How To Make Salt Dough Decorations for Christmas

Simply by taking household ingredients, you can have an awful lot of fun. Plain Flour, salt , wall paper paste and water mixed in the following ratio: 1 cup flour, half a cup of salt, half a cup of water, 2 tblsp wallpaper paste. Mix together and then knead for 10 minutes.
Leave to stand for 20 minutes and then mold, roll and shape the dough. "Glue" any bits together with water.

I've created a whole nativity set. You then bake in a low heat oven for as long as it takes for the items to become dry and hollow sounding.

The figures or shapes can then be left in natural state or painted with poster or acrylic paints. You can then apply a varnish and the items will last forever.

The sheep were created by grating the dough and then "glueing" the gratings on to the solid shape.

Left overs became this Christmas table topper.

This really is a cheep method of creating some amazing decorations. The whole lot cost well under £1.00.

Christmas stocking

A personalised blackwatch Christmas stocking made from beautiful viyella fabric

This is a one off item that will be personalised with your own choice of name.

Available from my Folksy store

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Felt Baubles

Wouldn't you love some of these lovely vintage look felt baubles for your tree?   Well now you can because the talented Bugs and fishes has kindly drawn up a tutorial that you can find on her blog HERE

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Christmas Trees

Have a look at this great tutorial for paper Plate Christmas trees at Being Grown Up Blog.  I'll definately be having a go soon.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Christmas Drawer Calender

The tutorial to make this advent calander is here

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Advent Drawers

Ros can come up tops again with her latyest tutorial for Christmas.  It''s a chest of draws made out of matchboxes and looks like a lot of fun.  Ros's tutorials are easy to follow and her photo step by step are very clear.  Have fun.  You can find the tuitorial onRos's blog.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Christmas Bauble card

I love this beautiful antique look Christmas card by Bo Bunny.  You can see the tutorial on her blog HERE

O, Come Let Us Adore Him

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Poinsettia ribbons

The instructions and step by step photos for this stunning poinsettia design can be found on Craft Fairy Design Blog

Poinsettia

It was Christmas Eve, all the children in the village were hurrying to attend the crib service in the church.  It was always a beautiful time.  Every one brought gifts to present to the Christ Child.
In one small hut standing on the edge of the village two young children wrapped their scarves around themselves, before they opened the door and went out into the night air. 
"Hurry," the boy called to his sister, "we don't want to be late", but still the girl dawdled only, her heart was heavy and her worry was apparent to the boy.
"I am sure that the most humble gift, if given in love will be acceptable" he offered.
In despair, looking around for beautiful flowers to gather and seeing none, she picked some green weeds.  As they approached the church, she hung her head in shame as the other children giggled and parents shared knowing looks.
The people entered the church and one by one went to the front to place their gifts before the nativity, elaborate baskets of fruit and ornaments were given down.  Then the whole congregation watched as the two children left their pew and took their green weeds to the front. 
"Even the most humble gift, if given in love" filled her heart as she lay the weeds down. A tear trickled down her cheek and though the tears, she saw the weed burst in to star shaped flowers of the most stunning red.  The gift had been given in love and had also been recieved with  love!

Aromas for Christmas

Here are some lovely ideas to Scent your home with out using manufactured fragrances.  They are on Re-Nest

Joy

This beautiful Joy suncatcher has been created by Joy Of Glass.  I love the jewell tones that have been used.

Thorns in the straw

Since the day the angel came
It seemed that everything had changed
The only certain thing
Was the child that moved within
On the road that would not end
Winding down to Bethlehem
So far away from home

Just a blanket on the floor
Of a vacant cattle-stall
But there the child was born
She held him in her arms
And as she laid him down to sleep
She wondered - will it always be
So bitter and so sweet

And did she see there
In the straw by his head a thorn
And did she smell myrrh
In the air on that starry night
And did she hear angels sing
Not so far away
Till at last the sun rose blood-red
In the morning sky 

Then the words of ancient seers
Tumbled down the centuries ...
A virgin shall conceive...
God with us... Prince of Peace
Man of Sorrows - strangest name
Oh Joseph there it comes again
So bitter yet so sweet

