Christmas Baking: Gingerbread Mini Houses

The aroma of warm spices fills the house and slowly, one by one, everyone comes to the kitchen in anticipation of what is being baked this time around. It does not take long for the gingerbreads to bake and, once they are out of the oven, big and little hands try to get one, even though they are still hot... Moments like that fill my heart with happiness and love. They remind me of my own childhood and times when Mum or Grandma baked something we loved, how we all gathered in the kitchen. These moments bring the family together, they bring laughter and peace and create warm memories.

Tutorial: Gift Tags

Welcome to our last week of Sip Tea and EPP Sew Along! It's been a wonderful adventure that we shared with Irina @nordiccrafter and all of you who joined us by sewing with us, leaving comments on our posts and simply liking our work. Thank you so very much!

Today I would like to share with you the way I make gift tags. A small gift tag can add a lot of charm and love to any gift. Once you see how easy it is to make the base for your gift tag, you would want to create tags not only for Christmas, but for any special occasion. So gather your scraps and let's get crafty!

Christmas Coasters

Our Sip Tea and EPP Christmas Sew Along is going strong and we still have some ideas to share with you. During our second week, Irina and I made some coasters. I can never have enough coasters! I love using them and I love gifting them to my friends. They are quick to make and let you try out some new ideas and explore new techniques. It's that kind of make that gives you an instant gratification.

Scandinavian Gnome and Birdhouse Christmas Ornaments

Irina @nordiccrafter and I @stitchingnotes are about to start week two of our Sip Tea and EPP Christmas Sew Along. It is a lot of fun and you still have time to join us as we are going to share more projects, more ideas and more inspirations over the next few weeks on our Instagram accounts @nordiccrafter and @stitchingnotes. Last week we shared two cute ornaments: a Scandinavian Gnome designed by Irina and Birdhouse designed by me a while back.

When Irina sent me her Scandinavian Gnome pattern for our sew along, I dropped everything I was doing at that very moment and ran to my sewing space to pick the fabrics for this make. I was too excited as I knew right away that it was going to be ADORABLE.

Tutorial: Lovely Postcard Coaster

Two years ago I made a set of Christmas coasters using my ever so favourite Belle and Boo fabric. I planned to use them only during the holiday season, but they turned out to be very popular, that I decided to keep them all year round. Every time the late night tea is served I tend to use only these coasters. They do bring joy and make us smile. I though it would be nice to spread the joy at this special time of the year so I wrote a quick tutorial for you to make your own Lovely Postcard Coasters.

Christmas Mitten

It's pretty much Christmas time and I have to say that I am not even remotely ready for this. This year simply whooshed by and I had to slow down a lot to enjoy the small moments of everyday life, enjoy my Little One being little and needing me all the time, enjoy my Big Boy being a young man and not needing me as much as before. I even had to make sure that I enjoyed the mess and the little time I had for sewing.

A Set of Christmas Coasters...

...that I made for this Christmas and no one wants to use them. Not because we don't like them, but quite the opposite. The boys are saying that they are too pretty and nice to be used for something like a cup of tea that might stain the coaster. Well, I kind of agree with them. :-) The coasters turned out so sweet that I myself keep looking at them and fiddling with them while having my cup of tea and trying my best to keep my cup on the very corner of a coaster or using a different mug rug all together. That's ridiculous and we should stop this nonsense once and for all and enjoy using the things I make no matter how much we love them. Right?

Happy Christmas Makes

I enjoyed Christmas time this year. I promised myself that I would not get caught in a pre-Christmas rush and would make sure that I enjoy the time with my family and friends rather than trying to get all the things done the way I like and being left feeling tired and exhausted. I am happy to say that I managed to do just that. I even had a chance to have a few sweet naps with my Little One over the break period who gave up his day sleep a few weeks ago, but felt like napping the last two days.

I took my time to do a little bit of Christmas sewing this year that I finished all right on time. I have made my first ever advent calendar that we filled with cookies and chocolates. I ordered Belle and Book fabric called "Christmas" from the official store while it was on sale some time ago. When it arrived I was almost squealing with joy. It's so so cute! This fabric was a perfect choice for small pockets of the calendar.

First Christmas Placemat + Embroidery Pattern

Everything first. First cuddles and kisses, first favourite toy, Winter and Spring, first visit to a beach, first walk in a park, first pretty flower and the feel of soft grass under tiny feet, first taste of berries and cookies, and of course the ever first Christmas. So sweet!

Pocket Tissue Case

A small gift for a friend. Well, for four friends to be exact. I haven't seen them for a while and finally we are getting together to go out for morning tea - my ever so favourite. So I thought it would be nice to make a small present for each of the girls to mark the occasion. Just something quick, simple and useful at the same time. My choice was pocket tissue cases.

Sweet Crafting

Last minute finishing touches before Christmas. I am so glad we were right on time to complete our first ever Gingerbread House before Christmas Eve. Oh, how much happiness and fun it was to work on this project.

Tutorial: Birdhouse Hanging Ornament

A cute hanging ornament with a reverse applique. These houses are so quick and easy to make and it's a lot of fun too. They would look lovely on a Christmas tree or hanging on a door knob, they even can be used as gift tags. If you would like to make one, here is a step-by-step tutorial for you.

Winter Sparkle

The Artist Trading Card for the VeryBerryHandmade Swap, Winter Sparkle, is completed and ready to be sent away to its final destination. This time around I decided to try using a few different fabrics along with stamps, beards and sequence. And here is the result. A bit of sparkles, a bit of red, a bit of Christmas and plenty of white.

Cross-Stitch Linen Coasters

One more small tick on the list. Oh, it feels so good! Finally I finished a few sets of winterly coasters with yet another new cross-stitch pattern.

Christmas Gift Tags

Christmas is really just around the corner. It's hard to believe but the year is almost over and the last two months always fly by with an incredible speed. So I thought I better get started working not only on gifts but on some decorations as well. Today's project is - gift tags. I love making them!

Christmas Doesn't Have to be Red & Green

It can be any colour. Right? Dina at BossyMamma made no-sew napkin rings that I really liked. I was going to make them in red and green colours (like hers) but realised that I ran out of green felt.

Berry Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas filled with love, joy and happiness.
And some berry sweetness as well. :-)

Small Gifts and Christmas Rush

I am sure it's a very busy time of the year for everyone. Christmas is just around the corner and there are still so many things to do. Every January I promise myself that I would start getting ready for Christmas some time in October or at least in early November so I would have plenty of time on my hands and would avoid the mad rush. Well, easier said than done. I was not able to keep my promise yet again. I waited for too long, I was in September mode until almost two weeks ago. So of course I could not avoid the madness of trying to finish some gifts on time. But somehow I managed. Hurray! I made a few things for my friends that I hope they like.