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crazy girl's pressie challenge: as nice, cheap, original & crafty as possible

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  • crazy_girl
    crazy_girl Posts: 912 Forumite
    Wow. I'm seriously impressed and inspired - thanks, Crazygirl! I've been thinking of something on a retro sweet theme. All the kinds of things we'd pick up in our lunch hour at school so I'm getting a list together and will do a sweetie hamper for our same-age friends this year. So far (as a 30something) I've got:

    Kola Kubes (or Frosties, if you can still get them)
    Pineapple Cubes
    Refreshers
    Drumstick Lollies
    Blackjacks
    Chomp Bars
    Chewits!

    ... and that's about it so far. I'm going to put them all in a jar with some photos of us at school and call it a big jar of retro. :) Just got to find out what other sweets there were and see if you can still get them, and then go for it :D Hoping to put a max. spend of about £5 per jar, so we'll see. Thanks again, Crazygirl :)

    KB xx

    sounds a great idea, its nice when doing that if you layer them with paper inbetween each layer so the jar looks stripy with different colours iyswim?
  • crazy_girl
    crazy_girl Posts: 912 Forumite
    mary-op wrote: »
    debtfree - it has been a ''bit of a year''..........still someone must have kicked my bum........this morning I did a ''kitchen kebab''...............lol Cost me nothing as it was stuff I had in the house anyway. It's Just a skewer with brillo pad, metal scourer and those sponge scourers on it and wrapped it in cellophane........sort of ''welcome back'' pressie for my young cleaner (Her MIL has stepped in while she's been away)..........she'll love it I know and who knows, I might now get spurred into doing something else:)


    love it! :)

    you're doing well despite all those set backs, you should be proud of yourself :)
  • crazy_girl
    crazy_girl Posts: 912 Forumite
    Sister's 21st Birthday:

    Silver 21st necklace £4.50
    21st solar powered keyring 20p
    21st solar powered mobile phone charm 20p
    21st bottle stopper 99p
    21st flashing badge and headband set £1.99
    21st mini photo frame 49p
    21st teddy bear £1.99
    21st coasters 39p
    21st large badge £1.25
    21st mug £2.49
    21st coaster 74p
    Personalised 21st bumper sticker £1.48
    Personalised 21st pen £1.48
    Personalised 21st stamper £1.48
    21st key in a box £1
    21st banner £1
    21st candles £1
    2 x mini champagne bottles £1.78
    21st balloons £1.49
    Box £1
    1ml Cellophane 19p
    4m Curling Ribbon 4p
    4 x Sheets Tissue Paper 32p


    TOTAL = £27.49 (AND some clinique stuff, don't wanna think about the full total!!!)



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  • mary-op
    mary-op Posts: 3,605 Forumite
    crazygirl - another brilliant pressie :T

    Well just when I thought I was getting in the mood to do something with bits of felt OH gets rushed to hospital -again !! Gallbladder again only this time consultant has said it should come out rather than keep stuffing OH with antibiotics and painkillers, sending home and him ending up back there.
    He's in theatre having the op now -be 4-6 hours before I know anymore..........needless to say, felt projects have gone out the window for now.........:)
    My mates coming over for a bit of support -never know she might inspire me to do something:)
    I would be unstoppable if only I could get started !

    (previously known as mary43)
  • Crazy Girl - love all your ideas, but I just can't find the items as cheaply as you seem to. Maybe I need to get organised for a project and give myself enough time to really scour the shops! Well done they are brill though.

    Mary-Op - Hope your DH i ok, big hugs to you :grouphug:

    Love the retro sweets idea, may have to pinch that one!

    I know when Christmas and Birthdays are each year, but I still manage to leave things to the last minute, I always think I have much more time than I do!

    Have a good day
    Pixie
    🎄The most wonderful time of the year 🎄
  • LolaLemon
    LolaLemon Posts: 958 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I've bn reading bits n bobs as I get time, for a wee while now, and everything has been fantastic!

    Sorry to hear all your family health problems Mary.

