Deer printed bags of honeycomb

Deer printed bags

You will need:
White sweet bags
P1 address labels
Baby deer rubber stamp
Snowflake rubber stamps
Color Box copper pigment stamp pad

Equipment:
Shape-mates circles
Shape-mates carriage
Glass cutting mat

Instructions

1. Rubber stamp deer and snowflakes on paper bag, leave to dry.
2. Click the label picture below to open in separate window, ready to print.
3. Print labels onto P1 address labels.
4. Place label sheet on glass cutting mat.
5. Cut out using the small shape-mates template and carriage (video instructions here).
6. Fill bag with hand-made honeycomb (click for recipe).
7. Fold over top of bag.
8. Peel off back of label and carefully stick to secure top of bag down.

Have a sweet day!

Winter Woodland treat boxes

Winter Woodland treat boxes

You will need:
Winter Woodland treat box printed out on heavy paper
Double sided tape
Polka dot glassine bags
Ribbon

Equipment
Tim Holtz non-stick micro-serrated multicutter
Mini rotary perforator
Paper punch - medium '1cm ribbon'

Instructions

1. Open cone print template (see image below) and print it out.
2. Cut around cone wrapper, (I use the shape mates large circle and cutter to cut out my circles).
3. Roll perforator along all lines.
4. Fold all perforated lines away from you.
5. Place a couple of strips of double sided tape on the unprinted side of the bottom of the box, but do not peel backing off tape yet.
6. Place a strip of double sided tape on the unprinted side of the long sides of the box, do not peel backing of tape yet.
7. Place a strip of double sided tape along all four white strips of printed side of box and remove backing.
8. Assemble box and press together to stick.
9. Fold over top of cellophane bag by 10cm.
10. Place fold inside paper ribbon punch and push to end. Punch ribbon holes.
11. Remove backing from double sided strips on inside of box.
12. Open glassine bag out and place inside box, pressing against the tape to fix in place.
13. Fill with treats.
14. Thread ribbon through holes and tie in a bow.

I filled mine with Maple cakelets in pine cone, walnut and acorn shapes, with a hidden iced squirrel!

Have a sweet day!

Glass marbled snowflakes

Glass marbled snowflakes

What you will need
Plastic snowflakes
White paint
PVA glue
Tiny glass marbles
Embroidery thread

Instructions

1. Paint snowflakes, leave to dry
2. Paint PVA glue onto painted snowflake.
3. Sprinkle tiny glass marbles over snowflake and leave to dry.
4. Thread embroidery thread through hole.

I just had to try out my new tiny glass marbles on some of my cheap plastic snowflakes. I love how they turned out!





Have a sweet day!

Winter Woodland candy cones

Winter woodland candy cones

You will need:
Cone wrapper
Double sided tape
Polka dot cellophane
Ribbon

Equipment
Tim Holtz Non Stick Micro-Serrated Multicutter

Shape~Mates Circles
Shape~Mates Carriage

Instructions

1. Open cone print template (see image below) and print it out.
2. Cut around cone wrapper and along lines to give 3 wrappers. (I use the shape mates large circle and cutter to cut out my circles.
3. Roll one of the wrappers into a cone shape and, using double sided tape, fix in place.
4. Place a second piece of tape inside the cone along one side and peel off backing.
5. Cut out cellophane (use the "cellophane pattern" below as a stencil to cut out your cellophane - note each straight line is 24cm long).
6. Roll cellophane into a cone shape and place inside cone wrapper. Press against the tape to fix in place.
7. Fill with candy.
8. Tie ribbon around the top.

Last year I made candy cones for Halloween & Christmas. This year I custom designed some for a friend of mine to give out as wedding favours. Four of us spent several hours putting together over 100 of them to be filled with sugared almonds. So, this Christmas I have designed them around my winter woodland theme and filled them with hand-made nut shaped chocolates with creamy maple centres.




Have a sweet day!

Small candy filled Christmas tree jar

Last year I filled my small candy jar with white pink and green M&M's. This year I have filled it with white, cream and jade M&M's to fit in with my "Winter Woodland" themed dessert table.




Have a sweet day!

Camel & Yak

Large Hurricane Candle Holder

Green gate Stoneware

Christmas Tree Card Holder

Zinc Houses

Zinc Angel Wings

This week for my 'shops i love' page, I bring you Camel and Yak. A friendly young business, they sell charming home decor and beautiful gifts with a delicate French and Scandinavian feel to them.

They sell many of my favourite brands like House Doctor's stunning inside and out living pieces, Green gate's pretty soft furnishings and adorable stoneware collections and Jeanne d'Arc's Living magazine.

It's a perfect place to pick up some gorgeous gifts for loved ones or stylish Christmas decorations like my adorable Christmas deer.




Have a sweet day!

Home-made Christmas

This month I will be reviewing three Christmas books from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. So, for today here is my review of the first book, Home-made Christmas by Tessa Evelegh.

Tessa Evelegh is a journalist, creative stylist and writer specializing in craft, interiors, and gardens, and already has other book titles as Lavender, Quick and Easy Container Gardening and Sheer Delights under her belt.

In my opinion this is a delightful hardbound book full of inspirational ideas on how to reduce, re-use and recycle to create immensely satisfying Christmas decorations, table settings and gifts. It combines beautiful photography with simple practical crafts and baking in 35 easy-to-make fun Christmas projects. The hardback book is split into sections covering a Seasonal Welcome, Deck the Halls, Dress the Tree, Christmas Entertaining and Christmas Gifts. From pine and cinnamon wreaths to cross stitch reindeer cushions, each project is styled in wonderful settings and expertly photographed by Caroline Arber.

Not only is it a delight to look at, but as you leaf through the pages it is full of original practical ideas with clear step-by-step photographed instructions. The author suggests using recycled, organic and natural materials, like the stair garland laced with dried apple or pleasing cranberry heart. The book finishes with charming ideas on wrapping your gifts and templates for making the kissing doves garland, Victorian Christmas stocking boot and more.

At a recommended price of £14.99, I think it is good value for money as it contains a varied selection of ideas from pretty packaged peppermint creams, indulgent chocolate truffles to fresh evergreen mantle decorations and charming paper tree decorations. A beautiful gift for the creative beginner, inspiration for a pro or just for ideas for Christmas projects for you and your children. A book that can be treasured for a long time with the possibility of adapting some of the projects for other seasonal occasions like the knitted pets for Easter.

Some of the delightful projects I'd like to have a go at are:


Some beaded snowflakes in green hues that would look great amongst the pine cones in my door wreath.



The prettiest of tea lights, where I could use brown paper instead of red and tie them up with sage green yarn to fit in with my colour theme.



I also would love to make some bunting, perhaps saving that project for Kate & Wills' wedding celebrations. Bunting is the epitome of British Royal Wedding street parties after all!

To summarize, Home-made Christmas is a wonderful book full of quick and easy delights to welcome your guests, add interest to your tree, make your dinner table sparkle, and gratifying sweet treats to make your friends smile.

Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!)

Have a sweet day!