Christmas Crafts 2018

[smalex]

Show me your wares (if you have any yet).

First make down, for my littlest nephew.

20181020_184209.jpg

20181020_184215.jpg

[George]

Oh wow, that’s impressive! How long has it taken?

After the toddler years, I think Christmas crafts might be back on the cards for me. Literally - I think I might start with Christmas cards again.

[smalex]

I started it about 6 weeks ago, I've done quite a lot on it. I glued loads of it though to make it easier.

It's good when you can start getting into things again isn't it? What sort of cards will you do? I was going to try and lino print some, like I'm doing my gcses again

[emma_p]

That’s so cute, smal! I’m lining projects up for when I finish work.

We have no Christmas decorations, advent calendars, stockings, garlands etc at all as they’re all in storage and I just need something to tide us over.

[Ruby]

That's really nice.

I'm not sure this really counts as a 'craft' but I am thinking of making chutney for Christmas so I need to get on it now. Does anyone have a tried and tested recipe? (not chilli jam, which I have made before but don't fancy right now).

[smalex]

I've made this several times before https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/686 ... ge-chutney and really like it. I realise beetroot is not to all tastes though.

[Ruby]

No. That could be a definite go-er. Everyone I would be giving it to likes beetroot and I bought some very cute jars in IKEA today.

[bramblerose]

Verm's girlfriends fig chutney is nice. I have a recipe somewhere but it might be a bit late for fresh figs. Let me know if you want the recipe.

I think I am only going to be making Christmas cake this year.

[Ruby]

I wondered about making Christmas cake but I'm the only one who really likes it.

I am making bath bombs for Christmas and also I am trying to make some cleansing balm ( ) - like a fake Eve Lom/Liz Earle/Emma Hardie thing. I'm making it for me really, but I might give it away too.

I really like making cosmetics. It feels like being a witch.

[smalex]

I made soap once (well, I melted down suitable soap and added stuff to it), it was quite fun. I might do it again.

Do you actually know many people with baths anymore? I honestly think my sister is the only person we send gifts to who still has one.

[Ruby]

The bath bombs are mainly for me, my sister and various children. I really don't know many people that regularly have baths, no.

Quite a lot more people seem to be using soap at the moment though, due to the whole plastics thing.

[Kleio]

Soap is definitely coming back, it’s never something I would have bought but I actively want some for Christmas. Not Lush though.

A stall at a craft fair last week had some beautiful looking soaps that all smelt of carbolic. Don’t do that.

[Ruby]

A stall at a craft fair last week had some beautiful looking soaps that all smelt of carbolic. Don’t do that.

Yeah. That's because they're made with lye - probably too much. I do quite fancy making soap. I once got obsessed with it, bought all the stuff and then never made it so I'm trying not to let myself think about it.

[bramblerose]

Honestly when you can buy 4 bars of Dove soap for 89p from B&M, it's not worth making your own.

Link me up with the bath bombs please Rubes?

[smalex]

ON that basis it's rarely worth making anything yourself!

[Ella77]

I love it. Why make lasagne when you can buy an individual one for 99p.

[bramblerose]

ON that basis it's rarely worth making anything yourself!

Not at all

[bramblerose]

I love it. Why make lasagne when you can buy an individual one for 99p.

I'd never buy a 99p lasagne

[Ella77]

Alright, and many people wouldn't want to buy Dove .

[bramblerose]

What about Nivea?