Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Holiday Freebies for your last minute presents

On my daily readings, I’ve found this great freebie from Benign Objects and I couldn’t resist, I had to share it! My favourites: the circle label on the jar and the cd cover.



Few days to Christmas and I still haven’t finished my shopping. Buy handmade is much better but we are covered in snow and they only place I can easily reach is the shopping mall. I need 3 cups of tea after that considering I don’t drink coffee! Actually I have to make mulled wine this year… I can’t wait to open the spices I bought in Bozen.


To download the items click here and here and here and here and here.

Thanks Benign Object for being so generous!

Chestnut Flan and Double Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger Biscotti

I haven't been adding recipes for a while but this one is a must have on a blog during Christmas. A nice little variation than the usual panettone with mascarpone. 
So try it and enjoy!

Chestnut Flan

makes 4-6 oz ramekins

125 grams chestnut puree
125 grams chestnut paste
50 grams butter, room temperature
50 grams sugar
6 egg yolks
2 eggs
50 grams heavy cream
25 grams dark rum
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt


In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the chestnut puree, chestnut paste and butter until smooth and lump free. Add the sugar and mix.
In a separate bowl, lightly whisk together the egg yolks and eggs and add them to the chestnut base. Mix until combined. Add the heavy cream, rum and vanilla.
If it seems lumpy, you can strain the custard through a fine sieve. Pour the custard into the ramekins and bake at 325F for about 30 minutes or until center done.

Double Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger Biscotti

150 grams butter, room temperature

200 grams sugar

Zest of 1 orange

3 eggs, room temperature

415 grams flour

25 grams cocoa powder

12 grams baking powder

pinch of salt

70 grams crystallized ginger, small dice

50 grams chocolate chunks

Cream the butter, sugar and zest together. Add the eggs one at a time and scrape the bowl.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder,baking powder and salt and add it to the mixer. Mix until combined. Add the ginger and chocolate chunks until well distributed.

Transfer the dough into a half sheet pan lined with parchment and form into a log that is about 12"x4" approximately. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the log cool completely and then slice it into 1/4" thick pieces. Place the cookies on the sheet pans and bake at 325F for about 10 minutes. Then flip the cookies over and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until dry.

All via Cannelle et Vanille

What caught my eye on Lonny Magazine

This is the house of  designer Lisa Fine, a mix of textiles and colours.
I was a bit confused at first about her style but I've realized that there is no style and that's what makes it interesting.

See more on Lonny Magazine.

I've finally found some courage to have my online store!

Dear all,


A quick little post to let you know that I finally have an online store!!! After thinking and more thinking about how much I could create or if people would have similar taste to mine, I’ve decided to be brave and do something I’ve always wanted.


I have to do a lot of work with my photos as they don’t give justice to my creations but I’m getting there. I’ll soon be adding super natural lip balms and more button jewellery. If you’d like something customized just ask! Nothing is impossible…except me loosing some kgs at Christmas!

Support me and handmade goods, spread the voice!

Have a good day!

Holiday Treat Bag

Here's another great free printable from Eat, Drink, Chic.

Amy Moss, the designer, doesn't stop to amaze me with her creativity!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Colour Printer
• White textured stock
• Double-sided tape
• Scalpel
• Mini pegs

INSTRUCTIONS

Download your free bag design here.

Print out onto white textured stock (not too thick). Using your scalpel, score gently along dotted lines then cut out along solid lines. Continue with the following instructions.

Decorating with words

For who's tired of Christmas and it's not me! Here's a post that gives you ideas on how to decorate with words. A touch of romance guaranteed!

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but words can create a pretty picture, too. That's what stylist Paul Lowe set out to celebrate when he determined to make artful use of books and letters that, too often, end up in the trash. see more on Design, Decor...

Poetry- and prose-inspired crafts, such as these decorative plates printed with word decals at home, may cost very little, but they certainly say a lot.

How To Spell It Out

To create a message worthy of a mobile, Paul begins with vintage letters from the Anagrams game. They're cardboard, not wooden like newer ones, and they adhere easily to lengths of thin copper wire with a hot-glue gun. Once tied to a clothes hanger, the dancing phrase can be hung for display anywhere. Search eBay.com for vintage Anagrams letters.

Not sure you have the time to craft an original phrase for your home? Find one ready-made. A pair of store-bought pillowcases presents a graphic contrast to the floral headboard. Paul selected these for the pillowcases' extravagant Victorian-style font.

Take a Novel Approach

Rescue an abandoned book, and present it as a still life. Paul adorned this dilapidated atlas with delicate butterflies, their winged shapes the product of a butterfly craft punch. He glued a page from a discarded novel to the cover before affixing the butterflies with glue dots to look as if they were flying off the page.

Storybook Door

Door: Set the tone for years of story time. Select a child's literary classic in decal form and apply the oversize adornment to a wall or a door. "Try not to center it," says Paul. "Let it extend to a neighboring wall." The application is easy. "Just be sure to work slowly, taking your time to remove bubbles with a flat tool, such as a bone folding tool."

Wallpaper: Pages ripped from books that might otherwise have been tossed away or sheet music can become lyrical wallpaper the pages slightly overlapped, then applied with conventional wallpaper paste.

Industrial Chair: What is it worth? This mid-20th-century industrial design chair is valued from $35 to $100. However, a chair that has been stripped to its original silver metal finish could bring more, says appraiser Helaine Fendelman.