And as she watched him through the years
Her joy was mingled with her tears
And she'd feel it all again
The glory, and the shame
And when the miracles began
She wondered, who is this man
And where will this all end

'Til against a darkening sky
The son she loved was lifted high
And with his dying breath
She heard him say 'Father forgive'
And to the criminal beside
"Today-with me in Paradise"
So bitter yet so sweet

The Star

The wise men went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

Gifts From The East

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"

They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:


   It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
      no longer bringing up the rear.
   From you will come the leader
      who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

Christmas for everyone

meercat shepherds By Nifty knitts

There were shepherds camping in the neighbourhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Sing Noel

Victorian Sugar Plums

Longing For Light

This recipe has been shared by Muffinella.  You can see more of her amazing cakes and biscuits on her blog

Red Velvet Cake
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.


In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.


Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.


For the Cream Cheese Frosting:


In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.


Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.


Cook's Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

It came without .....

It came with out ribbons, it came without tags

It came with out packging, boxes or bags

Another Knitted Tree

This tree has been knitted by a group of knitters from Poulton le Fyde.  Members of the methodist church, a library knitting group and a retirement home all knitted  to produce this 18 foot tree.
After Christmas the tree will be disassembled and stitched together to form blankets for needy nations.
More details HERE

In the Bleak Mid Winter

Beatrix Potter Christmas

Knitted Christmas Tree

Knitters have been producing the 1200 squares that have made up the tree.  Like the previous one, after christmas these squares will be knotted into blankets.
You can see this tree at St Aldherms church, Poole 

Glorious Impossible

We've been having loads of fun this afternoon making snowflakes

You can do it too using this fantastic site

A Christmas Talk ~ Singing The Message

This is the talk I did on Christmas day 2011 in South Cave Church

I was very sad to read, just this last week headlines and articles in newspapers that stated

“the British public has an aversion to Christianity”

“British Christians are ashamed to show their faith publically”

That is incredibly sad.

There are similar issues in our schools.

Whilst the official line taken by the school is “Tolerance”, the reality is far different and the children can be subjected to taunts, name calling and an attitude of criticism for being a Christian or having anything to do with a church.  It’s certainly not seen as cool or modern to have a Christian faith.

This Christmas we received lots of beautiful Christmas cards.  But there is a trend, more and more the cards we receive each year are wishing us “Festive wishes” “festive greetings” and other “happy Holidays”

We are in a world where there is no room for God.  Where Christmas is a secular celebration increasingly being referred to as “the holiday season”.  We are in a world devoid of understanding, full of disrespect with no time, no room for God

Where people cant stop, cant see and cant hear and who wont join in.

But is it actually our fault.  Do we hold some of the responsibility?

Are we Protecting ourselves from ridicule at the expense of sharing our faith with other people.

If we look at the bible reading from Luke reading Luke 2

^-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

 ^13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

 ^15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

The shepherds told everyone... that is not a selected few, but everyone they came into contact with.

The flashmob video we saw earlier is something I have really enjoyed watching. I would love to have been there ……

But what can we take from the video this morning?

When the girl started to sing at the beginning, I bet she was really nervous.  She knew that others knew what was happening, but what if they all chickened out, what if she was the only one left singing?  But she sang out anyway.

Yes people may have thought she was mad, but she sang out.

There were those who didn’t want to know.  That put their heads down and hurried away, not wanting to be seen or associated with the singers.

There were those who busied themselves with their food, barely looking up, but unable to miss the beautiful music that was happening all around them.

Then there were the children, so utterly entraced by what they were hearing and seeing, so totally absorbed into the music that they were oblivious to the tugs from their parents to sit down.  They wanted to see and hear so much, that they stood on chairs to see.  Hungry for the music.

There were those with phones  taking photos and video’s of  it, so that they could go out and share the joy with other people.

The joy was evident The smiles of the singers and those listening

And these reactions are all reactions that may happen if we share with other people what Christmas means to us. 

You see Christmas is the perfect time to start sharing.  It’s a time of celebration, a time when in the resess of peoples minds there is some vague recollection of a manger and a baby.  By simply saying to someone ““this is what Christmas means to me” you are giving them the best Christmas present you could ever dream of.  It’s better than an x box 360, an It ouch, a transformer, a kindle……. You will be giving them the gift of a saviour, of a baby born in a manger,  & the love of a man who held his arms out on a cross for them.

