Introducing Merry Mag Holiday + DIY Hot Cocoa Bar

This really does deserve a drumroll because it was an event to make it happen! I’m super (tired) and excited to introduce Merry Mag Holiday 2015!! I can’t believe we’ve come full circle and this crazy idea I had a year ago is back and still going strong. If you’re late to the game, Merry is an online magazine full of handmade holiday inspiration from some of your favourite bloggers including DIY’s, home decor, recipes, gifting and more.

And how about that cover!?! Dreaming up the cover art is always my favourite part of Merry. For this issue I experimented with laser cutting and made this deer thanks to the help of Hot Pop Factory. And the finished look was photographed by the talented Maya Visnyei. You can find this pretty felt wreath hanging on my own door at the moment. So fun!

Here’s a taste of what you’ll find in this holiday issue:

You’ll also find this super adorable Hot Cocoa bar I put together with this custom DIY chalkboard marquee style sign. My friends at Home Depot Canada challenged me to come up with a holiday DIY project using these battery operated lights from the Martha Stewart collection and materials from their store. Challenge accepted!

I’ve been wanting to make a hot cocoa bar for ages and this was the perfect time – because every hot cocoa bar needs a sign…duh. I wanted to make people light up when they saw my hot cocoa bar, literally. I combined two popular DIY projects – marquee lights and chalkboards to make a lit up chalk baord sign and channeled my inner artist. The result is an extra special piece that can be used in so many ways or just as a piece of holiday art.

I love how it turned out and I think it’s pretty good for my first stab at chalk art. Making your own sign isn’t as hard as you think and it allows you to add details like the lights exactly where you want for you design. 

Here’s the materials you’ll need from Home Depot:
• MDF board 
• chalkboard paint 
• mini paint roller & tray
• Martha Stewart Battery operated lights
• drill
• a recycled picture frame
• chalk

I chose to use the MDF board because it’s a nice smooth surface that’s perfect for a chalkboard and it’s really affordable. There’s a few different sizes so pick one that works with the size of your frame and not any thicker than the base of the light bulbs. 

Here’s a photo step-by-step of how I made my sign. First have the nice people at Home Depot cut your MDF board to fit your frame before you bring it home. My board made enough for two pieces so I can make a totally different design later and switch them out when I want. 

As you can see, my chalkboard art isn’t perfect but I think that’s part of the charm. I purposely left it a little messy looking. 

Adding the lights makes the sign so much more of a feature, especially if you’re using it in the evening when there’s less light and it will really glow. You can wipe off the text after your party and keep it up as a piece of holiday art. Bonus! 

Then comes the fun part, styling your cocoa bar. Keep it fun and give your guests a few different choices. 

It’s that time of year to swap the mimosa bar for a something more warm and cozy. Wrapping your hands around a warm mug full of chocolately goodness and topped with something sweet really is like a hug. Don’t forget to add lots of marshmallows.

There you have a great DIY that will satisfy both your handy and crafty sides. I’m always inspired to come up with creative crafty ideas while wandering the isles at Home Depot. It’s so satisfying to turn all those practical materials into something so fun and creative. 

If you agree and liked this project then definitely go check out Merry to find so many more great handmade holiday projects.