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

rosieben

this is a great thread! I've only one small suggestion for a hm gift and apologies if its already been done -

my ds and dsil are both keen photographers and I've made them each a camera-lens cushion. They're bean bag shape and size; I made an inner case from old pillowcase fabric for the polystyrene beads so it can be taken out and dried if necessary; for the outer casing - top half was a scrap of soft denim and the bottom was PUL so its waterproof if they stand it on a damp wall or something; I made my ds's a few months ago and he uses it a lot and when my dsil saw it he asked for one!

supa-girl

Hi everyone!!

Sorry I haven't been here for a while, but I am back now and raring to go with the challenge!! I have made notes and EVERYTHING Some good ideas on there, think I will start with the freezer as I for some reason I hate cleaning it out - figured if I start with the "worst" job then I'll have the fun ones to look forward to!

SG

rufusdog52

Legendmum wrote: »

Morning Rufus! Found this it may be of help? Several different methods here http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14544464.tip.html

Off to Ebay some more! My local Post Office is going to LOVE me next week! x

Oh Susan the cello just arrived THANK YOU! Off to hide it from little hands now! x

Thanks a lot Legendmum xx

Edited to say, tried the steaming and it worked a treat, couldn't believe how nice the hair went so thanks again xx

chasingsunshine_2

The Freezer- Hubby is off for 2 weeks so has agreed to do this delightful taks before he goes back to work

Food List - Got a little stash starting up - mostly nibbles and choccies, roses & celebrations for guests of course

I'm up to £150 in morrisons saver stamps so far. Never done that before and am pleased with how much I've put aside without really noticing it. Will start in January next year instead of May

Halloween - Babys costume is done, and got a little pumpkin bucket to collect his sweeties in
Sweet shopping will be done next week!

Stockings - I do one for DH and one for DS. Got about half of their stocking presents so far and a couple are ordered. Milky bar buttons and malteaser crackers also bought and ready to go in so can nearly strike this one

Ebay - got loooooads to go on but baby was in hospital this weekend so nothing went on free listing but hoping to get a load on in the next fortnight while hubby is home.

Christmas Lists - Spreadsheet has been up and running again since June and is nearly all Green or purple (bought and ordered) I;m not yet going as far as Xmas 2011 so fair play to those on 2012! Think my DH would disown me if I got that ahead

Secret santas presents - sounds fun to me

Christmas Presents - Batteries - Already on the case and have a tin I'm filling with different batteries

Christmas paper - got a few rolls left from last year. Waiting to see if Card factory get them again this year as I like to have all matching paper

Childrens drawings - Done 6 hand paintings with LO, just need to finish them off with some glitter and stick poems on

Pampering - Hoping to have a preggie girlie night with my preggie friend as the winter is coming. Nothing like chick flicks, nibbles and errrrm sparkling water in pjs and fluffy socks when its raining and dark outside!

Christmas Cakes - off out to buy ingredients this week. Im making a big cake for my Aunt this year - boozy by request, and a load of mini ones for hampers and a coupple for me as most of our big cake was left last year.

Hampers - 8 in progress!

The School Presents - LO isnt at school yet but goes to a church playgroup. Kiddies will be getting sock monkies and the "leader" and helpers will get snowman soup and HM truffles - I think! Unless I think of something different in the meantime!

Busy busy

If_My_Pennies_Were_Pounds

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this part of the forum and absolutely LOVE getting organised for christmas! I'm still a big kid at heart and look forward to all the festivities!

I've seen lots of mentions of hampers but don't really know much about them, like what sizes, themes, costs etc - can anyone point me in the right direction for gathering up some more info?!

Thanks
Pennies x

rufusdog52

Well done Sunshine, you are doing really well.

Hi Pennies - hampers are brilliant as you can do as much or as little as you want and you dont HAVE to do a theme but sometimes it makes it easier and can look better. I have done baskets for the ladies the last few years and themed them just by colour, so my Son's girlfriend got things that were red like set of bath bombs, perfume, note book etc. Best places to look for baskets is the charity shops or if not there are lots of posts on here about where to get them, just search baskets. You dont have to use a basket, some are doing car ones for men and using a bucket to put everything in. Have a think of who you want to do them for and see if there is anything that they especially like and work round it or come back and post and we can all dip in and help with ideas xx

cdsmiler

mum2one wrote: »

The Freezer - Aha! I have frost free!! Yeay! Although it is very full.... lol



Food List - We're pretty much eating everywhere other than at home this Chrsitmas! Lol, only exception is New Year's Eve where we host a 3 course sit down meal for 5 (and a little one!). So apart from that, we don't need to worry about this one too much. If we buy a tin of sweets for example, it'll just last for ever at the moment!! Does it count that we're already planning the New Years Eve meal?? lol



Halloween - already on the ball with this. I'm running a spooky overnight event the day before so I'm sorted. DD is too young to understand Halloween, so no need to do too much there - however, she might have to be dressed up... lol



Stockings - Planning this!! Thanks.


