Christmas cracker

Dec11

Christmas cracker is a popular tradition in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries. The happy and playful gift was adopted by many countries already, but it is frequently used on other festive or even birthday parties also.
Its base is a zig-zag segmented cardboard tube which is wrapped in color paper, just like a huge fondant. Commonly red, green and gold colors are dominant. When it is pulled apart by two people at its two ends, it has a mild bang sound. As to the tradition, it is a part of the Christmas table set, there is one of it on every plates of the guests. There are small objects inside the cracker: a paper crown (which is worn during the dinner), a quote or riddle, a small toy, for adults another small thing instead of toy (for example bijou).
Its origin dates back to the 1840s. It was invented by a sweets-seller in London, to wrap bonbons in a similar tube. When the sales began to decline, he did a trick and inserted love messages on papers near the sweets. The idea of adding the crackle element came when he heard the crackle of logs on the fire. The variation with presents was introduced and made popular by his son.
Christmas cracker set commonly of 3, 6 or 12 pieces are sold in several places in the Anglo-Saxon countries. It can be purchased in several sizes and all colors of the rainbow. The sets for children and adults are separated. However, it can be made easily by DIY with a toilet paper roll and a Christmas wrapping paper.
Let’s try this funny present this year if you would like to surprise your family at the festive table.

Other christmas shades

Dec8

Choose not the common shades of red and green for a fresher look of traditional christmas decoration

Snowballs

Dec6

Fast and spectacular garden decoration made of snowballs and fairy lights

Pines for Christmas tree

Dec4

Horticultures begin to select pine trees for Christmas at the beginning of November. We have to decide in every year, what kind of species to buy which fits for our taste and purse.
Spruce is the most common species. Needles are short and dark green. Its characteristic resin smell immediately evokes the feeling of Christmas. Its price is very favorable. Disadvantages: It drops the needles soon in the warm air, it can go bust even in a couple of days in the room.
Needles of Nordmann fir are lighter in color and the ends are blunt, so not spiky. Its shape is neat, it is very durable, doesn’t drop its needles even in the warm room. Its smell is not so strong but the branches are well decorated. It has higher price.
Black pine is harder to decorate because of its long, dark, spiky needles. Its branches are quite resinous. It is durable also and tolerates warm well. Its shape is more irregular, but the price is also favorable.
Blue spruce or silver fir – as its name indicates – is different in color. The needles are green but with silver tone and have a wax layer on them. Because of this it stores water better, loses its needles in a longer time. Branches are denser than the other species. It is a perfect choice for vintage and shabby chic styles.
Douglas fir is rare in Christmas tree markets, not available everywhere. It has slender shape and loose structure, can be decorated easily. It lasts long even in the room. Needles are soft and have citrus-like smell. The price is moderately high.
When choosing a suitable Christmas tree, consider durability beyond the size and price.

Color pairs 31.

Dec1

Color pairs: purple-pink

Close patio

Nov29

A close patio is a treasure on frosty days

Cold-warm color groups

Nov27

It frequently comes in everyday life that somebody likes cold colors, and somebody rather prefers warm ones. Anyway, few of them know what this really means.
Colors, namely the spectrum, can be visible by sunshine going through a prism. Violet is on the one end and red is on the other end of it. Based on physics, cold colors are with short wavelength and warms are with long wavelength. Commonly the known partition: purple, blue and green are cold colors and red, orange and yellow are the warms. But it is not so simple.
All color has cold and warm hues too, except for orange. For example, green can be colder or warmer depending on the fact that there is a larger amount of blue or yellow in it. But the difference is distinct if cobalt blue and turquoise blue are put beside each other. Cold-warm feel is realized commonly in relation to each other with the effects of the surroundings. Color theory based on seasons divides colors to four groups: spring = warm, bold colors, summer = cool, pastel colors, autumn = warm, earthy colors, winter = cold, vivid colors.
Cold colors widen the space, these objects seem to be farther. Warm colors on the contrary, narrow the space, these objects seem to be closer. Painting also takes advantage of these features for creating perspective, in interior design they can be used for improving the sense of space. Researches prove that an interior furnished with cold colors is felt 2-3 degrees cooler than a room furnished with warm colors at the same temperature.
Cold-warm contrast is an important tool when using contrasts. A spectacular and stirring effect can be reached not only in interior design but even in fashion too. The same color strength level is important or else light-shadow contrast comes into view which can even cause disharmony.
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper colors and color-groups.

My project 15.

Nov24

Classic chandeliers in 260 cm room height – not impossible

Multifunctional room

Nov22

Separate spaces by functions in a bedroom-living room combo

Tinder

Nov21

The weather is permanently cold, it’s time to light the fireplace. Campfire is increasingly needed during the time spent outdoors. It’s not so easy with bigger logs or in wet weather, flammable tool might be needed. This can be made DIY, even from simple materials found at home.
Pine cones are frequently gathered during touring, mainly if there is a child in the family. Attach a piece of wick to it and dip into melted wax using a clamp. Choose a color wax fit to the home, since many kinds of them can be purchased. Pine cones in different colors piled in a box will look very good near the fireplace.
Put muffin baking paper fit into the cake-tin. Fill it up to three-quarters with flammable materials, for example chopped paper or sawdust. Thrust the wick into it. Add dried color berries and pine branches to it for making it more spectacular. Pour melted wax in it and wait until it gets completely cold. Store them in a small basket or on a tray.
One of the simplest ways of making tinder is to hold thin branches, shredded papers and redolent dried herbs (e.g. lavender, rosemary) together and roll them up in a nice tissue paper or cake lace (paper too) and tie them with raffia or twine. Pay attention that the latter one shouldn’t contain any plastic. This is a bit rustic in style but the upshot will be very showy also.
Let’s recycle the toilette paper roll. Fill it with chopped cork, cram clean cotton fabric, e.g. cotton wool, in both sides, to not spill the fillings out. Wrap it in color paper like a Christmas fondant which will light very easy. This can be Christmas patterned for the perfect harmony with the feasts.
The empty egg carton is a perfect tinder-material because it is made of paper. Put cotton wool or makeup removing cotton ball in every cells of it. Fill it with sawdust, chopped paper or dry leaves. Don’t forget the wick also. Pour melted wax on it. When it gets cold, chop the carton up to have separate tinder. These can be stored even in an old metal egg basket.
An interior designer might help in this topic with more ideas.