christmas jammy biscuit project!!

well this is the last project for christmas some christmas jammy biscuits. they are using christmas berry and mulled wine preserve in a mixed spiced cookie/biscuit. i put a few biscuits in each bag and made gift tags for the final few presents, or just to have in as a christmas

treat for guests .

 

hope you have all enjoyed the 12 blogs/projects 

for christmas

merry christmas

and have a wonderful day!!

Mx

christmas cake project!!

i have used roll out sugarpaste, and a selection of patchwork cutters. i also painted with edible dusts to colour the penguins and text and finished off with some ribbon out of my christmas stash.

i used red roll out sugarpaste, and pme snowflake plunger cutters and some white satin ribbon from my craft stash. i have added extra sparkle with edible luster dusts.

this was done using white roll out icing, dusted with luster. then cut out some pme snowman plunger cutter and i have painted them to match my merry christmas ribbon.

i have iced with royal icing and peeked, i added blue luster to renshaw edible icing ribbon and added a snowflake using the pme snowflake cutters.

 

i peeked this cake with royal icing and added a few pme snowflake cut outs dusted with blue luster.

these are a few christmas cakes done for friends and family to be enjoyed over christmas.

a big thankyou to mum for all your help and the washing up!!

Mx

gingerbread house project!!

this is the gingerbread house that i baked and put together, before my cousin's lucy (6) and oliver (4) came to decorate it. it worked out great, they had a roof panel each to tile (with sprinkle covered chocolate buttons) stuck on with royal icing glue i piped on for them. then they moved on to the rest of the house and the characters. oliver even piped the gingerbread man, i think they both did a fabulous job!!

 

oliver's roof

lucy's roof

us all doing the roof

i bought the gingerbread house cutter set from lakelands and followed the recipe on the back of the pack. i halved the royal icing recipe and that was more than enough. it was a really good set but you do need to trim the pieces after baking. all the decorations and sweets are a personal choice and can be bought from any local supermarket or sweet shop.

the kids  will also get a suprise when they break it open because i put it all together this year before they came to decorate it, i have hidden a little something inside. i will give you blog readers a clue its a few of my little fella's from marks & spencers.

you can do your gingerbread house neater and i generally would have, but if you have children or children in the family its nice to let them have a go every now and then and projects like this are perfect.

Mx

cross stich card project!!

here is a series of cards that have small cross stitched panels inserted into the card. these are relatively simple to do but do take a little more time so i will admit, i did do these throughout the year. although small these do mean something special the the person who receives them, knowing you have stitched them yourself!!

 

these particular kits were bought from hobbycraft but you can get them at any good hobby store, kits or stitching suppies online or patterns out of magazines.
not all kits come with cards (these didnt) but you can pick up aperture cards when buying your stitching supplies or you can simply make them if you have a die-cutting machine. i inked the edge to add definition you could also stamp a message or embellish as you wish. i have left my plain for now as i dont know who they will be for!!

Mx

 

reindeer cupcake projects!!

todays project is these cute reindeer cupcakes. they are a chocolate cupcake and chocolate frosting with a gaint button, a smartie nose, sliced marshmellow eyes and pretzels for antlers.

it takes a little more time and effort to get the pretzels to stand upright but im sure you'll agree it was worth it in the end!!

these little guys were destined for a bake sale with all money going to cancer research.

Mx

bauble biscuit project!!

i have baked these ginger bread shaped bauble biscuits, which i have decorated with a thin layer of red roll out sugar paste. i then piped on extra decoration with green coloured royal icing.

i have put holes in the tops so they could be hung on the tree, however i dont think they will last that long!!

i have put a few biscuits into bags and made a card topper or just tied with ribbon, ready to give as gifts.

 

Mx

bottle hanger project!!

todays project is this cute bottle hanger, this makes quick gift giving and is so much more personal then a shop bought bottle bag. this is a mini bottle of wine but could easily be scaled up for any sized bottle. i kept mine simple with just text stamps but you could stamp and colour any images you have.

i have use kraft card, stampin up! more merry messages stamp set, christmas village paper pad, tim holtz distress ink pad, archival sepia ink pad, martha stewart snow flake border punch (to get the tiny snowflakes) & stickles.

Mx

gingerbread men cupcake projects!!

these are christmas cupcakes with vanilla frosting (you could do brandy flavoured buttercream instead) and a mini gingerbread man on top. i bought the gingerbread men from marks & spencers i was so excited, as you can well imagine due to the cuteness of these little fella's!!

 

the gingerbread men come in a cute house shape tin with characters on and you get 3 bags of gingerbread dudes in so i was really pleased, i have big ideas in mind ...  a little too big its scary where my brain goes sometimes , i ask is a gingerbread titanic over the top??

 

have fun

Mx

gift bag project

so i know i did the matchboxes yesterday as cute gift boxes and a gift bag today, but its christmas and handmade is better than shop bought. plus the same applies with gift bags as with handbags

- a girl needs choices!!

front

back and sides with tag

martha stewart punch, digi cardstock from craftwork cards, christmas greetings stamp from lili of the vally,

kraft gift bags (un-stamped) from the range, raffia, various colours of ink pads (distress & archival) rest of products used are from stampin' up!.

