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

Petunia Love...

 A stunning, showy and unusual Petunia.

Petunia Nightsky.

It's very galatic looking!

 Petunia Night Sky has the darkest blue-purple flowers that are speckled with white spots that resemble a stellar night sky!

As soon as I walked through Mitre 10's Garden Centre doors - it grabbed me...

For the flowers are spectacular!

I am planting mine in a large white plastic pot.

I'm going to plant two pots the same.

I've got a bit of a 'Thing' going on for white pots.

I love them!

I'm also adding cascade lobelias in a mix of blues, pinks and whites as companion plants.

The lobelias will drape down the sides of the pot.

Petunia Night Sky has a mounding, trailing habit, which means it is also good for garden beds and hanging planters.

The height it grows to is 25 to 40cm.

It requires full sun, regular watering, and fertilising for optimal flowering results.

Newly planted, and I can't wait for the fabulous show of flowers to come.

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#gardenplants #petunia #flowers #plantsforpots