Make Stuff Monday - an upcycled Christmas gift box

 

Hello friends! Welcome to another Make Stuff Monday! Today's project is an upcycled Christmas gift box. Which of course, features the infamous Santa. *winks*

Just a quick update for those who are curious...I have 5 more Santas to go! I'm working really hard on finishing up those last 5 pieces on projects so that I can photograph all my Santa projects in one massive project picture before shipping them off to the recipients! *well wishes needed*

Back to today's project...which started its life on earth as a sturdy black cardboard box with a magnetic closure. :)

Now it has some colour in its life! And will hopefully *fingers crossed* bring some joy to its next owner.

I had so much fun piecing this collage of Christmas bits and pieces together.

While I'm almost done with all my Christmas projects, I have to say that the Christmas decorations are still in storage. With no plans for family/friends coming over, should I even decorate? What do you think? Have you put up your Christmas decor?

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The last Yam birthday celebration for 2020

 

On Monday, we had the last Yam birthday celebration for 2020 with nephew #1's birthday. 

He got a vanilla white cake with Swiss meringue buttercream (which I am trying to master...*winks*). It looks like a really simple cake but it took me 4 hours to bake and frost it. Lesson learnt: pipe the frosting on the cake! I was trying not to waste a piping bag by just frosting the cake with a palette knife but I just couldn't get an even layer. 

The frosting on the cake would not hold up to close scrutiny but looks good enough in my scrapbook album. *LOL*

It was fun working in the little bits and bobs.

Your gal found a huge doiley stash in her collection so expect more doilies on projects!

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

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A page from the recipe planner - Tangzhong sourdough bread

 

Hello friends! Just sharing a page from the recipe planner featuring my fave free-standing sourdough bread - the Tangzhong sourdough bread! :)

I think I've "perfected" the technique for this bread because I've baked it several times with stellar results *clearly not modest at all*....hehehe.

It's my treat on days when I worked out hard and get to eat breakfast in the am. :) Actually, I only eat it once a week because sometimes I'm too lazy to heat up my frozen bread in the oven and just go for chia seed pudding instead. And no, no microwave in the Yam household for health reasons.

On non-workout days (alternate days), I just start working on lunch earlier and have a hearty brunch instead. Yes, this feed-the-family-homecooked-meals-everyday-thing is really time-consuming. Which is why Wednesdays are Eat Your Own Lunch Wednesdays in the Yam household. *winks*

I got to use up a whole bunch of notecards, stickers and washi tape.

Hope your week is going well. :)

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What's new in my life - kitchen additions

 

With all the home cooking I've been doing, I have added to my kitchen arsenal! You know, to facilitate ease of cooking. *winks*

So I've always wanted a handheld blender after watching all the cooking shows. But I have my own food processor and blender (mum has her own...we are territorial about our appliances..hehe) so it wasn't a necessity but really a want. Seriously though, no regrets with this purchase. Perfect for making roasted vegetable soups and pasta sauce. I use it more than my food processor (shh...don't tell her) because let's face it, cleanup is soooooo much easier. *LOL*

I also officially bought my first kitchen knife. When you do cooking sporadically, you make do with whatever is available. When you have to do it multiple times a day, you get your own. Even my sister has her own utility knife (specifically for cutting fruits). Personally, I never knew that knives could be so pricey..especially those high-end ones made in Germany and Japan. Let me get more proficient in my cooking before we look into those options...*winks*

I did get myself an instant read digital food thermometer. Because expensive cuts of steaks could be totally ruined over-cooking by one degree. Yep, all my meat gets probed!Hahaha!

Of course, with all the baking, I had to get a fancy whisk and dough scraper. The cheap ones just come apart so quickly. 

I did get some value-for-money palette knives for cake decorating because these were the only types available at the store. I'm not quite sure if fancy cake decorating is in my future because carrying the cake in and out of the freezer to set each layer is such a pain. *winks*

Anyway, these are my kitchen additions over the last few months. Have you added to your kitchen arsenal?

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This week's Santa on a gift bag

 

This week's Santa on a gift bag features Santa with some hot chocolate and marshmallows. Yum. :)

It's been a gloomy and rainy November so far. Just wanted to share a bright and happy project today.

Found this hot pink polka dotted paper gift bag in my stash from some previous happy mail. Perfect for some Christmas baked goods.

Playing along with the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

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The reworked decorated paper bag featuring Santa

 

So I've been doing a massive clear-out and re-organization of my completed craft projects. Some I still think are pretty, some I think are horrendous and some just need a little reworking. Like this decorated paper bag.

I love the lace edge and all the bling.

How it looked previously

But that black lace floral bloom was probably why I have not given the decorated paper bag away. I would take it out, shake my head, then choose another one. *LOL*

No worries though...it's Santa to the rescue! *winks*

Doesn't it look so much better now? *Rhetorical question* ;)

Have a great weekend friends! :)

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Workspace Wednesday - my current eye sketch

 

Just sharing an eye sketch I'm currently working on....the eyebrow is proving to be quite challenging for me. :) 

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A page from the recipe planner - lychee tarts

 

These are currently my fave tarts to make - lychee tarts.

The tart shell is made from a pâte sablée dough which is crisp and more cookie-like. It is filled with lychee flavoured pastry cream and topped with lychee pieces. :)

 It's surprising light and refreshing. And yummy. If you like the taste of lychee. *winks*

The owl makes another appearance....hehe.

I was happy to squeeze the entire recipe in. :)

Happy Tuesday friends!

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Make Stuff Monday - upcycled ornament cum gift packaging

 

Hello friends! Today's Make Stuff Monday is a really simple upcycled ornament cum gift packaging.

I started with this plastic packaging for a phone charger cord. I have 2 because I snagged the bestie's one too. *winks*

Your gal went in with some glittered paper, washi tape and of course, Santa. :) Super easy and quick project.

I think it would be fun to fill it with sweets that you can hang on your Christmas tree. Or give away. Probably give away...I don't think I would like anyone eating stuff off my Christmas tree. *LOL*

Happy week ahead friends!

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