Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

loupoppins

hello, can I join you please ? I've been lurking on the OS board for a while....and have just made my first jar of blackcurrent jam:D

anyway, inspired by these forums in general I am MUCH more organised than usual this year!
We have 6 kids, aged 12,10,8,6,4 and 2, and so Chritsmas can be quite expensive round here LOL
BUT thanks to some great offers posted on these boards, and spotted out and about I have quite a lot of presents already put away:T

So far done:
About 2/3 of kids presents/stocking fillers bought and hidden!yay!
Created spread sheet showing exactly what each child is getting, with stuff I have bought marked and showing stuff left to buy (is that just reallysad :cool:LOL)
Made my first jar of jam as practice run for homemade pressies
Knitted little doll as practice run for knitted gifts LOL
Ordered Jean Greenhow Christmas knitting patterns
Ordered jam jars etc
Made £30 amazon vouchers from Dooyoo- used for pressies for dd3 and 4
Have £62 in Morrisons saving stamps - hoping to get to £100

I also have stored in clearly labeled boxes in the loft(left over from last year!): (and not lost in the chaos of the garage for once!)
Christmas cake gift boxes
Christmas cellophane for hamper wrapping
Few left over Christams craft bits to do with kids
Christmas bows and wrapping paper
Christmas shaped cookie cutters - many, assorted LOL
Christmas chocolate molds

I feel good to be this organised. The first year EVER. I am starting a part time job next week, (after being a SAHM for 5 years) so will have less time to sort stuff this year- so organisation is definitely needed!
I am also really hoping that bybeing organised I can relax nearer the time and actuallyhave some fun and enjoy the build up and Christmas with the kids instead of running around in last minute stress and panic!
Here's hoping!

Sounds like others are doing great too.
Off to re-read thread for more great ideas!

Owl

Hello
beginning to think about this - going to do cookie in a jar mix for god daughters,but can only find american recipes that you put in a 1 litre jar. I wanted to do 500ml jars (cos got jars already)..... and I want a metric recipe... Please help!!!

Owl x

v8monkeyboy

I've already started making stuff for Christmas presents, and I agree with all of you; it's too early to begin thinking about Christmas in August, yet I love being organised.

We haven't got a lot of people to buy for, and the ones we have are all adults, who are all on higher wages than us. As I've said before, in my family we don't give to people over the age of 18, but OH's family insist on the present thing. I remember years and years of walking round with no money, depserately looking for something to buy his sister and her partner and ending up buying something crappy which they never used or liked, and KNOWING at the time it was a waste of my money :mad:. All that, just to wrap the bl**dy thing and give it away!

So, now, everyone gets a homemade hamper which a lot of time and effort has gone into, and I make things during the year, starting in January with orange marmalade. And you know what, everyone loves them.

I started crocheting again recently, and made a scarf for myself using broomstick lace stitch. One of my friends laughed at me for doing something so old-fashioned, yet when she saw the scarf, fell in love with it and has asked for one for Christmas and a matching hat for her birthday! It took me a day to make the scarf and £2.80 for the yarn!

T x

katholicos

v8monkeyboy wrote: »

I've already started making stuff for Christmas presents, and I agree with all of you; it's too early to begin thinking about Christmas in August, yet I love being organised.

We haven't got a lot of people to buy for, and the ones we have are all adults, who are all on higher wages than us. As I've said before, in my family we don't give to people over the age of 18, but OH's family insist on the present thing. I remember years and years of walking round with no money, depserately looking for something to buy his sister and her partner and ending up buying something crappy which they never used or liked, and KNOWING at the time it was a waste of my money :mad:. All that, just to wrap the bl**dy thing and give it away!

So, now, everyone gets a homemade hamper which a lot of time and effort has gone into, and I make things during the year, starting in January with orange marmalade. And you know what, everyone loves them.

I started crocheting again recently, and made a scarf for myself using broomstick lace stitch. One of my friends laughed at me for doing something so old-fashioned, yet when she saw the scarf, fell in love with it and has asked for one for Christmas and a matching hat for her birthday! It took me a day to make the scarf and £2.80 for the yarn!

T x

The scarf sounds really intrigueing. I'd love to see a pic of that if you have one. Your friend is fortunate indeed :-)

meanmarie

My 'children' are all grown up, so they now get some kind of token Christmas present and something decent for birthdays, with extra for special birthdays....DD1 will be 40 on 23rd December so will be an expensive year this year. I was finding that I just couldn't buy for them from a suitability point of view just as much as a financial one, so now do things like hm scarf and hats, sweaters if I am really organised, cushions, bags etc...they are pleased and so am I.

The grandchildren just get books and games as I have a savings account for each of them and put money in every month....haven't yet decided to give it to them when they are 18 or 21, am amazed how small regular amounts have added up over the years.

Marie

cornishlady

midnightraven3 wrote: »

i made homemade hampers last year for the 1st time
i made lots of goodies jams/marmalades/relish/chutneys
soaps/bath bombs etc etc

i also worried what people would think
it wasnt even money that made me do it
i was fed up buying the same stuff each year

within a couple of days i got calls asking for more sweetcorn relish etc

this year i am doing different things in mine
but, the people i made them for last year have asked if i can make 13 more for them to give as gifts to other people

people love homemade
especially when you put the time in to present it nicely

hi how do you make the bath bombs please do you have a link?

v8monkeyboy

Katholicos,

Thank you very much. I have taken some pics, but will have to put them up tomorrow - I'm shattered after only a few hours sleep last night, as there were drunk teenagers running riot for a few hours right outside out house, smashing things and fighting and the police had to be called etc etc (and we live in a small sleepy village!).

Forgot to mention earlier - have also saved £90 in 20Ps so far and have £40 in luncheon vouchers from Pinecone Research - all of which will be used for mine and OHs Christmas :j

purpleheather2810

Owl wrote: »

Hello
beginning to think about this - going to do cookie in a jar mix for god daughters,but can only find american recipes that you put in a 1 litre jar. I wanted to do 500ml jars (cos got jars already)..... and I want a metric recipe... Please help!!!

Owl x

I have seen a link somewhere on OS! I cannot for the life of me think where!

piglet6

gailey wrote: »

I have an idea for my cousins 7year old twin boys but need some input as running out of things to put in it.

They come from weathy family and have tonnes of toys so always struggle to buy for boys who appear to have everything.

Anyway mum said they totally injto enid blyton famous five books.

Was thinking

trying to find every famous five/secret seven book.
old fashioned small suitcase maybe from carboot
few cans ginger beer.
couple of torches
maybe the book called dangerous games for boys.

idea was a set for twins to share a sort of enid blyton/adventure set as seems really different.

Anything else anyone suggest been a while since I read famous five used to love them too. All my mind can think of is they always ate potted ham and ginger beer.

I think this is a lovely idea, gailey - I'd have been really pleased to receive something like this when I was their age.

Only other thing I can think of is a toy dog (Timmy) if you can find a suitable one!

Not sure about where to find the FF/SS books, but the Book People have currently got Enid Blyton's Adventure collection (8 books) for £7.99, which might be an alternative if necessary...

P x

cmazza

I am making a photo scrapbook for my younger sister and her OH, they have two children and have married within the last 6 years I am hoping to capture all those memories for them. Will try and post some pics of the finished layouts soon. It will probably take me from now until Christmas to finish it though!!!!

I am going to make some sweet treats for my gran - she loves my Nigella Xmas Rocky Road.