Home-DzineIDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

November 2012

online

Craft • DIY • Food • Green • Home Decor & Design

Home-Dzine Online is written and compiled by Janice Anderssen. All projects in this issue, or any other issue, remain the property of Home-Dzine and Janice Anderssen, or the respective copyright holders, and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

Hard to believe that it is almost the end of another year. I was thinking about making this the festive issue, but then decided to wait until next month. However, there are some festive recipes this month, so that you have plenty of time to prepare.

Enjoy!

Janice

a word or two

5 LOVIN’ THE BLUESA touch of blue and white

17 A CLEAN SLATEA kitchen goes slate blue

19 MAKING RUGSMake a simple weaving frame

26 OH DEERPaper mache deer head

47

55 DRESS UP YOUR CHRISTMAS CAKEModern tops for traditional cakes

34 DIY DRESSERMake your own dresser/server

40 CRAFT SNIPPETColourful lamps

41 REPURPOSED PLASTICPractical ways to use plastic containers

44 MAKEOVER CLOSET DOORSAdd panels and paint

51 KITCHEN GARDENSHealthy home-grown veggies & herbs

THE HUMBLE CARDBOARD BOXMore fun than gifts...!

4 5

decor and designLovin’ theblues

Housebreaking is at the top of the list of our crime fears, so it makes perfect sense to do whatever it takes to protect ourselves at home. Front doors, kitchen doors and doors to the outside are all vulnerable to break-ins but this can be remedied by fitting a physical barrier to each door. Here are some tips from Trellidor on how to incorporate door security into your home.

Choose a barrier styleTrellidor options include trellis-design barriers that slide along a bottom track; security screens that can be manufactured to work in exactly the same way as your door; and aluminium roller shutters.

Find a barrier with the appropriate strength Not all barriers offer the same degree of resistance to attack, even if they look similar. It’s the old story of ‘you get what you pay for’ so a low-cost barrier won’t take as much of a hammering as a more expensive one. You may be able to get away with an economical barrier on some of your doors, but spend a bit more on the most exposed one.

Check on design constraintsThe performance of your barrier is affected by how it’s installed, so discuss all the possibilities with your supplier. For example, most barriers are better fitted inside the door so that housebreakers have to attack the door first, but this is only possible if your door opens outwards. Aluminium roller shutters, however, can be fitted externally.

Specify a colourYour security door can be coloured to work with the finishes in your home, including your burglar proofing, so that it all blends in instead of being an eye-sore.

Opt for a barrier that works smoothly There’s nothing worse than fiddling about with an assortment of keys to open the security door; gates that don’t glide open easily; or complicated locks. All Trellidor security doors use one key in a single keyhole, and most models lock at three points inside the lock stile. Trellidor Rollerstyle shutters can be fully automated and operated by remote control.

For more door security ideas visit http://www.trellidor.co.za/applications/front_doors.htm

How to protect entry doors from housebreakers

6 7

Lovin’ the

blues

8 9

As we approach the end of yet another year I am sure that many are starting to look forward to annual holidays, either at a resort or at home. This collection of images struck a cord and brought out a feeling of nostalgia for a coastal retreat on a secluded island and the middle of nowhere.

Decorating with shades of blue and white is an easy way to impart that feeling into your home. These colours are reminiscent of a villa on the white sands - a sun-kissed hideaway in the Mediterranean - a longed-for dream home - or a place to sit back and relax.

Enjoy the view!

ABOVE: Choose 100% cotton or linen bathroom linen. Mungo manufactures continental towels from the finest South African cotton, or choose cotton weave from baytree decor.

imag

es: ju

lia ho

ersc

h - sk

onah

em -

maiso

n-de

coShopping for accessories

doesn’t have to be expensive. Swap and

change your look affordably at stores like Mr Price

Home, Sheet Street, and even Makro. These stores offer some great bargains

on home decor and accessories.

Lovin’ the

bluesLovin’ the

blues

10 11

RIGHT: It’s nice to know that you can now buy international design at west elm. One of my favourite overseas stores to window shop, they have an incredible range of products.

BELOW: Manufacturers of custom furniture can offer a painted finish in a wide choice of colours. Shop at the bedroom shop online or shabby-chic.co.za.

