Last Minute Christmas Guide to DIYs and Recipes

I heard that you need a Last Minute Christmas Guide to DIYs and Recipes!

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It seems like only yesterday we were dreaming of a pink Christmas. How was that 2011? Flash forward to today and we’re only a few days away from Christmas 2020, yikes! Wrap up those handmade gifts and plan your Christmas recipes with our Last Minute Christmas Guide to DIYs and Recipes…

Decor:
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Salt Dough Ornaments | Salt Dough Garland

Decor
Super Last Minute Christmas Stocking | Sharpie Ornaments | 3-Minute Garland | Tinsel Ornaments | Flower Vase Ornaments | Bottle Brush Trees

Gifts:
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No-Sew Leather Bow Necklace | Kid Art Trivet | Custom Crayons | Leg Warmers

Gifts pretty prudent
Teacup Candles | Decorated Kleenex Holder | Simple Serger Napkins | Rose and Eucalyptus Body Scrub | Easiest Body Scrub | DIY Jump Ropes | No-Sew Animal Masks

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Marigold, Lemon, and Honey Soap

Wrapping:
Furoshiki
Furoshiki Wrapping: How to Wrap with Fabric | How to Tie a Perfect Bow

Gift Wrap
Stamped Wrapping Paper | French Pouf | Felt Gift Bows

Sweets:
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No-Bake Coconut Snowball Cookies | Tangerine Sorbet | Strawberry Shortcake

Breakfast and dessert
Coffee Cake in a Cup | Sour Cream Coffee Cake | Chai Monkey Bread | Liege Waffles | French Toast in a Cup | Bread Pudding

Garnishes & Toppings
Garnishes
Marshmallows | Candied Rose Petals | Whipped Cream: 6 Delicious Flavors

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Dried Citrus Slices Without a Dehydrator | Pickled Cranberries

Cocktails & Drinks: 
cocktails
Spiced Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail | Sparkling Rum Punch | Darker & Stormier | Apple Pie Moonshine | Irish Mule | Sangria

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Cranberry Shrub Cocktail

Appetizers:
Appetizers
Mini Pancake Bites | Kale, Peach, and Roasted Almond Salad | Tuna Tartare | Last-Minute Pantry Salad Trick | Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Skewers | Deviled Eggs

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Lastly, top off your Christmas dinner with the prettiest Fresh Food Wreath.

Happy Holidays!!

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How to Paint A Watercolor Pumpkin

Do these early autumn days have you wondering how to paint a watercolor pumpkin? 🎃 IMG_3570 (1)

Here is a beginner watercolor tutorial for painting pumpkins. Some people associate watercolor painting with the butterflies and flowers of spring and summer but I love to paint in autumn. You can see some of my recent fall-inspired apple and floral paintings on Instagram, plus how to paint the baby pumpkins in the image below. I always love to see the art that you create from my painting tutorials. Please send us your pics or tag us.

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Spicy Watermelon Mezcal Cocktail Recipe

How amazing does a Spicy Watermelon Mezcal Cocktail Recipe sound right now?Spicy Watermelon Mezcal Cocktail Recipe

Watermelon screams summer and sunlight and lazy days by the pool, but watermelon actually has its place any time of year, even at a Los Angeles Christmas cocktail party. Here in Southern California, and I’m sure in many other places (like, say, Mexico), we have a tradition of eating tamales on Christmas. And what would go better with a tamale at a holiday party than a sweet, smoky, spicy cocktail of watermelon juice and mezcal? So basically you can’t go wrong this delicious concoction any time of year.

Spicy Watermelon Mezcal Cocktail Recipe 2The addition of refreshing muddled cilantro balances out the heat from the chilis, making this a drink that bites at the lips while going down easy, more like a light agua fresca. The added bonus? Brightening your glass with cheery red and green Christmas colors! This recipe will spice up any holiday gathering by warming your heart as well as your mouth.  Watermelon juice is the perfect addition because it has all the flavor of watermelon, but it’s not too sweet; it reminds me of a homemade watermelon agua fresca. Get my Spicy Watermelon Mezcal Cocktail Recipe after the jump… (more…)

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Sugar Cookie Cake Toppers

Here’s how to make some Sugar Cookie Cake Toppers for your summer parties at home!

How to decorate Sugar Cookies with royal icing

Looking to add some spark to your Summer shin-dig? These edible cupcake toppers, made from sugar cookies, can go from cute to sophisticated depending on the party. If you are a geek for dessert decorating and you’ve found yourself debating whether to make cookies or cake, here’s a way to show off your skills with a little of both, but the secret is that these can be made with little decorating skills at all. Shhhhh. The kiddos will go crazy for these tiny cookies on a stick. What is that about kids and their love of food on a stick?
How to decorate Sugar Cookies with royal icing
Gather your supplies… (more…)

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How to Grow Sprouts

My family has become obsessed with growing sprouts to eat on sandwiches and salads so I’m excited to share with you how to grow sprouts!

How to grow sprouts

This has become a fun little gardening experiment for us that yields results in just a few days. I highly recommend growing alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, pea sprouts or any of the other varieties out there. There are so many yummy options. Here’s how to grow sprouts at home.How to grow sprouts (more…)

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How to Paint Watercolor Tropical Flowers Video Tutorial

Here is my How to Paint Watercolor Tropical Flowers Video Tutorial!

How to paint watercolor tropical flower Video Tutorial

This week I am back with the second video in my series of painting lessons. I’ve really been missing my students and teaching live workshops so doing these online painting tutorials has felt great.

I hope that you try this project and if you do, please share your finished work with me on Facebook or Instagram @JacindaStudio! Not much makes me happier than seeing your paintings. I seriously nerd out when I see my students work. (more…)

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How to Build a Pallet Daybed

Now is the perfect time to learn How to Build a Pallet Daybed!

The highlight of My New Backyard patio redecorating scheme has most definitely been this pallet daybed. I really wanted a place to sleep outside with my daughter, and a comfy couch to relax on with friends. I didn’t have the funds to invest in a fancy piece of outdoor furniture, and I knew that with the weather as it is in Los Angeles, I could leave this outside pretty much all summer. I also knew that I would, at some point, need to move it under the awning to keep it dry, so I put it on wheels. And finally, I knew I would need arms, because I’m just not comfy on a couch without arms. So here is the DIY Pallet Daybed I came up with.


I built this myself, with no help at all, in just a few days. I’m a crafty person and comfortable with tools, but I’m not an advanced woodworker by any stretch of the imagination, and this project was simple enough for me, so I know you can do it if you want to. Let me show you how to make your own DIY Pallet Daybed after the jump.
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Paint Watercolor Lemons & Bees Video Tutorial

Here is my How to Paint Watercolor Lemons & Bees Video Tutorial!

Watercolor Paint Lemons and Bees

I’ve been missing my in-person workshop students so much but I am excited to share a new video series of watercolor painting lessons that I am doing here on Pretty Prudent. This is the first one!

This painting of lemons and bees was one of my most popular workshops last spring and now you can follow along from the comfort of your own home. (more…)

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