A few weeks ago it seemed as though Christmas was a long way off – now it appears to be just around the corner, with less than a month to go. If you have plenty of work deadlines for the end of the year, and maybe travel plans also, preparing for Christmas can feel like a lot of extra pressure. I find the best way to counter this pressure is to divide up all the tasks and tackle them bit by bit in the lead up to Christmas. This year I've made both a digital and a paperback Christmas planner to record all your plans, so do take a look, but you can start planning right now just with a pen and a paper, let's go through the steps. 1. BUDGETINGFirst of all, what is the budget you have in mind for Christmas, and the amount you wish to spend per person for gifts? Also, entertaining, even if you cook everything yourself, can quickly amount to quite a bit, so do you have some plans for how to source the most affordable options for Christmas parties, if this is important to you? 2. Dates/ travel/ eventsSetting some dates next in the calendar is a good idea. Do you have travel booked in? If so, remember to sort out these key essentials:
3. Gift buyingKeeping your budget in mind, do you have a list for who you need to buy gifts for? How many of these should be ordered now? Don't forget smaller gifts for people who are hosting events, and gifts for important people in your family's life like teachers. 4. menusAs far as planning your Christmas events, what will be on the menu? I often like to make the same recipes so I keep them in my Christmas planner. If you are planning Christmas lunch, or any other kind of Christmas entertaining, here are some websites you might like to explore for recipe ideas: British: BBC Good Food Nigella Jamie Oliver Australian: Recipe Tin Eats Women’s Weekly Maggie Beer 5. prepare ahead for eventsThe next step you might like to think about, is how much of this Christmas entertaining can you do ahead of time? Potatoes can be parboiled and frozen, some baked goods could also be made ahead and put in the freezer. I always like to think about drinks and how I might make them accessible at the event to save having to serve every drink individually, How will you set up your food for serving and where will people sit are two other important considerations. I hope that this short list has been helpful for giving you somewhere to start with Christmas planning. If you'd like a more lengthy checklist and a place to keep all your notes for future reference, check out our digital Christmas planner and our paperback version, available on Lulu! Don't forget to watch out short YouTube video for instructions on how to use the planner also :) Holly Christmas Village Decor Throw Blanket
$45.00
Do you need something cosy to complete your living room Christmas decor this season? Perhaps this Christmas Throw Blanket is what you need for those Christmas movie marathons! This soft silk touch throw blanket is ideal for lounging on the couch during chilly evenings, with a hot chocolate of course. It would also make a lovely unique Christmas gift for a friend!
• 100% polyester • Soft silk touch fabric • Printing on one side • White reverse side • Machine-washable • Hypoallergenic • Flame retardant • Blank product sourced from China This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions! • Traceability: - Knitting—China - Dyeing—China - Manufacturing—China • Contains 0% recycled polyester • Contains 0% dangerous substances • This item releases plastic microfibers into the environment during washing Holly Christmas Village Decor Santa Stocking
$35.00
This Holly Christmas Village Decor Christmas stocking, with its blue night sky, holly border, and charming village is an essential Christmas holiday item. It would look perfect on the mantlepiece, is made with luxuriously soft faux suede, and features a hanging loop for convenient placement anywhere around the house. .: Material: 100% polyester faux suede .: One size: 13" × 19.3" (33cm × 49cm) .: All-over print .: Hanging loop This item is printed for you when you order it by Print Clever through Printify. Charming Holly Christmas Village Decor Holiday Sack, Festive Gift Bag for Decorations, Christmas Storage
$34.88
Make your holiday season magical with this vibrant Santa Sack! Crafted from 100% artist velour, this durable and shape-retaining sack is perfect for all your festive needs. Its stunning all-over print features cheerful designs that will light up any room, bringing a warm and inviting atmosphere to your Christmas celebrations. Ideal for kids and families, this sack is perfect for filling with gifts, toys, and treats, making it a delightful addition to your holiday traditions. Whether you're preparing for Christmas morning or adding a whimsical touch to your holiday decor, this Santa Sack is the perfect choice. Make gift-giving feel special and memorable. This versatile item also works great for special occasions like birthday parties and family gatherings. Reuse it year after year and create lasting memories! Product features - 100% artist velour for durability - Bright, vibrant colors that pop - Convenient drawstring closure - All-over print design on both sides - Generous size of 19.7" × 33.5" Care instructions - Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), *recommended to place a small amount of soap before placing in washing machine - Do not bleach - Tumble dry: low heat - Do not iron This item is printed when you order it by Print Clever, through Printify Winter Holly Christmas Village Decor Coasters, Festive Home Decor
$40.00
Elevate your festive home decor with these vibrant Holly Christmas Village Decor Coasters, perfect for adding a touch of personality to any space. Crafted to bring joy and warmth, these coasters boast bright, crisp colors that beautifully showcase your unique style. They fit seamlessly into cozy Christmas gatherings with friends or family game nights, making every sip a celebration. Ideal for anyone who enjoys hosting or simply wants to enhance their living area, these coasters are a delightful addition to holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, or any festive occasion. Treat yourself or gift them to a loved one for a unique Christmas gift! Product features - Vibrant colors: Bright and crisp designs for a lively touch. - Cork Bottom: Protects surfaces from scratches while keeping coasters in place. - Glossy Finish: Smooth and shiny surface enhances the design. - Round shape option - Available as a set of 4 Care instructions - Gently wipe the dirt or dust off with a clean, dry microfiber cloth This item is printed for you when you make the order, by Prima Printing through Printify. Holly Christmas Village Decor Heart-Shaped Ornaments, Set of 5
$37.79
Transform your holiday decor with our stunning Ceramic Ornaments. Each piece radiates vibrant colors, capturing the essence of festive Christmas joy and warmth. Perfect for adorning your Christmas tree, these ornaments bring a cozy, cheerful atmosphere to your home. Whether you're looking to gift these to a loved one or add a personal touch to your decorations, these ornaments are ideal for families, friends, or anyone who cherishes the holiday spirit. Celebrate the magic of the season, with our beautifully crafted ornaments that make every occasion memorable.