ABOVE: Duck egg blue toile quilt with grey toile on the reverse side available from baytree decor.

cotton linens

custom furniture

Lovin’ the

bluesLovin’ the

blues

12 13

Timeless and elegant, a nursery decorated for a little boy remains a popular choice for many soon-to-be parents. Mix this with whites and just whites and you have a beautiful room for a beautiful baby boy.

RIGHT: Baby Bugs bedding set from Clever Little Monkey

Lovin’ the

bluesLovin’ the

blues

14 15

I have always liked blue as a colour for the kitchen; it’s fresh and bright and works well in any kitchen - large or small. Pale pastel blue and duck-egg blue are popular tints in a country style or cottage kitchen.

I have always liked blue as a colour for the kitchen; it’s fresh and bright and works well in any kitchen - large or small. Pale pastel blue and duck-egg blue are popular tints in a country style or cottage kitchen.

gingham walls

painted cabinetry

Lovin’ the

blues

16 17

Brenda at cottage 4c couldn’t wait to paint her kitchen cabinets. Tired of he original brown-stained cupboards, Brenda decided to paint her kitchen cabinets in Rust-Oleum satin slate blue.

a clean slate

via ht

tp://c

ottag

e4c.c

om

18 19

Take the stress out of painting kitchen cabinets by using Rust-Oleum spray paint for your project and using these handy tips:

• Remove doors and cabinet hardware.

• Lightly sand with 180-grit sandpaper before painting.

• Wipe clean to remove all traces of dust.

• Shake can well and hold at a distance of no less than 30cm away from the surface.

• Spray on a light even coat, moving the can from left to right. Allow this coat to dry properly before applying a second

Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2x delivers

twice the cover-age and supplies

ultimate hiding power, which al-

lows projects to be completed faster

and easier. Apply to wood, wicker, metal, plaster or unglazed

ceramic. Fast-dry formula resists chip-

ping and fading.

quick & easy

makingrugs

20 21

makingrugs

Rag rugs are an inexpensive and fun way to add interest to any room in a home.

They are perfect for bathrooms instead of a duckboard or bought rug, add colour to a children’s bedroom or nursery, and once you have made a couple of sample mats you will be ready to take on a bigger rug.

The colourful rugs on the previous pages can be bought online at etsy.com, and range in price from $99 (R800) upwards. These rag rugs are made from a variety of scrap materials, from t-shirts to old bedding. Here is a great idea for starting up a home-based business; selling your rag rugs online.

For rag rugs you don’t only have to use rags. On the following page we show you how easy it is to make your own weaving loom that allows you to use a variety of materials, even thick wool scraps.

Instead of throwing out old clothes, turn them into crafty rags rugs.

For a neater finish use a sewing machine to join fabric strips together.

Rag rugs can provide you with a bit of extra income if you are thinking about making money from crafts.

start upa home-based

business

22 23

The weaving itself is simple and the same technique that has been used for thousands of years.

Knot the fabric on the first nail and then wrap the strips from right to left around the nails.

If you need to extend the length, knot another piece of fabric onto the end. Pull the knot tight and then cut off the excess.

It’s nice to work with a fabric that frays along the edge, as this softens the finished rug. I make a small cut in my sheet of fabric and then rip off the entire strip.

Once you have wrapped the fabric around the loom, tie off on the last nail and then remove excess threads, as these will interfere with the weaving process.

Now you are going to thread the strips over and under the wrapped loom.

If you start one row with an over, start the next with an under.

Leave a 10 to 15cm strip of fabric at the edge of each row to tie off with at the end.

makingrugs

Making a weaving loom is actually very simple. All you need to make a loom are some piece of timber. I used 20 x 20mm pine, but would recommend 44 x 44mm pine, as my pine split a bit when I hammered in the nails.

Use corner braces to fasten all four corners together and ensure the frame stays rigid when you start adding the fabric.

Measure and mark every 10mm along the short sides of the weaving loom. For thin fabric strips you will use the 10mm marks, for thicker fabric I am using ever second mark.

makingrugs

24 25

I have kept my strips flat for this project, but they can be rolled or scrunched up - it all depends on how you want your finish rug to look. The fabric I am using has a soft fleecy finish that feels soft and luxurious and I want this to be on top of the finished rug.

