|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Christmas Decorating Tips
Garland Glasses
This is a cute and simple way to add a personal touch to your table and it can be adapted to suit any time of year.
Supplies needed:
• Delta PermEnamel: Lt Green, Hunter Green, Fire Red, Ultra White and 14 K Gold.
• Delta PermEnamel Surface conditioner and Clear Gloss Glaze.
• Brushes: No 4 stipple brush, No 2 round brush
• Toothpick
• Vinegar
This pattern can be adapted to any size glass, I’ve used a champagne glass for the photograph, but the wreath looks good on wineglasses as well.
If you don’t have a stipple brush, use an old brush that’s gone a bit shaggy to create the fluffy effect for the garland.
Garland:
Clean the area to be painted around the rim of the glass with the Surface conditioner or vinegar and a paper towel. Let it dry, then stipple the Hunter Green in a ring around the glass about 1in down from the lip, allow it to dry, then stipple the Light Green randomly over the darker hue and let it dry thoroughly.
Ribbon:
Load the No 2 round brush with the 14K Gold and paint curved lines from the top to the bottom of the garland, leaving 1in intervals between each ribbon. Let this dry.
Berries:
Pour a small amount of Fire Red on to a palette and dip the wooden end of the round brush in the paint and form three round dots around the end of the ribbons at the top and bottom of the garland and allow them to dry. Highlight the top right-hand corner of each berry Ultra White using the end of the toothpick in the same technique.
Finally, dip your stipple brush lightly in the Ultra White and stipple small amounts of white over the garland to highlight.
Glazing:
When the garland is totally dry finish it with a coat of Clear Gloss Glaze following the manufacturer’s instructions. PermEnamel do state that the glass wear is now dishwasher safe, but I always wash mine up with hot water and detergent then rinse well. Enjoy.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
‘GINGERBREAD’ HOUSES
These quick-and-easy decorations are made with ‘Nice’ biscuits. Display them on your Christmas table or add a name tag and use them as place cards.
Each house requires 6 biscuits – although you may need more due to breakages.
Supplies needed:
• 1 pkt of Nice biscuits
• Assorted lollies – I used Mini M&Ms, liquorice allsorts and mint leaves
• 1 egg white
• 500g pure icing sugar
• Piping bag and nozzle
• 1, 13cm x 15cm (5in x 6in) piece of thick cardboard
• 1, 18cm x 20cm (7in x 8in) piece of hologram wrapping paper to cover the cardboard
• Tape
Base:
Cover the cardboard with the wrapping paper and stick it at the back with tape.
Icing:
Whisk the egg white slightly with a fork then using the back of a spoon, mix the sifted icing sugar into the egg white one teaspoon at a time until it dissolves. Keep adding the icing sugar until it reaches the consistency of soft toothpaste. When the icing is ready, cover with cling film as it tends to dry out quickly.
House:
Following the diagram above, cut the four biscuits with a large sharp knife. I cut them close to the lines then shaved off any extra by rolling the knife over the edge.
Spoon the icing into the piping bag and pipe a line of it along the bottom of one of the V-shaped pieces then centre it on the short side of the cardboard about an inch from the edge. Use some small weights such as eggcups to hold it in place and pipe along each side, then pipe along the long edge of the cut rectangle shape and hold it up against the side of the V-shaped piece until they can stand alone. Now position the V-shape at the other end, piping the base and sides as you go, and then position the second cut rectangle side, securing it at the base and sides. Finally, pipe a thick coat of icing along the top edges of the Vs and the straight sides and attach two full biscuits to form the roof, piping a line of icing along the top where they meet.
Now you can let your imagination run wild and decorate the house with lots of lollies. I used the M&Ms to cover the joins and cut the liquorice allsorts with scissors to make columns and shutters. I finished the houses with mint leaves for trees and M&M stepping-stones.
I printed the names in a nice font and added the name tags using the icing with a lolly on top.
The houses can be made in advance and will keep for 4-6 weeks in an airtight container. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
