Christmas Crafting the Easy Way

Homemade presents are a great idea – when they’re done well – but then reality sets in and you realise you’ve zero time.  That’s where these simple crafts come in. You should be able to get each of these crafts done (excluding buying ingredients / equipment) in 30 minutes or less.

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Above are two little tealights that i made this year using cups bought in a charity shop and  left over candle wax. Here’s how I did it.

• Melt the wax in a bowl over simmering water.
• Pour the melted wax into a jug. If it’s second hand wax, i.e. the ends of used candles, you may need to strain it.
• Slowly pour the wax into the receptacle
• Place a new wick into the centre of the receptacle and set aside to set. Easy peasy!

Haven’t got a container? Worry not, how about these super cute home-made rose candles featured on Fab DIY. I haven’t made these myself yet, but they’re on my to-do list.

If you know someone who would love to bake but has zero skill, home-made cookie dough is ideal. All they have to do is slice off pieces with a wet knife, place on a baking tray at 180 degrees Celsius and bake for approx 12 minutes. What could be easier?

My recipe for cookie dough is as follows;

• 100g butter
• 100g sugar (light muscavado if you have it)
• 1 tbsp golden syrup
• 150g self-raising flour
• 85g of dark chocolate chopped up into pieces

Cream butter and sugar in a bowl until creamy. Beat in syrup. Work in half the flour. Mix well. Add remaining flour and chocolate pieces. Shape into a sausage and cover with greaseproof paper. Then wrap to look like a cracker!

I’ve made a homemade orange liqueur for-my-father in law one year. It was delicious and so easy to make. I just soaked orange peel in vodka for a couple of weeks then diluted it with sugar syrup (sugar dissolved in water) water and bobs your uncle, homemade (sort of) orange liqueur. If you’re using a litre of vodka, use 10 oranges and make your sugar syrup with 500g sugar and 1 litre of water.

Our Easy 3 Ingredient homemade moisturiser is a huge hit with family and friends and doubles up as a great gift at this time of year. Or you could make homemade lip balm in wee little tins.

This tutorial on how to make a felt laptop case is the easiest I’ve come across online and if you’d like to make it even more earth positive use a leftover button and wool felt.

And what you need to decorate your fabulous home-made gift? Why a fabulous home-made bow from *SNAP, that’s what. Click the link for the full tutorial.

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