Polka Dot Themed Gift Swap!!

Homemade Polka Dot Swap

I am absolutely loving my gift swaps at the moment. So far I've done a 5 item heart themed gift swap, a mug swap and I'm taking part in a sunshine swap with KatSighs. Then in October Ill be hosting my very own UK Mug Swap!

For this swap, I turned to PopularCrafts who run a fantastic website and whom I see lots of on Twitter. I've just subscribed to their magazine as it's never in my local store! The theme for this swap was 'Polka Dots.' It took me a while to think of something as my swap partner, Natalie doesn't give much away on her blog!

After admitting I was struggling a bit she said she loves to bake. Well, so do i! Of course as soon as she said this I knew exactly what I wanted to post off. A small suitcase full of little treats to make some tasty treats for her and her family!

First of all I scoured the shops for cake cases- these had to be polka dot themed. I was in luck! I found these great red and blue ones. I then picked up some flags to add a little 'tea party' theme to any cupcakes Natalie should wish to bake!

Afterwards I popped to my local sweet shop to load up on some extras for toppings! I bought some Cornish fudge, mini marshmallows and some buttons. I put some chopped, roasted hazelnuts into a bag and cut up the fudge (saves Natalie a job after all!) Luckily there were spare buttons for the children and spare marshmallows for me yum!

All packed away nicely in a mini suitcase (from a jam making set!) and it's
all polka dot themed!

Next I thought about adding a little card. I had already written a note, so i thought about adding my two favourite recipes. Now, i now know Natalie does a lot baking and will most likely have these recipes (especially the cookie one-fact!) but still...

I printed off some themed paper, then added a cupcake print inside. I handmade 2 mini envelopes and added a chocolate chip and hazelnut recipe and then a fudge icing recipe which is perfect with vanilla cupcakes.

I went for green as it is Natalie's favourite colour. No matter how hard I tried though,
pink just couldn't be avoided-sorry!

Here is what it all looks like! Packed up and ready to go!

We also had to add a gift totally no more than £3.

A very cute little book from The Works I came across

Some of my favourite travel sized hand cream and a nice lip balm
i think Natalie will love.

Now I just have to wait and see how loved the package is!!
CupcakeMumma
x

November Scavenger Hunt

Apologies for the lateness in posting but better late than never! I was super shattered yesterday and couldn't do anything but chill in front of my telly, sometimes even blogging goes out the window!


Thanks again to Kathy at Postcards from the P.P for another Scavenger Hunt, I only joined in October I think which is a shame but I only popped my blogging cherry in September so I have missed most of the year but enjoyed looking at other people's wonderful take on the photos.
Here's the list for November:

a lucky charm
a poppy
a self-portrait
comfort food
memorial
polka dots
silhouette
something purple
something that lights up
something you have made
staircase
warmth

A lucky charm:

This is my Nephew. Whenever he comes over now he is very keen to use my camera, I trust him so I let him go about taking pictures of anything that takes his fancy, I found this one tonight after his most recent camera adventures. He's my 'lucky charm' this boy simply because when Little Man cries, in comes Nephew to talk, sing, or to gently explain that his Mummy isn't going far. Little Man was screaming tonight when I left to get his food, Nephew sat and played the keyboard to him it was then I said 'O, you're my Lucky Charm..' Now I have one!

A Poppy

Taken at Truro Cathedral

A Self Portrait

It's not often you catch a good picture of me, but this was done with no mirrors, no hiding and no one else to bother with my moaning (sighs) 

Comfort Food

I did take a rather tasty picture of a roast dinner but it seems to have been deleted...So I opted for my partners plate of yummy comfort food dessert selection instead: Apple Pie, Cake and a rather yummy Tart.

Memorial

This a memorial that stands in Truro city with the names of all those lost in war on a plaque. I love the statue, it's a shame I couldn't get a better photo of it but its sort of in the middle of a road!

Polka Dots

Mugs I found in the market place. I used Little Miss as a decoy so I could snap this just in case the stall owner thought I was up to something...No I just like the mugs, if I had the money I would have bought one!

Silhouette

The closest I came to a silhouette were these trees at the train station  in front of a bright shining sun!

Something Purple

My daughters school bag.

Something That Lights Up

I put my tree up on the 30th December this year and I'm so pleased i did, look how pretty it is! I laid some presents under it last night so now it's complete.

Something You Have Made

I had to make this ugly fireplace look nice for Christmas. I thought it was impossible...A few nice teddies later, some snow spray a star cookie cutter and my homemade centre piece completed with plenty of tinsel I am now happy with my new fireplace!

Staircase

The stairs at my house, be prepared to be decorated tonight!

Warmth

Lit in memory of people close to our hearts at Truro Cathedral earlier in the month. The warmth of their hearts, of their souls never truly left behind.

  xxx

Hannah x