New Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2010- Santas Challenges

loupoppins

hello all!
I did join this thread in Jan...full of good intentions...but haven't been on it since then...ooops!:o

Anyway,I have been sort of organised!

I have 6 kids and the Birthdays run Jan,April (X 2),May,July and Nov. I managed to have all their pressies sorted well in advance, and mostly things which were reduced/bargains!
I have all sorted for 6yr olds bday in July, then just(LOL) need to watch out for a bike bargain for dd in Nov....then that's birthdays done, so must get on with Christmas!

I have already got quite a bit put away actually, all of which was from sales/bargains etc....which is brillinat! My best bargain so far was a lovely Airbricks Pirate ship put away for chritsmas for my youngest son (2),it was reduced from £22 to £11, but I got a £5 voucher for filling in DC dates of birth and signing up for emails...so it only cost £6 yay:D
Also got the Bugsby reading thing for £8 instead of £30 thanks to grabbit...have that put away for dd bday in July....

Have also now got £50 in Morrisons saving stamps, the idea being I'll use that for groceries freeing up a bit more money for pressies.
And have about £20 on dooyoo, and nearly £20 on lightspeed, plus a few more pounds on other survey sites(but not sure how long till I'll reach payout on the more few and far between sites LOL):)

Feeling SO much more orgainsed this year. I'm really hoping that I will be able to actually ENJOY Christmas this year instead of collapsing in a worn out heap from allthe stress in the lead up....we'll see.:o

Anyway...hope to get on this thread more regularly now to keep up the motivation!;)

Well done everyone onall your efforts:T

cdsmiler

elysia2003 wrote: »

Just an update.

Had a sad day yesterday. Miley (the dog) is back at dogs home. Assistant there couldn't believe the problems we've had with her, but we put up wth them because she was lovely except for the biting episodes

I was a bit stunned when she said come back in a couple of weeks and pick another. I know the poor dogs need homes but thats a bit quick!

Oh elysia, well done for going through with it! BIGGGGG hugs.

Found a child minder for Bethan for two days a week when I return to work at the end of June! Lovely couple, both of them registered childminders. However, I completely blame you all for me already wondering what I could get them as a gift at Christmas!! lol They will both be looking after her, and they look after a max of 7 other children too. Plus they ahve two children - a 15 year old and an 8 year old. So they're bound to get boxes of biscuits, boxes of chocolates etc at Christmas, so any ideas would be greatly recieved! Happy to make something within reason! lol

Also, still looking for tips on how to cover baby milk tins....

Thanks all! Have a fab bank holiday!

Clare x

mary-op

Hello all :j
loupoppins - sounds like you're well organised -good for you :T

elysia -thanks for the link -and making me want to spend more money...............lol:rotfl:

cdsmiler - somewhere on the board there's a whole list of things involving tins/tubs etc. -I think.........maybe I'm wrong.
You can cover them with fabric or paper, fill them with all sorts of stuff. I've done 'pamper pots' with a load of freebies in (facial stuff and bath stuff), I did some the other year a sort of 'pic 'n mix'..........silly jokes all folded up and little sweets the idea being it was a mini lucky dip..............I've got pringle tubs that I think I'll put scarf and gloves in maybe, you can fill them with anything you want and when you cover them make the paper or fabric relate to whats inside, stick a few embellishments on...........really whatever you like.
I intend to do some 'sos' ones this year -fill them with the sort of things you run out of............sticky plasters, batteries, that sort of thing.

Well, been plodding on with scrapbook number two.......seems to have taken me an age to cut out tree image and put all the names on..............maybe tomorrow I'll go back to button necklaces for a change;)

cdsmiler

Thanks mary-op, but just wondering what works and what doesn't with regards to covering? Can they be painted? If so, what types of paints do/don't work? And covering in paper or material - how do you stick them on? Is there any particular glue to stay away from or is excellent?

Clare x

NickyBo_2

cdsmiler wrote: »

Thanks mary-op, but just wondering what works and what doesn't with regards to covering? Can they be painted? If so, what types of paints do/don't work? And covering in paper or material - how do you stick them on? Is there any particular glue to stay away from or is excellent?

Clare x

I've made a money box by covering an SMA tin with paper by using double sided tape. I covered it around 2 years ago and all the paper is still attached I've never tried using glue as I prefer double sided tape - less messy!

I haven't tried painting the tins either but might give it a go to experiment. I would imagine emulsion paint would work better than gloss and it might be best to sand the tin a bit so it gives it a bit of grip. I'm just guessing though!

Anglea

Hi girls,

Elysia, sorry about the dog I remember your previous post about it. It does seem a bit insensitive to ask you to choose a new one.

Clare I had to smile when I read your post about thinking about your future childminder's presents

rufusdog52

Elysia, sorry too about the dog but you did the right thing.

Need to have a sort out of my gifts as they are a bit muddled at the moment where I have been changing things around. Still have to get my Dad something for his birthday as I was going to give him his photo book then but have decided to give it to him for fathers day instead.

Youngest daughters birthday is next in July and have that sorted, got her a camera with Amazon vouchers and some freebies from Vista Print.

OH's is August and thats sorted, got him dvd box set with Amazon vouchers, and Grandaugthers is same day and got hers sorted too, made her a book on Vista Prints and bought her some more to go with it in the Works.

Next one will be Dad's in September. When I was thinking the other day that I would give him the book for Fathers day instead I thought of a brilliant idea for his birthday to replace it and now for the life of me I cant remember what it was going to be lol.

Eldest daughters birthday is November and I have that sorted, made her a bag out of recycled paper and bought her a set of books from a deal on the internet.

Oldest Grandsons is also November and have that sorted too as bought him a toy using Amazon vouchers.

So thats nearly all the birthdays sorted except Dad's. If I cant think of anything I might just get him a cardigan or may be take him out for dinner.

Christmas is a bit sorted, but will list them another day as want to get on with some Dooyooing xx

mary-op

cdsmiler - I've used pva glue, pritt stick, wallpaper paste I've had left over, and it all seems to work ok -depending on the surface. Most of mine haven't been bare tin -more like cardboard (gravy tubs etc.) I've used felt, bits of old curtain, paper, corrugated card - whatever takes your fancy really.

Well I spend half the morning looking for round plastic tub with a lid that'll be just right to pop grandsons 'no cake cake' in - could I find it....?? No way :mad: Gave up and went on with scrapbooking then managed to do one page twice :eek: Not my day I thought ...............still not to be beat I carried on, scrapbook coming together now and just been upstairs on another hunt for the plastic tub (knew it was there among my stash somewhere) and lo and behold it was in the box full of grandsons birthday cooking stuff.................:rotfl: I must be daft:rotfl:
So, now need to get a round oasis, some sweets, cocktail sticks, get it done, wrap in cello and pop in tub and get the rest wrapped ready to post...............ooops !! and make him a card...........!!

Anglea

Hi girls,

Mary - I envy your spare room with all your bits and pieces.

Today I started on my Santa challenge and cleaned the computer desk which is white and always gets covered in black marks. And I wrote out my challenge list so I don't miss anything.

Hope you all had a good day.

rufusdog - you're very organised

mary-op

Angela -in some ways its nice to have a lot of rooms but in others its so confusing......what did I put where ?? Can take be half my time just looking for 'stuff' -if I had less space I think the room I do have would be more organised (who am I kidding.............lol:rotfl:)