gourmet burger night.

The other night Alex decided to road test his burger press that he got for Christmas. As a huge burger fan I thought this gadget was a perfect fit for him and it didn't disappoint. Not only did the burgers taste fab (we tried a new recipe) but the press made them look so precise and like an actual burger (if you've seen our previous burgers then this is pretty great for us).

a little bit of homemade.

So today really is the last day that you can really get away with a Christmas post. I may have moved on to the New Year and all it brings but still I do really love Christmas. I thought I'd give you a little recap of the homemade gifts that I made for people. I'm pleased to say they went down a treat and it made all those hours of making and packaging even more worthwhile.

Chutneys for my Dad.

Cinnamon bubble bath and Grapefruit bubble bath for my Gran.

Chocolate bark (and various truffles and white chocolate discs,

which, I of course, forgot to take pictures of).

merry and bright.

On top of the garland that I made (here) I also made a Christmas canvas (inspiration from here). It looks nice when it's all lit up and adds something to the garland, as we have no fireplace (sob), but I'm not entirely convinced. Maybe, if it ventures out next Christmas it'll grow on me.

 

 

 

 

 

christmas garland.

I've wanted to make a festive garland for a few years now but either couldn't find a garland that wasn't already decorated or, I just ran out of time. This year I was finally able to make one (thank you eBay for providing me with an empty garland). I felt so prepared, drying out my oranges in advance, only to find I didn't buy enough lights (a 6ft garland needs a lot of lights guys). So after a quick pit stop and a new set of lights we were ready to start. I love how it looks; I've always envisaged a huge garland around our cosy fireplace but alas there is no fireplace (just a pipe dream at the moment), but still fireplace or not I'm pleased with this little creation of mine, right down to the jingle bells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

another christmas present, another hamper.

I'm loving putting together these little hampers (see here); collecting and presenting it all nicely, I just think they make nice, thoughtful gifts. For this hamper I used my favourite thing: Christmas; I know, very apt for me right?!

It's for my uncle, his wife and my baby cousin so I had to have elements of everything in it. I added a Christmas themed story book and a little cuddly Father Christmas for my cousin and then filled the rest of the hamper with things you usually see and don't get the other times of the year; a selection box, a winter scented candle, Ferraro Rochers etc. I also found a great little extra in getting a little sachet of mulled wine spices. As I have to post this gift this little bag of warmth was perfect as I was, originally, going to add a mini bottle of bucks fizz or mulled wine. Now it's just time to add a 'Happy Holidays' banner and this present is good to go.

 

 

 

 

box it all up.

I love putting together lots of little things to make something whole and this is what Alex and I have been doing. A lot of our Christmas gifts this year are going to be hampers/gift sets of some kind. I thought I'd share a couple more ideas with you (my other make can be seen here).

 

Film Hamper

Alex and I have done this gift for two different people and so have mixed it up and changed it for both. For his family, it is a romantic night in; including a rom-com, mini love hearts and Christmas popcorn (I have, obviously, yet to make this but it looks awesome!) and for my family- a family film night. They always spend their Christmas Day watching films so we've included a Christmas film, sweets and, because it has to be posted, a mini bag of popcorn, just waiting to be popped. I love making this kind of gift; you can change it for some many people; girls night in with face packs and chocolate, boys night in with an action film and a case of beer.

 

New Year Hamper

 

 

 

My original idea for this hamper was more like a hamper with all things needed for a New Year's Eve party but it soon changed. This person has a big year ahead, settling into a new home with a baby on the way and so we put together a hamper to reflect this and how big the change will be for him! We've made it a fun by including things like, a party popper to start the New Year with a bang; detox teabags, coffee for the future sleepless nights etc.

 

I'll be posting more of our Christmas makes all through the winter months (most probably after Christmas too- I don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone!). I love this time of year so Christmas posts will become more and more common :)

X

As you may have read, I've been trying to make Christmas a bit more homemade and personal. It's also meant getting a lot more organised and prepared but that's fine by me.

I'd thought I'd share one of my projects with you (don't worry, no one will find out their Christmas present this way). These little gifts are for my cousins. I use to make lots of little cross stitch things (or big cross stitch things if I go back to the time I made my gran a cushion cover out of cross stitch) when I was younger so thankfully I was able to pick it up quite quickly again. It's quite relaxing- once I'd turned on a brighter light so that I could see what I was doing!

 

I've made their initials and now that they're finished it's time to go bargain hunting for some little frames to add the finishing touches to their gifts.

Without bragging, I'm actually pretty pleased with how the homemade Christmas is going and how organised Alex and I have become with it all. We've just finished a couple of hampers and so I will show you them in the next couple of weeks, especially since the Christmas countdown is well and truly on!

cats, bats and other such things.

A while ago you might remember me making one of my mum's birthday gifts (here); well I took on the same principle for my good friend Chantelle and catered it around her favourite time of year; Halloween. I'm really pleased with how the bag turned out. There were long hours painting this one but I think it turned out really well.

rainy day baking.

