Homemade/second-hand christmas

otterspasm · 14 May 2007 at 11:47AM

Hi everyone,
I haven't posted on this forum before, usually hang out in money saving old style. Have read here a bit though and wondered if I could ask for some advice...

I have an agreement with my sister in law and her family and also our best friends, that we will only exchange homemade or second hand presents this year. We tried it last year with sister in law and it went well. I knit and go to a pottery night class and am ok with baking and preserving. So I was able to make a few things such as hats, scarves, mittens, Christmas tree decorations, bird bath and bird feeder (at pottery). We also tracked down a second hand dog kennel and computer monitor for family. I will turn my hand to anything! Whatever the results!

My problem is that, happliy, I have just had a new baby (plus 3 year old) and, as making things takes up a lot of time and I have less now, I'm a bit worried about this christmas. (I know its only april :-) )

Can anyone make any suggestions for reasonably quick things which can be made for gifts?? The main rule is nothing can be bought new so food hampers are out for example.

I am putting together a book box each for 3 friends...picking up second-hand books I come across through the year which I think they might like...

All suggestions will be gratefully recieved!

Many thanks,
Tess

Hapless_2 · 14 May 2007 at 12:04PM

how about using some christmas coloured scrap material and making some christmas decorations to give away? make some cookies or sweets nearer the time maybe? Clean up some old plant pots and paint them with some acrylic paints?

MrsTinks · 14 May 2007 at 1:16PM

CROCHET!!!! ok ok so i am always advocating crochet but you can make christmas decorations out of it (make snowflakes and starch them or you can make sleeves for balls to make them absolutely dropdead gorgeous!), you can put together a scarf in an evening and the design options are endless! You could make baby blankets for those with little ones, either square or round or star shapes... this is one that is kinda finished but I might do another few rounds on it... Still trying to decide...

I started this scarf very late last night so only did about an hour on it... I think in total it might take me 2-3 hours for the complete project...

and this furry scarf needs another ball of wool so it's total cost will have been £2.97 and it's REALLY warm!

full-time-mum · 14 May 2007 at 1:37PM

Get your 3 year old to make the cards - killing 2 birds with one stone - homemade cards plus occupied 3 year old.

Here is one I did with my children a couple of years ago using the polystyrene circles from underneath supermarket pizzas. (or use circles cut out of card)

Snowman:
take 2 circles. Punch 2 holes near the edge of both (maybe use a hole punch). Take some brightly coloured chuncky wool (charity shop?) and thread through the holes to tie the circles together. Stick on round blue/black for eyes, triangle in orange for nose and draw mouth in red felt.
Add buttons. If really adventurous, stick on blobs of cotton wool.

Robin: (viewed from side)
Stick on 'leaf-shaped' piece of paper or felt for breast. Triangle for beak (half on/off edge pointing outwards) for beak. Black circle or googly eye. Use 2 pices of coloured/sparkly pipecleaners for legs. (Bend bottom for a foot).

Rudoulf:
Cut out two antlers (sort of twig shapes) and stick to top of circle. Add round red for nose and googly eyes. Draw on mouth.

Don't try and do too many at once otherwise your 3 year old will get bored.

Hope the instructions make sense, our cards are packed away till next Xmas so I can't do photos.

otterspasm · 14 May 2007 at 2:44PM

Thanks guys.
Great ideas! I especially like anything that also occupies my 3 yo.

Tess

Roz_V · 14 May 2007 at 4:43PM

Have a look in the Gift Basket & Hamper Index at the top of the first page of this forum - there is a whole section on homemade gifts (some food, some not!!) I will also add this thread into there

Hapless_2 · 15 May 2007 at 10:27AM

My daughter plays with Hama beads and she made santas, tomtes and snowflakes out of them which were welcomed gifts.

themmackas · 16 May 2007 at 7:11PM

What about looking on the freebies thread and see if you can get anything for free. There is usually a wilkinson razor free somewhere i know my o/h has had 3 different ones of these. Also what about looking at packs of things that if you send away you can get free things. eg free books on fairy products last year. Also do you ever use boots cos if you spend £10 then you get a free voucher for £5 off olay sanctuary products. I usually top up my phone there cos you get points and a voucher. So if you do that then technically if you get some free sanctuary or olay products you havent paid for them? (is that cheating)
Anyway best of luck in your challenge. :T

otterspasm · 16 May 2007 at 8:07PM

What about looking on the freebies thread and see if you can get anything for free. There is usually a wilkinson razor free somewhere i know my o/h has had 3 different ones of these. Also what about looking at packs of things that if you send away you can get free things. eg free books on fairy products last year. Also do you ever use boots cos if you spend £10 then you get a free voucher for £5 off olay sanctuary products. I usually top up my phone there cos you get points and a voucher. So if you do that then technically if you get some free sanctuary or olay products you havent paid for them? (is that cheating)
Anyway best of luck in your challenge.

Thanks for the suggestion themmackas. It would strictly be cheating as nothing can be new unless its homemade. This is a great idea for other occassions though and I'd bear it in mind.

Part of our reasoning, aside from being thrifty, is to be a bit greener too...and to buck the trend of crazy consumerism around christmas (and all year round too it seems). We are trying to return to 'an orange and a few nuts in a stocking that was hand-knitted by granny' kind of feel to Christmas. IYSWIM!

Tess

Lillibet_2 · 17 May 2007 at 8:13AM

What about bath salts? Al you need are some funky (recycled!) glass jars, sea-salt (the chunky kind like Malvern), epsom salts (ask at your chemist, they cost pennies), essential oil to scent it and a few drops of colouring if you are so inclined. I made lavender last time but instead of scenting or colouring it I mixed it with lavender which I collected for free. Then I printed a tag detailing all the properties of lavender in aromatherapy. They looked really posh & expensive!:rotfl: I am thinking of doing the same thing this year but with dried rose petals;)

HTH;)

MrsTinks · 17 May 2007 at 9:41AM

Lillibeth I might try that myself this year

I bought a bulk load of rose petals for something else and they were actually very cheap and I have loads left. I also have stuff for making bathbombs so that could be a nice gift set I guess

Home made scarf, home made bath salt and home made bath bombs
If you were making lavender then you could start making cuttings over the summer of your lavender plants and add one to each gift in one of these newspaper pots The kids could even help decorate those if you wanted

Or you can teach the kids to crochet a snowman

Homemade/second-hand christmas

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