Festive Fivers Contest.

mathome

I just bought smallish terracotta plant pots @ 45 pence each. The kids will be painting them with leftover emulsions out of the gardenshed. leave to dry WELL and apply a coat of varnish over the top. We have already taken the 'babies' of our spiderplant and will be growing them on to fill these pots as presents for in loving homes.

garfield23

Name of present? Hawkins Bazaar Stocking
Make it or buy it? Buy, make, or borrow the stocking - fill it yourself
Total Cost? up to £5
Details (the more the better)? Go to a Hawkins Bazaar catalogue, website, or (if you've been very good) store, and have a look at the wealth of low-priced weird and wonderful objects they sell. Your main problem will be stopping yourself from ordering more!
:beer:

supercooper_2

Name of present? Home Made Christmas Cracker / Table Presents
Do you make it or buy it? Make It
Total Cost? Under a fiver

Why not forget those expensive christmas crackers that end up in the bin within five minutes of having been pulled.

For anumber of years we have made one large cracker from a large card board tube, covered in christmas wrapping paper with the odd bit of christams tree decoration added. Include inside whatever takes your fancy pick and mix sweets, enough for everyone, minature bubble baths or cosmetics for the adults small toys for the children. You might like to insert a few jokes, home made paper hats. Involve the children they will enjoy taking part in making the surprise.

Alternatives to the cracker over the years have been Christmas parcels, small snow covered castles (cotton wool is ideal) and numerous other ideas. Its amazing what you can do with a shoe box and a little imagination. They also make a great centre piece to any christmas table.

revterry

Name of present? Helping Hands
Do you make it or buy it? You make it
Total Cost? under £2
Details (the more the better)
most suitable for children, but could be adapted for adults. Materials:
card, lolly sticks or thin cane, piece of oasis (the type used for dried
flowers) vase or jug or other receptacle.

From the green card cut out hand shapes, just pencil around your own hand
and cut around the shape, make several.
Using sticky labels, or coloured paper, write on as many labels/pieces of
paper as hands you've made some things you will do for the person who will
receive the gift.....children may have things like, I'll wash the dishes,
walk the dog, make my bed etc. Adults may offer to wash the car, babysit
kids or sit with an elderly or infirm relative, the list is endless, and
can be personally suited to the person receiving the gift . stick labels
or coloured paper on the hands, decorate the hands as you wish, attach a
lolly stick or piece of thin cane to back of hand, lstick the hands in a
piece of oasis, which can be wrapped in fancy paper, or placed in a vase,
jug or any receptacle you can find. these can be found in charity shops
and Ikea do cheap vases. The idea is that the person who receives the gift
redeems the helping hands at a suitably convenient time.

The good thing about this gift is that you are offering to spend time or
help out and so it's a good relationship builder. Husbands/wives can be
creative and romantic in their offerings, the offer doesn't cost the giver
any money, just the time to spend with or helping the recipient.

FiscalFox

Name: (Book) Who Moved My Cheese?
Make/Buy: check out https://www.Play.com (books section)
Total Cost: £4.99
Details: A fantastic book that tells a nice little story that can really change a person's life. Anyone you know in the duldrums at Xmas? Starting a new job? Happy where they are?

This is the gift for them!

The book is highly regarded by many and gives people real hope when theyre down; enthusiasm when they need it and confidence to overcome challenges. Its is written for kids and adults and is sleek enough to read on a Christmas afternoon.

Just a brilliant little story.

FiscalFox

Name: Treasure Hunt
Make/Buy: Make
Totals cost: Zero (+Present)
Details: Why not leave a trail of clues to a loved one's present this year?

This adds real value to the unwrapping of any present and gives lots of amusing fun. Can be used romantically for partners; or in a fun way for the kids!

On Christmas Eve, write little clues down on bits of paper or gift-tags. Leave them around the house/garden/street/ with neighbours.

Each clue should lead to the next one, then eventually some prize, or treasure!

