Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

irishgirl62

oh wow princess woo! Your friend is lucky she did not spend months worrying about labour and going over the top with getting things ready for the new baby! I am sure everyone will rally round her at this time and get things organised for her coming home with her brand new daughter!

pretzelnut

I did a bit of shopping in Mr T's and asda tonight.

Picked up a few bits to add to the hampers im making.

Got a small trowel and fork set from asda for 25p and a 3 pack of gardening gloves for 25p (asda) both marked up at 50p but scanned at 25p - these will go in SIL plant hamper with her 3 plant pots i got in ikea for 99p and some cheap packs of seeds, so thats her done.

Picked up some transformer battle card packs, that actually turn into thick card 3d robots upon assembly for £1 each at asda.

In the night garden ball for £1.50 from Mr T.

Also got a bike light and lock set in Mr T was £13.30 reduced to £3.12 contaians 2 LED lights front & rear with 6 batteries and a lock. Loads of other bike accesories reduced to silly prices, so if your thinking of getting the kids bikes for xmas get yourself to Mr T's and have a look. Individual bike lights are like 80p ish each.

Picked up some glow in the dark critters from the party toy section for my DS's space hamper for 50p for 4 from asda.

Mr T's also had loads of really nice art stuff for older kids/teens including water colours, pencils, and sketch pads and its all reduced so for those doing a drawing hamper - these would be great.

Asda also have some really nice BIG glass jars (couple of different types) for £1 - ideal for turning into pots of gold or filling with sweets, these arent reduced this is the normal selling price.

Just ordered a load of books off amazon all £1.49 each, for those who havent seen it in grabbit here is the 100 best sellers list, it gets updated every hour:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/16231791/
Most of the books are £1.49 on this list. Ideal stocking fillers.

Managed to get my younger brother a willy care kit of ebay for half the price i'd seen it in studio, my mum said i should make it into a hamper with condoms, kleenex and some joke pills.

I have sat for the last 2 hours and updated my what have i bought / what do i still need to get for everyone book and im doing well. A few people are still a bit tricky but i'll get there.

stokegal

princesswoo you are far too good at catching these bargains!!! Me i hunt for things and find nothing!!

I've recently become obsessed with the nappy cake thread on here and have been reading it all day, I'm on page 23 of 33 and have now become convinced that I should set up a nappy cake business (I do get carried away)

When reading on there, they mentioned this website - I've had a look on it and it has some pretty cheap baskets on it.

pretzelnut

stokegal wrote: »

princesswoo you are far too good at catching these bargains!!! Me i hunt for things and find nothing!!

I've recently become obsessed with the nappy cake thread on here and have been reading it all day, I'm on page 23 of 33 and have now become convinced that I should set up a nappy cake business (I do get carried away)

When reading on there, they mentioned this website - I've had a look on it and it has some pretty cheap baskets on it.

I have used that site before they are really good but postage is a bit steep at £6.99, so only really worth it if you are buying a fair bit. Their baskets are great quality.

The nappy cakes are great fun to make, and slightly addictive.

I am gonna try and be tight and not use baskets but use cardboard boxes trimmed to size and covered in xmas paper. Saves a load of money and i can easily and freely find boxes to fit the size of the hamper contents rather than having to guess what size i'll need then find out it's too small or too big. Plus means i can spend a little more on the contents.

As in previous years i have found bargains to go inside and done well witht he budget them i go over board and blow the budget by spending to much on packing, cello, ribbon etc.

I usually get a nice new pair of boots for winter sometimes 2 pairs and they come in massive shoe boxes, these are great for turning into hamper boxes as they have a lid, cover in xmas paper, pack with your items and put a nice bow on it. I tend to use these when the contents are random and just look wrong when on permanent display.

I never usually spot to many bargains - if i do there usually something i dont need or have just bought the previous week and have to kick myself slightly, i never used to tell others as i thought they wouldnt be interested, until i found MSE that is.

Dani85

If anyones doing any craft hampers or planning on doing crafts as presents, Poundland yesterday had some sets of knitting needles, four in a pack and different sizes.

Lucy_Lu_4

Hello everyone, I haven't been on this thread for ages. There are so many Christmas ones I'm losing track!

I have posted the below message on the Thrifty thread, hope you don't mind me puting it hear as well, I thought it would be of use to you all...

I went shopping today...

Red5 (kind of like the gadget shop and Menkind) has a sale on, I bought a lipstick pen for £2, was £3. This would be ideal for girly and pamper hampers.

Also in Red5 I bought astronaunt ice-cream for £3 (not in the sale). It is in a packet and ready to eat, neapolitan flavour and is "space technology" approved. I am going to give it to my boyfriend in his advent hamper but it would also make a great gift to go in the space themed hampers some people are doing.

Virgin Vie has a huge sale on, nearly all of the shop! I spoke to a sales assistant, Richard Branson has sold his part of the company so they can no longer use the name. For that reason, they are having to get rid of everything that has the V logo on it! There are two weeks left of the sale and they have to get rid of everything so go stock up girlies!

They had a lovely bluey-green necklace and bracelet set that was £45 now £10, earrings for £2, they had a make-up set that was £25 now £10, nail varnishes are reduced, bath stuff, make up, practically the whole shop.

I bought...

clubbing purses for girly hampers and presents, were £10.50 now £2.10 http://shop.vieathome.com/product.as...&level2Id=1015

A cocktail party bubble bath jar in cellophane and gift wrapped - was £10 now £4, this will be great for a girly or pamper hamper or a cocktail hamper
A red nail varnish that was £6.50 now £1.75
A necklace in a gift box and gift bag that was £15 now £5

Go stock up for girly presents! Here is the store locator: http://public.vieathome.com/how_do_y...e_locator.aspx
There are a few outlet stores, I'd love to go there, things would be even cheaper!

I haven't posted the sale link as there is hardly anything on it and it doesn't do them justice, you really need to go to a store. I went to Bluewater and practically the whole shop is reduced.

New Look have a set of two pairs of socks that are chocolate brown colour and soft pink with choclate lover type messages and pictures, you could split them and give a pair to one person and a pair to another and put them in chocolate hampers.

Lakeland have a sale on so if you are doing cooking hampers you might find some nice bits in there.

Lucy_Lu_4

stokegal wrote: »

Hi Everyone :hello: :hello: :hello:

Well I've come to a bit of a stand still with the christmas hunt.

I'm loving the idea of doing hampers for everyone but am stuck on what to put in them. If anyone can help I have the following people to get for

Mum - not into pampering, has more smellies than boots, she works a lot and goes out at the weekend. She hates stopping in after losing my stepdad 2 years ago. Normal presents include a bottle of opium (my SD use to give a bottle of this every year so I have carried on doing it), dvds - I've just bought her the latest ghost whisperer for her birthday in 2 weeks though and pj's, budget of £50
A homemade cd of her favourite songs, jewllery, make-up, a cocktail hamper, homemade biscuits/chocolates, magazine subscription.


Dad and Step Mum - They go away in their motor home a lot, i wanted to get them something for this but I'm stuck what to get them for it, they also enjoy cooking, travelling abroad, budget of £40
They sound just like my Aunt and Uncle. They also like entertaining and drinking the odd glass of wine (!) I have bought them the following for Christmas which might inspire you; a travel book about what places and countries to visit (WHSmith sale £5), a travel planner (£9), a cd of Italian songs to cook to (they went there on their honeymoon and love cooking too, M&S outlet store £2.50), a dip set of each of the following letters B A R (Superdrug sale 99p), a cocktail shaker Poundland) and cocktail books (most expensive was a couple of pounds) and a Collins atlas (£1.50 WHSmith sale). Last year I got them coasters that said "life is too short not to drink good wine" and a couple of books about wine amoungst other things.

Nan - hates smellies, hates flowers, hates chocolate (her words not mine!!) likes to whinge a lot though, budget of £15
Does she like crosswords, sudoku, puzzles, cooking, reading, any particular interest, sport, tv programme, hobby etc. You could maybe do a hamper themed on any of those? A snuggle blanket? A magazine subscription? Homemade biscuits?

Nan and Grandad - They go away in their caravan a lot, like The National Trust, my grandad loves red wine, my nan use to do cross stitch, flower arranging but has stopped now because of her co-ordination - Budget of £30
The National Trust do books and you can be a member and of the Wildlife Trust, you could maybe sign them up to one of those? The Wildlife Trust you have to donate each month but as little or as much as you like. They send you magazines and you get free entry to wildlife parks in your county. I'm a member but I haven't been to any places yet. You could buy your grandad a book about wine? Or you could get them something for their caravan?

Cousin - 11 years old. I have no idea what he likes as he lives in London with my aunt and any time I ask her for a suggestion I get told - anything will be ok, budget of £15
How about a HMV voucher? You can't go wrong with that, he could buy himself a cd, dvd, a computer/DS/PSP/etc game. You wouldn't need to pay extra postage or packaging either. A comic or magazine subscription?