 

hope you like the project

Mx

matchbox project!!

so i had a day off doing the christmas projects yesterday for my dads birthday, this was his cards

hope you like as much as he did... it uses tim holtz distress ink pads and apothecary stamp set.



not sure where i got the dad stamp think it's a docraft/ papermania

well on to the match boxes

i have done this project for christmas as i think they make great gift boxes as you can see from the picture the blue one has a pair of earrings i made in it and the red one has some candy canes but you could put anything small enough to fit in a large matchbox. alternatively you could make a matchbox style box any size you wanted to fit your gift.

heres how i made mine...

first empty the matches out and remove the divide card if your matchbox has one

make a paper template of your matchbox

cut and fold your base paper according to your paper template. i have used some hot off the press paper

 glue this around your boxes using strong adhesive. i have inked the top and bottom edges too.

 measure and cut mats out of a patterned paper, i used the christmas village first edition paper pad.

glue these in place onto your matchbox,

stamp your focal image using memento, i used a magnolia stamp

colour the image with promarkers and cut out.

use your image and the matchbox to size up a mat, i also punch the bottom with a decorative punch from martha stewart, then make a smaller mat to layer on to in a lighter shade (i used my base paper).

glue these together and to the matchbox. remember you can layer the focal image with foam pads or silicone glue. i added a message from hot off the press in matching colours to my papers.

add mats of paper in your base colour to either end of your box. poke a hole in 1 end and i have added a loop of string for this matchbox (i added a brad to the blue matchbox instead).

 

now you have finished!!
Mx
 



christmas wreath project!!

 for todays project i have made up one of the craftwork cards  christmas wreaths kits, these are fab, it comes with instructions and its says there is enough flowers to make 3 (i think it depends how layered you do

your flowers though).

kits contains

i have 3 different coloured packs. on www.craftworkcards.co.uk they have 6 colour options at £7.50. but i could only find 2 options on www.theglitterpot.co.uk at £7.49 .

these are my other coloured kits

basic equipment is water in a spray bottle, a bone folder or something to shape the flowers, glue (pva or silicone) something to colour the ring (i used a distress ink pad). then once you have completed the wreath you might want to embellish some more. i sprayed with prefect pearls mists and added crystal gemstones.

it was a fast and easy to make project that could easily be done with the kids, ace little festive project.

mine is hung over the fireplace, but they would look nice on a 8x8" card or as a table decoration with a large candle in the centre.

Mx

xmas tag project!!

TAG 1: tim holtz distress ink pads, tim holtz mini holidays stamp set, tim holts/sizzix snow flurries on the edge die, tim holtz crackle paint (clear), heat gun, magnolia stamp (ticket- a merry christmas & winter tilda) , promarkers and various ribbons.

 

ink up the manilla tag using blue tones, i then sprayed with perfect pearls mixed with water (in a little spray bottle/mini mister) heat dry. stamp the snowflake stamp a darker blue. die cut the snow flurries dies in white card. i painted on the crackle paint you can either leave to dry naturally like the instrustions or heat like i did !! it was a mistake the first time i did it, now i do it because it bubbles up and i like the effect. once you have a few bubbles leave to dry. stamp and colour your main image then cut it out. stamp and cut out the tag and ink using brown distress inks. once your paint is dry you can glue it all together however you like (i glued the snow flakes on flat and the girl and tag with different sized foam pads. add ribbons to your tag to finish i added 3 different ones for different textures!!

 

TAG 2:  tim holtz distress ink pads, tim holtz mini holidays stamp set, tim holts/sizzix snow flurries on the edge die, fantasy fibers (iron) magnolia stamp, promarkers, stickles, various ribbons.

 

ink your manilla tag using pink tone distress inks. stamp the snowflakes from the stamp set all over the tag using the darker pink.  make a sheet of paper using the fantasy fibers using their instructions, die cut this with the snow flurries twice.  glue one to the bottom of the tag, on the other one cut the snow flakes from the border and glue them on seperately making them look like they are falling off the egde of the tag. stamp and colour your magnolia image. cut out. glue her on to the tag using foam pads. add a few different ribbons for effect.

 

TAG 3:  tim holtz distress ink pads, tim holtz letters to santa stamp set, martha stewart punch, lili of the valley stamp image, magnolia stamps (ticket - a merry christmas &  loving christmas wishes), promarkers, glossy accents and stickles, various ribbons.

 

ink your manilla tag using red tone distress inks, make edges darker with brown tones. flick the tag with water and dry with a heat tool. stamp all over with the script from the stamp set. punch the bottom of the tag. i used the top row of holes to sew on the fancy ribbon. stamp and colour the lili of the valley image, cut out and add on to the tag using foam pads. stamp one of each of the magnolia tags, cut out and ink with brown tones. glue to the tag. add ribbon to the top of the tag and your finished.

 

Mx

countdown to christmas!!

i am finally ready for christmas!!

the tree and decorations have been up a few days now, the presents are bought but not wrapped, the cakes are baked but not iced and decorated and the cards are at last made but not written... maybe not that ready but on my way.

o well, nevermind !!

 

 here is a selection of the cards...

 

 

 

 

 i used lili of the valley topper, tim holtz ink pads, archival (in black, sepia, vermillion), memento in tuxedo black, stampin up! punches (oval and scallop oval) martha stewart punch and ek success border punches, message stamps from stampin up or lili of the valley, various papers (most was hot off the press or papermania) and some ribbon and card blanks in kraft, white, cream & black.

 

sorry if the green post it notes seem a bit weird in the pictures, they are attached to each card so i know who to send it too.  the chrismas card list has a number next to each person, the post it has matching number so the right card will hopefully go to the right person (with no post it's on). if that makes sense!!

 

back soon with more projects...

Mx