It's a Creative World

Leftover Mincemeat

Hi there Kerry here

I stumbled across a fantastic recipe site recently and couldn't resist this recipe for using mincemeat in buns (we are no frills here in this house - no cupcakes or other such fancy names lol).

I had half a jar of mincement in my fridge, which needed to be used up soon, left over from a rushed attempt at mince pies on christmas eve.

Before I show you the picture I will admit that I am definitely no culinary goddess and things often end up with the 'rustic factor' rather than looking pretty and there might have been a bit of a blizzard rather than a sprinkling of icing sugar.

They are really yummy and I can see myself making these again with maybe lemon curd or jam instead of mincemeat throughout the year. I'll definitely be doing them next christmas.

The recipe came from The Goddess's Kitchen.  Definitely a website I will visit frequently in the future.

Sock Advent

Happy New Year to everyone.

I know that the decorations are going away and Christmas is finished for another year, but it is time for the sales.

Last year I saw lots of links for advent calendars made out of socks, so in the sales I bought a wide variety of socks very cheaply, at half price some of the patterned socks were 6 pairs for £2, I mixed the sizes so there are some baby socks, adult and children's socks.

Sadly I forgot that this project was waiting for me to be organised and complete this year, so I am aiming to not put it away until it is ready for next year.

Here are some of the links and photos I have found to inspire you, and I will post my completed sock advent before next Christmas.

http://www.hgtv.com/holidays-occasions/baby-sock-clothesline-advent-calendar/index.html

eabdesigns.typepad.com

www.createborrow.com

 

These are just a few of the sock advents I found online. Hope I have inspired you to go bargain shopping.

 

Debbie x

 

Book Tree

Hello Kerry here with a tree made from an old book. 

I've been noticing these sort of trees all over blogland and wanted to try and have a go.  I found a really easy tutorial from Readers Digest (click the link for the tutorial).  Apparently these have been going for a very long time but I've not seen them before this year.

Not being a reader of their magazine I decided to have a go with an old book.  I'm saying old but I only bought it last year for the grand sum of 99p from Amazon before anybody gasps at me recycling a very old valuable book. 

I started by removing the covers and then made the first folds

After a few folds it looked like this

and then after 200+ pages it looked like this.  I have no idea how many pages a Readers Digest magazine has so this might have been a little too many but it worked.

I stuck the first and last pages together and then got to work with my most festive mists.

 

Left it to dry and then decorated it with some tinsel on the top, some fringing from my ribbon box and some buttons. 

I can see me making one of these for each season especially as my local library has a mountain of old books at dirt cheap prices which would be ideal.

Have a lovely Christmas everybody.

a very Vintage style wreath...

Hi all...alix here again!

We really should chat more here at Creative Towers, eh...you've gone and ended up with a Christmas wreath 2 days in a row...but i have to say they couldn't be more different...even though the design is essentially the same.  That really is one of the fabulous things i love about crafting your own...you can stick to a simple design...in this case a repetition of the same embellishment over and over around a ring, and by changing the colours and the materials you get a totally different feel to the finished piece. Eleanor's wreath is simply stunning in a serene, modern, understated and frosty way...and mine is a cosy, nostalgic and warm one.  I love them both!

To create my poinsettia flowers i cut out LOTS of shapes from a paperback book using a Creatables die and my big shot...but you could use a cricut to save time if you are lucky enough to have one!  I laid the flowers out on sheets of copy paper and put them in a large cardboard box before spraying them liberally with Dylusions mica mist sprays in red and green.  While they were drying, I covered a foam wreath base with buff coloured tissue paper, scrumpling as i went and then coated the whole thing in clear Viva Decor Croco glaze.  Then i went to bed...

In the morning...i assembled the poinsettia by layering one large green, two medium sized red and one tiny red flower shape on top of each other and adding them to the wreath base with a selection of beads in the middle, secured with sequin pins.  {Sequin pins are just like regular pins but shorter.}  The poinsettia on the top of the wreath all have a large crystal bead in the middle, and the ones on the side have 3 tiny seed beads.  Trust me...after a few you will want a thimble!! ;0)

I continued adding my poinsettia all the way around, leaving small gaps into which i pushed some large glittery brads that i've had forever and then i tied an oversized bow with some lovely organza ribbon and secured it at the top with another poinsettia flower.  Finally, a scrap of ribbon was pinned to the reverse as a hanging loop.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out, its pearly from the mica spray {sorry my photography skills won't allow me to show this!}, twinkly when the lights shine on the crackled base in the evening and rather opulent because of the luxurious ribbon and faceted beads.  Best this of all...as its all attached by pins...i can simply unpin all the flowers if i want to make something totally different next year!

