Joe" or "Memorial Day 2011."

This recipe makes approximately 14-15 jars of pasta salad. The best thing about this recipe is that you can make four jars of pasta salad and keep the rest in a bowl in the fridge. Or you can double the recipe and make 30 jars of pasta salad.

Trust me when you bring these cute jars of pasta salad to the BBQ everyone will be amazed at your Martha Stewartness! You will be known as the Martha Stewart in your circle of family and friends.

Happy Face Oreo's

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and today was "Bring a Smile to your Teacher." So I made some yellow chocolate covered Oreos and piped on a happy face with a black frosting pen.

Once I dipped the Oero in the yellow melted chocolate - I placed them on parchment paper to dry. I just used a simple black icing pen to pipe the happy face.

Don't these look cheerful?

I placed these on trays to dry overnight. I also bought some "Happy Face" bubble rings for the kids to wear. Opps! I forgot to take a photo of the rings.

The black frosting takes almost twenty four hours to completely dry.

Rice Crispy Treats for The Baseball Team

This year Christian is an Angel! Yeah! On Saturday I was my turn to bring snacks and I made Angel Rice Crispy Treats.

I bought the thicker popsicle sticks with the best intentions! I was going to write "Go Angels" on the popsicle stick. But alas time escaped me. Maybe next time?

So while the chocolate was melting - I laid out the Rice Crispy Treats and pushed the popsicle sticks in the middle of the treat.

Then I dipped the Rice Crispy Treat into white melted chocolate and sprinkled just the top with some red sugar.

I had extra white melted chocolate so I used them to make some cake balls. Then I practiced making my A's on the parchment paper.

Once the white chocolate was completely dry I piped the Angel "A" on the Rice Crispy Treat.

I saved the cake balls for my family and to bring to Tina's birthday lunch.

I packaged the Rice Crispy Treats and tied them with a red ribbon and put them in one of my baseball baskets to bring to game on Saturday.

These were so easy to make because I used my secret cheat. I used the store bought Rice Crispy Treats. Don't tell anyone - unless they ask you!

Springtime Chocolate Covered Pretzels and Oreos

I had left over melted yellow chocolate from making my Chick Pops.  What to do? I made some Oero's and pretzel's.

Always lay your chocolate dipped items on parchment paper and wait for them to completely dry before packaging! I love how the rainbow sprinkles look with the yellow chocolate!

I packaged the pretzel sticks into little bags to use as party favors for Lisa's lunch and lunch box treats for my kids.

I think these came out really cute! I used a thicker pretzel stick.

They are called Old Fashioned Dipping Sticks - and because they are much thicker - seven or eight sticks work perfectly in the treat bag. I think I bought these pretzel sticks at Ralph's.

I decided to use the Oero's for after school snacks. Christian loves cookies and milk for his after school snack! And when his friends come over - they love also love a chocolate covered Oero!