All the homemade Christmas people over here please, lets share our ideas :)

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Do we have a 'Homemade Christmas Thread' going yet? Ive linked to last years below, I am determined to MAKE MAKE MAKE this year and bugger the responses

I need a fail safe mulled wine kit to give people please if anyone can help, Thankyou :)

Last years thread!

Loveinacc... am drooling over the duvet at the thought of xmas pud rum. Like the idea of the little cakes too. My brekkie looks a bit dull now!

on this link they make up Skittles vodka in plastic bottles and then pour it through coffee filters... might be easier than buying decanting bottles and sorts... and cheaper too

There's a raspberry vodka recipe on last year's thread, which I'm going to do, with raspberries from the garden.

Is there a recipe for the Christmas Pud grog? I reckon Loveinacoldclimate's idea for the rum is spot on.

I'm loving the ideas on here, but dare not venture into pininterest as I've too much to do! :)

I try and make little bits and pieces over the coming months so I have nice little hampers to give to people, actually my mil has just returned the jars I packaged things into for her last year - recycling, excellent!

The Lemon Sugar Handscrub will definitely get made! Oh and the shortbread recipe too.

I'm venturing up into the loft in a bit to get down my beads and felt so I can get cracking on making personalised decorations for the kids in the family.

babydubs I'm doing the ice cream sundae kits. I got sundae glasses and long spoons from the 99p shop (I've recently defected from poundland and keep getting excited when I save 1p ). Then I'm decanting toppings into little pots, sprinkles, chocolate buttons, crushed candy canes and jelly sweets. Then a slightly larger jar of homemade chocolate sauce. I'll dig out the link for that recipe if you want?

I'm also debating the cupcakes in jars things. I've found lots of photos and recipes but I'm worried it might just look like a jar of mess!

Thanks Chirpchirp, There goes the rest of my day on Pintrest

for anyone interested... Ikea does an ice cream set

Ooooh, I was going to do Christmas pudding vodka or brandy but now thinking rum instead! Think I'll pop out for ingredients now. Shame I won't get to indulge as will (all bring well) still be pregnant over Christmas! I am also going to try making some button Christmas trees I saw on Pinterest. Just cut a gladiator allium to spray gold and use as the tree star (thank you Sarah Raven!) and my hyacinth bulbs should be here next week for forcing. I had to stop using a couple of woks as they'd rusted but I saved them as I thought they'd make really cool shallow bowls (with handles removed!) for hyacinths, but also got some lovely hyacinth glasses in lovely jewel colours in the Cox & Cox sale last year so want to use those too... May have to order some more bulbs...

I am seriously thinking about doing a trial run this weekend of making a gingerbread house and some gingerbread tree decorations as last year they looked good but were so hard they were inedible and I'd like to have both attractive and edible this year. But may be getting carried away as it is only the start of September...

The house smells all christmasy now because I've cracked open the White Company winter smell... Yum! Also swapped bathroom reed diffuser things (I don't care if they're naff!) from summer scents to sandalwood and amber so the whole house smells cosy and warm.

Does anybody know where I might be able to get cheap and reasonable candle moulds? I think my DD might really love making them as pressies this year for people. Online is fine as I dont know what sort of shops are around and about me to physically go to. :) Thank you!

I don't know of a source for candle moulds but as long as you have candle mould sealer you can use:

plastic cups
plastic pots
the bottom of plastic bottles
sand (you can use glasses to push in shapes or make your own freestyle - just remember to add 'legs' by pushing your fingers in and and if desired, push seashells into the sides before adding the melted wax)
silicone poached egg moulds
an egg shell with the egg removed (duh!)
egg trays
the foil cases that shop bought mince pies come in
metal mousse trays

You can also use tins (pick ones without a lip or you won't be able to get them out!).

I also look out in local junk / charity shops for attractive glass containers I can use . Cocktail glasses are good and then you can then either use it as a reusable mould or make the glass part of the candle by making 'contents' that resemble a drink (I do a good tequilla sunrise!) or by making the candle stripey - and you can also tilt the candle between layers.

Two other highly effective candles:

1. Just before you add the melted candlewax, pack your mould with crushed ice. The was will set as soon as it hits the ice and will leave you with a filligree appearance on the surface of the candle. Make sure that the centre of the candle has alomst slush rather than ice so that around the wick there is a fairly solid layer of wax - otherwise the candle will collapse when lit.