Continue weaving the row - one row starting under and one row ending over.

Once you reach the end of the loom you can tie off the 10 to 15cm long strips that are hanging along the long edge. Leave the first and last strip and for the remaining strips, tie two together and knot.

Now you can gently remove the woven rug from the loom and start tying off the short sides. Using a long strip of ripped fabric, tie one end to the first and last strips that you left. Now thread the fabric through each end loop; knot and thread through the next loop until all the loops are knotted. Tie the end of the strip to the last piece of fabric left on the long end.

My knotted strips have been left as they are, as they will eventually go flat, but you can also fray these for a more tassled look.

makingrugs

Eventually what I plan to do is to make a whole lot of these small woven mats and join then all together to create one large mat, similar to the one shown above by Crate & Barrel. It might take me a while, and I might not actually get round to it, but the seed has been sown.

Then again, I have always yearned after a zebra print rug. Don’t see why I can’t make a bigger loom and try something completely different.

Let’s see what happens!

makingrugs

26 27

We’ve seen our fair share of owls and fowls, now it’s time for a different look... deer! This now-trend is adorning the walls of designer homes around the world. No stuffed animal here - these deer heads are made of cardboard, plaster and even wire. Just one more project for me to try...

OH,

DEER...!

trendsoh

deer

28 29

As a true South African I decided to make a Gemsbok head as apposed to a reindeer. Besides, I had no idea how I was going to make all those antlers!

1. I started off with some chicken wire that was twisted and folded until I had a reasonable shape for the head. Onto this was added the ears.

NOTE: Don’t coil the wire too loosely, you want a fairly strong base to build on. DO wear gloves or your hands will be full of holes.

2. For the horns I used thick wire bent in half which was pushed through the chicken wire. To give me something to work on, I coiled thin wire around a dowel and placed this over the wire horns.

3. Now comes the fun part. Mix flour, a teaspoon of salt and water to make a thickish paste. Grab some newspaper and tear this into shreds. You need long ones to start off with and then some very small shredded paper to make the paper mache paste.

Dip the long strips into the mix and slide your fingers along to remove excess and

wrap around the wire frame.

Add paper shreds to the paste and mash up with your hands until very mushy.

4. As you add a layer, use a hairdryer to dry the paper mache quicker, otherwise your project will take forever.

Fan the hairdryer over the surface and put inside the neck hole to dry both the inside and outside.

5. Continue to add strips and mush until your are happy with the shape.

6. Work up the horns using long strips coiled around to the top.

7. Let the paper mache dry for a couple of days before you continue. Don’t add the clay layer over the top if it’s even slightly damp.

8. I used Jovi air-dry clay to cover the entire head. The first layer of clay was rolled out in big patches to a thickness of about 2 to 3mm. I used my fingers to rub the patches together.

Don’t worry if the finish is not smooth at this stage, there is still some work to be done.

ohdeer

ohdeer

30 31

9. Continue to add patches of thin clay until the entire head and horns are complete. Leave this to dry overnight.

10. With the next layer of clay you can start to add a bit of detail.

I have never done sculpting before... not at this scale, but I found that by taking my time and adding up layers for detail really worked well.

For the eyes I added on a blob of clay and then smoothed this out. The detail was accentuated by taking off bits of clay until I had the eye detail.

For the nostrils I added a small roll of clay and blended this to the surface.

I originally rolled long, thin strips of clay and coiled these around the horns from top to bottom, but they didn’t stick well, so my Gemsbok has plain horns now.

11. To reinforce around the neck I added a strip of duct tape and then applied clay along the edge to disguise.

I am mounting the head onto a board by drilling three holes at the back of the head, inserting wire through these holes and through holes drilled into my mounting board. These will all be twisted together to secure.

My Gemsbok head is almost finished, just need to paint the head and the board.

If you look at the finished head on the next page you will notice a slight change... I cut off some of the neck to mount at a better angle.

ohdeer

ohdeer

32 33

Finished...!

