Amber, Author at Rays of Bliss

Lego Ninjago Party Favor Ideas

For the favor bags I wanted to include a couple of DIY crafts. I decided to go with a lego figure crayon and a lego block soap! They were a huge hit and super easy to make!

I used a snack baggie for my favors and stapled on a Lego Ninjago Thank You for Coming Printable.

Here is the Printable with 4 per page for FREE:

Free Printable Lego Ninjago Party Favor Label

You will need to buy the molds to make these party favors. You can also make candy figures with them!

I purchased my silicon molds from Amazon. (This is an affiliate link.)

Lego Minfigure Crayon

These were so easy to make! It took one crayon (wax) per minifigure mold and about 3 crayons for block mold.

Remove wrapper from crayon. (You can soak in water for 10 minutes to make removal easier.)
Break crayons into small pieces to fit into mold.
You will need to sit your silicon mold onto a baking sheet to make it easy put in and remove from oven.
Bake them in the oven at 225° degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Remove carefully from oven to avoid liquid crayon spilling out.
Let your crayons harden by either cooling down at room temperature or put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes. (I am impatient so I went with freezer option)

Lego Blocks Soap

These were a little more work then the crayons but still super easy! You will need to make a trip to your crafty store and buy: Clear glycerince soap base, special coloring for soap, and optional special glitter or fragrance for soap.

Cut soap base into small squares. I did my soaps in 4 batches.
Put first batch into microwave safe measuring cup.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Then 10 seconds intervals until completely melted.
Stir in the color imeditely after removing from microvave. DO NOT WAIT or soap will begin to harden inside cup.
- Blue 6 drops,
- Red 12 drops
- Yellow 3 drops
- Green= 3 drops Yellow + 6 drops Blue
Optional *Stir in a few drops of fragrance and glitter. (I used a few drops of Lavender essential oil.)
Pour very carefully into molds.
- To help remove air bubbles mist the top of the soaps with alcohol in a spray bottle.
Let the soap sit 30 minutes- 1 hour or until completely cool
- I moved mine to the freezer for about 10-15 minutes to speed this up.
Once cooled gently press the molds and the soaps will pop right out!

The boys wanted some for their restroom of course. They really look awesome!

For the favor bags I added little labels to the soap and crayons. I simple cut up cardstock paper, hand wrote, “Lego Crayon” and “Lego Soap” and tied it on with ribbon. I wanted to make sure everyone knew it was not candy!

You can check out my other DIY Lego Ninjago Post:

DIY LEGO NINJAGO PARTY with Free Printables

Be sure to check out my other DIY party ideas!

Kids Gardening with Chuckle Farm!

Blog, Kids & Baby Reviews, Reviews

Want to get your kids really excited about a project and teach them about nature? Ask them if they want to help you plant something! My boys were jumping with joy when I asked if they wanted to help me plant a sunflower; I have never seen my boys so excited to work on something with me. It was so easy too because Chuckle Farm offers Kids Gardening Kits, which include gardens in a bag with everything you need to plant your little garden at home and indoors! You and your child can enjoy your new garden rain or shine!

About Chuckle Farm :

Chuckle Farm’s modern ceramic planters & garden accessories are designed to complement the sculptural splendor of plants, nature’s living art. Their mission is to provide a worthy vessel. To elicit a smile. And to share the joy of living with nature on an intimate scale.

I had the chance to try 2 of Chuckle Farm’s products: Kids Garden Kit, Sunflower and Fairytale Kit, Jack’s Magic Bean.

We planted our Sunflower about a week ago so we are still waiting to see the sprouts but it should be any day now! We will be planting the Fairytale Kit, Jack’s Magic Bean at my parents house because it needs to be outside with a tall pole.

The Kids Garden Kit, Sunflower is a great way to introduce your child to gardening because they are easy to grow and grow quickly! We had so much fun planting our sunflower seeds and it was so simple. The only supplies you have to provide are the crayons and the water!

The instructions were very easy to follow and my boys loved it and now they wake up every morning checking on it and watering it! They actually cleared off their dresser so they can have their Sunflower in their room right by their beds! I told my son it takes 10 days according the bag to grow so he is counting down every day. He tells me, “Mom only 2 more days till our sunflower grows!” I had no idea they would be this excited over this garden in a bag! Also, they can’t wait to plant their bean stalk at Grandma and Paw-Paw’s!

We have really enjoyed the Chuckle Farm gardening products and I know I will be trying the other 2 Kids Garden in a Bag Kits: Strawberries and Tomatos! This really is a fun way for kids to learn about nature and experience gardening! I love that anyone can do this and anywhere! I think this would be a great gift for any child for any occasion!

You can purchase all the Kids Gardening Kits at Chuckle Farms website. The Garden in a Bag Kits retail for $14 and the Fairytale Kits retail for $11.

Be sure to check out all their awesome Gardening Products, not just for kids! They offer modern ceramic planters, garden accessories,terrariums, and herb garden kits!

You connect with Chuckle Farm on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Google+

Disclosure:
I received the products mentioned above for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

rays of bliss FACEBOOK PAGE DOWN

Blog

Currently my Facebook Page, rays of bliss, is down due to copyright/ trademark infringement rights filed by another website. At this moment, I am working on getting it back up.

Thank you for all your support during this situation.

Amber Sorrells
rays of bliss

Gluten-Free Cookie Cake

Blog, Desserts, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

If you have been following my blog then you know I am a huge Cookie Cake fan, that might be an understatement! For almost every celebration I make a cookie cake and sometimes I make it for no reason at all! You will love this Gluten-free Cookie Cake recipe I am sharing with you.

