Let the adults have a little Christmas fun, too! We’re sure your friends and family will love these tasty jelly shots! They’re made with cherry and lime jello and have a very special ingredient – vanilla vodka! They may look complicated, but they’re so easy to make! Add some whipped cream and mint leaves on top and any red candy you like (we love red Skittles!) and you’re ready to party!

Ingredients:

1) 1 three ounce box cherry gelatin or jello

2) 1 three ounce box lime gelatin or jello

3) 3 packets unflavored gelatin

4) 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

5) 1 1/2 cups vanilla vodka

6) 36 dollops whipped cream

7) 36 mint leaves

8) 72 small red candies (try red Skittles!)

Step #1:

Coat a square dish lightly with cooking spray. Spread the cooking spray around with paper towel.

Step #2:

To make the cherry layer, add 1/2 a packet of gelatin over 1/4 cup of water. Leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 box of cherry gelatin and 1 cup boiling water. Mix until it dissolves. Add 3/4 cup of vanilla vodka. Repeat this process to make the lime layer.

Step #3:

For the white layer, add 2 packets of gelatin to 1/2 cup of water and leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 cup boiling water and 1 14 ounce can of condensed milk. Mix until the gelatin dissolves. This will make 3 cups of liquid. Leave it to cool to room temperature.

Step #4:

Add 1/2 of the cherry mixture into the pan. Place the pan in the fridge for 20 minutes for the gelatin to set. Once it has set, add 1/3 of the white mixture on top of the cherry mixture. If any air bubbles surface, pop them before placing the pan back in the fridge for 20 minutes. Repeat this process for the lime mixture. Add white over the lime, then cherry, then white, then finish with the lime. Leave the finished pan to set in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight.

Step #5:

When you’re ready to serve the jelly shots, gently pull the edges away from the pan. Invert the jelly onto a cutting board and cut into squares.

Step #6:

Place your jelly shots on a serving tray and top them with a bit of whipped cream. Top the whipped cream with a mint leaf and 2 red candies (to make a holly leaf). Enjoy!

Photos: Tablespoon.

If you’re unsure of how to decorate your mantle this fall, take a look at this one! It’s simple, festive, and you can put it together on the cheap! Scroll down for more pictures!

The first thing we noticed about the mantle is the neutral backdrop. The mantle itself is a crisp white, which makes the fall accessories pop! For your mantle, choose fall shades that stand out. The bright oranges work great against the white, and if your mantle is more of a beige color, choose contrasting, but similar tones. Since the crisp white of the mantle is a cold tone, the fall accessories are as well. Choose what fits your mantle best.

The rustic crate makes the perfect stand for these flowers. To fill up the crate, a pumpkin nestled on top of leaves works great. The mini pumpkin, squash and pinecone look so cute inside, too!

One of the easiest ways to accessorize is with pillows! You can use slipcovers if you don’t want to buy new ones. For festive but cheap pillows, check your local Wal-Mart or Target.

Add warmth to your mantle with candles! Grab cheap candleholders and candlesticks at the thrift store and spraypaint them to match your mantle.

The top of the mantle is kept simple, with a salvaged piece of fence painted white, a leaf wreath, and more mini pumpkins. The garland adds a cute touch to the mini shutters, which can easily be replicated at a larger scale, if you like. You can make a large garland covering the entire mantle with burlap, which is a great choice for those on a budget.

Photos: The Frugal Homemaker.

Since almost all July 4th celebrations happen outdoors, getting our porches ready for the big day is a must! Dress up your porch with patriotic pillows, flowers, flags, and other accessories. The sky is the limit! Take a look at these festive July 4th porch ideas you can re-create yourself, and for cheap, too!

1. Get Creative

We’re loving this shutter painted with a star and stripes. The burlap garland draped over it gives it a rustic feel, and the DIY scrap wood firecrackers complete the display. Recreate the look yourself using a reclaimed shutter, and scrap wood or logs.

2. Budget-Friendly

To decorate your porch for next to nothing, try these tissue paper fan decorations! Dollar stores are a great place to find tissue paper on the cheap, and you can hang up the fans using tape. Try hanging them on twine for a fun garland. Tutorial here.

3. Add Flowers

Put together a few hanging planters with red, white, and blue flowers. Hang them up in groups for a more dramatic effect, and don’t forget to stick a small flag in the middle!

4. Use Palettes

Reuse that palette that’s headed for the landfill with this easy DIY! Simply paint on the American flag! Place it in a corner of your porch and decorate by adding potted plants.

5. Pillows and Cushions

Adorn your porch swings and chairs with festive pillows and cushions. It’s the easiest way to change the look of your porch instantly and add a splash of color. If you don’t want to buy new sets of pillows, make slipcovers!

6. Decorate With Vintage Flags

If you’ve got a few vintage flags in your collection, show them off by standing them up in a vintage bucket or pot. We like how in this rustic display the large flags take center stage, and the smaller ones adorn the outer edge.

Photos: Hoosier Homemade, Martha Stewart, Josie Jones and Co., Neftali Valadez, Gail’s Decorative Touch, Flickr.