Hot Chocolate, Baby

I said I was going to post some gift ideas for the "A Merry Little Christmas" label download I posted the other week. Today I'm sharing the first of those sweet little ideas.

I'm using some of the square 'Holiday Magic' labels for hot chocolate garnishes. I bought some inexpensive spice jars and filled them with crushed up candy canes and a homemade sugar/cinnamon spice blend.

Glue the appropriate labels to the front and they look pretty snazzy!

I'll package these up with a tiny spoon, an over-sized mug, and some packages of hot chocolate.

My kid is a hot chocolate fiend and I'm sure he'll love these 'fancy' toppings. 

Don't like hot chocolate? Never fear! You could make a similar set for tea or coffee drinkers. Swap out the mug and spoon for some cookie cutters for your favourite baker, and gift them baking blends or cookie toppings. I'd love to hear YOUR ideas, and what YOU come up with for the nice people on your list.

The "A Merry Little Christmas" sheet is available HERE and I'll be sharing more gift ideas and projects using it over the next few weeks.

More Holiday Matchbox Fairies

I'm plugging along like an elf high on candycanes over here. I'm torn between slowing down so that I don't burn myself out before December even begins, or taking advantage of the momentum and MAKING ALL THE THINGS!!!!!

Not only have I made more of these cute little holiday fairy matchboxes, but I even made a batch of fruitcake yesterday (plenty of time to allow it to age and soak up a bit of boozy flavour).

 

I've added ribbons to this batch and I think I'll add a loop too so that they can be hung on the tree or added to a bottle of good cheer.

Same supply list as the last batch, with just few snips of ribbon added:

Matchbox Fairy CS
Jolly Holly Day CS
Wee Transparent Wings
Merry Little Christmas Labels CS
Scrapbook paper of choice
Faux Snow
Ribbon
Foam adhesive squares
Glue

A Hufflepuff Scarf and Badger Pin

I bought this yarn in the discount bin at Michaels. I knew as soon as I saw it that I'd be making a Hufflepuff something with it.

In no time at all made a thick scarf with rows of crochet shells. 

After making those moony scarf pins last week, I knew I needed a badger to hold my wooly Hufflepuff scarf in place.

And now this Hufflepuff is ready for pudding and wand waving and more chilly weather.

Also, I finally got an eye exam and proper readers (aren't they  cute?!?) After using them for a couple of weeks now I cannot believe how bad my sight was. I've even bought more books to my eyes to proper use! Get your eyes checked lovelies xoxo

A Little Christmas Cupboard

Have you watched "Derry Girls"? It's a super funny show about a groups of teens growing up in Northern Ireland. The Mr fell asleep watching it, but I thought it was super funny. There's this one scene where they're trying to study and the table before them is strewn with candy wrappers... they've raided the Christmas cupboard!

After making all those wee jars and vials of holiday bits, I thought I'd make a wee Christmas cupboard for the fairies to pilfer.

Nothing too fancy. Just a coat of acrylic paint on a miniature cupboard. A bit of age and grunge to make it feel 'homey' and comforting.

Sitting on top is a short length of garland, a kettle, cakes, honey, and Christmas cards.

See that little vial tucked in the back, between the copper kettle and the jar of honey? There's a lump of coal in there. I imagine a little fairy mother shaking it at her implings "You'd best behave or THIS is what will end up in your Christmas stockings!"

Inside is chocked full of tiny Christmas treats. More little sweets, gingerbread, candycanes... jars and tins and boxes of all sorts.

Candy cane bits, peppermint and tinsel tucked in the back. Pretty sure the tinsel is in a jar in the cupboard to keep it away from the cat.

There's even some real mistletoe in the jar on the bottom left. You never know when you'll need to sprinkle some on someones head for a smooch.

The bottom cupboards contain pressies, decorations and, of course, booze. Fairy wine, liquid Irish luck and absinthe all tucked safely away for holiday celebrations.

Here's hoping all these treats last through Yule and Christmas and don't get pillaged by the wee folk!

The cupboard is listed HERE on etsy but if you'd like to make your own, here is a handy list of some of the supplies I used:

Merry Little Christmas Labels

Little Household Goods Collage Sheet
Various Glass Bottles

Various Can/Bottle blanks
Wee cakes and things

Mini Candy Canes

Any wee Christmas miniatures you can find!

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Crochet, Scarves and Stabby Moons

About once a year I get the itch to knit or crochet. I am TERRIBLE at knitting. I am much less terrible at crochet. I've managed a whole slew of scarves of various lengths, colours and simple patterns.

I've made a few short scarves to turn into cowls. I was debating whether to add buttons, sew the ends or add a brooch and decided to experiment. 

I made a large sort of stick pin with a pointed dowel and a slice of wood. (I know there's a name for this sort of simple scarf pin but it totally escapes me... do you know what it's called?)

I notched the end of the dowel to give a flattened surface for the round to sit on then simply glued them in place.

Next to paint them with moons and stars... because that's what I like, baby.

I'm pretty sure these will also replace the pencil that is usually holding my hair bun in place. 

It's currently -10C here and I am sorely tempted to wear every one of these scarves all at once.

Stay warm and keep crafting, my friends!

Christmas Matchbox Fairies

We are under a serious blanket of snow at the moment. I'm talking January levels of the white stuff. As I type, my neighbour is sending billows of white into the air as he clears his driveway with his snowblower. I've already been having visions of sugarplums and this has spurred me on.

I've taken my Matchbox Fairy download and a touch of the holidays to them.

Instead of moss and flowers, these little ladies sport toadstools, clover, robins and holly from my new Jolly Holly Day sheet.

To make these more seasonal I've popped a snip from my Merry Little Christmas labels sheet

A pinch of faux snow and some Wee Transparent Wings finish off these sweet little matchboxes.

I've got a bunch of other wee boxes on the go that I'll add ribbons and baubles and thing-a-ma-bobs to.

Want to make your own? Here's all the bits:

Matchbox Fairy CS
Jolly Holly Day CS
Wee Transparent Wings
Merry Little Christmas Labels CS
Scrapbook paper of choice
Faux Snow
Foam adhesive squares
Glue