Do it yourself Do it Yourself
Christmas
Is that all you can spend this christmas? 10 steps to make even this Spectacular!
Low Budget Holiday? We have the perfect solution to your low budget holiday. We have ten brilliant steps to convert your cheap nightmare to a beautiful traditional christmas setting! This could be your fancy window display, beautiful table setting, or various homemade gifting concepts. It just becomes what you want it to become. Here are the ten steps : Wrap those bottles : Every christmas scenario involves a lot of bottle. In this case, if you have empty ones, decorate them for the setting. If you have ones to gift, or for dinner, wrap them up and make them look very presentable. Cover the plates : So what if all you have a chipped or plain boring plates? Just wrap them up in something very attractive and you are good to go.
you are going to be drinking it, make your choice. Flowers : Every season has a flower, and this season calls for poinsettia. They are generally available everywhere and quite cheap. The bright side is , they also last for a whole month. Background : The most important thing to be considered, whether its a setting or a display, this is probably the concept which will enhance your theme. Here we have used just maroon colour bed sheets! Even they can do the trick! Setting : Now its time to set the whole thing up. Decide if you need a projection, or if its all going to be laid out. So depending on that, you can make do with your setting. Lighting : Most importantly, to pull off that grand finale look, you most definitely need the right kind of lighting to accentuate the setting. In this case, yellow lighting would be the best to go with.
Gifts : Do you have those few special gifts that need to be wrapped? Bring them on, wrap them with style and theme. All you need are just green and red papers, so that it wrapping and Decors : stays in your christmas theme. And a roll of Passion for beautiful ribbon has increased gold curling ribbons that will go with anyin recent years. Keep in mind, however, thing and everything. that gorgeous ribbons are often very expensive. Use them for special gifts rather than Chocolates : Who doesn’t love chocolates? presents that might be ripped open in the they make a very beautiful setting, as well as a great variety of wonderful things to eat. blink of an eye. It will also help to confine the use of special ribbons to smaller items and come up with cheaper alternatives for Wine and Cheese : This is just another large bulky gifts. favourite of all time. So if you are a wine lover, then this is a great idea. Make a platter out of the cheese that you have. You can is a useful item for all sorts of gifts in bags. go tasting on them later. Glitter wire (or garland) is metallic covered wire with sprays of metallic cutouts (stars, Fill the Glasses : If you are setting them hearts, trees, etc.) bursting out in every only on display, then fill the glasses with direction. Use wire cutters to trim to shorter just coke or pepsi. They are great to look at when chilled and poured in a glass. But if
Do it Yourself lengths and use them as “twist ties” to close cello or paper gift bags. Wind the ends around a pencil for a curly finish. Inexpensive and Important Materials for all Many people like the look of using wrapping paper that is homemade. These can be done in brown craft paper (plain or rubber stamped with designs), using the comics as wrapping paper, origami papers for small gifts, wallpaper scraps, old scarves, or even pieces of fabric Interesting effects can be made by using wrapping paper strips as ribbons for gifts. Use one or two layers, and tape or glue them in place. These can also be nice for mailed gifts since this is a ribbon that won’t get crushed. This inexpensive narrow ribbon can be curled with the blade of a knife or scissors. It can be somewhat fussy to use, but is colorful and fun for kids gifts. Gather three or four strands of assorted colors and
use them together as if they were a single strand. Tie in a knot, leaving about about 12” of end to curl. Gifts can be made special by tucking in a bit of greenery. Look for artificial leaf or pine sprigs to use on gifts. Cut off the fronts of beautiful holiday cards and attach them to your gifts using double face tape. The picture on the card will dress up your gift and add a bit of color and style. Use a simple cording as ribbon. - Beautiful tags are a lovely touch. However, they can sometimes come off and get lost. Try the stick-on types when mailing gifts or for large gatherings when the tag could be inadvertently detached. To and from information can also be written on top of the gift (on the wrapping paper) or on the ends of the ribbon tie. Or, glue or tape the greeting card right to the top of the box.
Cover the plates : So what if all you have a chipped or plain boring plates? Just wrap them up in something very attractive and you are good to go. Gifts : Do you have those few special gifts that need to be wrapped? Bring them on, wrap them with style and theme. All you need are just green and red papers, so that it stays in your christmas theme. And a roll of gold curling ribbons that will go with anything and everything. Chocolates : Who doesn’t love chocolates? they make a very beautiful setting, as well as a great variety of wonderful things to eat. Wine and Cheese : This is just another favourite of all time. So if you are a wine lover, then this is a great idea. Make a platter out of the cheese that you have. You can go tasting on them later. Fill the Glasses : If you are setting them only on display, then fill the glasses with just coke or pepsi. They are great to look at when chilled and poured in a glass. But if you are going to be drinking it, make your choice.
Do it Yourself
Flowers : Every season has a flower, and this season calls for poinsettia. They are generally available everywhere and quite cheap. The bright side is , they also last for a whole month. Craft and stationery stores have blank tags in a variety of shapes. You can also make your own tags in any size or shape using colored paper or cardstock. Scalloped edge scissors will also help create beautiful looking tags.
