Choc Peppermint Fudge

On Sunday night I decided to try a new Christmassy fudge recipe. And well now I wish I didn't because it is just too good to stop at one tiny piece!

Seriously, you HAVE to make this. It would make a great gift too.

Recipe is from the Pioneer Women via the Food Network. 

Wordless Wednesday: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Wordless Wednesday: Lately at ASWC

Found here 

Found here

Found here

Sunday Stash: Christmassy Goodness

So you have probably heard me whine about not living anywhere near a fabric or craft store... And if you haven't well lets get you up to speed.

The stats:
My closest Spotlight (major chain store) is 12 hrs away by car (without stopping)
My closest Lincraft is 16 hours away by car
My closest independent fabric store is 16 hours away also.

So I do A LOT of online shopping for fabric and craft supplies, but sometimes I also send my Mum shopping for me. It's a bit of a clueless adventure for my Mum as she doesn't sew or craft in any way shape or form.

But she did good recently, really good. And here is just some of the goodies she sent me.

Yep, that is 21 fat quarters of Christmassy goodness right there! Can't wait to cut into them and get making!

Thanks Mum!

I am linking up with The Floral Suitcase for Sunday Stash.

Chocolate and Candy Cane Bark

I have been hearing a lot about Chocolate Bark lately. I had never heard of it before. I know what planet have I been living on?!

So anyway I sent B to the shops today to grab some things so could make it tonight with the kids.

He came back with a huge bag of milk choc chips and hardly any white choc chips so we had to make do because I really didn't want to go back.

So we used:
Candy Canes
White Choc Chips
Milk Choc Chips
Rice Bubbles

I lined a baking tray with baking paper and melted the milk choc chips in the microwave for about 40 seconds.

I spread the melted chocolate over the baking tray and sprinkled it with rice bubbles and let set it the fridge for about 30 minutes.

While we were waiting for the chocolate to set I gave the kids the rolling pin and told them to smash the candy canes into little pieces. Caden asked me if I really meant what I said and then laughed at me when I told him yes, I really wanted him to smash the candy canes into little pieces.

This was only after half a bashing. They got smashed into smaller peices...

While that were bashing candy canes with gay abandon I melted the white chocolate and spread it over the now set rice bubbles and milk chocolate.

Then Caden and Mahli sprinkled Candy canes on top... Now remember how I said I had hardly any white choc chips? Well I had to make do with the rest of the milk choc chips, but it still works...

Then we packaged it up into cellophane and ribbon... and VOILÁ

I think they will be great little gifts for everyone on Christmas day!

Would you like receiving some homebaked gifts like this at Christmas?

A Handmade Christmas Wrap up

Hopefully this past week of A Handmade Christmas I have helped you get some ideas for gifts for friends and family and on making some decorations for your home.

A quick recap of this past week:

On Monday we looked at some simple Bath salts and Body scrubs that make great gifts.

Tuesday saw us making some handmade Christmas Decorations.

On Wednesday I really enjoyed showing you what kids crafts we have been trying out at home lately.


Thursday we looked at food type gifts you could make. I am looking forward to trying the Candy Can Vodka!

And finally on Friday I showed you some of the things I have been and will be making for Christmas Gifts.

Thank you to everyone who joined me this week! I have really enjoyed reading your comments on what you thought and what you have and will be making.

Have you made something Christmas related lately? I would love to hear about it.

And don't forget that you can link up below. The linky will be open for the next week so don't worry if you aren't ready, you still have plenty of time. I look forward to reading your Christmas related posts!

A Handmade Christmas- Gift Ideas

I thought I would share with you some easy gift ideas that a beginner sewer could make. I am still very much a beginner sewing and this projects are easy for me to make.

Coasters- These are super easy, you can either make them like a mini quilt and bind them or you can back two sqaures with interfacing to give it some stiffness and then sew the two squares right side together on three sides then turn to the right side out and top stitch.

