Tuesday, 12 December 2017

The Christmas Challenge. Bits and pieces!

It is pretty warm here today and was very warm all thought the night.  I went for an evening swim and that pretty much knocked me unconscious for the night!

Today I am heading off to see my friend Hilde for Christmas.  If it is too hot we might have to modify our plans but the idea is to hit the discount grocery and fruit and veg stores and op shops!

Yesterday I was out and about looking for a couple of things.   I noticed there are a lot of Christmas things already marked down a lot.  This has me thinking I might do some checking next week in those same stores to see if they are marked down more.  Maybe pre Christmas will be just as worth while checking out as post Christmas.  I will give it a go!

I can't share yet my own Christmas crafts as I will ruin my own surprises so I am sharing some of the photos I have had this week for inspiration and ideas!

Tanya made heaps of things.  She showed me this diary...


I LOVE it.  I told her this would be $35 in a store here.  She thought I was exaggerating until she went to a fair and looked around at prices and now she realises this is true!
Last year Bridge made me a fabric covered book with a brooch stuck on it for bling.  It is beautiful and I have used it all year for my Vicky Challenge records.
Soon I will be adding up my whole years Vicky Challenge.   Writing the savings down every week is very motivating.  I am not sure if I will beat last year but I hope so!   This has shown me without a doubt that our savings at home are so significant they equal a wage and there is no tax!   Thinking this.... I hope my efforts today produce some savings! 

Tanya also made beeswax wraps.  These are so useful but also lovely gifts.  (These too are pretty expensive to buy!)


She used fabric paint and stencils to decorate t shirts...


And made patchwork shopping bags...


Beautiful work Tanya!  Thank you so much for the photos!

Maria made Brownies and by cutting them into triangles they made little Christmas trees.
I thought this idea is lovely and could be used with any slice or even shortbread etc.


She made these for her Grandchildren.  Imagine them with big eyes seeing this!  So good!

You really can give a beautiful gift by cooking.  Right away I can think of several people who would love it if I made them a tray of brownies or fudge.  Going by store prices this would easily be a $100 gift.  I think  I am going to be giving away a lot more home baked gifts in the future.  

I have found so many lovely ideas on Shabby Art Boutique.  She has free printables that are Christmas themed labels to put on your home cooking.  Some cellophane and these labels would look amazing.  These are available here.   Many of her recent posts are full of gorgeous Christmas ideas.  She also has a little calendar to print out.  It is tiny and a gift small enough to post.  I would think card makers would find this really useful too. 

I had better get my skates on and head off.  I hope this day gives me lots of good things to report on Friday!
I hope your week is going well!   
How are your Christmas gifts going?  Are there any last minute good suggestions... these would be helpful as many of us will still need  last minute inexpensive ideas!  Something unexpected basically always happens! xxx












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27 comments:

  1. Mimi12 December 2017 at 15:36

    Dear Annabel...I had some photos to send but thought last week was the LAST week for The Christmas Challenge. Never mind. I've done Beeswax wraps thanks to you, teatowels, embellished pillowcases, drawstring shopping bags, marshmallows, rocky road, and blinged ballet shoes. All of this really in the last two weeks. So it just goes to show what you can achieve even at this late stage. None of it was hard, and much done in half to one hour spurts. And ALL of it just using up what I had laying around. So I feel a bit vindicated in stockpiling fabrics and odds and sods! I wish everyone the best of the Festive Season, and look forward to 2018 with excitement. Love, Mimi xxx

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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 02:31

      Dear Mimi, Please send your photos! I want to see and besides at this point in the year ANyTHING goes and Im just posting what I can and when! The best thing is using up what you have and on hand and turning into something "out of fresh air" as you say. I love this! Its being inventive with what we have. Anyway I dearly want to see everything! With love Annabel.xxx

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  2. Fiona12 December 2017 at 15:44

    Hello Annabel, hope you have fun with Hilde today and keep cool. Food gifts are lovely to give, I’m going to try your coconut ice recipe this year. I love to see what people are making too. Fi xx

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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 16:53

      Dear Fiona, I had a fantastic day! It has cooled down now so its lovely.
      I am going to make coconut ice tonight or tomorrow! This is my annual thing! It is so yum. I hope you like it. I like to make it the palest milkshake pink! With love Annabel.xxx And your comment came through! Thank you!xxx

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    2. Fiona13 December 2017 at 18:16

