Terrarium Candle Stand

This is a good craft to be a little or as creative as you want (I am not being very creative this time).

What you will need;

• Wine glass

• hot glue gun

• hot glue

• decorations of your choosing (I choose small ornaments for simplicity)

• small aluminum pie tray (you can use anything to secure it but these are 8 for $1.50 (Canadian) at Dollar Tree)

• Candle of your choosing (size might be determined by the base of your wine glass)

• sharpie

How to create;

If you are using a more intricate theme than ornaments, trace the mouth of your wine glass onto the aluminum tray. This will be your guide when assembling your scene.

If you are using ornaments like me you can fill the glass with the decoration and hot glue it immediately.

Wait for the glue to dry before cutting the aluminum from the glass.

Turn it ‘right side up’ (for our purposes this is the base up) and place a candle on top.

You can add this to an existing display or use it on its own.

Yule Candles

On the day of Yule, I usually try to burn a candle from when I wake up to when I go to bed. I usually like these candles (for any holiday really) to be created by me (or someone I know). This is how I make a simple cost effective candle without too much extra fuss.

What you will need;

• Candles of your choice (I tend to use the Dollar Tree jar pillars for the easiest choice)

• a wick (or several depending on the size of your vessel and the size of the wick. As an added ease I tend to use the wicks that come in my candles)

• some sort of vessel (I have chosen a stemless wineglass also from Dollar Tree)

• your oven (this is the easiest way or you can double boil them on your stove)

• baking sheet (if you are using the oven method)

• oven mitts (regardless of method the jars WILL be hot)

• double sided adhesive or hot glue

How to build your candle;

Take your candles and place them in a preheated oven (usually at about 200 F). If you are using the stove method, it is this step where you take the jars of your candles and place them in the water cold (it is better, and you will have less jar breakage if you heat the jars with the water).

While you are waiting for the wax to melt you will set up whichever vessel(s) you would like to use for the candle (if you are using the wicks in your candles you will have to wait for the wax to melt in order to continue). I usually use adhesive dots or a small dot of hot glue to keep my wicks in place (there is also adhesive that you can buy specifically for this step).

When the wax is melted pour it into the vessel (if you are using multiple colours you will have to wait for one to dry most of the way before adding another.

Wait for the wax to fully dry (this might be overnight depending on the size of your candle).

Light the candle and enjoy!

*if there is a dip near the wick in your candle you can use a heat gun on low, or a hair drier in order to buff it out).

Paper Bag Stars

This craft is fun for the whole family!

What you will need;

• paper bags (I chose to use the lunch bag size you can have them bigger if you use yard waste bags)

• scissors

• glue (I’m using hot because I have it on hand, normal will work too)

• hole punch (if you have one the scissors work for what we need it for as well)

• ribbon or string

• any stamps or paints you would like to use

How they are made;

Count out the number of bags you will need for one star (I used 8 lunch bags for one star but you might need more or less depending on the size you choose).

To glue the bags together glue the bottoms and the middle of the bags.

Stack them together (in the same direction) but don’t add glue to the final side.

Once you have the desired number of bags stacked, cut the tops to make a point (check here to see if you have enough bags, if not add more here.

Cut shapes into the bag if desired at this point.

Once cut to how you wish add glue to the final side to create the star.

Punch or cut a hole where you wish the top of the star to be and add the ribbon (or string).

Hang it up and enjoy!

Cinnamon Candle Holder

What you will need;

• Cinnamon Sticks

• Candle size of your choosing (I chose a short pillar candle)

• hot glue gun

• hot glue

• ribbon or string (this is optional but I think it gives off a finishing touch)

• something to use as the base of the candle (I used aluminum tart pans because you can get them 8 for 1.50 at Dollar Tree)

How to make;

Take the candle you want as a guide and start gluing cinnamon sticks together.

When you get around the whole diameter of the candle you want to glue it to your preferred base. If the base needs trimming (you have a base that you can trim) wait for the glue to dry before doing so.

Add ribbon and any other decorations you want (ensure they won’t catch on fire).

Light your candle and enjoy!

Simmer Pot

Simmer Pots are a great way to cleanse spaces and get aroma into the space you want if you are unable to burn incense or candles for any reason.

For my Yule simmer pot, I tend to use the same if not similar combinations of scents to the incense I created closer to the beginning of the countdown.

