Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

gingerandrubarb

craftgirl1960 wrote: »

Awh the Christmas decorations are gorgeous! I really like the yarn Christmas trees, I'm going to have to put that on my to do list!

I'm going to wrap all my presents with brown paper this year and tie with brown string I want them to look really old fashioned.

Brown paper sounds gorgeous, wish i had thought of that :rotfl: think i might just need to get some, Poundland have brown paper for posting items so might go tomorrow and stock up :T
I also am going to do the trees, I love them and they are something i probably would have wasted money on buying so yay for money saving :j What colour are you going to do Craftygirl?

KSB235

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

KSB235 Good for you and welcome to the handmade thread, :rotfl: no pun intended. Were all lovely so if you need any help then just let us know.:D
Your list sounds fabby, I know you can make christmas cakes well in advance to give them time to mature so that should take some stress out in the run up for the santa visit :j
Have you made fudge before? I have a super easy recipe for fudge that is scrummy, plus you can add things like vanilla, nuts, raisins, or do vanilla and chocolate fudge on the top etc..
Do you want me to post it hunny?

Well I've nearly finsihed my advent calendar apart from the Fimo decorations which I'm hoping to make a start on tonight, and planning to get all the christmas cake ingredients and have a big baking session this weekend. Does anyone know the best way of keeping christmas cake so it stays nice and moist? I'll obviously ice it nearer the day but I've not made it this early in the year before, I know you are meant to 'feed' them but I'm not a fan of too much alcohol (this might change depending on how stressed i get nearer christmas :rotfl:) so was wondering if i could do this with something else?

Yes please i would LOVE your fudge recipe, i made some chocolate fudge a couple of years ago but can't remember how i did it so any tried and tested easy recipes are most welcome!

gingerandrubarb

KSB235 wrote: »

Well I've nearly finsihed my advent calendar apart from the Fimo decorations which I'm hoping to make a start on tonight, and planning to get all the christmas cake ingredients and have a big baking session this weekend. Does anyone know the best way of keeping christmas cake so it stays nice and moist? I'll obviously ice it nearer the day but I've not made it this early in the year before, I know you are meant to 'feed' them but I'm not a fan of too much alcohol (this might change depending on how stressed i get nearer christmas :rotfl:) so was wondering if i could do this with something else?

Yes please i would LOVE your fudge recipe, i made some chocolate fudge a couple of years ago but can't remember how i did it so any tried and tested easy recipes are most welcome!

Hi,
the fudge recipe is post 97 on page 5 hun, I'm sure you could feed it with orange juice/tea or apple juices etc,
How about using cointreau or something less alcoholic tasting?
Do you know you don't have to feed a xmas cake? Most do but as long as you wrap it in greaseproof paper to stop the air getting to it keep in something like a metal cake tin with the lid it shouldn't dry out hunny, oh also i would keep it in a cold cupboard or the cupboard where you keep your pots and pans as they're normally dark and dry :T the fridge would just make it condensationed (is that even a word? ..me think not :rotfl:)x

KSB235

Sorry gingerandrubarb just realised you already posted the recipe, that looks great and really easy to customise, hmmmm thinking i might have to go for maybe chocolate and pistachio just to give it a trial run yummy!

I've made really easy truffles before, its a recipe my mum used and taught me and i've been making them this way ever since.

Basically take about 200g of chocolate (i've only ever used milk or dark, not tried this with white choc), as good a quality as you prefer and melt in a bowl, then leave to cool and add in any alcohol or flavourings (I use rum - for my dad, or orange oil, or peppermint oil is good) and I usually use about 2 teaspoons of the oils and about 6-7 tsp of rum, but i just usually add it to taste. Mix through and the chocolate might go a bit grainy, then add in 3 tablespoons of honey and mix mix mix until it all goes glossy and smooth. Then leave to set in the fridge. Once set i use a melon baller to get out balls of the truffle mixture and coat in things like cocoa powder, vermicelli (think that's what they are called) or chocolate flakes, nuts etc. Never thought about spooning it into moulds until now so maybe that will work too.....