I have some watercolour paintings of African wildlife that I want to add on either side of my new wall art - just the right touch.

ohdeer

ohdeer

34 35

Assemble the frame

1. Use a pockethole jig to drill holes into the top and bottom of both sides [C]. Attach the sides to the top [A] and base [B].

NOTE: If you aren’t using a pockethole jig, substitute with your own method.

2. Measure in 500mm from both sides of the frame and make a mark. Drill pocketholes in the top and bottom of all centre supports [D] and attach the centre supports at the drawn mark.

C

C

A

B

D DD D

3. Turn the frame upside down to attach legs or feet to the base of the frame.

NOTE: If you are making your own feet with blocks of wood, drill with a spade bit to half the depth to allow for easy screwing onto the base of the frame. Use wood glue as well as screws.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 of [A] 500 x 1540mm laminated pine1 of [B] 480 x 1500mm laminated pine2 of [C] 480 x 800mm laminated pine4 of [D] 200 x 800mm laminated pine2 of 20 x 96 x 1800mm PAR pine4 of 20 x 44 x 1800mm PAR pine1 of 6 x 500 x 800mm plywood4 Legs/feet4 x 40mm wood screwsWood glueWood fillerTape measure and pencil4 Concealed hinges and small screwsTOOLSDrill/driver plus assorted bitsJigsaw and clean-cut bladePockethole jigOptional: Mitre saw or mitre box and saw

Some laminated pine boards and PAR pine and you can easily make this dresser in a weekend. What would normally cost around R3000 upwards to buy you can make for around R1200, plus you can make it to your own custom size and stain or paint in your colour of choice.

http:/

/lazy

lizon

less.b

logsp

ot.co

m

Get everything you need for this project at your

local Builders Warehouse.

STYLISH DRESSER OR DINING SERVER

36 37

4. Cut the bottle holders using a circular template and jigsaw. A half circle of 90mm diameter is ideal for standard wine bottles. Sand the edges smooth with 180-/240-grit sandpaper.

5. Drill pocketholes at the back of the bottle holders and attach to the inside of the centre uprights [D].

6. Cut out the individual sections for the glass rack. You can cut these to allow for small or large glasses. Again, use a pockethole jig and wood glue to join; attach the glass rack to the underside of the top [A].

glass rack

bottle holders

7. The doors measure 500 x 800mm. Make a frame with mitred corners using the 20 x 44mm PAR pine. To cut the corners you can use a mitre box and saw, a mitre saw, or measure and mark to cut with a jigsaw.

8. Before assembling the frames, cut a rebate on the back inside edge, to allow for mounting glass panes. Cut the rebate 5mm wide and 12mm deep.

mitred corners

-5-

12

rebate for mountingglass panels

38 39

9. Glue and clamp the mitred corners together and leave this to dry overnight. You can also use dowels or biscuits to join the corners.

10. Attach vintage brass self-closing hinges (2 on each door). Use small screws to attach to the back of the door frame.

11. Use templates (cups, saucers and places) to draw your door design onto the 6mm sheet of plywood. Drill holes to allow insertion of the jigsaw blade and then cut out the design.

12. Stain the door when you stain the unit, but don’t fit the design panel just yet. This will be fitted once the glass is in place.

Stain and sealUse Woodoc Gel Stain, Woodoc 5 or 10, clear or tinted, to stain and seal all timber.

13. Apply a thin bead of clear silicone around the door frame rebate and then insert the glass panes. If necessary, add a further thin bead around the outside of the frame to safely secure. Leave to this dry.

14. Use wood glue and panel pins to attach the design panel on top of the glass and to the door frame. Use small panel pins tapped in at a slight angle to secure. Fill any pin holes with tinted wood filler and sand smooth.

15. Finish off your new server by adding adjustable shelves and handles. Your local Builders Warehouse has a wide selection of modern and vintage-style handles at affordable prices.

Select handles or knobs that match your existing home decor style.

Transform affordable plastic plant pots into colourful light creations for your home. CFL globes produce far less heat than incandescent globes, which means they’re perfect for these DIY pendant lamps.

Buy any planter pot with a hole in the bottom and add a lampholder and lighting cord. All these accessories can be purchased at your local Builders Warehouse.

