RECIPES, STYLING AND FOOD STYLING GEORGINA HAYDEN
PHOTOGRAPHS LAURA EDWARDS
Grapefruit & ginger vodka and maple chestnut spread
“A handmade present or card is more meaningful than a shop-bought one. There’s little more precious than someone’s time”
During the lead-up to Christmas, I say a big hello to my inner child. Out comes the heaving box of craft supplies that I’ve accumulated over the years: fancy papers and ribbons, stickers and labels (that Fine Art degree finally came in handy). Seriously, though, a handmade present or card is so much more meaningful than a shop-bought one. There’s little that’s more precious these days than someone’s time.
Also, as much as I love the festive season, I don’t love the never-ending tat we’re told we ‘need’ and ‘must buy’. I’d be so much happier with a jar of homemade chutney for my Boxing Day cheeseboard, or someone’s aunt’s whisky-soaked fruitcake. With that in mind, here are some ideas for your own edible gifts and a fun, inexpensive way to make your own Advent calendar – and lovely things to fill it with (age depending, obviously).
If you’re a dab hand with a sewing machine, making one of those fabric calendars with pockets is a great idea. But despite several attempts, I can safely say I’m more suited to a stapler or glue gun – hence the paper bags. Feel free to hang the bags in numerical order. I like to mix mine up because finding the right number (I’ll be looking for the nougat) is part of the fun, right?
FLAVOURED VODKA PHOTOGRAPH: GARETH MORGANS
How to make your own Advent gift calendar
WHAT YOU’LL NEED…
• A long, clean, leaf-free branch
• Various designs of pretty wrapping paper and card; brown paper; brown paper tape; stapler; Sharpie pens; hole punch; hole reinforcers; ribbons; tags/labels; decorative string; twine; clothes mini pegs and bulldog clips.
• If you want to include miniatures of booze (such as my flavoured vodka) in your Advent calendar, find cork-stoppered ones with blank labels on amazon.co.uk from around ￡13 for 12. For hanging the bottles, I recommend sturdier little brown paper bags rather than homemade (try Paperchase or Amazon).
WHAT TO DO…
1 Make 24 bags using a mix of paper and card. Secure the sides with brown paper tape or staple them.