Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

lucrecia_595

Hi everyone, can I join too please?

I made some Xmas hampers a few years ago for family and I've decided to do the same again this year - they're just so much fun to create! My DD has just started school and I'm expecting a baby boy in January so I've got lots of time free until then.

I've decide to go for something of a "luxury christmas" theme for this years hampers, I'm making four of them but each hamper will be for a couple and I'm hoping each one will come in at under £20 (fingers crossed!!)I would generally make most of it for ourselves at christmas anyway!

I'm making:

Mini Christmas cakes to be marzipan-ed (already baked)
Gingerbread men with lemon icing and a hole at the top to poke ribbon through and tie on the tree
Orange marmalade with a dash of whiskey
Caramelised red onion chutney
Selection of chocolate truffles
White chocolate fudge
Cinnamon and honey nuts with xmassy dried fruits
Mini bottle of red wine with a mulled wine sachet

I'll be topping up with a cosy blanket, a xmassy candle and a dvd. I have so much fun making christmas food, I think it adds to the excitement !

monaebrook

sarymclary wrote: »

I've just noticed on a forum elsewhere, that someone recommended using latex gloves when shaping truffles, as it saves getting too messy. I think the key is to also try to have a cold kitchen when making them.

I've also just leant a very valuable lesson. I wanted to double check ingredients for a recipe I found online, and the website server was down. I've now got all of my online recipes saved to Word documents on my PC, so I can look there, or print them off and use a hard copy.

I've bought some gorgeous fabric and ribbon today, as well as some clear storage jars. Will take some pictures later, and let you all have a look. Has anyone seen 2011 diaries in the shops yet? I've only seen 1 A5 one in WHSmith, but it was about £6! The rest are academic year ones for 2010/11. I didn't see any in Home Bargains when I was there today.

If you are looking for 2011 diary's the Card Factory have theirs in already. Excellent choice of sizes - and all are 99p!! I've already bought OH's for next year but forbidden him from using it yet. HTH:)

Hippychick

Hippychick wrote: »

If anybody has virgin tv they are showing Kirsties Homemade Christmas on demand, just been watching to get inspired again

Oops just realised it's the homemade home not the Christmas ep, never mind i'm sure it'll be up soon.

Nevertheless the series still has quilting, knitting etc.

Sorry folks

sarymclary

Hello Lucrecia, your ideas sound great. Can I ask what you baked your mini Christmas cakes in? I'm trying to avoid buying new tins, and had seen it recommended somewhere to use baked bean cans (sterilised).

Here are the bits I got yesterday:

Baskets from Home Bargains £3.99 each - 25% special offer at the moment. I'm not 100% happy with the lining colours, as it's not fitting in with my 'theme' this year, but will look out for some different material, and use the current one as a template if necessary.


The 3 glass jars in this picture are also from Home Bargains, £5 for 3. They're a good size, have a nice tight seal on the lid, which is acrylic. I'm maybe going to use them for Snowman Soup, or for some pretty Biscotti I found a recipe for, that you can make a month in advance.

The material is what I plan to cover the notebooks & diaries with, and use any left over for jar tops, etc. The ribbon for the notebooks and other presentation, and the organza for truffles & fudge, shortbread & cookies, etc.

I'm itching to get started on the baking now.

gingerandrubarb

Hippychick wrote: »

Oops just realised it's the homemade home not the Christmas ep, never mind i'm sure it'll be up soon.

Nevertheless the series still has quilting, knitting etc.

Sorry folks

Watched all 5 progs last night it was great, i even got my knitting needles out while it was on (i can't knit but was sooo inspired at 3am :rotfl:)

lucrecia_595

Sarymclary I used the baked bean tins too! If you click on my name to the left and look through my old posts then you'll be bale to find the recipe I posted in 2007 (I haven't posted in 3 years so don't worry there won't be loads to flick through!)

Btw those baskets are fab, I'm going to try and get some I've seen in argos, they look really sturdy and come in a deep brown colour 3 for £10 which isn't so bad.

mummyslittleboy

sarymclary wrote: »

Hello Lucrecia, your ideas sound great. Can I ask what you baked your mini Christmas cakes in? I'm trying to avoid buying new tins, and had seen it recommended somewhere to use baked bean cans (sterilised).

Here are the bits I got yesterday:

Baskets from Home Bargains £3.99 each - 25% special offer at the moment. I'm not 100% happy with the lining colours, as it's not fitting in with my 'theme' this year, but will look out for some different material, and use the current one as a template if necessary.
.

I love these baskets they are just what I have been after but we dont have a home bargains near me:(

midnightraven3

Morning crafty ladies:D

been laid low with a head cold that made my head full of cotton wool:rotfl:

i have missed being here:(

off to catch up on everyones makes & plans:T

nat21luv

im looking forward to 'making stuff' for crimbo, my favourite time of year!

best i get saving then!

sarah3891

Thanks everyone for your help!!

I made a batch of lemon curd last night and oh my goodness, it was delicious!!!! And I say was, because my other half and I ate the first jar for dinner (toast and lemon curd) and breakfast (ahem, toast and lemon curd :-P)!! I'm just hoping to manage to save enough to give as presents!!! :-)

This is so much fun!!! Thank goodness for everyone else's kind recipes and suggestions though - I wouldn't even know where to begin!! x