Old Style preparations for Christmas 2012!!!!!

nicki_2

Thanks for the dotcomgift link. Just bought bits for almost everyone in my family!:D Can't say what incase they're reading this thread but I'm doing baskets this year for all except my neice who'll just get a big bag of pressies individually wrapped since she's only little. Hopefully they'll go down well as trying to come up with something every year for my family is taxing my brain

nat21luv

Love to start crocheting, will have to teach myself. Had a look through so I'll give it a try

nomi01

Just been on Arg*s website and found great reductions on kre-o transformers sets. However, when I went to checkout, only 1 of the 4 items was availible. Even so, I have reserved a great gift that was originally £29.99 reduced to £11.99. Will collect in store tomorrow. Will continue searching for gifts and ideas.

littlegreenparrot

Some wonderful ideas.

I keep thinking about trying to teach myself to crochet, I've tried a couple of times but not stuck with it long enough!

Something we did last year that was a great success was a 'Christmas preparation weekend'. It was suggested by my siblings and as the eldest, and the only one with my own kitchen, I get to host it!
We had a great time, made pressies and a gingerbread house, ate loads of junk food and had xmas music/films on all day (DH went out to avoid it all!) They're already planning this years activities, it'll end up being a week.

Successful pressie for bro's gf last year was a cookie cutter,a patterned spatula and a hand written family recipe. She loved it, and now always brings biccies over, so everyones a winner!

Ellie83

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

Some wonderful ideas.

I keep thinking about trying to teach myself to crochet, I've tried a couple of times but not stuck with it long enough!

Awww, you should stick at it! Honestly, I tried half-heartedly for months to learn how to crochet, the old school way. And about 2-3 months ago (I can't remember now!), I decided to give granny squares a go as then I was actually achieving something while learning. Now you're always within range of a crochet hook in my home

I am also a keen knitter, but I was taught to knit as a little girl by my grandmother so I have a very emotional attachment to this craft.

Do you knit at all? I find crocheting much easier than knitting

littlegreenparrot

I will give it another try, I have the stuff stashed away.

I can kind of knit, I can do a scarf but it takes hours of intense concentration. To be honest thats why I like it, everything else floats away while I try to work out how to do it.

I might start on the squares next time for practice. What I'd like to be able to do eventually is the little toys (amigurami?). I have a cunning plan for DH xmas, crochet star wars figures (ssshhh). I'll have to start soon if I'm going to learn, and then make them.

(I did have this idea last year, but only in Nov so it was never going to fly on that timescale)

Possession

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

I will give it another try, I have the stuff stashed away.

I can kind of knit, I can do a scarf but it takes hours of intense concentration. To be honest thats why I like it, everything else floats away while I try to work out how to do it.

I might start on the squares next time for practice. What I'd like to be able to do eventually is the little toys (amigurami?). I have a cunning plan for DH xmas, crochet star wars figures (ssshhh). I'll have to start soon if I'm going to learn, and then make them.

(I did have this idea last year, but only in Nov so it was never going to fly on that timescale)

LOVE 'EM! http://www.etsy.com/listing/66328788/pdfs-of-all-13-star-wars-mini-amigurumi
(Not suggesting you buy the patterns BTW!)
These patterns are free:
http://www.geekcentralstation.blogspot.co.uk/

littlegreenparrot

Aren't they the coolest thing? Seeing the pictures again has reminded me!
Thank you for the link to the free versions, will make a note of that.

I have Monday off, so will dig it all out and have another go.
How hard can it be ?

(I'll try and remember saying that when I'm unravelling for the 104th time on Monday)

princesskitty29

Well this is my first ever post on the MSE forum and I am very excited to be here! :j

Christmas is my favourite time of year and I love getting organised so I am delighted to have seen this thread on the newsletter! I am always buying little gifts in sales and I stash them away until Christmas, it's great opening the box and seeing that I've got quite a bit already! I also save a set amount each month which really helps when it comes to December. Last year I made little homemade food hampers for people which went down really well, they included tomato chutney, spicy nuts, chocolate hazelnut spread and some water biscuits for cheese.

I'm currently working on some cross stitch projects - a cake band with reindeer's on and some tree decorations. I really love the look of homemade decorations. I also jumped on the .comgiftshop band wagon and stocked up on some bits and pieces! I have a dinner party every year for my friends and make little party bags for them to leave with so I picked up some fab little things on there to fill them with.

Anyway I will stop waffling on - I think i'm just over excited after reading the thread! I'm looking forward to being part of the community! :beer:

SIRENS

I would also like to thank whoever mentioned the dotcomshop, i bought some stocking fillers for the kids, also some notebooks and pens, thought i'd wrap them in some cello for the teachers, also one for dd as she gets very excited over a new notebook!?