Advents 22nd Door: Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

Christmas doesn’t feel like christmas without an afternoon of baking, and gingerbread is my favourite go to for wholesome festive yummies. I love the apothecary fun of mixing so many delicious ingredients together, like making a festive potion; a bit of sweet, a pinch of spice, a sprinkle of sugar and a generous drizzle of honey. The smell that fills the house with the warm familiar seasonal scents of cinnamon and ginger and cloves. 

We have our favourite cookie cutter shapes and a mixture of both pretty and silly ideas of how to decorate them; dala horses, father christmas, holly leaves, stars, trees, snowmen and reindeers, there’s even been a few ‘festive unicorns’ on occasion. 

Thats the fun of them, creative decorating and each unique design and a recipe that can’t go wrong even if you’ve not an ounce of Delia or Nigella in you (I really don’t). 

This year I’ve discovered this diary free, gluten free recipe which we’re giving a try. It looks like it’s got the right amount of sticky and just the right amount of crunch and a great allergy friendly version you can share with everyone. 

This recipe here from Gails bakery is a good one as is this one here. But if you fancy a bit of a kitchen bake off, you can always try a gingerbread house. 

Kaley at the Kitchen Macabe has the most incredibly divine recipes including her latest Lavender and vanilla hot chocolate. Her inspiring instagram feed is a must and synod trying to move away from processed food an towards a more nutrient rich and wholesome kitchen table will love the twists Kayley sons on well known recipes as well as new!

Start your inspiration with these gingerbread yummies here

xx

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Advents 15th Door : Let it Snow

Every year the one thing that is always on the top of my Christmas wish list is snow. To wake up on Christmas morning and see a blanket of fresh white snow out of the window and as far as the eye can see. Though each year we say it really could happen, I know that sometimes we need to create the magic in other ways. 

Perhaps I can fill the kitchen with hundreds of whimsical white snowflakes cut from paper like the one’s here found in Vogue. But with my to-do list getting longer by the day and the numbers of days until Christmas decreasing. Its unlikely to happen to such an effect. 

However,  several above the table or a few at the windows look simply beautiful and they’re so fun to make. 

Sometimes, I fall into the danger of being so busy I forget to be in the present, I’m planning so far ahead I forget to sit still and just be. An afternoon of making paper snowflakes would be so much fun. Opening up each one to reveal each little unique pattern. 

We’ve discovered the best selection of tutorials and diy’s over on apartment therapy here. Whilst this pretty blog has a great visual to show you the cut style and the finish.  A great idea to draw the design  on top of your fold and then cut them out. 

Stop over and take a look and be inspired, whether for topping presents,  decorating an entire room or just a few touches here and there of whimsical white flutters. It will make a magical white Christmas feel

xx

Share your festive pics and ideas with us on instagram too

@sistersguild

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Advents 14th Door: DIY Gift Boxes

Currently obsessing about my wrapping obsession and had to share these pretty gift boxes. How beautiful an idea and so many ways to have fun and be playful with the designs, With different patterns or pictures, magazine collages and hand drawn images behind the windows and doors. Using pictures of friends and family or scenes of family photo’s. Endless ideas and each one personalised. Beautiful. 

I simply love this idea. If you can’t find the right size boxes use the same idea to and create the same effect by using two layers of wrapping paper, layering the cut out on top and the patterned or coloured paper underneath. I can’t wait to give these a try with the kids.

 Pop along to get the full step by step tutorial here and whilst your there be inspired. 

Discover more of our favourite wrapping ideas here 

Share your festive pics and ideas with us on instagram too

@sistersguild

xx

Advents 13th Door: Printable Wrapping

I love the beauty in the simplicity of this wrapping paper. I wonder if it’s something that  might inspire Father Christmas’s gift wrapping for the stocking this year, tied with red or green twine. Adding a few springs of herbs and green foliage will make it even more exciting. 

Gift wrapping is a little bit of an obsession of mine and a well a wrapped gift sends my heart a flutter. Giving a gift feels so much more special when you’ve put as much thought in the wrapping as you have the gift and this gift paper though simple in style is ample in love.  It has certainly inspired us to have a go at creating our own. 

You can see find the inspiration as well as the free printable for this wrapping paper on this rather beautiful blog homeyohmy here. Let it inspire you to create your own; even as a simple scan and reprint process a hand drawn pattern or picture would make such a personal touch to a family gift.

Amy’s (creator of homeyohmy) blog is full of inspiration for that perfectly paired back simplicity alongside beautiful tutorials and projects to try.

Discover the free printable here and do have a go at your own.

xx

Share your festive pics and ideas with us on instagram too

@sistersguild

Advents 12th Door : Marshmallow Pops

School term is nearly at an end and the kids are looking for a treat to take in for all there friends. They wanted to make something colourful, edible and delicious. So, we’ve grabbed bags of giant marshmallows, white and milk chocolate ready to melt and various sprinkles ready to sprinkle. We’ve got little sticks to push into the marshmallows to make them like lollipops and little cellophane bags and pretty ties to package each one into.

This is where we found our inspiration here and here and here. We opted for star sprinkles, hundreds and thousands and confetti style sprinkles for fun. Such fun to make, and very quick and easy to make. Great for parties treats too. I think we may have found a new festive tradition!