Source: thehappyhousewife.com via Heather on Pinterest

Table Runners- If you pick up a pack of charm sqaures you can piece one together quickly and then baste and bind. As I beginner you would be able to make one of these in a day. Quilts really aren't that scary once you give them ago.

Source: etsy.com via Kalynn on Pinterest

Cushions- Cushions are so fast and easy, if you can sew a straight line, you can make a cushion. Envelope closures on the back save the need for fussing with a zipper or making button holes.

Brooches- You can make some quick and easy brooches with some felt and fabric scraps. Here are a few I made a few months ago.

Slippers- I was planning on making a pair to show you, but I ran out of time this week... You can find so many patterns for fabric slippers online. But there is also a great pattern in the most recent Make It Perfect book.

Eye Masks- Again, I had grand plans to make an Eye mask to show you, but here are some examples.

Hot/Cold Packs- you can make them in different shapes and fabrics to suit the ladies, men and children in your life.  I did actually make a few to show you this week!

Here are the ones I made:
Sew the rectangles right sides together leaving room to turn right side out and fill with rice.

The rice mixture was rice, dried lavender and 20-30 drops of essential oils. I used a bottle cut in half for a funnel.

Once they are as full as you would like, either top stitch them closed or use and invisible ladder stitch.

He was supposed to look like he was in pain...

And again, he couldn't stop smirking!

If you want to make different shapes you can use cookie cutters, or draw the pattern free hand.

I hope I given you some ideas. This post was a bit rushed as I am finishing it in a hotel room in Melbourne! Day Light Savings is really doing our head in down here. B couldn't get over how bright it was at 7pm last night!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to link up any gifts or decorations you have made. If you have more than one blog post to link up, that is fine too. I would love to see what you have made!

A Handmade Christmas: Food Treats

We all love receiving baked good at Christmas right?! Well here are a few ideas you could try this year.

I have been seeing the Cookie Mix in a Jar on the internet for ages and this year I am finally giving it a whirl. My Mum doesn't get the appeal though... so I don't think I will be giving one to her.

I found this fab tutorial last week and it comes with a cute little printable label. Here are how mine turned out:

Again I reused some old jars. This mix fit perfectly into a Nescafe Jar.


I have been trying to think of something to give my 18yr old Cousin that would fit into my Handmade Christmas theme and came across the concept of Candy Can Vodka!

Source: scarymommy.com via Amy on Pinterest

What rock have I been living under to have never heard of candy flavoured Vodka? That idea is genius!

Another gift you can't go wrong with is Chocolate Truffles.

Image source: weheartit.com

Who doesn't love Truffles? I haven't made any this week as well it is a bit to early for Christmas baking...  but here are a few of the recipes I used last year with great success:

Ingredients:

• 225g good-quality dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
• 175ml double cream
• Icing sugar, to dust
• Cocoa powder, sifted, to roll

Method: 

1. Place chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Place cream in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then immediately pour over chocolate. Mix until chocolate has melted. Be warned do not attempt to taste the ganache, you may not have enough mixture to make your truffles after you have finished 'tasting'...
   
   Set aside at room temperature, covered, for 1-1 1/2 hours to cool completely and until set. Use a teaspoon to spoon out bite-sized pieces.
   Roll in cocoa to finish.
   For a flavoured truffles you can add peppermint, orange, rum- your options are endless.
   

And it wouldn't be Christmas without Shortbread.

Image Source: Weheartit.com

I love a good Shortbread and this recipe is a cracker, Traditional Shortbread Recipe. I have made it a few times and it always comes out perfect.


Simply wrap in some cellophane and ribbon and you are definitly onto a winner!

Do you give baked gifts at Christmas? Do you have a tried and true Christmas recipe you would love to share? Remember I will be hosting a Handmade Christmas linky that will go live on Saturday.

A Handmade Christmas: Kids Craft

If your kids are anything like mine they love to get involved with whatever you are doing. They regularly sit on my knee when I sew, they stand on a chair when I am cooking, hell I usually have to share the shower with at least one of them. So this week I have been trying to make sure I do kid friendly crafts. They have helped with pretty much everything I have posted on the blog so far this week but for these ones I helped them not the other way around.