      I know Annabel, I’m as shocked as you are. Xx fi

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  3. Kelly12 December 2017 at 17:00

    Great work Tanya and Maria! Your gifts look wonderful! What a great idea to cut the brownies in triangles, as little Christmas trees - so cute and effective! Tanya, as a fellow quilter, I love your patchwork bag!! And is the diary cover made with fabric or paper? I have been busy finishing up two quilts for gifts. I am still struggling to come up with gift ideas for men, as they pretty much have everything they need/want... does anyone have any ideas?? One I have to be able to post and the other will be given in person. Goodluck on your outing today Annabel, hope you have fun and have some great finds! Cheers, Kelly

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    1. Anonymous13 December 2017 at 04:14

      Kelly I always find that mini credit card holders that fit in men's pockets are a nice gift and if they are a traveller a passport holder with luggage tags works well too.

      I hope this helps.

      Sewingcreations15

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    2. Kelly13 December 2017 at 15:51

      Thanks for the ideas Sewingcreations. That is something that could work! Cheers , Kelly

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    3. Anonymous14 December 2017 at 03:11

      Hi Kelly and most welcome and glad I could help :) .

      Sewingcreations15

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    4. Anonymous15 December 2017 at 13:06

      Kelly, I have a son-in-law that travels a lot for business so I made him some drawstring shoe bags so that his shoes don't get his other clothes dirty in his suitcase. He loves them! My other son-in-law does a lot of work working so I buy different sandpapers (coarse, fine, etc), nails, screws, etc. He really enjoys these!

      Jeanette

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  4. Anonymous12 December 2017 at 22:17

    Hello Annabel, what a lovely post. Your evening swim sounds lovely. I hope it wasn’t too hot and you could get to the shops and op shops. It sounds like a very rewarding day. Tanya’s work is lovely. I love the diary, thank you for mentioning mine too. I think those beeswax cloths will be very well received. Not only are they great for the environment, but also a money saver. So practical! I have loved your crocheted dishcloths. They are also great for the environment and a real money saver (not to mention pretty). The fabric bag is just lovely too. I love those brownies Maria, how clever to make them into Christmas trees. I really, really, really think homemade cooking is just the best gift. It’s the time of year when people have visitors and so to be able to offer them things, or even just enjoy things themselves is just lovely. These things are very, very expensive to buy too. I made a big jar of biscuits for some ladies and they were really appreciative. I think I’d like to make more foodie gifts next year too. As you say. presentation counts. Still am cooking away here. Lots of love, Bridge

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  5. Anonymous13 December 2017 at 04:19

    Hello Annabel and lovely bluebirds :).

    I hope Annabel that you find some lovely bargains both at the op shops and the grocery stores while you are with Hilde too.

    Tanya your handcrafted items are all absolutely beautiful, you are a very talented lady.

    Maria I just love the little Christmas tree brownies they are beautiful and something about handmade makes them all the more special.

    Sewingcreations15.

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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 16:51

      Dear Sewingcreations, Thank you! I did have a great day! I learned a lot too! My freezer is built up and I had good op shopping! I hope your week is going well too! With love Annabel.xxx

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  6. Anonymous13 December 2017 at 05:16

    Dear Annabel,

    I have been AWOL...migraine that knocked me out for a couple of days and then BEHIND as a result!!! I love all the Christmas crafting that has been going on at your place and with other Bluebirders!

    I am slowly getting my crafting done...most of it is knitting and sewing that I hope I can wrap up by early next week and then concentrate on the baking.

    I hope you have a lovely time with Hilde...and that reminds me: I need to make beer bread, soon!

    Lots of love, Jen in NS

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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 16:00

      Dear Jen, I hope you are feeling much better. I know how wiped out a migraine can leave you. Awful.
      Ah yes the beer bread! Do the one where you put half the dough in, fill with cheese then add the rest of the dough! oh my this is yum! She rolls this out for pizza dough and all sorts of things!
      I hope you are feeling better and the week is going well! With love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Anonymous14 December 2017 at 05:54

      I love that idea for the beer bread! Thanks for the suggestion! Love, Jen.

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  7. Jen13 December 2017 at 10:20

    Annabel, I've just loved the series on gift making this year, both your own work and the show and tells. There are always such lovely ideas, and the love that goes into them is so obvious. I read something yesterday about whether people genuinely appreciate homemade gifts, or would just prefer something bought. Apparently food gifts are good, but other homemade gifts not so much. I thought how ridiculous, especially having seen some of the amazing gifts created by this group!

