OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

[Deleted User] · 6 September 2014 at 4:16PM

UNISCOTS both little ones are really too small to understand what is going on at christmas, how about buying them each a pretty tree ornament that can be used every year from now on. We have some things that I've had since DD1 was 3 months old, they are the ones that both girls insist must go on the tree first every year (DD1 is 36!!!),they are and always have been part of thier christmas memories. Best favourite is a red courderoy mouse who you'll inevitable understand is known as 'Chris Mouse'!!!

themull1 · 6 September 2014 at 5:04PM

Solstice_3 wrote: »

Ah Christmas, I always get a bit stressed at this time of year because I love Christmas and I like to treat people and give everyone a little something but I have a rather large family (for me) and have about 20 people on my gift list - even at £5 a person that's £100 which I didn't have last year on maternity pay and I won't have this year. So I am going to make some gifts.

I'm making Delia's Christmas Cranberry Chutney (4 jars - 3 for gifts and 1 for us), I want to make some homemade sweets or macaroons for my Godmother as every year I ask for present suggestions for my Godfather and she says homemade sweets, I think maybe she would like some lol. I might make some other preserves and I've spotted some £3.99 books from the Book People which suit some family members perfectly for token gifts. I've already got my Mum and Sister's presents earlier in the year. I tend to buy the Children's Birthday and Christmas presents in the Boots 3 for 2 sale which starts in October roughly and then I can use the points I get for token presents for other people.

Talking of decorations, I love the idea of bringing the green into the house but I have a DS who is 3 in October and a DD who is 1 in December and I don't feel it's safe to have such things in the house until they are older. I have already decided we can't have a Christmas Tree this year as the hassle of stopping 2 children pulling the lights off and the tree over is too much but I want something. I've asked DH to come up with a way of displaying Christmas lights above the (non fire) Hearth as I love Christmas lights, and in the kitchen. I have pine cone and ribbon decorations for high up.

Will be watching this thread for ideas

Edit - forgot to say I make my own Christmas Cards each year so no expense there, I still have plenty of Christmas papercraft stash ^_^

Ive always had a tree, even when my kids were small, if your kids tend to touch things(my kids didn't dare) put the tree up, and a table in front of it to stop them pulling it over, i'm sure it will be fine. My mams cat insisted on climbing her tree, she put a hook in the wall, and the tree was tied to that.!

emmi31 · 6 September 2014 at 7:07PM

Me again can anyone think of a simple way I can make Xmas cards with my little man he's autistic has hypermobility and hypotonia and global development delay he can't do cutting or sticking as he wouldn't understand
I love making homemade stuff with him as presents too if anyone has any ideas he has very little understanding of anything so it's more something mummy can help him do
Any ideas are great I was thinking about maybe some tree decorations with his handprints but not sure what sort of dough I would need ?

Any help is great

Emma

[Deleted User] · 6 September 2014 at 7:23PM

Hand prints in green paint and turn them into christmas trees with dots of glue and glitter, so easy and people would love them.

IrishRose12 · 6 September 2014 at 7:33PM

emmi31 wrote: »

Me again can anyone think of a simple way I can make Xmas cards with my little man he's autistic has hypermobility and hypotonia and global development delay he can't do cutting or sticking as he wouldn't understand
I love making homemade stuff with him as presents too if anyone has any ideas he has very little understanding of anything so it's more something mummy can help him do
Any ideas are great I was thinking about maybe some tree decorations with his handprints but not sure what sort of dough I would need ?

Any help is great

Emma

Does it have to be clay or dough for handprint decorations?
In work we make handprint Santas by just using paint. Easy to do and straightforward. This past 3 years we have had an autistic child (3 last year) and were weary about them doing it as we weren't sure how they would react, however they LOVED it.
We use light coloured card then laminate them and cut them out. Punch a hole at the top and put some christmas ribbon through and hey presto a beautiful ornament.

I make one each year with my children since their 1st Christmas, and we put them on one of the walls in our living where it's too small for anything else.

Islandmaid · 6 September 2014 at 7:33PM

I agree with Mrs LW

Have a look at these

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Hand%20print%20christmas%20cards

Nargleblast · 6 September 2014 at 7:37PM

When my DS was little (he's now a hulking great git of 16) I collected innertubes from toilet rolls and we made people out of them - a Father Christmas figure, a snowman figure, three king figures, a shepherd figure and an angel figure. We just used crepe paper of an appropriate colour around the rolls, stuck bits behind to represent cloaks or wings, and DS drew faces on circles of card and I stuck them on the front for heads, with wool, cotton wool or coloured paper for hair/headgear. Those figures stood on our mantelpiece every Christmas for about 7 years, until they got too tatty.

sugarpuss27 · 6 September 2014 at 8:21PM

hi all, love this thread. Last year I was up and at em early, not so organised this year. Last year I collected pine cones from walks and put them in cellophane bags ordered from ebay added a cinnamon stick, some cardamon seeds and star anise and tied with some christmas tape bought in the sale. Family loved these, smelt really festive. I too make my own chutney and jams and my Rich Apple went down a treat made with apples given to me by friends. I had several bunches of flowers sent last year so I kept the lovely, red cellophane and it made beautiful wrapping paper, tied with some christmas tape. I was bought up to utilise whatever you can, saves waste, landfill and gives me much more pleasure than having a meltdown in the shops.

sugarpuss27 · 6 September 2014 at 8:31PM

This year will be a simple affair.No Dad's visit any more and with no kiddiwinks just the Dsis's and their children and their children's children:eek: christmas for me and DH will be visiting up to Christmas to take gifts for the littlies and as DH only has Christmas Day off again this year we shall head off for our nearest beach for a stroll and then feast on Gammon, egg and chips:j and then DH 2 Bro's and SIL will come for tea. Sarnies and pickles with Trifle and HM Mince pies although I wont make many as DH is diabetic and I love them too much for my waistline to handle. Sounds just grand:)

pigpen · 6 September 2014 at 8:40PM

emmi31 wrote: »

Me again can anyone think of a simple way I can make Xmas cards with my little man he's autistic has hypermobility and hypotonia and global development delay he can't do cutting or sticking as he wouldn't understand
I love making homemade stuff with him as presents too if anyone has any ideas he has very little understanding of anything so it's more something mummy can help him do
Any ideas are great I was thinking about maybe some tree decorations with his handprints but not sure what sort of dough I would need ?

Any help is great

Emma

Last year I got my 3 tinies (4 months, 2 and 3) to do loads of hand and foot prints on paper.. I then cut out the hands and feet and made designs with them.. sure I have pics..

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