Sister - Still has the smellies that I sent her 2 years ago wrapped in her room, she doesn't go out as they can't afford, she lives for her kids and NEVER treats herself, she will be starting her first ever job as a volunteer teaching assistant in September, budget of £15
A magazine subscrption? A pamper hamper that doesn't include smellies? A book? How about a voucher to have a massage, manicure, pedicure, make-up done, something like that? I have a facial that costs £20, if you save £5 from another present you could add it to this one? Does she live nearby? If she does you could babysit whilst she has the treatment. Or you could pay for dinner for her part of a meal out with a friend/husband/partner? Some places do meals for £10. Or whatever you decide you could offer to babysit her children at your house (if you live nearby) so her and her other half could have a nice evening in without the kids around?

OH Mum - Am going to do a pamper hamper for her - have bought the following - Soaps, Candles, Exfoliating Mitten, Back Scrubber/Massager but am stuck at what to put in now, budget of £30
Nail brush, Lush goodies, Boots goodies, homemade cd of her favourite songs, a book, a snuggly blanket, a homemade bookmark, a magazine subscription, homemade biscuits/chocolates.

OH Dad - am at a complete loss, he likes everything for 2 minutes then moves onto the next time - budget of £30
How about practical things if he goes through fads?

OH Sister and BIL - Have just bought a new blu ray player was going to do a night in hamper - to include the following, blue ray disc, popcorn, wine, chocolates, popcorn - can anyone thing of anything else - budget of £30
A snuggly blanket, wine glasses, homemade biscuits/chocolates, candles.

QUOTE]


Hope this helps,


Lucy

Lucy_Lu_4

I found this list on a website but to see what the actual contents they suggest for the hampers are, you have to buy their book! The list might help some people think of themes and ideas though.

• Christmas Gift Basket Ideas
• Winter Gift Baskets
• New Year's Eve Gift Basket
• Gift Basket Ideas for Crafters
• Gift Basket Ideas for Cooks
• Gardener's Gift basket
• Pasta Lover's Gift Basket
• Pizza Lover's Gift Basket
• Wine/Bar themed Gift Baskets
• Tea Lover's Gift Basket
• Gift Baskets for Fathers
• Gift Baskets for Mothers
• Chocolate Lover's Gift Baskets
• Kids' Gift Basket ideas
• Seasonal Gift Basket Ideas
• Aquarium Lover's Gift Basket
• Artist's Gift Basket
• Athlete's Gift Basket
• Baby's Gift Basket Ideas
• Bachelor's Gift Basket
• Baker's Gift Basket
• Barbecue Lover's Gift Basket
• Book Lover's Gift Basket
• Candle Lover's Gift Basket
• Coffee Lover's Gift Basket
• Computer Buff Gift Basket Ideas
• Couch Potato Gift Basket
• Dinner and Movie Gift Basket
• Fondue Gift Basket
• Fisherman's Gift Basket
• Golf Lover's Gift Basket
• Gift Basket Ideas for Grandparents
• Health Food Gift basket
• Lover's Gift basket
• Office/Work themed gift baskets
• Spa Gift Baskets
• Naturalist's Gift basket
• Vegetarian Gift Basket

Lucy_Lu_4

This website is fab! Christmas receipes, crafts, decorating, party planning, checklists and organising tips, stuff for kids, the lot! http://www.celebrating-christmas.com

Free downloadable Christmas 2008 magazine; reading this has really got me in the mood! You can also sign up to be told when you can download this year's version - http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/magazine.shtml

Free cake receipe downloads and Christmas computer bits - http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/freebies.shtml

Be warned, you'll be looking at the site for ages...

Lucy_Lu_4

I've just put this on the Christmas Thrifty thread...

Look how much they are charging for this!! We could do this ourselves, woud be a good idea for hampers - http://www.needapresent.com/shop/get...cp=51&sid=none

If you are nifty on the computer you could make this yourself, would look lovely in a frame - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/pe...magazine-cover

You could easily make this yourself and use sweets that look like tablets, eg smarties and tic tacs. You could design your own personal label and packaging and give medicine instructions lol. If you are doing it for women Poundland sell plastic pink tool boxes with a clear lid that has all the compartments and I've seen "medicine chocolate" in the supermarkets but again, you could buy a normal chocolate bar and design your own label - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/fi...-chocolate-box

This looks fab - would be great for cocktail hampers - http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/ice-shot-glasses

I wonder if this works! http://www.needapresent.com/gifts/grow-christmas-trees