Christmas 2010 Let's Get Organised

carlamarie_2

MummyYummy wrote: »

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!

your doing really well there!!
i really want to get the tower of doom for my ds who will be almost 4 at xmas but we have a limit of £200 each on the kids and he wants a ben10 bike! maybe next year tho!

gizmodo_2

chasingsunshine wrote: »

Hi all! Hope you're all getting on well with your christmas planning!
I'm thinking about making my own christmas crackers... Had a quick scout about and found some DIY kits but was wondering if they are easy enough to properly make them yourself? Does anyone else do thier own crackers? If so do you buy the kits or do it from scratch? Would be interested to hear all about them

Probably too late for you, but maybe an idea for next year. I bought Christmas Crackers in the sale, for 1p. They were easy to open up without breaking, so I took the rubbishy gifts out and replaced them with my own personalised gifts and a scratch card. And I put name tags on them so they were table place names too. It worked out much cheaper than buying kits, and less hassle than making from scratch. HTH someone for next year.

chasingsunshine_2

gizmodo wrote: »

Probably too late for you, but maybe an idea for next year. I bought Christmas Crackers in the sale, for 1p. They were easy to open up without breaking, so I took the rubbishy gifts out and replaced them with my own personalised gifts and a scratch card. And I put name tags on them so they were table place names too. It worked out much cheaper than buying kits, and less hassle than making from scratch. HTH someone for next year.

Thanks, I'll definately start Xmas '11 shopping in the sales this year!

I'm feeling very organised today. Got my halfcost and mad about cards deliveries - so thats a whole load of pressies sorted. (although one halfcost item was the wrong one only a £1 item so not sure its worth sending it back)

The mad about cards stuff will make up my sisters art and craft hamper. So impressed with that lot, spent about £15 with p&p and have got a whole box of, stickers, stamps, pencils, punches, pens, magazines and loads more! Thanks to the 25p sale! I've bought her a pallet (sp) brushes and paints as well as paper so once I've got a box to put it all in thats her done with a huge box of things which will have only cost me £15 all together (cos I'm keeping a few of the mad about cards bits - naughty!)

Contacted the ebay seller I got my door hangers from and asked if she could do some key shapes so that I can get some sturdy santa keys and she agreed which is fab! Should be able to order in a few days then I just need to decorate them and add glitter, ribbon and my tags.
Also thinking of buying other wooden shapes for the kids to decorate their own tree decorations as part of christmas eve hamper.

Started on hand and foot angel paintings with DS. He got tired and grumpy half way through so will need to finish them tomorrow then stick the poems on and thats little pressies for grandparents sorted!

I'm on a roll this year! Planning to be all done (apart from choccies etc) by end of Oct! Whoop whopp!

Jammygal

Hi all.....can I join in pls..............I haven't bought much yet but have made a start.

DD-Alice dvd, camp rock 2, nanny mcphee.
DS- Lego creator house, 3d books, toy story dvd, toy story lego
oh-
Mum-
Dad-
Brother-

MIL
FIL-
SIL-
BIL-
SIL-Shopping bag
BIL-

Nephew-

Sister-
BIL-
Niece-
Nephew-
Niece-Alice
Niece-JW mag, puffin post, knee pads

abdonz

as i am totally use less when it comes to decorating and creativity what colour christmas theme do u think i should do my front room is brown/cream with a terracota sofa any ideas,also what sort of things for a christmas eve hamper. i am also doing my mum a hamper and my husband one from the kids a sort of dads christmas survial kit, will get a couple of tins of fosters, a pint glass, slippers,some pj bottoms anything else?? all ideas are helpful please

chasingsunshine_2

abdonz wrote: »

as i am totally use less when it comes to decorating and creativity what colour christmas theme do u think i should do my front room is brown/cream with a terracota sofa any ideas,also what sort of things for a christmas eve hamper. i am also doing my mum a hamper and my husband one from the kids a sort of dads christmas survial kit, will get a couple of tins of fosters, a pint glass, slippers,some pj bottoms anything else?? all ideas are helpful please

How about some of his fav snacks that you dont usually let him have haha
Only saying that cos I dont let my hubby have pork scratchings or pepperami cos I hate them so am putting those in for him, a mini whiskey and a xbox magazine

jemtom

abdonz you could try gold and maybe red? and socks for the dad hamper does he eat sweets or chocolate? i sat yesterday and made a spreadsheet have been using a notebook but it was getting a bit tatty so much easier now, just really need to get my mum and dads main presents sorted and then its just my friends present(dont have a clue) and little gifts for hampers and stockings ect. also toy story 3 is out for pre-order at tesco so going to pre order that for son on pay day and then he will have 1,2 and 3 on dvd for x-mas. really itching to start wrapping everything but i did it last year early and regretted it so may wrap everyones but toms then i can sit and do his and any last minute present's in december.

lazysheep

abdonz wrote: »

as i am totally use less when it comes to decorating and creativity what colour christmas theme do u think i should do my front room is brown/cream with a terracota sofa any ideas,also what sort of things for a christmas eve hamper. i am also doing my mum a hamper and my husband one from the kids a sort of dads christmas survial kit, will get a couple of tins of fosters, a pint glass, slippers,some pj bottoms anything else?? all ideas are helpful please

For the christmas eve hampers try taking a read through this thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1990003 - it should have ideas for both children and adult hampers.

lizalloareds

ordered a hello kitty fleece blanket the link was posted on the grabbit board so that another pressie sorted

sammy_kaye18

abdonz wrote: »

as i am totally use less when it comes to decorating and creativity what colour christmas theme do u think i should do my front room is brown/cream with a terracota sofa any ideas

Our living room is similiar. We have a cream sofa with a brown trim, cream walls, wooden lmainate floor and white curtains with highlights of red - tie backs/rug/etc and our furniture is chunky wooden stuff so we are going to be going for gold/cream adn red christmas decoratiions but with our traditional 6ft Xmas tree. I am hoping to get a nice cream and dark red tree skirt too or I may make my own - I did want lots of white fiary lights everywhere but think babe would like coloured ones because she'll be 5/6 months old by then.

also what sort of things for a christmas eve hamper.

I include the following for my 6 year old and Im making one for my niece/mum/sister this year as their main christmas presents as they all live together again and then they can have a token gift on xmas day.
Anyway it includes
* A pair of new PJs
* A no sew blanket
* A packet of biscuits
* Maybe a special Santa plate + cup to leave for him
* Some hot chocolate
* A festive mug (although get a feeling it may be spider man for Benjamin!)
* A few pennies in an envelope (so they can get some milk and carrots for Santa and Rudolph) nice and fresh that way and it is his special job!
* DVD/Video or a voucher for Xmas film of his choice.
* Santa Key cos we don't have a chimney
* Some reindeer food
* The night before Christmas book
* A New Stocking
* Santa Stop Here sign

Although all this will be doubled to a degree with baby holly now on the scene

i am also doing my mum a hamper and my husband one from the kids a sort of dads christmas survial kit, will get a couple of tins of fosters, a pint glass, slippers,some pj bottoms anything else?? all ideas are helpful please

I agree with treats for him, what about homemade vouchers for him, like a film of his choice in peace, half hour interupted tv time, if he golfs offer to be his caddy, his favourite meal cooked for tea etc


Right am off now to hunt under bed to see whats under there! also got new nationwide card which is a chip/pin card so can get my online shopping started now.