Snowman Soup

I found myself doing some last minute crafting to provide cute packaging for some peppermint hot chocolate mixes we brought back from our trip home last Christmas. I made sure the dates would be good for this year when I purchased them in the after Christmas sales. I really had fun making these and I thought the whole idea was fun too.

I had several scraps of the Cosmo Cricket 'Jolly By Golly' papers plus I had purchased a handful more for other projects so I decided to use them up. I wanted to make use of the stickers and tags that were left over as well. These ones were girly in design since they are for Maddy (4 yrs old) and mummy.

Then I found myself making a few more girly ones as I thought who else I could give one of these to. I had only grabbed a handful of hot chocolate mix so I was limited. I love that AQLL the papers and colours actually worked with each other despite being quite different. I am sometimes a little hesitant in mixing things up but with these I had NO fear.

Then I decided to make one for each of the boys - I couldn't leave them out and besides the vintage toy tags were perfect. I even used some of the paper descriptions as labels for fun. I let the tag I used as a focal point dictate which papers and colours I used for each one.

Then since I decided it would be nice to sit and sip 'snowman soup' in the afternoon while watching a special Christmas movie I had to make one for Dave. I couldn't leave him out and he wouldn't have let me. Hopefully in this shot you can just see the side view. This box/bag makes up in one go from an A4 sheet with absolutely NO cutting or trimming, just a bit of scoring and folding. Will post a tutorial in the new year - honest injun!

I decorated the back sides of each of them as well and this was Dave's with the 'kiss me' tag - too too CUTE!

These are the contents in case you were wondering just what 'snowman soup' was. It consists of a hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows and a candy cane stirring stick plus I added a tag to each describing snowman soup.

While it's not impossible to get mini marshmallows here in the UK I couldn't get my hands on any last year so I brought a couple of BIG bags of these home with us as well. Fortunately I have amassed loads of equipment over the years like a clothing tag gun, industrial stapler, industrial heat sealer to mention just a few. I used the sealer to make mini bags of mini marshmallows - ha ha!

I have lined these cute items on top of the unit in the sitting room just to see how long it takes before one of the kids notices them. They are up quite high but these guys don't miss a trick.

Well I have more to post but since it's Christmas Eve and I have a very full and busy day ahead tomorrow I'm gonna head off to Bedfordshire. Hope you all have VERY MERRY CHRISTMASES.

Mince Slice Re-vamp

Dave and I love giving home made food gifts and this time of year I usually make a 'festive slice' to accompany his egg nog for gift giving. It's basically puff pastry filled with sweet mincemeat, marzipan and sliced apples (recipe on blog). This year however I re-vamped my slice and decided to try something much easier.



When you make several you need it to be quick and foolproof and these are the easiest variation using sweet mincemeat yet.

You simply start with puff pastry rolled into a rectangle and placed onto a board dusted with caster sugar. Next spread with 1 jar of mincemeat and roll up. At this point you can freeze the roll whole or slice it and freeze it, making it super easy cos you can make a whole bunch a few months ahead. When you are ready to cook them you simply place them on a baking tray, flatten them with the flat of your hand (i.e. squish em'), sprinkle them with flaked almonds and bake till golden. I finish them off with a dusting of powdered sugar and package them in purchased boxes tied with pretty ribbon.

Pop one of these babies into the microwave for 20 seconds and serve with cream or ice cream and you have a quick and easy dessert too. There you have it - a mincemeat danish pastry slice - YUMMEEEE!

Hand Warming Pressie

My dear hubby has been wanting some hand warmers for a long time now so I decided to make him a set myself. Can't remember where but I had seen an idea on another blog and they were cut into a heart shape which was really cute.



I decided to use the same shape since my simple gift was from the heart. I chose a kind of black demin fabric and decided I wanted a rustic look with 'quirky' sewing and frayed edges. I used the largest heart nestabilities die for the perfect heart shape - cool!



The blog suggested using rice but I cheated. I had an old wheat bag that was a bit too small for my liking so I never used it. I simply cut it open, emptied the contents into a bowl and used it to fill these hearts.

I tested them out this morning and they worked really well. In fact I had to wait ages for them to cool down so I could wrap them! I know there are at least two microwaves where he works so he can heat these up all day long. Since he works outside sometimes I know they'll really be appreciated. These were super quick and a really fun project that I think he's gonna flip over them - in fact I reckon he'll have me make more and once the guys at work see them - well!

Easel Cards

Well despite feel utterly crappy yesterday (and worse today) - I'm well and truly full of cough and cold - I managed to make a few Christmas cards that I needed for friends. I chose an easel card design as my base because Christmas cards are always on display over the holiday period and they sit so well - all 'perched up' and proper.

Now I realise I should've taken an inside shot cos I layered up several papers on the different sections so they looked like patchwork. Oh well - too late now as I gave them out yesterday.

I kept them simple and cos I liked the WM stamped cards I had made earlier I just made them a larger version.


