Holiday DIY Sugar Cookie Bags Family Craft

Christmas DIY

How to Make Time to Bake, Craft as a Family 

Are a busy mom or dad? A parent or child caregiver who especially wishes you could find the time during the hectic holiday season to decorate and bake some homemade sugar cookies, make a simple Christmas craft and just spend some quality memorable moments together with your kids? If you answered yes, and feel the same way I do, you are not alone.

MBE partnered with Walmart for this story, post contains affiliate links

Truth be told, the holidays don't have to be non-stop do this, do that. Nor does this time of year need to feel overwhelming and stressful with a seemingly unending list of errands to run around town leaving you with little energy to just enjoy the season and spend some quality time with loved ones.

Mom Hack Secret

Want to know my my busy mom secret for creating an extra few precious hours in your day to bake and decorate those holiday sugar cookies you've been dreaming about, with time to spare to make easy DIY cookie bags from holiday gift wrapping paper? Sign up for a Walmart+ Membership at Walmart.

This can be a real game changer in terms of minimizing anxiety, paving the way to easily shopping online in one place for all the baking ingredients you'll need, as well as pretty colored decorating sprinkles, holiday cookie cutters, and Christmas gift wrap to craft your own seasonal gift cookie bags. My easy recipe and simple directions to make the handmade cookie bags I've created follow below. 

GRANDMA'S HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE 

A Vintage Family Recipe from my Mom

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup margarine 
• 1/3 cup shortening 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 t. vanilla extract 
• 1 t. fresh grated orange zest 

Cream together the 5 ingredients above, then stir in 

• 2 eggs 
• 2-1/2 cups flour 
• 1 t. baking powder 
• 1/2 t. salt 

Mix together until you have a soft dough, then wrap in in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1+ hrs (or pop in freezer for 15 mins). On a lightly floured surface, roll out cookie dough with rolling pin to about 1/8" thick and cut out shapes with Christmas cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer cookies to cookie sheets covered with baking parchment paper to prevent sticking.

For Decorating Cookies

• Your choice of colored sprinkles 

Pour sprinkles into sets of mini bowls for each child and give them a tray of their own cookies to decorate. Some been there, done that motherly advice on a fun decorating experience: As mom of 4 kids born within a year (big brother, then triplets), you definitely don't want little ones pouring sprinkles directly from originally containers, unless you don't mind cleaning up the worst mess possible while playing referee to a sibling "I had it first!" fight or two over one particular sprinkle. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes, then transfer to baking rack to cool. 

HOLIDAY DIY COOKIE BAG CRAFT 

A new 2021 DIY project I designed

Supplies

• Choice of assorted holiday or Christmas gift wrapping paper
• White craft glue
• Ruler & Pencil
• Decorative Scissors (optional)

How-to Directions

To make paper cookie bags, use a ruler and pencial to mark and cut 7" x 10" rectangles from giftwrap paper. Then add a small amount of white glue around 3 edges of the paper and fold in half creating cookie bags which measure 7" tall x 5" wide and allow to dry completely. If desired, after glue has set, trim bag top opening with a decorative scissor (or pinking shears) to create pretty edging. Fillcool homemade cookies and start spreading some holiday cheer.

More about Walmart+ Membership

Walmart+ Membership offers perks made for today's fast-paced modern family lifestyles. It's the ultimate mom life hack for member shoppers, making it possible to do it all.

• Get free unlimited delivery from stores and free shipping with no order minimum 
• Grab extra savings on every gallon of fuel when you fill up your vehicle at Walmart and Murphy stations as well as access Sam's Club member gas prices at their fuel centers 
• Save on some prescription medicines, saving up to 85% on thousands more prescriptions 
• Enjoy the added conveniences of contact-free scan and go shopping and a streamlined store experience when you visit your local Walmart store

With those reclaimed hours, I hope you enjoy making, decorating, packaging, and giving some holiday sugar cookies as much as I have. Walmart truly has everything you need to make the holidays merry and bright -- and the best part is with Walmart+ Membership they can even deliver it all to your door the same day, saving you time that you can instead spend baking and spending quality time and memories that last a lifetime with your children.

SkyPark Santa's Village California Review

Family Fun

MBE partnered with SkyPark at Santa's Village for this post

A Four Season Family California Attraction

For more than a 65+ years, Southern California has been known by both locals and vacationing families as the ultimate destination for kid-friendly wholesome family theme parks. In that class of outdoor attractions there is a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered: SkyPark at Santa's Village in Skyforest, California.

SkyPark at Santa's Village in Summer

Located in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains adjacent to the resort communities of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, this unique park attraction is just a few hours drive from Los Angeles and Orange County. SkyPark is open Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Don't let the park's name mislead you: kids of course can visit Santa here year-round and if the children ask: tell them that yes, Santa does have a second home away from the North Pole. 