What I used;

• dehydrated oranges (if you do not have any already see the blog post I created)

• cinnamon sticks

• cloves

• cranberries

• water

• pot (or crock pot works as well just have the lid off)

Place all ingredients into the pot of your choosing

Put stove on low heat and simmer

*check pot occasionally to see if you need to top up the water

Salt Dough

This really easy dough can be used for crafts. My original recipe makes quite a lot of dough so I have halfed it for this recipe

Ingredients;

• Salt 1/2 C

• All Purpose flour 1 C

• Water 1/ 2 C

• Food colouring (optional)

Other things you will need;

• bowl

• measuring cup

• mixing spoon

• oven

• cookie cutters (you can use new ones that are only for these types of crafts)

• chopstick, skewer or toothpick

• parchment paper

• rolling pin

• ribbon or string

• paint (if you want to do that instead of the food colouring)

• paint brushes (an if you are using the paint)

How to make the Dough;

First measure out the dry ingredients.

Then add the water slowly until it makes a dough. It might start to get a little tough to mix by the end.

You may have to knead the dough to make it come fully together (this is where you would split it in to the different colors you want and add food colouring).

To roll out dough to 1/4 of an inch (I’ve found the easiest, less messy, way to do so is to place it between two parchement sheets).

Stamp with desired cookie cutters (don’t forget to place a hole where you want it to hang from if you are making an ornament).

Bake at 250 F for about 2 hours (or until it is dry).

If you would rather paint your dough than use food colouring you would do this after they are dry.

Yule Ball

These fun ornaments can be made for any time of the year. Fun fact; I am trying to make one for every Sabbat.

What you will need;

• clear ornament (I chose plastic because I have an animal that will knock it over but you might want glass)

• salt

• cinnamon sticks

• juniper berries

• orange peel (powdered)

• pine (or some kind of evergreen)

• jute twine

• ribbon

• charms

How to create your charm

Find a stable surface for your ornament.

Place in the salt first to stabilize the rest of the items.

We then placed in the powdered orange peel to add as the base.

After we added the cinnamon sticks, berries, and the pine.

We chose to glue our ornaments shut (this is optional but recommended).

After the ornaments were dry we tied the juste around it with the charm and finished the ornament with a ribbon to hold it.

Hang it up!

Yule Coffee

Here is my recipe for the coffee that I drink on Yule morning. My everyday coffee contains only the cinnamon.

Please note though that I am making this coffee for 1 person so your amounts may need to be quite larger depending on how many people you plan on serving or what flavours you prefer to have most dominant.

Ingredients;

• Your preferred coffee (I am Canadian and like Tim Hortons coffee)

• Cinnamon

• Ginger

• Cloves

• Nutmeg (I could not find my nutmeg at the time of making this post so it isn’t in the pictures)

How to make it;

Combine all of your ingredients together.

I own a Keurig, however, this is not the best way to prepare it.

For larger groups, the best way is to place it in the filter and make a big pot of coffee.

If you are serving it to yourself or only a couple of people I like using my single-serve filter or my French press.

Yule Money Bowl

I would like to preface this by saying that your money bowl does not have to look exactly like mine. If you feel the need to add or take something away that is your intuition telling you what your personal spell needs. This is what my intuition told me that this particular money bowl needed.

What you will need;

• a vessel to place your items (I used a bowl but it doesn’t have to be that large)

• salt

• a candle (again I used a votive but you can use even a birthday candle if you want)

• bay leaves

• cinnamon

• rosemary

• coins

How I put mine together;

I started by placing my salt in the bowl.

Then I hid my coins in the salt (you can leave them on top)

After I had the salt level I placed in my cinnamon sticks. I wanted to place them sticking straight up.

Then add the bay leaves.

The rosemary was the last herb I put in I decided to place something in the bowl that was from my own garden.

Lastly, I put the candle in the bowl.

The chant (if you want to make one) is personal as this is your money bowl no one else’s. However, I would place somewhere in the chant about the yuletide season as this is a Yule Money Bowl. That is up to you though.

Dehydrating Oranges

I am putting this in as a craft for the holidays as I tend to use this as decoration and in my simmer pots (which is a recipes coming later in the countdown)

What you will need;

• Oven or dehydrator (I have a dehydrator but I’m not using it this time)

• As many oranges as you want to dehydrate (I’m only using one for this day due to some unfortunate dropping issue)

• Parchment paper (if you are using a dehydrator this might depend on the shape. Mine is round so I don’t like fiddling with parchment)

• Baking sheet (only if you are using your oven)

• Knife

• Cutting board

How it is done;

If you are using a dehydrator I usually look up the temperature that it suggests for what I am dehydrating. For my oven, however, I keep the temperature as low as it will go (I only use the oven if I have all day to use it).

Turn on whatever device you are using to preheat.