This is a side view showing the easel detail. As long as you add an element to 'prop' the card up against the card sits all by itself. If you've never made one of these cards why not have a go. Whatever card size you choose you simply score across the front panel at mid point creating a fold on the front of the card. Next you cut a single panel the same size as your card front and adhere it to the front of the lower half of the scored section - voila!

You can use a brad, button, flower, 3D sentiment (like I did) or anything else that will keep the front of the card nicely 'propped' in place. You can add your greeting inside or like me add it to the back half panel. One tip though - be aware that when the front folds your paper wants to buckle and pull away. I got around it by cutting and adding paper to each section individually. Darn! Should've done an inside shot - sorry folks.

Well I'm coughing nicely so I think it's time for another cup of tea. Enjoy!

Mass Production!

I don't need to tell anyone that Christmas is a time for gift-giving but if you want the gifts to be handmade and from the heart then they also become times of mass production!

If you're like me then the thought of handmade gifts is really heartwarming. Only trouble is the idea of finding time to make it a reality is something else entirely. Today while it snowed outside I wrapped up warm (got a sore throat and cough and trying NOT to let it get any worse) and got to grips with the last bits of crafting I needed to do to finish a bunch of gifts for friends and family this year. OK so I actually have a couple more gifts to finish but at least I have now done the bulk.

This is the final result of a morning spent crafting. I used my 'oh so cute' WM stamps again. Of course this lot has taken several sessions to produce so it's a real feeling of relief to finally have everything complete and ready to package up and give. I love delivering goodies so I can't wait!

Since I like to make absolutely everything from scratch when I can I produced a whole bunch of handmade envelopes. Check out the tutorial section to see how easy these are to make. I used envelope glue from StampinUp! to finish them off and make them look more professional. This is great stuff - you simply swipe the sponge tipped applicator along the edges of the flap, leave it to dry and then it's ready to lick and stick just like any other envelope.

Since I have a real love of making boxes, bags and tags I had to whip up a batch of clear acetate boxes to house the sets of cards. Again there is a simple tutorial here on my blog - just go to the 'tutorial' section and you can make cards to suit the size box or change the box to suit. My finished box was 4.5" x 4.5" square. The envelopes were slightly smaller than this and the cards smaller still. I love square cards and especially love mini cards.

After all this work I decided just to complete the box with a bit of pretty pink sheer ribbon and nothing else. On the ones I am giving just as they are I will add a tag and flower maybe but several of these are to tuck into bags with other items - besides we only have 1 week left till Christmas and I still have things to do.

Dave is planning to make his first batch of nog this weekend hopefully and I will make goodies to give with it. I am debating whether or not to make fudge this year. I have a super quick, super easy 'cream cheese fudge so if i do I'll try to share the recipe here. We're hoping the weather won't get any worse as I we want to try to go see Jessica over the weekend as well so we can drop off her presents. I'd rather have her home for Christmas but it's her busiest time of year at work so it's just not happnin'.

Right now I'm pleased the weather's cold cos the nog has to sit and cool overnight before it's strained and more ingredients added to finish it. We have way too much in the fridge this time of year to remove shelves to fit in the BIG pan it takes to make it so we always cover it tightly and cool it outdoors overnight. The cold spell right now makes the perfect outdoor refridgerator!

Quick Birthday Card & Gift Bag

After work the other day I stopped in at YTOC and was reliably informed it was Rosina's b'day on Thursday (thanks Kay) so I needed a quick card and gift bag. Last night I visited my mother who is still in hospital (hoping she makes it home for Christmas) so time was in super short supply.

I ran to the store to grab her a gift and grabbed some really pretty cupcake wrap intending to do something with it but I wasn't exactly sure just what.

This is what I finally came up with. I created the card first and then simply decorated the bag to match. Anyone recognise the bag? I'm sure some of you have these at home - I know I do so it was about time I actually re-used one. I have a lovely paper bag collection going on.

A quick bit of cutting and embossing with nestabilities, some punching, stamping and sticking and I had a cute cupcake b'day card.

I decorated the bag real simple and added a matching tag. I had a little fun with some glue and super fine glitter on the cupcake to add frosting.

Because Rosina is being careful right now I didn't want to ruin the diet so I scoured high and low to find her a 'cupcake' that had absolutely NO calories! I tucked this one in with her gift as a bit of fun.

Today is my day off and I'd planned to stay home and try to finish Christmas projects. Boy am I glad - we have SNOW this morning. As pretty as it looks if I don't gotta go out there then I ain't gonna!

Happy 'snow' day to you all and for those who have to drive in it today (hubby included) - drive safe.

WM Crimbo Card Proto-types

I promised to share the cards I have been working on. My mother won't be happy tomorrow that I still haven't started the aprons she asked for but I plan on making a genuine effort right after this post.

Trouble is I am in a craft mode and not a sewing mode right now!

