$5.00 or Less Gift Party

i'm so excited to share my $5.00 or less gift. 

i'm making these gifts for my co-workers.  a monogrammed mug and homemade marshmallows.

i picked up the mug at the Dollar Store and i bought the etching cream half off at Michael's. 

i cut out the N and the frame on contact paper with my Big Shot.  if you don't have a Big Shot, i think you could easily trace the letters or frames on to contact paper or and cut out with an exacto knife. 

i positioned the N and frame on the mug and made sure to smooth all the edges down so that the etching cream didn't seep under. 

i covered the N and frame with the etching cream and was careful to stay in the lines.  as i made more of these mugs i found the more etching cream i used, the better the results.  so use more than i did in this picture.  :o)  i let the etching cream sit for 5 minutes.

i followed the directions on the label... rinsed the cream off...

took off the contact paper and... voila!

i'm so in LOVE with etching cream now!  i want to etch everything now!

and then i made homemade marshmallows (recipe below), a christmas tag... and i love how it looks put together.  :o)

here is another idea for a $5.00 or less gift...

a double-sided coffee cozy!  the directions for this gift is HERE.

scroll down to add your $5.00 or less gift.

Homemade Marshmallows

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

confectioners sugar for dusting

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment.

Let it stand for 30 minutes.

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. 

Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals. 

Clip on candy thermometer; raise heat to high. 

Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees (firm ball stage).

Immediately remove pan from heat. 

With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin.

Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes.

Add vanilla; beat to incorporate. 

Generously dust an 8x12 inch glass baking pan with confectioner's sugar.