Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

3_cheeky_princesses

MummyYummy wrote: »

I'm not even adding up my DS' amount - eeeekkkk :eek: !!!!!

I dread to add up my kids amounts too

wannabepennypincher

Not sure if these have been posted but instore (formaly poundies) have some nice glass jars 3 for £1 which might be nice if anyone is doing bath salts or jam. They also had some kids bins- like disney princess etc- on the outside which I think I might use instead of basket, just fill the bootom with a load of tissue paper and put the presents nearer the top. They were about £2-3 which is a bit more than I'd intended spending on a basket but worth it for how good it will look and they were proper metal bins so something that would (hopefully) get used again.

lmb4wcb

MummyYummy wrote: »

Hi everyone!!

I've just been looking through my hampers (4 are finished, 2 need some more bits) and I was thinking about how I will wrap them.

Last year I did the whole celophane and ribbon thing - but has anyone tried anything else? Brown paper and string (with a handmade cinnamon/acorn decoration) popped into my mind, but not sure it that would work.

Any ideas?

HI,
Last year I wrapped all my presents in brown paper with raffia ribbon and a wooden tag (i bought these off ebay) and everyone said they were lovely. I was really pleased with them just trying to find something for this year :rotfl:

MummyYummy

3_cheeky_princesses wrote: »

I dread to add up my kids amounts too

I keep thinking he's only a kid once! lol!! We also get a lot out of it though - just to see their faces :T ooooooo I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the replies re the wrapping. I may try one with brown paper and see how it goes.

pennypinchingpenguin

ok i really love this thread but ive just totally freaked myself out by watching nearly 40 things on ebay that i cant pay for cos paypal hate me (or something) and now i'll have to delete them all cos its still ages til xmas and i already have a lot of stuff and im filled with fear about having no excuse to shop for the next 3 months!
this is just wrong. i shouldnt feel this way. i had a job interview today and ive been wibbly ever since!
impressed with the 6 year old finishing harry potter! i read the first one at 21 and even i didnt know all the words!
and the bookcase present sounds like a great idea too - maybe you could throw in a bean bag chair or something too!
anyone know where paypal live? im getting annoyed now! cant phone number cos its 0870 and my mobile doesnt allow.

ragz_2

pennypinchingpenguin wrote: »

anyone know where paypal live? im getting annoyed now! cant phone number cos its 0870 and my mobile doesnt allow.

When I had a problem with them I was put through to America! So I don't think you'll have much luck going looking for them :rolleyes:
Took ages to sort out too, Paypal is great when it works but as soon as there's a problem it gets complicated.

3_cheeky_princesses

MummyYummy wrote: »

I keep thinking he's only a kid once! lol!! We also get a lot out of it though - just to see their faces :T ooooooo I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE]

We are the same. My husband and I are re - living our childhood thru our children and loving it

sammy_kaye18

3_cheeky_princesses wrote: »

MummyYummy wrote: »

I keep thinking he's only a kid once! lol!! We also get a lot out of it though - just to see their faces :T ooooooo I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE]

We are the same. My husband and I are re - living our childhood thru our children and loving it

I do the same with Ben too - all the things I'd love to have done when I was younger - I now have an excuse to do because I have Benji.

moneysavingmumofone

When Ive fin ished shopping for DS i should have spent about £100. Pretty happy with that. He's still got quite a lot but not as much as previous years as I went silly the past 3 xmasses and there was far too much! He got bored opening them!

cdsmiler

C_J wrote: »

I make my own crackers every year, and in the past have put things such as:

earrings (costume jewellery ones would be okay of you didn't want to splash out on silver or gold)

handmade beaded bracelets (I bought some elasticated jewellery thread from a craft store, then bought old necklaces etc from charity shops and car boot sales to build up a collection of pretty beads I could use)

computer memory sticks

Miniature perfumes (I am sometimes cheeky and ask the girls on department store perfume counters to let me have decent sized samples!) This year the boys will have those Lynx Bullet things.

Small make up items for the girls (usually whatever has been in the No7 or Clinique "gift with purchase" during the year!! or a nice nail polish)

Small LED torches (there are currently some good ones with a keyring clip on them in Poundland)


In fact Poundland is quite a treasure trove for cracker-fillers. They have mini USB hubs which you can plug into a keyboard, small "Swiss army knife" style penknives, sachets of computer monitor wipes etc .....

Fab ideas, thank you!!

kingshir wrote: »

I don't make my own crackers but I buy cheap ones (or good ones in the Jan sales:p) and add my own gifts. That way I can make sure the gift matches the person.

I know it isn't important in the grand scheme of things but I do enjoy doing it!:D

Nice idea!! In previous years (and doing for just 5 people) I've used an empty maltesers box (good excuse.... hehe) which I've covered and then put things like a small alcoholic miniature, a mini puzzle or mini perfume, after eight mints...that type of thing. Haven't done that for a few years now, but I remember having trouble finding things back then too! lol

chickywiggle wrote: »

you could always get the keyrigs (i think ours were £2 for 3 but I am SURE they can be got cheaper) - and leave it as late as you can - if baby is not here and you need to get the crackers done put them in with a note saying "picture to follow".

Funnily enough we have some blanck photo keyrings (long story!!) but I'm in the process of trying to convince OH. He's worried that if baby is late, then there'll be nothing to go on the cracker!! I don't think he thinks a little note would be good enough. lol Will work on him....

yippee_kye_yay wrote: »

hopefully if i can get the poster cheap enough i will have enough left over to make a photobook of it all so it can all be neat and together!

i have used snapfish before and found they were great so will probaly go with them again unless anyone knows of a cheaper one, without losing the quality?

How much are you looking to spend? I recently got that free Jessops photobook (CD size) for my brother and that was ok quality - considering I only had to pay postage!!! However, if you're willing to splash out a little more, I would everytime 100% recommend http://www.bobbooks.co.uk/. They've recently added some smaller sizes which reduced the cost, but I have bought two of the larger A4 hardback books - one for honeymoon pics and one for wedding pics - and the quality is AMAZING. Cannot fault them one bit. Not as cheap as some, for sure, and maybe not suitable for your purpose this time, but if anyone wants to make a proper keepsake froma once in a life time event or holiday - go there!! Plus they often send you 10/20/30% codes after your first purchase.

Clare x