Ideas is all about MAKING your world more beautiful. Packed with creative inspiration, fresh ideas, easy projects and step-by-step instructions, this magazine is the go-to guide for crafters, stitchcrafters, makers, cooks and DIY home decorators.
Phew! What a year we've all had! At the moment I'm feeling like those athletes who have just finished a marathon and are bent over to catch their breath, or are lying on their backs to rest their tired and cramping legs. And then, after a few minutes, they get up again with a broad smile. They've done it! And so have we! We've all encountered the pain and frustration, the test of our endurance and the welcome stretches of even road without severe uphiils or steep descents. Yet here we are, smiling, albeit with tired eyes. We are ready for the next challenge and of course, for the festive season – the season of joy and excitement, of recovery and calm, the season of creativity. I'm always astounded by…
GARDEN ROOM AND DINING TABLE The large Christmas tree, which is festooned with colourful, painted and vintage baubles and lights, stands between the living room and garden room, so it creates a festive Christmas feeling in both areas. ON THE TABLE The dining table is decorated with a colourful cloth and candles, light balls, stars, lanterns, mini trees and greenery. Terracotta, pink, green, gold: These accent colours are reflected in the crockery, glass and textiles. The cream-coloured tableware is from Ikea, the wall decoration from ixxi.com and the rest is thrift. The first thing Irene does on 6 December – the day after Sinterklaas, a traditional celebration in the Netherlands – is to put on Christmas carols and get the Christmas boxes down from the attic. ‘I think it's super…
SET THE SCENE Eat, style, decorate and craft with the brightest and sweetest smelling flowers for this look so that your Christmas this year is an immersive experience, something for all your senses. ADVENT CALENDAR DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: one day Make your Advent calendar from seed sticks and plant one every day in December leading up to Christmas. Make your own seed sticks by mixing together seeds, potting soil and air-dry clay with a little bit of water in a bowl. Roll out into a thin sheet, cut into narrow bars and imprint numbers, indicating the Advent day, at the base. Make a hole at the top of each bar, large enough to thread a ribbon through. Leave overnight to dry completely. CHRISTMAS TREE IN FULL BLOOM DIFFICULTY: easy TIME:…
YOU WILL NEED: ♥ wax paper ♥ flower petals ♥ iron (without water)…
SET THE SCENE Nostalgia is the main ingredient in the charm of this rustic farmhouse's perfectly imperfect festive attire. Vintage photos, cloths and handcrafts have found their way from the drawers to the table, beds and rest of the house. The softness of candlelight and a harvest from the garden were all the timeworn farmhouse still needed to radiate a calm, grounded atmosphere.…
SET THE SCENE It's probably not the best style for a house full of excited children, but for those who like a calm and havenlike space over the festive season – the Danish concept of hygge – this natural look with linen decorations is ideal. Your sewing machine and a few branches from the garden are your most essential items. MINI CHRISTMAS TREES project DALA WATTS Use a round batten or a branch from your garden that is thick enough (about 5cm diameter) to make these cute little trees. Cut into rounds of about 3cm height and drill a hole in the middle, large enough to hold a small branch. Try to find pine or cypress branches and press them into the hole in the wooden disc. Use your trees…
