Christmas 2010 Let's Get Organised

cdsmiler

elysia2003 wrote: »

Clare, did you get your problem sorted?

I've made cards and cross stitch baby birth samplers and sold them on ebay. If I can help you, let me know.

Hi elysia - it's not so much a problem, but more of a mini business proposition (hence not being able to post on here!! lol). But I wanted to run the idea past some crafters who sell, first, and see if they'd be interested! Or if they had any suggestions.

Thank for asking though!

Clare x

beachlou

Hello,

Just wanted to sat that I got some luxury wrapping paper from Debenhams for 40p today (4 meters). There were quite a few designs, down from £3.

prophecy_grrl

Well we're absolutely skint in the prophecy household at the minute, and although I've been buying bits and pieces for Christmas thru the year I haven't really made a huge start.

I have lots of cards and wrapping paper from Jan sales, so won't need any of that, and for family and close friends will get DS to make cards, using ideas from another thread on here, maybe reindeer handprint cards. I also have a 'Gift Box' up the attic, recyled presents from Christmases/birthdays past, I have allocated most of them as presents for this Xmas.

Things were better financially for the first 6 months of the year, so I managed to save some money in the Xmas Savings club run by a work colleague up until June, so when that pays out in November I will be able to do all my shopping, and use some of the money for Christmas food. I also have one full card and half a card full of Tesco savings stamps, plus my cc vouchers will be here for Xmas. I also have some Co-op vouchers and a £10 Argos voucher put aside.

However I would like to try and buy some more gifts before that, I have spent this morning writing a list of present ideas for family and friends and think I'm gonna go out this afternoon with DS to see if I can make a start. This thread has really motivated me!!!

Oooh I can't wait till Christmas!

sammy_kaye18

prophecy_grrl wrote: »

will get DS to make cards, using ideas from another thread on here, maybe reindeer handprint cards. I also have a 'Gift Box' up the attic, recyled presents from Christmases/birthdays past, I have allocated most of them as presents for this Xmas.

Oh I forgot about recycled gifts - have quite a few smellies sets that I could recycle as cant use them.


Don't know how old your little one is but we found a nice xmas card idea was to get plain cards and a hole punch and make a sort of connect the dots pattern on it that would eventually make an xmas tree and let him use wool to connect the dots - simple yet effective. Imagine you could do plenty of other designs etc. I plan to make our cards this year.

My son is 6 so I plan to do these with him this year and see if i can find some shiny paper to let him cut out baubles and stars etc
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/stripy_Christmas_cards.htm

sammy_kaye18

Also looking at decorating schemes too.

Fancy a homemade christmas this year so think these would be nice to make for the tree

http://http://www.christmasiscoming.co.uk/Christmas_Tree_Bows.html

think a gold red and cream theme would be nice and match living room decor.

SugarSpun

prophecy_grrl wrote: »

Well we're absolutely skint in the prophecy household at the minute, and although I've been buying bits and pieces for Christmas thru the year I haven't really made a huge start.

Have you looked at the Money Making for Christmas thread? Someone turned me onto Bingoport and I was already using Dooyoo, but in two weeks using Bingoport and with a few referrals getting me points I already have almost £10 Amazon vouchers. And I'm almost up to £25 on Dooyoo :money:

sammy_kaye18

Lol -- very @n@l indeed but Ive just sat here and made a shopping list of what I should collect in each shop.

My nearest primark is in Swansea which will take a fair trek for me to get to with a travel system but think my sister in law is on about us having a day out shopping and getting Christmas stuff sorted.

If I go on my own I will need to do at least 2 shops.

