What Christmas crafts are you doing with the kids..

I did decorated bags last year, but not sure what to do this year I want to do decorated coasters but can't find anywhere that does them

Thanks

Well I make my own Christmas cards so going to get Emily to help - she can make some for her classmates and her teachers.

We're going to make hard caramels and/or biscuits for her teachers and put them in nice kilner jars with a nice ribbon around the neck

We might do painted mugs for teh Great-Grandmas

DIY coasters here http://www.yellowmoon.org.uk/find.asp?name=coasters&cid=9PQD2HGKKOPZDJYLAHUNSRHW3C181GOM

we're doing bags, and possibly for a painted handkerchief for MrC (bags aren't really his thing!)

I'm planning to take A to a pottery painting place in a couple of weeks time. Going to do some christmas baubbles for grandadparents and a mug for daddy. They will probably all end up brown but I'm sure it will be good fun. I'm really looking forward to it.

Also I've bought some christmas stickers to do cards with.

J is only 23 months but I would like to paint some pine cones for the tree with him, and thought we might bake and/or decorate some biscuits too to give to the staff at his nursery.

I save up foil tins from mince pies etc (I call them patty pans but local mums seemed confused when i used that term for paper or foil baking cases...) Then give child the lemon squeezer and mould foil tin over it to make a bell. Any mistakes can be easily corrected as they are malleable then make small hole in top and hang from Christmas tree.

We'll also make a felt stocking for L and do lots of things like gingerbread and shortbread.

I love the idea of painting fabric bags as presents. Have you made your own bags to be painted or have you found somewhere to buy plain shopper bags? Just had a quick google but can only find big corporate sites asking for big orders....

Most likely we'll make fudge/truffles and biscuits for some presents, have bought a quantity of clear acetate bags to put the goodies in and then tie with pretty ribbon.

hobby craft do them for £1

Katy F:

I love the idea of painting fabric bags as presents. Have you made your own bags to be painted or have you found somewhere to buy plain shopper bags? Just had a quick google but can only find big corporate sites asking for big orders....

Most likely we'll make fudge/truffles and biscuits for some presents, have bought a quantity of clear acetate bags to put the goodies in and then tie with pretty ribbon.

 

You all sound like you have some wonderful ideas, Cath Thank you for the link to the coasters x

If anyone wants to share any recipes for fudge/caramels/shortbread/christmas biscuits, I'm be much appreciative

Thanks for that. As an aside isn't the hobbycraft website a bit pants? Was just looking there but couldn't find them. hohum, luckily we have a store not too far away.

I make this fudge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chocolatepistachiofu_87639.shtml,

it's really good and a cheats version of fudge, i've had no complaints though.

Shortbread is really easy to work with with the boychild because it can be pressed out (instead of rolled) then cut into shapes, It's again very easy, 2oz caster sugar, 4oz butter 6oz plain flour. Just whizz together with hand mixer and it's ready to be rolled/pressed out. Bake the biscuits for about 20 mins at 200degrees c. Once cooled dip half the biscuits in melted choc for extra 'wow' factor.

Gingerbread is also quite easy to make and v xmassy, do you want me to dig out recipe for you later (just off out)?
.

Katy F:

I love the idea of painting fabric bags as presents. Have you made your own bags to be painted or have you found somewhere to buy plain shopper bags? Just had a quick google but can only find big corporate sites asking for big orders....

Most likely we'll make fudge/truffles and biscuits for some presents, have bought a quantity of clear acetate bags to put the goodies in and then tie with pretty ribbon.

 

Hi where did you get your acetate bags from im thinking of doing this with biscuits xxx

hi, they are available online b ut we got ours at lakeland (yesterday), about £2 for 50 bags!! Am thinkingt these will last some years...

thanks for that will try there xx

Thanks for the recipes Katy would love the gingerbread recipe aswell. I got my Jute bags from ebay here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-PLAIN-NEW-NATURAL-COTTON-SHOPPING-SHOULDER-TOTE-BAGS_W0QQitemZ140349178824QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWomen_s_Bags?hash=item20ad7683c8

hth,,