Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

Cordy

Hi all - I found this thread last year, early enough to make lots of plans and collect the stuff I needed, but too late to make much with it, so I'm grateful for the 2013 thread now. Unfortunately it seems that the older you get, the earlier the Christmasses come round, or is that just me?!

I'm inspired by the lists above, mine will be a list of items to make in plenty of time, with a file with all the instructions, web references, euqipment to source etc. I'll post it on here when I've done it.

I've seen several people mention collage envelopes - what are they please? :question:

Anglea

Welcome to the group Cordy, I'm looking forward to seeing your list.

I make collage envelopes for my son. He has special needs and when he receives money for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Summer etc I put it in A5 envelopes with pictures cut out from magazines to depict different things eg cafe, big breakfast, clothes, treats, ice cream, pub, activities etc.

So he understands what the money is for rather than him just getting notes that are put away. This way he can bring out whatever envelope he wants when he is going out.

I usually make about 10 for birthday, and 10 for Xmas then a few more for other occasions such as Easter or holidays etc.

Inside the envelopes I put in sealable plastic bags, the type that you can write on for the notes, then if there is any change it can be kept safe.

Cordy

Thanks Anglea - what a lovely idea for anyone getting money - it shows you have thought about a gift, rather than just taking an easy option for a present. That will have to go on my list!

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
wow everyone seemd to be settling into very organised mode very quickly

my january list
christmas is already dispatched to the attic
DH birthday, card and pressie sorted, DD3 making cake, just need to confirm who want to come out for meal and book table.
friends birthday card and pressie already sorted
friends sons 18th got card needs posting
relly card to post
sorted out DS music lessons and paid for this term
made a start on mums cross stitch
need to blitz the house (fly lady thread helping keep that under control)
2013 is going to be the year we clear some stuff, i plan to make a big dent in my craft stash and use up faster than i buy

mum2one

Peppapig wrote: »

Hello everyone :wave: Can I join in please? I didn't see the thread last year (only just getting the hang of forums) but was a lurker on the Let it Snow thread and have joined the Holly and Ivy one this year so this one will fit the bill brilliantly.

I do a spreadsheet for Christmas but don't usually add the amounts to it - tend to do it so I can keep track of who I still need to buy for and to see what I bought last year so I don't duplicate two years running. Having read the posts on here I think this year I'll do one with finances for the whole year and include birthdays too. My work contract comes to an end in March and I really want to look at a change of direction which will mean a big drop in money so I need to go back to looking after the pennies.

Aims for January
1. Sort out storage cupboards (awaiting storage bags bought in the dotcomgiftshop sale) so I can actually get stuff out when I need it.
2. Put decs in loft (ditto comment above re storage bags - being held up because I can't bring myself to put the Christmas decs into the non-Christmassy bags so have to wait for the new ones).
3. Sort out cake and special pressie for sisters 50th birthday.
4. Prepare afore-mentioned spreadsheet.
5. Clear out the loft and get rid of everything that doesn't hold special meaning - ebay and charity shop. Think this one might stretch into Feb and possibly beyond!

Going to be very MSE this year!

Hi and a big welcome to the thread, pull up a seat and a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and take a big breath before you start the loft!!!

If your feeling free you can always do our loft!!! It needs a miracel. xx

mum2one

good news all my Boots parcels came safe and sound, - dispatched in 5 batches - but here, so thats a massive dent in the list.

Now got all presents sorted for the party.

Ladies - Little gift bag, - decorated peg and notebook, keyring, purse tag, decorative heart,

Gents - Bottle of beer

If couple - got a jar of sweets between them, single - they get a jar each

All put in the 4p bags from Asda...

Those with grandkids - used some gifts overgot from last yr, average out £1.50 each, - football pjs, dressing gown, notecards, bubble bath, puzzles.

- this week - marzipan and ice cake (cheated and brought the ready roll stuff).

Sat - got to get some flowers - then make my own bouquet up.

(roll on Friday - get BT broadband fitted- at mo on pay and go Tmob, told AOL where to go, and within week, Miss Hoodie used 80% of download limit on club penguin!!) xx

Cher-Ching

I know this was mentioned in the gifts for under a fiver thing on the MSE website but this site is brilliant. http://www.wordle.net lets you make up a 'collage' of words which you can then print out and frame or really do anything with. Thought it would be a great way of sprucing up a cheap and boring looking note pad/phone book/diary (maybe too late for that) if you are giving any of those as gifts. You can use whatever words you like so it's a real personal 'collage'

mum2one

had a nice surprise tonight going through the cards to make tags and found £5 for Moss Hoodie, weird thing is we've looked at all the cards when they came, but a nice surpise! xx

keza123_2

mum2one wrote: »

had a nice surprise tonight going through the cards to make tags and found £5 for Moss Hoodie, weird thing is we've looked at all the cards when they came, but a nice surpise! xx

Nice one!:)

Peppapig

savingpennies wrote: »

So far, I've gone through all my Christmas stuff and realised I have enough Christmas cards to last 5 years!

I know the feeling savingpennies, I bought loads of wrapping paper this year - must have thought I had a lot more to wrap than I did - so won't need any next year at all. I wrapped the female pressies in one paper and the male pressies in another bit I bought three rolls of the male one (lovely red reindeer on brown paper, bargain in Poundland) and then realised I only had two men to buy for and one of them had pressies that were really small in size!

Cher-Ching wrote: »

I know this was mentioned in the gifts for under a fiver thing on the MSE website but this site is brilliant. ***************lets you make up a 'collage' of words which you can then print out and frame or really do anything with. Thought it would be a great way of sprucing up a cheap and boring looking note pad/phone book/diary (maybe too late for that) if you are giving any of those as gifts. You can use whatever words you like so it's a real personal 'collage'

I saw this on another thread and thought it was a great idea..... except that when it came to actually doing it I couldn't think of enough words My daughter's friend made her a couple of these and she used the person's name(s), character traits, town they live in and special intersts so that's given me lots of ideas now. I'm definitely going to try again now.

mum2one wrote: »

had a nice surprise tonight going through the cards to make tags and found £5 for Moss Hoodie, weird thing is we've looked at all the cards when they came, but a nice surpise! xx

Fabulous mum2one - good job you didn't just recycle them :eek: Thank you for the lovely welcome too. Will keep you posted on progress with the loft (assuming there is any of course). We're thinking about moving so if we decide to go ahead with it that'll make loft clearing an absolute must-do!