Christmas Tips

[kjc733]

Well, it's been a while since I've been able to do any mesh work, and the reason for that is simple enough...

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Now I know I face this time with a sense of horror and apprehension (bah Humbug! ), and I've been furiously working away to get all those things done that need to be done before heading back to the folks over the holiday. Anyway, I was wrapping up presents last night - normally I'm an expert at this but for some reason this year I seem to have lost the knack.

So, I thought wouldn't it be a good idea if we posted the little things we learn that make the process go a little easier. So anyway, my wrapping tips (it's all I'm good for really).

1. Plan! Seriously, don't just grab a roll and go for it, take stock of what needs to be wrapped and try to judge how much paper is needed, then cut the paper accordingly. Also consider how much space is needed to wrap and have all the required implements to hand.
3. Find a partner in crime - it saves so much time and frustration having someone else to hold the paper tight and keep track of the end of the tape... Of course is you can't then make sure you have some small heavy objects that wont damage what they're being placed on.
5. Too much paper is just as bad as too little. If there's too much then you're either forever folding it back and back and end up with a lump on the end, or you have to cut some off in mid wrap (and then run the risk of lopping too much off...). Similarly too much tape isn't always a good thing...
7. Fold over the cut edges. Chances are that your straight cut isn't really that straight, so folding a new edge along the paper before you wrap it makes it look a little neater.
9. Try to align the seam with a corner. Obviously this is easier on square or rectangular gifts. If you put just enough slack into the wrap you can rotate the paper around the gift to align it with the corner, helping to conceal the seam. Make your victim work to get inside the present, it provides them with a (minor) challenge to overcome with the resultant sense of achievement, makes the process last a little longer, and provides you with some entertainment
11. Clever usage of tags and/or ribbons. These can be used to again disguise seams and also any accidental damage to the paper (like when the tape accidentally touches the paper and takes away a small bit of surface on an otherwise flawless wrap).
13. Be observant and creative. Anybody (almost anybody) can wrap a box, but there are different styles of enveloping that gift. Look around the shop windows you may see the odd idea. One year we made pseudo-Christmas Crackers, we had two sizes of toilet roll tube that fitted nicely inside each other, wrap them and decorate the two halves and place the (small) gift inside. Or another is to make a bag or pouch with a folding top out of wrapping paper.

Well that's my hard earned knowledge. Any other takers?

 

[Hellkite]

How to make Homemade Eggnog


ingredients:

6 large eggs, plus 2 yolks
1/2 cup, plus 2 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup brandy, bourbon, or dark rum (see Notes)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
Additional grated nutmeg for garnish

Preparation:
Combine eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a heavy 3- or 4-quart pan, whisking until well-combined. Continue whisking while pouring milk in a slow, steady stream until completely incorporated. Turn on burner to lowest possible heat setting. Place pan on burner and stir mixture continuously until an instant-read thermometer reaches 160 degrees F. and the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be patient. This should take about 25 to 30 minutes.

Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a large bowl to remove any accidental small cooked bits of egg. Add brandy, bourbon, or dark rum, plus vanilla extract and nutmeg. Stir to combine. Pour into a glass pitcher, decanter, or container and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate this egg custard mixture to chill at least 4 hours or up to 3 days before finishing.

When ready to serve, pour heavy cream into a bowl and whip until it forms soft peaks. Fold whipped cream into cold custard mixture until combined.

Serve in chilled cups or glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.


Yield: 12 to 16 eggnog servings


Notes: If you would like a more potent eggnog and want to add more alcohol, you will need to make a minor adjustment to maintain consistency. Simply increase the liquor amount to 1 cup and the heavy cream to 3/4 cup.

 

[Majestic]

Well that's my hard earned knowledge. Any other takers?

Yes, get someone else to wrap the presents for you.

Christmas lights, you get what you pay for, so if you are on a tight budget just remember they won't be all that good, learnt this the hard way. Another thing, you're never too old to believe in Santa for the kids, and you're never too old to pay with the Christmas Lego with your kids.

 

[Terra_Inc]

Hey, everyone! I stole this from the Swedish. I make this every year for christmas and it's awesome.

"Chokladbollar" Chocolate Balls

100g butter
1dl sugar
3dl oatmeal
2 tbsp. of cocoa
1 tsp of vanilla sugar
2 tbsp of strong coffee or rum
some coconut flakes

Combine all dry ingredients.
Add butter and rum (or coffee) and knead thoroughly.
Form small balls and roll them in coconut flakes (for maximum deliciousness)
Put into the fridge and wait until they're a bit harder (they are very soft right after making them, so some people eat them right away.)

(units: dl = 1 deciliter = 0,1 liter, tbsp = tablespoon, tsp = teaspoon, g = gram)

If you have smaller children around, remember replacing the rum with coffee.

 

[Avon]

and you're never too old to play with the Christmas Lego with your kids

The absolute highlight of my day is helping my nephew build his new lego.
Last year was the Star Wars Turbo Tank. This year is the SW Republic Frigate
(I think I'm looking forward to it more than he is, lol)

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I usually try to avoid anything to much christmas, so my tip is only short:

Be creative with the wrapping. Who says, that you have to use the wrapping paper with reindeers on it or elaborate patterns?
For example: I use these silver-gold blankets from my car's first aid kit and if done right, it really looks very shiny.

 

[Terra_Inc]

The absolute highlight of my day is helping my nephew build his new lego.
Last year was the Star Wars Turbo Tank. This year is the SW Republic Frigate
(I think I'm looking forward to it more than he is, lol)

I've seen a Lego Venator on sale. It was a sad moment, it looked at me and I looked at it and we were both crying. But I just couldn't. And I have no kids I could buy it for...

 

[Majestic]

The absolute highlight of my day is helping my nephew build his new lego.
Last year was the Star Wars Turbo Tank. This year is the SW Republic Frigate
(I think I'm looking forward to it more than he is, lol)

I wanted to get that and a Pirate ship this year for the kids, but we had already bought them enough. Oh well maybe next Christmas.

I've seen a Lego Venator on sale. It was a sad moment, it looked at me and I looked at it and we were both crying. But I just couldn't. And I have no kids I could buy it for...

You're never too old to buy Lego for yourself.

 

[Adm_Z]

If legos cost about half as much as they do now, I would buy them all the time.

 

[Hellkite]

legos You mean domestic land minds that kids leave out to hobble unsuspecting parents in the night.

 

[Terra_Inc]

legos You mean domestic land minds that kids leave out to hobble unsuspecting parents in the night.

That's what slippers were invented for, I think.

 

[kjc733]

What gets me is that all I seem to see these days is lego kits. When I were a lad lego kits were unusual, instead there were buckets filled with bricks and you made whatever you wanted out of them. It's all a big conspiracy to destroy the imagination of the youth of today. My old lego set is probably still in the form of a two foot long submarine, complete with missile silos and interior bulkheads - no kit, just random bricks (although granted, it is mostly red and blue).

 

[Majestic]

If legos cost about half as much as they do now, I would buy them all the time.

True that, it's been over priced since I was a kid. Thankfully MegaBlocks now have a lego like collection with the Halo Megablocks and it's interchangeable with standard Lego. They are a lot cheaper too.

That's what slippers were invented for, I think.

And bedrooms.

 

[Hellkite]

and toy rooms bit they still find there way to the hall way none the less