Set of 5, comes in other sizes, please click here to order a single ornament, or please get in touch for more details. Product features - Vibrant colors for eye-catching appeal - Made from durable 100% ceramic - Glossy finish enhances visual charm - Includes a gold hanging string for easy display - Heart-shaped Care instructions - Wipe the dust off gently with a soft, dry cloth. This item is printed for you when you order, by Smart Printee through Printful Holly Christmas Village Decor Tablecloth
$46.00
Transform your dining experience with this stunning tablecloth. Perfect for Christmas entertaining,family gatherings, dinner parties, or casual meals, it creates an inviting Christmas atmosphere that enhances any space. This tablecloth adds a pop of color and style to your table, making it an essential addition for those who love to entertain. It’s especially relevant for holidays, celebrations, and special occasions where a festive touch is desired. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or a holiday feast, this product is ideal for anyone looking to elevate their table decor, from busy parents to enthusiastic hosts. Product features - 100% Polyester for durability and shape retention. - Full-print design offers edge-to-edge patterns. - Vibrant colors ensure your designs stand out. - Lightweight and soft material provides comfort. - One size (55.1" × 55.1") fits most tables. Care instructions - Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F) - Non-chlorine: bleach as needed - Tumble dry: low heat - Do not iron - Do not dryclean Please do include a drop when you measure your table or the tablecloth will be too short; see our article on caring for your table here: https://www.purplewaffledesigns.com/blog/decorate-and-care-for-your-table-with-these-three-tabletop-tips Holly Christmas Village Decor Heart-Shaped Ornaments, Set of 1
$13.99
Transform your holiday decor with our stunning Ceramic Ornaments. Each piece radiates vibrant colors, capturing the essence of festive Christmas joy and warmth. Perfect for adorning your Christmas tree, these ornaments bring a cozy, cheerful atmosphere to your home. Whether you're looking to gift these to a loved one or add a personal touch to your decorations, these ornaments are ideal for families, friends, or anyone who cherishes the holiday spirit. Celebrate the magic of the season, with our beautifully crafted ornaments that make every occasion memorable. Set of 1, also comes in a set of 5, please click here, or for other sizes please contact. Product features - Vibrant colors for eye-catching appeal - Made from durable 100% ceramic - Glossy finish enhances visual charm - Includes a gold hanging string for easy display - Heart-shaped Care instructions - Wipe the dust off gently with a soft, dry cloth. This item is printed for you when you order, by Smart Printee through Printful Purple Waffle Designs Christmas PDF Planner
$3.99
Get organised for Christmas with the Purple Waffle Designs Christmas PDF Planner! This planner comes in digital form (you will not receive a hardcopy item) and has fillable forms for use on a computer, so you can type in your recipes, gift lists and more. This planner is also printable, so you could print it out if you wish.
There is a handy countdown to Christmas planner, and guided pages for recording Christmas menus, cards, recipes and more. VERY IMPORTANT, there are three main ways to use this planner:
Watch the video below for instructions! You can also purchase your own paperback edition of our Christmas Planner from Lulu.
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What defines the best souvenir is somewhat subjective, everyone has their own taste to keep in mind, as well as interests and price range etc. However there are some qualities of a great souvenir which could be agreed upon – it reminds one of a place and time, it evokes a certain feeling, and is likely to be light and easy to pack. It might be either useful or beautiful, and it is hopefully easy to purchase within one’s planned holiday itinerary. Let’s consider souvenirs which might fit this list, which you can easily find when you are out and about in Singapore. Firstly, let’s consider traditional Singapore souvenirs. Singapore is a wonderful mix of many different cultures. Peranakan culture is one part of Singapore’s diverse and rich heritage, and is known for its distinctive nonya kebaya, colourful homewares and delicious food – two of my favourites are chap chye and kueh salat. There are lots of options to purchase beautiful Singapore souvenirs which reference Peranakan culture. Take for example these lovely coasters, or this beautiful Peranakan porcelain. Maybe you would like to take part in a beading workshop, or maybe buy your own pair of beaded shoes? You may also enjoy a book about Peranakan food (affiliate link).
