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Let me preface this post by saying that I am a messy crafter. So please excuse the mess in the background of the crafty pics – as well as the chocolate under my fingernails. Oops!
Christmas seems to bring out the crafter in us all, don’t you think? It’s many people’s favourite time of year to drag out the craft box and reacquaint themselves with their PVA glue, coloured ink pad and sequins.
Homemade = Bestmade when it comes to Christmas gifts, so why don’t you carve out some time this weekend for your very own Christmas Crafternoon?
But first, to the chocolate.
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This chocolate bark is the answer to your prayers. Dark, creamy, sweet, soft and crunchy and relatively low in sugar (if you use 85% cocoa – my fave), plus absurdly quick and easy to make.
You will need
300g dark quality chocolate, chopped (I used Green and Black’s 85%)
3 slices of candied orange, sliced
2 tbsp pistachios
2 tbsp goji berries
5 pretzels
6 dried wild figs, halved
(You could really use any fun toppings you liked here!)
What to do
Line a baking dish (I used a 20 x 20cm) with butter and baking paper. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Pour melted chocolate into baking dish and quickly top with all your fun toppings. Place in the fridge to set for one hour. I used baking paper and cute pink cord to wrap them into little bundles of deliciousness. Indulge and enjoy!
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Now you’ve got some super cute chocolate bundles to give as gifts, you really need a jazzy card to accompany them. I’ll let the photos below do the talking, but basically you’ll need a stash of contrasting paper (I bought some graph paper, gold card and neon pink card from the newsagents – so cute!), some double sided tape (which I use for E V E R Y T H I N G), a pair of scissors and a stamp pad and alphabet letters. I got mine from Typo. Or just a fancy pen will do.
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And lastly, you’ll need some sweet-as-pie place cards (that double as name cards – winning!) on the big day, so snap up some funky pom-pom decorating string and mini wooden pegs (I got mine from Typo), and give these a whirl.
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Finally, pop them all under your washi-tape Christmas tree and crack the champers gorgeous, because it’s holiday time!
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This is my last post for 2013 and I would love to take this opportunity to thank YOU so much for being apart of This is Lifeblood this year and helping grow this community to what it is today. It wouldn’t be the same without you and I am forever grateful. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I launched this blog and whats more, I wasn’t sure who would even read it.
I am so, so thrilled that you do. Thank you.
I really hope you stay on board as we launch into 2014 and I look forward to connecting with you then!
Stay safe, HAVE FUN and give your loved ones big smooches and extra-long hugs. Have the best Christmas ever!
Love Claire x
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So cute and adorable all of your crafts!
Love checking them out, I have girlfriends coming over tonight and am going to make that chocolate bark – yum!
Oh good!! I’m stoked you’re going to make it. Be warned, it’s very (very!) hard to stop at one piece! Have a beautiful Christmas Maddison xxxx
You clever chicken! Love the cards – especially the one that says Emily 😉 – and awesome idea for wrapping the bark! That’s going in the mind bank.
Thank YOU for being such an inspiration this year my love. What you have achieved is ridiculously amazing and I am very privileged that I have been able to walk with you while you work your magic.
Here’s to a big 2014 and a glass of champers this evening. Love you. xxx
Hehehe I was wondering if you’d see this! You can get your very own piece of chocolate bark tonight too.
Thank you woman, for being you and being my #soulsister 4 LYF. Love you x
One word: YUMMY!
They look so tasty, will be trying this recipe!
I think the mess looks awesome, especially when it is Typo mess hehe.
Have a lovely Christmas Claire. It’s been wonderful reading your blog this year xx
Thank you Naomi! You’re a Typo addict too? Hehe. It’s been wonderful to connect with you also, have a fabulous time off (you certainly deserve it!) and enjoy. xx
Awww this is gorgeous. You definitely have a beautiful style. Love it xo
Thank you beautiful! What a pleasure it has been to connect with you this year. Cannot wait to hang out in the flesh soon. Much love xx
You are so so clever… I love this idea…. think ill get my craft on this weekend! Although I’m not sure mine will look that funky, I can just see lots of taste testing to get the combinations right 😉
xxx
That bark has me drooling…AGAIN!! Oh boy, I am grateful++++ that you walked into my life. You’re a constant source of inspiration, lady. Love ya x
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Oh I love this Claire, so cute. Totally adding them to my handmade gift ideas board on Pinterest. Thanks for sharing oh creative one. x