Christmas thoughts already...

Giggles_Fairy

I know I will have to buy some gifts too so I have joined in the thrifty grifty money making thread this year to try and 'make' the money to pay for the gifts. Maybe this is something you could do too to help you?

Sallys_Savings

I buy lots of bits from Car Boots and Jumble Sales!!! and save ££££££££'s

You can buy so many things brand new with labels, sealed. I either break things up to use in hampers or give as bought or I revamp items to make them individual.

Many times it is how you present your gift that makes the difference so look for ribbons, Tissue, fabric you could wrap your gift in, paper, stationery bits and pieces, gift boxes/bags. Use cellophene and make your own ribbons using fabric too. Look out for interesting shape jars and bottles.

Main things I look out for:

Wicker baskets for hampers (from the smallest to put jewellery in to large hampers with lids)..never paying more than £2.
New clothes (i.e. T shirts/jeans and revamp by decorating with patches, appliques or beads)
Old broken jewellery to break up and make my own individual items.
Toiletry sets (either to break down to use in hampers or to give as bought)
Scarf/hats/glove sets - decorate with pretty seed beads and sequins to make them individual.
Fabric for quilts, scarfs and bunting.
Pretty vintage tea cups and saucers - put candles inside / or put in hampers with tea and jam


and I've bought NEW and SEALED.....

Photo Albums
Photo Frames
Candles
Toilteries
Address Book
Dog Racing Game
Boxed Jewellery
Baby Height Chart
Jigsaws
Heaps of childrens Games
Crafty bits....i.e. pens, puppets to make, badge sets, decorate mug etc... (even if they have been opened and bits used I then make my own craft box)
Make up bags
Books
Items for hampers...i.e. new gardening gloves, mini herb set, seeds, slippers, umbrella, notepads,etc.
Metal cook book stand
Money Boxes
Christening gifts


and loads more over the years

itstrott4u18

Klug wrote: »

Hi all
sorry to bring up the Christmas topic when we haven't had summer hols yet! Been thinking that if I'm to save money and plan ahead, I need to do it right now as the other side of the hols is too late to fit it all in.
Problem I have is that I need to 'buy expensive gifts' for certain members of my husbands family (always had to, always will, think it's to do with proving that he's doing ok, pride etc.!). Does anyone have any ideas of things I could make that would look 'bought' please? I can knit and sew well, but hubby says these things always look homemade and are unacceptable. I know its a tall order but any ideas appreciated.
Many thanks in advance

send one of our free romantic ecards for your husband or download free, printable love coupons.. select more romantic ideas at the top of your browser, and for husband family try to put your crafting skill so that they are impressed by you....

Tamster150

and there is also The Sewing Room, no chat thread full of lots of tutorials suitable for homemade gifts.

I made my three nieces patchwork quilts last year. Although they & their mothers liked them, I don't think that they truely appreciated just how much work I had put into them & that they weren't just knocked up in an evening. But I think unless you are a maker yourself, you just don't realise. (However, I did enjoy making something girlie for once, having only boys)

With that in mind, I would still say to go for it!