For example, the first clue may read "this is the place to park your bum!" in order to lead your loved one to the sofa. Have about 20-30 written out and hide them around your apartment. Consider giving a few clues to your neighbors and have her knock on their doors, or get your loved one to call up your friends for clues.

For the final clue, DIG a hole in a patch of nearby ground outside, mark it, and bury some "treasure" for her to dig up! If its cold bury it in a snowman!

-You could also make a map.......!

cottel7

This is for: oldies (mum's, dad's, grandparents etc)
Make / buy: You do this, not make it!
Total cost: Nothing

Details: If you or your husband have any none of romance in your body you will have enjoyed a massage from each other...you don't need to be an expert as long as you are not treating someone with an injury or illness. Simply print out a 'fake' gift voucher for your recipient, like the ones you would get in an expensive beauty salon explaining that you are offering a leg / back massage pedicure / manicure... etc (whatever you think you can do the basics for) tell them that the therapist is you, and they can arrange an appointment at any time that is convenient.

I gave my gran a leg massage and pedicure last year as she had just come out of hospital after an op for a new hip and she had quite a bit of swelling that wasn't going down because she wasn't walking around...the massage really helped. It also meant I spent some quality time with her and she talked about it for weeks after (grans like girly chat too!). It didn't cost me a penny except the piece of card I printed the voucher on and a bit of my time and gentle hands!

This can be adapted for offering a car valet, or a day out if you've got transport (the latter may cost you lunch or a coffee and cake). Anything you like, just use your imagination! Make someone feel wanted this christmas!

In this material world I think giving a bit of yourself, and some time is far more important than something that gets used once and then put in a cupboard never to be used again.

p.mckinlay

Name of present? i-Top
Do you make it or buy it? Buy
Total Cost? £4.99
Details (the more the better) At first glance the pocket-sized i-Top looks like a slightly futuristic but otherwise normal spinning top. However, upon closer examination of its decidedly hi-tech surface you'll see two buttons and a row of tiny LEDs. And what are they for, you ask? Well, here's the twist the i-Top doesn't just spin, it also plays games. Four of them to be precise. Essentially, each game is based on how long or how fast you can spin the i-Top. But prepare to be astounded, because scores and other snippets of info are "magically" displayed on i-Top's spinning surface, thanks to some nifty programming and the phenomenon of "persistence of vision". A folding spindle transforms i-Top into a slim disc, so you can slip it into a pocket and amuse yourself wherever you may roam. i-Top is perfect for individual play as well as competitive gaming amongst friends.Games include the "How many times can you get i-Top to spin before it falls?" game, the "How fast can you get it to spin?" game, and the addictive "How close can you get to a random number of spins displayed by i-Top?" game. There's even a "Mystic Mode" that lets you ask i-Top a "Yes" or "No" question which it randomly answers with a pre-programmed response, a bit like an electronic magic 8 ball
It is advertised on one website at £9.99, but Amazon are selling it for £4.99 and they do free delivery if you spend £15.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00015BPZS/qid=1130938872/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/026-4210031-3899665

purplepixi

Name of present? Hand Painted Glasses
Do you make it or buy it? Both!
Total Cost? Up to £5
Details (the more the better You'll need some glasses, I normally by the fancy one from charity shops or carboot sales - but you can get 4 economy wine glasses in tescos for about £1.50 I think. Then some leading paint, the aqua glass leading paint is easy to use from the tube and you can get that from art and hobby stores, price varies 99p and up. And some enamel, Humbrol model ones are good, from 60p - hobby stores etc. The simply either hand draw a design or find a small one you like stick it to the inside of the glass, and use the leading to draw the out line and colour in with the enamel paint.

I did these last year for ,my mum, I had gold liner and read and green paint and did some little holly leaves on some Sherry glasses I picked up for £1.00, she loved them, you don't even have to paint them in if you don't want to. They are fine to use, but I wouldn't recommend putting them in the diswasher.

Ma®k

lynnebateman wrote:

page three calendar!

Brilliant!

Ma®k