New Year’s is almost here and it’s time to get ready for the biggest party of the year! Try this unique twist on the classic Long Island cocktail. You won’t be disappointed, and neither will your guests! This cocktail is pretty strong, so it’s not for the faint of heart!

New Year’s Long Island Cocktail With a Twist

 Photos: Cravings of a Lunatic.

Is there anyone that doesn’t like cotton candy? We didn’t think so! If you’re craving this sugary treat, you’d be surprised to know that you can make it at home! Although the homemade cotton candy won’t be as fluffy as the carnival kind, it’s still delicious! This gold cotton candy would be an awesome treat to serve at your New Year’s party this year!

Homemade Gold Cotton Candy Supplies:

1) A whisk that you snipped with wire cutters. This is sometimes called a ‘decapitated whisk’. Take a look at the image below to see what it looks like.

2) Parchment paper

3) Candy thermometer (a must!)

4) 4 cups sugar

5) 1 cup corn syrup

6) 1 cup water

7) 1/4 tsp salt

8) 1 tsp raspberry extract

9) 2 drops pink food coloring

11) 4 tsp creme de cassis (this will give the cotton candy a gold color)

‘Decapitated’ Whisk:

Step #1:

In a large saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has melted. Take a damp pastry brush and wipe down the sides of the saucepan to prevent crystals from forming.

Step #2:

Clip a candy thermometer to your saucepan and keep stirring. Heat to 320 F and pour the hot liquid into a shallow heatproof container. Add in extract and food coloring. Stir.

Step #3:

Line work area with parchment paper.

Step #4:

Dip whisk into sugar syrup and hold it over the pot to allow the sugar to drip back into the container. Hold the whisk 1 foot above the parchment paper and swing it back and forth to create thin strands of sugar on the paper. Repeat multiple times until you have a nest of spun sugar.

Step #5:

Immediately wrap the spun sugar around large lollipop sticks. You can eat this straight away or seal it in an air-tight container. Moisture will make the candy soggy.

Photos: Cooking Books.

These gorgeous lanterns are easy to put together, and the best part is that they’re free! Scour your yard for various greens and drop a few cranberries in for a pop of color. This is an easy way to transform your front porch or yard into an instant winter wonderland!

Step #1:

Grab 2 different sized tupperware bowls. One has to be larger than the other.

Step #2:

Fill up the large bowl with water, stopping 1/3 of the way from the top. Add in your greens and cranberries .

Step #3:

Fill up the smaller bowl with water and place it inside the larger one. This will make room for your candle. Place the bowls into your freezer overnight.

Step #4:

When the lanterns are frozen, you can run the bowls under warm water to loosen them. Place a candle inside and put your new icy lanterns on your front porch or walkway!

Photos: Raised in Cotton.

These jello shots are great for those busy folks this holiday season! To make these champagne jello shots, all you really need is champagne, gelatin, and sugar! Serve them on a fancy platter and don’t forget the sparkly pom pom toothpicks!

New Year’s Sparkling Champagne Jello Shots

Photos: Erica’s Sweet Tooth.

Looking for more New Year’s party ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Easy HOMEMADE Tortilla Chips

The ULTIMATE New Year’s Dip: Cheesy Beef Enchilada

New Year’s Sangria With Blood Orange, Mint, and Blackberries

Festive Holiday Cherry and Lime Vodka Jelly Shots

This ornament garland is really easy to create, and definetly steals all the attention when it’s up! If you love Christmas decor that leaves a big impact, this garland is for you! We love the pink glittery ornaments, but you can use whichever colors you like that will match your home. All you need is some ribbon, ornaments, and tape to make this gorgeous decoration!

Supplies:

– Ornaments (around 75 for 4 feet of garland)

– Ribbon

– Tape

Step #1:

Tape one end of the ribbon and twist the tape to create a needle. It’ll be easier to thread your ornaments this way.Step #2:

Thread the ornaments through the ribbon, alternating colors. Leave at least 24″ of ribbon at the end for hanging.

Step #3:

Hang up your garland. Try hanging it over your doorway, on your banister, or on your mantle!

Photos and idea: Jenny Dixon.

Take a look at these other cool Christmas DIYs:

Branch Candle Centerpiece

Glittery Glue Gun Snowflakes

Glittery Pottery Barn Pinecones

Nature-inspired decorating ideas for Christmas are always in style, and it’s not that hard to recreate your favorite looks since you can find these items outdoors! We love using branches in our Christmas decor, and we’re totally loving this branch centerpiece! It’s a great project you can make if you’re on a budget, and it requires minimal supplies. Let’s get started!

Supplies:

1) A branch

2) Spray paint (gold or silver)

3) Candles

4) Nail-on glides

5) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

6) Christmas decorations to decorate the branch (optional)

Step #1:

Hunt around for a fallen branch that can hold your candles. Try to find one that has thicker branches.

Step #2:

Trim your branch until it looks the way you want it to. Flip the branch around and experiment with different sides to see what would look best. Attach the nail-on glides using a glue gun.

Step #3:

Take your branch outside and spray paint it in the color of your choice. Allow it to dry before bringing it back inside.

Step #4:

Place the candles on your candleholders and if you wish, decorate the branch with various Christmas decor.

Photos and idea: Herballistic Garden.

Glitter and Christmas go hand-in-hand, which is why we adore these snowflakes! They’re made of hot glue and brushed with Mod Podge and glitter. Make a set to hang on your Christmas tree, or make a garland out of them. Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

2) Wax paper

3) Dish soap

4) Ornament template

5) Glitter

6) Mod Podge

7) Small paint brush

8) String or wire

Step #1:

Search google for snowflake templates and print them out. Use an image with simple lines.

Step #2:

Set your wax paper over the image. Mix a small amount of dish soap with a little bit of water and spread it over the wax paper. Trace the image with the hot glue.

Step #3:

Wait for the hot glue to dry, then peel off the snowflake. Gently wash the ornament with a little bit of water to remove the dish soap.

Step #4:

Cover your snowflake with Mod Podge using a small brush.

Step #5:

Cover the snowflake with glitter.

Step #6:

Add a hanger to your snowflake by making a loop out of wire and glue it to the back of the snowflake. Wait for the glue to dry and hang up your ornament!

Photos and idea: By Stephanie Lynn.