Advent Matchbox Calendar

Not quite finished it yet it still needs some other embellishments.  I have had the boxes ready to make this for a couple of years now I just never seems to get round to it.  They are easy to do, if you have "bought boxes" , would take longer if you make your own.  I will post a simple run through of this but it's so easy to do.  

Components: card, boxes glues, numbers (unfortunately these were to big) chipboard for base , middle and top

assemble in lots of three wrapping with a length of card

Use the tape to pull them together, first one way then another layer of tape going in the other direction. Extra strong tape is better

Position then like this, four sets of three per layer with a chipboard piece top and bottom

Add the second layer as before

Drawers only covered at the front otherwise they won't slide easily

 

Add decorations and number in a random fashion

This looks wonky but its the camera angle :-(

Top

Min scroll inside the last box

A letter from Santa

I just love the cute appeal of it.  I have made one before HERE which is substantially larger which I love but this one is for my Grandsons.  I hope it can take the rigors of two small boys :-)

Useful links:
Pre-made boxes to buy
Template
Super large size template
More templates
Matchbox fun things to try

A Quilled Christmas Tree

This little tree measures about 5 inches high and was an experiment as a topper for my Matchbox Advent Calendar (details to follow)

• I just cut a 7" circle and used one quarter curled round to make a cone shape.
• put double sided tape round at 1/2 increments all the way up ( this varies on the size of your cone, less of a gap makes a fuller tree)
• use frilled quilling paper or make your own by snipping/fringing 1/2 inch wide lengths of coloured paper, the larger the tree the wider the paper would need to be
• stick round the cone so that each layer slightly overlaps
• fluff up the frill to make it stick out
• add some mini pompoms

your done :-)   You can make this any size you wish, or even a whole forest of them.
TFL
xx

I love Pumpkins (recipe)

 Well I managed to get all my Halloween gifts sorted out yesterday. The treat bags are stuffed, cards written,  the pumpkin lantern is made and the insides of Mr Franky are cooked up ready to make some 

Pumpkin Muffins

• How to do them: scoop out pumpkin insides discarding the seeds and stringy bits. You can wash and toast the seeds as a snack they are delish but it's a bit tedious taking the shells off.
• put the flesh, 2 tablesppons of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl and microwave for 6 mins or until softened, stir a couple of times while it's cooking.
• Mash the cooked pumpkin or blend in a processor. You can now make muffins or freeze it for later in a poly bag. or Buy a tin of prepared Pumpkin from Waitrose!

Muffin Ingredients

• Divide your pumpkin into 2 equal amounts and find a cup that one amount fits in to fill it, this will be your measure for the other ingredients (you can use shop bought measure cups if you wish just follow that rule)
• put into a mixing bowl,  the 2 "cups" of pumpkin, 
• 3 cups of plain flour
• 2 cups of sugar, I prefer brown
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of each of the following spices, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice or just use 2 teaspoons of Mixed Spice.
• 2/3rd's of your cup of sunflower or vegetable oil
• 3 eggs (beat before adding to the mix)

Mix it all together, put into muffin cases, sprinkle with a little sugar for a crunchy top (I use crushed sugar cubes but regular is fine)  and cook for about 25 mins at 180cent, 350 farenheit or Gas 5  

EAT :-)

they will freeze in a plastic bag or box, reheat for a little while after defrosting to freshen them up

xx

Advent Card/Calender

 

I have been meaning to make one of these for a few years now
but time always ran out or I forgot till December :-(  So I thought I might try it and do a tutorial to go with it in case anyone else wanted to have a go.  I used a large card blank to make the basis for the card, a sheet of A4 to go inside, if you use a bought blank card it's easier as you will have an envelope that looks nicer than having to go with an office one.  O'k it's not perfect but not to shabby for a first try.

Part One

The basic measuring and cutting is as follows.  Please bare in mind that this is scanned so the red lines should be on the right hand side when you do it or the tabs will open from left to right which is a little odd.

With the card in landscape measure 1/2" in from the right and then the tabs are 1 1/2" each with a 1/4" gap between.  The space at the left hand will be slightly out but it looks o'k. To make the lines down measure 1/2" from the top and then 1 1/2" each tab and 1/2" between till you have four lines of boxes

Work on the inside of the card, don't worry about pencil lines as you can erase them but they will be covered by papers and pictures anyway.  If you wanted to use a patterned paper to cover the card before cutting do it now and glue all over so it won't come away when you have made the cuts.  So when it's all marked up you CUT the GREEN lines and SCORE the RED lines.

Cover the windows with patterned papers and fill in the rest with paper if you didn't cover it first.

Choose some pictures to go behind the windows and stick them to a sheet of cardstock so they will show in each space, not showing mine in case I decide some poor unfortunate is going to receive it!!

Cut out the numbers from a sheet or however you decide to do the numbers.  I used Teresa Collins "Countdown" sheet I bought a few years ago but she has a new range this year which would work. Here it is and where you can get it in the UK I am sure American ladies will have no trouble finding it, maybe at Crafty Charlie's?

http://www.thestampattic.co.uk/christmas_cottage.htm

http://www.craft-emporium.co.uk/index.php?cPath=831_1087

 I used a nestie to cut out the numbers and fixed with raised glue pads to help when opening the window.  Attach in a random pattern. 

 Inside I added some pattern paper and a topper with the last number mounted on another Nestability shape and a little glitter.  Well there it is, hope you have a try and enjoy making it yourself x

Finishing touches

Its the final countdown now so time to put together some finishing touches to presents you have made. Boxes are essentials for those little extras to go in. Here in my previous post is a good easy way to make some, the folded corner as opposed to the cut one makes for a slightly stronger box.

I got these cute clear baubles and flat photo Christmas Tree ornaments, (I made some last year) as a keepsake of Noah as he grows to add to my tree each year. You can put 2 photo's in each so as the turn you see 2 different pictures. In the baubles I added some Christmas confetti and I have written the date on the back of the photo's too. Great for the family and Grandma's as a stocking filler.

Chrisrmas Scene Finished

O'k so the perspective is a bit out but its quite jolly, someone made some huge snowmen..lol

So Instructions, well it would be a bit involved to type it all up but hopefully these might give some ideas :-)

The Cricut is used throughout. I used a piece of packing card for the base and covered it with cotton wool.

The houses, snowmen & 3D trees are from Winter Woodland. The poinsettia and candy canes are from Joys of the Season

The background trees, large reindeer in the background and the sleigh are from "Solutions Christmas" Cart

Lots of glue and glitter, Martha Stewart Goo punch for the snow layered on the roofs, windows and doors, stickles for the glitter on the snow. Kay & Co for the Christmas lights on the sleigh and the small trees on the houses, gingerbread men and other candy canes. Papermania Christmas Stack of cardstock.

Its all just assembled as usual and made into the scene, I haven't stuck it to the board as the cotton wool will probably need replacing next year if it survives my Grandson over the holidays :-) , its bound to gather some dust and its a bit hard to polish cotton wool !! Hope you like it xxx This is the other garland which I put together yesterday but didn't get time to post as we had power cuts due to thunder storms so I had no PC or lights for hours :-( Its made with Winter Woodland letters, assorted pattern papers and nestabilities scalloped ovals and some more glitter and gold organza ribbon.

Christmas Scene

I have made a start on the scene for my front entry porch. So far we have trees, houses and snowmen. Keep watching for the end product
TFLxxx