Christmas 2010 Let's Get Organised

carlamarie_2

debbsi wrote: »

Hi
Any ideas for a gardening hamper for the parents and in-laws - cant affortd to spend much this year - say around £30 max
Thanks
Deb

ive been in wilkinsons this morning and they had loads of gardening stuff half price, bulbs, tools etc.

a good idea is to buy a biggish planter to use to store all the things. add some bulbs, seeds, mini hoe and spade, and a gardening journal (i think i have seen templates to make your own, try google). then if you have enough money left you can add in a cup with lid/flask, gardening gloves, book on gardening or one of them foam mats for kneeling on.
i hope this helps, im not a gardener myself, but have seen a few with these kinds of things in.

carlamarie_2

well ive been shopping today and my xmas list now looks like this

birthdays
mum 22nd nov - dressing gown next £25
nephew 1st dec - ted baker gift set £10 (3 for 2) need to get something to go with this maybe if i can find a nice wallet?!
goddaughter 4th dec -
niece 22nd dec - vanity case £free (recycyled) filled with jewellery £18 worth

christmas
ds - finished
dd - finished
dh - dirt 2 ps3 game £13, identifying wild flowers book £3, still need to get a couple more books ive seen, some jeans, a tshirt or jumper/hoodie, a speaker dock for his ipod, maybe another ps3 gamne and steering wheel.
mum - have set aside £30 for her gift
dad - ck one £16 and beers of the world £4
stepdad - jumper £12.49 - half price from the officers club
dads gf - santuary gift set and box of mily tray, both recycled gifts
nanna c - perfume set £10 (342)
nanna p - royal jelly gift set £free (recycled) and shortbread petticoats tin £4
neice - chilli pepper bag and purse £6 and fcuk gift set £10
nephew - slime station £13 need to make a retro sweet jar to go with
little brother - slime station £13 need to make a retro sweet jar to go with
nephew - disney car race track and cars 3d bubble bath
neice's boyfriend - need to make a retro sweet jar

so i'm quite happy overall with how far am i have come.

does anyone know if asda have got in any of them £1 kilner jars? ive looked in wilkinsons and tescos today but no luck. dont want to make teh long trip to asda if theres no chance of them being there.

debbsi

Thanks Calamarie - I am going shopping tomorrow where there is a large Wilkinsons - so I will have a look
Deb x

Wendy5704

Does anyone have any idea what I can do with 4 mini stockings? I bought them from B & M with the idea of putting sweets in but have since bought sweet boxes from hobbeycraft. I might actually wrap a couple of presents up over the weekend. I really hate wrapping presents but love everything else to do with Christmas

carlamarie_2

Wendy5704 wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea what I can do with 4 mini stockings? I bought them from B & M with the idea of putting sweets in but have since bought sweet boxes from hobbeycraft. I might actually wrap a couple of presents up over the weekend. I really hate wrapping presents but love everything else to do with Christmas

hang them on the tree as toys?
do you have young children? you could get them to decorate with felt xmas sticker (£shop) and give as gifts?
do you have any small gifts youve bought that could be popped inside? save wrapping if you dont like doing it!
erm.... ill keep thinking!

HelenDaveKids

Phew, nearly there. Been very busy looking at Martins Amazon 75-99% off search ideas found me loads of nice dvds for various family members, plus bought a few wii games via same method. Just a few more bits to get but ideas not forthcoming. FIL main problem (bought mine a photo keyring in argos sale) and my best mate, really wanted to buy her some nice plastic / mellamine plates / bowls for caravan (as she has an odds and sods combo) but dead expensive!!

Wendy5704

carlamarie wrote: »

hang them on the tree as toys?
do you have young children? you could get them to decorate with felt xmas sticker (£shop) and give as gifts?
do you have any small gifts youve bought that could be popped inside? save wrapping if you dont like doing it!
erm.... ill keep thinking!

No young children in the house but I do have a couple of young nieces and a nephew. I have made some bracelets this year and was going to give them in organza gift bags but could use the stockings for the girls. Could maybe find some little marvel heros or ben 10 bits for my nephew. Thanks for the inspiration Carlamarie:D

debbsi

I've been lurking for a while but think I now need some ideas. This is my list so far:
Daughter - money and stocking fillers - not yet bought
Son - money and stocking fillers - not yet bought
Mum and Dad / in laws- both having a gardening hamper - so far ordered free seeds for Thompsons with £10 off, been looking at books - need cheap ones any other ideas and where can i buy them cheap? (up to £30 per couple)
Nephew 1 - possibly a band t-shirt - he likes metal music - anyone know any website i can get one? (£15)
Nephew 2 - Struggling with this one - he is 11 just started grammer school, very clever lad (£15)
Neice 1 - hamper - make up bag £2 bought with £5 debenhams voucher, dorothy perkins necklace £3 from sale and student discount, and just ordered more dp sale stuff really nice hair accessories for about £5 using discounts from here and student discount - so now complete - yay
Niece 2 - Large jigsaw compilation half price down to £7.50 - complete!
Nan - thinking of a table top mini oven - go halves with my brother
Brother - no idea - he's a big bird watcher and photographer - but also loves Blackburn rovers, his mini and mod music and scooters - help!! last few years have got him a photography mag subscription with tesco vouchers (£25)
Aunty and uncle - bottle of wine - need to buy
Secret Santa - right I need help here - shes a really good friend at work and I have been trying to think of a mini hamper - we were all talking yesterday about crying at films and tv etc - and it seems she is always crying at stuff happy and sad - its quite a joke at work and at home - so I thought of theming a hamper around this - starting with a box of tissues or hankies - need other ideas budget is £10
I would really appreciate any ideas - I've managed to get lots of bargains with links of ML forum - which is great
Really skint this year - DH only just gone back to work after being off sick - so I havent saved a bean for Xmas.

Thanks

Deb x

SugarSpun

debbsi wrote: »

Hi
Any ideas for a gardening hamper for the parents and in-laws - cant affortd to spend much this year - say around £30 max
Thanks
Deb

There's a Grabbit for 100 free bulbs

cookiedough38

I am more of a lurker on this thread, but have been really productive this week.

I bought the girls sacks @ £4.99 each
4 x tickets for a comedian, covers 3 people for presents
Ordered princess range of zhu zhu pets for dd1
Doubled up and used tesco vouchers today for presents for dd1 and 2
I also have a potted christmas tree in my garden (yikes!) any tips on keeping it healthy?