A Handmade Box for Handmade Treats

The holidays are fast approaching and I can't help but think of my Christmas list.

Handmade is always a good idea, so allow me to share how this festive gift box is made.

I used this really cool tool, a scoring board for making boxes and envelopes.

I started with some cardstock, trimmed to a 7 inch by 7 inch square. I prepared two sheets, one for the lid and one for the bottom part of the box.

The scoring board comes with instructions and size guidelines depending on the size of box you need. 

I used the bone folder that came with the scoring board to mark some lines. "Scoring" just means "fold lines", which makes the box easier and neater to fold. 

The measurement for the lid is bigger than that of the bottom part.

When scoring is done, fold on the lines and cut four sides. 

Form the boxes and glue the ends together.

And now we have a gift box. TADA!

It can be used for any kind of wrapping. But if you like to bake, it's good for Christmas cookies. It's best to line the box with parchment paper to protect both the cookies and the box.

Fold the parchment paper...

Close the box...

And your handmade treats are ready to be given away!

Apple Maple Cake

Hello and Happy Monday!

Been apple picking lately and don't know what to do with all your excess fruit?

Bake this Apple Maple Buttermilk Cake. Bring it to a potluck or take it to the office. You'll be a star! TADA!

And speaking of apples, these apple-inspired crafts are oh-so adorable:

via Etsy

via Etsy

via Etsy

Have a good week, everyone!

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

Happy Halloween you guys! If you're in a panic for a Halloween costume, help is here.

Below are a few ideas using clothes and accessories you already have.

via Pinterest

"The Cowgirl"

via Color Me Courtney

"Snow White"

via Pinterest

"The Bandit"

via The Girls With Glasses

"The Hippie"

via Merrick's Art

"Mary Poppins"

Happy crafting and have a wonderful Halloween!

Halloween Decorations

I'll be honest, I'm not one to decorate my apartment for Halloween. But I will wear a witch's hat when giving out candy! That's how I roll.

But after seeing these simple ways to add a spooky vibe, Halloween decorating may just be on my agenda:

via Martha Stewart

A door full of creepy crawlies is easy to assemble with plastic spiders from the dollar store.

via Martha Stewart

This scary snake is made out of ribbon! It's a good way to turn ribbon scraps from blah to TADA!

via Better Homes and Gardens

Make a spider's web out of black electrical tape. Do this on a door, window, or wall.

Enjoy your Halloween preparations!

Illustrated Lists

Hi there! How was your weekend?

Last week, I baked from the book The Little Paris Kitchen.

It's by British cook and food writer Rachel Khoo.

What an honor to have met her during a book signing event! 

Apart from the recipes and photos, I was drawn to the illustrations inside:

Rachel drew these herself (she studied art in college and she takes a notebook everywhere she goes). Such a nice way to add an author's personal stamp to a book.

Inspired by these drawings, I made a few illustrations myself: 

 My regular lists have now been transformed from blah to TADA!

Mondays are for Madeleines

Let's do some baking today, shall we?

These little sweet snacking cakes are called Madeleines and it's a staple in many patisseries.

The batter is baked in a special pan, the shell shape being unique to the Madeleine.

What makes this version special is that it has sweet raspberries and tart lemon curd.

The recipe is from this book by Rachel Khoo. 

I loved watching her show, also called The Little Paris Kitchen on the Cooking Channel. It was filmed in her tiny Paris apartment where she made French cooking approachable. It was also like a travel show where viewers got to see her favorite places in the City of Lights. 

I got to meet her three years ago during one of her book tours in New York City. She did a cooking demo and book signing. She was a delight! 

Rachel made Cafe' Gourmand. It's a trio of desserts: Orange Mousse, Black Currant Trifle, and a Strawberry Tartlet.

I wish I could share these Madeleines with you. 

I hope your week will be filled with yummy treats!

Metallic Print Paper

Hi there and thank you for hanging out with me today.

Remember this gift wrap?

It was printed using paint and bottle covers. I decided, we should print some more. Are you with me?

I have some black tissue paper rescued from a shipping order. Instead of throwing it away, I'll turn it from blah to TADA!

I think metallic paint would go well on black paper.

I made different sized circles using a variety of bottle covers.

Just dip the bottle cover in the paint and press onto the paper.

And this is what it looks like. TADA!

But why stop there, when you can make a matching card?

I have a lot of relatives and friends celebrating milestone birthdays this year: a cousin turning 40, a friend is now 50, an aunt and uncle both marked 80, and and uncle celebrated 90. 

Birthdays, they truly are gifts. Please don't think otherwise.

Trim around the "age" and attach to cardstock.

Use the handprinted paper to wrap a gift like a well-deserved bottle of Champagne.

And now, we're ready to celebrate!