New, New Thirfty Gifty for Christmas and All Ocassions 2011..Santas Challenge...

mary-op

Hello all :j
Haven't bought anything for next christmas.....general idea being that it'll all be either hand made or something I've got kicking around I can re-cycle.
Been a bit of a year what with OH not working and so far next year looks like a lot of hospital appts. so whether he'll be working I've not a clue as yet -so working on the principle that we'll have no money and see how far I get............having said that, ordered some buttons off ebay last night (thanks esmer for link:)) and now need to think of 1001 things to do with them..........lol

Take care all:)

Winter_Jasmine

Hi all, can I join please? I joined last years but didn't really post after January...you all really helped me though, I saved tonnes through being organised I've already set up my 2011 spreadsheet and started filling it with ideas; I'm going to get some nice pots in the next week or so and plant them up ready for Mother's Day, hopefully they'll be pretty and in bloom by then

gingababe

Hi Guys

I am a lurker, but can I join?
Thanks
GB xx

susan42

Hi everyone - hope you all had a fab day.

Best present - Didnt really have a best present, I`ve always been grateful for everything I receive, last year I made loads of fuss over the gift bags apparently:o

What would you do different next christmas - nothing, loved every minute of it, apart from my 6ft inflatable giraffe being stuck in Miami Airport

Funniest thing - watching the dog going from estatic when a present was for him, to sulking when it wasnt. And OH packed presents for me and wrapped up a bubblewrap envelope with nothing in it not realising the gift had fell out...

3 wishes -

1. That my friends health will improve
2. That the college would fill in my sons reference a bit quicker - he`s totally stressed out about it
3. That everyone I know has a trouble free 2011, or if not trouble free give them the inner peace to cope

My christmas day - woke upto find we didnt have any water, and the heating having a turn and not working. Go it sorted after a couple of hours and then having lots more people who we didnt really know around for dinner as they had trouble too. Good job I decided to cook a turkey, big pieces of beef, gammon and pork. Theres only 3 of us but we were having people boxing day for curry and I wanted to cook the meat for sandwiches for a party I`m having for 35 people.

Thanks to vista print I had lots of "spares" for presents.......mugs , pens t-shirts....so everyone had a present.

If everyone joins topcashback site ( I can refer if you PM me, that way I`ll get a bit more cashback too:o ) you get £5 cashback for an order, so if you click through you can get a pen free and other things for the price of the postage and get your cash back....throughout the year you get emails for free mugs, tshirts, business cards, notebooks, bags...all personalised.

fedupandskint

saffstar wrote: »

I'm going to get some nice pots in the next week or so and plant them up ready for Mother's Day, hopefully they'll be pretty and in bloom by then

That's a good idea

I bought some hyacinth and narcissus bulbs today and wondered what I could usethem for

Of course - mum's birthday in Feb then Mother's Day in March

Should just about be in flower for one of these dates!

Anglea

Hi all

Mrs Swan glad you're joining the £2 challenge.

Welcome to all our new members :santa2:

I was just reflecting on unusual presents I've read on here, a long while back there was something JJ bought her mum, I didn't read if she liked it or not, then the inflatable giraffe and bagpipes!

Susan, sorry to hear you were another one with the heating problems. Do you have a big cooker for all that meat?

I think this year I'm going to have to list all my activities in such a way so I can see the whole year ahead of me, instead of just one month. So I can plan better.

And for my daily to-do lists, add in hobbies and Special occasions (even 5 mins daily) because I often end up only remembering about a craft project I wanted to do when I'm in bed..

junior_j

Anglea wrote: »

Hi all

I was just reflecting on unusual presents I've read on here, a long while back there was something JJ bought her mum,
..

Im taking JJ is me maybe lol?

I can't think of what I brought her thats unusual unless its a perfect inflatable man or a wonder woman alarm clock of slanket , everything else I brought her was bog standard regular thing lol.


Bargains today

A beautiful 3 piece outfit for my even more beautiful 9 month old Goddaughter reduced to just £4.00 and a lovely long sleeve top for £2 and a pack of 5 gorgeous bibs for just £1.00 but then I was naughty and brought her a musical cuddly lullaby bug (my nickname for Goddaughter is "bug") which was a little more expensive then usual but she is worth it too me.

£3.00 long nice pjs for mum
£2.50 slippers for mum (she asked me to get them for her today)

A grafix make your own sparkly jewelery set reduced to just 1.50 for mums friends daughter..

100 tags for 50p

2 lovely gift bags for £1.00

Anyway off to relax and online surf for a while put £10.00 in my tub for new york (mum told me me her and auntie are going to new york around sep 2011 and i cannot wait!)

After new years day its on the diet wagon for good , fed up of being fat.

Just another quicky. I have huge sleeping difficulties , it takes me at least 2 hours to fall asleep I try everything warm lavander baths , dark quiet room , dark room with background noise , no naps and lots of running around during the day to help me sleep better at night dont work.. you name it ive probably tried it , plus i have bad nights with sleep walking , recently waking up in garden with black eye.. waking up with blood on pillow from cut in the back of my head , at my colleagues house apparently I slept walk emptied her entire wardrobe and drawers and asked her why she hated my guts and demanded to go to the cinema.. random i don't remember anything of it. My gp has said to take nightol to help me fall asleep I have to try it for few months before he will do anything else... but the last few nights nothings working and I am tired/grouchy during the day , any ideas or tips to sleep better? xx Oh also no caffiene/cheese ect , at night and mostly not even through day either x

Anglea

For Mary and anyone else intersted. You can make some very easy and quick gifts using this all in one quilting and stitching technique.

From cutting out to the finished quilted square can take literally a few minutes!!!

It's called Kaleidescope pattern.

Lay on the table -6 " plain material circle - wrong side up and raw edges stitched.

On the top of it, place a 4" square of wadding in the middle.

On top of that place a 4" square of plain fabric - right side facing.

Then fold the circle edges over the square sides and in the same area as the stitching, sew again through all the material and wadding using the same colour thread, or else in a contrasting one.

It looks really good if the squares have nice patterned fabric and the outside is a contrasting plain colour.

To make a small bag e.g. a needlecase, or tissues etc - use 3 squares and join them at the edges so you have 3 in a row then fold the top one over so it makes a pouch - stitch the sides.

The remaining square is the flap. Add a button or ribbons to secure.

You can either change the sizes of the squares or else make as many as needed for your projects.

If you are making a larger bag or quilt and join lots of small squares together you will see large circles in the pattern.

Individual squares can be used for coasters.

I've used the squares as dolls house quilts.

mswan

Went to js to get some Xmas bargains ended up getting loads of cheap meat, really well reduced. Got home and there is no room in the freezer yikes, ended up going to a neighbour and using her freezer for two carrier bags full.
Got some crackers cards and paper, very pleased.
I like the idea of quilting but don't really get it, any chance of a picky please.
My niece is 21 at the end of the month so would be nice to make her something.

Anglea

Mswan - I tried to add the photos in my last post but they didn't work. Anyhow, this blog I found online has some pics.

http://thornberry.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/japanese-kaleidoscope-quilt-class/

JJ - yes it was you and the inflatable man I was talking about. Did your mum like it?

Sleeping -sorry to hear you are having these extreme kinds of difficulties. Are you on the computer or tv at night? I find this can affect my sleeping a lot. As to what else to suggest - years ago I read that standing up on your tiptoes for about 3 mins before bed can help and I do it if I remember.