    I used to be a bit iffy about giving people things I've made, and yet it's been the people I was most nervous about giving to that have appreciated them the most! My brother is very hard to buy for and two years ago I did a cross stitch from his favourite movie. Well last year I didn't get round to making him one, and he said he would quite happily have a different movie cross stitch every year! So this year he is getting another. I knit my (rather particular!) sister-in-law a throw last Christmas, and when I went around to their place the next time she had bought herself some wool to start knitting again.

    Mimi please send your photos!! You are the queen of the quick gift that looks a million bucks!

    I'm making chocolate truffles today for the kids teachers, think I will do a triple batch so we have some for our guests next week as well.

    Enjoy your day out, I'm sure it will be lovely!

    Jen in NZ



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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 15:57

      Dear Jen,
      I agree, we need to see Mimis photos!
      I have seen so many gifts from the ladies that I also would love to receive. Things that are priceless and not just mass produced! I am glad you have found your feet with making your own gifts. It does kind of take some confidence. Then things become favourites i.e. if I didnt make the fruit cakes I would probably get complains!
      I would say the truffles will be an enormous success. They are another thing that are $$$ each in the stores. It always amazes me! I hope you might find some great deals after Christmas... try that cheese shop! With lots of love Annabel.xxxx

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  8. Lana13 December 2017 at 10:34

    You all have given me some wonderful ideas! I watch for sales on really good chocolate this time of year. I was able to pick of some bags of Godiva chocolates for $1 a few weeks ago. They make wonderful little gifts because most everyone loves good chocolate.

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    1. Annabel13 December 2017 at 15:54

      Dear Lana, Godiva chocolate here is $50 for a few pieces! So I think that was an amazing bargain! Yesterday I had some success and a good day! I am still unpacking and was so tired last night! I will rite it all up for tomorrow. This all give me hope for good prices after Christmas too! With love Annabel.xxx

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  9. Anonymous13 December 2017 at 11:16

    I hope you get lots of bargains! Happy hunting.
    Tanya your things are so pretty I love the bag!
    Maria great minds think alike! I am using popscicle sticks in mine and wrapping them individually with cello for my son to give out to his coworkers.
    XOXO
    Vicky

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  10. Cheryl Kimbley13 December 2017 at 12:02

    What lovely items. Everyone is so talented.
    Have a blessed day

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  11. Mrs. Gillam13 December 2017 at 15:14

    Beautiful projects! I was going to mention that rice bag heat packs are a rather quick project that has been well received and reminded myself that it might be a nice gift for a neighbor friend of mine. I hope your weather isn't too nasty and you have a chance to do your shopping, Annabel.
    Love from Arizona, Elaine

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    1. Annabel14 December 2017 at 02:30

      Dear Elaine,
      Heat packs are fantastic! Every couple of years I make new ones for Mum, the girls and myself. Years ago I made one for my friend and she still has it and says she uses it all the time... I thought it would be dead by now... I thought then ok in winter I will make her a new one. I have lovely very thick velour saved up for this already!
      We had a cool change but next week it is getting hot again so I am trying to enjoy this cool while it lasts! Many thanks Elaine, With love Annabel.xxx

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  12. Cristy14 December 2017 at 05:54

    Annabel, and Bluebirds,

    I had really gotten away from homemade gifts, because of some rude people, but with the encouragement of this site, I began again. I have worked on crochet dolls and animals this year. I got a book about Star Wars crochet dolls and have been working through it. It has been popular even with the tween age boys around here.

    Then, a few years ago I had made these cute squid dolls for my own kids. I dug out the (free) directions on line and made some for some young boys for Christmas. I included a little info about squids and how my kids have loved these dolls (and how they played with them) to help the recipients' mom show the boys. I am pretty excited about these! I hope that the boys like them as much as my own kids have. My kids have kept them and played with them regularly for 4 years!

    I didn't take any pics, because with my husband's heart attack and all the subsequent doctor visits, I have been running a little behind. So as soon as I finished them, I dashed to the post office to mail them.

    I really appreciate all the encouragements to homemaking that are shared on this site!

    I want to make some of those wraps, even if I keep them for myself. :)

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    1. Anonymous14 December 2017 at 18:12

      Cristy I am thinking of your family and hope that your DH improves dramatically and heals quickly.

      Sewingcreations15.

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