Posted on July 24, 2024July 21, 2024 by janet — Leave a comment

Lilac Tree Designs Christmas 2024

New card publisher, new Christmas range, all you need to know about the Lilac Tree Designs festive designs for 2024.

Cosy Christmas Cheer from Lilac Tree Designs for 2024

As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, the creative team at Lilac Tree Designs has been hard at work unveiling their enchanting Christmas collection for 2024. Drawing inspiration from the serene beauty of nature, this year’s range promises to infuse your holiday celebrations with warmth, whimsy and a touch of magic.

Including many of your favourite artists, including Kate Garrett, Tim Mason, Gerry Murray, Sarah Summers and Kate Mawdsley.

Headlining the collection are four brand new Advent Calendar Cards, each one a delightful miniature work of art. From the charming Christmas House to the charming Reindeer Stack, these calendars offer a delightful way to countdown the days until Christmas. Beautifully illustrated in Lilac Tree’s signature style, each card features 24 perforated doors concealing festive images and holiday messages, perfect for displaying on a mantelpiece or tucked into an envelope.

In addition to the new Advent offerings, Lilac Tree is thrilled to be reprinting their beloved Reindeer Stables Advent Calendar. This fan-favourite design, depicting a cosy stable filled with cheerful reindeer, has been a holiday staple for years, and is sure to delight both new and returning customers.

Rounding out the 2024 collection are several brand new Christmas Card Packs, each containing a variety of designs that capture the essence of the season. From the enchanting Christmas Robins to the fun Dogs Under the Tree, these card sets provide an elegant and versatile selection for all your seasonal correspondence.

To explore the full range of Lilac Tree Designs’ enchanting 2024 Christmas offerings, be sure to check out the online brochure. Prepare to be swept away by the beautiful illustrations, heart warming sentiments and undeniable festive charm that make this collection a must-have for the holiday season.

Posted on November 27, 2017 by janet — Leave a comment

My Isle of Lewis Etsy Holiday Gift Guide

With only 4 weeks till Christmas I’ve been looking at what I can still get that’s handmade by people like myself running a small business. Where better to start than on Etsy. Here is my Isle of Lewis Etsy Holiday Gift Guide! So whether you live on the Isle of Lewis like myself or not, there’s really no need to even leave your sofa to shop local.

I do have a disclaimer to make. I am an Etsy affiliate so if you do click through and make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you but my gift guide is made up of things I’ve either bought or want to get myself (hint hint if any friends or family are reading).

My Etsy Holiday Gift Guide

Bruehousecrafts

I’ll start with these gift labels made by a lady I met just this weekend at a craft fairs. So I’ve seen them in the ‘flesh’ so to speak. I was really impressed with how professional they looked and I have to recommend the ones with Harris Tweed and Gaelic on them first.

She makes other ones too and my daughter really fancied the ‘Naughty or Nice’ ones. You might prefer the ‘Time to Drink Champagne‘ ones.

As I’m in to sending snail mail, I really love the vintage postcards. I think it’s the stamps that do it for me. Postal stamps and Christmas together, what’s not to like?

Lewisiannice

If you liked the Nollaig Chridheil gift tags then you might like these tree decorations with the same message. These are made by Sarah of Lewisian Nice who also makes beautiful Harris Tweed clocks. My favourite being this one in ‘winter red‘ as it both looks and sounds so homely.

Of course if red isn’t your favourite then there are lots of other colours available, all made from genuine Harris Tweed, hand woven right here in the Outer Hebrides.

Sandwickbaycandles

When you are putting your feet up and watching the time ticking by on your Harris Tweed clock, you’ll need a subtle, festive aroma to help you unwind and absorb the Christmas spirit. I can personally recommend Megan’s candles from Sandwick Bay Candles and this year’s Christmas trio sound very appealing. Megan works out of her home. Every time I visit there are the most captivating, but in no way over powering, scents unfolding from her workroom.

