Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Wrapping Ideas – 6 Beautiful Tips!

Hi, Christmas is a minute away! Did you manage to buy gifts for everyone?
This Christmas wrapping ideas post is not just for chocoholics.
 If you decided to go for homemade Christmas gifts (like making Christmas chocolate molds- my last post) or if you bought a gift and want to wrap it yourself, making it more personalized, than this is the post for you!
I’m going to review some beautiful Christmas wrapping ideas so you can start wrapping your presents today.


·   Christmas wrapping ideas – tip #1 - The right colorsWhat colors to use?
It depends on the kind of gift! If you are giving a gourmet gift you need to choose elegant colors like brown& gold, dark blue& silver, dark red & gold.. If you are giving a joyful gift you should use cheerful colors and designed papers like dots or flourish wrapping paper.

·   Christmas wrapping ideas – Tip #2 – What kind of wrapping paper?
So much to choose from – I find this step to be very enjoyable- it's time to show your creativity! Of course I've found only the best quality for your Christmas wrapping paper! I'm warning you, these are very special - Japanese papers (beautiful graphic patterns), Indian fine papers (are carefully handcarafted), Nepalese fine paper (luscious feel, unique colors and textures), Italian papers..
Just click on the images below and find out how special wrapping papers can be!
Gold Glitter Wrapping Paper - Roll WrapRed Dots Wrapping Paper - Roll Wrap



Silver Glitter Wrapping Paper - Roll Wrap
·   Christmas wrapping ideas – Tip #3 – What about gift boxes?
Here you got some amazing ideas – gold/ silver glitter, colorful dots, floral and you must check out these chocolate shirt boxes.. click on your favorite box-
Flocked Chocolate & Pool Gift Box - XXLargeChocolate Shirt Boxes - Set of 3 - Medium

Scallop Edge Stackable Kraft Boxes - Extra LargeChartreuse Dots Gift Box - Medium

·   Christmas wrapping ideas – Tip #4 – final touches
For the final touch - add ribbons, gift tags, Stickers and Labels - Here are some ideas to begin with..

Moss Flourish Gift Tags - Set of 20



·   Christmas wrapping ideas – Tip #5 – cut your favored Christmas shapes
    You can add some homemade Christmas designs as well. Make a pattern by drawing your preferred christmas shape on a paper and cut it out. Place your template on several kinds of papers, draw and cut your Christmas shapes.
Punch a hole at the top of the shapes. Choose your matching ribbon and thread it through the holes.  Attach your Christmas designs to your gift boxes.

  • christmas wrapping ideas – Tip #6 - use templates to create your own gift boxesIf you want to create your own gift boxes, using unique templates & patterns in the easiest way – check this guide "World's Cutest Gift Boxes" - Click Here!


Use these Christmas wrapping ideas to bring the holiday spirit into your home.

Don’t waste your time. Choose your preferred Christmas wrapping ideas and start wrapping, only a few minutes and you are done.

Before you go, imagine how your presents will look like beneath your tree.. is this picture amazing or what!

Buying christmas presents at the last minute? Save your time by finding out my recommendations for the best Christmas chocolates online

Have a colorful & happy Christmas!

E. Rose

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Making Christmas gifts? Easy to follow guide for making Christmas chocolate molds in 10 minutes!

I know what you’re thinking! This is going to be hard, messy and I have never did this before so maybe I’ll just read this post and make Christmas chocolate molds next year when I have more time for it..

So, for all skepticals out there, I’m telling you – this is a no brainer! I promise I’m not going to talk about difficult methods (like tempering..), we are going to do this the easy and fun way, so let’s start – you are just a few steps away from your charming Christmas chocolate molds –


1.  Choose the right kind of chocolate
when making Christmas chocolate molds
for kids I prefer using fine milk chocolate,for grown-ups – fine dark chocolate is preferable, and fine white chocolate can be used for both of them.



2.  Buy rich chocolate rounds.



dark chocolatemilk chocolate
milk chocolate

white chocolate
white chocolate
3.  Choose your preferred Christmas chocolate molds
you can use plastic chocolate molds (these are for home cooks and much cheaper than the professional ones). I prefer the chocolate lollipop molds – it much more fun…
 
A few tips on buying Christmas chocolate molds-
a.    Choose detailed designs Christmas chocolate molds – the end result will have much professional look.
b.    Choose molds with deep cavities
c.    Choose molds made from strong plastic

Here are some great molds I have found on Amazon -












4.  Put the lollipop sticks into your Christmas chocolate molds(Wilton(R) 4 Inch Lollipop Sticks)

5. Start melting...Melt your chocolate using microwave (20 seconds at a time, watch out not to burn it!)


6.  Spoon it...Fill a piping bag with your melted chocolate (for a much accurate result)(Wilton Disposable 12 Inch Decorating Bags, Pack Of 24)and squeeze the top of the bag and pipe the chocolate into the cavities of the Christmas chocolate molds or just use a spoon. 


7.  make sure to put chocolate also on the lollipop stick (the part that stuck in the cavity of the Christmas chocolate molds)


8.  Make sure to keep the edges of the shapes very clean.


9.  Tap the Christmas chocolate molds gently on your kitchen countertop.


10.It's freezing..Place the Christmas chocolate molds in the freezer and allow the chocolate to set (otherwise it will never come out of the mold).


11. Freezing time: little Christmas chocolate molds – about 10 minutes, large ones – 20-30 minutes.


12. Time to grab..When are the Christmas chocolate molds ready? Look at the bottom of the mold – if the color of the chocolates is light in all places than it means that the chocolate have shrinked a little and will pop out easily.


13. Your Christmas chocolate molds are done!


14. More tips..
  •      Because we have skipped the tempering step, after a few hours or so your christmas chocolate molds will show little white clouds, that is why I prefer serving or eating these Christmas chocolate molds just when the chocolates get to room temperature (of course white clouds doesn’t flaw the chocolates’ taste and the chocolates are perfectly fine).
  •      Other choice - use white chocolate for your Christmas chocolate molds and that way avoid the problem...and you can give these amazing chocolates as a gift.



Follow these steps accurately and I’m sure that your Christmas chocolate molds will turned out great.

The most importany thing here is to have fun! Don't forget it..

Next post - Wrapping ideas & gift boxes for your Christmas chocolate molds, so join me and bring your creative mood..


Don’t have the time to make Christmas chocolate molds yourself?
Find out my tips & recommendations for buying Christmas chocolates online.
Your friend,
E. Rose