1 for the family gifts
1 for the toys r us shop for Ben once his list is done. (although boyfriend might take me there when he does his other sons present shopping)

so far my list for family gifts looks like this

NEED TO BUY

4 x advent calendars. (ben, holly, step son, OH)

Primark shopping list - £55
1 x boys pyjamas (benji)
2 x womens pyjamas (step mum, mum)
3 x girls childrens pyjamas (holly, 2 nieces)
2 x mens pyjamas (oh, grandad)
1 x nightie (nan)
Comfy socks - sis,mum,step mum

Poundland - £3
sweeties selection tool box - mum, sis
nans diary

B+M
smellies - step mum (£1.99)
toys - 2 nieces
shortbread tin - grandad
vodka/booze tins - sis,mum

Wilkinsons
decorations - £20

Other
selection box - 2 nieces, 2 cousins, ben and OH
3 x loofahs for comfy hampers (sis, mum, step mum)


really want to get decided on a theme now for the decorations before I shop. Living room is cream/red/wood so thinking red/gold/cream scheme in there but realise I have two young children and it is for them so might just take Ben and see what we end up with - Holly will be 5/6 months at Xmas so she'll love the lights/shiny things by then.

jemtom

now im back off holiday going to sort my present boxes out and get cracking on presents luckily dont need much, got tom a bargain today a double decker bus which turns into a london themed playset, from oxfam £3.99 with cars and everything with it and in the box also is hamleys, so had to sneak it to the car whilst tom stayed with mum. think my younger brother's hamper is about done just my olders brothers to finish. both my nephews are sorted just a selection box each for them. my older brothers girlfriend is getting an fcuk body set which was given to me for my birthday as i wont use it and will just get her some chocolates. just want to get tom some clothes and do his x-mas eve hamper and he is all done.
sammykaye congrats on baby holly only just been coming back on here after last x-mas and didnt realize you had had a baby until today glad it worked out for you in the end.

Cutterby

Hello all, long time lurker here I've read every post and I'm so in awe of you crafty people - I am useless at anything that involves the smallest ounce of creativity!! Midnightraven was so lovely in the Xmas Eve hamper thread that I felt like I had to pop my head in and say hello properly

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Lol -- very @n@l indeed but Ive just sat here and made a shopping list of what I should collect in each shop.

I've done exactly the same thing this afternoon!! Deciding which town to go to (we're lucky enough to have Home Bargains, Wilkos and the pound shops in three different locations all close enough to get to on the bus), writing down every shop I want to go into and what I'm looking for too If I don't have it written down, I completely forget whatever 'it' is! I couldn't get anything done without lists!


Thank you to everyone on this thread, you've inspired me to make an effort this year - no doubt whatever I do will turn out completely different than it was intended to but hey, it's the thought that counts right?! :rotfl:

MummyYummy

Not been on here for a while but will update if thats ok

I've made a art & craft hamper for my DS (4yrs old) - bought a tub from Asda for £2, then found lots of Toy Story stationary/stickers/colouring books etc in Poundland. Firstly I was going to use the T.S stuff for his stocking but then had the idea of a hamper. So in addition to this I've bought a few art things from ELC (art & craft is 20% off at the moment), also some crayola colouring pens/glitter crayons, a Xmas colouring book, stencils etc etc. I've also got the Crayola glow station, although too big for the hamper it'll also count towards it.

Just need to get some coloured card/glittery card and some other bits and wrap it nicely. I will post photos when I'm finished.

I've already got most of his presents too - very much Toy Story orientated this year - got a lot on offer in the Asda 2 for £20 or Argos 3 for 2.

So this is what I've got left to get:

DS - ELC Tower of Doom (will get in a couple of weeks as I have a 20% voucher from yoghurts) a few figures to go with the tower, rescue helicopter from Tesco, watch from Tesco, Peter Pan outfit, pre-order Toy Story 3 dvd and also Fantasia!

Sisters - vouchers (already have a mini hamper made for them)

Nan - Body shop stuff (am making a mini hamper), vouchers

Grandad - NO IDEA!

Mum - Same as Nan

OH - Vouchers (we're setting a limit this year) and a couple of small gifts.

In laws (MIL, FIL, BILx4, Gran/dad-IL) all sorted

Friends - all sorted

Xmas eve hamper - all to do!! Need to pre-order Disney family sing for PS3.

Stocking - all to do!!

Xmas cards, gift tags and bows all bought in the Next sale last year. Got advent calendar in Poundland last week too!

Need to get a few family cards, wrapping paper and gift boxes for my mini hampers. Also cellophane (ebay)

Luckily we're off to Blackpool next week so I can get my stocking fillers there.

Won't be long until my Christmas tree is up (yay!!) Isn't Christmas the most magical time of the year?! My little boy is that bit older this year too so it will be so much more special to see him so excited!