Category Archives: Advent Calendar

A Christmas Village – electric tea light holders

Over the last couple of years I have created an Advent Countdown here on Planet Penny. However this year, along with other bloggers and makers, I have been invited to take part in the Cotton Traders Advent Calendar with a Christmas crafty make – tea light holders.

Nordic Houses |electric tea light holders | PDF pattern | Christmas Craft

So, as I’ve always a soft spot for tiny houses, and as so much of the Christmas tradition is centred around home and family what better way to celebrate the festive season than with your own little hamlet of cosy cottages as tea light holders?

Materials 

  • Card, suitable for printing, I used 160gsm.
  • PDF pattern
  • Scissors
  • Craft Knife
  • Cutting Mat
  • Glue stick
  • Battery operated tea lights

Method

Print off the PDF of the house onto the card.  A whole village if you like!

Cut round the outline with scissors or craft knife.  Cutting out the windows is much more easily done with the craft knife.

Cut out a rectangle in card 15cm x 9cm for the roof. Mark the central point on the long edge on both sides and very lightly score across to mark the fold line for the ridge on the roof.  Fold.

Using the craft knife, very lightly score along the fold lines on the unprinted side of the card to help make the finished shape nice and crisp.

Fold along the score lines, glue the tabs and stick together and stick together into the house shape.

Then make some more!

I’ve only recently been converted to battery tea lights because I love the natural light of candles.  However there is no denying the dangers of having flames all round the room especially with small children, and these little houses are great for a family crafting afternoon.

I like simple white for a touch of Nordic style, but print off a few sheets and let the children loose with paints and crayons, glue and glitter before cutting out for a riot of festive colour!

Have fun! If you’d like to show off your own version, do send in your photos and I will share then here on the blog.

Happy crafting!

Christmas Countdown – Day Twenty Three

As we reach the end of the Christmas Countdown it’s time to relax with a glass of something seasonal.  Last year I shared the Planet Penny Mulled wine recipe which you will find by clicking the link below…

mulled wine Christmas Countdown

Planet Penny Advent Calendar 2102

However, it does pack quite a ‘punch’ (excuse the pun!) so here’s a seasonal drink which can be enjoyed by the designated driver, and anyone who is trying to avoid imbibing too much Christmas cheer!

Cranberry tea Christmas Countdown

recipetips.com

This one looks incredibly decadent… Baileys and coffee…

Baileys minty mocha Christmas Countdown

whattodrink.com

I think I might lose the candy cane though, coffee and mint doesn’t quite do it for me.

For something clean, fresh and festive though, this last one would do the trick.  You’ve just got to plan ahead, so I’m looking forward to Christmas 2014!

gingerfire Christmas Countdown

Gingerfire – The Guardian

Well, I’m off to finish packing.  As you read this we will be travelling to the South Coast to spend Christmas with our grandsons and other extended family.  I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas Countdown of ideas and inspiration and it has been useful, not just for this year but for Christmases to come.

Thank you all for your comments and visits over the past year, it’s been lovely.  There will be one more post before the big day so don’t forget to call back tomorrow…

Until then…x

Christmas Countdown – Day Twenty Two

Today I’m making no apology for reprising the Planet Penny Christmas Trifle which is so easy, and extremely delicious.  Just click the image to find the recipe.

Planet Penny Trifle - Day 22

Planet Penny Advent Calendar 2012

It’s one of those recipes I turn to when I need to turn up somewhere with a pudding.  It’s hasn’t failed to impress, and is usually one of the first dishes to be cleared.  In fact I usually end up missing out on a spoonful myself!

Most of the ingredients can be found in the store cupboard to make a basic version, and you can vary the ingredients to make it a luscious as you like!

I’m off to the kitchen now, I have guests to feed this evening.

Guess what we are having?!

See you tomorrow…x

Christmas Countdown – Day Twenty One

Day twenty one of the Christmas Countdown…it’s the shortest day, and the longest night.  A good time to be thinking about candles I think!

Last year for the Advent Calendar I made these tealight holders from an assortment of pretty jars I had collected …

tea lights - Christmas Countdown

Planet Penny Advent Calendar – Day Twenty one

I would love to fill my mantelpiece with little houses…

tin houses - Christmas Countdown

Adorable Home

And maybe next Christmas I could do it with card (although I’d stock up with battery powered tealights first of course!) These look very simple to do…

paper houses Christmas Countdown

Craft Ideas

…and there is a template…

card houses Christmas Countdown

Craft Ideas

And if all else fails you could raid the kitchen…

jelly mold tea light holders

Domesticalia

tea lights in ladles - Christmas Countdown

Kick Can and Conkers

I’ve had my own lighting story yesterday.  As we will be visiting the family for Christmas and won’t be here for the actual day I decided it would be a waste to buy a large tree this year, I would use the little one I had for the fair.  It’s pot grown and a lovely shape, just very small.

I decorated it when I was full of cold and I admit my heart wasn’t in it.  The old lights from the big tree looked ridiculous and every time I looked at it I cringed.  It was all decided for me when the old lights died.  I got up yesterday morning, removed all the decorations, headed to the nearest town where fairy lights were reduced and bought not just one, but two sets.  The tree is now re-decorated and lit and the room has fairy lights all around it and I feel soooo much more festive!

All set for younger son and daughter plus their ‘significant others’ to join us this evening to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the drawing out of the days…

I’ll be back tomorrow…x

Christmas Countdown – Day Twenty

Oooh, not long now! Day Twenty of the Christmas Countdown and there’s something else to hang on the tree, a paper songbird.

If you click on the image below you will find a link to the pattern for this little fellow, and of course, you can make him any colour you like!

Christmas tree decoration | bird | paper | music |

Planet Penny Advent Calendar 2012

This is an even simpler shape.  No pattern, but it shows that it would be very easy to make your own individual pattern and then make a whole flock of little birds.  Great fun for the children to decorate.

paper birds Christmas Countdown

ebabee likes

These fringed and cut paper birds are effective.  It would be nice to curl some of those feathers for an exotic effect.

cut out bird Christmas Countdown

Karin Lidbeck

I love this little birdy from Miss Clara, so many pretty things on her blog…

handmade bird Christmas Countdown

The Notebooks of Miss Clara

And finally… book art.  Isn’t this stunning?  I’m not suggesting you should try and knock up a table centre like this before the big day.  Just make a cuppa, there’s another beautiful blog to look at!

bird book art Christmas Countdown

My Modern Met

So I shall flutter off just now, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow…x

Christmas Countdown – Day Eighteen

Good Morning!  This is going to be quite a quick Christmas Countdown post because  DH and I have recovered enough to tackle a trip to Norwich for the last of the Christmas shopping.  Aftere that I can concentrate on the food aspect of the festivities…

Last year I made these little Spice Biscuits which were a great success and looked really pretty on the tree and wrapped up as gifts…

Spice biscuit - Christmas Countdown

Spice Biscuit – Planet Penny Advent Calendar – Day Eighteen

If you are feeling very ambitious, how about some iced decorations?

iced biscuits Christmas Countdown

Stina Saem

decorated biscuits Christmas Countdown

Buttercream and Chantilly Factory

Aren’t they gorgeous?  Don’t think that’ll be happing on Planet Penny this year!

And finally, with no provenance, no recipe, just a fabulous picture on Pinterest…

Christmas Countdown - iced biscuits

Pinterest

I hope this has been inspiring…

See you tomorrow…x

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