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

elysia2003

Abandonz - I recycled old jars for jam, I put them through the dishwasher (or just very hot soapy water) to clean and remove labels. Then you can put them in a baby's steriliser but the best way is to put them in the oven at 160 degrees for 10 mins before they are ready to be used. I pour the jam or chutney in while still hot and then as it cools, the safety pop up button bit on the top gets pulled in. That way you know they are vaccuum sealed and are safe to eat! They will be safe for a couple of years but if you can depress the button before that I'd throw them away, (but hopefully it's all eaten by then anyway). Have fun at the weekend. Have you got anything nice planned?

Gemmy - I'm not talking to you anymore! You're too organised for this thread.

mum2one

fenna wrote: »

U guys are one organised bunch of people! I am loving the hamper ideas. i heard that keeping to a theme is the easiest way to get through christmas....so hampers all...
I have hampers to get for mothers, brothers and granparents... Tough challenge for me!

Good choices, don't have to stick to the tradational food hampers, (some suggestions)

Breakfast Hamper
Gardening Hamper
Pampering Hamper
Kids - younger child - colouring hamper - colouring books, felt pens, pencils etc
teenager pamper - make up, cotton wool, eye masks
Mens beer hamper - glass, couple bottles beer / lager / cider - bottle opened
Wine hamper - wine glass, selection mix and match mini bottles of wine
Flavoured vodka - make different flavours, small bottles
Chuntney + jam hamper
Mens - car care - bucket, sponge, chammy, cleaning liquids (poundland)

the good thing with hampers you can make them as big, small, expensive, money saving as you want, the skys the limit.

xx
(getting worried - the brains on a roll !!) x

Last one - just what I did for Miss Hoodies friends bday - Miss Kitty theme, - made necklace, keyring, earrings, purse clasp, and Miss Kitty colour in cards - less than £3.00 and shes over the moon

Boys - Space theme, Doctor who theme, football theme,

fenna

OMG these are all brilliant ideas, im now struggling on which hampers to decide on lol. I am trying to find the best price for baskets. The posts I hav read are mega old so i cant find anythin less then £2.50 per basket. I need to get organised now. theres no excuse now I have plenty of advice now...
thank you all, keep up the good work guys.

elysia2003

Wilkinsons you can get baskets under £3, less than that depending on the size.

If the gifts are little things you could buy boxes, rather like shoe boxes but much posher from QS (or Store 21, they are the same place) they're around £3 too! That's what I did for mine. Saying that, I don't have a foodie theme for my hampers for the younger members of the family, they are colour co-ordinated, pale blue and silver. Everything inside is the same colour and so are the boxes.

Edited to add: The boxes are the same shape as this but these are £2.99 for TWO !

Something else to think about!

lizalloareds

poundland had some cream fabric lined square baskets last week

rufusdog52

Afternoon everyone

Postman has just been and my Dad's dvds have turned up, also the books for my Grandson's birthday so thats all the birthdays for this year finished, just need a battery for daughter's watch. Next birthday is youngest Grandson's in January so will probs get him some books too.

I need to dig out my list of Xmas and Birthday presents as haven't looked at it for ages and can't remember at the moment who else I need to get for. Will find it in a bit and list it on here so I can see where I am up to. Rufus xx

rufusdog52

Here's my list for rest of this year. Red means finished, Green means started, Black means not started. I have done quite well really, it will just be bits for youngest daughter now to get, she is mainly having money this year but will get her a few extra bits as well.

November
Daughter 1 birthday - bag made from recycled magazines, True Blood books £8 Watch free but needs battery

Grandson 1 birthday - soldier toy £5 Amazon (used vouchers) 3 reading books Ebay £7.50 but had £5 Paypal payment) Total cost £2.50

Christmas

OH - Some Mothers Do Have Em dvd box set £30, new phone (have £45 Amazon vouchers towards it, cost is £65 and nearly got next £20 voucher to pay it off)

Dad - Bonanza dvd box set £13

Son - Quilt hand made, jar of sweets have the kilner jar, just need to buy some sweets

Son's GF - Clutch bag made from recycled magazines

Grandson 3 - teddy Arsenal colours,

Daughter 1 - quilt

Grandson 1 - teddy Chelsea colours.

Grandson 2 -teddy Arsenal colours

Grandaughter - Knitted Barbie clothes and dolls need to buy new Barbie doll to go with them £5 from Wilkinsons, need to sew up some other clothes that are cut out, need to get large box to put them all in.

Daughter 2 -Watch free but needs battery

4 nieces - Clutch bags made from recycled magazines, teddy each hand made need to make some clothes for them

Sister 1 - Handmade fabric storage box with stationery

Sister 2 - Handmade fabric storage box with craft stuff

Bro & Sil - Quilt

Ex Mil - Writing set with free bits from Vistaprint, free stamps, left over envelopes, printed some note paper.

Great Nieces and Nephews - selection boxes or something similar

EstherH

My order from Books Direct came, but very disappointed with the bags, know they were only £3 each but not sure now what to do with them. Had ordered 2. Books look good but shrink wrapped and can't decide whether to leave them like that or open.

Other books ordered from Amazon arrived.

Bought four boxes of chocholates in Thorntons for £5 each as know they will come in for some presents. Don't know who for yet.

Ordered the Amazon voucher for £1 instead of £6 last night, found that by accident whilst looking for the Tesco 1p thread so pleased with that.

cdsmiler

elysia2003 wrote: »

Clare I know expensive but I have a 20% off voucher knocking around somewhere - you can have it if you would like - Early Learning Centre toys are excellent quality and well worth every penny.

Hi elysia - thanks so much for the offer! But I think we have one from some fromage frais we bought!! lol Can you recommend any specific bath toys?

mum2one - COMPLETELY forgot to say THANK YOU for the little parcel!! It arrived safe and sound and it's perfect! I'm looking at making jewellery bits at the moment so the bits and bobs you sent will be wonderful! Give Miss Hoodie a bit thank you hug from me too!

susan - your spa break sounds wonderful!!

Reindeer food - just wanted to say, only add edible glitter. Non edible could get eaten by birds and make them ill!

SugarSpun wrote: »

CDSmiler, bath crayons are excellent! Or I saw an ELC bath xylophone in their 3 for 2 sale

Ah, great, thank you!! Will have a look.

Other than that the main excitement here is that the Christmas 2011 gifts have arrived :rotfl: Eight gifts, delivered, for under £20, RRP well over six times that :money:

Beg pardon?!? 2011?! Stop being so organised you!!! lol

Welcome to any newbies!!!

Have a few parcels at home waiting for me today, some should be jewellery making related, so very excited!

Clare x

mary-op

Hello all :j

You're all so organised...........well I made a start 'organising' what went in which shoe box and think I've got that sorted -does seem a bit all 'odds and sods' -wish I could start a theme and stick to it but I go off at a tangent and shove other stuff in....;)

elysia - thanks for the parcel :T Gobsmacked I was and never did get around to covering the two more shoe boxes waiting like I was going to........couldn't believe it :T

Rectified sons fam.tree scrapbook........I'd varnished the paper I'd put on for a front border and it dried all patchy and horrible but I found some more paper -more like card-and used that instead.....seems to have stuck ok. Just need to think of something for the inside cover......some kind of meaningful phrase or verse;)

So todays not been wasted and I did go out and weed some pots......bit ''ouch'' on the back but I was pleased I'd managed something.

Now need to make a list of what I need to get from town tomorrow..........hoping for some cheap diaries to cover.....then do the charity shops and see whats on offer there.:)