christmas : three

I've only started doing my own Christmas tree recently since having Moo, actually this is only my second ever as we've had to move house twice in December in the last few years. Anyway I have decided that homemade decorations is the way to go. I like that I don't have to spend any money except for the purchase of the tree as I tones of paper and craft supplies already, and each year I get to make a whole new colour theme. This year is stars and butterflies in summery colours - white, yellow, pink, orange.

LITTLE PAPER STARS 

For these stars you will need: paper cut into 2cm strips - patterned paper or paints to decorate plain paper and yarn to thread stars together.

Make a knot with you paper strip, flatten and tuck the short end up. Fold the strip around continuing to create a pentagon shape.

Keep folding until get to the end of you paper strip, tuck the end under the triangle closest. 

Using your thumb nail make an indentation to shape the sides of the star like shown.

Decorate and string together using a needle and yarn.

christmas : two

PUD

Each year it is my job to make the Christmas pudding for our family get together. I'm not a fan of Pavlova so this suits me perfectly. I use Nigel Slater's gorgeous recipe from The Kitchen Diaries. It is so perfect I don't change anything so I won't post the recipe you can get his fabulous book for the measurements and details.

First I cut up all the fruit, there is a lot and a wide variety, its Christmas so why skimp! Then I soak the fruit in brandy over night.

I add the rest of the ingredients, one of these ingredients is suet, instead, I freeze the amount of butter I need then grate it. Then I spoon the mixture into my greased pudding basin. My basin was my grandmothers, so you really don't need a new one, I would just buy one second hand if there aren't any hidden away in a relatives attic. Cover the mixture with a greased and pleated (to allow for the mixture to rise) piece of grease proof paper and pop on the lid. Steam for three and a half hours.

Now we are ready to reheat on Christmas day, YUM!

christmas peg dolls

I haven't had time to feel very festive so far this year, but I just did a Christmas craft post on Babiekins and now the ideas are starting to follow. There will be a few more posts before Christmas.
My Babiekins post was a peg angel, I made a couple but just gave the instructions for the gold version pictured below.

Anyone who knows me, know I love making peg dolls! I few years ago I art directed a children's TV show which involved making a city populated by peg people. 
A few years ago also did a Christmas craft story for an interiors magazine and made festive peg dolls, Santa, Mrs Claus, Rudolph and an elf. These peg dolls come out each year to grace our shelf. I unpacked them today...

One Christmas's I made peg fairies for friends, with lovely pom pom skirts, they were also unpacked today.

paper butterflies

I made these DIY butterflies as cake toppers for Moo's birthday cake last week. They were so effective, and virtually free to make. So here's how I did them.

What you'll need:

black and white images of butterflies x 2 copies 

paints

scissors

craft wire

glue gun

Instructions:

1. Paint the butterflies in the colours you want, making the two layers the same leave to dry.

2. Cut out and pair matching butterflies

3. With your craft wire cut a piece 30cm long

4. Make a small loop to fit your butterfly wing size leaving a long tail about 15cm 

5. Twist and make a second loop, twist leftover length around tail

6. Glue your wire loops onto the backside of your top layer butterfly, in spots to attach the wings

7. Glue a large dot in the centre and place bottom layer butterfly attaching at the centre only, press with your finger.You can bend the top layer wings up to make it look like the butterfly wings flutter.

I think these will be going on our christmas tree!

around my house : four

We have this intriguing drawing. It was given to us by Mima's grandparents, they had received it from her Grandfather's parents, apparently it was a wedding gift to them. It is unsigned and we know nothing else about it.
I really love it and it is quite a mystery so if any of you have any ideas about it, please share them with me!

fourth birthday : three

THE FAIRY GARDEN PARTY : part two

THE CAKE

Chocolate cake with marshmallows, strawberries and no jam (as requested by the birthday girl)

I made a double batch of the Special Chocolate Cake recipe from Ladies, a Plate book, pink gradient butter cream icing with mini pink marshmallows in the centre. I made my own paper butterfly cake toppers (I'll show you how in the following weeks).

 THE FAIRY

We had Fairy Petals come to visit. She is  a woodland fairy that spends her days bouncing with the rabbits, flying with the bees and sitting in the treetops singing with the birds. Face painting, dancing, bubbles, stories, fairy dust and general excitement and amazement that a real fairy turned up to the party! She made the day so magical! 

Happy Birthday Moo we love you!

fourth birthday : two

THE FAIRY GARDEN PARTY : part one

DECORATIONS
Well Sunday was the big day. After a big week of prep we were ready for a garden party fit for a few fairies. We decorated the garden with streamers and tissue paper pompoms and fans, I had a few helpers which was a fantastic.

THE FOOD
I decided to stick to fairy colour theme of pink, white and green and food appropriate.  
Here are just a few of the fairy treats we nibbled on.
cakepops
rainbow pretzels 
pink fairy potion
cupcakes
homemade sausages 
fruit skewers

THE GIFTS
Wow Moo was showered with lovely gifts from friends and family. Her favourite though has to be the guitar (ukulele) from her daddy. The birthday girl had a few specific requests and a guitar was on the top of her list.

to be continued....