I know I could use any of the lovely Christmas images on these cards but I love the holly leaves and especially the happy 'holly' days sentiment. I have used this sentiment before but this is the first time I have it in a stamp.

Style 1 - this uses a lovely burgundy coloured embossed card stock, inking with brown chalk ink and a cute 'heart' button for the berry. My text is crooked I know - it's just a proto-type so it's ok.

Style 2 - I ran short on the embossed card stock until I can get more next week so I used left over strips. I added faux stitches in brown pen and figure I should probably use a faux 'zig zag' on both sides of the text if I do this one.

Style 3 - by the time I ran out of embossed card stock completely I came up with this idea. I love the 'pillow ticking' fabric look papers. In fact I have ticking fabric in the blue stripe and even a small green check somewhere too. How cute would draw-string bags be? I also love the 'patchwork' idea. How cute would these cards be with real fabric? I have definately got my own Christmas card in among these designs and I'm lovin the feel of them.

Vicky stopped by today to finish off her handmade card sets and since I had my WM stamps out we made cute matching tags using the heart from the sewing box hugs set and a mixture of sentiments.

Some pretty ribbon and these matching tag embellishments finish these off lovely. Her home group girlies are gonna be thrilled with em'.

I need a few handmade card sets as gifts myself so I have plans next week to use the flowers and maybe the bird from this set. I like the patchwork theme so all I have to do is sort through my stash to find some pretty floral 'fabric' style papers. I only have a couple of weeks to finish all my projects cos I need to get baking for Christmas goodies next - WHERE does the time go?

Last Demo for a While

Yesterday I did my last demo for a while which brings mixed feelings. I am glad to have the rest but I shall miss getting to play and chat with customers.

Having said that I still have so much of my own stuff to do that I am now free to get on with it all. I have been playing with my Waltzing Mouse stamps but my camera has run out of juice so I will have to share my pictures later when my batteries have recharged - so frustrating - aaaggghhhh!

Anyhow here's a quick card and decorated box using the Sizzix 'Texture Boutique'. Yes I'm still demonstrating it and lovin it even more each time I do. It's proving to be real popular and I can see why.

I had to share my 'easiest box you'll ever make' concept so I created what I thought was going to be a plain 'ish' box but then I decided to add some quick decoration to it. Most of what I create when demonstrating is 'ad-hock' and very much 'thrown together' as it has to be reasonably quick so if I come away having made a few things I like then it's a good demo day. Thankfully I can work this way just fine.

It won't show in this shot (maybe in the card) but the pale blue check has a pearlescent sheen as does the white card stock. Both of these were from a 'pick & mix' at YTOC so they're great value and make super sturdy boxes.

To decorate this one I used nestability dies, the texture boutique and one large Martha Stewart snowflake punch. To get the layered effect I snipped parts of the snowflake away to create a different one that I could then layer up 3D.

Then I made a matching card to show just how super quick and super easy the embossing was achieved. This one uses 2 embossing folders and three MS punches - 1 border design and 2 different sized snowflakes plus a corner rounder. Super quick and super cute - but then I am partial to mini cards. They have to be quick cos I need the time to hand make the mini envelopes for them - a bit of a downside maybe - but then I love mini cards enough to make the effort.

I can't wait to share the proto-type for my Crimbo cards this year (I'm super late I know) so Caroline if you're reading this already they will be on here today - promise. Lucky Caroline bought Claire's 'sewing box christmas' set after I shared it here so I hope you'll like what I've done Caroline. I am planning on using these more now that I have some time to play.

School Dinners!

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day for me as I got to have a school dinner with Madyson. I took a day off work so I could be there with her and mummy when she had her first ever school dinner. She will be going full time after Christmas so not long now. Vicky won't know what to do with herself as the youngest of three finally grows up enough to go to school.

It was really strange being back in what was my old school when I was younger and being in the exact same dinner hall too. In my school days two kids always went up and got trays of plates, cutlery and dinner and then served it once back at their table. Of course health and safety would never allow this today but it was certainly interesting to see the littlies carrying their plates to the table.

The staff were absolutely brilliant with all the kids and Maddy loved choosing what she wanted. She had a slice of pizza, sweetcorn and a bunch of cucumber which she loves. At home she barely eats enough to keep a bird alive and is a 'grazer' so it will be interesting to see how her eating habits change after a few school dinners.

Of course it wouldn't be a proper school dinner without chocolate crunch and custard which was a big hit with the kids and an even bigger hit with the mums. Chocolate crunch is something my mother made hundreds of times over as she was deputy head cook at a local school for many years until she retired - but she still makes it today!

After dinner Maddy went on to nursery and mummy and I got to meet her new teacher 'Mrs Goody' - how cute is her name? - and then we got a tour of Maddy's new classroom.

I was really glad I got to share this with Madyson and I know she loved having both mummy and I with her. These are the kind of things I wouldn't miss for the world.