Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

MrsTinks

@Cyril - I do indeed see your point, but I think most people would appreciate a nice hamper of food and treats more than YET another bath set from M&S? Or another 4 sets of deodrant and showergel from Boots?
I love things like Lush bathbombs and so do most of my friends and family - so bathbombs and soaps are a natural choice for me It's money saving because when I go to Lush I go NUTS Even if I didn't give them away I'd be quids in as I'd save so much compared to what I spend in Lush lol. And I can tailor the bombs and soaps towards each person.
Food - well I've never had anyone turn me down when I offer cakes, brownies, dinner or anything edible... In fact some how people keep inviting themselves for dinner rather often so I now make extra as a matter of course... :)Will they appreciate home made foodie gifts... well if they don't then I'd be amazed!
On the other hand... Whilst I'd love to recieve foodie gifts and gifts I can use, then I dread "decorative" gifts... I have a tiny tiny house and we have very little room for nicnacs... Whilst I might appreciate someones handiwork I wouldn't like them to waste time making it for me unless it had a use as I simply have nowhere to put it!

Kelly-Lou

Wow wow fab thread!!!

I really would love to give homemade gifts but fear people's reactions to them. I would love to recieve a homemade gift but not sure how friends/ oh'sfamily would feel? My family would be ok as they understand money is tight and it is the thought that counts.
I may do cookies, I would love to make fudge but whenever I do it turns out wrong, so if any1 has a fool proof reciepe they would be willing to share that would be fab. Oh and just to be cheeky does any1 have a receipe to make mini christmas cakes???

MrsTinks

Kelly-Lou... both are available in the current edition of Good Housekeeping Well it has a christmas cake recipe that claims to be easy lol and fudge recipe that looks simple even to me! I'm going to give them a go and see how they turn out Otherwise for fudge try watching video jug or YouTube usually some good tutorials on there

nicola00

SeaBee they look fab, I'd love any of them as a gift. really like the christmas pudding truffles, may just have to steal that idea.

Believe it or not I was looking at that cookie cutter earlier and was thinking of making it for boxing day, I always have all my mums sisters and relatives that are over from Italy round and instead of dinner I normally do a buffett and I though this would be ideal as a table centrepiece, maybe with some ediible glitter sprinkled on top. How easy was it to do??
Lakeland have some really nice things, I'm going to note down what I like and see if any cheaper elsewhere and If not just limit myself to only buying a few things.

I'm going to look for box templates tonight, might have a go

SeaBee wrote: »

Last year I made edible gifts for family, friends and colleagues at work. I presented them in different ways from cello bags, to bought and homemade gift boxes. To make my own I bought a set of flat packed gift boxes from poundland laid one out flat and used it as a template with some some gold card. However, I did Google box templates and found some free ones there too.

Some pics of my gifts


This year I have made jams, chutneys, mini Christmas cakes (they were very popular last year) and will be making Christmas tree cookies using a fab cookie cutter set I bought from Lakeland earlier this year. I also managed to pick up some Christmas cello bags from there in the sale in January.

In answer to Cyril, I have to admit to being wary of giving handmade gifts in the past. Last year was my first attempt however, the responses I got from recipients was all very positive. They really appreciated the thought, time and effort that had gone into their gifts - they were so much more personal than a gift set from a department store. Hence more homemade gifts this year.

nicola00

Oh well, your restrictions will be lifted the more you use and post on the site

We'll just have to imagine them until then

youngoldlady wrote: »

It says I can't post replies with links because I'm a new user (anti spam precaution.) Oh well I'll have to wait a bit!

youngoldlady

Nicola00 I love your idea for a table centrepiece! :heart2::lovethoug That looks really pretty!! It should be fairly easy (if time consuming) to make if you keep the biscuits medium thickness and do the simple icing. It definitely does have the wow factor! I don't have the patience for things like that :rotfl: I tend to imagine how I want something to look, then when finished it looks like my 5 year old made it - so now I stick to simple designs and decorations!

nicola00

youngoldlady wrote: »

Nicola00 I love your idea for a table centrepiece! :heart2::lovethoug That looks really pretty!! It should be fairly easy (if time consuming) to make if you keep the biscuits medium thickness and do the simple icing. It definitely does have the wow factor! I don't have the patience for things like that :rotfl: I tend to imagine how I want something to look, then when finished it looks like my 5 year old made it - so now I stick to simple designs and decorations!

He he I know , I think I would need a child free day to do this, wonder how long it actually takes to put together. Need to find a fail safe cookie receipe, the last few Ive made haven't been to great the first lot cooked quicker round the edges and soo were a bit burnt by te time the middle had cooked and the time before I don't know what went wrong they just weren't right.

Well my six year will be getting the credit for it if it turns out a disaster :rotfl:

MrsTinks

nicola00 wrote: »

SeaBee they look fab, I'd love any of them as a gift. really like the christmas pudding truffles, may just have to steal that idea.

Believe it or not I was looking at that cookie cutter earlier and was thinking of making it for boxing day, I always have all my mums sisters and relatives that are over from Italy round and instead of dinner I normally do a buffett and I though this would be ideal as a table centrepiece, maybe with some ediible glitter sprinkled on top. How easy was it to do??
Lakeland have some really nice things, I'm going to note down what I like and see if any cheaper elsewhere and If not just limit myself to only buying a few things.

I'm going to look for box templates tonight, might have a go

I bought this last year from Ebay Never got a chance to make it but am intending to earlier this year (and even thinking of making one out of salt dough as a re-usable christmas decoration )

nicola00

MrsTine thats a great idea with the salt dough

I forgot I order this book for only P&P from a sign up link on here somewhere, it came today.... OMG it is amazing, It has loads of card and box templates in it too. A lot of them need to be photo copied as they need made bigger. If any of my cards or boxes turn out half as good as these I'll be happy, I cant wait to get stuck in



Also was going to buy these seen them on QVC a while ago and they are just what I'm looking for for my daughter but having read the revies on QVC they seem not ot be so great , has anyone got them?

RebekahR

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Star-Cookie-Cutters-6-set-decorating-baking-cooking-/360301902112?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item53e3aab920

One here but only 6 not 10. £2.99