You will needSmall plastic planter potsDecorative laceDremel glue gun and glue sticksRust-Oleum 2X Spray paint

Here’s how1. Use hot glue to attach the lace around the top of the pot.2. Spray with two coats of paint.3. Wire the power cord into the lampholder.

If you find that the hole is too small for the lampholder, use a Dremel MultiTool and sanding ring to enlarge to the correct size.

craftysnippets

sour

ce: h

ttp://w

ww.ho

mesty

le.co

.nz

40 41

a glue stick, glue the flat body of the butterflies to the lantern, arranging at various angles around the lantern.

3. Hang the lanterns at varying heights

above your table to create a centre piece that will take flight.

Reuse - Recycle - Repurpose

Plastic bottles are the No. 1 waste product that we need to keep off our trash heaps.

Many plastics are not recyclable, and it is these plastics that pile up over the years. If you are not sure which plastics can be recycled, check out this page on Home-Dzine.

Instead of throwing out plastic bottles, let’s all look for ways to repurpose and use these in our homes. There are some great ideas out there on the Internet that use plastic containers in unique and practical ways.

YOU WILL NEED:Rice paper lanternsOld books or magazinesButterfly template - click hereScissorsGlue stickString

HERE’S HOW:1. Print out the butterfly design and

enlarge to size. Trace around the shape onto your chosen paper. For butterflies of varying sizes either enlarge or reduce the image. Cut out the desired number of butterflies with scissors.

2. Fold wings upwards so that the body of

the butterfly forms a flat surface. Using

42 43

Always looking for your keys?

This keyholders uses a plastic bottle cut to allow it to fit over a doorknob. Although I don’t think hanging you keys on the back of the door is a good idea, there are many other places to hang it... and you will al-ways know where to find your keys!

Keep wires contained

Love this idea for using a plastic bottle to hold and cellphone and charger. Cut out a hole large enough to insert behind a 2- or 3-pin plug and then use self-adhesive vinyl to decorate your holder.

Not a drop wasted

Urns and water dispensers can be a drip. Stop drips from messing on the floor with a cut-out plastic bottle that fits onto the nozzle.

http:/

/orga

nized

31.bl

ogsp

ot.co

m

44 45

Here’s how

1. Lightly sand the doors with 180-grit sandpaper and wipe clean to remove all traces of dust.

2. Measure each door from top to bottom, and side to side. A nice panel width is around 40 to 50mm wide, but you can adjust this for a larger door.

3. With the measurements, work out the length for the side and top/bottom panels and how many you will need.

The best material to use for panels is either 3mm or 6mm PG Bison SupaWood. If your local Builders Warehouse doesn’t stock this thickness, get in touch with a local timber and board supplier and have them cut all the pieces to size.

Before mounting the panels onto the door, take the time to polish the cut edges with 180-grit sandpaper. By removing the ‘fluffy’ feel it is easier to paint and leaves a much nicer finish.

4. Use No More Nails to mount the side panels to each door.

5. Repeat this for the top and bottom panels. Once all the panels are in place, let the glue dry overnight before you proceed to the next step.

6. Use a quality paint such as Plascon for doors & trims to paint the doors and panels. Start painting inside the panels first and then move on to the outside panels.

http:/

/www

.metz

inter

iors.c

a/

makeovercloset doors

You don’t have to live with ugly closet doors, or closet doors that look grungy or old fashioned. Give them a makeover with panelling and paint.

46 47

Forget the gift...give the box!

I remember when my two boys were very young and the joy that we all enjoyed opening presents. What I most remember from that time is a gift forgotten and a cardboard box that was played with until it fell apart.

One or two cardboard boxes can keep young children occupied for ages. And with year-end holidays looming, perhaps now is a good time to start looking around for boxes!

Young children are drawn to cardboard boxes like a moth to a flame. I’m always amazed by the hours of play a simple box can provide but the one question that always makes me sigh is ‘What can we make with it mum?’. Now I have the answer in the bag – or box even!

Lexi Klaebe - Babyology

Cardboard boxeshave inspired suppliers of flat-packboxes that transforminto wonderful playideas for kids. Formore informationvisit Flatout Frankie, Babyology and Lula Sapphire.

Use paint to transform your closet doors.