I've just added shortbread to my spreadsheet!!

KSB235

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Hi,
the fudge recipe is post 97 on page 5 hun, I'm sure you could feed it with orange juice/tea or apple juices etc,
How about using cointreau or something less alcoholic tasting?
Do you know you don't have to feed a xmas cake? Most do but as long as you wrap it in greaseproof paper to stop the air getting to it keep in something like a metal cake tin with the lid it shouldn't dry out hunny, oh also i would keep it in a cold cupboard or the cupboard where you keep your pots and pans as they're normally dark and dry :T the fridge would just make it condensationed (is that even a word? ..me think not :rotfl:)x

Yeah i was thinking orange juice but i might just leave them as they are if they are all sealed up if they don't really need it. Maybe I'll see whether they come out really dry or moist and then decide whether they need a bit more 'juice' in them then

gingerandrubarb

KSB235 wrote: »

Sorry gingerandrubarb just realised you already posted the recipe, that looks great and really easy to customise, hmmmm thinking i might have to go for maybe chocolate and pistachio just to give it a trial run yummy!

I've made really easy truffles before, its a recipe my mum used and taught me and i've been making them this way ever since.

Basically take about 200g of chocolate (i've only ever used milk or dark, not tried this with white choc), as good a quality as you prefer and melt in a bowl, then leave to cool and add in any alcohol or flavourings (I use rum - for my dad, or orange oil, or peppermint oil is good) and I usually use about 2 teaspoons of the oils and about 6-7 tsp of rum, but i just usually add it to taste. Mix through and the chocolate might go a bit grainy, then add in 3 tablespoons of honey and mix mix mix until it all goes glossy and smooth. Then leave to set in the fridge. Once set i use a melon baller to get out balls of the truffle mixture and coat in things like cocoa powder, vermicelli (think that's what they are called) or chocolate flakes, nuts etc. Never thought about spooning it into moulds until now so maybe that will work too.....

I've just added shortbread to my spreadsheet!!

yummy :happyhear will have to give your truffle recipe ago this year with the chocolate flakes, or almonds mmmm,
You lot are all so organised, i really need to start a spreadsheet, someone remind me to do one, as i have a terrible terrible memory :rotfl:It annoys hubby as i'll say the same thing to him 3 times in a row as i forget if i all ready told him :rotfl::rotfl:

mary-op

ginger -thanks.............just sent for my second lot:T

midnightraven3

i got my samples today



i had forgotten i had ordered them, so a nice wee surprise:D

my mum had asked me to make some lemon curd for a friend who is poorly, so i spent this moening making a lemony basket
i already had dried the lemon slices a few weeks ago, i keep some done, as i think they just finish off a jar nicely, made some wee lemon slices of soap, so i hope it cheers her up

Athome1

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

I'm not sure hunny, but heres some links for making xmas decorations

recycled xmas :Thttp://recycledcrafts.craftgossip.com/category/recycled-christmas-decoration/

beaded/wire ornaments (star,cane,wreath) http://www.craftideas.info/html/bead_ornaments.html

Yarn Xmas Trees, (these are super cute, i might just give these a go too :rotfl:)http://pretty-ditty.blogspot.com/2009/12/yarn-christmas-trees-tutorial.html


Thank you gingerandrubarb, these are lovely and will certainly have a go at some of them. I'm still looking for the Kirstie Allsop idea from last year. They were really simple to do as I recall, but I'm blowed if I can remember what she did exactly!

gingerandrubarb

midnightraven3 wrote: »

i got my samples today



i had forgotten i had ordered them, so a nice wee surprise:D

my mum had asked me to make some lemon curd for a friend who is poorly, so i spent this moening making a lemony basket
i already had dried the lemon slices a few weeks ago, i keep some done, as i think they just finish off a jar nicely, made some wee lemon slices of soap, so i hope it cheers her up

Wow that is really amazing hunny, how do you make Lemon Curd?
I lemon curd sandwiches
Your samples are lovely too, i really like the quality of their fabrics, might try and see if i can find more like that, i really like the top 2 of the left and the top right one, (i ordered that one too :T) x