For Sunday favorites this week with Mary Ann and Cindy, I am leaning into all things holiday and crafty! We are back from France, where it’s starting to look Christmassy, so I was in full planning mode the minute we landed.
Decorating for the holidays always involves making things! Like Scandinavian felt trees, potpourri in jars to give as gifts, and this simple wreath that you can make in about 5 or 10 minutes.
Making a Simple Gingerbread Wreath (Non-edible)
Several kinds of gingerbread wreaths are made in a way that they are meant to be consumed. This is not that kind of wreath. In fact, it’s just a fun little decoration that takes just a couple of minutes to make.
Store-bought or Homemade Gingerbread Cookies
To make this easy, I used store-bought heart-shaped cookies. But, of course, you could make homemade gingerbread cookies. If I did make them, I would roll them out pretty thick and use different-sized heart-shaped cookie cutters to create a more layered look.
Gingerbread has the loveliest sweet and spicy scent
The reason to use gingerbread cookies over sugar cookies is purely the scent of gingerbread. Hang your wreath in the kitchen, and you’ll enjoy the scent of gingerbread all through the holidays.
Every time I walk into my kitchen, I am met with the lovely scent of cozy spices from the gingerbread.
The Common Gingerbread Spices
Ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. This is why the scent is so amazing!
The Supplies You’ll Need to Make a Gingerbread Wreath
- A piece of cardboard that’s about eight inches square: you can use a box top. Make sure it’s thick enough to support two or three layers of cookies.
- Gingerbread cookies (this also depends on size)
- Hot glue
- Scissors
- Ribbon or twine
Making the Wreath
- Start by using a plate and a smaller plate or bowl inside the larger one to make a template for the wreath form.
- Arrange the cookies on the form to see how many you will need to go completely around the wreath. Then, glue the cookies onto the cardboard.
- Repeat with a second or third layer.
- Hang using twine or ribbon.
More Sunday Favorites this week:
Past Lives is a Movie that will stay with me for a long time.
On the flight home from Paris, I watched several movies. That’s what I love about flying; the wifi rarely works, so watching a bunch of movies seems like a good idea. It sure is relaxing and enjoyable.
Madeline mentioned the movie Past Lives, so I quickly pressed play when I saw it was an option. I watched it twice, actually. It’s so beautifully done. I found the YouTube clip below, and it gives you an idea about the film in a way that makes you fully understand the characters. I think I love it and appreciate it even more now.
Two Gift Guides
Two gift guides for you today. One for the person who loves bread. I mean, who doesn’t love bread? So whether you are into making bread or buying it at your local bakery, this gift guide has a little bit of everything, including the salted butter.
Bread Lover Gift Guide
- A linen bread bag from UASHMAMA – I love the washable paper bags from UASHMAMA, but this linen bread bag is beautiful, too.
- Also, from UASHMAMA, you heat a terracotta stone in the oven and place it in the bottom of the bread bag, keeping your bread warm.
- The Essential Japanese Damascus Serrated Knife from Quince is so beautiful and comes in a gorgeous box, perfect for gift-giving. And it’s $69!
- The Perfect Loaf – I heard about the author on a podcast and started following him on Instagram. He knows his bread!
- UASHMAMA bread bag in red
- French salted butter – available at Trader Joe’s or many local stores in the gourmet cheese case.
- Walnut End-Grain Butcher Block – Also from Quince. It’s available in two sizes. The color and quality are exceptional.
Gift Guide for The Traveler
The other is for the traveler. Every time I travel now, I say “How did I live without this handheld travel scale?” – and a few more travel favorites, but the travel scale would make a great stocking stuffer.
- A beautiful travel case, and
- Dop kit Set from UASHMAMA.
- Travel tote from State – this tote is reasonably priced and has a big inside zipper side pocket for keeping things safe. The entire bag can be zipped up, which is so nice. It’s roomy, and I love the big luggage slip-sleeve. It takes the stress out of getting through the airport.
- Hand-held luggage scale – A must-have if you buy stuff when you travel.
- Travel Umbrella – Lightweight and compact.
- A hand-held mirror with 10x on one side and a foldable that creates a stand.
- Adapters
- Quince has luggage at affordable prices. We have the Check-in 27″ and love how the sturdy hard case protects our flea market finds.
Planning a Trip to Paris?
Stay at the Mob House Hotel
We just returned from a week in France and stayed once again at our favorite hotels in Paris and Lyon. Our home away from home is the Mob House Hotel. You can read the full review in this post. We love everything about this hotel! It’s located just a two-minute walk from the largest flea market in Paris. You can read more on that in this post.
How fun this is. I love the idea of a gingerbread scented kitchen. So many good gift ideas. Thanks!!
Great site love the gingerbread cookie wreath. I love crafting so much FUN!
Me too, Janet!
xo
Annie