Thursday 8 December 2016

Five on Friday

Another busy week, another week nearer to Christmas.   My three daughters are coming to visit on Sunday along with their little families.  My Mum and Dad hopefully will come down for an hour or so.  I am also expecting my sister her daughter and her daughter.  Finally my brother, making a total of 20 to cater for.  I intend to host a buffet lunch, so to make my life a little easier I have made a start on some of the preparations.

One

Hot chocolate stirrers.  I thought I would make hot chocolate on arrival with chocolate stirrers and cookies.  I stamped the lollipop sticks to give them a seasonal look.

 
Added melted milk chocolate to an ice cube tray shaped like a Christmas tree or bauble then added the sticks, mini marshmallow, mini candy canes or mini gingerbread men.
 

 
Once they had hardened off they were wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with some natural twine.
 
 
Two
 
I have covered some sweet lollipops in netting and tied with a ribbon to make a pretty addition to a Christmas tree all ready for the children.
 

 
All ready for the sweet trolley.  I  always wrapped lollies for the girls when they were little for treats throughout the festive period so they will love it.  A lovely reminder of their childhood.
 
Three
 
I have had fun folding napkins, I tried lots of different ways but finally settled with a tree it made me smile and adds a little more Christmas sparkle.
 




 
Four
 
I have a basket that will be by the door so that I can give each person a little token as they leave, my way of thanking them for coming.  This week I added a few children's brooches these are the ones I made for Lily and Daisy.
 


 
I want everyone to feel that they were welcome and to feel loved, a token gift maybe but filled with love.
 
Five
 
More chocolate, this time some mini rocky road and some individual chocolates to have with tea/coffee after lunch or another little treat to take home.
 


 
Melted chocolate was poured into a mould and a few little treats added, chopped nuts, raisons, cranberries, marshmallow or candy cane pieces.  They were then popped into the fridge to harden and then placed into cellophane bags and tied with natural twine.
 


 
A few mini candy canes added to give a little colour and they are ready.
 
I am once again joining Amy over at Love Made My Home for the weekly get together, pop over and join in the fun.  How are your Christmas preparations going?
 
See you soon.
 
 
 
 
 

44 comments:

  1. What a lot of beautiful and delicious things!
    Have a happy time

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  2. Lovely tips for Christmas! I loved the sticks / chocolate stirrers! Happy Festive Season.

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  3. No wonder your family loves coming to visit! Such sweet and charming (and delicious-looking) favors! Love the Christmas tree napkins, too. I hope you have a wonderful visit. xo Karen

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  4. Oh wow, you are all going to have a most wonderful day. I love the extra little treats you've made x

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  5. All the little special treats and surprises will make it a magical time. I'm sure all your visitors will appreciate their day with you.

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  6. Soooo much loveliness in the post I am going to have a proper look later.

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  7. You have been busy, I'm sure your gifts will be really appreciated and enjoyed. What a great idea to fold the napkins like that! Have a wonderful time.

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  8. I can see see Christmas at your house is very nice. Love the idea of the chocolates, I saw some moulds on Amazon which were really cheap, I might make some next year xx

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  9. Is there room for another one? Goodness, you do make your guests feel welcome, such a lovely touch, it's a wonder they ever want to leave.

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  10. I wish I was on the guest list! You are the best hostess & seems you have thought of everything to make your home a wonderful place to be!
    I love all those chocolate sweeties! Very pretty touches!

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  11. If I hadn't already got a busy weekend I would be catching the train down to your house.
    It all looks totally scrumptious-x-

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  12. That all looks so pretty and so loving.

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  13. Looks like your company will have plenty to eat. So much thought and planning has been put into all of it. I think they will feel very loved indeed. ♥
    xx Beca

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  14. It looks like you are going to have a great time on Sunday, you have gone to such great trouble. I always have little tokens ready to give visitors as they leave too, people are always thrilled with the thought. Have a fabulous time on Sunday xx

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  15. You have been busy this week! I hope you have a wonderful time on Sunday. You've put in such hard work and everything looks so beautiful. I love the stirrers you have made. Yum.

    Happy Five on Friday

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  16. What a positive feast. How lovely to have all your family together. Enjoy. B x

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  17. I wish I could come!! you have such clever ideas and make everyone feel special!! I like the idea of chocolate stirrers...

