Friendsgiving 2011

Since my birthday and my favorite holiday fall around the same time every year, I decided to host a Friendsgiving to celebrate.  I made my first stuffed turkey and the guests brought the rest!  Since most of the cooking was delegated to other people, I got to have fun decorating and making party favors.  While searching for homemade decoration ideas, I came across the Cuttlebug (a machine that does embossing and die cuts), which is one of my new favorite toys.  I used the Cuttlebug as soon as it arrived to make decorations and party favors for my Friendsgiving.  

Using another addiction, Pinterest, I found two yummy treats that I wanted to make into party.  The first favors I made were Pumpkin Pie Truffles!  These truffles were so delicious and easy to make.  Here is the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Truffles Recipe.  After making the truffles I created cute gift boxes for them to go into.  

Materials:

• Jute Twine
• Maroon Ribbon
• Small brown gift boxes
• Printable Sticker Labels
• Fall colored card stock
• Cuttlebug (embossing templates and leaf die cuts)
• Candy cups (to put the truffles into: not pictured)

Gift Boxes (they come flattened and you put them together)

Jute twine, maroon ribbon, and the leaves I made using my Cuttlebug

The Final Product (truffle inside, obviously)

I forgot to take pictures of the second favor I made, but they were just as cute.  I stole the idea (from: HostessBlog), to make a Thanksgiving colored Chex Mix.  It was delicious and a big hit!  I did not package it like it is seen on the website.  Instead, I used fall colored sheer bags and kept it simple in order to accompany the cute boxes above.

Aside from favors, I did a lot of decorating.  However, I only remembered to take a picture of one thing (I'll get better at this picture taking thing...I hope).  Below is a "Be Thankful" banner that I made using my Cuttlebug.

The final thing I made (and remember to take a picture of) was deserts!  Like I said before, guests brought everything but the turkey, but I couldn't help myself when I saw these cute Pilgrim hat deserts.  They were SO easy!  

Ingredients: 

• Reese Cups
• Icing (yellow and orange)
• Fudge Stripe Cookies

All I did was flip the cookies upside down, dip the Reese cup into yellow icing, and press it onto the center of the cookie until the yellow icing formed a hat rim.  To finish it off, I used orange icing to make a buckle on the hat!  And wa la!

Pilgrim Hat Cookie Treats

Overall, I think the evening was a success and I can't wait to host it again next year!