Christmas Swap Time - Part 3

I think it must have been a super busy year for the postman this Christmas, as I also finally received my parcel from my Secret Santa Swapper!  But it was well worth the wait.  Danielle sent me such a thoughtful package especially for me (and my little fur babies!)  Included were:

Adorable Bandanas & Leads for Daisy and Hugo (that she handmade and embroidered herself!).
Shiny silver tree ornaments.
Wind in the Willows (to add to my reading list)
Scrummy Peppermint candy swivel sticks to have in a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate (so cool).
Festive flavoured tea.
And a beautiful hair clip with a little bit of sparkle too ;)

Thanks SO much Danielle for your lovely gifts!

Daisy in her Bandana...

Hugo in his (so cute)

Daisy LOVES to have her picture taken!

Hugo's a little bit impatient ;)

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Christmas Swap Time - Part 2

After this weekend I am officially in a festive mood!  I finished making the Apron for my Secret Santa Swap partner.  I really enjoyed making this apron and gathering up an array of fun, tasty, Christmassy "tuck-in's"  I hope my partner likes her goodies......

Now......what other Christmas type activities can i get get up to??  Ah....I LOVE this time of year! 

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Christmas Swap Time

Yay......I can't wait to do this swap! 

1. At LEAST One Handmade Item
2. Something to Read (book, magazine, poem)
3. Something for the Tree (garland, ornament, topper, skirt)
4. Holiday Goody (candy, cocoa, tea, coffee, chocolate)
5. Challenge: Include one gift for each letter needed to spell out a word from the season (SNOW, JOY, FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, GIFT, TREE, JESUS, STAR, SANTA, etc). We did this last year and it was SO MUCH FUN! Of course, the perfect gift for an "A" is an APRON.

Shawnee has requested that participants answer her questionnaire to help out out swap partner.....so here are my answers...

Shawnee's Secret Santa Swap Questionnaire

1.  What are your hobbies?

Sewing, Cooking,

2.  What are your favourite colours? –

Pink, Lilac, White, Taupe, Aqua, Melon, Aubergine

3.  Do you collect anything?

 Not really

4.  Are you allergic to any fibres or animals?

 No

5.  Do you have any pets?

Yes!  two gorgeous fluffy doggies, Daisy & Hugo.

6.  Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate?

All of these!

7.  What do you like to read?

Classics

8.  Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet?

Candies

9.  What is your favourite holiday treat?

 mmm so many - probably gingerbread

10.  Describe your favourite holiday tradition.

Sitting around the tree and opening our gifts

11.  Did you believe in Santa as a child?

Yes!

12.  When do you open presents?

We have a European background so half of our family’s pressies are opened on Christmas Eve and the other half on Christmas Day.

13.  Do you put up a tree and when?  If not, how do you celebrate?

I love putting up our tree - it's HUGE.  We decorate the tree and house on the 1st December so we can get the most enjoyment out of all our effort!

14.  Does your tree have a theme?

Yes, each year we have a different theme - this year I'm thinking maybe red & white

15.  What has been your favourite gift to give?  to receive?

My favourite gift to give is something that's hard to find or something special from overseas. I love receiving gifts that someone has put a lot of thought and love into especially for me.

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Frosted Flurries Apron Swap - Part 3

Hey - Check out the super glamorous Apron I received from Jen in the Frosted Flurries Apron Swap!  I love the way she has incorporated the snowflake into the design - really clever!  She also included some exceptionally thoughtful gifts for me using her word of choice - TINSEL.  She discovered that I am on a creative journey and sent me all sorts of goodies to get me inspired and motivated - like a bunch of beads and trinkets to make earrings and a really cute snowman making kit!  Jen also sent me some very delicious sounding recipe cards with seasonal treats well loved by her & her family .....yum....I can't wait to try them out!  Also in my parcel was the most snuggly scarf I have ever seen and some cookie cutters and a book to keep photos in as a record of my creative adventures!

THANK YOU so very much Jen.....such an amazing thoughtful package - I feel totally spoilt!  Love x

Frosted Flurries Apron Swap - Part 2

This is the apron I made for Shawnee's Frosted Flurries Apron Swap.  My partner (from the USA) wanted something that she could wear throughout the winner season and not just Christmas time - so I found this really pretty Poinsettia fabric.  I love the colour - so deep and warm, perfect for brightening a dreary winters day.

We had to include a snowflake somewhere on the apron itself ......this was a little tricky - but *light bulb* I thought of tying on a snowflake cookie cutter that she could use to make cookies while wearing her new apron.....heee heee!


The last image here is of all the tuck-ins I included in my parcel.  The word I chose to base mine around was SNOW.....

S - Star Shape bowl
N - Noel embroidered tea towel
O - Ornaments (snowflake shapes)
W - "White Christmas" cd

I also included some cute snowflake cupcake cases and some more cookie cutters.....yay!  Hope she likes it..........

I  LOVE Christmas! - not long to go now....

I'm all a Flurry.......Frosted Flurries Apron Swap!

  

Surprise, Surprise - I've joined the Frosted Flurries (love the theme name) Apron Swap hosted by the lovely Shawnee!   I've really been looking forward to this swap and I can't wait to get my partner info.  This swap is really going to get me into the Christmas spirit - I can't wait to start!  As the theme suggests we have to include a Snowflake somewhere on the apron....super cute idea!

There is a little twist with this swap - instead of including random christmassy "tuck-ins" this time we have to choose a word of the season - eg. Faith, Joy, Hope etc. and find extras that start with each letter of the word we choose. Like....if I chose the word "STAR" I might send my partner a Stocking, Tinsle, Apricot jam, RedRibbon......

hmmm ....I am having trouble deciding on a good word though.....let me know if you have any ideas for what word I should use and/or tuck-in ideas. X

"Back to The Future" - Flirty Apron Swap

Ta Da!....... what do you think of the apron I made for the "Back to the future" Flirty Apron Swap??  I had such a great time making it and looking for the "tuck-ins" (extra little goodies).  The tuck-ins had to reflect the Back-to-the-future themes, they being: 50s, 80s and The Future.

For the 80s I found these really cool RayBan-esque sunglasses that had a lovely pale blue frame & a metallic shopping tote with a giant picture of a cassette tape on it - awesome. 



 For the 50s I decided on a cute double string pearl bracelet and for The Future .... well that one was tough....but, trust me to think of food,  I remembered a childhood favourite "Space Food Sticks"...for when we travel to the moon of course!  :)

I haven't received my apron yet, but I will post picture as soon as I do!

Eye Spy.....

As promised here is a little sneak peek at my apron for Shawnee's #11 Flirty Apron Swap!......

I am sending off my parcel today.  Its all wraped-up nice and cosy in its little box (not too squished I hope).

Flirty Apron Swap

Yesterday I joined Shawnee's Flirty Apron Swap!  This is my first ever swap and I am very excited to take part.  I've heard that swapping is heaps of fun..........so hear goes...

The them is as follows:  

"Create a handmade apron package based on "Back to the Future"! Your apron can be movie-themed, 50's retro, 80's pop, or Futuristic!"

I've chosen 50's RETRO as my theme.   Check out some of these cute pictures I found for inspiration...

Stay tuned to see what I come up with........(any suggestions welcome).