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  18. How wonderful all your creations are I'm sure all your visitors will be thrilled with them. Have a wonderful time with your family:)

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  19. How nice to get invited to your house and get to enjoy all the treats! Your napkin folding is fabulous!

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  20. What a lucky family you have. I know they'll enjoy each and every effort. I think your daughters will enjoy the lollipops most of all.

    I hope you'll give us a lesson in folding napkins into trees when you have time.

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  21. Your candy and lollipops looks yummie!
    And I´m sure they are too. :)

    Beautiful tablesetting for Chrsitmas.
    Thank you for visiting me earlier.

    Hope to see you again!
    Sussie

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  22. You are the epitome of a wonderful hostess! I would love to be a guest at your house. When on earth do you find the time to do everything? I feel so lazy in comparison. I have no holiday preparations to do. Gifts have been posted. A few decorations put out. Just Hubby and I this year. I can't think of it too much or I start to get depressed, and really, I have so much to be grateful for. I am very blessed to have family and friends who care. Enjoy your weekend with your family my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  23. Love love love all these special touches! they are going to be so delighted!! I'm planning for a Christmas Eve get together now. My mom was always artsy and crafty as I was growing up and she did similar things like you have. I hope to blog about mine afterwards too. Have a lovely weekend!!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  24. Wow, you have been so busy!!! I am sure that all of your guests are going to feel very welcomed, very loved and have a great time too. You are a wonderful hostess and very kind too! Hope you have fun and that you get some help with the clearing up afterwards too!

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  25. Your guests will be delighted! You are a great hostess, I'd come for lunch anytime. Enjoy the family visits.

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  26. Thanks for sharing all your clever gifting/decorating ideas! I so admire your loving creativity. You inspire me. xx

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  27. You've been busy and your goodies and gifts are so delightful! I once had 13 people at thanksgiving which was fun but it's not happened in awhile. Quieter holidays lately for some reason. I need to get my act together and finish up some calendars this weekend and get them sent out! Have a good time with your family! Hugs!

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  28. It all looks delicious, except for the napkins and they look great.

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  29. My preparations are not nearly as far along as yours, but they are coming, slowly. Your sweet treats look delicious, and how lovely to have them all individually wrapped. There's something about that that is so appealing. Have a wonderful, festive weekend.

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  30. All the things you've made look so lovely. You have a real gift for making crafts and also food. Have a wonderful time with family on Sunday.

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  31. You are amazing! You're so lucky that all of your family lives close enough to come for tea. I've had 2/3rd of my children and their families move far away. Count your blessings.

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

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  32. Those hot chocolate favors are darling. You always have the best ideas. I am sure that your family loves being with you and in your holiday home!

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  33. You have some marvelous ideas and mainly so simple. I'm sure everyone is going to feel so blessed. Enjoy your big family celebration.

    Diana

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  34. Fabulous ideas to welcome your family into your home this Christmas time, I'm sure they will all feel very loved and blessed.

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  35. What a wonderful selection of edible and creative makes, I am sure the family will all love them. My favourite has to be the lovely hot chocolate stirrers.

    Christmas wishes

    Angela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me

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  36. Wow, so many goodies for your families!You must have been busy and they are so delightful! I am sure all of you are going to have a wonderful celebration!

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  37. Oh my goodies! Just look at your clever, yummy treats and gifts wow, I want to be a guest in your home haha. You impress me girl and seriously those hot chocolate stirrers what a grand idea, I absolutely love it. That one I'm surely gonna have to copy!
    Merry Christmas, you are well on your way!!!
    Saimi

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  38. Oh my, you have been busy. Those stir sticks are a great idea and I love your folded napkins.

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  39. Well you might get a partially finished comment because as I was typing, it disappeared! Anyway, I was saying I love your ideas and I might try to make some of them for Christmas Eve for our fun night. I made Hot Chocolate stirrers one year and I put the chocolate on plastic spoons. I love the way you stamped them for extra seasonal fun. Glad you joined Five on Friday. Very festive post!

    Cindy

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  40. Everything looks beautiful and amazing!

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  41. So many pretty makes! I enjoyed this post. And how wonderful to have the family gather at this time of year.
    Amalia
    xo

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  42. However do you do it??! Everything looks so delicious and wrapped so beautifully. Your family is lucky!

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