❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

ReformedShopaholic

Hi chirpychick
Sorry I don't have a link on how to make the pinatas. I just use trial and error.
For mine I'm blowing up a balloon (as big as I can without popping it)
for the body and a smaller one for the head. The body is the part that will hold all my stuff as I'm probably going to use card to make the arms and legs by folding red card to make them springy.
Then just make some wallpaper paste and layer newspaper strips on. I read that 4 layers is enough but found that 2 works for kids as 4 can be quite tough!
You can either sew the 2 parts together or use more paper mache to hold them together. Make sure you remember to leave a hole to get the stuff in. Then just cover in red crepe paper. I always do a base coat of crepe then cut strips of paper, which i then cut along both edges to make it seem fluffy.
I hope this makes sense.
I will have a go at making mine this week and take photos to try and upload here if you would like?

Possession

Here you go:
http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/tinypinata/
to make bigger, presumably blow the balloon bigger.

ReformedShopaholic

ReformedShopaholic wrote: »

Hi chirpychick
Sorry I don't have a link on how to make the pinatas. I just use trial and error.
For mine I'm blowing up a balloon (as big as I can without popping it)
for the body and a smaller one for the head. The body is the part that will hold all my stuff as I'm probably going to use card to make the arms and legs by folding red card to make them springy.
Then just make some wallpaper paste and layer newspaper strips on. I read that 4 layers is enough but found that 2 works for kids as 4 can be quite tough!
You can either sew the 2 parts together or use more paper mache to hold them together. Make sure you remember to leave a hole to get the stuff in. Then just cover in red crepe paper. I always do a base coat of crepe then cut strips of paper, which i then cut along both edges to make it seem fluffy.
I hope this makes sense.
I will have a go at making mine this week and take photos to try and upload here if you would like?

If that all seems a bit vague try typing pinataboy into google. I don't think he has made a Christmas one, but he has some really amazing ones and this is were i first saw homemade ones

chirpychick

ReformedShopaholic wrote: »

I will have a go at making mine this week and take photos to try and upload here if you would like?

I'd love to see the end result.
I was thinking this would be something nice to do for my niece and nephew, thank you for the idea.

Gleek

I'm trying to think of something to get the staff of the carehome my grandad's in.

He is a very difficult man and not especially nice (though to them he's mostly nice as pie! It's unbelievable ) and I don't want to do the box of chocs/biscuits in the staff room as there's a lot of residents and I think that might happen a fair bit. I can't do pots of gold for them all cos there's just too many but I can't think of anything else. I wanted to physically give them something to say thank you rather than a charity gift if possible though I am thinking a donation in their name to Age UK if nothing else comes up.

We've got a couple of the residents he's close to fleeces to try and keep them warm in winter (one lady is always bundled up bless her, even in the height of summer) and were hoping to leave a tin of sweets in the rooms where they all sit but will ask about that given some have alzheimers/dementia/diabetes etc.

Thanks in advance

fatblackandwhite

Trying to think of something that can be spread across a lot of staff ...

How about some kind of break-time hamper?

Nice teas/coffees/hot chocs
Nice biscuits (I know you wanted to avoid this, sorry)
Magazines/crossword books
Maybe some new mugs

I am sure someone else will have some better ideas!

You could then do a nice poem about the staff needing a break...

noodles86

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

Question for those with children...

Do they think Santa brings everyone presents or just them?

It's been quite impossible to buy the cats things and her dad without her knowing I am buying them christmas presents, so I have told her Santa only brings children presents so it's up to me to get the cats and her dad things.

Now I'm thinking I might have spoilt it if she see's a film and Santa brings for everyone. SHe's 3 1/2 and really getting into festivities now, I don't want to get it wrong lol.

We tell dd that Santa brings her everything but she gets separate presents from grand parents, aunts etc

The above is also what happened to myself and dh when we were children however I wanted to tell her that Santa brings the stockings and one main present and we buy the rest as I think that help stops the I want I want. Also dd cant always understand why Santa cant bring her everything she desires.

I also know some of our friends buy things when their children are there and say that they are 'sending' them to Santa and they will get them at christmas if they're good!

SugarSpun

For a gift for a lot of staff I think a tea and coffee hamper might be nice - black tea and a couple of herbal ones, plus nice coffee and sugar lumps. Maybe even add some individual hot chocolate sachets or something.

Gleek

Oooh I love the idea for tea/coffee hampers and mugs and the puzzle books to spend time on breaks and things if needed - thank you! There's a LOT of staff (there's a big poster in the entrance of everyone who works there that apparently is a little out of date, must be a good 30/40 people there, that's the only thing with the care homes I guess - night staff and day staff - and then the domestic staff that still potter around (like the dinner ladies and the cleaners who still do everything they can to help grandad and the others - it's a fabulous home!)

I think I'm going to have to do a tea/coffee/biscuit/few variety packs of mugs and leave it in the staff room so they can all use as and when - I hadn't thought of that, thank you

moneysavingmumofone

kemo_2002 wrote: »

moneysavingmumofone

that was a bargain, i doubt there will be one in mine as its small,but im keeping my eyes open on ebay, it doesnt matter about a box as we take all her toys out anyway

I will keep an eye out in mine fror you, I wont be back til friday and i saw them on saturday but you never know!


Gleek-Hmm is is difficult to think of a present they can all share isnt it, how many staff are there roughly? I know its food still but what about home made cake? You could make a few big ones or cupcakes? (home bargains have cute individual cupcake boxes) Or a gingerbread house/village? Fruit basket? Sorry does all seem to be food lol!