Ideas for HM Christmas presents

scuzz

I'm doing jars of flavoured sugar for my friend. Thinking of vanilla and rosemary

goonlord

I'm going to try to make some button jewellery for a friend - bracelets etc. And maybe a tote bag too if I can get my sewing machine working...

mossy

I have saved some nice glass bottles from bubble bath I've used this year and I'm going to make scented ironing water for my friends DH as he goes through loads of ironing water.

I'm also making peppermint creams, vanilla fudge and marzipan coated in chocolate. May also make some biscuits, Nigella Lawson has a good biscuit receipe that holds icing well and they don't go soggy really quickly.

Not making hm cards this year as its more expensive than buying some and I'm on a seriously tight budget but I'm going to make gift tags with munch for the pressies.

Also going to make a peanut wreath thing for my granmas to hang out on the trees in their garden for the birds to eat. (Going to use those peanuts that are still in the big shell then thread them onto some thick string/wire or something and then tie a nice ribbon on the top). Saw that in a gift catalogue for £6!! I can make one or maybe two for about £1.50! :j Thought they were a good idea for people who like to feed the birds in their garden and watch them as it will look really pretty and I haven't seen that sort of thing before, if anyone is planning to do something similar Lidl has those peanuts in shells for 99p for a big bag if anyones seen them cheaper let me know.

Sassers

Other half is a keen fisherman so I'm going to convert a pine box for drill bits into a box for his hooks and flies. :j
And paint a trout or something on it.
Also going to paint a portrait of his spaniel. That's as far as I've got to be honest......I do have credit card points for vouchers so will turn them into some cinema tickets for my parents.

:xmastree:

full-time-mum

mossy wrote:

Also going to make a peanut wreath thing for my granmas to hang out on the trees in their garden for the birds to eat. (Going to use those peanuts that are still in the big shell then thread them onto some thick string/wire or something and then tie a nice ribbon on the top). Saw that in a gift catalogue for £6!! I can make one or maybe two for about £1.50! :j Thought they were a good idea for people who like to feed the birds in their garden and watch them as it will look really pretty and I haven't seen that sort of thing before, if anyone is planning to do something similar Lidl has those peanuts in shells for 99p for a big bag if anyones seen them cheaper let me know.

In Gardener's World Mag, they did a similar thing with 1m x 2mm galvanised wire and apples. Obviously can't make it until nearer the time but it would look good hanging next to the peanuts. (use a skewer to make a hole through the core of the apple and then poke the wire through, tie at the top with garden string).
They also make a garden broom (witches style) using a birch twigs held in place with thin copper wire. They used a straight branch as a handle but you could use an old broom handle or buy one - can't imagine it would be that expensive - ideal for sweeping leaves and looks a million dollars propped outside the back door.

pudding06

Hi All,
I decided last night to tackle my husband about Christmas and suggested that as things are so dire here on the money fornt that we might make as many pressies as possible. So we (I!!) came up with:

Flavoured olive oils - we have kitchen bay, lots of garlic and will buy some red chillies. Asda have a set of 2 oil pourers very cheap which I will attach. Cork in top and ribbon round - wil look nice I think.

Home-made Christmas cake for mam and sister - mam always made them as pressies for us all but isnt able to do them any more - she had to BUY one last year for herself and it nearly killed her at age 77 yrs.

Body scrub in jars - recipe I saw on here, pretty ribbons etc will be great.

making pot pourri baskets, with pine cones etc I'm collecting while walking the dog.

Have in the past given home-made jam as pressies but havent any this year.

I might do some HM biscuits/ shortbread and wrap in cellophane.

Lemon curd. Yumm!

Just ideas - I'm sure you guys are great at this - I'm so much a beginner at OS but would like to do more now paid work is drying up.

I need ideas for the men folk though!!!!

Pudds

dolly_day_dream

I make whiskey flavoured marmalades for the gents. I use one of the Marmade kits and then add in the spirit after I have put the marmalade into jars and mix it in. It has always gone down really well. One year I put together a gardening kit for an elderly male relative. I made a hessian apron and put it and some packets of seeds, some seed markers (cut out from plastic margarine tubs) and a permanent marker in large pot. If they are not into gardening how about a cooking kit? For example if they are into indian cooking you could find a recipe that they might like and print it off and then put it together with the spices they might need into a balti dish. (they can be bought for a pound from guess where Poundland) This year I am knitting beanie hats and fingerless gloves for the younger males in my life.
However I am really tempted to make a treasure box and put in an eye patch, headscarf and sword ala Captn Jack for some one, just can't figure out who yet.

MsP

Hi

This is my first post but wanted to join in! I'm making up a 'jar of promises' for my OH so he can pull out a promise all year long. I have a feeling that I might live to regret it though!

tiff

I'm making some home made fudge for my kids teachers. I love some of these ideas, wish someone would make one up for me

mcchse

Do you have a recipe for the fudge?

I don't normally give presents to teachers due to the cost but if it could work out cheap enough...

The gardening basket has given me a few ideas for the next door neighbours I'm trying to get back in the good books with!