Welcome to Handmade Christmas! We’ve had so much fun creating this publication: coming up with creative ideas, sourcing materials, making and photographing projects, and writing up easy-to-follow instructions. There’s so much in here to share! This bookazine is based around all sorts of handmade crafts. It’s full of easily-achievable, modernised projects to make celebrating and gifting not only more personalised and meaningful, but also more eco-friendly. It allows you to sidestep the chaos that is Christmas shopping, and get into the festive spirit in the comfort of your own home… eggnog and Hallmark movie optional.Don’t worry if you don’t think of yourself as the creative type; the ideas and instructions range from “almost offensively easy” to “really, not that hard if you follow the steps”, and most things are completable in just a few hours. So, whether it’s the vegan cranberry and rose cookies, the upcycled garden party signpost, or the cute-as-a-button plum pudding brooch, get stuck in and enjoy crafting your very own Handmade Christmas!
Handmade Christmas
Editor’s Letter
Garden
Seed Envelopes
Garden Wreath • Anyone who has a bay tree living in their garden, or lives near someone who does, knows how prolific they are, and how often they need pruning. This simple, attractive wreath is a great way of using up those prunings, and makes a brilliant base for more decorative, flamboyant wreaths, if that’s your jam.
Herb Planter • Herbs play a big role in Australian Christmas: things such as roast spuds, mojitos and watermelon salad all call for fresh herbs, and often people don’t have time to grow all that’s needed in the garden to keep them going for the festive season. That’s where this planter box comes in!
Festive Table Centrepiece • There’s something truly wonderful about bringing nature indoors, and as a centrepiece on a large dining table, fresh greenery can create the most festive atmosphere. This simple arrangement makes use of evergreen plants and some of the decorations in this bookazine, but you can decorate it however you like. The best thing is, if you use decorations, you already have on hand, this centrepiece shouldn’t cost you a thing!
Party Signpost • Ever gone to a yuletide shindig at someone’s house and found yourself wondering where to unload your bags and baskets? Save your guests this confusion with your very own party signpost!
Garden Harvest Gift Basket
Edibles
Mini Chocolate Plum Puddings • If you’re one who likes flexing the old “festive maestro” muscles, these cake-pop pudding balls are the treat for you. They look almost ridiculously gorgeous, and they have no business being as easy to make as they are, so strap in and get ready to roll!
Cranberry, Pistachio & Rose Cookies
Bake-at-Home Gingerbread Biscuit Logs
Salted Caramel Bliss Ball Kit • If you’re looking for a healthier sweet treat to indulge in, these raw, sugar-free bliss balls are a brilliant, simple alternative. Using unsweetened cacao powder, naturally sweet dates, and caramelly maca powder means you get all the deliciousness of salted caramel chocolate without overdoing the sugar and dairy.
Christmas Spiced Chocolate Bark • What’s Christmas, if you get right down to it, without chocolate that you can scoff instead of breakfast? Or at very least, have lying around so you can accidentally sneak a sweet snack on the way past?
Caramel Baileys Fudge • Fudge has been a traditional festive treat since the 1880s, and when done right, it can be the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Historically though, the original method of making fudge with sugar, cream, chocolate and butter was tricky to master, with accidental crystallisation resulting in a grainy outcome more commonly than not.
Last-Minute Food Hampers
Berry & Prosecco Jam •...
