Tag Archives: Planet Penny Advent Calendar

Christmas Countdown – Day Two

Hello! I hope you enjoyed the links and inspiration for Day One of the Christmas Countdown.

Looking back to last year and the Planet Penny Advent Calendar I found the little yarn balls which I made as tree decorations which then went on to have decorative use all year round.

This is how they started out…

mini balls and needles - Christmas Countdown day 2

Planet Penny Advent Calendar – Day Two

They then went on the tree…

And eventually found a new life as the Knitting Mobile!

Knitting Mobile Christmas Countdown Day 2

Knitting Mobile link to PDF

This year I made some slightly bigger baubles by the same method, leaving off the knitting needles and adding a contrasting button on the hanger.

So with the wrapping of threads in mind, here are a few more ideas…

These are made using balloons and I think would work well fixed over fairy lights.

home-dzine.co.zaI

I can’t find a link for this one but I love it, even though it would take oodles of yarn (and patience!)

This little tree is sweet, and makes good use of battery fairy lights which are a much safer option, especially when you have excited little ones around.

Homemade Gifts Made Easy

And this is a lovely, simple idea. What better time of year than Christmas to count your blessings and put them on a string?

A Soft Place To Land

I hope you like these yarn and string ideas. Don’t forget to click the images and links to find out more..

Have fun! See you tomorrow…x

Christmas Countdown – Day One

It’s that time again! Have you eaten the first chocolate from your Advent Calendar yet? We are now on the final run down to the ‘Big Day’, and there is always so much to do, isn’t there? Last year’s Planet Penny Advent Calendar was lots of fun, a daily post with a craft, decoration or recipe.

This year I’ve rather less time available, alas, but I’m planning an Advent Calendar reprise, the Christmas Countdown – with added extras!

Everyday I’ll be bringing you seasonal pictures, ideas and links which I hope will give some inspiration, and something to enjoy when you take a well earned break from the festivities! Just click on the images below to find the source and instructions where available

I do like to add a little individuality to my gift wrapping, but it does mean some forward planning. Last year I utilised a large roll of lovely brown paper which is so much cheaper than the glossy printed variety.

I should imagine it’s much more ecologically friendly too.

Planet Penny Advent Calendar – Day One

There’s masses of scope for imaginative decorations, and great fun if you get the children involved with cutting out and printing and the compulsory glue/ glitter combo! And how about the good old potato print?

Can Do Kids Crafts

printed paper Christmas Countown Planet Penny Day 1

Paper Inspiration – Sidestreet Style

You could use old comics, colour supplements or magazines…

Teresapalooza

Or raid your sewing basket.

Trader Joe’s Bags

This is a great way to uses your odds and ends of Planet Penny Cotton!

Last Minute Knitted Gifts – Joelle Hoverson

I do love a pompom!

studiodiy.com

…and these are so simple, but very stylish.

Wrapping - Christmas Countdown Planet Penny

Eden Rose

I hope you enjoy the links and they inspire the imagination.

I’m linking up today with Handmade Harbour for Handmade Monday, so do call over there for more inspirational links…

I’ll see you tomorrow!

Advent Calendar Day – Twenty Four

And so here we are, day Twenty Four of the Advent Calendar and I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown. Thanks you so much for coming along with me, not just for Advent but for the whole year. It’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed the challenge.

The last thing we need at this point is something else to DO, it’s Christmas EVE for goodness sake! So I’ll leave you with something to get you in the mood.

I love this, I hope you do too….

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Advent Calendar – Day Twenty Three

Day Twenty Three on the Advent Calendar and my little girl is coming home for Christmas! And tomorrow Tim will be back, weather permitting and Christmas can begin…

So what we need is a seasonal tipple to celebrate and what could be better than mulled wine?

