Recycled Christmas, could it work???

sandieb

I love this thread. Not too early to think about Christmas as I guess the jam making season is upon us - a pot of which would be suitable for carolbee's hamper.

Mmmm set me thinking! Thanks to OP for starting this thread.

SaverSarah_2

Fab idea arkonite_babe!! I'm gonna watch this post closely as I think I'll join you in your challenge.

Christmas did nothing last year but get me down, all that waste! (I know, what a scrooge, my OH kept calling me Ebenezer!!)

:rotfl:

arkonite_babe

I'm hating Christmas more and more each year due to the commercialisation and the extensive lists the kids draw up :mad: So that's why I thought of having an alternative Christmas this year. It's going to take a bit of careful planning to get things just right and source gifts that will fit in with my idea. I've been having a look round and have found some bits and pieces, will also be keeping an eye on ebay as there are quite a lot of things if you can take the time to look.

Madmel

If you have small-ish children, get them to do lots of different drawings, then use those as wrapping paper. We had a pile of them left over from nursery, and used them last year for wrapping grandparents' gifts. It went down really well.

Also, it's a good activity for a wet day in the summer holiday (as I look out of the window to see it chucking it down )

pollys

Last year I bought recycled grolsh bottles turned into glasses for the adults and they loved them, I will probably do the same this year but buy a different design eg sol bottles/glasses. I've bought a few fairtrade gifts from Natural Collection, they are hidden away. The teenagers in the family are always grateful for the money, it saves wrapping paper too.

I had already made the decision to have as green a Christmas as possible and as I like to be organised this thread is really useful.

Thank you OP

jen_jen_2

for those who could not bear a not new present i would either
-not buy them one :rotfl:
-buy them something fair trade and new
-sell something you dont need on ebay and use the money from that to buy them a shop bought present then its kind of recycled (does that make sense to anyone else??)
-oxfam do presents that go to other people, eg a goat, school meals for children

consider not wrapping and using a gift tag that is made, the gift tags could be made from flowers/leaves (get collecting now and in the autumn) i have no idea how to press them successfully but i am sure the old style board or someone here would know .

arkonite_babe

carolbee wrote:

I am thinking along the lines of doing a 'hamper' for some people in the present circle, personalising them, ie food/gardening etc, which would be home made/fairtrade etc in a pre owned container, personalised to the recipient, by putting name on etc?

I tried this before and it actually ended up more expensive, so unless you plan and budget very carefully, you can get carried away!

northern_star

Arkonite_babe - far from criticising you for starting this thread - I applaud you :T I need to get my act together and start thinking about the C word. I'd vaguely thought of a recycled/green theme 'cos this fits in with my lifestyle and ethics but also because I am appalled at the over indulgence that goes on during the season. I'm also contemplating the idea of having a £5 Christmas (I think Martin had some suggestion of this kind last year) where all presents given cost no more than £5 per person - I will of course ask anyone likely to send gifts that I would appreciate them joining in and not giving me gifts costing more than a fiver. I think it will make me a lot more inventive and creative in my gift making/buying and will certainly fit in with MSE values - for all concerned.

Madmel

Jen_jen, to press flowers you don't need a flower press. You need some absorbent paper like blotting paper, but I suppose kitchen roll would do too. Lay the flowers on the blotting paper on a flat surface, then put another layer of blotting paper on the top. Then cover with large heavy books, such as encyclopaedias and leave for a week. The flowers should then be pressed.

Don't use newspaper as the newsprint ends up on the flowers and they look a right mess!

My Dad made us flower presses as kids from an old ink press, but then he's really good at this reusing lark. I think it stems from beign brought up during the war!

catznine

Wonderful thread! Thank you Arkonitebabe! :T

My Aunt used to buy pretty dishes in charity shops and fill them with her lovely home made sweets. All the family loved this idea and I am going to do the same only with hm Christmas cookies. I did some last year for OH's office and they went down very well so feel more confident about it.

Also think I will talk to my sister about a charity shop challenge eg no more than £5 and from a charity shop for the pressies. Only wish more of my friends would take this on board!