Christmas Countdown: 15 Days ~ 7 Holiday Cocktail & Drink Recipes

Holiday time is here and that means friends, family and parties! And nothing helps makes a holiday party more successful than some good holiday drinks. Following are 7 recipes for some snazzy new cocktails plus some old time favorites!  

Happy Holidays to All! ..and please enjoy these drinks responsibly :)

1. Chilly Cranberry Margaritas

Add some flavor to this year's holiday party by serving Seagram's Escapes Chilly Cranberry Margaritas. This elegant drink is topped with cranberries and, for a festive touch, a fresh sprig of rosemary. Read more

2. Santa's Sleigh Cocktail

Pour the eggnog, brandy, amaretto, nutmeg, and ice cream mixture into martini glasses and garnish each glass with a whole cinnamon stick. Read more

3. Cranberry-Pineapple Cooler

Fresh cranberries are a colorful garnish for this tart and sweet alcohol-free punch. For a traditional red-and-green Christmas color combo, add a sprig of mint to each glass. Read more

4. Christmas Jones

This sweet highball drink begins with a blend of strawberries, pineapple and vodka and is topped with lemon-lime soda for a refreshing holiday cocktail. Read more

5. Champagne and Cranberries

Cranberries are an easy and festive way to dress up Champagne. Your guests will love watching the cranberries dance in the glass. Read more

6. Jingle Juice

Use candy canes as fun garnishes for this orange juice and vodka cocktail. Its red-orange color comes from the addition of maraschino cherry juice. Read more

7. Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail

Raise a glass and make a toast with sparkling wine drinks, including sparkling pear and cranberry cocktails, red currant-Champagne cocktails, and Kir royales. Read more

Happy Christmas MISIANS!

Read More

Christmas Countdown: 19 Days ~ Holiday Gift Ideas for a Crafter

Holiday shopping season is here and you still haven't buy anything for your beloved ones... Relax!
We gathered for you the most special and wonderful handmade gifts to give them to your lovely friends and family. 

Today we present you 4 lists of gifts that we believe would be gorgeous gifts for crafters and artists.. Crafters and DIYers appreciate more the gifts that are used to create other things. We gathered Supplies, Tools, Accessories, Kits and Patterns

Hopefully you can find a gift for every crafter on your shopping list, and maybe even one for yourself.

1. Fish Hook Earwires £1.20 

2. Polymer Clay Beads £10.00

3. Lambswool £5.99

4. Organic Cotton Yarn £4.50

5. Ceramic Leaves £3.99

1. Jewellers Tool Kit Briefcase £99.00

2. Craft Jewellery Kit £20.00

3. Knitting Needle bag £4.99

4. Plastic Lacemaking Bobbins £3.95

5. Tiny Adjustable Spanner £1.95

1. Quirky Knitting Diva Charm £10.00

2. Sewing Machine Necklace £12.50

3. Sewing Charms Necklace £12.50

4. Retro Kitsch Singer Sewing Machine/Scissor Necklace £2.99

5. Knitting Ninja £8.50

  

1. Sidney the Snowman Pattern £18.00

2. Reversible Shopper Bag £16.00

3. Needle Felting Taster Kit £8.00

4. Retro Batik Fabric £4.30

5. Millinery Course  £12.00

See more on MISI :)

Happy Shopping!

 

Read More

DIY Glitter Holiday Party Hats

This is a great idea for a DIY for all party and holiday occasions. Grab your materials and let's get started!

Supply List:

Paper Mache Cone (Purchased at a local craft store)
Mod Podge (In the finish of your choice! There are so many options)
Paint brush
Glitter
Tinsel Garland
Headband (Or ribbon/elastic if you prefer)
Hot Glue Gun

To Make:

Cover your paper mache cone with an even coating of Mod Podge. Work quickly, you don’t want any of it to dry.

Immediately cover in glitter. Shake off excess. Be sure to put down a piece of wax paper before you do this so you can easily funnel your leftover glitter back into it’s jar. Let dry completely.

Once dry, it’s time to seal your glitter so you aren’t covered in it every time you wear the hat! Paint another layer of Mod Podge right over your glitter. Let dry completely. It will turn clear.

NOTE! If you aren’t using a headband, see below before doing this step. Cut a piece of tinsel the same length as the circumference of your hat.Carefully use hot glue to attach it to the bottom of your hat. Then cut a small piece of tinsel and hot glue it to the top of your hat.

If you’re using a headband, you can get fancy or keep it simple. Hold in place until it sets. If you want to cover up the inside you can glue a circle of cardstock to the bottom of the hat, then sandwich the headband between that and another circle of cardstock. If you’re forgoing the headband all together, use an awl to poke two holes in your hat and slip a ribbon or elastic through. Secure with a knot and then cover with tinsel as outlined above.

Put your hat on and get your jingle on!

Source: Studiodiy

Read More

5 Reasons to Buy Handmade this Holiday Season

Butterfly Necklace

With the holiday shopping season fast approaching (most retailers already have their Christmas items on the shelves) it’s time to start planning your holiday shopping lists. This year why not be adventurous and try buying some handmade products for the ones you love?

Here are five reasons to shop handmade this holiday season and beyond...

1. Handmade items are made with love!

Wooden Hearts

Handmade artists do what they do because they love their craft and take pride in their work. No matter what stage of development their business may be in, you can rest assured that they are giving you the best they have to offer.

I've never met a handmade artist that didn't stand behind their work. Each item they create is inspected for quality and perfection. They would never put their name on something that didn't deliver excellence. They can't afford to because their name is all they have!

They want you to remember it and remember it fondly. And they know that the best way to get you to do that is to give you something which nobody else can compare.

2. It is more environmentally friendly

Bicycle Wheel Clock

Handmade items are usually made from natural raw materials with much less waste and machine emissions than mass produced items. 

If your goal is to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the planet that you can't go wrong with locally produced handmade items.

3. Get it customized

Cake topper

Since the items are made by real people you can often ask for little extras like customization or even fully commissioned work to your exact specifications rather than having to settle for whatever the store has in stock.

4. Be original

Orgone Pyramid

Handmade products are usually one of a kind or produced in small batches so you don't have to worry about gifting something the person already has or giving the same gift as someone else. Instead you'll be able to find something just as unique as the person you're shopping for and nothing brings a smile to someone's face better than knowing you really cared enough to find them the perfect gift.

5. Buying handmade supports the little guy!

Fairy Princess

You never know how much your support can help! Maybe that funky pair of earrings you picked up at the craft fair last week put food on the table for an unemployed mom of three. Or perhaps, that handmade pipe you bought from MISI was made by a dad struggling to buy cleates for his son so the college scouts can see him at his best in the game next Saturday. You never will meet a more appreciative person than the handmade artist you supported with a purchase. 

Read More