SkyPark, as my husband (who captured some of the photos in this story) and I found out by experiencing it first-hand, is so much more than we expected . It's a truly multi-generational outdoorsy place which kids, parents, extended family and grownups of all ages can enjoy any season of the year, whether or not you personally celebrate Christmas.

SkyPark at Santa's Village: Yesterday and Today

You may be surprised to learn as I was that this park, originally named Santa's Village, opened on Memorial Weekend 1955, six weeks before Disneyland. Another fun fact: Santa's Village was also the first theme park ever to franchise, eventually adding two other locations. Over the years this park has evolved and changed names, opening and closing due to bankruptcy and the 2003 Big Fire. 

Today, the park is open once more. Thanks to the vision of lifelong mountain community residents Bill and Michelle Johnson, many of the historical buildings have been restored or recreated. While still retaining the retro vibe, SkyPark at Santa's Village, in addition to the added Bike Park, are fully-operational and open to the public. 

The reimagined theme park -- catering to preferences of the new millenium -- has been expanded to include mountain biking and hiking paths, train rides, rock climbing walls, fishing, ziplining, axe throwing, archery, target shooting, roller skating in summer, ice skating in winter, and outdoor entertainment, including a summer adult concert series. There's even a mini mountain bike path for little ones just learning to ride a bicycle. 

Santa's House, SkyPark at Santa's Village

Among the fun year-round activities are cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus; visiting St. Nick and his human, animal and mushroom head helpers at the Santa House; panning for rocks and minerals; and participating in ecological educational programs. 

There are also costumed characters meandering throughout the park during the day, story time and special seasonal family entertainment for children and parents, an on-site pub with draft and IPA bottled beer for the grownups, and affordable kid-friendly food, and much more.

SkyPark Santa's Village Costumed Character

SkyPark Santa's Village Park and Bike Park

With a hat, sunblock, and bottled water, guests can easily spend a full day here, as we did so we could sample both parts of SkyPark Santa's Village: the Park itself and the Bike Park.  In fact, if our personal experience is any indication, one day alone is not nearly enough time if you want to fully enjoy everything both parks have to offer. 

The Park

As you can see from the photos throughout this whirlwind tour of the Park there is so much going on here. So, before the day is over, it's likely everyone in your group will likely have one or more of their own favorite activities. Within the Park, my hubbie loved the rock climbing. With a variety of beginner and more challenging levels to try, I lost count of how many times he climbed to the top of the wall and rang the bell during our media visit.  As for me, I've always wanted to try axe throwing, which was really fun here. I also really enjoyed revisiting the sport of archery which I loved when I was a kid. 

SkyPark Activities for Kids & Grownups

In fact, we both had such a great time here. Actually, my hubbie loved the rock wall so much that just a few weeks later, he went back up to SkyPark, bringing along my daughter and son-in-law. The three of them spent much of a warm summer's day climbing the rock walls (including getting soaked on the waterfall side) as well as trying out the zipline which was closed for repairs during our earlier visit.

The Bike Park

Experiencing the SkyPark Santa's Village park for the first time, BTW, took up most of the day. This left us with just about an hour to explore the SkyPark Bike Park that's also on the same property, thanks to the professional rental mountain bicycles and helmets provided to facilitate our experiential media review. 

The Bike Park -- boasting a variety of riding terrain, from easy to challenging mountain biking trails, ramps and jumps -- is extremely popular with families as well as dare devil mountain bikers. Easily you could while away a full day here while having fun and getting some exercise on more than 20 miles of bike trails winding through the pine-scented forest and mountain landscapes. 

Mommy Blog Expert Test Drives a SkyPark Mountain Bike

The bike trails are well-maintained and groomed daily, even when there's snow on the ground in winter. If you bring your own mountain bicycle, there's no additional cost to use the Bike Park, since it's included with standard SkyPark admission. There's also the option to rent sophisticated mountain bikes with helmets on-site (additional costs vary, depending on equipment chosen) with knowledgable staff to equip you for your ride. 

For sure, my husband and I would both like to return and spend more time on the Bike Park trails and explore more extensively on a future visit. 

Drinks, Food and Shopping

After our initial bike ride was  complete, we enjoyed a short break with a refreshing round of beer on tap at the bike-themed The Pedal Pub, followed by indulging in some Pineapple Dole Whip. We wound down our day in the charming, beautifully curated giftshop where Mrs. Claus was hosting a children's cookie decorating session. 

What an enjoyable and invigorating way to spend a Sunday breathing fresh mountain air in such a beautiful and fun place, before heading back down the hill to Los Angeles to start another work week. Whether you are lucky enough to live in Southern California and are looking for  a fun day roadtrip with the kids, a grownup day trip with friends,  or you're planning a family vacation, there's nothing like a visit to Skypark at Santa's Village any time of year. 

SkyPark at Santa's Village Gift Shop

About SkyPark at Santa's Village

In the San Bernardino Moutains in Skyforest, California, about a two hour drive from Los Angeles, SkyPark at Santa's Village is a unique Southern California outdoor adventure theme park attraction with a retro 1950s - 1960s vibe. Adjoining Santa's Village is the SkyPark Bike Park. Open year round, with day passes, monthly passes and annual passes with access to both parks are offered with discounted pricing for kids ages 4-12. 