Let me know what you think...does my wreath stand up next to Eleanors..?  

Finally, a great big HAPPY CHRISTMAS SEASON to you all,

alixxxxx

Oh the weather outside

is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And since we've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

After our recent blizzards and scary storms I ventured out to a local artisan gift shop and fell in love with a white-painted metal snowflake wreath.

I came home and created my own with the aid of my Cricut, Joys of the Season cartridge, a 50p lace bargain, some white card, mountboard and a few flatback pearls.

First I cut a 14 in ring from mountboard (drawing round my large frying pan lid), and wrapped it with 6in lace stapled on the outer edge:

Once finished, I evened out the gathers:

and cut 64 snowflakes from plain white cardstock, 16 of each of four designs.

I used glue dots to stick them on, and to the uppermost 8 I gave a pearl centre.

Let it snow!

Happy Christmas everyone.

Eleanor

x

 

Beaded Decoration

I have a collection of beaded decorations I've made over the years and they really make the Christmas tree sparkle.  This year I had an email from one of my favourite bead shops with  free instructions to make a decoration using Tila beads. (They are square and have 2 holes in them)

 

This is what mine looks like

 

I used silver lined crystal seed beads and Tila light gunmetal.

The instructions are HERE

 

Several years ago I was given a kit from Spellbound Beads as a present and make some each year to give as presents.

 

 

Do have a go at making some decorations using your beads, rather than just looking at them (like I do)

 

I'd also like to share a new tradition in our family.  My close friends daughter came to me to make a Christmas cake for the first time last year and said she'd like to come again this year.  She makes it from scratch and really enjoys beating the butter and sugar and the mixing. Like me she likes glitter and now we've discovered edible glitter, have lots of fun decorating.  

Here's this years offering:

 

(This was made and decorated by a 6 year old)

 

 Have a magical Christmas.

 

Lynne x

TAGGING ALONG 2011

I've been playing along with Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas this year and having a fabulous time!!

I know some people don't like his grungy style but  there is so much inspiration in his tags with ideas for using products and demonstrating new techniques!

It's certainly not necessary to have all the 'right' stamps and products either, you can see from my tags I do have quite a few dies and inks like Tim's but if I haven't had the  same stuff I've had even more fun improvising!!

So pop along to Tim's blog and enjoy the mojo boost!

Here are my versions of the 9 of his tags I've completed so far!

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafting!

Love,

GlitteryKatie XxxX

Cheap, Cheerful and Family Friendly

Hello! For today's post I thought I'd try and do three challenges in one post! This is a really expensive time of the year and so I wanted to make things that would be fun for us all to do with the family as well as be as inexpensive as possible.

The first idea was a canvas that could be a gift or small decorative item. I bought a small canvas from a pound shop and coloured it with Antique Linen Distress Stain and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I used scraps of paper to make rosettes, inked Maya Road letters and embossed them. I added a ribbon from my stash (it originally came from a present so was free!) and a couple of trinkets. I often use these canvasses as they are so inexpensive and can be used as a platform to build on your ideas. If you have never tried using one before, buy them really cheaply and have a go - if you have only spent a pound then it doesn't feel so scary to use it! Cut out images, like Victorian decoupage, look fabulous on a canvas!

The second idea is a wreath.

I made this one with my children last year and was thrilled to see it had survived a winter in the decorations box! I covered a ring cut from a cereal box (using two sized plates!) and covered it with Tissue Tape. Then I die cut Christmas Trees and inked the edges before placing them on the ring. I added very inexpensive sticky stars on the top and a ribbon. To the bottom I covered an Adage Ticket with Glossy Accents and popped a tiny gem in there for a little more 'bling'! It looks really sweet in real life and I had lots of compliments!

The final project is a fabulously easy one which will keep your small people busy for ages!

My 11 year old daughter made these and intends on making more so my house will soon become awash with paper baubles! Simply stamp an A4 piece of card with your favourite stamps (or use old thicker quality wrapping paper) and colour the stamped images in. Cut out strips from the card of about 2cm wide and when you have about 8 put a small hole at the end of each one. Thread a brad through the holes at one end and secure. At the other end you need to secure a ribbon for hanging. Simply fan out the strips to make a bauble shape. My daughter will be thrilled that her craft is being seen by you!

I hope this has given you some inexpensive inspiration for decorations! As this my last post before Christmas may I wish you a happy and peaceful holiday and a wonderful start to 2012!

Gabrielle

Using Novelty Yarns At Christmas

Hi there Kerry here

How many of us knitters have some novelty yarn in our stash that we will probably never use?

I know I certainly have.

I turned mine into some reasonably easy Christmas tree decorations.

It doesn't matter what size yarn you use. You might want to go down a size needle from the one recommended for the yarn so the knitted piece is denser and you are less likely to see the stuffing. So you will need a little bit of stuffing or tights or old bits of fabric to stuff your decoration.

The pattern is as follows working from the tip downwards:

You have a choice of leaving a long enough loop to hang it with or crocheting a chain. If you are crocheting a chain then chain 30 and slip stitich back into the first chain to make the loop. Transfer the loop onto your knitting needle and then knit as follows:

Row 1 - knit into the front and back of the stitch (abbreviated to kfb)

R2 and all even rows up to and including row 26 - purl

R3 - kfb on each stitch

R5 - knit

R7 - kfb each stitch

R9 - knit

R11 - (kfb k1) to end

R13 - knit

R15 - as row 11 (18sts)

R17 - knit

R19 - as row 11 (27sts)

R21 - knit

R23 - (kfb k1) to last stitch k1 (40 sts)

R25 - knit

R27, 28 and 29 - knit - this provides a garter ridge for the base of the tree

R30 - (p2tog p3) x 8 (32sts)

R31, 33 and 35 - knit

R32 - (p2tog p2) x8 (24 sts)

R34 - (p2tog p1) x 8 (16sts)

R36 - p2tog x 8

Cast off

You have the option of sewing on beads or buttons at this point or leaving it plain.  On the yellow ones I added buttons to the top to make a star.  I just added a few beads on the pastel eyelash ones and on the dark green ones I added lots of gold seed beads.

Turn it inside out making sure your loop is on the inside and start sewing the seam until you reach the garter ridge you made at row 28. At this point turn it the right way round and stuff it. Then stitch the bottom seam adding more stuffing, if it needs it, as you go.

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas fun with Origami

Hi,  Dolly here. It is an absolute pleasure to welcome an amazing guest designer to IACW today.

Jemma Sharrock does some amazing things and she often has tips, techniques and tutorials on her blog so make sure you check it out .... regularly.

I asked Jemma to tell us a little about herself.

My name is Jemma, but on scrapbook forums my ID is Jimjams which is often shortened to JJ.  I've been scrapping since the summer of 2006 when a Dutch friend took me along to an all day crop and shared her supplies with me.  Apart from pages about my three children, I love to record our holiday memories and scrap the stories from my own childhood so that they are not lost.  This year I took part in UKScrappers' Scrap Factor competition and I've been part of the creative team at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog - trying hard to make a dent in my mountain of paper and card!

She has a super project for us today with an oragami xmas tree - perfect to get making now ready to add that extra special Christmas flavour to your house this year.

  There are lots of Origami decorations to make at Christmas, but I was rather taken with this one which is quick and easy to make and has a variety of possible uses.  It is made from eight separate pieces of paper.

Basic Modular Wreath

1. Cut a rectangle of paper measuring 8cm x 4cm
2. Fold in half along the length so that the right side shows
3. Fold down both pairs of corners on the “open” edge
4. Fold in half width ways
5. Make 7 more shapes from 8cm x 4cm rectangles of paper

The picture below shows step 1, 2 3 and 4

Step 6  Fit the points of one shape inside the pockets of another and push together together

Step 7  Repeat with the other shapes to form a ring

 

Step 8  Adjust so that the centre hole is a regular octagon and apply a small dot of glue under each join to keep the pieces in place.  

 

Hanging Decorations: To make a hanging tree decoration punch a hole in one of the points and thread with string, ribbon or thread.  Add extra sparkle with glitter glue.  Brown parcel paper works well with red ribbons, or perhaps even use paper from a magazine or a newspaper.

 

Garland: To make a garland punch two holes in several wreath shapes and join with ribbon, string or thread.

Christmas Tree: To make a Christmas tree slot several wreaths in different sizes over a cone of card. 

 

I used wreaths made from 7 sets of rectangles measuring 10cm x 5cm, 9cm x 4½, 8cm x 4cm, 7cm x 3½cm, 6cm x 3cm, 5cm x 2½cm, and 4cm x 2cm. 

The cone was made from an A5 piece of card by drawing an arc with a compass set at 15cm from the mid point of the short edge.

 I made 1cm high loops of paper to help separate the wreaths on the cone.

The smallest top wreath was made with only seven segments in order to make it a snug fit at the top of the cone.



Such fabulous ideas from Jemma. I know I can't wait to try them. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. And remember to check out Jemma's blog for more ideas.