First off we made some Salt Dough Ornaments. The recipe is:
1/2 cup salt,
1/2 cup warm water,
1 cup flour

and I got it from this pin on Pinterest.

Source: simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Here are ours:

Another favourite for kids is paper chains. We used wrapping paper for ours and cut them into strips.

Caden sat and glued for about an hour (while watching CBeebies) and he wants to make more to hang them around his bedroom.

Another Kid friendly craft is Book Trees. Do you remember making these at school? I remember using old copies of Australian Womens Weekly and it would take AGES seeing as that magazine is massive. Well instead of using old magazines I thought it would be fun to try it out on our old Golden books. We have a tonne of Golden books that we pick up from op shops and garage sales so I picked a few of the tattered ones and explained to the kids that this is a once off and that under no other circumstances are they to rip a part their books!

Anyhow here is how they turned out. I think they will look cute in the kids play area this Christmas.

I did take photo's to post a tutorial for it in case you haven't done it before or have forgotten about them but then found this one on pinterest. It is really easy to follow and she uses candle holders to display hers. Such an awesome idea!

What kids friendly Christmas crafts have you done or are planning on doing?

Please check back tomorrow for some more Handmade Gift ideas as a part of my Handmade Christmas Series.

A Handmade Christmas: Decorations

Today for my A Handmade Christmas series I wanted to show you some ways to make some super easy decorations for you home.

We have been making some wreaths around here lately. We made two of these last week for our front door.

All it is, is a decofoam wreath from Lincraft with fabric strips wrapped around it and secured with masking tape. The kids did a lot of it and they enjoyed figuring out the pattern. The hanger is made from twisted fabric and is secured with flat head pins.

On Sunday we decided to try our hand at making a different kind of wreath. This time we hunted out all our baubles and found a wire coat hanger.

First you need to bend your hanger into a circle and then unwind it.

 Then get the kids to cut off all the string off the baubles.

 Start threading on the baubles. Again the kids loved figuring out the pattern in which they would go on... but they got bored complaining that it was taking forever. My advice, make sure the baubles have big enough holes in the top, otherwise it can be a real pain!
You really should use a hot glue gun to keep the baubles attached the hanger thingies (technical term I know!) But I hate having the hot glue gun out when the kids are around so I just used normal craft glue for the ones that needed it. This one won't be hanging on our front door so wont have to deal with the door being opened and closed all the time...

Half way there...

 Ta Da!

It's not perfect, but I am happy with it for our first go.

I need bigger ribbon for it, but that was all I had at home.

Something else the kids can do is make these little felt decorations. All you need are cut up felt squares, some string, twine or wool, a blunt wool needle (so that don't stab themselves), some craft glue and some ribbon or string for hanging.

Also instead of turning them into mini wreaths you could just string a whole heap on a long string as a alternative to tinsel. That is if the kids wont get sick of threading them on and leaving it to you to do!

You can also make some circle tress out of felt too. Check out Ellens trees over at Creative Passage for some insipration. She has also made some wreaths and garland too. 

I am also a big fan of bunting/pennants. The kids have them in their bedrooms and I would have them our living areas if B would allow it.

I found this cute little printable bunting over at the eighteen25 blog.

The lovely girls from eighteen25 also made available the cutest printable subway art to go with it.

The kida are liking that I have already started getting some Christmas decorations out!

I will also be making some more fabric bunting. I made this quick one back in July for a craft swap

I plan on making a big Merry Christmas one after I get back from Melbourne.

Don't forget that I will be posting about Handmade Christmas ideas every day this week so be sure to pop back in and see what ideas I have come up with for tomorrow.

Sorry if you are over Christmas already, my kids are at an age where they really get into the Christmas spirit so I am milking it for all its worth!

I am linking up with Jess from Diary of a SAHM for I blog on Tuesdays.