Don’t think that closet doors only have to be white or wood grain. It’s so easy to introduce colour into a bedroom simply by painting closet doors to match your decor.

If you want to paint over melamine doors, simply give them a light sanding with 180-grit sandpaper to ‘de-gloss’ the finish and provide a better bond between the melamine and paint.

If your melamine doors have chipped edges, remove the existing edging strip with a sharp craft knife and then lightly sand for a smooth finish.

You will find replacement edging strips at your local Builders Warehouse and these can either be glued or ironed-on with a warm iron.

http:/

/pewt

eran

dsag

e.blog

spot.

com

DIY kids

48 49

Plastic plates, container lids and bottle tops are so easily repurposed into accessories. Use 5-minute epoxy to glue pieces together.

Tin foil pie and cake tins and bottle tops glued onto a box make great lights, while a spray-bottle becomes a petrol dispenser.

http:/

/declu

ttero

rgan

izere

purp

ose.w

ordp

ress

.com

Give a child a box and a toy and it’s been proven, they’ll spend way many more hours with the box. From a car to a house, to a play kitchen, the possibilities are endless.

Out and about car and petrol station

http:/

/www

.welo

vebe

ingmo

ms.bl

ogsp

ot.co

m

What little boy doesn’t dream of owning his own car, airplane... or tractor!

Cardboard boxes are easily transformed into almost any design and won’t cost you a cent.

50 51

Garden of the future?

glorious gardening

Not a passing trend, kitchen gardens are becoming increasingly popular around the world. As fears of genetically modified foods gain momentum, more people are looking at growing their own.

When most people think growing their own veggies they think of a vegetable garden. A kitchen garden, on the other hand, is a relatively small area that is designated to grow veggies and herbs and that is easily accessed from the house, ideally the kitchen. Easily accessible, a kitchen garden allows you to grab a handful of herbs, pick a crisp lettuce, cut fresh greens for dinner, and harvest the summer crop... on your own doorstep.

Design Considerations

SunlightThe greatest limiting factor for vegetables is sunlight which need a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. Take a look at your space, whether a garden or balcony and, considering the direction of the sun, determine whether or not your space is shaded by trees or buildings. You may need to rethink where your garden will go based on the amount of sunlight your veggies will need.

http:/

/wine

barre

lgard

ens.c

om.au

52 53

SizeFor those with limited space, a small kitchen garden can provide easy access to your most commonly used fresh vegetables and herbs. A small garden should be planted with those things that you eat the most of on a daily basis and can be made in a side area, a balcony, a pool deck, really anywhere. No matter how small or awkward your space is, you can find a way for you to grow something, even if it’s just your salad greens and herbs.

StyleThe aesthetics of your garden can be as creative or as simple as you want them to be: the only requirement is that the design enables you to maintain healthy and productive plants and grow your garden into a functional ecosystem.

Your kitchen garden might be nicely complemented by some edible landscape features.

While the contents of your kitchen garden will change seasonally, fruit trees and other perennial plants can be there year round to offer you food, blossoms, or enjoyable greenery.

Raised Beds or In-groundDepending on the conditions of your soil, the shape and size of your space, and your budget, raised beds may or may not be something you want. You should consider raised beds if you have compacted clay soil or other drainage problems, possible soil toxicity, or just really like the way raised beds look.

In a raised bed, soil is built up and contained by some kind of border, be it wood, plastic lumber, stone, brick, bamboo, concrete, rock, or a number of other materials.

Raised beds have a number of advantages:

1. They clearly delineate the planting area.

2. They may help discourage pests from entering your garden by separating the garden from other planting areas,

3. They generally have better aeration and drainage and general quality of the soil can be better controlled initially, and

Raised beds are not the only way to have a productive garden, however. In-ground gardens can be a better choice given your circumstances, and can be just as productive as raised bed gardens.

http:/

/www

.moth

erea

rthne

ws.co

m

In its simplest form, a kitchen garden produces fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs for delicious, healthy meals. A kitchen garden doesn’t have to be right outside the kitchen door, but the closer it is, the better. Think about it this way: The easier it is for you to get into the garden, the more likely it is that you will get tasty things out of it. Did you forget to add the chopped dill on your boiled red-skinned potatoes? No problem — it’s just steps away.

