Craftside

Easy, fun and festive Christmas table decoration ideas from the book Christmas on the Farm

Christmas is just around the corner and if you need a couple of quick and easy holiday decorating tips, check out these centerpiece and place card ideas from the book Christmas on the Farm: A Collection of Favorite Recipes, Stories, Gift Ideas, and Decorating Tips from The Farmer's Wife which is also today's Holiday Goodness Giveaway book!

The question that gets you in the running is:

What is your favorite centerpiece? It can be for any holiday, not just Christmas.

Answer the question in today's comments section by Midnight ET on December 30th, 2011 and this wonderful book could be yours to help you prepare for next Christmas!

Click on this page from Christmas on the Farm to enlarge and read all about these great table decorating ideas.

Oh and Merry Christmas (and Happy Holidays) to all of you wonderful readers from myself and all of us at Craftside!

More about the Voyageur Press book:

Christmas on the Farm:

A Collection of Favorite Recipes, Stories, Gift Ideas, and Decorating Tips from The Farmer's Wife

by

Lela Nargi

Christmas was the be-all, end-all celebration on the farm. Pages and pages on the topic appeared in The Farmer’s Wife, and these pages weren’t just about food—although recipes for all the various components of parties and holiday gift baskets certainly abounded.

 

The magazine’s experts expounded on the best and latest ways to decorate home, tree, and parcels and to create homemade gifts for family and friends, as well as games to be played to capture the spirit of the season. In short, The Farmer’s Wife presented its own opinion—both grand and humble, broad and minute, and always, always bearing in mind the idea of community among its readers—about the ways in which Christmas should be celebrated.

 

You’ll find in this book a smattering of that opinion. Here are recipes to see you through the entire Christmas season; gift ideas guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing; tips for decking your halls; and even a few stories to delight both the young and the young at heart.

Editor Lela Nargi is the author of Around the Table: Women on Food, Cooking, Nourishment, Love . . . and the Mothers Who Dished It Up for Them and several other Farmer’s Wife cookbooks. Visit her online at www.lelanargi.com and lelanarginews.blogspot.com.

 

Bunny-tastic Easter cake idea from the book 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes

I asked a co-worker of mine if she was crafting anything special for Easter, and she said she would be making cupcakes. That got me thinking about one of my fave books, 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes.

Wouldn't it be cute to just have the tops of bunny ears coming out of the top of a cupcake, like the first bunny here?

You could just cut the top off of a bunny Peep!

Need more yummy ideas? Then grab a copy of:

 

1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes

By

Sandra Salamony and Gina M. Brown

This exciting 1000 collection presents glorious full-color photographs of delicious, decorated desserts. From extravagant wedding cakes and clever birthday cakes to cupcakes and cookies that are miniature works of art, these delightful delectables provide endless inspiration for anyone who loves decorative baking and entertaining. An appendix in the back of the book includes basic recipes for cakes, frostings, and fondants.

Sandra Salamony, author of 1000 Jewelry Inspirations, is a creative director, writer, and artist living in Traverse City, Michigan. Her sister, Gina M. Brown, is an architect and textile artist, also living in the Traverse City area. They are also coauthors of 1000 Artisan Textiles (Quarry Books, 2010).

 

A "Bunch" of fun ideas from Faux Florals and Candles

I thought I'd share with you a few ideas from the soon to be released (available for pre-order now):

One-of-a-Kind Wedding: Faux Florals and Candles
BY

Laura Maffeo, Colleen Mullaney

This series is filled with ideas to inspire today’s bride-to-be. Each volume is filled with extra-special touches that will quickly and easily personalize any event—whether it’s held in a ballroom or at the beach.

Centerpieces in bloom, candlelit walkways, perfect accessories for flower girls and groom—these are just a few of the many decorative details in Faux Florals and Candles. There are a wide range of projects and additional design ideas for the planning, ceremony, and celebration. Readers can choose from among the easy step-by-step projects or look for inspiration in the photo gallery of design ideas to create their own signature style.

Laura Maffeo has worked as a stylist with Martha Stewart Weddings, Home, Seventeen, Family Circle Home Crafts, and Everyday with Rachael Ray. She is the author of Girls’ Night In: Fabulous Ideas for Evenings with Friends.

Colleen Mullaney was formerly editor-in-chief of Jo-Ann magazine, Family Circle Home Crafts, and FTD in Bloom. She is the author of Faux Fabulous Florals and Punch: Celebrations in a Bowl.

