Mobile Make 'n' Do (not bother)

Well.

Now that all this Hallowe'en mallarky is out of the way, it's naturally time to countdown to Christmas. Hey, don't blame me - dems da roolz.

And so in anticipation of this year's festive festivities, I want to kick off pressie preparation with this humdinger of a project that was "completed" in August. Actually, completed isn't the right term. "Executed" maybe - I literally killed the beautiful mess of an idea I had in my head and got a mess. And with this being about a present, I had to give this mess to my boyfriend, whose birthday the following mosaic of hideous pictures was honoured with.

We're still together.

It's worth noting from the outset that this particular project is great for those who are busy and on the go. Why, I "executed" this in my Ford Fiesta on the way home from work, while parked outside a supermarket. Efficient....is one personal trait your loved one won't give a hoot about when you land home with this to them.

The success of this project relies on how well you know the gift-recipient - mine, for instance, doesn't like sweet things including cake but what's a birthday without some cáca milís?

Hence the inspiration for my present around a present - a cardboard cake which wrapped his actual presents inside (Socks. Seriously) and which was surrounded (Nay, iced!) with his favourite treats: manky crisps.

It started with making a cake shaped contraption from cardboard using a plate (I went to work very well prepared that day) and a scissors.

Only after my little enterprise had started, however, I realised I forgot to wrap the cardboard in birthday wrapping paper. Doh.

The next stage involved making the sides/actual-cakey-parts which wasn't very easy because it was only at this stage I realised the cardboard I was using was basically paper.

Ta-dah! Obviously not going according to plan, I decided to put this bad side to the "back" of the cake. Because when I lined/iced it with the many packets of crisps I bought (at an extortionate price I might add. They used to be 10p) it did not look good.

Observe.

With the job done (sigh) I pottered on home, excited at the prospect of seeing a beaming face when I presented this waste of paper complete with its birthday candle (from a pack which I had previously used at a protest march).

Although, I did feel that DARKNESS would show the fruits of my labour in a better light....

The reception to my cake was....subdued.

Hope this here project gives you some ideas for home-made/supermarket-car-park gifts...and that you swiftly forget about them and buy something better.

One love.