Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 18 - Mini Chocolate Wreaths

Um, okay bear with me.  You know those cute cookies-used-as-bottle-toppers-that-straws-fit-through?  I have no idea what to call them.  They're all over Pinterest (and I used them here).  I love the look, and I was anxious to recreate something like this for a recent little gathering, but with a Christmassy theme instead.  I was sent these stunning Birch Straws c/o Pop Roc Parties, and a Christmas Wreath seemed like the perfect substitute for the flower cookies.  I could've just made cookies for these too, I suppose, but this seemed more fun.

So they don't look exactly like wreaths, but I thought they looked quite sweet still.  I made Chocolate Crackle using this recipe, pressing them into cupcake wrappers and making holes in centers before they set.  I also added some extra cocoa to cover over the rice bubbles better.  Then sprinkled with green hundreds and thousands, and some little sweets.  And I still have heeeeeaps of Crackle left in my fridge, which I am trying very hard to resist eating.

I will show you more scenes from this little party in another advent post... soon...

Weekly Advent Wrap-Up

For some reason I thought I was due to write this post tomorrow, rather than last Monday.  A sign of how busy my brain is at the moment.

Day 8

Day 9

Day10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

I'm looking forward to doing some/all of these activities with Eleanor next year.  I love the idea of a project and activity based advent, I think it will suit us perfectly. I have the last seven projects all prepped and ready, so my blog advent is drawing to a close. Have you had a favourite project so far?  Those Snowglobe cookies have really grown on me...  The rest of the ideas are mostly foodie ones.  Cute foodie ones x

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 17 - Mini Tinsel

M is for Mini Tinsel!  The instructions for this 'project' are: buy a packet of metallic pipe-cleaners, and wrap them around stuff.  Instant mini tinsel!  A simple and fun activity that doesn't involve hard work and/or chalkboard paint/sewing-machine/cutting+gluing.  Win!

Milk bottles available from Pop Roc Parties x

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 16 - Mini Pompom Garland

I bought this packet of pompoms quite awhile ago, and have used them for a number of crafty projects so far.  I never would have imagined so many uses, and I haven't even scratched the surface.  They might be my new favourite craft item, actually.

So, I took a needle and a long thread, and made this little pompom garland to decorate an empty wall.  The whole thing probably took less than a minute.  Now that's the type of project I like!

Christmassy, but not overtly so.  After Christmas, I will change the colours around and leave it where it is...

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 15 - Deck The (Mini) Halls

K is for Keeping house.  Atticus Elf sure has a nesting instinct.  Other elves are wreaking havoc in their December homes, but A.E. is just as happy with a cuppa and a good book (and a place to put his feet up).  I felt like this was too much fun not to include in the advent.  Even if you don't have an elf, I'm sure you could find a fun space to create a 'pop-up living room' for a teddy bear friend.  I used some of dollhouse furniture, and of course the lovely Elf Fairy Lights sent to me by Max.   The lights actually inspired this entire idea, which is a follow-on from an earlier adventure of A.E.  

If it's not too chaotic on Christmas Eve, I hope to take this idea even further, with presents under the tree and a stocking full of things (scrunched up paper).  I pretty much felt extreme happiness while I was setting up this scene.  Yeah.  I'm a geek.

Details:  Miniature frames c/o my amazing aunt (excepting the heart frame w b/w contact of my ma) filled with the kiddos passport photos; Christmas tree from The Warehouse; Elf books - previously here; snowglobe c/o mama - from NY; Mini books/camera/jug/shelves - thrifted; wooden chair handmade by someone in my family (maybe one of my bros?); coffee table made by my brother; rug - from a card I bought from Whitcoulls ages ago; Christmas stocking - previously here; fabric 'carpet' - c/o The Make Cafe; soldier made by Ruby in the Dust; tea-cup - IKEA; mini wooden tree handed down from a cousin; elf fairy lights c/o Max

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 14 - Christmas Crackers

You know what?  I think I'm going to make it to the end of this advent!  I had a couple of projects that didn't quite pan out for me.  It happens.  But all is not lost, and I still have a bunch of activities up my sleeve for the final few days...  Some of them, like today's, are far from original.  I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel, but (hopefully) create a resource for easy, simple, and fun craft/foodie ideas for advent.  Next year I may attempt some of these projects with E, we'll see.

I bought this packet of Christmas crackers on sale at The Warehouse.  Sweet!  I know they will sell them for $2 after Christmas, but I was still happy with half price.    Then I dismantled, and re-mantled - with a new set of surprises inside...

So easy when you cut the new version from the template of the old cracker.  Re-glue the popper to the new cracker, and decorate as you please.  I have some new vintage style stickers in my collection and they look perfect.

I biffed the plastic toys, and replaced with some stickers, a party popper, and a polkadot balloon.  If I'd been really brainy, I would have added some glitter too.  I may just pry them open and add some, because now that I've thought about it, I have to do it...

I made a handful of these for an upcoming Christmas celebration with Eleanor's friends.  If I have time, I hope to make more.

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 13 - Christmas Printables

I made these Christmas printables a while back, using a snowflake of Rosa's illustrating, and a snowglobe I drew ages back.  Paper cup covers and party hats.  I hope the sizing is okay.  I just drew them exactly to size, scanned and added colour, etc.  But technical stuff is not my thing, so if you do print these out, try them in b/w first.

Christmas Advent Ideas: Day 12 - Snow Globe Cookies

Even though I had fun decorating these cookies, they definitely didn't turn out how I hoped they would ;-)  It was one of those Expectation vs. Reality moments, fo' sho'.  

Alice made the cookie cutter, and the gingerbread.  I simply cut the shapes and decorated, much like your own child might.  

And they were super yum.  Don't mind that one that I smudged.  It still tasted GOOD!

So today, all things going well, I will be setting up a little stall at the Christmas Carnival.  Cross your fingers that we make lots of sales!  I am a little sad to say that these past few weeks have been hard on my little family, and while I started this Advent project with all the best intentions, I may take some time out soon - once I have a few important jobs out of the way - which may mean I don't reach the end of this.  I have a few more completed projects to share, and you never know - I may find the energy to continue... I'll let you know.  x