christmas hampers and tree decorations

Tracey04

whats in yours, for presents etc.
to include,
mums, dads, sisters,

small children (plus my own 2 boys -6 and 8) do you think they would like hampers/suprise boxes?. but carnt think of things that do not consist of the really cheapy plastic toys.

What and how can I make goodies for a tree, usually its a tree all in gold with bars of small choc ie fudge, milky bar etc fasten to a branch on Xmas eve.

Was hoping for a more children xmas (but will probably have to stick with some gold cos of expesive.

How do you make gift boxes ( and maybe for the tree).

Do you make cards

Sorry for all the questions, they just kept coming to me as I typed.

any help welcomed.
Tracey

moggins

Tracey if the children aren't too small then I do art and craft hampers, (contents all bought from the Works or Wilkinsons). Why not make salt dough ornaments for the tree, you can paint them whatever colour you like.

I don't make cards, I buy them in the January sales along with the wrapping paper and I did see a great site for making baubles out of old christmas cards, when I find the link I'll post it.

MrsTinks

Tend to buy the cards Supporting my favourite animal charity
The baskets so far this year contain freebies I have labouriously collected like expensive soap stuff, I splashed out and bought a small bag of Molton brown goodies at the outlet village so worked out very god value for Molton Brown and will look super lush! Also have Home made jam, will have home made soaps, candles and some will have rumtopf and right before I give them away I might add some gingerbread (home made ofcourse).

I have been saving vouchers for boots etc for pressies for all the kids as they might not be so into home made stuff (other than the cookies lol). I'm hoping for a good haul in the wooden toys etc as I think they will be used long after the latest barbie or batman figures have long been discarded or broken.

For the tree I would suggest salt dough And in Denmark we always used to make paper guarlands (sp?), paper cones and weaved paper hearts. I might revive this tradition this year despite not having kids and infact having an adults only christmas. I can imagine 6 of us could have quite a giggle before x-mas making all these things like we used to as kids... Awww memories of me sitting with mum making them now and how even now she carefully stores them after each christmas and some of the ones I made as a child are still in super condition. Traditionally they are then filled with nuts and pfefferkuchen (gingerthings but cooked in nut shape) and maybe some other treats. Unfortunately with a dog in the house this year I might have to forego the treats on the tree

Linda32

Well I don't make anything, which I guess isn't very OS, but what is OS for us is not going OTT on the food front and not buying extra decorations when you already have a loft full.

I don't buy personalised cards such as "to my Sister" family and friends simply get a card out of the box I've bought.

As far as Xmas food goes about the beginning of November I buy one thing a week towards our xmas food, for example a box of mince pies (although I might make my own this year due to OS influence and if there frozen I can't eat them early)
The xmas pud, a couple of boxes of Chocs. A bottle of Harvey's Britol Cream or somthing similar. A Turkey and thats about it.

For us its certainly not going without we just don't want or need alot of stuff.

If you want to make gift boxes that sounds a good idea and different. I'd start looking for idea's now which are around. Maybe make it themed, woodern toys if you can find them and an apple and orange.

MrsTinks

For boxes try going to the local shoeshop and asking for boxes... I would have thought they'd have a fair few and then use either wrapping paper or brown parcel paper for a rustic look...

thriftmonster

I do hampers with HM wine or bought real ale, those little individual truckle cheeses in wax, hm cheesy biccies, hm fudge, chutney, jam ,marmelade. I often look in cheapie places for things to use as hampers - last year I got some nice pastel colanders cheap in TK Makx. This year I'm p-lanning on adding tiny Xmas cakes made in the small beans tins.

frugalfairy_3

I have teenagers to buy for so I do the same as Tine did and get gift packs of travel cosmetics, shampoos, shower gels etc and split them up (I got a good deal at L'Occitane in Bicester Village earlier this year and have loads to split up now). I add a new face flannel (managed to get half price ones from our local Coop which is closing) and maybe a travel hairbrush or similar hair items from Boots on my Boots card.

For little ones is it possible to get gift packs of puzzles, books etc and split them between them?

FF

Roz_V

For my friends (mainly 21yo): "pamper hampers" based on their favourite colour/scent; ie. purple, pink, strawberry, lavendar etc. Mostly containing shower pouffe thing, bath bubbles, bath salts, bar of soap, bath bombs, scented candle and a chocolate bar in the relevant colour, ie. dairy milk for purple

Also one of my shoe-a-holic party animal friends will be getting a "foot care kit" consisting of refreshing foot spray, foot scrub, foot lotion, gel cushions, and a manicure kit (nail file, nail clippers, toe seperators, nail scissors etc) and a nail polish as she crams her feet into the most uncomfortable shoes and always complains that her feet hurt!!

My sister and SIL are getting "winter warmer" kits: hot water bottle, fluffy socks, a mug, various sachets of flavoured hot chocolate, a scarf and a pair of gloves - both have recently moved out of home and I'm worried about their ability to last the winter!!! :rotfl:

All the above has been bought on BOGOF or 3-for-2's, and mainly from Boots using Pigsback vouchers or AC points, or using clubcard points etc.

For my parents I'm making a food hamper; HM Chutneys (a mango and a date); HM chocolate brownies; HM flapjack; fresh coffee (free sample but I don't drink it!); and some lovely chocolates. May also add in a jar of stuffed olives, a jar of sundried tomatoes and a jar of pasta sauce from Marks & Spencers as all that kind of stuff is on 3 for 2 at the minute.

cuddlymarm

Cheap presents for childrens hampers include things like old fashioned pop guns, cup and balls, yoyos, skipping ropes, card games, dominoes, pens, pencils, colouring books, plastic figures (animals, cowboys and indians, pirates etc), french knitters and small sewing kits, knitting kits, finger puppets, marbles, balls, etc
If you wrap each one so that they take a while to open or even stagger them over the day ( or a few days) it will seem like they have got lots of presents.
We used to let our kids open a present once they were ready for bed on christmas eve ( funnily enough they were always well behaved that day!)
I hope this has given you some ideas.