Three Big Words

Decorative wall decals like this one from Harmonie Interieure, which can be custom-made in words of your choice, set the tone for a room and provide, by way of the font, a playful nod to the pattern on the chair's upholstery. Apply the decal slowly and carefully. Small air bubbles can be popped with a pin.

33 Mantel Christmas Decorations Ideas

As soon as I saw these pictures on Top Home Design. I couldn't stop thinking about how much I'd like to have a fire place in my house. I think my husband would be happier than me!!!
When you think of Christmas, the first thing to come to mind is family. If you have a fireplace with a mantel than probably you are wanting Christmas to decorate it. Usually mantel is a star in living room decor like Christmas tree. A lot of family photos are usually made near the mantel so everybody wants to make it decorations perfect. Here are some cool examples of fireplace mantel Christmas decorations that everybody could remember forever.

2010 printable Calendars – Freebie of the week

Christmas is almost here and I’ve been thinking to insert an Advent Calendar but time flies and it’s already December! Too late for one! So it’s time to add some 2010 Calendars.

“A print a day” always surprises me and I have new entry from “Mibo”. Of course there are thousands for sale in my favourite shops. Ask me and I can give you the best web sites!

Or if you made some and you’d like to advertise it, email me, it’s free for all my followers.

Look at the favourites of the week:

A PRINT A DAY DOWNLOAD HERE

MIBO DOWNLOAD HERE

Essie's handcraft cuteness

Did I tell you that I also shop on DaWanda?

Well, while I was looking for great pillow cases made with Amy Butler Fabrics, I found a great shop and a great person behind it. Essie's handcraft cuteness from Netherlands. I’ve then ordered personalized pillow cases and they turned out fantastic. Not only the extra care put in it but also the way she follows every single step. You can really see the artist touch on even simple things. I can’t wait to post my one but my bedroom needs to be completed otherwise it won’t give them justice!

I’ve also discovered she has a wide range of products… have a look at my favourites:

Curious to see the rest or just can’t wait to shop? Click here and tell her you know me.

Click-and-Print Ornaments

Not enough ideas to decide from? and most of all not enough time? here's another easy one.
***Paola try it and send me a photo, I know you can do it***
 Just follow the steps:
Ornament How-To

Download templates; print onto card stock (or color-photocopy at 130 percent). Using a utility knife, cut out the six squares. (If adding photos, use imaging software to size them to fit windows, which are 1 1/4 inches square. Print onto photo paper; cut out, leaving a 1/8-inch border. Cut out windows on two squares; tape photos to back.)


1. With printed sides faceup, score the four corners of each square with a bone folder. Fold corners up at 90-degree angles. Using a glue stick, attach squares to form ornament.


2. Trim edges with scissors if making rounded-edge cube. Thread a long needle with ribbon; pull through a corner, adding a bead and knotting. Or pull a double strand of ribbon through top and bottom; add two beads and knot.

Digital Photo How-To
If you're savvy with presentation software, use it to import digital images directly into the template: Open a new document in the program; insert template. Insert two photos in document. Drag photos to marked boxes; resize photos. Print document onto photo-quality card stock (matte finish). Proceed with ornament how-to instructions.

Felt Animal Ornaments How-To

Here's another idea for your Christmas tree from Martha Stewart:



1. Print templates. (You can reduce or enlarge the templates to fit your tree. We enlarged the templates at 200 percent and 225 percent.) Cut out two versions of each template, one following the outline and the other omitting the black details (use fine-tip scissors for the interior cutouts).

2. On top of light-colored felt, such as cream or eggshell, pin the outline template, and trace it with a disappearing-ink pen. Remove template, and cut out. On a colored piece of felt, pin and trace the detailed template twice. Cut out: Use fine-tip scissors for interior cutouts and a Japanese hole punch to create the eyes and the hole for hanging.

3. Lightly brush craft glue onto the back sides of colored-felt pieces; sandwich the light-colored piece in between. Let dry flat.

4. Hang from a length of silver thread, knotting at top.
Enjoy!

My first Napkins Swap

Hello, I've just received my first Napkins Swap from Swap Bot and I'm so amazed to see that are actually people who really put extra care and give as much as they can even if not requested. Here's a a pic of what a received from Debbie (Floating Queen).

Thanks Debbie! Much appreciated! of course If you are looking for me I'm Madaboutpink!

Button ornaments

I've just found in my parents house a tin of vintage buttons so I went on the net to look for ideas. Here's what I came out with, for Christmas of course.
See more ideas in Martha Stewarts site.

Basic technique explained below:

The basic technique for all the ornaments is the same. Bend a pipe cleaner in half and twist once at the top for a loop. Slide buttons over pipe cleaner ends, slipping one end into each hole (if the button has four holes, use two diagonal ones). Use larger buttons for bellies and hat brims. When finished, twist ends of pipe cleaner to secure, and trim. For reindeer legs and antlers and for Santa's arms, bend 2-inch pieces of pipe cleaner in half, slip on between buttons, and twist. Glue on felt for Santa's beard and the snowman's nose. To hang the reindeer, loop a thread around its middle and tie.

Enjoy!
xxx Jess

Printable Christmas gift tags round 2

Warning Message!!!. I'm Christmas Crazy.
I'm preparing all my handmade goodies to sell at the Christmas market in my town and I can't stop thinking about what else I could make...photos of my work will follow. Of course all made thinking about the planet.  Meanwhile  here's another treat for stationary lovers like me from Mushy.

Click
here for colours
or
here for black and white.