This is the recipe in my little black book which I always turn to…

1 bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or similar)

3/4ltr water

1 orange stuck with cloves

1 orange, slice

1 lemon sliced

3 tblsp sugar

small piece cinnamon stick

1 tspn ground ginger

2 tblsps brandy

With everything in saucepan, bring it up to simmering point stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Keep it at this heat for 20 min or more, but do not allow to boil or the alcohol will evaporate. (This can be made in advance and reheated)

Serve in warmed glasses.

What more can I say? Cheers and Bottoms Up!

Advent Calendar – Day Twenty Two

Today for the Advent Calendar I’m going to let you in on a big secret! It’s my special pudding for Christmas time, the one that people always get excited about and ask for. But the biggest secret about it is that it’s probably the easiest pudding I ever make, it’s one of the most delicious and everything you need can be stored in the fridge, freezer and cupboard ahead of time.

So before I regret letting the cat out of the bag here it is…

Penny’s Extra Special Extra Easy Christmas Trifle

You start off with either Trifle Sponges or Jam Swiss Roll which you either break up (the sponges) or slice (the Swiss Roll) Arrange in the base of a pretty serving bowl.

Take a 350g pack of frozen fruit, I use about half but it depends how fruity you want to be! I like raspberries or a mix of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, scatter them over the sponge…

…reserving about a cupful. Put these in a small pan with a dessertspoon of sugar and a little water and heat slowly, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved and you have a light fruity syrup. Stir in about 2 tablespoons of sherry, it’s always Harvey’s Bristol Cream in our house, and spoon over the fruit and sponge in the dish.

Next, the custard. You have three choices here. You can go down the route of ‘proper’ custard, with milk eggs and sugar and stirring and splitting, swearing and worrying, you can crack open the Bird’s Custard Powder and make a pint of custard according to the instructions, or you can buy a carton of your favourite supermarket’s readymade custard in a carton.

Whatever you choose, stir in 2 or 3 tablespoons of sherry until it’s completely blended and smooth and if it’s hot allow to cool slightly before spreading it over the fruit and sponge. The beauty of the frozen fruit is that it finishes cooling the custard, and the custard defrosts the fruit.

At this point you can cover the dish with cling film and pop it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. To finish, whip a carton of whipping or double cream until it forms soft peaks and cover the cold custard.

Then decorate. My personal favourite is toasted slivered almonds, but you could use more fruit, or glace cherries, or even hundreds and thousands. Whatever you use, I can guarantee compliments.

Today I’m off to my mum’s for a pre-Christmas get-together with my sister and her family, guess what I’m taking with me!

Ooh, we’re nearly there…see you tomorrow…x

Advent Calendar – Day Twentyone

I’m hoping that the Advent Calendar for today is going to get posted and that the world hasn’t ended yet. Those Mayans have a lot to answer for!

For me, the 21st December is a special day because it’s the Winter Solstice, and this date always means so much more to me than the man made celebrations of New Year. The shortest day, and tomorrow the world in the Northern Hemisphere starts turning forward into the light. Now that’s something to celebrate! We usually get together with friends for a celebration as we did last year but with Tim offshore and various other reasons it’ll just be me, Higgins and Henry tonight!

But that’s why today’s Advent make is all about light, I’ve been making candle holders.

I’ve always got too many jam jars, and although I could recycle them so many are just too nicely shaped to drop in the bottle bank. And I love to light the room wth candles in the winter, it looks so pretty and festive, so I’ve rootled around in amongst my pretty bits and pieces and decorated an assortment of glass jars for holding tea lights.

With pretty paper (this is the time you can print out on the most basic and thin 80gsm printer paper!) Lace scraps, short lengths of ribbon, cord, string and trimmings your imagination can run riot and you can fill your mantelpiece or windowsill with twinkling prettiness.

I hope that’s inspired you, even if it’s only to get all the half used jars out of the cupboard and make jam tarts so you can decorate them!

Talking of cooking, I have a date in the kitchen. Tomorrow I’m meeting my sister and family over at my mum’s for lunch, and I’ve promised to take one of my most popular edible creations to the party. I’ll be bake tomorrow to share the recipe…

I’ll see you then, and in the meantime, Happy Solstice!