Thursday 5 December 2013

Visions of Sugarplums, my final post.

Hello again and thanks for returning to my blog today for my final Visions of Sugarplums post.
I hope you have enjoyed visiting Lori's blog too and the other bloggers who are taking part this year. Please see my last post for all the other details.
There are prizes to win every single day just by leaving a comment at the end of my post. If you visit the other blogs which are taking part you will get additional entries for additional comments. And during the week Lori will be adding up all the comments left and enter them into a grand draw. So do get over to Lori and join in with all the fun. The extra prize today is;

Vintage Remix - 2 sets of choice. So get commenting on all the blogs today!
Today I thought I would share another of my favourite Christmas traditions...and that is to make a Christmas Orange. My daughter has come up to stay for a few days with Daisy as her hubby is working abroad this week...so we made these together.So special to have some Mum and daughter time ;0)

They are so simple to make and smell wonderful. I hang one each year from the banisters in my hall and it looks and smells delightful.
I thought I would show you a step by step as you may like to try making one of these yourself.
The ingredients are;

1 large orange
Choice of ribbon (something red always looks best in my books)
Whole cloves
5 pins
A piece of cinnamon
A cake tester or something sharp to pierce small holes in the orange.

First wrap the ribbon around the orange and secure with a few pins.



In each of the quarters start to make holes with the cake tester and fill each one with a whole clove.

At this point our Daisy fell asleep so she watched us from her Moses basket.

Continue until the whole skin of the orange is covered

Add a piece or 2 of cinnamon to the top and tie into a bow.


And there you have it.....a yummy smelling, inexpensive, handmade Christmas decoration.

My card today just has to be a Christmas card with a food theme...I immediately thought of my Meljen gingerbread stamp and made this card.

I made the flower with card candi and the border is a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is Lili of the valley. The papers are
I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Jelly Park Christmas
Natalie and Amy cute and cuddly Christmas
Whimsy stamps party time
A little bit crafty Christmas Cheer
Sparkles Christmas Christmas feasts and treats
Live and Love Challenges Stardust
Cupboard Trilogy Christmas
Bearly Mine Christmas sentiment
Papertake Weekly anything goes
Make it Monday Linky party #169

Do remember to leave a comment here as every comment gives you a chance to win the daily prize and also Lori will add up every comment left this week and enter them into her grand prize draw. So the more comments you leave the more chances you have of being a winner. The event has one more day tomorrow. Good luck.

I will be back really soon with my next Countdown to Christmas post...just 20 days to go now..are you ready ;0)

Thanks so much for visiting me here and thanks to Lori for asking me to be a part of your Visions of Sugarplums party this year,

Jane x




33 comments:

  1. How nice that you got mother daughter AND baby time!! I love your tradition of making the orange - I might have to try that! Your card is gorgeous, as usual. You rock!

    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Oh I can almost smell the cloves and cinnamon here!! It has been years since I made those, maybe time to do it again.
    Just think in a couple of years there will be three of you around the table making them! :)
    Hope you girls are having fun together!!?
    Happy Thursday,
    V xxx

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  3. Such a sweet tradition! Sweet baby and special time with family! A blessing for sure! Love your card too! Adorable!

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  4. Oh what a great idea...my hubby is away for the day on Saturday might have to get our girlies to have a play with some oranges...thank you xx

    Gorgeous card love the die cut looks fab & the cutie gingerbread man looks good enough to eat!

    Thank you for sharing with us at Natalie & Amy's this month, good luck!
    Hugs Shell xx

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  5. I can almost smell that from here - yum! Great card too and daisy looks so adorable xx

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  6. I love cloves! I've just got back from a lunch where they had done this with clementines - the smell was delicious!

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  7. another great idea we will have to try!

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  8. I am loving these fun crafts! Beautiful card!

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  9. Beautiful Jane! Both the card, the orange and of course, Daisy too! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Sparkles Christmas Challenge this month. Hope to see you again soon.

    Hugs
    Brenda
    Sparkles DT

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  10. Oooo, I haven't made an orange like that since I was at school - thank you for the reminder as I agree, they smell wonderful.

    Toni xx

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  11. Oh these remind me
    of when I was younger
    and my mom would make
    them. Always smelled
    so good!
    Carla from Utah

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  12. Oh, I bet the orange smells wonderful! Such a wonderful family project!
    The gingerbread card is terrific too! I love the spotty newsprint flower!

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  13. Oooh one of my favorite holiday traditions! Orange and clove just scream "Christmas."

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  14. Wonderful. Used to make these oranges when I was little. I love your card so sweet! TFS

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  15. I had totally forgotten clove oranges - your's is wonderful with the red gingham! And what a darling card - wonderful combination!

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  16. Love the smell of cinnamon and cloves at Christmas Time!
    Chris =]

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  17. Another really GREAT idea for the Holidays!! I have never seen this one either. Thanks for sharing your holiday tradition.

    Hope you enjoy your Christmas and have a Healthy, Happy New Year!

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  18. Hi Jane and your girls! How great that you can spend time together! I love your orange and card! It smells alredy Christmas! x Teje

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  19. super card, gorgeous photo and I love the smell of clove studded oranges
    Hugs and take care travelling
    Kate xx
    ps more candy on offer today :)

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  20. How lovely to have some special time with your two girls and getting your fabulous orange made up for Christmas. Love your cute card too with the gingerbread man, you are definitely into the festive smells lol.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  21. Thank you for sharing such easy instructions on how to do that orange! I have always wanted to do one but thought it was too hard to do! Thank you again and have a very Merry Christmas! Wow, a new granddaughter for Christmas! Enjoy!
    Hugs,
    Lynn

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  22. Love your gorgeous home spun card and the lovely sentiment too.

    Thanks for sharing at BM this week.

    Sharon x

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  23. Hello Ladies, I love oranges and cloves. Have not made one of those for years and years.
    Glad you could all be together.
    A big kiss for Daisy,
    Anne xx
    PC22

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  24. A gorgeous creation! Thanks for playing at PTW and all the best for the festive season! xxx

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  25. Oh that's a beautiful Creation and thank you for joining us in our "Feast and Treats Challenge" over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge good luck and hope to see you again next time Dt Member Sandra H xx

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  26. Love the decorative frame for the sweet image .Thanks for sharing on Make it Monday

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  27. What lovely card, Thanks for joining in with our challenge over at The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge Blog.

    Stella xx

    TCT DT

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  28. Thank you for sharing your lovely card with Jellypark Friends & Good Luck!
    Hugs
    Tracey
    xx

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  29. Great card! I love the punched border and your gingerbread man. Thanks for the ornament idea - I bet it smells amazing. Thanks for joining us at Sparkles Christmas Challenges.

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  30. Oh I love the orange tutorial!! Such a sweet card and love the gingerbread image too! Thanks so much for joining our last challenge of the year "Stardust" at LLC and hope to see you play again! Happy New Year!
    Hugs,
    Eulanda
    LLC Designer
    December Giveaway

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  31. Hi Jane,
    This brings back sweet memories; we used to make those kind of oranges for X-mas when I was a kid; I love the smell of them! Great match with the gingham, it always creates such a warm and rustical X-mas feeling. Thanks for sharing with us at LLC. Best Wishes for the New Year!
    Hugz, Sandy
    Owner & Operator @ Live & Love Crafts

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Jane x