Ebay - MUST get some bits on ebay - need to buy a job lot of padded envelopes first though....



Christmas Lists - I'm twisting this one slightly and asking others for THEIR Christmas lists - what do they want? A lot of my family work that way....



Secret santas presents - I'm making jewellery to sell in work, so hopefully I can put £10 a side for this!!



Christmas Tree - We're ok with regards to this I think.

Christmas Presents - Good plan - need to get some anyway!


Christmas paper - Wide Rolls - if anyone sees any of these for sale, shout!!


Time for the chat - Done this with some friends already. We're not exchanging any pressies this year. All happy with that!


Pampering - No problem, will get on it!! lol


Christmas Cakes - Me dad does the cake (I decorate it!), but I need to practice a birthday cake for my Nan's 90th on the 28th December, so I could get ingredients for that....


Hampers - Don't THINK we're doing any this year.... but yea, we used cardboard boxes for some last year and they looked great!


The School Presents - Not really applicable, but will probably do something for DD's child minders.



The I wants....... BRILLIANT idea!



Last one - promise - "Don't forget" - Lol love this. But think we'll be ok with this one.

Hallowen Costume ideas - Fab idea!! Will store this one for the future!

Thank you mum2one and Miss Hoodie!!!

Clare x

tub28

Susan, the cellophane has just arrived. Thankyou so much - it's lovely and will be put to good use

cdsmiler

Hello to everyone old and new!!

mummyslittleboy wrote: »

We always do a couple of these as the school run it most years but this year we are also going to do Angel tree which I know some of you might not agree with but it is for children who have a parent in prison, and the parent writes a gift tag for you to put on the present so that the child thinks its from them, I saw the difference this made to a friends child last xmas and I know that it made there face light up thinking his dad was able to give him a present, so this year I have decided to do the same and have put my name down to help.

Oh god, that's so lovely! It's not the child's fault their in prison afterall! What a wonderful idea. I'd not heard of it before either.

Shoeboxes - someone does this in work but on one of our other sites. I've just emailed her to see if she wants to branch out to our site and offering to help coordinate it!

elysia - that was jammy with your flat tyre and finding £20!! lol And good luck with the weight loss for the transplant. That's a fantastic thing to do.

mary-op - you have such patience with that lad you have at the moment!! lol

pips mum - Great news about your Grandad - hope he's on the mend.

susan - I have a wonderful image in my head of you in a turkey suit.... lol

abdonz - Oh dear, hope all the bad news is out of the way and things are looking up. Big hugs. I'm not wrapping until December! Decorations need to be up, a Christmassy program or film on the TV, and off I go!!

mum2one - glad Miss Hoodie's party went well! Sounded like great fun!!

Everyone's doing so well!!! I just spent money instead. lol Used my 'Kitchen Shop' vouchers to buy cake decorating stuff - bought nearly £50 worth of stuff but only spend £6.98!! :T But then fromt he same shop my and hubby bought our joint anniversary pressie - Le Cruset stoneware 6 soup bowls with lids. That was £48!! Ouch. lol But they are lovely.

Avon stuff coming today so will be sorting that all out tonight (after going to Zumba for the first time :eek:), and hopefully will have some other lovely bits in the post too!

Clare x

elysia2003

Good luck packing the Avon order Clare. In fifteen years and 18 campaigns a year, our Avon order has only been correct twice. :mad: I have fingers, arms and legs crossed that yours is though.

I've caught up on all the posts and can't remember what I've read now! :cool:

Oh, I know. Sorry I missed Miss Hoodies Birthday Mum2one. I did try and remember but I'm so forgetful.
Rufus, I'm glad you got your Barbie hair straightened.
What else? I can't remember. :rotfl:

Will be back soon, have a good afternoon everyone.