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

cookiedough38

You all seem so organised, well done!

I have finished my 2 daughters main presents today. They are getting a wooden kitchen, very kindly from my parents and I am buying them all of the wooden sets to go with it, I bought half a couple of weeks ago and just purchased the rest now, with 20% off code.

Also ordered one the playdoh makin' kitchen for one, which was £12 instead of £22.

Thats them finished now, just stocking fillers to go.

mum2one

Apologies as I like to say thanks to all posters, but for some reason my thanks button clears the bottom thank -you.

Cookecrumbs - off in 2mors post.

Hope everyone ok, we've been busy this afternoon, made flavoured vodkas, the flavoured coffees (courtesy of Sarah from last yrs thread), and my raspberries and cherries - got from Aldi - saved some of the syrup and used half syrup half liqueur so should be potent ready for xmas foodie hampers. xx

juliejim

Wanted to nip to town this weekend for a few bits but I didn't feel up to it so it'll wait until next week when it's HT. Hopefully I'll try and get everything done for then. I'm thinking that if I order stuff at the end of this week hopefully it'll get delivered next week when I'm at home.

Could anyone help with my advent candles or has no-one done anything like that before?

I might post more next week seeing as I'll be at home and then finish the last of this month's challenges - although then I'll be starting on next month's hmm.

Have a good day all

Jue

fedupandskint

Sorry jue - don't know how to help with advent candles - have you tried googling them and seeing if a craft site/blog comes up in the search?

Whoops forgot the freezer needs sorting out for this months challege! Better sort it next weekend - that's something to look forward to along with cleaning the oven!

At least yesterday I cleaned out another cupboard (leaving 2 more to do) and behind the butcher's block and washed the bin.

rufusdog52

Morning eveyone

Got some bits finished yesterday as had house to my self for most of the day. Finished making the two bracelets except need to put a clasp on the ends when they come from Ebay. Also put a bid on a load of broken jewellery and won it for just over £3 inc pp. Looks like plenty of beads in there to replenish my stocks as running a bit low now. Told youngest daughter I would show her how to make the charm bracelets if she thought her mates would like one for Christmas save buying them things.

Made some button necklaces and am quite pleased with them. I had a load of large buttons in browns and creams etc that were in a tin my SIL gave me (used to be her Mum's I think). Managed to make some holes in the edges and tied them together with some black waxed thread until I had the right length then just put some more thread on the ends and tied it in a knot so they fit over your head without having to un do anything. Made 1 each for the nieces so they have quite a few hand made things now, will do for this year I think. Made my self one as well as liked them so much.

Have been quilting the Xmas placemats while watching tele and have got 4 or 5 of them done. Am making 8 altoghther although our dining table should only seat 6, but if eldest daughter comes round with Grandchildren makes 7 of us and then one spare just in case. Need to get them finished off and put the edging round. Might get another couple done tonight so hopefully will be done by end of week.

Cut the panel out for Dad's cushion, have tacked it together with some wadding so I can quilt that as well. We have some old cushions in the loft so OH said he will get me down a couple later so I can use them to fill this one with.

Going up to Boots to collect my order this afternoon and meet my friend, will have a look round and see if I can get anything else for the boys' baskets.

mrsow

Emzy82 I saw the coaster calendars on this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2766466

Well bought nothing yesterday, Im glad Ive bought all my main presents as I havent seen much that I would like to buy people if I had waited till now (did that make any sense).
Plans for today - make anniversary card for OH for Wednesday - 9 years have flew over!! Finish my coaster calendars and maybe start wrapping.
Saw a few christmas trees up yesterday, now I like my tree up December 1st but think October 17th is a little bit early for me.

rufusd!!!2 everything you are making sounds amazing, especially the buttin necklaces

Hope everyone has a lovely dayxx

cdsmiler

Bit annoyed - wrote a big reply last night but forum had a funny turn. Couldn't post a thing! Hopefully everything is back to normal today....

RTF - Love the sock monkey!

Well annoyed for you mum2one - if no apology letter appears, take it further! Glad they've already phoned you though.

Rufus - would love to see your bracelets!!

juliejim - the only candle related thing I ever made was a candle centre piece YEARS ago ina church youth club - we used that oasis stuff in an upturned coffee jar lid (the deep ones), put the candle in the centre and used a mixture of christmassy greenary and tinsel,bows, etc all stuck in the bottom. Not what you're asking for necessarily but might give some ideas....

Everyone's doing so so well. I'm still behind with pressies....however, what with my dad telling me what he wanted last week, hubby is sorting Christmas shopping this week!! It's rubbing off!

The Sweet Onion Chutney I made last weekend is a bit odd - took AGES to reduce, so we'll see what it's like after settling a bit in the jars.

Anyone got any suggestions for my blog questions: "Ok ladies (and gent?), IF (big if!) I was to set up a blog for cake making/decorating and jewellery bits, firstly 1) Which blog site would you recommend, and 2) what name could I have that incorporates both?! Currently thinking something like "Earrings & Icings"...or something... lol!

Clare x

findingmyfeet

qaphsiel- 00tw-thanks for explaining that for me, now do i feel thick for not realising what it was..but now i will look out for more as i have nieces and a couple more things to buy for DD.
mum2one- hope you are feeling better today after your horrible experience at the weekend, made my blood boil you did right to complain, they could have checked your trolley in a friendly and more discreet way without drawing any attention to you at all. virtual hug on its way to you.
rufusd!!!2- where do you buy your quilting stuff? i have done alsorts fro xmas before, stockings, cushions etc but my local shops have all shut down over the last year. can you recommend an online site at all.
fedupandskint-HOPE YOUR XMAS ORDERS KEEP COMING IN..WOULD LIKE TO TRY THAT MYSELF BUT have never gotten around to it.
realtoothfairy/susan42- love the pots of gold they look fab, i was thinking of doing these for my xmas table instead of crackers, maybe putting a tiny toy in for the little nephews.

so i have been gathering all my ingredients for the last few weeks for the grand xmas cake making session, this week i should have everything ready but cant decide when to do it. last year i bought one and really didnt like it so back to the homemade again.

this week need to :
finish buying cake ingredients
make a list for pot of gold items and try to buy them
get the last of the christmas cards
check out boots offers this week
start x stitch card
lets see how i go with these

cookiecrumbs

Morning all

I hate Mondays - being at work on a Monday morning is the most depressing thing ever! I am feeling slightly cheered up though because OH just rang to coordinate when we should book holiday over Christmas. :j

mum2one - that Tesco visit sounds dreadful! Let's hope they make up for it when you get something in the post. Honestly, some people have a very strange view of "customer service". By the way, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the postman this week! Thank you!

susan - it's lemon and lime curd and it's delicious! I do make it myself, it's dead easy - let me know if you'd like the recipe and I'll send it to you.

Made my Christmas cake on Saturday - it turned out pretty well - although I haven't tasted it. But at least I didn't burn it or drop it on the floor or anything! It's now wrapped in baking parchment and foil in the kitchen waiting to be 'fed' every couple of weeks until I'm ready to ice it.

Just wanted to pick people's brains - does anyone have any ideas about how I can decorate the jars once I've filled them with lemon curd? I want them to look a bit special since they're for Christmas.

Have a nice day

rufusdog52

Here are the bracelets, the top one has some old metal buttons on it plus beads, other ones just have the beads.



And here's one of the button necklaces.



Have3 just made some square giftboxes from some bits of card using a free template off the web, need to decorate the boxes a bit better. Will be using them for the bracelets but think I will just wrap the necklaces in a cello bag.