LOW COST homemade christmas gifts

mineallmine

mineallmine wrote: »

Done two of the Movie Night boxes. With Home Bargains popcorn (they sell a big one for about 80p or you can buy 6 small bags (in a pack) for 79p). Added the cardboard cartons. Bought some marshmallows. And a film. After first being sceptical the hubby said today... they look good. And they don't even have a poem yet.

Thanks everyone for your support and ideas much appreciated.:T

For other pressies, which aren't home made, I bought some Thorntons chocolates £4.99 (in a pink box from Home Bargains). They are British made (Derbyshire) which I think is important in today's climate. Every little helps.

I also got some Grow your own pots from Homebase (containing a bit of soil and seeds) reduced to 10p from 99p. So at least there's a bit of green to the gift giving too. If I hadn't of got these I'd have bought the Asda mini xmas trees as mentioned on here. I suppose you could DIY the Grow your own with a little pot, soil and seeds

Definitely going to see if I can source some of that floristry cellophane during the year and use that for presents.

Hope everyone's projects are coming along well :T

Just to report that the Movie Night packs (popcorn, marshmallows, family DVD film) went down very well. As did the pots of seeds I bought in a sale. :T

So will definitely do the Movie Pack again this year. Last year I packed them in clear plastic boxes that I was de cluttering anyway. I read a good idea about wrapping presents in a reusable bag, like a fabric shopping bag. So I will keep an eye out for some unusual bags. You do sometimes see them in charity shops. Even little toddler friendly small bags.

I like the idea of not creating too much landfill waste in all this, so it's a bit kinder to the environment too.

Come November time I will look at plants at the local market, hopefully some nice outdoor plants/ bushes to give as green presents. Or if I pick up some bargains seeds again I may do a garden theme for some presents.

Keep up the good work :j

whizzybee

Last year I bought cheap value printer paper and then cut into whatever size I felt like and stapled a variety of patterned papers to create small, thin notepads. You just fold over an extra inch of the patterned paper to the back and staple - although you can only make thin notepads as the staplers cant take the paper being too thick!

Decorated jam jars - picked some up in a charity shop and just glued patterned papers and ribbon onto them to create pretty little jars, which are ideal for storage or whatever you fancy doing with them!

Decorated terracotta pots - grabbed some of these and then painted patterns on them using acryllic paints. I used masking tape to create stripes, checks etc.

Can't put an exact cost on these but the beauty is your imagination can go wild on these and they can be made in minutes. For the terracotta pots, I bought herb seeds in bulk and popped these into a hamper with the pots as well.

Loving all the ideas so far, am beginning to plan my christmas craftiness already!

rosiek63

Last year I made home-made crochet brooches (google crochet roses - I can't post a link). I decorated them with tiny beads and sequins and a brooch pin on the back. They looked great!

Also, my sis in law made us truffles - they were one of the best presents I received because they were delish and she had gone to the effort of making them, which made them extra special.

mum2one

batch of lemon and vodka marmalade made this afternoon ready for Xmas hampers. - brought some small jars 4 for 25p for £1world - tin of mix from Lakeland, 2 bags sugar.
£4.50 (plus 1/4pt vodka)
Got 4 small jars and 3 normal size of jars. xx

Homeagain

Can you post this recipe please please!!

mum2one

Homeagain wrote: »

Can you post this recipe please please!!

Can't take the credit, it was a jar of premixed marmalade mix from Lakeland, just add 2 bags of sugar and 3/4pt water (for me less water add the alcohol, boils the strength away just leaves the flavour) xx

welsh_mummy

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

Some fantastic ideas!
I managed to pick up some lovely, and very cheap, fabric off-cuts, so I am on the look out for cheap diarys, address books & notebook (6 of each) I am going to use the off cuts, plus my ribbon & button stash to create 6 x matching sets, and I am determined to get them done for less than £5 a set, but hopefully will look much more expensive when I have finished! ... wish me luck!

Love this idea, hope you don't mind me stealing it xx

kerri_gt

debndot wrote: »

Thanks savvybunny, would you know where I could find the Christmas chutney recipe please, it would be nice to have a tried and tested recipe :-)

I made chilli jam (not really a success) and winter chutney a few years ago. The chutney was lovely though, although I will warn you the cider smells somewhat when cooking it all.

http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/articles/how-to-make-your-own-boxing-day-chutney.aspx

I found a personalised gingham santa sack on NOTHS for £30 (plus p&p) last night :eek: Decided I'm going to make my 2yo niece one myself - so far found the sack for about £10 (incl p&p) on eBay, then need some felt letters and a motif from the local sew centre. Gotta be cheaper than NOTHS, plus she can use it again and again and it will be unique to her.

Thinking of making some infused oils for uncles and aunts this year (usually do a foody type gift for them either made or bought) Have a massive rosemary bush in the garden so was going to do a rosemary one and a chili one each with a bag of pasta too.

If anyone has any other ideas about uncle / aunt gifts they would be gratefully appreciated) I did local jam / marmalade and honey last year, and have done tea / coffee, mulled juice (neither couple drink), aforementioned chutney, and dipping oils (several years ago). I did consider cheese this year but as I don't always know when I'll see them I thought this could be risky.

mineallmine

Kerri - do your auntie/uncle like gardening? I picked up some seeds super cheap last year and did a garden theme present.
Do they like movies? You could do a mini hamper of sweets and a DVD or two.
:j

kerri_gt

mineallmine wrote: »

Kerri - do your auntie/uncle like gardening? I picked up some seeds super cheap last year and did a garden theme present.
Do they like movies? You could do a mini hamper of sweets and a DVD or two.
:j

One of my uncles is a keen and very knowledgeable gardener which means I usually keep away from anything gardening related in case of getting the wrong thing (plus my aunt doesn't really venture out into the garden herself)

I do like the look of the movie hampers, no idea what films I'd put in though - typical case of what one would like, the other wouldn't. :think:

Shame they don't drink, I have tons of elderberries just crying out to be turned into a liqueur :rotfl: