Christmas wrapped up!

We are apart of a local church and in a few weeks time we are hosting a free christmas wrapping service. I have been looking into ways of decorating wrapped presents to make them look pretty be easy to make and so that kids get get involved.

I have used any kind of paper: wall paper, maps, card and christmas paper. But it doesnt have to be particuarly christmasy, with the layers of paper, glitter and ribbon it adds to make the christmasy look.

Here is what I have come up with  . . .

                                                                         Snowflake

                                                             Glitter roses and holly leaves

Glitter tree tag

Flowers

Paper tags

Ruffle flower

                                                                            Have a go!

Autumn Walk

Today my family and I got out for some fresh air and exploring, here are a few of the pictures I took.

Discover Paper Holiday Guide 2011

I have been looking at the latest issue of Discover Paper Holiday Guide 2011 and loving some of the Christmasy creative ideas.

Check it out here or here a few pics of some of the things I like....

'All about me' Baby book

I have been looking at lots of paper books and journals and have been loving them. I collect lots of different papers. I wanted to make a paper book and I thought I would try it out but make it into a baby record book. We know lots of people who are having babies so I thought I would try it out and give it to someone.

I wanted to create space to add own stories, adding the age of some memorable moments, like; first smile and sits alone etc. Plus an envelope to add own bits that you want to keep.

Here is what I made (click picture to enlarge)

Hope you like it and it has given you some creative ideas!

Elderflower Cordial

I love watching Kirstie's Homemade Britain, last night Kirstie made some elderflower cordial, it looked so easy to make. We love elderflower although we aren't in the right season for it, I defiently want to give it a go next summer.

Here is the recipe Kirstie used....

Elderflower Cordial

 Ingredients

• 3-4 large unwaxed lemons (can also be made with limes)
• 6-8 clean young elderflower heads
• 1kg granulated sugar
• 25g citric acid
• 15g tartaric acid
• 15g Epsom salts
• 900ml boiling water

Method

1. Wash and dry the lemons. Gently rinse the elderflowers in cold water if necessary.
2. Finely grate the lemon rinds into a very large bowl. Add the lemon juice, sugar, citric acid, tartaric acid and Epsom salts, then add the elderflowers.
3. Pour on the boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Cover and leave until cold, preferably overnight.
4. The next day, strain through a very fine sieve or piece of clean muslin and bottle in sterilised bottles. Seal tightly and store in a cool place. Once opened keep in the fridge.
5. To serve, dilute the cordial with fizzy water and serve over ice with a slice or two of lemon or sprig of mint. For grown-ups add a shot of gin or vodka and a lemon slice, or add it to white wine and sparkling water to make an elderflower spritzer.

Cook's tips
Wash the bottles out with a solution of Milton if they are dirty and dry in a cool oven. Otherwise fill them with boiling water and leave to stand for 5 minutes before emptying.

There are lots of recipes that are made without the tartaric acid and the Epsom salts, but they don’t keep quite so well as this one.

Elderflower cordial is also brilliant in recipes such as gooseberry fool and in vinaigrette - mix with wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and a light olive oil (surprisingly good with a courgette, lettuce and broad bean salad).

Try adding it to a marinade for chicken breasts or in sorbets, in ice-creams, or over scoops of vanilla ice cream, or use it to sweeten and flavour the fruit for a crumble.

Inspiration

I am loving these at the moment

                                                                    The sweet spot

                                                               In words and pictures

                                                                 A golden afternoon

                                                                  Book bound bindery

                                                                            Poppy talk

                                                                         Happy making!

Scrap book pages

As an ongoing project I make scrap book pages for my scrapbook.

Here are a few that I have completed....

Mini notepads

Check out these mini notepads, so easy to make

Go to the Creative Place for a tutorial

A feast for the eyes: Bags!

I just had a thought, a few years ago I started using the website burdastyle.com to upload sewing projects that I had made. It was a great way of viewing other projects, getting new ideas and seeing what people thought of my work. I put a few images of bags I made, during my final year as a textile student at university. I spent the year printing fabric and then making bags out of the fabric. I loved it and learnt an awful lot about making bags. This is my burdastlye page, check it out ... here.

So whilst we are on the theme of bags and I have made so many over the last few years, although not for a while, here a few to sample.

 The top four, are ones that I screen printed the fabric for. The wood or acrylic handles I helped make. All the ones from my uni days are now sold. My favourites are the top two.

I like trying out new shapes and fabrics. I particuarly like this bottom one. I used a pattern that is so easy and I love the fabric.

What do you think?