The Thankful Heart Tree...

Christmas is coming with leaps and bounds...

But before Christmas is Thanksgiving.

This DIY Thankful Heart Tree is an easy-to-create decoration for the Thanksgiving holiday and can remain on display throughout the Christmas season too.

The hearts are created using book page strips, that are stapled to shape.

The hanger is stapled on too.

A super fun activity for the kids to make.

And while you are folding and stapling your hearts, it's a good time to talk about gratefulness and what you are thankful for.

My tree is displayed on an upcycled trolley table.

You can find out how I did this HERE.

When the time you choose to decorate your home decor for Christmas add your favourite Christmas things to compliment the Thankful Heart Tree.
 I've added a Santa figurine to the vignette.

And a Christmas votive candle too.

The Christmas theme cushion on the chair is pretty cool too...

One side of the cushion on the tree is gold, and the other is silver. I'm enjoying the gold side today!

To make the Thankful Heart Tree:

You will need a vase and container to place it in or a tin bucket vessel.

Florist foam.

A branch.

An old book.

Stapler.

Twine.

Fabric or lace to cover the foam.

Cut the book pages into strips.  You need two strips per heart.

Hold as shown.

Staple.

Cut a length of twine. 

Knot and place in the heart.

Staple.

Or you could use a dob of hot glue if you prefer.

Place the florist foam in your vessel.

Place the branches into it.

Tie a twine bow on it.

Place the fabric or lace on top of the foam to disguise it.

Hang your hearts on the tree.

Place in your Thanksgiving vignette.

Then change it up to keep for the Christmas decor.

#bookpagehearts #diyChristmas

Snow Fudge with Cranberries...

  

SNOW FUDGE WITH CRANBERRIES

Now that is what I call the taste of Christmas!

And talking about NOW - it is the perfect time of year to make fudge.

(Actually when is not a good time of year to make fudge?)

This fudge has a completely KISS status!
(KISS = keep it simple stupid)
It is SO EASY to whip up.
Sets QUICKLY.
And a go-to recipe for Christmas 'Bring A Plate' functions and parties.

In fact a go-to recipe for any party in any season!

All you do is:
Prepare a slice tray by lining it with baking paper
Place 3 x 290-gram packets of white chocolate 
(I used Nestle White Chocolate Melts)
into a microwave-proof bowl
(I used glass)
Add 1 x 395 gram tin of condensed milk.
Mix.
Microwave for one minute.
Remove from microwave and stir smooth.
Microwave another 20 seconds if a little more melt time is required.
Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla bean extract with seeds.
And 150 grams of dried cranberries.


Mix quickly and put into slice tray.
Refrigerate till set.
Cut into pieces when set.
Store in an airtight container.

This Fudge is superb for gifting as it is not sticky.
Therefore you can put in little cello bags or decorated boxes to give.
Homemade always hits the heart with those feel good vibes more than a storebought gift!

You will make more than one batch - I guarantee you!

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#christmas #christmasgiftstobake

Mia Bella Passions 2018 Christmas Message...❥

Wishing Y'all a wonderful, fun-filled

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY season.

Be safe, be happy, find joy in the little things, love, laugh and smile.

Mia Bella Passions is taking a holiday break too

and will return on January 17th 2019.

A Simple Christmas Table Centrepiece...❥

Every year I buy a few new things for my Christmas decor collection.

Do you have one of those too?

Well, I simply love Christmas.

And this year decorating was kept minimalistic.

Not real minimalistic, 

but Mia Bella Passions kind of minimalistic.

The colour theme this Christmas is green and white tones with wood.

For the Dining table decor styling,

a simple aqua table cloth was placed on the table.

Add one home sewn, Christmas green checked gingham table runner.

Then a round metal tray with wood handles was placed in the middle of the table. 

Onto that three white embossed ceramic mini planters were placed.

Into each of these a candle.

I used aqua coloured candles to compliment the aqua coloured tablecloth.

Then place a ceramic white deer as a focal feature.

Around the candles add some faux pine greenery and pinecones.

All of the items used for this centrepiece were sourced from KMart NZ.

Except for the candles which were bought from Briscoes NZ on sale.

#christmastablecentrepiece #christmasdecor

FUN Christmas Ice Cream Cake...

What a fun Christmas foodie activity.

 Believe me, you will be laughing so much doing this!

Take one pre-prepared ice cream cake.

A tray full of edible decorations.

Take turns adding something to the cake.
You will be laughing and shouting things like...
Quick it's melting...
oh no my candy cane has fallen over... 
hurry up, hurry up...
noooo the creams lost its fluff...
it won't stand up...
quickly get the sprinkles!
When we created our cake we simply laughed ourselves silly!

Once it's all pretty and Christmasy devour it!