Accessories do more than complete a look – they can express something special, say something unique about us, or just simply make us feel good. If you are into bloomcore, and all things botanic, or if you just like flowers, step into style and look good in floral gym shoes! There are floral sneakers available from so many brands right now, in so many styles. We have a range in our own Purple Waffle Designs Shop. Let’s have a look into the world of floral sneakers right now, some of its key features, and why it’s a trend you should get on board with!
This week's post is super short! I've given the shop a bit of a makeover, so shopping at Purple Waffle Designs will be a more streamlined process :) You can:
There's one dilemma I have in Procreate, the platform I use and love for all my digital artwork!
That's filling in shapes! It's easy to colour drop and fill in your work with a flat airbrush style texture, but trying to add a different texture also is not so easy. In a few of my works recently I have wanted to create a kind of picture-book style pencil finish, and so I have been looking for a shortcut to fill in shapes which gives me a nice clear outline at the same time as giving me that grainy-style look. If you want to try this out yourself, you can watch the youtube video below which I made, which shows my process. As I say in the video notes, there are some other ways to achieve this textured effect, but this is the way I like to fill shapes. This week's blog post is a free printable! If you have a wedding or a party or any other event coming up, you can download this black and white bloomcore/floral invitation. All you have to do is click the link in the image above. The invitation prints out two copies on a landscape A4 piece of paper, so it's easy for most printers, and when you cut the paper you will end up with two A5 size invitations. I made this invitation using Procreate, and you can see some of the process in my YouTube video below!
Christmas is coming up - we are only a few months away now! There’s going to be a lot of Christmas content here in just a month or two, in the meantime, here is a short list to start the ball rolling on Christmas planning, and it’s all about practical gift ideas. I think most of us are trying to save money these days, and a practical gift is great, as it shows you are caring about someone while delivering a gift which is both thoughtful and useful.
Read on for some ideas about small and practical gifts you can give to people you care about! Please note this article contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the links and purchase an item, I may receive a commission
1. Umbrellas - I go through quite a few umbrellas living in a tropical country. I often use theseinverted umbrellas with C shaped handles - they are actually very practical, as you can hang them on your wrist, and they close inwards, which makes getting in and out of cars is actually a lot less drippy! The size is generally very good also. If you are looking for a more compact umbrella, and one with UV protection, this umbrella may be the right size. For an umbrella which makes a statement, look no further than these beautiful umbrellas by Galleria, with cherry blossoms, Monet’s garden and Van Gough’s Irises. The last of this group - it’s big, it's not quite an umbrella, but more a shade for the beach –a beach tent! Beach tents are great for sun protection for a day on the beach, and make both a generous and very practical gift.
This week we are staying with the theme of tables, however the main focus is napkins! If you are hosting an event, you might be providing napkins or serviettes on your table, and an easy way to elevate the look is to fold your napkins in a certain style. If you would like to learn how to, you have come to the right place! Today’s article features a video where I show some different ways in which you can fold napkins – the six ways I have chosen are not too difficult, but still look elegant and will add to the impact your table setting makes.
History of Napkins
Like tablecloths, napkins have their own interesting history. Spartans had an early version of a napkin, which was actually a ball of dough on which they wiped their hands. Ancient Romans had two different sizes of napkins (this article has a very interesting history around paper napkins, do have a read!) They would also bring their own napkin out with them to dine, and then use it also to take food home.
You have sent me as a present … everything which you have received during the past five days; twelve note-books of three tablets each, seven tooth-picks; together with which came a sponge, a table-cloth, a wine-cup, a half-bushel of beans, a basket of Picenian olives, and a black jar of Laletanian wine.
LIII. TO UMBER
Tablecloths have been around for centuries, or, to be more precise, millennia – the first known reference to tablecloths came from Roman times, when the poet Martial mentioned them. The middle ages saw widespread use of tablecloths across all classes; while fabric varied depending on what the buyer could afford, the value placed on these items was high, and owners took real care with not only how they were cleaned, but also how they were folded and set on the table. Moving forward in time, ‘Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management’ (affiliate link) describes how her rule regarding tablecloths applies ‘equally to mansion and cottage. However simple may be the meal, and however coarse in texture the cloth, it should be clean, free from creases, and arranged smoothly with the centre fold forming a true line the whole length of the table.’
What is the use of a tablecloth though, and why this widespread importance? For myself, trying to protect a wooden table from heat and water marks is the main reason I have been researching tablecloths recently, and in this article I will share three tips to help protect your table, including using and measuring the all-important tablecloth!
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Please be aware this website does use affiliate links and advertising. This means if you click one of these links, and then choose to purchase something from one of these businesses, Purple Waffle Ltd may be paid a commission
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