Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

gingerandrubarb

Here's a great Grainy mustard one for those making hampers (fab on left over turkey 'yum':)

2 tbsp white mustard seeds
2 tbsp black mustard seeds
clear honey
white wine vinegar

grind the mustard seeds with a pestle and mortar (or blender, coffee grinder)
transfer to a small bowl,
mix in some white wine vinegar until it's paste like.
Add 3 level tbsp clear honey and mix well, spoon into jars,
Yuuuummmm... x

gingerandrubarb

dizzytina wrote: »

Hi all,

Can i join in please. last year i made hampers for quite a few members of the family and they went down really well. This year i have a whole host of items i will be making including: Putting a wedding photo of my brother and his wife onto canvas using canvas transfer paper, sock monkeys and crayon rolls for kids (these are some i have made:-)

I have made this for my friends little boy:-


I have made lots of handbags and will be giving those to female friends here are some i have made below:-



I have made some sock zebras
i will also be making a doorstop for someone. All the handmade things i make are on my blog and have a link to tutorials for each one (where i haven't just made it up as i go along!) if anyone is interested there might be some ideas for you all on there and everything i have made so far is easy to do as i am quite a novice http://scratchycatcrafter.blogspot.com

Wow, you are super talented, i love absolutely everything you have listed here, the cream bag is calling my name also, Do you have a pattern for that bag, or was it your own one hunny? x

midnightraven3

sorry i must have missed the vodka questions
i dont know how, i love this thread and its my 1st port of call each day:j

you dont need half & half vodka/sweeties
i used the 75cl bottle first time (to try it out)

i should have made a recipe but didnt
i took out some of the vodka, i would say to 2" BELOW the neck
i got enough werthers (and the same for humbugs), smashed up that made 2" in the bottom of the bottle

first day i was keen:D
i was shaking it whenever i went in the kitchen
after that it was 3-4 times per day
it looked for a few days like nothing was happening
but then it started to break them down
after about a week there were no bits left
it was quite runny but seemed to taste ok

vodka doesnt freeze, but putting it in the freezer for a week, and yes i did leave it there the whole 7 days, seemed to make the sweeties gather an almost caramel consistancy, but it didnt seperate from the vodka
and once in the fridge it retains this consistancy

you get a very professional finish with this

dizzytina

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Wow, you are super talented, i love absolutely everything you have listed here, the cream bag is calling my name also, Do you have a pattern for that bag, or was it your own one hunny? x

Aw thanks hun but i'm really not its just that all the things are so easy to make for anyone at any level (i only started sewing about 4 months ago). The bag cream and brown bag is the ric rac 1 hour bag and is really easy to do and will only take an hour (even less once you make a few). There is a link on my blog but incase you can't find it its http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-hour-bag-tutorial.html

If you fancy making some other bags then DIY baglover website is amazing with loads of tutorials. there is a link on my blog if you scroll down the left handside x x

midnightraven3

:eek:4 months ago?
me thinks you are too modest then:D
lovely makes, very nice indeedy

gingerandrubarb

dizzytina wrote: »

Aw thanks hun but i'm really not its just that all the things are so easy to make for anyone at any level (i only started sewing about 4 months ago). The bag cream and brown bag is the ric rac 1 hour bag and is really easy to do and will only take an hour (even less once you make a few). There is a link on my blog but incase you can't find it its http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-hour-bag-tutorial.html

If you fancy making some other bags then DIY baglover website is amazing with loads of tutorials. there is a link on my blog if you scroll down the left handside x x

Definately agree with Midnightraven, you must just have a natural talent for creating, i know i would never be able to make anything like that within 4 months.. amazing!

I shall take a look at your blog as i love reading them, could easily spent a whole day reading crafty blogs but my house would be condemed i think :rotfl:

gingerandrubarb

midnightraven3 wrote: »

sorry i must have missed the vodka questions
i dont know how, i love this thread and its my 1st port of call each day:j

you dont need half & half vodka/sweeties
i used the 75cl bottle first time (to try it out)

i should have made a recipe but didnt
i took out some of the vodka, i would say to 2" BELOW the neck
i got enough werthers (and the same for humbugs), smashed up that made 2" in the bottom of the bottle

first day i was keen:D
i was shaking it whenever i went in the kitchen
after that it was 3-4 times per day
it looked for a few days like nothing was happening
but then it started to break them down
after about a week there were no bits left
it was quite runny but seemed to taste ok

vodka doesnt freeze, but putting it in the freezer for a week, and yes i did leave it there the whole 7 days, seemed to make the sweeties gather an almost caramel consistancy, but it didnt seperate from the vodka
and once in the fridge it retains this consistancy

you get a very professional finish with this

Yummmmyy, i think i need to try this, so basically smash the sweeties to 2 inch in the bottom and shake constantly until it's mixed?
Wonder if you could do this with some vanilla fudge? or do you think that would have to be melted first?

*mouth watering at the thought of this tasty vodka* :T

lazysheep

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Yummmmyy, i think i need to try this, so basically smash the sweeties to 2 inch in the bottom and shake constantly until it's mixed?
Wonder if you could do this with some vanilla fudge? or do you think that would have to be melted first?

*mouth watering at the thought of this tasty vodka* :T

You might find the answers you want as well as other inspiration in https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/597080

dizzytina

Thanks guys but the instructions to follow are so simple as long as you can thread up a sewing machine (or even do it by hand) anyone can do it. I didn't think i could but was amazed when i started. I started my blog when i started sewing so i could keep track of how i improve (hopefully!) so if anyone does want to try sewing (and other making) some gifts for xmas you should be able to do everything on there.

Go on give it a whirl i bet you will amaze yourselves:D. Notice i haven't sewn any clothes for myself yet though - Not that confident that i won't end up flashing my underwear if it falls apart:rotfl:

gingerandrubarb

dizzytina wrote: »

Thanks guys but the instructions to follow are so simple as long as you can thread up a sewing machine (or even do it by hand) anyone can do it. I didn't think i could but was amazed when i started. I started my blog when i started sewing so i could keep track of how i improve (hopefully!) so if anyone does want to try sewing (and other making) some gifts for xmas you should be able to do everything on there.

Go on give it a whirl i bet you will amaze yourselves:D. Notice i haven't sewn any clothes for myself yet though - Not that confident that i won't end up flashing my underwear if it falls apart:rotfl:

:rotfl:Funny you should mention that, it's the only thing that's stopped me from making my own clothes, maybe i should make some for my beloved cousins first :cool: :rotfl: