Finished baskets!!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

oooh thanks for lots of ideas...

i was planning on doing for 1 of my sisters who is about to go through chemo...so wanted to do her a huge "pamper hamper"... we were only popping back to the Uk to pick folks up for xmas... now we are going back to celebrate there instead.. so i can give it to her :T ..so have decided to go the whole hog and do:-

1. a german themed one for 1 brother and family..lots of gleuwein, chocs, etc
2. A whisky/beer themed 1 for another brother
3. the pamper one -with extras for her family
4. a mixed one for my other sis
5. a garden one for mum
6. and will sneak 1 together for hubby -even though he has had his pressy allready...

I will be scouring for more ideas on here... and when they are done..i will post photos..if someone tells me how :rotfl:

Lets see how economical i can be... i have a few bits allready - syuff i had got in the sales and put away..
so i have a lovelyred metalic cocktail shaker and wine cooler...that will go in the xmassy one i think
An aerolatte frothy thing in a set with the cocoa shaker and stencils... for the mixed one i think
And a lovely polar bear hot water bottle with a lovely blue xmas hat and scarf on... that will have to go in the "pamper hamper"

Wish me luck

ccastley

To those of you that have requested those recipes - I should be able to retype em tomorrow and get post them on here or PM you them.

I just wanted to share the greatest bargains I got at my local B and Q today! I got 4 packs of 3 Seagrass baskets for 2 quid!

They were these ones: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9372041&fh_start_index=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=seagrass&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1193863262696&isSearch=true

I recommend you get down to your local store if you're still looking for baskets - assuming that they're the right dimensions! You can check stock online if you like as well - and I would do as only one of the three I went to today in Liverpool (I was on a roll...) had them.

Good luck to you all and I will post those recipes tomorrow or the day after.

Cheers,

Crystal

Sugarhunny1

Kids brought a letter home from school last night asking for donations for the parents evening. Made these up this morning. Hope they were pleased with them.

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee196/Sugarhunny1/?action=view&current=ForSchool1.jpg

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee196/Sugarhunny1/?action=view&current=ForSchool.jpg

ccastley

Sugarhunny1 wrote: »

Kids brought a letter home from school last night asking for donations for the parents evening. Made these up this morning. Hope they were pleased with them.

They are FAB! They usually get all kinds of rubbish - they'll be made up with them!

susie79uk

Sugarhunny1 they look great,Well done:j

sophiesmum_2

ccastley wrote: »

Thanks! I had been wondering what I was going to do with the fudge... :beer:

Anyone any good ideas on how best to present jam? I'm a bit stumped...



Crystal

If you are doing single jars of homemade jam as little gifts - this is a cheap way of presenting - Asda have a range of basic but okay gift wrap 16p, matching tags 34p and gift bags 20p each. Think they are red with little white xmas trees on or silver with little xmas trees on.
Make a frilled paper cover for top of jam jar from a circle of wrapping paper fastened with elastic band or co ordinating ribbon. Attach gift tag with nicely written description of jam. Place in co ordinating small gift bag. Looks lovely. Two jars will stack nicely in the co ordinating bottle bag too - 20p.

A more expensive way would be make the paper covers /tags and then present in a basket- cellophane wrapped- perhaps add shortbread.

ccastley

sophiesmum wrote: »

If you are doing single jars of homemade jam as little gifts - this is a cheap way of presenting - Asda have a range of basic but okay gift wrap 16p, matching tags 34p and gift bags 20p each. Think they are red with little white xmas trees on or silver with little xmas trees on.
Make a frilled paper cover for top of jam jar from a circle of wrapping paper fastened with elastic band or co ordinating ribbon. Attach gift tag with nicely written description of jam. Place in co ordinating small gift bag. Looks lovely. Two jars will stack nicely in the co ordinating bottle bag too - 20p.

A more expensive way would be make the paper covers /tags and then present in a basket- cellophane wrapped- perhaps add shortbread.

Thanks Sophiesmum! I think I'll use the Gift wrap and tag idea for certain. I'm already making hampers for my Mum and MIL and FIL so I'll definitely put them in it presented that way. I'm also hoping to put shortbread and fudge in. Great idea!

poppett

Sugarhunny1 wrote: »

Kids brought a letter home from school last night asking for donations for the parents evening. Made these up this morning. Hope they were pleased with them.

Those are excellent. I have done family hampers this year but I will do a couple of small ones just incase I get a letter from the school too. They would be chuffed with these.

Sallys_Savings

Sugarhunny1 wrote: »

Kids brought a letter home from school last night asking for donations for the parents evening. Made these up this morning. Hope they were pleased with them.

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee196/Sugarhunny1/?action=view&current=ForSchool1.jpg

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee196/Sugarhunny1/?action=view&current=ForSchool.jpg

I'm sure they'll be absolutely delighted I bet they didnt expect something so great just the day after the letter came out

ccastley

Christmas Pudding Vodka:

Christmas Pudding Vodka
Hands-on time: 10min, plus sterilising and maturing; makes 1.3 litres (2¼pint)

1 litre bottle vodka
4tbsp dark brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
Peel of 1 orange and 1 lemon
25g (1oz) each currants, raisins and dried fi gs, halved if large

1 Sterilise a large, 1.3 litre (2¼pint) bottle or glass container, either by running through a dishwasher cycle or washing in hot soapy water, rinsing, then drying on a baking tray in the oven for 20min at 150°C (130°C fan) mark 2.
2 Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl or jug and put into the sterilised container or bottle. Seal with a cork or screw cap.
3 Leave for two weeks in a cool, dark place, turning the container occasionally to agitate the ingredients.
4 Use a funnel lined with a coffee filter paper to decant the liquid into pretty sterilised bottles of your choice. Add a fresh piece of lemon and orange peel and a fresh cinnamon stick, then cap.
53cals, 0g fat, 2g carbs (2g total sugars) per 25ml (1fl oz) serving

WRAP UP FOR CHRISTMAS…
and label with serving suggestions and a drink-by date. The vodka will keep for up to three months and is wonderful in cocktails, or served over ice with tonic and a slice of orange.

From Good Housekeeping November 2007

Will post the fudge one later.

HTH