    Looking for some ideas if u can. I've recently started seeing a new guy, (short story version) we met in Feb/march, he went back to Florida, wasn't due to come back til Oct, but sold up n came home 3 weeks ago, 'to be with me' .... anywho...his birthday is November, and I'd like to make him a hamper, he's a musician , when he's not busy installing solar panels, so is like to try n go with the music theme, but I'm unsure of what to add.
    So far I've decided on a plectrum maker (for use with guitars)
    All ideas greatly received

    Thanks
    Living Simply, not simply living.
    Cheap Christmas '15

    Frugal Living for fifth year running. (2010-2015)
    Weight Loss - 5b/55lb
    Books Read 2015- 7/30
  • Well it's been a while! I've got three gifts to put on now so bear with this uber post please!


    PICT0011.jpg

    Baby Hampers:

    Booties £1
    Huggies newborn nappies £1.41
    Huggies swim nappies XS £1.41
    Weaning spoons 29p
    Weaning pots 29p
    Johnson’s baby bath small 85p
    2 x Johnson’s baby bedtime bath large £1.85
    Johnson’s baby soft cream £1.26
    3 x short sleeved body suits £1.50
    Huggies wipes mini pack FREE
    Superdrug baby toothpaste 8p
    Superdrug baby toothbrush 8p
    2 x bibs 48p
    Mam soother 30p
    Breastflow bottle FREE
    2 x Boots teats 40p
    Box £1
    1m cellophane 19p
    Curling ribbon 4m 4p

    TOTAL = £12.43


    028.jpg

    Mum's 50th wheat and dairy free food hamper:

    Box £1
    Sour kraut 59p
    6 x Kate’s cakes gluten & dairy free seed & fruit bar £1
    Genius seeded fresh rolls 89p
    DS white ciabatta rolls £1.25
    3 x Trufree pretzels 45p
    Cheddreese grated cheese replacer 37p
    Nairn’s wheat free muesli 49p
    Fruit & nut mix £1
    Fruit mix £1
    Sainsbury’s free from chow mein sauce 70p
    2 x Shloeur £1.50
    Woman's Weekly tea towel FREE
    2 x Rowse Honey minis FREE
    255g Jelly Belly bag £2.70
    3 x Good Earth teabags £1.80
    2 x cake tins £2
    2 x mugs £1
    Apron and oven gloves set £2.50
    Two tier cake stand £3.50
    9 x Rice Dream mini drinks 60p
    Kallo gluten and dairy free chicken stock cubes 75p
    Gluten free soya sauce 78p
    4 x dairy free chocolate buttons white and milk 72p
    Rice noodles 50p
    Cholula hot sauce FREE
    Kelkin gluten free porridge 98p
    3 x mini Bonne Maman apricot conserve FREE
    2 x Coronet mini raspberry jam FREE
    2 x Coronet mini apricot jam FREE
    3 x Coronet mini honey FREE
    1 x Coronet mini marmalade FREE
    2 x gluten free pasta £1
    Tesco free from brownies £1
    Tesco free from chocolate puddings £1
    Tropical jelly slices box 50p
    1m cellophane 19p
    Curling ribbon 4m 4p

    £31.80


    001-10.jpg

    Mate's little boy's 7th birthday:

    Bats 19p
    Modelling clay 29p
    Farm animals 24p
    Super railcar racer 24p
    2 x Cars magic flannels 40p
    Cars flask 45p
    2 x Soccer Marbz packs 80p
    Whoopee cushion 50p
    Echo microphone 50p
    Cars ball 50p
    Star Wars marble 50p
    Parachuter 50p
    Colgate Smiles Shrek toothpaste 65p
    Mini Ben 10 stationery kit 35p
    Squirt camera 30p
    Joker sling shot 30p
    Box FREE
    1m cellophane 19p
    Curling ribbon 4m 4p

    TOTAL = £6.94


    Now I'm on my Xmas crafty mission, I will post pics and price lists ASAP!
  • mary-op
    mary-op Posts: 3,605 Forumite
    crazy-girl ..........you amaze me -brilliant ideas:T
    OH still not in good health so its been hard to get my head around christmas but I think I have now.
    OH so wanted a new kitchen and after what he's been through we both thought, life's too short. So, the money mum left us has gone on a new kitchen (specially as its OH who does the cooking......lol) and we're having an old back room/shed re-done so we can have a downstairs loo.