Poinsettia
In the next page Magic. Thats the word, the entire spread contains the full display that you might have been working on. It gives you an idea of what it looks like when finished and assembled completelyunder low light. And especially regarding the flowers which have been added to make the display more interesting. All the elements in the picture are exactly what you have been working with. Anything is easy to create with the right mind set and proper organization of the same resources. This can be done by anyone as you can see from the pictures in the page. This helps you go stage by stage to reach the end product in the next page.
Bright, flaming red, star-shaped Poinsettias are known as ‘Flower of the Holy Night’ or ‘Flame Leaf’ in the United States. One of the most popular flowers in Central America, it was brought here by Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico, over a hundred years ago. Still most of the supply of this famous beloved Christmas flower in American cities is said to come from California and the folklore attached to it comes from Mexico. Like Christmas Rose, this flower also represents the deep love for Christ and great devotion of a pure innocent human being to baby Jesus.
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Experiment! The wine should be at least as sweet, if not a touch sweeter, than the chocolate you are serving it with. Otherwise, the taste may 10 Steps Cont. quickly veer towards bitter or sour. Background : Whether its a setting or a dis- When pairing wines with chocolate, your play, this is probably the concept which will best bet is to match lighter, more elegant flavored chocolates with lighter-bodied enhance your theme. Here we have used wines; likewise, the stronger the chocolate, just maroon colour bed sheets! Even they the more full-bodied the wine should be. can do the trick! Setting : Now its time to set the whole For example, a bittersweet chocolate tends thing up. Decide if you need a projection, or to pair well with an intense, in-your-face California Zinfandel. if its all going to be laid out. So depending on that, you can make do with your setting. Similar to “formal� wine tasting, if you will be experimenting with several varities of Lighting : Most importantly, to pull off that grand finale look, you most definite- chocolates, work from light to dark. ly need the right kind of lighting to accentuate the setting. In this case, yellow lighting would be the best to go with. Voila! All your elements are ready now. The most important thing next is putting them together.
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Magic.
Exquisite Chocolate Yule Log Ingredients For the Sponge 5 medium eggs 150g caster sugar 75g plain flour 2 tbsp cocoa 25g butter, melted For the Filling 100g canned Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Purée 1 tsp vanilla extract 150g icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp milk 150g plain chocolate (see Cook’s Tips) For the Icing 100g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 200ml double cream 150g plain chocolate (see Cook’s Tips) Method Preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5. Grease a 26cm x 35cm shallow Swiss roll tin or baking tray and line the base and sides with baking parchment. To make the sponge, place the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk for 6-8 minutes until the mixture is pale and thick enough to leave a trail on the surface when the whisk beaters are lifted. Tip the flour and cocoa into a sieve and sift over the whisked mixture. Fold in using a large metal spoon, cutting through the mixture until all traces of flour are gone. Fold in 2 tablespoons of hot water, then drizzle with the melted butter and blend in, using the same method as for the flour. Pour the mixture into the tin, spreading evenly into the corners. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cake is firm to the touch. Turn out onto a clean sheet of baking parchment, peel off the baking parchment and roll up the sponge, starting from the short end, to enclose the paper. Leave to cool.
For the filling, beat the chestnut purée in a medium bowl until softened. Break up the chocolate and melt in a small bowl placed over a pan of simmering water. Stir into the chestnut purée, then add the vanilla extract, sifted icing sugar and milk and mix well. Leave to cool. Gently unroll the cake, then spread the filling evenly over the top, leaving a 1cm border around the edge. Carefully re-roll the cake, using the paper to help you, then place on a board and cover with clingfilm while you make the icing. Pour the cream into a small pan and bring gently to the boil. Remove from the heat, add the chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Beat in the icing sugar until smooth. Leave to cool, then chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour until the mixture reaches a spreadable consistency. Cut a small diagonal slice from one end of the cake and spread a little icing over the straight end. Attach to one side of the larger cake. Place on a flat serving plate or cake board. Spread the remaining icing evenly over the cake until completely covered. Using a fork, mark ‘bark’ patterns in the icing. Dust lightly with icing sugar and chill in the fridge until the icing has set, about 30 minutes
The Age old Tradition The dinner usually consists of roast turkey or chicken (although other types of poultry such as goose, duck, or pheasant are common alternatives depending on the number of diners); mashed potatoes; roast potatoes; vegetables (usually boiled or steamed), particularly brussels sprouts; stuffing; chipolatas or pigs in blankets; cranberry sauce; with dessert of Christmas pudding (or plum pudding) and brandy butter. The dessert of a British Christmas Dinner is almost always Christmas Pudding. Mince pies, a Christmas Cake or a Yule Log may also be eaten.
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Poinsettia it is!
What do we do with this!? Give It a Whirl Bend wide ribbons (which hold their shape) into a geometric medley, or repeat one shape for a bold statement. Affix with double-sided tape, hiding staples with more loops of ribbon. Cascading Curls Run a scissor blade down ribbon, from middle to ends, varying the tension for tight or loose curls. Gather ribbons; cinch in the middle with a length of thinner ribbon. Affix with a hot-glue gun. Folded Flowers and Sunbursts Accordion-fold ribbon from spool in equal lengths (three to five inches), making 27 points (14 on one side, 13 on the other). Stack folds; use a needle to pull a piece of thread through the stack at the bottom (where the loose ends are). Knot thread loosely and cut. Open folds into a circle; or for a fuller look, use double-sided tape to connect two half circles.