So when I went home last week the weather was awful but my dad and I made the most of it and did some baking instead. After watching weekend TV we fancied ago at this recipe here; they may not have looked exactly the same but, my goodness did they taste good. Trust me when I saw you really only need a little slice with your mug of tea.

This is where you need to make sure the caramel is really thick; we thought ours was thick enough and it wasn't and so didn't completely set how it should.

The finished product; like I said tasted so good but you really did need a tiny piece. I plan to remake them but make sure the sauce goes right.

handbags at dawn.

Another birthday make for mum and this one, I have to say, is my favourite. I got the original idea of decorating a canvas and making it as a present from this wonderful blog abeautifulmess. I wasn't sure how to decorate it at first, I only knew one thing- it was going to be purple. So while flicking through Pinterest and the internet I came across this beautiful find ashleyannphotography and I'm so glad I did. The bag turned out better than I had hoped for and it was simply but yet so effective-just my kind of craft. I liked adding a bit extra, I used the doily pattern in the folds of the bag on either side so when you open it, it adds more jazz. The K also had a bit of fabric paint added to it for that extra bit of sparkle. As it was part of my mum's birthday present I thought it was only right to fill the bag with even more presents. Presents in a present, you can't beat that!

candle light.

My mum's birthday is coming up but her and my dad came up last weekend and so I gave her a few of her presents early. I decided to give these tea light holders ago after seeing them here charlottehupfieldceramics. I have to say they really are as easy as she says they are. I had a little trouble getting the glue off the tins to start with but Alex looked it up and found a handy trick. If you spread the glue with peanut butter and leave for a couple of hours it should lift the glue- and luckily it did. Then you simply fill the tins up with water and freeze them. Once you've got your block of ice you can start; my pen marks for the patterns starting to wash away as the ice started to defrost so I just used dabs of nail varnish to place my markings. After that, a nail and hammer were used to make the holes. I painted them my mum's favourite colour; I ended up doing two coats and I had to use a cocktail stick to make sure the holes weren't covered by paint. It was such a simple idea but it looks so chic and pretty. I'm so pleased with how these turned out and cannot wait to try new patterns out with different colours.

the answer i've been looking for...

Yesterday Alex and I went shopping; I finally managed to bag those black courts that I was after. So comfy and the perfect shoe that can go with anything, be dressed up or down. I'm a very happy bunny about that.

While out I  also found a shop that I think most of my wages will go-hobbycraft. It has everything you could possibly imagine. If you want to make jewellary-they have the beads and clasps; if you want to sew-they have needles and thread in every colour you can image. I can't even tell you what I was most excited about; the candle making section, the baking, the fabric section! All of it-I was like a kid in a candy store! You could imagine me doing something damage to my credit card yesterday but I was actually very well behaved and didn't get a thing. That's not to say I didn't want to. I've decided I'm going to make a list of the things I want and go back in and stock up. I may need Alex to help me carry it all!

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/

home sweet home

(image via lilyloveslola)

I love the idea and the practice of making things, whether its a gift or something to brighten my own home up with. The sense of accomplishment that comes with it is just as rewarding as the finish product.
Me and my boyfriend, Alex, decided a homemade Christmas was the way forward, but as always it didn't turn out quite like we had planned. Yes, there were a few home made gifts given (our cranberry and orange vodka went down a treat) but in the end, with endless hours and work and looming uni deadlines, the shops became our saviours..yet again. My aim this year is to start now and build up a collection of presents in time for Christmas 2012. I got excited before this Christmas had already started at the prospect of our fancy, homemade Christmas the following year!

This month is about starting to collect bits and bobs that can be useful and to start planning what can be done now and what needs to be done later in the year. It's exciting to start thinking about Christmas again- it may have only been 2 weeks ago but I get the post Christmas blues so easily!

I'm also ready to pick up old hobbies and start new ones. I used to do cross-stitch and loved it, so I'm going to seize the opportunity to put this old skill back into use. Presents, cards and homely touches all with a needle and some silks. Throughout the year I will be able to keep people posted on what's being made (unless, of course, it gives the present away). But for now, invesitigations and some afternoon baking must begin!

Cranberry and Orange Vodka

Ingredients

250g fresh or frozen cranberries

Pared zest of 2 oranges

175-200g caster sugar, to taste

1 litre unbranded vodka

Method

1. Put the cranberries into a shallow dish and stab them with a fork, but don’t reduce to a mush. Put them into 2 sterilised, wide-necked jars with lids, with the strips of orange zest and the sugar. Pour over the vodka, seal and leave somewhere dark for 2 weeks, shaking the jar now and then (about once a week), until the sugar has dissolved.

Ours was left in the our boiler cupboard for 8 weeks.

2. Strain the liquid through a muslin- lined sieve into a jug, decant into sterilised bottles, seal and label.