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

alja

oh and her birthday card cost 10p...from a 10 for £1 birthday card pack from tesco shh! don't tell her!

susan42

alja - well done on those bargains, oooh how i love a bargain and thanks for the heads up on the celebrations, have to have a look out at my shop

mary - hope Mr marys pain has subsided a bit, i know how pain can get yoou down. It must be a bit of a strain for you too as you wont like to see your man in pain...try to take it easy both of you...easier said than done i know...

fedup - i know i keep asking q`s but what d you use jelly for...? I`m loving your reports at the minute

Angela - hope your ok

mum2one - should be around soon , havent half missed her and miss hoodie

elysia- got anything planned over bank hols, i know your always upto something;)

rufus - did DD like her bracelet:D

seems to be all questions today...we`re off to holmfirth to see if i can spot nora batty ...lol. DS is at leeds festival he been there since wednesday so hope the weather stays king to him, yesterday was agorgeous day but it doesnt look too bright today:o

rufusdog52

MissLJays wrote: »

Where did you get all the bits and pieces to make these? They are lovely! I'd love to make these for friends for Christmas

Hi MissLJays

I bought all the charms from sellers on Ebay. I was getting ones first that meant something to ED, there are some playing cards as her OH is a magician, and her zodiac sign, a 30 for her birthday etc, then I managed to win a bundle of assorted charms from another buyer which I used to fill up the bracelet and what was left filled up YD's bracelet too for now. If you search Clip On Charm on Ebay you will find loads of them.

The bracelet I made, it worked out much cheaper than buying a bracelet. i saw some on there for about £22 to £30 and they were actually going for more than that by the time people had bid on them. I found a seller who was selling sterling silver chain and findings and messaged her and asked her would she mind telling me what I would need to make a bracelet and she sent me some links to her own website for the right stuff, I only had to get the chain, (I bought 2 ft of it in one piece so had enough for the two bracelets and another one still) two clasps, and a pack of jump rings (I wanted one of these for the other end of the bracelet to the clasp).

It was easy to cut the chain to the right size with some wire cutters and then I just attached a ring to one end and a clasp to the other and clipped the charms onto it.

Editied to add, the bits to make the chain came to about £20 altogether and they are all sterling silver so I got two whole bracelets out of this and I just need another clasp to make another one although I do have some clasps already that are not sterling silver.

rufusdog52

Mary, I do feel sorry for you both, you have gone through so much the last few months. I can imagine how hard it is for you to cope, you are definitely doing the right thing by carrying on, and we can all support you on here. If ti gets too much though do talk to your doctor, he might be able to get you some help or give you something to help you get through for a few weeks.

Well done with all the jelly making Fedup, I tried making chutney last year as I thought it would be a good idea for gifts but it came out rank lol. I dont know what I did wrong but it tasted disgusting and stunk the house out for weeks after. I think I will stick to my sewing and jewellery making instead.

I decided I am going to use the rest of the chain to make a bracelet for my Son's GF. I am not going to put charms on it, just some beads that are threaded on the long pins to make them into sort of charms. I have loads of beads already.

I need to get some more jewellery boxes though as the ones I got with the chain etc are naff. I want something a bit better, I bought square boxes that have a circle indentation inside but they dont look very nice, there is all yellow glue over the insides and they look really cheap and nasty and the bracelets dont lie nicely in them. I want to get some of those long ones instead.

OH has decided he doesnt want a phone now for Christmas but wants aftershave, he has given me a list of about 5 or six makes lol. I said to him he wont get that many. I am going to have a look on Amazon today and compare prices as I already have some more vouchers due over the next few months, other wise I can use them to get him some dvds and then get the aftershave elsewhere.

I have enough vouchers already in my account to pay for my half of YD's Blackberry and for Son's sat nav ( I need to check with him that the cigarette lighter bit works in his car before I buy one).

OH is off today again, we are not doing much, it is pouring down outside and neither of us have any money to go out anywhere. I will probably try to get a bit more sewing done later on.

SugarSpun

Rufus, I like getting aftershaves/perfumes from strawberrynet.com, they're based in Hong Kong but shipping is worldwide and they often have free gifts with purchase - also, the more orders you make the greater a discount you get, so if you want two or three things then order them separately for bonus gifts and extra % off :money:

rufusdog52

Thanks Sugarspun, I am just going to have a look at some different sites and compare them all so I will include this one too xx

fedupandskint

3 and a half jars of spiced crab apple jelly made for the price of 3/4 of a bag of sugar.

Is a lovely pink colour and can be used on buttered toast and goes with pork and turkey (hot and cold)

Ran out of lids for the half jar - couldn't find one that fits!

Price then = approx 30p per jar

Having a rest today from preserving and off out for appt and shopping instead leaving some more jelly making for another day

rufusdog52

Thats good going Fedup xx

I have had a look on Amazon and found that the Cheapsmells company actually sell through there (well they had the Kouros on there which is one that he wants) and it was the same price as on their website, just that you have to pay a bit of pp but it is only £1.95 so I think I will carry on collecting the Am vouchers, I am less likely to spend them on anything else.

fedupandskint

Collected the reserved softshell from spargos for brother's winter warm hamper. Decided on this instead of the jacket as he already has a couple and thought he should get some decent use out of this.

Costs of clothing for hamper are:
Fleece £4.99 rrp. £16
Jacket £12.99 rrp. £36
Softshell £10.99 rrp. £36
Total £28.97
RRP £88
Saving £59.03

Pretty good going :T
Will update my lists and budgets tonight to check the costs against the budgets

Might cave in for the jacket later on if it looks like he might use one - will see. Won't be a huge expense if any are left as costs £11.99 now and softshells and jackets have reduced in price by another £1

mrs-moneypenny

well doen on the chutney fedup
rufus the bracelets look brilliant
well done to everyones teens with their results
started knitting a handbag for my iece yesterday ive finished the main panel that is the stripey part its really bright, olive, terracotta, cerise and plum with a furry chocolate yarn on some parts luckily she love bright colours
my younger borthers partner is expecting twins just before christmas so im knitting them a blanket and cardi each not sure what they are yet so picking neutral colours have done one blanket and one cardi so far.
it my best friends 50th birthday this year and she collect antique teddys i managed to get her a rather lovely old bear for a very good price at the carboot im also hoping to find time to stitch her a neelde case and scissor keeper.

must start listing have i have against who its for

mary sending you and your dh good wishes and hope things are improving

hope everyone has a good bank holiday