The Gift Cupboard!

squeaky

competitionscafe wrote:

I keep a little text file (Notepad) on my desktop as I quite often see things online and think 'that would make a great present for ......' - then I cut and paste the url into the text file and add a short note - product name, price, etc... If the online shop has a newsletter I usually sign up for that too, so that when they next have a sale I can often pick up the present I was after at a bargain price!

Loads of good links thank you.

I'm perilously close to the land of zed right now, so could somebody please remind me to add this post into our Gifts Thread tomorrow. Preferably LATE tomorrow

Lara

Ooooooo only just seen this! I too have a gift box but do you think I write down what I've bought and who for? Nah not clever enough am I? After reading this thread though I going to make a trip up to the loft, take a look at the presents up there, make a list etc etc.

Silly thing is I do shoesboxes this time fo year for Samaritan's Purse and I ALWAYS put the items I've bought throughout the year in a box and everything written down in a notepad with them.

Now why haven't I done that with these gifts I've bought?
:wall: :think: :rolleyes:

Thanks alot

Mado

Some of the pressies in my gift box are a bit old or can't find a good recipients... but as most of them are bought because they are a bargain (well, good value for money), I don't really mind the extra ones as they are perfect for the endless requests for prizes for school or village fete tombolas.

Maureen_Sanders

I was humbled by the efficiency of the previous contributors with their charts and records etc. I suggest that you only buy gifts that you really like yourself, wrap them up, and when you have had a bad day - get one out and treat yourself - it might be chocolates, or a lovely candle, or a luxurious bath! Seriously though - when I do the gift opportunities thing, I usually end up with too many gifts for the easy people, and still have to spend hours on shopping for the difficult ones.

Maisie

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

Thanks for that Maisie. I was thinking of brown paper and parcel tags on string for this year, but might go for the white look

Already have some white tissue bought from eBay, but if anyone can think of anything that's stronger, I'd be grateful for any suggestions

Sofa sogood... Look at the wall lining wallpaper in DIY shops. Some of that is suitable for gift wrapping. I've even wrapped with pretty wallpaper ends of rolls etc that I've picked up cheaply in DIY stores. You get a long roll for £1 sometimes when it's reduced. Wall lining paper is only about £2 or less for a long roll.

When I was at school (many moons ago) we used to put paper wrappers around our books and odd bits of wallpaper was often used. That's where I got the idea.

I got a present wrapped in brown paper from my grandchildren. They had stencilled flowers on the paper and coloured them in. It was really nice.

Last year I bought some really pretty gold and cream Christmas gift wrapping in Homebase. It was 3 for 2 but looked so nice and expensive looking. Later after Christmas it was in their sale for next to nothing. I was well pleased so got some for this year.

jade_2

This year, for the first time, we are keeping a gift cupboard.

I am sad enough to keep the presents in a cardboard box in the spare room, with post its labelling who the present is for. I was going to start wrapping the presents this week, but having read the advice about tatty wrapping, I will keep this until later.

I am also going to make up hampers with homemade jams, jellies and chutneys etc for the adults of the family.

Last year, I also made Christmas cards by recycling the cards we had received, creating collages etc. 50 blank cards cost £10, so these turned out to be really cost effective. Some of my colleagues at work, were so impressed, I got commissioned to make Mother's Day, Valentines, Birthday, Wedding and other cards. Colleagues have been prepared to pay up to £2 a card. Whilst not raking it in, I have found the additonal cash really useful for work's collections etc.

Oh finally, on the issue of gift tags, my Mum pastes the gist wrap onto thin cardboard, so that the gift wrap and tags match, previously she used to cut down Christmas cards to use as tags.

Isn't it marvellous that saving money is also environmentally sound?

Sofa_Sogood

Maisie wrote:

Sofa sogood... Look at the wall lining wallpaper in DIY shops. Some of that is suitable for gift wrapping. I've even wrapped with pretty wallpaper ends of rolls etc that I've picked up cheaply in DIY stores. You get a long roll for £1 sometimes when it's reduced. Wall lining paper is only about £2 or less for a long roll.

When I was at school (many moons ago) we used to put paper wrappers around our books and odd bits of wallpaper was often used. That's where I got the idea.

I got a present wrapped in brown paper from my grandchildren. They had stencilled flowers on the paper and coloured them in. It was really nice.

Last year I bought some really pretty gold and cream Christmas gift wrapping in Homebase. It was 3 for 2 but looked so nice and expensive looking. Later after Christmas it was in their sale for next to nothing. I was well pleased so got some for this year.

Maisie

I might give the lining paper a miss, but it's a great idea The only reason I might give it a miss is I can imagine the cries of "you got that idea from MSE" (plus it reminds me of my school books - flock :eek: lol,) (or was that my daughters ) but it'd be great to pencil on who it was to etc ...

But I might use your grandkids idea. I've not stencilled since I was a kid so I quite fancy that. Might go back to the brown paper and luggage tags after all

Thanks again.

RachelD

My daughter forgot to get giftwrap for a birthday present for her boyfriend's mother. She was due to give it at a party that evening. As the shops had all shut, this was an emergency.

I found a red paper tablecloth - there was a pile in the garage left over from some do I'd catered for - a roll of cellophane like you get on flowers or gift baskets (that came from a flower market but someone has helpfully posted a website). We wrapped the present in the red tablecoth added lots of flower petals picked from the balcony - it looks nice to get them on as many sides of the box as possible - next the cellophane and then a toning ribbon. The petals were just what was available at the time. If it's winter try ivy leaves.

B/f's mother thought she had had it professionally gift -wrapped.
Sometimes an emergency makes you re-assess what you actually have and makes you think outside the box - to coin a phrase

RachelD

I have always had a Christmas gift box and a s/s of who I buy for. I save each year's s/s and then just amend a copy for the following year.

I usually have no problem choosing gifts where I actually hand them to people. I have extended family where postage usually costs me dear and I find it hard to think of things that are lightweight to post.

Has anyone any ideas.? Tokens always seem such a cop-out.

Sofa_Sogood

RachelD wrote:

I found a red paper tablecloth - there was a pile in the garage left over from some do I'd catered for - a roll of cellophane like you get on flowers or gift baskets (that came from a flower market but someone has helpfully posted a website). We wrapped the present in the red tablecoth added lots of flower petals picked from the balcony - it looks nice to get them on as many sides of the box as possible - next the cellophane and then a toning ribbon. The petals were just what was available at the time. If it's winter try ivy leaves.

Sounds excellent Rachel - thanks

I tend to buy one big present, and a few small ones, for each member of the family. So I might combine yours and Maisies ideas. Brown for husband, red for neice etc etc. I love the thought of the petals too ... I bought a box of white ones that look like they're covered in dew. I know what to do with them now lol.

I thought I was a bit too old to get excited about Christmas .... but not after reading all these posts