I tried very hard to lose my christmas humbug this year, and I must admit a massive drive at organisation and a 2 year old have definatley helped. However its truly the run in now, and I cant say I’m totally organised, it’s more a matter of just giving up! Have adopted the granny method of a wee cash spot for the remainder of my ungotten presentations.

Meanwhile, the sparkles and bobbles have all but blocked my blog outlet, so here are a few Salvage sis christmas blobble tips.. bit late for some of them, but I’m sure all of you havent finished wrapping just yet!

Decorations.. I used the necessary prunings to our christmas tree to provide a free surround on the mantle, or fir place!

Any greenery looks great in the house at christmas, as long as you do it decadently as Lucy mentioned in her previous post.

Fir place

Anyone will be impressed with a present you have rustled up yourself, too late now of course but log it for next year. If your lucky you might be the recipient of one of my home made potions. Nigella’s Christmas Chutney, and Honeyed Fig Vinegar, both from her Nigella’s christmas book, which i must say would knock the humbug out of anyone!

Of course saving up your jars is key, and decorate them with any remaining scraps of wrapping paper, material, gift tags.

Chrismtas Chutney and Honeyed Fig Vinegar

Lastly wrapping, a very savvy friend of ours gave us wedding presents wrapped in the financial times and adorned with decadent ribbon. They looked fabulous and I’ve always meant to copy her!

I thought with our current financial tornado, and the ever escalating corporate take on christmas this makes a nice little piece of statement wrapping! Plus the dusky pink pages against the dark ribbon look gorgeous! AND they’re all ready in perfect sized rectangles so no cutting out the wrong size and consequent swearing,  helping to keep the joy!

Financial times wrapping

I love the vintage take on christmas, clashing bright colours of old. Hence the decision to return to coloured lights and tinsel on the tree this year. If anything has got to be kitsch its the tree. Here is an example of some festive neons for you, and again cutting out the agony with pre large pieces of tissue which you just scrunch at the ends, no awkward corners here! boom, done!

kitsch tissue

Wishing our readers a very merry, kitsch and cosy christmas. We really are delighted when anyone stops by here, so thank you and a spicy hug.. you are all angels!

PS Of course Christmas is one of the pinnacles of my faith, and I celebrate it with joy, I just find the exhaustive to do list and earnest intention to make it something extraordinary so strange, when really good food, family and fun is all thats important! End of qualifer.