The Christmas Sitting Room...

Welcome to the Christmas Sitting Room.

Choosing RED as this years theme colour was easy - because if you didn't know it already - I LOVE RED!

Santa approves - 

He's quite fond of the colour RED too! 

 This is the mantel.

 With the Christmas ornament picture 
Instructions on how to make this are here:
http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/framed-christmas-bauble-picture.html

 The Christmas Bearington Bear and Santa watch over the festivities.

 Berries, lights and gold stars mingle with the white tulle.

I love the patterning in gold on this glass candle holder.

 Here's a closer view of this  bear.

 with the purfect little Christmas friend sitting on her lap.

 There is only one tree this year.
A new BIG tree is on the list for Santa,
because somehow (?) the old one met its demise.
(Run over by a quad bike and squashed whilst in the shed storage department - but it is on the upcycle list !)

 So the little tree is decked out in RED.

 With the painted leaves at the base.

Instructions on how to create these is HERE.

 The other thing I love at Christmas time is:
CHRISTMAS CUSHIONS!

 Oh RED - how I adore you!

 Christmas and ART = LOVE!

And Bearington Bears...

Soooo cute!

 With such gorgeous details.
This is Angelica.

 The Christmas sitting room...

is beautiful in candle light. 

 Nothing compares...

to the ambience... 

 That candlelight creates.

 Mia Bella Passions Christmas Sitting Room...

Beautiful by day or night.

For more DIY and Foodie Christmas ideas visit HERE.

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by joining for free HERE.

#christmasdecorating #christmas 

White Choc, Cranberry & Macadamia TRUFFLES

       White Choc, Cranberry & Macadamia TRUFFLES...

Decadent little balls of Christmas with creamy white chocolate, tart cranberry, and a crunch of macadamia.

All this - encased in a little coconut.

 I know you will LOVE these Christmas treats...

Prepare your ingredients as per the recipe...

 Add the chopped macadamia nuts to the creamed white chocolate mixture.

Then fold through the dried cranberries.

Chill the mixture for an hour.

When the mixture is firm enough, roll into teaspoon-sized balls, and then roll in coconut.

Ingredients:

2 cups White chocolate - chopped

1/4 cup Dried Cranberries - diced into smaller pieces

3/4  cup Macadamia nuts - chopped

1 cup finely shredded coconut

To Make:

In a bowl melt the white chocolate.

Add the dried cranberries, and mix.

Add the macadamia nuts, and mix.

Chill the mixture for an hour.

 When the chocolate mixture is firm enough roll into teaspoon-sized balls, then roll in coconut.

Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

 Place your best Christmas table runner on the coffee table...

 Add a Christmas decoration to the platter of truffles...

The JOY leaf is a DIY painted leaf decoration.

The link to how to make these is here:

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/painted-leaves-with-christmas-wording.html

And serve to your guests with piping hot coffee.

Here's the printable recipe for White Choc, Cranberry & Macadamia TRUFFLES

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#christmas #treats #baking #whitechocolate #truffles

Rosemary Christmas Stars...

I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE the scent of rosemary.

Every Christmas I try to incorporate a little rosemary somewhere in the decorating.

This year I made simple stars using sprigs of rosemary.

All you do is trim the sprigs so they are about the same length. 

Hot glue the five or six sprigs of rosemary in a star shape.
And trim shape if necessary.

Add a centre bow. 

I used burlap twine but you could use a ribbon in the colour of your choice.

Add a hanger - I used the twine, but once again you could use ribbon.

And there you have it.

Super simple and smelling 'OH SO GOOD' Christmas stars.

Hang on your tree.

On your berry tree.

Or display at the base of your Christmas tree...

For the latest posts visit HERE  :)

#Christmas #craft #rosemary #stars

Malteser Truffles...

Love Maltesers? Love chocolate?

Then these goodies are for YOU?

I have used my Mama's delicious unbaked slice recipe to encase Maltesers.

Once rolled in balls, dipped some in milk chocolate, as well as dusting some with dark cocoa powder.

In a large pot melt and mix: 

150 grams butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, 3/4 cup caster sugar, and 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder.

Cool slightly, and add two lightly beaten eggs.  Mix well.

Add 250 grams finely crushed plain vanilla biscuits. Mix into the chocolate mixture.
(Note the plastic bag/rolling pin crushing technique.  
One must improvise when the food processor decides to break!)

Mix into the chocolate mixture.

This mixture is quite moist.

Take a single Malteser from its packet.

Use clean WET hands to encase the Malteser in the mixture.

Roll into balls and place onto wax paper to set.

Melt milk chocolate - and dip each truffle ball in it.

Leave the truffles to set.

Once set dust the truffles in dark cocoa powder.

(optional)

Malteser Truffles - a fabulous 'Made with LOVE'  Christmas gift idea!

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#christmas #truffles #malteser #treats

Painted leaves with Christmas Wording....

Funk up Christmas with some painted word leaves.

An easy project that is quick to do.

I used rubber plant leaves.  But any big leaf will do.

These are freshly picked, 

and then spray painted front and back.

Of course you can paint them any colour you want.

I chose gold to match my Christmas decor.

Once sprayed, leave for a few hours to dry.

Then used a vivid maker pen to write your word on the leaf.

I used a simple block lettering, but you could use a fancy calligraphy style if you wish.

Then place in your decor.

Mine are on some white tulle at the base of the Christmas tree.

You could also use them:  

 On a platter around  a candle.

 As name labels for a dinner table setting.

Punch a hole and thread with ribbon and hang on the tree.

A little funky leaf fun - perfect for Christmas decorating with four ways to use them.

#Christmas # leaves #craft