Affordable Home Made Christmas Presents: Cinnamon Candle

Here is my second post on easy peasy Christmas presents which wont break your budget and actually look pretty good.

For this gift the requirements are minimum.

What You Will Need

(this made one candle approx 9cm high and 7cm across)

1 Candle, I chose a festive red (Butlers £1.99)

3 x Jars Cinnamon Sticks, (they came in jars of 4 in Sainsbury)

Sharp Knife

PVA Glue

Elastic Bands

Please take caution whilst using the sharp knife

Never leave a burning candle unattended

I started by cutting the cinnamon sticks in half, obviously as accurately as you can, but a slight un-evenness would give it a rustic home made feel.

I then poured a blob of PVA glue onto a scrap piece of paper, then slid the flattest side of the cinnamon sicks through the glue (or if you want to be neat, use a old paint brush)

Position the cinnamon sticks around the bottom half of the candle.

I'd advice you place the candle on some scrap paper too, so if excess glue seeps through if will stick to the paper and not your work top.

Once you have gone round the entire candle, I held them in place with a couple of elastic bands.

Leave over night for the glue to completely dry (12 hours)

To finish, I glued some festive ribbon around the cinnamon sticks

(I also held this in place with an elastic band until the glue had dried)

Would you like to receive a home made Christmas gift?

Affordable Home made Christmas Presents: Cranberry and Lime Vodka

This isn't really a post I would normally do on my blog, but with that time of year coming up, who isn't up for a penny saving present idea?

This is an excellent, and inexpensive gift to give to friends as a festive little treat. And 'cause you've made it yourself it gives it a special touch, full of Christmas spirit and love.

What You Will Need

(My recipe if for 3 bottles at 500ml each)

3 Sterilised Bottles/ Containers which wont leak (£2.99 each Butlers)

3 Limes (30p each Sainsbury)

2 x 300g bag Cranberries (£2 each Sainsbury)

1l Bottle Vodka (£10 (on offer) Sainsbury)

3tbsp Sugar (from cupboard)

Ribbon to tie around top (£1.99 for 3m Butlers)

A word of warning, this process requires the use of a sharp knife, so please take care whilst using it.

(also, don't buy alcohol, if you are not of age in the Country you are in, 18 in the UK)

First, prick holes in the cranberries, with the tip of a knife, which is a little tedious, but it will get a better flavour in the end. I did it whilst listening to some Christmas songs to get me in the festive mood.

Next fill 1/3 of each bottle with the cranberries, then with a sharp knife slice the peel off the limes.

LOOK A NAKED LIME!

Then put a limes-worth of lime peel in each bottle or container.

And you've guessed it, fill the rest of the container up with the remaining cranberries...

Carefully pour 1tbsp of sugar into each container, you may have to do a little at a time, and bang the bottle on a firm surface to get it to fall down so it doesn't overflow at the top.

Then pour in the vodka. I would highly recommend doing it with a funnel, or from a measuring jug if you have a steady hand.

Each 500ml bottle took about 300ml of vodka once full of cranberries, lime and sugar.

Seal securely, and shake very well to disperse the sugar.

Don't they look yummy. Mmm, alcohol...

Let them ferment for a minimum of two weeks (and up to 2 months) shaking every couple of days to ensure the sugar dissolves.

I plan to use these to decorate them nearer Christmas, (£1.99 for two sheets from Butlers) and a big ol' bow.

What money saving tips do you have for Christmas?

What do you think of home made Christmas gifts?

...Would you like to see other Affordable Home Made Christmas Presents I am planning on making?