1. You will need:

a bucket of cold water
a tapered candle
a bowl (I use a cereal dish) covered in foil
melted wax sufficient to almost fill the cereal bowl

Pour enough wax into the bowl to cover the bottom (about 2cm deep) and hold the tapered candle in the middle, pressing down firmly until set (about 5 mins)

When set, carefully float the bowl on the top of the water, taking care not to spash any water into the bowl. Carefully fill the bowl with wax until about 2cm from the rim. Grasp the top of the candle and at the same time push down and twist into the water. You will end up with whisps of wax surrounding your tapered candle - it looks very dramatic but is often fragile and difficult to transport far (but not so fragile that you can't carry them round to the neighbours!)

Wow Josephine Thank you! Years ago before the kids etc I went through a stage of making jewellery and candles and I have totally forgotten how to do it so you have really really helped! I may have to go and see if the craft shops I used to frequent are still in existence. Thank you :)

You're welcome!

DD got a soap making kit for her last Birthday and we made them the other day, they came out fantastically well. I'm trying to find replacement ingredients to that we can make loads of the small ones and package them in little cellophane bags with pretty ribbons on. They were so easy to do and look (and smell!) great.

Unwilling - yes please for the chocolate sauce....also, how long do you think it will keep? TIA

Would someone mind sharing a nice easy fudge recipe?

I've seen one using condensed milk, sugar, milk and butter which looks good, but I'd rather use one that's recommended.

Also, how long will it last?

Had my first go at making soap today. Got the stuff from hobbycraft. It was £6 for a kilo of clear soap. They have olive oil based soap and opaque soap too. They sell the oils, colours and dried flowers to add. I have made a clove and cinnamon one, honey ginger and chamomile one, lemon one and honey vanilla one. I used ingredients out of the cupboard to make them. They look lovely but don't smell that strong.

Another item for Christmas hampers:

Stem ginger macaroons

200g ground almonds
100g caster sugar
2 medium egg whites
150g chopped stem or glacé ginger, minus the syrup
Flaked almonds
Icing sugar

Mix the ground almonds, sugar, egg whites and ginger until evenly combined.

Roll into balls the size of a small walnut then press on to a mound of flaked almonds so a layer sticks to the outside. This is slightly tricky: roll them firmly and slowly.

Place the macaroons on a tray lined with nonstick paper, then heat the oven to 170C and bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown, turning the tray halfway through to make sure the heat gets to the macaroons evenly.

Remove from the oven, sieve icing sugar over the top while they're still hot and leave to cool.

Last year I bought some cheap small boxes, lined them with tissue paper and put about eight of the macaroons in each. They keep for about a week to ten days in an airtight container.

chirpchirp I hope you don't mind I've PM'd you for an invite as well xx

colourarc, thanks for ragdoll pattern, i think that may be tomorrows project.

chirp chiirp i have pm'd you too

This thread makes me sooo happy

I made the teacup candles for everyone last year and they seemed to go down well. Don't know about this year.

I'd love to get my Pinterest page started if I have the time.

Do any of you clever bods know where I'd find instructions on making a lined, zipped make-up style purse? Preferably using oilskin type material? I saw a really nice one on a blog but no hint as to how they were made.

try soresourceful.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/prism-pouches/ Two. In fact, everyone stop what you are doing at once and go look at this blog for inspiration (no it's not mine ). I made teacup candles last year in the little pastel coloured teacups from Ikea's kids range www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90130163 and am feeling very smug that I found a set this week for peanuts in my local charity shop so will be doing them again. They looked so cute!

Today I discovered a crab apple tree growing outside my flats, tomorrow I shall be scrumping said crab apples for chutney making!!

BabyDubs I have this chocolate truffle recipe:
225g Dark choc (60% cocoa solids)
150ml double cream
2tbsp Tia Maria or rum or Baileys
4tbsp cocoa for dusting

Melt choc in a bain marie, when melted remove from heat and stir in cream. Refridgerate for 2 hrs. Roll into small balls and roll in cocoa.

Variations: white choc and coconut (use white choc and Malibu and roll in coconut)
Milk choc and cointreau (125g milk choc, 100g dark) use Cointreau instead and roll in crushed cornflakes.

I love this thread so much

I'm going to make snowman soup for DC teachers. Maybe some fudge as well?

I've got some rosy apple vodka on the go at the moment and it is devine!

I really want to make a photo calendar for my mum too.