in the spirit of winter

from scrap coloring, colored by me

~di

chocodots

i invented chocodots. chocodots are large gumdrop-shaped chocolates, usually dark, sometimes with swirls of white or milk chocolates. i started making them for valentine's day, for my friends. i melt any kind of chocolate and put it in my special dot-shape silicone-base ice cube tray from target. i freeze the dots, pop them out, and pipe on the melted chocolate topping. i put it in the freezer and voila! chocodots!!
a tasty valentine's treat (or any time treat)!
~ di   

boxes

here's a craft that makes a magazine file and is made of ordinary cheerio boxes and fancy wrapping paper - it's that easy, and they're so useful!
you need:

• sharp scissors
• fancy wrapping paper that goes with the theme of your room
• double-sided tape
• a large cheerio (or joe's o's, the trader joe's brand) cereal box

what to do:

1. make a mark about halfway up the side of the box.
2. cut diagonally, starting at the mark and cutting to the other side's top,  so you have one tall narrow side and one short narrow side. now it should look like a magazine file.
3. using double-sided tape, attach the wrapping paper to the outside and, if you want, inside of the cut box. now it should look pretty.
4. fill up your box!

credits go to mom.