Finished baskets!!

Schnoogleboo

passion8 wrote: »

It's me again - sorry

I'd mentioned to mrs bb (I think?) that you could save on cellophane sometimes by not always gathering the cellophane into a fan-type effect, with a bow at the top of the hamper, but by sellotaping the cellophane underneath iyswim? (I think I'm turning into a moneysaver )

Anyway, I tried it myself but because of the texture of the box, and the user-friendly sellotape I used, it fell apart LOL. I'd balanced the hamper on my head whilst oh sellotaped the cello directly to the underside of the box, but it was just all wrong lol. The only way it worked was by using extra cellophane (so not so moneysaving lol) as the sellotape gripped the cello. But this is basically what I meant:

Wrapped:

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/Bootsbarmy/hamperbox.jpg

I'll show the unwrapped version as the teddy in the corner was mentioned very early in this thread. I'd bought a few after Mother's Day for a pound, and bought others really cheap after Valentine's day. They had hearts attached to them saying things like "Happy Mother's Day" (unsurprisingly lol) and "To the one I love" etc, so I stocked up for next year. Then I realised that the hearts that were attached are only attached by a couple of stitches of thread, and are easily unpicked, so they're no longer 'special occasion only bears'. There's usually a lot of these to be found just after Christmas, new in charity shops, and in Poundland etc, so it might be worth bearing in mind if you use teddies in hampers

The unwrapped one showing the teddy:

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/Bootsbarmy/hamperbox2.jpg

hths

Yeah, I remember you saying about that hunni, and will defo give it a go - they look really good, well done :T :T :T

I'm gonna to another basket later methinks, much the same as my first one for my step MIL - OH mum and dad have been divorced and remarried so two lots of MIL

And I'm also thinking about doing up a mini nail basket for a friend with a really dinky basket I found in a charity shop, this will be after I've put all my xmas cake fruit to soak for a few days in brandy:D :rotfl: Its nearly here you know

bunbun2

lilian - I love them all. You have been busy:D

Schnoogleboo

lillian1977 - well done, they look amazing They are so thoughtful and pretty, I see a lot of people making those flannel/sock cupcakes but what do you use for the cherry? Sorry if its really obvious, and where do you get the little cases to put them in? TIA

lilian1977

Thanks! I've still got boxes of stuff to use up - I have chinese/sushi/italian baskets on the way (using a wok/steamer/colander respectively) and just LOADS more bits and bobs - OH is going a bit crazy I think....

lilian1977

mrsbluebear wrote: »

lillian1977 - well done, they look amazing They are so thoughtful and pretty, I see a lot of people making those flannel/sock cupcakes but what do you use for the cherry? Sorry if its really obvious, and where do you get the little cases to put them in? TIA

I use bath pearls - you can get a tub of strawberry shaped ones like on mine from the Natural Collection section in Boots. And the cupcake cases are from Ebay. HTH.

Schnoogleboo

lilian1977 wrote: »

I use bath pearls - you can get a tub of strawberry shaped ones like on mine from the Natural Collection section in Boots. And the cupcake cases are from Ebay. HTH.

oooooh will have to try that it looks so effective but would be cheap to do as I picked up some plain blue, white and pink flannels from wilkinsons the other day for 25p each

lilian1977

Yeah it's definitely worth doing - and try it with fluffy socks as well.

Oh meant to say before, Ikea have packets of Gingerbread hearts that have a hole in the top ready to put ribbon through and hang on your tree - thought they'd be lovely for using on baskets as name tags? 55p for 10 - they're in the food section.

funnyfreckle

Thanks for all your pictures everybody. The hampers are wonderful and really inspiring. I can't believe that some of you have wrapped up Christmas hampers though - my stuff is sitting in shoe boxes but I think it would only get dusty if I wrapped them up now!! I'm really looking forward to having a go though nearer Christmas and might even pluck up the courage to post a few pics.

I know a lot of you have already made up your hampers but I saw a few things today in Tescos which I thought might be of interest to anyone still gathering bits and pieces for cooking hampers. If anyone is doing an Italian hamper I saw a stainless steel Parmesan grater reduced to 75p in the main cooking section.

For children's cooking hampers I found a set of metal alphabet pastry cutters for £1.75. I don't think they were reduced but they seem a bargain as they also come in a little metal case. They look like this but obviously a lot cheaper!
http://www.izziwizzikids.co.uk/products/1219
Also I expected that all the cheap supercook cake decoration sweets would have been sold out ages ago but I picked up silver balls for 9p and sugar strands for 12p. 100 small baking cases were only 20p.

I know that a lot of you are really on the ball and will have snaffled these bargains already but just in case anyone is a little bit slower like me - I hope this help!

Ruth_honey

Hi everyone!
Firstly, I wanted to say how impressed I am at everybody's baskets/hampers! They really are fab! I am going to give it go this christmas too, but I need a bit of help with some ideas. I want to do a 'shopaholic' themed one for my mum. So far I've got her a sign that says something like 'To shop or not to shop....what a silly question!', a book & snuggly socks (so she can put her feet up after a shopping trip). She has enough reuseable shopping bags, and I don't want to get her chocs as she gets loads for xmas anyway. Any other suggestions-no real budget as she is my mum!?!?
Thanks in advance...

lilian1977

funnyfreckle - thanks for that info, that's great - especially about the grater!

And you should definitely post pics, it's really helpful having people's input xx