My son has inherited my love for cookie cakes and requested one for his birthday. Since my husband has to eat gluten free I made a gluten-free version so everyone including my husband could enjoy all the Cookie Cake Greatness!After trying several recipes to find the perfect cookie cake I perfected this recipe. My goal was to make my homemade version similar to the one bought from the mall! Every party I throw I receive so many compliments and they couldn’t believe it was Gluten-free and I made it. Expect to receive many request if you make this cookie cake recipe for your party.Easy to make your own brown sugar and I find it makes my desserts better! It takes a good 2 minutes or more to mix well with a fork.Notes: You really need a 12 inch pan or larger. The cake will spread while baking and will spill over if not at least 12 inches. My cookie dough spread out on baking pan measured just over 9 inches. This leaves plenty of room and it never spills over.

You can see here how much it spreads while baking.

To decorate I used a star tip and alternated chocolate and vanilla around the edge. I also layered the vanilla on top of chocolate for the message.

Gluten-free Cookie Cake

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup Gluten Free flour I used Pamela’s Artisan
1/2 teaspoon xantham gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick of softend butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups frosting of your choice I used milk chocolate and vanilla to be like the one bought from mall.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Grease 12 inch pizza pan with butter.
Sift flour, xantham gum, baking soda, and salt together.*Optional Make your own brown sugar: mix 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tsp molasses together using a fork. (See pic above) I highly recommend but if you do not have molasses then use 3/4 cup of store bought brown sugar.
Using a mixer (handheld or stand) mix flour mixture with softened butter. Once mixed well add the following in this order: sugar mixture, egg, and then vanilla extract. Beat until dough forms.
Add chocolate chips and mix well.
Try to make a large ball with cookie dough. Place ball in the middle of the pan. Spread out evenly, but leave 1 1/2-2 inches from the edge.
Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow to cool then add icing/decorations of your choice.

Hope you enjoy this recipe! Check out my other gluten-free recipes HERE.

Ideas for Easy Valentine’s Day Box

Blog, Craft Ideas, DIY, Valentine's Day

I made some easy Valentine’s Day Boxes for my boys this year. I was searching for some ideas and I discovered many Valentine’s Day boxes look very difficult to make! I like EASY! I decided to just use free printables and enhance them!

Use large images or desktop computer wallpaper of your favorite character:

I just printed off some images of Minions from Despicable me. Print, Cut, Glue!

Wrap your box in wrapping paper.
Cut slot on the top.
Print out a few large images, cut out, and glue onto your box.
- I used these two printouts:
- Minion with his arm up: http://www.designbolts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/despicable-me-characters-wallpaper.jpg
- 1 in a Minion: despicable-me-valentine
If you want to add a heart. Be sure to cut off the minions thumb and then glue on top of the heart. This makes it look like he’s holding it.
- Here is the heart printout if you want to use it. HERE: Para Tu Despicable Me Heart
I added a cut up toilet paper roll tube wrapped in foil for the goggles.

Here is a list of Free Despicable Me Minions Valentines:

Use Free Printable Face Mask:

There are a ton of free printable mask and you can use for your Valentine’s Day Box! I made a fox box for my “Fox Song” Loving son!

Wrap box in construction paper,you can use gift wrap if you prefer.
Cut slot out on the top.
Print this free printable fox mask, from Bambinis.
Use this body holding a sign. Here’s the Free Printable:
- Fox Body for Valentine’s Day Box
Cut and glue.
Draw in eyes on the mask. I also suggest leaving that white section under the nose. Just cut straight across to connect the mouth.

I think it turned out pretty cute and most importantly my son loved it! He will also be handing out What Does the Fox Say Valentine’s Day Cards! Free Printable Here.

If you don’t want to do a fox, here are few other links toother mask you may wnat to use for your box:

There you go an Easy-Peasy Valentine’s Day Box!

Check out my other Valentine’s Day Printables and Post HERE.

All printables and downloads designed by rays of bliss are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Please do not alter or claim as your own. This file is not intended for resale, nor are the printed versions of this file. Feel free to link back to www.raysofbliss.com if you like our printables.

Gluten-Free No Bake Brownie Bites with Candy

Blog, Desserts, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

I know, I had you at NO BAKE! Gluten-Free No Bake Brownie Bites with Candy are tasty little bites and alwasys a huge hit around my house and at parties!

You will love making these because they are so easy and you can clean your hands by licking off the yummy goodness! OK, maybe that’s me, but I know you will take at least one lick! I made mine gluten-free because that’s how we roll in my house but this recipe can be used with regular brownie mix too!

Gluten-free No Bake Brownie Bites with Candy

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg Gluten Free Brownie Mix I used 21oz Bob's Red Mill Brownie Mix
1 cup milk I used Silk Almond Milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups Gluten Free Rolled Oats I used Bob's Red Mill
*optional highly recommended! 1 cup Snickers (2 regular size snickers) or 1 cup M&M's (or your favorite Gluten Free Candy)

Instructions

Melt your butter.
In large bowl, combine well brownie mix, milk and melted butter.
Next, add peanut butter and vanilla; blend well.
Stir in oats and mix well by hand.
Mix in candy pieces.
On a waxed paper-lined cookie sheets drop your tablespoon size balls.
Place in the fridge or freezer to set. (approx. 30 minutes freezer, 2 hours fridge)
I store in a container in the fridge.

Notes

*Makes approx. 6 1/2 dozen Brownie Bites.
**United States Snickers and M&M's are gluten-free. The company still advises people to check labels at more busy times of year, there may be some possible cross-contamination in the other processing facilities used to keep up with demand. Please always read the ingredient and nutrition label carefully.**