Even though this book is part of a wedding series the wonderful ideas are so easy to spin for other occasions.

I wanted to share with you this centerpiece that's got it all!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

I can totally see using red and green candies in the tall vase and poinsettias around the base.

And making this project with little red, white and green little flowers:

 

 

Now on to day 10 of our:

15 days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways!

Simply leave your answer to each day's question in each day's comment section and we will randomly pick a winner of a book from each day's commenter. You can enter every day but you are only eligible to win 2 times! (You can go back and answer previous day's questions. We will be drawing the winners after the first of the year.)

10. Do you ever sell your handmade goodies at craft fairs or elsewhere?

My Answer: I have designed and sewn tons of costumes and sold them at belly dancing classes and events. I love sewing for belly dancers, they are such a great group of girls with great spirit. One of my favorite things to do is to make a girl feel great and pretty. Other than that I make something once and I am on to the next idea. Except for ATC's-my new love!

Be sure to sign up for our Electronic Newsletter, (top right) to get more crafty goodness!

The Gourmet's Guide to Cooking with Wine-2 Sherry Recipes

The definition of "craft" according to Dictionary.com is:

"to make or manufacture (an object, objects, product, etc.) with skill and careful attention to detail."

So based on that definition, I am well within my jurisdiction to consider cooking a "craft'. Really now, what goes better with making "stuff" than yummy food?

To close out this week I thought I'd share with you a recipe from:

Gourmet's Guide to Cooking with Wine

By

Alison Boteler

Building on the concept of The Spaghetti Sauce Gourmet, this book shows how to use wine as the ultimate convenience ingredient that will add big impact to recipes and simple dishes. Why? Wine is versatile. It can be used with nearly every type of food. Use it to marinate meats, flavor stews, punch up sauces for fish, chicken, pasta, vegetables, and take desserts from everyday to elegant. Add a splash (even from that half-drunk bottle in the fridge from two days ago) and you instantly add class to the most humble fare.

Alison Boteler is the author of eight books on cooking, crafts and entertaining children including The Disney Party Handbook and Creative Children’s Parties. She has contributed to magazines as well as Family Fun’s website. Television credits include appearances on NBC’s Today Show and a regular guest on Lifetime’s Our Home.

Pop on over to her website for more recipes and to read more about Alison.

(Click on image to enlarge)

So after you cook and drink the vino you can in fact craft (or at least decorate with it)
Grab yourself a "wine bottle candelabra" I did a google search and found lots!

And to make the candles I simply rolled up sheets of beeswax around a wick.

And the pirates partied into the night by candle light!

One more tidbit for today:

  60% OFF SELECT TITLES FOR THREE WEEKS ONLY    

We have book bargains  to please any enthusiast and any pocketbook. Hundreds of titles
are available, click the links at the bottom of the e-mail to shop the entire selection.
No promo code needed, all products are priced as marked on the product page.
Order Today as this offer ends midnight, Sunday, November 9!

 

Easy Halloween Decoration Inspired by The Book Faux Florals In Glass

Right off the bat (Halloween bat that is) OK that was bad, no really this new book that just came does not automatically scream-Halloween decoration, but yes! It does, to me anyway.

Faux Florals in Glass
34 Unique Floral Designs Using Clear Vases and Other Glassware

This is the first book of its kind to deal specifically with faux floral arrangements in glass containers. The transparent element creates special challenges for the crafter/designer. Parts of the flowers and foliage that would be hidden in an opaque container will be exposed, so many traditional floral arranging methods don’t work.

Ardith shows that the transparent nature of glass is really an opportunity to be creative and have fun. Materials like colored floral foam and aluminum wire can be used to greater advantage in glass containers. There are many innovative ways of shaping the wire stems of faux flowers, building support structures, and using the newest materials on the market.

Ardith Beveridge, author of Fabulous Faux Florals, Faux Floral for Your Wedding, and Wreaths and Wallflowers is a master floral designer, educator, and judge and an expert on wedding designs and trends. She is the instructor in twelve series of DIY videos, an endorsed design education specialist for Teleflora wire service, and a master designer for FTD

The arrangements are really phenomenal in this book! With the great directions and photography I was ready to give it a try.

I grabbed a big giant glass jar and filled it with rocks from the yard.

Also from the yard, a big dead branch.

And voila...

Bonus, really cool shadows!

I couldn't leave it alone, I added fun little Halloween bugs to the branches. They simply nestled into the branches.

This book is really innovative and a great source of techniques and inspiration for making your own Faux Florals in Glass throughout the year!