Gingerbread house! We have had success for another year!

Well, the gingerbread house is done! Now, be aware that I was forced out of the kitchen by my chickadees as they wanted to decorate by themselves. I can not be held responsible for the gingerbread man with nipples {thanks Georgia}

This is the chickadees version of a beach shack! The only input that I had was that the colours were to be red, white & blue. Very fitting for an Aussie beach shack.

At the last minute, I decided to use a different recipe to what I would usually use & so far, I think the new one is better.

You can find it

HERE

{This is what a professional one should look like}

What I like about this recipe is that it is all done in the food processor.

This is the recipe that I used to use.

You can find it

HERE

{now get ready for an ooooh & ahhhh moment}

Here is some photo’s of the chickadees beach shack in the making.

Georgia was the camera lady & wanted me to show you all her photo’s of the lollies.

This is what last years beach shack looked like.

Making gingerbread houses is so much fun & even though I am not feeling the best today, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It is a great family tradition & to see it sitting in the middle of the Christmas table, makes all the sticky fingers & sugar rushes, worth it.

If you make your own every year, you know what I mean.

If you are making your first one this year, I would love to see pictures! You can post them on the

Sew, cook, laugh & live Facebook page

A quick Christmas shirt. Got to love doilies!

It is that time of year where we have to start thinking about what clothes everyone is going to wear for the big day. Christmas day that is! Now that my girls are getting older {12 & 10yrs old}, matching Christmas dresses are a thing of the past, skirts are out because you can’t ride a bike or kick a ball with a skirt on. The only thing that resembles Christmas that Kiara will wear, is a Santa hat but it has to be white & sparkly!

This is what I came up with for Georgia.

My Mum sent me a massive parcel for my Birthday a few weeks ago & in it was a big pile of antique doilies. Now, I have to tell you that doilies are one of my favourite things. I love to dye them bright colours. These ones were begging to be dyed bright red for Christmas!

It is really easy to embellish a shirt with a doily or 3. I picked this shirt up for Georgia when it was on special the other day.

Make sure you choose a doily that will fit the space. Too small & it will look a little lost & too big will look…..well…..too big!

Securely pin the doily to the shirt. Remember to stretch the doily a little.

Sew the doily into place.

And there you have it! One unique Christmas shirt!

These are a few of my favourite things! {insert music!}

Things are a little hectic around here at the moment so I thought today would be a good time to share.

These are a few of my favourite things {from my blog of course!}

7 scarves for 7 days

I love these scarves & I now own around 25! They are so quick & easy to make. You too will become addicted!

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My favourite dress, no pattern required!

I love this dress because you can make it in 30 minutes & you do not need a pattern! I have been known to make one just before we are leaving to go somewhere! If you pick up material on special you can make this dress for under $10. Yes, I now own more than 10 of these dresses. The next picture below is also made using the same design.

My favourite dress, no pattern required. Take 2

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Travel chalkboard mats

These travel chalkboard mats have saved my sanity on many occasions!

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Quick & easy shirred dress

        

I really love this dress! It can be worn in summer with sandals, necklace & an arm full of bangles.

In winter, throw on a denim jacket or cardigan & a pair of ballet flats & you are all ready to go!

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Zeena the Zebra, free hobby horse pattern

This is the funkiest hobby horse (I made a zebra!) that I have ever seen! With this free pattern you could make one too!!!

1 canvas + felt + buttons + embellishments = a unique work of art

 

This quick artwork is now wrapped & under the Christmas tree for Georgia to receive on Christmas day.

As some of you already know, she is mad about owls & her room has been dubbed the Hoot Hoot room.

{you can see more of the hoot hoot room HERE}

So back to this new piece off art.

The idea came from a desk full of buttons that are now too “young” to use on any clothes for my girls. I had to use them or throw them. There was no way I was going to throw them so I decided to stick them on a canvas.

It was really easy.

I cut a tree trunk out from some felt & hot glued it on to a plain canvas.

Start hot gluing the buttons on. I chose butterflies, hearts & flowers.

I then glued on a little iron on owl.

{I did not iron it on, just glued it!}

I then added some flower embellishments along the bottom to look like a garden.

And there you have it!

A one of a kind artwork!