Simple Gifts for Black Friday

Black Friday sales are an abomination! All I want to do on the day after Thanksgiving is eat pie and whip cream, and think about Advent. I make most of my holiday gifts, and usually spend this free time at home, working on projects.

This year I offered a Black Friday gift-making class, so this afternoon I get to play with other people's kids, and make candy and simple gifts with them- what could be better?

Agenda:
1. Compile a family wish list:
It's a family tradition that we make a list on the day after Thanksgiving of what we want for Christmas. (Why is it so hard to get men to tell you what they want?)

2. Make peanut brittle:
Ingredients:

• 2 c. white sugar
• 1 c. light corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 c. unroasted peanuts
• 4 Tbsp. softened butter
• 2 tsp. baking soda

1- Grease 2 large cookie sheets. Set aside.

2- Combine sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 c. water in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. 

3- Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking, stirring frequently.

4- Measure the butter and baking soda. When temperature reaches 300ºF (hard ball stage) remove candy from heat and immediately stir in butter and baking soda; pour out onto the prepared cookie sheets.

5- With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into thin sheets. Cool, then snap candy into pieces and store.

3. Make soap balls:
We will make soap balls with bouncy balls in the center- an easy and fun gift to make.

Supplies:

• white castile or clear glycerine soap
• soap colorants
• grater
• small toys (optional)
• warm water
• a plate

1- Grate soap into shavings. (I have used white castile soap in the past, but this year I have a lot of glycerine soap that someone gave me.)

2- Add a small amount of coloring to the soap shavings and stir with a fork, then add a small amount of warm water and work the color in with your fingers.

3- Begin to mold the soap around a toy until you have a nice snowball shape, adding more shavings or water as needed.

4- Place soaps somewhere where they can dry, then wrap in plastic.

4. Make hot pads: 

Also, we will each make a hotpad using old sweaters.