Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

gingerandrubarb

nat21luv wrote: »

anyone care to divulge how they make jam and the flavoured vodka?! this will be my first year of 'making' and i love the chocolate slab idea! im in! nat xx

Me too! i would love some of these recipes i love the chocolate slabs, those are pretty easy though, i quite fancy doing some tray bakes and cutting them and piling them in some muslin tied with raffia for xmas :T

gingerandrubarb

Just wondering if anyone has started on their xmas list make's yet?
I'm planning on making some seed handmade paper for tags, so they can be planted, If i have any extra i'l let you all know as it may save you some time with tags and i'd rather it was used than binned with it having the flower seeds in it,

So my plan this week *albeit this is one of my busiest weeks* is....

Making the handmade seed papers.....
sourcing some good journal blanks or ?? making some handbound books.....
If i have time i may try to start on some pickles such as cucumbers and eggs so they will be good for xmas...
:j

gingerandrubarb

midnightraven3 wrote: »

my one and only sock monkey so far

She is super cute! :j are sock monkeys easy to make? x

gingerandrubarb

monkeysallsayboo wrote: »

Hi i have a 2.5 year old so i am making lots of bits and bobs for her. But i know that doesnt count
I know these arent xmas presents, as i have already given them, but they might inspire some people! I made my mum a peg bags for mothers day, and an iphone cover, which fabric on the outside and felt on the inside. I also made her some xmas bunting (if i gave it to her for xmas it would be too late to put up!!). I made a big bag of old sweets for my SIL and last year i made lots of coconut ice and home made truffles!

This year I plan to make a family tree exploding box for one, if not both of our mums.
covered shopping lists
pints of socks
bah humbugs (cellophane packaged (by me) humbugs
mini wheat bags, to fit inside pockets and gloves!
marble magnets
might make this holder http://modpodgerocks.blogspot.com/2009/03/possibly-coolest-pen-organizer-ever-and.html
vinyl bowls
homemade bird food

thats all i can think of for now!

Having read this i will make some lemon curd!

Claire!

Hi,
I noticed you are making exploding boxes, i use a website for craft items that are only £1, they have the exploding box kits for £1 on their the link is here http://www.everycraftsapound.co.uk/exploding_box_kit?category_id=0&search_string=exploding&search_category_id=0
they also have craft supplies, papers, brads etc etc.. all designer stuff, i use them all the time and they are excellent and reliable x

midnightraven3

sock monkeys are VERY easy to make

i only started sewing 6 weeks ago
couldnt sew a button before that

"she" was my first one

mary-op

jamtart - fabulous things on your blog :T Love the button hair grips............think I might have to do a few of them.

ginger - how do you make seed paper ? Like the sound of that if its not too hard to do

I've done nothing today except paint the craft drawers my neighbour gave me...........13 little drawers and they still need another coat of pain:eek:
Be worth it when they're done so all my stuffs in one place

Star123

I want to make toffee vodka but I wanted to use miniature bottles to put it in as I know quite a few people woul like to try it and it will be too expensive to give them all a big bottle, do you know where I can get miniature bottles from that aren't expensive?
I have asked my family but they don't have any.

gingerandrubarb

mary-op wrote: »

jamtart - fabulous things on your blog :T Love the button hair grips............think I might have to do a few of them.

ginger - how do you make seed paper ? Like the sound of that if its not too hard to do

I've done nothing today except paint the craft drawers my neighbour gave me...........13 little drawers and they still need another coat of pain:eek:
Be worth it when they're done so all my stuffs in one place[/QUOT[=-

Heres the simple How to... (does make a large bit of paper)

*tear up scrap paper (old junk mail, drawn on papers or notelets etc..try not to use newspaper or it turns ugly)
*Fill up a blender cup about 1/2 full with the paper pieces
*Fill the blender cup up to the line with warm water
*Blend slowley and increase the speed for about 30 seconds until the paper is not recognisable, this is pulp
*add in your seeds, *do not re-blend* just stir them in so their mixed.
*lay out some material or felt (or a towel) for safety id tape a bin bag down to catch any spills or do it in the bath.
*Take your pulp mix and dump it onto the material you have set out
*Using a spoon, spread the pulp mix out thinly (so it dries quickly) making sure their are no holes,
*Take another towel or bin bag and place it on top to squeeze out the excess water, (or place a floor tile or heavy books on top)
*Once you have squeezed out enough water, set it somewhere to dry it out, you can keep it on the material if you want to (linen cupboard, in a room on the floor next to a radiator or even dry using a hair dryer.
*Cut into shapes or use in any way you want to

***Optionals***
If you want to dye the paper, add in a small piece of coloured tissue paper to the pulp mix when blending

If you want to add decorative bits in then add these in after you have blended alongside the seeds or in place of the seeds, things such as small coloured strings, glitters, dried flowers,

If you want to scent your paper add in some essential oils after the blending processs, try adding in dried lavender flowers and using lavender water, or finely grated lemon zest or just fragrance or essential oils...


****the lazy girls paper making*****
*Tear paper into little pieces
*add to a blender midway,
*top up with warm water and blend so paper is unrecognisable
*Add seeds-do not blend, mix in with hand
*dump pulp mix onto laid out towels and a bin bag underneath, shape using spoon so it's thin.
*put another bin bag on the top and heavy books to squeeze out water.
*Leave paper out to dry or dry using a hairdryer...

~~Voila~~

gingerandrubarb

Or here is a tutorial but they make it more difficult by making a strainer etc, you don't need to do this if you place it onto towels and put heavy items on to it,
I like lazy girl versions of things but if you want to take a look and see what the seed paper tags look like and her tutorial it can be found here http://www.graciousrain.com/2010/04/27/seed-paper-tutorial/
When you make your cards or tags etc... you just plant the whole thing in the ground .. that's it :j
And if you want to see what the tags look like once they have started to grow take a look at my blog as i will be adding the tutorial on their and the pics in the next hour.
http://rubarbandginger.blogspot.com/

mary-op

ginger - thanks for that.......small problem.......haven't got a blender -mind you keep saying we'll get one for making soups....easier than keep using a sieve.
Would it work with paper that had been through a shredder ?
They do look lovely when they're done:T