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

Own_My_Own

Just a quick question - Well a few actually-

Do you all buy baskets for your Christmas Eve Hampers. Only baskets aren't cheap, and some of you give your hampers away.

Also if you give them away to family members, do you also get them a Christmas present ?

I don't think I really understand them.:(

Maybe we do have a hamper without the hamper, if you know what I mean.
Dd has new PJs, Ds doesn't wear any. I don't know what else is meant to be in it. So I don't know if we have it.:rotfl:

I promise, I HAVE been reading all your posts on them, but I still don't get it.

carlamarie_2

thanks everyone RE; Norad. i think i shall give it a try this year then.
do you mean the PNP chicky? ive done these for the last 3 years now and my kids LOVED them! i just cant believe there free! :T tbf i would happily pay for them as the santa is so realistic!




i tend to change my theme every couple of years. in the past i have had tradition red, gold and green, brightly coloured/mismatched, scandinavian style (one of my favs!) and from last year i went for gold and purple.

the gold and purple was a bit of a last minute choice, i wanted a change but couldnt decide what to go for. but i actually really like it! it goes really nice together

Possession

I'm sure we will still do Norad even though my two no longer believe. (Sob sob.) Might have to skip the PNP though sadly.
Ownmyown, when i give a hamper that's it, that's the present. But they are generally pretty full! I've been keeping an eye out all year for baskets so I got a collection in sales, but last year I got some at boot fairs.
Sorry, should be clear I'm not talking about xmas eve hampers for the children here but hampers of homemade goodies! The xmas eve hampers are extra, i don't use a basket though just a box wrapped in xmas paper.

carlamarie_2

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Just a quick question - Well a few actually-

Do you all buy baskets for your Christmas Eve Hampers. Only baskets aren't cheap, and some of you give your hampers away.

Also if you give them away to family members, do you also get them a Christmas present ?

I don't think I really understand them.:(

Maybe we do have a hamper without the hamper, if you know what I mean.
Dd has new PJs, Ds doesn't wear any. I don't know what else is meant to be in it. So I don't know if we have it.:rotfl:

I promise, I HAVE been reading all your posts on them, but I still don't get it.

lol! i do xmas eve hampers for my kids. i used to use a xmassy box from wilkinsons but as ive now got 3 kids i use gift bags instead.
some people put in activities to do during the day but mine is more of a 'settle down and get ready for bed' hamper.

each giftbag includes the folowing;

• character pjs
• slipper socks and dressing gowns if needed (not this year!)
• character bath toiletries (have thomas, barbie and need to get a batman or spiderman for ds1)
• torch/ lightsource (this year i have character glowstick wands)
• magic reindeer dust
• new cup/beacker with snowman soup
• choccies or biscuits

then arranged near the gift bags are santas plate and cup, a new xmas eve book a 'santa stop here' sign and a note telling the kids that the magic tree has been hidden on the xmas tree)

the plan is;

• go for a walk to shop about 5ish but daddy leaves his wallet so has to run back home for it ;);)
• come home from shop (with rudolphs carrot!) and kids find the hampers.
• get bathed using new bath products
• out, dried and into new pjs, gowns and slipper socks
• into garden with the glowsticks to scatter the magic reindeer dust and plant the sign
• back in house to have some snowman soup and choccies/biscuits
• find the magic key on the tree and hang it on the door for santa
• prepare the milk and cookie for santa and carrots for rudolph
• read the christmas book
• and finally ..... bed! :T

we tend to stretch all this out so they are in bed for 7, nice and early, then the work really starts:D

oh and my kids believe that some elves drop it around for them as an early present for the big guy!

ellie9ellie

VICSH wrote: »

Reading in a magazine places to visit for Christmas has anyone been to chatsworth at Christmas? Other recommendations were Edinburgh Lincoln and Ludlow in case anyone has been there?

My sister lives by Chatsworth House and she says its amazing at Christmas. I'd live to go and see Chatsworth but its too far for me - I live in South Wales so its a 4 hours journey :eek:

Own_My_Own

carlamarie wrote: »

lol! i do xmas eve hampers for my kids. i used to use a xmassy box from wilkinsons but as ive now got 3 kids i use gift bags instead.
some people put in activities to do during the day but mine is more of a 'settle down and get ready for bed' hamper.

each giftbag includes the folowing;

• character pjs
• slipper socks and dressing gowns if needed (not this year!)
• character bath toiletries (have thomas, barbie and need to get a batman or spiderman for ds1)
• torch/ lightsource (this year i have character glowstick wands)
• magic reindeer dust
• new cup/beacker with snowman soup
• choccies or biscuits

then arranged near the gift bags are santas plate and cup, a new xmas eve book a 'santa stop here' sign and a note telling the kids that the magic tree has been hidden on the xmas tree)

the plan is;

