Preparing for Christmas 2011

MrsWassire

Hi everyone! I'm really starting to plan Christmas... I need some ideas for things I can make for the kids that AREN'T edible. I've looked through the crafting thread and the ideas are great but most of the kid ones seem edible! My kids will be getting new bikes (via a 'voucher' they can redeem to pick their own pick after Christmas - in the sales). Other than that I want them to get all handmade stuff - and not a lot of it. Just a few things each. I might have a go at sock monkeys if they're not too hard to sew by hand... any other ideas?

sarah2503

Thanks mum2one and gettingtherequickly. For your christmas cakes reicpes.

Planning for christmas is going well so far. I have all my wrapping paper bought reduced in the sale after last christmas.I have one of my 2 childrens main presents. Ive started getting bits together to make hampers for my mum and hubby.

Has anyone seen any cheap baskets around i could use for hampers?

carlamarie_2

noodles86 wrote: »

Maybe something based on his favourite take away? Chinese, Indian, Italian could find a cooking utensil and some ingrediants? Erm with the ice cream one you could do sundaes or banana splits! Could also add some sparklers to make them exciting :rotfl: Maybe a cookbook and ingrediants/utensils for example a baking book and some silicone bakeware or a cupcake book. Got an amazing one reduced in m&s the other day for a quid, could present it with a bun tin etc Erm will carry on thinking!!

i love him to bits, but hes a lazy little git! it would have to be something that he can indulge in, rather than cook IYKWIM.
why dont mcdonalds sell vouchers? that he would love lol!

carlamarie_2

MrsWassire wrote: »

Hi everyone! I'm really starting to plan Christmas... I need some ideas for things I can make for the kids that AREN'T edible. I've looked through the crafting thread and the ideas are great but most of the kid ones seem edible! My kids will be getting new bikes (via a 'voucher' they can redeem to pick their own pick after Christmas - in the sales). Other than that I want them to get all handmade stuff - and not a lot of it. Just a few things each. I might have a go at sock monkeys if they're not too hard to sew by hand... any other ideas?

whats the ages? most of my ideas are for young children but you may find something here

arts and crafts are usually greatly recieved - you just need a tub or small plastic drawers set. visit somewhere cheap that sells art supplies (the works is usually good for bargains, occaisonally the £shops too)then just fill the tubs with the supplies. i know this isnt handmade as such - but still a cheap idea and its something i, at least have to buy throughout the year anyway

old worn down wax crayons can be melted down and reset into different shapes - novelty ice cube trays are good for this. melting different colours together gives a 'marbled' effect and kids love how 1 crayon can create lots of colours.

you could 'make' playdough - salt dough made up with food colouring, will keep in an airtight container - just 'pretty' up a few small sandwich tubs. favourite models could then me baked to keep.

there is a mixture you can make that dries to look like stone. you just need to buy some small toys (dinosaurs for boys? jewellery for girls) and hide them in the mixture. present with a childs hammer and chisel and they can be mini archeologists. (cant find the link but im sure someone will be able to provide it)
you can either do this in a big tray for them to scour the 'land' for hidden treaures or you can make smaller 'rocks' for them to chisel away

a magnetic fishing game is pretty simple to make and quite cheap too.

there is many patterns online for doll and barbie sized clothes.

felt is very versatile and you could make soft toys, handbags etc. you could even precut the felt and punch out holes in the approriate places, add some wool and a childs needle and you have a 'sew a .....' kit

finger puppets again using felt

we have a book with things to make out of cardboard - most of the projects are rubbish but dh and the kids once made a 4 story carpark purely from corrogated cardboard, loo roll centres, glue and black tape. the kids spend ages playing with it!

lazysheep

noodles86 wrote: »

Maybe make your own hot choc with ginger? Mcvities Jamaica cake, gingerbread bubble bath (N-spa I think from Asda though!)

Think this is what you were thinking of n-spa Gingerbread Latte bath syrup

smells yummy btw

mum2one

Just a thought with xmas cakes, we make some small ones in small baked beans tins, great for food hamper, and whether its one person or 4, then you can adjust the amount u make.

Getting exicted, the following weekend planned to do the christmas cakes, so exicted xx

BloomingTasty

lucy58. Ginger beer, ginger nuts? Lakeland stocks a lot of ginger food. Theres a ginger jam made by Wilkins & Sons, Tiptree jam.

How about making a felt gingerbread man a a xmas decoration?

jakesbakescakes

lucy58 and carlamarie - this idea might suit both of you, ginger and approp for boys! Have you seen 'ninja bread men' cookie cutters. I have purchased a few sets now as presents, they are really cool and would be great in a hamper with ingredients to bake and decorate them. Here's a link to give you the idea but i'd encourage you to shop around, i got some on offer from pla*.com for a couple of pounds a few weeks ago. HTH

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Monster-Factory-NJA-Ninjabread/dp/B0045EQ8VC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316710120&sr=8-1

teacherandmum

lucyc58 wrote: »

What can I put in a ginger lover hamper for fil? So far I only have stem ginger in chocolate and gingerbread men!!

Thanks

original source do a mens ginger shower gel????
http://www.boots.com/en/Original-Source-Orange-Oil-and-Ginger-Invigorating-Hair-Body-Wash-250ml_854510/

willow_loulou

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

She says just buy her some slippers but I cant just buy her slippers... anyone any suggestions?

Your mum sounds like mine, buys what she needs, If she wants slippers get some, I bought some tempur matress ones and OH MY they are sooo warm and ebay have them a fraction of the price of high st, You could give them in a dust bag either home made or bought (ebay also!) and maybe some winter warmer things. Hot water bottle, hot choc (weight watchers is yuk tesco own light is quite yum) You could also get her some straightners spritz stuff to stop the damage. I use armagan oil from my hair dressers its £12 and worth every penny and last an age


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladies-Pink-Memory-Foam-Slippers-/250893698467?pt=UK_Women_s_Shoes&hash=item3a6a6e05a3