New Years Free Printable Banner

A fun and festive free printable banner for New Years!

The last one with out words can be printed a couple of times to go between each of the worded ones and on the ends.
To print: Click on each of the banners above to open in a new window, click again to make sure they are fully expanded. Then click on 'file' and 'print' from the menu at the top of the window. If you have any trouble try selecting the 'landscape' option or 'page set up' and customize before printing. You can also save the files to your computer and print as you normally would print a photo.

(Personal use only, and blogging uses are ok)

Sugared Orange Slices {Recipe}

Candied Fruits have long been a Christmas Tradition around the world.

This year I set out to figure out how to make Sugared Orange Slices.

And it was no small task!

If these are cooked too long they burn, and if they do not get dry enough they are too acidic to eat, but when you get them just right, they are truly a Christmas delight.

First prep the oven. Place your top rack on the second slot from the top. (i.e.., the slot between the top and middle ones). And preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Slice 2-3 oranges so you have about 9 rounds from a softball size orange.

Lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in oven.

Sugared Orange Slice Recipe:

Baking time 2.5 hours

(Note it is important to follow this recipe exactly)

After the oven is preheated and rack moved to the slot just under the top slot:

1. Bake at 275 (F) for 45 minutes. (I set a timer to make sure I did not over cook them).
2. After 45 minutes turn orange slices over and return to oven for another 45 minutes.
If your orange slices start to brown in either of these first two steps turn your heat down 25 degrees, use a higher rack in the oven and reduce cooking time in the next steps.
3. Remove oranges from oven, let cool to the touch, and then coat them on both sides with sugar and return to pan.
4.Bake for an additional 30 minutes.
5.Remove from oven allow to cool to touch. Coat both sides again with sugar and place them back in the pan. Set any that have started to brown and have skins that have dried completely on a separate plate. Most should still be orange and not yet browned.
6. Return pan to oven and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes.
7. Remove from oven when they are browned and the sugar is slightly 'bubbly'. They are done when the skins are dry, making a cracking sound when you break them, and are dry in the middle.
8. Let cool to the touch, then coat them again with sugar and leave them on a separate plate to cool completely.

(Copyright A Holiday Haven 2010, although you are welcome to share this recipe in its entirety, to include photos, provided a clear link and credit is provided back to this site.)

Rose gift toppers from ribbon

Adding beauty to Christmas gifts simply.

I started with an old piece of wrinkled scrap ribbon.

Twisted an end and rolled it up to form the center of the rose.

Continued to twist the ribbon and wrap it around the center adding just a small spots of hot glue to the sides here and there. 

Tucked the end under the rose. Added a bit of hot glue the underside of the rose to secure it.  

These can be made from almost any kind of ribbon, sheers or solids, wired or non-wired, thin or wide. Ribbon with edging is nice as it defines the petals. 

These pretty little rose ribbons would work for weddings, and any other beautiful gift giving occasion.

Hot glue directly to gift. You can add additional ribbon, leaves, or small ornaments.