Here are some advantages for in-ground gardens:

1. More flexible than raised beds, allowing planting to change each season.

2. Less expensive to install.

3. More efficient use of planting areas.

IrrigationA very small kitchen garden or patio garden is best watered by hand. A small space doesn’t take long to water and an automatic system just wouldn’t be worth the expense.

If you already have an automatic watering system in your garden, look at how you can make that work with your vegetable garden.

http:/

/www

.ezga

rden

ing.or

g

54 55

MAKE A RAISED GARDEN BED

1. Start off by making the bottom frame as shown left. You can buy wide PAR pine planks at your local Builders Warehouse and use a handsaw, jigsaw or circular saw to cut to the required length.

2. Mount battens on the inside of the frame as shown. These battens should extend below and above the bottom frame and help support the frame in the ground and secure the top frame.

3. Line the box with landscaping fabric or thick plastic dropcloths; pour in a mix of potting soil and organic compost.

4. If sowing seeds to start off your new kitchen garden, make sure to mark where each type is sown. This will make it easier when it comes time to thin out.

TIP:Visit your local nursery or garden centre to see what seasonal vegetables are available. Ask for their advice if you are not sure what to plant and when.

5. Although a bit more expensive, consider planting a few seedlings for a quicker crop of fresh veggies.

food fun

There is nothing quite as traditional and tasty as a homemade Christmas cake, topped with marzipan and thick icing....oooh yummie.

Recipes for Christmas cakes have really changed much over the years, but they have become a whole lot simpler. There are so many designs for finishing off your Christmas cake and, since a Christmas cake needs time to ‘rest up’ before time, what better time to feature a selection of beautiful cakes!

christmascake

Dress up your Christmas cake

imag

e: htt

p://ho

osier

home

made

.com

56 57

christmascake

Shimmering forest cake Get the kids to help create this winter wonderland - just make sure you have enough Smarties to nibble on!

Method

Cover the cake with marzipan and white icing. (See step 5 for more information).

Knead the ready-to-roll icing, then split into three balls. Leave one ball white, and knead a little green colouring into the other two to give two different shades of green. Roll out each ball to about 5mm thick on a work surface lightly dusted with icing sugar. Stamp out about 15 tree shapes using tree cutters, then leave to dry for a few hours or overnight.

Once firm, lift half of the trees onto a cooling rack. Combine the 200g icing sugar and egg white to make an icing, then drizzle it over the trees with a teaspoon. Scatter with edible sparkles and leave to dry again until solid.Put a little icing on the back of each tree

Ingredients175g butter, chopped200g brown sugar750g luxury mixed dried fruits (one that includes mixed peel and glacé cherries)finely grated zest and juice of 1 orangefinely grated zest of 1 lemon100ml cherry brandy or brandy + 4 tsp extra85g macadamia nuts3 large eggs , lightly beaten85g ground almonds200g plain flour½ tsp baking powder1 tsp ground mixed spice1 tsp ground cinnamon¼ tsp ground allspice

Method

Put the butter, sugar, fruit, zests, juice and 100ml brandy in a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the butter has melted. Reduce the heat and bubble for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool for 30 minutes.Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 150C/fan 130C and line the cake tin.

Toast the nuts in a dry frying pan, tossing them until evenly browned, or in the oven for 8-10 minutes - keep an eye on them as they burn easily. When they are cool, chop roughly.

Stir the eggs, nuts and ground almonds into the fruit mixture and mix well. Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into the pan. Stir in gently, until there are no traces of flour left.

Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth it down evenly - you will find this is easiest with the back of a metal spoon which has been dipped into boiling water.

Bake for 45 minutes, then turn down the heat to 140C/fan120C and cook for a further 1-1¼ hours until the cake is dark golden in appearance and firm to the touch.

Cover the top of the cake with foil if it starts to darken too much. To check the cake is done, insert a fine skewer into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.

Make holes all over the warm cake with a fine skewer and spoon the extra 4 tbsp brandy over the holes until it has all soaked in. Leave the cake to cool in the tin. When it’s cold, remove it from the tin, peel off the lining paper, then wrap first in baking parchment and then in foil.

