Christmas Reindeer Wall Art

 

So I used fairly large canvases from Dollarama but you can do these any size you want.  And of course any number of them.  I like the look of the 4 of them together and they would actually be really pretty grouped in a “square” pattern instead of a row.  But in this case my wall was too wide to do it in that format.

 

Here’s how I made them.

 

1. Download a template of your choice. I chose the reindeer this time but I have actually done letters so they spell out a word. You could choose something like “Joy” or “Peace”.  You get it...whatever you like.

 

Here is the link I used. https://craftbundles.com/freebie/82378-reindeer-head/3cNgDF1x7F/ ( sorry, for some reason I couldn’t shorten this URL)

 

 

2. Cut out the shape and place it on the canvas making sure you centre it and it is in the same position on all of the canvases. Trace it with a pencil. Don’t make the pencil line too dark because you don’t want to see it.

 

3. Fill the image with tacky glue.  I got this at Dollarama too!  Put a generous amount on the entire amount.

 

4. Now to keep the mess to a minimum, I put a piece wax paper on a large baking tray, placed the canvas with the wet glue on it in the middle and then gently spooned the glitter generously on it.  Don’t move it at this point but instead leave it to dry for a few hours.  If you move it your glue can run and your picture won’t be sharp.

 

5. Once it is dry you can gently brush the excess off onto the paper.  And Voila! Art! 

 

6 Note.  You can paint the overall canvas any colour you want before you do your image. 

 

 

 

Easy Gingerbread

 

5 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cloves

3 tsp ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup shortening – melted

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup molasses

 

Mix all dry ingredients except ½ cup of flour well then add the wet ingredients and mix well. Turn out onto work surface and add the ½ cup of flour as needed.  Add enough to handle without being too sticky or wet.  You can add a little more if needed for rolling out. 

This dough can be difficult to work with so sometimes I turn my baking sheet over, add a sheet of parchment paper and roll it right on the baking sheet...It still is awkward but I I don’t have to move the cookies .  I can remove the waste instead.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 mins. This dough freezes well.   

 

  

Christmas is my favourite holiday.

Baking, decorating, parties, spending time with family...all things I love. But along with this comes added stress.  So I am going to share with you a few little things you can do to achieve some of my favourite things without the added stress.

Instead of filling by blog with long lengthy instructions and ideas I will do them often and keep them short and simple.

So here is one for today.

 Purchase a roll of pretty ribbon in the colour of your choice. It is best if you use ribbon the same colour as the balls you intend to attach.

Simply tie the ball to the ribbon, cutting the end off close to the ball so it is nice and clean. Then arrange in a “chandelier” style so all the balls hang at different lengths.  Finally tie a big bow at the top to secure them all.

I use the 3M Command hooks to put these up anywhere I want a pop of colour. They look terrific in front of the windows instead of the traditional wreath. It is so easy and is a big wow for your buck. 

I am sure you will love them.  And, you can hang them just about anywhere!  You are welcome! ;-)

 

 I was invited to a friend’s Halloween party. This was unusual for me as I am always the one throwing them so I was very excited!

 But of course, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t offer to help decorate her place.  (She thought it nice of me but I just had to get my “fix” decorating so I was happy she wanted my help)

 We spent a few days readying the rooms...the bathroom had a hanging skeleton, books with spells and potions laid about, cobwebs wrapped the home and gave it the “unlived” in look.  All was good.  Great in fact, at least until her cheeky little cat decided to undecorated for us.  She loved the little glow in the dark skeletons we used and picked them off wherever she found them...lol...but then I realized I had to come up with an appropriate costume for the party.  What could I be? A pea in the pod? A rubber chicken?  I reached out to a girlfriend who is over the top creative and asked her if she had any costumes hanging around...of course she didn’t disappoint.  She sent me a picture of a beautiful young girl wearing a tutu like outfit and the skirt held gingerbread cookies... She was the dessert table!  Of course, that was it! I was to be the dessert table.

But I am not a cute little young girl with a size nothing waist.  I have flabby old arms and no waist so it was going to be a challenge....I shopped for a black body suit and leggings and then added a little black feather to the outfit, tied the Ghostly Meringues with orange ribbon and off I went. 

 

 The meringues (you will find the recipe and pictures for these in a previous blog) were a hit and the costume too, albeit it took up a fair bit of real estate at the party. 

I have decided it is more fun to go to a party than throw one. At least if you get the opportunity to help decorate because this way you get all the fun and none of the mess!  I am a lucky girl for sure!!!

I have added a few inspirational pictures to get you Halloween Spirit started. 

     

 

 

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

 

 

 

I was told that when I started to blog I should have an Instagram account so I opened up one with the same name as this website and posted a picture.  But then, as some of you may have noticed, it took me forever to figure out how to build a website. 

So the Instagram account has been live a lot longer than my website.

But what’s going on?? I have posted a couple of hundred pictures but I am not really growing my numbers.  I go to bed with ...say 400 followers and I wake up with 350! 

 I thought I would post a picture and comment and people would “like” it or “follow” me and my numbers would grow. But that’s not the case.  There is apparently a whole science to it.  I have done a lot of research on it and it seems people follow you then unfollow you once you follow them.  Then there are “bots” that like you and if you don’t follow them they unfollow you. There are people who like you but don’t follow you and of course there are people who follow you then don’t like you anymore so they unfollow you... Got it?  Yeah, neither do I

I guess I don’t know how to play the game.  I think Instagram is the mean girl in school.  And why do I want to be “liked or followed”  anyway?? 

If anyone has any advice, drop me a line...but only if you “like” me...lol..because I don’t need “friends” as I have them already on Facebook.