Skip to main content

Christmas Crafting

One of the best parts of the build up to Christmas, is the crafting, baking and making involved. In my previous post I stated that handmade gifts, when half hearted, aren't always perfectly delivered as shown in the glossy magazines. However, I discovered a unique and fun way to hand over my family and friends gifts without having to go out and buy boxes or bags to finish off the somewhat passable wrapping. Without having to go out purchasing fabric, or even salvaging for cut offs in charity shops, I used lots of material my Nona had given to me and recycled old fabrics, already saving myself the pennies. I decided to make Christmas Stockings which I could use as gift bags and also it was an extra little present, something they could keep and use for decoration next year or even to replace their own Christmas Stocking.
 All I had to do, was; 
1: Draw around my own stocking as a template on the fabric of choice creating 2 sides. Then 2 pieces of plain fabric for the inner layer, (however if you want a stronger, thicker stocking then you can use wadding). 
2; Before pinning together, I stitched the pattern or buttons onto the outer fabric so the stitching would not be seen on the inside.
3; I could then pin the inner and outer piece's of fabric together making sure they were opposite to sew together. After, trim away any excess material and frays.
4: Once each side was stitched to the inner fabrics, I could then sew the two sides together inside out, folding out after to have a complete stocking.

I must admit, I thought they looked great. The buttons and detail certainly made them very attractive and they almost had a chic style. So cheap and easy, I shall certainly be doing this again in the future. 

Another great gift idea, if you have a slow cooker, is make some chutney. I recycled old jam jars and managed to get a preserving jam/chutney kit from Tkmax for just 99p in the clearance. Bargain! I was given a wonderful Tomato and Garlic chutney recipe that I tried once before and it was spectacular, beginners luck I was thinking. But I decided to try it again as homemade chutney makes for a wonderful Christmas gift. The best time to go and shop for the ingredients is, what I like to call, a late night super market sweep around 6-7pm to get the clearance items. You would be surprised the little prices you pay. Once made, jarred,  labelled, and decorated with ribbon or pretty string tied in a bow, you have yourself a wonderful, tasty gift. 






Comments

Post a Comment

please leave your feedback :)

Popular posts from this blog

New Years... New Dress?

One of the best things about festive or special occasions, is choosing your outfit, although at the same time, it can be the most difficult and frustrating choice a girl could make. We may have previously decided what bag we're using or the colour of our nail varnish, so have to revolve our whole outfit around that. But we also couldn't possibly wear anything similar to anyone else. In the eyes' of a man... we're crazy. Being the bargain hunter I am and having only charity shops and car boots as my sanctum, it is just that little bit harder to find ''that specific something''. I know men always say, 'you don't need another new dress, just wear what you wore before'. Which seems sensible but how horrifying for us to repulse their idea of being seen in a dress you last wore to a big occasion that everyone saw you in. Like we're not a celebrity or something... but they don't need to point out the obvious. Every girl wants to walk into a...
Post a Comment
Read more Posts »

The Hepburn of all.

Having mentioned the LBD (the little black dress) last post, I began to think about it probably a little too much. Soon after, I started to rummage through my wardrobe-the one that looks sneezed on, to find my little numbers. I didn't realise how many I actually had. Four of my black dresses are not little but long and the other six are lovely little dresses all with a unique style and some with a bit of glitz. I decided to have my own little photo shoot like you see in the glamour magazines' and may have got a bit carried away. First in line of my LBD's is the one I previously mentioned, bought for £5 with short sleeves and a low back. A great example of a simple yet effective black dress. Second, is one of my favourites. I wore this dress on my 21st birthday in New York. I had previously known I was being taken to New York's most prestigious night club (The Box), so I knew I had to wear something glamorous. I searched high and low for something special but unfortunate...
Post a Comment
Read more Posts »

Returning to my Keys

My fellow followers, readers, friends. I have been so unorganised and lacked the motivation to write that I have left an open wound, a gap, not just to my blog but to myself. So much has happened and changed and so many bargains have been found since New Years, there is just simply, too much to tell. After Christmas and New Years, still working at Reiss, the team entered into a competition through the company to put forward our idea, of how we convey passion, focus drive and our thoughts of how we perseve their slogan 'I am Reiss'. At first it was a subtle joke of making a music video and writing our own rap which soon turned into creating a music video to Pharell Williams 'Happy' where we just danced on the shop floor but also included the full Reiss service to a customer (who also joined in on the dancing) The idea we all had was the scene in 500 days of summer, where Joseph Gordon-Levitt dances through the city and more and more of the public join in. Our minds were...
Post a Comment
Read more Posts »