LOW COST homemade christmas gifts

qwiksave

lizalloareds wrote: »

Thanks this is a great thread
going to make up some things to sell for a charity at work so trying to keep the costs down, where is the best place to buy flannels for flannel cupcakes,

Liz

Asda seems the cheapest I have seen.

midnightraven3

wilkinsons do nice facecloths, dont buy the cheapest ones they do (they are quite awful) but the next ones up, its 2 or 3p more, but much nicer
or
if you are near, ikeas face cloths wash brilliantly, and again cheap
both do a huge range of colours

lizalloareds

Thanks Qwiksave and Midnightraven3

wish I had asked last week now as we were at Ikea, will check out Asda and Wilko.

esmer

Snowman soup is basically a hot chocolate drink, with chocolate chips and marshmallows and an optional stirrer.

This is my recipe:

8 heaped teaspoons of Hot Chocolate.
A handful of Chocolate Chips.
4 large marshmallows (snowman marshmallows from Aldi).
A handful of Small Marshmallows.

Method:

I am using Lakelands piping bags for my snowman soups, you need to use two for each one.

Put the 8 heaped tea spoons of the hot chocolate in the first cone, then tape it up and make it all neat.

Now place that inside the other cone.

Put in the chocolate chips, then the marshmallows and tie up the bag.

I then tied ribbon and the snowman soup label.

Voila!! A gorgeous Winter warmer gift.€

This snowman soup is just for you
Four spoons per cup,
There’s enough for two,
Add some hot water and fill it up
not too full mind, leave room in the cup
for there are mallows in there
and some chocolate chips too
Enjoy this winter warmer
from me to you

xxx

esmer

Cookies in a Jar poem

I made a plate of cookies
to share with you this year
I thought it was a good way
to spread some Christmas cheer

They all looked really tasty,
so I thought I’d try just one
And a little while later,
I noticed they were all gone.

So here’s my cookie tin,
And a spoon for mixing too,
Now you can make your own,
And maybe share a few.



Label


Recipe

esmer

Basically a “Pot of Gold” is a little pot/tub/glass/bowl or container covered in gold tissue, or sprayed gold if its not already gold. Then filled with gold cover chocolate, gold coins, quality street caramels, chocolate eclairs, Elizabeth Shaw mints, Chocolate Wishes……. basically anything thats chocolate and has a gold wrapper Then all wrapped up in cellophane, ribbon and a label with a nice poem.



This is the Label

Here is a little pot of gold

A festive nibble
And some good cheer
To see you through the cold
I hope it will make
All of your dreams come true
Have a very merry Christmas
From of Us to You

xxx

esmer

Ingredients

400g (14oz) dark
397g can Carnation Condensed Milk
25g (1oz) butter
100g (3½oz) icing sugar
55g Pistachios Shelled and crushed
55g White chocolate chips
Method

Break or chop the chocolate into small chunks and place, in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, when melted add in the condensed milk and butter. Melt the ingredients gently over a low-medium heat, stirring occasionally until smooth and silky.
Sieve in the icing sugar and mix thoroughly, you have to work quick here as it start to get thick, and hard to stir.
Press the fudge into a 20cm (8in) square tin, smooth over the top with the back of a spoon.
Press the nuts and choc chips into the surface, if using.
Chill in the fridge for 1 hour until set, cut into squares.

got-it-spend-it

I've made these as an easy alternative to Snowman Soup this year:



Cups were three for £1 in Poundland, candy canes were 12 for £1, chocolate Santas work out at 10p each, Santa lolly was 50p then 25p for the hot chocolate sachet. I make that about £1.40 each.

quinechinoise

esmer wrote: »

These look lovely. How long do they keep and must they be refrigerated? (I have to post most of my gifts in advance of Christmas.)

esmer

I actually made them in advance and put them in the freezer.. Wrapped really well in cling..