Cinnamon Hot Chocolate....mmmmmmmmmmm....

Good morning!

I am so happy to share an altered item with you - I saved tons of different containers of all shapes and sizes with great intentions of someday altering them.... Well, I finally got around to "repurposing" this container that my hubby got peanuts in last Christmas. Truthfully, I didn't get it made until after Christmas, but that's okay because it is for someone we haven't seen yet.

I used some DCWV paper from a big stack I have as well as a super cute Snag Em stamp from Imaginisce. It felt so good to color with my copics, I think I've been having withdrawl....not having time to do much coloring the last while. The stamp used on the lid is from a SU set. I used cranberry ribbon on the first version and a different chocoloate colored one on the second. I prefer the chocolate myself. Of course, I had to add some stickles here and there. I thought they looked especially nice on the heart on the mug. :)

***I wanted to add a Thank You to Laurel from Laurel's Place, for prompting me to enter this in Get Sketchy's Trash to Treasure Challenge. Thanks Laurel! I really should pay more attention to challenges!***

I photographed this with the insides out - the hot chocolate in the cello bag fits in side the tin. If you are interested in the recipe, it is as follows:

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate:

2 cups non-fat dry milk powder

3/4 cup white sugar (I added about 1/4 cup of icing sugar as well)

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer

1/8 tsp. salt

2 tsps. cinnamon (generous tsps.)

mini marshmallows as desired

On the tag, attach the following instructions:

Add 3 or 4 tbsps mix to a mug of boiling water. Stir and enjoy!

I made the recipe, then tested it with my boys to get feedback. Adjust to your taste. The original recipe asked for only 1/2 cup of cocoa, but we thought it needed more. We also added the cinnamon from a suggestion I had seen elsewhere. For me, it was what made it perfect. I added two heaping teaspoons. I like this enough, I think I will make a big batch to share for Valentine's Day - it has cinnamon in it after all - and where I live, we are still in the coldest part of winter in mid-February! p.s. We also like whipped cream on ours - why not, we don't drink it everyday...

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Shanna