Take your oranges and slice them up as thin as you want (remember the thinner you have them the less time it will take to dehydrate regardless of what device you are using).

Make sure if you are using a baking sheet it has parchment paper on it (I’ve tried aluminum foil and it doesn’t work as well for me).

Place oranges on the tray (regardless if it is the dehydrator tray or the baking sheet).

When the device you are using is up to temperature place the sheets in the machine.

This is where it gets tricky. There is no actual timing for dehydration. The best you can do is watch the oranges and wait until they are done (this will take hours).

When they are all dry place them in your air-tight container.

Monitor them for condensation on the inside of the jar. If you see some they have to be dried further or you risk them spoiling.

Yule Wreath

What you’ll need:

• foam wreath form

• rope or ribbon of your choice (I used 2 spools of nautical rope but you might need 3)

• straight pins (found in the sewing things)

• decorations of your choice (I decided on a bow and bells for mine

How to decorate your wreath;

Take the wreath form and find the spot you want to start.

Anchor one end of the tope into the foam with a straight pin and start wrapping as tightly as you can.

When it gets to the end of the rope secure it with another straight pin.

Continue this process until the wreath is filled with your desired amount of rope.

Add any extra decorations you want. If they are soft you can place them in with more straight pins. However, if they are solid you may need glue or sticky dots.

Cinnamon Stars

*These cute little stars you can use as ornaments or to just place around the house

What you will need:

• 5 long cinnamon sticks (the shorter ones do not work very well)

• hot glue gun (any glue will work but hot glue dries fast)

• ribbon (if you plan to hang to)

• any other decorations you want on it

To put together:

Place sticks in a star-like pattern (it might not be exactly the shape you want as the sticks' length and place determine much of the shape).

When you get a rough shape of what you want start gluing down the pieces.

Let the base star dry for an hour, than add ribbon (if you want to hang it) and any other decorations you like)

*like every other day if you would like to see pictures of the one I have made you can find them on Facebook

Yule Incense

* Please note that these are to my taste and it depends on how much you want to use so there are no measurements

I have included in my incense blend this year;

• cinnamon (I prefer grating the sticks and having them as chunks but if ground is what you have use that)

• ginger (I used freeze-dried because that was what I had but ginger pieces dried works as well)

• bay leaves (I just crush them up but you can grind them if that pleases you)

• orange peel (not shown here I forgot to grab it, you can dry your own, or if you live where there is a Bulk Barn they sell it as well)

**Everyone’s practice is different add or subtract until you get a scent that screams Yule! to you.

Bay Wish Spell

This is one of my favourite small spells to do.

What you will need:

• Candle

• bay leaves

• lighter (or match)

• a glass of water (just in case)

• pen or marker

• fire proof dish

What you do;

Write your wish on the bay leaf.

Light the candle while envisioning your wish.

Take the bay leaf and place it in the flame of your candle.

Hold the bay leaf as long as you can without burning yourself and then place it in the fire proof container.

Don’t dwell on your wish and let the universe (or deities) do their work.

Wassil Recipe

• 1 L apple cider

• 1/2 C. cranberry juice

• 1/2 C. orange juice

• 1/8 C honey

• 1/8 C sugar

• 1/2 orange

• Whole cloves

• 1/4 apple, peeled and diced

• 1 cinnamon sticks (or ground cinnamon)

Place the wet ingredients as well as the sugar and honey into your slow cooker (add more honey if you do not want to use sugar).

Make sure the sugar and honey dissolve.

Add the orange studded with the cloves (push the cloves into the oranges), diced apples, and the rest of the spices.

Cook on low for 4 hours.

Enjoy!

*if you want it a little boozy you can add rum or wine to this mixture at the end of the cook time.

Bread Recipe

*Note: I weigh all of my ingredients you may have to convert it to cups if you do not have a scale

Ingredients;

• 300 ml warm water

• 7g yeast

• 25g granulated sugar (I use honey sometimes as well)

• 60g fat (olive oil, lard, vegetable oil, etc.)

• 1 1/2 tsp salt

• 406g AP flour (bread flour is good too)

Method:

• wisk warm water, yeast, and sugar together

• let it sit for 5 minutes (I do this covered)

• add fat, salt, and 128g of flour and mix until combined

• add another 128g of flour, mix until relatively incorporated

• add remaining flour (150g) and mix until dough pulls away from the bowl

• knead for 3 min

• place into a lightly greased bowl and let rise for an hour

• knead it again for 3 min

• let it rise for another hour in the greased bowl

• punch down and shape for the pan you want to use (this makes buns as well)

• let rise in the pan for another hour

• around 45 min mark put oven on at 350 C

• bake for 30-34 min (mine are usually closer to the 34 min mark and sometimes are longer)

• let cool and enjoy!

