Lets get started for Christmas 2011

yummy-mummy-amy

hi,

still waiting on deliverys from peacocks, the book peple and the works. went shopping today to get my phone and had a wander about but couldnt find anything that was a "oh buy and keep for xmas" apart from a penguin puzzle which the magical elves will leave the night they play with kids puzzles, was only 99p so quite pleased.


is there anywhere on line that has decent sales??? looked at next, debenhams, matalan, hawkins, and not found anything, ordered from the 3 above and bhs. not looking for anything specific,

jaycat

Hi everybody,

Not had time to read through the whole thread yet but if I don't reply to things as I see them, I have a head like a leaky sieve & the thought just flies away, never to be found again!

You can freeze whole Seville (marmalade) oranges successfully so if you see them in the shops anytime soon, at a good price, get them & freeze till whenever you want to make your marmalade so it's fresh.
Three fruits marmalade can be made anytime of year too with ordinary oranges - get a different taste each season as the different varieties of fruits come in.

I made damson gin last year & then used the alcoholic damsons to make a chutney - both went down a storm this Christmas. I've already had the empty bottles & jars back for a refill next year! You can make chutneys etc a year in advance & as long as they're in a sealed jar & kept in a cool, dark place, they'll just get better with age.

Home made chocs went down well too - favourites seemed to be a ginger choc concoction & raspberry fondants made with fondant icing, raspberry jam & a wee dollop of raspberry puree, mixed together, formed into small balls, left to set then dipped into melted choc & left to set again.

Christmas cakes & puds can both be made anytime now for next Christmas as long as you keep 'feeding' it with the alcohol of your choice & keep it well wrapped well in clingfilm ( never tinfoil - it makes the cake taste funny). Keep in an airtight tin in a cool place & it'll be fine. Improves with age - don't we all Marzipan & ice a week or so before Christmas.

If you grow your own soft fruits, then freeze the surplus rasps, plums, blueberries, blackberries, apples etc & use for home made jams & jellies. The taste can't be beaten! Freeze surplus veg for chutneys.

Home made gift tags - bought some plain wooden tree decs in T*scos sale - 3 for about 25p, I think - painted them up & attached to the gifts. Fun to do with the kids on a rainyh afternoon. The recipients can use them as tree decs every year too.

Can't think of anything else at the minute but will get the brain in gear shortly

tazmac25

Hi folks

check out this recipe for the chutneys
http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/recipes/show/85-glutney

I used a large marrow some chillies a couple of apple floating around looking very sad, ginger and dried mixed fruit ~ lovely

Ive just seen on the forum a super recipe for gingerbread syrup for lattes and coffee so this is looking good for my handmade christmas 2011 but will have to have a little practice first

The paperchase 75% off christmas sale is excellant I got all my wrap, boxes, tags and tissue paper all matching for a fraction of the usual price and into the box (for the loft) Ive added some half price boxes and ribbons from B&M's I also bought my cards from paperchase too so other than the handmade ones Im ready with those

A question for all the forum ~ Am I mean????
ive checked who I recieved cards from this year (including family) and Ive decided not to send cards to them for 2011, this is with the exception of ones who emailed me and said they werent posting cards but donating to a charity ~ So am I being mean and cold hearted or just practical as Im being to have the attitude with them if they can't be bothered why should I???

many thanks
Tazmac25

wammy77

yummy-mummy-amy wrote: »

is there anywhere on line that has decent sales??? looked at next, debenhams, matalan, hawkins, and not found anything, ordered from the 3 above and bhs. not looking for anything specific,

Sainsburys have a good sale (at my store at least!) I've got lots of stocking fillers for my little ones - jewellery, hairbands, pretty clips etc between 50p and £1... toys from £2... books from £1.50.

jaycat wrote: »

I made damson gin last year & then used the alcoholic damsons to make a chutney - both went down a storm this Christmas.

Damson gin and chutney sounds fab!!!! How many of the damsons did you use in the gin??

tazmac25 wrote: »

Ive just seen on the forum a super recipe for gingerbread syrup for lattes and coffee so this is looking good for my handmade christmas 2011 but will have to have a little practice first

A question for all the forum ~ Am I mean????
ive checked who I recieved cards from this year (including family) and Ive decided not to send cards to them for 2011, this is with the exception of ones who emailed me and said they werent posting cards but donating to a charity ~ So am I being mean and cold hearted or just practical as Im being to have the attitude with them if they can't be bothered why should I???

Gingerbread syrup.... I'm drooling :drool: sooo yummy!!! Let us know how it goes

In response to your question: No you're not mean!!! I only send a handful of cards each year as I really think that it's a waste of paper/card to send loads to people you hardly ever see We send to family and very close friends only.

yummy-mummy-amy

thanks, will have alook online, cant get to a store easily.

Winged_one

I haven't got a lot in the sales this year - I found a lovely Christmassy cookie jar at 50% off, which I will fill with cookies for one family. And I have lots of little bits that I may give people. I still have a lot of paper (I got 2 rolls cheap in October, and as I still have a fair bit from previous years, and from when my Sis moved apartment last summer and donated 3 almost full rolls, I won't need anymore for next year). I am working on making all my own cards for next year, and the school have started making cards from each class too so will probably have to buy a pack of those.

My main planning for Christmas 2011 is to get all my crafting projects done. I have lots started, and a large stash of fabrics and wool. So now that the builders are gone, I finally can get going in the revamped study/craft room and make some proper progress.

Wendy5704

I have decided to make my niece a clothes making hamper or something along those lines. She has been into fashion design for a while so have picked up a project runway fashion design challenge game for £4 in Home Bargains and going to try and find lots of cheap off cuts of material and then try and put together a folder of little projects she could make like bags and stuff. She would love a sewing machine but I wouldnt know where to start and think they are quite expensive.

sarah*a

Wendy5704 wrote: »

I have decided to make my niece a clothes making hamper or something along those lines. She has been into fashion design for a while so have picked up a project runway fashion design challenge game for £4 in Home Bargains and going to try and find lots of cheap off cuts of material and then try and put together a folder of little projects she could make like bags and stuff. She would love a sewing machine but I wouldnt know where to start and think they are quite expensive.

Not sure how much you want to spend but what about one of these as a starter sewing maching?

http://www.redsave.com/products/mini-sewing-machine

Wendy5704

sarah*a wrote: »

Not sure how much you want to spend but what about one of these as a starter sewing maching?

http://www.redsave.com/products/mini-sewing-machine

That is perfect. Thank you very much. My niece would be over the moon.

sillyvixen

i got 2 christmas gifts today!! teddy wheat bag hotties for £3 each in dorathy perkins, so thats my friends daughter and my little cousin sorted!! all price tags removed but still at work as it is raining and i did not want them to get wet walking home - still plenty of time to get them home before christmas 2011!!