The cake will keep in a cupboard for up to three months or you can freeze it for six months.

Rich fruit cakeFilled with fruit and nuts and just a tot of brandy, this rich fruit cake is perfect for celebrating with family and friends.

Top off with one of the beautiful icing designs on the following pages.

sour

ce: h

ttp://w

ww.bb

cgoo

dfood

.com

christmascake

christmascake

58 59

and press the trees around the edge of the cake, overlapping some to give a 3-D effect.

Scatter the sweets over the top of the cake to finish. Can be iced up to a week ahead.

To cover a cake with marzipan, first brush the cake all over with a thin layer of warmed apricot jam. Dust the work surface with icing sugar, then roll out the marzipan evenly until you have a 5mm- 1cm thick round, about 40cm across for a 20cm cake. Lift over the cake, using a rolling pin to help, then smooth with your hands and trim off the excess. Leave to dry overnight or for a few hours. Lightly brush the marzipan all over with cooled, boiled water. Roll the icing out as you did the marzipan, then smooth with your hands, trim off the excess and leave to dry.

Method

Melt apricot jam, then sieve and brush a little all over the fruitcake or any 23cm cake.

On a clean surface lightly dusted with a little sifted icing sugar, roll out the marzipan into a circle large enough to cover the cake - use a piece of kitchen string to help you check. Lift up the marzipan by hanging it over your rolling pin, then drape over the cake. Gently pat and smooth the marzipan down the sides of the cake, then trim any excess from the bottom.

Repeat everything again with 900g of the ready-to-roll royal icing, firstly brushing the marzipan with more apricot jam. Trim the base as neatly as you can, then hide any rough bits by tying a pretty ribbon round the base.

Dye the remaining 100g royal icing with a little red food colouring, then thinly roll out and stamp or cut out a few ‘H’ shapes. Dribble a little water into 50g sifted icing sugar to make a paste.

Dot a little on the backs of the ‘H’ shapes and some round sweets, and stick around the top of the cake to make evenly spaced Ho, Ho, Hos.

Christmas super stars!A super-simple yet effective Christmas cake decoration, especially if you want a modern looking cake

Lift the cake onto the cake board or a plate and cover with jam, marzipan and - brushing with water around the sides of the cake only - ready-to-roll icing. Trim at the base.

Press star cutters gently into the icing, stopping when you get to the marzipan. Pull the star shapes out with the cutter, or ease it out with the tip of a knife. Stamp out a couple of small stars from re-rolled trimmings of icing (from icing the cake) and sit them inside the large star-shaped spaces.

Sprinkle the gold balls into the gaps and tie the ribbon around the cake. Can be decorated up to a week ahead.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas cake Decorate your cake with classic white icing and marzipan and then top with a playful seasonal motif

christmascake

60 61

Star attractionTurn a plain cake into a stunning centre piece. You need a steady hand so save the sherry for after the tricky balancing act!

Method

To cover a cake with marzipan, first brush the cake all over with a thin layer of warmed apricot jam. Dust the work surface with icing sugar, then roll out the marzipan evenly until you have a 5mm-1cm thick round, about 40cm across for a 20cm cake. Lift over the cake, using a rolling pin to help, then smooth with your hands and trim off the excess. Leave to dry overnight or for a few hours. Lightly brush the marzipan all over with cooled, boiled water. Roll the icing out as you did the marzipan, then smooth with your hands, trim off the excess and leave to dry.

Knead the 500g icing for the stars and roll out to 5mm thick on a surface dusted with icing sugar. Dust with edible lustre, then rub it in with your fingertips. Stamp 20 stars out of the icing using one 6cm cutter, or use two different-size cutters if you have them. Leave to dry overnight.

If you’re putting a ribbon around the cake, do this now.

Start building up the hardened stars - start with three in a triangle shape, pushing the points into the icing on the cake for stability. Build on this basic frame, letting the stars support each other. Lay a few stars around the base of the stack. Cake can be iced up to a week ahead.

christmascake

Bookings are now open for our 2013DIY Divas Career Workshop

Saturday mornings from 09:00 to 12:00

www.DIY-DIVAS.co.za