If you like to take the fragrances with you then Megan also makes travel tins and car diffusers. Both make perfect stocking fillers.

Sewingroomwithaview

Talking of stockings, you’re going to need a good one to put all these delights in and I have found the perfect one from Sewing Room with a View. Genuine Harris Tweed stockings that won’t ladder or let you down. Sallie also makes beautiful Harris Tweed clothing for when you’re looking for something exclusive and extra special.

So now you’re all set. You’ve got the stocking, the tree decorations, the gifts and even the tags. And you didn’t even need to leave your sofa, let alone the Outer Hebrides!

I hope you like my Etsy holiday gift guide from the Isle of Lewis. If you know of other Etsy shops from here that I haven’t mentioned do let me know. You can leave a note in the comments below.

Posted on August 27, 2016June 21, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Things to put in a Christmas Eve Box

Ideas for a Christmas Eve Box

Thought I would ask my three older children (10, 7 and 5) what goodies they would like in a Christmas Eve Box and here’s what they suggested.

First find a box, add a few sweets and maybe some hot chocolate and you will keep the whole family entertained. Start the Christmas festivities off the night before. This one is ideal and not too pricey either.

1 Refill pack

Save yourself time and get the Christmas Eve Box Refill containing craft, colouring, decorations and games. Just add your own sweets and hot chocolate.

2 Snow

Even if it’s a beautiful sunny day outside, you can still have snow inside with this safe, non toxic instant snow – just add water. For a couple of quid you can’t go wrong with this in a Christmas Eve box.

3 Doodling

With 6 sheets in this Christmas Holiday Fun pack there are oodles of doodles to keep the whole family scribbling if necessary.

4 Colour in Ideas

This huge paper tablecloth will keep everyone busy at Christmas. Either use it just as something to do or for maximum value put it on the table for Christmas dinner with a few pens, crayons or coloured pencils and watch all ages get stuck in. Also makes a great poster.

Alternatively try the colour in Christmas Tree from Flamingo Paperie, or their colour in nativity bunting.

5 Christmas Cracker

It’s Christmas after all, there probably need to be some sweets and what better way to add to a Christmas Eve box than in a cracker. Cadbury have lots of Christmas confectionary ideas as you would imagine. If you don’t do chocolate, e.g. if you’re dairy free then Hampergifts have some fabulous retro sweet hampers and packs.

6 Craft Ideas

If your children love craft activities then check out Flamingo Paperie’s DIY gift tags. They have other craft packs too.

7 Books

If you need some ideas of books for Christmas Eve then we traditionally read Twas the Night Before Christmas before they go to bed on Christmas Eve but they also love Illustrated Stories for Christmas. A Christmas Carol is also a great read for older children. Christmas Day will be so busy that bedtime stories probably won’t happen. I believe no Christmas Eve Box is complete without a story. Settle them down for bed and take the chance to stop for a minute and remember what Christmas is all about amidst the preparations. If you are true bookworms then plan ahead with some Christmas advent books.

8 Jigsaws

All my family, from ages 1 to 80+ love jigsaws. So I always get a couple of Christmas jigsaws in for the holiday. It’s just perfect for those ‘I’m bored’ moments when the weather is too bad to send them outside. When I get a chance to sit down for 5 minutes it’s great relaxation for me too.

9 DVD

Of course there is always the option of a DVD. Why not schedule in an hour or two to put your feet up, get out the popcorn and watch a DVD together. Our Christmas favourites are Muppet Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and Elf. What’s your favourite? Share with us in the comments below, it might give someone else who’s stuck an idea for their Christmas Eve box.

10 Chatterboxes

Remember these? We called them fortune tellers I think. This pack from Flamingo Paperie has 6 sheets, with jokes, forfeits, fortunes and more. Great fun for Christmas Eve and could be used for Christmas Dinner entertainments too. For just a couple of quid it provides lasting fun for all.

I haven’t tried myself but I did think if you are making your own Christmas crackers that you could include one of these in each cracker if you do some of the initial folding.