Discover your favourite version here and here and here.

xx

Advents 11th Door : Glitter Ornaments

Its a tradition that each year each of us choose a new decoration for the tree, but its also become tradition for us to make some decorations for the house too. Glittery salt dough garlands, paper wreathes and Christmas villages have been previous favourites. We’ve put together lots of Christmas craft ideas and printables here on the blog over the past years so make sure you take a look at more great ideas alongside free printables here. 

These fun glitter ornaments are such a great idea and quite simple for little hands to make and bigger hands to help hang. Make them for the tree, attach them to a wreath or make a fun fruity garland. 

hop along to Brit + Co here for your fun DIY tutorial

xx

Advents 9th Door: An Extra 10% OFF

Our Winter Sale has just begun and today we’re giving all our members an extra 10% OFF the sale and extending it to our readers as well as across the whole boutique and all our collections* so you can give more for a little less (*sorry, it excludes furniture).

There’s so much discover. Not a member? Sign up here to make sure you don't miss out on all the benefits and special treats. 

Please use the code GIVEMORE at the checkout to receive your further 10% off.

xx

Whats waiting on your wishlist? 

Adevnts 8th Door: Giant Baubles DIY

This is perhaps my favourite DIY of the tutorials and inspiration from studio DIY and are simple and fun to make. I love the Alice in Wonderland-esque play with size and their easy yet glamorous aesthetic.

You don’t need much (extra large balloons, card, scissors, glue and pipe cleaners) , and everything you need is easily available so it really is a perfect weekend craft.

Head over to Studio DIY for the tutorial and more inspiration. But be careful, Kelly’s blog is infectiously fun and you may never want to leave! 

xx

Advent's 7th Door: Photo Booth Silliness

To Accompany our printable advent we’ve been on the look out for some more fun free Photo Booth props for you to print and make. We’ve found two more we the kids love. 

They’re so simple to make and we the kids never grow tired of them.

We’ve accumulated quite a collection - remember these! 

In this blog we collated our favourite 10 ….. just in case you 

The Father Christmas alongside his elf, reindeer and much more can be found here 

The Snapchat cuties discovered here

Have fun

xx

Advents 6th Door : A Christmas Village

I am both inspired and amazed by the amount of talent and creativity I see by so many crafters, makers and mothers. All who share there creativity and talent with us, using blogs and social media as a platform from which to soar into the world of creativity and the arts whilst staying close to their nest. Its beautiful and makes so many inspired connections around the world. 

Thoughts From Alice is a beautiful blog written by a beautiful soul. Artist by heart, Alice created this illustrated Christmas Village. There are nine pieces in the set; a church, a decorated tree, carollers, cars carrying away their freshly cut Christmas trees, a snowman and pretty buildings. Perfect for the mantle or window sill and so pretty lit up with fairy lights draped around and behind. 

Its here to download, print off and pretty your home. 

xx

Advents 3rd Door : A Winter Wonderland

Dash through the snow on a sleigh pulled by huskies into a wintry wonderland. Behind the tall snow topped trees you discover the most friendly animals. There's a polar bear and a moose and a beautiful dear deer with magnificent antlers and a snowy white tummy.  This playful scene has become the most enchanting place of play at home this week and we think it makes a great weekend activity to make. 

This little snowy scene when not being played with sits on our window sill and has become the first of our Christmas decorations. Wouldn't it make a fun centre piece for the Christmas table too. 

It's simple to make, just pop over to Mr Printables for the free template and instructions.

Winter Wonderland printable here

xx

Advents 2nd Door: Free Festive Charades Printable

The countdown to Christmas has begun and there's so much excitement in the air. The shop elves have been busy sending Christmas parcels and gifts to be wrapped to people all over the globe. Home is already in full festive spirit with the advent hung and full of surprises, mince pies in the making and Christmas cards a colouring. 

Now with the afternoons feeling a little grey here in London we've taken to playing some silly indoor games. We've been scribbling down our own silly version of charades with a little festive theme. The kids have loved it so much we wanted to share it and have created it as a printable for everyone to play.

There's something quite nostalgic about charades. Or is it just me? I remember watching the grown ups play when I was a child and they'd all have fits of laughter. We'd play too, making teams if the cousins were all around. I remember how the big cousins were so clever and quick I thought they must be mind readers (or perhaps they cheated) ! 

Print your game of charades here

xx

images: Grace Kelly playing charades aboard the SS Constitution

Photographed by Howell Conant for Life Magazine 

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Advents 3rd Door

 A few of our favourite free printables. Perfect for gifting, for beginning a gallery wall or for creating fun cards with sweet sentiments.

top:

constellation,  Be brave (available in 4 colours) adventure , X ( part of a set including 'KAPOW' lighting bolt, 'SO RAD' and more!) oh what a beautiful day ,  Keep the wild in you ,  I love you to the moon & back  , 

below:

but my darling .... 

Advents 1st Door

It's the first day of advent and we're beginning to feel a little festive. Present lists are being written and our first gifts bought. We've been planting hyacinths and mascari bulbs and home feels a little more magical. There's a sense of excitement in the air as the first advent door was opened with eyes not quite awake yet. Home feels as though it's alive with anticipation, eagerly awaiting all that the festivities bring; the tree, the wreath (yet to be made), the garlands and decorations, the cosiness that this seasons brings alongside its joyous rich colours. 

To celebrate our first day of the Christmas countdown we would like to give you 20% OFF everything in decor. So whichever room, for yourself or for someone you love,  big or small,  young or old you'll find something wonderful, perhaps even magical in our collection here.

enter code ADVENT1 at checkout

offer ends tomorrow 2nd December 10pm GMT