Learn all about SkyPark at Santa's Village including checking out their calendar of special seasonal and holiday events throughout the year, a summer concert series, and more by visiting the official site SkyParkSantasVillage.com. Stay up to date on everything SkyPark at Santa's Village-related, as well, by following the park on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. For SkyPark Bike Park specific news, don't miss these social channels dedicated to mountain biking on Facebook and Instagram. 

SkyPark at Santa's Village and SkyPark Bike Park are both located at 28950 California State Highway 18, Skyforest, CA 92385, phone 909-744-9373. Parking is free.

Hanukkah Gingerbread House DIY for Kids

Chanukah

A Fun Jewish Holiday Craft Activity

The family gingerbread recipe I used to make this holiday creation is the same one my grandmother passed down to my mom, who handed it down to me. As a child myself, I have fond memories of decorating gingerbread men with my mother, using festive sprinkles and red hot candies for buttons. When I had children, I decided to put my own signature twist on this old-fashioned tradition. 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links and I receive a bit of compensation, at no extra cost to  readers, when you click on links in this post and make a purchase

Create a New Family Tradition

So, as a mom of four born within one year -- triplets plus one more -- I'm carrying it on, making sure that everyone gets some one-on-one time with me in the kitchen. Certainly, the Hanukkah Gingerbread House pictured in this post, with the ingredients and instructions included, is easy, and fun. What's more is that it has a good chance of bonding the family that works together on building it. 

If you make this with your own family, your kids will likely enjoy it as much as mine have, decorating this extraordinary cookie sculpture as well as breaking it a part with a small hammer when it’s time to serve dessert. But wait – before you let the children demolish this edible holiday craft, be sure to take lots of photos so that you’ll be able to continue enjoying your gingerbread house long after it’s physically eaten and gone.

Chanukah Gingerbread House 
Recipe & Directions

2/3 c. shortening (half margarine)

1-3/4 c. brown sugar

2-3/4 c. molasses

1-1/3 c. cold water

12 c. white flour

4 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

2 t. allspice

2 t. ginger

2 t. ground cloves

2 t. cinnamon

Assorted kosher sprinkles in blue and white and silver

Candy and food-safe decorations

Royal Icing (recipe below)

Kosher Food Colors

Before beginning, cut out 3 rectangular cardboard templates from a cereal box that will fit together when assembled: front/back, sidewall, and roof to end up with a house with walls that are about 8-10” high.

Cream shortening and dark brown sugar. Then add molasses gradually stirring in water. In separate bowl combine the dry ingredients and then mix together with the wet ingredients. Gather dough into 3 balls and cover with plastic wrap; chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350. Dust counter surface or cutting board with flour and, using a rolling pin, roll out balls one at a time to 1/2” thick. Cut out TWO of each of the 3 templates out of the flattened dough and carefully transfer to lightly greased cookie sheets with cookie edges spaced widely enough so they don’t touch while baking. Also, from the dough, cut out the smaller cookie items you’ll be using to accessorize your house. 

I used cookie cutters from a Judaic Cookie Cutter set to create Star of David shapes in graduated sizes as well as cutting out a dog cookie cutter that resembled our pet Boxer. Bake larger house cookie parts for 15-18 mins; bake smaller cookie shapes for 14-16 mins, watching all carefully so they don’t burn. Allow cookies to cool completely on a baking rack before proceeding.

Royal Icing Recipe

While the cookies cool, mix royal icing by combining 10 T. of powdered egg whites or kosher meringue powder mixed w/ a little less than 1 c. water. Gradually, blend in 2 lbs. of confectioners’ sugar and beat for about 10 minutes. Separate icing into smaller bowls, reserving and covering about 1/2 of the white frosting for later with plastic wrap. Color the rest of the icing in each of the small bowls in desired hues and cover to prevent it from drying out.

Now it’s time to assemble your house. Fill individual plastic decorating icing bags with white in one and each of your other color in the others. Using a decorating #2 decorating tip create seams to connect the 4 walls together. Tip: Use a short stack of books or full soda cans to support the house until the icing dries. When it feels stable (about 30-60 mins) you can use the same process to attach the roof.

Here’s the really fun part: decorating your house. You can decorate using anything you want that’s edible in the way of candies and sprinkles and then attaching it with royal icing as the “glue”. You might also want to add some food safe non-edibles, like the dreidels, gold foil covered chocolate coins, and 4 deer cut outs that I used to represent my children. 

Also I used kosher salt to create the effect of sparkling snow and I melted chocolate and poured into candy molds to create the miniature chocolate menorah and the Hebrew chocolate letters over the door spelling out our last name. The sky’s the limit, so use your imagination and personalize it with things that relate to your loved ones and if you have kids, even toddlers, get them involved in some of this DIY crafting with food.