Now that is what you call perfect fun for the foodies!

To prepare cake:

Use a round tin preferably with removable click release side.

Slightly soften 1 Litre of ice cream.

(I used vanilla, but you can use any flavour you desire.)

Tip into a tin.

Use some more ice cream to fill in the side and level the top.

Freeze.

On the day of decorating.  Remove from freezer and plate.

Cover with plastic wrap and place back in the freezer until required to decorate.

Then decorate:

Drizzle with a layer of chocolate crack topping. 
Let it drip down the sides...

before embellishing with edibles...

ready to use canned cream, Christmas-themed biscuits, chocolates and sprinkles.


#christmasfood #christmasdessert #icecreamcake

Beach Inspired Christmas Tree With Driftwood...

The colour theme was for Mia Bella Passions Christmas tree this year is green and white tones with wood.

I decided a beach theme would be fabulous as I live right by the sea.

I made mini starfish ornaments by hot glueing a string hanger onto each one.

The tree decorating began with the lights, then the rope, which was wound around the tree.

 I wanted to add some flowers to the tree too,  

so the perfect creamy white faux hydrangeas were poked into the tree.

The stems are long but blend into the foliage.

The white toned and sea green baubles were hung next.

A laser cut wood Christmas star placed on the tree top.

And at the bottom, some raw sacking was placed to cover the tree stand.

The driftwood was collected off my local beach.

Washed and dried before adding the final beachy touch to the tree base.


For the coffee table, I placed a premade wreath and added some battery powered mini greet Christmas tree lights.
(oh look - a pop of red has snuck into the colour scheme!)


This looks fabulous at nighttime!
In the centre of the wreath, I popped a glass contained Ecoya Pine scented candle.
These candles are amazing, and the scent is true pine!
Perfect hint of the real thing if you opt for the artificial tree.

Where I got things:

Tree

Fir tree from Kmart.

Baubles from Kmart.

Starfish from Amazon.

Hydrangea flowers from Spotlight (on sale).

Rope from Bunnings.

Woodstar - a free gift from Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

Table Wreath:

Wreath from Bed Bath & Beyond (50% sale)
Mini Green Tree Lights from Farmers
Ecoya pine scented candle from Farmers

#christmastree #christmasdecor #beachthemedchristmas

DIY Pet Reindeer...

Remember when pet rocks were the rage?

These pet reindeer are a little larger in size than previous pet rocks,

 but the kids will love to make them.

It's a super fun and easy Christmas paint craft project.

All you do is:

Select an oval or round flat type rock.

Paint one side or both with white paint.

(I used an artist type acrylic paint)

Leave to dry.

Or dry quicker using a hairdryer.

Using a thin brush, paint on eyes in black.

A red nose.

Antlers,

And baubles in coloured paint hung on the antlers.

I did this project with two five-year-olds.

So once the white paint was dry, I used a soft lead pencil to draw the eyes, nose, antlers and baubles on to the rock.

They then simply painted it.

Pet reindeer...

to place on the coffee table Christmas display, 

use as a paperweight, to give to someone special as a handmade gift,

or be part of your Christmas decor.

#christmas #christmascraft #reindeercraft #reindeer

Five Fabulous Christmas Foodie Treats...

This week, Mia Bella Passions is sharing our most popular 

and favourite Christmas sweet treats...

There's Bailey's homemade ice cream cake, a wreath inspired chocolate treat using TimTams,  Gingerbread cupcakes, 

a classic vintage Christmas cake and an arty creative white chocolate Tim Tam biscuit Present!

Homemade Icecream Wreath with Baileys...

so pretty and so delicious!

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/2016/12/homemade-ice-cream-wreath-with-baileys.html

How super Christmasy is this Tim Tam chocolate Biscuit Wreath?

Step by step photographic instructions on how to create are a link click away -

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/2015/11/tim-tam-biscuit-wreath.html

Christmas cute ginger cupcakes with ginger butter icing,

 and a gingerbread mistletoe leaf biscuit topper. 

Leftover biscuit mix also makes coffee dipping cookies!

Find out more at https://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/2014/12/delish-and-christmas-cute-ginger.html

Christmas cake that has a self-deciding fruit content!  

This recipe is was gifted to my mother in 1969!

Find out more about this delicious cake at http://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/2016/12/lets-bake-grace-wilsons-christmas-cake.html

And lastly, there is the stunning white chocolate Tim Tam Christmas Pressie.

A bit of fun for the arty Chrsitmas cook!

Step by step instructions at http://miabellapassion.blogspot.com/2016/12/tim-tam-pressie-treat.html

Christmas creative baking is so joyful, 

especially when you make, create and bake with family, and friends.

Enjoy.

#christmas #christmasbaking #christmastreats #baileys, #icecream #ginger #christmascake