Advent filler ideas and mugs

Still on Advent train of thought this evening. Of course, I didn't think to take photos of the contents until after I had packaged them up, that would have been way to easy to show you lol. Thought I would share a little list of things I thought could work well in an advent calendar like this or as stocking stuffers even.  The girls I made these for are 5 and 8. What might be age-appropriate for them may not be for other children though?

The first thing that came to mind is a little sweet element for each day/ I started with an assortment of mini candy canes, largish chocolate coins and wrapped chocolate balls that look like brussels sprouts. It's a big joke with the girls threatening to give them sprouts for dinner as they say they don't like them so had to get them in somewhere over Christmas.

Other things that went in were

lip balm

pom pom key chain to put on their bags

puzzle pies

stickers

small candy cane-shaped glow stick

erasers

hair bobbles

other things that would work are

handwritten seasonal jokes

an IOU for an activity that day

small pens

warm socks 

Once you start thinking the sky is the limit. You are only limited by the size of your chosen container for these things.  Use envelopes and have an activity every day instead of little gifts.  My son's favourite advents were the ones where we had an activity every day.  Things like write cards, bake for Christmas, hot chocolate and a film. It was a lovely way to build up towards the season.

This evening I sublimated 3 mugs.  This design was one of them.  Isn't the robin so handsome?

Love the sentiment that goes with it too. Always love watching the robins in the garden.  We look after my daughter's pup while she is at work and even he sits at the window watching the birds now.  Not sure he is watching with the same intents we are mind!

All in all, it's been a pretty good day today.  Tomorrow looks busy but OK.  If I can fit some crafting in I will be happy

Advent in the works

A few months ago I had this simple advent calendar idea. Simple pouches or packages made and filled with little bits and pieces for people.  Decided to get organised for once and started on my granddaughters today. They are still 4 days short as need just a couple of more bits for the last few days. I am really happy how they are working out so far 

First of all, I envisioned just little sweets and girly bits and bobs I thought the girls would like. Then I came across sublimation and sublimated jigsaw puzzles and decided in each day each girl would receive a few pieces of a jigsaw of their puppy. The idea is that on Christmas eve they would have this puzzle to put together.

Earlier today I took the time to sort out my 6-inch square paper packs and stuck 48 edges of the paper to form a tube to use as these pouches.  Then I used a little sellotape or craft tape to stick down the bottom edge flat. Filled with the bits and pieces I felt they needed and then pinched the top edge flat and sellotaped it to the top flat edge was the opposite way to the bottom edge given an elongated triangle pouch.

I hope this picture helps show what I am trying to describe shape-wise. Apart from figuring out how to display them and trimming the edges off, these are nearly completed. Can't wait to hear if the girls get as much as a kick opening all these as I did with the planning and putting together of them.

advent day 2

Todays advent mission was a simple one.  First Christmas hot chocolate of the season.  

Not sure what he is checking out here? Right ratio of cream to hot chocolate perhaps? It was enjoyed anyway.  It's been a busy interesting week so all that was wanted this evening was a relaxing evening and he got it.

I have been a lady of leisure today.  Tea, cake and baileys hot chocolate with a friend in the morning, and coffee and catch up with another friend in the evening. And as I am home now I am reading Jamie Oliver's Christmas cookbook and drinking sweet rhubarb tea. Making plans for cooking and baking for the weekend ahead.

I am not usually one for fruit teas but this sweet rhubarb tea by Taylors is delicious. 

So not a massively busy day, or wildly interesting one but it was a lovely day full of wonderful people and relaxing times

Take care 

Jules xx

advent? blogmas? not sure what to call this

So our first box held the instructions to ask Mum for the first decoration of the season and put it together ready to display.  A 3D star with lights. 

I love Tiger the shop.  Full of lovely things and often fairly cheap to.  But this was a sturdy cardboard 3D star, which went together really easily actually.

Bit of fanning and and unflattening each spike of the star and adding the lights to the interior before using the toggle on the drawstring to keep it all in place.  Luke says it will look great on top of the tree when it goes up.  

And when finished.  Will look great in a lower light later in the season I bet.

I did also make up my quilt block. I used the log cabin method on this one but not really keeping it a true log cabin with light and dark sides. Does this make it a scrappy log cabin block? No idea but I like it.  Already have an idea on what to do with tomorrows block. 

Spent the day shopping with my daughter and got a few Christmas presents. So a pretty eventful but fun day. Tomorrow looks just as busy, with a both more sewing involved.  Unfortunately some of the things I am sewing are gifts so I cannot really share them just yet.

For now I am going to catch up with a few online obligations I have to do and get the bits ready for tomorrows advent box adventures.I think I get more excited over these things than any of the children ever did. 

Take care

Jules xx

Preparing for Advent and plans

Every year I do something a bit different for Advent.  I really begrudge buying an Advent calendar with diddy cheap nasty chocolate in and that is about all.  So we do things slightly different here.  We have a calendar that rarely contains chocolate, although I did add some this year, and focus more of things to do to enjoy the season in little ways while also helping getting ready for Christmas day.  This year I couldn't find something I needed that was vital so had to change my plans.  So boxes it is with chocolate coins and paper chains.

I filled each box with a coin and a paper chain with the days instructions written on, and another  paperchain so they can be put together and added on to the other days each day.

And all ready for the morning.

Then I have a personal challenge.  I have these 2 jelly rolls I picked up from Fabric Land a while ago.  I am going to use these to make a quilt top.  I figure I can use these to make up a quilt block each day.  After the Advent season I am aiming to put them together by the new year. Should be an interesting experience.

Here are the range of colours in these rolls.

And as I finish up for the night I realise there is one spare chocolate coin left over.  I think I will have this with my coffee in the morning.  Being paid in chocolate is never a bad thing,

Take care

Jules xx