Showing posts with label home made gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home made gifts. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Meaningful gifting...


If we've learned nothing else from 2020, surely we can say we've learned to NOT rely on mass produced, overpriced, imported gifts. Surely that. I've said for many long years, that developing skills that we can gift, or skills that allow us to create gifts, are not to be scorned. Even if you doubted this prior to this long, strange year, perhaps it now makes sense.

This Christmas, we'll be gifting Snowman Cupcakes as seen above. These truly could not be more simple. Any flavour cupcake, vanilla frosting, white and dark chocolate choc chips.


Grab yourself a palette knife (around $15AUD) from an art supply store and cultivate a skill for the new craze in cake decorating. So easy, a child could do it. Literally. This one was my first attempt!


Have sewing machine, will sew. Gingham hearts. Fill them with lavender, cinnamon sticks, or rice instead of polyfibre fill to make them more pleasing to the senses. Use them as decorations, or get out the sidewalk chalk and draw up a board for hopscotch or tic-tac-toe-toss, and use them as markers to teach your kids or grandkids those good old fashioned games.
I shared how to paint this Scandinavian inspired artwork here. Go on. Try it. Everyone has an artist inside begging to be let out...

Cinnamon sugar...just superfine sugar (we call it Caster Sugar here) and as much Cinnamon as you want. Mix it, decant it, gift it. Yum on toast, cakes, and pancakes.


Pick up an ugly statuette or figurine at your local op-shop (thrift store), and paint it a vibrant colour. Add tassels for a true Art Deco effect. Gift with pride to your stylish friends.


Get crafty with teeny tiny fabric scraps and tassel tops added to earring hook, to make these stunning earrings.


Coconut Ice does not have to be pink. Nor does Turkish Delight. Tint your home made confectionery fabulous colours, wrap in swathes of ribbon, add candy rosettes, and make a statement!


More gifts....doll panel dolls, home made cards with lavish georgette and tulle side bows, dollar store water bottles embellished with personalised labels and filled with candy balls, home made brownie wrapped in festive foil, hand blended essential oils in mini sprays, and home made lush lotion bars.

These are all ideas I've sourced or adapted from similar ones on Pinterest. If I can do it, so can you.

There's still time!

Happy Festive Planning!


...Mimi...

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Homespun Things....Inspiration and Imitation...

 
You can have the good things in life for less, if you're even a wee bit creative.
 
I've certainly squeezed quite a bit of luxury out of a tiny budget of late.
 
Below is the inspiration for my Daughters Glampavan.
 
Pictured above is the components of our palette....inspired by, not identical. Who needs to follow things that slavishly!

 
Inspiration above, reality below...
 
 
 
 
Inspiration on Pinterest above...my own jug, just done this morning here below...
 
 
 
Embroidered Llama jacket here...goodness...all of those French knots!
 
 
Our cheaty version using a store bought applique` and tassel trim below.


Here's the cake Daughter wanted for her 18th birthday earlier this year...

 
And here's my version...inspired by, but not an identical imitation...
 

 
I've lusted after a chintz bedspread since I was twenty years old. I particularly wanted this beautiful Spring-like colourway...
 

A random visit to a favourite charity shop last week yielded this beautiful duvet cover. King size, with fab tailored pillow slips, still with tags....$6!

 
Chanel ring? $2,900 if you please.
My ring...thrifted of course...$3.

 
Close enough for me!

 
Loving Dita Von Teese in her summery outfit here above.
 
I echoed the look with a gingham top, beads and sunglasses. I'm no Dita, but I can still endeavour to look my best. 

 
Speaking of gingham, I fell in love with these cute jam pots found on Pinterest.
 
 
My friend Annabel from The Bluebirds are Nesting, gifted me these lovely labels, so I made my own jam pots.
 

 
Gifting often means home baked goodies around here. I saw this rather plain idea also on Pinterest.
 
And swapped the waxed paper for foil, and some labels from Annabel, and ended up with this...

 
Stamped vintage floral sheets as gift ribbon....another Annabel idea...thanks Annabel!

 
Her powder puffs here...

 
...inspired mine, here...

 
A pic of a Laduree takeaway cup on Instagram..
 
 
...inspired my panne velvet and gold piped coffee cup cozies...

 
These gorgeous chocolates in a boutique...

 
...gave me the idea for my own custom wrapped chocolates. You can find these as a download here.
 
 
I was forever eyeing off lush French bedding...
 
 
….so I made some with simple purchased trims and scraps of fabric...
 
 
Granddaughter loved this sweet petit four so much when we visited a café...

 
...that she inspired me to bake, ice and decorate some for her...
 
 
Another pretty Annabel creation...a pile of cards to gift...

 
...gave me this idea...
 
 
...and her gorgeous tea towels motivated me to get stitching...those are a work in progress.
 
 
She also inspired me with these stunning wrapped soaps...
 
 
...I now make my own regularly as impromptu gifts...


 
See more of Annabels ideas here.
 
This stylish box of confectionery...$70 if you don't mind...
Made me feel good about gifting this huge box of honeycomb.
 
$5 thanks.



 
Phew.
 
After all that inspiration and creation, I need a Chai Latte.
 
Homemade of course.
 
 
Would you expect anything less?
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