Yule Countdown

Welcome to the first day of the Yule Countdown!

Today we are creating our countdown calendar.

Every year I make a candle countdown to the longest night of the year. I will start by lighting one of the candles on the first and then adding to it as the days progress.

They can be made as large or as small as your space allows. I decided to use tea lights and a large pillar candle for the last day because it was cheap and simple. Birthday candles also can work, and so can votives or pillar candles.

I prefer the last candle be the largest as I want it to last throughout the yule ritual.

Everything used I managed to buy from Dollar Tree here in Canada for $1.50 CAD a piece. (As I can’t post pictures here you can see then in the Yule album on facebook)

For this Craft I used:

• pizza tray (or tray that you will use to place your candles)

• 20 tealights (or candles of your choosing)

• pillar candle (or candle of your choosing)

• adhesive stickers*

Start by placing the pillar candle on the tray in the middle of the tray.

Use this as a guide to place the tealights at a good distance apart to get them all on the tray.

Once you are satisfied with your placement you can place the stickers on the bottom of the tray in order to keep them in place.

• this is optional though of you want to move the tray or have animals this step is probably needed.

Peppermint

Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild, is a hybrid mint. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint.

It originated in Europe and the Middle East, although it is now widely cultivated in many regions around the world.

A little bit about this mint:

Peppermint is known to have a strong sweetish odour as well as having a cooling aftertaste.

The leaves are typically used fresh as a culinary herb.

Flowers are dried and used to flavour candy, desserts, beverages, salads, and other foods.

Also its essential oil is also widely used as a flavouring.

It is also often used to soothe digestive issues and other aches and pains (like headaches)

Mint Magick;

This particular herb is associated with the element air.

It can be used in spells that call for cleansing, prophetic dreams, speeding healing, restoring and soothing.

The oil can also be used for money drawing spells.

* As per usual please be very careful when thinking of ingesting herbs, plants and flowers

**Please consult your family doctor or a professional if you are not certain of anything

Witchin’ in the Kitchen for Samhain Part 1

With Fall (and soon winter 🥶) now upon us in the Northern Hemisphere I thought I would share some Samhain and Yule (can be used for both) recipes that I enjoy making!

First I will start with the humble (but delish) Apple Cider done in the slow cooker for all of my busy witches.

Ingredients

1 orange (optional)

10 medium apples (use a variety)

3 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon ground cloves

granulated sugar (I like to use honey)

Other spices like allspice and nutmeg can be added if you prefer

Instructions

Peel the orange and place the segments in a 4 quart or larger slow cooker.

Rinse the apples, cut into quarters, and place in the slow cooker.

Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, any other spices and sugar (honey).

Add just enough water to cover the fruit.

Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours (or high heat for 3.)

After 6-7 hours, the fruit will be very soft. Use a large spoon to mash the fruit and release its liquids. Allow the cider to cook on low for 1 more hour.

Very slowly strain the chunky liquid though a fine mesh sieve into a large pot or pitcher. You can discard the solids. Strain the cider one more time to rid any other solids. Serve the cider warm.

Leftover cider keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Warm up on the stove before serving or enjoy it cold.

To go with the cider I have a wonderful (and very vercatile) bread recipe that is my go to.

Strawberry

As part of the Rosaceae family strawberries are a type of rose, not a berry. They are native to the temperature regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Though cultivated varieties are grown throughout the world.

The fruit is high in vitamin C and is widely used in desserts; ice cream, jams, strawberry shortcake, etc.

The Magic Ingredient

Planet; Venus

Chakra; Sacral

Sign; Scorpio

Element; water

Magic; fertility, dedication, luck and love

Strawberry Jam

Yield:

5 cups

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled

4 cups white sugar

¼ cup lemon juice

Step 1

In a wide bowl, crush strawberries in batches until you have 4 cups of mashed berry. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C). Transfer to hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. Process in a water bath. If the jam is going to be eaten right away, don't bother with processing, and just refrigerate.

To test for jelling

Place three plates in a freezer. After about 10 minutes of boiling place a tsp of the liquid of the jam onto the cold plate. Return to the freezer for a minute. Run your finger through the jam on the plate. If you can make a line through it with your finger it's ready to be canned!

* As per usual please be very careful when thinking of ingesting herbs, plants and flowers

**Please consult your family doctor or a professional if you are not certain of anything