• go for a walk to shop about 5ish but daddy leaves his wallet so has to run back home for it ;);)
• come home from shop (with rudolphs carrot!) and kids find the hampers.
• get bathed using new bath products
• out, dried and into new pjs, gowns and slipper socks
• into garden with the glowsticks to scatter the magic reindeer dust and plant the sign
• back in house to have some snowman soup and choccies/biscuits
• find the magic key on the tree and hang it on the door for santa
• prepare the milk and cookie for santa and carrots for rudolph
• read the christmas book
• and finally ..... bed! :T

we tend to stretch all this out so they are in bed for 7, nice and early, then the work really starts:D

oh and my kids believe that some elves drop it around for them as an early present for the big guy!

That is SOOO lovely.:xmastree:

chickywiggle

yup PNP carlamarie - couldn't remember what it was called, thanks.

ReformedShopaholic

Hi everyone,
haven't posted in a while but still reading all posts. Hope everyone is doing OK, Only one more person left to buy for now. On a financial lock-down for a month as we are budgeting for food and bills only, due to more going out than coming in just lately. Spending my time fighting the urge to have OH take me to Primark/other shops and buy throws/cushions/bedspreads/decorations/anything Christmassy I can find.

Own My Own- We did a chocolate hamper for granddad and bil last year and could not find any baskets anywhere. So we ended up getting a large Tupperware box with a lid from Wilkos(was £2 for a large one). I wrapped it in Christmas paper and the lid came in handy as I put it inside the box slanted on an angle to prop up/ help the display. Then once they had emptied it, it could be unwrapped and used in the home. Then wrapped the lot in cellophane. Its not as authentic but its still looked good.

carlamarie_2

Own_My_Own wrote: »

That is SOOO lovely.:xmastree:

thank you! i love doing it and the kids always remember every single thing in it including what the bags are like! one of my fav things to do with/for them over xmas

chickywiggle wrote: »

yup PNP carlamarie - couldn't remember what it was called, thanks.

and another favourite thing!

Damzel_In_Distress

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Just a quick question - Well a few actually-

Do you all buy baskets for your Christmas Eve Hampers. Only baskets aren't cheap, and some of you give your hampers away.

Also if you give them away to family members, do you also get them a Christmas present ?

I don't think I really understand them.:(

Maybe we do have a hamper without the hamper, if you know what I mean.
Dd has new PJs, Ds doesn't wear any. I don't know what else is meant to be in it. So I don't know if we have it.:rotfl:

I promise, I HAVE been reading all your posts on them, but I still don't get it.

For DS I get a a cardboard box from the local shop, Trim it to size and wrap it with xmas wrapping paper like you would a present, Then I fill it with the things and cellophane it, I also decorate it with jewel snowflakes bought from country baskets and use christmas ribbon at the top, But not everyone does that obviously. Don't concern yourself with paying out money for a basket, a papered cardboard box will do just fine. DS get's his on xmas eve morning so he can use it during the day.
Personally I put in -

A christmas DVD to watch on xmas eve (The snowman was last years choice).
New PJs.
A giant xmas gingerbread man (£1.50 from greggs at xmas time).
Christmas sweets (Haribo do some etc).
A santa key, So santa can get in as we don't have a chimney.
Reindeer food.
Christmas biscuits, Such as cadbury festive friends.
A selection box.
A christmas book to read before bed.
A game we can play together (Last year was xmas style snap from b&m , Really want the rudolph scene it this year).
A christmas colouring set.
I also spend around £6 on a few very small toys, I go to poundland, home bargains, b&m etc and get 6 things that are all £1 or less.
A new pair of slipper socks.
A santa stop here door hanger (This year i will just re use last years, no need to buy new every year).
I also put in a few other small things, such as a pack of match attacks foot ball cards DS collects, they're only 50p and this could be adapted as they do disney cards and moshi monster ones etc?
A few random cheapy sweets from home bargains (They often have small things from 20p ish)
A new teddy bear, Depending on where from and glitches etc this can vary in size. Homebargains have fairly decent sized ones at the moment for £2.99 but I managed to get a £4 harrods bear in the sale so this year he'll have that one.

I hope I've given you some idea's? The one I did last year has LOADS of stuff in and even I was impressed with myself lol. It cost around £22 all together which was spread over time so I felt like it cost nothing actually.

Just keep your eye out for odd random cheap xmas sweets, items, books etc.
Just last week I managed to get a 6inch (ish) plush santa from home bargains for 79p, and it will look lovely in his hamper.

HTH