Christmas is coming! 2007 - merged thread

sammy_kaye18

Lol - my son is mad abotu Roary The Racing Car - so my MIL is getting him the Roary race track adn we will be getting him Chris the man teddy talking thingy - hope this isnt a sign of things to come and Ben wants all the top toys - AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

beemuzed

OK, so it's "late" to most of you - but tomorrow I'll try and at least make some lists! It still feels a long way off, but you've convinced me it's nearer than I think!
So, list of cards, pressies and a shot at a budget coming up. (Going away to DIL's parents in Germany for the actual festivities, so no food to worry about this year!)

rosieben

I'm hosting an early christmas for myself and grown up kids and my dgd (8); we have the food all planned and we'll do a secret santa. I'm looking for some ideas though for extra little home made surprises that I can do for the table or during the day.

Last year I made laminated table mats - one for each of us dressed as Santa with reindeer etc (they each took their mat home for future use!) I also made mini scrapbooks and key ring scrapbooks.

I'm thinking of doing some customised (!) place cards, but other than that I'm a bit stuck for ideas this year. I'm pretty nifty with computer graphics and can print/ bind/ laminate at home. I also dont mind sewing or knitting or paper craft...

All suggestions gratefully received!

sunshine38_2

Morning all

Just wiping away the tears of laughter having followed the earlier dancing santa post How fab is that?!

Anyway, before I rush off to get myself and the kids ready for the harvest festival I just wanted to ask whether anyone has any examples or step by step instructions on how to make "time vouchers". I've seen it mentioned a few times on this thread but I'm not sure how to go about making them

I adore Christmas only this year things are tighter than ever in the budget department so I thought the voucher idea was fab - I can do various beauty treatments anyway so my mum/daughter would love some of those. Considering my daughter will be 10, has anyone got any other suggestions for voucher treats for her. My son is only 4 so I dont think he would understand getting vouchers - will stick to nice cheap stocking fillers for him.

Thanks everyone for your inspirational ideas/tips/places to buy etc. :T

Sunshine x:xmastree:

sammy_kaye18

Sunshine. For your 10 year old daughter why not try these ones.1. A girly day shopping. 2. A girly lunch (dress up in you good dresses etc) could be sometign as simple as a picninc 3. Why not give her a mini makeover 4. A trip to the cinema to see a movie of her choice. 5. Baking day (again make tings fo her choice 6. Movie cuddles (pair of you sat down quietly watchign a movie togehter. 7. Craft time. 8. Trip to the local park for the afternoon. just a few suggestions but i dont ave a daughter so im only guessing

sunshine38_2

Hi, thanks :T - some great ideas already. Those are exactly the types of things that she would love. Just need to work out how to present them all fancy now!

Sunshine x

rosieben

I just found this site - http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/alternatives/index.html
maybe be useful ideas on there.

Sunshine if you are stuck I can find some clipart, let me know what you want. I'll see if I can find the template I used last year too, very happy to share it. I stapled them together like a cheque book but you could just as easily do them loose and just put them in a decorated envelope. or stitch together in a corner and tie with ribbon or something.

Edited to say - I perforated the 'cheques' with the sewing machine, no cotton!!! worked great.

sunshine38_2

Hi Everyone, I've found a fab site for "Fun Vouchers" / "Promises". I hope it's okay to put the link in here www.fun-vouchers.org.uk

What do you think?!

Sunshine x

rosieben

Thats a brilliant site Sunshine, and so easy! Wish I'd found that last year!!

I'll assume you wont want my bits, so I wont send; pm me if you still want clipart etc

Edited to say - good ideas from SammyKaye, most importantly is to give some vouchers that will mean she has you to herself for a while!

savvy

rosieben wrote: »

I'm hosting an early christmas for myself and grown up kids and my dgd (8); we have the food all planned and we'll do a secret santa. I'm looking for some ideas though for extra little home made surprises that I can do for the table or during the day.

Last year I made laminated table mats - one for each of us dressed as Santa with reindeer etc (they each took their mat home for future use!) I also made mini scrapbooks and key ring scrapbooks.

I'm thinking of doing some customised (!) place cards, but other than that I'm a bit stuck for ideas this year. I'm pretty nifty with computer graphics and can print/ bind/ laminate at home. I also dont mind sewing or knitting or paper craft...

All suggestions gratefully received!

Ah thinking of place cards, I saw someone somewhere (may've been on this thread, can't remember, have an alcohol fogged brain today!), personalised candles with their name on, would look lovely lit for the meal, AND they can take it home and remember the meal every time they light it. The woman I read about put silver lettering on them, but you could also add something thats special to each one of your guests, you can get some really cool stickers now days of almost all past times/interests