Crafting for Christmas 2009, let's begin again.......

bunbun2

Sian_the_Green wrote: »

Hey dudes, I put pics of some of my crafts onto the crafting for gifts thread and the finished baskets thread, don't want to double post

I have seen them and they are fab!

Sian_the_Green

bunbun2 wrote: »

I have seen them and they are fab!

Aww shucks, you guys are so nice

Lucy_Lu_4

Hello all,

Just thought I'd update you about some good finds I've discovered and some ideas I am working on to organise myself...

If you are making baking kits, Poundmart have a set of three wooden spoons and a set of three whisks, for yes, a pound a set. If you are doing multiple baking hampers these would work out at great value for money. They also have a wide range of plastic bowls in lots of colours, which would be great for kids.

I bought a set of adhesive gems from there, I am going to use them for making cards and decorating journals.

Talking of journals, thank you all for mentioning journal jars throughout the thread, not knowing what they were I did a search for them on the forums and now I know! Along with snowman soup and pots of gold that's another thing I have learnt from you all! Thank you for introducing me to journal jars, they look and sound fantastic! You have inspired me to make one for my cousin's birthday. It isn't until November so I have time to think of prompts and questions.

I have been looking around for suitable books to decorate and ones that aren't really expensive. Paperchase have some nice ones but I was hoping to find them cheaper. Wilkinsons sell A5 hardbark and bounded notebooks for 87p so I bought one to try decorating although I now think I should have bought an A4 size one instead! The A4 ones are £1.36 and both sizes come in a few colours, dull silver, dull gold and dark red and green. I am going to completely cover them in brown paper from Poundland to make them look more 'homemade' and will start from scratch by adding embellishments, glitter, stickers, etc.

I am also going to use the brown paper to make and decorate my own wrapping paper.

Also in Poundland I bought a set of four nail buffers (well I actually bought two sets but you get my meaning!) which I thought would be ideal for pamper hampers. The buffers have four different sides, one each for file, buff, smooth and shine. I have seen these on sale in other shops for an awful lot more, these ones work out at 25p each!

I also thought I would share with you a couple of ideas I am working on to organise my present buying and making...

I am in the process of making a Christmas folder. It's an arch ringbinder and is shiny and red (I thought it looked like a Christmassy colour although I will probably decorate it too!) and I bought it in the WHSmiths sale. In it I so far have a few sections:

- Information about being organised, planning and budgeting
- A list of shops I like to buy presents from and offers they have, eg M&S and Boots do 3 for 2 and I like the BHS Christmas shop which is also 20% off a lot of the time
- Lists of people I need to buy for, presents I want to make, etc
- A food and drink section - I am in the process of cutting out recipes from Christmas magazines
- A craft section of things I want to make and ideas of Christmas card designs
- A list of what I bought people last year and for their birthdays

If anyone else has done a similar thing or has any ideas of what else I could include I would love to hear from you.

The second thing I am working on is a present and budget Excel spreadsheet. I have no idea how to use Excel but my boyfriend is in the process of converting me, he has made me a chart that will list everyone I need to buy for, it will calculate how much I have spent on them and let me know when I am over or under budget. I have to say that it is very clever and he is right in saying that it will help control my spending. I am determined to either stick to my budget for each person but ideally I really want to come in under as we really need to save money. I am going to make presents this year as well and have boxes and jars saved already which is driving my boyfriend mad!

I hope you don't mind the long post but I wanted to share my finds and ideas with you.

she_grinch

I have a notebook and I also have a wallet type folder with 12 pouches , they are labeled Jan to Dec. As I make each birthday and christmas card through the year I place them addressed and stamped in the folder, I simply post all that months birthday cards on the 1st of the month so I do not forget. I know the difference between birthday and xmas cards by placing a xmas or balloon sticker on the back of the relevant card. I also keep a list of possible gift ideas in my diary in my handbag so through the year I can cross off any I buy in the sales. Hope this is helpful to someone

sunrise27_2

where is poundmart ???
love the idea of the bits for the baking hampers as I want to make some of these for my neice and nephews

manson666

she_grinch wrote: »

I have a notebook and I also have a wallet type folder with 12 pouches , they are labeled Jan to Dec. As I make each birthday and christmas card through the year I place them addressed and stamped in the folder, I simply post all that months birthday cards on the 1st of the month so I do not forget. I know the difference between birthday and xmas cards by placing a xmas or balloon sticker on the back of the relevant card. I also keep a list of possible gift ideas in my diary in my handbag so through the year I can cross off any I buy in the sales. Hope this is helpful to someone

What a brilliant idea she grinch, hope you don't mind if I use this idea for myself as I am terrible about leaving everything to the last minute with birthday cards.
I have always bought before but I have been seen the light now :rotfl:and have started making them. Having so much fun making them even if they are pretty basic compared to all the other beautiful cards on here. Think I am going to make up a box of cards to send to my Mum and Dad as they live in France and they have a lot of trouble getting nice birthday cards over there.
:beer:

she_grinch

Feel free to use this idea as it works for me, I have had a reputation for years in my family for being absent minded, I make them on time but forget to post. Since having my folder and posting on the 1st of each month I haven't been late for a single birthday all last year and am able to post using second class stamps on the later ones in the month!!

Lucy_Lu_4

sunrise27 wrote: »

where is poundmart ???
love the idea of the bits for the baking hampers as I want to make some of these for my neice and nephews

Hi Sunrise,

The one I saw them in was the store in Woolwich, South-East London. I've tried to find a website for them but without any luck, next time I am in there I will ask where their other branches are and will let everyone know.

sunrise27_2

thanks lucy
never heard of poundmart but would love to pay them a visit

she_grinch

Here is a really simple idea for fridge magnets but they are small enough to be used on a magnetic notice board http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets/