12 Days of Christmas..Day 4

Edit #3: Sorry guys, but my vintage jello molds are not for sale. Remember that hoarding thing I have going on? I just love them too much to part with them.

Edit #2: Can I just add that I am totally envious of you that have all your shopping done!? I'm going to the city on Saturday with Eric before his company Christmas party. I am going to be organized with a list and conquer! Now don't even ask me about homemade Christmas cards.

Edit: Tracy Y wrote: At this season of thankfulness, I just wanted to tell you that I visit your blog every day, even though I don't post often, I am ALWAYS inspired by you and thankful for all you do!!! Blessings to you and your family!

I just want to thank you guys for nice comments like Tracy's. It takes an extreme amount of work do keep up with the blogging and to come up with fresh, new ideas. Your comments are SO appreciated and it's really what makes it all worth while. I read them all. I know it takes extra time to leave the comments so I thank you for taking those few extra minutes out of your day. I need to do the same when I visit blogs. :)

Welcome to Dat 4 of Melissa's and Mishie's 12 Days of Christmas countdown. Today's theme is Altered Baking Tins. While I'm focusing more on ways to use baking tins for storage, I'm sure Melissa will have a beautiful project that we will all want to recreate for ourselves.

Today I'm going to show you my holiday wrapping station using baking tins for some creative storage. (please excuse the less than perfect photos...there is no natural lighting in my basement so I had to use the flash).

You've seen me use my favorite jello mold tins for years here on the blog. Oh how I love them. I thought you might like to see my ever growing stash. Every time I see these I just have to snatch them up. My mom picks them up for me too. I fully intend to share them in my Etsy shop but then I just hoard them for myself. They come in so handy, I never want to be short handed. Hoarding problem?
But they're so dang cute full of buttons.......
On to my gift wrap station. This is something I do every year in the basement. I have a nice big table that I clear off that transforms into a Santa's workshop of sorts. It all starts with the wrapping paper. Each year I buy wrapping paper on sale for the next Christmas to come. It's always fun to open my wrapping paper box to see what's in there. Looks like this year we'll be using red, kraft and cream. Love.
A couple big bags of shiny bows also make it into the sale stash. Here, I've got lots of gold bows with a few brown ones in the mix. I think the tags that I make this year will have the reds and a touch of brown thrown in......and then I'll use some brown twine to tie it all together.
To fancy up packages I have an old wooden berry basket filled with all kinds of little embellishments, tinsel ribbons, tags and more. The key to easy and stress free gift wrapping is to have a plan....have everything that you need in one spot. And then keep it organized.
I found this muffin tin one day and fell in love. The beautiful, worn blue and brown splatter ware enamel is so pretty. It's a little rusty to actually use for baking but it's perfect for storing crafty embellishments. And it fits perfectly in my berry basket as it can slide back and forth. This would make a wonderful centerpiece too, using the muffin spaces for little tea light candles.
On the opposite end of my berry basket is a waffle textured bread tin. I use this all the time to store Etsy kits, little projects I want to work on in front of the tv, etc. Baking tins are so utilitarian and are perfect for all kinds of storage. Here, I'm using this one to hold my vintage tape dispenser and stapler.....scissors and pens, etc.
And for added fun, why not spray paint old baking tins that are a little rusty and past their baking prime? I pick these up at Goodwill, yard sales, and thrift shops for usually less than a $1.00. I use this Chartreuse green color for most of my tins. Krylon spray paint is abundant in lots of colors at Walmart. Just spread out a large piece of paper and spray outside where the ventilation is good. Here I've used two sizes of bread tins and a fluted jello mold to hold tags and cards I've made, smaller bows and an empty one to hold tags that I intend to make soon for packages.

I love how these tossed away items take on a whole new look when spray painted. They all match and look great in a little grouping.

And here's a little glimpse of a smaller spray painted bread tin that I keep in this basket. This is my *junk drawer* of sorts. It houses all the supplies I use almost daily at my desk. And don't just leave it at spray painting the baking tins. I have spray painted lots of old wicker baskets and my whole office area is now coordinated. Love that.Now. All I have to do is go shopping for gifts and I'm ready for some wrapping! How are you coming along on your shopping? The girls just informed me while waiting for the bus that they're exchanging gifts with all their friends this year. Now we have even more shopping to do. Fun times! :)

I can't wait to see what Melissa's cooking up on her blog. I know it will be drool worthy. In the meantime, here's a wonderful recipe for you. Nothing like a good brownie...but even better with a gooey peanut buttery filling. Enjoy!

Big League Brownies
“An out-of-the-park flavor combination”

Brownie:
1 pkg brownie mix (for 9 x 13 size)
½ cup oil
¼ cup water
2 eggs

Filling:
¾ cup peanut butter
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
2 eggs

Heat over to 350 degrees. Prepare brownie mix as directed on package, using oil, water and eggs. Set aside. In small bowl, combine peanut butter and butter; beat until smooth. Add sugar and flour; mix well. Add 2 eggs. Spread half of brownie mixture in greased 9 x 13 pan. Carefully spread peanut butter mixture evenly over chocolate mixture. Spread remaining chocolate mixture evenly over peanut butter mixture. Bake at 350 for 30-33 minutes. Cool. Enjoy!