Christmas Crafternoon: Needle Packets and Needle Vials

Back in the spring, I shared a tutorial for homemade needle packets, which you can see here.
For one of our projects this week, I decided to create a couple more, this time with a Christmas-y, wintery feel. These are nice for stockings, favors, or to tuck in cards.

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Do you save orts? I've noticed that a lot of stitchers do, but I don't. I do, however, save old needles. I'm not sure why, but I do. Did you know there is a tradition in Japan called the Festival of Broken Needles, when old needles are "laid to rest" after their faithful service in needlework? You can read about it here. I'm not inclined to stick my old needles into tofu, but after all their hard work, they probably deserve a pretty resting place! So for our next project, we're making needle vials.

Needle Vials

What you'll need:

*small glass vials with cork stoppers
*embellishments of your choice (just make sure they're not too big; you don't want the vial to be top-heavy)
(all supplies from Hobby Lobby)

Pretty up your vials however you like. There's no need for a tutorial because these are so easy! Here are a couple of ideas:

Quick, easy, inexpensive... and pretty! Combine a set of homemade goodies with a common theme for a really cute little gift set: needle packet, needle vial, needle magnet.

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If you love chocolate and coffee, this recipe will knock your little wool socks off! These are my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE cookies. Favorite. If you don't like coffee, you could leave out the espresso and still have a pretty delicious chocolate cookie. 

Chocolate Espresso Cookies

3 (1 oz.) squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1/2 c. butter
3 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. espresso powder (instant espresso)
1 c. flour
3/8 tsp. baking powder (I know, weird... trust me)

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt together the baking chocolate, 1 c. chocolate chips, and the butter. Heat at 50% power, in 1 minute increments, stirring between each heating until completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.

Beat eggs and sugar until thick and light, about 3 minutes. Stir in the espresso. Add the chocolate mixture and stir well. Sift together the flour and baking powder and fold into the egg/chocolate mixture. Stir in remaining 1 c. chocolate chips. Cover and chill dough at least 30 minutes.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2" apart on prepared cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. WATCH the cookies carefully and remove them when they begin to have a crackled appearance. Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets. (I use a small cookie scoop and bake 12 minutes exactly, yield is 3 dozen plus a few.)

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One more day to go... come back tomorrow for the Grand Finale of the Christmas Open House 2015!