Cookie Sugar Hand And Foot Scrub 25/50 - 50 makes for Christmas

When I drew up my list of things to do for my 50 makes for Christmas challenge I thought there would be a few changes made along the way and this is one of them.




I found this great blog post from Gina at So...Let's Hang Out with a recipe for a really easy make Christmas gift.

It fits in really well with my plan of using up things I already have in as I didn't have to buy any additional ingredients and I got to use one of my beloved Bonne Maman jars

It looked a little bit wet when I mixed everything together but I went with it and it felt fine when  I tested it.  You can always tweak it you are not happy with the end result.

It looks better now it is packed into the jar.  I wrote the ingredients and instructions on the back of the tag, in case the recipient wanted to make some more.

To use the finished product just take a small amount in your hand and rub on to your hands or feet.  Rinse and the sugar will have exfoliated and the oil will have moisturised.



Woo Hoo make 25 I am half way through the challenge just another 25 to go to complete my 50 makes for Christmas.

How are your Christmas plans coming along?

Matchbox make over - 50 makes for Christmas 5/50

The Washi tapes were out for the T light up-cycle so it seemed like a good idea to do this little make at the same time.

Matchbox makeover

I was inspired by this post for chalkboard style personalised matchboxes that I saw on Pinterest from Lia Griffith's blog, I know nothing like what I have done! This required sticky labels that I don't have and as I am trying to use up things that I already I have opted for the Washi tape; plus they co-ordinate with the up-cycled T lights.

T lights and matches for Christmas

I started with the red tape on the ends as this is a little thinner and I wanted to make sure that the "mechanism" of opening and closing the box is not impeded by applying the tape.

Using red Washi tape on the end

I applied the Grey tape to the body of the box, unfortunately the design does allow the original print to show through a little.

Grey Snowflake tape 

In an attempt to disguise this and to give it a little definition I put some of the red tape on to make it look like a gift box tied up with ribbon.

Looking like a gift wrapped box

They will be going inside the Bonne Maman jam jar along with the T lights to be part of someone's Christmas gift but I think I will be making one for myself too.

Bonne Maman Jam Jar to Christmas gift

As with the T lights this is not restricted to being a Christmas project and would look just as nice with some vibrant summer colours and could be handy for lighting the BBQ, you are only limited by your imagination and your craft supplies!

So that is 5 makes out of my 50 makes for Christmas done or 10% already completed.  I like this long approach to getting things done, it means I can give my attention to some of the things that wouldn't necessarily get done in the rush to the big day.

Up-cycled tealights - 50 makes for Christmas 4/50

On the hottest day of the year so far it seems a little bit strange to be posting another Chrismas make, but this one is quick, simple and not exclusively for Christmas,

Christmas T lights

It is as simple as sticking a bit of Washi tape around the metal casing on a T light candle, making sure that the tape does not protrude above the edge so it can not catch fire.

Sticking Washi tape to the case

I am making these to give away as Christmas gifts so I have made some that can be used at any time of the year.

Bunting tape for Summer

I am presenting  them in an old Bonne Maman jam jar that can also be used to burn a T light candle in.

Jam jar to T light holder

Monochrome Washi tape

Ready to give at Christmas

I am storing them in the pantry to keep them cool, I just hope I remember where I have squirreled them away when it gets nearer to Christmas!

Would you be happy to receive these as a gift?

That is make number 4 of my 50 makes for Christmas so just another 46 to go

... Christmas countdowns Days 4, 5 and 6... some of our days are missing!!

A belated advent days 4, 5 and 6 greetings, we had a lovely weekend away and so I am now on blogging catch up, however, to make matters more difficult for myself I have misplaced the advent packets, I took them away with us, didn't unpack them and now I have unpacked and can't put my hands on them!! So sorry there are no jokes on this post :(   I will do just a couple of photos for each of the photo challenges and then get back on track with day 7


Day 4 photo challenge is small so it was another trip around my house for a small bit of inspiration, only got as far as my sewing zone aka the dining room before I spotted these little beauties
.

A big picture of a little Bonne Maman jar with little white buttons, I am undecided weather to save them for a future project or to make them either into a little garland with some embroidery thread.

A lovely vintage Sylko thread bobbin, the older ones were this smaller size and are rarer and more sought after by collectors.

The last small one is this vintage child's sewing machine which just makes me smile when I see it.


Day 5 ....let there be light!  Christmas wouldn't be Christmas with out a festive display of lights either in the streets of our villages, towns and cities or in the comfort of our own home.

These fireworks were set off at the weekend to mark the beginning of the Christmastide at Wells next the Sea in Norfolk.  They are having a 9 day festival that culminates in Father Christmas arriving by boat and another fireworks display.

My fairy lights don't get packed away on twelfth night, I love to use them all year round for a spot of subtle lighting, I use them draped around the mirror above the mantelpiece or plied into these glass bowls from IKEA.

And of course there has to be a warm candle glow, I have become a big fan of the battery operated "candles" they are safer, cleaner and just as aesthetically pleasing as their naked flamed cousins.  I do still burn the odd candle and have just picked up this little festive treat from Sainsbury's

Day 6 and these are my "green" photos

It had to start with a Christmas tree

We had a lovely walk in Holkham woods on Sunday and I was surprised to see that there were still pinecones on the trees, it was so windy on Saturday I thought they would have all dropped off!

I just love the way nature just creates beautiful pictures.

Right I'm off to try and hunt down the missing advent packets there is chocolate in some of those packets!!!

... recycling Bonne Maman jars

I do love everyday items that are both useful and have a decorative look to them,  I think the Bonne Maman jam jar is an excellent example of this. A well designed jar that is full of delicious jam and is pleasing to the eye.

Bonne Maman jan jars

Bonne Maman jam jars

 But being a jam jar once the jam has gone and it becomes just a jar and then you can use it for all sorts of different things.

Empty Bonne Maman jars

I keep my herbal tea bags in one, it helps Hubby to find them when he makes me tea :)

Bonne Maman - herbal tea bags

Full to the brim with black peppercorns, I buy a big bag from the local Asian supermarket as they are considerably cheaper than the big supermarkets.

Bonne Maman - blackpeppers

Not restricted to just food items, they are handy for trying to corral hair bobbles, they seem to have a life force of their own with a will to pop up all over the house.

Bonne Maman - hair bobbles

I am the mother of a stationery queen and a little of it has rubbed of on me

Bonne Maman - stationery queen

And inevitably one with all those things that don't seem to have a home or are in transit

Bonne Maman jar - useful items