    Clearing the kitchen out yielded loads of 'goodies'..........OH said no way did he want 'pretty' storage jars in his nice new cupboards.......so, a kitchen themed hamper for couple of people sounded a good idea.

    Storage jars (2) -free
    Biscuits to fill them with -49p (co-ops own brand)
    Spaghetti holder (plastic and looks like a chef) -free
    Spaghetti measurer shaped like a chef -free
    Santa Claus tea towels (2) -free (had them bought me and we're beyond the 'santa' stage.....lol)
    Wisk -I'm filling with chocolates (label saying 'we wisk you a merry christmas' - £3.95 plus 50p chocs
    Kitchen kebab -skewer with scourers on - free (I'll use some of the scourers I've bought already)
    Couple of freebie recipe books I've got
    2 baskets to put this lot in I'll say ''free' simply because I've no idea how long I've had them....lol

    Thats 2 pressies sorted -maybe for foster daughter and foster son

    For neighbour who's been so good and taking me to the hospital when OH was ill
    Mug with choc. foot scrub,choc lip balm and chocolates,

    Gardener/odd job chap -also came at drop of a hat if I needed anything and OH was ill
    Wrist warmers -about 25p

    Youngest son gets shoe box of stuff
    Scarf and wrist warmers - about £1.50
    Protein drinks -freebies
    4 sachets of tea -freebies
    Fruit tea scented candle -50p charity shop

    His girlfriend
    Fabric samples -she loves doing bits with stuff like that
    Bath bombs - now council have done a wet room we've no bath so they're no use to me and still wrapped
    chilli flavoured lip balm
    fabric heart - free from free fabric samples
    red button necklace - about £1

    Her birthday
    Scarf, hat and wrist warmers I knitted.........about £5

    Teenage grandchildren are 19 this year so they're having money

    Eldest son wants a Beatles calendar
    Eldest sons girlfriend wants some sort of foot scrub stuff
    Grandson - some Mario game for the wii.
    (not sure the cost of those things at the minute)

    So, not too bad..............just have to sort out from the stuff in the spare room what to give a couple of my friends..............I've still got stuff upstairs lurking from last year and I've made wrist warmers and some to spare................lol

    So...............I'm nearly there:j
    I would be unstoppable if only I could get started !

    (previously known as mary43)
  • crazy_girl
    crazy_girl Posts: 912 Forumite
    those gifts sound fab and very reasonably priced indeed mary_op! :)

    i'm currently on a baby stuff buying cheap mission as i'm pregnant with my first babba :)
  • CHRISTMAS!


    Mums & Grandmas Hampers:

    3 x wooden boxes £3
    2 x Dove shower gel mini FREE
    2 x Boots Extracts almond body wash mini 80p
    2 x Dead Sea Source body lotion mini 68p
    4 x Dove Go Fresh shower gel 80p
    3 x Dove Pro Age shampoo minis 60p
    3 x Lee Stafford conditioner minis 60p
    4 x Bath Time Heaven’s Above Smoothing Shower Scrub £2
    4 x Bath Time Gateway To Heaven Bath Drench £2
    3 x Avon raspberry body yogurt £2.25
    Johnson’s Holiday Skin mini 20p
    M&S body lotion mini 18p
    2 x M&S body scrub mini 36p
    2 x M&S shower cream mini 36p
    1 x Dove Visible Care Body Wash mini FREE
    2 x Body Shop Deep Sleep Bath Float Mini 56p
    Tess Daly Shimmer Shower mini 33p
    Tess Daly Tone Zone mini 33p
    Next just pink foot scrub mini 16p
    Nivea body lotion mini 5p
    Radox Shower Smoothies mini FREE
    Johnson’s 24 Hour body moisturiser mini FREE
    3 x Inner Spirit Morale Booster body lotion 54p
    3 x Inner Spirit Romantic Moments body lotion 54p
    3 x Adidas deodorant mini spray £1
    4 x Lavender hand cream & nail file pack 73p
    4 x Lavender bath crystals pack 73p
    4 x Lavender 6 pack bath fizzers 73p
    4 x Lavender bath cream and bath bomb pack 73p
    Brown & Harris lavender body mist 33p
    Brown & Harris lavender shower cream 33p
    Brown & Harris lavender body lotion 33p
    6 x Radox Daily Elements deodorant £2.34
    1 x Dove deeply nourishing body wash mini FREE
    3m cellophane 57p
    12m curling ribbon 12p

