Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2009- Santas Challenges

sarahf191979

A few games you can play with the kids at christmas or at a christmas party:


GIFT WRAP RELAY
(Kids over 9 yrs)

You'll need:

• An identical box for each team
• Pre-cut wrapping paper
• Tape
• Ribbon (optional)

Directions:
Wrap the packages before the party.

1. Divide the children into teams.
2. Each team will receive a wrapped gift box, wrapping paper sheet for each player tape and possibly ribbon.
3. Place these items on a table or the floor for a gift wrap station.
4. To play the game, a team member will leave their group, run to the gift station, unwrap the gift, rewrap the gift, and run back to tag the next team member. The first team to have each member wrap the gift wins.

Tip: An unopened box of macaroni and cheese works well for this game.
FIND THE CHRISTMAS STAR GAME

1. Hide star ornaments before the party.
2. Divide the children into teams and send them searching for an ornament.

PASS THE PARCEL GAME
This is a traditional game from England and a favorite Christmas party game in our family!

1. Before the party, place enough Christmas treats (Candy canes, chocolate kisses, erasers) for all of the guests in a small box and wrap it.
2. Then place the parcel into a bigger box and wrap that as well. Then again and again until there are several layers of wrapping.
3. To play the game everyone sits in circle. Play Christmas music while passing the "parcel" around from player to player.
4. When the music stops, the player holding the parcel unwraps one layer.
5. Then, play the music and begin passing again.
6. Continue to play until the last layer is unwrapped and the treats are handed out.

TIP: We've found it easier to have the players only partially unwrap during their turn. That way every player is sure to get a turn. We also only use a few boxes but
several layers of paper.
SNOWBALL RACE
You'll need:

• Styrofoam balls or balls of white yarn
• Spoons and mittens for each team

Directions:

1. Play this game as you would any relay race: divide into teams.
2. Each player takes turns putting on mittens and balancing a "snowball" on a spoon while racing to the other side of the room.
3. Drop the snowball into a bucket, return to the team, pass the mittens and go to the back of the line.
4. First team to complete the race wins!

SANTA TRIP

1. Players sit in a circle.
2. The first player says,"On Christmas Eve I'm traveling with Santa and I'm going to take (something starting with A )".
3. The next player repeats the first object and adds an object beginning with B continue the game through the alphabet.
4. If there are more players than 26 letters...start again at "A".

Courtesy of: www.amazingmoms.com

sarahf191979

Fluffy the Snowman Pillow

You will need:

• One white bed pillow
• Stocking cap or toboggan
• Scarf or strip of fabric
• Buttons
• Orange felt scrap
• Pair of mittens, gloves or cut out similar shapes from felt
• Small broom or whisk broom (optional)

Whip stitch or glue a stocking cap to the top of a white bed pillow, pulling the corners of pillow under the cap. Tie a scarf around the pillow about 1/3 way down. Sew or glue on button eyes and mouth. Cut a circle of orange felt, slit half way and shape into a cone for a carrot nose (or just use a triangle shape); glue or sew edge of nose to face. Sew buttons down the front. Sew or glue mittens or gloves to the front for the arms. If desired, prop a small broom or whisk broom along Fluffy, depending on size of pillow. Let your imagination flow and enjoy your new friend!


Courtesy of: http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/snowman_pillow.html

sylphraven

Thanks for the link for the free book Sarah, sounds right up my younger brothers street.

For anyone signing up can I please draw your attention to this at the bottom of the signing up page:-

By ordering this book you are agreeing to receiving offers and communications from BMW via post, phone, email, SMS and other electronic means.

Just so your all aware of it

mary-op

sarah - brilliant snowman............:T some lovely things on that site...........thanks.

Back to the coffee gifts...........I tried a few measurements of coffee in my little pots and I can get 4 spoonfuls of coffee in and leaves plenty of space for the other ingredients so I'll just have to make sure the label says -enough for 4 cups. Got some lovely 'coffee art' pictures last year and kept them so I'll use them on the front and instructions on the back. Another little pressie to add to baskets and boxes...............lol:rotfl:
(is there no ending to all this..............???:rotfl:)

Just to add -I've ordered that book............might do for someone -thanks for that

Bunny200

Wow, I've finally managed to read the WHOLE thread! Took ages but got lots of good ideas on the way, I've subscribed to it now so I can keep up!

I HAVE to be organised for Xmas, apart from being a bit OCD & a Virgo, both my kids birthdays are in Dec (4th & 17th) and this year we will have 10 people STAYING here for the holiday period so if I don't get organised I'll have a nervous breakdown.......:eek:
I save money all year round for xmas in seperate account and as so many people are coming this year I'm going to ask them to bring something along (beer, savoury nibbles etc) to help out, as they are all family I know they won't mind.

I've done my folder electronically, mainly as I'm a Geek:o and also cos I keep moving things around and I find if I write it down on paper I've written it in the wrong place, also I can keep track of all the urls I collect!
This is what I have in folders on the laptop

Xmas Folder

• Birthdays
• Cards
• Household
  • Recipes
  • Xmas Food spreadsheet listing the no of people eating, all the foods I want and what I need to buy.
• Misc Info
• Xmas Presents
  • Word document for each person with ideas gathered from here and other places, password protection on OHs file!
  • Excel spreadsheet with final purchases and costing.

Thanks for all the great ideas and keep them coming, I'm off to check out the Freebies board in case theres anything interesting there!

sarahf191979

mary-op wrote: »

Another little pressie to add to baskets and boxes...............lol:rotfl:
(is there no ending to all this..............???:rotfl:)

I know what you mean, I have that many ideas in my folder and in favorites its choosing which to do and when and for who and every year we find more and more. I'm loving the Loo Roll Christmas card at the mo, but I bought all my cards in the sale so not sure when I'm going to use that one??

sarahf191979

Welcome bunny200, you sound so organised already, Loving the way you have it all on your laptop I wish I could get my head round all that, I have to have mine in a folder maybe one day :rolleyes:

Pips_Mum

Great links as always Sarah hope the family is feeling better x x

I went to the 99p store today and got a huge beach bucket to be the hamper for my Aunties holiday hamper. So far I have some flip flop tea light holders, a beach vacation Yankee Candle, A countdown to Holiday timer, a homemade holiday spends money box and a shell necklace and bracelet.
Also got a Carlsberg can large money box which I think should be big enough for my Uncles night in at the Pub hamper, if not I will make it the focal piece of a basket.
Last Xmas buy was a fluffy Chewbaca from Star Wars for OHs space hamper.

They had got Xmas colouring books in already so if anyone was doing a kiddies Hamper or a Christmas Eve hamper it might be worth having a look.

x x x

Pips_Mum

Just seen that the Beeb have a summer sale 60% off of loads of stuff including box sets.

http://www.bbcshop.com/icat/summersale2009?curpage=1

Theres a few Doctor Who series Boxsets and Top Gear ones too (both from £6!) might be good for OHs or Kiddies.

Also some older stuff like Dads Army and nature stuff like David Attenburgh which might be good for that tricky person you dont know what to get for!
Dont be put off by the first page as there is a box set for £70 Eeeeeeeeeeeek!

SugarSpun

Hi everyone, just dropping in briefly to let you all know that eviction notice on my sitting tenant has been served and if she doesn't vacate voluntarily before Monday I'm sending the doctor in to get her out by force.

Due date is Thursday, but I'm not allowed to go over by more than a week and Monday seemed like as good a day as any.