Valentines Handmade Gifts

Why do to the stores, when you can show your love with a handmade gift or card?

Here's how...

It is stressful with the pressure of finding a Valentine, or if you have a seasoned Valentine you need to be inventive with a gift you have not bought before. You can buy the chocolates, the cards, the flowers. Let's do it handmade style this year...

Handmade Valentines Bath Bombes

I first posted these back in Christmas 2012 and I wass amazed at the response. These cute little hearts are just what you want to make sure that you bag a nice hot bath with the love of your life.

Click on the link below to find out how..






http://samschofielddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-bathing-loveliness-for-christmas.html

The Card

 With an old type writer and some red and cream card, make an up-cycled card. You can always handwrite instead or print using a retro font off your laptop? Type out your message the rip the papers up and sew together on your sewing maching. I then stuck this on a piece of red card with the my message below.

To give the card an arty feel, I cut two pieces of card and stitched them together on a sewing maching. Keep the sewing maching foot down and sew in a straight line ideally with a 90 or 100 needle so you don't break the needle.

One unique Valentine's card for your loved on.

Hand Painted Quilty Hanging

Sometimes of year it is nice to decorate the home, I am doing this on Valentine's day simply because it is my husbands birthday as well, so I have to go the extra mile but it is so worth it to see the smile on his face!

This year I am making a Valentine's day wall hanging with hand painted hearts, all stitched together to form a creative quilt effect. Simple, quirky and very us!

 

I hope I have inspired you for your Valentines?

 

 

Love to hear your comments?

With The Baileys Now Open For Christmas ...

With The Baileys Now Open For Christmas ...

...make this cake with store cupboard essentials

I just love this cake as it has all those lovely things that you need after a busy day. So rich but light and easy to pop in the oven if you have the oven on for dinner.

You will need the following -

125 grams caster sugar

2 eggs

125 grams butter

100 grams self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

30 grams cocoa

2 tablespoons of Baileys

Let's cook!

1. Cream together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy.

2. Beat in the eggs one by one.

3. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa into the mixture and fold.

4. Add the Baileys cream and fold.

5. Grease two eight inches cake tins and add the mixture.

6. Bake in a 175C oven or equivalent for 30 mins or until a knife is clean on testing.

Leave to cool and either serve as it is or with fresh cream.

Lovely change to spiced and fruity cake at this time of year.

More Bath Bombes 2013 Style

After Such A Big Response To Bath Bombes ...

 

Here is a new recipe...Earl Grey & Lavender Bath Bombes

 makes 12 bombes

You Will Need -

115 grams bicarbonate of soda
100 grams citric acid granules
50 grams cornflower
2 teaspoons lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon lavender dried flowers
2 earl grey tea bags
1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil
1 egg box
12 small freezer bags
1 tablespoon cornflower for final step
Almond oil to grease out the moulds

Go Create!

1. Mix the bicarbonate of soda, citric acid granules and cornflower in a bowl.
2. Add the tea leaves from one tea bag and dried flowers to the mix
3. Then add the essential oil and almond oil drop by drop so that the mixture comes together like wet sand. If you think it needs more oil mould it in your hands, if it sticks then this is the right consistency.
4. Then take a tablespoon of the mixture and mould in your hands like a snow ball.
5. Place the ball in a food bag and mould really tight into a ball through the plastic.
6. Wrap tightly in the foil and leave for 24 hours.
7. After 24 hours roll in the a mixture of earl grey tea leaves and 1 tablespoon of cornflower.

Once dry wrap in brown paper or acetate and they are ready to use!

I really hope you enjoy making these bombes as much as I did. Please send me your ideas and I try and make a new recipe.

Bath Bombe Treats

Raid Your Kitchen Cupboards...

Get Ready To Make Something Bath time Treats...

makes 12 mini heart bombes

I just love these gorgeous heart shaped bombes, make sure you oil up your moulds and let them set for 24 hours of more. They will break off a little when you get them out the moulds so don't be alarmed, the heavier you press then mixture into the moulds the better the shape when you press them out.

You Will Need  -

115 grams bicarbonate of soda
100 grams citric acid granules
50 grams cornflower
2 teaspoons lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon lavender dried flowers
Handful of rose petals
1 teaspoon of almond oil
Set of ice cube rubber moulds
Almond oil to grease out the moulds

Go Create!

1. Mix the bicarbonate of soda, citric acid granules and cornflower in a bowl.
2. Add the petals and dried flowers to the mix
3. Then add the essential oil and almond oil drop by drop so that the mixture comes together like wet sand. If you think it needs more oil mould it in your hands, if it sticks then this is the right consistency.
4. Press the mixture into the moulds and leave to set for 24 hours.
5. Put out the mini bombes and leave to dry for another day before placing in paper bags for gifts.

To make one big bombe!

You will need the same ingredients as above but 6 food bags and tin foil.
1. Follow the heart bombe recipe until stage 4, then mould the mixture in your hands like a snow ball.
2. Place the ball in a food bag and mould really tight into a ball through the plastic.
3. Wrap tightly in the foil and leave for 24 hours.

Once dry unwrap and they are ready to use!

I really hope you enjoy making these bombes as much as I did.