Strawberry Santas

Simple to make, fun for children and healthier than many alternative sweets this Christmas.

You need large strawberries, whipped cream (in a spray can) and something to represent a face - perhaps some sesame seeds for eyes and a small sliver of strawberry for a smile.

If you're clever and creative, make some complementary meringue snowmen too!

Gift Vouchers for Craft Course

Better than a shopping voucher, an innovative gift for a home furnishing craft workshop.

"Mrs Steed" offers a 3-hour lampshade workshop in Essex (close to M11/Stansted) which has a relaxed, friendly, sociable atmosphere - plus cake - enjoyed by a small group of people. At the end of the session, attendees will leave with a smile, a new skill and a professional looking lampshade that they have created themselves.

When you purchase the workshop gift voucher, the lampshade kit can be given with it. Gift vouchers are also available towards Mrs Steed's soft furnishing services. That's Christmas sorted for a few people!

D-I-Y Decorating Eggs

 

Practice your artistic skills on some eggs during the long days indoors during winter and by Easter you should be pretty good at it.

You can paint the shells of raw eggs but what will happen when they are cooked? Alternatives are to hastily decorate lightly boiled eggs at breakfast time or pre-cook hard-boil eggs and decorate when cooled or... use empty egg shells so that your art can be preserved long after the natural life of the egg.

Paint your Cladding

Liven up those decorating chores by unleashing your artistic talent to create interesting and varied colours on a wooden wall or floor.

The paints need to be thinned to merge naturally as they are applied otherwise there will be several 'muddy' areas. Try applying just the medium and dropping pigments into it. When fully dry, use clear varnish to protect your art.


You may also wish to visit this colourful collection on Pinterest.

Bright ideas following your Escargots starter

< Item #10042 on this website of decorated shells: Florida Marine Research shop.

Some of the other decorated shells available to buy include Superman, Batman, Spiderman, RugRats, fish, fruit, clowns, butterflies, sports balls and SpongeBob SquarePants with Patrick the starfish.

There are also plain shells for sale or you can take inspiration and paint or varnish your own collection.