    TOTAL = £8.34 per gift

    007-2.jpg


    Dads & Grandads Hampers:

    3 x wooden boxes £3
    3 x Avon For Men eye cream £2.13
    2 x Real Shave Co. shave tonic 67p
    3 x Real Shave Co. shave oil £1.25
    3 x Gillette after shave balm £1
    3 x Head & Shoulders shampoo £1.86
    6 x Head & Shoulders conditioner £3.27
    2 x Nivea Men lip balm 6p
    8 x Lynx Boost shower gel mini £2
    3 x Wilkinsons after shave balm 51p
    4 x Lynx shower gel mini £1.16
    3 x Wilkinson deodorant roll on £1
    Nivea for men energy shower gel mini 33p
    12 x Lynx shower gel mini £3.46
    4 x soap on a rope £1.44
    3 x Sanex shower gel £1.50
    3 x Boots Essentials after shave balm £1.53
    3 x Boots Essentials moisturiser £1.02
    4 x Palmolive sensitive shave gel £2.04
    1 x Boots Essentials pre-electric shave 51p
    6 x Dove men + care deodorant mini £2
    3m cellophane 57p
    12m curling ribbon 12p


    TOTAL = £10.71 per gift

    008-1.jpg


    Male Mates – Retro Sweetie Boxes With Retro Keyrings:

    8 x boxes £11.92
    16 x retro 80s keyrings £5.60
    30 x Candy canes 87p
    3 x bags WHSmith chocolate coins 87p
    9 x Xmas jelly lollies 90p
    1200g jelly babies £1.20
    300g American hard gums 10p
    15 x mini packs jelly beans FREE
    24 x Drumstick lollies 86p
    54 x mini packs Haribo £1.35
    450g Waitrose fruit pastilles FREE
    300g M&S chocolate balls 50p
    1 x millions pack 29p
    16 x fruity pops £2
    1 x Wilko snowies pack 39p
    4m curling ribbon 4p

    TOTAL = £3.36 Per Gift

    002-5.jpg

    001-12.jpg


    Female Mates: Avon Make-Up In Handmade Bags:

    6 x Avon color trend silver eyeshadow £1.44
    6 x Avon color trend pretty eye stix £1.44
    6 x Avon color trend plum craze liquid eyeliner £1.44
    6 x Avon color trend romantic rose lip stix £1.44
    12 x googley eyes 24p
    7 x sheets felt £1.47
    3m ribbon 30p

    TOTAL = £1.30 Per Gift

    005-2.jpg

    004-2.jpg

    003-1.jpg


    Brother In Law Xmas:

    Elemis gift set £10
    3 x Ginger Joe FREE
    Sweetie Box (As Above) £3.36
    1m cellophane 19p
    4m curling ribbon 4p

    TOTAL = £13.59

    006-2.jpg


    Grandma Birthday:

    Avon Soft Musk EDT £3.50
    Catherine Stein brooch 70p
    Oasis make-up brushes set FREE
    Avon Luxe Lace manicure set £3.50
    Hat & Scarf £4.80
    1m cellophane 19p
    4m curling ribbon 4p

    TOTAL = £12.73

    001-11.jpg

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