Christmas is coming! 2007 - merged thread

MrsTinks

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Wow tine that looks so pretty - id love to crochet but have absolutely no idea where the flip to start - plus there are lots of babies due to my family and friends at the minute, and lots of young uns and oldies in my family who could do with a nice wamr cuddly blanket so if you could let me know where to get started etc then id appreciate it lots!!!!

Try these tutorial videos to get you started

Then pop over to https://www.crochetville.org - they are mainly American but they are SO helpful and supportive and it's amazing what ideas they have!

Also The Book People have a couple of crochet books that I have bought - one for £1 and one for £3.99 I think it was... cost me less than £5 to have them delivered and everything all in. It really isn't very difficult at all! I find it easier that knitting!

MrsTinks

kittykirsty wrote: »

Tine: Your gift bags look great, have you thought of selling them on ebay? I can't crochet to save myself but love the idea of filling those full of lovely gifts for my family!

No hadn't really thought of it to be honest Once I really get into the swing of things I might though I just need to finish off all the projects I planned for myself already
I've just started working on placements and a table runner in parcel string for our dinner table I'll post pictures when they are finished

havekidsamskint

I love Christmas but we are moving house in 6 weeks so I can't get organised.
I make jewellery so ladies will probly get that and I might try to design some gents stuff - most people are glad to receive home mades by me just because they've got something no-one else has..keep up the crocheting, it will be received just as well, even for kiddies you could put sweeties/cars/clasps in them and hang on the tree;)

MrsTinks

Well I have just had an order from the future MIL for a pram blankie for OHs niece So I am working on a very simple bubble design for that at the moment. Now I just need to find some pink baby wool to go with the ice white I have. I was planning on doign a white and blue design but as it's a girl I guess I should try for pink really :rotfl:

I'll post pics of it when it's done

Dragon_Lady_3

Please don't shout at me for mentioning THAT word in April.

But, my husband thinks I have finally lost it and I need to know that I really am sane. Summers not even here yet but.......

I went shopping this weekend [my pet hate :mad: ]. I bought the boxed set of Doctor Who Series 1 on DVD for my youngest for Christmas. It was an absolute bargain at £17.50. Normally retails at over £50. Not sure if they priced it wrong but hey ho.

Ssshhhhh, I also have to admit I bought all my gift tags in the January sales for 10p for pack 20 and Chrismas cards for 50p box

I_was_a_fool

lol :rotfl:

I have started too, I have two £10 gift vouchers stashed for xmas & saving £10 a month towards it....

Toto

Hush and shame on you for mentioning the C word! actually I did most of mine in the january sales so I can sit here all smug until christmas eve when I realise I forgot to buy the rest:rolleyes:

dawnybabes

Bought loads online from Boots through Quidco of course (and likewise have all tags, wrap, cards & crackers bought in the sales !!)

tirednurse_2

Dragon Lady you are not alone.
I have already started trawling Primark and New Look for bits and bobs - got some lovely foot massage kits from New Look for £1.50, nicely packaged in girly pink. I will be looking at Amazon next for the penny books and cheap dvds.
I also have £20 worth of vouchers on Pigsback which I will be using in Boots.

cheekyweegit

dawnybabes wrote: »

Bought loads online from Boots through Quidco of course (and likewise have all tags, wrap, cards & crackers bought in the sales !!)

Me too, it pays to be organised and I shop all year round as I find it easier to do, both physically, mentally and even on the purse strings as your not making a huge splurge all in one go.

I've bought loads of my smellies from Boots in their sales and also utilised the Tesco H&B coupons which were on the go so I can make up pamper sets for my friends and relatives.

I also watch out for games going cheap for any kids I have to buy for. Recently I got travel games out of Tesco to put in with my friends kids Christmas for 74p each and play station games for £3 from Woolies.

DVD's and such like I tend to wait until the bargains nearer christmas, as I do with cd's. Always looking at the price comparison sites, using voucher codes if possible, and utilising my student discount along with cashback sites where I can even online. Disney video's / dvd's if I remember correctly always go on sale BOGOF towards the end of November both online and in shops.

I've now got an excel spread sheet with everyone's details on it, birthday's. christmas, anniversary, etc etc and input what I have bought on that as I get it and have a page with any spares I've bought. On this I keep a note of the original price, the price I paid and the savings. You can give a really nice present for not much money, often I give £30+ worth of gifts for £5-£10 thanks to the sales and frugal shopping.

Never rule out the more expensive shops either - the bigger the price to start with, the bigger the reduction in the sales. I got my son a Ben Sherman mac style coat reduced in Debenhams from £100 down to £20 and a £40 jacket for a friends birthday reduced to £5. Most folks struggle to find tat for a £5 never mind a good quality gift. They are definitely there if you take the time and patience to look and don't shop on the spur of the moment, but continually keep your eyes peeled. It's paid off for me.

Sweets are always on offer of some kind nearer Christmas, and I even managed to get my selection boxes BOGOF at Tesco thanks to a poster on here.

Plenty competition at Christmas for the sweets so usually plenty bargains on the go. Mind you I tend to go for bags of haribo sweets, pringles or even swizzles bags of lollies instead of selection boxes for friends kids, just so they have something different to chocolate which they may get copious quantities of from other relatives.

Swizzles lollies packs / swizzles sweets are ALWAYS on BOGOF at Tesco round Halloween at £1.49 a bag for the yellow / pink bags and have a good shelf life so putting them away for Christmas is not a problem and well worth 75p each. Watch out for Woolies though as they can be quite a bit dearer for their tins of sweets, but did reduce some of their boxes of sweets the closer it got to Xmas. I got my Haribo sweets from there in November BOGOF I think.

Pringles are another one which goes down well with kids and adults alike, again usually BOGOF in either Tesco or Asda before Xmas, it's just a case of finding out which one. Easy enough to check online which one or if one store is doing no offer at all on them, the chances are the other is.

Come to think of it, when it comes to Xmas shopping, I don't think I actually buy anything which doesn't have one of those pretty red / yellow / sale / reduced / BOGOF price tickets on it.

Ramble over, and if anyone wants a copy of the spread sheet just ask and I'll sent you a copy.