Christmas Crafts ~ Ferrero Rocher Rose

Who needs an excuse to eat chocolate?

Well here is the perfect excuse.  Susan has spent Christmas making these amazing roses.

I think they are beautiful.  You can see more details on her blog HERE

Nativity Characters ~ The Shepherds

We hear about the shepherds in Luke account of the Nativity.  The shepherds were a goup of men who would be out on the hills side caring from their sheep through most of the year.  They would be grubby and were certainly the lowest on social scale.  And yet it's to them that an angel appears and tells the good news.  They are ordinary men.  The shepherds hear the greeting and without hesitatiuon leave their flocks to the mecy of the night and hurry to find the things that the angels had told them.  Then they rejoiced and hurried around shaing the good news.

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Clove Oranges

Christmas Craft Tutorial ~ Make A Green Garland

Nativity Characters ~ The Wise Men

The three wise men

The Three wise men (or in some translations Magi or kings) are traditionally celebrated at the feast of Epithany 6th Jan.  It was believed that the Baby Jesus may actually have been as old as two when they visited.

They had been looking at the stars and followed one that they believe foretold the coming of a sviour for all the people.

They brought gifts of 

Gold ~ symbolising Kingship

Frankinscence ~ symbolising Godship

and Myrrh ~ symbolising sacrifice and tears.

Nativity Characters ~ Herod

Herod was the king of Judea.  We read about him in Matthews gospel.  The three wise men visited him in order to discover the whereabouts of the child they were seeking. Herod was a Jewish king.

Being an educated man and with access to the learned scholars of the land etc, it is surprising that Herod was not more in touch with his roots. 
He felt that the term used in the scriptures "a saviour for all mankind" was a direct threat to hi and saw Jesus as a threat and "not for him" when infact Jesus was coming to the earth as much for him as for anyone else, because God loved Herod too.

Herod made enquireies from the wise men asking where and when the star had appeared and made the pretence of wanting to go and see the baby too, but the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. 
Herods raging then saw him issue a degree that all male children under the age of two in the vicinity of Bethlehem were to be killed.

Joseph was also warned in a dream of Herods intention and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape him.

Christmas recipes ~ Coconut ice

What Christmas Means To Me

This will be a very personal post.  I am not prone to spilling my emotions on the web, but for once I really feel led to do so.
When I started this blog a couple of months ago, it was as a pure indulgence.  There is so much beautiful craft, music, tallent etc out there that only gets shared for a short time each year, that I decided to thoroughly embrace it.  
Christmas to me is so special. It starts in September (the day after the kids go bck to school) as it does for many crafters (for some it never stops!)  The big run up to Christmas, it seems so far away, you have time to plan, order materials, design, think and then all too soon it's nearly here.  Normally around October I get some flash of inspiration and the subject for the Christmas day service (which we lead as a music group)comes bounding into being  This year was no exception and very quickly there was a drama written and a title "missing the point".  I guess it all stems from Google refusing to acknowledge Christmas last year.  In the run up to Christms, there were christmas cards shown, but when you hovered over them the greeting was not "Happy Christmas", but "Happy Holidays".
Whilst the material Christmas takes place in every town centre or home (mine included,) when asked about traditions and what matters to people they nearly always respond with thoughts of the people they love.
I personally see nothing wrong with embracing the secular side to Christmas as you can see from this blog, but I do feel that all too often the real reson for Christmas is forgotton.
For me Christmas is about:
 The obedience of a young girl, of her future being so radically changed, of being prepared to undergo shame, of the motherly instincts, and the will to do the right thing.
Of the bravery of a man, who also prepared to face shame, but who listened and responded in love.
Of the joy of angels spreading the good news.
The wonder of shepherds, who celebrated the news of the birth of a baby, left their flocks and hurried to visit and then returned home rejoicing and telling others.
The perseverance of the wise men, who studied, waited, watched and travelled to worship a new born king.
And of course there is the baby himself, sent to the earth in human form to be the light of the world.
So please, this Christmas time take a few moments to remember why and how and that he can be your light too.
Happy Christmas