You can see a video I did of a Christmas Eve Box full of activities here.

Posted on August 14, 2016July 24, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Charity Christmas Cards Supporting Local Charity

The Nativity Stable Phoenix Trading Charity Christmas Cards

I am proud to make a donation each year from a proportion of all Christmas cards sold to Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI). A minimum of 10% is donated each year. Throughout the year I also support WICCI supplying them with stickers, paper tape and stationery items for their fabulous rainbow care boxes.

I also attend local craft fairs in the run up to Christmas and there is usually a fee or percentage donation from these sale to local charities and organisations.

Past Christmas donations

Every year Flamingo Paperie donated 1p for each of its charity Christmas cards it produced via the Phoenix International Charity. This in turn supported Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research, Together for Short Lives and lots of local charities that we Flamingo Paperie Partners got to nominate.

In 2016 my nominated charity Hebrides Alpha Project received £150 from the Phoenix International Charity. The Hebrides Alpha Houseing project provides supported accommodation for people recovering from alcohol, drug, mental health or crimal justice related issues.

Over the past few years Laxdale Cubs and Beavers invited me several times to help them raise money for their nominated charities. Because of this, I thought it was time to give them something in return. So I nominated them as my local charity for 2017. I’ve already donated £100 from your Christmas card orders this year.

I was also really privileged in early December 2017 to support a coffee afternoon in memory of a family friend. From Christmas card sales that afternoon I gave £50 towards Cancer Research UK.

Flamingo Paperie charity Christmas cards – look good, are good and do good!

Click here to buy your cards now and support some great causes.

The 1p donation by Flamingo Paperie was unusual for card publishers. This is not the same as the usual charity donation on Christmas cards that retailers give. Flamingo Paperie are effectively the wholesaler in this case. It’s unusual for a wholesaler to make a charity donation on cards.

If you’d like to know why sending Christmas cards is a good idea then you might like 10 Reasons to send an actual Christmas card

Are you a business owner? If so then you might be interested in how to Increase Your Business By Sending Business Greeting Cards

Posted on December 1, 2015September 20, 2017 by janet — Leave a comment

The Gift Bag

I’ve seen lots of different ways to make a gift bag but this is the most simple but effective one I’ve found. Christmas gift bag wrapping craft

Making it also holds the basis for wrapping a standard gift parcel and making it look just that little bit neater than usual.

Gift Bag Guide

Lay out your gift wrap and box
Fold over the leading edge by 1cm
Fold the leading edge to align with the far corner of the box
Crease the fold along the near corner edge
Fold in the second side and crease
Apply double sided tape to the leading edge and seal
Fold down top edge and fold in the sides
Turn in the bottom edge to match the diagonal folds
Apply double sided tape and seal up
Press all edges along the box, to give firm creases
Gently remove the box
Carefully pinch the edges to form the sides of the bag
Fold over the top by 3cm and then fold again
Place the ribbon around the bag, keeping the ribbon straight
Tie a bow at the top, and rearrange the bow to the front

It does make a big difference if you use quality wrapping paper, please don’t buy the cheap stuff as it will just rip!

If you’d like to know more about wrapping ideas do get in touch. I do gift wrapping workshops all year round.

Download this gift bag guide now.

You might like these 5 steps to gift wrapping.

Follow my Youtube channel for more gift wrapping ideas.

Posted on November 30, 2015January 23, 2023 by janet — Leave a comment

Paper Chain Hearts

Remember making paper chains when you were little? Endless cutting up of newspaper, or old wrapping paper to make the strips, then glue or staples as you linked them together?

Want to do it again?!

I love making paper chains with my children but I confess I take the easy way out now and use pre-gummed paper chains.

However, recently I’ve been busy trying other ideas with the paper strips, like these heart decorations. Really simple to do and my 9 year old discovered if you turn them upside-down they look like Christmas trees.

I did make a video of how to make these hearts for Valentines Day.